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POETRY. MOTHER WHAT IS DEATH * “Mother, how still the baby lies— 1 cannot hear its breath: 'I cannot see his laughing' cve^— They tell me this is death. My little work I thought to bring, Anil set down bt r his bed, Anil pleasantly I tried to sing? They hushed me—he is dead. They say that he again will rise, More beautiful than now; That God will bless him in the skies, O mother, tell me how?” “ Daughter, do you remember dear, The cold dark thing you brought, And laid upon the casement here. A wither’d worm, you thought? 1 told vou that Almighty power Could break the withered shell, And show you in a future hour Something would please you well. Look at the chrysalis, my lore, An empty shell it lies? Now raise your wandering glance above. To where yon insect flies!” M Oh; yes, mamma! how very gay Its wrings of starry gold— And see! it lightly flies away Beyond my gentle hold! Oh, mother, now I know full well—* If God that worm can change, And draw it from his broken cell, On golden wings to range, , How beautiful will brother be, When God shall give him wings. Above this dying world to flee, And live with' heavenly things.” THE EXILE AT REST. BY THE IlEV. JOHN PIERPONT. His falchion flashed along the Nile; His hosts he ied through Alpine snows; O’er Moscow’s towers, that blazed the while, His eagle flag unrolled—and froze. Here sleeps be now, alone!—notone Of all the kings whose crowns lie gave, Bends o’er his dust;—nor wife nor son Has ever seen or sought his grave. Behind lus sea-girt rock, the star That led him on from crown to c,rown> Has sunk;—and nations from afar Gazed as it faded and went down. High in his couch—the ocean flood Far, far below, by storms is curled; As round him heaved, while high he stood, A stormy ami unstable world. Alone he sleeps! the mountain cloud, That night hangs round him, and the breath Of morning scatters, is the shroud That wraps the conqueror’s clay in death. Pause here!—the far off world at last .Breathes free;—the hand that shook its thrones. And to the earth its mitres cast, Lies powerless now beneath these stones. Hark l comes there, from the pyramids, And from Siberian wastes of snow, And Europe’s hills; a voice that bids The world he awed to mourn him? No: The only, the perpetual dirge That’s heard here, is the sea-birds cry— The mournful murmur of the surge— The cloud’s deep voice—the wind’s low sigh. From the Spirit and Manners of the Age. AN ANGEL VISIT. On the evening of the thirty-first of December, I laid been cherising the humiliating and solemn reflec tions which ate peculiarly suitable to the close of the year, and endeavor ing to bring niy mind to that view of the past, best calculated to influence the future. I had attempted to re call the prominent incidents of the twelve months which had elapsed; and, in this endeavor, I was led fre quently to regret how little my mem ory could retain even of that most im portant to be remembered. I could not avoid, at such a period, looking forward as well as backward, and an ticipating that fearful tribunal at which no occurrence shall be forgot ten; whilst my imagination penetrated into the distant destines which shall be dependent on its decisions. At my usual hour retired to rest, but the traiir of meditation I had pursued Was so appropriate, that imagination continued it after sense had slumber ed. “In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth up on man,” I was mentally concerned in the following scene of interest:— I imagined myself still adding, link after link, to the chain of reflection, the progress of which the time for repose had interrupted; and whilst thus engaged, I was aware that there remained but a few moments to com plete the day. I heard the clock as it tolled the knell of another year; and as it rung slowly the appointed num ber, each note waa followed a sting of: conscience, bitterly reproaching me tor any neglect of precious time.— The last stroke was ringing in my ears—painful as the groan announcing the departure of a valuable friend— when, notwithstanding the meditative, posture in which I was sitting, I per ceived that the dimness of the apart ment became brighter; and on lifting my eyes to discover the cause, I was terrifled at perceiving that another being was with me in my seclusion. I saw one before me whose form in deed was human; but the bright bur ning glance of his eye, and the splen dor which beamed forth, from every part of his beautifully proportioned form, convinced me, at a glance, that it was no mortal being that I saw.— The elevation of his brow gave digni ty of the highest order to his counte nance; but the most accute observa tion was indicated by his piercing eye, and inexorable justice was imprinted on his majestic features. A glitter ing phylactery encircled his bead, up on which was written, as in letters of fire “ The Faithful One.” Under one arm he bore two volumes; in his ljand he held a pen. I instantly knew the recording angel—the secretary of the terrible tribunal of heaven. With a trembling which convulsed my frame, I heard his unearthly accents. “Mortal,” he said, “thou wast long ing to recall the events of the past year—thou art permitted to gaze up on the record of the book of God.— Peruse and be wise.” As lie spoke thus he opened before me one of the volumes which he had brought. In fearful apprehension, I read in it my own name, and recognised the history of my own life during the past year, with all its minutest particulars.— Burning words were those which that volume contained: all the actions and circumstances of my life were regis tered under their respective heads in that dreadful book. 1 was first struck by the title “Mercies Received.”— Some were there the remembrance of which I had retained—more which were recalled after having been for gotten—but the far greater number had never been noticed at all. Oil! what a detail of preservations, and deliverances, and invitations, and war nings, and privileges and bestowments! I remember that “Sabbaths” stood out in very prominent characters, as as if they had been among the great est benefits. In observing the reca pitulation, l could not but be struck with one circumstance—it was, that many dispensations, which I had con sidered curses, were enumerated here as blessings. Many a wo which had riven the heart—many a cup whose bitterness seemed to designate it as poison, was there, verifying the language of the poet—“E’en crosses from his sovereign hand, are blessings, in disguise.” Another catalogue was there—it was the enumeration of “transgressions.” My hand trembles as I remember them! What an im mense variety of classes! Indiffer ence—thoughtlessness—formality— ingratitude-unbelief—sins against the world—against the church—against the sanctifier stood at the head of their crowded battalions, as if for the purpose of driving me to despair.— Not one sin was forgolton there—neg lected Sabbaths—abused ordinances— misimproved time—encouraged temp tations;—there they stood, with no excuse, no extenuation. There was one very long class I remember well, “Idle Words;” and then the passage flashed like lightning across my mind— “For every idle word that men speak, they shall give account in the day of judgment.” My supernatural visitant here ad dressed me—“Dost thou observe how small a proportion thy sins of commission bear to those of omission ?” as he spoke, he pointed me to instan ces in the page like the following:— “I was hungry and thou gavest me no meat”—“l was thirsty and thou gav est me no drink”—1 was sick and thou didst not visit me.”—I was conscience striken. In another part of the re cord I read the title “Duties perform ed.” Alas! how small was their num ber! Humble as I had been accus tomed to think the estimate of rny good works, I was greatly disappoint ed to perceive that many perform ance on which I looked back on with pride, were omitted, ‘‘because,” my visiter informed me, “the motive was impure.” It was, however, with feel ings of the most affecting gratification, I read beneath this record, small as it was, the following passage; “Whoso ever shall give a cup of cold water only in the name of a discipline, he shall in no-vvise lose his reward.” Whilst I gazed on many other simi lar records, such was the intense feel ing which seemed to be awakened within me that my brain grew dizzy, and my eye became dim. I was a- wakened from this sta^e by the touch of iny supernatural iiistructer, who pointed me to the volume in which 1 had read my own terrible history, now closed, and bearing a seal on which with sickening heart, I read the insepriplion, “Reserved until the day of judgment.”—“And now,” said the angel, “my commission is completed. Thou hast been permitted what was never granted to man before.—What thinkest thou of the record? Dost thou not justly tremble? How many a line is here, which, ‘dying, you could wish to blpt!’ I see you already shuddering at the thought of the dis closure of this volume at the day of Judgment, when an assembled world shall listen to its contents.—But if such be the record of one year, what must be the guilt oj your whole life? Seek, then, an interest in the blood of Christ, justified by which, you shall indeed hear the repetition, but not to condemnation. Pray that, when the other books are opened, your name may be found in the book of life. And see the volume prepared for the his tory of another year: yet its page is unsullied. Time is before thee— seek, to improve it; privileges are before thee; may they prove the gale of heaven! judgment is before thee; prepare to meet thy God.” He turn ed to depart; and as I seemed to hear the rustling which announced his flight, I awoke. Was it all a dream? From the New York Courier. STATISTICS OF TURKEY. The appellation of “Turk” was first adopted in the middle ages, as a general title of honor to all the nations composing the two principal branches of Tartar and Mogul. The word “Tur,” as an adjective, signifies “sublime and pre-eminent”—as a sub stantive, it means “a governor.” The Divan.—This state council meets twice a week, in the emperor’s palace, on Sundays and Thursdays.— The grand vizier is the presiding offi cer; the six viziers of the bench, the testerdar, or high treasurer, the Reis Effendi, the commissioners of the ex chequer, and the military leaders (the Agas,) compose the Divan. The sultan does not enter the room, but from an adjoining chamber he hears all that passes. On great occasions a general coun cil is convened; all the leading persons of the empire are summoned—the clergy, the military, and other officers, and even the old and most experienced soldiers attend. Such a Divan is called “Ajk Divani.” The Grand Vizier.—This officer receives his appointment from the sultan. He has the care of the whole empire; lie manages the revenue, ad ministers justice, (both in the civil and criminal affairs) and commands the armies. Upon his appointment, the sultan puts into his hands the seal of the empire, which is the badge of his office, and which he always wears on his breast. His income amounts to six hundred thousand dollars a year, exclusive of presents and other per quisites. The Viziers of Bench are styled Bashaws of three horse-tails—three horse-tails being carried before them when they march. Begler-beg—A Bcglcr-beg is a viceroy with, several provinces under his command. Pachas.—Pachas (Bashaw) is a governor under a Begler-beg; a San- giac is a deputy governor. The Reis-Effendi is the lord chancellor and-secretary of state; the name signifies “chief of the writers.” The Testerdar is the high treas urer. The public treasury is never touched, even by the sultan, except in cases of the utmost emergency.— The sultan has his private treasury, which he uses at will. Some idea may be formed of the enormous wealth in the public treasury, which has been accumulating under forty sultans, from a statement of prince Cantf.mir.— He says that, in his time, thirteen mil lions and a half of rix dollars were an nually returned to two treasuries. The Mufti is the chief ecclesias tic. His name signifies “an expoun der of law”—he is consulted on all emergencies. Should he commit trea son, he is punished in a curious man ner. He is put into a mortar, in one of the seven towere, and there the law expounder is pounded to death. Such punishment has not been inflicted since the reign of Am wrath IV. Musselman—.This term is a cor ruption of “Moslemin,” which signi fies “persons professing the doctrine of Mahomet.” The Horse-tails.—Three horse tails, surmounted by a golden ball, form the military ensign of the Otto mans. Its origin tvas as follows: One of theii generals was at a loss how to rally his men, their standards having been lost in a fierce conflict.— He cut oflf a horse’s tail, and elevated it on the point of a spear. His troops renewed the fight, and came offcon- querers. The Sublime Porte.—Constanti nople is styled “the Sublime Porte— the Porte of justice, majesty, and feli city.” There have been various dis putes about the origin of this appella tion. Payne, an eminent Geographer of the last century, says that it is de-., rived from the magnificent gate built by Mahomet II. at the principal en trance of the Seraglio Constantinople.—It is wonderful how little is generally known with re gard to this magnificent city. Its sit uation is the most delightful in the world. With a harbor affording room for a thousand ships—with the euxine on its east, the natural current of the wealth of Asia is through the Bospho rus: and with Marmora on its south and west, the productions of Arabia, Egypt* and Europe, are at the com mand of its commerce. In the hands a commercial nation, it would soon be come the centre of the commercial world. It is encompassed by walls, which have 22 gates—six towards the land, six along the port, and ten on the Marmora; these have stairs and land ing places. Constantinople, like Rome, is an “urbe septicollis.” Its seven hills rise from the shore in the form of an amphitheatre; gardens, cypress groves palaces, and mosques, rise one above the other, and present a view worthy of all admiration. The castle of the seven towers is usued as honorable prison. A square tower stands in the sea, memorable as the prison of Belis- arius. Near this are a great many cannon level with the water, and guarding the entrance of the port and Seraglio. Seraglio.—This word signifies “a palace.” It is a collection of palaces, a mile and a half in compass, enclosed by a strong wall, on which are several watch-towers, where guard is kept night and day. The principal gate is of marble, and is called the Porte.— The gardens are very extensive: the buildings are of white stone, and gilded turrets and spires, and shining in surpassing splendor. St. Sophia.—The church of st.— (Divine Wisdom) was built by Justin ian, in the 6th century. The dome is 113 feet in diameter, resting on arches, supported by immense marble pillars, and the staircase and pavement are marble. Here is the tomb of the em peror Constantine. The exchanges are splended build ings, and the richest and rarest pro ductions of the east are daily sold in them in large quantities. Add to these the numerous mosques, the thir ty churches of the Greeks, and those of the Armenians, the many private palaces and public buildings, and you have some idea of the opulence and splendor of the capital of the great Ottoman empire. TO THE CONSCIENTIOUS RE TAILER. Have you not good and sufficient reason for believing that the common practice of vending ardent spirits by the small quantity, has greatly increas ed the sin of drunkenness? How can you conscientiously contin ue a practice which is productive of so much evil? > How can you conscientiously en courage the use of New England Rum, which by its cheapness, operates more than any other single cause to multi ply the number of drunkards, and hur ry them to an untimely grave? How can you conscientiously sell a man rum, when you have reason to believe that he has taken more than he ought? How can you furnish one with rum, or other intoxicating spirits, when you know that it will convert him into a madman, and send him to abuse and injure his family? How can you sell a man ardent spirits, when you clearly perceive that he is wasting his property, and reducing a worthy family to want? Hbw can you .take ti poor mau’4 fourpence or uinepence every day as he gets it, when you have reasou to believe, his children are without a morsel of bread, or wholly dependant on charity? , How can you conscientiously furnish a man with his jug of rum on Saturday evening, when you have sufficient rea son to believe he will spend the Sab bath in drunkenness, or riot, and per haps call his neighbors in, to increase the amount of wickedness? How can you coscientiously assist the man to this particular means of self-murder, merely because he desires it, when you would not, for your right hand, sell him arsenic or laudanum for the same purpose? Above all, how can you conscientious ly encourage or even permit, incon siderate young men and boys to hang about your store and drink, when you must know that this is the high road to intemperance, and they are beginning to form a habit, which will, most probably, end in their temporal and eternal ruin? Is it “ doing to others as ye would that they should do to you” to witness the existence of any of the evils to which the preceding questions allude, and not use .your influence to prevent or remove them? When you see the intemperate perishing on your right hand and on your left, does the solemn question never occur, what influence have I had in forming their character and bringing upon them this ruin? 1 speak, as to wise men. Judge ye what I say.—Christian Mirror. A Crazy Cow.—A cow was landed from a sloop on the west side of the city on Wednesday afternoon, which by some accident had fallen over board. Shortly afterwards, she broke away from those who had charge of her, and ran furiously through the streets, exhibiting unequivocal signs ol madness. Many persons were at* tacked by her and much hurt. In Mott-street a man and child were ser* riously injured, and one woman, we learn, was killed. AD attempts to restrain the cow proved abortive, un til a fine, large bull-dog, the property of one of our butchers, was produced. He attacked her most heroically and soon pined her by the muzzle to the ground, where he held her resolutely until she was secured by ropes, when she ivas easily carried off and pre vented from doing further mischief. N. y. Gazette. Dog Pump.—At Orange Farm, two miles from Baltimore, may be seen a pump worked by a small pointer dog. This pump is more than fifty feet in length, and the working of it was here tofore the fatiguing labor of two men. To the dog it is mere play. He at his pleasure, either walks, trots, or ■ Jies down. When only walking, there is a sufficient discharge of water for all the purpose of a dairy. The wa* ter never ceases to flow, but during the very short intervals when the dog may be lying down. From its thus flowing, it has become very cold and sweet; and it is thence believed, that the water of most pumps would be thus greatly improved. The princi pal benefit, however, held out to the community from this apparatus, is that every farmer may have, at the most convenient place, near his house, a dairy as complete as if lie had a good spring on the identical spot.— The water from the pump will, in deed, be more abundant, and general ly much colder than water from a spring. The dog, to be kept in mo tion, requires not the attention of any person; all that is necessary, is occa sionally to give him a drink. The pointer has been selected only on ac count of his sprightliness. This appa ratus costs only about $35, and there fore it is within the reach of every land-holder. It may, moreover, be erected not only by all in the country, but by man£ in our cities.—Farmer. Greenock Anecdote.—A poor person residing in Greenock, lately applied to the magistrate to have two of his children admitted on the poor’s roll, “How many have you?” said the wor thy Baillie/ “Five-and-twenty, Sir, ,r replied the petitioner. “Five-and- twenty!” re-echoed the Baillie; “and all by one wife?” Oh no, Sir,” re plied the poor man, “/am wearing the fourth!” Glasgow Free Press. A machine by which a man may strike 30,000 bricks per day ha* beeft- invented in Pam.svile| N. ,J>