man and children's stockings; calico and homespun; pickles and preserves; a box of sugar; a jar of honey; a roll of flannel; a bundle of "comfortables;" cheese and crackers; all were heaped or scattered upon the floor, forming, it seemed to me, a year's supply of clothing, and almost of food. "I guess it will be a kind of help," remarked one of the young ladies in answer to my exclamation of admiring surprise; "but it's amazing what a profusion of such articles is consumed in twelve months!" "You are from the old country, madam," said a Mrs. Brown; pray now, did you ever become acquainted with my son Hiram?" "Never, ma'am," I replied rather emphatically. "Do tell!" exclaimed the lady; "and yet he's been there four years, and he 's in public life!" "Indeed; in what capacity?" "He's with Major Jerry Crane, the great wild-beast speculator! They travel with a splendid caravan, as my son calls it, all over the country, and make considerable money.' "It's a remarkable good profession in the old country," observed Mr. Jones, the miller, who sat near; "I guess all the wealthiest gentlemen in this section have made their fortunes by it. That splendid hotel at Somers, The Elephant,' was built by one of them!'". "I opine you have no such meetings as this in England?" remarked a pleasant-looking young farmer, as he took the seat next to me. "We have not," I replied; "but you are aware that all church matters are conducted very differently there from what they are in America. On entering the parlor, I found a numerous assembly of the neighbors, rich and poor, engaged in general conversation, and awaiting the summons to tea. The ladies before mentioned were busy preparing the meal. for which they had brought every requisite from their own homes, and had taxed the house for nothing except fire, water, and a kettle. Tables were joined to form one that nearly filled the modest " keeping-room," and was yet too small to accommodate at one time all the members of the Bee; the seniors of the party, therefore, took the precedence, and were first served, the mistresses of the ceremonies attending the guests. The great staples of the entertainment were smokinghot butter-milk rolls, and waffles a cake in- "I hope so," said the candid gentleman; herited from the Dutch, and made of butter;"I reckon, too, a giving bee' would be conit is poured into curiously-shaped iron-moulds, siderable of a help to some of those poor and baked in the midst of a glowing fire. curates I've read about! I'll be darned if I Great plates of butter, cheese, and thinly- could sit and look such a one in the face, shaven smoked beef, accompanied these; while he preached 'Do unto others, as ye while deep crystal dishes of various kinds of would they should do unto ye! preserves gave an air of lightness and elegance to the somewhat heavy display of good things. Every one was helped to everything; and it was amusing to see the heaped-up plate of each individual surrounded by a host of satellites in the form of Liliputian saucers, filled with preserved cherries, peaches, quince, and ginger, all to be discussed with the beef, cheese, and butter. There was no conversation during the repast, which fortunately was not a protracted one; both relays had soon finished, and the waiting-maids proceeded to make merry together; then, after restoring everything to its former order, and packing their baskets for the return-journey, they joined the rest of the party. The evening passed pleasantly in conversation the elderly folks discoursed on the "split" which had recently taken place among them on the subject of church government; the matrons debated domestic mysteries; and the young men and maidens talked, laughed, and even flirted; while I, as a stranger and a Britisher," received much attention, and had to talk and listen more, it seemed to me, than was quite fair. How our native land seems part of ourselves when we are far from it-I blushed as if his words were personal! About eight o'clock, a general cessation of conversation took place, and a silence of three or four minutes was broken by the minister rising and solemnly inviting us to join him in prayer. All rose, and stood with heads bowed and eyes cast down, while he gave thanks with all the eloquence of unaffected piety for the blessings each enjoyed. When he had ended, another brief silence ensued, and then rose tremblingly, at first from a single voice, the sweet notes of a hymn of praise soon all joined, and the sacred strain swelled full and loud. The moment it was concluded, the bustle of departure began-hands were hastily shaken, the men ran out to seek their sleighs and horses, while the women collected their baskets and wraps. The night was glorious-the moon shone with the purest, softest lustre, making the white ground sparkle, and silvering the snow-laden trees; and as each sleigh dashed off with its merry load, their ringing laughter awoke the mountain echoes. LITTELL'S LIVING AGE.-No. 473.-11 JUNE, 1853. and his Cherubs, 656; Time, 678; The Secret of the Stream-An April Rhyme, 703; SHORT ARTICLES: Leather - The Great Salt Lake of Utah, 652; Last Moments of Rob Roy, - Harmonic Rapping, 682. RY WILLIAM SYDNEY THAYER. THE Spring is breathing on the earth A darker green creeps o'er the hill, Leans with young boughs beside its edge. The bush, that in the winter long Of blossoms brimmed with evening's rain. But here, while all is joy and hope, In Death's mysterious slumbers bound, On the cold wrinkled face a smile In happier fields than ours to range. As free and light, as if the breeze Had blown her from the odorous west, A child, wreathed with anemones, CCCCLXXIII. 41 Her fair curls toss in wild delight, Has touched them with a deeper hue. At the calm features thou hast viewed, Art linked in strange similitude. Both at Life's dawning! thine is blent Of care and mirth, of smiles and tears; OHS. BY THE LADY EMMELINE STUART WORTLEY. O! that we might the least, light part regain O! that calm Memory, of our deeds and days O that each sigh we heave-and who but sighs? Could lift the deep heart nearer to the skies! Let high hills rise beyond, and a calm sky Bend o'er and hide the neighboring town from eye; 1 And be it roofed with thatch, or slate, or tile- The Lady of the Board-supremely sweet- And let glad children play her steps besideGirls, gentle, graceful-boys, with noble pride; Tender, yet brave- gleesome, yet thoughtful too; Branches whose trunk shall joy in buds that blow; And then what else can heart desire in home- NOISELESS WHEELS. THERE is a rumor and a talk Of an invention that 's applied, Not to the use of those that walk, But to the use of those that ride. What is it to the public ear In loud advertisements appeals? What do they speak of far and near? What makes this noise? The "noiseless wheels." A subtle meaning may be found Where 't is not looked for by the throng A "noiseless wheel!" Thus, free from sound, The wheel of Time revolves along. No voice is heard to note its speed, Silent and swift it onward steals; 'Tis only by its loss we heed The flight of Time - with "noiseless wheels." Under the sun there's nothing new; Whatever is, has always been: Invention can but bring to view Things that would else remain unseen. The law of Nature- far and nearThe principle at once reveals; The world, the seasons, year by year, Go round and round, like "noiseless wheels." The blood that warms the mortal frame In silent currents twirling round. The brain occasionally reels; And round will come the lot of him Who's helped by fortune's" noiseless wheels." But science may have missed its aim, For clattering wheels are oft preferred By those who think that noise is fame; Not mute would be the vulgar herd. Rare is the man his carriage owns, Who modestly his state conceals; He'd rather rattle o'er the stones, Than pass unheard with "noiseless wheels." From Household Words. ABD-EL-KADER ON HORSEBACK. SOME Curious particulars respecting Arabian horses have lately been given to the world, from no less authoritative a source than Abd-el-Kader himself. General Daumas has published a work, entitled Les Chevaux du Sahara, and it contains the answers furnished by the Arab chief to a list of inquiries that had been expressly addressed to him. The emir's letter was translated into French by M. Boissonnet, its original form being scrupulously retained; and many of our readers may be gratified by the sight of an English version of the document, even if it be not likely to afford them any very great practical instruction. November 8, 1851 (the 23d of Moharrem, the first month of 1268). Glory to the One God. His reign alone is eternal. III. You ask me for instances of abstinence Know that when we were stationed at the journey for two or three successive days. We started from Saïda towards eight in the morning (au dohha), in order to fall upon the Arbâa, who encamped at Aain-Toukria (among the Oulad-Aïad, near Taza), and we reached them by break of day (fedjer). You know the country, and are acquainted with the road which we had to traverse. in the Arabian horse, and for proofs of his power of enduring hunger and thirst. mouth of the Mélouïa, we made razzias in the Desert. On the day of attack, we pushed Djebel-Amour, following the route of the without taking breath, completing our excurour horses on for a gallop of five or six hours sion thither and back in twenty, or at most in five and twenty days. During this interval of time, our horses had no barley to eat, except what their riders were able to carry with them about eight ordinary feeds. Our horses found no straw to eat, but only alfa and chiehh, or besides that, in spring-time, grass. Notwithstanding which, on returning home again, we performed our games on horseback the day of our arrival, and we shot with a certain number of them. Many which were unable to go through with this last exercise, were still in good travelling condition. Our horses went without drinking, either for one day, or for two; once, no water was to be Know that a horse, who is sound in all his found for three days. The horses of the members, who eats barley which his stomach Desert do much more than that; they remain requires, can do whatever his rider wishes about three months without eating a single him. On this subject the Arabs say Allef grain of barley; they have no acquaintance ou annef. "Give barley and overwork." But with straw, except on the days when they go without overworking the horse, he may be to buy corn in the Teli, and in general have made to travel sixteen parasanges every day nothing to eat but alfa and chichh, and some(a parasange is a measure of distance- times guetof. Chichh is better than alfa, and originally Persian-equal to a French league guetof is better than chiehh. The Arabs say, and a half, or three and three quarters Eng-Alfa makes a horse go, chiehh makes him fit lish miles, as near as may be); that is the for battle." And "Guetof is better than bardistance from Mascara to Koudiah-Aghelizan, ley." Certain years occur in which the horses on the Oued-Mina; it has been measured in of the Desert go without tasting a single drûa (cubits). A horse performing this dis- grain of barley during the whole twelvemonth, tarce (of sixty miles English) daily, and eat-when the tribes have not been received in the ing as much barley as he likes, can go on Teli. They then sometimes give dates to without fatigue for three, or even for four their horses; this food fattens them. Their months, without resting a single day. horses are then capable both of travelling II. You ask what distance a horse can and of going to battle. travel in one day. Health to him who equals in good qualities all the men of his time, who seeks only after good, whose heart is pure and his discourse accomplished, the wise, the intelligent Lord, General Daumas, on the part of your friend, Sid-el-Hadi Abd-el-Kader, son of Mahi-Eddin. Behold the answer to your questions. 1. You ask how many days an Arabian horse can travel without resting, and without being made to suffer too much. I cannot tell you precisely; but the distance ought to be not much less than fifty parasanges (one hundred and eighty-seven miles and a half), as from Tlemcen to Mascara. We have seen a very great number of horses perform in one day the distance from Tlemcen to Mascara. Nevertheless, a horse which has completed that journey ought to be spared the following day, and ought only to be ridden a much shorter distance. Most of our horses could go from Osran to Mascara in one day, and would perform the same IV. You ask me why, when the French do not mount their horses till they are four years old, the Arabs mount theirs at an early age. Know that the Arabs say that horses, like men, can learn quickly only in their childhood. These are their proverbs on that sul ject: "The lessons of infancy are engraved on stone; the lessons of mature age disappear like birds' nests.' They also say, young branch rises straight up again without great difficulty: but the timber tree never rises up again." Tho In the first year, the Arabs teach the horse fare the horses which are best able to endure to be led with the réseun, a sort of bridle. hunger, thirst, and fatigue. The horses of They call him then dejeda, and begin to bridle the Arbâa and of the Oulad-Nayl come next him and to tie him up. When he is become after those of the Hamyan. In the Teli, the teni-that is to say in his second year-they best horses, in respect to purity of race, statride him for a mile, then two, then a para-ure, and beauty of form, are those of the sange; and when he is turned of eighteen people of Chelif, particularly those of the months old, they are not afraid of fatiguing Oulad-Sidi-Ben-Abd-Allah (Sidi-el-Aaribi), him. When he is become rebûa telata - that is to say, when he enters his third year they tie him up, cease to ride him, cover him with a good djelale (horse-cloth), and make him fat. On this subject they say: "In the first year (djeda) tie him up for fear any accident should happen to him. In the second year (teni) ride him till his back bends. In the third year (rebûa telata) tie him up again. Then, if he does not suit you, sell him." If a horse is not ridden before the third year, it is certain that he will be good for nothing but for running, at most, which there is no occasion for him to learn; it is his original faculty. The Arabs thus express the thought: El djouad idjri be aaselouh; "The djouad runs according to his breeding." (The noble horse has no need to be taught to run.) V. You ask me why, if the offspring partakes more of the qualities of the male than of the female parent, the mares, notwithstanding, sell for higher prices than the horses. The reason is this; he who purchases a mare hopes that all the while he is making use of her he will obtain from her a numerous progeny; but he who buys a horse derives from it no other benefit than its services for the saddle, as the Arabs never take money for the use of their horses, but lend them gratuitously. VI. You ask whether the Arabs of the Desert keep registers to record the descent of their horses? Know that the people of the Algerian Desert do not trouble themselves about such registers, any more than the people of Teli. The notoriety of the facts is quite sufficient; for the genealogy of the blood-horses is as universally known as that of their masters. I have heard say that some families had these written genealogies, but I am unable to quote them. But books of the kind are in the Fast, as I have mentioned in the little treatise which I am shortly about to address to you. VII. You ask which of the Algerian tribes are the most celebrated for the purity of race of their horses. Know that the horses of the Hamyan are the best horses of the Desert, without exception. They have none but excellent horses, because they never employ them either for tillage or for carrying burdens. They use them only for travelling and for battle. These near the Mina, and also those of the OuladSidi-Hassan, a branch of the Oulad-Sidi-Dahhou, who inhabit the mountains of Mascara. The most rapid in the Hippodrome, and also of beautiful shape, are of the tribe of Flitas, of the Oulad-Cherif and the Oulad-Lekreud. The best to travel over stony ground, without being shod, are those of the tribe of Assassena, in the Yakoubia. This saying is attributed to Moulaye Ismail, the celebrated Sultan of Morocco : "May my horse have been brought up in the Mâz, and led to water in the Biaz!" The Mâz is a place in the country of the Assassena, and the Biaz is the brook, known by the name of Toufet, which runs through their territory. The horses of the Ouled-Khaled are also renowned for the same qualities. Sidi-Amed-Ben Youssef has said on the subject of this tribe, Long tresses and long djelais will be seen amongst you till the day of resurrection;" praising thus at the same time both their women and their horses. VIII. You tell me that people have assured you that the horses of Algeria are not Arabian horses, but Barbs. This is an opinion which falls back again upon its authors. The people of Barbary are of Arab origin. A celebrated author has said: "The people of Barbary inhabit the Mogheb; they are all sons of Kais-BenGhilan. It is also asserted that they are descended from the two great Hémiatrites tribes, the Senahdja and the Kettama, who came into the country at the time of the invasion of Ifrikech-el-Malik." According to these two opinions, the people of Barbary are really Arabs. Moreover, historians have established the kindred of the majority of the tribes of Barbary, and their descent from the Senahdja and the Kettama. The arrival of these tribes is anterior to Islamism; the number of emigrated Arabs in the Mogheb is incalculable. When the Obeîdin (the Fatémites) were masters of Egypt, immense tribes passed into Africa, and amongst others the Rîahh. They spread from Kaïrouan to Merrakech (Morocco.) It is from these tribes that are descended, in Algeria, the Douaouda, the Aîad, the Mâdid, the Oulad-Mad, the Galad-Jakoub-Zerara, the Djendal, the Attaf, the Hamis, the Braze, the Sbéba, and many others. No one doubts that the Arabian horses have spread in the Mogheb, in the same way as the Arabian families. In the time of Ifrikech-ben-Kaïf, the empire |