davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1862-02-05
The First Prayer in Congress

In Thatcher's Military Journal, under
date of December, 1777, is found note
containing the identical FIRST prayer in
Congress" made by the Rev Jacob Du-
che, a gentleman of great eloquence.-
Here it Is, an historical curiosity
40 Lord, our Heavenly Father, high
and mighty King of Kings, ard Lord of
Lords, who dost from thy throne behold
all tae dwellers or the earth, and reign
est With power supreme aud uncontrolled
over all the kingdoms, empires and gov
ernments; look down in mercy, we be.
seeeh thee, on these American States.
wlc have fed to thee from the rod of the
oppresser, aud thrown themselves on thy
gracious protection, desiring to be hence.
forth dependent only on thee; to thee
they have appealed for the righteousness
OF their cause; to thee do they DOW look
up for that countenance and support
which thou alone canst give; take them,
therefore, Heavenly Father, under thy
''e-A NNAAHSo N"iC shC lHcul WISDOM In
coancl! aud valor IN the field defeat tbs
malicious designs Of our cruel adversarie.;
convince them of the unrighteousness of
their cause and if they still persist in
their sanguinary purposes, G let the voice
or thine own uuerring justice, sounding
III their hearts, constrain them TO drop
the weapons of war from their unneryed
hands in the day of battle. Be .hou
present, O God of wisdom and direct
the councils of this honorable assembly;
enable them to settle thugs on the best
and surest foundation, that the scene of
blood may be speedily closed. that order,
harmony and peace may be effectually re-
stored; and truth and justice, religion
aud piety, prevail and flourish amorg thy
people. Preserve the health of their
bodies aud yigor of their minds shower
down on them aud the millions they here
represent, such temporal blessings as thou
seest expedient for them in this world,
and crown them with everlasting glory IN
the world to come. All this we ask i'm
the name and through the merits of Js-
sus Christ thy SOP, orr Saviour. Amen r.
The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1862-02-05
Mrs. Rouchefoucald's Glax.ms

\ woman hates question but loves to
ask one?
The female mind is too poetical to be
tamel y methodical. Who would marry
woman who punctuated her love letter?
Cupid is blind to everything-save pin
money.
Praise woman's taste, and you may
attempt her sense with impunity
Your candid friend has never ANYTHING
pleasant to say to you. He reminds YOU
Of MS pet virtue, By wouDding you with
it.
If you want to know a woman's true
character, hnger after the guests have
gone, and listen to what che has 10 say
about them.
4 woman wins an old man by listening
TO him and young man by talking to
hun.
Enjoy to-day, for tomorrow the irSt
gray hair may come.
Hymen is only Cupid in curl papers.
Women confess little faults. that their
candor may cover great ones.
There are no reasons which explain
marriage.
Age is venerable in man-and would
be in woman-if she ever became old.
" hen woman VOWS that she never
Rirts-she as flirting.
The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1862-02-05
TIE BIBLE.

DR., HALL, in his Journal of Health,
speaking Of the importance of inhabiting
houses in their structure and situation
favorable to health, refers as follows to
the Bible:
There is more sound, practical hy-
giene, on the subject Of healthy houses,
in the l4th chapter of Leviticus, from
verse thirty-four, than in all the skulls OF
all the health commissioners aud common
councils of all the cities in Christendon.
Pity it is we do not read our Bible more
that great book which contains the lead
ing principles of what is indisputably
good, and useful, and true, in all that
really pertains to human happiness and
what pity it is that the Sunday news
paper, and the trashy weekly, and the en-.
ticlng story book, for childhood aud hoary
age, on subjects pertaining to the world
and party preaching, and infdel peripa
tetic lectures, With their new-fangIed cru
dlties for human amelioration. and theil
theories for elevating the masses; pity il
is, we say, that all these things so at.
tract attention. The Bible, the best Of
all, the wiseSt in all its theories, and in
all its practices safe, has become sealed
book to the many and any other volume
on the centre or side table would be open
ed sooner than it.
The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1862-02-05
Berdan, Col. Of the sharp
shooters.

The following anecdote is told of Col
Berdan who was always an expert shot
MANY years ago he was talking with q
friend in the bar-room of an inn at q
town on the Kentucky side of the Ohio
In the room was also one of those Bowie
knife bullies who infested the South and
West; a man who made himself dreaded
wherever be was known By his readiness
to pick quarrel, aud his skill with the
knife, the rife aud the pistol This
man stepped up to Mr. Berdan's friend,
said he wanted to speak with him
"WaIt a moment" was the reply; and
the interrupted conversation went on
Soon the bully stepped up again, laying
his hand on the shoulder OF his acquaiu-
tance, said, in tone of half banter, half
earnest, j., when tell you | want
you, | expect you to come" "Certainlg,
certainly but Mr.. Berdan was talking
about his invention aud It was So inter
esting that" id those Yankee
inventions, aud the scaly fellows that
come to sell them" The words were
hardly well spoken when the speaker was
flying backward over a huge open stove
behind him, being constrained thereto By
a well-delivered blow between the eyes
from Mr.. Berdan's right arm. There
was tumult at once; and the men threw
themselves between the inventor and im-
mediate death They informed him,
however, that he would probably have to
fight. Berdan replied that be was not
lighting man, but he should not brook an
insult. He was challenged in due form
and accepted-named as his weapons, ri
aes at two hundred yards The terms
suited his opponent exactly" but he
wanted to wait few days, till be recov-
cred the use Of his eyes MIR. B. was ac,
commodating- But the blow was so well
planted that recovery was rather slower
than was expected and meantime long
expected rifle match came Of N the neigh
boorhood, which was to decide the merits
OF two rival manufactures, one of whom
was the famous We5son. Wessou had
undertaken to produce man who, with
has rife, could beat Djmmick, great
shot, whose remarkable feats had brought
the rival gun into general favor. 10
make the story short, Wesson's champion
proved to be Mr. Berdan, who. on
three trials Of ten or twelve shots each.
at two hundred yards, not only beat Dim-
mick on every trial, hut made the great
est rife shooting on record in this coun-
try His name, of course, was, in that
place, at once Ill everybody's mouth but
the nub of the whole affair was, that he
soon received message from his challenge
longer that it was hardly worth while tor
him tc await the recovery OF the damaged
eye, and that he might consider the chal-
lenge as Withdrawn And SO ended the
only duel and the only riae-match in
which Col. Berdan was ever engaged.
The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1862-02-05
For the Potter Journal
Degrees of Comparison.
BY L. c. 8.

By L. G. =.
have read, sprightly Leylen, your excellent
poem,
Addressed to friend SAKE and attempting to
show i'm.
A FAR better moral deduced by the bards,
Than that which he draws from the "skirmish
of cards.
And you can't object FOR the game isn't whist,
If catch the infection and dare to s.as,ist."
'Tis not at all strange that each one of the
bards
Should see his own whim in the eskirmish OF
cards =
While SAKE has fancy tn "go it alone
And Levien a wish to assist him has shown,
/, though Eve no relish for games of that class,
Have not self-denial sufficient to ''passp
The game justly christened trivial strife,
Has still other hints for the battle of life.
One Is this, when the cards are all dealt round
the stand,
And you find the wrong color displayed in
your hand,
You may battle iIl-luck and opponents harass
By firmly but quietly saying III pass"
The great Gallileo imprisoned and bound
For proclaiming that earth in her orbit rolled
round,
When his iailors the price of his liberty named
That he should reDounce the great truth he
proclaimed,
His freedom was precious. be yielded alas
He had not the firmnes. this offer to pass
The case of great Kepler was wrongly trans
lated
Instead ofthe moral which"witty SAKE" stated
IL can wait meant ''Fll pass" this was truly
sublinir)
It'll mg trump shall turn up in the shuttle oi
time"
And not "gO 1t alone" but perhaps "go to
grass
Would hest show his thoughts as he uttered
Ill pass"
And often in love, when the heart of some
youth
Is besieged By the wiles of Rachel or Ruth,
Who, when she has pierced him with arrows
OF Cupid,
Will leave him in scorn as she votes him $50
stupid
lie only is safe with the coquettish lass
Whoal her soft witcherieS calmly can ''pass.
And not seldom in life you go up on the list
Not by what you accomplish, but what you
resiStt
And pleasures en- which It's delightful to LOOK
May prove but the bait en- old Cloren Foot 5
hook,
So wine when it roreth Alright in the glass.
VIII prove yeur les.rsctioe en1ess you can
pass"
Young friend, be persuaded 70 nevcr pisy
Eachre
II play it for pleasure, you soon may for lacre,
Ana though some may call it an inmost play,
'Tis easy 10 see that it leads the wrong way,
So as YOU would turL from a moral norass
Remember peruiciOus amusementS to pass
He is high in attainments I cheerfully own,
" 20 ever is able TO '.go it alone,
And higher is he on humanity's list.
Who ever is ready the weak 10 assist.
Bat highest is ne who with calm steady eve
Can pass all lifes foibles and vanities By.
The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1862-02-05
VOLUME XIV. NUMBER 8.
FROM the New York Ledger.
The Game Of Life.
4 RoxILY.-BY JOHN C. SAKE,

There's game much in fashion l think It's
called ErehTe;;
Though never have played it, for pleasure
or lucre,)
II which. when the cards are in certain con-
dtions,
The players appear to have changed their
positions,
And one of them cries, in a confident tone,
" think may venture to go It alone ~
While watching the game, It's whim of the
bards.
i moral TO draw from the skirmish of cards
And to fancy he finds in the trivial strife
!SAme excellent hints for the battle OF Life;
Th~e-- whether the prize be ribbon or
throge-
The wiraer is he who can ''go it alone T.
When great Gallileo procl aimed that the world
In regular ortit was ceaselessly whirled,
and got-not q { cenvert-for all of his pains,
~. Only derision and prison and chains,
nlt neges, .fbr I'll tut was his answering
tOnc,
For he knew, IiEs 'Ae Earth, he could go it
alone -
When Kepler. with intellect, piercing afar,
Discovered the laws of each planet and star,
Aud doctors, who ought to have lauded his
name,
Derided his learning and blackensd his fame;
Il can ,rahi i'' he replied, Till the truth you
shall own -
For he felt in his heart he could "go it aloue'
Alas for the player who idly depends.
In the struggle Of life. upon kindred or friends;
Whatever the value Of blessings like these,
They can mover atone tor inglorious ease.
Nor comfort the coward who finds with i
groan,
That his crutches have left him TO "go it
alone j.
There's sossething, no doubt, in the hand you
NAV hold.
Health. family, culture, wit, beauty and gold,
The fortunate owner may fairly regard
As, each in his way, a must excellent card;
J ct the game may be lest, for all these for
your own,
Unless you have the coueage tc ''go it alone!'
in battle or in business, whatever tho game,
in law or IN love, il Is ever the same:
10 the Struggle for po~er, o, the scramble for
peIt
Let this be your moe-o-"Reiy on Yourself"
For, ~hotacr the prize Ae i RIBBON or th-o1e.
Tue victor is tie who caa go IL alone!"
The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1862-02-05
From the New York Weekly Argus.
4 HOmily on u IIOmily.
By DOUGLAS 4. LEvIES.

have read witty Sake, your last verses on
E4rhre-
It's game hare pIayed-althouyh never
for ucre.)
And if you but knew it as well as know it
You would find, oh most genial and excellent
poet.
1t teaches lesson more useful than one
10 be CLEANED from the sentence-"Ili play il
alone e.
Self-rcliance we know is an excellent trait
The Advance guard Of Science who patiently
wait
Until Time has developed the Truths they
proclaim,
Deserve 4 high place on the record of fame,
And often in life a. in Euchre, own
You maze q Big march when you play il
alone"
Ba, to "go it alone" you no doubt understand
You must hold the Big hadccs OF the pack in
your hand,
Aud too often in life, in a similar fix,
You de.,end On such cards to secure you the
tricks,
So that something too much of the knave:
may be shown
ln 8 selfish desire to '.go it alone"
Buttbc game you describe as ''trivial strife, "
Hq' moral to point for the Battles of Life.
II is this When the cards are all dealt round
on the stand
And each player looks anxiouslv into his hand,
noW oTavely your partner ill-luck can resist
IL cheered 10y the sound Of your voice-"Pll
assist -
II he great Gallileo, imprisond and bound,
IN the depth ofhis sorrow this sympathy found
When angry Dominicans hurled at his head
Al TIC Erath on which bigotry's passion Is fed
iaIr i0ria appeared through the dungeon 5
dim mist.
And daughters soft voice whispered low
Il IL assist"
What's the worth of this world, if designing
and cold.
lou ssldShly seek all the Honors TO hold,
EePeling your neighbor's, with glances OF
stone,
And the words harshly spoken, iI'Il play ii
alone :"
No-no! higher up on humanity's list.
Is be who can cheerfully Say-!.TII assist"
Ihen IN love Oh, rash poet! If she whose
bright ewes
Are gazing il yours with tender surprise
should apply 10 your own case the mora
you've shown,
And quietly tell you to "piay it slone =
With what passionate ardor thnse lips woult
be kissed
III they murmured once more the soft words
"lll assist =
Then shuttle the pack Cut the cards ones
again,
ana let a new moral awaken your strain
70! teach 10 the world that the battle of lif,
May BE iightened TO all who partakein the strife
ftle generous lesson thus taught be not missed
AND each man TO his neighbor will ssy-"PI
assist"
The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1862-02-05

The Spaniards do not pay hvperbolicaf
compliments; bat one of thelt admired
writers, speaking Of a lady's black eyes,
says "they were in mourning f5r the maf~
ders they had committed"
The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1862-02-05

Initiate the example of the locomotive.
He runs along, whistles over his work,
and yet never takes anything but water
to wet his whistle.
The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1862-02-05

England gave refuge to Benedict Ar
mold why should she noi welcome to her
shores Messrs. Mason and Slidell.
The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1862-02-05

Spare that you may speed fast that
you may feast; labor that yoa may live !;
and Iun that you may rest,
The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1862-02-05

R@ Subscribe for your County Paper
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-12-10
FOREIGN NEWS

Halifax, December 9.
The steamship Arabia, from Liverpool
November Goth, and Queenstown, 80th,
has arrived, bringing u weeks later news.
Breadstuffs quiet and steady. Prov.
sions quiet and steady. Consols for money
93s@935. @
The great prize fight for the champion
ship OF England, between jim Mace and
Tom King, took place on the 26th of No
vember. After fighting 81 rounds, mos
Of which were in f-vor Vi Mace, King pu
in one of his sledge-hammer blows ant
knocked Mace insensible. Mace could no
come to time, and King was declared the
victor. 1t is reported John G. Heenan
has agreed to fight King for the champion
ship, each side TO put up t5oo.
VERY LATEST -Lireypooi, NoV. 90,
(ria Londonderry ).-Breadstuffs quiet
and steady. Provisions inactive. Con
soils $4,000 Erie shares 424@43t; IL
linois Central 4l@4la discount.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-12-10

The Fair of the Catholic Sisters will
open next Monday night, mud very
large variety Of articles of Clothing, es-
peeialIy for Children, with many hand.
some articles for Christmas presents, Of
ornamental work, including Centre Ia
bles, Parlor Chairs. Rocking Chairs,
Cabinets, beautifully bound and orna-
mented books, &c., will be offered to the
public.
The Lady Superior informs us that a
liberal skare Of the proceeds Of the Fair
viii be devoted to the wives and children
of the soldiers.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-12-10
New York. Dec 9.

New York, Dec. 9.
A serious disturbance occurred among
the soldiers enoamped near east New
York Sunday evening last VIM. Steels,
private in the 18th was shot dead, 8.
IL. Taylor seriously wounded, and hotel
kept by a German named Scbeelering
burned to the ground. A difficulty oc-
Cured between citizen and Steels. The
members of the 49th revenged them
selves by burning Scheelering's house.
Scheecrng was supposed 10 have COM
mit,ed the homicide. He has not yet
been arrested
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-12-10

~ We arc informed by persons who
witnessed 1t, that on last Saturday small
blaek dog. partly terrier, ran over many
parts of town, biting all the dogs it cane
in reach of, and came very near biting .
little boy. 1t exhibited all the symptoms
Of hydrophobia, and ~ it bit probably
forty or fifty other dogs, we may have
some trouble with them the present week
A little caution about this matter, might
not be amiss.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-12-10
Washington, Dec. s.

The Navy Department received iofor-
nation from Rear-Admiral Lee, command.
ing the North Atlantic Blockading Squad.
ron. at Hampton Roads, that the cap.
lures made by the blocksding force Cd
Wilmington, N. G., and neighboring coast,
since Sept. LIST, includes one steamer. two
barks, two briggs, fifteen schooners, max
ing in all twenty vessels, Of which sis
have been sent norlh ~ prises. The
others, with tho exception OF one which
sprung leak aud filled, were chased
ashore and destroyed. rs
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-12-10

SIDE WALRs.--It will be observed, par.
ticularly by the ladies', that some Of our
merchants have the walks in front of their
stores clean and inviting; aud those who
have any trading to do are naturally at
tracted en- PEASANT to such places. These
Gases in oar city walks are more notice
able from the filthy and "clurercd up .
side walks which are so common in most
places on our business streets. The trans
ition is as plain as changing from rick
ETY. old stage to a railroad car, or going
from cold shower bath into warm par
lur, or kissing pretty girl after a sour
pickle. We can imagine . small show for
improvement in the condition Of our side
walks, aud know that word TO the wise
will be sufficient.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-12-10

~ Burkitt & Co., have just received
600 dozen wooden hoods, so dozen wooden
skating caps for Misses and children, gen.
tlemen's and ladies' undershirts, 80 dozen
heavy buck gloves, splendid lot ladies'
furs. gents gloves. 200 pocket books at
ten cents each, felt jockies, ladies' bask-
cts, hats. caps, buffalo robes, comforts,
scarfs, nubias, &c. [dIm1
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-12-10
Washington, Dec. 5.

Attorney General Bates is preparing
and has nearly completed an elaborate
opinion on offering citizenship to per-
sons Of African descent under the consti-
tuition and laws of the United States.
The following nominations by the
President we're sent to the Senate to-day !:
To be Assistant Adjutnnt Generals with
rank of Captain. Lieut.. Marcy p B. Bris-
ter, Goth Ohio Cavalry Chas. Melon
aid, sth Mo; Lient. j R. Murphy, iith
Ills; Capt Ed. {. Dennis, 3lst Ohio !;
Capt. M. S. klmbali. 1th H.; 1t. Os-
car Minell, Ohio.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-12-10
N.u Iurk nac q

New York, Dec. g.
Letters from North Carolina give nc-
counts of an expedition TO Hyde county.
They went over 100 miles and captured
several gusrrillas. two political prisoners,
also a colonel of the 18th North Carolina
volunteers, and destroyed Il bridges.
Captain Jacobs, of the 18th New York
Cavalry, with his force lately captured
near Plymouth, SO horses and mules, and
4 number of prisoners.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-12-10
New York, Dec. 8,

New York, Dec. 8.
The Tribune says that although we
have no means of communication with
the army of the Potomac by telegraph, it
can do no harm to repeat m announce
ment printed in Washington paper and
doubtless already in Richmond. that q
part of the army has probably crossed the
Rappshannock at Port Royal
BY a prisoner from Memphis We got
Oxford news to Thursday morning.
The rebel Gen. Jackson's cavalry.
some infantry and battery had Skin.
nish that morning near town with the
federal advance The main body of the
rebel army about 10000 STRONG had
passed through Oxford IL hours before
The number of sick and disabled with
thci: army is said to be large.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-12-10

Philadelphia, Dec. g.
The ed edition of the Press has a
Louisville dispatch of the 7th which says
a battle had taken place between cur
advance forces and Morgan's guerrillas.
Norris brigade was rcpulsed several
times BY the enemy.
Our troops made desperate resist
ance, but were finally forced to surren-
der.
Our loss in killed Ard wounded WAS
fifty left on the field.
Morgan in the afternoon attacked
Gen. Fry, ut Gallatin and was rspulsed
with heavy loss. Fry being reinforced,
pursued the enemy closely.
Gen. Buell. and staff arrived at Nash
vile on Sunday.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-12-10
New York. Dec. 8,

New York, Dec. 8.
A Washington special states that six Of
our pickets, belonging to the army of the
Potomac, froze to death Saturday night,
and seven died from the effects of cold
at Camp Misery at Alexandra.
An army letter of the 9th says Gen,
franklin corps struck tents that day and
occupied Belle Plain. These movements
is understood to be the commencement Of
active operations. Ill
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-12-10

CowARDLY ASSAULT UPON MAI. pLAT-
rER.-We regret to lealn that the gallant
Major Platter, sof the Fvrtieth Indiana
regiment, was severely wounded Z few
days ago, near Slaughterville, in the most
cowardly manner by rebel guerrillas. The
Evansville journal says that while the
Major was riding towards Siaughterville,
some distance in trout Of his command.
thinking Of no danger, as a squad of his
men had gone On ahead, three men and
two women emerged from she brush, and
two of them, armed with double barreled
shotguns, commenced firing as him, but
missed him. Major Platter drew his re-
volver, but found he could not fire with
out great danger to the women. He
therefore charged singly on the party,
| when one of the cowardly crew leveled
| his gun. which, when in the act of being
fred. Major p. struck up with his re.
volver, the shot taking effect and infiict
ing severe but not dangerous wound on
the top Of his head. The flesh is badly
laceratsd and the bone is slightly injured
The Major arrived At Evansville on Fri
day on route for home, 70 recover from
his wounds. He succeeded in voundine
one Of the cowardly assaasins. after h,
was himself wounded. He gave MOTTO,
that 10 future il women placed hsmsslve
n safe guard around egxerrillas, tho,
must take guerrilla fare.--( Louisvill,
Journal.