first unhinged, and his passions first stimulated to deeds of revenge. Here, too, he had often played in innocent childhood, and in maturer years indulged licentious propensities with Bertha's rival teacher. He had pursued his disgraceful and downward track in different and in distant parts, still that cottage was the centre to which his thoughts gravitated. Its inexplicable attractions, even in the hour of dissolution, maintained their influence over his mind; he could but rear himself from the earth, where he had been trodden under foot, and stagger to its threshold, and there he laid him down to die.

'It was also a striking coincidence that Black George should have resigned his life upon Bertha Caldwell's breast; that she whom he had persecuted throughout life should have performed the last sad offices to his wretched remains, and closed his eyes in death: as if an angry Providence, for obvious reasons, had ordained that that cottage, and that lone and injured woman, should witness the tardy but certain execution of justice upon incorrigible wickedness, in his abandonment, utter helplessness, and humiliating death.

'But you must.'

'Must is a hard word.'

So Kate thought, and dropped it; but she managed to say something else, which answered the purpose. At any rate, she raised the money, and, of course, she attended the auction, because when a husband wishes his wife wouldn't go anywhere, and still furnishes her the means to go if she chooses, she is naturally more apt to observe the affirmative implied in the cash, than the negative, however earnestly expressed.

Kate went to the auction-but she went determined not to buy. We know the fact, because she protested it to her husband, the very last thing before she left the house; and because she protested the same thing over to herself, as she tied on her bonnet. To guard against temptation, she rolled the notes very snugly up in her purse, pressed back the ring upon them with extraordinary care, and then very carefully put the purse away in her bag, and took her bag upon her arm, as she sallied out to find some one to accompany her to the sale, which she was so anxious to attend, positively for nothing.

Early on the following morning I was summoned to It's a ruinous sacrifice,' said the auctioneer, as the the man Edwards, who, on hearing the circumstances of ladies entered. 'I have seen property frequently thrown Black George's death, expressed much anxiety to see me. away in my time-but never anything like this before. He had received a gun-shot wound in the belly, and, al- Only ten dollars-I'm offered-ten dollars-ten dollars though gradually sinking, he was in the full possession often dollars-ten doll-ten-ten-ten-shall I have any his mental faculties. I learned from him that Black more? Why, I should not make a boot-black's commission George had been in league with the press-gang at Dundee, off the furniture of the Astor House, to sell it out in this and had planned the impressment of Bertha's brother way! Eleven I am offered-thank you, ma'am, you show and Robert Hazlitt; and that this same Edwards was the your discrimination-eleven-eleven-now, is not this person who locked Bertha into the bedroom while the really too bad, ma'am ?' plot was being executed. He told me, likewise, that Robert Hazlitt's letters to Bertha had been intercepted, and answers returned in her name; that Robert Hazlitt was still in life, and occupying a situation in the naval dockyard at Plymouth, having resolved, on learning that Bertha was married, never to return to Scotland. He narrated many additional circumstances connected with Black George's history, which redeemed, in some measure, the opinion generally entertained of his moral turpitude. Conscience, it seemed, had often whispered to him, in 'dreams and visions of the night,' and a future world, at times, presented itself to his waking thoughts. He had resolved and re-resolved, but he lacked grace and fortitude to amend his life. Even on the day of his death, he had spoken of his intention to write a letter, expressing his contrition and acknowledging his guilt, to Bertha Caldwell, and it is more than probable he employed the latest efforts of his dying strength in a fruitless attempt to make the restitution he had often willed, but deferred until he had neither life nor power left to make it.

'I will not attempt to describe the state of Bertha's feelings under the new and trying circumstances in which Edwards' confessions had placed her, nor have I deemed it necessary to detail circumstantially all that followed thereafter; it may suffice to know, that Black George Hamilton and his friend Edwards were buried together in one grave; that I lost no time in communicating with Robert Hazlitt, who is now the highly respected husband of the grateful and long-tried Bertha Caldwell.'

BOUGHT AT A BARGAIN.

I AM sure, my dear, then, you cannot object to my attending only one or two of the auctions. Every body else

goes,'

'But what do you wish to buy?'

"Oh, nothing-that is, I know of nothing.' Then, of course, you want no money ?'

'I didn't say that one would feel so foolish, you know, without any money in one's purse.'

But why should one feel so foolish, when one does not want to buy?'

'Now, George, you are so provoking. Give me some money, and say nothing about it.'

Easier said than done, my darling.'

Our friend Kate, to whom this question was addressed, with the man's blandest smile, could not help thinking that it really was a pity'-but how could she help it, poor thing? Had she possessed the money of Croesus, she still saw the absurdity of setting up for a female philanthropist, to keep auctioneers from ruining the country by selling goods at less than a hundredth part of their value, as Mr Bell protested he was doing. Still she was sorry that her purse was not at home. The coveted article, whatever it was, was knocked down at eleven dollars, and something else put up.

Kate endured all the sufferings of a sensitive mind, at the absolute bankruptcy that the eloquent auctioneer made the several owners suffer upon every article soldbut she had promised George so positively, and without his requiring a promise, that she would buy nothing, that she did not like to break her word. She did not even venture upon a single bid, though strongly tempted so to do more than once, till a Brussels carpet-nearly newused only one winter-was put up for the competition of the ladies. She wanted just such a thing, she thought, to put in her basement, and if she had only known that a Brussels carpet was to be sold, and sold for nothing too, as Mr Bell solemnly assured her it was going, she certainly would have come determined to buy it. But as she was determined not to buy, what could she do, you know?

'Here it is ladies-nearly new-used only one season, and that very carefully. It cost originally four dollars and fifty cents a yard, and is sold only because the owner is breaking up housekeeping. There are forty yards in the piece, more or less; what shall I have for the carpet? Ten dollars! you are joking ma'am, worth more than that to cover ice in-ten dollars, ten dollars-why, I will give that for it myself, for my dog to sleep on-ten dollars, worth more than fifty at the least ten dollars-ten guineas would come nearer-ten dol-ten dol-ten dol-' Eleven,' said Kate. Now the rubicon was passed.

When her husband came home to dinner, he thought Kate looked fatigued. So she did, but she was more perplexed than tired-more vexed in mind with herself, than jaded in body. She had more than half a suspicion that she had made a fool of herself-she knew the matter must be broached to her hushand, and did not see how she was to do it.

Thirteen-now I breathe a little-but it's only a gasp -thirteen-it's but a straw to a drowning man, but I catch at it. Thirteen; will you see this beautiful article sold for less than it would be worth to pack crockery with, torn into shreds-thirteen-thir-fourteen I heard -thank you, ma'am. Fourteen,' he continued, rolling a roguish leer at Kate-Fourteen, fourteen, four-fourone dollar more, ma'am, and you will have it-fourteen ; Luckily George was in a capital good humour. He had you really can't mind a dollar-fourteen, fourteen, quick, met his acceptances, and had something over. He chator you lose it-fourteen; hard, ma'am, but fair-four-ted merrily, and even proposed a jaunt to the Springs, when teen-fourthe time for fashionable gadding into the bush came fairly 'Fifteen,' said Kate, whose pride was now touched-round. He complimented Kate upon her dinner, and, but who really began to doubt whether the auctioneer was after a while, so far cheered her that she took courage to half as anxious as he pretended that she should get the tell him she had bought a new carpet-that is, an old carcarpet. She was determined to have it now, in spite of pet, as good as new, for the basement. the auctioneer. Perhaps he did not suspect her determination.

Fifteen dollars-well there's just about one quarter of the value. The man wont pay ten per cent. if all his assets go in this way. Fifteen dollars!'-why, really in times like these, persons who are untouched should be generous to the losers,-fifteen-dollars-fifteen-dollars! Just think, ladies, of the heavenly associations connected with this carpet-the domestic bliss-fifteen dollars-the gambollings of the little innocent children-fifteen dollars-fif-teen-fif-'

Is the carpet spotted ?' inquired a shrill old maid's treble.

But I thought you meant to buy nothing,' said George.

To be sure I did not intend to purchase anythingbut this I bought at a bargain.”

The hour passed away very pleasantly. George certainly did not seem much inclined to hear the narrative of her auction experience, but put on a patient face while she described the excellent bargains which she saw sold, and took credit to herself for her resolute adherence to her promise not to buy, until she came to that carpet; to have missed the purchase of which she declared would have been downright extravagance,' and neglect of such a chance as might not occur again in a lifetime. George smiled incredulously when she came to the carpet. He was more than half disposed to take his evening walk without looking at it—but could not so far disappoint his

'Not a spot or blemish-sixteen-shall I have it-pure as the ermine of justice-sixteen I'm offered-only ermine is white, and this is figured-sixteen, sixteen, sixteenyou see, ma'am, others have good taste as well as your-helpmate as thus to expose his indifference to her great self-six-teen-six-teen-six-once, twice-now or never-going at sixteen-going-going'Seventeen,' from Kate.

bargain.' So he forced himself to say-Well, Kate, I should like to see your purchase; and I may as well say what I think of it before I look at it. It is wonderfully cheap, and not worn enough, for the wear to be perceived, and I really think it would have been cheap at a hundred

'The blessings of the widow and orphan rest upon you, maʼam-you've added a dollar to the widow's mite, seventeen-seventeen-sev-en-teen-sev-en-eight- dollars.' een, shall I have it-eighteen I'm offered. 'Tis a reprieve of a moment-eighteen-oh for a full release eighteen-an unconditional pardon in a forty dollar bid -eighteen-eighteen-once, twice

"Nineteen!'

That's nearer the ticket-thank you, ma'am. Come, ladies, excuse my abruptness, but I can't dwell on any thing; must positively drop the mallet on this without one word more-but nineteen is an odd sum-very odd it is that nobody will make it even-twenty, did I hear? twenty I am offered-twenty-twenty-I shan't tell any body who this belonged to till it's sold-twenty-twenty -twenty-twen-I shall keep the secret for the lucky purchaser-twenty dollars-it was not exactly Fanny Elssler's twenty-the first fashion-twenty-the elite of the city-rather odd, but couldn't help it-twentytwenty

'One,' cried Kate.

Twenty-five, six, shall I have it ?'

'Six,' shouted Kate, now fairly excited, forgetting, and over-bidding herself.'

Kate smiled as though sure that what her husband said in jest he would repeat in earnest, when he did actually see that paragon of second-hand articles. She led the way to the breakfast-room, and proceeded to unroll the treasure. There are a few ink spots in it,' she said, "but on the whole Here she stopped speaking, as she heard something like a marvellously low, long whistle. She rose and turned round. George was leaning against the door, almost smothered with a suppressed laugh, to which he allowed partial vent in the before described whistle. Kate looked at him steadily in perplexed and grieved astonishment; and at length tears began to steal out from the corners of her eyes.

Ha! ha ha!' at length burst out her husband's merry laugh. Forgive me, Kate, but really I can't help it. That is the same shabby old rag I took from my office floor yesterday, and gave to the porter. It has been with me five years, and was second-hand at that time. There is the same identical spot that the booby made in uspetting the ink bottle.'

Now was Kate fairly wretched. A woman's quick thoughts carried her years ahead, when still that carpet would be called up for her mortification. Oh, dear!' she sobbed; 'I never shall hear the last of it.' 'You have heard the last of it, my dear Kate-for I will never mention it again if it pains you.'

'Not pains, but it certainly will not be very plea

sant.'

'Well, you never shall hear one word of it again.'
She never has heard it alluded to in a tant. But, sen-

'Twenty-six-that is talking like it. Twenty-six-sible girl as she was, she quietly put it down on the floor twenty-six-twenty-six-it is like a nation's ransom to the unfortunate clergyman, who is selling this carpet because he can't get his quarter's salary-twenty-sixtwenty-seven, shall I have it-twenty-seven I'm offered twenty-seven-twenty-seven.' 'Twenty-eight!'

she bought it for. To do it justice, it really wears well, and she declares that if her husband throws away such things, he will bear looking after. It is a capital good check in family quarrels; it is an excellent hint when a joke should be brought on the carpet,' and, as it has entirely cured his wife of her auction mania, George him

To make a long story short, Kate bought the carpet for self now acknowledges that it was 'BOUGHT AT A BARthirty-two dollars.

GAIN.'

ground, when we anticipate, from the manner in which it is improved, what it is to result in.

In conclusion, we are entirely at the mercy of God for the return of spring; it is by his continually acting power that it comes round. Let us not become atheists practically, by giving that admiration to laws of nature, as we call them, that is due to an ever-ruling God.

Through the dull eve-the blithesome morn,
He leads the changing season on;
And still those smiling seasons tell,

That He who rules them, rules them well.'

How pure, and joyous, and easily bent to the hand of God, ought we to be in order that the moral world should correspond with the natural! What a contrast there is often betwixt the beauty of the one and the deformity of the

other!

In fine, religion is necessary to enjoy the seasons.

and is thus enabled to produce impressions of superior and uniform quality. We emphasize the word uniform, because the most skilful printer at the hand-press is apt to flag a little towards the end of the day's labour; so that his afternoon's work is seldom quite equal to his performance in the fresh of the morning.

Nor are these the only advantages resulting from the new improvement. The higher pressure afforded by the steam-press permits the use of undamped paper, and a drier, less greasy, ink; which gives a peculiar clearness and brilliancy to the impressions, and prevents the slight distortion that is apt to result from the unequal stretching of damped paper. The process, thus improved, and no longer laborious, takes higher rank among the mixed or technico-aesthetic arts; and is likely, in its new form, to attract a superior class of workmen. Should it lead to a more extensive adoption of original lithographic designs for the illustration of books and newspapers, it will exercise a beneficial influence on the public taste; and, in any case, it will materially lighten the toil, and so far ameliorate the condition, of the class of journey men lithographic printers.

For the last reason, if for no other, we should welcome this improvement as a step, great or small, in the right direction-an advance in strict accordance with the general spirit of our modern industrial civilization; which seems destined gradually to emancipate the human race from drudgery-to impose all toilsome and degrading functions upon the subservient and menial powers of nature-and to provide for all the faculties of intelligent man a refined and pleasurable activity.—Athenæum.

HUNGER IN COLD WEATHER.

LITHOGRAPHY BY STEAM-POWER. THE lithographic process, when employed for the reproduction of original drawings, presents several important advantages over the rival arts of wood-cutting, etching, and engraving. The drawing, made at once upon the stone, is not subject to the misinterpretation of the mechanical copyist; the original touches and tints are printed from directly, and unfailingly repeated in every impression. The lithographic artist is not cramped, like the etcher, in the execution of his design, by the nature of the materials with which he works. His touches are not constrained by the necessity of cutting through a coat of varnish with a point; the soft crayon, and finely-ground surface of the stone, leave to his hand perfect freedom and fluency of motion. Those In the summer season, the air is greatly rarified by scarcely perceptible inflexions, and subtle graduations of the heat, and the amount of oxygen taken into the lungs pressure, by which the fine instinct of the artist throws is comparatively small; the carbonaceous matter of the life and meaning into a single line; those delicate, spon-blood, therefore, is slowly burned, and a return of hunger taneous volitions, which his hand half-unconsciously obeys --which his own mind could not by any subsequent effort renew-which the copyist can much less hope to attain but which are yet essential to the character and individuality of the work-all these are impressed on the stone as freely as on paper or canvass, and transmitted, without alteration, to the print. When the pencil of a Haghe, and the press of a Day or a Jones, have concurred in the execution of a first-rate lithograph, we have a work richer in the artist's original feeling, and consequently of higher artistic value, than many a more tediously elaborated pro

duction of burin and burnisher.

Hitherto, however, the cost of the lithographic process, as compared with the expense of printing from engraved blocks, has been a serious drawback to its unquestionable advantages; and has limited its employment, for the illustration of modern literature, to the comparatively rare cases in which economy is not an object of primary importance. This costliness of lithography has, again, depended in a great measure upon the wasteful misapplication of skilled and highly-paid labour to the mere mechanical drudgery of dragging the stone through the press. The lithographic printer has no sooner inked in' the drawing a process requiring much judgment, a quick eye, and delicate manipulation-than he has to lay aside the roller, and toil at a winch, like an ordinary labourer. It is obvious that such a waste of valuable time, repeated at every stroke of the press, must form a heavy item in the cost of the lithographic process as hitherto performed.

These evils are now at length obviated by the invention of a new lithographic printing machine, in the working of which steam-power is substituted for manual labour. This improvement, which has recently been patented and brought into extensive operation, is certainly of considerable importance. For, not only is the rate of printing greatly accelerated, and the cost of the process proportionally diminished, by this new application of steam-power, but the pressman, relieved of the only laborious part of his work, brings unexhausted energies, and a steadier hand, to the nice operations of inking and registering;

as slowly follows the gratification of the last appetite. In
so far we resemble our fires-they burn slowly and feebly,
because there is not a sufficiency of oxygen to encourage
their blaze. In the winter, the air is more dense, espe-
cially in clear frosty weather, and every inspiration we
make conveys into the lungs a maximum quantity of oxy-
gen, which, acting there, and throughout the capillary
system, carries off, with remarkable rapidity, whatever
material it can combine with. The waste being rapid and
abundant, it follows that the supply must be proportioned
to it; and hence, in healthy and vigorous subjects, hunger
is an almost constant claimant in cold weather.
hunger be not satisfied, the body wastes with fearful
rapidity. In fact, the analogy is sufficiently close for us
to say, that the body, in respiring this dense pure air,
consumes as much faster than in respiring a heated and
expanded air, as does a fire on a clear frosty morning
burn more brightly and rapidly than in the full sunshine
of a hot summer's day. These facts, and their reason,
explain to us why there should be such difference, both
in appetite and digestive powers, between the inhabitants
of the town and the country.-Medical Times.

BATHS FOR THE PEOPLE.

If this

We reached Basle in time to lose ourselves in its narrow streets, in search after no less an object than its cathedral; to find it, and to feel the peculiar majesty of its masses of reddish brown; and to admire the vast baths on the Rhine, to which we were informed at almost a nominal price the people of the city have access-a noble use to make of this noble river. It may almost be doubted whether the duty of washing the population of a densely built and closely inhabited city does not even precede in urgency, if not in importance, that of teaching it. When once the 'unwashed' artificer is unwashed no longer, he is freed from all, which, even in point of taste, can excuse a reluctance to his complete recognition as a brother, by the loftiest in station or in intellect of his fellow-men; and to his cordial admission to their sympathy in those great objects which good men have all in common.-Talfourd's Vacation Rambles.

OUR KNOWLEDGE OF EXTERNAL NATURE.

BURNS.

Knowledge, it has been often said, is man's empire over Burns, in his youth, was tall and sinewy, with coarse nature. It is this which makes a large part of the differ- swarthy features, and a ready word of wit or of kindness ence between the civilized man who commands the ele- for all. The man differed little from the lad; his form ments, and the barbarian who is subject to them; between was vigorous, his limbs shapely, his knees firmly knit, the philosopher who brings down at his pleasure the his arms muscular and round, his hands large, his fingers forked lightning from heaven, and uses it as a philoso- long, and he stood five feet ten inches high. All his phical toy, and the ignorant man who falls a victim to its movements were unconstrained and free. He had a rage. It is this that in civilized countries is every day slight stoop of the neck, betokening a holder of the rendering nature more and more subservient to the pur- plough; and a lock or so of his dark waving hair was poses of man-for food and medicine, for clothing and tied carelessly behind with two casts of narrow black habitation, for convenience and comfort. View man rude ribbon. His looks beamed with genius and intelligence; and ignorant, the wolfish savage of the forest, and what his forehead was broad and clear, shaded by raven locks animal more helpless-the creature of accident-the slave inclining to curl; his cheeks were furrowed more with of circumstance the sport of the breeze; but view him anxiety than time; his nose was short rather than long; when knowledge has touched him with her sceptre-his his mouth firm and manly; his teeth white and regular; eyes flashing with intelligence-his countenance radiant and there was a dimple, a small one, on his chin. His with truth, nobleness, and freedom-his mind filled with eyes were large, dark, and lustrous; I have heard them the most sublime secrets of nature, and what creature likened to coach-lamps approaching in a dark night, bemore noble! Objects which pass unheeded by common cause they were first seen of any part of the poet. I eyes, which are grasped in our insensate hands, or never saw,' said Scott, such another eye in a human trampled on by our feet, are, to his comprehensive and head, though I have seen the most distinguished men of far-seeing mind, stamped with a value which no human my time.' In his ordinary moods, Burns looked a man arithmetic can express. Does he wish without sun or star of a hundred; but, when animated in company, he was a to travel to the utmost ends of the earth-to speed man of a million; his swarthy features glowed; his eyes through the trackless waste of waters, and add a new kindled up till they all but lightened; his ploughmanworld to the old ?-he breaks a splinter from the rug- stoop vanished; and his voice-deep, manly, and musical ged rock, and his object is accomplished. Does he wish-added its sorcery of pathos or of wit, till the dullest to bend to his will the fiercest storms of wind and wave, owned the enchantments of genius.-Allan Cunningham. and connect the farthest extremities of the continent by BYRON. a speed of communication almost annihilating time and The personal appearance of Lord Byron has been so space?—the drops of dew, which shine like diamonds on frequently described, both by pen and pencil, that, were a summer morn, are the instruments he employs. Does it not the bounden duty of the biographer to attempt he wish to have at his bidding the elements of des- some such sketch, the task would seem superfluous. Of truction, before which the strongest fortresses and the his face, the beauty may be pronounced to have been of proudest navies are feeble as the leaf of the forest ?-he the highest order, as combining at once regularity of feascrapes a few crystals from the damp wall; in them is tures with the most varied and interesting expression. hid all this superhuman power. Do his thoughts revert The same facility, indeed, of change observable in the to the unnumbered suns of midnight? and does he wish movements of his mind, was seen also in the free play of to penetrate into that region, of which the stars visible to his features, as the passing thoughts within darkened or human eyes are but the portal P-he takes up a handful shone through them. His eyes, though of a light grey, of the sand at his feet, and he gazes upon myriads of were capable of all extremes of expression, from the very worlds rolling in space without end. Does he wish to sunshine of benevolence to the most concentrated scorn wield a power that can sink into scorn the haughtiest or rage. But it was in the mouth and chin that the great tyrant that ever sinned against man-that can set the beauty as well as expression of his fine countenance lay. lowliest child of genius on the proudest pinnacle of fame, Many pictures have been painted of him,' says a fair and send him down to the most remote posterity crowned critic of his features, with various success; but the exwith immortal glory-that can civilize the barbarian, and cessive beauty of his lips escaped every painter and sculpsend a flood of intellect and religion to the darkest corners tor. In their ceaseless play they represented every emoof our earth ?-he takes into his hand a few pieces of lead, tion, whether pale with anger, curled in disdain, smiling and the mighty task is achieved. Yes, in these few pieces in triumph, or dimpled with archness and love. This of dross, worthless and insignificant to the casual and extreme facility of expression was sometimes painful; ignorant eye, is contained a treasure more precious than for I have seen him look absolutely ugly. I have seen the pearl and the diamond-is contained all that is cal-him look so hard and cold that you must hate him, and culated to exalt and dignify the nature of man. To the then, in a moment, brighter than the sun, with such man of science, nothing can present itself from which he playful softness in his looks, such affectionate eagerness may not draw stores of useful information. A piece of kindling in his eyes, and dimpling his lips into something shell may give him information about the state of the sweeter than a smile, that you forgot the man-the Lord world thousands of years ago-a fragment of a rusty Byron-in the picture of beauty presented to you, and medal may throw light on the darkest periods of profane gazed with intense curiosity-I had almost said-as if to and sacred history-the swinging of a chandelier in a satisfy yourself that thus looked the god of poetry, the room may tell him the size of the mightiest orbs that god of the Vatican, when he conversed with the sons and roll through space-and the falling of an apple to the daughters of man.' His head was remarkably small; so ground may point out the laws of the universe.-Pro- much so as to be rather out of proportion with his face. | fessor M'Michael, The forehead, though a little too narrow, was high, and appeared more so from his having his hair (to preserve it, as he said) shaved on the temples; while the glossy dark brown curls, clustering over his head, gave the finish to its beauty. When to this is added, that his nose, though handsomely, was rather thickly shaped; that his teeth were white and regular, and his complexion colourless; as good an idea, perhaps, as it is in the power of mere words to convey, may be conceived of his features. -Thomas Moore.

SIR WILLIAM JONES' OPINION OF THE BIBLE. 'I have carefully and regularly perused the Scriptures,' says this truly great man, and am of opinion that this volume, independent of its divine origin, contains more sublimity, purer morality, more important history, and finer strains of eloquence, than can be collected from all other books, in whatever language they may have been written.' How well qualified he was to make this remark, and how much it implied in his lips, may be inferred from the fact, that he was acquainted with twentyeight different languages, and with the best works which had been published in most of them.-Dr E. Payson.

6

WOMAN'S LOVE.

The affections of a woman are like pearls-often thrown up by the stormy ocean of adversity.