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THE WINTER SERENADERS.

BY MISS SARA H. BROWNE.

(See Engraving.)

COME, brothers, arouse, for the night wears on,
And the moon beams gild the snow,
And over the glen, the fields, the moor,

There yet is a league to go.
Hurra, hurra, for the strides we take!

The way is shortening fast,

The glen is past, and the moor is crossed,
And the roof appears at last!

Now, brothers, approach with a softer tread,
The bride to her bower is gone;
No lamp from the latticed casement gleams,
And the bolts and bars are drawn;

But her dream of home shall anon be broke,
While here in the drift we stand,

And her throbbing heart shall be borne away, On the lays of her fatherland!

Come, brothers, attune to the roaring blast,
Which is piping wild and strong,
But warble a melting symphony

When the gust hath passed along;

A strain that shall thrill in that slumbering breast,
And open those dark, deep eyes,

Which deem for a moment they greet the light
Of their own Italian skies.

Yet, brothers, beware, for the ivy vine

Which had learned the oak to clasp, Though it weather the tempest's rudest rage, May yield to an infant's grasp! The nameless joys of the fatherland

Too well can our songs recall,

But why should we open those wounds afresh? She hath wept adieu to all!

For, brothers, we think of the oft-told tale, How men that were brave in war, Dissolved by the strains of their native hills, Fled back to their homes afar.

But the Lord forbid we should e'er untwine One tendril of her heart,

From the noble stem it hath proudly clasped, Intent but with life to part!

Nay, brothers, the notes we are pouring forth,
That have startled her gentle rest,
Shall fall like the beams of the moonlight pale,
On the snowy landscape's breast.
Shadows may darken her life's bright day
As clouds by the wind are driven,
But music shall gladden life's wintry night,
That shall blend with the songs of heaven!

A Card from Miss Bremer.-Feeling the impossibility to answer, as I should and would, letters and notes which are sent me, many of which are precious to me, not only as to what concerns me personally, and which I treasure in my heart as things dear and beautiful, I wish by these lines to make known to my benevolent correspondents, that if I do not answer them, it is that I cannot find time and leisure to do so during my travelling in this land, where there is so much to see and to learn. I would tell them that my thankfulness is not the less for that it is not now expressed in words. And I would add, that though I am well aware that, in saying all this I may incur the charge of vanity, I will rather incur that and bear it, than bear the thought that any heart in the United States of America should suspect mine of ungratefulness or disregard.

FREDERIKA BREMER.

THE FEBRUARY NUMBER.

The reader will see that we intend to maintain the high standard with which we began. We give again, this month, NINE full page Engravings, exhibiting all the various styles of embellishment presented in the January number. We give, also, an equally large number of finely executed wood-cuts scattered profusely through the printed pages. For the sterling merit of its literary articles, the present number surpasses any former issue of the Magazine. The long paper from Miss Bremer on "Life in the North" discloses a most interesting view of the present condition of the northern countries of Europe. The "Author of Mary Barton," who at this time divides public attention in England with the author of "Shirley" and "Jane Eyre," has contributed a touching domestic tale. Harriet Martineau continues her beautiful "Ambleside" papers. Major Richardson has commenced a purely American tale of the settlement of Chicago, which for thrilling interest can hardly be surpassed. Professor Hart continues his series of Shakspeare papers. Mrs. Kirkland has an article on "Literary Women," in which her peculiar talent for ridicule is most skillfully applied. The paper on Benjamin West, by Mr. Sartain, brings to light some curious facts in the history of art, as connected with that great man, never before published in this country, and little known even in England. We have, besides, another of "The Tales of the Puritans" by Professor Alden, to say nothing of the original series of Shakespeare poems from the pens of Mrs. Osgood, Mrs. Kinney, Mrs. E. Oakes Smith, Miss Sproat, &c.

OUR FASHIONS.-We are every month Increasing our facilities for obtaining the Paris fashions at the earliest moment. To show how far we have succeeded in this, we would remark that three of the Fashions which we gave last month, (numbers 5, 6, and 7,) were published by us here, before their appearance in "Bell's London World of Fashion!" We give again, in the present number, several figures from the "Moniteur de la Mode," received direct from Paris only a week before going to press. These same figures in all probability are not yet published in London, the method of reproducing them there being less expeditious than that adopted by us. We give this month no less than cleven distinct figures.

OUR VALENTINE.-Instead of the foolish and tawdry prints usually sold for Valentines, spend your quarter, dear reader, for the beautiful plate which we have given. It contains a blank line just long enough to contain the name of your "friend," who will receive thereby, not only a Valentine more elegant and tasteful than any to be bought in the shops, but a beautiful Magazine to boot with all its numberless attractions.

OUR SHAKESPEARE PLATES.-We commence this month the publication of a series of illustrations of Shakespeare's "Seven Ages." Each Age, as delineated by Shakespeare, has been made the subject of a picture and of a poem. The series, when complete, will form a striking and very beautiful feature of the Magazine for 1850.

OUR COLOURED PRINTS.-We give this month another of these brilliant and expensive illustrations, a splendid Illuminated Print by Ackerman intended as a Valentine. These are embellishments not to be found elsewhere, except in the most costly Annuals.

ERRATUM. By a mistake of the printer, the Shakespeare plates and poems have been incorrectly paged. In binding, insert them after page 120.

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