language; but the East Tennesseeans beauty dependent upon light, the rain kept them back, and so they were not brought under my orders. On the morning of the battle of Talladega, Gen. Robertson came to me, desiring me to act as aid-de-camp; the men having faith in my experience as an Indian fighter. I consented to do so, in case I had no new order from Gen. Jackson. I went with Major Conn's column, of eighty men; and by some mistake, we were thrown obliquely to the right, and in contact with some five hundred Indians, in one body, when we had a severe battle. Here about seventy Indians were killed. They fledsuch as could flee-and fairly ran the gauntlet between the two lines, our men following them several miles. This was my last battle with the Indians. I returned home, and have led 'a peaceful life ever since. I have tried also to be a religious man, but have not always, in a life of so much adventure and strife, been able to act consistently. WONDERS OF THE MICROS- THE WORLD UNSEEN. bow, the silvery clouds of broad noonday in summer, the purple hues of the sky at sunset, the reflection of these in the calm lake or river, are such, oftentimes, as to force a sense of their beauty upon all,—whilst the white billows of a stormy ocean, the driving clouds of an autumnal, or wintry day, cause us to marvel at the sublime, to recognize in each great change, the infinite varieties with which our world is favored. These vary the emotions, as calm joy, as admiration, or astonishment take possession of the thoughts for the time. Without them, life would seem but a cheerless pilgrimage, a weary way to man, constituted as he is, to love the beautiful, and to seek in its presence nourishment for the immortal longings which reach to worlds of beauty and sublimity far away. A small flower is before us. To the naked eye, it has but one or two colors, purple running into white, and so tiny in its proportions, as scarcely to be more than a thread in size. We now place it under the microscope. What wonders are developed! It is not changed; but seen through a new medium, it has become a magnificent creation, Perhaps no instrument, of the many trumpet shaped, the richest purple runcontributed by scientific men to inform ning into pale crimson and yellow, the us of the wonders open to the investi- whole spangled with golden stars! gating and intelligent mind, is capa- Viewed aright, viewed as it is, we have ble of affording more real delight than here, to our sight, a new form of beauthe microscope, the channel through ty, before which, in gorgeousness of which we are introduced into a new color, in gracefulness of form, in all world-a world so interesting, so mar- that delights the eye, hundreds of flowvellous, that the gorgeous visions of ers every day eliciting our admiration the romancer in the "Thousand and might hide their heads! And yet, withone Nights," pale before them, and the out taking the pains to search for it, it brightest dreams of fairy land are but might forever have been hidden from poor and meagre in comparison. our sight. And yet, how many are privileged to Here, next, is the scale of a fish; a know this! How many, even, are con- thing so common to the sight, so simtented to live and die, never having ple in form apparently, as to be passmade an effort to seek these wonders-ed by from the beginning of life to the how many pass through a world so rich in its hidden treasures of beauty, without a thought of them, satisfied with a bare glance at the apparent, never asking for any thing more? True, the world around is crowded with wonders open to the most careless gaze. The thousand phases of end of it almost, without challenging a second thought! And yet, its beauty revealed, we gaze and gaze upon it, struck with admiration and astonishment at the singular elegance of its structure, at its adaptation to the purposes it is meant to serve. A minute shield, resembling more than any thing else carved work in pearl, we find it on the apparently insignificant animal, regularly fluted in radial lines and con- the subject of the experiment, we are centric circles, the edge at the root stud- lost in admiration and wonder at the ded with spikes, the whole exhibiting greatness of that power, which has put a beauty of design, a sparkling bril-in motion machinery so curious, to liancy, marvellous to behold in a thing serve the purposes of even the least of so common. And yet this exquisite his creatures, specimen of Nature's handywork is not so much as a grain of wheat in breadth. Suppose we next examine the sting of a bee, so trifling in size, yet so formidable in action. We find, upon inWe next place under the lens a small vestigation, that in proportion to its spider to the naked vision, of a gray dimensions, the fang of the rattlesnake color simply; and of a size perhaps one constructed upon the same principle, third that of the common house fly. to inject poison into the wound given, Here now, we have a monster to look is not more deadly and venomous. at! We find him covered with coarse Placed under the microscope, we find hair, spotted like a leopard, white span the sting barbed at the end, whilst at gles on a gray ground, and with two the base it has a broad shoulder to prestrong arms furnished with claws for vent it going too far; and close examseizing his prey, which even looked up- ination has shown that as in the case on through this medium, almost makes of the rattlesnake, before mentioned, one shudder. No wonder the poor in a small bag of poison is provided to sects he pursues, flee horror-stricken make the hurt given more deadly. from his vicinity-and that he is driven Honey, the product of this little insect, to seize his victim as does the animal has ever made it numerous enemies, he resembles in color, by springing up-and what apparatus can we conceive on it. A net or web is of little use to of, more suited to protect its stores this marauder. He lives in a hole, and from rapacious foes such as it finds in creeping with scarcely a perceptible bears and other animals. Armed with movement as near as possible, leaps this small weapon, it puts the most perhaps twenty times his length upon daring to ignoble flight, causing even his prey. man to flee before it. But we have a more interesting sub- We might take up other wonders in ject to examine than any we have yet the natural world, not visible to the described! A scientific friend is in at- naked eye, and show by them how imtendance, with a large frog,-and we mense is the field of investigation about propose to bring the lens to bear upon our daily paths to interest and instruct the web or film between two of his the enquiring mind; and we have chostoes. Placing it between us and the en the instances given, because they light from the window, we discern the are of those most familiar to all. most curious and beautiful net-work of Think, then, of the world of beauty filaments and blood vessels imaginable. discernible in flowers, in the colors The field of view so limited in extent, is upon the wings of insects to which the yet crowded with wonders such as, look brightest plumage of half the feathered ed upon a few hundred years ago, would tribes within our scope of vision bears have startled the learned world, and no comparison, think of the wonders revolutionized theories which had undeveloped in leaf, and shell, and tree, claimed from medical science the labor in the most elevated or insignificant of centuries. We behold in this slight thing with which we are brought in film, the circulation of the blood! contact as life progresses, and then There it is, globule after globule follow-resolve to make the most of life and its ing each other through the vessels, and opportunities for acquiring knowledge, resembling in appearance half transpa- for becoming acquainted with the world rent shot. How rapidly they circulate of wonder and of beauty that is spread how plain is the whole, to the vision! abroad around us. And whilst we gaze upon it, and up Man is largely dependent upon him. THE CABIN ON THE LAKE The sky had a cold gray appearance, such as it had worn all day, as we pushed out into Mishawaka Lake on a night in November, for a fishing excursion, the stars now and then striv ing with feeble light to pierce the dim opaque which shut in the whole hori son around. Winter was at hand; but my companion for the night a veteran pioneer of the wilderness, an adept at sports of flood and field was bent on having some fish; and never backward when novelty was likely to repay the labor of an excursion, I volunteered for the expedition. self for happiness, after all; and the true philosophy of life, was never perhaps better taught than in the little story of Picciola, where poor Count Charney, pent in the dingy fortress of Fenestrella, is made to draw happiness from the presence of one poor flow er. Watching its bright development, dwelling upon that wisdom which had formed a thing so curious, the stately edifice of his worldly philosophy crumbled before the inspiration drawn from it; and bringing to him reflection, gave to his heart and mind those healing influences necessary to their well-being, necessary to faculties originally noble in their nature, but diseased from exposure to the corrupt lessons learned in the gay and thoughtless world. Thrown into an apartment alone, be- With a canoe, on the bow of which reft of books, of every aid to thought, elevated upon a staff a few feet high this was the place to try an intelligent was fixed a kind of iron basket to conand thinking mind, this was the place tain the light, a good supply of pine to test all the resources within. Yet knots, a fish "gig," or spear, and a by natural steps he is made to triumph hatchet, we were equipped; and as we over the blank solitude of his position pushed out into the lake, gazing into -is made to attain that happiness in its translucent depths for our prey, a dungeon, which all the gaities of re- pleasant were my anticipations of fined life had failed to give. By look sport, albeit a cold breeze now and ing closely about him, by the examina- then rippled the surface of the water, tion of one insignificant plant, he is interfering with the sight of what might furnished with examples of goodness, be lurking at the bottom. and of power; his mind is opened to the perception of what constitutes the truly beautiful, until he comes forth almost a new intelligence-a being with a new set of faculties. As with the microscopic, so with the telescopic world. We step forth be neath the calm heavens, and gazing with the telescope upon the worlds burning in brightness so far away, the spirit is purified and elevated, the heart made better. We forget for the time the "battle of life," to dwell in spheres far removed from this. We look above, and are grateful for that world of beauty before unseen-we look around, and resolve anew to make the best use of life, that so we may lie down where all must lie at last, with no dark regrets haunting us, no upbraidings of soul for having neglected the investigation of that world of intelligence within our reach. Quietly I enjoyed the scene as “Old · Ben" the fisherman stood in the rear of the blazing torch, a perfect picture of the veteran sportsman, as he poised the long spear ready for any vagrant pike or clumsy buffalo. Occasionally as he turned his head in eager quest of his quarry, his huge red nose shone still redder in the firelight, and his sharp gray eyes twinkled with fierce earnestness as he gave a lunge of the spear at intervals into the weeds or gravel at the bottom, each failure folLowed by some anathema peculiar to himself, some fragment of a grumbling soliloquy, generally ending with- "I know'd it!" Along the lake shore we meandered, the paddle worked with busy hand by myself, as much to keep up warmth by the exercise, as with the expectation of seeing Old Ben pounce upon something to justify his many brags made to me whilst lounging on the sunny side. L of his little cabin, where with my gun on my shoulder, I had first struck up an acquaintance with him. found us in the depths of the primitive forest, and hatchet in hand, looking around for materials with which to construct a shelter. Two fragments of dead limbs a few In this manner, hour after hour passed until nearly midnight, a few pike only, and these not of large size--feet in length were stuck up in the repaying the trouble of the voyage. ground, a ridge pole was placed upon When about five miles from the them, and then as the most active of little harbor whence we had launched, the two, I climbed a young hemlock and with the old forest dimly seen bor- tree, an evergreen, near by, and bedering the lake shore, a snow-flake ginning at the top, trimmed off all the came dancing between me and the light, branches as I descended; Old Ben concluding its ærial wanderings upon my hand. The announcement of this disagreeable incident was followed by the usual' -"I know'd it," from Old Ben, as I turned the head of the canoe to retrace our course, and thicker and faster came the fleecy messengers as the rising wind sent them in eddying circles spinning onward through the wintry air. "I know'd it!"-grumbled the old fellow," we shall have to camp out," and then turning to me his next remark, was--"youngster you may as well draw a bee line for the timber!" Upon that suggestion I urged the canoe forward with strong sweeps of the paddle, until the bow of it striking upon an old log just beneath the surface, with the sudden shock pitched Old Ben fairly over upon his hands and knees into the water-but a few inches in depth, however-who rising like a fresh water Neptune, shook his gray locks, and this time, madly swore. The wild storm was now really abroad in its fury, the shores of the lake lashed with the angry surges, the wind twisting the tall tree tops as it roared amongst the leafless branches, the snow falling ceaselessly, the ground being already whitened with it. A pretty fix! full surely, thought I, as I began to weigh the value of the sport, and fancy my limbs sticking out of a snow bank with a "coroner's inquest," considering what they should say about so interesting an incident.But catch an old woodsman aback, if you can! meanwhile placing them at an angle of forty-five degrees or thereabouts, for the construction of the roof. This process followed with other trees, we soon had a snug shelter built. We next made a couch, composed of the softer tufts spread on the ground inside, and at the entrance open to the leeward only, a blazing fire of logs threw its cheerful warmth to the very back part of the little shealing, the snowy covering as it accumulated, gradually shutting out every current of cold air which whistled and moaned around. What an air of comfort it had as we stretched ourselves upon our fragrant beds, after a good lunch, and heard the snow flakes hissing in the fire as we watched the mounting flamesbrightened by the contrast to the deep darkness beyond! What to us then, was the bleak blast as it madly careered through the vistas of the old forest, twirling the snow in a thousand fantastic forms. No entrance found it there, but turned back by the fierce sentinel whom we had placed on duty at our portal, his hands filled with glowing coals, left were we to sweet repose, unharmed by the wild war of elements without, untouched by the gray lancers of the frost, who else would have transfixed us as we slept. The morning sun arose bright and beautiful, the earth heavily arrayed in its garment of white, and tree and shrub hung with chaplets of diamonds, as rubbing our eyes we crept from our humble shelter. But often since that By "Old Ben's" directions, the ca- memorable night, when vainly courting noe was drawn high upon the shore, sleep beneath palace roofs upon beds and then leaving it, a tramp of a few of down, have I sighed for that sweet dozen yards lighted by the blazing torch repose which all unbidden visited my eyelids in the lowly cabin upon the boats, young men, far from home, are lake shore. A FEW WORDS CONCERNING constantly liable to serious accidents whilst employed about them. In railroads, especially, the State is likely as at present appears to become a stock. holder to a large amount; and some provision should be made therefore for One of the first duties of a State, as taking care of those of its employees, such, it must be conceded, is to provide, who may be maimed whilst in the line so far as is possible for the sick or in of their duties for the relief, when firm poor whom misfortune has render-needed, of men who are the active ed incapable of providing for them- agents in advancing its commercial selves; and in the commonwealth where prosperity. this is not done, the community must It is true that the Legislature has paid present to the thoughtful observer the the people at large the high compli appearance only of a series of isolated ment of presuming that the general circles, each circle, to a greater or less prosperity is so great, the benevolent degree, intent principally upon its own spirit of the present age so unmistakeparticular advancement or welfare. able, that none of the classes we have Distributed through these circles, are, named can greatly suffer! But were of course, found here and there, phi- the necessities of the case fairly unlanthropic individuals, persons who derstood, could they be fairly exhibited have extended views as to their duties in all their sad or revolting features, a towards the great brotherhood of man-mass of human suffering would be appersons who will not, if it is possible parent such as to startle the most careto prevent it, let those suffer who hap- less or incredulous, into earnest efforts pen to fall under their immediate no- for its relief. tice. But as chance decrees that many Hospitals are essentially the distin. cases are not heard of at all, or often-guishing characteristic of a Christian times at too late a period for the suf- age; and it is not creditable to any ferer to be relieved by the slender commonwealth that its sick and infirm means so afforded, death steps in to deprive the State perhaps of a good citizen, and his friends at a distance of one upon whom they might have relied for support. poor should be left to suffer and per ish, destitute of surgical aid, and of those necessaries essential to their chances of recovery. And such are the vicissitudes of human affairs, that no community, however situated, however healthy, however far removed apparently from misfortune can be assured that at some period in its history, either from the prevalence of cholera, or fever, or other fatal or epidemic sickness, it may not find in that great public charity, a well managed Hospital, its chief means of combatting disease, and thus preventing consequences fearful to contemplate. True, in our own State we have many noble public charities-many, too, like our orphan institutions, which, although not dependent upon Legislative aid, are supported by the kindly and well directed efforts of individuals; having Boards of Lady Managers, who from time to time, as the case demands, make successful appeals to public sympathy in behalf of their protéges. The Lunatic, the Blind and the Deaf and Dumb Institutions, are each noble monuments For instance: how often do we hear of enlighened legislation, in the highest of that deadly and loathsome visitant, degree honorable to Tennessee; but the small-pox, suddenly making its with all these in successful operation, appearance in some before healthy the time has now come, we humbly locality, and appalling the whole comconceive, for the establishment, upon a broad basis, of another great public charity, a State Hospital. In this age of rail-roads and steam munity with the account of its ravages. And how is it generally met? If in a city, some old and worthless building is probably selected in the suburbs, an |