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THE ANDERSON INTELLIGENCER, IS ISSUED EVERY TEURSDAY, AT ? ONE DOELAB A YEAR, IN ADVANCE. ' jJS^- If dlelftjed six montLii, SI.00; and $2.00 at'the end of the year. HOYT & HUMPHREYS, EDITORS AND PROPRIETORS. Advertisements inserted at m idorato rates; liberal deductions made to those who < will adrcrtiso by tho year. HOW I SPENT MY NLW YEAR. ,lt?y mother died when I was very "young, leaving me to tho earo of an indul-1 gent father, who petted and spoiled mo tintilhe met with a handsc me, cold-hearted - widow lady, with one child about my own ;age, ;whom he married. I pass over the martyrdon of my childhood, and on to th? eventful ?fcw Year's day which forms J tlie subject of my story. . .It was a, few days before Christmas, when my stepmother remarked., "I sup? pose, Maiy, that Fred Sterling will be j home in a day or two." g Oh, yes," replied her daughter,." Fan- \ ny told me that she c.cpected him to-] morrow." " Then he will likely cill upon you on New Year's; ho will be glad to meet you again, for le always thought sojnuch of j y?tt when you wero a child." I felt rather astonished to hear this con-- f versation addressed t? my step-sister, for I had always looked upon-Fred almost as my own private property. We had play? ed together when we wore children; and although Mary would sometimes join our play, she was always sure to quarrel and vownever to speak to ni? again. When I was at the age of fourteen, Fred went to Europe to Complete his education, and now, when four years had pass? ed away, although I thought but little of | .the childish engagement ,that existed be tween. us, yet there was one figure mixed with all my dreams, and it boro a strik? ing resomblanee to Fred Sterling. " Why, I thought Fred Sterling belon? ged to Eosio!" said my father, stroking down my curls. "Oh, no!" replied ny mother, very coolly, " ho liked Bo3e w ill enough to play with, but Mary was the favorite." "- Notwithstanding that step-mother had given her opinion so decidedly in favor of j Fred's attachment to Mary, she looked rather worried, and at length remarked^ "Eose, why don't you put up your hair? I think you are too old to wear curls, for you know that you and Mary aro to be considered young ladies now, and on Now Year's day you will receive calls." This was quite a new idea to me^ I had always worn my hair in curls, and it had never occurred to me that it could be worn in any other way Fred, too, had ' Kked my curls, and when he left had cut off a little ringlet, press id it to his lips, and said lie should always keep it. To tell the truth, also, I had an idea curls were the most becoming to me. I"| was, however, saved tho trouble of reply? ing, for my father looked up, and twisted a lock of my hair over Iiis finger, exclaim? ing: "No, indeed! Eosie's curls must not be put up until they a:.'e gray," and he turned away and passed his hand over his eyes. I had a portrait of my own mother, ta? ken when she was about my own ago; her hair hung in glosty ringlets, and I sometimes thought I bore a great resem? blance to her, only tha; she was beauti? ful. -Thus I knew why my fathor passed his hand over his eyes. My stepmother bit Ler lips, and seem? ed lost in thought. P *escntly she looked up, and with a bland smile, remarked, " Bosa,-dear, why don t you go and make your auntPattie a visit? Sho is alwaj-s waiting.for you, is a kind old soul, and loves you dearly." Aunt Pattie was my fathor's eldest and only remaining sister ; but this was the first time I had ever heard her merits ac? knowledged by my present mother. Of? ten, on the contrary, !iad my blood boiled to hear her called vulgar and " country fied." I replied that I intended making her a visit very soon. <c Well, Eosa," she oontinued, "you arc so fond of making others happ}-, why don't you go after Christmas and spend Now Tear's with her? She will feel more lonely at such s, time than at any ? other, and I know sho would enjoy hav? ing you with her so much." I looked up, astonished at this mood", but I saw the scheme at once and resolv? ed to baffle her; so I replied that I pre? ferred making my visit after New Year's. Myl&ther, however, with a mischiev? ous twinkle at me, remarked, " You had better go a few days after Christmas, Eosie; your aunt Pattie would so much like to have you with her faen." I consented, after this, of course. But when'alone in my room, I puzzled myself to discover what my father meant. Xhe day of my departure came, and my father.and I set forth on our journey. The ahodo of my aunt Pattie was in a beautiful, but rather lonely country place, with but little society, and a few poor families scattered here and there,- with their- dwellings now almost buried in suow-banks, which looked as though they would never melt away. ,.1 loved my aunt Pattie very much, but I sighed as I thought of spending this usually gay sea? son in such a dreary looking region. Just then, however, we came in sight of my aunt's houso, and there stood the dear old lady at her gate, watching for us. Her smile was so bright and her look was so happy ?s she welcomed us, that my gloomy feelings were instantly dis? pelled, and by the time that my father, after having chatted a little while, took his leave, 1 began to feel quite livel}-. Before he went, however, ho drew mo to liim, and as he kissed me, whispered, with a mischievous smile, '?' Now, Rosie, don't lose your heart out here," and ho was gone. As I looked around I thought there was but little need of such a caution;?my heart was certainly safe unless I buried it in one of tho snow-banks. " Oh, my dear child!" exclaimed Aunt Pattie, drawing me closer to her, " I am so glad 3'ou mado up your mind to spend the holidays with your poor old aunt, for I always feel more lonely at such times than at any other." I was glad too, and ?-felt that I was more than repaid for tho sacrifice I had made. ?i There are others who will be delight? ed to see 3*on, too, irny child," sho contin? ued, " there aro tho Lanctons, who are continually inquiring for '?' .\iiss Rose." The Lancton's were a poor family resi? ding near my aunt, who were striving to earn an honest living. During the year I had spent with my aunt, previous to my father's second marriage, I had fre? quently visited them, and I had never been at my aunt's since without calling. " Are they all well ?" I inquired. ??Yes," replied my aunt, "all but the youngest child, who is confined to her bed by tho spine complaint, and the old grandmother, who is blind." " Well, Rose, we shall not be quite alone on New Year's day," said my aunt, in the evening, "for I have invited a whole famiiy to dine with us." " Who-arc they ?" I inquired. " Oh, I shall not tell If ou," she replied, "I am going to surprise }"0u; one is an old friend of j-oiirs." "The Willis family, I suppose, and Sa? rah, tho old friend," said I. Aunt Pal^pc laughed, but said nothing. Sarah Willis and I had always played together when I lived with myaiint- and from this fact she imagined that we we're very dear friends. Yet why we had sought each other's society I cannot toll. Certain it is wo never met without quar? reling. This childish antipathy I had always maintained towards her since, and I therefore received this intelligence with no great degroc of pleasure. The next day my aunt was too busy in the kitchen, making pies and preparing for the morrow, which was New Year's; and I helped her, feeling that I was much happier there than I would have boon at homo. But there was ono figure that, notwithstanding my heroic resolves, still flitted through my mind. In imagination I saw Fred and Mary together, and it gave me a secret pang. But I knew that this was foolish. Why should I care for ono from whom I had been parted four years? He might be changed. Proba? bly ho was conceited and egotistical; of course he had forgotten all about me, and very* likely he might be engaged to some one else. Endeavoring to banish his im? age from my mind, I set out about dark, AVith a basket well filled with &-ood things on my arm, to visit the Lanctons. " Oh, mother, here comes Miss Pose," tfxclaimcd Maggie Laucton, a little curly head pet of my own. " Oh, Miss Pose ! Miss Rose!" was ech? oed ; and I was immediately ^surrounded by a bevy of children. "Do give Miss Rose room to come in," said Mrs. Lancton, as she extended her hand, saying, " You're welcome, Miss. You look the same as ever," and she han? ded me a chair, " only a great deal pretti? er." " I cannot see how you look, Miss Rose," clfimcd in the old grandmother in a mournful tone; " but there is your same sweet voice. Thank Heaven, I can hear that." " Miss Rose, won't you come here, pleaso?" said a weak, childish voice. I turned to tho bed, where lay a pale, thin little girl. A small white hand was slip I ped in mine, and fixing her large blue 9 eyes upon me, she said, " I'm so glad you have come. Miss Rose." I leaned over and kissed the little suf? ferer, and tried to talk to her; but her sad face brought tears to ray eyes. " I will leave you now and' call anoth ef time," was uttered in deep, manly voice< I turned quickly in tho direction from whonce the sound came, for tho dusky twilight had prevented my noticing that there was a gentleman in the room , and I caught but a slight glimpse of him as ho left the house. ? "He is very kind " said lira. Laneton, in answer to my look; "hois a stranger who came hero with Mrs. Newton yester? day, and dropped in a few minutes since .to give'my poor girl, as ho said, a New Year's present." As I walked home with tho empty bas? ket on my arm, I felt fully repaid for spending my holida3rs in tho country. The next day aunt Pattie examined my wardrobe, and was some time in choos? ing on two or three to see which was most becoming, and at length decided on a mazariuo blue silk she said looked well with a fahr complexion. I laughingly submitted to bo turned and twisted in all directions'; to have my hair first brushed over my forehead, then off; to sec my curls arranged in all pos? sible ways; in short, to be treated like a; large doll about to be dressed for some wonderful occasion. "Aunt Pattie," said I, as we were sit? ting together, waiting for our company, "old maids are very"happy, are they not?" '?lam," she replied," if you consider mo any rule; why, my child, do you think of being one?" " Yes," said I," I. would like to be an old maid, and have you to jive with me." Aunt Pattie smiled, but before she could reply the aoor opened and a group enter? ed. Foremost, to my surprise, was the figure I had caught a glimpse of the even? ing before, and whose image had been flitting through my mind for the past four years. I was almost lost to consci? ousness when Fanny Sterling threw bei* ?arms around m}* neck and kissed me, ex" claiming: "Why don't you say how glad yon are to see us nil? Here have I been looking forward to meeting you to-day ever since I came to the country. Let me introduce you to my brother Fred," she continued. " I hope," remarked the gentleman; ex? tending his hand, " that an introduction to brother Fre d is not ricCcss?ry. You have not forgotten me, have you, Hose ?" There was the same frankness as of old. How I envied his easy manners, for I could feel the color come and go in my cheek. To my relief, Mr. and Mrs. Sterling now came -forward to shake hands with me, while the latter remark? ed: "I don't wonder at your astonishment, Rose. But we arc making a visit to some friends out here, and your aunt invited us to como and surprise you." I was soon quite at my case; and now I had time to noto the changes which four years had made in Fred. The boj ish figure had become more manry, and his manner had acquired a grcator finish. That >tas a pleasant dinner party.? Every ono looked smiling and happy. " Miss "-Rosalie," said Fred, " this eve? ning, when you get rid of company, will you favor mo for a sleigh ride?" ""Well, I declare," broke in Fanny, " what impudence: I suppose, Mr. Fred, the next you will ask us to please td go." " Probably Fred wishes to talk over old times with Rose," said Mrs. Sterling, " and feels too bashful to do it in our presence." " Will you go, Rose ?" he asked. I promised, and at dusk Fred's sleigh stopped at the door. I was soon in, and we were flying over the snow banks, while the merry bells kept time to our voices. " Did you see my father before you left home V I inquired. " Yes," he replied, " I called there to sec you the evening you left, supposing you were at home; for although my fath? er told him some time since that we'd spend our New Year's out here, he didn't mention that you were coming." * " Did you see Mary ?" I asked. " Yes," said ho; " do you recollect, Rose, how she and I used to quarrel to? gether?" We went on talking about old times, and about the childish eno-a<remcmcnt wc had made with each other, and somehow the past at this point becoming connected with the present, our conversation inter? ested us, and we scarcely knew how time passed. When I returned to Aunt Pattie a new diamond ring was glistening on my fin? ger. She smiled as she noticed it, and in ' quired if I still clung to my resolution of being an old maid. The remainder of ray visit passed pleas? antly away. iVIy father came, to take me home, and the Sterling family accompani? ed us to the city. My step moth er receiv? ed me in hoi: usual style, omitting to call me " dear," as it was no longer necessary. She also forgot to inquire after the " kind old soul" whom I had been visitinc*.? The conversation soon turned upon New Year's day, and I received a history of Mary's conquests. Frederick Sterling called upon Mary the evening you left," said her mother. " but strange to say, ho -has not been since; he didn't oven make a New Year's call." "Perhaps," observed my father, mis? chievously, u he was out of town." " Yes," replied his wife, " very likely." In the course of tho ovening Mr. Fred? erick Sterling made bis appearance, and Mary immediately applied -'herself to tho task of entertaining him, so that I had but a small chance of saying any thing. - After ho had gone, and my stepmother and I were alono, she said: i: My dear, you know \ supposo, that Mr. Sterling is a beau of Mary's; they thought a great.dcal of each other as chil? dren, and the other evening ho was de? lighted to meet her again after so long an absence; now what I have to say to you is, that I think it would be a good plan for us both to keep out of the draw? ing-room when he calls, for lovers always like to be alone together." I was prevented trom replying to this observation by the entrance of my father and Mary. " Fred Sterling," said the former, ad? dressing his wife, " has requested my per? mission to his marriage with, a certain young lady of our acquaintance." " Ah!" replied his wife, with a pleased look, "I was expecting this; it will be a splendid match for her, he is so well edu? cated and gentlemanly, and his family arc in the very best society. Really, Mary," she continued, turning to her daughter, " I congratulate 3?on." "Rut the name of the young lady to whom I referee] was not Mary; it was Ro? salie," dryly said rny father. M)- step-mother opened her eyes in as? tonishment. " Why," she replied, "I thought all his attentions were directed to Mary; how? ever, I am rather glad she didn't fancy him, as he is not altogether the match 1 should desire for her." ??"Well," replied my father, "he suits mo perfectly. I should not desire a bet? ter husband for my daughter." And so we married, and happily settled. Aunt Pattie gave up her lonely residence in the country, and came to livo with me. My father is a constant visitor, and seems toenjoy being with us. Fanny has proved a sister indeed; she sometimes accuses me of having stolen her brother from her; but then she throws her arms around me and says she has found a now sister. The beginning of my happiness I date from that eventful New Year'tfday, when I sought to add to tho enjoyment of oth? ers. Fred often speaks of my visit to the Lancton's, and says it was tho sight of their lovo for me, more than anything else, which assured him that in obtaining a renewal of my promise, his happiness would be complete. -?*>- ? 'They Say.'?Who are 'They'??the cowled monks who glide with shrouded faces in the procession of life, muttering, in an unknown tongue, words of mysteri? ous import. Who are they? Tho mid? night assassin of reputation, who lurks in the by-lanes of society, with dagger tongue, sharpened by invention and envenomed malice, to draw the blood of innocence? the hyena-like banquet on the dead.? Who are they ? They are a multitude no man can number?black-soulcd fami? lies of Slander, searching for victims in every city, town and village, wherever the heart of humanity throbs or the ashes of mortality find rest. Oh, cowards, cow? ards ! Give me the bold brigand who thunders along the highway with flash? ing weapon that cuts the sunbeam as well as the shade, give mc tho pirate who un? furls the black flag, emblem of his-terrible trade, and shows the plank which 3-our doomcd feet must tread; but savo me from the 'They Say''s of society, whose knives arc hidden in velvet sheaths, whose bridge of death is woven in flowers, and who spread with invisible poison even the spotless whiteness of the winding sheet. -o Power in a Woman's Eye.?A lady when the conversation turned on dynam? ics, asked the late George Stephenson, the celebrated engineer, " What do you con? sider the most powerful force in nature ?" "I will soon answer that," said he, "it is the eye of a woman who looks with affec? tion on a man; should he go to tho utter? most ends of the earth the recollection of thatlook will bring him back. - A "Warm Bath "Wager.?Smith, waa a man wio never .permitted himself to be outdone ; he could do whatever- anybody else ciould. Smith met Brown in a bath? room and Brown, knowing tho other's pe? culiar conceit, said that ho (Brown) could endure.a hotter bath than any living man. Thereat Smith fired up, and a bet was made. Two bathing-tubs were pre? pared, with six inches of water in each. The fellows stripped, and, separated by a cloth partition, each one got in and let on the hot water at the word?the wager being who should-stay in the longest with the hot water running. Smith drew up his feet as . far as possible from the boiling stream, whilo Brown pulled out tho plug in tho bottom of his. tub. After about half a minute, quoth Smith: "How is it, Brown?pretty warm?" " Yes;" said tho other; "it's getting al? mighty hot, but I guess I can hold out a minute yet." "So can I," answered Smith. Scis-s-s! ?squash! ?lightning!?it'3 awful!" Fifteen seconds, equal to half an hour by Smith's imaginary watch. "I say, over there?how is it now? "?, it's nearly up to'tho biiin' pint?? Christopher!" answered the diabolicalvil lian, who was lying in the empty tub, while the hot water passed out by the es? cape pipe. By this time Smith was splurgingabout like a boiled lobster, and called out again: "I s-a-y, over there?how is it now?" :;IIot as the Devil!" replied Brown; " but whew!?seis-s-s!?guess I can hold out another minute!" " The hell's fires you can!" shrieked the now boiling Smith, who rolled out and bolted through the partition, expect? ing to find the other quite cooked* "You infernal rascal! why didn't you put the plug in? '? Why I didn't agrco to," said the im porturablc joker; " why'n thunder didn't you leave yours out ?" ?:-<,?: , A Toucrr of SrniNG.?A few mornings since a poetically-inclined knight of the quill, who breathed a little balmy air, gave vent to the following: The Spring stin*ed uneasily in her Winter's sleep, and prefaced her waking by a sweet, unconcious smile. How that smile has touched the magic links of as? sociation, gilding them into beauty! The soft air seemed suggestive of fragrant vi? olets, round leaved anemons an^j. arbutus pink as a sea-shell. Its waves broke into music at the faintest sound that thrilled their warm depths?depths that sighed for the robins and bluebirds with which they arc yet to bo vocal. On such a day, when the earth seemed like a white-robed bride, all sunshine and happy smiles, happier tears, one ' readily accepted the pagan fancy that the feathered race were approaching their annual jubilee of love, and about to choose mates for the vernal year, the year that in this climate at least, I has not yet dawnod. -?? ! Predicted Twenty-four Years Ago.? It is a remarkable fact that tho perscnt secession movement was foreshadowed just as it has occurred, in a -work called the " Partisan Leader," attributed to tho pen of Judge Upshur, of Virginia, who was killed by the bursting of the Peacemaker. In that work, under the guise of a novel, it was professed that coming events were described. The Gulf States, it was described, had seceded in consequence of the election of a "Northern President, and Virginia and other border States were about following suit. An attempt wasmadc to form treatise with foreign nations, and free ti-ade was establised, which gave the South an unexampled career of prospcri ty. The current of events twenty-four years later has given these predictions the form of fulfilled facts. ?-?-. North Carolina.?A Southern rights mass meeting of the second Congression? al District will bo held at Newborn, on the 25th and 26th inst. Southern rights men from all parts of the State are invi? ted. The Goldsboro' adjourned mass meet? ing will take place at Charlotte, on tho memorable 20th of May. At this meet? ing every county in the State is expected to be represented. The State rights men of tho old North'State, it would seem, do not despair of being yet able to place her in her truo position. -:-? No Secession in Missouri.?The fol? lowing resolution, ofFerqd in the Missouri State Convention, on the 20th instant, was voted down by 23 yeas to 69 nays: J Jtesolved, That in tho event of the refi? sal by the Northern States of the Union to agree upon a just settlement of tho sla? very question, and the border States -dis? solve their connection with the General Government, the State of Missouri will not hesitate to take her stand with her sister slave States of the South. Vessel Fiked Into.?Yesterday after 1:00a, about 3 o'clock, while the wind was blor.ving heavy from tho North-East, a schooner crossed the bar, and was beat ing up tho channel abreast of the beach cf Morris'Island, when she having at? tracted the attention of some of the senti? nels, one of the batteries fired several blank cartridges at her for the purpose, of bringing hei* to, which the Captain of the yessel paid no attention to, but kept on his course, when a shotted gun ' was discharged, the ball from which it is sup-' posed struck her in' fhe bulwarks, when she put about and proceeded down^near tho bar and anchored. During the firing it is said that the schooner displayed the United* States en? sign, but as her character and not her nationality was in question, she should, immediately have come to and held inter? course with the commander on tho island, instead of acting fn mannerthat produced the impression that she intended to-force a passage- Soon after the firing took place, a boat from. Fort' Sumter visited Morris' Island, sent by Major Anderson to make inquiry into the cause of the ves? sel having been shot at, and also to re? quest permission for his boat to proceed to the schooner; and it is reported that, tho boat did go. to the suspicious vessel, but of this wolfcvc no certain informa? tion. .. :: About six o'clock .last evening, *4he steamer General Clinch, with Lieut: T. B. Hugcr, was sent from the city to look aficr the schooner, and ? investigate her character, but after proceeding some dis? tance down tho channel, they were una? ble to discover anything of her, and sup? pose that she had gone to sea. As the wind was blowing very strong from the North-cast, she will-no doubt, take a Southerly course.?Charleston Cou Amusing Ignorance;?The "Wilming? ton Herald tells the following, which would bo moro amusing but for the reflection that such ignorance as this bears its full share in shaping State policy: Patience is a virtue which 'ought to characterize tho people of North Caroli? na in an eminent degree, for they are called upon to exercise it so often that un? less they arc very poor scholars, they must be imbued with its very spirit.? Some people call it by a different name, but, after all, it may be that the slowness with which is circulated among the people has a great deal to do with the for? mation of their character. We heard there was a man in town the other day, from a neighboring county, who, when something was said about secession, re? marked, that ho supposed that idea had been abandoned long ago; that nobody would carry out that threat, to be sure; and when asked " what ho thought about South Carolina, for instance?" he said he didn't know anything particular about that State?that he hadn't been to townjpr three jnonths, and hadn't heard anything from there! He was utterly,lost in amaze? ment when he learned that not only South Carolina had seceded, but that a new Government had been formed at the South. -: A Damp Place Best for Sitting Hens.?A correspondent of the London Daily Chronicle says hens should sit in a damp; rather than a dry place, for the following reasons:?" Tbegerm of the egg floats uppermost within and against the shell, in order that it may meet the geni? al warmth of the breast of the fowl. ~We -must therefore, in'hatching, apply most warmth to that part only; the egg being siipplied with only a limited quantity of moisture, is thus arranged to prevent evaporation from a largo surface, as the egg is only very warm at the part in con? tact with the fowl, until the blood searching nourishment for the embryo, have surrounded the innor surface of tho shell, when the whole egg becomes grad? ually warm, and eventually of an equal temperature. ' jfk -???-. Greatly Like a Woman.?A. couple of Americans in Arizona, having fallen in love with a beautiful Mexican girl, re? solved tj fight for the prize, which they did. One of them was mortaly wounded, and the other hurt so it is supposed he will be crippled for life; and the next day the girl for whom th^y fought and bled ran off with another man, who was a par? ticular friend of the belligerents, and through whose means they had been in? duced to fight. -o A lady, on separating from her husband, changed her religion, being determined, she said, to avoid his company in this 'world and the next too. :-?? A Mississippi exchange gets off the fol? lowing on.an cditoriaf confrere: . "Tho editor of the Broad-Axe is mar? ried. Look out for tetehe?."