THE POWER OF HABIT.—JOHN B. Gough. I remember once riding from Buffalo to Niagara Falls. I said to a gentleman," What river is that, sir?" "That," he said, "is Niagara river." "Well, it is a beautiful stream," said I; "bright and fair and glassy; how far off are the rapids?" "Only a mile or two," was the reply. "Is it possible that only a mile from us we shall find the water in the turbulence which it must show near to the Falls?" And so I found it; and the first sight of Niagara I shall never forget. Now, launch your bark on that Niagara river; it is bright, smooth, beautiful and glassy. There is a ripple at the bow; the silver wake you leave behind adds to the enjoyment. Down the stream you glide, oars, sails and helm in proper trim, and you set out on your pleasure excursion. Suddenly some one cries out from the bank, "Young men, ahoy!" "What is it?" "The rapids are below you." "Ha! ha! we have heard of the rapids, but we are not such fools as to get there. If we go too fast, then we shall up with the helm and steer to the shore; we will set the mast in the socket, hoist the sail, and speed to the land. Then on, boys; don't be alarmed—there is no danger." "Young men, ahoy there!" "What is it?" "The rapids are below you!" "Ha! ha! we will laugh and quaff; all things delight us. What care we for the future! No man ever saw it. Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof. We will enjoy life while we may; will catch pleasure as it flies. This is enjoyment; time enough to steer out of danger when we are sailing swiftly with the current." 'Young men, ahoy!" "What is it?" THE SONG OF THE DYING.-CAPTAIN DOWLING. A number of British officers were stationed at an outpost in India during the prevalence of a pestilence. Many of their companions had fallen victims; all chance of escape was cut off, and death stared them in the face. Under these circumstances, and meeting together probably for the last time, the following lines, which were written by one of their number, were sung. The author was the first to fall a victim to the grim destroyer. We meet 'neath the sounding rafter, And the walls around are bare; Not a sigh for the lot that darkles, So stand to your glasses steady, Time was when we frowned at others, Ha ha! let those think of their mothers, Who hope to see them again. No! stand to your glasses steady, The thoughtless are here the wise; Hurrah for the next that dies! There's many a hand that's shaking, But soon, though our hearts are breaking, So stand to your glasses steady, A cup to the dead already- There's a mist on the glass congealing, Ho! stand to your glasses steady; Who dreads to the dust returning? Cut off from the land that bore us, Where the brightest have gone before us, And the dullest remain behind Stand, stand to your glasses steady! A cup to the dead already- AFFECTATION IN THE PULPIT.—WILLiam Cowper. In man or woman,--but far most in man, What! will a man play tricks,—will he indulge As with the diamond on his lily hand, Displaying his own beauty, starves his flock! Who handles things divine, and all besides, Though learned with labor, and though much admired By curious eyes and judgments ill-informed, To me is odious as the nasal twang Heard at conventicle, where worthy men, That he is honest in the sacred cause; To such, I render more than mere respect, Whose actions say that they respect themselves. To make God's work a sinecure; a slave COUSIN SALLY DILLIARD.-H. C. JONES. A beardless disciple of Themis rises, and thus addresses the Court: "May it please your worships, and you, gentlemen of the jury, since it has been my fortune (good or bad, I will not say,) to exercise myself in legal disquisitions, it has never befallen me to be obliged to prosecute so direful, marked, and malicious an assault; a more wilful, violent, dangerous battery ;-and finally, a more diabolical breach of the peace has seldom happened in a civilized country; and I dare say it has seldom been your duty to pass upon one so shocking to benevolent feelings, as this which took place over at Captain Rice's. But you will hear from the witnesses.” The witnesses being sworn, two or three were examined and deposed: one said that he heard the noise, and did not see the fight; another that he saw the row, but didn't know who struck first; and a third, that he was very drunk, and couldn't say much about the scrimmage. Lawyer Chops. I am sorry, gentlemen, to have occupied your time with the stupidity of the witnesses examined. It arises, gentlemen, altogether from misapprehension on my part. Had I known, as I now do, that I had a witness in attendance who was well acquainted with all the circumstances of the case, and who was able to make himself clearly understood by the court and the jury, I should not so long have trespassed upon your time and patience. Come forward, Mr. Harris, and be sworn. So forward comes the witness, a fat, shuffy old man, a "leetle" corned, and took his oath with an air. Chops. Harris, we wish you to tell about the riot that happened the other day at Captain Rice's; and as a good deal of time has already been wasted in circumlocution, we wish you to be compendious, and at the same time as explicit as possible. |