2 became "added to the Collection:" a husband | being asleep in the corner of the adjoining room. was obtained for Tit. The repast being finished, she walked up to the If anything could have caused the said four-door, and, pushing it wide open, marched up to footed bride to have screamed, fainted, gone her sleeping beauty. She poked her long nose into hysterics, or done something she had never underneath his straw bed, as much as to say, done before, it would have been the sudden appear-"It's four o'clock and your dinner is ready." ance in her den, one fine morning, of Hatto the Finding, however, that he did not answer the keeper with the bridegroom, (about half the size summons, she then inserted her curved claw in of herself, and of about half the same age,) under between his fore legs, and tried to hook out his his arm. Tit immediately stalked up to the new long proboscis, which was firmly tucked in bccomer with an air of independence, as much as tween them: he would not, however, awake. to say, "What brings you here, my fine fellow ?" Finding this to be really the case, she coolly a question often put mutually by individuals who marched off to his tin dish, placed there full suddenly meet at a place where neither of them of eggs and milk for his special benefit, and, are over anxious to be seen. The first surprise keeping one eye on her "sleeping partner," the being over, she began to salute him after the other on the omelet so palpably his property manner of Ant-eaters, viz. by combing out his misappropriated, deliberately devoured the whole. bristly hair, and scratching his face with her The theft committed, with an unconcerned air long talons; typical, doubtless, of the mode of she marched away, fully justifying the keeper's punishment prepared for him in case of any remark, "That as she grew fatter and fatter, so conjugal delinquencies. Poor little fellow, he she grew cunninger and cunninger." After a was tired with his long voyage, and having eaten turn or two up and down the den, she again tried up his supper, he coiled himself up in the corner the awakening process upon her injured companand went fast asleep. ion, but, finding the attempt useless, she slowly reclined her body upon him, and finding his carcase to make a warmer and softer bed than her own mattress, she jerked herself right upon him, and there deliberately proceeded to tuck herself up for her after-dinner nap, much to the annoyance, I should think, of the poor husband thus converted into a bed. He did not, however, seem to mind it, for half-an-hour after, there they were still in the same position, and both fast asleep.

At first the happy pair were placed in the same apartment; but they did not agree at all, and so they are now separated by a wire partition. The new-comer has not yet learnt English manners, and, like Tit on her first arrival, he sleeps all day, waking only to eat his dinner, and have a talk with his consort through the bars. The last time I saw them, the door between the two cages was left half open; Tit was cating her four o'clock dinner in her boudoir, her husband

A CHILD'S SMILE.

"For I say unto you-That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven."

A child's smile-nothing more;
Quiet, and soft, and grave, and seldom seen;
Like summer lightning o'er,
Leaving the little face again serene.

I think, boy well-beloved,
Thine angel, who did weep to see how far
Thy childhood is removed

From sports that dear to other children are,

On this pale cheek has thrown

The brightness of his countenance, and made
A peace most like his own,

A beauty that we look on, half afraid :

Marvelling, will it stay

To manhood's prime, or will that angel fair,
On some yet unknown day,

Take the child-smile, and leave the wrinkle Care?

Nay, fear not. As is given

To thee the father's look, fond watching o'er :
Thine angel, up in heaven

Beholds our Father's face forever more.

Ah, may He help thee bear

Thy burden, as thy father helps thee now:
That thou mayst come to wear
That soft child-smile upon an old man's brow.
Chambers's Journal.

SLEEP OF PLANTS IN THE ARCTIC REGIONS Mr. Seemann, the naturalist of Kellett's arctic expedition, states a curious fact respecting the condition of the vegetable world during the long day of the arctic summer. Although the sun never sets while it lasts, plants make no mistake about the time when, if it be not night, it ought to be, but regularly as the evening hours approach, and when a midnight sun is several de grees above the horizon, droop their leaves and sleep, even as they do at sunset in more favored climes. "If man, "observes Mr. Seemann, "should ever reach the pole, and he undecided which way to turn when his compass has become sluggish, his timepiece out of order, the plants which he may happen to meet will show him the way; their sleeping leaves tell him that midnight is at hand, and that at that time the sun is standing in the north."

American Annual of Scientific Discovery.

From The Economist. THE REAL DANGER OF THE WAR.

against them were too great), but for which they have never ceased to sigh and strive-by the insurgent Germans, fighting for the liberal institutions which had been always promised to them them in the day of victory. We should find ourselves allied with and strengthened by every aspiration and every affection which can stimulate men to effort, or harden them to endure privation, or nerve them to face danger, or elevate them to make sacrifices-with that love of liberty, of justice, of civilization, of sacred homes, of unviolated sanctities, which of all human passions is at once the strongest and the noblest. In such a case our triumph could not fail to be as brilliant as it would be beneficent,-if only we are conscious of the grandeur of our mission, and willing to bend all our energies to its performance-if only we cast aside all arriére-pensees, and had no faithless or pusillanimous terror of the consequences of our own success.

by allies immeasurably mightier than even Austria and Prussia-by the Poles, fighting for an extinguished nationality-by the Hungarians, We have never felt the slightest misgiving as fighting for a trampled constitution, hallowed to the power of England and France to conduct to their affections by the traditions of centuries the war to a brilliantly triumphant and perma--by the Italians, fighting for a freedom which nently successful issue, whatever might be the they have never conquered (because the odds part ultimately taken by Prussia and Austria. If the great German States side with us loyally and earnestly, the retreat of the Russian army is cut off; it will be hemmed in on all sides by forces vastly superior in numbers and appoint-in the hour of danger and always withheld from ments, and incomparably better placed; and its only alternatives will be utter destruction or a surrender at discretion. Such a defeat as would ensue in that case, and such marked inferiority on the part of Russia as would then be manifest, would probably entail two other results, both of them of the utmost consequence with respect to the future peace and freedom of Europe-viz., the adhesion of Sweden and Persia to the common cause. The adhesion of Sweden would enable us to restore Finland to its original owner, and thus cripple Russia more than any other single conquest; for the coast of Finland commands the entrance to St. Petersburg. The bonâ fide aid and sincere behavior of Prussia might also end in the abstraction of the Livonian Provinces from Russia, and their restoration to their Our greatest difficulty would be in the caseGerman relatives, and thus the Southern as well still it would seem far from improbable,-of the Northern shore of the Gulf of Finland would Austria maintaining a strict neutrality-suffibe handed over to the rivals of Nicholas. At cient just to tie our hands and those of Russia the other extremity of the Empire, the adhesion from undertaking any active operations against of Persia to the Allied Powers, which would cer-her-sufficient just to prevent Russia from countainly follow any decided and unmistakable tenancing a Hungarian and France an Italian disaster to Russian arms (and might probably insurrection-sufficient just to hamper, if not to even now be enforced by the vigorous action of paralyze both belligerents;-and of Prussia backEnglish force or English diplomacy in the Per- ing her, as she would do, in this selfish policy. sian Gulf), would entail the loss of Georgia and Even then, however, if we are true to ourselves, the establishment there and in the Caucasus of we need feel no apprehension as to the result. such a permanent barrier against Russian en-It may require more strenuous and prolonged croachment towards the East as would set our efforts, and the despatch of larger forces on our minds at rest for centuries with regard to the tranquillity of our Indian Empire.

part, to bring our enemy to terms, but to the strength of the Western Powers, seriously and reIf, on the other hand, Austria and Prussia solutely put forth, we do not believe that Russia should ultimately turn against us and embrace can offer any very effectual resistance. We bethe cause of their fellow-despot, the war would lieve it is in our power to take the Crimea, to indeed be longer, severer, more extensive, and re-open the Danube, to detach Georgia, probably altogether altered in its character and in its lo- even to drive our foes back across the Pruth. calities, but if we were resolute and hearty, our We are sure it is in our power to keep the entire ultimate success would still be certain, and pro- command of the Euxine, to destroy every Russian bably even more signal and beneficent. Its issue ship that ventures out into the open sea, and then would not be simply the rescue of Turkey, permanently to blockade the Gulf of Finland;but the emancipation of Hungary, Italy, Ger- and we conceive it impossible for Nicholas long many, and possibly Poland-not merely the de- to hold out against such energetic measures. feat of despotism in one quarter, but its total Our real and only danger comes from ourselves and final discomfiture throughout Europe-not-not from our enemies. If success is doubtful, merely the prevention of one meditated wrong, its dubiosity can only arise from our not being but the redress of the accumulated wrongs of sufficiently in earnest-from a spirit of compromise many generations in many lands. The war in still lingering in our council chambers-from our that case might be protracted, obstinate, and anxiety rather to have a short war than an ef bloody; but the peace which followed it would fective one-from thinking of a speedy peace probably endure for centuries, because it would rather than an enduring one. We do not say be founded not on artificial but on natural ar- that such is the case: we only say that we fear rangements, because it respected both the affini- no other danger, and entertain no other misgivties of nations and the rights of individual men. Our success would be certain, not only because our power would be great and our cause just, but because we should find ourselves supported

ing.

The point on which we desire to warn the country to be on its guard is this. We are at present bound up with allies whose feelings and

its basis will be widened, its passions will be deepened, and its significance intensified; that in fact the revolutionary element and the spirit of nationality will enter on the scene of strife, and that so we may find ourselves fighting in a cause which we were not prepared to maintain, and with allies and associates whom we did not bargain for;-with the prospect moreover (which is at least a possibility) of some disagreement with France weakening our cordiality of action, or of some dispute with America coming in to complicate our position.

ultimate views are notoriously different from distant if not an uncertain issue; with the prosour own, and we have Ministers who, though pect, too, (which is more than a probability) that they have acted throughout with spirit, dignity, in the course of that struggle, if much prolonged, and consistency, are warm friends of peace and order, and are deeply impressed with the grave and sad responsibilities of their position and their crisis. Prussia, we know, is decidedly friendly to Nicholas, and would willingly patch up a peace on any terms. Austria is anxious, no doubt, to be relieved from the incubus of Russian preponderance, cannot consent to the permanent occupation of the Principalities, and would be glad if the navigation of the Danube were re-opened, though she has so long tamely acquiesced in its being silted up. But any real weakening or disastrous_humiliation of Russia will When the question of peace or war comes benot suit the purposes and does not enter into the views fore our Ministers in this perplexing and insidiof either of the German Powers. Of this we may ous shape; urged, too, with all the subtle and be quite certain. Austria would ill like to see plausible diplomacy for which our adversary is herself embraced and overshadowed by the Rus- so renowned; backed possibly by some incipient sian annexation of Wallachia and Moldavia; grumblings at home about the much that has she would ill like to see her great river entirely been expended and the little that has been done; in the hands of her colossal neighbor; but there affected, moreover, materially (for it is in vain to is one thing which she would assuredly like still disguise the truth) by the imperfect and as yet less-and that is, such a diminution of either the only inchoate sympathies of our ruling classes actual power or the prestige of Russia as would for the oppressed nationalities and insurgent patimpair her capacity of aiding Austria to over-riots of Europe;-is it unreasonable to fear that awe, crush, or conquer her oppressed and rebel- they may be led to entertain the perilous propo lious subjects. It will not answer for either of sals, and to sacrifice future and enduring tranthe German Powers permanently to lose the alli-quillity for the sake of present and immediate ance or materially to weaken the resources of peace,-to think that "sufficient to the day is their fellow-despot. Therefore, as soon as ever the evil thereof," and to relegate to the next Nicholas can be persuaded to evacuate the Prin-generation the settlement of a question that may cipalities, or even to promise to do so on obtain- possibly not again arise till that generation has ing certain nominal concessions to save his pride, come upon the stage? Yet such a decision these Powers will declare themselves satisfied, would surely be most unworthy and unwise. It and will use all their influence to urge us to ac- would be stultifying our enormous preparations. cept these terms, and to terminate the war on It would be calling the mountains into parturithe basis of the status quo, possibly adding some tion to bring forth a mouse. It would be letting stipulation as to the better maintenance of the go our grasp of our adversary when we have him navigation of the Danube. They will have at a disadvantage. And what is worse, it would gained their point; and thenceforth all their be postponing a struggle which sooner or later efforts will be directed to prevent us from gaining ours. They will advise, they will entreat, they will remonstrate, they will mediate, they will protocol; they will hint at ulterior dangers, they may even venture on something like a menace of throwing their weight into the opposite scale, if we refuse to accept proposals of peace which they deem reasonable.

must come, to a time when we may be far worse prepared than now to meet it; when the odds may be on the other side; when France may be alienated from us; when we may have many enemies, a bad trade, and an empty exchequer; when we may have other and yet more serious quarrels on our hands; when in fact we may be utterly unable to aid and save Turkey, however Our Ministers will then find themselves in this much we may desire it. For, be it remembered, position. On the one side lies the proffer of a the time when the "Eastern Question" shall peace, which they cannot indeed pretend to deem come up again will be chosen by Russia, not by satisfactory-seeing that it leaves disputes still us-and she will not make a second mistake. unadjusted and pretexts for future aggression She will choose the moment of her strength and and future wars still undestroyed; but which of our embarrassment; our "necessity will be will leave Russia baffled, checked, mortified, and her opportunity;" and she will use it promptly with a warning which may keep her quiet for a and decisively to "feed fat the ancient grudge considerable time; which will leave Turkey at she bears us." As we have often had occasion all events safe from aggression for some years to to point out, Russia never relaxes her vigilance come, during which time her internal ameliora- and never abandons her designs; the possession tions may go on unchecked;—and which will of Constantinople is necessary to her pictured enable us to disband our armies, to recall our greatness and her ulterior aims; and she will ships, to reduce our expenditure, and to avoid never cease to strive, to intrigue, to encroach, to the horrors and responsibilities of prolonged adventure, for its seizure, unless we should put bloodshed. On the other hand lies a continua- it obviously and permanently out of her reach tion of the war with the certain discountenance as we have now the opportunity of doing-as and the possible hostility of the German Powers; a few years hence we may have no longer. The -with the prospect of a terrible struggle and a least favorable terms of peace that we ought now