The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1851-01-23
BISHOP BASCOAl.

~
ing sketch ot the life Of the late Bishop Bas.
com, in the Ladies' Repository:
The counlry through which Dr.. Rascom's
duty led him was wild and very tLinly sci
tied. The 6resls wero GIled with ferocious
wild beasts. lie was onco followed seye.
ral miles by Q large panther. which threat
cncd at every step to bound upon him, aud
from which he was rescued BY reaching,
just at niehlfall the cabin OF . settler. A,
another time ho had gone some dis.apce
from the house Of q friend, where he was
stopping, into the forest, and was lying
quietly, perusing book, aud unconscious
OF all danger, under the broad.spreading
branches Of a tree, when he henrd the voice
Of q man crying 70 him, and telling him to
lie still ill he fired al the peril Of his life.
Quickly glsncing his eye 10 the direction
whence the voice proceeded, be saw bis
friend with bis rifle elevated, aud pointing
toward the branches Of the tree under
which he was lying. Perfectly familiar
With backwoods life, DR.. Bascom knew that
some terrible danger was lowering over
him, and without the least perceptible mo-
tion o! his body, he instantly turned his
gaze upward, when he saw, on limb or
the tree, not more than twenty feet above
him, > majestic panther, whisking bis tail,
and Just ready TO leap upon him. This
was fearful moment! What nerve it re-
quired to retain bis scli.possesaion, and
thus save his fife! for tho least motion on
the part Of Dr.. Bascotn would have hasten.
ed the spring Of the panther and sealed his
fate forever! And III that fearful moment,
when death seemed inevitable, with self.
control and courage truly wonderful, he
laid perfectly quiet, till the keen crack of
the rifle was heard. and the ferocious beast,
pierced BY ttis unerring aim Of the back
woodsman. fell life!ess by his side.
While on the circuit of western Virginia,
! think il was, Bascom stopped, a, noon, at
a lcg-cabin, recently erected by the road.
side. lie sat down BY invitation, to dine
with The family. A lovely little child, n.
bout three years old. which had attracted
his attention BY its sweet smiles and rare
beauty, was pla, ing Ia front Of the door.
while the fnmily were engaged around the
homely rcpast, when suddenly heart
| piercing cry wns heard from without.
tsMy child! my child ~ screamed the
mother; and MS quick as thought, llerush-
ed to the door. sss ssss ~ g 15as
Father Of mercies! what sight WINS here
presented 10 the gaze Of doting mother !!
A terrible panthor had sprung upon her
unwary dariing, and was sscending tree,
bearing the child in it's mouth.
"1'ha gun! quick! for Gods sake, the
gunw franticly exclaimed the father. }a
Dr. Bascom rushed into the cabin, and,
seizing The gun from the rack, rapidly re-
turned but, Mas! il was 10, late! lie was
only iu time TO see the innocent, lovely
babe torn to pieces, in the presence OF i,s
Ganlic parents, by the infnrated boast.
Completely unnerved by the appalling
sight, IL required several shots before Dr..
B1scom was enabled 10 bring down the
bloodthirs,y animal. 81 can never forget
that awful scene" said Dr.. Bascom, when
relating this incident to the writer some
years since. And well might he say 50; !;
for more deeply affecting and hoart-rend-
ing scene has seldom been recorded in the
his,ory Of adsentureus pioneer lilo.
l. q 8FI E -
TRuTu, TO THE LETTER. Some two or
three weeks since, the Philadelphia Christ
ian Observer, speaking Of the. Anti-S!ayery
agitation, remarked as follows: Ill
It's deeply regretted that this agitation
has entered the Church, and been prompted
| bysminisiers Of the gOspel, Il is believed
that ihose ministers who evince the great
est zchl on the subject are hardly compc-
tent to guide the people on questions Of
this kind. Their views and feelings are
too marrow and too local to appreciate
political measure, intended to meet the COM
plicnied relations and circumstances Of the
extensive territories of our country. II is
thought fha, their studies and associations
do not qualify them 10 guide our legislators
ia political science. Il IS also believed
TINT some Of them hnve greatly erred in
their interpretations Of that supreme law
given to bind tho conscience Of every man,
whether bond or free. fss.,n.
Fan RINcs. Tho custom Of wearing
ear ringsis said to have originated in this
wise:
"Originally, among the Hebrews, Arabs
and other nations, the ears Of the slaves
were bored 10 signify the obligations Of the
servant to hesrken to the commands Of his
master. Rings were afterwards Invented
to denote the psrpetuity ofiis bonds, as the
slave who had his ears bored, was ser.
want forever. Thus, ear rings were the
badge Of slavery. In modern times, they
c,acn M mara M rha ne Aha >, TINT tho fpr-