the South as at the North, would not free thought, free speech and free labor prevail there as well as here? Would not the practical working of our system of common schools have saved them from their present deplorable condition, and us, from the wasting ravages of civil war? There can be no doubt of it. But they expect to prosper under the reign of despotism which they are fighting to establish! Listen to the prophetic language of that same "Southern Messenger." "When we shall have achieved our independence and are no longer tributary to the North; with the monopoly of the Cotton culture, and a super-abundance of labor that costs us nothing--with an opening for almost an unbounded expansion southward; who shall measure the prosperity of these states, or calculate their future progress and power? Our system of Slavery, throwing, as it does, upon the black man all the drudgery of menial employments, all the hardships of labor, will leave scope and verge for the development of the energies of the whole man, and bring forth his inward might."

And have the southern planters, a "super-abundance of labor that costs them nothing?" And is it productive to the whole community? Is the peculiar feature of Southern civilization an element of National prosperity? Then Northern, educated, free labor, which demands remuneration, must be un-productive and an element of national decay. But, do facts warrant this conclusion? Let Southern poverty and Northern agricultural wealth, answer the question. Who does not know that the value and productiveness of Southern soil, is much inferior to Northern, and solely on account of their "peculiar institutions." Let the free men and free schools of Vermont, have possession of the whole State of Missouri for ten years, and the value of real estate would increase one third. Ignorance and Slavery have been the mildew and blight upon Southern soil; while intelligence and free remunerated labor, have been the source of constantly increasing

wealth at the North. But we are told that when the mil. lennium of Southern vision shall have dawned, the white man, released from all the drudgery of menial employments and from all the hardships of labor, will have scope for the development of his energies.

How obviously false and absurd is this view of the sources of national prosperity and individual greatness! Where have the great and good men of the world been. reared? In the school of indolence and luxury, or under the influences of industry, toil, privation and hardship? Leisure and wealth tend to degeneracy, both in morals and intellect. Experience and observation have abund antly shown this. There is, then, in this dream of Southern independence, a delusion that flatters only to deceive, a blindness and madness that threaten entire ruin to all who come under their power.

WHAT SHALL WE EAT? No. II.

0.

Autumn came to the old red house by the mill. The new barn was finished and stored with the golden grain. and fragrant hay. As the heavy farm-work was completed for the season and most of the men dismissed, Lizzie persuaded her mother to give less time and labor to preparing food for the family, and to go out occasionally for recreation. The bracing autumn breezes brought back a portion of strength and elasticity to her worn out frame, and when the little dresses and hoods, the jackets and mittens, were all made and the children quite ready for winter school; the mother would have Lizzie make her long promised visit at Aunt Susan's, her Father's sister, who resided in the little town of L-.

Just at twilight of a cold, drizzling November day, the stage stopped at her Uncle's door, and the warm welcome that greeted her, made amends for the discomfort of her short journey. The family consisted of her Uncle, the village physician, and her Aunt and two cousins, young ladies about her whom she had not met for several years. own age,

A day or two after her arrival, as they all sat sewing and chatting in the pleasant little sitting room, Emma, the eldest, suddenly introduced a paragraph by saying; "Oh mother, we ought to give a party now cousin Lizzie has come; you will let us, won't you?" "I don't know about it; it requires so much time to provide refreshments for a party, and then the expense is an item we ought not to overlook this year, when your father finds it so difficult to collect his bills."

"But, mother," said Ella, "we don't want a large party and we need not have tea and coffee and cold meats and half a dozen kinds of cake, and tarts, and 'je ne sais quoi': We can just lay the table beforehand, prepare some nice ice cream, have two kinds of cake and some of those fine apples and pears, with cold water sparkling and bright' for a beverage."

"Oh dear! Ella that will never do," said Emma, "what would the C-s say? and Mrs. K-, whose table always groans with luxuries?" "I don't care what they, or any one else, may say. If we do what is rational and right, why need we care what others say. For my part, I go into society to give and receive pleasure of a higher kind than that arising from eating and drinking. If Mrs. R— chooses to treat her guests as though she thought they were like those we read of, whose god is their belly! is it any reason why I should pay mine so doubtful a compli

ment?"

"But it would look so mean, would n't it, mother, to do as Ella says ?"

"Really," said aunt Susan, laughing, "my little Ella quite overpowers me with her eloquence. You ought to become an Eating Reform Lecturer, Ella; but what does Lizzie say?"

"I think Ella is quite right, aunt. I have often thought how much more social and intellectual we might be, if 'What shall we eat?' was a less important question with

us.

But here comes Uncle, I expect he will agree with Ella and me, on the score of health."

The Dr. had been called from his bed in the small hours of the night, to visit a patient in the country, and had just returned. When the "merits of the case" had been duly laid before him, he said, "let me tell you a story, girls. If not exactly to the point, it is to a point, and shows that 'What shall we eat?' is a question of very great importance. When I arrived at Mr. A-'s last night, I found the baby,' a child of eighteen months, in violent convulsions. After doing what I could to relieve his sufferings, which I suspected were caused by an over and improperly loaded stomach, I proceeded to make some inquiries with regard to the matter.

'What did the child eat yesterday?' I said to the mother.

'Nothing that I remember, more than usual. He has a great appetite, and I never thought it hurt him, so I always have given him what he wants.'

'Did n't he eat supper twice over?' interposed the father.

'Oh! yes. He did. We had company to tea at five o'clock, and, now I think of it, he did eat two or three slices of cake and some preserves. Then, when the men came to supper just at dark, he was round the table and I remember John's telling the rest to see him eat cold pork and potatoes.'

'Did he go to sleep soon after?'

'Yes, he slept about two hours, when he was taken vomiting, and he has been in the greatest distress ever since.'

I could n't help saying, 'No wonder. If you want to kill your child, why don't you give him laudanum enough. to make him sleep forever. He would then die comparatively easy.'

"But will he die, father?" asked Ella.

"I think not. He was much better when I left. Perhaps it would be a mercy if he should, unless the mother can be induced to study the laws of health and apply them."

"Are such cases common in your practice, Uncle?" inquired Lizzie.

"Only too common, my child. Not quite so common as formerly though, people are beginning to think a little more of health in connection with habits of living, but even the intelligent portion of community are still deplorably ignorant on this subject."

"But our party, Father," said Emma.

"Oh! the party. I'd forgotten all about it. I guess 'll have to yield the question, Emma. You 're in the minority, you see. Let it be according to Ella's plan."

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