Here we would beg leave to remind our readers, that Washington was old-fashioned in many of his habits and manners, and in some of his opinions; nor was he the less to be admired on these accounts. The custom of keeping the dead for the scriptural period of three days, is derived from remote antiquity, and arose, not from fear of premature interment, as in more modern times, but from motives of veneration toward the deceased; for the better enabling the relatives and friends to assemble from a distance to perform the funeral rites for the pious watchings of the corpse; and for the many sad, yet endearing ceremonials with which we delight to pay our last duties to the remains of those we have loved.

The patient bore his acute sufferings with manly fortitude, and perfect resignation to the Divine will: while, as the night advanced, it became evident that he was sinking, and he seemed fully aware that his "hour was nigh." He inquired the time; and was told that it was near twelve. He spoke no more: the hand of death was upon him, and he was conscious that his "hour was come." With surprising self-possession, he prepared to die. Composing his form at length, and folding his hands upon his bosom-without a sighwithout a groan-the father of his country expired, gently as though an infant died. No pang or struggle told when the noble spirit took its noiseless flight; while, so tranquil appeared the manly features in the repose of death, that some moments had passed, ere those around could believe that the patriarch was no

more.

It may be asked, why the ministry of religion was wanting to shed its peaceful and benign lustre upon the last hours of Washington? Why was he, to whom the

observances of sacred things were ever primary duties through life, without their consolations in his last moments? We answer, that circumstances did not permit it. It was but for a little while that the disease assumed so threatening a character as to forbid the encouragement of hope. Yet, to stay that summons which none may refuse, to give still farther length of days to him whose "time-honored life" was so dear to mankind, prayer was not wanting at the throne of grace. Close to the couch of the sufferer, resting her head upon that ancient book, with which she had been wont to hold pious communion, a portion of every day, for more than half a century, was his venerable consort, absorbed in silent prayer, and from which she only arose when the mourning group prepared to bear her from the chamber of the dead. SUCH WERE THE LAST HOURS OF WASHINGTON.

REPENTANCE.

REPENTANCE is the relinquishment of any practice, from the conviction that it has offended God; it is that disposition of mind by which "the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness, and doeth that which is lawful and right;" and when this change is made, the repentance is complete.

Sorrow, fear, and anxiety are properly not parts, but adjuncts to repentance; yet they are too closely connected with it to be easily separated; for they not only mark its sincerity, but promote its efficacy. The completion and sum of repentance is a change of life. That sorrow which dictates no caution, that fear which does not quicken our escape, that austerity which fails to rectify our affections, is vain and unavailing.

What better can we do than prostrate fall
Before him reverent, and there confess
Humbly our faults, and pardon beg, with tears
Watering the ground, and with our sighs the air
Frequenting; sent from hearts contrite, in sign
Of sorrow unfeigned, and humiliation meek?

SUNSET AND SUNSHINE.
CONTEMPLATE when the sun declines,
Thy death with deep reflection,
And when again he rising shines,
Thy day of resurrection!

THE COUNTRYMAN AND THE RAVEN.

And, on her wicker-work high mounted,
Her chickens prematurely counted,
(A fault philosophers might blame,
If quite exempted from the same,)
Enjoyed at ease the genial day.

'T was April, as the bumpkins say ;-
The legislature called it May;
But suddenly, a wind as high

As ever swept a winter's sky,

Shook the young leaves about her ears,
And filled her with a thousand fears,

Lest the rude blast should snap the bough,
And spread her golden hopes below.
But just at eve, the blowing weather
And all her fears were hushed together.
"And now," quoth poor unthinking Ralph,
"'Tis over, and the brood is safe."
(For Ravens, though, as birds of omen,
They teach both conjurors and old women
To tell us what is to befal,

Can't prophesy, themselves, at all.)

The morning came, when neighbor Hodge,
Who long had marked her airy lodge,
And destined all the treasure there

A gift to his expecting fair,
Climbed like a squirrel to his dray,
And bore the worthless prize away.

MORAL.

Safety consists not in escape
From dangers of a frightful shape;
Fate steals along with fearful tread,
Found oftenest in what least we dread;
Frowns in the storm with angry brow,
But in the sunshine strikes the blow.

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GOOD HUMOR.

GOOD humor may be defined, a habit of being pleased; a constant softness of manners, easiness of approach, and suavity of disposition. He that regards the welfare of others, should make his virtue approachable that it may be loved and copied; and he that considers the wants which every man feels, or will feel, of external assistance, must rather wish to be surrounded by those that love him, than by those that admire his excellences, or solicit his favors; for admiration ceases with novelty, and interest gains its end, and retires. A man, whose great qualities want the ornament of superficial attraction, is like a naked mountain with mines of gold, which will be frequented only till the treasure is exhausted.

AGAINST ANGER.

GUARD against the improper indulgence of anger. The evil of giving way to hasty and violent resentments is always great and sometimes irretrievable. You thereby deprive yourself for the time of the power of regulating your own conduct, while yet you must be responsible for all its consequences; for neither common sense, nor conscience, the law of God, nor the law of man, excuses a bad action because it has been performed in a paroxysm of passion.

MEEKNESS.

MEEKNESS is a ready submission of the soul to the word of God, and cheerful resignation to his Providence,