spirit and corrupted disposition it oversteps | desire for unlimited rule under the plea of Desthe modesty of truth, and in compliance with tiny. The hirelings attached to their liege-lord its flagrant demands, exacts homage, and com- may concur in united acclamation in favor of gepels submission. "The indignant blush of nerosity, and in excess of praise may shout "the scorn" must burn upon the cheek, when we Great," but if we turn from their exaggerated see the interests of individuals or of nations encomium with the lamentation of the widow sacrificed to the cupidity of base ambition. and the orphan sounding in our ears, how difBut it has its reward. The whirlwind passing ferently must we judge! Can he be great, over the face of nature leaves in its course who builds his power on the destruction of the traces of its blighting desolation. So honest industry? who rears his throne amid there is a fire, the groans of the dying, and the tears of the living? Oh no! the sceptre may wave in his hand, but it is stained with blood; the crown may be placed upon his brow, but its weight is uneasy; its gems have been dearly purchased by reducing to want and wo a laborious and harmless race; they lose their brightness, for the tears of suffering virtue and oppressed sincerity have fallen upon and blotted out their splendor.

"A motion of the soul, which will not dwell,
In its own narrow being, but aspire
Beyond the fitting medium of desire,

And but once kindled, quenchless evermore,
Preys upon high adventure, nor can tire
Of aught but rest; a fever at the core,

Fatal to him who bears, to all who ever bore."

But is there no redeeming spirit whose creative smile can dispel the sickly gloom thus spread over these scenes of human depravity, whose bright appearance may relieve the eye from the surrounding darkness? The mists which envelop the mountain side retire before the penetrating beams of the sun, yielding in their stead to the variegated landscape; so when the elevated and pure feelings of our nature appear, a change is effected in the moral aspect of the scene before us.

The fabled giants of antiquity were frustrated in their vain attempts to scale the heavens. Waging war with Jupiter, they piled mountain upon mountain to assist them in their efforts. Secure in his omnipotence, the Father of the Celestial abode permitted them to persist and progress in their undertaking, when lo! in the midst of their shouts and vain-glorying the pillars of the mighty earth were loosened, and the rude assailants buried beneath the falling masses. And thus lawless ambition's debt is ever paid. Peruse the pages of history, and what is there unfolded to view? In the life of Alexander, that boasted "Son of Ammon," upon whom the historians of the time have bestowed the appellation of There is a feeling deep within the soul “The Great,” is there aught of true greatness? which, concentrating within itself all the affecSurvey his deeds, pronounce upon them with tions of our nature, teaches us to prize the candor, and will it not be found that he is en- more highly the privileges permitted, and jeatitled to such a distinction not from the excel- lous for their preservation, bursts forth in unlence but the magnitude of his acts? The restrained energy at the bare intention of their very slave, so called, who opposed his progress, violation. Such is the feeling of was far more great than he. The one was actuated by a desire to preserve the small portion of his liberty, worthless as it might seem to him who sought dominion; the other, urged by the maddening rage for empire, who "could crush, command, rebuild," was yet the slave of passion.

THE PATRIOTIC HEART,

which, in times of unexpected difficulty, of impending danger, or of actual trial, becomes the champion of injured rights. Turn to the revolutionary history of this country, when in the hour of the darkest gloom that portended And what shall be said of the Roman the most fatal result, in the destitute and exUsurper and the aspiring Corsican? Follow hausted state of the national treasury an opthem, as with mercenary armies they pursue portunity presented itself of resisting the matheir guilty path; see villages, towns, cities, depopulated and devastated; the dearest rights of humanity despoiled of all that renders them desirable; constitutional freedom assailed, and despotic will substituted; hundreds of thousands of human lives sacrificed to the selfish

jesty of the laws, and erecting in their stead a military despotism, noble and devoted souls manifested their attachment to the cause of truth by contributing their influence, talent and energies to the promoting of liberty-the great object in view. Much as we respect their

,—so elevated,

forbearance under encroachments the most as the clouds, remarkable for the beauty of its painful and aggravating, their mild remon- design, the exact severity of the proportions, strances until patience had ceased to be a virtue; and the solidity of the structure, to which the much as we admire the loftiness of soul; eye of the stranger may be directed, but deep as is our regard and lasting as is our at"Columns wrestle, but in vain, tachment for these evidences of moral greatWith all subduing time-" ness, yet never does the thrill of admiration so they become vast ruins. But spread upon the pervade the mind, as when we contemplate up-historic page the story of his life,on that one act of denial and devotion alluded so pure, so patriotic,-let it reach the most reto. It is not the excess of overzealous enthu-mote, or enter the most secluded nook in our siasm or of bigoted prejudice to say that as a land, and you are erecting a monument specimen of moral sublimity it stands unmore durable than that of marble or brass, one equalled in the annals of any age. Amid the based in the heart, on the recollection of his selfishness, misplaced ambition and abused influential services. confidence, which are to be found so thickly spread over the pages of individual and national history, the very occurrence of such a united assemblage of the cardinal virtues is not only like a ray of light peering through the surrounding gloom, but is to the mind of the reader what the coolness and freshness of a green spot are to a wearied traveller through

some arid waste.

Take from the number of brave and true hearts, ONE, pre-eminent in every quality which can ennoble or adorn human nature. Follow its course from its early entrance upon the busy and engrossing strife in which its country is engaged, through its arduous, protracted, yet successful career, until, having served in the defence of the rights of that country, it resigns its honors and retires to the privacy of domestic life.

"In the book of fame The glorious record of his virtues write, And hold it up to men, and bid them claim A palm like his, and catch from him the hallowed flame."

THE PROUD HEART.

There is the PROUD heart, which is evi

denced in the passionate fondness for wealth and its display; in the use and abuse of talent; in the adoption, maintenance and enforcement

of opinion; in the perversion of power usurped or delegated, and in the fiery outbreakings of zealous enthusiasm, or malignant bigotry. How graphic the delineation upon the inspired page of the predicted effect of pride in power:

"The king walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.

that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the "The king spake and said, Is not this great Babylon, might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? "But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardAdmire the systematic arrange-ened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him."

ment of its duties, the profitable distribution

of its time to its various pursuits, employments,

"The tombs of monarchs, to the clouds up pil'd!"

A solitary traveller looks upon the lofty pyramids, and his thoughts are tending to the exprojected and accomplished so stupendous a pression of pity for the self-love which of Egypt, which employed the labor and skill, plan. Are not these elevations on the plains and attracted the wondering gaze of multitudes, the sad memento of vanity,

How PRIDE rears for itself dwellings whereand pleasures, the calm delight with which it in its memory might remain when it should be enjoys the pleasing retirement from the absorb-dissolveding anxieties and cares of a military profession. But his country again requires his services, not now in the arrangement of the plans, or in the securing of the means by which to carry those plans into successful completion, but in the capacity of a civil ruler, in the exalted and unequalled station of its chief magistrate. He has ever heeded that voice, and can he now refuse compliance with its call? Its duties discharged conscientiously, without regard to fear or favor, or blandishment, he returns to his simple but hospitable home, bequeathing to his countrymen in his Farewell Address a legacy, valuable in its provisions; and when the mighty victor over physical energy appears, he quietly departs to his rest and his reward. You may rear the monument to his name high

"The work of slaves, to swell a despot's pride?"

How PRIDE gathers armies under the banner of the Cross, at the call of a fanatic monk, to extirpate the infidel! The hope of heaven, that promise of 'the worshipped shrine,' is urging on the chivalry of Europe; destruction lifts lits ensign-the conflict is begun-carnage

and death follow the onset. Do the benefits resulting from the Crusades thus commenced, continued, and completed, rise up to view Is the mind reflecting on the effects of this holy warfare? The train of thought is disturbed by melancholy sounds.

"The wild air

Moans with the crimson surges that entomb
Cities and banner'd armies."

Why the confused noise from that vast assemblage? PRIDE, Stubborn and unrelenting pride, is binding the martyr of opinion to the stake, is lighting the fagot, and insulting him in the hour of nature's feebleness. On that manly brow is seen no mark of yielding fear; a faith which, like the flames surrounding him, flies upward, conquers every expression of agony: "His eyes

Are with his heart, and that is with his God."

"Friend,” said id the pedant, "you seem to be very cheerful and happy, and I suppose you are very well satisfied with yourself."

"And why should I not be satisfied?" said the boatman; "I make a good use of my time, and have no cause for sorrow."

"Ah! you make good use of your time! Truly, I should be glad to know whether you deserve to be so happy!-Can you read ?” "No, Sir, not a letter."

"Poor wretch, you cannot read, and yet you Why, you have lost a quarter of your'

sing!

life!

The boatman did not answer, but continued' to sing. The pedant resumed, "Can you write?”

"Why, to be sure not; I told you, Sir, I
could not read, so how should I write?"
"What! you cannot write, and are yet so
cheerful; you have lost another quarter of
your life!"

Bigoted pride is adding another name to the
list of martyrs, and amid the inhuman shouts
accompanying the murderous deed, blasphemes
the majesty and mercy of heaven, by proclaim-sently the pedant began:

The boatman shrugged his shoulders, but did not seem less cheerful than before. Pre

ing in tones of loud exultation its obedience "Boatman, do you understand mineralogy, to a divine dictate. ornithology, zoology, astrology, physiology,

"The deuce take all your foolish outlandish names, what do I want with them?"

"Sir," said the boatman at this critical moment, "Sir, can you swIM?"

66

No, indeed, I cannot, I have had more important matters to attend to.”

But it has the lighter shades of vanity, affec-psychology, toxicology, numismatology?" tation and conceit, in the devotion paid to and the deference claimed for the graces of personal appearance, or in the contempt of "How! you know nothing of all these fine beauty, comfort and refinement. Diogenes, things, and yet fancy yourself happy? Why stepping upon the robe of Plato, said, "Thus you have again lost a quarter of your life.” I trample on the pride of Plato!" That phi- During the conversation a storm had suddenlosopher, with a correct perception and just ex-ly arisen, and the waves tossed the light boat, position of the governing principle of the Cynic, and at length drove it on the point of a rock, on mildly replied, "But with greater pride of which it could not but perish. your own, Diogenes!" From the philosopher it passes to the pedant, who, overflowing with allegorical, metaphorical and technical knowledge incessantly torments all with whom he comes in contact, with eulogistic declamations in behalf of his favorite studies, and condemnatory if not disdainful expressions of all other acquirements. One of this class lived in a neighborhood, the inhabitants of which possessed little if any knowledge beyond that necessary for the labor of their occupation; but he would fain enlighten them, and lead them to appreciate what they could not comprehend. One day he had occasion to go to the other side of the river, and went on board of a waterman's boat; this waterman was a merry, happy fellow, constantly singing, and skilful in his business.

"Well then," said the boatman, " I fear, Sir, you have lost YOUR WHOLE LIFE!"

Leaping into the water, he swam to the shore, leaving the pedant to struggle awhile, but at length rescued him, trembling with fear and cold, having given in his own person a practical proof of the theory that the specific gravity of all bodies is not the same, and in the experiment having lost much of his pride.

THE CONVENTIONAL HEART.

There is the CONVENTIONAL heart, whose motions are regulated by fashionable policy. "It sacrifices realities to appearances, substan

tial comforts to glittering gewgaws," it adopts | pearly drops for the distress of some lovely

"New customs which,

Though they be never so ridiculous,

Nay, let them be unmanly, yet are followed;"

it establishes castes as permanent in some respects as those established by the Brahmins among the Hindoos; it appraises men, and rates their value according to their property; morali

ac

heroine, as represented on the pages of the
novelist, but has not feeling, tear, or
tion in behalf of real distress as brought daily
to its view. It boasts of the depth, devoted-
ness and constancy of its affection, but the
hour of trial reveals the shallowness, the hypo-
crisy and the faithlessness of the "counter-

the reign of a consuming fever, and the conventional heart gives forth sighs and sobs and murmured plaints. If he, her valued one, should be removed,

ty and intellect are of small account, pecu-feit presentment.” The husband suffers beneath niary or landed worth makes up the sum total of greatness. It qualifies a great offence by the more softening term of peecadillo; it leisurely sips the costly juice of the grape, the product of the sunny side, while it inveighs against the low propensity of those who indulge in the poisonous extract from the grain. It is politely profane, but denounces the assurance of those who use the stirring words of the vernacular :

"'tis wit in them,
But in the less, foul profanation;
That in the captain 's but a choleric word,
Which in the soldier is flat blasphemy."

It patronises the fine arts, which it limits to
painting, music, and dancing. It visits the
place where artists' fingers have traced artists
figures, and prates loudly, if not learnedly, of
beauty, coloring, skill, design and adaptation;
it is unmoved by the tender sweetness of the
simple ballad, but it almost expires in ecstasy
under the influence of the impassioned exhibi-
tions of Italian "dramatic vocalisation;" it is
borne along by fashion's wondrous impulse
with the crowded throng, as "a dancing shape"
arises, in whom is displayed captivating beauty,
in "the poetry of motion" to the sound of
music softly stepping. It fritters away life in
the daily routine of pursuits as trifling as they
are degrading. It is "pleased with a rattle,
tickled with a straw." In its glossary, a spirit
allied to honor cannot brook insult, and that
is only worthy of the name which does not
shrink when called out. But it is a base signa-
ture, a current forgery of honor. It despises
small things, and untiring industry and pru-
dent management give place to speculative
schemes, and to ingenious methods cunningly
devised. It cheerfully receives, cordially wel-
comes and entertains the worthless profligate,
but consigns to scorn and contempt the victim
of his perfidy. It is the epitome of gentility;
forgetful of its lineage, it seeks "the boast of
heraldry" to uphold the pomp and pride of its
circumstance. Reclining in luxurious cushion-
ed ease it expends its refined sensibilities in

Her grief would surely loose the silver thread,
And she with him be numbered with the dead!
But mark the result!

Twas night! without, the moon in milder ray
Reflected forth the softened light of day,
Which streamed o'er valley, woodland, flood and rill,
And slept in pensive quiet on the hill.
Within, around, that solitary room,

There reigned the solemn stillness of the tomb,
Save when was heard the quivering gasp of one
Whose earthly pilgrimage was nearly done.
All hope of healthful change must be suppressed;
The restless eye and pallid cheek expressed
The victor's power; her plaintive moan was heard,
As grief the fountains of her deep love stirr'd.
"Oh, Death, in kindness come, and I will now resign
Myself to thee, will yield my worthless life,-
Oh, let the husband live-and take the wife !"
Death heard, and quickly placed himself in view;
"I come! to ev'ry whispered breathing true,-
Who calls?" The weeper turned her face, and said,
"The gentleman who lies in yonder bed!"

THE SELFISH HEART.

There is the SELFISH heart! Some of the effects of selfishness have been treated of incidentally in the illustration of the ambitious heart, but it is intended now to speak of it as it exists and displays itself in a sphere less extended in the social state. In the one case, wonder and regret are produced; wonder at the boldness of the designs, the skilfulness of the plans, the promptness of the undertakings, with the accompanying results of success or discomfiture; and regret, that talent and influence of such value and extent should be appropriated to such daring enterprises. In the latter there are the mingled feelings of pity and contempt-pity for the degradation, and contempt for the meanness. It prompts "the ungenerous wish, the stern resolve;" it boldly overreaches, or covertly circumvents; it proceeds in search of all that it desires, but seeks to debar others from the pursuit, acquisition, and enjoyment of any good; it exclaims against the want of sympathy on the part of others, but pitilessly enforces the exaction of its claims, even though it be attended

with severe distress. It would check bene- | some pursuits to gain the eminence. LUCINDA volent or moral enterprises by withholding is his daughter, and her young heart, in the aid, by insinuations against the motives, or first pulsations of a pure affection, is warm opposition to the good intentions of those with emotion towards one whose qualities eninterested; it refuses its co-operation at the title him to esteem. But affection is not commencement of some undertaking through among the items of bargaining calculations of expressed but feigned apprehensions of failure the father, who would control her inclinations, in the attempt, and when the undertaking and compel her to marry the man of his choice. is attended with success, justifies its refusal Without love, happiness cannot exist, but in and mistaken conception in the comforting the scheming views of the erring parent, the consideration that being established with- acquisition of property or of rank must be out its assistance, it does not now require gained even at the loss of her peace. The rich it for its continuance. It would make mer-man's thousands must be placed above the chandise of the efforts of others, even when generous confidence, the approved merits, and those efforts have for their aim improvement the solid virtuous traits of him who is "nature's in moral or useful knowledge. If a softening nobleman." The mandate is complied with, emotion should arise, its duration is mo- and her hand is given, but her heart goes not mentary. After exposure to the piercing cold with it. She may strive to quell the conflictof a day in winter, the selfish man returned to ing emotions, and to call up resolutions of his home, and as he placed himself before the dutiful compliance, but the true principle is glowing fire, the contrast of the warmth with- wanting to strengthen these resolves, for afin, and the cold without, and the remembrance fection is not there. Her sensibility is deeply of the suffering he had endured, and of the wounded, that in him with whom she is misery he had noticed, brought with it some associated, the manly spirit of self-respect feeling akin to kindness, and he ordered the is crushed, and the best feelings perverted, gate to be opened, and wood to be distributed and the emotions and actions which should to the needy applicants. The order caused a render love as pure and continued as the fire stare of astonishment, and it was not until it which the vestals of old unceasingly fed, now was repeated that the servant could proceed to by a wrong direction, make it obey the unusual command. He sat as if in a revery, and as the outer man was comforted with the cheerful heat, the temperature of the inner man suddenly declined; the generous impulse was superseded by the cold calcula- Hence, coolness, indifference and dislike in tion of profit and loss; the expenditure was feeling, in thought, in action. Hence the mamore than the chances of prospective gain could justify, the pecuniary consideration prevailed. "Shut, shut the gate, it is so warm here, the cold must have abated somewhat without; shut the gate!" And with its closing, further egress of feeling was checked on the part of its owner.

"Momentary as a sound, Swift as a shadow, short as any dream."

ny hours which should be employed in the interchange of the most refined emotions and duties are passed in moody silence, in bitter reproof, in harsh rebuke, in pointed recrimination. Hence the state designed by Providence for the exposition of the best feelings becomes the arena of contentious strife and animosity; and to this evil spirit of selfishness, aiding in the abuse of the parental power, may be traced the miseries heaped upon her, who might have been spared the remembrance of departed joys, the certainty of present unhappiness, and the shadowy glimpses of future

The ear of the selfish man, though deaf to the petition of the needy, is open to the hollow salutations and empty protestations of purseproud friendship; the eye, although blind to the penury and distress of humble but virtuous poverty, is dazzled by the splendor which riches throw around the titled votaries. The in- woes. The light of cheerfulness, the joyous fluence of custom, and the prevalence of a ness of lovely sincerity and virtuous affection, misguided principle, have assigned a high sta- would not have been shrouded in gloom or tion to wealth, and he has a desire to reach silenced in sorrow; the altar of love would the elevated spot, and his efforts are many not have been profaned by an impure offerand varied in scheming speculations and toil-ing.