one afternoon to Roxbury, to take tea with a THE ESSAYIST. For the Poughkeepsie Casket. Perhaps there is not anything of which we are so reckless an I careless, as the mind. We are careful to protect the body from the inclem. ency of the weather, and supply it with nutritious aliment that it may be brought to perfec. tion, so that all its powers and resources may be fully developed: while the mind-that spark of intelligence which makes man supcrior to the brute, and places him at the head of the animal creation-is too often neglected and suffered to lie dormant, without any culture or pains bc. stowed upon it; and that too, when our weal or wo in this world depends upon the right direction and the improvement of it. For man to be happy must be intelligent; not the ignorant and unthinking can enjoy the pleasures which arise from a cultivated mind, or experience those high wrought feelings of enthusiasm and delight which afford so much pleasure and satisfaction to the learned and enlightened. In no period has anything of importance been achieved where ignorance was the principal characteristic of the actors; no benefit has the world ever deriv. ed from the dark ages, when ignorance and superstition overspread the eastern hemisphere as with the pall of oblivion; no deeds of high em. prise were then accomplished, to be held in uni- || versal remembrance. Nothing but one interminable night of the mind, like an incubus, seemed to rest upon the whole human family. But the mind, when improved, is as comprehensive as the universe, of which it forms a part. Space, matter, and time, are subjects not too vast for its contemplation-it can grasp any defined length of time, however vast: nor is eternity with all its gorgeous and bewildering images much too dazzling for its ken; but this is beyond time, and therefore too great for the conception of finite beings, it being impossible for the creature to fathom the CREATOR. It (the mind) has fixed its eagle gaze upon the worlds which twinkle in the firmament, and measured their distances and revolutions with its calculating powers; it has wandered back among the ruins of empires, whose achievements live only in story and in song, and learned wisdom from their ruin and desolation; it has sought instruction among the hieroglyphics and occult sciences With prodigious effort the house was saved, and obtained it; and it has made even the wind, though with great loss of furniture. But what and the waves of the ocean, subservient to its were pecuniary losses that night to us? We purposes. By the cultivation of the intellectual were sheltered by a hospitable neighbor; our faculties, man may soar almost infinitely above little cherub was clasped in our arms, amid the sphere to which he seems to have been allot. smiles and tears; and Growler-our good ted. An intelligent mind will revel in the imGrowler-with a whimpering dream, lay sleep.agery and grandeur of its conceptions, as it ing at our feet. Edward alarmed the neighborhood and entered the window. Poor Polly had fainted in the entry, from the close atmosphere and excess of terror. She could give no account of the origin of the fire, unless she had dropped a spark on the window curtain. The moment she saw the blaze, she endeavored to extinguish it; but,' said she, 'the flames ran like wild-fire-I snatched Martha from the cradle, and ran into the entry to get out by the back door; after that I recollect nothing.' || || ation with Newton in the heavens, and prescribe laws for the comets and the meteors :-or, could they dive into the nature of the understanding, like Locke, unravel its mysteries, explain its agency, the power of the passions, and the dreams of thought:could they have but the shadow of such feelings, how lonely and wretch. ed would they be, if they could return to their former desolate and benighted situation, with nothing save the low and grovelling desires of a brute to satisfy the highest and noblest aspirations of the soul! It is by drawing the parallel, and making the contrast in such examples as these, that we can discover the immense disparity between intelligence and ignorance; and if the bright halo of glory which surrounds tho name of Newton is not a sufficient stimulus for exciting ambition, then indeed an individual has none, and is unworthy of the high and glorious destiny for which his CREATOR designed him. La Grange, August, 1839. B. F. D. For the Poughkeepsie Caskot. THE STUDY OF ASTRONOMY. The study of the science of astronomy must have been coeval with the existence of man. It is a subject that has engaged the attention of the poet and the philosopher in every age of the world, and is wonderfully calculated to strike the mind with admiration at the magnificence of that Being under whose superintending care the celestial worlds run their destined rounds. If we direct our eyes to the nocturnal sky, and behold the moon walking in brightness among the planetary orbs, and view all those shining luminaries that are moving in silent and majestic grandeur along the blue vault of heaven, how sublime is the idea! and are we not ready to exclaim, 'How great is the power and how wonderful the contrivance of that God who created || all the rolling orbs on high, and who supports them from age to age! This science sets before us objects of over-powering magnitude and sub. limity, and demonstrates the boundless extent, glory and magnificence of the empire of JEHOVAH. It has a tendency to raise the thoughts from earth to heaven, and to inspire in our minds reverence for that benificent Being who has distributed for the enjoyment, and to the view of, his intelligent offspring the blessings of the earth and the resplendent glories of the heavens. A variety of speculative opinions with regard to this science has been advanced at different ages of the world, many of which were extremely crroneous. In the infancy of astronomy the carth was considered to be the largest body in the universe, being placed in the centre, and all the heavenly bodies revolving around it. But when the light of science began to shed its be. nign influence over the world, and the mind of man to be raised to its native dignity, the fallacy of such reasoning became very conspicuous. The earth was found to be but a mere point compared with the solar system, and the solar system as a grain of sand upon the sea-shore compared with the immensity of creation. It has been ascertained that the solar system contains a mass of matter ten hundred thousand times greater than the whole earth-that the number of systems which lie within the range of the telescope is at least one hundred millions (100,000,000,) comprehending within their vast thinks upon the mysteries which surround it upon either hand, and the high and glorious desHAPPINESS. Disappointed pursuers deny the tiny which awaits it in the world beyond the existence of happiness, and call it a phantom stars: while the ignorant and uninformed can present to the view, but perpetually eluding the raise their thoughts but little higher than the grasp. Where did they hope to seize it? On the brute. But could they possess the greatness and stormy road of ambition-on the sunny and yet elevation of soul which filled Newton, or Locke, sterile waste of prodigality—or in the grovelling or Shakspeare, or Byron-could they feel the valley of slavish avarice? Amid such scenes it wonderful and inexpressible delight which Byron never professed to dwell. It will be found shel- and Shakspeare must have felt, while peopling tering under the covert of an independent mind, || in imagination their worlds with bright and glo and blooming in deeds of silent benevolence. rious shapes:-or, could they wander in imagin. || connecting decision with hastiness, which ac- Without a good deal of decision it is difficult circumference at the lowest computation two DECISION. For the Casket. Young persons generally seem not to be aware of the importance of acquiring early, a habit of decision; and I am inclined to believe that those of mature years do not always appreciate its worth. This I attribute to their If any of my young readers are given to this failing, I would urge them to mend their way as speedily as possible, not only that they may benefit by it in a pecuniary sense, but that they may choose at once which road they will take in their pilgrimage through this world; whether the straight and narrow one along which they will find peace and happiness, or whether the broad and thorny one which will inevitably lead to misery and woe. There is generally more danger in delay than in speedy action; for as I said before, he who finds himself in error will be likely to profit by the past, but he who defers acting until death knocks at the door will probably find it too late. VARIETY. CORSETS VS. BEAUTY. J. bitter thoughts, or a bad temper, spoil the lu- north pole by thick-ribbed ice, we should no more expect to find grace, politeness, amenity, vivacity, and good-humour, in such a comp›nion, than in Prometheus with a vulture faltening on his vitals, or in Cerberus, whose task is to growl all day long in his chains. AARON BURR. Small in person, but remarkably well-formed, with an eye as quick and brilliant as an eagle's, and a brow furrowed by care far more than time, he seemed a very different being from the arch-traitor and murderer, I had been secus. tomed to consider him. His voice was one of the finest I ever heard, and the skill with which he modulated it, the variety of its tones, and the melody of its cadences, were inimitable. But there was one peculiarity about him him, that reminded of the depth of darkness which lay beneath that fair surface. You will smile when I tell you, that the only thing that I disliked was his step. He glided rather than walked; his foot had that quiet stealthy movement, which involuntary makes one think of treachery, and in the course of a long life I have never met with a frank and honorable man to whom such step was habitual. MORALS AT SPARTA. Plutarch informs us, that Geradas, a primitive Spartan, was asked by a stranger, what punishment the law of his country had appointed for adulterers? He replied, that there were no adulterers in his country. "But," continued the stranger, "suppose there were one, and the crime were proved against him, how would you punish him?" He answered, that the offender must pay to the plaintiff a bull, with a neck so long as that he might reach over the mountain Taygetus, and drink of the river Eurotas, which runs on the other side. The stranger, surprised at this, said, "Why, it is impossible to find such a bull." Geradas replied with a smile, " "Tis just as impossible to find an adulterer at Sparta." RELIGIOUS BELIEF. I envy no quality of the mind or intellect in others, be it genius, power, wit, or fancy; but if I could choose what would be most delightful, and I believe most useful to me, I should prefer a firm religious belief to any other blessing; for it makes life a discipline of goodness, and creates new hopes when all earthly hopes vanish, and throws over the decay of existence the most gorgeous of all lights; awakens life even in death, and from destruction and decay, calls up beauty and divinity; makes an instrument of torture and shame, the ladder of ascent to paradise; and, far above all combinations of earthly hopes, calls up the most delightful visions of palms and amaranths, the gardens of the blest, the security of everlasting joys where the sensualist and the skeptic view only gloomy decay, annihilation, and despair. ORIGIN OF THE WEEPING WILLOW. The first weeping willow in England was planted by Alexander Pope, the poet. He received a present of figs from Turkey, and observing a twig in the basket ready to bud, he planted it in his garden, and it soon became a trec. From this stock all the weeping willows in England and America originated. THE CASKET. B. J. LOSSING, EDITOR. POUGHKEEPSIE, SATURDAY, AUGUST 24, 1839. Absence from home is our excuse for the want of original matter under the editorial head in this number. We deem an apology unnecessary, as our readers will be positive gainers by such a change. Correspondents will please have patience, and they shall have an introduction to immortal fame as soon as circumstances will admit of it. We know that patience STRANGE CIRCUMSTANCE. At the trial of a young man in Staunton, Va., by the name of Sowers, for firing a barn, the jury was locked up the evening previous to the argument, when one of them became insane and another committed suicide by cutting his throat with a razor. COOLNESS.-lu one of Frederick the Great's battles, the horse of his nephew was killed by a cannon ball, and it was at first thought the rider was slain. 'Ah!' said the king, riding by without THE CHAPLET OF COMUS. A YANKEE HORSE.-He never tried to do anything which he could'nt. As for going, he can do that, and begin again when the others leave off. No one going the same way on a 'pike ever saw anything but the critter's tail, when he was ahead and did'nt choose to be overtaken. He'll go any pace under a steam engine, and will overtake a first rate steamer-if it stops to take in water. He is the cheapest critter too, as ever was seen-for he'll go by a toll bar before the man can look our to see if anything is coming. is a rare article during 'dog days,' but fame is at all stopping, 'there's the Prince of Prussia killed torney, 'What case is to be tried next? The lawyer times still more scarce. DIED, on Wednesday the 14th inst., at the residence of his father-in-law, Capt. Guion, in White Plains, ALEXANDER G. LEE, editor of the Westchester Spy, formerly of this village, in the 25th year of his age. let his saddle and bridle be taken care of! KILLING BED-BUGS. Place the animal on a smooth pine boardhedge him in with putty, and then read to him The immediate cause of Mr. L.'s death was the for an account of all the rail-road accidents which mation of an ulcerous abscess in his right side, result-have occurred within the last twelve months. ing from a severe fit of sickness, brought on by too As soon as he becomes so frightened as not to be close application to the labors of his office. He was a able to stir, draw out his teeth, and he will young of talents and remarkable industry: warm, confiding, and generous in his disposition, he secured the starve to death. love and respect of all who knew him, INTRODUCTION OF RICE INTO CAROLINA.-Rice is a grain of India, and was introduced into Carolina by mere accident. In 1696, the master of a vessel from Madagascar landed about half a bushel of an excellent kind; from which small beginning sprung up an immense source of wealth, both to the agriculturists and merchants of the southern states. Within little more than half a century from that time, 120,000 barrels of rice were exported in one year from South Carolina, and 18,000 from Georgia-all from the remnant of a sea store left in the bottom of a sack. This shows how small beginnings have sometimes great endings; which should always be a constant stimulus to industry and exertion. A WORD TO YOUNG MEN. How often are we pained to see young men, after the business of the day is finished, lounging about the fashionable places of resort; when the hours they nightly devote to the pursuit of pleasure,aa it is wrongly styled, might be so usefully occupied in the cultivation of their minds. A young man has, each night, at least four hours, before retiring to rest, which he might occupy in reading and writing. Now say he goes into business at the age o. twenty, and remains unmarried five years, he will then have for mental application, doring this time, seven thousand three hundred hours. What stores of knowledge night be acquired in that period. How much useful information might he obtain. Even after he marries, his family duties will not detain him from an opportunity of instructing himself in the arts and sciences. We extract the following curious announcement of a suicide from the Concord (N. H.) Courier: 'COWARDLY.-Jonathan Butterfield, Esq., of Hopkin on, not having sufficient nerve to meet the responsibilities of life, meanly stole out of existence Last Monday night by hanging himself,' A French author says; "The modest deportment of those who are truly wise, when contrasted with the assuming air of the ignorant, may be compared to the different appearances of wheat, which while its ear is empty, holds up its head proudly, but as soon as it is filled with grain, it bends modestly down and withdraws from observation.” Parents who endeavor to protect their children from labor, and encourage them to seek self-indulgence, instead of animating them to become as industrious and useful as possible, are foolishly and certainly preparing for them a hard and thorny bed to lay upon at a subsequent period of their lives. I know of no hoinage more worthy of Deity than the silent admiration excited by the contemplation of His works. Youthful Tears-Tears do not dwell long upon the Had I a poet's tuneful lyre, For the Casket. Softly I'd sweep the strings for thee; I'd soar above to cloudless skies, Should yield for thee their richest store, I'd roam, wherever I might find Aught that would charm thine eye or mind: And summer never speeds away! I burn not with a poet's fire; The breeze, from my poor, simple lyre: (So other songsters may be mute W. B. 'Come here, my lad,' said an attorney to a boy about nine years of age. The boy came, and asked the atanswered, 'A case between the pope and the devilwhich do you think will gain the action? The boy replied, I guess it will be a pretty tight squeeze-the pope has the most money, but the devil has the most lawyers,' "Teddy, my boy, jist guess how many cheeses there are in this ere bag, an' faith, I'll give you the whole FIVE.' 'Five, to be sure. Arrah, by my soul! bad luck to the man that tould ye'!' 'Is dis all de Pos Offis dar is in dis place, sar?" said a ribbed nose 'darkey,' as he stood near a Post Office. 'Yes,' was the answer. 'Sakes alive!' exclaimed Cuff, 'I don't see how you does get along and lib, sar, wid only one Pos Offis! A young apprentice to the shoemaking business lately asked his master what answer he should make to the oft-repeated question, ' Does your master warrant his shoes?' 'Answer, Tom?' said the master, Tell them that I warrant them to prove good, and if they don't, that I will make them GOOD FOR NOTHING.' TENDER WISH.-A beggar in Dublin hd been a long time in besieging an old gentleman troubled with gout, who refused his mite with much irritability; on which the mendicant said, 'Ah, plase your honor, I wish your heart was as tender as your toes.' "Tom, now tell the biggest lie you ever told, and I'l give you a glass of cider.' 'A lie! I never told a lie in iny life.' Draw the cider, boy.' 'Vat a tall deer that is!' said the Ibex, ven the Graffe declared she could'nt stoop to converse with her. MARRIED, On Saturday morning, August 10th, in the Reformed Dutch Church, by the Rev. Alexander Mann, HARLOW E. SILL, of New-York, to Miss CAROLINE MATILDA, daughter of Benj. F. J. Gautier, of this village. At Nantucket, Aug. 4th, by Benj. Gardner, Esq., Mr. BARNABAS E. BOURNE, of Falmouth, to Miss LYDIA B. LONG, of Nantucket. Said the bridegroom in haste to his bride elect, THE KNELL. DIED, In Brooklyn, on Monday, the 12th instant, RICHARD OTIS, only son of Richard and Hannah Pease, aged 10 weeks and 6 days. At Fishkill, July 28th, 1839, SARAH POLLOCK, in the 75th year of her age. At the same place, Aug. 2d, ROBERT POLLOCK, in the 78th year of his age. August 9th, Mrs. MARY CUDNER, widow of the late Richard Cudner, after a lingering illness of 11 months, which she bore with christian fortitude, and departed In the full triumph of the faith; aged 73 years 8 months and 8 days, formerly of Westchester county, town of Eastchester, of this state. Suddenly, on Friday last, in the town of Washington,at the residence of her son in-law, Nelson A. Pond, RECECCA WILCOX, aged 60 years. In this village, on Thursday morning last, Mrs. MAR GARET, aged 48 years, wife of Alfred Raymond. She was the daughter of Baltus Van Kleeck, deceased, and widow of Mr. John G. Vassar, deceased. In her life she gave a happy illustration of the practical influence of the religion of Jesus-in her death, the triumph of ts immortal hopes. The former will be attested by those who knew her best-the latter by those who witnessed the last parting scene. [Eagle. 80 THE BOQUET. For the Poughkeepsie Casket. By publishing the following lines which I learned by hearing them repeated by a beautiful little girl of six years old, thou wilt oblige thine, &c. THE EARLY DEAD. As through the grave-yard's lone retreat, I walked with slow and cautions feet, Three little graves, ranged side by sile, O'er them the tall grass bending sighed- Her form was bowed, but not with years, A prattling boy some four years old 'Mother, now you must love me more, And brother too, you said. You'd show me where she laid.' And put her in my bed? I'll feed her from my little cup, In this dark grave to-night; 'No, sister is not cold, my child, For GOD who saw her die, As he look'd down from heavon and smil'd, 'And then her spirit quickly fled 'To GOD, by whom 'twas given; Her body in the ground is dead, 'Mother, won't she be hungry there, Father must go and carry some, And he must bring sweet sister home- "No, my dear child, that cannot be, And God will give her bread.' The following beautiful lines were written by MARY ANNE Hark! hark! the Sabbath bells Are calling us to prayer; To seek for heavenly love To cleanse the heart from guilt and crime, They warn us on this holy day It is the day to rest To quit our earthly things To let each thought within the breast Rise on devotion's wings; To lay our bosom's secrets bare, It is the day to weep To sorrow for our sin; The time the strictest watch to keep It is the day of grace The day to be forgiven- For blessings we receive the while, To thank the LORD, who thus would bless, It is the time to love To know each tie is dearer- It is the time to hope To look beyond the tomb- And oft, upon this day, I've heard the Sabbath bell Our Sabbaths here are short: And make them the divine support For blessed souls, by praise and prayer, THE WISE MAN. The wise man, (says the Bible,) walks with GOD; POLLOCK, THE EARTH IN FULL OF THY GLORY.' God of creation, whose matchless control Frot an English paper. THE COCKNEY BOY'S ALPHABET. E vos the 'Ells, vere they does the green squi es, F vos the Foenix, an hengin' for fires, G vos grim Gog, of Guildhall, a gruff caitiff, H vos an Hoyster, a werry nice native, I vos Snow 'Ill, not an high un, but little, J vos a Jarvey, vot's just lost his vittle, V vos a Vipe, as we vears in our pockets, From a New-York paper. JUVENILE DEPRAVITY. Musing on youth, and youth's delightful days, WHAT I WOULD BE. I would I were an excellent divine THE POUGHKEEPSIE CASKET, Is published every other SATURDAY, at the office of the POUGHKEEPSIE TELEGRAPH, Main-street, at ONE DOLLAR per annum, payable in advance. No subscriptions received for a less term than one year. The CASKET will be devoted to LITERATURE, SCIENCE, and the ARTS; HISTORICAL and BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES MORAL and HUMOROUS TALES; ESSAYS, POETRY, and MISCELLANEOUS READING. Any person who will remit us FIVE DOLLARS, she reccive six copies. The above cut represents the Temple of Concord, one of the most perfect ruins now existing on the site of the ancient Agrigentum. Agrigentum was much renowned among the ancients. Different stories are told of its foun dation, among which is the fabulous tale that Dedalus, who fled to Sicily from the resentment of Minos, erected it. Its situation was peculiar. ly strong and imposing, standing as it did on a bare and precipitous rock, eleven hundred feet above the level of the sca. To this military advantage, the city added those of a commercial nature, being near to the sea, which afforded means of easy intercourse with the ports of Africa and the south of Europe. The soil of Agrigentum was very fertile, and by means of these several advantages, it became very wealthy. It was therefore considered the From the New York Literary Gazette. TEMPLE OF CONCORD. || second city in Sicily, and Polybius says it sur- mile in circuit, and about thirty feet deep, from which fish were obtained in abundance for pub. lic feasts. Swans and other water-fowl frequented it. Afterward, the mud having been suffered to accumulate in this basin, it was turn. ed into a remarkably fine vineyard. Both the temple of Jupiter and the lake were the work of a numper of Carthagenian captives. The people of Agrigentum were noted for their luxurious and extravagant habits. Their horses were also famous. After the expulsion of the Carthagenians from Sicily, it fell, with little resistance, under the power of the Romans. Diodorus states its population, in its best days, to have been not less than 120,000 persons. Nearly all that remains of this ancient city is the above pictured temple, which in magnificence was second only to that of Jupiter Olympus. botanist-but Andrea, though poor, was her ances to obliterate from his memory one whom favorite. On learning this, Caracciola (who he only felt that he could not now continue to very wealthy) conceived the most bitter hatred address without dishonor. This determination In the fifteenth century there lived in Naples which jealousy could engender for his rival, and he kept secret, oven from Caterina. He lingered one Signor Felix Ambrose, a man of great learn. longed for nothing so much as a favorable op-in Naples several weeks, enjoying whenever oping and wealth, whose favorite study was bota-portunity to put him out of the way. portunity offered a stolen interview, and resolv. ny. He had collected in his garden an infinite Signor Ambrose loved his daughter, yet diding that each one should be the last. Of these, variety of rare and beautiful plants, which he not fail to urge incessantly the suit of Caracci- Caracciola became informed, and his hatred for kep: under his own charge-assigning howeverola. The gentle Caterina would not for a time Andrea increased to such a height that in a moto his daughter Caterina the charge of those listen to her father's unwelcome importunities, ment of desperation he bribed two ruffians-such which needed the most constant attendance. yet at last yielding an unwilling consent on con- as can always be procured in Naples for a small The charms of Caterina, not less than the beau-dition that the marriag; should be deferred to a sum to commit any crime-to assassinate him. ty and odor of the flowers, frequently attracted distant period. The murderers, watching in the dark by a corner to the garden of Ambrose two gentlemen of where they supposed Andrea would pass, silentNaples--the one named Caracciola and the other ly waited his approach. Now it so happened Andrea. Both became enamored of the fair that Andrea, knowing of this, on that very night When Andrea heard of this resolution, he abandoned himself to despair, and determined to seek among new soes and new acquaint. |