The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1850-07-26
I'll CAN'T DO IT."-What a volume

81 ICAN'r DO IT."-What a volume
Of human misery is unfoded in this
shor. sentence! What mighty efforts
of undeveloped genius are chained by
this conclusion of dependency, when
barrier chances to interrupt the
onward progress Of the will What
domestic unhappiness-what down.
ward marches toward the gloomy
and solitary abodes of poverty-what
anxious solcitude, that fills the breast
OF the dependent wife-what ardent
wrcs,Iings with the demon Of despair
what social wretchedness--what
deep, painful anxiety-what unheard
of evils are depicted in the spirit of
that expression ! 1t is the language
only Of the self wretched--the deter.
mination of the weak and imbecile.
1t is the voice of the moral coward.
who, standing upon the shore of some
desolate island, in the stormy ocean
of life, and looking out upon the bill.
lows. strewn with the wrecks of
earth y grandeur and human happi.
ness, is so blinded by fear. that he
cannot see through the surrounding
gloom. 1t is the articulated feeling
of the traveller of the desert, who,
having gained an eminence, sees moth.
ing bu. a barren plain before him.
thirst parching his tongue, and weari-
ness subduing his strength. But shall
he lie down without hope? Nay, let
him press forward. make but one
effort, green oasis will meet his
vision-a cool stream will bubble up
from some unforeseen fountain, and he
will reach his journeys end, crowned
with the rich rewards of his perse.
verance.
PAST EvENrs.-The first white
child born in North America, was
Virginia, daughter OF Annanias and
Eleanor Dare, and granddaughter of
Gov. John White. She was born on
the 18th August, 1897, in Roanoke, in
North Carolina. Her parents were
of the expedition sent ou, bv Sir Wal.
ter Raleigh in that year. There is no
record of her history save that Of her
birth.
The first minister who preached
the gospel in North America was
Robert Hunt, of the Church of Eng
land, an exemplary man, who came
out in the same company with Capt.
John Smith, in the year 1907. He
was much esteemed as Il man of peace,
and was in many ways useful TO, The
colony. There is no record .. rs
death, or Of his return to England; he
died at Jamestown. He had a good
library, which was burnt with all his
other property. in the burning OF
jamestown the next winter after he
came out.
The first females who came to
Virginia proper, were Mrs. Forrest
and her maid, Anne Burns. in the ex.
petition of Newport. 1908. The first
in Virginia was in the same
year-John Laydon to Annie Burns.
The ceremony was probably by the
same good master Hunt.
The first intcrmarriage between the
whites and Indians was John RoIfe to
Pocahontas, in April, 1913. Poca.
lontas was also the first Of the Vir.
ylnia indians that embraced Christi.
unity and was baptized.
The first legislative assembly in
Virginia met in July, 16l9, at the
of Gov. George Yeardley.
)ne month later, negroes were first
'rought into the colony by a Dutch
nan.of. war.
The first periodical in North Amer.
ca was the Boston News Letter,
which made its appearance in August,
7O5. The first in the Old Dominion
vas the Virginia Gazette. published
t Williamsburg. by William Parks,
weekly. at seven shiIllngs. 1t ap-
'carcd in 1876, and was long the only
'aper published in the colony. Slave.
= preceded the periodical press one
undrcd and seventeen years.
The Blue Ridge was first crossed
Y the whites in The year 17l4.
The frs: iron furnace erected in
'orth America was by Gov. Spott.
,ood. 1870 in SpottsyIvania county,
irginia.
A WAY To MAKE BOYS SHARP.--