Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1867-03-23

have DScD numerous uCIiYatibi gwen 70
the same Fenian. The most probable,
however, is that which deduces the name
of Finn, the most celebrated chieftain of
Erin in the earliest period Of traditionary
history, The ancient Fennls or "Fennis
men, make no inconsiderable figure in the
earliest annals Of Ireland, aud seem TO
have been the warriors Of their day. Their
great leader Finn, says Pinkerton in his
Inquiry into the History Of Scotland,
was a man of great talents for the age,
and of celebrity in arms, His formation
of a regular standing army seems to have
been a rude imitation Of the Roman lie.
sions in Britain"
The legends about their chief, abound
ing in Ireland, are almost numberless. lie
is tabled to have made the famous GIANTS
Causway as d highway over which to lead
his bands to Scotland, and there is scarce
a hillside in 'the aud country" but,
whilst it preserves his profile on its out
lines, perpetuates the history of some one
of his wonderful exploits.
Whether the prerequisites for member
ship into his band where at all times
rigidly enforced, or whether they are still
adhered to by the Fenians of modern times
we can not say-but an old and veritable
historian tells US that before a man could
be enrolled into the ancient brotherhood
he had to promise: First, when be dis
posed to marry, he should not follow the
mercenary custom of insisting upon a
portion with a wife; but without regard
to her fortune, he should choose a wife for
her virtue, courtesy and good manners;
the second that he should never offer
violation to a woman, or attempt. to raw.
ish her; the third, that he would be char
table and relieve the poor who desired
meat and drink, as far as his abilities
would permit; and fourth, that be would
not turn his back or refuse to fight with
nine men of any other nation that set
upon him and offered to fight with him.
The same veracious writer informs us
that in the admission of recruits to the
ranks of the Fenians in the days of yore,
there were a number of rules to be OBJ
served:
"The parents must give up all rightto
revenge or compensation for the candid
ate's death-a very necessary regulation
in a state of society when the punishment
for a death was either revenge or eric.
He must be able to compose verses, He
must be expert with his weapons, and he
was exposed to a very good test-he had
to defend himself against the javelins of
nine soldiers thrown at him at once. He
was to run through a wood pursued by
some of the Fenians, in order to test his
laetness and agility. lie must be able, to
hold his Weapon without shaking, if his
hand shook be was rejected He must be
SO swift and so light on foot Is not to
break a rotten stick by treading upon 1T
and hardest of all to do be- must be able
without stopping or lessening his speed,
to draw a thorn out of his foot.
STRETCH 4 LlrrLE.-A little girl and her
brother we're on their way to the grocer's
one wintry morning. The ground was
white with frost, and the wind was very
sharp. They were both poorly dressed,
but the little girl had a sort of coat over
her, which she seemed to have outgrown.
As they walled briskly along, she drew
her little companion close up to her saying
"Gome under my coat, Johnny" st isn't
big enough for both,n he replied. II think
| can stretch it a little" she said; and
they were 500 as close together and as
warm as two birds in the same nest.
How many shivering bodies, and heavy
hearts, and weeping eyes there are in the
world, just because people do not stretch
their comforts a little beyond themselves.
A bright-eyed little boy. about six
years old, retired up stairs to bed, leaving
bis mother below, without the customary
goodnight kiss. As he kissed his father
and babe him good night, he n%aively said,
"Tell mamma good night for me | for
got to kiss her, but tell her that I kiss
her in my heart"
sayHoratio Smith, travelling on Sunday,
and being obliged to stop in order to re-
place ore of the horses shoes, the farrier
was at church, but a villager suggested
that IF he went on to Jem Harrison's
forge, he would probably be found at
home.n
The proved to be the case; when the
rustic who had given this advice and
accompanied the horse to the forge. ex-I
ultiDgly exclaimed: "Well, | was right,