A duel in Georgia

A DUEL IN GEORGIA.

IN the bar-room of a rude tavern and post-house stretch of courtesy be called a gentleman, he deserves

in the western part if Georgia, around rougk deal more particular mention.

table, oraasjeated with two or three old newspapers, Frederick Stuyyesant Sebtiyler belonged to one of

were seated nine or ten persons^ overeeftrt, book- he oldest Dutch families in New York. Hw father

keepi, and small planters. As <the Weather was was a wealthy merchant, who kept a stylist house in

intensely hot, the party had cause to be thirsty; and Jroaaway, ahd tea. elegant country-seat on the 6ank

thirsty enough they Were; if one might >judg<?< from of the |Iudgon. ,;! At the age of fifteen he entered

their incessant potations of mint-julep, iherry-cobbler, Columbia, G 8ege, and became, in a short time,

Bangaree, and divera other species pf those American great favoiHIMgith Professor Anthon, and a regular

beverages, the names of which are as singular as attendant at BSssfordi So sedulously did he culti

their flavor is delicious. The party had for some time vate his classics and his billiards, that, on taking hi*

been engaged in a loud and boisterous political con degree at nineteen, he could almost play the pony

versation, when they were suddenly interrupted by ven, and was considered one of the first scholars in

/ What are yJ making all this jaw about ?"

Ifew York. The two years which elapsed between

On hearing this gentferttanfy query, the assemblage Stehuylers graduating and attaining his majority, were

turned their .eyes upon tlw speaker of it with a stare rassed without much profit to himself or any one else.

of astonishment and rage; which, however, was in He was nominally studying for the law; but, like

stantly Converted into an expression of undisguised many young men of fortune, oply did so that he

consternation, a Boon as they fully recognised the might have the credit of belonging to some profession.

new comer.

This sortOf Efe, however,did not Jast for ever.

In the door-way stood a man at least six feet three At the; period of Which we jcre speaking, the

inches in height nd stout in proportion! Hisfeatures Americafreotnmereial world Was beginning to recover

were moat/essentially villanous, and his large grey irom the great explosion of 1837 ; or, indeed, we may

eyes,gleamed with an expression that was absolutely say that it had nearly recovered. But during the

fiendish. Every thing about him had a ferocious asr continuance of the great panic; Mr. Schuyler, had in

peot, "from the dilapidated white musk-rat b.at that common with hundreds of his brother merchants, be

was fiercely cocked on one side of his head, to the came a bankrupt.

clumsy and muddy shoes that protected his huge feet ; He had but one cause of satisfaction no small one,

white the butts of two horse-pistols, peeping out from it must be confessed?: an Honest man I <got one

the breast of his Waistcoat, gave the finishing touch creditor lost a Cent by him. Having at length wound

to the picture. As he stared savagelyonthecompany, up his aflairs, tts foundTiimaetf, as he would have

they forgot every thing but the formidable monster expressed it; with a capital of half-nothing to begin,

before them Meriwether Gamble, the bully of Sodom life again. He became a clerk in a house far inferior

and Gomorrah.

to that of which he had been the head ; his daughters

This interesting personage lived some fifteen miles took in needle-work ; and his son determined to get

off, close to the Alabama frontier. The real name of his living as a teacher. Unwilling to remain in his

his place of residence (if it ever had been regularly native city, amid scenes of luxury in which he could

christened by the Government surveyor) had long ago no Jonger participate, young Schuyler endeavored to

been forgotten ; but it was universally kaown through obtain a tutorship in the south. Having heard of an

out the district by the ap^Hation we have just given excellent one in Alabama, fie made instant application

it., It was a perfect Alsatia, within the magic limits for it; and secured it over several competitors, by

ofwhich no sheriff dared shew himself. Here Gam dint of Profeasofr Anthons testimonials. He then

ble lorded it over a plantation of eighty or ninety made his will, took leave of his friends, bought a pair

slaves ; and here he presided over a gang of miscreants, of pistols and a dirk, and made such other preparations

Whose doings were the terror of the cduntry for fifty as a man usually does who is about to leave a&vitized

miles round. Every one of them had in his day for a barbarous country. Thus far, however, he had

murdered at least one white man, counting Indians penetrated in safety to within sixty miles of his desti

and negroes for nothing; and their chief had been nation; and was now waiting at Major LawsonsAo-

outlawed a dozen times, for as many atrocious crimes. tel for the mail-stage, which was expected in a few

AX Aat very moment therfe Was a price of 500 dollars nouns, or days, as the state of the roads arid other

pn hw head. Several attempts had been made, both contingencies might determine. As we have found

by the legal authorities and by private individuals, to him in rather dangerous company, it may not be

take him dead or alive, but they had always failed amiss to add a word respecting his qualifications, in

most signally. On one of these occasions he was case of a row. His height did not exceed five feet

said to have killed, or mortally wounded, five men ten, and Hone of his proportions were large; but he

single-handed. Such being his character, it was no was symmetrically built, possessed great strength anet

Wonder that his appearance in Major Lawsons bar greater agility; and was, moreover, a tolerably scien

room struck terror into all its oecupants. But I am tific pugilist. On the whole, notwithstanding their

wrong in saying all; for as he looked round triumph great disparity insize, a worse antagonist might have

antly upon the cowering assemblage, there was one been found for the redoubted Meriwether Gamble.

man who. cist back on him a gaze as haughty as Us We left that gentleman standing ul the doorway of

own. As this person was, moreover, distinguished by the bar-room, and looking most rantancorously, as a

f+ '/'%.' being the-only individual present who could by an) Kemuckian would isay, upon the terrified company.

598

A Duel in Georgia.

Having waited about two minutes, possibly in the aside: its point entered the floor, and it snapped in

hope of receiving an answer to his first interrogation, two.

he thus delivered himself of his opinions on things in Furious at the loss of his weapon, Gamble sud

general:

denly caught his antagonist by the throat with both

" So youre all quiet now. You were making hands, and casting his huge weight upon him,

noise enough just now, when I came in, Whats the hurled him back helplessly to the floor. It was a

matter? Praps you dont know me?" The coun perilous time for Schuyler. With one hand on his

tenances of all expressed that they sincerely wished breast, the savage held him down; the other was

they did not. " Im Meriwether Gamble, the greatest twisted in his flowing black curls, and the long thumb

team in tlie district. Im a perfect steam-Boat, with nail was under his eye. " Hes gouged!" exclaimed

a considerable sprinkling of the comet. I can knock tlie host: when suddenly the fallen man jerked up his

down and drag out a whole regiment, whip, my weight knees,-and fairly sent his bulky enemy over his head

in Indians, swallow a bufialo wholejfcrid pick my in a complete summerset. A shout of approbation

teeth with the horns. And its my ojjmlon that youre broke from all present. The major now thought pro

all a set of cowards." With which practical applica per to interfere. " Boys !" he exclaimed as the com

tion of his somewhat desultory remarks, the.bully batants regained their feet and gave signs of renewing

ejected a torrent of tobacco-juice across the room, di the battle. " fart em! part em! theyve had rough-

rectly upon the polished boot of the New-Yorker, and-tumble enough." Three men immediately caught

who involuntarily shook hia foot as a man might do hold of Schuyler, and four surrounded Gamble. The

who had stepped into a puddle. . .. -

:,

billigerents were doubtless not at all sorry to be sepa

The rest of the company were not sorry tq, see the rated ; though Gamble made a show of resistance,

msult,, which had been offered to all present, thus par and swore terribly at those about 1 him. And now

ticularly fixed upon the stranger, who was thus bound Major Lawson, who being on his own premises felt

to take up the quarrel; but they very much doubted authorised in assuming a little authority, proceeded to

if he would show fight. They had not long to doubi. explain his views on the subject, and ended a short

Schuyler rose from his seat, and advancing close to but characteristic speech: "Let em have a pair of

the huge ruffian, asked, in a cool and unimpassioned pistols and a Bowie a piece, nothing else ; put em in

tone:

a dark room together, and let em fight it out like

" Did you intend to spit on my boot, sir?"

.gentlemen."

Gamble appeared speechless with astonishment and This proposition was received with a shout. The

rage.

room, selected for the duel was a sort of garret, which,

" I asky did ypu intend to spit en my boot, sir?

having j im window, was reduced to a state of total

" Spit on your boot! Ill spit in your face next darkness" by closing the door. To this the combat

time!".

ants were conducted, and immediately commenced

Very possibly he might have proceeded to put his their preparations for the encounter, in which they

threat into execution ; but if such was his intention, were assisted by all present. After being provided

Schuyler gave him no time to perfprm it, for on re with weapons, Gamble kicked off his shoes, and

ceiving the above response, he instantly planted his fist, Schuyler pulled off his boots, rolled up his trowsers a

with all the emphasis he could command, full in the little wayj and cut off his straps, for fear the buttons

Georgians chest. So energetically and skilfully was should make a noise. The Major suggested that

the blow given, that the giant reeled back, and, with they had better take off their coats also, which they

scarcely an effort to save himself, toppled over on the accordingly did ; and Schuyler, while giving his to

floor.

;.

the landlord, made this brief testamentary disposi

Had this result been brought about by a miracle, the tion:

.

company could not have been more stupified that " Major," said he, " its highly probable that one

the strongest man they had ever seen should be knocked of us two will never go out of this room till hes car

down at one blow by a fellow who seemed hardly ried. If I happen to be the one, youll find on me a

a mouthful for him ! But they had no long space for silver watch, a silver pencil-case, and thirty dollars in

their wondering cogitatioja; for Gamble suddenly New York bills. See that Im decently buried, and

sprung from the floor with a tiger-like bound, and, -keep the balance for your trouble."

throwing himself headlong on Schuyler, bore him " I say, major," growled Gamble, " just fix me a

down at once. Then followed oaths, and pantings, and good stiff mint-julep, and have it ready for me in fif

rapidity-interchanged blows, and a precipitate scatter- teen minutes. Dont forget, now!"

ation of the bystanders right and left, as the com These were the last words the combatants spoke.

batants rolled over and over on the floor in mortal Almost every one had left the room except Lawson;

struggle.

who now stationed the parties in opposite corners,

There was a pause in the conflict. Both had risen asked if they were quite ready, and, on receiving an

to their knees; neither endeavored to regain his feet, affirmative response, wished them good bye, and

or overthrow the other ; but Schuyler was evidently locked the door upon them, leaving them together,

trying to draw his dirk, and Gamble as clearly endea " to fight it out like gentlemen.

voring to draw his Bowie-knife.

The first thing which each did was to change his

At length the Georgian having freed his right arm, place five or six feet: after which they remained some

raised it over his head, as if to chop down his antag time inactive. The difficulties of their position will

onist with his clenched fist. Such, however, was not be readily appreciated. If one of the duelists advan

his intention. In a moment the bright blade of his ced upon the other, with the intention of coming to

weapon gleamed in the air, and muttering a fearful close quarters, he might by some slight noise expose

oath, he made a deadly stab at the other. .Schuyler himself to his antagonists fire, or might run unawares

caught his opponents wrist, and turned the knife upon the point of a knife or the muzzle of a pistol. If

The Woodland Sylph.

he fired without being sure of his man, the flash of his once more recognised those fiery grey eyes, as the

pistol would guide the enemy in returning the shot. Georgian stooped over him. Now, or never 1 He

The most natural course -was for them to wait, each collected his fast-failing strength into one last effort,

in the hope of exhausting his opponents patience, and and lunged upwards with all his force. Uttering a

tempting him to commit some imprudence.

wild yell of pain and rage, Gamble leaped into the

In this way they watched each other, or rather air, and fell back dead!

watched for each other, for about ten minutes ; when The party below, who had been empIoyeAin betting

at length Schuyler thought he detected the cat-like on the combatants, rushed up stairs as soon as they

gleam pfjjia antagonists grey eyes at the opposite heard the second fall. The major .(gained the door,

side of the garret. Turning his left side in that direc tion, and bringing his right arm across his breast, he

and called. He received no, answer, for Schuyler had fainted. He was, however, soon restored to Conscious

peered more eagerly than before into the darkness. His suspicion was increased to certainty; he fired. Instantly the fire was returned; and his left arm, which he had involuntarily raised, fell shattered hy his side. In the agony of die moment, he hurled the dis charged pistol across the room. As it struck harm

ness ; his wounds were bound up, and he was put to bed; for his success made him almost a god in Major Lawsons eyes. In a few weeks, when perfectly re stored to health, he started for home, having had quite enough of the south.

lessly on the rough logs .winch formed the side-walls, His host (who possibly had some private reasons of

he heard a low taunting Chuckle. Human nature his own for rejoicing at Gamble3 death, and feeling

could not bear it; he fired again, almost at random. grateful to the man who had put him out of the way)

Again the fire. wag returned. ;^ the ball piercing his refused to receive one cent of compensation for board,

side, and, overcome by pain trad loss of blood, he fell lodging, er attendance. Naff, more ; he virtually put

heavily to the floor, .While another fiendish lauglj five hundred dollars into his pocket, by informing him

sounded in his eats.

rf the reward that had been, offered for Gamble, dead

But though sorely wounded, Schuyler was not yet or alive. So Schuyler took leave of the hospitable

horg de combat. Raising himself with some difficulty major, and proceeded to Milledgeville (the capital of

to a sitting posture, he drew hia knife, prepared to sell tfie rtaie), to, claim the reward, ;*The governor, who

his life as dearly as possible; only hoping that fag had already heard of the transaction, w8 so pleased

enemy would assail him before he was completely with Schuylers prowess that he invited, him to dinner,

prostrated by the loss of blood. Scarce a minute had expressed his admiration of him, and offered him a

elapsed when he heard a faint creak of the boards cornetey in the Georgian Guards. But Schuyler de

near him Gamble was evidently approaching, to give clined the honor, fully satisfied that New York, even

him the coup de grace. In another moment a heavy with its countless dangers and temptations, was more

foot came in contact with his wounded side ; and he preferable than a life in the Georgian forest.

THE WOODLAND SYLPH.

lown a shady glen At the twilight hoar, Wheneach bird had sought its nest, Mid the leafy bower There I met a little maid, Gathering roses fair, Forming them into a wreath, To adorn her hair. Sparkling were her jetty eyes, Cheeks of damask hue, Graceful was her fairy step, Where the Daisies grew. Seemed she then a flitting sprite, Dropped from realms above, With a sylph like, modesty, Innocence and love. As I watched her wandering!, Near, more near she cam* " Maiden," said I to the child, " What may be thy name 1)" * Rose; they call me little Rose \ n Thus the maiden cried; Plymouth, Mass,

BY MISS C. A.

[ORIGINAL.]

Smiling, with a gentle Math, She approached my side,
" Can you telf me, little one, Who these flowers made,
With such rich and lovely hoes, Blooming in the glade V
" Yes, I know," the child replied, " God made every flower, And he taketh care of all With His loving power."
"Thou art like these charming bads, Young, and fresh and fair;
Soon, expanding into bloom, Mental flowers to bear.
Ever he like these, dear girl, Simple and as pure ;
Holy thoughts should 611 thy breast, They alone endnre.
Blessings on thy little head, . Joy nnto thy heart,
Heaven ever keep the* good, Een as now thpa art."