and producing ten thousand enjoyments for the little traveller, he is busy gathering together his provender for the long wintertime, when frost and snow and cold shall have locked up the granaries of Nature.

Thou wilt tell me that I am mocking thee —that thou canst see this daily and hourly, and is this a mystery, therefore? If thou hadst read in those ancient legends before thee of an insect so courageous that it would attack an animal of ten thousand times its magnitude, of industry so indefatigable that it would climb housetops and mountains to pursue its course, of perseverance so unflagging that though repulsed a thousand times it still would return and overcome the obstacle that impeded it, the eye would have sparkled with interest and amazement. It is because it is constantly before thee, because it belongs to the present time, that thou lookest so disdainfully upon it. When did the knight-errants of thy heart do half so much? When did their bosoms beat as high with valor and determination as this poor insect?

"But it has no loves, no burning jealousies,

no blood-stained victories!"

How knowest thou that? I warrant thee even that tiny breast has grown gentle for some fond one that lived within its little world; that its blood has moved quicker when some Adonis-ant has flitted around the little coquette; that its path has been stained by the trophies of its mimic battles. But thou wilt say, "Why dost thou lure me from my glowing page to point me to this moving atom? Why not show me the majestic mysteries of Nature? Why waste my aim with a topic so insignificant?" I "Because it is insignificant. I

answer,

point thee there, to one of the smallest of earth's creatures, to ask thee, If the atoms contain such wonders, how much more the noble and lofty works of Nature?"

Follow me, if thou wilt. Let us dive into the caverns of the earth and mark the sculptured halls, the rocky avenues stretching miles and miles below the busy haunts of men. Let us plunge into the deep and see the huge leviathan sporting amid the waters, or the rainbow-hued dolphin as it flings back bright rays of the glorious sun. Let us climb into the air and behold the eagle with his untiring wing and his unflinching eye, the noble image of indomitable perseverance and of brilliant genius, soaring proudly and gazing fixedly toward heaven's brightest luminary. O dreamer, if the moments of thy life were multiplied by the sands of the desert, they would be all too short to unravel these mysteries that are around thee and above thee.

JUDGE CHARLTON.

MUSIC AT MRS. PONTO'S.

THE jingling of a harp and piano announced that Mrs. Ponto's ung pu de Musick had commenced, and the smell of the stable entering the dining-room, in the person of Stripes, summoned us to caffy and the little concert. She beckoned me with a winning smile to the sofa, on which she made room for me, and where we could command a fine view of the backs of the young ladies who were performing the musical entertainment. Very broad backs they were, too, strictly according to the prevailing mode, for crinoline or its substitutes is not an expensive luxury, and young people in the country can afford to be in the fashion at very trifling

"Brilliant touch Emily has! What a fine arm Maria's is!" Mrs. Ponto remarked, goodnaturedly pointing out the merits of her daughters and waving her own arm in such a way as to show that she was not a little satisfied with the beauty of that member. I observed she had about nine bracelets and bangles, consisting of chains and padlocks, the major's miniature, and a variety of brass serpents with fiery ruby or tender turquoise eyes writhing up to her elbow, almost, in the most profuse contortions.

When the performance was concluded, I had the felicity of a presentation and conversation with the two tall and scraggy Miss Pontos, and Miss Wirt, the governess, sat down to entertain us with variations on Sich a Gettin' up Stairs." They were determined to be in the fashion.

For the performance of the "Gettin' up Stairs" I have no other name but that it was a stunner." First, Miss Wirt, with great deliberation, played the original and beautiful melody, cutting it, as it were, out of the instrument, and firing off each note so loud, clear and sharp that I am sure Stripes must have heard it in the stable. What a finger!" says Mrs. Ponto; and indeed it was a finger, as knotted as a turkey's drumstick and splaying all over the piano. When she banged out the tune slowly, she began a different manner of "Gettin' up Stairs," and did so with a fury and swiftness quite incredible. She spun up stairs;

she rattled up stairs; and then, having got the tune to the top landing, as it were, she hurled it down again, shrieking, to the bottom floor, where it sank in a crash, as if exhausted by the breathless rapidity of the descent.

Then Miss Wirt played the "Gettin' up Stairs" with the most pathetic and ravishing solemnity; plaintive moans and sobs issued from the keys. You wept and trembled as you were gettin' up stairs. Miss Wirt's hands seemed to faint and wail and die in variations; again, and she went up with a savage clang and rush of trumpets, as if Miss Wirt was storming a breach; and, although I knew nothing of music, as I sat and listened with my mouth open to this wonderful display, my caffy grew cold, and I wondered the windows did not crack and the chandelier start out of the beam at the sound of this earthquake of a piece of music. "Glorious creature, isn't she?" said Mrs. Ponto. "Squirtz's favorite pupil. Inestimable to have such a creature. Lady Carabas would give her eyes for her. A prodigy of accomplishments !-Thank And the young ladies gave a heave and a gasp of admiration-a deep-breathing, gushing sound such as you hear at church when the sermon comes to a full stop.

you,

Miss Wirt!"

Miss Wirt put her two great double-knuckled hands round a waist of her two pupils, and said,

"My dear children, I hope you will be able to play it soon as well as your poor little governess. When I lived with the Dunsinanes, it was the dear duchess's favorite, and Lady Barbara and Lady Jane McBeth learned it. It was while hearing Jane play that, I remember, that dear Lord Castletoddy

by the paymaster-general, who is now with the army, empowered by Mr. Morris for the settlement of all their accounts, and who will attend to yours whenever you shall think proper to send on for the purpose; which it will probably be best for you to do in a

short time.

I anticipate with pleasure the day-and that I trust not far off when I shall quit the busy scenes of a military employment and retire to the more tranquil walks of domestic life. In that, or whatever other situation Providence may dispose of my future days, the remembrance of the many friendships and connections I have had the happiness to contract with the gentlemen of the army will be one of my most grateful reflections. Under this contemplation, and impressed with the sentiments of benevolence and regard, I commend you, my dear sir, my other friends, and with them the interests and happiness of our dear country, to the keeping and protection of almighty God.

I have the honor to be, etc.,
GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To the Hon. Major-General Putnam.

double the ball. Change ages a little-not too much: make Granny forty-five years younger and the boy twenty years olderand there would be little hardship about it. Young men have actually been known to covet such work.

Little Tommy detests it at all times, and especially to-day. The sun is shining brightly, but not fiercely; the winds are gently at play. His schoolmates, unseen by the patient spinner, need not make themselves known to the impatient boy by hoarse whispers: he feels that they are there; and the curly dog at his feet looks up as if saying, When that hank is out, run for it, Tommy! That's your only chance.”

Let us hope for better things-that Patience will set Impatience free, and that Tommy will soon enjoy his romp the more that it has been somewhat delayed, and at one time doubtful. If the old lady does not let him off, we shall feel tempted to echo the dog's thought: "Run!"

LOVE IS BY FANCY LED ABOUT.

LOVE is by fancy led about

From hope to fear, from joy to doubt. Whom we now an angel call, Divinely graced in every feature, Straight's a deformed, a perjured creature: Love and hate are fancy all.

'Tis but as fancy shall present Objects of grief or of content

That the lover's blest or dies:

Visions of mighty pain or pleasure,
Imagined want, imagined treasure,
All in powerful fancy lies.

GEORGE GRANVILLE

(Lord Lansdowne).