AND

RECHABITE RECORDER.

Organ of the Independent Order of Rechabites, and devoted to the Cause of Temperance in general. BURNETT & AIKMAN, Publishers, No. 192 Fulton Street, New York.

the Hudson in miniature; and if the tasteful traveler will come and visit it in the spring and summer time, when the sun is bright and the winds are still, he will gaze upon its pleasant shores and beauteous windings with scarce less pleasure, without the awe, that he has felt in passing up the Hudson.

the adventurous sloop would have got into the river, and under the guns of the fort unseen, or seen too late to be cut off.

It was a beautiful sight to behold the three vessels in motion; one small, unarmed, and with but three sails to help her flight, bounding along close under the land—the others tall, frowning with batThere is a fortress near the mouth of this riv-teries, and covered with canvass from deck to er, just ou the skirts of the sea, called Fort Hun- truck. newell. It is now dismantled, and is a celebrated The sloop was two miles in shore of the cruisresort in July weather for the Kennebeckers. It ers, and about the same distance westward of the was erected during the last war to defend the en-harbor, being, when discovered, just stealing trances to the river. It is situated upon a low round Cape Small Point. She had, therefore,the beach, which, half a mile northward, is com- same distance to run to gain shelter, that her purmanded by a bold headland a hundred feet in suers had to come up with her present position. height, on which frown the ruins of a battery.The scenery around is made up of rocky islands, bold headlands, the river penetrating far inland, the ocean spreading its bosom away south and eastwardly ever and forever heaving as if it were earth's great heart! A few fishermen's huts dot the sides of the shores, and the tower of Seguin light glitters white upon the head of its porpoiseshaped island. The fisher's skiff rocks lightly on the sea, and upon the hazy horizon rests a sail or two, so distant that they seem fixed like shining pinnacles of white marble lifting their tops above

the ocean.

At the period of my story, which was near the close of the last war, two British armed vessels had been cruising off the mouth of the river for som days, occasionally running close in with the fort so as to draw its fire, and then tacking and standing seaward again. One of these vessels was a sloop of war, and the other a brig of sixteen guns. They were effectually blockading the river, and for some time no vessel had either come out or gone in. Everything was brought to, even to the sinall fishing boat, and the strictest vigilance was maintained from the very first day of their arrival on the coast.

The cruisers stood on for about five minutes after tacking in the same converging lines, when the corvette signalized the brig, which immediately luffed and bore up four points eastward, while the former kept her first course. The object had in view by this manœuvre of the brig, it was plainly evident to the fishermen who, from the rocks on which their huts were perched, were watching with interest the pursuing and the pursued, was to intercept her, for they had quickly discovered that a direct chase would be ineffectual, as the sloop showed herself to be a very fast sailer. So the brig stood straight towards the mouth, hoping to reach it in advance of the sloop, while the sloop of war kept on to capture her if she should turn back and attempt to run in between Harpswell or Portland.

"We shall be tuk, darned if we ain't, Deacon," coolly remarked a tall, ungainly youth of nineteen, who, with a dipper fastened to a ten foot handle, was bailing up water from the sea and throwing it it over the mainsail of the sloop, to swell the threads of the canvass and make it better hold the wind.

As he spoke, he paused in his work, leaned on his long dipper-handle, and shutting one eye, took a deliberate survey of the two cruisers.

"Not so long as two timbers of the Polly Ann hold together, 'Siah," responded the Deacon, who grasped the helm, and who, with one eye ahead and the other watching the enemy, directed the course of his little vessel towards the shelter he sought.

One morning in June, just as the sun was rising from the sea, flinging his fiery spears far across the sparkling waves, kindling up every object upon which they lit, the two English vessels were seen standing in towards the mouth of the river, under top gallant sails, with the wind free on the starboard quarter. They were about half a mile apart, their courses converging to a point. That point was a small Kennebec sloop hugging the land, and endeavoring to make the entrance of the Kennebec. Her broad mainsail was flung to the wind like a great white wing, and she was sweeping along across the water like a gull flying before a storm. She had been discovered by the "I guess they knd o' guess what we've got cruisers only a few minutes before, when they aboard, Deacon," said 'Siah, as he cast a shower tacked together and pressed after her to intercept of spray over he mainsail. "They seem to take her, making sail as they went. Fifteen min-all-fired trouble to catch us. See how Polly jumps. utes more of the obscurity of the morning, and The way she tosses water with her bows, I won't

If we'd ony had another ten minutes afore sun-up, we'd a got in. But the day an't going to stop for any man, and I don't 'spect it to. All we must do, is to keep the Polly out o' the hands o' the Britishers, now they've got their eyes on us. Wet the sails, 'Siah."

i

have to wet her jib, she does that herself!"

Bissel. 'Siah, haul aft the jib a bit. The Britisher is smoking his pipe !" added the skipper quietly, as he saw a jet of smoke belched from the bow of the sloop of war. He had hardly got the words out of his mouth, when the boom of a gun reached their ears, and simultaneously a shot pass

"If we don't get into the river, and them chaps over-haul us, what in natur's to be done, Deacon?" "It won't do to let 'em capture the six big guns and two barrels o' powder, and ton o' shot that we've got for the fort, that's a fact, Siah," said, very decidedly, Captain, or rather "Deacon "ed whizzing over their heads. Paul Butterfield, who both owned and commanded the Polly, which had been, a few days before, engaged by the government agent in Boston to convey armament and ammunition to Fort Hunnewell. This enterprise the Deacon, for he was a lawful Deacon in his own town, which was Hallowell, forty miles up the river, had cheerfully undertaken, assuring the agent he could get the Polly Ann into the river safely, in spite of the cruisers. Shrewd, bold and cool, the Deacon saw that by running only in the night, and hugging the shore, he should probably be able to get into the Kennebec undiscovered, especially as the cruisers used to stand off night a league or two for an offing, and run in again at sun-rise. The agent felt that a small coasting vessel, with so skilful a captain as Deacon Butterfield, would be quite as likely to get into the river as a large one, if not more so, and gave him the commission. For the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars, the Deacon had bargained to take the cannon and the munitions to the Kennebec, and also he bound himself, if there was danger of his being captured, to scuttle the sloop and sink her. We now see him thus

"I don't stan' that 'are," said 'Siah, in a very determined tone, which singularly contrasted with his awkward, rustic exterior. Give me leave, Deacon and I'll give them a shot back-darn me if I don't'

"Your gun won't scare 'em, 'Siah. Ease off the main-sheet, Lot. Be ready to dodge, for I guess ther'ell be another one o' them junks o' iron this way. They ain't no pilot, or they would'nt keep so near porpoise rock ledge!"

far in the progress of his journey.

The cannon were long battery thirty-two's, six in number, and were laid athwart ships, side by side, upon deck. The shot were piled forward, and in the forecastle was stowed away the powder, in casks, and securely protected under canvass; tarpaulins also covered the guns.

"If we can ony stand on ten minutes more, "Siah," said the Deacon to his mate, "Ion't fear them are cruisers a stick! One on em, you see, has luffed, to try and cut us off. If 'twant for this plaguy heavy iron we've got in her, I'd show the enemy how to make a keel cut blue water through. But we must get in, Lot," he added, turning to a rugged old man, who looked like a weather beaten fisherman, and who was now engaged in tending the main-sheet, the slack of which he held in his iron fist.

"It's get in safely, Deacon," answered Lot Bissel gruffly, "and get two hundred and fifty dollars, or its sink the sloop, and no insurance!"

"That's a fact, Mr. Bissel," responded the Yankee skipper with emphasis; and shifting his tobacco from his larboard to his starboard cheek, he glanced under the main boom to see how the fort and shore lay. and then hove his eye to the windward and took with it a deliberate inspection of the enemy.

"Give a small pull aft on the main-sheet, Mr.

Cool and steady, the skipper stood at his post and directed the course of his little craft. All at once he gave a loud hurrah! The sloop of war had struck, under full sail, upon a rock, bare at low water, known as porpoise ledge, and everything was taken aback, while main-royal mast and yard went over the side.

"That's for not taking a pilot 'on a strange coast," said the skipper dryly, while his keen little eyes fairly glistened with pleasure; but he made no further demonstrations of joy-but after taking a second glance at the sloop of war, and seeing that matters on board of her were in too much confusion for them to trouble themselves further about him, he now gave his whole attention to the brig, which was about a mile and a half from him in a straight line, and about equally distant from the entrance to the river.

Upon seeing the accident that had occurred to her consort, she bore down a little and hoisted a signal. It was responded to on board the sloop, when the brig resumed her course.

"The sloop-of-war, I suppose, says she don't want any aid-so the brig is left at liberty to intercept us," said the skipper. "It looks, too, as if she would be likely to get to the entrance as soon as the Polly, and then I guess it's all day with us. But I don't give up so long as a timber hangs to her, or I can have a limb to hold on to the tiller by! But what in natur' are you doin' there, 'Siah?"

Well might the Deacon ask this question. The ambitious young Kennebec had brought from the forecastle a keg of powder, and knocked in the head with a handspike, and was tying some half peck of it up in a bandanna handkerckief, which he had taken from his neck.

"Doin'? I am goin' to give 'em a gun, darn'd if I an't! If these here guns is got to go to Davy's locker, I'll get one fire out of 'em, first, I guess."

As 'Siah spoke he threw down a moveable section of the bulwark amidships, leaving an open

space to the sea, before the muzzles of hre of the enormous cannon that lay across the deck.He then took up his huge cartridge, and thrusting it into the muzzle of one of them, began to ram it with a handspike

"What on airth is the critter at?" cried the Deacon.

'Siah made no reply; but having rammed the cartridge home, he rolled a thirty two pound shot towards it, and giving it a lift, shoved it into the muzzle after the powder.

"Now for priming it, and then I guess if I don't give 'em a Fourth of July salute, they never heerd one !"

As he spoke he poured a handful of powder upon the vent, and then jumping to the caboose, caught up a lighted pine-knot, and waving it to keep it bright, went to the gun.

Stop, Siah, stop!" shouted the skipper, at the top of his voice, "you'll blow the Polly Ann to Jericho, if you fire that 'are gun aboard on her!" "I don't calculate I'll be took prisoner by the Britishers, Deacon, and be put in Dartmoor, I don't mean to fire jest yet, but take a chance for a good aim, and then give 'em saltpetre!"

"It'll shake every bone out o' the Polly," said the skipper, in alarm.

"I guess if they got the shot, it'll settle 'em," said 'Siah, as he dropped feet first out of the rigging, into which he had been blown, upon deck, and tried to look through the smoke.

"You ought to be settled, you 'tarnal critter," cried the Deacon, enraged; "you like to have sunk her, darn ye!"

"Don't swear, Deacon! I want to see if the brig got it!"

"Got it, you fool! I guess you'll get it if ever I see shore again!"

As the smoke slowly rolled away, the brig was discovered, no longer standing down, but knocking about at the mercy of the waves and winds, her foremast gone by the board, and dragging over the side with all its yards and sails. The shot had cut off her mast within ten feet of the deck!

'Siah was perfectly confounded; but he manifested no surprise, while the Deacon and Lot set up a loud hurrah of triumph.

66

hallo" said the Deacon, taking breath.
Why, what is the matter? Why don't you

"Coz it an't nothin' more'n I meant to do!" responded 'Siah, with inimitable sang froid; I an't surprised, if you be, Deacon."

In twenty minutes more the sloop with her val

As he spoke, the brig, now within a mile dis-uable cargo was safely sheltered under the guns of tance, fired a shot, across her bows.

"That means heave to, Lot," said the skipper; "Siah, put out that pine-knot."

"I mean to by'm by, Deacon! Wait till I get a shot at 'em! I an't afeerd o' hurtin' the sloop a bit. You just yaw her a leetle bit, and bring the muzzle of my artillery piece right agin the brig, and if I de'nt show 'em how a Yankee gun can speak, I don't want to see the inside of Kennebec river again!"

Fort Hunnewell. The sloop-of-war lay upon the rock till next tide, and the brig lay by her, rigging a jury-mast. Before sunset both vessels made sail and steered eastward, on the way toward Halifax, to repair damages. Thus the blockade was raised, greatly to the relief of the commerce of

the river.

SWEARING. Whatever may be made by perjury, I believe there never was a man that made a for

tune by swearing. It often happens that men pay for swearing, but it seldom happens that they are paid for it. It is not easy to perceive that honor or credit is connected with it. Does any man receive promotion because he is a notable blusterer ? Or is any man advanced in dignity because he is expert in profane swearing. Low must be the character which such impertinence will exalt;

A second gun came from the brig, and the shot passed within ten feet of the Deacon's head, made a rent a fathom long in his mainsail, and the shock caused his peak halyards to part, and let the peak of his mainsail down This caused the sloop to fall off a point or two; and while the skipper, unflinching and with a quiet look, was trying to bring her to the wind again, 'Siah, taking advantage of a moment as she swung, in which his load-high must be the character which such impertied gun bore upon the brig, instantly applied the torch to the vent! The roar, the flame, and the

concussion were terrific.

The little vessel reeled under the recoil of the vast gun, till the waves poured over her bows and stern. The skipper and Lot were laid flat upon deck, while 'Siah found himself hanging by the

heels in the lee shrouds.

For a few moments the Deacon thought his vessel would go down, she wallowed and plunged so -but she soon steadied herself, though with her deck flooded, her jib blown away, and her windlass unshipped.

nence will not degrade. Inexcusable, therefore, must be the practice which has neither reason or passion to support it. The drunkard has his cups; the satirist his revenge; the ambitious man his preferment; the miser his gold; but the common and drudges in the service of the devil gratis.— swearer has nothing; he sells his soul for nought, Swearing is void of all plea; it is not the offspring of the soul, not interwoven with the texture of the body, nor any way allied to our frame. For as Tillotson expresses it, "though some men pour out oaths as if they were natural, yet no man was ever born of a swearing constitution."

THE HAPPY FARMER.

BY MRS. SIGOURNEY.

Saw ye the farmer at his plough,

As ye were riding by?

Or wearied 'neath his noon-day toil,
When summer suns were high?
Ard thought you that his lot was hard?
And did you thank your God,
That you and yours were not condemn'd
Thus like a slave to plod?

Come, see him at his harvest home,
When garden, field and tree,
Conspire with flowing stores to fill

His barn and granary,

His healthful children gaily sport
Amid the new-mown hay,
Or proudly aid, with vigorous arm,
His task, as best they may.

The dog partakes his master's joy,
And guards the loaded wain:
The feathery people clap their wings,
And lead their youngling train.
Perchance the hoary grandsire's eye

The glowing scene surveys,
And breathes a blessing on his race,
Or guides their evening praise.
The Harvest-Giver is their friend,

The maker of the soil.

And Earth, the Mother, gives them bread,
And cheers their patient toil.

Come, join them round their wintry hearth,
Their heartfelt pleasure see,

And you can better judge how blest

The farmer's life may be.

Το

neat and tidy, and when you sit down to a meal, you can eat comfortably, without thinking of the peck of dirt.

Our young men and women miss it sadly, when they expend so much upon their persons. Every week or two they want something new, before their old garments are half worn out. They must learn prudence, or want at some future day will sit on their door steps.

There is a political prayer we have somewhere seen, with which we are well pleased. It runneth in this wise:

"Direct

My thoughts and actions by the rule of reason;
Teach me contempt of all inferior vanities;
Pride in a marble portal gilded o'er,

Assyrian carpets, chairs of ivory,

The luxuries of a stupendous house,

Garments perfumed, gems valued not for use,
But needless ornament; a sumptuous table,
And all the baits of sense."

Like

LITERARY PURSUITS.-A mechanic looks to his tools, a painter washes his pencils, a smith mends his hammer, anvil or forge; and a husbandman sharpens his ploughshare, but scholars totally neglect those instruments, the brain and spirits, by means of which they daily range through the regions of science and the wilds of nature. careless and unskilful archers, they bend the bow until it breaks. In almost every other pursuit, diligence and industry are sure of being rewarded with ultimate success; but in the beloved pursuit of literature the most unremitted industry, though it may sometimes exalt a student's fame, is never favorable to his fortune, and always destructive of his health. Everything is sacrificed to the enjoyment of this delightful though laborious occupation.-Burton.

PRUDENCE. Prudence, ladies and gentlemen, prudence. But what is prudence? Not meanness-not to possess a niggardly disposition. be prudent is not to be wasteful; but to save every thing you can for your own and other's use-a pin and a penny-a crust of bread and a potato-a scrap of paper and an inch of cloth. This disposition is far removed from parsimony, and is a virItue which all should appreciate. It is painful to witness the waste in some families. Large pieces . of bread are suffered to mould and then given to the hogs-potatoes become sour and are useless, pig who is embarrassed by his fat. and the leavings of a good meal to day are thrown away, when they might answer for to-morrow's

CHINESE PROVERBS.-Whoever borrows to build, builds to sell.

We never laugh so long or so loud as when we would hide our grief.

The true way of enriching ourselves is by cutting off our wants.

There are no faults truly fatal but those we neither acknowledge or repair.

It is better to fill our barns than our chests.
What is a fool who has made his fortune. A

It is said that when Captain Cobb, a Choctaw dianer. With such people, it is waste, waste, no-half-breed, was examined before the first Board of thing but waste. Wood is lavishly thrown upon Commissioners, he was questioned as to a particuthe fire, chairs and tables are broken, and from the lar fact. "I do not know how it is," said he, "and garret to the cellar, the house looks as if a stray the red man never likes to guess ") A number of clt of lightning had been wandering about. interrogatories on the same subject were put to We love economical people-we do sincerely-him and he replied with an offended air, "when I and never have we had reason to complain of their think a question is right, it shall be answered; meanness. Everything about their dwelling looks when I think it wrong, I shall be silent."