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PARENTS & TEACHERS' DEPARTMENT.

STUDY A CHILD'S CAPACITIES. If some are naturally dull, and yet strive to do well, notice the effort, and do not censure the dullness. A teacher might as well scold a child for being near-sighted, as for beSome children have a ing naturally dull. great verbal memory, others are quite the reverse. Some minds develope early, others late. Some have great powers of acquiring, others of originating. Some may appear stupid, because their true spring of character has The dunce of the never been touched. school may turn out in the end, the living, progressive, wonder-working genius of the age. In order to erect the best spiritual influence we must understand the spirit upon which we wish to exert that influence. For with the human mind we must work with nature, and not against it. Like the leaf of the nettle, if touched one way, it stings like a wasp; if the other, it is softer than satin. If we would do justice to the human mind, we must find out its peculiar characteristics, and adapt ourselves to its individual wants.In conversation on this point with a friend who is now the principal in one of our best grammar schools, and to whose instruction I look back with delight-"your remarks," said he, "are quite true; let me tell you a little incident which bears upon the point.Last summer, I had a girl who was exceedingly behind in all her studies. She was at the foot of the division, and seemed to care but little for her books. It so happened, that as a relaxation, I let them at times during school hours unite in singing. I noticed that this girl had a remarkably clear, sweet voice; and I said to her, Jane, you have a good voice, and you may lead in the singing.' She brightened up, and from that time her mind seemed to be more active. Her lessons were attended to, and she soon gained a high rank. One day as I was going home, I overtook her with a school companion.- Well Jane,' said I, you are getting along very well, how happens it, you do much better than at the beginning of the quarter?' I do not know I know what she why it is,' she replied. told me the other day,' said her companion. And what was that?' I asked. Why she said, she was encouraged.'"

Yes here we have it-she was encouraged. Some twelve or thirteen years ago, there was in Franklin school an exceeding dull boy. One day, the teacher wishing to look out a word, took up the lad's dictionary, and on opening it, found the blank leaves covered with drawings. He called the boy to him.

"Did you draw these?" said the teacher. "Yes sir," said the boy, with a downcast look.

"I do not think it is well for boys to draw in their books," said the teacher, "and I would rub these out, if I were you; but they are very well done: did you ever take lessons ?"

No, sir," said the boy, his eyes sparkling.

"Well I think you have a talent for this thing; I should like you to draw me something when you are at leisure, at home, and bring it to me. In the meantime see how well lessons." you can recite your

The next morning the boy brought a pieture, and when he had committed his lesson the teacher permitted him to draw a map. The true spirit was touched. The boy felt he was understood. He began to love his teacher. He became animated and fond of his books. He took delight in gratifying his teacher by his faithfulness to his studies; while the teacher took every opportunity to The encourage him in his natural desires. boy became one of the first scholars. After this he became an engraver, laid up money enough to go to Europe, studied the works of old masters, sent home productions from his own pencil, which found a place in some of the best collections of paintings, and is now one of the most promising artists of his years in the country.

He sent the teacher a beautiful picture as a token of respect; and while he was an engraver, the teacher received frequent tokens of continued regard; and I doubt not, this day, that that teacher, by the judicious encouragement he gave to the natural turn of his mind, has had a great moral and spiritual effect on his character.-Bost. pap.

TRIPLE DEFENCE.-A case was tried a few days since in Baltimore for the recovery of an account set forth on the face of a note, given for a supper, champagne, &c., whence the defence, ingeniously presented, took a threecornered form. In the first place it was contended that the defendant did not sign the note; in the second place that he was drunk when he signed it; and in the third place that he never had the supper. The magistrate, however, in spite of the three-cornered defence, gave judgment for the plaintiff, and This is the counterthe case was appealed. part of the loan of the iron pot :-" Mamma says, please Mrs. Snooks, won't you lend "Tell your moher your iron pot to-day." ther, my little dear, that I can't-havn't got one-besides it's got a hole in ii, and aint fit for use, and I'm going to use it myself.”—N. Y. True Sun.

PENNSYLVANIA.-This State was settled in 1682, by English; acceded to the Union in December, 1787; capital, Harrisburg. One year's residence in the State, and ten days in the election district, and payment of a Štate or county tax assessed ten days prior to an election, give the right to vote, except that citizens between 21 and 22 years of age Area, 43,960 need not have paid a tax. square miles. The population, in 1840, was 1,724,033.

While they were now walking together, and the professor was seeking to lead the conversation to grave subjects, they saw a pair of old shoes lying in their path, which they supposed to belong to a poor man who was at work in a field close by, and who had nearly finished his day's work.

The young student turned to the professor saying: "Let us play the man a trick: we will hide his shoes, and conceal ourselves behind those bushes, and watch to see his perplexity when he cannot find them."

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My dear friend," answered the professor, "we must never amuse ourselves at the expense of the poor. But you are rich, and you may give yourself a much greater pleasure by means of this poor man. Put a dollar in each shoe, and then we will hide ourselves."

The student did so, and then placed himself with the professor behind the bushes close by, through which they could easily watch the laborer, and see whatever wonder or joy he might express.

The poor man had soon finished his work, and came across the field to the path where he had left his coat and shoes. While he put on the coat he slipped one foot into one of the shoes; but feeling something hard he stooped down and found the dollar. Astonishment and wonder were seen upon his countenance; he gazed upon the dollar, turned it around, and looked again and again; then he looked around him on all sides, but could see no one. Now he put the money in his pocket and proceeded to put on the other shoe; but how great was his astonishment when he found the other dollar! His feelings overcame him; he fell upon his knees, looked up to heaven and uttered aloud a fervent thanksgiving, in which he spoke of his wife, sick and helpless, and his children without bread, whom this timely bounty from some unknown hand would save from perishing.

The young man stood there deeply affected, and tears filled his eyes.

"Now," said the professor, "are you not much better pleased than if you had played your intended trick?"

"O, dearest Sir," answered the youth, "you have taught me a lesson now that I never will forget. I feel now the truth of the words which I never before understood-it is better to give than to receive.'"

We should never approach the poor but with the wish to do them good.—(Selected.)

an

PATRIOTIC.-Gardner Howland, Esq., of this city, has given to the Agricultural Society the use of his fine farm at Flushing, L. I., (300 acres,) for five years, to be used as an experimental farm, and subservient to agricultural college. This is a well-timed step, and reflects high honor on the liberality, patriotism and judgment of Mr. H. Science and the country may well thank him for it. It is encouraging to see that we have not only men of virtue, taste and science who are willing to give, for the common benefit, what they possess; viz.. labor, time and learning, but also those who have the same liberality in the pecuniary estates.

"Decus est pro patria vivere.”

Doll Manufacture.—It is stated in an English newspaper, that 17,000 sacks of sawdust are consumed annually in London, for stuffing dolls alone. Also that one toy manufacturer has been known to purchase three thousand pounds' worth of doll's eyes at one timethat one hundred and eleven persons are constantly employed in one manufactory, in making small sized donkeys; and, that as much timber is annually consumed in making wooden horses for children to ride upon as would be required in a first rate ship of war. This is certainly doing a large business, though it be for small matters.

A Curious Title Deed.-The Philadelphia Inquirer mentions having recently inspected quite a curiosity in the shape of a legal paper, being a deed for Boompies (Bombay) Hook, dated on the 4th of May, 1679. The parties at the time were an Indian Sachem, whose signature is a hieroglyphic somewhat resembling a turtle, and Peter Bayard, of New York. This island, or "Hook," is about 15 miles long, and by the deed it seems that the consideration paid the Indian, consisted of one gun, four handfuls of powder, one anchor of liquor, and one kettle. The property is now worth some thousands. The deed is distinctly written, and is quite clear and expressive. It now forms part of the title to the property, which belongs to a gentleman of Philadelphia.

A man may leave an estate to a son, but how soon may it be mortgaged! He may leave him money, but how soon may it be squandered! Better leave him habits of industry, an unblemished reputation, a good education, and an inward abhorrence of vice; these cannot be wrested from him, and are better than thousands of gold and silver.-(Selected.)

The INDIAN TERRITORY is inhabited by numerous tribes of Indians: estimated at 275,000 square miles. Population unknown.

TO OUR SUBSCRIBERS.-Those who have paid for the second volume of this Magazine, may expect to receive from us a few kernels of the celebrated Mummy Wheat, which has excited so extraordinary an interest in this country and in Europe. We hope they will sow it, and hereafter distribute the product. Three or four years ago a few grains were found in unrolling the bandages of an Egyptian mummy, which had been taken to England as a curiosity; and, on being planted, they grew, ripened, and have been propagated. The Farmers' Club received a present of a small bagful last year, from which we have obtained enough to distribute among our particular friends, among whom we count those of our subscribers who harmonize with us on moral and patriotic subjects.

Having received some rather blunt reproofs from a few persons whose cooperation we had invited, in our extensive plan for promoting the culture of trees, we hesitate to venture farther than we find favorable symptoms excited.

TO OUR SUBSCRIBERS.-Those who wish to receive the second volume, and have not paid for it, are requested to send $1 without further delay through the Post-master, or by mail, without paying postage.

Those who wish to withdraw their names, are requested to return the last number received, with the name and address. It will be stopped forthwith.

TO ALL OUR SUBSCRIBERS.-If each will procure one new subscriber, it will be rendering an important service to a new publication, designed for extensive and lasting benefit.

Back numbers can be supplied.

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The information contained in this work is worth more than silver."-N. Y. Observer.

"It should be in every family in the country."— N. Y. Baptist Recorder.

The New York Methodist Advocate speaks of it in similar terms. Also many other papers.

Editors of newspapers publishing this advertisement for 3 months, will be furnished with the work for one year.

VILLAGE REVELS.

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This scene is not an agreeable, but it be a salutary one. It is now in the power of many of us to aid some of the young within the spheres of our influence, in forming a taste for the low, degrading, vicious and ruinous practices of the idle and profligate, or to instil into them principles, and to cultivate habits, which shall place them above a grovelling level, and fortify them for life against all the temptations, which to others may prove irresistable.

The recollections of past days and old acquaintances, often rise to our minds with impressions so sad so strongly are we occasionally reminded of the melancholy ruin. of those we knew in youth or childhood, by the want of careful parents or other guardians, that we have often felt an irresistable desire to warn those now around us, who are exposed to similar dangers, to beware of the courses whose end we have too much reason to dread. Could we but bring up before the eyes of our readers some of the friends and playmates of our childhood, as we still see them in memory, with their gay and friendly smiles, their pure, unsullied characters, their frank, ingenuous manners, their noble hearts, their upright intentions, their bright anticipations of long, respectable and happy lives, and then show the sad reverse which a few years exhibited, we feel certain that our youthful readers, as well as those of greater experience, would find reason to thank us for the brief, but direct warning which we intend this week to speak in their ears.

The print we now present is a foreign one, and was depicted, we believe, with no design to reproach the practices it represents, but rather as a scene of common occurrence among the peasantry of Europe, which many regard as natural, and not unbecoming on occasions of general leisure and hilarity. Unfortunately our country has not been a stranger to scenes of the same nature. In spite of all the precautions taken by our ancestors, to guard against ignorance, irreligion and vice, and of all the success which they had, in

adopting and transmitting right principles, good habits and excellent institutions, in this point they signally failed. All of us who are old enough to remember the awful flood of intemperance which was pouring through our land thirty or forty years ago, will look back with unspeakable horror; and whoever knows the history of its origin and progress will be deeply impressed with the imminent danger of its return, and the necessity of guarding against its ravages in future. We might rather compare that awful and universal scourge to a general inundation, than to a current, of whatever size; for it not only destroyed the poor and lowly, the less educated and most distressed, but it invaded the highest classes of society. It not only ravaged the vallies, but it rose above the highest mountains; and even science and refinement, domestic peace and purity, sank in the melancholy No place, no circumstances were safe from its invasions; and one of the most extensive forms of misery which it brought in its train, was that of dread and apprehension. While fathers, brothers and sons were daily transformed into brutes, into madmen or idiots, by this subtil influence, what wife or mother could call her treasure her own; what child could surely count on the love or protection of a father, even for a day? Indeed, what member of any family could find assurance that his home would not, before to-morrow, be converted into a scene of shame and misery, by the falling of its principal ornament, or its strongest prop?

ruin.

The North American Review, a few years ago, published a sketch of the history of ardent spirits in the United States, in which it exhibited the introduction and rapid progress of the manufacture of the different sorts of domestic spirits, beginning with New England rum. The picture was astounding; and the reader was forced to admit the conclusion of the writer: that never, since the creation of the world, was any country ever supplied with such an amount of intoxicating liquors, at so cheap a rate. The spring of all that flood of mischief