The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-09-29
THE UNSEEN RIFLEMAN.

Agroup ofyoungsters, ten years before
the Revolution, stood on a level green in
New York, with their mark before them
and their firearms ready. They were on
the ground occupied by Charlton and a
'part of Varck streets, but which then
formed part Of the open and romantic
country. The outskirts of the then abbre-
waited city were what may be termedpoeti-
cally picturesque, made up of rocky,
sandy, yet elegant grounds, which afford
ed opportunities for the enjoyment of field
sports, and the prosecution of other mat
ters, as we'll as for the agricultural occu-
pations that gave men bread. The fire.
quent appearance of Indians in this quar-
ter, from the time of Peter Stuyvesant to
the period of which we write, created a
desire among the young men in all direc-
tions to emulate their skill as marksmen.
1t was no unusual thing to get land by
firing the best shot, and many lot which
is valued at this day at thousands Of dol
lars, and affords its owner the means OF
becoming season subscriber to the Opera,
was obtained by striking the bulls eye OF
a target. The group we would call the
attention of the reader to. was composed
of five persons, four OF whom were strip
ped, but the fifth, grey-haired man.
whose rubicund visage and rotund pro-
portions published the fact that his birth
place was Great Britain. He was admir-
ing the mark in the target, and addressing
the lad who made it, and who was lean
ing on rifle that showed better condition
than any other piece on the ground, .
"Why, Charles, you are second Tell,
or will be- You must have practised con-
stantly to have acquired so much pro-
fciency.''
"Why, to say the truth, good Locksley,"
replied the young man to his venerable in
terlocutor, 81 do little else than shoot
NV rifle is my mother, wife and children
though of the latter | am scarcely old
enough TO speak. At any rate, Bess zoe
riAe) is my banker, for the silver use IS
produced by her." ;,
81 never saw such an unerSing aim, v
remarked the I'D man, wonaeringly
=. at only .hows what the inclination,
and the c;nstant pursuit of an abject will
saaon,, ash. Ones ambition sometimes
rnr n strange currents. Mine directs
e-.e to excel all other persons in shooting.
Every mark that my bullet pierces produces
more delight than | can we'll describe:
and if had my chance of the fame Of the
greatest General or the greatest Marks
man of the world, would unhestatingly
choose the latter "
While the young man was speaking
these words he loaded his rife. The old
gentleman listened as he surveyed the sur
rounding objects, and suddenly pointed to
locust tree upon the extreme end Of one
of the branches of which sat robin, that
made the vicinity vocal with its songs
Pointing to the bird with one hand, and
holding piece of silver money in the 9TH
fser, the old man said-"N Now, Charles, that
is your reward for that bird.' w
II cannot,'' was the young mans reply.
"Cannot!v exclaimed the old man in a
surprised one-"Whyl" 5a.
aBecause never kill BIRDS"
~ [ "Well, then, the twig he sits upon is
slender as a pipe-stem. Can you cut that
off" = t
x Charles Piggott-the young man-nod-
.ded in the affirmative, brought his rifle to
an aim, and pulled the trigger. Red
breast rose into, the air and sailed away
with, q strange twitter, while the twig Of
(which he had made perch, dropped in
eddying circles to the ground Charles
young companions raised q loud shout,
.sand lat tho same time he, blusbing with