POETRY, ANECDOTES, ETC. LABOR, WAIT, AND HOPE! The farmer knows not if his fields, With flood, or drought, or blight must cope; He questions not the fickle skies, But ploughs, and sows, and toils in hope. Then up, and strive, and dare, and do, Nor doubt a harvest thou wilt gather; 'Tis time to labor and to wait, And trust in God for genial weather. heaven. COUNT OVER THE MERCIES! COUNT THEM!-Count what? Why, count the mercies which have been quietly falling in your history. Down they come every morning and every evening, as angel messengers from the Father of Light, to tell you of your best friend in Have you lived these years, wasting mercies, renewing them every day, and never yet realized whence they came? If you have, Heaven pity you. You have murmured under afflictions, but who has heard you rejoice over blessings? Ask the sunbeam, the rain drop, the star, or the queen of the night. What is life but mercy? What is health, strength, friendship, social life? each the power of speech, each would say, "I am a mercy." Perhaps you have never regarded them as such. If not, you have been a poor student of nature or revelation. What is the propriety of stopping to play with a thorn bush, when you may just as well pluck sweet flowers, and eat pleasant fruits? NATURE'S TEACHINGS. HURDIS. Had Not a tree, A plant, a leaf, a blossom, but contains A folio volume. We may read, and read, And read again, and still find something CHINESE TRIBUTE TO WASHINGTON. A Chinese philosopher, Seu-ki-yu by name, has been presented with a portrait of George Washington, by Mr. Burlingame, because he once praised the father of our country in terms of which the following is a translation: "He was an uncommon man. He conquered more rapidly than Shing and Kwang, and in courage he was superior to Tsaon and Lew. Seizing the twoedged sword of three cubits long, he opened the country 10,000 le. He then refused to receive a title, or to secure one for his posterity, preferring to establish an elective administration. Patriotism to be commended under the whole heaven! Truly like the three dynasties! In administering the government he fostered virtuous customs, and, avoiding war, made his country superior to all other nations. I have seen his portrait. His countenance exhibits great mental power. Ah, who would not call him an uncommon man!" Such sweet content, such minds, such sleep, such bliss, Beggars enjoy, when princes oft do miss. The homely house that harbors quiet rest, The cottage that affords no pride nor care, The mean that 'grees with country music best, The sweet consort of mirth and music's fare, Obscured life sets down a type of bliss; A mind content both crown and kingdom is. At Trafalgar, two Scotchmen, messmates and bosom cronies, from the same little clachan, happened to be stationed near each other when the celebrated intimation was displayed from the admiral's ship. "Look up, and read you, Jock," said one to the other; "England expects every man to do his duty; not a word frae puir auld Scotland on this occasion." Jock cocked his eye at the object for a moment, and, turning to his companion, thus addressed him: "Man, Geordie, is that a' your sense? Scotland kens well enough that her bairns will do their duty that's just a hint to the Englishmen." ADVERSITY. Adversity exasperates fools, dejects cowards, draws out the faculties of the wise and industrious, puts the modest to the necessity of trying their skill, awes the opulent, and makes the idle industri ous. THE WIFE. WHITTIER. We drove before the farm-house door; Her air, her smile, her motions, told Was in her voice of sweetness. An inborn grace that nothing lack Before her queenly womanhood To buy her fresh-churned butter? With snow-white hands disposing. THE INVENTOR OF THE PLOUGH. COLTON. It is not known where he who invented the plough was born, or where he died. Yet he has effected more for the happiness of the world than the whole race of heroes and conquerors, who have drenched it with tears, and deluged it with blood, and whose birth, parentage, and education have been handed down to us with a precision precisely proportionate to the mischief they have done. ARGUMENTUM AD HOMINEM. The wit of the late Lord Brougham, High Chancellor of England, as well as his propensity to punning and impromp tu, are well illustrated by the following anecdote: The Duke of Gloucester, being in conversation with Lord Brougham on the subject of reform, grew so warm in the argument that he observed, hastily, the chancellor was very near a fool. Brougham replied that he could not think of contradicting the duke, and declared that he fully saw the force of his royal highness's position. THE FIRST SNOW. LONGFELLOW. QUITE A MISTAKE. A Frenchman who knew very little of our language unfortunately got into a difficulty with a back countryman, and fight he must, and that, too, rough and tumble. But before he went at it he was very anxious to know what he should cry if he found himself whipped. After being informed that when satisfied, all he would have to do would be to cry out “Enough,”| at it they went; but poor mousieur, in his difficulties, forgot the word, and finding his eyes likely to be removed from their sockets, he began to cry out; but instead of saying what was told him, he commenced bawling out, "Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah! To his astonishment, the countryman kept pounding the harder; when monsieur, finding there was no use hallooing, turned and went to work in such good earnest, that it was not long before the countryman sang out, in a stentorian voice, "Enough!" "Say dat again," said the Frenchman. "Enough, enough!" cried he again. The Frenchman in turn exclaimed, "Dat is de vere word I was trying to say long time ago." The fight| was ended. THE GUIDE-POST. BAYARD TAYLOR (from the German). Turn in at any tavern sign; And good old age? a lovely sight! And you're in doubt which one it is, The first snow came. How beautiful it was, falling so silently all day long, all night long, on the mountains, on the meadows, on the roofs of the living, on the graves of the dead! All white save the GENTLY, JEMMY. - Sir James Mackinriver, that marked its course by a wind- tosh invited Dr. Parr to take a drive in ing black line across the landscape; and his gig. The horse became restive. "Genthe leafless trees, that against the leadently, Jemmy," says the doctor, “don't irrisky now revealed more fully the wonderful beauty and intricacy of their branches. What silence, too, came with the snow, and what seclusion! Every sound was muffled, every noise changed to something soft and musical. No more trampling hoofs, no more rattling wheels. On ly the chiming sleigh bells, beating as swift and merrily as the hearts of children. tate him; always soothe your horse, Jem-| my. You'll do better without me. Let me down, Jemmy." Once on terra firma, the doctor's view of the case was changed. "Now, Jemmy, touch him up; never let a horse get the better of you. Touch him up, conquer him, don't spare him; and now, I'll leave you to manage him I'll walk back." A New Hampshire farmer, who had an invariably good-natured wife, longed to hear her scold, for a change, and was advised that a load of crooked firewood would make her very desirably cross. He tried it in vain. When the pile was gone, he asked if he should get such another supply. "O, yes," said she, "for that crooked wood you brought before does lie around the pot so nicely!" He never tried again. CHEERFULNESS. The cheerful are the busy. When trouble knocks at your door, or rings the bell, he or she will generally retire if you send word you are engaged. FOUR GOOD HABITS. There were four good habits which a wise and good man earnestly recommended in his counsels and by his own example, and which he considered essentially necessary for the happy management of temporal concerns; these are punctuality, accuracy, steadiness, and despatch. Without the first, time is wasted, those who rely on us are irritated and disappointed, and nothing is done in its proper time and place. Without the second, mistakes the most hurtful to our credit and interest and that of others may be committed. Without the third, nothing can be well done; and without the fourth, opportunities of advantage are lost which it is impossible to recall. "I know what charity is," said one of those keen observers, a little child. "Mrs. Pinchem, when she spoiled some bread in the baking, the other day, sent it to the poor widow Band said it was a real luxury to do a deed of charity when not too expensive."" FOUR GOOD DOCTORS. William Howitt, who is over seventythree years of age, says he has had four doctors-temperance, exercise, good air, and good hours. ANSWERS TO PROBLEMS, &c., 1868. ANSWER TO PROBLEM. 1920 puffs of the locomotive. ANSWER TO MATHEMATICAL PROBLEM. Length of ladder, 180.493254 feet; distance of foot from highest tower, 170.228713 feet; from second tower, 173.429567 feet; from lowest tower, 176.005155 feet. ANSWER TO THE ACROSTICAL ENIGMA. Doctor Joseph Warren. ANSWER TO ALGEBRAIC PROBLEM. A's share, 25; R's, 16; C's, 27; total, 68. ANSWER TO CHARADE. ANSWER TO QUESTION. The numbers are 75 and 162. ANSWER TO GEOGRAPHICAL ENIGMA. Grievous words stir up anger. ENIGMA. I am composed of 31 letters. My 7, 22, 4, 4, 27, 31, 13 are enemies to public good. My 20, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 belongs to a locomotive. My 23, 24, 3, 18, 21, 11, 25 is a place of amusement. My 2, 8, 28, 5, 11, 13 are due to the brave. My 15, 19, 29 is in every coil of rope. My 14, 5, 16, 31, 8, 9 is a painful emotion. My 17, 18, 28, 29, 10, 6, 4, 12, 26, 1 is a money king. My whole should be remembered by all young men starting out in life. MATHEMATICAL QUESTION. It is required to find three numbers, such that the cube root of the first, added to the square root of the third, shall be equal to the square root of the second; that the square root of the second, minus 4, shall be equal to the square of the third; and that one half the square root of the first shall be equal to the square root of the second, minus 1, the sum of the three numbers being 90. PROBLEM. A farmer had hay enough to feed three horses, eight cows, and twenty sheep, from the first of November to the first of May, each horse or cow eating two tons, and every four sheep eating as much as a cow during that time. At the end of three months he sold two of his horses, and bought one cow and forty sheep. At the end of four months he lost one of his cows and sold ten sheep. Did he have any hay to spare, or was he obliged to buy? in either case how much, and if he bought, at what time? [Preserve this Schedule for future reference.] SCHEDULE OF STAMP DUTIES, IMPOSED BY ACT OF CONGRESS. (CORRECTED 1868.) AFFIDAVITS, exempt. AGREEMENT OR APPRAISEMENT. Agreement or contract other than those mentioned in this schedule (or any appraisoment), for every sheet or piece of paper on which it is written, .05. If more than one agreement or appraisement is written on one sheet of paper, .05 on each. Renewal of agreement, same stamp as original instrument. BANK CHECKS, DRAFTS, OR ORDERS, for any amount, on any bank, banker, or trust company, at sight or on demand, .02; for amount exceeding $10, on any person other than a bank, banker, or trust company, at sight or on demand, .02. BILL OF EXCHANGE (foreign), or letter of credit, drawn in but payable out of the United States, if drawn singly or otherwise than in a set of three or more-same as inland bills of exchange or promissory notes; drawn in sets of three or more, for every bill of each set, where the sum made payable shall not exceed $100, or the equivalent thereof, in any foreign currency, .02; for every additional $100, or fractional part thereof in excess of $100, .02. BILL OF EXCHANGE (inland), draft, or order for the payment of any sum of money, not exeeeding $100, otherwise than at sight or on demand, or Promissory Notes (except bank notes and checks), or any memorandum, check, receipt, or other written or printed evidence of an amount of money to be paid on demand or at a time designated, for a sum not exceeding $100, .05; for every additional $100, or fractional part in excess of $100,.05. BILL OF LADING, or receipt other than charter party, for goods and merchandise exported to foreign port, each, .10. (To British No. Am., exempt.) BILL OF SALE.-Bills of sale, by which any ship or vessel, or any part thereof shall be conveyed to or vested in any other person or persons, when the consideration shall not exceed $500, stamp duty, .50; do., when the consideration exceeds $500, and does not exceed $1000, $1.00; exceeding $1000, for every additional amount of $500, or fractional part thereof, .50; personal property other than ships or vessels, .03. BONDS, of indemnity where the money ultimately recoverable thereupon is $1000 or less, .50; when in excess of $1000, for every $1000, or fraction, .50; for the due execution of the duties of any office, $1.00; of any description other than such as may be required in legal proceedings, or used in connection with mortgage deeds, and not otherwise charged in this schedule, .25. Bond of administrator or guardian, where value of estate is $1000, or less, exempt; exceeding $1000, $1.00. CERTIFICATES, of measurement or weight of animals, wood, coal, or hay, exempt; of measurement of other articles, .05; of stock in any incorporated company, .25; of profits, or any certificate or memorandum showing an interest in the property or accumulations of any incorporated company, for an amount not less than $10, nor exceeding $50, .10; from $50 to $1000, .25; exceeding $1000, for every additional $1000, or fraction, 25. Certificate of damage or otherwise, and all other documents issued by any port warden or marine surveyor, or person acting as such, .25. Certificate of deposit in any bank or trust company, or with any banker, or person! acting as such, for a sum not exceeding $100, .02; exceeding $100, .05. Certificate of record of a deed, or other instrument in writing, or of the acknowledgment or proof thereof by attesting witnesses, exempt; certificates other than those mentioned, .05. CHARTER PARTY, or any letter or memorandum relating to the charter of any vessel: if the registered tonnage does not exceed one hundred and fifty tens, $1.00; from one hundred and fifty to three hundred tons, $3.00; from three hundred to six hundred tons, $5.00; over six hundred tons, $10.00. Renewal of charter, same stamp as original instrument. CIGAR LIGHTS, made in part of wood, wax, glass, paper, or other materials, in parcels or packages containing twenty-five lights or less, 01; in packages of more than twenty-five and not more than fifty, .02; for every additional twenty-five lights, or fraction, .01. CONTRACTS. — Broker's note or memorandum of sale of any goods or mere ndise, exchange, real estate, or property of any kind or description issued by brokers, or persons acting as such, for each note or memorandum of sale, 10. (See SALES and AGREEMENT.) CONVEYANCE OR DEED OF GRANT, where the consideration or value does not exceed $500, .50; from $500 to $1000, $1.00; and for every additional $500, or fraction, .50. ENTRY OF GOODS, at Custom House, not exceeding in value $100, .25; not exceeding $500, .50; exceeding $500, $1.00; for the withdrawal of goods from bonded warehouse, .50. FRICTION MATCHES, in parcels or packages of 100 or less, .01; in packages of more than 100, and not more than 200, for each parcel or package, .02; and for every additional 100, or fractional part thereof, .01. For wax tapers, double the rates herein imposed upon friction matches. FISH, SAUCES, JELLIES, &c.-For and upon every can, bottle, or other single package, containing fish (ex. shell-fish), sauces, sirups, prepared mustard, jams or jellies, contained therein, and packed or sealed, made, prepared, and sold, or offered for sale, or removed for consumption in the United States, on or after the first day of October, 1866, when such can, bottle, or other single package with its contents, shall not exceed two pounds in weight, .01; for every additional pound or fractional part, .01. INSURANCE POLICY, on any life or lives, when the amount insured does not exceed $1000, 25 not exceeding $5000, .50; exceeding $5000, $1.00; fire, inland, and marine policies, or renewal of the same, premium not exceeding $10, .10; premium not exceeding $50. .25; exceeding $50, 50. Accident insurance policies are exempt. LEASE, where annual rent is $300 or less, .50; where the rent exceeds $800, for each additional $200, or fraction in excess of $300, .50. Assignment of a lease, same stamp as original, and additional stamp upon the value or consideration of transfer according to the rates on deeds. (See CONVEYANCE). LETTERS TESTAMENTARY, if value of estate does not exceed $1000, exempt; exceeding $1000, .05. MANIFEST FOR ENTRY, or clearance of cargo of vessel for foreign port, if registered tonnage does not exceed three hundred tons, $1.00; from three hundred to six hundred tons, $3.00; exceeding six hundred tons, $5.00. (To Brit. No. Am., exempt.) All official instruments, documents, and papers issued by officers of the United States government, or by the officers of any State, county, town, or other municipal corporation, in the exercise of their ordinary governmental and municipal functions, are exempt. PENALTIES. MORTGAGE OR PERSONAL BONDS, given as security for the payment of any definite sum, from $100 to $500, 50; from $500 to $1000, $1.00; for every additional $500, or fraction, .50. Assignment or transfer of mortgage, same stamp as mortgage for amount unpaid. PASSAGE TICKET, by any vessel to a foreign port, if of less price than $35, .50; from $35 to $50, Penalty for making, signing, or issuing any $1.00; and for every additional $50, or fraction, instrument, or paper of any kind whatsoever, or for $1.00. (To Brit. No. Am., exempt.) accepting, negotiating, or paying, or causing to be accepted, negotiated, or paid, any bill of exchange, PAWNBROKER'S CERTIFICATE, .05. draft or order, or promissory note, for the payPLAYING CARDS, for and upon every pack, ment of money, without the same being duly not exceeding fifty-two cards in number, irre- stamped, and the stamp duly cancelled, with intent to evade the law, $50; and the instrument shall be spective of price or value, .05. deemed invalid and of no effect. For paying, nePOWER OF ATTORNEY, to sell or transfer gotiating, or offering in payment, or for receiving stock, bonds, or scrip; to collect dividends, inter-or taking in payment any bill of exchange or est, or rent, 25; to vote by proxy at any election order for the payment of any sum of money, drawn for officers of any incorporated company or soci-or purporting to be drawn in a foreign country, ety, except charitable, religious, or literary soci- but payable in the U. S., without proper stamp, eties or public cemeteries, .10; to sell and convey $200. For selling proprietary medicines, cosmetics, or to rent or lease real estate, $1.00; for any other &c., matches, &c., fish, sauces, jellies, &c., without purpose, .50. proper stamps, $50 for each offence. For forging PROBATE OF WILL, or Letters of Ad- of stamps or dies, or for using or selling forged or counterfeiting stamps or dies, or the impressions ministration, where the estate, undiminished stamps, dies, or impressions of such, or for frauduby the debts, does not exceed the value of $1000, lently removing a revenue stamp from a stamped exempt; not exceeding $2000, $1.00; for every instrument or writing, or for fraudulently removing additional $1000, or fraction, .50. the cancelling marks from a revenue stamp which PROTEST OF NOTE, DRAFT, &c., or has been used, or for fraudulently using, selling, or having in one's possession stamps which have been marine protest, .25. used, forfeiture of the counterfeit stamps and the PROPRIETARY MEDICINES, Hair-Oils, articles on which they are placed, and punish&c., Perfumery, Cosmetics, &c., eachment by fine not exceeding $1000, or imprisonment packet, bottle, or other enclosure, not over 25 cents not exceeding five years, or both. retail price or value, .01; not over 50 cents, .02; not over 75 cents, .03; not over one dollar, .04; for every additional 50 cents, or fraction, .02. QUIT-CLAIM DEED, to be stamped as a con-ly stamped and cancelled. veyance, except when given as a release of a mortgage by the mortgagee to the mortgagor, in which case it is exempt; but if it contains covenants, it may be subject as an agreement or contract. RECEIPT.-Receipts for the payment of any sum of money, or for the payment of any debt due, exceeding $20, (not being for satisfaction of any mortgage or judgment, or decree of a court, or by endorsement on any stamp obligation in acknowledgment of its fulfilment, all which are exempt,) for each receipt, .02. Provided, That when more than one signature is affixed to the same paper, one or more stamps may be affixed thereto, representing the whole amount of stamps required for such signatures. (The term money includes drafts and other instruments given for the payment of money.) Receipts for the delivery of property, exempt. GENERAL REMARKS. Instruments are not to be recorded unless proper No instrument is invalid for the want of the particular kind of stamps designated, provided a legal stamp of equal amount (except stamps appropriated to denote duty on proprietary medicines, &c., cigar lights, &c., canned fish, &c., and playing cards) is duly affixed. Postage stamps cannot be used as revenue stamps. In cases where an adhesive stamp shall be used for denoting any duty imposed by this act, the person using or affixing the same shall write or imprint thereon the initials of his name, and date, (year, month, and day,) upon which the same shall be attached or used, so that the same may not again be used. No deed, instrument, document, writing, or paper, required by law to be stamped, which has been signed or issued without being duly stamped. or with a deficient stamp, nor any copy thereof, shall be recorded or admitted, or used as evidence in any court, until the proper stamp or stamps shall have been affixed thereto and cancelled. SALES.-Bill or memorandum of sale, or contract for sale of stocks, bonds, gold or silver bullion, coin, promissory notes or other securities, when made by brokers, banks, or bankers, re- The party to whom a document is issued from a quires stamps equal to one cent on every $100, foreign country, or by whom it is to be used, shall, or fraction of $100, of the amount of such sale or before using the same, affix thereon the stamp or contract; when made by a person, firm, or cor-stamps indicating the duty required. poration not paying special tax as broker, bank, Proprietors of cosmetics, medicines, or proprieor banker, and when property is not his or their tary articles, may furnish private dies, and are own, for every $100 of value, .05. A memoran-allowed five per cent. on all purchases of from $50 duni of sale or contract must be made by the to $500; over $500, ten per cent. seller to the buyer, and the stamps affixed thereto. EXEMPTIONS. A waiver of protest or of demand and notice written upon negotiable paper, and signed by the endorser, is an agreement, and requires a five-cent stamp. No stamp duty shall be required on powers of A mere copy of an instrument is not subject to attorney or any other paper relating to application stamp duty unless it is a certified one-in which for bounties, arrearages of pay, or pensions, or case the certificate should have a five-cent stamp; to the receipt thereof from time to time; nor on but when an instrument is executed and issued in deposit notes to mutual insurance companies, for duplicate, triplicate, &c., as in the case of a lease of the insurance upon which policies subject to stamp two or more parts, each part has the same legal duties have been or are to be issued; nor on any effect as the other, and each should be stamped as warrant of attorney accompanying a bond or note, an original. when such bond or note shall have been duly A marriage certificate issued by the officiating stamped: and whenever any bond or note shall be clergyman or magistrate to be returned to any offisecured by a mortgage, but one stamp duty shall cer of a state, county, city, town, or other municipal be required to be placed on such papers, provided corporation, to constitute part of a public record, that the stamp duty placed thereon shall be the requires no stamp; but if it is to be retained by the highest rate required for said instruments, or parties, a five-cent stamp should be affixed. either of them: nor to any endorsement of a negotiable instrument. Receipts by express companies for the delivery of any property for transportation are exempt from stamp duty. Written or printed assignments of agreements, bonds, notes not negotiable, and of all other instruments the assignments of which are not particularly specified in the foregoing table, should be stamped as agreements. |