PUT UP A PICTURE IN YOUR ROOM. The companionship of anything greater or better than ourselves must do us good, unless we are destitute of all modesty or patience. And a picture is a companion, and the next thing to the presence of what it represents. We may live in the thick of a city, for instance, and can seldom go out, and "feed" ourselves May we exhort such of our readers as have no pictures hanging in their rooms, to put one up immediately? we mean in their principal sitting room; in all their rooms, if possible, but, at all events, in that one. No natter how costly, or the reverse, provided With pleasure of the breathing fields; they see something in it, and it gives them but we can put up a picture of the fields bea profitable or pleasant thought. Some may fore us, and, as we get used to it, we shall allege that they have "no taste for pictures;" find it the next thing to seeing the fields at but they have a taste for objects to be found a distance. For every picture is a kind of in pictures,-for trees, for landscapes, for|| window, which supplies us with a fine sight; human beauty, for scenes of life; or, if not and many a thick, unpierced wall thus lets for all these, yet surely for some one of them; us into the studies of the greatest men, and and it is highly useful for the human mind to the most beautiful scenes of nature. By livgive itself helps towards taking an interesting with pictures we learn to "read" them, in things apart from its immediate cares or desires. They serve to refresh us for their better conquest or endurance; to render sorrow unselfish; to remind us that we ourselves, or our own personal wishes, are not the only objects in the world; to instruct and elevate us, and put us in a fairer way of realizing the good opinions which we would all fain entertain of ourselves, and in some measure do; to make us compare notes with other individuals, and with nature at large, and correct our infirmities at their mirror by modesty and reflection; in short, even the admiration of a picture is a kind of religion, or additional tie on our consciences, and rebinding of us (for such is the meaning of the word religion) to the greatness and goodness of nature. -to see into every nook and corner of a landscape, and every feature of the mind; and it is impossible to be in the habit of these perusals, or even of being vaguely conscious of the presence of the good and beautiful, and considering them as belonging to us, or forming a part of our common-places, without being, at the very least, less subject to the disadvantages arising from having no such thoughts at all. And it is so easy to square the picture to one's aspirations, or professions, or the powers of one's pocket. For, as to resolving to have no picture at all in one's room, unless we could have it costly, and finely painted, and finely framed, that would be a mistake so vulgar, that we trust no reader of any decent publication now-a-days could fall into it. Mr. Hazlitt has said somewhere, of the The greatest knave or simpleton in England, portrait of a beautiful female with a noble provided he is rich, can procure one of the countenance, that it seems as if an unhand- finest paintings in the world to-morrow, and some action would be impossible in its pre- know nothing about it when he has got it; sence. It is not so much for restraint sake, but to feel the beauties of a work of art, or to as for the sake of diffusiveness of heart, or be capable of being led to feel them, is a gift the going out of ourselves, that we would which often falls to the lot of the poorest; recommend pictures; but, among other ad- and this is what Raphael or Titian desired in vantages, this also, of reminding us of our those who looked at their pictures. All the duties, would doubtless be one; and if re- rest is taking the clothes for the man. Now minded with charity, the effect, though per- it so happens, that the cheapest engravings, haps small in most instances, would still be though they cannot come up to the merits of something. We have read of a Catholic the originals, often contain no mean portion money-lender, who, when he was going to or shadow of them; and when we speak of cheat a customer, always drew a veil over putting pictures up in a room, we use the the portrait of his favorite Saint. Here was word "picture" in the child's sense, meaning a favorite vice far more influential than the any kind of graphic representation, oil, waterfavorite Saint; and yet we are of opinion that color, copper-plate, drawing, or wood cut. the money-lender was better for the Saint And any one of these is worth putting up in than he would have been without him. It left your room, provided you have mind enough to him faith in something; he was better for it in get a pleasure from it. Even a frame is not the intervals; he would have treated his daugh- necessary, if you cannot afford it. Better ter the better for it, or his servant, or his dog. put up a rough, varnished engraving, than There was a bit of heaven in his room,-a sun- none at all, or pin, or stick up, any engravbeam to shine into a corner of his heart,-ing whatsoever, at the hazard of its growing however he may have shut the window against never so dirty. You will keep it as clean as it, when heaven was not to look on. you can, and for as long a time; and as for Our readers have seen in all parts of the country, over the doors of public houses, Perkins and Co.'s Entire." This Perkins, who died wealthy a few years ago, was not a mere brewer or rich man. He had been head clerk to Thrale, the friend of Dr. Johnson; and, during his clerkship, the Doctor happening to go into his counting-house, saw a portrait of himself (Johnson) hanging up in "How is this, Sir?" inquired Johnson. Sir," said Perkins, "I was resolved that my room should have had one great man in it." "A very pretty compliment," returned the gratified moralist, "and I believe you mean it sincerely." it. 66 the rest, it is better to have a good memoran- way. The young merchant should reasondum before you, and get a fresh one when ably have a portrait of some eminent meryou are able, than to have none at all, or chant before his eyes, with some other, not even to keep it clean in a portfolio. How far off, to hinder him from acknowledging no should you like to keep your own heart in a merit but in riches. Or he might select a portfolio, or lock your friend up in another merchant of such a character as could serve room? We are no friends to portfolios, ex-both uses,-Sir Thomas Gresham, for incept where they contain more prints than can stance, who encouraged knowledge as well be hung up. The more, in that case, the as money-getting, or Lorenzo de Medici, better. the princely merchant of Italy. So with regard to clergymen, to professions of all sorts, and to trade. The hosier, in honor of his calling, might set up Defoe, who was one of that trade, as well as author of Robinson Crusoe; the bookseller may the footman, Dodsley, who was at one time a footman as well as a bookseller and author, and behaved excellently under all characters; and the tailor might baulk petty animadversions on his trade, by having a portrait, or one of the many admirable works, of the great Annibal Caracci, who was a tailor's son. It would be advisable, in general, to add a landscape, if possible, for reasons already intimated; but a picture of some sort we hold to be almost indispensably necessary towards doing justice to the habitation of every one who is capable of reflection and improvement. The printshops, the book-stalls, the portfolios containing etchings and engravings at a penny or twopence a-piece, (often superior to plates charged twenty times as much,) and lastly, the engravings that make their way into the shop-windows, out of the Annuals and Periodicals of the past season, and that are to be had for almost as little, will furnish the ingenuous reader of this article with an infinite store to choose from; and if he is as goodnatured as he is sensible, we will venture to whisper into his ear, that we should take it as a personal kindness of him, and hope he would consider us a friend assisting him in putting it up. Mr. Perkins did not thrive the worse for having the portrait of Johnson in his counting-house. People are in general quite enough inclined to look after the interests of "number one;" but they make a poor business of it, rich as they may become, unless they include a power of forgetting it in behalf of number two; that is to say, of some one person, or thing, besides themselves, able to divert them from mere self-seeking. It is not uncommon to see one solitary portrait in a lawyer's office, and that portrait a lawyer's, generally some judge. It is better than none. Anything is better than the poor, small unit of a man's selfish self, even if it be but the next thing to it. And there is the cost of the engraving and frame. Sometimes there is more; for these professional prints, especially when alone, are meant to imply, that the possessor is a shrewd, industrious, proper lawyer, who sticks to his calling, and wastes his time in "no nonsense;" and this ostentation of business is in some instances a cover for idleness or disgust, or a blind for a father or rich uncle. Now it would be better, we think, to have two pictures instead of one, the judge's by all means, for the professional part of the gentleman's soul,—and some one other picture, to show that his client is a man as well as a lawyer, and has an eye to the world outside of him, as well as to his own; for as men come from that world to consult him, and generally think their cases just in the eyes of common sense as well as law, they like to see that he has some sympathies as well as cunning. Upon these grounds it would be well for men of other calling, if they acted in a similar SEPARATION. When forced to part from those we love, And feel a touch of sorrow. But who can paint the briny tears We shed when thus we sever, But if our thoughts are fixed aright, Yes, if our souls are raised above, 'Tis sweet when thus we sever, Since parting in a Saviour's love, We part to meet forever! For the Ladies' Garland. DEATH-BED REPENTANCE. A DELUSION. BY JOHN A. ELKINTON, M. D. dences? The healthy functions of our organs have been suspended by disease; and we have no present desire for the things of earth! Is this repentance? It is a delusion! a fatal, dangerous delusion! The sick and dying lose their vigor, and are in a state of physical and mental inertia, neither positively good, nor positively evil, but very far from that contrition of spirit which constitutes true repentance. We feel subdued and penitent, and in our helplessness, throw our poor prostrate bodies, our yielding intellect, on the mercies of Heaven. This is not repentance, but a delusion, of fearful magnitude. Are we to bury our talents in a napkin, and rely on a merciful God and a sick The idea that "death-bed repentance," so called, is a delusion, is not new. However startling it may seem, at first, reflection will soon convince any one acquainted with the human system and its sympathies, that very little reliance is to be placed upon a confession of reformation under such circumstances. The individual himself is deceived; and it is right and proper that others should not deceive themselves on this important point. Our appetites, tastes, and affections, all contribute to wed us to life, and endear us to ex-bed for safety, without an effort of our own? istence. And, although these tests of our temporal attachments are selfish in the abstract; they are both necessary and useful, as well to our own happiness, as to the happiness of those around us. We may even feel grateful for the enjoyment of these natural and rational propensities; but is the heart divorced from her temporal connection? are we prepared at any moment for death? Try the question! We have been grateful, but not penitent! "Or whence this secret dread, and inward horror of falling into naught? Why shrinks the soul Back on herself, and startles at destruction ?" Sickness attacks our system, and fierce disease commences its ravages, in the midst of our most blissful enjoyments, in the height of our gratification of appetite; and how soon do we turn with disgust from the very objects which, in a state of health, gave us pleasure! But, is this repentance? The merciless arrow of death wings its way into our dwelling, and strikes down a gentle lamb of our love, and where then is the sunshine of life! Where the green fields and fragrant flowers of earth? Their verdure has faded! The sweet-scented flower has lost its perfume! All its gay and beautiful tints become unsightly and sickening! Is this repentance? The beloved object which sweetened every enjoyment is buried under the cold clods of the valley, and cheerfulness, which was the companion of the cherished one in life, is changed to sorrow and sadness, now he is dead; and all the charms of existence have vanished with him! Is THIS repentance ? Is this change in our physical condition, this temporary disrelish for accustomed gratifications, this want of appetite for carnal indulgences, repentance ? hearts nearer to God? our souls benefitted? our virtues improved? What are the evi Are our Certainly not! Man, with all his powers, and energies, and healthfulness, can scarcely hope to be justified with his offended Creator. Remember, that debility of mind and body, the prostration of vital energy, the absence of the desire for evil, are only involuntary effecls, growing out of involuntary causes; and have nothing to do with the subject of repentance. If we neglect daily to make our reconciliation with God, to apply our moral and intellectual STRENGTH to his honor and glory, depend upon it, we cannot, ought not, look for acceptance merely because, in the hour of sickness, we feel a disinclination for those indulgences which religion and virtue condemn. Death-bed repentance, let me repeat it, in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, is a terrible delusion. We are not sure that the Dr. is exactly correct in his conclusions. We should be extremely loth to say that there were NOT many, very many, genuine death-bed repentances, and such as would gain for the individuals favor with God. Else the cherished hopes of many a bereaved one of meeting loved ones in heaven will be sadly mocked; still it is a dangerous experiment to delay making peace with an offended yet merciful Creator, until, having spent all our lives in vain, we are about to appear in his presence.—ED. GAR. FRAGMENT. A beauteous flower of early spring I passed again; that fairy gem, Had died away! Earth's joys resemble that sweet flower, |