Litchfield enquirer., 1860-02-09

The bankers face grew white as the littl
 faozen one beneath it, and he made a de precatory motion with his hands. Mar. raised herself painfully from her pillow, an' clung to him.
 70, papa, you won't refuse your littl Mary's last prayer. Ycu will be so sorry you do, when am gone, and I shall set mamma in little while, and shall know her face in heaven, although I never did ol earth; and when she asks me after her boy how can tell her that you wouldn't let me see him?"
 Lie down, Mary. Your brother shall be sent for" answered the stricken man. "Has he come, o, papa, has he come?" and she gasped out the words from lips that were growing cold in death. Yes, Mary, darling sister, am here,'' and the young man sprung forward, and folded his arms about her, and his tears dropped on her head-for they had shaven away the long golden curls which crowned it--like rain. She smiled up in his face, and her little cold fingers clambered tremulousiy up his shoulder, and rested with the old ca ress in his dark brown hair. Then her face grew troubled
 "It is growing dark, I cannot see you. Papa, Edward-take hold of my hands,"
 And the old man and the young one took her small hands, and she clasped theirs to- gether
 "Papa, you will take him back to your heart once more? may tell mamma that you have forgiven him?"
 "I will take him back--I have forgiven him." and the old mans voice was husky be- cause of it's sobs.
 A last smile went like the dying sunshine over the cbild's face; and Mary Reynold's s soul went out like the day, without copvul- sion or struggle.
 And the father and the son fell into each others arms and wept like Jacob and Jo- seph of old.
 "Blessed are the peacemakerz, for they shall sec God"
 Bg"Tbe following are some curious selec- tions clipped from Connecticut Gazette" of l794.
 CURIOUS FAcr-At Basil, town in Switzerland, all the clocks go an hour faster than the real time Different reasons have been assigned for this singularity. Some as- sert that it was first practiced duIing the Council of Basil; in order to assemble at an earlier hour, the cardinals and bishops, who being very lazy, always arrived too late. Others maintain that conspiracy being formed to assassinate the magistrates at tmid- night; one of the burgomasters, who had mo- tice of the design, advanced the town clock an hour; by which means the conspirators, imagined they had missed the appointed hour, retired; and that the clocks are still kept in the same advanced state, as per petual memorial of this happy deliverance. But there is third reason given for this strange custom, which is the most probable It is well known that the choirs of cathe- drals are constructed towards the cast That of Basil declines somewhat from this direc- tion; and the sun dial which is placed upon the outside of the choir, and by which the town clock is always regulated, partakes of this declination; circumstance which occa- sons variation from the true time about forty-fve minutes
 The inhabitants of Basil are still so strong ly attached to this whimsical custom, that although it has been often proposed in the sovereign council, to regulate their clocks by true time, yet the motion has been invaria- bly, rejected; and the people would suspect their liberties invaded, if the clocks were to agree with those of the rest of Europe. A few years since, several leading men of the town determined to alter the hand of the sun dial half a minute day, until the shadow should imperceptibly point to the true hour. The expedent was accordingly practised, and the clock had already lost three-quartcrs of an hour, when an accident discovered the de- sign The magistrates were immediately compelled to place the hand of the sun dial in it's former position, to regulate the hour by it as usual.
 Don't let us laugh at the Basilians for tbis strange attachment to error; for if we could look into our own hearts and about among our neighbors with indifferent eyes, we should Gnd prcjudices in great plenty, equally ridiculous.]
 Old Mir. Jack Frost the ice-bridge build. CT, seems to have been deceitful in his work this season; in addition to the accidents which have happened by his bridges giving away, we hear that a pair of horses were drowned near Wethers6eld last Tuesday.
 A very pious gentleman, but rather world ly, who lives not many miles from Boston, made it his constant practice to call up all his family before day, in order that they might attend prayers and be ready for their labor in good season One morning having mustered his family earlier than common, he commenced family duty by prayer, during which he returned thanks that they were brought to see the light of amother day. An old negro standing by cried out" Top, top, vate c bit, mo dag get, massa, sartim no day get"
 A certain gentleman, famed for his impa- tieuce, and at the same time, for having a great veneration for scriptural precepts onee sent his servant to change Q piece of gold: his wife, hearing him repeatedly exclaim, damn the boy will he stay forever" cried, c. hold oou door tho scrinture raoap,n,ondo