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Written for the Ladies' Garland.

hushed into stillness and repose, I found my

REMINISCENCES OF BY-GONE DAYS. self near the dwelling of one whose lovely

When young life's journey I began,

The glittering prospect charmed my eyes;
I saw along the extended plain
Joy after joy successive rise:
But soon I found 'twas all a dream,

And learned the fond pursuit to shun,
Where few can reach the purposed aim,

And thousands daily are undone.

The sunny hours of childhood, with me, have passed away, and manhood, with its responsibilities and its cares, is now upon me. The morning and twilight of youth have imperceptibly glided onward, and the noon-tide hours of middle age crowding fast upon the meridian of life's short day. Much of the past has been fraught with

"Scenes of wo, and scenes of pleasure."

To the contemplative mind, there is a mournfully pleasing melancholy in the contemplation of scenes and incidents connected with the soft-winged hours of by-gone days. When the song of revelry and mirth enraptured my boyish ear with its dulcet sounds, the thought never crossed my imagination that behind the rose "is secreted the thorn." The dream of romance pictured out the future full of fairy delights, and invited the revellings of fancy to banquet on her honeyed sweets. But, alas! the spell of delusion has been broken, and the dream of imagination has subsided into calm and sober reality. I have been tossed upon the edying whirls of time-the tear of sorrow has dimmed my eye, and adversity has thrown her gloomy mantle over every cheering prospect. Anon, the star of hope has shot its sparkling gems across my bosom's sadness, and my heart, like a bird freed from its wiry prison, has soared aloft, and left its cares behind.

But, dear reader, instead of indulging in such romantic reveries of fancy, I will introduce you to a few of my Reminiscences of By-gone Days.

It was a beautiful morning in the merry month of May; nature was clothed in her gayest attire, and every zephyr wafted the richest perfume from her loveliest parterre. The little birds carolled forth in sweetest melody their notes of joy, as they hopped from spray to spray, and gladdened the heart of the early traveller as he passed by the flowery landscape, or leisurely wended his way onward through shady bowers sparkling with Aurora's glittering gems as the sun gilded the eastern horizon, and appeared in all the rich and varied splendor of the king of day.

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The sun had already passed the meridian, and was again gently declining behind the western hills. As the departing day was

image had often flit across my midnight visions, and caused my dreams to be sweet when I awoke. A few minutes more, and I was seated by the side of Miss, baking in the sunbearns of her soft blue eyes, which rolled in liquid lustre and sparkled with the diamond's brilliancy.

"For O! 'tis ecstacy most sweet,

To bask in bliss from beauty's eye." With a heart naturally susceptible of the most exquisite sensations, and an imagination that loved to revel on the fairy delights which female charms never fail to throw around the heart's best associations, I was now happier in the possession of the warm affections of her

Whose smiles could win

And captivate the heart, than if I had possessed the diadem of royalty, or swayed a sceptre over the empire of the world. But, oh! how transient is sublunary bliss! The chalice which contains the exhilarating draught is no sooner touched than broken, and sorrow and disappointment take the place of joy and expectation.

The look of joy, of love, and affection, that beams from the eye of beauty to-day, and throws a sacred halo, almost unearthly, over the soul, may to-morrow be shrouded in the gloom of melancholy, and the eye that shone with lustre bright, be dimmed and suffused with a tear. The rose that unfolds its vermilion leaves to the morning sun, in all its beauty and pride, may be scattered by the whirlwind blast, and its fragrance wasted on the desert air.

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But

The vernal bloom had decayed, and the glories of summer had withered and faded away. "It was an evening of autumn's loveliest mood"-the dying breeze that sung itself asleep, and the silvery queen of night was careering through the spangled firmament. I stood upon the banks of the Delaware, as it rolled its dark blue waves in majestic grandeur onward toward the mighty deep, where, in by-gone days, I used to sit in sweet meditations with her I loved. how changed was the scene! We had often met and embraced each other on this very spot in all the warm affection of youthful lovers, and at every meeting renewed our pledge of love, which had already been kindled into enthusiasm. This evening we met again, and for the last time. With a tremulous voice, 1-a told her tale of sorrow, and leaning her head on my bosom, while her beautiful auburn tresses partly covered her face, she gave vent to her feelings in a flood of tears, which told in deepest anguish, the blasted hopes and the withering blight that were about to extinguish her dreams of

No. 2. ILaugh and set them Flying.—The Maintopman's Death-bed. 61

future bliss, and throw the gloomy pall of disappointment over the unconsummated happiness of coming years. One hour more, and we parted in doubtful expectation of ever seeing each other again. The cause of our separation, dear reader, must, with you and me, remain a secret forever. We have never seen each other since the memorable night on which we took the last sad adieu. Years have passed away, and have witnessed the untold anguish of her heart in becoming, by an act of imprudence, the bosom companion of a young man who was first a moderate drinker, but soon threw off restraint, and became a wretched inebriate. The garland of roses which virtue, morality and religion had been weaving to decorate the nuptial hour, was soon after torn from her brow by the demon of intemperance, and all her brilliant prospects for future life entombed beneath the wreck of hope's disappointed career.

"Scenes of wo and scenes of pleasure,
Scenes that former thoughts renew,
Scenes of wo and scenes of pleasure,
Now a sad and last adieu!"

Harmony, N. J., May, 1842.

[To be concluded in next No.]

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I LAUGH AND SET THEM FLYING.
Let those who will repine at fate,

And droop their heads with sorrow;
I laugh when cares upon me wait—
I know they'll leave to-morrow.
My purse is light, but what of that?
My heart is light to match it;
And if 1 tear my only coat,

I laugh the while I patch it.
I've seen some elves, who call themselves

My friends in summer weather,
Blown far away, in sorrow's day,
As winds would blow a feather.
I never grieved to see them go,
(The rascals, who would heed 'em?)
For what's the use of having friends,
If false when most you need 'em?
I've seen some rich in worldly gear,
Eternally repining,

Their hearts a prey to every fear

With gladness never shining.

I would not change my lightsome heart
For all their gold and sorrow;
For that's a thing that all their wealth
Can neither buy nor borrow.

And still, as sorrows come to me,
(As sorrows sometimes will come,)
I find the way to make them flee,
Is bidding them right welcome.
They cannot brook a cheerful look-
They're used to sobs and sighing;
And he that meets them with a smile,
Is sure to set them flying.

From the London Keepsake for 1842.

THE MAINTOPMAN'S DEATH-BED.

BY EDWARD HOWARD.

The assistant-surgeon, and the overgrown and womanish-looking youth who tended upon the afflicted, were the only persons in the sick-bay, excepting the departing seaman, John Rockwood. The evening breezes dallied gently with the white and extended sails, and made a melancholy music, peculiarly their own, among the tightened and wellstretched standing and running rigging. The sounds from these rough and noble harpstrings might, fancy-aided, have been thought to breathe a requiem of the most soothing || melody to the dying maintopman.

There was that awful hush throughout the populous ship which, though not absolute silence, might be said to be something more still. The low moaning of the gentle winds, the faint splashing of the waves, and the careful tread of the few officers who were moving about, indicated that life and action still existed, but existed with a subdued solemnity, well befitting the quiet death-bed of the humble and the good.

The hardy and stalwart seamen were at quarters, and they whispered to each other in sorrowful accents that their shipmate was "going aloft," was "under weigh for the right place," had "trippled his anchor for glory," and in many other sea-taught and quaint expressions intimated their conviction that he "was down in the good behavior list," and had secured "a good berth" where the wicked cease from troubling and the weary find rest.

The men had been mustered, whilst the slanting sunbeams streamed through the port-holes upon their glistening cutlasses: all the dreadful appurtenances belonging to "glorious war" had been reported ready for action, and secured for the night, and Captain Dabricourt was on the point of ordering the first lieutenant to "beat the retreat," when the assistant-surgeon walked slowly and lightly across the quarter deck, and whispered the surgeon, who approached the captain, and communicated with him in a low tone.

The commander of the Majestic bowed his head sorrowfully at this information, and approaching the break of the quarter-deck, commanded, in a subdued tone of voice, that the boatswain's-mates should pass the word fore and aft, for the men to disperse themselves quietly. One man on board was to hear no more the cheerful rattle of doubling

drum."

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Attended by the surgeon and his assistant, Captain Dabricourt proceeded to the sickbay, and was soon standing near the ham

mock, where swung, on his death-bed, the honest and once blythe maintopman, John Rockwood.

and where am I? No, no, no-your honor: you are not my brother:" and he made an abortive effort to the accustomed pluck at the forelock-the mark of deference to his commander; "I know better nor that: you

There was no chaplain on board. At the time of which we are speaking, there were, at most, but three or four clergymen dispers-are my captain-God bless you, sir." ed among many ships, and it was seldom that a single cruizer was so fortunate as to possess one. As Captain Dabricourt stood over the dying man, gazing wistfully in the wan countenance beneath him, he held open the prayer book at the office of the visitation of the sick.

"Is he rational enough to benefit by divine consolation?" said the captain, addressing the surgeon.

"I hardly know, Captain Dabricourt.The poor fellow fancies that he is overlooking a party of agricultural laborers who are mowing down the grass in the green fields of his native village. He is very restless. Listen!"

"The scythes want sharpening, lubbers all!" murmured Rockwood. "See the waving grass rises again fast-fast as they sweep it down. A ropeyarn for such mowers! They do no more than the summer wind as it sweeps over the fields; there-there-there!" and he pointed to the dancing waves, all green and joyous, which rose and fell not unlike the bending and rising grass in a meadow ready for the scythe.

"Your brother-your friend and brother, believe it;" said the captain, placing much stress upon the words "your friend and brother!"

“I cannot very well make out my bearings and distance," said Rockwood, hesitatingly, and with a very feeble voice. "I seem to be in two places at once-in my own village and my aunt's room, looking out upon the half-yearly parish land; and yet, things are about me that could only be on board ship. I am sure I've had a methody parson praying with me the last two glasses; and what vexes me is, that I, a thorough seaman, who have always done a seaman's duty, should be buried in a dirty grave ashore!" This was uttered with many interruptions, yet the meaning was distinct.

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"John Rockwood," said the captain, “I never, purposely, deceived any one. Collect yourself, my good friend. Believe it, that you are now very dangerously ill, on board his majesty's ship Majestic."

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In deep sea, and in blue water?" asked the poor man, anxiously.

"The water blue as midnight-the depth unfathomable-we have no soundings." Then, after a pause, the sailor said, in a very low, yet firm voice-"I am read ready-aye

"Then turn your thoughts with me to your Maker," replied Captain Dabricourt.He then read the necessary prayers, to which it was evident that the departing man attended devoutly, as, when the office was finished, he appeared to lapse into consciousness; those that were about him prepared to depart; his embrowned and now bony fingers were uplifted, and he was perfectly heard to ask-"Have I done my duty?"

Rockwood was then silent for a space, gazing intently through the port-hole upon the sea, and feebly nodding his head and waving his attenuated hand to the motion of-ready!" the waters. 66 "Yes," he continued, "I know that I am very ill, and it is terrible to die here, away from my gallant ship, and my jolly, jolly messmates. I always hoped to be buried in the cool blue seas, a thousand fathoms down, below all the sharks. What a quiet, roomy, pleasant grave! No mould, no dirt, no filthy worms. But now, poor Jack will be huddled into the church-yard, among the bones of a parcel of shore-going sinners, to rot in a six feet deep grave. How I hate that rotting! Mow away, mow away, ye lubbers! You see the grass is up again be fore ye have time to bring your scythes round." "Alow and aloft-alow and aloft! HurAn expressive look passed between the rah!" How faint, how pitiable was that dycaptain and the surgeon, which plainly indi-ing shout. It was the last sound uttered by cated that they thought the poor fellow in John Rockwood, the maintopman. extremity, and that they ought not to pray with, but for him. The captain then commenced, with a solemn voice, reading the prayers for the sick at the point of departure. When he came to the words "We humbly commend the soul of this thy servant, our dear brother," the sailor rallied at the word brother amazingly, for very strongly had the captain emphasized it.

"Gallantly, nobly, bravely-always-always!" said Captain Dabricourt, with a voice trembling with emotion.

In the middle-watch, two of his messmates were assisting the sail-maker in sewing John up in a hammock, chaunting, in a low voice, the simple dirge-"He's gone, what a hearty good fellow!"

"Give him a double allowance of shot," said one; "'cause as how, poor fellow, he had a notion that the deeper he went, it was more becoming to a regular out and out sailor. "Brother! my brother! Where is he?-"But it's my notion, that seeing as if we does

our duty, it won't signify where we start from, when we are all mustered at the last day. We shall all be in time, depend on't!"

"I think so, too," said the sail-maker.

THE WIDOW.

It was a cold and bleak evening in a most severe winter. Few dared or were willing to venture abroad. It was a time which the poor will not soon forget.

In a most miserable and shattered tenement, somewhat remote from any habitation, there then resided an aged widow, all alone, and yet not alone.

During the weary day, in her excessive weakness, she had been unable to step beyond her door stone, or to communicate her wants to any friend. Her last morsel of bread had been long since consumed, and none heeded her destitution. She sat at evening by her small fire, half famished with hunger, from exhaustion, unable to sleep-preparing to meet her dreadful fate from which she knew not how she should be spared.

She prayed that morning, "Give me this day my daily bread;" but the shadows of evening had descended upon her, and her prayer had not been answered.

While such thoughts were passing through her weary mind, she heard the door suddenly open and shut again, and found deposited in her entry, by an unknown hand, a basket crowded with all those articles of comfortable food, which had the sweetness of manna to her.

What were her feelings on that night God only knows! But they were such as rise up to Him-the Great Deliverer and Providerfrom ten thousand hearts every day.

Many days elapsed before the widow learnt through what messenger God had sent to her that timely aid. It was at the impulse of a little child, who, on that dismal night, seated at the cheerful fireside of her home, was led to express the generous wish that the poor. widow, whom she had sometimes visited, could share some of her numerous comforts and cheer. Her parents followed out the benevolent suggestion; and a servant was soon despatched to her mean abode, with a plentiful supply.

What a beautiful glimpse of the chain of causes, all fastened at the throne of God! An angel, with noiseless wing came down, stirred the peaceful breast of the child, and with no pomp or circumstance of the outward miracle, the widow's prayer was answered.-The Watchtower.

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BY JAMES LUMBARD.

Earth has sunshine, blight and shade,
And promises that quickly fade;
Scarce does the renovating spring,
In beauty clothe each drooping thing,
That long has laid prostrated low,
All covered o'er with winter's snow,
Ere autumn, with unsparing breath,
Again has laid them low in death.

But in those bright, celestial bowers,
Above this dreary world of ours,
Where, standing in perpetual bloom,
Unnumbered flowers exhale perfume,
No spoiler, with unwelcome mien,
Broods darkly o'er the tranquil scene,-
No storms sweep by and rudely crush
The gems that in the sunlight blush!

Here clouds with aspect drear and cold,
Their sable robes around us fold,
And when the day-beams fade away,
Sadness and sorrow have their sway;
How many eyes are dim with tears,
And sadden'd hearts o'erflow with fears,
At this lone hour, when shadows fall,
Descending like a funeral-pall.

But one eternal sunshine pours
Upon the ever-radiant shores
Of that resplendent land of bliss
Beyond the transient joys of this!
And when the soul, long fettered here,
Shall be transported to that sphere,
It shall not know nor doubt nor care-
For there shall be no darkness there!

The loveliest of earth depart-
They of the pure and gentle heart,
And solemnly are laid away
To moulder in the grave's decay !
For often are the pinions dread
Of the destroyer o'er us spread;
And when his unseen arrow flies,
In calm repose his victim lies!

The dwellers in yon heavenly clime,
Live in eternal, fadeless prime;
No fearful thoughts can there destroy
The rapture of the spirit's joy!
Oh, never do they think of him
Who made their earthly pathway dim,
And stole away their fleeting breath-
They are beyond the reach of death!

Utica, N. Y., 1842.

Surprises are like misfortunes or herrings |—they rarely come single.

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It is chiefly on the most rugged shores of Scotland, or on the more rugged rocks of the several adjacent islands, or still further to the north, in the Shetland or Ferroe Islands, that this business is carried on in the greatest perfection; though, in some parts of Wales, (as, for instance, near the South Stack, in Anglesey,) and the Needle Rocks in the Isle of Wight, adventurous climbers will occasionally exhibit feats of perilous achievement. In some parts of the coast, immense mounds or fragments of rocks have been cut off from

the main land by terrible convulsions of nature, or the incessant wearing of waves through fissures and narrow channels for successive ages. On a few of these spots, seabirds, for a time, rested securely, till some bold adventurers devised the means of invading their territories, crossing the space by means of cradles, suspended on ropes thrown across.

But though here and there, accommodations like this, for facilitating the visits of the birdcatchers to their particular haunts, may be at

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