to account for it was beyond the limits of my comprehension. There was nothing that I could see remarkable in my dress; it was perfectly plain and gentlemanlike; when, as I began to enumerate in my mind the several -articles of which it consisted, my speculations were cut short by an astounding burst of laughter from a thick-set, waggish-looking ruffian, who had been eyeing me, as I thought, with peculiar earnestness. In this exhibition of mirth he was joined, or rather followed, by the whole corps de la cuisine, not excepting the cook, the landlady, and a little scrubby waiting girl. Totally ignorant of the cause of their obstreperous humor, I sat perfectly unmoved, whilst peal after peal shook the very walls of the room. My gravity only increased with their extravagant merriment, being still unable to divine the cause, until my fat friend advanced towards me rather cautiously, with a leering look, and a comical twinkling of the eye, and prefaced his address with a low bow, inquired what goods I had to dispose of? Not wishing to show my vexation at the savage rudeness of the people, I merely observed I had nothing for sale."Oh! then," continued he," where do you intend to exhibit, I suppose you have got leave from the alcalde ?" I still answered mildly, though the impertinence of the fellow was almost too much for my temper, that I had no such intention; I was an English gentleman passing through the country, and expected to

be treated, at least with decency, if not with respect. "Come, come, my good fellow, I suppose this belongs to the nicety of your calling; but we are all friends here; so tell us which are you-quack doctor or mounte bank?" This was too much. The impudence of the fellow was past human endurance. In another instant, surrounded as he was by friends, I should have kicked him out of the room, at the risk of a stab the next minute; when my landlady, with the quick wittedness of woman, fancying there might be some mistake, stepped between us and laying her hand on my arm, pointed to my hair, which I had but a few minutes before arranged so much to my satisfaction with powder and pomatum. Taking a small quantity of powder between her thumb and finger, with great naivette, she said, "If you are a gentleman, what could have induced you to put that stuff on your head?" I replied, it was the custom of many gentlemen of my own country and those of others, to wear powder, and that I was by no means singular in its adoption Immediately the laughter of the crowd seemed to subside into a sort of quiet astonishment; and my fat persecutor, to whom I was indebted for the first sally, assuming a more respectful demeanor, said "Really, sir, we must beg your pardon for our rudeness; but, the fact is, in our country, the only persons we have ever seen thus disfigure themselves are moun

tebanks and quack doctors, who do it for our amusement; and I am sure we never knew before that it was the custom for gentlemen, in any part of the world, to plank themselves out like mountebanks." Whether the fellow intended this sally as an apology or a quiet piece of waggery I know not, I suspected the latter; but be it as it may, it had its effect, for I have never worn powder since.Paul Bagnott, in Monthly Magazine.

RHYME AND REASON.

He whose life has not been one continued monotony; he who has been susceptible of different passions, opposite in their origins and effects, needs not to be told, that the same objects, the same scenes, the same incidents, strike us in a variety of lights, according to the temper and inclination with which we survey them. To borrow an illustration from external senses,-if we are situated in the centre of a shadow valley, our view is confined and our prospect bounded; but if we ascend to the topmost heights of the mountain by which that valley is overshadowed, the eye wanders luxuriantly overa perpetual succession of beautiful objetcs, until the mental faculties appear to catch new freedom from the extension of the sight; we breath a purer air, and are inspired with purer

emotions.

Thus it is with men who differ from each

other in their tastes, their studies, or their professions. They look on the same external objects with a different internal perception; and the view which they take of surrounding scenes is beautified or distorted, according to their predominant pursuit, or their prevailing inclination.

We were led into this train of ideas by a visit which we lately paid to an old friend, who, from a strong taste of agricultural pursuits, has abandoned the splendour and absurdity of a town life, and devoted to the culti-vation of a large farming establishment, in a picturesque part of England, all the advantages of a strong judgment and good education. His brother, on the contrary, who was a resdent at the farm during our visit, has less of sound understanding than of ardent genius, and is more remarkable for the warmth of his heart than the soundness of his head. In short, to describe them in a word, Jonathan sees with the eye of a merchant, and Charles with that of an enthusiast: Jonathan is a man of business, and Charles is a poet. The contrast between their tempers is frequently the theme of conversation at the social meetings of the neighbourhood; and it is always found that the old and the grave shake their leads at the almost boyish enthusiasm of Charles; while the young and imprudent indulge in severe sarcasms at the mercenary and uninspired moderation of his brother. All parties, however, concur in admiring the

uninterrupted cordiality which subsists between them, and in laughing good-humoredly at the various whims and foibles of these opposite characters, who are known throughout the country by the titles of "Rhyme" and "Reason."

We arrived at the farm as Jonathan was sitting down to his substantial breakfast: We were delighted to see our old friend, now in the decline of life, answering so exactly the description of Cowper,

"An honest man close buttoned to the chin, Broadcloth without and a warm heart within."

We felt an inward satisfaction in contemplating his frieze coat, whose debut we remember to have witnessed five years ago, and in speculating upon the snows which five additional winters had left upon his head, since our last interview. It was some time before we recovered sufficiently from our reverie to inquire after the well being of our younger companion, who had not yet made his appearance at the board.—“ Ŏh !” said Jonathan, "Charles is in his heyday years; you must indulge him for the present; we can't expect such regularity from five-andtwenty, as from six-and-fifty." He had hardly done speaking when a loud halloo sounded as the avant-courier of Charles approached, and in less than a minute he pre.sented himself before us." Ten thousand pardons," he cried. "One is enough," said his brother.

"I've seen the finest sunrise,"