while they were humble I blessed them, and fed them, and they became a numerous people. But they have now become proud, and forgotten me, who nourished them, and protected them in the wilderness, and are running into every abomination and evil practice of which the old countries are guilty, and have taken quietude from the land, and suffered a dividing spirit to come among them lift up thine eyes and behold.' And I saw them dividing in great heat. The division began in the churches on points of doctrine. It commenced in the Presbyterian Society, and went through the various religious denominations, and in its progress and close, its effects were the same. Those who dissented went off with high heads and taunting language, and those who kept to their original sentiments appeared exercised and sorrowful. And when the dividing spirit entered the Society of Friends, it raged in as high degree as in any I had noticed or before discovered; and, as before, those who separated went off with lofty looks, and taunting, censuring language. Those who kept their ancient principles retired by themselves. It next appeared in the Lodges of the Free Masons; it broke out in appearance like a volcano, inasmuch as it set the country in an uproar for a time. "Then it entered politics throughout the United States, and did not stop until it produced a civil war. An abundance of blood was shed in the course of the combat; the Southern States lost their power, and slavery was annihilated from their borders. Then a monarchical power sprang up, took the government of the States, established a national religion, and made all societies tributary to support its expenses. I saw them take property from Friends. I was amazed at beholding all this, and I heard a voice proclaiming This power shall not always stand, but with it I will chastise my Church until they return to the faithfulness of their forefathers; thou seest what is coming upon thy native country for their in iquities and the blood of Africa, the remembrance of which has come up before me.' "This vision is yet for many days. I had no idea of writing it for many years, until it became such a burden, that, for my own relief, I have written it." THE TRUE BALANCE. Two councilmen of New Orleans were one evening in February, 1861, reeling down to the city hall steps discussing politics, as well as their cups and hiccups would permit them. One said solemnly, Officer. Well, Pat, ain't you going to follow the General (Twiggs)? Pat.-If Gineral Scott ordhers us to folly him, sir, begor, Toby (Pat's horse) can gallop as well as the best of 'em. Officer. I mean, won't you leave the abolition army, and join the free South? Pat. Begor, I never enlisted in th' abolition army, and never will. I agreed to sarve Uncle Sam for five year, and the divil a pin mark was made in the contract, with my consint, ever since. When my time is up, if the army isn't the same as it is now, I won't join it agin. Officer:- Pat, the "Second (Cavalry) was eighteen months old when you and I joined. The man who raised our gallant regiment is now the Southern President; the man who so lately commanded it, is now a Southern General. Can you remain in it, when they are gone? Pat. Well, you see, the fact of the matther is, Lieut. C., I ain't much of a scholar; I can't argue the question with you; but what would my mother say, if I desarted my colors? Oh, the divil a give-in I'll ever give in, now, and that's the ind of it. I tried to run away once, a few weeks after enlistin', but a man wouldn't be missed thin. It's quite different now, Lieutenant, and I'm going not to disgrace naither iv my countries. Officer. Do you know that you will have to fire on green Irish colors, in the Southern ranks? Pat. And won't you have to fire on them colors, (pointing to the flag at Fort Bliss,) that yerself and five of us licked nineteen rangers under? Sure, it isn't a greater shame for an Irishman to fire on Irish colors, than for an American to fire on American colors. An' th' oath 'll be on my side, you know, Lieutenant. Officer. Confound the man that relies on Paddies, I say. Pat. The same compliments to desarters, your honor. ANECDOTE OF ROGER A. PRYOR. — The following occurred during the attack on Fort Sumter in 1861. Roger A. Pryor, of Virginia, ex-member of Congress, was one of the second deputation that waited upon Major Anderson. He was the very embodiment of Southern chivalry. Literally dressed to kill, bristling with bowie-knives and revolvers, like a walking arsenal, he appeared to think himself individually capable of capturing the fort, without any extraneous assistance. Inside of the fort he seemed to think himself master of every thing-monarch of all he surveyed-and, in keeping with this pretension, seeing upon the table what appeared to be a glass of brandy, drank it without ceremony. Surgeon (afterward General Crawford, who had witnessed the feat, approached him AN IRISH REGULAR.-The following dialogue and said: "Sir, what you have drank is poison took place between Lieutenant A. C. Cd, late-it was the iodide of potassium you are a of the United States Texan army, and Pat Fletcher, one of the privates of the Second Cavalry, at Carlisle, then near Fort Bliss: : "The South's true balance must not be overthrown;" to which the other replied, "Confound the South's balance; try to keep your own." dead man!" The representative of chivalry instantly collapsed, bowie-knives, revolvers and all, and passed into the hands of Surgeon Crawford, who, by purgings, pumpings, and pukings, defeated his own prophecy in regard to his fate. Mr. Pryor left Fort Sumter a "wiser if not a better man." TAKEN BY THE PIRATES. did not know where we were. Some of the crew said we were north of Charleston; but, as it turned out, we were south of North Edisto, where we ran aground and lost our false keel, but got off again, and went to sea. On the following day we saw no land, and on the evening of the 27th we made the land of St. Helena, almost the exact The following letter is from a young Scotch-place where we were on the 25th. After tacking man, who married a wife, and set sail from New off and on all night, we were still in the same place. York for Cardenas; the vessel was taken by a Then we beat up to the North Edisto Inlet." rebel piratical craft, and the party had the pleas-fact caused the crowd to take alarm, and, to a While beating up we espied a schooner, which ure of a visit to Charleston, S. Č. : — MATANZAS, Nov. 11, 1861. We sailed from New York on board the brig Betsy Ames, on October 5th. In all we were six passengers, beside Mrs. Bartlett, the wife of the captain. We were bound for Cardenas, and all went well until the morning of the 17th ult., when we observed a schooner making right for us. There was nothing suspicious about her at first sight, but about nine A. M. she fired at us, her shot falling short about a quarter of a mile. Captain Bartlett then ordered all sail to be made, but the breeze shortly after died away, and the now suspicious schooner made upon us, and fired another shot, which also fell a little short of our vessel. A third shot was fired, but we could not see in what direction it went. They fired a fourth shot, which passed close alongside our brig. This latter result caused our captain to take in sail and jog along more leisurely, till the schooner made up to us about twelve o'clock, M. Still, we could not tell what the little craft was, as she had no color flying. When she came up to us, the captain of the schooner ordered our captain to take one of his boats and come on board with his papers, to which he responded, "My boats are unfit for service." The captain of the schooner then said, "I will come on board your brig, then," which he immediately did. He came in his own boat, with an officer and four men, when the captain and his officer went down into the cabin with our captain, and took possession of all his papers; then told him that he was a prisoner of the Confederate States of America. While the officers were in the cabin, the men who were left in the boat sprang on deck and into the forehold, from which they took two barrels of potatoes, about two dozen cabbages, and a coil of rope, and put them into their boat. When the officers came up on deck again, they ordered our crew to the boat, and thence to the privateer, which proved to be the Flying Sally, of Charleston, on board of which there were about sixty men and two pivot-guns. In a short time a prize crew was sent on board, and as our captain had his wife, they did not transfer him. The prize crew were seven in all. The master was an old cooper, named Joseph Tully, who used to cooper both at Matanzas and Cardenas. He evidently knew nothing of seamanship. About two o'clock we parted with the pirate schooner, and nothing particular occurred until the 24th, at daybreak, when we made land, but man, they rushed below, armed themselves with their swords, knives, and pistols, bagged their clothing and a few little valuables, then prepared for the boats, as they intended to beach the brig. They were apprehensive that the vessel sighted was a United States gunboat. When they came on deck, however, and took another observation, they discovered that it was only a little schooner. Then we made the inlet, when a boat's crew, armed to the teeth, came on board, and piloted us up to the anchorage, about forty miles inland. There they discharged their prizes, and the vessels were towed up to Charleston by tow-boats. We arrived at Charleston at about three o'clock, P. M., on the 27th. Next morning the steamer General Clinch took us on board, with our baggage. I may also state, that the steamer Planter towed us up to this safe "pirates' village ground." When we got into Charleston the prize captain took us to a private boarding-house, his agent having closed his office previous to our arrival. Next morning we strolled about the city, and called upon the British Consul, who told us, strange as it may seem, that he could render us no assistance, as we had done wrong in taking our passage on board an American vessel, knowing that the two countries were at war; therefore, if the owners of the prize had the good feeling to pay our expenses, it was only to be expected from their generous character, but they could not be forced to do so. About twelve o'clock we were called upon to go to the marshal's office, and when we got there the marshal told us that we were prisoners. We were then sent to the city jail. The captain's wife, and the other lady of our company, did not accompany us to the jail. We remained in this limbo till half past eight o'clock, P. M., having been released at that time through the exertions of Her British Majesty's Consul, Mr. Bunce, who had been induced to act then only because an old English captain, who saw us in prison, went to him and prevailed upon him to use his influence in our behalf. The next day we looked round to see if we could devise any means of getting away. The Spanish Consul informed us that the only schooner which was going for some time had been loaded, and had sailed already for Matanzas. However, we had the good fortune to meet Mr. Salas, the owner of two vessels which were ready for sea, and it appeared that Mr. Bunce had been to him to endeavor to procure us a passage; and as he could not assist us, Mr. Salas offered to take us to Matanzas on credit. That arrange ment included the other British passengers, my wife, and myself. The other three passengers were Germans, having American passports, and could not be taken on board the schooner Jasper. The crew on board this craft declared her unseaworthy, after getting their advanced pay, and left. Mr. Salas had therefore to ship another crew, and we got ready for sea. As the bark Rowena was getting her name changed to the St. Helena of Charleston, S. C., having been loaded with a cargo of naval stores, awaiting a favorable opportunity to run the blockade, we waited and went out with her. So, on the night of the 2d inst., she was taken in tow by a steamer, and we followed her as closely as we could out past the United States vessels, and in half an hour were after her, and could see the lights of the United States ships quite distinctly, although none of them seemed to make any movement, and did not observe us. It was about ten o'clock, P. M., when we got clear of their lights. Then we thought ourselves safe on the sea once more. We arrived here safely on the night of Saturday, the 9th inst. And now, when I think of the scenes I have passed through since I left New York, (the scenes of a honeymoon excursion,) what impressed me most was the almost death-like solemn appearance of Charleston, and the entire absence of anything like business. It appeared as if a Scotch fast day was being observed. At least one half of the stores have "To Let" posted upon the shut doors, and those which are occupied are all closed at noon every day, and every man has to turn out to drill, or be fined by the police the next day. Another thing which struck me was the almost entire absence of "hard cash." One of my companions and I went into a bar-room to have a drink, and the only money we had to offer was Spanish. My friend offered a two dollar piece, but the bar-keeper was bewildered; he did not know its value, and asked us what it was worth. Being informed that it was worth two dollars twelve and a half cents in Cuba, he offered two dollars twenty-five cents in paper change. Then a crowd gathered around us, staring their eyes out of their heads, almost, at the novelty of the sight of gold, and many of them seemed really anxious to be the possessors. We saw no small change except pieces of paper, which certify that they are "good for five cents," "good for ten cents," and so on. I must say that men, women, and children in Charleston seem united in the cause of secession. When they found that one of my fellow-passengers and myself were Scotchmen, they treated us very respectfully. Though our Consul did not at first seem to sympathize with us, still he exerted himself well on our behalf when he found that we were in prison. All seemed to have great respect for him in Charleston. ton, has a peculiar interest. The original is in Latin, and bears marks of great antiquity. It is said to have been written by a recluse, some centuries since: "Before thirteen united Shall be thrice what they are, The eagle shall be blighted By the lightning of war. When sixty is ended, And one takes its place, Then brothers offended Shall deal mutual disgrace. If white remain white, And bring happiness back. But whenever the Cross OCCUPATION OF FORT SUMTER. -The follow ing impressive incident occurred at Fort Sumter on Major Anderson taking possession of that place in December, 1860: It is known that the American flag brought away from Fort Moultrie was raised at Sumter precisely at noon on the 27th of that month. It was a scene that will be a memorable reminiscence in the lives of those who witnessed it. A short time before noon, Major Anderson assembled the whole of his little force, with the workmen employed on the fort, around the foot of the flag-staff. The national ensign was attached to the cord, and Major Anderson, holding the end of the lines in his hand, knelt reverently down. The officers, soldiers, and men clustered around, many of them on their knees, all deeply impressed with the solemnity of the scene. The chaplain made an earnest prayer—such an appeal for support, encouragement, and mercy as one would make who felt that "man's extremity is God's opportunity." As the earnest, solemn words of the speaker ceased, and the men responded Amen with a fervency that perhaps they had never before experienced, Major Anderson drew the "Star-spangled Banner" up to the top of the staff, the band broke out with the national air of "Hail, Columbia!" and loud and exultant cheers, repeated again and again, were given by the officers, soldiers, and workmen. "If," said the narrator, "South Carolina had at that moment attacked the fort, there would have been no hesitation upon the part of any man within it about defending the flag." INCIDENT OF THE WHITE HOUSE, VA. On the occupation of the White House, Va., by the A PROPHECY.—The following, translated a soldiers of General McLellan, a small piece of few years since by a lady, who is an inmate of a paper, bearing the following inscription, wan religious institution in the vicinity of Washing-found pinned on the casing of an inner door: "Northern soldiers, who profess to reverence Washington, forbear to desecrate the house of his first married life, the property of his wife, now owned by her descendants. "A granddaughter of Mrs. Washington." Beneath the inscription was written the following: "LADY: A Northern officer has protected your property in the sight of the enemy, and at the request of your overseer." J. M. LEARNED, of Oxfordville, New Hamp shire, had three twins in the army. Two of them, twenty-three years old, were in the Massachusetts Fourteenth. The third, whose mate is a girl, was in the Fifth New Hampshire regiment. A REMINISCENCE OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN. When the convention was held in Chicago, which nominated Mr. Lincoln for the Presidency in 1860, a respectable gentleman in Massachusetts not of Mr. Lincoin's party - was induced to A FIGHTING CLERGYMAN.-Rev. B. C. Ward, take the opportunity, in company with several pastor of a Congregational church in the village delegates and others interested in the objects of of Geneseo, Illinois, conceived it to be his duty the convention, to go out to Chicago, and spend to forsake the pulpit for the field. He received a few days in visiting that section of the country. authority to raise a company of infantry, but In a very few minutes after the final balloting proposed to enlist clergymen only. An appeal to was had, and Mr. Lincoln was nominated, it haphis clerical brethren, published over his own sig-pened that a train of cars started upon the Cennature, called upon "the fighting stock of the tral Railroad, passing through Springfield, the church militant" to prove to the world their will-place of Mr. Lincoln's residence, and Mr. R., the ingness to "seal with their blood what they have gentleman alluded to, took passage in the same. talked in their pulpits," and closed with this extraordinary passage: "Much as we have said and done to prove our loyalty, we have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. Shall we now, at the call of Christ, come out from behind our velvet-cushioned barracks, whence we have so often hurled bold, indignant words at the giant iniquity of the age, and meet it face to face with the hot shot of rifled artillery, with the gleaming bayonet, or with clashing sabres in hand-to-hand encounter ?" THE LAST MAN OF BEAUFORT. - On the day the town of Beaufort, S. C., was entered by the national troops, all the inhabitants were found to have fled, except one white man, who, being too much intoxicated to join his compatriots in flight, had been forced to remain behind. ""Tis the last man at Beaufort To comfort is nigh, And his liquor's expended, We'll not leave thee, thou lone one, Since your friends have all mizzled,' To sleep with the dead; As they bore him away, And your friends they have flown, O, who would inhabit This Beaufort alone?'' Arriving at Springfield, he put up at a public house, and loitering upon the front door steps, had the curiosity to inquire of the landlord where Mr. Lincoln lived. Whilst giving the neces sary directions, the landlord suddenly remarked, There is Mr. Lincoln now, coming down the sidewalk; that tall, crooked man, loosely walking this way; if you wish to see him you will have an opportunity by putting yourself in his track." In a few moments the object of his curiosity reached the point our friend occupied, who advancing, ventured to accost him thus: "Is this Mr. Lincoln?" "That, sir, is my name." "My name is R., from Plymouth county, Massachumade the public property of the United States, I setts, and learning that you have to-day been have ventured to introduce myself with a view to a brief acquaintance, hoping you will pardon such a patriotic curiosity in a stranger." Mr. Lincoln received his salutations with cordiality, told him no apology was necessary for his introduction, and asked him to accompany him to his residence. He had just come from the telegraph office, where he had learned the fact of his nomination, and was on his return home when our friend met and accompanied him thither. Arriving at Mr. Lincoln's residence, he was introduced to Mrs. Lincoln and the two boys, and entered into conversation in relation to the Lincoln family of the old colony - the Hingham General Lincoln of the Revolutionary army, and the two Worcester Lincolns, brothers, who were Governors of Massachusetts and Maine at one and the same time. In reply to Mr. R.'s inquiry whether Mr. Lincoln could trace his ancestry to either of those early families of his own name, Mr. Lincoln, with a characteristic facetiousness, replied that he could not say that he ever had an ancestor older than his father, and therefore had it not in his power to trace his genealogy to so patriotic a source as old General Lincoln of the Revolution though he wished he could. After some fur her pleasant conversation, chiefly relating to the early history of the Pilgrim Fathers, with which he seemed familiar, Mr. R. desired the privilege of writing a letter to be despatched by the next nail. Mr. Lincoln very promptly and kindly provided him with the necessary means. As he began to write, Mr. Lincoln approached, and tapping him on the shoulder, expressed the hope that he was not a spy who had come thus early to report his faults to the public. "By no means, sir," protested Mr. R.; "I am writing home to my wife, who, I dare say, will hardly credit the fact that I am writing in your house.' "O, sir," exclaimed Mr. Lincoln, "if your wife doubts your word, I will cheerfully indorse it, if you will give me permission;" and taking the pen from Mr. R., he wrote the following words, in a clear hand, upon the blank page of the letter: "I am happy to say that your husband is at the present time a guest in my house, and in due time I trust you will greet his safe return to the bosom of his family. A. LINCOLN." This gave our friend an excellent autograph of Mr. Lincoln, besides bearing witness to his hospitable and cheerful spirit. Whilst thus engaged in pleasant conversation, the cars arrived that brought from Chicago the committee of the convention appointed to notify Mr. Lincoln of his nomination. He received them at the door, and conducted them to seats in his parlor. Our friend, who related the interview to us, says that on the reception of this committee Mr. Lincoln appeared somewhat embarrassed, but soon resumed his wonted tranquillity and cheerfulness. At the proper time the chairman of the committee arose, and, with becoming dignity, informed Mr. Lincoln, that he and his fellows appeared in behalf of the convention now in session at Chicago, to inform him that he had that day been unanimously nominated to the office of President of the United States, and asked his permission to report to that Mr. body his acceptance of the nomination. Lincoln, with becoming modesty, but very handsomely, replied, that he felt his insufficiency for the vast responsibilities which must devolve upon that office under the impending circumstances of the times, but if God and his country called for his services in that direction, he should shrink from no duty that might be imposed upon him, and therefore he should not decline the nomination. After this ceremony had passed, Mr. Lincoln remarked to the company, that as an appropriate conclusion to an interview so important and interesting as that which had just transpired, he supposed good manners would require that he should treat the committee with something to drink; and opening a door that led into a room in the rear, he called out, "Mary! Mary!" A girl responded to the call, whom Mr. Lincoln spoke a few words to in an under-tone; and, closing the door, returned again to converse with his guests. In a few minutes the maiden entered, bearing a large waiter, containing several glass tumblers, and a large pitcher in the midst, and placed it upon the centre-table. Mr. Lincoln arose, and gravely addressing the company, said, Gentlemen, we must pledge our mutual healths in the most healthy beverage which our God has given to man; it is the only beverage I have ever used or allowed in my family, and I cannot conscientiously depart from it on the present occasion; it is pure Adam's ale from the spring;" and taking a tumbler, he touched it to his lips and pledged them his highest respects in a cup of cold water. Of course, all his guests were constrained to admire his consistency, and to join in his example. Mr. R., when he went to Chicago, had but little political sympathy with the Republican convention which nominated Mr. Lincoln; but when he saw, as he did see for himself, his sturdy adherence to a high moral principle, he returned an admirer of the man, and a zealous advocate of his election. "ALL WE ASK IS TO BE LET ALONE." BY H. H. BROWNELL. As vonce I valked by a dismal swamp, "Let me alone, for I loves to shy Just then came along, on the self same vay, "You must have a lesson to stop your tricks, The old cove stopped, and the other old cove, |