And spreads deep shades our view and Heaven between. meet you. Her voice is music-the pressure of

And hurling vengeance wide.

Hope at His frown aghast yet lingering flies,

And dash'd on Terror's rock, Hope's best dependence lies.
THEODORE.

People do not care to give alms without some security for their money; and a wooden leg or a wooden arm, is a sort of draftment on heaven for those who choose to have their money placed to account there.-Mackenzie.

a sigh gets up to go home again. Poor man! his eyes are upon the ground, and his steps are slow; for, alas! home has no attractions. He sees nothing there but gloomy walls and lonesome chambers. Alone he swallows his silent supper-he crawls to his bed, and trembling, coils himself up in cold sheets, sadly remembered, "it's of very little consequence what a man is call"Oh, as to that," said the merchant, a little mortifiing, with tomorrow's joyless sun the same dull ed, so that" round begins again.

line. My name is Thumgudgeon, of the firm of Thum-" if he wasn't a great flat, I should think he intended gudgeon, Pumphandle & Co." to insult me by talking about small favors. But small

as they are, if I can only get a bill of goods on to him,
I'll make up for all-by heavens, I'll shave him."
"Ahem! sir, if there's any other pleasure I can
treat you to such as the Museums, Saubert's exhibi-
tion, Tam O'Shanter, or any thing of that kind, I shall
be very happy--"

"Oh, sir, I'm much obliged to you--You're very polite, Mr. Gumplethudgeon—I couldn't no how in reason, as a body may say, refuse sich small favors."

the word "ready," upon which the principals will each bring their pistols to the "present." The same second will then give the word "fire." The seconds will be at liberty to cry "stop," in the event of either of the parties not having fired directly after the word "fire." Either of the parties firing after this word, "stop," must be liable to the consequences before a court of law. In the event of the party who has offered or provoked the challenge not returning the fire, or firing in the air: In short, not to make our story tedious, the wood- this is to be considered as an apology, and the chalen-headed Yankee, as he appeared to the very know-lenger's second must be satisfied, unless a blow or any ing and shrewd Mr. Thumgudgeon, accepted all the such violent insult may have been the cause of the invitations of the latter, whether to attend the various challenge. If neither of the parties be killed, or so seamusements, drink wine, eat oysters, or what not. verely wounded as to prevent further proceedings, the After getting him thus well baited, as he thought, the second of the principal who conceived himself aggriev merchant resolved to make a lunge upon him. Hav. ed, or who sent the challenge, will be asked whether ing one day treated him to two or three bottles of he is satisfied; if he should be, the affair ceases, if he champaigne, which the Yankee declared to be tarna- should not be, the second of the adversary will be asktion good cider, he took him to his store-laughing at ed whether, after his principal having received the fire the same time in his sleeve to think how well he was of the other whom he has offended or aggrieved, he going to get paid for the twenty or thirty dollars he will acknowledge it, so as to render further proceedhad laid out in pleasures and amusements for the ings unnecessary; the affair may then be arranged by countryman. the seconds. Should the intervention of the seconds be without success, a second round is to be fired with the other brace of pistols; the same words being given, but by the other second. If a blow should have pas. sed, which can hardly be supposed between officers, the second of the party who struck the blow must con. tend that his principal shall not be fired at so long as the apology is made by the offending party. The evad ing the operation of the civil law, in fatal cases, must be left entirely to the judgment of the parties concerned; but in the event of the duel being fatal to either party, it is the first duty of the seconds to proceed immediately together, and make written note of the proceedings of the whole transaction, which should be resigned by both of them, each keeping a copy.-United Service Journal.

The latter, appearing to be tolerably drunk, began to gaze about the store as if to feast his eyes with the variety of goods around him, while Mr. Thumgudgeon, tipping the wink to his partners, asked him if he had a memorandum of the articles he wanted?

"Why, no, I han't got nothin on paper," said the countryman-"I've jest merely set them down in my head. But what kind of hides are your'n? Do they come from Buenos Ayres, or-"

"Hides!" exclaimed the merchant-and "Hides!" echoed his partners, with astonishment. "We thought you were in pursuit of dry-"

Sartinly--I'm a tanner by trade, and dry hides is the very thing I want--if you have any sich that you can put me at a good lay, I'd as lieves deal with you as any other gentleman whatsomever, seein you've been so polite as to confer various small favours upon

me.

"D-n the favours!" muttered Thumgudgeon-who finding, that in his attempt to bite the countryman, he had bitten himself-"You are welcome to the favours, if you'll go and say nothing about it."

TREATMENT OF CHOICE PLANTS IN ROOMS.

The greatest difficulties in preserving plants in rooms are, when they are placed in a dark or close apartment, where they do not receive a sufficiency of light and air,-so essential to their health and vigour,-pre"I couldn't possibly think of such a thing," said the serving them from the severity of our frosts in winter, other, who all at once seemed to have got rid of the eflected on the leaves,-or in being planted in unsuitable -watering them when not requisite,-filthiness colfects of the champagne-"it's too good a story to soils. keep. A New York merchant undertake to get round a Yankee tanner! Ha, ha, ha! I shall never forget the small favours as long as I live."-N. Y.

Constellation.

DUELS.-The message having been carried by a friend, the seconds are appointed. They are immediately to put themselves in communication with each other, and from that moment are not to have any direct parlance with each other's principal. The principals are in the hands of their seconds. The seconds are to appoint the place and time of meeting, which must be subject to no change after the principals are informed of them, unless the seconds think proper to alter either, to prevent interruption. So soon as the time and place shall be appointed, the seconds will select the spot, taking notice that there shall be as little advantage as possible on either side in the position of the ground, twelve paces making the extremities. The seconds will toss up four ends, and the principals will be placed accordingly. The pistols having been loaded by the seconds in presence of each other, the brace will be separately given by them to their principals. The principals will stand right hand to right hand, each with the pistol cocked; this being done, the seconds will move wide off the centre, where, on arriving, they will stand together. One of the seconds, previously appointed with the knowledge of the principals, will give

of the most essential to be considered. Plants should The first point, want of proper light and air, is one invariably be placed as near the light as they can conveniently stand, admitting as much air as possible, when the weather is favourable. During the severity of winter, they should be placed in an apartment where the temperature is never allowed to descend below from 35° to 40° of Fahrenheit's thermometer. Should any accident occur and the temperature decrease, below 33° the plants will certainly suffer. The only remedy is, as early as possible, water the whole plant over with cold water, and put it in a shady place in the room for the ensuing day.

SCALE OF MARRIAGES.—A calculator has made out the following estimate of the chances of matrimony a girl has at the different periods of her life. Out of 1000 women, 32 are married between 14 and 15; 101 between 16 and 17; 219 between 18 and 19; 233 between 20 and 21; 165 between 22 and 23; 102 between 24 and 25; 60 between 26 and 27; 45 between 28 and 29; 18 between 30 and 31; 14 between 32 and 33; 8 between 34 and 35; 2 between 36 and 37; and 1 between 38 and 39. To judge by this table, a lady of 30 years would have only 28 chances of getting married out of 1000; when passed 40, the chances are far less.

JAY-NAMES BLIND PERSONS.

The following extract from this highly interesting work, will show the singular manner in which Congress became acquainted with the views of the French government in relation to the affairs of this country in 1775. America had commenced a contest for the preservation of her liberties, trusting solely to the goodness of her cause, and her own courage and patriotism; and probably without the most remote expectation of foreign aid; nor was it easy, in the existing state of Europe, to devise from what quarter such aid could possibly be derived. A singular occurrence, however, soon took place, that excited a gleam of hope, that in the approaching struggle the colonies would not be wholly left to their own unassisted efforts. Mr. Jay used to relate the following anecdote.

Some time in the course of this year, probably about the month of November, Congress was informed that a foreigner was then in Philadelphia, who was desirous of making to them an important and confidential communication. This intimation having been several times repeated, a committee consisting of Mr. Jay, Dr. Franklin, and Mr. Jefferson was appointed to hear what the foreigner had to say. These gentlemen agreed to meet him in one of the committee rooms in Carpenter's Hall. At the time appointed they went there, and found already arrived an elderly lame gentleman, having the appearance of an old wounded French officer. They told him they were authorized to receive his communication; upon which he said that his Most Christian Majesty had heard with pleasure of the exertions made by the American colonies in defence of their rights and privileges; that his majesty wished them success, and would, whenever it should be necessary, manifest more openly his friendly sentiments towards them. The committee requested to know his authority for giving these assurances. He answered only by drawing his hand across his throat, and saying, "Gentlemen, I shall take care of my head." They then asked what demonstrations of friendship they might expect from the King of France. "Gentlemen," answered the foreigner, "if you want arms, you shall have them; if you want ammunition, you shall have it; if you want money, you shall have it." The committee observed that these assurances were indeed important, but again desired to know by what authority they were made. "Gentlemen," said he, repeating his former gesture, "I shall take care of my head;" and this was the only answer they could obtain from him. He was seen in Philadelphia no more. It was the opinion of the committee that he was a secret agent of the French court, directed to give these indirect assurances, but in such a maner that he might be disavowed if necessary, Mr. Jay stated that his communications were not without their effect on the proceedings of this Congress. This remark probably related to the appointment, on the 29th of November, of a secret committee, including Mr. Jay, for corresponding "with the friends of America, in Great Britain, Ireland, and other parts of the world."

407

ANECDOTES OF BLIND PERSONS.-A French lady, who had lost her sight at two years old, was possessed of many talents which alleviated her misfortune. "In writing to her," it is said, "no ink is used, but the letters are pricked down on the paper; and, by the delicacy of her touch, feeling each letter, she follows them successively, and reads every word with her fingers' ends. She herself in writing makes use of a pencil, as she could not know when her pen was dry: her guide on the paper is a small thin ruler, and of the breadth of her writing. On finishing a letter, she wets it, so as to fix the traces of her pencil, that they are not obscured or effaced; then proceeds to fold and seal it, and write the direction, all by her own address, and without the assistance of any other person. Her writing is very straight, well cut, and the spelling no less correct. To reach this singular mechanism, the indefatigable cares of her affectionate mother were long employed, who, accustoming her daughter to feel letters cut in cards of pasteboard, brought her to distinguish an A from a B, and thus the whole alphabet, and afterwards to spell words; then, by the remem brance of the shape of the letters, to delineate them on paper, and lastly, to arrange them so as to form words and sentences. She sews and hems perfectly well, and in all her works she threads the needle for herself, however small."

NAMES IN LANCASHIRE. It is notorious that in the moors of Lancashire, there are numerous instances We have a very remarkable instance in John Metwhere females, after having enjoyed the marriage state calf, of Manchester, who very lately followed the occufor several years, only know their husbands by the pation of conducting strangers through the intricate "nom de guerre," custom has given them, and not by roads during the night, or when the tracts were cotheir real names; nay, in some cases, it has actually vered with snow. And, strange as this may appear to transpired, that the men do not even know their own those who can see, the employment of this man was names. We heard that the Cockey Moor postman afterwards that of a projector and surveyor of highonce carried a letter addressed to himself, a whole ways in difficult and mountainous parts! With the fortnight, consulting all the parsons, clerks, and school- assistance only of a long staff, he has been several masters in the district as to the probable owner of it: times seen traversing the roads, ascending precipices, and all because it happened to be directed as he was exploring vallies, and investigating their several exregistered in the church books, namely, "James White-tents, forms, and situation, so as to answer his de

signs in the best manner. Most of the roads over the Peak in Derbyshire have been altered by his directions, particularly those in the vicinity of Buxton; and he has since constructed a new one between Wilms low and Congleton, with a view to open a communication to the great London road, without being obliged to pass over the mountains.

COMICALITIES.

The following anecdote was related at the late temperance meeting in Philadelphia, by Rev. Mr. Hunt, of North Carolina.

and sweet a disposition, every reason to suspect that she did not hold that place in his affections which was her right; but this reflection scarcely ever intruded upon her spirits. The husband was far from being cruel, and really loved her, but his disposition was weak and his companions eloquent, and he seemed to grow worse rather than better in his habits. It happened once that he was called out of town, and in his haste left behind him a letter, in which to please an unprincipled friend, he had spoken of his wife in terms of carelessness, if not of derision, and dilated freely upon his general course of life. Imagine the anxiety Of all reforms in the world, said Mr. Hunt, that of and suspense of the startled profligate when he found a confirmed drunkard, though not absolutely impossi- himself borne by a rapid steamboat upon a journey ble, was certainly the most hopeless. When once the which must necessarily be of several days duration, yet habit of drinking has been formed, and the appetite for remembering distinctly that the fatal letter was left liquor fixed in the system, it required little less than a exposed and unsealed upon his wife's table. He recolmiracle to eradicate it. If it were true that men car- lected too, with a pang, that he had wantonly, in anried into the eternal world, the lusts and vices they had swer to her inquiries, boasted that it contained a proindulged in this, it was not too much to say, that even found secret which he would not have revealed for the in the world to come, could the means be had, a world. He paced the deck in an agony of disappointdrunkard would be a drunkard still. In illustration of ment and shame. He pictured her opening the letter, this remark, Mr. Hunt related another anecdote. In and turning pale with horror and indignation; per one part of Virginia, there were certain abandoned haps fainting with anguish; alarming the servants; coal pits, which had been formerly worked to a great flying to her father-renouncing him forever. As soon depth, and which presented a series of dark and dismal as possible he returned, but with a sinking heart, to his caverns, well calculated, if any thing in this world dwelling, bracing himself up to meet the fury of an encould be, to exhibit a visible representation of the re- raged and wretched woman. He opened the door gions of despair. A certain man, of respectable con- softly. She was bending over her table busily writing nections and good education, resided not far from A placid smile sealed her mouth with a perfect beau-, these pits, who was in the habit of constant ine-ty, and spread over her glowing features the mild exbriety, insomuch that his friends told him, if he did not desist, he would certainly die in one of his fits of beastly excess. The man, however, thought there was no danger: he should not die: they were only a parcel of fanatics, and wanted to destroy all his joys. He continued to drink, till, in one of his "Your letter is lying by me. The very very_letter frolics, he became what is called dead drunk-totally containing, the 'profound secret.' Now could I pununconscious and insensible to every thing around him. ish you for your carelessness; but, my dearest Charles, In this situation his friends conceived, as a last ex-how.could I look you in the face on your return, afpedient, the design of alarming him, if possible, by after having basely violated your trust in my integrity, near prospect of death and eternity. They according- and meanly sought to gratify a silly curiosity at the exly provided a coffin, and arrayed him in grave clothes, pense of honesty, delicacy, and confidence. No. The placed his body in it and lowered him down into one letter is unopened, and lest you should feel uneasy, I of the deepest of these pits. One or two of them accom-enclose it to you, with the sincere love of your affec panied him, to witness the result of the experiment. The tionate wife, &c.' place was perfectly dark, and profoundly still. After a considerable time the fumes of the liquor began to evaporate, and the drunken man came to himself. He "She started up with a cry of pleasure—and as opened his eyes, and after a few moments they heard Charlesmet the light of her clear unshrinking eyes, him exclaim, "What! is it so?-am I dead? am I he was humbled that he should have suspected her, and really dead?" They answered in a feigned voice-deeply struck with repentance at his own conduct. He "Yes: and buried." After some time a glimmering thenceforth severed all ties that drew him abroad ;'and light was seen at a distance, men in disguise approach- if the pure and happy being whose influence had thus ed, and taking him out of the coffin, commenced the allured him to the path of right, had perused all his subapplication of a pretty heavy bastinado. The man sequent letters, she would have found nothing concernnow believed himself in the regions of sorrow, and being herself, save bursts of the sincerest admiration and gan to beg very hard for mercy. They told him that he the warmest love." had been condemned as a drunkard, and that there was no mercy for him. They then laid him down again and retired. As they were going away, intending to try the result of solitary reflection on his mind, they heard his voice calling suddenly and loudly after them, "Hallo! Mr. D! have you any drink down this way?"

[Shouts of laughter, and it was some minutes before the audience became composed.] ROMANTIC.

pression of peace and joy, and even as she wrote, the fragment of a sweet ballad fell from her lips in a low music, that flows only from a heart entirely at rest. The husband stole noiselessly around, and read as her pen traced her gentle thoughts:

"What an angel!' uttered the conscience-stricken husband.

QUICK COMPOSITION.-In the year 1766, Mr. Barthelemon, composed his first Italian serious opera, entitled Pelopida, which he presented at the opera-house, and it was received with uncommon success and applause. Garrick, hearing of his success, paid him a visit, unasked and unexpected, one morning, and asked him if he could set English words to music. He replied, he thought he could. Garrick called for a pen and paper, and wrote the words of a song to be introduced "I recollect a pretty incident, which may not be in The Country Girl, and to be sung by Dodd, in the uninteresting to the reader. A wild young fellow character of Sparkish. While the Roscius was writmarried a lovely girl, and having been long addicteding the words, Barthelemon, looking over his shoulto habits of dissipation, even the sincere attachment der, set the song! Garrick gave him the song and which he entertained towards his wife could not entire-said, "There my friend, there is my song." Barthely disentangle him from its snares. His occasional ir-lemon instantly replied, "Then, sir, there is the music regular hours would have given any but one of so pure for it!!!"