"Why, I was deluded into it-fairly happiness, crops my comforts, and snips deluded. I had nothing to do of evenings, all my Sunday go-to-meetings to make and so I went a courting: now courting's jackets for the boys-she gives all the fun enough-I havn't got a word to say wittles to the children to make me spry, agin courting; its about as good a way and jump about like a lamp-lighter.-1 of killing an evening as I know of. Wash can't stand it-my troubles are overpow your face, put on a clean dicky, and go ering when I add 'em up." and talk as sweet as nugey or molasses "Oh, nonsense! behave nice-don't candy, an hour or two-to say nothing of make a noise in the street-be a man." a few kisses behind the door, as your "How can I be a man, when I belong sweet-heart goes to the steps with you! to somebody else? My hours ain't my "When I was a single man the world own-my money ain't my own-1 belong wagged along well enough. It was just to four people besides myself-the old like an omnibus: I was a passenger, paid woman, and them three children.-I'm a my levy, and hadn't nothing more to do partnership concern, and so many has got with it, but to sit down and not care a their fingers in the till, that I must burst. button. S'posing the omnibus got upset; I'll break, and sign over the stock in trade -well, I walks off, and leaves the men to you." to pick up the pieces. But then I must take a wife, and be hanged to me. It's In Search of a Situation. all very well for a while; but afterwards) it's plaguy like owning an upset omnibus." "Nan" queried Mntazuma, "what's The long-wished-for day at length ar all that about omnibuses?" rived that was to release ine from a bon "What did I get by it?" continued Ga- dage, by indenture, of seven years' labomaliel, regardless of the interruption.rious servitude; and surely I can never "How much fun ?-why, a jawing old forget the enthusiastic manner in which I woman, and three squallers-mighty dif- exclaimed "I am free," on that eventful ferent from courting, this is. What's the day. fun of buying things to eat, and things to With an elated heart I set out for Liv wear for them, and wasting good spreeing crpool, where I feit convinced my mer money on such nonsense for other people? cantile knowledge would soon be appre And then, as for doing what you like, ciated, and an excellent situation immedithere's no such thing. You can't clear ately obtained. I provided, or rather my out when people's owing you so much discreet sister provided, several introduc money-you can't stay covenient: no, the tory letters to merchants, resident there; nabbers must have you. You can't go on and an abrupt departure saw me on the a spree, for when you come home, missus coach for that commercial town. On my kicks up the devil's delight. You can't arrival I procured genteel lodging, and teach her better manners, for constables next morning I set off in search of a situaare as thich as blackberries. In short, tion; but the hum and bustle of commerce you can't do nothing. Instead of 'yes drew me from my aim, and three days my duck,' no my dear,' 'as you please my elapsed in admiring and wondering at the honey,' and 'when you like lovely,' like it extent of the docks, the magnificence of was in courting times, it's 'darnding' and the public buildings, etc., when I awoke 'mending,' and nothing ever darned or from my inertness with-"This wont do: mended. If it wasn't that I'm partic'lar it really wont; I must commence in ear sober, I'd be inclined to drink-it's excuse nest to-morrow morning" and I accord enough. It's heart-breaking, and it's all ingly visited the advertising offices, and owing to that, I've such a pain in my perused the wanted columns of the day's gizzard of mornings. I'm so miserable I paper,, and fortunate enough to find a ra must sit down on the steps." cancy advertised in the Mercury:"What's the matter now!" Wanted, a young man who has a tho"I'm getting aggravated. My wife's a rough knowledge of book-keeping and ac saven critter-a sword of sharpness-she counts; a reference as to character and cuts the throat of my fidelity, stabs my ability will be required. Address, 46 Box-, Post-office." I immediately wrote L. was sorry, &c., and should feel happy in my best hand an application, saying as to render me any assistance, but could do much as I could to ability, &c., and con- nothing in the mean time. I left the of signed it, with a prayer for success, to the fice, the indignant blood boiling withir me, post-office: hut a few days convinced me and wishing any thing but benedictions on I was not the chosen one, as I never his head. heard any thing more concerning it. It It I now took from the remaining four was not long ere I applied again for a sit-letters, one which happened to be for Mr. uation as a traveller, advertised in anoth- M., in the immediate neighbourhood, reer paper, but without success. Another solving, whether fortunate or otherwise, day, another vacancy, and another appli- to to consign the other to the flames. I cation, and all in vain. However, pa- was fortunate enough to find him disentience and perseverance were my watch- gaged, and had a private interview. He words. was a man whose penetrating eye seemed I now began to perceive I was an un- to read my wants; a man of peculiar be welcome daily visitor at the office of a haviour and thinking, and I leave the gentleman who had consented to allow reader to judge of his speech, which I my letters to be directed there-in fact, give verbatim, as far as my memory I thought I appeared unwelcome to the serves. On my putting the letter into his town: and tired with my own fruitless hand, he remarked, "Well, young man, I exertions, I determined to use my intro- perceive this is from my friend Mr. C., at ductory letters, and selected one to Mr. least it's like his hand-writing," forcing a B., merchant, for the experiment. I ob- kind of laugh at the circumstance of retained an audience in his private office; cognition; how was he and the family but he eyed me, on my entrance, as if he when you left? I answered him whilst anticipated my errand; for there is some- he was perusing the letter. In search of thing about a man out of a situation by a situation, I find; well, don't let me diswhich he is easily distinguished. "Who courage you,' said he: " but it really is a is this letter from?" he coldly inquired; piece of indiscretion to leave a place and on being informed, "Oh! out of a sit- where you are well known, to come to anuation. How is Mr. B.? When aid you other, a complete stranger; besides, only see him last?" But before I could an- corsider, suppose a vacancy should occur, swer his inquiries, he resumed, I have the prefence would certainly be given to no vacancy myself, but if I should hear of one who is acquainted with the localities any thing, I'll let you know.' I thanked of the town, trade, &c., and therefore I him, and begged permission to call again see but little chance of your succeeding. in a few days: but he told me I need not But don't let me discourage you; all I give myself the trouble, as he would let have got to say is, a young man should me know if he should hear of any thing, always remain in the town where he is I forgot to leave my address, and there- known, so long as he can keep his charfore never heard from him. I then tried acter; and he will find great difficulty in my fortune with another, addressed to succeeding any where after that is gone. Mr. L. He could not be seen, I was in- For my own part, I have no opening in formed by the clerk. Was it any thing my establishment at present; indeed, if I he could deliver? he inquired. I put the had, I could not, for the first three months, letter in his hands, and he forwarded it to allow any thing like in the shape of a stipMr. L. in a private office. A few min- end. As I said before, I have got my utes elapsed, and the clerk was called in; compliment in the office. However, as I could distinctly hear what passed be- you are so well recommended by Mr. C., tween them. "Ask the young man-II will allow you to come here until you suppose he is waiting-ask him how Mr. meet with a situation, which will be much R. is, and tell him I am not in the way better than lounging or rambling about of hearing of vacancies;" but the clerk, the town.' A pretty compliment to one feeling for my distress. told me, in lan- who had served seven years in the same guage which his master had neither the department of commerce, and that with a politeness nor humanity to use, that Mr. most extensive house: but, because not acquainted with the localities of the towrfruptly told in a few weeks my services and trade, I must be estimated at the low were no longer wanted. I found aftergrade of a country lid! After a few vards he had served several in the same commonplace expressions on both sides. way, and had more than once lured young I bade the great man good morning, and men from their situations by splendid pro so we parted. essions and promises, only to be entrapThus ending another week, with ne; and away they were sent to sink or better prospects that before, my finance win in the ocean of lite. It does not rebecoming low, I changed my lodgings, pure much foresight to anticipate the reand far ned the remainder of my money)ult of such new-fangled actions-he was to the best advantage. Time kept steal made to drink deep of the cup he had so ing on, every day applying, every day frequently handed to others. disappointed: 'tis true I had a note to ai Distress now stared me in the face, tend an office where I had been making and, reduced to the last shilling, I knew application, but it would not answer even not, how to act; a stubborn pride, which my purpose. A salary of twenty pounds not even misery could subdue, prevented per annum for twelve hours' work pene from applying to my relations for pe day, I thought worse than starving, and cuniary assistance; indeed, the same feeltherefore refused it; for, like the Vicar offing would not allow me to write to them Wakefield, I had a knack of hoping "at all, to their great discomfiture and fre for brighter, balmier days. At another quent solicitations. My landlady was time I ventured to undertake the engross prompt in her demands for her weekly ing of a deed (I had studied ornamental rental; but having my luggage in her pos writing) for an attorney, which had occu session, she did not trouble me so much pied me two days and a night, and for as I anticipated. I now began to fear which I received-nothing. The fellow that all my little chattels would soon be pleaded his own case most fluently, telling reduced to the portable campass of a me that the work was not professionally pawn-ticket, but, by entreaty, they were done, and therefore he must first consider saved that honour. My clothes, of which what I deserved, ere he could pay me any I had but a slender stock, grew gradually thing; but the number of" call agains" more and more shabby, but I still tried to disgusted me, and I never received a shil-keep up an appearance of gentility. Of ling for it. What sorry luck for elever ten has a clean shirt-collar done the office weeks' probation! and yet, even this little of a shirt; indeed, every thing, more or success induced me to think that the eye less, partook of a struggle with poverty. of the public was upon me, and I was ever Hunger and I were good friends. Often busying about; and if I chanced to look have I returned in an evening, after a day in at a shop window, it was always done spent in tedious search, and gone to bed in a run-away posture, every artifice without breaking my fast. Who can pic could devise was used, but all proved ab ure my aching heart? ortive. Few, indeed, can rightly estimate The strange remark of Mr. M. frequentthe painful intensity of such an existence. ly occurred to my mind, and seemed to spent thus by one who had for seven years be an augury of my fate. I wished I had been trained to think of nothing but busi-stopped in the "town where I was known," ness, and yet to be, in the midst of it, do- or even accepted the £20 salary per year ing nothing. All the world seemed happy offered me. and busy but myself. How readily we wish time spent revoked, I frequently met with a young man pursuing the same inquiry at the different offices, who, after he had got settled himself, introduced me to a concern, the owner of which immediately professed a One circumstance I should not forget. friendly feeling towards me, and raised Passing along Paradise-street, one evemy expectations high with one of his ning, I met an old school-fellow, along hair-brained schemes, which, when tried, with two smart young gentlemen. proved a complete failure, and I was ab- plainly perceived he recognised me though he passed without moving or a flat waste as far as the eye could reach, speaking. They turned the corner of without any object which showed either Richmond-street, and I moved on; but to life or avoton. The travellers were not my surprise he left his companions and altogethet unprepared for the speciale; came to me. I related my sad tale to him, they had been in search of the city of as briefly as possib:e, for 1 could perceive ruins, and now it had fell upen their sight, he was impatient of delay. He pulled in all its desolation and melancholy granout a handful of silver, and selected twoldeur. What they beheld was all that half-crowns, which he gave to me, re-remained of the famed Tadmor-the city marking he would have given me more, of Palms, or, as it has been Latinized by but was going to see Liston perform at the Romans, Palmyra. the theatre, and would want all the money The fate of Palmyra was that of a hunhe had with him. Had I been possessed dred other cities in ancient times. It had of five shillings, I would have spurned the grown up as a seat of a large and busy gift; but poverty and distress are poor population; had arrived at a high pitch of aids for the independent mind. of pulence and magnificence; is name Compelled by poverty, I now deter- had become known far and wide, for the mined to accept any situation that came trafic of which it was the emporium; and in my way, and no longer considered my- at length, after a lapse of time, it fell a self too good for this or that; and I soon prey to a powerful enemy, by whom it found an opportunity of trying my resolu- was utterly exterminated, or reduced to tion. "An errand boy wanted," was a heap of ruins. Such was invariably wafered on a bookseller's shop window. the history of the cities and nations of anI applied; he seemed surprised at the ap- tiquity. No matter how great and gloriplication, and kindly inquired into my ous they had become; no matter what circumstances. He relieved me, and in was their degree of civilization and learnthree days-wonderful to tell-procured ing; they all sunk, one after another, into me a situation of £100 per year, which oblivion; were overrun by the vas hords soon enabled me to defray all my debts, of barbarians which peopled the unreand assume a respectable appearance. claimed parts of the earth, and are now Three years afterwards I was taken into either lying in ruins like Palmyra, or inpartnership, in an opulent firm, and be- habited by tribes but little remomed came rich, and willing to relieve the des- above the savages. titute wherever I could find them. Palmyra was in its greatest splendor If men in office and power would only in the third century of the Christian era, consider what benefactions they could and was then the seat of government of confer by a single effort of their own; how an accomplished Syrian princess called they could lighten and alleviate the suf- Zenobria. In a wok recently published,, ferings of virtue, bowed down by misfor- Piso a noble Roman, converted to Christune and what prayers would ascend to tianity, is represented as thus discribing the Almighty for their preservation, of the appearence of the city of Palms to fered up from hearts grateful for benefits his friend Marcus Curtius at Rome:received, they would find in its own rich reward. : TADMOR--PALMYRA, "I was still buried in reflection, when I was aroused by the shout of those that led the caravan, and who had attained the summit of a little rising ground, saying Palmyra! Palmyra !' I urged forwad ry steed, and in a moment the most Betwixt eighty and ninety years ago, wonderful prospect I ever beheld-no, I two English travellers, Dawkins and cannot except Rome-burst upon my Wood, in journeying through the vast sight. Flanked by hills of considerable wilderness of Syria, in western Asia, elevation on the east, the city filled the were astonished on coming in sight of a whole plain below, as far as the eye could plain covered with a great quantity of reach, both towards the north and toruins of magnificent marble buildings; wards the south. This immense plain and beyond them, towards the Euphrates, was all one vast and boundless city. It seemed to me to be larger than Rome.-la Pannonian peasant, originally an adYet I knew very well that it could not be venturer, and common soldier, who, by -that it was not. And it was some his courage, ferosity, bodily strength, time before I understood the true charac-power to control, and skill in war, had ter of the scene before me, so as to sepe- raised himself to be emperor or military rate the city from the country, and the despot of the Roman empire, and kept country from the city, which here won- nimself almost five years at its head, bederfully interpenetrated each other, and fore his turn for assassination camc.— so confounded and deceived the observer. This ferocious leader of a powerful army, For the city proper is so studded with having taken care to pick a quarrel with groups of lofty palm-trees, shooting up Zenobia, the Syrian queen, in order to among the temples and palaces; and, on give a color to his attack upon her dothe other hand,the plain in its immediate vi- minions, followed up his intentions by cinity is so thickly adorned with magnifi- marching against the devoted city of Palcent structures of the purest marble, that it myra. After investing the place with his is not eesy, nay, it is impossible, at the dis- troops, and taking Zenobia, is was ordered tance at which I contemplated the whole, to be sacked and burned, and the whole to distinguish the line which divides the inhabitants exterminated by the edge of one from the other. There was a central the sword. point, however, which chiefly fiixed my A most interesting account of this horattention, where the vast Temple of the rible transaction is given by Piso, who, Sun stretched upwards its thousand co-having been allowed, as a Roman citizen, Hums of polished marble to the heavens, in to retire from the city, surveyed the specits matchless beauty, casting into the tacle of distruction from one of the neighshade, every other work of art of which boring heights. the world can boast. I have stood before "After one day of preparation and the Parthenon, and almost worshiped one of assault, the city has fallen, and that divine achievment of the immortal Aurelian again enters in triumph-this Phidias. But is a toy by the side of the time in the spirit of revenge and retaliabright crown of the Eastern capital. Ition. It is evident, as we look on horrorhave been at Miltan, at Ephesus, at Alex-struck, that no quarter is gived, but that a andria, at Antioch; but in none of these general massacre has been ordered, both renowned cities have I beheld any thing of soldier and citizen. We can behold that I can allow to approach in unity, ex- whole herds of the defenceless populace, tent, grandeur, and most consumate beau- escaping from the gates or over the walls, ty, this almost more than work of man.-only to be pursued. hunted and slaugh On each side of this, the ccnrtal point, tered by the remorseles soldiers. And as there arose upward slender pyramids thousands upon thousands have been seen pointed obelisks-domes of the most driven over the walls, or hurled from the graceful proportions, columns, arches, battlements of the lofty towers, to perish, and lofty towers, for number and for form dashed upon the rocks below. beyond my power to describe. These "No sooner had the evening of set in, building, as well as the walls of the city, than a new scene of terrific sublimity being all either of white marble or some opened before us, as we beheld flames bestone as white, and being every where, in ginning to assend from every part of the their whole extent, interspersed, as I have city. They grew and spread until they already said, with multitudes of oversha- presently appeared to wrap all objects dowing palm-trees, perfectly fiilled, and alike, in one sheet of fire. Towers. pinasatisfied my sense of beauty,and made me cles, and domes, after glittering a while in feel for a moment, as if, in such a scene, I the fierce blaze, one after another, fell, should love to dwell, and end my days." and disappeared in the general ruin.In the year 273, Palmyra was invested The Temple of the Sun stood long unby the Roman armies, under the command touched, shining almost with the brightof Aurelian. This man was one of those ness of the sun itself, its polished sides fighting monsters that disgrace the pages and shafts reflecting the surrounding of ancient history. He was the son of fire with an intense brilliancy. We hoped |