The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1855-05-02
5 No: 81.

capt. Standish, having lost his wife, is deslrous
of obtaining another. The story IS an old one
but will bear re-perusal: x
"a short time after the death of Mrs Standish
the bereaved captain found his heart flled with
tender interest for Miss Priscilla Mullins,
daughter of Mr., William Mullins Hen cher
ished the impression that if she could be\per-
suaded to unite her fortune with his, then Toss
which he had experienced would be repaired.
He, therefore, according to puritan custom,
made his wishes known to the father, through
Mr.. John Alden, as his messenger. Mr. Mul- \
Inns made no objection although he might rea-
sonably have done so, the decrease of Mrs.
Standish having been so recent. He gave his
consent, but informed Alden that the young
lady must be consulted. Priscilla was called
into the room, not knowing for what purpose
she was wanted. Alden, a man of noble form,
of fair and somewhat forld complexion, and
engaging manners arose and delivered his
message for Standish, in benetitting language,
and in a prepossessing courteous style. Priscilla
listened attentively, heard every word and then
after short pause, as if gathering strength to
reply, she fixed her eyes upon the messenger
and said, with frank, pleasant countenance
full of meaning, 'tPrithee John, why do you
not speak for yourself?' Johns ruddy counte
nance became red, he took the hint made a
polite bow, bade farewell for the present, and
returned to StaDdish to communicate the results
of his negotiation. Henceforward he visited
for himself, and ere long their nuptials were
soemnised in due form, and Miss Priscilla O
Mullins became Mrs. John Alden. @ r-
Tradition reports further, that when Alden
visited Cape Cod, for the purpose of entering
into the conlugal relation with Priscilla, as the
colony then had no horses, he went mounted
on the back of bull which he had covered with
a piece of handsome broadcloath. After the
marriage ceremonies were performed he relln-
qushed his seat to his new bride. Placing her
on the back of the bull he returned home in
Joyous triumph, leading the ungaily animal, by
a rope fastened to ring in his nose. In rela-
ton to this event, Thatcher says: "This sam
pie of primitive gallantry, will i'll compare
with that of Abrahans servant, when, by
proxy, he gallanted Rebecca, on her Journey,
with splendid retinue of damsels and servants
seated on camels, Isaac going out to meet her.
Had the servant employed bulls instead of
can,els, it may be doubted whether Rebecca
would have been quite so prompt in accepting
his proposals. As soon as the question was
put, Rebecca said, II will 60" With equal
proprety he might have said, had Mr.. Alden
taken camel instead of bull, Priscilla Mullins
might have declined. They both employed
the creatures in use among their own people .
We are somewhat inclined to belief, thatin each
case the lady was influenced more by the man
than the animal, more by the, home that was
offered her than the conveyance thither.
! In the time of Edward the elder weaving
and embroidery were much practiced. He had
his daughters taught to use the needle and dis
taft. Indeed spinning was the common occu-
| &C 1,I, 1f,oI
will, calls the female portion of his family the
spinning side" So, too Egbert, when en-
failing his estates on his male descendants 10
the exclusion of the female side, "To the spear
side, and not the spindle side.'' Of the skill
and industry of the ancient spinsters, we have
an extraordinary instance in the tapestry which d
is still preserved in the cathedral of Bayeux
| This curious relic of antiquity is vast linen
web two hundred and fourteen feet long, and
| two broad, on which embroded the history
Aof the conquest. Itis supposed to have been
ASecuted by English women under the direction
on Matilda, wife of William l. Many of the
fgAes are without stocking, none are without
shoeS, which makes it probable that shoes We're
more \generally used than stockings, in this
period\ The common people for the most part
had noStocking, nor any other covering. on
their legAand even the clergy celebrated mass
with their Ngs bare, till law was made against
the practiceNn 1856 Wooden shoes, which are
now esteemeAthe mark of indigence and misery
were worn blythe greatest princes Europe in
the ninth centuries, as they are now worn
among the weavAs Of Lancashire.
REPUBLICAN, MovAnEsg IN CASADA.--Though
attached by the strongest prejudccs of nation
al ties to the mother Aountry as the British
&c +I, A., & l.,
for long period, there Aas yet been gatheing
among the people, savorinA of republcanism,
that cannot be concealed, end IS at length
avowed in open parliament, \o the extent of
making the legislative counil elective, the mem
bers of which are now appointed for life, and 10
taking away from the members of\he commons
all property qualification. An eNort is also
making to apply the elective prnNple to the
governor general, judiciary, and mA Agistrates,
On the 29th ult. the second reading oAthe bill
introducing the elective principleinto theSecond
branch of the Legislature was carried ~ the
Canadian assembly by vote of 80 againA 4
The measure is regarded as step towards\he
election Of governor, and consequently was
mainly supported by the annexation party.
so~-~~~~~~oc-N<~~~~~,~7--
1.-The charge of the British cavalry at Balak-
lava has been described as without precedent
or parallel in military annals" says &C." in o
the Boston Daily Advertiser, who refers to Il
similar act in the gallant charge of colonel
Anson's brigade on ''the famous battle field of
Talayera." These exploits were performed
before the eyes of large armies in Europe and
Asia. On the soil of the Old Dominion, in
America, at Little England farm, near Hamp
ton, in Elizabeth city county, on the twenty
fifth of June, eighteen hundred and thirteen.
adjutant Robert Anderson, of the sixty-eighth
volunteer staff officer, serving with
pay Or rations, and native of the ancient
city of Williamsburg, now residing at Yorktown.
led battalion of three hundred Virginia vol
unteers, in charge upon more than three
thousand British regulars, commanded by
general sir Sydney Beckwith and admiral sir
George Cockburn, killing and wounding sixty
four of the English, with loss Of only nineteen
Americans, and, when nearly outhanked, re-