1
It
A Family Paper, devoted to State Intelligence, the News of the World, Political Information, Southern Rights, Agriculture, Literature, and Miscellany.
I
q?BT JOHN J. PALMES,
CHARLOTTE, MECKLENBURG COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA.
$2 PER ANNUM
In Advance.
y
EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
VOLUME 4.
NUMBER 32.
Main Street, )
TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 1856.
ONE DOOR SOUTH OF SADLER'S HOTEL,
1
OF THE
r O
Having recently visited New-Totk, and se
lected from the I1 and elegunt
Foundry f i .. Bruce, Em.,
A QUANTITY OF
3hm rnib uionablt "npr,
We arc now prepared t Execute
In tlx Best Stylo,
ALL KINDS OF
- '
'Multiply the and you
multiply the ilcsulls,"
Is one of the established maxims of business.
OUDEK8 FOB
PAMPHLETS,
HANDBILLS,
CARDS,
CIRCULARS,
LABELS,
CLERKS' BLANKS
SHERIFF'S do.
CONSTABLES' do.
M AG ISTRATES'do.
ATTORNEYS' do.
OR FOR
Required by the business Community,
WILL BE EXECUTED WITH
NESAT3NTBSS,
I8PATC 61
XI
iP !U) jxJ B IT U L J T Y o
r
t
Various l5.in.cis of
ma - .
T.YV) COCO
ALWAYS ON HAND.
0$r tfrfcutfb to (Drbfr.
Eating ami Rrl iMliuieiit
SALOON".
THE uiidersipn.d takes this m thod to re
turn his thanks to his frii-nds tor the lilx--ral
encouragement which lias lcen extended to
him in his line of business, and to inform them
that he has sold his establishment to Mr. J. Ad
kinson. who will continue the business at the
same stand. I shall remain in the Saloon, as
heretofore, and w ill be happy to receive the calls
of my friends, as usual.
Freh oriolk Oyterf f
v in at an nines im Kepi on nana ana
served up iu any style desired.
Fine Tobacco, Segars, Wines
Brandies.
And the best of Liquors generally,
Always on hand.
MEALS, composed of such dishes as may be
railed for, servetl up at all Lours, in the most ap
proved style of cookery
Day Boarders
Are taken, upon reasonable terms. Call at the
Saloon, two doors north of Kerr's Hotel, if you
desire something nke to cat a-od drink and to re
cruit the inner man
W II JORDAN.
Peg. 25, M68L tf for .1. Adkinson
FROH SEBASTOPOL.
THERE is norliing new from
the Crimea, by the last ar
rival, but at Sebastopol. on Trade
Stn'ct. there is something new.
The undenigued has purchased of James briant,
his grocery and Liquor establishment, and invites
the public to give him a call, assuring them that
he will accommodate them with articles of the
best quality, and in a style to suit the most fas
tidious taste Give 8. bastopol a call, and judge
tor yourselves.
WML PHELAN.
Feb. 5, J356-tf
FASHIONABLE T.ULORUVGT"
THE subscriber announces
to the public ctnerally.that he
is now Meaning a large assort
ment ot new
Clwths, Cassimeres
AND
Tor Cin riflemen's wear, mil ; U
be sold tur Cm$k at a small profit.or made to or
der according to the latest styles. Shop next
door to Elms' Grocery Store.
Sept. 29. 1854 I O-if P. L. REA.
A. BETHUNE,
No. 5, Springs' Row,
4 DOORS EAST OF THE CHARLOTTE BANK
CHARLOTTE, N. C.
Feb. 16. 1655 30tf
Congress Gaiters for Ladies,
JUST Received at
Boone's Boot Sl Shoa Emporium.
i
I
I ' w
- tiU Hi
-WILT THOU BE TRUE?"
" Wilt thou be true?" we ask the flower
That decks the garland in the festive scene ;
But leaves that fall before the parting hour
Mock us, and tell how vain the words have been:
"Wilt thou be true V
" Wilt thou be true?" we ask it of the billow,
And launch our bark upon the crystal tide ;
But many a sea-weed shroud, and coral pillow.
Have met the lips that trusted while they cried
"Wilt thou be true?"
" Wilt thou be true?" we ask it of the Heaven
That shines all bright and beaming on our way,
But clouds that gather dark, and thunder riven,
Bid us regret that e'er we asked the ray
"Wilt thou be true?"
' Wilt thou be true?" Oh, ask it of my bosom
L-t thy warm faith believe affection's sigh :
And thou shalt find it shame the scented blossom,
The sparkling ocean, and the smiling sky,
For it is true.
JIR. WHEAJLAM,
Opposite the Poat-omce
ALL DRESSES cut and
made by the celebrated
A-B-C method, and war
ranted to fit.
BONNETS
Trimmed in tin- latest style, at
the shortest notice.
Charlotte, Feb 12, 1866. tf
ROBERT OIBBOA', M. B.
OFFERS his professional services to the pub
lic, in the practice ot SURGERY, in all
its various departments.
Dr. GIBBON will operate, treat, or give advice
in all cases that may require his attention.
I Office No. ;, Granite Kange, Charlotte.
Feb. 1!, 1856. ly
ROBERT P. W ARIICc,
Attorney at L,;iw,
(Office in building attached to the American Ho
tel, Main street,)
Charlotte, N. C.
Jan. 99, 150. tf
S. W. DAVIS,
Attorney 6t Counsellor at Law,
Jan- 1, 1856. tf
S. W. WESTBROOKS,
Proprietor ol" the CriiilJbrtl
POMOLOGICAL
GARDENS
AMI
"mmOFLD respectfully call the attention of
T v our soutneni cuiwiia u k ww,
tion of native and acclimated varieties of FRUIT
TREES, embracing some FORTY THOUSAND
tre. s of the following varieties, viz : Apple, Pear,
Peach, Plum, Apricot, Cherry, Nectarine, Al
mond Also a choice assortment of (J K APE
YIN F.S, Raspberries, Strawberries, Ac. Ac.
CCAll orders, accompanied with tin- cash,
will rec ive prompt attention, and the trees will
be ne atly packed and directed to any portion ot
the country.
p. s. Persons wishing Ornamental Trees can
be supplied. Address Greensboro', N. C.
Df. 4. IH5T,. :'.m
CARRIAGE SHOP.
riMlK SUBSCRIBER BEOS leave to inform
I his friends and die public generally,Jthat
ho is still carrying on the Garr if e
.flaking Oiiiiiesisi in all its various
branches with all the increased facilities af
forded by modern improvements. He has now
on hand a large number of BUGGIES, CAR
RIAGES, KOCKAWAYS, &c, made on the
most approved styles out of the best material,
to which he asks the inspection of purchasers.
Mis establishments is on College and Depot
streets, where he will be glad to see his
friends.
JOHN HARTY.
July 28, 1855. 1-tf
REMOVAL.
P.. W. Beckwith
has removed his Jewelry
Store to No. 2, Johnston's
Row, three doors South
of Kerr'b Hotel.
Feb. 16, 1855
30-ly
NEW BOOKS FOR SALE
LOWRIE AND ENJVISS' STORE.
THE Slave of the
Lamp, a Posthumous
Novel.by William North
Ingenue, or the first
days of the Blood, by
Alexander Dumas.
Translated from the oriinul manuscript.
Fashion and Fancies, by Mrs. Stephens.
The Maroon, a legend of the Carribees.
and other tales by V. Gilmore Simms.
The Castle Builders, by the author of 'Hearts
ease," "The Heir of Radclyffe." "Scenes and
Chances," etc.
The Old Inn. or the Travellers' Entertain
ment, by Josiah Barnes, Sen.
The above are all the very latest and most
popular novels of the day.
We constantly kcepon hand a large and well
selected stock of stationary of every kind, and
"are constantly receiving all the new books
that arc being published, and books that we
have not got, we can get on the shortest no
tice. June?' 1855
PIANO FORTES!
M'
R. RAMSEY, of
Columbia, S. C,
Pin ho Forte &
11 nslc Denier,
is comtantly receiv
ing a good supply o
Pianos with the LATEST IMPROVEMENTS,
wnicn na given them the premium over all
others. 6 and 6 octaves from $250 to $300.
64 to 7 $300 to $400. 7 to 74 $400 to $430.
Carved work and Grand Pianos lrom $500 to
$1000.
Mr R. being a practical Piano Maker can
insure to his customers a perf" instrument.
Colaroka June 29, 1855. 491 y
tntxdl Jntelligntfl.
THE LAWLESS PROCEEDINGS
AT COLUMBIA, 8. C
The New Ara, of Columbia, gives the
following account of the recent conflict be
tween the students of the South Carolina
College and the City Authorities :
"On Monday night last, three students of
the South Carolina College came in front of;
tne ouard nouse. une or inem caueu out
the name of Mr. Burdell, (one of our police
officers.) Mr. B. came out, whereupon the
Student struck the Marshal a severe blow,
(for what cause we know not, doubtless there
was a cause.) Mr. Burdell was not slow in
returning it, and so the fight commenced.
He also carried the assailant, after the fight,
into the Guard House, and being badly
hurt, a Doctor was sent for to see him. In
the mean time, the other two Students had
carried the news to the College of what had
happened, when a pretty general onslaught'
upon the Guard House by all the Students
was made, and their comrade conveyed
therefrom. This was done at the expense
of smashing in the window lights and break
ing small things up generally. Thus end
ed Monday night. On Tuesday morning,
the Students, not feeling satisfied that they
were even with Mr. Burdell, two or three
of them made another attack upon him. In
this fight, Mr. Burdell was roughly handled,
and so were two or three of the Students.
The Students now assembled in mass, ma
ny of them armed. The Mayor ordered
out the Military Companies to preserve or
der, and after some two hours, the Students,
at the solicitation of Dr. Thornwell, Col.
Win. C. Preston, and some other of our ci
tizens, retired to the College, since which
time quiet has prevailed. AVe learn that
on Thursday, by order of the Governor,
the arms of the State, which were in pos
session of the College Cadets, were taken
from the College grounds. As we remarked
above, an occurrence of this kind should,
in our judgment, be noticed, and a true
history of the transaction given, for the ex
press purpose of preventing exaggerated
and hurtful rumors, sure to arise by the
Press preserving a profound silence."
A LAMENTABLE OCCURRENCE.
On Saturday morning the 9th instant,
Mis Nancy Smith, residing with her mother,
a widow lady, in Alamance county, came j
to her death in a most shocking manner.
A lady in a neighboring family was taken
suddenly ill, and Mrs. Smith left in haste to
visit her, not taking even her bonnet, leav
ing her daughter alone at breakfast. During
her absence, her daughter, who was subject
,ua tuu, it is supposeu who oneoi
them, and falhng into the fire, the flames
communicated from her clothes to the house
and all were consumed. The mother, by
this distressing calamity, has not only lost
all she had, but suffers the excruciating
. . . i , . . . i - , .., .
anguish caused by the shocking and melan
choly death of her daughter. Hillsboro'
iV. C. Record tr.
CASUALTY.
A free negro boy yesterday accident
ally shot and killed a negro boy belong
ing to Mr. Jennings, of George's station.
The facts, as detailed to us, are briefly these :
The negro in question was a passenger on
the cars yesterday, and pulling out a pistol
showed it to one of his companions, and
while exhibiting it, and explaining how a
dagger would fly out when he touched a
spring, the pistol was discharged, the load
entering the body of a fellow passenger and
killing him almost immediately. Those who
examined into the affair had no doubt of its
being an accident. Columbia (S. C.J
1 trues.
FOREIGNERS AND MASSACHU
SETTS. Foreigners stand very little chance in the
Massachusetts Legislature. On Wednes
day a resolve to amend the Constitution so (
as to require a residence of twenty-one
years before they should be entitled to vote,
was passed by 29 to 7. The resolution was
immediately sent to the House. After the
annoucement of the vote, Mr. G. W. War
ren, of Suffolk, moved, in consideration of
the joy he felt at the result of this matter,
that the Senate adjourn. The motion was
carried, and the "Americans" exhibited the
joy experienced from their triumph by so
cial congratulations. Unsuccessful mo
tions were made to amend by inserting seven j
instead of twenty-one, and to exonerate for
eigners from a capitation tax for twenty
vears after their arrival in the countrv.
A NOVEL CASE.
The Auburn American says : We learn
that Fyler, who murdered his wife some
time since near Syracuse, is playing a sharp
game upon the counsel who defended him.
It annears that tbo ncrrpflitipnt hetwenn them
was, in case Fyler was saved from hanging, A writer in a Ne w York PaPer sPeaks
his counsel were to have four thousand o( a lad? who weare Pn one dress a ZZ
dollars. Of this amount one thousand ' mile f frin8e tr'mminS ! Another young
dollars was to be paid in cash, the ! lady in New York has adorned a single dress
remainder secured by mortgage on his farm. ! th seven red andfjly yards of ribbon.
The counsel put in a plaa of insanity, and Tru1"' this is TiDg extravagance in dress
Fyler was sent to the Lunatic Asylum. I t0 Sat lengths
The mortgage is now about due, and the ! A Noble Boy. A little fellow, not more
holders, on proposing to foreclose it, jmn j than five years old, hearing some gentle
met with the defence, that if the maker of i men at his father's table discussing the fa
it was insane when the murder was com- J miliar line : "An honest man is the noblest
mitted, could he have been sane at the time i work of God," said he knew it wasn't true
of giving the mortgage ? It looks as though
the lawyers were caught this time.
FROM CALIFORNIA AND CENTRAL
AMERICA By a late arrival at New Orleans, from
San Francisco, we learn that Col. Kinney
had gone to Granada to effect an alliance
with General Walker ; and all the Central
American States, except Nicaragua, had
formed an alliance. At San Francisco the
markets had a downward tendency. Con
siderable rain had fallen in California, and
the agricujturai progpects were good. Ac-
counts from the mines were excellent
No United States Senator has been elect
ed, and there was but little probability of a
choice. The Hon. Heary S. Foote is the
American nominee. Sanders and Ham
mond, both formerly Collectors for the Port
of San Franeisco, had been indicted for
embezzling funds. There had been no
fighting in Oregon since the last accounts.
FROM NICARAGUA
From the Nicaraguense of the 20th ult.
we learn that Walker seems to be main
taining his power with an even hand. Re
cruits are coming in slowly from San
Francisco, New Orleans and New York.
While every citizen of Nicaragua (says
the Nicaraguense) recognizes the appro
priateness of the action taken by the Gov
ernment in suspending diplomatic relations
with the United States Government, all
deplore the unfortunate position in which it
has placed the Hon. J. H. Wheeler. All
classes appreciate him as an officer and a
gentleman, and on Thursday evening, when
it was ascertained what the action of the
Government had been, all the different
bands in the city proceeded to his residence
and gave him a serenade. The national
airs of the Union were performed, and a
round of cheers administered. We regret
to learn that the American Minister has been
indisposed during the last two days. It is
to be hoped he will soon be fully recovered
again.
The steamer Northern Light sailed from
New York on the 25th ult. f jr San Juan,
having 200 filibusters on board on their way
to join the fortunes of the notorious Walker.
No arressts were made, but the greatest
excitement prevailed at the wharf from
which the steamer sailed.
The Richmond and Danville Rail
road. A bill authorizing an extension of
this railroad from Danville, through the
counties of Patrick, Henry, Carroll, ice,
has been finally acted upon by both branches
of the Virginia Legislature, and passed in
to a law. The work is to be constructed
by private subscriptions.
Look out fok Counterfeits. We saw
a few days ago, one of those counterfeit
i $o0 notes on the Bank of Charlotte, which
! kve been hcretof()re decribed in this paper
jIt is a dangerous counterfeit, requiring
; considerable knowledge of bank notes to
detect it. This one came from one of &Q
I counties, and we understand that
several others have been detected here.
P. S. Since the above was in type we
havo seen another of these counterfeits,
which came from a different county from
the first. We fear they are widely scat
tered. Fayetteville Observer.
13 Official accounts of the revenue of
Great Britain for the year to 31st Decem
ber, 1855, have just been published. The
income amounted to 63,364,605, and ex
penditure to 84,505,788, leaving a defi
ciency on the year of over twenty-one mil
lions pounds sterling. The London press
es, after going over the various items, are
convinced that another loan of sixteen or
twenty million pounds must be immediately
raised to meet current liabilities.
Death op a very old Servant. An
old and much respected colored woman,
familiarly known as "Old Aunt Nannie,"
died on the 30th ult., near Powhatan Court-
House, Virginia, at the advanced age of 127
years. Such a case of longevity is scarcely
on record. She was much respected for
piety by all who knew her. She was the
mother of 18 children, all of whom died at
old age.
E3P An old negro man, a slave, belonging
to a gentleman in the vioinity of Westport,
Mo., was asked whether he did not "want
to go and live among the free State men in
Lawrence?" when he instantly replied:
"No! 'spect not, massa, dis nigga been
raised 'mong quality could'nt think of
gwying thar, sir, drother stay at home among
white folks."
fJF'The New York Express says that
Garrison and other " friends of freedom"
have issued a call for a convention in that
city, to meet in May next, "to dispute the
divine authority of the Holy Scriptures."
What next will these fanatics seek to abol
ish ?
his mother was better than any man that
over was made.
COL. JOHN P. HOKE.
It will be perceived, from the following
letter, addressed to the Editor of this paper
by Col. John F. Hoke, that that gentleman
has ceased to act with the Know Nothings;
that his appointment as a delegate to Phil
adelphia does not meet his approbation ;
and that he was never even notified of his
appointment :
Lincolnton, Feb. 18, 1856.
Messrs. Editors : In your journal of
the 13th instant, I am called on to state
whether or not I am a delegate to the Con
vention of the American party to be held
at Philadelphia on the 22d inst., and to de
fine my position on the principles of the
Order. I do not recognize the right of any
one to require me to give my views on any
subject ; but in this instance, to prevent
misconstruction, I shall answer both ques
tions. I am not a delegate to the said Conven
tion. If such an appointment has been
made, I have not received any authentic
notice of the fact, or I should have respect
fully declined it. Neither does the ap
pointment (which I now take for granted)
meet with my approbation.
My intercourse with the organization
having ceased, I could not consent to take
part in the deliberations of the Convention,
when I do not expect to be bound in any
way by its conclusions. My opinions on
the platform of the American party were
made public in a speech to the people of
Lincoln last summer. They were :
1st. Opposition to secret organizations.
2nd. Opposition to religious intolerance,
and to mixing up religious with political
controversy. A belief that our government
was founded on a Protestant basis.
2d. Regarded the immense number of
emigrants flocking to our country as a dan
gerous aud growing evil.
4th. Viewed the 12th Article of the Plat
form as national and solvent, and approv
ed it. This is a synopsis of what was then
said.
Recent occurrences prove that only thir
ty members of Congress of that Order stand
on national ground. They are from the
South. The next Presidential contest will
present sectional against constitutional is
sues. Sound policy dictates that national
men should stand together. The loss of a
single State may be a loss of tho whole
question, and a destruction of the Union.
The small number of thirty men can only
serve to distract. If the Democratic party,
which is the strongest basis of operations,
present a candidate whose antecedents are
national and patriotic, who will guarantee
constitutional rights to every section, it be
hooves the South to unite on him without
distraction.
Yours, &c,
JOHN F. HOKE.
Here is another specimen of the honesty
which characterizes the Know Nothing or
ganization in this State. It seems that Col.
Hoke and John Haughton, Esq., were ap
pointed delegates to the Philadelphia Con
vention by the Know Nothing State Con
vention, which met here in October last,
over which Gen. Dockery presided ; and
that Mr. Haughton was duly informed of
his appointment, and that Col. Hoke was
not. The secrecy, it was stated, was at
that time entirely abolished. It was ru
mored in private c. t eles that Col. Hoke and
Mr. Haughton had been appointed. We
called repeatedly for information on the
subject, and indeed for the publication of
the proceedings of the Convention ; but no
answer was given ; and the people of the
State, though told that all secrecy had been
thrown off, were still kept in the dark. At
length, a short time before the period for
the meeting of the Philadelphia Convention,
the Register announced the names of Col.
Hoke and Mr. Haughton as delegates but
that was all. We respectfully called on
that paper for its authority for making the
announcement, but a stillness as of death
and chaotic darkness followed, as on for
mer occasions. Injustice was thus done
Col. Hoke, while at the same time his name,
as that of a prominent Democrat, was free
ly used privately, for effect, to add strength
to the tottering and detestable organiza
tion. Mr. Haughton is a Whig, and he was
of course notified of his appointment and
furnished with credentials. Their object
in this course towards Col. Hoke, was two
fold ; first, to injure him with the Demo
cratic party ; secondly, to use his name
and his influence privately to bolster up
their organization. But that gentleman
has, for months, ceased to act with them ;
and we are confident that, for the future,
they will feel the effect of his opposition.
Reader ! what do you think of such an
organization ? Is it one worthy the coun
tenance of honest men ? Ral- Standard.
MASS MEETING IN NEW YORK.
Speech of Col. Orr, of 8. C.
The "Young Men's Democratio Uunion
Club," of New York, held a mass meeting
at Tammany Hall, th. 21st ult. Sever
al distinguished speakers addressed the
meeting.
The President introduced Col. Orr, of S.
Carolina. Upon taking the stand, he said
that he had been invited to participate with
the Yoong Democracy of New York to cel
ebrate the natal day of the great and im
mortal Washington. I came here to see
whether the feelings of the Democracy of
New York was in consonance with the
feelings of the Democracy of South Caro
lina. We are approaching another Presiden
tial election. We shall probably have three
candidates in the field, but there will be
little need of those of the dark lantern to
grope about for a resting place, because we
of the South are ready to meet them to-day.
I say, gentlemen, you of the North take
care of the Black " Republicans," and we
will take care of the Know Nothings.
Fellow-Democrats of New York. I want
you to come together here in this great
State. Do not let yourselves be disgraced
by presenting two sets of delegates at Cin
cinnati heal up your differences. We of
the South do not feel like entering into these
matters, but we look to you, as you love
your country and the ascendancy of Dem
ocratic principles, to heal this difference.
If the coalition of the Democracy is kept
apart by the leaders, throw those leaders
overboard. I exhort the working Demo
cracy to do all in their power to bring this
desirable result about as soon as possible.
Now, gentlemen, who are these new-fangled
politicians? What are their princi
ples ? The fact is, they have no principles.
What are they doing at Philadelphia now ?
Why, they are knocking out plantt after
plank of their platform, until pretty soon
they will have none at all to stand on.
That is what they want to do. They in
tend to present a candidate without any
principle except the proscription pf foreign
ers ; and are you, fellow-citizens, willing to
subscribe to such an arrangement. Cries
of No, no! There is one thing I would
like to know, and that is this : if there is
one broken down political hack at this time
not in the ranks of the Know Nothings, I
would like to see him. As regards slavery,
I observe that there are lecturers going
through this country declaiming against the
wrong doings in Kansas. Now this is all
wrong. When anything goes wrong in the
North, do the people of the South go about
and incite the people against them. Let
these evils be remedied at the ballot-box.
There is one thing cortain, the Constitution
cannot be disregarded in one section of
the Union and obeyed in the other. Ap
plause.
AMERICANS RULING AMERICA.
The following we find among a series of
resolutions adopted by a Democratic meet
ing, a few days ago, at Goldsboro' :
Resolved, That we agree with tho so
called American party both in sentiment
and in words "that to Americans belongs
America," and that "Americans shall rule
America," but as the legislators of a country
are properly its owners and its rulers, and
as the Senate of the United States is com
posed of 62 members, and the popular branch
of Congress of 234 members, not one of
whom was born in a foreign country, so
Americans do now rule and now own Ameri
ca ; and Sam, the lying rascal, knows this,
and uses the phrase simply to deceive the
uninformed and get into power by false
pretences.
MISOE
1ST
WHICH TO CHOOSE.
Mrs. Champion, a rich widow of only
thirty summers, and in the full bloom of her
beauty, was in the matrimonial market
closely besieged by three suitors, all of them
good looking all gentlemen, and all pro
fessing unbounded and disinterested affec
tion for tho fair lady. Captain Trovanien
had been a cavalry officer, but had retired
from the service. He was a tall, dashincr
figure, with very aristocratic manners, and
like Ned Pepper, Paul Clifford's friend,
possessed an "unkimmon fine head of hair."
Indeed, it was rumored that his ambrosial
curls were not nature's gift to him, but the
spolia opima of some nameless and more
favored individual, procured of Bogle by
the intermediation of a certain amount of
filthy lucre. The captain had inherited a
large fortune.
Suitor No. 2 was a young man about
town, very fashionable, polished and pleas
ant. He contrived to keep out of debt, but
his financial resources were said to be very
limited. Mr. Claude Careless evidently had
a good prospect of success.
The third suitor, Mr. Stanley Moreton,
was an art-student, and also cultivated
poetry. Though very modest and unaf
fected, he was slightly eccentric in the
matter of costume wore a Reuben's hat,
and black velvet coat, and during the Kos
suth excitement, had serious thought of
completing his equipment by a feather
but his better genius saved him from this
solecism. As he was quite sensitive and
timid, had an awkward habit of blushing,
and was silent in company, the captain
and Careless made light of his rival-ship
and considered the contest as confined to
themselves.
The captain proposed after the most ap
proved taste of fashion, dropping gracefully
on one knee, and pressing the lips that
murmured his vows to the fair hand he so
licited as his guerdon.
When he had retired, Claude paid his
devoirs, and made his proposals with great
earnestness. His professions of disinter
estedness were no less emphatic than the
captain's.
The painter came next. When alone
with the Utiy of his love, he found a voice
which failed him in the presence of others.
To each of the suitors she gave the same
reply namely, that she would return a
definite answer to his suit exactly three
weeks from the date of his proposal ; re
quiring him in the interval to refrain from
calling, or inquiring about her, and to absent
himself from the oity. The commands of a
rich beauty are imperative. Each wooer
promised a knightly obedience, and kept
his pledge. The captain ran down to New
port; Claude went to Saratoga, and Stanley
carried his sketch-book up to the Whit
Mountains.
The widow shut herself up for three
weeks. At the expiration of that time,
punctual to the appointed day, hour and
minute, the elegant captain entered Mrs.
Champion's drawing room, and surveyed
himself from head to foot in tho Versailles
mirror with a smile of satisfaction. He was
engaged in self-admiration when a light
step recalled him to a sense of propriety.
He turned and beheld the widow, but a thick
veil covered her face. He drew a chair to
her side and addressed her.
"Dearest Isabella," said he, in his most
persuasive tones, "allow me to remove the
envious screen which shrouds charms that
were never meant to bo concealed."
"Alas, captain," said the widow, with a
tremulous voice, and drawing her veil yet
closer, "those charms exist no longer."
"Is it possible !" cried the captain in a
tone of alarm. "What do you mean?"
"Since I saw you I havo been very siok.
When I was a child, my parents neglected
to have me vaccinated, and the ravages of
the small pox "
"The small pox f cried the captain, push
ing his chair back to the other side of tho
room.
"Don't be afraid, captain," said the wi
dow. "It is all over and I am a dreadful
object to behold but of course that makes
no difference in your affections."
"Hem !" cried the captain. "It would
make no difference if I wanted to retire with
you into the country, to live like Darby
and Joan. But to go into society to in
troduce as my wife at balls and soirees a
person disfigured by a dreadful 'disorder,
O, Lord, ma'am, the idea never entered my
head!"
"I release you from your engagement
you are free," said tho widow.
"I have no doubt, ma'am," said the cap
tain, greatly relieved, "that you will find
individuals not exactly in my situation, who
will be will be very happy to in short,
ma'am, I wish you a very good day."
"Cold-hearted, vain egotist!" said the
widow when he had left. "I rightly guaged
your character. You only wished for a
handsome wife to enhance your conse
quence, and parade in society, as you si ow
off your handsome horse in the street. Let
us see whether my thoughts have wronged
Mr. Careless."
To Careless she told the same story.
The young gentleman heard of the loss of
her beauty with great nonchalance.
"But that is not all," said Mrs. Cham
pion. "My business man has just been with
me all the morning. My investments were
most unfortunate. I am completely beg
gared." "How unfortunate," cried Careless. For
I am in the same predicament. I don't see
my way through this quarter. Now it is
very evident that it would be the height of
folly for two persons without any income
or prospect to marry only to multiply
misery. I must beg you to consider my
proposal of last month as only conditional.
Doubtless there are rash unprincipled men,
who would in my case, think only of senti
ment, but I am too good a moralist, and too
good a citizen, to think of persevering now.
Farewell, madam ! farewell forever ! I leave
you with despair in my heart, and madness
in my brain."
Probably no declaration of despair was
ever uttered in a cooler tone and so thought
the widow.
"He loved me for my money , as I thought,"
she said. "I begin to believe that all the
men are alike. If Stanley prove equally
heartless, I shall renounce the perfidious
sex."
The young artist heard the loss of his
lady's beauty calmly.
"It is a misfortune," said he. "Beauty
is a glorious gift but perishable the true
heart and mind alone remain unchanged
till death."
"But I am poor, Stanley," said the widow.
"You give me new life, Isabella!" cried
the painter. "The world oannot say now
that any meroenary motives tainted the pure
feeling with whioh I regarded you. Trust
me you shall never want, while I have brain
and hand to work for you."
"Then take me suoh as I am and was,"
cried the widow, throwing off her veil, "both
in person and in purpose, and forgive the
fabricated tale which proved two of my sui
tors worthless."
Freed from the veil, her dazzling beauty
beamed on the painter in undimmed radi
ance, and her hand thrilled to bis touch.
Need we say that they were happy?
STThe Yankee girls complain that the
times are so hard the young men can't pay
their address.