To spend her days in thankful lays,
In hymning forth her Maker's praise.

I give this dream as omen true,
Of what of good's in store for you;
The eagle cowering, trembling, hides,
The mocking-bird on high abides;

With grateful heart she pours her song,
The evergreen the leaves among,
My dream unfolds a future bright-
The mocking-bird still soars in light.

Take courage, then, nor shrink in fear;
Your wives, your children, homes are dear;
The God of nations be your trust;
The High, the Holy One and Just.

He setteth up and pulleth down,
And each in turn abide his frown;
The eagle here in cowering fear,
Betrays a want of conscience clear.

Take courage, friends, and as you see
The mocking-bird so joyous, free,
Still hope that God is on our side,
And let your trust in him abide.

He speaks, and at his sovereign will,
The storm is laid, the sea is still;

He weighs the cause 'tween man and man,
And clasps the nation with a span.

Then go to him with praying heart,
Oh! be but faithful on your part,
To God and to yourselves be true,
Your battles he will fight for you.
EAST BATON ROUGE, March 5, 1862.

L. F.

GREEK FIRE. The rebel General Beauregard protests against the Federal General Gillmore's use of "Greek fire" against Charleston, as an outrage against humanity, unworthy of civilized nations, etc.

tion a fire was built around the tree, and they suffered slow death from broiling. The charred and partially burned limbs were still fastened to the stakes. Other instances were noticed of charred skeletons of officers who had been nailed to the slabs, and the slabs placed against a house, which was set on fire by the inhuman demons; the poor sufferers having been roasted alive; nothing was left but charred remains."

ONE OF A HUNDRED.-A rural conscript appeared before the Eastern Board of Enrolment, and desired to be exempted forthwith, that he might return to his country home. "What are your claims?" demanded the Doctor. "I'm entirely dependent upon my mother for support," was the innocent reply. Whereupon, thus the Doctor, while a smile faintly illumined the face of the Board: "I am happy to assure you, my honest-hearted friend, that the Government is prepared at once to relieve your mother of so unsuitable a burden, and assume your entire charge and expense during the next three years, without the slightest recourse to the maternal fount for support or succor." The young draftee appeared a little bewildered, and referred to the papers to ascertain what was the matter.-Prov idence Journal.

THE SCHOOLS OF FERNANDINA.-From correspondence dated Fernandina, Fla., July twenty-first, of the Wisconsin State Journal, we extract:

The colored schools, which have been in successful operation here for the past eight months, closed on Wednesday for a vacation of two months. The progress made by the pupils more than equals the expectations of the most sanguine friends of the race. The children have evinced an aptitude to learn and a capacity fully equal to white children at the North, and in all the better characteristics they are in no way behind them. None who have witnessed the grateful expressions of fathers and mothers, and the daily tributes of flowers, and other evidences of affection of the children for their teachers, will ever question the natural susceptibility of this people to cultivation and a prompt response to the ordinary ap

The name "Greek fire" is applied to a peculiar compound of bitumen, naphtha, and pitch that burns on the surface or under water. It is composed large-pliances which make mankind respectable. Corporeal ly of what the chemists call "arsenical alcohol," most destructive in its effects, and, in course of its discharge, emitting a most offensive odor. "Greek fire" has frequently been employed in European wars, but not often in modern times. The secret of its preparation and use was derived from a native of Heliopolis, Syria, about a thousand years ago.-New-York Express.

BARBARISM. The following, from the Chicago Post, on the authority of Lieutenant Cole, of the Mississippi Marine Brigade, is suggestive of the superiority of rebel civilization:

punishment has been so rare that I question whether, during the entire term, among three hundred children, there have been more than half a dozen cases; and I have never seen uneducated children anywhere exhibit more sensibility to the dishonor of a banishment from school, or other similar infliction, than these children of slavery.

Some of the girls and boys had committed pieces, which were properly spoken; and one little ebony, only eight years old, showed extraordinary aptness at declamation in a little piece he had learned. True, he was in rags, and his skin was coal-black, but a more intelligent and happy face I never saw. If permitted, that boy will yet shame many a "pale-face" by his superior intellectual power.

"The day after the battle of Milliken's Bend, in June last, the Marine Brigade landed some ten miles below the Bend, and attacked and routed the guerillas, At the close of the exercises, a little book or primer who had been repulsed and routed by our troops and was presented to each scholar as a present for their atthe gunboats the day previous. Major Hibbard's cav-tendance and good conduct; and it was pleasing to see alry battalion of the Marine Brigade followed the with what eagerness and satisfaction each received this rebels to Tensas Bayou, and were horrified at the find- first testimonial of scholarship. Nearly three hundred ing of skeletons of white officers commanding negro presents were distributed, which were furnished prinregiments, who had been captured by the rebels at cipally through the liberality of Hon. Joseph Hoxie, Milliken's Bend. In many cases, these officers had of New-York, who had visited the schools a few been nailed to the trees, and crucified; in this situa-months since, and whose judicious selections were

universally commended and his generosity fully appreciated. These children will never forget this occasion.

Among the songs by the school, interspersed throughout the exercises-and every child sings in these schools-was the following, which, aside from its intrinsic merit and affecting pathos, was particularly interesting from the fact that just before the rebellion, a congregation of slaves attending a public baptism on Sunday, at Savannah, were arrested, imprisoned, and punished with thirty-nine lashes each for singing the song of spiritual freedom-now a crime since slavery had become a "divine institution:"

SLAVE SONG.

Ned Simons, an old negro belonging to the Dungenness estate of General Nathanael Greene, on Cumberland Island, and who was left by the rebel inheritor, Nightingale, on his evacuation of the place, died here last week, at the house of the lady teachers of the schools, who have kindly cared for him since their arrival here. Ned was over one hundred years old, and remembered General Washington well, and was one of the number who assisted in carrying him through the streets of Savannah on his last visit to that place. Old Ned took a lively interest in the affairs of the nation, and rejoiced in the prospect of the freedom of his race. He was deeply interested in the cause of education, and, though partially blind with age, he desired, himself, to learn to read. On being asked why he wished

"My mother! how long! Mothers! how long! moth- to learn, when he could not expect to live much longer, ers! how long!

Will sinners suffer here?

he replied, "As the tree falls, so it will lay;" his attainments on earth would contribute to higher attain

CHORUS-It won't be long! It won't be long! It ments on high; and the ladies yielded to his request,

and during the last months of his life he, with much labor and effort, acquired a knowledge of his letters and syllables. Poor old Ned! After a long life of unrequited toil and slavery, he has "gone where the good negroes go;" where no slave-driver will ever follow; where he can sing "de praises ob de Lord " in freedom and safety.

A BRAVE IRISHMAN.-One of the Indiana regiments was fiercely attacked by a whole brigade, in one of the battles in Mississippi. The Indianians, unable to withstand such great odds, were compelled to fall back fication of the officers and men, their flag, which remained in the hands of the enemy. Suddenly, a tall

"We'll soon be free! we'll soon be free! we'll soon be about thirty or forty yards, losing, to the utter morti

free!

De Lord will call us home!

CHORUS-My brother! do sing! my brother! do sing! Irishman, a private in the color company, rushed from

my brother! do sing!

De praises ob de Lord!"

the ranks across the vacant ground, attacked the squad of rebels who had possession of the conquered flag, with his musket felled several to the ground, snatched And these verses, so expressive and pathetic, are the flag from them, and returned safely back to his added to almost indefinitely in the same style by the regiment. The bold fellow was, of course, immediinterested singers. Now where this and the hundred ately surrounded by his jubilant comrades, and greatkindred songs sung by the slaves came from, or wholy praised for his gallantry. His captain appointed amidst the darkness of slavery inditeth them, I cannot him to a sergeancy on the spot; but the hero cut of course say, but it is easy to determine the source every thing short by the reply: "Oh! never mind, of the inspiration. In patient faith and enduring captain-say no more about it. I dropped my whishope these "Songs of Zion" have been sung by gene-ky-flask among the rebels, and fetched that back, and rations of these bondmen, as the only relief for bleed- I thought I might just as well bring the flag along!" ing hearts and lacerated bodies, and now God comes in judgment to requite the nation for the wrongs inlicted upon his oppressed and suffering poor.

Another interesting and significant event connected with the people here, occurred on Monday. The women called a meeting at the church, to consider the propriety of presenting Colonel Littlefield's regiment, now enlisting here, a stand of colors. Like the great dinner and celebration on the Fourth, all was arranged by the colored women, and $50 was contributed on the spot, by these poor fugitives, from the hard earnings of their brief freedom-contributed to purchase an American flag to be borne by their colored brethren-the flag which had been to them till now the emblem of oppression! They cherish no feelings of malignity for the wrongs which have been inflicted, but hail the new era of freedom with joy, and rally to the country's standard with pride and satisfaction, now that the country is prepared to respect their hu manity and protect their rights. Among the contributors was one slave woman, who has five sons and a husband in the army, while she remains at home to care for younger children.

BEAUREGARD AND GILLMORE.

At midnight, in his blackguard tent,
"Old Beau" was dreaming of the hour
When Gillmore, like a suppliaht bent,
Should tremble at his power.

In dreams, through camp and street he bore
The trophies of a conqueror.

He sported Gillmore's gold-laced hat-
His red-topped boots, his gay cravat,
As wild his fancy as a bat,

Or "any other bird."

An hour passed on-"Old Beau" awoke,
Half strangled by a villainous smoke,
Enough the very devil to choke,
While all around the "stink-pots" broke
And blinded him with smoke.
He cursed the villainous compound,
While stunk the pole-cats far around;
Then roared with wild, demoniac shriek:
"Lord! what a stink! the Greek! the Greek

Put out this villainous Greek fire!
Or in the last red ditch expire.
'Tis sweet to draw one's dying breath
For one's dear land, as Horace saith,
But dreadful to be stunk to death."

-Nashville Union.

INCIDENTS OF FORT WAGNER.-Sergeant-Major Lewis H. Douglas, a son of Fred. Douglas, who, by both white and negro troops, is said to have displayed great courage and calinness, was one of the first to mount the parapet, and with his powerful voice shouted-" Come on, boys, and fight for God and Governor Andrew," and with this battle-cry led them into the fort.

But above all, the color-bearer deserves more than a passing notice. Sergeant John Wall, of company G, carried the flag in the first battalion, and when near the fort he fell into a deep ditch, and called upon his guard to help him out. They could not stop for that, but Sergeant William H. Carney, of company C, caught the colors, carried them forward, and was the first man to plant the Stars and Stripes upon Fort Wagner. As he saw the men falling back, himself severely wounded in the breast, he brought the colors off, creeping on his knees, pressing his wound with one hand, and with the other holding up the emblem of freedom. The moment he was seen crawling into the hospital with the flag still in his possession, his wounded companions, both black and white, rose from the straw upon which they were lying, and cheered him until, exhausted, they could shout no longer. In response to this reception the brave and wounded standard-bearer said: "Boys, I but did my duty! the dear old flag never touched the ground."

GENERAL STUART'S DINNER EATEN BY GENERAL BUFORD.-A correspondent of the Philadelphia Press, writing from Brandy Station, Va., on the sixth of August, says:

There are many, doubtless, who imagine that the thrilling tales of the experiences and adventures of scouts, as related in books of romance and in newspaper columns, have no counterpart in actual life at the pres ent time. But such an idea is far from the truth. From the narratives almost daily of the scouts connected with this expedition, I could weave many a story of reality that would be quite as exciting as some of the fictitious monstrosities that are agonized into the weekly literary journals. Probably no scout organization for Indian warfare was ever more complete than that now employed in the Sioux war by General Sibley. The force numbers seventy, one half of whom are whites, and the other half Indians and half-breeds. If an Eastern man wanted to see a motley company of the oldest traders, most experienced hunters, and most cunning and daring Indians in the North-West, he could find them nowhere so well as in this very camp of scouts. They are men who never speak of danger, and who look upon a horseback ride of one hundred miles on the prairies as a mere common-place trip. Major Joseph Brown, the most noted Indian trader in all this region of country, and a well-known politician, editor, and adventurer in the North-west, is in com mand of the force, and most skilfully he conducts the operations. There are two companies of scouts, which are on duty on alternate days and nights. One of them is commanded by a man whose entire family was massacred by the Sioux Indians last fall, and the man who begged the privilege, which was granted, of. However, the dinner was appreciated; and if smack-cutting the rope at the execution of the thirty-eight ing of lips and looks of regret at the fragments they could not eat was of any significance, the dishes prepared by these kind people met with the appreciation of all the partakers.

Some people have contended that Stuart no longer had command of the Rebel cavalry, but that Fitz-Hugh Lee was the chief of that branch of the army. Whether this be so or not, as I before stated, Stuart fought Buford last Saturday, for Buford ate his dinner in a cosy little house, nestled among pines, cedars, and jessamine about one and a half miles from Culpeper, where General Stuart and staff were going to dine. Every luxury and delicacy that could be procured in this poor ransacked country was smiling on the white, spotless linen which covered the table. The chairs were placed, the wine ready to be uncorked, the piano in the dear little parlor open as it was left but a few minutes before. The fair occupant of the stool (I hope I am not slandering her features when I call them fair) had no doubt hurried on a sun-bonnet and slipped off to Culpeper. The "Bonnie Blue Flag" would not sound so well in the old parlor, and she feared General Buford and staff could not appreciate her selection of songs.

REBEL RAIDS. The following extracts from the diary of a rebel prisoner captured in Kentucky, are suggestive:

Indians at Mankato last winter. He told me his story with tears in his eyes, and concluded by pledging his life even to the avenging of the murder of his family. The other division is commanded by an adventurous and shrewd frontiersman, a man who knows every warpath or Indian trail in all the territory.

Among the Indians are some of the most sagacious Chippewas, Sioux, and half-breeds in the Indian territory. Some of them have been captured at different