ONE DOLLAR PER ANNUM. VOLUME XXVI. Semi-monthly Journal, Embellished with Engravings. W. B. STODDARD, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR. HUDSON, N. Y. SATURDAY, JUNE 22, 1850. PICTURES OF ENGLAND. PAYABLE IN ADVANCE. NUMBER 19. BRISTOL. Situation of Bristol-Dangerous Cliffs-Ground and Lofty Tumbling-Queer Steam Boats-Antiquity of Bristol-Oliver Cromwell-John Cabot-Chatterton-A "Show"-Attending Church-Bristol Cathedral-Beauties of a Union of Church and State. 160,000. This includes Clifton, a sort of Moya- great suspension bridge builder-what is his name? who threw the wires across Niagara and Ohio.* I have a book of English scenery that has in it a the Avon, near Clifton," but, alas! it exists only a book. Near the site of this bridge the banks are from 200 to 400 feet high, and often quite per Bristol is situated on the Avon, seven miles from its entrance to the river Severn. This is not Shak-fine pieture of an elegant" suspension bridge across speare's Avon, though occasionally a poetical swan has appeared in these waters. The Avon from BRISTOL has been one of the most important here to the Severn is a narrow, deep stream, with towns in England. Less than a hundred years high, rocky banks. Some forty years ago they at-pendicular. ago, in American and West Indian trade, it out-tempted to build an iron suspension bridge across rivalled Liverpool. The body of merchants and the town council, who were interested in the harbor and dock property, like many other monopolies, calculated too strongly on the power they possessed and committed a fatal error. They charged so high dock and harbor fees to the proprietors of ships trading here, that a large number of shipping merchants, who had remonstrated in vain against the heavy dues, went to Liverpool, improved that harbor, drew off the trade to that more liberal coast, and ruined Bristol. This is now a fourth rate town, though containing a population of some Many persons have given samples of "ground A the Avon, near Clifton, just below Bristol; and and lofty tumbling," by going off the rocks. tens of thousands gathered together from the surfew weeks ago, in March, a young lady, who was rounding country to witness, with great ceremonies, walking along on the smooth grass at the top of the laying of the corner-stone. Their enthusiasm, the deceitful ledge, fell near 200 feet, dashing herhowever, foamed up and cooled down about the sclf to pieces. A medical gentleman, a few years ago, in walking along the bank, reading a book, same moment, for, at this time, all you can see that looks like a bridge is two solid stoue abute. walked directly off and was killed instantly. Nearments on the high banks; and dangling between ly every year persons lose their lives here. They them, across the river, is a single wire, like the talk of erecting some barricades to prevent such ghost of some departed bridge revisiting the glimp-whose dreams we know but little; but of the material of ses of the moon-and the Avon. I fancy the form is almost as material as some of the dreams of our Mr. Ellett, we presume, our correspondent means, of whose bridges, especially that of Niagara, we can speak understandinglys we have walked in safety over it.ED. A. C. ww accidents. I don't mean to take my first lessons I went through the Bristol Cathedral, the other day length, will not sell a piece of land a hundred feet in flying from this cliff. and admired the ancient carvings, stained win-square, for such reprobates to build a church-beg The "Great Western" steamship was built here; dows, figures of Saints and Saviours, knights in his pardon, a chapel"-on. and a steam line attempted to New-York, but the armor, little winged boys, that the man told me Oh! if there are places of reward, and places of trade would not support it. In contrast to the ma- was angels; and in the belfry, a fine set of old punishment, where will many of the honored, the jestic steamship of 3000 tons, they have here the bells; and on the top a grand view of the surroun-wealthy, and the surpliced of this world go? I very smallest steam boats I have ever scen. Iding country. After I had been shown through, I speak nought of any particular sect or creed; but judge they are about 9 feet wide and 25 to 30 feet gave the man that attended me a shilling. I gave of a State Established Church, that swallows up long. They will run under a bridge that is within it voluntarily—think it was worth it?-but he the fat of the land, and furnishes a very little for ten feet of the water. They are screw steamers, looked at it, tossed it over, and looked on the other the immense sum of money it receives. The Roand what little, hobbling, egg shell looking things side of it; and seemed to think it a very small man Catholic Church, before the Reformation, was they are! Of course, as they are built in this town, piece of money; but I told him that was all he as bad-probably worse; the Established Presbythey are "ship shape and Bristol fashion," and the would get, so he might as well pocket it at once, terian Church of Scotland is, perhaps little or no way they run is a caution to slow coaches. I went and he did. I left: well satisfied with the better; and were the State Religion of England down one day to take a ride on one, and found it "show." The flunkey who attended me was cal- now to be changed to Methodism, or given over to had left the stairs where passengers get on. It led the sub-sachristy. His duties are various.— the Baptists, the Quakers, or Unitarians, or Uni. was ploughing its way down the river, through the | He shows people to their seats in time of worship. versalists, it would, probably, in a few generations shipping, like a young duck among a flock of wild He also "shows" the Cathedral during the week be just as corrupt. It is the system-A UNION geese, when I put up my hand as a signal, and she days; and he extracts as much hard coin from the OF CHURCH AND STATE that I oppose; not the stopped instanter, turned round in a moment, and curiosity hunters as he can. I hope he gets his creed. came back and took me on board. I found five or bread by it, which he doubtless does; and which, six passengers. The funniest boat I ever rode on! like his immortal townsman, Bob Southey, he probDown the river we steamed, and in about ten min-ably, butters on both sides. I am told the Church utes we were at our journey's end, the "Hot Wells," near two miles below. The fare was not very heavy-just three pence, and the second cab. in two pence. Three of these diminutive steamers form a sort of line of water omnibusses. I inquired of the captain of the steamer I rode on, respecting the cost of his boat, and he told me £350-a sum that would build a boat near ten times as large on the Mississippi river. Bristol is not what you might call a very elegant or handsome place, but the half sister, or rather part of Bristol itself, Clifton, is very beautiful. Last Sunday I attended worship at the Bristol Cathedral. Ileard the magnificent organ, with its rich, melodious tones sounding through "the of St. Mary Redcliff is more beautiful than the long-drawn aisles and fretted vaults;" was in the Bristol Cathedral. I intend to call and see it some light of the sun mellowed and softened down by day. A few years since, the sub-sachristy of the coming through the windows of stained glass, with Mary Redcliff Church died, and left the nice little figures of saints and apostles on them; was surfortune of £20,000-only about a hundred thou-rounded by the rich carvings of ancient oak! and sand dollars! Nice little berth, that sub-sachristy: -wonder if they have any vacancies ? Let us see for a moment what the people of Bris. tol get for the money they pay to church officials; and how far their church room accommodates the public. The guide-book says "Bristol contains 17 churches and chapels of ease, besides a considerable number of chapels belonging to various bodies of Dissenters." Yes, a considerable number;" and the place of worship of the reprobates-the mere Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, Universalists, Quakers, Roman Catholics, Unitarians, &c. &c. is merely a "chapel.” It won't do to call it a "church." O, no! the church is where the Queen goes; and it is where a great amount of the fat of the land gocs in the shape of tithes, tines, church rates, &c. &c. to pay salaries of from $5,000 to $75,000 a-year; so that the flunkies who hold up the skirts of the priest's garments, and charge wayfarers for looking at the church, die with fortunes of $95,000, and the bishops leave fortunes of five and six millions of dollars-allaccumulated during one life-time, and that in an impoverished land like Ireland. saw around me figures of warriors, and of beautifully-formed women; coats-of-arms emblazoned in the windows, and heard the responses ascend towards Heaven from contrite hearts. It was worth half of a voyage across the Atlantic to see the Cathedral itself, to say nothing about the privilege of worshipping in it every Sunday. It is a church of such beauty and gorgeousness, that were it in New-York, Boston or Philadelphia, the pews or seats would rent at such enormous sums as that no one but a millionaire could afford to have a seat in it. The church is large enough to hold from 3000 to 4000-nearly as many as Christ fed with the loaves and fishes on the mountains.— How many persons were there probably in it during the service-a beautiful morning in May? Why, besides two schools, who went with their teachers, because they were obliged to-there were less than 140 persons! Every soul reckoned, there were not 200 persons, and this is a land where many worship in the open air, because they have no house of God to repair to. Many thousands more spend their time in grog shops, and in sinful pursuits, who never attend any place of worship. Bristol is a town of great antiquity, having been an inhabited place as long ago as the time of the Romans. In the days of William the Conqueror a fort was built here that lasted about six centuries when that sturdy old democrat, Oliver Cromwell, battered it down with his cannon. He wanted no more forts than he could garrison. After Charles' army was defeated at Naseby, 1645, Bristol surrendered to Fairfax, after a seige of twenty-one days. Bristol has been the birth place of some celebrated characters. Here was born John Cabot, the daring navigator, who had the good fortune, guided by the load-star of Columbus, to first discover the American continent. That extraordinary genius, young Chatterton, was born here; and in the old Mary Redchff church he wrote, and pretended he found, the Rowley Manuscripts. Bristol gave him birth, but he wandered away and died of No wonder a vast number of the people of Great I sat near the figure of a knight in armor, cut starvation in the streets of London! Sad, sad fate Britain are beggars. Why shouldn't the Arch-in stone. On the opposite side I noticed the men for a boy of genius. Among all the noble, Bristol bishop of Canterbury present the best office in his irreverently putting their hats on similar figures in has produced some of the ignoble. Here Bob gift to his own son? Cannot a man do what he the wall behind them. I thought my soldier had Southey was born: here, and in the old cathedral, likes with his own? The "considerable number" bricks enough pressing around him in the wall, "counterfeit prescatment" of his of "chapels" belonging to the "Dissenters" are without the weight of my " tile." hypocritical face. A very excellent block of mar-crowded on Sunday; and the poor people cannot ble was spoiled for this purpose. get money to build other places of worship, they Bristol is as badly priest-ridden as any place in have to pay such heavy rates to the Church of Britain. An immense amount of money is collec-England; a Church they abhor; not so much for ted here annually, to pay bishops, deans, sub- its tenets, as for the immense mass of corruption sachristies, and every grade of Church and State within its pale. In many places, "Dissenters" paupers down to the most insignificant parish bea- cannot even get land; money won't buy it, where. ble. The people, who pay, have no choice or ap- on to build a place of worship. In Scotland, where pointment in those who are clected to serve them; the Presbyterian is the "State Church," immense but the tithes must be paid, or the hapless sinner communities collect together on Sundays, summer must rot in jail. Such are the beauties of a union and winter, and worship their God in the open air; of Church and State. They have here two regular and all because my lord, who owns deer shootings show shops," and pretty good ones, too, they are. a hundred miles, or fifty miles, or twenty miles in you can sec a 66 Bristol is eight miles in circumference, covers 1600 acres, and contains 750 streets. It has ten markets, and—mark the disproportion of animal and intellectual gratifications-it has four hundred and seventy grog shops and only six newspapers, all weekly. Not very well done, Bristol.— There are however, many redeeming features in the hospitality of the people, and many good institutions of learning. Most men know what they hate, few what they love. LES. From Godey's Lady's Book. THE SPRING BONNET. BY ANNA WILMOT. My dear Carry," said Martha Grier to her young friend Caroline Mayfield-her face was grave and her tones serious" I wish you would give up this worldiness, this carnal pleasure-seeking, to which you are so devoted." "Don't preach to me, Martha," replied Caroline, in a gay tone; "I'm quite as good as you are." "And a great deal better, I hope," said Martha Grier. "But our own good is as nothing-it will not save us. 'Come out from among them, and be ye seperate,' are the words of solemn admonition spoken to every living soul." line. "I do, most assuredly," replied the young de. been sent home for her. "I must see about this, votee. "And fashionable dressing?" Certainly. In all this, I see only conformity to the world, which is strictly forbidden.” said she;" can't be disappointed in my new spring bonnet.. Have set my heart on showing it off at church to-morrow." So she drew on her things; and, taking her little brother with her for company, "Is it not possible that a comformity of the spirit started off for the milliner's. may be meant ?" asked Caroline. "Can I see Miss Wheeler ?" asked she of a child "And is an external conformity possible with. who opened the door of the modest dwelling where out an internal one?" said the friend. the bonnet maker resided. No, certainly not; but in the false maxims Each pleasure hath its poison, too, contra "And so," returned Caroline, "has every good "Come out from among whom?" asked Caro- thing; but the poison and the snare lie in its per. version from its proper use. And, depend upon it, Martha, you are in quite as much danger of per"From among the evil-so I understand the in- Verting things from their true order as I am." junction." "From among worldings." "Well, and what is the difference ?" said Mar. tha Grier. "How so?" while over-piety is destroyed charity.” "True righteousness-I will speak as plainly as you have spoken to me-true righteousness may "Oh, a great deal. The evil are they who pur-be verging in you, closely upon self-righteousness, pose and seek to do wrong; while the worldlings, as you call them, are often very good kind of people-in fact, a great deal better than many of your overpious, self-righteous sort of folks, who coolly consign such as I am to a place I have no fancy for, and to which I shall take good care not to go "You speak lightly on a serious subjeet, Carry." "Oh no!" "I saw some beautiful new bonnet this morning. "Beg your pardon, dear; I have never done Have you selected one for spring yet?" that in my life." "Yes, ma'am," replied the child ;" she is in the work-room. Will you walk up ?" Caroline tripped lightly up stairs, and pushed open the door of the work-room. The only inmate was Miss Wheeler, who sat with her face bent down on a table, and two unfinished bonnets lying She did not move when Caroline entered, nor look up, until the young lady placed her hand upon her and spoke. Then she started, and turned a pale, and weary face towards her visitor. near. 64 Oh, Miss Mayfield," said she forcing a feeble smile to her face, "you have come for your bonnet. It isn't quite done yet; but I will finish it before I go to bed, and send it to you early in the mroning. Both of my girls have been sick for three days, and I've been up all night for two nights, trying to get through the work promised. Your bonnet and Miss Grier's are the only two that remain unfinished. I'm sorry you had the trouble to come out. But I won't disappoint you." "How long will it take you to finish these bonnets asked Miss Mayfield. "I shall have to work late, but I'll get them done." "How late?" "Till twelve o'clock-or perhaps later." "No, Miss Wheeler," said the young lady, "that must not be. You shall firmly, yet kindly, neither overwork yourself nor break the Sabbath by worldly labor on my account. Let my bonnet lie over until next week; and I can safety speak for Martha Grier that she will bear cheerfully her "Ah! does she make your bonnet?" said Caro- disappointment. Put up your work, and take the rest you need." line. Yes; she has done the millinery of our family for the last two or three years. Her mother and Didn't you say, just now, that you never jcsted younger sister are almost entirely dependant on with religion?" her, and we throw everything in her way that we Besides, she is reasonable in her charges; "I don't know how I am to interpret your pre- and we like to encourage the poor." sent language." Don't you? Understand it, then, as only referring to those who, like yourself, limit the heavenly life to a life of simple picty, and account charity as of little worth; to those who seperate the world and religion, instead of bringing religion down into the very centre of action, and making it the heart and lungs to common society." Martha looked surprised at this remark. There was a meaning in it that she but faintly compre. hended. "Be not conformed to the world," said she, oracularly; "but be ye transformed by the renewing of your minds." "What do you mean by conforming to the world?" asked Caroline. can. "Has she good taste ?" asked Caroline. "Then I will get her to make my bonnet. I Martha better than that. saw one to-day that pleased me exactly." "I wish you would. It is a charity to give her work." After leaving her young friend, Caroline Mayfield called upon Miss Wheeler and gave an order for a bonnet. "I want it this week, remember," said Caroline. "I have a good deal of work on hand to be finished by Saturday night but will try my best to get yours done "I'm afraid Miss Grier would not be pleased." "She's not unreasonable and cruel. I know Send her word how it is, and she will cheerfully bear her dissapointment." "You are very kind," said the sick and weary "I feel as if it would be wrong to young woman. tax my strength too far. Much depends on me. If I were to get sick, I don't know how mother would get along." "Put away everything, and go to bed at once, Miss Wheeler. If you finish my bonnet and send it home, I won't wear it to-morrow. So that is setiled." Thus urged, Miss Wheeler laid aside her work; and, with her head aching almost to distraction, after sending one of her brothers to inform Miss Grier that she was too sick to finish her bonnet, sought her chamber and rest for her weary limbs. She had just fallen into a gentle sleep, when her brother, who had gone on the errand to Miss Grier, "Very well, I will depend on you," said Caro-returned, and entered her room. line and went away. Mary! Mary!"-cried he, placing his hand Saturday evening came; but no bonnet had yet on her and arousing her from slumber-" Mary !" Miss Weeeler started up; but, before she had { time to ask a question, the boy said "Mis Grier says that she must have her bonnet to-night!" "Did you tell her that I was sick ?" inquired the sister, binding her hands across her aching forehead as she spoke. "Yes; but she said she did't care-she wanted her bonnet and must have it, if you worked all night to get it done." "Oh dear!" sighed the sick, exhausted girl, as she sat up in bed, still clasping her throbbing brows. *** She needn't think to put me off in this way,' I heard her say to her mother," added the boy. "Are you sure that you told her I was sick?" asked the weary girl. "Oh yes; I told her so twice. But she was angry, and said she didn't care-sick or well, her bonnet must be done." "It is hard," murmured the poor girl, as she commenced slowly putting on the clothes she had a little while before taken off. "Oh! how my head does ache!" she added, after a few moments, pausing in her work of re-dressing herself, and Baning her head against the wall near which she stood; "it seems as if it would burst." "Oh, then, you let her put you off with that excuse! But she couldn't get away from her promise to me so easily.” "Don't you regard sickness as an excuse for the non-performance of a contract?" said Caroline, looking earnestly at her young friend, and speaking in a very serious voice. "Sickness ? Oh yes, sickness; but" and "But what?" asked Caroline. "Suppose we call there on our way home from { again. church, and see how it is with her." "Your new bonnet has been purchased at too "Oh no; I don't care about calling there to- great a price!" said Miss Mayfield, with some day," said Marth Why not?" "It's Sunday, for one thing." "The better the day, the better the deed, you know. But, to speak seriously, Martha, I think it your duty to call." 46 Why so?" asked Miss Grier. "In all probability, by requiring the poor, overwearied, exhausted girl to work until two or three o'clock on Sunday morning to get your new bonnet done, that you might show it off in church today, you have made her sick in real earnest. At least it is your duty, as a professing Christian, call and see whether this be so or not." sternness of manner, as soon as she was in the street again with Martha Grier. She felt strongly on the subject, and determined to give her friend the full force of the reproof she deserved, even at "Wicked and worldlythe risk of offending her. minded as I am, Martha, I had too much religion to do what you have done. So far from requiring Miss Wheeler to over-tax her strength, in order that I might have a new bonnet for Sunday, I required her to lay the unfinished work aside the moment I understood that she was indisposed. I not only spoke for myself, but for you also-thinktoing that you, who served God so devotedly, could not but regard with human feelings the poor, who, But it seems Miss Mayfield felt pretty strongly on the subject, he hath said, are always with us. and she spoke with some severity. that I gave you credit for more charity than you Carry, why do you talk in this way to me "possessed. By your own acknowledgment, you said Martha Grier, her manner changing. required her to resume the work I had, speaking Pardon for you, said that she might lay aside. this freedom of speech. I say what I do, not to pain you, but to make you sensible of your error. Piety and charity must go hand in hand. True religion to regard man as well as to worship God." The next day was the peaceful Sabbath the season of rest from labor. The sleep of Caroline Mayfield had been sweet, and in the morning she arosc with tranquil feelings. When church time came, she was ready to go with the family to the house where God is worshiped, even though a new bonnet did not grace her head. Great was her surprise, however, soon after taking her seat in I speak only the words of truth and soberness," church, to see her friend Martha Grier enter, wear. eturned Caroline;" and these you should be willing the new spring bonnet which she had thought ing to hear. One whose piety shines forth so conlay still unfinished in Miss Wheeler's work-room.spicuously as yours should see that she does not As the over-pious young lady walked up the aisle, neglect her charity. Come, will you call with me was plain, from the particular motion and air of on Miss Wheeler?" ber hoad, in what particular direction her thoughts were centered. "Yes, as long as you seem so earnest about it. No harm can be done. Most likely you will not Little more passed between the two young ladies. They were soon at the humble abode of the milliner. Mrs. Wheeler, the mother of the girl they had called to inquire about, opened the door for them. "What can this mean?" thought Caroline May-find her at home." field, as she looked at the new bonnet of her young friend. "Surely Martha did not compel that sick girl to work half the night, in weariness and pain, that she might exhibit a new bonnet to her fellowworshipers? Did not make her break the Sabbath that she might keep it a little more to her own sat. isfaction?" Thoughts like these kept crowding themselves into the mind of Caroline Mayfield, to the exclusion of ideas more fitting for the place and occasion. After the services were ended, she moved, with the retiring congregation, slowly from the place of worship. Just as she reached the pavement, she felt a hand upon her arm. Turning, she met the half smiling, half serious face of Martha Grier.— The smile was natural; the serious look the forced expression. The first came from the thought of her beautiful new bonnet; the last was constrained as fitting the occasion. Meaningly, yet almost involuntarily, her eyes glanced to the head of her friend. "So you didn't get your new bonnet," said she in a low voice, as soon as they were a little away from the crowd. "How comes that?" "Miss Wheeler was too unwell to finish it," replied Caroline, with a seriousness that she felt and did not attempt to conceal. "How is your daughter ?" asked Caroline. The two young ladies entered. Very ill, did you say?" remarked Caroline, as the door closed. “Yes, very ill, I am sorry to say. She was hur. ried last week, and her two girls going home sick, she worked nearly all night for three nights in succession to get through with her engagements. She was quite il last night, but sat up until three o'clock to finish a bonnet. I tried to get her tobed; but she wouldn't give up until it was done.Then, as the last stitch was taken, she fell from her chair in a faint." "And she is very sick now ?" said Caroline. Yes, very sick. I sent for the doctor. He didn't say much; but I kuow he thinks her bad. She's quite out of her head." "Out of her head ?" "Yes. And she rolls about on her pillow, and talks all the time. Oh dear! I feel very much troubled. Will you walk up and see her ?" The two young friends were now at a point where their ways divided. The eyes of Martha were upon the pavement. "Good morning," said she, in a low voice, as they paused. Her face was averted. "Good morning," returned Caroline, in a tone kinder than it was a moment before. They met, a few hours afterwards, in the sickroom of Mary Wheeler. Martha's new bonnet did not grace her head on that occasion. Indeed, she never wore it afterwards. She could not. The sight of it rebuked her too strongly. Happily, the illness of the young milliner did not prove so disastrous as was at first feared. In less than a week she was able to be at work again, though several weeks elapsed ere her health was entirely restored. Martha and Caroline are still friends; but the former has not again ventured to read the latter a lecture on the sin of fashionable dressing, carnalmindedness, and pleasure-taking.. From the Boston Olive Branch. BY F. A. DURIVAGE. GARRET VAN VOORST was a worthy whose acquaintance we niade some years ago in that part of Brooklyn, Long Island, called the Wallabout, where he resided on a small homestead which had been left him by his father, a pains-taking milk. Van Voorst was always at hand to volunteer his man, who managed a pretty extensive dairy.brutes on an aged and rather nervous gentleman of Both the old gentleman and lady died about the Brooklyn. The animal was a strapping grey, sixsame time, and as Garret was an only child, he teen hands high, strong as an elephant and feromight be, and indeed was regarded by the neigh-little older, darkly to hint to the boys who stood in cious as a tiger, when it came into Van Voorst's boring gossips very much in the light that a semi- awe of his equestrian genius, that he had once rode hands. He had almost every vice belonging to millionaire is in the city. The property, the posa two-year old on the Union Course, when a cele- his species. He stalked, he bit, he ran back, he session of which now devolved upon Garret, con- brated Turfman wanted a feather-weight upon the kicked, he reared. Garret had his hands full for sisted of a six-acre lot well planted with fruit trees saddle. At any time young Garret would have some days, but starvation and whip cord made him and currant-bushes, with a small patch of roses walked three miles for the sake of riding one. His amenable to rule. Yet though Garret could now and lilacs in front of the house. The mansion was father kept but one sorry nag that had been pur-drive him with a silken rein, a steel chain in any one of those one-story houses which abound so on chased out of a sand-cart, and which young Vanother hand would not have curbed him. At last, Long Island, or, in fact, wherever the descendants Voorst was too proud to ride or drive, but as he however, he was deemed sufficiently manageable of the Dutch exist; snug enough boxes with double was continually doing odd jobs for livery stable to be quiet in strange hands for two or three days, pitched roofs, and long projocted eaves, apt to be a keepers, he was never at a loss for the means of and Garret drove him down in his gig to the ner. little curved up like the roof of an Italian verandah.witching the world with his wondrous horseman- vous gentleman's. The nervous gentleman adThese projecting eaves afford a shelter to the stoop mired the appearance of the nag, his fiery eye and or piazza, of which there is generally one in the flexible nostril, his proud gait and silken shining front and another in the rear of the house. The coat, but he asked: most common material of these houses is stone, but the gables are built of brick; they are rarely painted, whitewash being deemed more cleanly and economical. In the old colonial houses the date of the erection is generally inscribed in iron characters on one of the gables. The windows are always furnished with substantial wooden shutters instead of Venetian blinds, and the front door generally opens in two horizontal parts, the upper portion furnished with two great bull's eyes to admit light into the hall. The houses are by no means deficient of a certain picturesqueness, and far from uncomfortable. ship. 64 Is he gentle !" "As far as I know, sir, he's perfectly gentle," might drive him with a thread. I never see nothing to the contraty. Would you like to try a turn sir?" And great was his glory, when upon a holiday, the glorious Fourth, or Evacuation Day, he could sally forth upon a prancing pony, the observed of all observers. The crosser-grained and more un{ruly animal he bestrode, the greater his delight.-answered Garret. "As far as I know a child In this way he grew up, and from constant association with his four-footed companions, he came to approximate to them in character and appearance. His ears became as flexible as a pony's, The nervous gentleman got into the gig-Garand their motion would pretty generally indicate ret seated himself beside him, and took up the the thoughts that were passing in his mind. His reins," Lines aint no use, sir," said he; "I only laugh was a horse-laugh; his giggle was a neigh.handle 'em 'cause here the ribbins is." He had a way of curling up his lips and the epidermis of his nose that reminded you of a horse the They differ from the sharp-moment you glanced at him. When he moved angled, two story, green-blinded, pert Yankee through the streets in a hurry on foot, (which was house, as much as the broad-bottomed, slow, un- very seldom) he cantered. He had picked up, by enterprising Dutchman does from his spare, quick unconscious imitation, many vices from the cross and go-ahead compatriot of the New England animals with which chance brought him in conStates. These old houses are last disappearing tact. He grew obstinate from association with a from the immediate environs of New-York, but at stalking mare; fickle and insincere from training the distance of a few miles you find specimens a baulky horse; irresolute from riding a nag that abundant. They are apt to have one or two gi- always refused his fences. gantic willow or butternut trees in front, and there is always at least one Althea in the garden-plot or door-yard. There were two in front of Garret Van Voorst's I remember them well. There was no horse he was afraid of-none that It may be well imagined that Garret was looked upon as an eligible match, so far as his property and position were concerned. By continuing to carry on the business of his father, he might readily have attained to competence or even wealth; at any rate he could support a wife handsomely, and provide well for any given number of children.But the young heir did not seem inclined to connubialize. Neither was he any better disposed to the business of his father. He sold off all the cows but one, ploughed in the green corn which his fath- We have said that Garret could tame any horse er had planted for fodder, and served his entire alive. We repeat that he could do so. In his patrimony with oats. In a few days a pair of hands, any horse, no matter how furious or ill-temprancing colts made their appearance in his barn; pered, could be made obedient to him, but the moand with this plunge in medias res, Garret com- ment it passed out of his hands, the new owner menced the business of a horse-dealer. From his would find him perfectly unmanageable. If Garret youth upward, he had been silently developing a could only warrant a horse sound and kind for passion for horses. When an infant, he had been three days, he was perfectly happy. He would lulled to sleep by the jingling of a bridle or a pair buy for a song a perfect Tartar of a horse, that had of spurs. It is true that he was descended by his been given up by every body as incorrigible, and father's side from the "Van Pelts of Groodt Eso-in about a week reduce him to the most perfect pus, dextrous horsemen," according to Diedrick Knickerbocker, so that blood had something to do with it. Very shortly after learning to walk he was placed upon a horse's back, and from that time forward he may be said to have almost lived in the saddle. If a neighbor wanted his horse taken to the farrier's or to the spring, young Garret obedience by the employment of fearlessness, per. I remember well his passing off one of these born Off went the gallant grey under no pull at all. When the owner said "Whoa!" she stopped, without a finger to the rein. When he said "Go," she was off. "This is wonderful-a child migat indeed drive her!" said the nervous citizen of Brooklyn. Garret listened to the praises of his horse quite meekly. 66 "What do you want for this superb-animal?" "I ought to have three hundred and fifty for her," answered Garret, with a deep sigh. But as I'm in rather a tight place just now, I'll say three hundred." 46 Step into my counting-room," said the nervous gentleman," and I'll write you a check for the money." "I've only just one thing to say about the horse," said Garret, as he stowed away the check in a little dark wallel; "he's perfectly gentle, but he's mighty particular about his harness. If you put a hundred dollar harness on him, he'll be so proud and vain that Old Nick himself couldn't hold him. And if you put a very cheap mean harness on him, he'll run away and break every thing to bits. But if you give him a harness worth from twenty-five to thirty dollars, he'll be satisfied, and go just right.” "That's very strange," said the nervous gentleman." "It's gospel," said Garret. The next week the nervous gentleman was run away with, and his carriage dashed to pieces, while the horse came foaming home to Garret's, with nothing but a snaffle-bitten bridle on him.--The purchaser made his appearance on the ensuing day full of indignation, to demand an explanation. But Garret was before handed with him. “Didn't you drive the gray in a bran new harness ?" |