This scene had been kept up for several hours, and had become so painful to us all, at last, that we determined to ascertain the cause, if possible. We went out into the kitchen, and asked to see the turkey that had been killed over night, when we found to our infinite sorrow and pain, that the cruel old cook, had carelessly chopped off the head of the Mother of this flock, instead of doing, as she had been directed. tonishment, the whole twenty-nine re- | pleading with us for some precious boon, maining turkeys, old gobbler and all, or life. came under the low window of our sister's sitting-room, and as long as they could see any member of the family through it, kept up such a clatter of clucking and plaintive cries, as were probably never heard before, from the same number of turkeys. It was a most singular scene ene indeed. They were gathered together in a cluster, marching back and forth, passing and repassing each other, the females uttering the most plaintive cries, while the males, sometimes joining them in their clattering cluck, would then suddenly droop their wings, and with fiery heads and hanging wattles, utter a simultaneous shout of angry gobbling, such as was almost deafening. The moment they would lose sight of the members of the family through the window, they would set off round the house, in procession, and the moment they saw any one, such a gobbling, gobbling yell, and clutter! This seemed the more astonishing, as this same flock of turkeys had never been known to remain near the house before as late as sun-rise, but were generally, by that time, a mile off foraging through the meadows, for grasshoppers and crickets. We immediately suspected that there must be something wrong; there was an expression of reproach, so unmistakable, in the cries of the poor creatures, and something so unaccountable in their conduct, for they literally besieged the doors and windows, and seemed with their timid, yet despairing looks, to be We never were more pained by any similar incident. Poor creatures, their plaintive and persistent cries, were now explained. They had lost their good mother! She by whom they had always been led, "through the green meadows, by the cool waters." Ah, you may rest assured, that there were at least two pairs of eyes, that were not very dry when we made this sad discovery! And you may rest assured, that not one mouthful of that turkey did we touch, during that great dinner! There was something terribly human in the reproachful entreaties, with which they continued to assail even the dinner hour for the rescue of their mother, so much so, indeed, that the turkey was not touched. No one could find it in his heart to eat it-and "Little Nannie" cried at its being brought on to the table even. Ah, it makes one sad, indeed to think how much of cruelty is committed in the world, by mistake or carelessness, even when not intended! But we will return to the farm again. In all probability we shall meet the old lady, as we climb the steep hill rides. For at least once every day, she takes a stick in her hand, ties her linen kerchief over her cap, and in her thick carpet-shoes, tramps down the lane to the cliffs. For what think you? Why, those troublesome turkeys of hers will build their nest in the crevices of the rocks. They prefer the shady nooks and corners, they find there, to the snug barrels and little houses, which the old lady is always preparing for them, up at the roosting place. It was very droll to watch the cautious movements of the mistress, as she approached a group composed of one bedraggled hen, attended by two or three lordly gobblers. Each of the parties watching jealously the slightest movements of the others. The hen, who has a fine nest in a wellhidden spot, yonder among the rocks, walks slowly and with an indifferent air, to all appearance, here and there, and picking daintily at this, or that, but always with her eyes looking askance for an opportunity to run! At the moment she fancies she can escape, see what a sudden bustle! A moment before those turkey gobblers were strutting before her, their heads furiously red, their wattles blazing like rainbows, their wings stiffened and scraping the ground, their tails trailing, their eyes glancing upward, and their whole air, that of the most absolute, self-congratulation ! moment, astonished! then, all at once, with wings furled, tails lifted, heads suddenly diminished, and with gobble! gobble! of displeasure, pell mell, after the willful lady. What does she mean? does she wish to deprive herself of their worshipful company? ungrateful! But she pauses again, and with an expression, which is as plain as words could be, says to them, "What's the matter with you all?" and begins to pick and watch again, while they, seeming to fancy that they have been unnecessarily alarmed, display new graces to enchant her The old lady gravely resumes her hiding place behind a tree-from which she too had darted, when the panic was at the highest-and waits with the most surprising patience on the tactics of the hen. Sometimes she waits for hours before the hen can escape her admirers, and stealthily reach her nest. When at last her patience is rewarded, she follows to the nest, seizes the tenant by the legs, bears her in triumph to the nest she has prepared for her, and comes panting in to the house to report the trials she has encountered. Towards sundown, a new Madame, the sly hen, suddenly darts off, her head lowered, her body pinched in, as if she would make her progress more rapid by offering less surface to the atmosphere. The gallants stand a expedition was generally on hand. The young turkeys had been led off by their | (requires some imagination we admit) mother to the wheat field, and, "dear me! Liza! Mary! come here, you lazy children, and help me drive up those young turkeys!" was the cry, and then, such trials! all over the great field, with its heavy grain obstructing every step, would the old lady trudge while "Liza, and Mary," would sit down behind the fence, on the grain, to rest, laughing because they were playing, while the old "misses" was plodding tediously and patiently around the field. Her treasures all housed, at last, the old lady, would seat herself before the fire, and, with knitting in hand, repeat to us the many, many trials, she had had that eventful day with her chickens, her turkeys, her geese, her goslings, and last, not least, those lazy negroes, who had given her more trouble than all the rest. But we have said enough about the farm-house now, so we will begin a pleasant little story, which we shall have in our next paper, about the young wrens and an oriole ! Steam Music. and have to leave the endearments of home for business elsewhere. We get into the cars feeling dreadfully, if not worse-the bell gives the parting tinkle, the wheels rumble slowly out of the depot, and at that moment the whistle strikes up "Oh Susannah! don't you cry for me"-shouldn't we be touched, and yet consoled? Then further along, an ignoramus, as ignoramuses will, is seen walking on the track, and immediately, "Git out of the way, Old Dan Tucker !" starts him one side as promptly as the hiss of a rattlesnake, but still with an agreeable exhilaration. But a dog is just to be run over-the thing is inevitable-but there is some consolation in "Old Dog Tray," played as a complimentary requiem. When not otherwise employed, didactic strains might be given, as "Wake up Jake! the fire wants poking”—or the night train might soliloquize, "We won't go home till morning." And one instance more-the young married man, so Ingeniously supposed above, having got through his business, is returningas the cars begin to slacken their pace, what would be more touchingly appropriate than "Home again, home again," played with a forty horse power pathos ? A WORCESTER, Mass., paper says, one-We have said enough-hurry up the of their enterprising mechanics has in- musical engines! vented the art of rendering steam whistles musical-thus making those nuisances quite as ornamental as useful. What an improvement that will be when it comes into general use! For instance, suppose we are a young married man, I hope Uncle Robert will get into one of those musical trains, when he next goes out West. It would, perhaps, cure his quinsy, which makes him wheeze very unmusically. HIRAM. SOME The Bird Catcher. 'BY LAMAN BLANCHARD. OME little boys were once told they could catch a bird by dropping salt on his tail. The following lines were written on seeing them try the experiment: Gently, gently yet, young stranger, On it slyly steal. Silence!-ah! your scheme is failing- Caution! now you're nearer creeping; Yes, you'll catch it now. Silence! and you'll scarcely fail. Now stoop down, and softly sprinkle Salt upon his tail. Yes, you have it in your tether, Never more to skim the skies: Lodge the salt on that long featherHa! it flies! it flies! Hear it-hark!-among the bushes, On what captures I've been counting, Thus have the children of all ages, Seeing bliss before them fly, Found their hearts but empty cages, And their hopes-on high! Going to School. HARK! the bell is ringing, ringing,- Always prompt, and always early, Come, leave the swing, pick up your ball, As we are prompt to play. Playing is good to make us strong, Our limbs to exercise: But always playing would be wrong, I love my books-I love my play,- H. H. The Four Henrys. TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH BY W H. C. NE night when the rain fell in torrents, "May God hear you," said the dame. As she spoke, the nobleman approach an old woman, re-ed the table to partake of the slender nowned for sorcery, fare, but at the same moment a new A who lived in a poor knocking at the door interrupted him. cabin in the forest of Saint The old woman opened it and saw Germain, heard a knocking at another cavalier, drenched with the As the door. She opened it, and rain, who entreated for admission. It beheld a cavalier, who entreated was granted him, and, having entered, her hospitality. She put his he showed himself to be a young man horse in the barn and bade him enter. of high rank. By the light of a smoking lamp she saw that he was a young nobleman. His figure betrayed his youth, and his dress his rank. The old woman kindled a fire, and inquired whether he wished anything to eat. A stomach sixteen years old is like a heart of the same age, very greedy, and little squeamish. The young man eagerly accepted her offer. scrap of cheese and a morsel of black bread came out of the trough-it was the old woman's entire store. T A "I have nothing more," said she to the young nobleman. "There is all that the tithes, the rents, and the salt tax, leave me to offer to poor travellers; not counting that the peasants in the neighborhood say I am a sorceress and in league with the devil, that they may steal the produce of my poor field with a clear conscience." "Pardieu !" said the noble, "if ever I become king of France, I will suppress the taxes, and instruct the people." NEW SERIES.-VOL. I.-8. "Is it you, Henry?" said the first. "Yes, Henry," replied the other. Both were named Henry. The old woman learned from their conversation that they belonged to a large hunting party, led by King Charles IX., which the storm had dispersed. "Old woman," said the newcomer, "have you nothing else to give us ?" "Nothing," replied she. 66 Then," said he, we will divide what is before us." The first Henry made a wry face, but observing the resolute eye and vigorous bearing of the second Henry, he said in a vexed tone, "Divide then!" A thought occurred as he said this, which he did not express. "Share with him lest he take the whole." They sat down opposite each other; and one of them had already cut the bread with his dagger, when a third |