farthest. The process of discovering such
a mistake is by no means a pleasant one.
There is not only the final disappointment,
but the loss of time, which generally makes
matters worse, and perhaps also the loss
of opportunity, which might have been
caught, if one had only known, what we
will never again forget, that Miss, Mrs.,
or Mr.
were very nice people, but
not to be depended on.

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The proverb touching birds of a feather seems peculiarly verified in this large and interesting class, for all their allies, whether nice or its contrary, partake of the independable character. It is matronly ladies of this order who recommend those consolations of cooks, found to entertain followers by the score; those treasures of maids, who break everything, and are otherwise beyond toleration; and those real blessings of nurses, who like something stronger than chocolate, and have a habit of letting babies fall. Elderly gentlemen of the kind pronounce glowing eulogiums on firms that appear in the next list of bankrupts, and advise safe, investments in concerns on the verge of insolvency; and for young men and maidens, let the simple and single-hearted beware how they confide in them regarding any matter, from a pic-nic to a wedding. Were satisfaction to be had by bringing to the memory of those particular friends the promises unfulfilled, or the turning out of the recommended jewels, it would be some comfort to the spiteful part of one's nature, but their genius allows of no such compensation. "They never could have said so; it must have been a misunderstanding, or the fault of somebody else; and you cannot think how sorry they are for your difficulties." Courtesy forbids a refutation of this defense. The ultra-civil appear never to have been so fully persuaded of anything in all their lives. The less polite, or more disappointed, acquiesce with reservations; but, from either mind, the two main pillars of friendship, respect and confidence, are gone, and, however attractive in manner or agreeable in conversation their so-called friends may be, they are henceforth valued only as very nice people, but not to be depended on.

gives us of surrounding characters. Little fixes in this way have saved people from great ones, by showing them the brittle nature of the reeds on which they might have leaned more confidently in future time. The Spaniards have a story of a certain Don, who had much discretion, and many friends; and, by way of making out which of them would serve him most zealously in time of need, he sent every one intelligence of some evil or accident having befallen him. The messages began with the loss of his favorite falcon, and ascended through a graduated scale of misfortunes to the breaking of his neck; but the tale records, that the only one of all his trusty and well-beloved who came to the noble Don's assistance, was he to whom the latter news had been conveyed, from a hope of being remembered in his will. Fortunately everybody's fixes do not furnish similar results; but it is curious to note what changes take place in one's estimate of friends and acquaintances, after any of those small occurrences which make a man call up his available forces. Still more curious, if not admonishing, is it to observe how the discovery of such failures in memory or friendship brings into operation the old law of measure for measure. One does not just go and do likewise. Promising everything and doing nothing, are not natural to all mankind; but who will ever again rely on anything from the same quarter? Does anybody think of making an arrangement to be remembered or an appointment to be punctually kept with the gentleman that went into the country on the day of the canvass he was to conduct, or the lady that was found at a fashionable watering-place, while Mrs. Clarke waited for her all-but-sworn assistance at the sale? Not they, good readers. Time and patience are too scarce to be risked, and those who disappoint others easily must look to having their small plans upset.

Our subject has a more elevating moral. Trustworthiness, even in the little things of life, is noble; and, though punctuality has been classed as one of the small virtues, it is related to some of the largest. To hold the word as a bond, is becoming Few persons like to get into a fix, and to the loftiest station, and dignifying to we cannot recommend it as an experiment; the lowest; and the world would certainly but, except when very considerable, the go on worse if all its affairs were mancost or confusion is in some degree bal-aged by very nice people, but not to be anced by the practical understanding it depended on.

Forget the busy day;

The child forgets its play,

Or else it fashions, in its pleasant dreams,
New sports beside the flowing crystal streams
Where the wood-shadows dance,
And the clear day-beams glance ; —
Where the frolicsome eddies that never are still
Go curling and whirling all over the rill.
Ah, beautiful dream!

To manhood it comes, as it comes to the child
And Fancy's creations, so strange and so wild,
Realities seem.

Thank God for the night!

Though laurels are gain'd, though a prize may

be won,

When the day's long wearisome labors are
done,-

When, at its bright close, we so gratefully come
To the spot ever dearest, the fireside of home,-
O then, o'er every sense

Steals night's sweet influence,
Soothing the throbbing heart and aching brow,
Lulling the cares that cloud our spirits now,
Breathing in voiceless words its lessons pure,
And strengthening us the future to endure.

Hark! 't is the distant bell;
High in its massive tower
It notes the passing hour,-
A faithful sentinel.

Unnoticed all the day its deep tones fell;
But now, how solemnly its echoes swell,
As of another hour it tolls the funeral knell!

THE NEWSPAPER.

Tmation and regulation of public senti

HE influence of the press in the for

ment is obviously manifest and universally admitted. No product of human ingenuity and skill can compare with this for the measure of its force and for its undefined and illimitable extent. Its moral power may accomplishing its designs has ceased to be scarcely be overrated. The possibility of a dubious question—the time only is problematical. It is well called an engine; but who dares hazard an estimate of its capacity? The celebrated Archimedes challenged the admiration of the world when he put forth his bold hypothesis that with a lever of sufficient extent, properly adjusted, he could with his own right arm move this terrestrial globe from its foundations. But the pen of the journalist, without exacting unattainable Archimedean conditions, actually moves the moral, social, and political worlds. Of course I refer to the independent press, unfettered by governmental censorship or a despot's will.

How important it is, then, that the editorial corps should be composed of men of the right stamp-men of intelligent, discriminating minds-men of lofty and comprehensive thoughts-men of independent judgments and clear heads-men of kind feelings and scrupulous consciences -men of firm purpose, of unflagging zeal in defense of the right and in conflict with wrong-men that are neither bigoted partisans, fawning sycophants, prejudiced imbeciles, nor mercenary politicians! If such be, indeed, the requisites for an editor, how few there are who combine any considerable share of the proper qualifica

seven, but every day; and not through the medium of the auricular sense only, but also through the acuter and more impressible sense of sight. Surely, then, ought parents to look well to the character and merits of the newspaper introduced into their families; for it is not to be regarded in the light of a casual visitor, or even of a temporary sojourner,

We cannot, indeed, expect, and most assuredly never do find, that rare combination of excellences in any one man which we would regard such a desideratum in an editor. It is fortunate, how-whose opinions may be tolerated or rejected; but rather as an accredited and oracular member of the family, whose introduction and commanding position are attributable to his acknowledged competency to judge, advise, and instruct.

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ever, that where so vast an interest is at stake, the lack in the composition of individual character is greatly compensated by the diversity of gifts and adaptations found in the corps editorial collectively; so that the deficiencies of one, or the wrong biases and hurtful influences generated in certain quarters, are measurably thwarted and perhaps repaired by counter-editors of our country, invoking for them acting influences from other directions. the benign and illuminating influence of the all-wise One.

Well may Christians, patriots, and philanthropists feel a special interest in the moral character and qualifications of the

[For the National Magazine.]

DISCOVERY OF AMERICA BY THE
NORTHMEN.

Eirek was a worshiper of Thor and Odin, the gods of the Scandinavians; but his son Leif, having made a voyage to

I make an attempt at vindicating or re

T is less the purpose of this article to Norway, and having received flattering

futing the claims set forth by the Northmen to an early discovery of this continent, than to give a brief review of those pretensions, and the degree of favor with which they have been received.

In the midst of the dark ages, or from the ninth to the twelfth centuries, the Scandinavians were preeminently the pioneers of ocean navigation. The tastes and public sentiment of the Baltic peninsular nations were maritime, and perhaps, as we might now term it, piratical, though then honorable. So far from its bearing any aspect of wrong to them, to have attacked successfully and plundered some foreign seaport was an honorable and unquestionable evidence of courage and valor.

the impression "that a good name would induce people to settle there."

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Iceland, first discovered by some of these maritime rovers driven far to sea by adverse winds, was colonized in the latter part of the ninth century. The first attempt at a settlement, made by Floki, from the severity of the season, brought no further result than the loss of the animals taken thither, discouragement and final abandonment of the enterprise; and, as Floki's parting blessing as he left, the name of Iceland, as well befitting a place uninhabitable for man or beast.

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A more successful and the first permanent settlement was effected by Ingolf in 874. From this time onward the Icelanders appear to have met with a fair degree of prosperity, remaining an independent people for four centuries.

Not long after, the Icelanders having become aware of the uninhabited coast which lay skirting along their western and southwestern horizon, a colony was established there by Eirek (Eric), who gave to the place the name of Greenland, under

attentions from its Christian king, was induced to embrace Christianity. Thus, on his return, was Christianity first introduced to this new country.

It is important to observe, that though history furnishes a very full and satisfactory account of the settlement, growth,

This peculiar basis of national pride and and condition of Greenland from its disglory led these Northmen to an acquaint-covery to the latter part of the fourteenth ance with, and attacks upon, all the Atlan- century, here it suddenly becomes silent, tic islands lying opposite their western and Greenland a blank for three centucoast. Hence Scotland, Ireland, and ries. England were the frequent theaters of their marauding expeditions, hence also their irruption into France, and the foundation of Normandy.

Greenland continued to flourish as well as could be expected of so frigid a climate, if indeed it did not in its most prosperous times pass quite beyond all expectations. The settled provinces were known under the name of East and West Bygds, or Districts, the latter containing at one period of their history ninety farms and four churches, the former nearly two hundred farms, two towns, eleven churches, and a cathedral-the first bishop being ordained in 1121.

The accounts of ancient Greenland, found in early Icelandic writings, might well have been doubted, since, on the establishment of the present settlements there were no evidences of such a previous population, but that recent research has fully vindicated their truthfulness in the ruins of churches and other extensive structures, and particularly certain monumental inscriptions bearing the date of the twelfth century.

To the question how, when, or from what causes Greenland perished, history offers no direct reply; though perhaps it may be said it appears incidentally that from the moment Iceland and Greenland became subject to European governments their decay commenced, and, chiefly by the commercial restrictions imposed on the necessaries of life to replenish the royal treasuries of Sweden and Denmark, was hastened on to this calamitous and probably tragic termination.

If the Norwegians discovered Iceland at a distance of six hundred miles, and the Icelanders within a century discovered and planted a colony upon a land at a still greater distance, is it possible that