40 The Nobility of Truth. Henry was raving in the delirium of aAnd, in the lonely wild-wood nurst, It learn'd the northern blasts to bear. Transplanted from its simple home- It blooms, unchanged with change of scene, Of Truth and Purity within. For the Ladies' Pearl. C. THE NOBILITY OF TRUTH. How noble is truth! How contemptible is falsehood! Truth commands uni fever, now calling on Isabel and his boy, and now shrinking as from some demoniac vision he dared not name. A few days passed away, and gradually and humbly poor Ellen introduced herself into his apartment-her eyes down-cast, Still in its modest vesture dressed her voice in whispers-and performed the gentle offices of woman's love. By and by the sufferer began to call her Isa-An emblem on its wearer's breast bel, and stroke her hand fondly as it lay by his side, while with the other she smoothed the entangled hair on his burning forehead. He listened as Ellen talked of Isabel, and showed him her picture, the gift of early friendship; he took the gathered flowers, when she told him they were fresh from Isabel's grave; she sang versal respect. Falsehood forces universal the hymns they had once sung together, contempt. The poor cottager, with her in soft, rich tones like Isabel's-and spinning-wheel and humble garb, secures kneeling by the bedside, prayed that her more true esteem by her known character pure spirit might look down and bless them. for probity and truth, than the gay beauty The struggle of reason was awful and that flaunts amid the ball-room bestudded mysterious, and sometimes Ellen's heart with jewels, with all her wealth and disfailed within her, and a sickness like regard of truth. The former is inwardly death came over her soul; then would admired, though outwardly neglected; the she go to Isabel's grave, and pray. The soft breeze revived her, and as it played latter, though flattery cringes subserviently amid her curls, she looked like the spirit at her feet, is inwardly despised: she has of hope and tenderness—and trode back the nobility.of society; the cottager has with a lighter step to that scene of dark-the nobility of nature-a nobility as far suness and care. One day while she read, and thought Henry slept, he was gazing upon her, and presently he spoke her name. Was it a dream? Ellen clasped her hands in eager hope. Ellen,' he said, softly and tenderly Ellen-my wife!' The outcast bride threw herself in in perior to the former, as the gorgeous heavens are to the spangled drapery of a theatre. tense and trembling joy beside him. apartment. O shame on the cowardice of 'I have had strange dreams, my love,' such a lie. 'If Mr calls,' says a he said, drawing her gently towards him; haughty merchant to his footman as he en'I am glad you are with me, my sweet ters his lofty and glittering drawing-room, tell him I am out. Shame, again we say, nurse.' Ellen could not speak; she laid her|| head on his bosom, sobbing in excess of on such littleness of mind. happiness, and Henry wiped away her he be a creditor, and tell tears. From the American Monthly. IMPROMPTU ON A SPRIG OF HEATH. It grew not in that golden clime Where painted birds, in bowers as gay, Meet him, if him the truth, and he will respect you. As it is, he goes away suspecting the truth and despising the liar in his inmost soul. This he cannot help, for Nature compels us to despise a lie. But we do not intend an essay.We wish to present an instance of adherence to veracity in high life, and to leave the fact to teach and impress its own moral. Shortly before the death of the Duke of Burgundy, the pupil of Fenelon, a cabinet 6 2 council was held, at which he was present,|| Above all, every thing in the shape of deto consider the expediency of violating a cision of character is lost by delay. It should be a sacred rule with every individtreaty which was supposed could be done ual who lives in the world for any higher with manifest advantages to France. The purpose than merely to live, never to put treaty was read; and the ministers ex-off, for a single moment, a thing which plained in what respects it operated unfa-ught to be done immediately if it be no more than the cleaning or changing of a vorably, and how great an accession of ter- garment.' ritory might be made to France by acting "When I see a young woman neglectin defiance of its solemn obligations.ing, from day to day, her correspondents, Reasons of state were, of course, offered in and her dread of the doleful task of pui her pile of letters constantly increasing, abundance to justify the deed of perfidy.ting pen and thoughts to paper, accumulatThe Duke of Burgundy heard them all ining as rapidly-I never fail to conclude, at silence. When they had finished he clos-ouce, that whatever other excellent qualities she may possess, she is a stranger to ed the conference by laying his hand upon the one in question. She who cannot the instrument and saying with emphasis, make up her mind to answer a letter when • Gentlemen, there is a treaty.' This single she knows it ought to be answered-and sentiment is a more glorious monument to his fame, than a column inscribed with the record of an hundred victories.' The Young Lady. From the Persian. THE FAIREST LAND. Tell me, gentle traveller, thou Who hast wandered far and wide, Seen the sweetest roses blow, And the brightest rivers glide- Lady, shall I tell thee where A bower where newborn roses bloom. DECISION OF CHARACTER. BY DR. ALCOTT. in general a letter ought to be answered soon after it is received-will not be likely to manifest decision in other things of still greater importance. The same is true, as I have said already several times, in regard to decision in other things of even less moment than the writing of a letter. It is manifest especially, in regard to the matter of rising in the morning. She who knows it is time to get up, and yet cannot decide to do so-and consequently lies yawning a little longer, and yet a little longer stillcan never, I am bold to say-while this indolence and indecision are indulged-b decided in any thing else-at least, habitually. She may, indeed, be so by fits and starts; but the habit will never be so confirmed as to be regarded as an essential ellement of her character. 66 Nearly all the habits of modern female education-I mean the fashionable education of the family and school-are entirely at war with the virtue I am endeavoring to inculcate. It would be a miracle, almost, if a young woman who has been educated in a fashionable family, under the eye of a fashionable mother-and at a fashionable boarding school, under the direction of a teacher whose main object is to please her patrons-should come out to the world, without being quite destitute of all true de cision of character. If it were the leading object of our boarding schools to form the habit of indecision, they could not succeed better than many of them now do." THE ROSE. "There is one habit which should be cultivated, not only for its usefulness in general, but especially for its value in leading to true decision of character. I mean, the habit of doing every thing which it de I saw a rose, perfect in beauty; it restvolves upon us to do at all, precisely at the ed gently upon its stalk, and its perfume time when it ought to be done. Every filled the air. Many stopped to gaze upon thing in human character goes to wreck, it and taste its fragrance, and its owner under the reign of procrastination, while hung over it with delight. I passed again, prompt action gives to all things a corres-and behold it was gone-its stem was leafponding and proportional life and energy less-its root had withered-the enclosure 42 The Nobleman's Daughter. which surrounded it was broken. The religion; but she still delighted in the spoiler had been there; he saw that many Saviour. admired it, and knew it was dear to him After failing in many projects which he who planted it, and besides it he had no fondly anticipated would be effectual in other true love. Yet he snatched it se- subduing the religious feelings of his daughcretly from the hand that cherished it; he ter, he introduced her into company under wore it on his bosom till it hung its head such circumstances, that she must either and faded, and when he saw that its glory join in the recreation of the party, or give had departed, he flung it rudely away. high offence. Hope lighted up in the But it left a thorn in his bosom, and vainly countenance of her affectionate but misdid he seek to extract it, for now it pierces guided father, as he saw his snare about to the spoiler even in his hour of mirth. And entangle the object of his solicitude. It when I saw that no man who had loved had been arranged among his friends that the beauty of the rose gathered again its several young ladies should, on the apscattered leaves, or bound up the stalk proaching festive occasion, give a song, acwhich the hand of violence had broken, Icompanied by the piano forte. looked carnestly at the spot where it grew, The hour arrived; the party assembled. and my soul received instruction. And I Several had performed their parts, to the said-Let her who is full of beauty and ad-great delight of the party, which was in miration, sitting like a queen of flowers in high spirits. Miss was called on for majesty among the daughters of women, a song, and many hearts now beat high in let her watch lest vanity enter her heart, hope of victory. Should she decline, she beguiling her to rest proudly upon slippery places, and be not high-minded, but fear. Mrs. Sigourney. was disgraced: should she comply, their triumph was complete. With perfect selfpossession she took her seat at the pianoforte, ran her fingers over the keys, singing at the same time in a beautiful melody, THE NOBLEMAN'S DAUGHTER: and with a sweet voice, the following dist meeting in London-was deeply awakened, and soon happily converted. never rested until he became Now she delighted in the service of the party was subdued. Not a word was spoksanctuary and social meetings. To heren. Her father wept aloud! One by one the charms of christianity were overflow-all of them left the house. ing. She frequented those places where Lord she met with congenial minds, animated a christian. He lived an example of with similar hopes. She was often found christian benevolence, having given to bein the house of God. nevolent christian enterprizes, at the time of his death, nearly half a million of doldars! The change was marked by her fond father with painful solicitude. To see his lovely daughter thus infatuated, was to him an occasion of deep grief, and he re- THE BRIDE. I know no sight more solved to correct her erroneous notions, on charming and touching than that of a young the subject of the real pleasures and busi-and timid bride, in her robes of virgin ness of life. He placed at her disposal white, led up trembling to the altar. When large sums of money, hoping she would be thus behold a lovely girl, forsaking the induced to go into the fashions and extrav-house of her father, and the home of her agancies of others of her birth, and leave childhood; and with the implicit confiding the methodist meetings. But she main-and sweet self-abandonment, which belong tained her integrity. He took her on long to woman, giving up all the world for the journies, conducted in the most engaging man of her choice; when I hear her, in manner, in order to divert her mind from the good old language of the ritual, yield ing herself to him, "for better, for worse,||George, from Batavia, Ohio; Catherine for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in and Harriet were here already,-Henry health, to love, honor and obey, till death and Charles at home, too, besides Isabelle, us do part," it brings to my mind the beau- Thomas, and James. These eleven! the tiful and affecting self-devotion of Ruth, first time that they ever met together."whither thou goest, I will go, and where Mary had never seen James, and she had Such a time as thou lodgest I will lodge; thy people shall seen Thomas but once. be my people, and thy God my God. they had! The old doctor was almost transported with joy. The affair had been under negotiation for some time. There were more tears than words. Washington Irving. The doctor attempted to pray, but could scarcely speak. His full heart poured itself out in a flood of weeping. He could not go on. Edward continued, and each WOUNDED AFFECTION.-As the dove will clasp its side, and cover and conceal the arrow that is preying on its vitals-so it is the nature of woman, to hide from the world the pangs of wounded affection. With her the desire of the heart has failed one in his turn uttered some sentences of The great charm of existence is at an end. thanksgiving. They then began at the She neglects all the cheerful exercise that head, and related their fullness. All but the three youngest are pious. After a gladdens the spirits, quickens the pulses, special prayer for those three, all joined and sends the tide of life in healthful cur hands and sung Old Hundred in the words, rents through the veins. Her rest is brokFrom all who dwell below the skies.'en-the sweet refreshment of sleep is pois- Edward preached in his father's pulpit in oned by melancholy dreams,-"dry sorrow the morning, William in the afternoon, drinks her blood," until her enfeebled and George in the evening. The family frame sinks under the last external assail- occupied the three front pews on the broad ments. Look for her, after a little while, aisle. Monday morning they assembled, and you find friendship weeping over her and after prayers they formed a circle.untimely grave, and wondering that one, The doctor stood in the middle, and gave who but lately glowed with all the radi- them an affecting speech. He felt that he ance of health, and beauty, should now be stood for the last time in the midst of his brought down to "darkness and the worm. children, and each word fell with the You will be told of some wintry chill, some slight indisposition, that laid her low weight of a patriarch's. They will be remembered as his dying instruction. -but no one knows the mental malady embraced them once more with all the tenthat previously sapped her strength, and derness of a big heart. With joined hands, made her so easy a prey to the spoiler. The Mother. A FAMILY MEETING. He they joined in a hymn. A prayer was of fered, and finally the parting blessing was sobbed forth. Thus ended a meeting, which can be rivalled only in that blessed home, where the ransomed of the Lord, [The following relation of a meeting of after their weary pilgrimage, shall join in the family of the Rev. Dr. Beecher, is full the praise of the Lamb. May they all be of interest, and must awaken deep feeling there. in those who are prepared, by separation In the course of the forenoon, Edward from beloved relatives, to appreciate it.-and his wife started for St. Louis. Wil It is truly a remarkable circumstance, that liam and George returned to their parisha large family, born and bred in New Eng-es. Mary and Catherine soon left for New land, should be brought together on the England, and the course of affairs flows on banks of the Ohio.] as usual. Truly the crown of old men is As any thing about the doctor is inter- their children. esting to his children, his spiritual children, I mean, I will give you a little account of MY MOTHER.-Epaminodas, the Thewhat was, in the history of families, a re-ban commander, the greatest man that markable circumstance. Long before Ed- Greece produced, amidst the congratulaward came out here, the doctor tried to tions that thronged in upon him after he have a family meeting, but did not succeed. had beaten the Spartans at Leuctra, said, The children were too scattered. Two that the most pleasing emotion he realized were in Connecticut, some in Massachu-from his victory was the thought, how setts, and one or two in Rhode Island.-happy his mother would be made by his That, I believe, was five years ago. But success. now just think of it, there has been a fam-] ily meeting in Ohio. When Edward re- BEST OF WOMEN-Is she who makes her turned, he brought on Mary from Hartford; husband and children happy-who reWilliam came down from Putnam, Ohio;claims the one from vice and wins the oth er to virtue. She is a much greater hero-throughout the kingdom, there were only ine than those described in romances, six stage coaches constantly running, a whose occupation is to murder the other pamphlet was written and published by sex with shafts from their eyes. Mr John Cresset, of the Charter house, A mother who works her fingers's ends the grave reasons given against their urging their suppression; and amongst off in order that her daughters may attain continuance, the author says, "These and preserve a delicacy of constitution, is more to be blamed for her folly, than stage coaches make gentlemen come to praised for her diligence, or extolled for London on very small occasions, which her wisdom. The Literary Gatherer. otherwise they would not do, but upon urgent necessity; the convenience of this passage makes their wives often come up, who rather than come such long "I'm but a gatherer and disposer of other||journies on horseback, would stay at men's stuff." home. Then when they come to town, SAFE SEAL.-A letter closed with the fine clothes, go to plays and treats, and they must presently be in the mode, get white of an egg cannot be opened by by these means get such a habit of idlethe steam of boiling water, like a com-ness and love of pleasure as makes them mon wafer, as the heat only adds to its uneasy ever after.' firmness. WAVES.-Waves are the risings and Socrates being asked the way to hon-fallings of the water, caused by some est fame, replied, Study to be what you power, such as the blowing of the wind. wish to seem." The power, whatever it happens to be, communicates a force to the mass of li WEIGHT OF THE ATMOSPHERE. The quid, and a series of undulations is the earth's surface contains, in round num-consequence. These undulations, or bers, 200,000,000 square miles; and, as waves, exhibit the transmission of the every square mile contains 27,876,400 communicated force. The force does not square feet, there must be 5,575,980,000,- advance or alter the lateral position of 000,000 square feet on the earth surface; the water at any given point; it only alwhich number multiplied by 2160 pounds, ters the water in its vertical position, or the pressure on each square foot, gives in relation to its depth. When, there12,143,468,800,000,000,000, pounds for fore, waves advance, the water does not the pressure, or whole weight of the at-advance with them; the water but rises mosphere. Reckoning the surface of aand falls, and assumes the figure of unmiddle sized man to be about 14 square dulations on its surface. When the unfeet, the pressure he sustains from the at-dulations approach the shore the water mosphere is equal to 30,240 lbs. Troy, or then acquires a progressive motion, where 11 tons 2 cwt. and 18 1-2 lbs. it is shallow, and by friction on the bottom, or impulsion against the shore, the Coaches were introduced into England communicated force is exhausted. The by Fitz-Allan, Earl of Arundel, A. D shaking of a carpet affords an exact rep1580; before which time Queen Eliza-resentation of the action of waves or unbeth, on public occasions, rode behind dulations. Waves are comparatively su her chamberlain; and she, in her old age, perficial; they seldom even in the greataccording to Wilson, used reluctantly est storms, rise to a height of more than such an effiminate conveyance. They twelve feet above the level of calm wawere at first only drawn by two horses;ter, and make an equal descent beneath, but,' says the same author, 'the rest crept making altogether an appearance of in by degrees, as men at first ventured to twenty-four feet; at eight or ten feet besea. It was Buckingham, the favourite, low the hollow or trough of the waves who about 1619, began to have a 'team' the water is tranquil. Waves 'mountains of six horses; which, as another histori-high' is only a figure of speech.-Chaman says 'was wondered at as a novelty.bers' Educational Course-Natural Philand imputed to him as a mastering pride.osophy. Before that time, ladies chiefly rode on horseback, either single, on their palfreys, ANECDOTE OF WALTER SCOTT.-At or double, behind some person, on a pil-the late meeting of the American Bible lion. In the year 1672, at which period Society in New York, as we learn from |