a specimen or two survived to a great age, as in the garden of the Hesperides; and, indeed, what else could that tree in the Sixth Eneid have been, with a branch whereof the Trojan hero procured admission to a territory, for the entering of which money is a surer passport than to a certain other more profitable and too foreign kingdom? Whether these speculations of mine have any force in them, or whether they will not rather, by most readers, be deemed impertinent to the matter in hand, is a question which I leave to the determination of an indulgent posterity. That there were, in more primitive and happier times, shops where money was sold, and that, too, on credit and at a bargain, I take to be matter of demonstration. For what but a dealer in this article was that Eolus who supplied Ulysses with motive-power for his fleet in bags? What that Ericus, King of Sweden, who is said to have kept the winds in his cap? what, in more recent times, those Lapland Nornas who traded in favorable breezes? All which will appear the more clearly when we consider, that, even to this day, raising the wind is proverbial for raising money, and that brokers and banks were invented by the Venetians at a later period. chronology, will often persuade me that the happy sceptre of Saturn is stretched over this Astræa-forsaken nineteenth century. Having glanced at the ledger of Glory under the title Sawin, B., let us extend our inves tigations, and discover if that instructive volme does not contain some charges more personally interesting to ourselves. I think we should be more economical of our resources, did we thoroughly appreciate the fact, that, whenever Brother Jonathan seems to be thrusting his hand into his own pocket, he is, in fact, picking ours. I confess that the late muck which the country has been running has materially changed my views as to the best method of raising revenue. If, by means of direct taxation, the bills for every extraordinary outlay were brought under our immediate eye, so that, like thrifty housekeepers, we could see where and how fast the money was going, we should be less likely to commit extravagances. At present, these things are managed in such a hugger-mugger way, that we know not what we pay for; the poor man is charged as much as the rich; and, while we are saving and scrimping at the spigot, the government is drawing off at the bung. If we could know that a part of the money we expend for tea and coffee goes to buy powder and balls, and that it is Mexican blood which makes the clothes on our backs more costly, it would set some of us athinking. During the present fall, I have often pictured to myself a government official entering my study and handing me the following bill: And now for the improvement of this digression. I find a parallel to Mr. Sawin's fortune in an adventure of my own. For, shortly after I had first broached to myself the before-stated natural-historical and archæological theories, as I was passing, hæc negotia penitus mecum revolvens, through one of the obscure suburbs of our New England metropolis, my eye was attracted by these words upon a sign-board, CHEAP CASH-STORE. Here was at once the confirmation of my speculations, and the substance of my hopes. Here lingered the fragment of a happier past, or stretched out the To his share of work done in Mexico on first tremulous organic filament of a more fortunate future. Thus glowed the distant Mexico to the eyes of Sawin, as he looked through the dirty pane of the recruiting-office window, or speculated from the summit of that miragePisgah which the imps of the bottle are so cunning to raise up. Already had my Alnaschar-fancy (even during that first half-believing glance) expended in various useful directions the funds to be obtained by pledging the manuscript of a proposed volume of discourses. Already did a clock ornament the tower of the Jaalam meeting-house, a gift appropriately, but modestly, commemorated in the parish and town records, both, for now many years, kept by myself. Already had my son Seneca completed his course at the University. Whether, for the moment, we may not be considered as actually lording it over those Baratarias with the viceroyalty of which Hope invests us, and whether we are ever so warmly housed as in our Spanish castles, would afford matter of argument. Enough that I found that signboard to be no other than a bait to the trap of a decayed grocer. Nevertheless, I bought a pound of dates (getting short weight by reason of immense flights of harpy flies who pursued and lighted upon their prey even in the very scales), which purchase I made, not only with an eye to the little ones at home, but also as a figurative reproof of that too frequent habit of my mind, which, forgetting the due order of WASHINGTON, Sept 30, 1848. REV. HOMER WILBUR to Uncle Samuel, partnership account, sundry jobs, killing, maiming, and wounding about 5,000 Mexicans, "slaughtering one woman carrying wa ter to wounded, "extra work on two different Sabbaths (one bombardment and one as- "throwing an especially fortunate and "his proportion of cash paid for con- 44 do. do. for conquering do. manuring do. with new superior compost called "American Citi zen, "extending the area of freedom and "glory, Immediate payment is requested. Dr. $2.00 .10 3.50 .50 1.75 1.50 .50 .01 .01 $9.87 sxecuted with neatness and despatch. Terms | rushes with delirious joy, welcomed as a father as low as those of any other contractor for the same kind and style of work. I can fancy the official answering my look of horror with, "Yes, Sir, it looks like a high charge, Sir; but in these days slaughtering is slaughtering." "Verily, I would that every one understood that it was; for it goes about obtaining money under the false pretence of being glory. For me, I have an inagination which plays me uncomfortable tricks. It happens to me sometimes to see a slaughterer on his way home from his day's work, and forthwith my imagination puts a cocked-hat upon his head and epaulettes upon his shoulders, and sets him up as a candidate for the Presidency. So, also, on a recent public occasion, as the place assigned to the Reverend Clergy" is just behind that of "Officers of the Army and Navy" in processions, it was my fortune to be seated at the dinner-table over against one of these respectable persons. He was arrayed as (out of his own profession) only kings, court-officers, and footmen are in Europe, and Indians in America. Now what does my over-officious imagination but set to work upon him, strip him of his gay livery, and present him to me coatless, his trousers thrust into the tops of a pair of boots thick with clotted blood, and a basket on his arm out of which lolled a goresmeared axe. thereby destroying my relish for the temporal mercies upon the board before me!-H. 17.) No. IX. A THIRD LETTER FROM B. SAWIN, ESQ. [UPON the following letter slender comment will be needful. In what river Selemnus has Mr. Sawin bathed, that he has become so swiftly oblivious of his former loves? From an ardent and (as befits a soldier) confident wooer of that coy bride, the popular favor, we see him subside of a sudden into the (I trust not jilted) Cincinnatus, returning to his plough with a goodly sized branch of willow in his hand; figuratively returning, however, to a figurative plough, and from no profound affection for that honored implement of husbandry (for which, indeed, Mr. Sawin never displayed any decided predilection), but in order to be gracefully summoned therefrom to more congenial labors. It would seem that the character of the ancient Dictator had become part of the recognized stock of our modern political comedy, though, as our term of office extends to a quadrennial length, the parallel is not so minutely exact as could be desired. It is sufficiently so, however, for purposes of scenic representation. An humble cottage (if built of logs, the better) forms the Arcadian background of the stage. This rustic paradise is labelled Ashland, Jaalam, North Bend, Marshfield, Kinderhook, or Baton Rouge, as occasion demands. Before the door stands a something with one handle (the other painted in proper perspective), which represents, in happy idea! vagueness, the plough To this the defeated candidate by appropriate groups of happy laborers, or from it the successful one is torn with diffculty, sustained alone by a noble sense of publie duty. Only I have observed, that, if the scene be laid at Bâton Rouge or Ashland, the laborers are kept carefully in the background, and are heard to shout from behind the scenes in a singular tone resembling ululation, and accompanied by a sound not unlike vigorous clapping. This, however, may be artistically in keeping with the habits of the rustic popula tion of those localities. The precise connection between agricultural pursuits and statesmanship, I have not been able, after diligent inquiry, to discover. But, that my investigations may not be barren of all fruit, I will mention one curious statistical fact, which I consider thoroughly established, namely, that no real farmer ever attains practically beyond a seat in General Court, however theoretically qualified for more exalted station. It is probable that some other prospect has been opened to Mr. Sawin, and that he has not made this great sacrifice without some definite understanding in regard to a seat in the cabinet or a foreign mission. It may be supposed that we of Jaalam were not untouched by a feeling of villatic pride in beholding our townsman occupying so large a space in the public eye. And to me, deeply revolving the qualifications necessary to a candidate in these frugal times, those of Mr. S. seemed peculiarly adapted to a successful campaign. The loss of a leg, an arm, an eye, and four fingers reduced him so nearly to the condition of a vox et præterea nihil, that I could think of nothing but the loss of his head by which his chance could have been bettered. But since he has chosen to balk our suffrages, we must content ourselves with what we can get, remembering loctucas non esse dandas, dum cardui sufficiant. — H. W.) Seein' thet with one wannut foot, a pair | Wal, I, fer one, feel sure he aint gut 'd be more 'n I need; An', tell ye wut, them shoes 'll want a thund'rin sight o' patchin', Ef this ere fashion is to last we 've gut into o' hatchin' A pair o' second Washintons fer every new election, Though, fer ez number one's consarned, I don't make no objection. I wuz agoin' on to say thet wen at fust I saw The masses would stick to 't I wuz the Country's father-'n-law, (They would ha' hed it Father, but I told 'em 't would n't du, Coz thet wuz sutthin' of a sort they could n't split in tu, An' Washinton hed hed the thing laid fairly to his door, Nor dars n't say 't worn't his'n, much ez sixty year afore,) But 't aint no matter ez to thet; wen I wuz nomernated, 'T worn't natur but wut I should feel consid'able elated, An' wile the hooraw o' the thing wuz kind o' noo an' fresh, I thought our ticket would ha' caird the country with a resh. Sence I've come hum, though, an' looked round, I think I seem to find Strong argimunts ez thick ez fleas to make me change my mind; It's clear to any one whose brain aint fur gone in a phthisis, Thet hail Columby's happy land is goin' thru a crisis, An' 't would n't noways du to hev the people's mind distracted By bein' all to once by sev'ral pop'lar names attackted; T would save holl haycartloads o' fuss an' three four months o' jaw, Ef some illustrous paytriot should back out an' withdraw; So, ez I aint a crooked stick, jest likelike ole (I swow, I dunno ez I know his name)— I 'll go back to my plough. Wenever an Amerikin distinguished politishin Begins to try et wut they call definin' his posishin, nothin' to define; It's so nine cases out o' ten, but jest that tenth is mine; And 't aint no more 'n is proper 'n' right in sech a sitooation To hint the course you think 'll be the savin' o' the nation; To funk right out o' p'lit'cal strife aint thought to be the thing, Without you deacon off the toon you want your folks should sing; So I edvise the noomrous friends thet 's in one boat with me To jest up killick, jam right down their hellum hard a lee, Haul the sheets taut, an', laying out upon the Suthun tack, Make fer the safest port they can, wich, I think, is Ole Zack. Next thing you'll want to know, I spose, wut argimunts I seem To see thet makes me think this ere 'll' be the strongest team; Fust place, I've ben consid'ble round in bar-rooms an' saloons Agetherin' public sentiment, 'mongst Demmercrats and Coons, An' 't aint ve'y offen thet I meet a chap but wut goes in Fer Rough an' Ready, fair an' square, hufs, taller, horns, an' skin; I don't deny but wut, fer one, ez fur ez 1 could see, I did n't like at fust the Pheladelphy It did n't make no diff'rence, though; I | Ez though the greasin' on him worn't a wish I may be cust, Ef Bellers wuz n't slim enough to say he would n't trust ! But wut he may turn out to be the best there is agoin'; This, at the on'y spot thet pinched, the shoe directly eases, Coz every one is free to 'xpect percisely wut he pleases: thing to hire Choate fer; Aint it ez easy done to drop a ballot in a box Fer one ez 't is fer t' other, fer the bulldog ez the fox?" It To I takes a mind like Dannel's, fact, ez big find out thet it looks like rain arter ez all ou' doors, 'gree with him, it aint so dreffle trouit fairly pours; blesome to vote Fer Taylor arter all, it's jest to go an' Unless he scratches, goin' down, with I want free-trade; you don't; the 'ral is n't bound to neither ;I vote my way; you, yourn; an' both air sooted to a T there. Ole Rough an' Ready, tu, 's a Wig, but without bein' ultry (He's like a holsome hayin' day, thet 's warm, but is n't sultry; He's jest wut I should call myself, a kin' o' scratch ez 't ware, Thet aint exacly all a wig nor wholly your own hair; I've ben a Wig three weeks myself, jest o' this mod'rate sort, An' don't find them an' Demmercrats so different ez I thought; They both act pooty much alike, an' push an' scrouge an' cus; They 're like two pickpockets in league fer Uncle Samwell's pus; Each takes a side, an' then they squeezo the ole man in between em, Turn all his pockets wrong side out an' quick ez lightnin' clean 'em ; To nary one on 'em I'd trust a secon' handed rail No furder off 'an I could sling a bullock by the tail. Webster sot matters right in thet air Mashfiel' speech o' his'n ;-"Taylor," sez he, "aint nary ways the one thet I'd a chizzen, Nor he aint fittin' fer the place, an' like ez not he aint No more 'n a tough ole bullethead, an' no gret of a saint; But don't find goin' Taylor gives my Truth is, the cutest leadin' Wigs, ever narves no gret 'f a shock; Wich side the bread gut buttered on, hev sence fust they found kep' a edgin' round; They kin' o' slipt the planks frum out th' An' made it gradooally noo, 'fore folks ole platform one by one Till, fur 'z I know, there aint an inch know'd wut wuz done, But I, or any Demmererat, feels comf'tthet I could lay my han' on, ble to stan' on, An' ole Wig doctrines act'lly look, their Lonesome ez staddles on a mash withocc'pants bein' gone, out no hayricks on. But then," sez he, "obsarve my pint, he 's jest ez good to vote fer An' then, another thing; -I guess, though mebby I am wrong, runnin'. This Buff 'lo plaster aint agoin' to dror | I closed a bargain finally to take a feller almighty strong; Some folks, I know, hev gut th' idee I shou'dered queen's-arm an' stumped thet No'thun dough'll rise, out, an' wen I come t' th' swamp, worn't very long afore I gut upon the nest o' Pomp; Though, 'fore I see it riz an' baked, IT would n't trust my eyes; 'T will take more emptins, a long chalk, than this noo party's gut, To give sech heavy cakes ez them a But even ef they caird the day, there ; To speak ez he doos; wy, they say he used to cuss an' swear! I spose he never read the hymn thet A feller with long legs wuz throwed thet Aint jest sech men ez I can act along I went to a free soil meetin' once, an' A feller was aspoutin' there thet act'lly come to me, I come acrost a kin' o' hut, an', playin' round the door, Some little woolly-headed cubs, ez many 'z six or more. At fust I thought o' firin', but think There aint, thinks I, not one on 'em I How temptin' all on 'em would look upon an auction-stand! (Not but wut I hate Slavery, in th' Soon 'z they see me, they yelled an' run, A He leetle patch o' corn he hed, or else there aint no knowin' would n't ha' took a pop at me ; but I hed gut the start, wen he looked, I vow he groaned ez though he'd broke his heart; He done it like a wite man, tu, ez nat'ral ez a pictur, The imp'dunt, pis'nous hypocrite! wus 'an a boy constrictur. About two year ago last spring, ez nigh"You can't gum me, I tell ye now, an' ez I can jedge, An' axed me ef I did n't want to sign I He's one o' them that goes about an' sez I take the side thet is n't took by them so you need n't try, 'xpect my eye-teeth every mail, so jest shet up," sez I. "Don't go to actin' ugly now, or else You'd best draw kindly, seein' 'z how To be benev'lently druv back to a con- Ware you hed Christian priv'ledges you Or well took care on; Ez fer kin' treatment, wy, he wuz so fond on ye, he said He'd give a fifty spot right out, to git ye, 'live or dead; Wite folks aint sot by half ez much: 'member I run away, |