jects, and he no longer appeared to notice the awe, which his presence inspired among the younger part of the community; he conversed with no person, though he was frequently heard in loud and urgent conversation with himself, in which it appeared as if he replied to certain arguments of his own suggestion. There are those who could name a companion for these solitary hours, who even delight at this day, in describing certain wonderful movements of the smitten subject of my tale; they believed to see, in his abstracted manner, a distaste for the lower acquirements, and trifling amusements and vocations of those around him, who possessed merely earthly knowledge and earthly feelings. But none, not one, even while they believed that he could control the elements, while they felt that space and time yielded to his wish-not one of them could envy him his power. The sunken eye, the sallow cheek, and the blanched locks of his once woven hair, told too plainly of the source and result of his fatal acquirement. The rock, which I before mentioned, was his favourite retreat. Indeed, it was a place calculated to awaken feelings and desires more pure and holy, than he was supposed to possess. The capacious bay lay before him, of which the smooth expanse was as tranquil as the clear sky above, whose etherial blue was reflected from its peaceful bosom. Far to the right, were the highlands of the pine-covered "monument-hills." Nearer, in the same direction, Plymouth beach presented its front as a defence for the landing-place of the pilgrims. At the left, but nearly in front, rose the noted height of Duxborough, whose pointed summit, was ornamented with the telegraph of Mr. Grout, the gaze and admiration of the surrounding inhabitants, which, perhaps, like its inventor, conveyed its information from such a distance, and in such a questionable form, that it was left to thankless and unmerited neglect. This scene, however soothing to the mind of another, appeared to have left no effect on that of Weston, and it was supposed that he sought the spot only for solitude-or, for one other, an almost unspeakable purpose; the Curling mists of morning, as they reflected back the rays of the rising sun, had other, and strange offices in the minds of the fearful and superstitious; and the sounds, which were occasionally wafted from the top of this imagined sanctuary of unhallowed and unearthly revels, were thought too mingled and various for a single voice. Weston's form gradually wasted, and he appeared daily to participate less in the feeling and sympathy of life; he followed his heart-broken mother to the grave, without a single tear or groan; it was said, however, by some, that grief had long since dried up the fountain of his eyes, and that groans and sighs, were too feeble for one, who lived a life of pain, and deprivation and wo. And, indeed, scathed as he had been by the sweeping tempest of an undefined passion, it may be supposed, that the source of all tears was as dry, as the desert when the blasting simoon has passed over it, prostrating all of animal or vegetable life, which it might contain, leaving all a scorching waste, where no herbage can obtain a root, nor a flower lift its head to bless the surrounding desolation. After one or two days, which it was thought Weston had spent upon the rock, it was proposed by some of the sympathizing inhabitants of the place, to ascend this fearful retreat; they waited until noon for the mists to dissipate, and made the dreaded ascent; but the object of their solicitude was not there; they dragged the channel in vain for his body. A handkerchief, known to have been his, was sometime afterwards found upon the shore, and this was the only memorial of the unfortunate Weston. There is another who was connected with the subject of this story; the female, whom Weston was to have married, whose patient suffering asks the sympathy of every feeling heart. Let her grief, as she yet lives, be as sacred as it is unobtrusive. The comforts of religion have supported this constant mourner, in a life of celibacy, dedicated to God by the exercise of every religious duty; though her broken spirit and bended form, show that she yet suffers from "One fatal remembrance, one sorrow that throws, VII. THE AGED AFRICAN. [Courier. Charleston.] IT was in the early part of the inclement autumn of 1817, when this city was visited by a pestilence that was devastating its population, and cutting down its victims. on the right and left, that an aged African was seen walking the streets barefooted. I had before observed him, in one of the temples of the Most High, and admired his becoming demeanour. His head appeared to have been bleached by at least fourscore winters, for it was ornamented with many grey hairs, that rose conspicuous above those of a darker hue, resembling the hoar frost on our moss covered trees. The wrinkles of age had furrowed his face, but its placid serenity evidenced the peace within; and, as the reverend man of God spoke of righteousness, mercy, and judgment to come, anticipating the joys of the other world, the half closed devotional eyes of the attentive African would expand and brighten into a flame, emanating from that pure fountain of light which illumined his tranquil breast. He seemed to be a stranger and pilgrim on earth, and to be progressing towards the place of eternal rest. His whole appearance in the sanctuary, had prejudiced one in his favour, who determined to relieve his apparent want of shoes. What was his astonishment, when he understood he had shoes, which he did not wish to injure by wearing, but wanted to sell them for as much as would purchase a BIBLE! Believing that his pilgrimage would soon be over, and that he could descend to the tomb barefooted, while many of his countrymen were perishing for lack of knowledge, he was anxious to put the bible into the hands of some of them, declaring at the same time, if it should be the means of reclaiming one soul from darkness to light, it would afford him more substantial happiness than any thing this world could bestow. Shortly after this, indisposition prevented me from attending the sanctuary for some weeks; and, on my again appearing there, the seat of the venerable African (in the door of the vestry, opening to the church,) was vacant. Thinking he had gone to some of the neigbouring islands, or the plantations on the main, as was his usual practice, to instruct his poor ignorant countrymen in the ways of eternal life, no particular inquiries were made respecting him. His absence at length appearing longer than customary, I was informed that he had closed his earthly career-dying, as he lived, in the full assurance of everlasting joys beyond the grave, through the merits of his Saviour. Farewell, faithful SAMBO! Thy seat is occupied by another, but thy sainted form is often before my eyes, aiding my devotions, when disposed to murmur at the dispensations of an overruling providence. Recollecting thy piety, patience and resignation, and thy ardent zeal for the gospel, by disseminating the word of truth, may thy example be imitated. Had an emperor performed what thou hast nobly done, his fame would be inscribed in letters of gold, and succeeding generations would hold him in grateful remembrance. Would that some abler pen had been wielded, to canonize thy virtues; but thou art welcome to this feeble tribute to thy worth. VIII. DEBT AND CREDIT. [Emporium. Trenton, N. J.] I DISLIKE the whole matter of debt and credit-from my heart I dislike it; and think the man, who first invented a ledger, should be hung in effigy, with his invention tied to his feet, that his neck might support him and his works together. My reason for thus sweeping at the whole system is, not that I believe it totally useless, but that I believe it does more mischief than good -produces more trouble than accommodation, and des. troys more fortunes than it creates honestly. These opinions are not of a recent date with me; they are those upon which I set out in early life, and as I grew older, I became more and more confirmed in them; not that I changed my practice while I held fast my professsion, and got my fingers burned at last, by trusting my name in a day-book, for I never did it, because I saw the evil effects of credit around me in every shape and form. And a visit this morning to my old friend, Timothy Coulter, called the subject up so forcibly, that I concluded to write you a line on it. His last cow was sold this very morning by the constable for six dollars, though she cost him sixteen, and they have not left an ear of corn in his crib, or a bushel of rye in his barn, much less any of his stock-it was what was called the winding up of the concern; and he is now on his good behaviour, for, I heard one of his creditors say, that if he did not go on very straight, that he would walk him off to the county prison-ship. Thus has ended Timothy's game of debt and credit. When he first commenced farming, he was as industrious and promising a young man as was to be found; he worked day and night, counted the cost, and pondered on the purchase of every thing. For a year or two, he kept out of debt, lived comfortably and happy, and made money; every merchant that knew him, was ready to make a polite bow -each knew him as one of your cash men, and liked his custom. The mechanic shook him by the hand, and begged his company to dinner, hoping to get a job from him and even the lawyer, in contemplation of his high character, tipped his beaver as he passed him, with a sign, as much as to say, Tim, you have more sense than half the world; but that's no consolation to us. : By some fatality, Timothy found out, however, that there was such a thing as credit. He began soon to have many running accounts, and seldom paid for what he got; it soon followed, that the inquiry," do I really want this article?" before he bought it, was neglected; then the price was frequently not asked; then he began to be careless about pay-day; his accounts stood--he disputed them when rendered-was sued-charged with costs, and perhaps, slyly, with interest too, and he became a money borrower before long; but his friends, |