davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1862-08-13

thee from this cold and cruel world away to
my sylvan home, to be forever mine ~
Adelaide, who had from the first, taken
our hero to be youth whose brain was
turned-endeavored to reply gentle, SO as
not to excite him.
Release my hand, good sir. 1t is too
late this evening for conversation. Allow
me to bid you goodnight"
No, [ will not leave you love you l.
You must be mine | shall do something
desperate if you refuse fear not death nor
dread the grave Life to me is nothing with
out thy love ! Let me press one kiss upon
thy rosy cheek E'
The lady shrieked-the door was flung
open, and q tall fierce looking gentleman
strobe in. The lady rushed toward him
ooh Edward my husband save me -
this crazy man was trying to kiss me p
Edward seized chair, and made at the
terrified lover, who retreated up the stairs
as fast as his long legs would carry him.
His retreat was a mastery one, and Edward
succeeded cnly in putting himself dreadfully
out out of breath, and smashing the hall
chandelier with his chair, for which little bit
oil amusement, he had the satisfaction of pay
ing the landlord of the Seavew House the
sum Of seventy five dollars.
AS might have been expected, our hero
was terrified nearly 20 death. His Ade
laide was evidently married to Blue Beard,
and now that he had offended the terrible
monster, his life was not worth cents pur-
chase. Ills resolution was taken. He would
not remain at the seashore another night.
The rope that his mother had given him to
use in case Of fire, might come in play now
He tied his hat box and galise 10 it, and
let them down TO the ground, then fastening
the other end of the cord to his bedstead, lie
climed" down TO terra 5frma himself
Then seizing his baggage, he set out upon
the run, and at daybreak next morning,
weak and exhausted, with tremendous ap-
petite, he sunk to the feor in his mas kitch-
en.
He has neither been to the seashore, nor
in love sinco.-GLeaSon's Literary Compan-
ion.
North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1862-08-13
A SINGULAR PROPHECY.

We clip from the New Orleans True Delta.
of the Goth ult., the subjoined preface and re-
publcation.-Perhaps the DISCERNING reader
will deem the fact that this singular proph-
ecy +" is so complacenty held up to view on
his shores of the gulf as little less g singular''
than the prophecy" itself, Straws show
which way the wind blowsn !.
A SINGULAR PROPHECY.
We find the following account of most
singular prophecy in late issue of the Mobile
Tribune:
Michael Nostradamus was physician Of
Provence, France, known as an astrologer. in
the time of Centurine de Medice He COM
posed Seven Centuries of Prophecies" in I,
enigmatical rhymes, some of which are adj
mitted to have been most exactly fulfilled.
Among others, his prophecy Gone hundred
years before its occurrence) of the execution
of Charles l, of England and still more sur
prising, of the French Republic, in 1899. He
died A. D. 1556.- (cyclep, of Biography.s
The following is translation from the
Courier des Eats Unis of the 26th ,llt.
" Although many of.the predictions made
by Nostsadamns (especealiy those concerning
the deaths of Henry ~ and Louis XVI, OF
France1 have been completely verified they
are generally discredited in our times. But
in the Proqyetics Ell Fluctuations of the
great man, VOL 2 edition of l609), we find.
the following, which would seem to deserye
attention: Il,
"About the time (1S62) great quarrel
and contest will arise up in country beyond
the seas (America). Many poor devils will,
be hung, and many poor pretches killed hy.&
punishment other than a cord. Upon. nv Il
faith you may believe me. The war will6oE
cease for four years, at which none should "a
astonished or surprised, for there will be M
want of hatred and obstinacy iii X, At IN
end Of that time, prostrate and almost ruined
the people will embrace each other In great
10Y and love. ;:s| s:s
North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1862-08-13
INCIDENTS OF THE EBATTLE-FIELD.

The scenes Of The battlefield are both touch
ing and interesting.
While the engagement goes on and man
here and there falls. one wounded and another
dead, the dead body is left lying in the posi-
ton in which it fell, the soldier sometimes
gvaspng his haf-loaded musket and ramrod
or loaded and aiming as if to again discharge
it another dying after few minutes, or an
hours consciousness, with hands clasped or
any little keepsake lying upon his bosom, as
if his last word and breath had been prayer
for the loved ones away.
The wounded, if their injuries are slight
are allowed to walk away, or, if more serious,
one or two comrades lay down their arms and
lead him off, until met by the stretchcr-
bearers, when the are laid upon the stretcher
and taken to the ambulance IN waiting in a
protected spot, to take tAem to the place se-
lected as temporay hospital, where Surgeons
are in attendance to recisve them.
Here. then, come the trying scenes.-The
physician discViminates between those NOR
tally wounded and those who will probably
live, and the operations are affecting in the
extreme.
One mortally wounded soldier asks Doc
tor, what do you think of my case; is it dan,
Col ,,I; II I,
to the eyes of men of the stoutest hearts, the
Doctor replies, both for the surgeon and the
spiritual adviser. that there is little or no
hope, and earnestly makes the same in
quiry.
Major Barnum, Of the Twelfth New York,
was mCrtally wounded, and while lying
breathing his last friend asked him if he
had any message, 70 which he replied "Tell
my wife that in my last thoughts We're blended
my wife, my boy and my flag" He asked of
:he physician how the battle went, and when
told that it was favorable to us, he said ::
"God bless the old Ha-,'and expired with
the prayer finishing inaadibly with his clo-
men to gallantry.
| met one soldier with bail through his
leg and bleeding to death surely and rapidly.
"Oh,n said he, what will Mrs. Ellis and
Jennie do? Poor William is dead-how
his mother and sister loved him.-And he
would not have enlisted if | had not. 0
dear, 0 dear"
And beseeching me to take message to
them, said "Poor Mrs. Ellis poor me, /
have no mother and sister to weep for rue ;
might as we'll fight those wicked rebels as
not"
Another, shot through the.iungs, clasped a
locket to bis breast, and moved his lips till l
put down my ear and listened for his last
breath:
"You'R tell her, won't you?
Tell who or where | could not ask, but
the locket was the picture Of one who might
ne wife sweetheart or sister.
North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1862-08-13
Qortb Yranrb qemurrat.
ADvERTrSTNG.

TERxs:-l copy year, (strictIy in advance) $3.50
North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1862-08-13
HOWARD ASSOCIATION.
CONSTABLE'S SALES
PHILADELPHIA.

For The ReiefQft the Sick 4 Distressed, ctic.ed qcih
Viruleht and Chronic Diseases, and especiaHy
tortte Cure Of Diseases tfL5e SeruaL Organs
Medical advice given gratis by the Acting Surgeon
Valuable Reportson Spermatorrhoea or Seminal
Weakness, and other Diseases of the Sexual Organs
and on the New Remedies employed in tie DISPENSE
ry sent to the afflicted in sealed letter enveIopes free
oil charge. Two OF three stamps for postage will bo
acceptable Address Dr. j. SKILLTN HOUGF
tONs Actilg salYeon Ho~ard Association. No , I
sfu'u Il n" IyIn5Oiy.
North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1862-08-13

Paul George Washington Smith shut up
The noyel he had been reading, and his sal
ow face grew luminous with the light of
North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1862-08-13
Buslness Nutlres.

bacon STANDARDIZATION. &c. l..
- JACKSON, Proprietor. Tvln49tf
North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1862-08-13

II y. COOPER, PHYSICIAN & SURGEON
IL. Newton Centre, Luzerne County Pa.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1862-08-19
TURNIP SEED,
NEW CRCP.

xy7EuAvE Just received our tull sup t urpIe
w Early, Kat Iutch, Ia ;, ICppttJI' Is; aiso,
nu5a Baga, ana other \ = hNlf ~ t2III MBhk
Long Green and Earl " I Ial'Ie c;y.d packages
and for slleby LhADDH 1-,.,th tairlaA,5t
7mu2j NO.. . anu ~
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1862-08-19

non arrival Of the louisville train, now twenty
honrs overdue. Morgan captured one hun
lred an fifty THOUSAND dollars In y. 5. lrea-
su1y notes, II Lebanon.
The encine-house Of the Hannibal and st.
joseph Railroad, at St. Joseph, with lve loco
mott YES and other machinery, was burned on
Friday night. Only on: engine was saved
Loss 500, 900, AMI only partially insured.
The news from Kentucky created the most
intense excitement at Indianapolis. Troop
are being rushed forward with all possible
spec} Gov. Morton has ordered Nlajor-'fcn:
Lew Wallace and Gen Dumont, who are there
on leave of ABSENCE to take command tempo
rarv of the new regiments. Gen. |. 4.
Morris, J. J. Reynolds and Love also take the
field
The Z. s. Navy Department has information
that the y. s. gunboat Penohscot captured OFT
North Carolina 4 few days ago, the s'oop l. =
zie. fro,. Nassau, sailing under English colorS,
and loaded with salt, blankets, sheettin, &",
When captured she was trying to eyade the
blockade i
The following is a list Of the Federal vcsse's-
ocvar now forming the feet in the vicinity Of
New Orleans, most of which have gone up to
Baton Rouge: Hartford, flag ship, % guns;
Brooklyn, Capt Bell, % guns; Richmond,
Capt Alden, p guns; Pensacola, Capt. Nor
p guns; Iroquois, Capt. Palmer, guns Onei-
d., -, guns; Mississippi: Capt. Smith, L
guns; kenio, guns; Kennebec, guns; Ia
tahdin, 1 guns; Pin ia, i guns; Owa5co, 4
guns; Clifton, guns; Westheld; guns;
Jackson, guns; Itasca, gun
An advertisement in London paper, sets
forth that *Three more young ladies are de-
sired in school, in which the whole training
and teaching are based on Gods Word. -
Terms for instruction, without the Masters, in
English, French, German, Writing, Arithme
tic, the Pianofortt and Singing, 40 gujneas a
wear; and laundress 3guincas' The teachers
idea Of Goods Word'' must be original, to
say the least. Crulen Concordance does
not mention the pianoforte, or the laundress,
to the best of our remembrance.
According to statement in the New York
Tribune, the government has now forty iron
clad vessels either built Or building, OF those
already built thirteen are ahoat, carrying l66
guns, with 800 officers and men.
In the English House-of Commons, prior to
the delivery Of the Qleen's speech, Lord
Palmerston, in reply to inquiries of NJ. Fitz
gerald reletve to affairs in the Bahama waters.
pointed out that Great Brtain's interest was
IN maintaining Lelligerent rights at sea, and
she could not interfere unless belligesent rights
were :! missed
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1862-08-19


about sixty persons have lately been arrested
in that vicinity while attempting to cross over
into Canada IN order TO avoid the draft
Among them are several Baltimorean@ It is
allel that they are al c,nin>1 in VI )ntgonae-
~ Hall, near the United States barracks, ami
are constantly unler . military guard, all their
movements being closely watched They are
said to be well fed an kin lily treated.
A board Of medical officers, con listing OF In
spector5 Perley, Cuyler AM Cu|i.lge, Surgeon
NTH an A ;sistant Surgeon Webster, i. S.
A., has been convened in WASHINGTON, by Or
der of the Secretary Of War, to revise an i'm
prove the me lcal regulation, Of thu army.
A;ting Assistant Surgeon II. G. Smith, Of
charge Of the GA Capitol Prison Hospital,
Washington. vice Brigade Surgeon Stuart, or
dered 70 duty with Gen. Burnside scomman |.
Dy an order just issued from Gen. Pope's
hea lnuarters, army suffers at any time foun
trading or trafficing with the enemy, with citl
gems, or any other persons whatsoever, other
than o f GERS an soldiers, or discovered dealing
IL unauthorized goods he will he driven from
camp an his w ares will be conf c1te1, an the
name Of the colonel responsible for him will be
forthwith transmitted to the War Department
to be dropped from the rolls Of the army.
4 party Of the First Tenne ssee cavalry un-
dartook to surroun Confederate house six
miles from Nashville Saturday night and cap
sure the occupants, but were frel upon from
the windows AMI by guerillas in the woods,
all obliged to retreat They came in report
ing q force Of 7, 900 Confederate5 near the city.
Th, troops were under arms all night, and can
non were plante to destroy the city on the
first approach of the enemy. Another party
Of the First Tennessee cavalry captured large
n,rtv OF secossionists near the city the same
night.
Ju lee joshua Allen, member OF Congress
from tha Ninth district Of Illinois, has been rr-
rcstel an taken 20 Chicago, on the Oh srge OF
discouraging enlistments. Judge Button, Of
Marin county, has also been arrested on SINH
lar charge.
The 13tou Journal Of Sturdy contains &
t,esram 10 tbs effect TINT the command of
G.naral Burn ;ile arrived at Culpeper Court
House on Thursday night from Fee lercks-
burg. after q te lious N arch Of thrt Ave miles.
Surgeons in charge Of the different hospitals
are enIisting, under the recent order Of the I.
s. Secretary OF Wa, male citizen nurses, to
take tn places Of those soldiers who have been
,,,rfnrmin9 such duties, but VIII, are now, IN
der q recent order, being renlanlod to their re-
ohm ,nts, The enl5tm mt Of the above ella 80 Of
e.. o,,, 7n,r rooaivi the nav Of 800
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1862-08-19

passengers saved from the burning Of the
steamer Golden Gate, heretofore reporca .,
missing. Far others who were saved ro
NAMED at Manzanilla to take the downward
steamer for Panama.
Columbia College Oh ems on the oath Of Son.
tem1,er. X larger number Of stu Tents will le N
attendance the coming year than the rat
THOUGH the main luilding is still occupied "
the United States Government, larger accou
motlatirns will be provided for College pur
poses.
The returns Of killed, wounded and missing
of the different regiments Of Banks Corps en-
gaee,l in the battle of Cedar Mountain, vii
show an aggregate Of some twenty-five hun
drea men. The most Of the wounded havea',
ready Leen removed to the hospitals Of Alex
andria and adjacent points,
The North Star at New York brought on
the remains IF the late Gen. Williams, who
was killed at the fight at Baton Rouge. I'm.
mediate}y upon their arrival Mayor Opdyke, to
whom they were consigned, took them in
charge. Arrangements are making for the
funeral. The body is in a greatly decompo:ed
state and it will be impossible to expose the
features to public view, although the remains
will lie in state at the Governor S Room, in the
City Hall, for two days.
The Health Inspectors OF New York report
e. the nunlher>of deaths in that city last 7cek,
at 6s5; l64 men, III women, POS Toys, and
1919 girl. This IS an Increase of IL over the
mortality of the previous week and OF Is, as
compared With the corresponding PERIOD last
year.
The New York correspondent OF the PhlIa'
delphia Inquirer writes 1.-The report Is true
that Thurlow Weed is going to Europe on q
Government mission of great importance tie
was in town this morning, and went up III me
< o'clock Hudson river train this afternoon, 10
make arrangements for his early DEPARTURE
Parties who are supposed to enjoy his CONF
dence say Mason and Slidell have Leen making
some progress in their mediation or lnterven.
ton schemes since the recent fighting le1o1s
Richmond, and that Ihullow is TO dispatch.
ed to Paris witt. view to block then game
BIT this may lie mere eossll'
An official of Annapolis received a co'l''l0'''
cation from the War Department last "ee',
SITTING that justices Of the peace she'''lS "''
constabes OF the State are to be exen:S 'io"
drift.
\ letter from Saratoga says the three sls:'
hotels there will clear full, $4,000 eacn 'DA'
season, The landlords are all very s'nlll''s'
Five AMI ten dollar rotes Of the Cen''a'
Bank Of Pennsylvania, an exploded conc''" a.
HollilaysLurg, are i'll cltuat''n'
Smyrna times., 1862-03-20
Further from the Naval Fight,

We have very full details Of the late battle
in Hampton Roads, from several Fortress Mon
roe correspondents. Tne attack on our feet
was but portion of the movement, which like
wise cOHtemPl ted land movement upon New
port News The Confederate troops. tsO thou
sand stroRg, game within a few miles OF the
Pust, driving in our pockets, but perceIVlng
that the Merrimac had failed to accomplish
her share Of the work, they retired.
1t was the W. Whilldin, of Philadelphia,
that RECEIVED a she'll IN her boiler from the
Merrimdc, aud not the Whitehall, as reported.
II entered On her port side, near the stern, and
passed upwa I'd Into The BOILER, which partially
exploded. tearing the after obln TO pieces
She left for B4lI:nore Oh Wednesday night in
tow of the AddLaide.
The Norfolk Day Book, giving q highly
e0lOred account of the fight on Saturday. Ii
pays a great compliment TO the bravery OF the
crew of III, Cumberland, aid admits that somt
shots from that vessel en,ered the MerrinGc
and one shell killed seventeen meR an
wounded Capt. Buchanas who subscquenti
died.
The Monitor is admitted to be formids ble.-
'rne paper says che appeared like big blac
Yankee cheese box eE raft.
The 5fsrriBlGc, on Sunday, was under tn
command of the traitor, Thomas Ap CaIcsO
Jones.
TAe account given IS mainly confined to IN
Saturday fight 5 me slight repairs are sal
10 be necessary to The Herrimac.
The reason ~hy the MsrTimac did not a
6rsl attack lhs Congress was because Cap
Buchanan had brQlasr On board as Paymat
ter.
The flag VI the frigats Cong rsss, and tn
sw3rd of her c~nms Rder, are 10 possession
Ihs rebel Navy Department.
IL appears that the Confederate account
the naval engag gements in Hampton Roads. tht
their iron clad war vessel known by the nam
OF the Virginia, and not as the Merrtma
The total Confederate loss on the three vesqr
in the eegagem 4nts. is reported as twelve XII
ed and The same number wounded.
Smyrna times., 1862-03-20
MISCELL N EO U s .
Capt, Alexander KIcRea and the battle
In New Mexico.

Capt. McRea, who was killed at the battle in
New Mexico, was from North Carolina, high
land Sco,chman by descent, aud with the re-
markable traits of that people manifesting
themselves on a background ofgenius pecu
lisrly his own. After spending some time at
the University of North Carolina, he came to
Delaware College. at Newark, from whence,
in his senior year, having nearly finished his
collegiate course, he went TO West Point in
1547. The Trustees Of Delaware College,
however. conferred upon him degree with his
classmates.
Captain McRae was very peculiar man.
He was singularly quiet aud generally appear
ed reserved. There Was some hing in him of the
dark and retieent charucler of the Highlander,
even as q college student. He graduated at
the Point in 1851, and sntered the army. He
had risen to the rank of captain OF cavalry
when New Mexico was invaded by the Tex
ana.
Fort Craig was defended by the force under
Col. Candy. The accounts are not perfectly
clear, but it seem that the Texans advanced a
solumn of infantry 1000 strong, with 800 cav
airy and eight cannon. After sslrmlshlng, with
varied success, On the 2lst ult. Col. Candy
crossed the Rio Grande, with a force whose
strength is not stated. Kit Carson, however
was there, in command of regiment of Volnn-
t6efss VINO were ucpiOyeu ds ekHmlsneTSt aHQ
part of regiment of Mexican volunteers, under
Col Pinos.
McRea, though Captain of Cavalry, was de
tailed-we imagine, on account of his known
coolness-te command battery. 1t was es
corted by PInos's volunteers and company o
regulars under Capt. PlImpten. The TexanI
charged down upon the battery with 600 pick
et men, armed with carblnes, reVovers ant
seven pound bowie knives. The New Mexican
volunteers fed panic struck. Capt. Plimpton'
infantry fought I'LL half of them were killed
AID the rest retreated. McRae's artillery -meI
were cut down al their guns. Here he was
his escort and his owR men killed, wounded o.
fled. What did he do A thing so charac
IsFistic that every one who knew him will
sinlie through his tears. as he reads it. Her
is the exact record: He sat down camnl
aud quietly on one OF his guns, and with revol
yer IN hand, refusing to ly or desert his posi-
he fought TO the last and gorious!y died, like
hero, the last man at his guns"
Can herUism 90 turthsr!
AS fought Capt. McRae, So fought the othe
officers, aud the day closed in, our little arm
maintaIalng their ground against heavy odds
Smyrna times., 1862-03-20
Late Battle in Arkansas.
Farther PGrtiruLGrs.

ST. Louis, March l3-Further Particulars
OF the great battle at Pea Ridge, Arkansas, has
been received
The rebel officers killed and wou nded were
Geo Ben. McCulioch, killed; Brig. General
Slack, dang gcrousiy wounded; Col. Herbert. Of
louisiana, Killed, and Gen, Sterling Price,
slightly wounded.
Thirteen pieces OF artillery were ca sptUred
from the enemy. Our luss ls estimated a. from
900 TO 900 killed aud wounded. The loss OF
the rebels 10 killed aud wounded is estimated
al from two 10 ihree thousand.
About 500 prisoners were taken.
Two thousand Indians were engaged BY
the rebs!s. They scalped eighteen OF our
kIlcd.
PrIce retteated Norihward, followed by Gen.
Jeff G Days iR purouIt.
Wh.Ie Gen. h,gel, on the first day, was en-
gagged 10 protecting the army trains, he was
three times su rogGded by the enemy, bot cuI
his way through eaeb time.
The principal fighting, on Thursday, wai
doae by Gen. Sigel's cUaImend. On FRIDAY
the battle became genes,I The most exposed
pos,tion was occOpipd by Col Csrr's Division
TIL greatest loss was suffered by them.
The losses oil the A aud @ h Iowa. 35th Ill's
aad 25th MIssoori. were from l5O to 200 II
zach regiment, killed and wounded. Oal
snt. 6gI they lost 20 killed and large nuu,be
wouadeA. The IL and IL Missouri and 3
Iowa CavuIfy snd 9 Indiana lost about 40 the
each.
MEMPHIS Preparing FOR SURRENDER
TIM Bapk of Memphis gives notice TO depes
isrs that It may be well for such Ofth I
NAV wish to use their funds n,lbat vicinity tn
they had better withdraw them from the ban
aa il may be necessary to Temoge ibe assets
Where will they GO! 10 the aext question:.
New Orleans will probably be invested by d
ga,hvaI feet and Gen. Butler, as soon as CO.
Roate appears before Memphis. These &
irea,bIous tunes far Secesh, 10 Dixie land-th
ada, cosnt the cost vt a rebellion against su
egbsernmeat as oqSs.
ttoSosEss The H,,nse Of Representaiiv
on l,uesdsy sfl,-r considerable debate, pass
nv a vote Of IS 10 81, lhe recommended,
~s.,I.tiou eoniained 10 the late message Of
,p,.s,dent. in favor of granting peeuniary
:. sny State adapting sysleei Of grad
emancipation,
Smyrna times., 1862-03-20
MARRIE:D .,

On 1lth inst, by Rev. VIM. Bishop, William
McNau to salle A. Pippin, both of Maryland.
Feb. 18th by Rev. w. Bishop, John T.
Evans to Mary E. Cantwell. both OF Kent co.,
Del.
Jan. 29th, by Rev. w. Bishop. Mr.. Frederick
Bowen, of Md, TO Mrs. Margaretta Moore, ot
Kent CO., Del.
March lllh, 1862, by Rev. James B. Ayars
William Henry Collins to Joseph Ellen Arm
strong, both OF Thoroughfare Neck, New Cas-
lie CO., Del
March II. 1862, by the same, Banjamil
Franklin David to Georganna Jackson, both o
Tboropghfare Neck New Castle CO.. Del.
On the 18th inst, by the Rev. MIR. Colclazer
Jas. E. Bryan of the Philadelphia Conference
and Miss Annie V. Smith, of Queen AIMS co
Md.
Smyrna times., 1862-03-20
DIED,

On the l7th inst, 10 Smyrna, at the residence
of his grandfather, George Davis, Esq, EIlerslie
Wallace, son of DR.. N. G. Leland, nf Milford
aged two years, two months and thirteen days.
March 18th, 1862, Willie, son of James and
Mary Finn, aged years, 2 months and six days
Del. Republican and Phila. Ledger please
cOpy.]
"Suffer little children to come unto me. and
forbid them not, for Of such is the Kingdom o.
Heaven"