my ear. I was so much astonished that I forgot my purpose of disturbing the dust, and it was well that I did. My dear Miss,' said the little voice, 'pray don't look at me, for I can't bear to be stared at—I am the grain of dust you see, and if you will look away, I will tell you some of my adventures; I have long wished for an opportunity of relating them, but never until now has my wish been gratified. But promise first not to look at me, for it disconcerts me so.' I accordingly gave my promise, not a little surprised at the remarks of my testy companion.

I am of honorable descent,' continued the grain of dust, 'for my parents resided at the time of my birth on a regalia of jewels belonging to the king of Spain. While yet in my earliest infancy, I was torn by the rude hand of a lapidary from my happy home, and, with my mother, consigned to the four winds of heaven. We were wafted for some time together on a gentle south wind over the sunny land of old Castilia, until my dear parent, passing unawares into an extremely rarefied current of air, suddenly left me, and ascended so swiftly that she was soon out of sight, and I was left alone to wend my way at venture through the world. After some hours journey 'on the wings of the wind,' I passed over the countries of Spain and France, and came in sight of the British channel, where lay a packet ship just on the point of starting from Calais harbor for the English coast. I here took the advantage of a downward current of air, to alight on the velvet collar of a gentleman, just as he was stepping on board the vessel. We soon left the shore far behind, and after about twelve hours' passage arrived safely at Dover. My patron speedily bespoke a conveyance to London, and, after driving some time, we came in sight of that busy metropolis. As we approached it, my eyes were dazzled and my ears stunned with the sights and noises round me. From every part of the great city lamps were gleaming, and vehicles of all sizes and every description were hurrying to and fro. Men, women and children thronged the streets, and every gradation of voice, from the stentorian shout of the old clothes-man to the lamentable whine of the weaned infant, saluted my ears. I was soon wearied of such confusion, and setting down comfortably in my resting place I indulged in a sound nap. How long I remained in this situation I know not, but suddenly my slumbers were arrested by a blow on my head, which made every bone in my body ache for some days. I opened my eyes in order to ascertain the reason of this sudden concussion, and beheld a man standing near me with my host's travelling coat in one hand and a brush in the other. As for me, I had been forcibly ejected by him from my berth, and thrown on a white kid glove which was lying on a toilet table. From what I have since learned experimentally in high life, I was then in the dressing-room of an exquisite of the first order-a youth of high rank, but one who

worshipped, with all his little soul, at the shrine of fashion. I was mightily amused, you may be sure, at the operations I witnessed in my new situation. At the time of my awaking, I found my master (for so I designated him) standing before a large mirror, nearly dressed, and evidently preparing for some gay assembly. First a coat of the finest texture and formed on the latest model, was carefully put on, and his lordship's valet, taper in hand, moved like a satellite in a most eccentric orbit around him, to see that no wrinkles sullied the fair proportions of his outer man. Then by a most dextrous flourish of a brush, which adorned his right hand, a graceful and becoming curve was given to the curling locks upon his brow. At last, the white gloves on which I lay, and to which I clung with all my strength, (for I had a mind to see the world,) were seized and drawn with the air of a connoisseur in such matters, upon his lordship's extended fingers. A snowy cambric handkerchief, which exhaled fragrance far and near, was consigned to its receptacle, and thus arrayed, the dandy nobleman and myself entered a carriage and drove at an aristocratic pace through several fine streets at the west end of London. When at last the vehicle, after sundry delays and stoppings, drew up at the place of destination, we alighted, and I was struck with the novelty of the scene presented. Before me was a spacious and elegant mansion, with marble steps leading to its entrance. We ascended these and passed into a long gallery which seemed to my unaccustomed sight to contain all that was beautiful in art.

'Rich paintings, whose subjects appeared to be starting into life, glowed in a mellow light, and white marble statues singly and in groups, gleamed from amid the dark crimson drapery which covered the sides of the apartment. I could have stayed there a week nor have grown weary of admiring; but it was apparently no new sight to my master who passed immediately through the gallery, and entered a spacious hall. Here festoons of flowers adorned the walls, and wax tapers whose light was. given back a hundred fold from crystal reflectors, flashed on my eyes. I heard the most enchanting music. The fairest and noblest ladies of the land were moving in the dance, accompanied by as many gentlemen, who were almost all of them as exquisite as my master.

'Astonishment at the strange sight kept me silent, but while I was looking with unfeigned delight around me, my lord, who had entered into conversation with some of his friends, saw fit to take off the glove on which I rested, and the motion he used was so great as to throw me from my station. I might have fallen to the ground, but fortunately for me at that moment, a haughty dowager dutchess swept by, and the nodding of her plumes caused such a breeze, that I was borne along with it until my progress was arrested by a beautiful girl, on whose lip I alighted. She was dancing with a young squire, who seemed quite devoted

to her, and I became very much interested in their conversation; but while I was listening intently, the gentleman made a speech so flattering, which caused the young lady to use her fan so violently that I was again obliged to wing my flight, to my infinite chagrin and mortification; chagrin at losing so interesting a conversation, and mortification at finding myself an object of so little importance that I must be blown about by every idle breeze. I must not forget to mention that I was not alone in this great assembly. I there met with many other particles of dust, who, perceiving that I was a stranger, introduced themselves to me, and from them I learned all the fashionable scandal of the day. Various were the stations I occupied in the course of this eventful evening; at one time I stood on the flashing coronet of a stately peeress; at another I was perched on the petal of a moss rose-bud, presented by a ferocious looking whiskerando to an affected young lady. I lodged on the satin shoe of a fair one who was endeavoring to make the public sensible that she had a pretty foot, and at last when the ball was ended, I departed on a blonde veil, which caught me as I was sailing in quest of new adventure, through the air. I was per

The grain of dust had proceeded thus far in the recital of his adventures, when a tiny shriek of pain arrested my attention; despite his injunctions to the contrary, I turned to look at my dusty little friend, but he was no more!—a spark of fire had fallen from the unsnuffed candle, and a martyr's death had ended the existence of the poor atom.

DORA.

MIDNIGHT.

MIDNIGHT!-the hour when busy fancy reigns;
When the deep chambers of the inmost soul
Pour forth their treasures of dark imagery;
When past remembrances come flitting by,
As twilight's changing hues.

When beaming eyes,

Long closed in death's sad sleep, with their bright smiles,
Greet us once more. And voices whose sweet tones,

As notes of distant music sadly come
Upon the still air of a summer eve,
Steal o'er our raptured senses, and awake
The slumbering echoes of the heart.

O. B―s.

"ANIMUS ***

RECTOR HUMANI GENERIS, AGET ATQUE HABET CUNCTA, NEQUE
IPSE HABETUR."

THERE have been much speculation and controversy among philosophers concerning the nature of the human mind. Is the soul, or intelligent principle in man, material, or immaterial? Is it endued with innate ideas, or at first a mere blank, taking its complexion wholly from external things? These and similar questions have puzzled the brains of many of the wise ones, both of ancient and modern times. Innumerable wild and contradictory theories have been advanced. Some have boldly asserted that the mind with all its wondrous powers is but the mere result of matter, curiously organized and set in motion: others have maintained both mind and body to be spiritual essences; while others still have denied the existence of either.

But notwithstanding that the mightiest intellects have been exercised upon these subjects, they are still in some respects involved in as much darkness as ever, thus exhibiting this mysterious fact, that that intelligence, which can embrace in its wide scope the visible creation, and even soar beyond its utmost bounds, is yet unable to comprehend itself. Fortunately the solutions of these metaphysical problems, however desirable, is not absolutely essential, and they have given place to others of less obscurity and greater practical utility. All allow, whatever may be the constitution of the mind, whether it be a spiritual essence, or but a refined species of matter, that it admits of being expanded and improved to an unlimited extent. If it have wrapped up within itself the seeds and elements of thought, then it needs to be brought under those genial influences, which, like the sun and the shower of the external world, shall cause the kernel to expand into the majestic tree. Or, if it be blank and bare like the naked canvass, then must the pencil of the artist be applied to make it glow with the beauty and the grace of the finished picture. To bring these means of improvement to bear upon the mind in the greatest variety and the most effectual manner, is to a great extent the study and the glory of this age. For this end the means of education have been scattered so widely throughout the land: for this the elements of the sciences have been thrown into attractive forms, and made accessible to almost every child: for this the press has been called into requisition, and is sending out its sheets teeming with those truths, which, a few ages ago, were locked up in the recesses of nature, or in the equally profitless possessions of monastic seclusion. And for this, preeminently, were designed those numerous collegiate institutions, in which, by the

discipline of diligent study, and the collision of mind with mind, so many young men are preparing to try the experiment what man can do.

To those who possess these high privileges, to us if to any, it is an interesting question-What are the real advantages of education, and what end should the scholar have in view? If there are noble ends to be accomplished, if there are animating rewards to be expected, they should be held up to encourage the youth in the toilsome ascent of the "hill of science." They should be presented to parents, to induce them to bequeath to their children the best of all legacies, a good education. Do we enquire for the advantages of learning? They are seen throughout the world: they are every where presented in bold relief. What makes the difference between the tribes which roam through our western forests, and the happy dwellers on these Atlantic shores? Why has Africa been the prey of every spoiler, while England has extended her sway over the globe? Not because of a difference in the color of the skin, nor any native difference in the hue of the soul, but it is that fair science has unrolled "her ample page " to the one, while the other has been groping in the gloom of ignorance. Though almost all are ready enough to admit the utility of those pursuits by which the means and the comforts of life are obtained, though they acknowledge the benefit of those sciences whose effects are immediately visible; which teach us to change the raw material into the finished fabric, to bring the metal from the hidden mine, or cause the corn to wave in the fields for the support of man; yet some are not so ready to see and confess the advantage of those studies whose results are less tangible. What, they are ready to ask, can be the use of poring for years over musty books, and wasting time,-time which "is money," in brushing the cobwebs from the dusty pages of antiquity? But perhaps we ought not to deem it strange that those who are wont to measure all things by the one sordid standard of gold, should ask these questions. Could such but cease for a moment from their headlong pursuit of pelf, and raise their eyes from earth, they might perhaps see regions of beauty upon which they have never gazed, and hear sounds of more ravishing harmony, than even the jingle of dollars.

There is a new world of delight thrown open to the cultivated mind. It is true the same blue canopy stretches above him, and the same green earth is spread beneath his feet; yet every object around presents beauties unseen by the thoughtless, and has a voice for him unheard by the vulgar ear. If this is true in the physical world, more especially is it true in the moral and spiritual. Far above the thousand mists of delusion which shroud the multitude, he dwells in a pure region of light. His keen eye perceives "the distant tops of thoughts which men of common stat