MY ALBUM. sence, that he possessed much, too much, of her heart; and though he had never seriously intended to ask her hand, yet when he saw her now entirely removed from his most distant, secret hope, the rites finished, and she the property of another, that could not be "sold, bargained or conveyed," he seemed for a moment to lose his manly spirit, and bowing to the sensibility of his nature, he felt what all have felt when the most infferent, familiar thing, is removed entirely from us; and despite his manhood's strength and pride, a tear stood trembling on the bearded cheek, though cast in an instant from him with the thoughts he spurned. But this was not a time for explanation, had words of such import been at hand; and especially now that the whole affair had been transacted, only through the medium of thought and countenance; and the bridegroom bore away his "doomed bride," while some rejoiced and more bewailed her. I never saw her again, but after a few years I heard she had escaped the ills of earth, and was laid where all the weary rest. Let me turn another leaf, and here I have the name of one who needs no varnished tale to tell his history, for already it is familiar to the scholar; age can repeat it and childhood lisp it. He was indeed a star whose rising has been watched by many with deep anxiety and glorious hopes, and its influence will be seen, and felt, and hallowed, till every kindred constellation has gone out beside. He was cradled in Hope; Fame twined a garland for his youth, and ceases not to wreath his manhood's brow. It needs but to mention his gifted pen, and he is recognizedColumbia's bard. His Thanatopsis and Death of Flowers, convey a truer record, and tell the towering of his genius and his depth of soul, far better than the historian's pen, and where is the man of mind and sentiment who has not drank its beauty? And in turning a few leaves more, I meet a name that gives another occasion for sober comment. At the time it was registered, he who bore it was a well educated, talented law student, just about to stand up for himself and act upon his own responsibility. But he was soon attacked by dyspepsia, that Hydra that has power to undermine the strongest constitution, and unnerve the stoutest frame. There is nothing that so bows and humbles the heart of man, that destroys alike his ambition and his energy as disease; and with him it had its full effect; and indeed, for a time, there seemed to be an end to all his hopes on earth. At length he was in a measure restored, but the star of his prosperity had set for ever, and the deity of ill presided over him. There seems a kind of fatality attending some men's life, pursuing them at every turn, and chasing them up at every corner; and so it seemed with him. His profession did not afford him a support, and he was obliged to seek out some other occupation. He 275 truth, poverty and misfortune seemed entailed to him, decreed upon him; and though of sound judgment and enlarged capacities, he could not avert or escape it. He soon, however, changed his place of residence and passed from my acquaintance. About five years after, I was travelling through a flourishing village in the interior of New York, and was struck by the appearance of a neat little rural dwelling, of Doric order, situated in a retired part of the hamlet; and though it appeared to be occupied, there seemed a kind of melancholy stillness around it. Its shutters were closed, and the woodbine and the honey suckle fell untrained across the threshold, or crept among the tall grass that stood in rank untrodden growth around. All about it had the appearance of ruin and desolation. I felt a curiosity to know who might be the occupant, and on inquiry learned, to my surprise and astonishment, that it was the very man who, ten years before, had registered his name on this leaf of my album. Subscribing to that beautiful sentiment of Brainard, which he most fully verified "Feeling dies not with the knife That cuts at once and kills; its tortured strife I was told that during his residence in that country, his former ill fortune in pecuniary matters attended him. Yet still he was highly esteemed and respected by all who knew him. He had been there some time, when an intimacy, despite his evil genius, commenced between him and a young lady there, of small fortune, but of proud lineage, and more than royal dignity. She was quite the belle, and known as such throughout that part of the country. As soon as it was known that she bestowed her preference on him, there were others who felt her neglect, and came forward with false claims. That all events are at the direction of One whose plans we cannot control, is undeniable. But in the numerous and complicated affairs of earth, there is no event that seems so directly ordered by an Omnipotent Being who does not account for his purposes, as that common, and in itself considered simple one, of matrimony. We are sometimes obliged to follow up a long train of circumstances, and trace out a most devious course of events, to get at it; and after, trample on broken, bleeding hearts, and see honor and truth vended as toys for childhood's sport. And there have been instances, we know, where we must wade through confusion as deep as that which followed up the efforts of the infidel Voltaire and his coadjutors, to meet the event. At length, upon faded hopes and blasted expectations, their temple of happiness was erected. It was indeed a moment of joy to both, especially had no capital of his own, and if he started any to him. Yet, alas! it was but a moment, for he machine through the agency or assistance of had scarcely called her his own, ere the desome other person, that other was sure to fail stroyer came and forced her from his grasp! Не and leave him to his fate: or if he laid any plan had now no hope left. He followed her to the for a better fortune, however fair the prospect, grave, but returned and darkened his windows ere the scheme was half completed, it was un- and closed his doors, and then gave himself up to dermined by some unforeseen contingency. In hermit seclusion. He seemed to forget that as 276 BATTLE OF OTTERBURN-LACONICS. one of God's creatures, it was his duty still to be | soldiers in their respective nations, obstinately active, and that he had no right to despair. For refused to be separated. Douglas, a man of three successive summers the grass had grown great strength and stature, fought with a battleuntrodden round his door, the flowers had stood in all their beauty blooming untouched, and shedding their petals unobserved. I called upon him-he was seated in an antique chair, with a huge volume in his hand, the portrait likeness of his wife hung directly before him, and her miniature was suspended from his neck by a made of her own hair. He instantly recognized me, but he appeared like one starting from a reverse that seemed his element, and as necessary to his being as the very atmosphere about him. In course of conversation I alluded to circumstances of our former intercourse, and among other things to the page in my Album, and remarked I had often looked upon it, and wondered what had been his lot. With a heavy groan, he replied, "Ah, I did not then know I was writing with a prophet's pen, or had engraven my own destiny." I found there was yet too much of the wildness of grief upon him to make any further allusion to former days, and after a few moments I rose to depart. He extended his hand, observing, "well, it is to be hoped I shall shortly change my habitation, but you will only know it by the common record, that registers alike the wretched and the powerful as they pass along the silent halls of death." I could make no reply, for my utterance was choked, and I felt relieved as I escaped his presence. Poor human nature! of what complicated materials is it composed, and by what a variety of sentiments is it moved! axe, which he wielded with both hands, cutting a lane into the press of English knights, and, in the excitation and madness of romantic valour, recklessly despising both numbers and danger. Followed only by a few of his men, among whom was Lundie, his chaplain, a gigantic priest, cord clothed in full armour, he was at last borne to the ground by the irresistible strength of the English spears, and mortally wounded in the head and neck; Lundie, however, who fought by his side, bestrode his dying master, and cleared a small space where he lay. At this moment he was discovered by his kinsman, Sir J. Lindsay, who ran eagerly forward, and embracing him, asked how it fared with him. 'Poorly enough,' said Douglas; 'I am dying, but I thank God it is in my armour, as my fathers have done, and not in by bed; but dear kinsman, if you love me raise my banner; for he who should bear it lies slain behind me; and, I beseech you conceal my death. There in a prophecy in our house that a dead Douglas shall gain a field, and would you but fight a little longer, it might happen that I should be the man.' As he said this Douglas expired; and his heroic injunctions were obeyed. A mantle was thrown over the body; his banner was again raised; and with renewed shouts of 'Douglas! Douglas!' the English were attacked with an overwhelming enthusiasm, that compelled them to break into disorder, and at last concluded in a total route. Hotspur was made prisoner, and nearly the whole chivalry of Northumberland either slain or taken captive." Were I thus to take every name, and comment upon the character that bore it, and tell their history, I should fill a volume, and weary the reader with my words: and I find, on looking them over, that almost all, amid the splendor of their noonday sun, and parched and fainting in its scorching rays, have rested them beneath the cooling shade of death, where sit alike the mighty and the mean. I would I could pursue the subject further; for the present, however, 1 must leave it, yet I leave many a tale untold, of hope and bliss, of wo and ill, and "want with wo," and love, and scorn, and hatred-ah, many a tale of human nature's weary lot. But my album-I take it as the record of my youth, the register of its visions and its realities, the genii that bring up substance from nothing and can people void. The following sketch of the celebrated battle of Otterburn-a name which, to this day, resounds along the "wild and willowed shores" of the Scottish border streams-is full of spirit:"This conflict deserves a moment's notice, as illustrative of the manners of the times. It arose out of the circumstance of Douglas having seized the pennon of Percy before the walls of Berwick; adding a defiance to its master which he imagined himself bound in honor to accept. Hotspur hastily collected a body of men; overtook his enemy by a forced march; and arriving at their encampment late in a serene evening in August, instantly attacked him. As the battle continued the moon rose; and Percy, and Douglas, who enjoyed the reputation of being the best LACONICS. Of all the actions of a man's life his marriage does least concern other people; yet of all actions of our life, it is most meddled with by other people. To endeavour to forget one is the certain course to think of nothing else. Love has this in common with scruples, that it is exasperated by the reflections used to free us from it. If it were practicable, there's nothing necessary to weaken our passion, but never to mind it. You may depend on it, he is a good man, whose friends are all good, and whose enemies have characters decidedly bad.-Lavater. When I see leaves drop from the trees in the beginning of autumn, just such think I, is the friendship of the world. While the sap of maintenance lasts, my friends swarm in abundance, but, in the winter of my need, they leave me naked. He is a happy man that hath a true friend at his need; but he is more truly happy that hath no need of his friends. It is customary in the canton of Wallis, Switzerland, for those who have found any thing lost; even money, to affix it to a large crucifix in the church yard; and there is not an example on record of an object being taken away except by the rightful owner. We ought, in humanity, no more to despise a man for the misfortune of the mind, than for those of the body, when they are such as he cannot help. Were this thoroughly considered, we should no more laugh at one for having his brains cracked, than for having his head broke. DEATH OF CARROLL-GENERAL MACOMB. Written for the Casket. On the Death of CHARLES CARROLL of Carrollton. Weep not for him' affliction's tear drops shed, Weep not for him! it was his lot to die, When nature like himself, was fading fast, Weep not for him! the strong, the great in soul! Which the stern power, of Tyranny defied? Weep not for him! Weep not for him! he quailed not, when the frown Like the lone bird, who see his mates depart Weep not for him! your pearly tributes pay Weep not for him! The following incident, narrated in the Life of General Macomb, recently published, is an instance of the manner in which the most skilfully laid plans may sometimes work their own defeat. "Towards the close of the winter of 1812-13, he (Macomb) revived the design of attacking Kingston, principally with the view of destroying the enemy's vessels of war. moored in the ice of that harbor. As some irregularity had taken place along the frontier, disturbing the peaceful inhabitants of either border, he availed himself of that circumstance as a pretext for sending a flag of truce across 24 277 the lake, ostensibly to bear a complaint against these marauding parties, and the proposal of an arragement for putting a stop to such grievances in future; but really to ascertaining whether the ice was sufficiently sound, and free from crevices, in the whole direction to Kingston. This mission was entrusted to Captain (now Col.) Crane of the artillery. The flag was borne on a cariole, which entered the town unobserved; proceeded to the quarters of the British General, and returned without interruption, bringing the desired intelligence. The troops, meanwhile, were duly prepared; and the sailors, under Captain Leonard of the navy were furnished with ladders for scaling the sides of the British ships. "To cover the design, an alarm was circulated that Sir George Provost was about to attack Sackett's Harbor, and that he was collecting troops at Kingston for that purpose. The rumor, spreading on the wings of the wind, reached the ears of General Dearborn, at Albany, who taking it for a real alarm, set out forthwith in a sleigh with four horses, and reached Sackett's Harbor in 48 hours. To convince the General that the whole was a mere device to deceive the enemy was impossible. No he had received credible reports, from various quarters, of the meditated attack. Under this conviction, he ordered all our troops at Plattsburg to hasten to the succour of the threatened post. The deep snow prevented their march on foot, and consequently sleighs were hired or pressed to bring on Chandler's and Pike's brigades, by the St. Lawrence route. Instead of an attack the troops were put on the defensive. Thus the incipient project was nipped in the bud; a sore disappointment, not only to Macomb, but the officers of his command, who were panting for victory, and, in imagination, had already reached promotion." Most navigators have made mention of the extraordinary size of the women in the Sandwich Islands; but the remark is by no means of universal application, and it should be limited to the family of the Evis, including males and females. As it respects the latter, their volume of body, does not arise, as may be generally conceived from mere fat, as it is the case in Peru, and particularly in the province of Arequipa, or amongst us Europeans, but from the enormous size of their bones. With a portly stature, varying from six feet two to six feet five inches, they are gifted with a rotundity of flesh of corresponding proportions. In spite of their copper-colored complexions and super-masculine make, they possess, in many instances, very considerable personal charms; alas! that their hands and feet should be as large again as the largest I ever met with in Europe. It is not a little amusing to see them on horseback cantering over the ground; they sit astride like men, and wear neither stockings or other coveringe, but scanty trowsers made of mulberry stripes interwoven. When afflicted with corpulency, they grow to such a stupendous size, as to sink under the load, and in this state have no alternative but to drag out existence at "full length." This was particularly observable in the case of the governor's lady, who was, in this respect a perfect monster.-Athenæum. THE MECHANIC.- Is there any situation truly enviable, it is that of an industrious mechanic, who by his own unaided exertions, has established for himself a respectable place in society, who commencing in poverty has been able by his skill and perseverance to overcome every obstacle, vanquish every prejudice, and build up for himself a reputation whose value is enhanced for others. And let it be remembered that this situation is attainable by all, who have health, and practical knowledge of their business. It is a mistaken idea that fortune deals about her favours blindly, and with a reckless hand. Industry and virtuous ambition are seldom exerted in vain. CHILDREN. In our early youth, while yet we live only among those we love; we love without restraint, and our hearts overflow in every look, word, and action. But when we enter the world, and are repulsed by strangers, forgotten by friends, we grow more and more timid in our approaches even to those we love best. How delightful to us then are the little caresses of children! All sincerity, all affection, they fly into our arms; and then, and then only, we feel our first confidence, our first pleasure. 278 FIRST BLISS OF MATRIMONY-INTEMPERANCE. THE FIRST BLISS OF MATRIMONY. | a sigh gets up to go home again. Poor man! The charming society, the tender friendship it affords. Without a friend, it is not for man to be happy. Let the old Maderia sparkle in his goblets, and princely dainties smoke upon his table, yet if he have to sit down with him no friend of the love-beaming eye, alas! the banquet is insipid, and the cottager's dinner of herbs where love is, is to be envied. Let the pelf-scraping bachelor drive on alone towards Heaven in his solitary sulky; Lord help the poor man, and send him good speed! But that's not my way of traveling. No! give me a sociable, with a dear good angel by my side, the thrilling touch of whose sweetly folding arm may flush my spirits into rapture, and inspire inspire a devotion suited to the place; that best devotion, gratitude and love! a Yes, the sweetest drop in the eup of life is friend; but where on earth is the friend that deserves to be compared with an affectionate wife! that generous creature, who, for your sake, has left father and mother-looks to you alone for happiness-wishes in your society to spend her cheerful days-in your beloved arms to draw her latest breath-and fondly thinks the slumber of the grave will be sweeter when lying by your side! The marriage of two such fond hearts, in one united, forms a state of friendship of all others the most perfect and delightful. 'Tis marriage of souls, of persons, of wishes, and of in terests. Are you poor? like another self she toils and saves the better of your fortune. Are you sick? she is the tenderest of all nurses; she never leaves your bed-side; she sustains your fainting head, and strains your feverish cheeks to her dear and anxious bosom. How luxurious is sickness with such a companion! his eyes are upon the ground, and his steps are Translated from an India manuscript. The nearest approach thou canst make to happiness on this side of the grave, is to enjoy from Heaven understanding, and health: these blessings if thou possessest and wouldst preserve to old age, avoid the allurements of voluptuousness, and fly from her temptations. When she spreadeth her delicacies on the board, when her wine sparkleth in the cup, when she smileth upon thee, and persuadeth thee to be joyful and happy; then is the hour of danger. and let reason stand firm on her guard: For if thou hearkenest unto the words of her adversary thou art deceived and betrayed. The joy which she promiseth changeth to madness, and her enticements lead on to disease and death. Look round her board, cast thine eyes upon her guests; and observe those who have been allured by her smiles, who have listened to her temptations. Are they not meagre'? are they not spiritless and sickly? their short hours of jollity and riot are followed by tedious days of pain and dejection; she hath debauched and palled their appetites, that they have none no relish for her nicest dainties: Her votaries are became her victims; the just and natural consequence which God hath ordained in the constitution of things, for the punishment of those who abuse his gifts. Are you prosperous? It multiplies your blessings ten thousand fold, to share them with one so beloved. Are you in her company?-Her very presence has the effect of the sweetest conversation, and her looks, though, silent, convey a something to the heart, of which none but happy husbands have any idea. Are you going abroad? She accompanies you to the door-the tender embrace-the fond, lengthened kiss-the last soul melting look-precious evidences of that stretch over the northern regions of San But who is she that with graceful steps, and with a lively air trippeth over yonder plain?' The rose blusheth on her cheeks, the sweetness of the morning breatheth from her lips; joy, tempered with inocence and modesty, sparkleth, in her eyes; and from the cheerfulness of her heart she singeth as she walketh. Her name is health; she is the daughter of exercise, who begot her on temperance; their sons inhabit the mountains Ton Hoe. They are brave, active, and lively, and partake of all the beauties, and virtues of their sister. Vigour stringeth their nerves, strength dwelleth in their bones, and labour is their delight all the day long, their employments excite their appetites, and the repast of their mother refresheth them. love!-these go along with you-they steal across your delighted memory, soothing your journey--while dear, conjugal love, g gives a transport to every glance at home, and sweetens every nimble step of your glad return. There, soon as your beloved form is seen, she flies to meet you. Her voice is music-the pressure of her arms is rapture, while her eyes, Heaven's sweetest messengers of love! declare the tumultuous joy that heaves her generous bosom. Arm in arm she hurries you into the smiling habitation where the fire blazing, and the vestment Their repose is short, but sound and undisturbwarm, the neat apartment and delicious repast, ed. Their blood is pure, their minds are serene, prepared by her eager love, fill your bosom with a joy too big for utterance, Compared with a life like this, merciful God! how disconsolate is the condition of the old Bachelor! How barren of all joy! Solitary and comfortless at home, he strolls abroad into company. Meeting with no tenderness nor affection to sweeten company, he soon tires, and with To calm but the passions is their delight, to conquer evil habits their glory. Their pleasures are moderate, and therefore they endure: and the physican findeth not the way to their habitations. But safety dwelleth not with the sons of men; neither is security found within their gates. Behold them exposed to new dangers from without, while a traitor within lurketh to betray them. Their health, their strength, their beauty and activity have raised desire in the bosom of THE BIBLE-SPANISH WOMEN. 279 Lascivious Love. She standeth in her bower; | water brook" - yet strange to tell, they are she courteth their regard; she spreadeth her temptations. Her limbs are soft and delicate; her attire is loose and inviting; wantonness speaketh in her eyes, and on her bosom sitteth temptation: She beckoneth with her finger, she wooeth them with her looks, and by the smoothness of her tongue she endeavoureth to deceive. Ah! fly from her allurements; stop thy ears to her enchanting words: If thou meetest the languishing of her eyes, If thou hearest the softness of her voice, if she casteth her arms about thee, she bindeth thee in chains forever. Shame followeth, and disease, want and care and repentance. Enfcebled by dalliance, with luxury pampered, and softened by sloth, strength shall forsake thy limbs, and health thy constitution: Thy day shall be few, and those inglorious; thy griefs shall be many, yet meet with no compas sion. From the Saturday Evening Post. THE BIBLE. The idea of the existence of God, and of a future state, cannot owe its origin to any reasoning on the outward appearance of the works of nature. Some notion of an undefined power might arise from this source, but no notion of a Supreme Intelligence and its consequent handmaid, immortality, can c arise from simple reasonings. In fact fact, the external results of every thing around us, and with which the senses come more immediately in contact, exhibit decay and destruction. The bodies of all living creatures, in time, become so entirely changed as to have no resemblance of what they once were; and the same reasoning which indicates the absence of the soul at the death of the body, will apply to all other animated nature as well as man. From whence then would the thought of immortality arise? If the position be true that reason fails to produce it, there must be an innate revelation possessed by all; an "elder Scripture, writ by God's own hand" upon the soul. From no other source could the heathen nations have derived this light, since they were utterly destitute of Scriptural Revelation. This idea is not newthe poet speaks of the "Divinity that stirs within us," and the Apostle of the approving and disapproving monitor. But without the prime articles of a soul-cheering faith established by innate or internal revelation, there still remains a void. A God without a moral government throws us into the gloom of Atheism, where the celestial spark is smothered if not extinguished. We take shelter among the wild vagaries of a vain philosophy, which, insisting on a natural cause for all things, concludes by declaring that every thing is uncaused-which leaves us in doubt and uncertainty, and shuts from the soul's vision the last ray of that light beyond the grave, which the Psalmist so beautifully describes. At this point the Bible presents us with the moral precepts of the Supreme Governor of the Universe with the assurance of the immortality of the soul, and of the resurrection of the bodyand although these truths are they which the mind panted after, as the "hart panteth for the the very truths which the mind is willing to reject, in this embodied form. And why? Are not all the moral rules of the Bible calculated for the happiness of man in this life-no one can deny it. Are not the ten commandments such as every man would wish his neighbour to obey? Most certainly they are there is not an intelligent being on earth that would not deprecate the breach of the least of them toward himself. The idea of Supreme Governor, becomes now perfectly intelligible, when we see a moral government producing the happiness of man and worthy of the goodness and glory of its authors. We see further, the prospect opened of an immortality, to all who will seek it, of greater blessedness than the soul, in its most sanguine anticipations of joy, could have hoped for. Why then should I reject a book that removes every obstruction in the way of an instructive contemplation of the character of the Deity, and the wonders of the universe? But the Bible, though abounding in historical, religious, and moral learning, presents sentences, which appear to some unintelligible and absurd. And shall we reject a book which is unrivalled in historical simplicity, poetic beauty and persuasive eloquence, because a few scattered sentences appear obscure or unmeaning? Do we reason thus concerning Shaks. peare, Milton, Byron, or any of our favourite authors? No! Then how can we reject this which contains matter of more importance than language can express, and fail to discard those, which in comparison, are lighter than vanity? Let us cling, then, to this pilot of our hopes and safeguard of our destiny. Let us endeavor to learn more of Him, who "sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers"-who "bringeth princes to nothing and maketh the judges of the earth as vanity"-nor reject, on slight and trivial grounds, that sacred Revelation on which all our hopes of happiness depends. SPANISH WOMEN. -They are remarkable for the beauty of their hair. Of this they are very proud, and indeed its luxuriance is only equalled by the attention which they lavish on its culture. I have seen a young girl of fourteen, whose hair reached her feet, and was as glossy as the hair of a contessa. All day long, even the lowest order, are brushing, curling, and arranging it. A fruit woman has her hair dressed with as much care as the Duchess of Ossuna. In the summer, they do not wear their mantilla (black silk shawl) over their heads, but show their combs, which are of very great size, and are worn on the back of the head. The fashion of these combs varies constantly. Every two or three months you may observe a new form. It is the part of the costume of which a Spanish women is most proud. The moment that a new comb appears, even a servant wench will run to the melter's with her old one, and thus, with the cost of a dollar or two, appear the next holiday in the newest style. They are of tortoise shell, and with the very fashionable they are white.-Contarini Fleming. |