THE MOTHER TO HER CRADLE.

If thou could'st speak,

Thou could'st a history reveal; of cares,

Of watchings, joys, forebodings, hopes, and fears,

And heart-felt aspirations, - unrevealed

To all but thee; - yet would thy tongue, imbued
With no prophetic unction, fail to tell

The issue of our joint devotedness.

One, like a vision of the dreamy morn,

Pass'd in its purity, from thee away

To heav'n. No vestige left, no sign, no seal,

Save one bright curl of silky glossiness,

Snatched from the spoiler's hand, I have it here —
To show that thou had'st ever been on earth.

I've called thee friend, my cradle, through the days Of many years; but when (each nestling flown)

I shall commune with thee, untenanted,

In the lone nursery - shall my bosom swell

With joy, in calling up to memory,

Thy tender offices?

or turn, heart-broken,

From thee!

Could I know

The rainbow of the covenant,' with tints

Of heavenly dye, would arch the unknown path
Of each dear wanderer- I'd ask no more.

ELIZA.

DOMESTIC SKETCHES.......No. I.

BY A SOUTHERN PEN.

It was at the close of a winter's evening, that I finished reading to my wife the amusing volume of PENCIL SKETCHES, which afforded so much pleasure, that she exclaimed, 'I wish, my dear, that you, who are so fond of drawing, both with pen and pencil, would write a book like this; if not so entertaining I think you might render it more pleasing, for our Southern customs and manners have more heart in them, if I may so say, and, like the scenery of our country, will admit of more glowing tints than the scenery of high latitudes.'

'You think, then,' said I, that men and manners are as much influenced by climate, as the productions of the earth?' Who can doubt it,' replied she. Our whole country was settled by the English, yet the inhabitants of Norway and those of Italy are not more different, than are those of the Northern and Southern States; and children as we are of one mother, what but climate has occasioned the difference?' There are a variety of other causes

'Well, husband, we will not now discuss the cause; it is enough for my poor purpose that it is the fact; - do you, who write with such facility, describe some of those dear familiar scenes, of which we so often talk; even should you fail in pleasing others, the task will be delightful to us, and such a volume will be a charming memento to our children, of our early days, and the friends with whom they were passed.'

I like your idea very much, Catherine, and with you by my side to refresh my memory, I really think I can give a pretty faithful representation. Shall I describe one of our pic-nic parties, or — ? '

'No, no,' interrupted my wife, let us have some sociable visiting, which, in our city, will present a perfect contrast to the sociable visiting in Philadelphia. Come, make a beginning-here is the port-folio - I will read while you write.'

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Agreed,' said I, nibbling my pen and folding my paper, while my sweet little wife, drawing a large arm chair by, and putting her feet on the fender, arranged herself comfortably by my side with her book.

SKETCH FIRST.

One winter's afternoon, when, as usual, I was enjoying my newspaper lounge, as she called it, my Catherine entered the

sun

parlor equipped for a walk, and though indolently inclined, I could not refuse her request to accompany her. As we passed along Pennsylvania Avenue, which runs from east to west, the long vista which it formed was terminated by an horizon glowing with the unclouded refulgence of the setting a sea of light which, had we not known the cause, we might have mistaken for a vast conflagration. We looked back, and the numerous windows of the capitol seemed like burnished gold, which, contrasting with the white walls and porticos of that lofty edifice, gave it the appearance of an enchanted castle, at least, seen as it was through the medium of such an imagination as my wife's. Had she not been so struck with the brilliancy of the scene, I probably should not have remembered, perhaps not have observed it; but there is in my Catherine such a vividness of perception and feeling, that a lively interest is imparted to the most trivial circumstances, and inanimate things seem so imbued with vitality, that their impressions become almost indelible.

The evening, though very cool, was very pleasant, and we prolonged our rainble until the sun had set and darkness veiled the late brilliant scene, except where the lamps, 'few and far between,' began to twinkle. We were near the house of one of our most intimate friends, and determined to stop and inquire after the health of the family, and to pass the evening should we find them disengaged. The little black boy who opened the door, begged us, with a smiling face, to walk in, for though Mistress was out, she would soon return, and he was sure master would be sorry if we did not walk in, as he was all alone, besides Mistress would soon be home, as she had just gone out for a ride. After a moment's hesitation, we concluded to go in, although the ladies were out, as Catherine felt chilled by the evening air, and a little wearied with her long walk. Mr Denby was sitting by a table on which burned a large aster-lamp, earnestly engaged with his pencil; supposing it his wife and mother who entered, without raising his eyes from his paper, he asked what had detained them so long; Catherine, without replying, stole behind his chair, and looking over his shoulder, exclaimed, 'how beautiful!' He started from his chair, and dropping his pencil, seized her hand, which he shook most cordially, and inquired whether she had fallen from the moon, or crept through the key-hole, as he had not heard the ringing of the bell, or the opening of the door.

'Is it possible,' said she, 'why, how totally absorbed you must have been.'

'I was painting,' he replied.

We then examined the beautiful flowers he was coloring, which looked as if freshly gathered and thrown upon the paper, so exquisite and perfect was his imitation of nature. We expressed our surprise at his being able to color by lamp-light. He said that where, as in the present case, only one color was wanted, there was no difficulty, and being to him the most delightful of employments, and having little leisure at his command, he eagerly seized on such time as he could snatch from business and society to devote to this delightful art. We were still standing, thinking it best not to remain as the ladies were not at home. But he insisted on our taking seats by the fire, and would not listen to our excuses, and as a farther inducement for our compliance, produced a large port-folio of drawings this proved quite irresistible; we drew our chairs to the table and were eagerly engaged in examining them, when Mrs Denby and her venerable mother entered.

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very eyes,

'How d'ye do, and how d'ye do,' said the old lady, shaking hands with each of us. Well, I am glad to see you glad to see you;' and the welcome that beamed from her was a confirmation of her words for she really looked glad to see us. 'Now this is so kind,' she continued, while she still held my wife's hand and looked up in her face as she sat in the large arm chair, which her son had drawn forward for her close by the fire. Why, how well you look; your cheeks are as fresh as a young girl's. But come, take this chair by me, and here,' stooping down and placing it herself, 'here is a foot-stool for you. I am sure your feet must be cold after so long a walk draw closer now - do draw closer to the fire and throw off your cloak.'

'Well, I am so glad,' said Mrs Denby, while she was untying her mother's bonnet and smoothing her cap, I am so glad we were not over persuaded to stay to tea at Mrs Smith's. There, mamma, your cap is straight, now don't pull it awry again; and do let me wrap this shawl around you, now I have taken your cloak, for the evening is cold; did you not find it so in your long walk?' turning from her mother to Catherine. No, I found it only delightfully exhilarating.'

'Oh, everything is delightful with you,' said Mrs Denby, smiling. Well, make yourselves comfortable, while I go and make myself seeable, by changing my bonnet for a cap.'

She left the room, and we continued our examination of. the drawings, of which we could scarcely find words to express our admiration. The old lady, often as she had seen them, put on her spectacles and examined them as earnestly as we did. Very pretty, very pretty indeed,' she said, evidently much gratified by the praises we lavished on them.

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I really think,' said Mrs Denby, when she returned and drew her chair into the circle, I really think Mrs Vernon there must be some truth in your doctrine of the attraction of sympathy, for I know not else, what so forcibly drew me home this evening, though so well inclined as I always am to stay at Mrs Smith's; but I felt, without being able to assign a reason, as if I must come home this evening. It surely must have been sympathic attraction.'

'I shall be glad to see you a convert to this favorite doctrine of mine,' replied my wife; 'with me, it is reduced to a certainty, that the minds of friends, though separated in body, hold communion with each other, and often at the same moment are under the influence of the same feelings and thoughts, occupied each with the idea of the other, at precisely the same time.'

'Well, no matter, no matter,' said the old lady, whatever was the cause, I am very glad, very glad indeed that we did come home, it is so long since we have seen you — you should not stay so long away.'

Then the why's and wherefore's which had prevented an earlier visit, and the incidents which had occurred since our last meeting, with the current news of the day, were pleasantly talked over, until the servant entered to set the tea table. There are but few families who retain this good old fashion. In most houses, the comfortless, anti-social, unenlivening custom of having the tea brought in from another room, had been generally adopted thus, it is cold, and soon swallowed — the whole business of tea-drinking despatched in a few minutes, and none of those cheerfulizing effects produced, which all have felt, and which Cowper has so charmingly described, that he has thrown a kind of classical elegance over this evening meal, and 'the bubbling and loud hissing urn throwing up a steamy column, and cups which cheer but not inebriate,' present to the fancy ideas as poetical as the garland bowls of Anacreon. One would suppose that the authority of such a poet would have outweighed that of mere fashion, or rather that ton would have adopted an object, adorned, as Cowper has adorned the tea-table, and converted it into a favorite