THE DRIFTING OF THE LEAVES. BY GEORGE WEATHERLY. "Driven with the wind."- JAMES 1. 6. WHISTLING through the Autumn trees The dry leaves go, Tossed about, on high, below, The brown leaves go, Fiercely through the heart and mind The hard words go, Many an unkind, angry word, The hard words go, A CHARM OF HALLOWEEN. BY MRS. ANGELINE E. ALEXANDER. -Scott. SEVERAL years ago, there lived in North Carolina a gentleman by the name of Smithson. He was a man of liberal principles, genial and benevolent in his tastes and dis- | position. In addition to the large estate inherited from his father, he received a valuable dowry with his wife, upon which they lived in elegant style on one of their plantations. His intelligence and suavity of manners, and the refinement and accomplishments of his lady, made his hospitable mansion the constant resort of company. Southern courtesy in "ye olden " time is proverbial. Associated in parties, the gay and happy would visit from plantation to plantation, each host vying with the other in chivalrous efforts to gratify and amuse his guests. The period in which transpired the incident about to be related was at the close of several weeks of unusual gayety at Judge Smithson's. The guests had departed, bearing with them pleasant remembrances. Everything at the Hall was fast resuming its systematic tenor. The gray haired butler laid aside the bustling and pompous air with which he invested his office while "de house was full ob company." The house-dog resumed his station on the veranda at the door of the dining-hall. There were, how ever, four visitors still remaining at the Hall. Two of them were mischievous spirits, and these spirits inhabited as fair temples of humanity as ever commanded the admiration of man. During the gay season just passed, they had caused many a manly bosom to swell with rapturous emotion, as he perceived the seeming interest with which his attentions and conversations were received. But ere many days had elapsed, the same breast was endeavoring to hide in its depths the rage and mortification of its possessor, upon discovering that the fair being, in whose favor he fancied he was being established, was listening with the same rapt attention to the man whom, of all others, he most hated. One of these lovely tormentors was a cousin of Judge Smithson, named Agnes Williard; the other was Mrs. Smithson's sister. She, too, had a name as pretty in its way as her own sweet self-Louise Montgomery. The other visitors were two gentlemen, intimate frienus of Judge Smithson. Report represented them as being in a truly pitiable condition, which was that the two aforesaid ladies, with the assistance of Cupid, had succeeded in enslaving them so completely that, although the cords with which they were bound were only silken, yet they found it impossible to break them; and, strange as it may seem, they had now given over the contest, and were in love with their fetters. Day after day passed, and still the gentlemen found some excuse for remaining. The latest invention for amusement they had discovered was a hunting expedition. With several gentlemen of the neighborhood, they had left the Hall to spend some days in search of game. The tall, manly form, classic head, over which clustered thick, jetty locks, and full black eyes told plainly that Bryant Davidson possessed deep, powerful feelings, with great strength and endurance of mind. The quick, ardent temperament of Ralph Palmer was truthfully represented by his florid complexion and large blue eyes, in which fun and frolic lurked without an attempt at concealment. Messrs. Davidson and Palmer could not have devised a more effectual plan of proving their importance than by absenting themselves from Judge Smithson's. At the close of the first day of their departure, notwithstanding all their efforts to while away the time, the two young ladies were obliged to confess to their own hearts that it was the longest and dullest day they ever spent at the Hall. On the morrow it became necessary to resort to active measures to dispel ennui. At length they determined to have a peep into the future that night—it being Hallow Eve-by means of some fortune-trying project. As Agnes and Louise were not more brave than young girls generally are, they concluded to have the wisdom and courage of a third person in the momentous matter. Accordingly, it was communicated, with due injunctions of secrecy, to Mrs. Smithson's seamstress, Miss Sallie Coburn, their senior by several years. Early in the night the young ladies retired, taking Miss Sallie with them, with Mrs. Smithson's consent. The hour of rest was waited for by the trio with great impatience; but they were doomed to annoyances. Judge Smithson smoked an extra cigar, and read carefully the Governor's Message, just published. After finishing, he arose, yawned very audibly, kissed his wife, and, telling her not to sit up too late, retired to his room; whereupon Mrs. Smithson laid fresh fuel on the fire, and sat down to finish a book she had been reading. These movements were noted by the young ladies, with deep interest, through the keyhole of their door, which communicated with the sitting-room. This torture was endured nearly two hours. At length, to their great joy, Mrs. Smithson exhibited signs of drowsiness. They fled quietly to their couches, and composed themselves, in the event that Mrs. Smithson should be induced to see if all was right in their room. In a short while they had the extreme satisfaction of hearing the door of her apartment close after her. Some time was allowed to elapse, in order to be assured that everything in and about the house was enveloped in the first and soundest sleep of the night. When convinced of this fact, they arose, aud, quietly dressing, entered the sitting-room. It was a ocol night, "Our Fa-Fa-Fa-ther! Our Fa-Fa-Fa-ther !" The din and confusion awakened Judge Smithson. Hastening out to the sitting-room, he comprehended all at a glance. and a fire was 64 wrapped up on the hearth, before which I human strength, had pulled ont the end of a massive sideAmos, a black boy who waited in the house, slept. board, and hid herself between that and the wall. Louise Now commence their incantations. They decided to try Montgomery was kneeling in the middle of the floor, her the project of "The Dumb Cake." Those engaged in it long ringlets thrown back from a face pale with fright, must set a table with as many plates and forks as there are her hands clasped on her bosom, and her colorless lips persons testing the scheme. They must also place at the murmuring, incoherently: table a corresponding number of chairs. Then each one must take one thimbleful of flour, one thimbleful of salt, one thimbleful of sugar, one thimbleful of water, all to be measured in a bona-fide thimble; mix, and bake in the ashes. When done, place them on the table, and prepare to receive the gentlemen. The parties must be particular to set the plate and fork, place the chair, and make and bake the cake each one for herself. Those who are to be married will have the satisfaction of seeing her future husband walk in, draw back the chair she placed, seat himself, and eat the cake she prepared. If one of the number is coon to die, a miniature coffin will be brought in and placed on the chair she set. All the doors are to be left open, and the strictest silence observed throughout the continuance of the project. The table was soon set, each young lady placing plate, fork, and chair. Then the cakes were commenced. During the early part of the proceedings, it was with difficulty they could restrain their merriment. The idea of such a diminutive measure as a thimble, and such a heterogeneous sort of cake as their beaux were to eat, and all to be performed in such imperturbable silence, was quite sufficient to upset the gravity of such lively beings as our heroines. But as the night progressed, and with it the project, the feelings of levity gave way by degrees to emotions of fear. They had opened the doors soon after they commenced, or their courage would have failed to comply with this important requisition. It was now midnight. A solemn stillness held absolute reign. The night had been calm, although cool; but suddenly the heavy boughs of the old trees around the house began to swing to and fro, as the rising wind swept through them with a weird noise, while the mutterings of distant thunder told that a storm was at hand. The young ladies, now really alarmed, gazed at each other with silent awe. Each one confidently expected to see a terrific monster bear in the emblem of death, and place it on the chair she had set. The wind, in fitful gusts and hollow moans, wildly tossed the branches of the trees, and roared down the woods behind the house with appalling sound. The vivid flashes of lightning streamed through the room with startling brilliancy. The thunder, bursting stunningly overhead, went rattling down the sky. The yelling and howling of the plantation dogs was frightful. At length, the quick, angry bark of the old mastiff gave notice of the approach of strangers. Amid a lull of the wind, there could be distinctly heard the clatter of horses' feet coming swiftly up the avenue. On, on they dashed. Louder and fiercer became the barking of the dogs; but the horsemen heeded them not. Distinctly could be heard the neighing and snorting of the horses, as they arrived at the gate. Plainly did the strained and listening ears catch the creaking of the saddles, as the riders jumped from them. But still more fearfully 'distinct was the tramp of feet on the veranda. They were so utterly paralyzed with terror as to lose all power to give notice of their situation. They fully believed that, as a punishment for attempting to pry into the future, the Wicked One was about to come, amid thunder and lightning, and carry them off bodily. In their fright, Sallie Coburn had crept under au old-fashioned lounge; so low was it, that, under other circumstances, she would have deemed it impossible have accomplished the feat. Agues Williard, with super "What in the name of the Furies is all this ?" was his angry exclamation. "Louise, what are you doing here, making a fool of yourself? Where are the other girls ?" Without waiting an answer, he proceeded to search. A portion of a woman's dress from under the lounge betrayed one, an 1 it was plain to perceive some extranoous matter had caused the staid old sideboard to deviate from its horizontal position. In a little while the three culprits were standing before him to receive sentence. But the first impulse with Judge Smithson was over; and the really frightened condition of the girls moderated his ire. So, softening his tone, he expressed his astonishment at their foolish conduct, and hoping they woull never again be guilty of such nonsense, dismissed them to bed. "Amos! Amos! Amos !" The third call was at the highest pitch of his voice, and accompanied by a not very gentle shike of his foot. "S--h?" "Get up, you sleepy-headed rascal. Eat those cakes, and fasten the doors and windows.' The Autumn of the following year found a happy party gathered around the bright fire in the sitting-room at Judge Smithson's. Agnes and Louise were there; but it was now Agnes Davidson and Louise Palmer. Bryant Davidson, who was seated on a sofa with his bride, will. fully persisted in laying his arm around her delicate waist, which the scarf that was thrown carelessly over her hid from view. Every now and then, notwithstanding the tremulous flutterings of her heart and imploring looks, he would draw the arm closer and tighter, knowing well she dared not offer resistance, from the fear of disclosing t the company his misdemeanor. Gentle, shy Louise we seated at a table opposite Ralph Palmer. Over her vary. ing countenance sweet visions flitted, while the eloquent blood would rush quickly to her telltale face, when she became conscious that her husband's eyes were resting upon her. It was Hallow Eve. Judge Smithson had read aloud extracts from the Governor's Message. The reading ended, he drew his chair toward the fire, and, with a mischievous smile, asked the ladies if they remem bered what they were doing that night one year ago. Ralph Palmer suddenly left the room. In a short time the door was thrown open with great, violence, and Ralph rushed into the room. Advancing to the centre of the apartment, he fell upon his knees, and clasping his hands across his breast, while the mock expression of fear on his countenance was ludicrous in the extreme, repeated the memorable invocation of Louise on the occasion of "The Dumb Cake" project. This revealed all; and also opened the way for each one to act as the heart prompted. Bryant f Davidson threw both arms around his wife, and drawing her closely to him, half smothered her with kisses. Louise, forgetting her bashfulness, flew to the kneeling Ralph, and began to pound and thump him with all the strength that her little fists possessed. He heeded it not, but continued his broken petition. Judge Smithson leaned back in his chair and made the room fairly echo with his joyous laughter; while Mrs. Smithson, who was in her husband's confidence, enjoyed the hilarity in a more quiet way. At length came the explanation. At the time the young ladies were "trying their fortune," Bryant and Ralph, weary of hunting, were on their way to the Hall, but losing the road, they were belated. They did not reach the judge's until the storm burst upon them in all its violence. The clatter of horse's feet, with the creaking of saddles, and heavy tramping on the veranda, was caused by their arrival. They gained the window of the sitting-room, which opened on the veranda, just as Judge Smithson made his appearance within. Perceiving the unpleasant RELIGION IN RUSSIA. RUSSIANS are now celebrating the ninth centenary of the introduction of Christianity into their country. The story has been often told, and is worth retelling. Vladimir L, who was an idolater, commenced to search for a religion. Amongst those who were attracted by the fame of his increasing power were Mohammedans, Jews, Romans and Greeks. He invited them all to explain to him their faith. To the Jews he replied that he could not accept the religion of a people whom their own God had abandoned; to the Mohammedans, that Russians would not accept a faith which forbade strong drink; to the Romanists, that he could not yield obedience to any foreign potentate. The Greek alone remained, and Vladimir sent an embassy to Constantinople to inquire about the Greek religion. When Vladimir's ambassadors reached Constantinople, the Greeks received them graciously, and fascinated them with the magnificence of their religious ritual. A special OPEN-AIR MASS OF THANKSGIVING FOR THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY, CELEBRATED ON THE PLAZA DE DOM PEDRO I., RIO JANEIRO, BRAZIL. dilemma in which the ladies were placed, out of respect to their feelings they forbore to enter. Waiting until Amos ate the cakes, they left for a neighbor's. It was mutually agreed they would keep the matter quiet until they won the ladies. When a favorable opportunity presented, the denouement was to follow. THANKSGIVING MASS AT RIO JANEIRO. THE recent promulgation of the imperial decree liberating over 600,000 slaves in the Empire of Brazil was followed at Rio Janeiro, the capital, by the imposing openair Mass of Thanksgiving, of which we give an illustration. This took place on the Plaza de Dom Pedro I., a beautiful rural suburb, in the presence of the Princess Regent and her husband, the Court, Ministry and Diplomatic Corps, and 30,000 people, the prelate of the diocese officiating. The Bishop of Rio de Janeiro is the Rt. Rev. P. M. de Lacerda, who was appointed in 1869 by Pope Pius IX. service was celebrated in St. Sophia's for their benefit. The marble, the jasper, and the porphyry; the brilliant colors of the paintings; the gold and the mosaics; the altar vessels and vestments enriched with gems-opened to the embassy visions of Paradise. They returned to Vladimir and reported: "When we stood in the temple we knew not whether we were in heaven, for there is no such sight to be seen upon the earth. There, in truth, God has His dwelling with men, and we can never forget the beauty we saw there." Vladimir resolved to go himself, and obtain admittance into the Greek Church, and missionaries to instruct his people. As the issue of a successful expedition, he demanded, not merely Christian baptism, but marriage to a sister of the Emperor. Returning, he gathered together the people of Kiev and the country round, stripped the idols and cast them into the river, then commanded bis twelve sons, and subsequently his people, to be baptized into the Christian faith. Vladimir also reformed his own life-abandoned the vicious practices and cruelties of his |