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EDITED AND PUBLISHED WEEKLY, BY lIAKKISOX A nT£RS. CITY MUTTERS. [fl)R THE SOOTHER* MCSEI'M.] [Messrs. Editors: The following lines, if deemed worthy the attention of your renders, you arc at liberty to publish. The three stan zas following the first, were sent ine by my little daughter, accompanying others which 1 have emitted. 1 have never met with them be fore, and suppose that they are original. The others J have added. M] The chilli *11(1 It* Dead Bird. BY MATILDA. OTy bird is dead I Come, mother, see ; With snow its tiny wings are filled. It will no longer sing for me— The cruel cofti its voice has stilled. Its tinv head was sofiiy laid I'pon its smooth and fealhry breast ; I did not dream poor bird was dead, s But sweetly alumb’riug in its nest. Sweet little bird 1 how sore I wept To think, all night so snug and warm I nestled.in my bed and slept, While thou wert living in the.storm ! Had I known this, my little bird. How glad to thee I’d ope and my door, And warmed and nursed tlico, till I heard The lifu-notes from thy bosom pour. Alas! my child, this pinching snow Has fill’d more hearts than thine with grief; And some this morn, who groan with wo, Have no kind friends to give relief. The poor, lost trav’lor, faint and worn, No covert found, wherein to hide; . To friends and home, he’ll no’er return — The snow o’erwheltned him, und he died. The aged man, with frost-white hair, Sought the mean comfort of his bod, — This morning's sunlight enters there, But shines upon the pale, cold dead. The mother clasped her little one ’ To her fond breast, to keep it warm ; .But no warmth answers to her own— Its soul has (led beyond the storm. So drear and chill the storm beats down, So wan and cold that mother lies ; Slow moves her blood—the pulse is gone— Alone, forsaken, now she dies. And scores of helpless poor have died, My child, in this great, heartless earth, For house or clothing unsupplied, Or fire to warm the chilly hearth. Then o’er tho fate, so sad and drear, Os my sweet bird, I'll hush my grief; But, mother, we will drop a tear For the cold poor, w ho need relief. Copper as a Poison.—Tests. Tlie chemical tests for salts of copper in a state of solution, are ammonia which pro duces a pale blue precipitate. Sulphuret ted hydrogen makes a dark brown preci pitate. Ferrocyanide potassium produces a claret precipitate. A slip of bright pol ished iron soon becomes coaled with it, like a penknife dipped into ink made with blue vitriol and log-wood, or if a drop of the suspected liquor is placed on a strip of silver and touched with a zinc wire, the copper is at once deposited on the silver if there be any in tit© solution. The salts of copper have two poisonous properties, commonly known as blue vitriol and verdigris. The former is a sulphate— the latter a subacetate. If in any suspect ed liquid a clean needle be suspended for two hours, aud no red coating be noticed on the needle, it is a sign that no detectable quantity of copper is present. Mr. Taylor says that be dissolved one third of a grain of the sulphate of copper in water and mix ed the solution with four ounces of thick gruel, and by a trial with ammonia, no effect was produced,—no blue precipitate fortned but by adding a few drops of weak sulph uric acid and suspending a bright needle into it for 21 hours by a thread, he found that it was covered wi h a distinct film of copper and thus the quantity of copper present was less than the six thousandth part of the solution. But in cases of pois oning, tho copper may he present in union with the mucous membrane of the stomach and in that case insoluble, or it may be in intimate union with some organic princi ple and in that case exhibits no appearance in the liquid. To examine the solid parts of the body in which copper is suspected to have acted poisonously, there are pres cribed processes in all works on chemical analysis, but the whole of the processes have been subject to objections, as Dever gi, Henry and Orfila assert that they have detected traces of copper by the piocessof incineration in the bodies ofanimls which were not poisoned by copper. On the other hand Flandiu posivively denies that copper is ever found natural in the human body. An extensive enquiry into this sub ject was made not long ago by M. Bout igny, whose name is associated with some late experiments iu the steam engine. He states that he had traced the presence of copper in animals that had been accustom ed to receive food prepared in copper ves sels, but this is disputed by others who assert that the copper might bo traced to tho filtering paper. On this point then, there is stiff doubt. The most common cause of poisoning by salts of copper, is by food prepared in copper vessels. Pure water may be kept for any length of time in a clean copper vessel without becoming impregnated with the metal, if the air he excluded, but if the air has access a hyd rated carbonate mixed with the oxide is gradually formed. Water containing salt or saline matters soon becomes impregnat ed with copper if kept in such a vessel. Falconer says that neither miik, tea, coffee beer, nor potatoes exert any action upon being boiled in a clear copper vessel, but if the vessel is not throughly clear, acid substances will dissolve the carbonate that encrusts the vessel. All gieasy matters left in contact with copper, soon liecome impregnated with it. Lemons and other fruit which are used to make preserves, may be boiled in a copper vessel without being impregnated with the metal, but they should never he let to cool in the cop per vessel, as in that slow process the met al is sure to he acted upon. No acid sub stance for use should be boiled in copper vessels, neither pickles, nor fruit; brass pans are the best for this purpose. Cop per tea kettles are all tinned, and when ever the tinning is destroyed by any means, it should be renewed as soon as possible. The sulphate of copper has been used in the fermentation and adulteration of liqu ors—this is crime which should be severe ly punished. German silver contains a considerable portion of copper, and spoons made of this metal, should always he per fectly clean before using. The afflicting case of poisoning stated to have taken place recently at Baton Rouge, La., by an old copper kettle in the well,shows how care ful we should be of the water we drink and with which our food is cooked. If the water of that well had been treated with ammonia it would have turned blue, or if a little weak vitriol had been put into a cup of such water and a bright needle sus pended in it for some hours, the needle would have been coated with the copper. These simple tests, we believe, will not only be interesting but valuable to many. Howto be Happy. —Some time since, says Dr. Payson, in a letter to a young clergyman, ‘I took up a little work pur porting to be the lives of sundry chai acters as rela’ed by themselves. Two of those characters agreed in remarking that they were never happy until they ceased striving to be great men. This remark struck me, as you know the most sim ple remarks will strike us, when Heaven pleases. It occurred to me at once that most of ray sufferings and sorrows were oc casioned by an unwillingness to be the nothing which l am, and by consequent struggles to be something. I saw, if I would but cease struggling, and consent to be any thing or nothing, just as God pleas es, I might be happy. You will think it strange that I mention this as anew dis covery. In one sense it was not new; 1 had known it for years. But 1 now saw it in anew light. My heart saw it and con sented to it; and 1 am comparatively hap py. My dear brother, if you can give up all desire to he great, and feel heartily willing to be nothing, you will feel happy too.” John v., 44.—How can ye believe, which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that cometh from God only ? Occupation for Children. —The hab its of children prove that occupation is a necessity with most of them. They love to be busy even about nothing, still more to be usefully employed. With some chil dren it is a strongly developed physical necessity, and if not turned to good ac count, will be productive of positive evil ; thus verifyng the old adage, that ‘idle ness is the mother of mischief.’ Children should be encouraged, or, if indolently disinclined to do it, should be disciplined info performing for themselves every little office relative to the toilent, which they are capable of performing. They should also keep their own clothes and other pos sessions in neat order, and fetch for them selves whatever they want; in short, they should learn to be as independent of the services of others as possible, fitting them alike to make a good use of prosperity, and to meet with fortitude any reversal of fortune that many befal them. We know of no rank, however exalted, in which such a system would not prove beneficial tCT” Religion, says Seville, is a cheer ful thing—so far from being always at cuffs with good humor,it is inseparably u riited to it. Nothing unpleasant belongs to it, though the spiritual cooks have done their skillful part to give an ill relish to it. A wise epicure would be religious for the sake of pleasure ; good sense is the foundation of both ; and be is a bungler who aimeth at true luxury, but where they are joined. Chide a man for being angry when he is angry, what will you get by it, save some of the foam of his overflowing rage cast upon you ? As God is said to have come down in the cool of the day to reprove Adam, so likewise we should come in the cool season of a man's passions, when all is quiet and temperate within, for then there is the greatest probability of rightly influencing him. Precept vs Practice. —Dr. Charming bad a brother, a physician, and at one time they both lived in Boston. A countryman, in search of the divine, knocked at the doc tor’s door. The following dialogue ensu ed : “Does Dr. Channing live here I” “Yes, sir.” “Can I see him ?” “I am he.” “Who ? you 1” “Yes, sir.” “You must have altered considerably since I heard you preach ?” “ Heard me preach ]” “ Certainly. You are the Dr. Channing that preaches, ain’t you 1” “Oh ! 1 see you are mistaken now. It’s my brother who preaches —l'm the doctor who practices!" Large Immigration.— Since .Tanttary, 1848,500,000 emigrants have left Great Britain. MACO N , G A SATURDAY MORNING, MARCH 10, 184!). POSTSCRIPT.—The steamship Ameri. ca has arrived, bringing Liverpool dates to the 24th of February. Fair Uplands and Mobile are quoted at 4Jd , being an advance of ]d. per lb. with large sales and a brisk demand. We are unable to state what effect this news may have upon our market. The irnpossihilty of prociir" ing speedy shipments, will probably neutralize it in a great degree—although it will doubtless tend to revive the drooping market and make prices more firm, and perhaps advance them a fraction. The New Cabinet. —The following gentle men have been nominated by Gen. Taylor us Cabinet Officers, and we learn from llit> Charles ton Mercury, they were confirmed by the Sen ate on the 7th inst: John SI. Clayton, Secretary of State. Wm. M. Meurwith,Secretary ofthe Treasury. Thomas Ewing, Secretary Home Department. Georoe VV. Crawford, Secretary of Whir. VVm. Ballard Prlston, Secretary ofthe Navy Jacob Collamer, Postmaster General. Ueverdy Johnson, Attorney General. Mr. Poi.k.—We learn from the Charleston Courier of the Bth instant, that Mr. Polk was expected thereon Friday morning in the Wil mington boat, and leave in the boat at 9 o’clock A. !\1.,0n Saturday for Savannah. President Taylor’s Inaugural. —We lay this Address—interesting to every citizen of the Union, because indicating the course our Chief Executive Majestrate will pursue during ids term of office—before our readers. The position we have voluntarily assumed, whether above or bcneatli partizan politics we will not presume to say—but our editorially neutral position estops us from commenting upon the Inaugural. Our readers, we presume, will not he left without perspicuous commentaries upon it from other quarters, dissimilar in style and temper and equally varied in degrees of truthfulness, couch ed in language laudatory or otherwise and pleas ing or distasteful to their cars. Godey’s Lady’s Book. — We have received the March Number of this charming magazine. It contains a great variety ofchoice original arti cles, both in prose and poetry, whilst the ex tremely fine ornaments of “ The Lost Di ve,” “Dusting Cupid,” and others in this number, are among the very best specimens of the art. We thought the February number quite good enough (that of January not coming to hand,) hut the March Number excels any we have ever seen. It is decidedly in our opinion tho very best pub lication for tilc Ladies, to be found anywhere. We are pleased to learn that a Lady of this city has taken the “ Book” since its commence ment. The editor says he “ shall send her some thing pretty one of these days.” For terms, Arc. of this always interesting publication, see the Prospectus on the Fourth Page. O’The Laurensville Herald has appeared in an enlarged and improved form, and we sincere ly wish it every success. We have read witli interest several original Tales which have ap peared in its columns recently, and we doubt not that it will receive the support it so richly de serves from an enlightened public. It is pub fished weekly at Laurens C. II , (S. C.,) by S. A God.man, Esq.,at $2 per annum, in advance. A Chapter from and about Pete. 11 Pete told us, the other day, that not long since he was reading to Mrs. Partington of a woman having been taken up in New Orleans by the police, and carried before the Recorder, when she exclaimed: “Well, I never could abide them things. It is orful. Jest to think of a woman being taken right up by her pelisse before tho recorderof all her sayings and doings, to answer all at once, —and she never buried ! The wind must have been mighty high ! Well, I never will go out on a windy day again, for why might it t a frock take one up, us well as a pelisse ?” IT Pete assured us that he was nothing of a lady’s-man, which assurance we were inclined to doubt until we heard the following story- told of hint. It happened one lovely evening that our friend dropped in at the house of an old ac quaintance. When ushered into tho parlor, lie found himself in the presence of several young ladies and beaux. After a short, general con versation, a walk was proposed by the gallants, and cheerfully seconded by the misses. Pete, of course, had no particular choice, but it chanced that a fair one would fall to his lot unless one of the gentlemen could conveniently employ both arms. The lady shared out to our friend was distressingly agitated and actually took to her heels, when ho very ungallantly cast a quo tation after her—“ The wicked flee, when no man pursueth !” IT Since a careful perusal ofthe articles lately published in tho Museum, about the “ /Erial Steamer,” Pete has set It is inventive wits at work to construct something better suited to private aeronautic excursions. The most prom inent idea at present about his brains, is the fea sibility of building a balloon hat, differing in several particulars from the present style of the article. Ho lias favored us with a description of bis design. The balloon hat is to he made of the usual material, but a few feet higher than the latest patterns, the base will fit the circum ference of his head, and then he gradually en larged until it assumes a perfect balloon shape the hat to bo secured under his arms. There will be three apartments in it. The first will be the socket for his head ; the second, will con tain whatever extra wearing apparel he may re quire, provisions, kitchen furniture, &c.; and the third, will contain the hydrogen gas. He proposes, in place of a chronometer spring, or stcatn, the use of a more natural propelling power. With a pair of large wings secured well to his arms, and a turkey-tail fan properly adjusted, he calculates to fly through the air in any direction with greater or less velocity. O’ By the way, we purpose to delight our readers nuxt week with an Original Irish Talc, by Birr.. THE POETRY OF DEATH. We are indebted to the Hon. Robert M. j Charlton, for a copy of the beautiful Lecture on this subject, delivered by him before the Young Men's Library Association at Augusta, Ga., on the 21st of December, last. This Ad dress was highly spoken of at the time by all the Augusta papers, and we regret that our lim its preclude its insertion entire. The following extracts will convey an idea how aldy the sub ject has been discussed by the author : ***•*“ The view we now take, embraces one of the loveliest that the ntind can conceive The spot is incur own beautiful Southern clime ; the sun is shining brightly upon a plain, where a thousand tlowcrs of the Spring are rearing their heads above the green grass, and as they wave with the wind, they look like the diamonds and precious stones floating upon a sea of emerald. The yellow Jessamine i9 creeping up the trunks and limbs of the neigh boring trees, and sending forth its sweet fragrance to the gentle breeze, which draws it in, and like a liberal hand flings it around again. The Part ridge is calling upon its mate, and the little rain bow-bird is making the air resound with its clear sweet notes; there is no trace in that plain of man’s fall or man’s doom, and the question would at once rise to the lips of a dweiler in another hemisphere, “ Can this be the doomed world ? can this be the earthly abode of sinful man ?” Turn your eyes to the right, and you will see the question answered. You may behold there a beautiful cottage, and in one of its rooms, are gathered a tearful, silent band ; you can see in the mute agony depicted upon the youthful face of the lady, who is looking so tenderly and im ploringly on the sick infant upon the conch be fore her, that she is the mother of the little suf ferer. Ah, who can mistake a mother’s love? Alt, what can equal it. It needs no physician’s skill to predict, that the earthly moments of the little victim, scarcely a month old, will soon be numbered. It lias turned with a faint cry—it has breathed with a short gasp—and the spirit— the soul of that brief tenement, has deserted it forever, it has gone for aye to its Creator. Look upon its face again ! it is still, and calm, and beautiful, as if its angel which was in Heaven, had flung hack upon its late abiding place, some of the radiance of its new life; And ii.is is Death! But which wasDeatli ? Wasthepain ful, unconscious, fleeting, brief interval of time that infant experienced here, was that its life ? And that glorious, resplendent, heavenly exis tence it entered upon as its breath departed, ivas that its Death ? Oh ran it he so? Rather was not the helpless earthly state, with the body powerless, with the mind unknowing, were not these more like death, than that heavenly form with its bright perceptions, with that knowledge far exceeding all the wisdom that man can give? Still the question 1 commenced with, remains to task our intellect, to defy our power, What is Death ? What is Death ? * * * * “Now look once more. We are standing be neath an Eastern sky. By the gate ofan ancient and walled city, you may see a youthful stran ger, gazing pensively upon a crowd of mourners who are approaching him. llis countenance wears the marks of inexpressible benevolence, mingled with a grave and solemn look. The mourners come on with their loud lamentations for the dead body they are bearing, for “ lie was the only son of his mother, and she was a wid ow.” ( Alas, for the widow's fate, ala:, for the childless heart?) Sen her as she totters along, the recollections of the past, the realities of the present, crushing her frame beneath their iron pressure. She has reacliudthe p ace upon which the stranger leans ; quickly, he raises himself, and addresses the mourning mother with the words of consolation, “ Weep not !” and in stantly, joy unspeakable, and hope unutterable, vet undefined, shoot thro’ her veins. She looks on with expectation nnd with wonder, as the be nevolent stranger approaches and touches the bier; “ and they that bear him, stood still; and he said, young man, I say unto thee, arise ! And he that was dead, sat up and began to speak, and he delivered him to his mother.” Oh, can there be a heart that docs not thrill with rapture at the touching description of this scene, which tlie Son of God performed, and the Spirit of God recorded. * * * * * “ There is another scene which I would fain linger on, but which I feel it is not my province to describe. I speak still of Death—not on the stake; I speak of that death which steals upon the frame worn down with sickness and decay'; no spirit stiring scenes are around it to cheer it on; no crowd of spectators to applaud its hero ism; debility and pain are its internal and sur rounding circun.stances; but still, you can see, in the dimmed eye, the flashes of an eternal light; you may hear, in the faint voice,the ac cents of an eternal love! You may view the glorious hope of immortality raising up upon angels’ wings; and the last word, the last look, the last breath, tell not of doubt—not of fear, but of unshaken courage, of deathless trust. It is the death bed of the Christian ; the tearing asunder of the soul, washed in the blood of its Saviour, from the body of sin and suffering that encompasses it. Oil, well might the inspired penman break forth in view of such a scene and such an end, with the dauntless exclamation “Oh death, where is thy sting! Oil grave where is thy victory !” “ And now my hearers, am I wrong in asser ting, that there is Poetry in Death ? Surely you will not 6ay so, in view of the pictures that I have presented to you, albeit they are sketched by a feeble hand. Why, what is Poetry ? Ask the mere superficial reader and observer, and he will tell you that it is thoughts in rhyme; ask the learned, the acute, keen watcher of human affairs nnd of nature, and he will tell you that it consists in the beautiful, wherever that may be found; whatever touches the heart, whatever purifies the mind, whatever ennobles the intel lect. The sweet look of a blooming maiden, is Poetry; the chivalrous deed, is Poetry; the open hand ; the self-sacrificing action ; the con sistent life ; all these are Poetry ; lines written by the sweet pencils of nature or of grace ; and if I am right here, is not a holy, a beautiful, a thrilling death, Poetry? All yes, it is the most sublime ; no human pun can write such noble epic—no human tongue can read such glorious verse. We are too apt to couple it with pain and suffering ; we are too much induced to think of it as associated with the grave and with cor ruption. We must take our eyes off this dark picture, and look forward and upward ; we must never forget that life, with all its afflictions, all its darkness, is nevertheless a great blessing ; but we must, at the same time, not cease to re member, that its greatest blessing consists in its being a preparation for another and an immortal state, in comparison with which, it is but dark ness; and he who has duly improved the advan tages ol existence, and feels, that he has en deavored with humility and love to perform its duties to his Maker and his neighbor, may break forth, as he sees its end approaching,in the jovful exclamation of the apostle “the night is far spent, —the day is at hand,” the bright and beautiful morning of eternity ! * * * *i * * * * “I have drawn for you many pictures of death ; let me sketch for you now a brief, but bright, scene of beau tiful life. It is the marriage altar ; a lovely fe male, clothed in all the freshness of youth and surpassing beauty, leans upon the arm of him, to whom she has just plighted her faith, to whom she has just given up herself forever. Look in her eyes, ye gloomy philosophers, and tell me, if you dare, that there is no happiness inearth. See the trusting, the heroic devotion, which impels her to leave country, parents, all, for a comparative stranger. She has launched her frail hark upon a wide and stormy sea : she has handed over her happiness and doom for this world, to another's keeping; but she has done it fearlessly, for love whispers to her that her chosen guardian and protector, bears a man ly and noble heart. Oh, woe to him that de ceives her. Oh, woe to him that forgets his oath and his manhood ! “Her wing shall the Engle flap, O'er the false hearted, Ilis life blood the wolf shall lap, Ere life be parted : Shame and dishonor sit On his grave ever : Blessings shall hallow it, Never ! Oh, nev£r !” “ We have all read the story of the husband, who, in a moment of hasty wrath, said to her, who, hut a few months before had united her fate to his, “ if you are not satisfied with my conduct, go, return to your friends and to your happiness.” “ And will you give me back that which I brought to yot| ?’ asked the despairing wife. “ Yes,” he replied, “ all your wealth shall go with you : 1 covet it not,’’ “Alas!” she answered, “ I thought not of my wealth—l spoke of my maiden affections—of my hotly ant hope—of my devoted love : can you give these back to me?” “No!” said the man, as lie flung himself at her feet—“No! I cannot restore these; but I will do more—l will keep them un sullied and untainted; I will cherish then) through my life, and iu tny death ; and never again will I forget, that I have sworn to protect, and to cheer her, w ho gave up to me all she lie Id most dear.” Did I not tell you that there was poetry in a woman's look—a woman’s word ? See it lieie ! the mild, gentle reproof of love, winning back from its harshness and rudeness, the stern and unyielding temper of an angry man. Ah, if creation’s fairer sex only knew their strongest weapons, how many of wedlock’s fierce battles would be unsought, how much of unhappiness and coldness would he avoided ! “ And now, it is time that I should release you. A great master mind of the present age said that “ tlit life of the happy man was a picture with a stiver ground, studded with stars of jet; and that the life of the unfortunate man was a dark ground, with a few stars of silver.” May your fate be the silver! May the stars of jet be few and far between ! May your lives shew forth j tite true verse of generous autl noble acts, and j your deaths be the prelude to that land, where all it Poetry and Love ! May you lie contented here,and happy hereafter ! And so, Farewell !” Cotton. — The Savannah Georgian says : the Chamber of Commerce of Savannah at their last meeting awarded the first prize ( a silver cup,) offeied by them to the planter who would pro duce the best lot of fifty bales of upland cotton, to Mi. C. Cunningham, of Jefferson county. The second prize was awarded to Mr.jT. J. Smith, of Hancock county. The prize (a cup of the value of $25,) offer ed by Messrs. A. Low &. Cos. for the best lot of twenty-five bales, was awarded to Mr. S. Dink ins, of Houston county. Burning of the Steamboat Convoy. —Tho New Orleans Crescent of the 3d instant, says : “We grieve iu being compelled to announce the destruction by fire of the fine steamboat Convoy. The officers of the Tallahatchie, arrived on Thursday morning, report that at 10 o’clock, p. M., last Tuesday, the Convoy took firo about ten miles above Natchez, and was burned to the wa ter’s edge. She was from Memphis, bound to this port, and had on hoard 3181 hales of cotton and n quantity of corn. The officers succeeded in running the boat ashore, by which means the pusseng 0 !*, with the exception of two, and the crew were enabled to escape from the burning vessel. The two passengers jumped overboard and wero drowned. The crew nnd passengers remained on a flatboat until about 4 o’clock in the evening, when they were taken up by the Tallahatchie. We learn that the boat and cargo was partially insured.” Is the Bee the Pioneer of Civilization? —The author of “ A Tour on the Prairies ” says the Indians regard the bee as the harbinger of the white man, as the buffalo of the red man . and say that in proportion as the bee advances the Indian and the bufl'.tio retire. The wild bee is said to be seldom met with any great distance from the frontier. When the honey bee crossed the Mississippi, the Indians with surprise found the hollow trees of their forests suddenly teem ing with honey; and nothing can exceed the greedy relish with which they banqueted for the first time upon this unbought luxury of the wil derness. At present the honey-bee swarms in myriads in the noble groves and forests that skirt and intersect the prairies, and extend along the alluvial bottoms of the rivers. FORWARD—MARCH ! This “ terraqueous ball,” and all its unnum bered brother, and sister, and cousin-spheres are moving—moving. Time and the seasons are on the wing. The “Old World” is en route, and in the “ New," “ Westward the Star of Empire takes its way." Science, arts, morals and education are jogging on. Great men are climbing over the rugged paths of fame, honor, virtue. Then arouse vour selves, ye laggards, or else ye will be run over and trampled into the dust, by the close ranks of myrriads on the forward march. Why, stand ve there, ye lazy youths—stationary, idle ? In this great, busy work-house, are there no tasks for you—no high aims—no ends to be attained? Forsooth, ye have not learned the object of your being. Ye are “ cuqpberers of the ground,” rank “ tares among the wheat,” barren rocks briars, thorns, thistles, weeds, waste places fruitless trees, sapless vines. Ye require dress ing, pruning, weeding. Let it be so no longer. Forward, to your task : be sure ye will not have many leisure moments in the great work ’ Tis a whole life-task. But if ye work hard and put your minds and hearts in proper culture and have a little time to spare, then put your scythe, and pruning knife, and plough, into your neighbor’s sterile field, and help him redeem it from its barrenness. Idle, and yet so much to do? Shame! shame!! Forward march—ye toiling, struggling, im-’ poverished millions. There’s bread, and houses, and lands, and life, in the world for you, as little as ye expect them. Did ye never think of the pranks of dame Fortune? how that she im poverishes the rich, and enriches the impover-> tshed ? But wait not to propitiate that fickle dame Toil oti —push forward ; —dig your life out of the earth, hammer it out of her metals, chissel it out of her rocks, cut it out of tier trees draw it from her waters. God has provided you the elements, laid you the foundations, of life. Then dig, saw, hammer, hew, work away, and ye shall make your life. Forward march, ye struggling ones. That’s a trifling obstacle— don’t stop The rugged Alps were crossed— push on, and conquer. Strain every nerve—for if ye fuller now, ye will fall upon the rocks; ye will sink into the pits of dark Despondency, and in those gloomy abodes, wear out a dismal being. Forward, march, ye young, athletic, willing men. \Y hat has been done, may be performed by y T ou ; and ye aro not witfiout ensatnples of men like yourself, whose energy of will has borne them far above astonished contemporaries. Enrol your names on the great parchment sheet of the world s histoiy, witli such honored names as Washington, Franklin, Newton, and their great brothers. Push, forward ! A New Thing in Mechanics. —Mr. JosErtr Harris, of Boston, according to tho Chronotype, lias invented und patented a box and axle,which requires no oil, and yet almost completely es capes Irietion, which is thus described : “The working model has been put into a lathe and turned 1,000 revolutions in a minute, a mo tion which with a common-sized railroad truck wheel, would carry it about two miles in a min ute, or 120 miles an hour, without producing any perceptible heat, and without the use of a particle of oil. The mechanism by which a result so de sirable and astonishing is effected, is somewhat after the manner ol tiiat discovered by the pro phet Ezekiel in his vision, “ a wheel in the middle ol a wheel,” or rather six wheels in the middle of one. The box is about five inches in diameter, and the axle tlire® inches, and in the space between them ate disposed, at equal dis tances, six anti-friction rollers, which are kept in their places by- teeth at both their ends, play ing into corresponding circles of teeth in both the box and axle. There is no bearing upon these teeth,* which are cut to the anti-friction portion of the rollers between the teeth. The only service of the teeth is to prevent the possi bility ofthe rollers getting out of place.” A Dangerous Article. —A correspondent of the Philadelphia Saturday Evening Post cau tious the public against the use of u fluid for plating door knobs, German silver spoons and other articles of the common metals with pure silver, as the vendor alleges. The fluid consists of mercury dissolved in nitric acid and diluted in water, as will appear on applying the usual tests. I lie best test is the following, given by Professor Hare Place a drop ofthe fluid up on a gold coin, and touch it with the point of a steel pen, which will cause the mercury to pre cipitate upon the coin. Much danger may arise from the imprudent use of this fluid. Persons unacquainted with its properties have no doubt ere this attempted to plate German silver spoons with it. As soon as the spoons are placed in warm tea or coffee the mercury will leave them and become absorbed by the fluid. Ofthe dan gerous effects of mercury when taken into the stomach there are few who are ignorant. Crops. — Many of our planters, (says the St. Martinsville Creole of the 24th ult ) had been in duced to burn off" their stubble cane, previous to the late cold weather, and some had gone so far as to run round it, with the plough, to encourage the vegetation. These will, most probably sufltr the entire loss of this arm of their crop, and in deed we fear that all, without exception, will suffer serious loss, for all hava been compelled' to confide in the stubble, from having sustained such injury from the rotted condition of the cane plant. Wo hope for the best, but fear a short crop here.’ Take Care of Your Habits. —Character is the substance—reputation the shadow only— sometimes longer and sometimes shorter. How important, then, is care in tho growth and for mation of habits, since character is but n “ bun dle of habits ” that years have been picking up and combining, and when combined you may annihilate the composition, hut you cannot alter it. It is no easy matter to drop habits, even those that hang most loosely on the outside.— We have an attachment to them, or they have an attachment to us, which is not readily separ ated. They are like an old pair of shoes, which, though there aro no advantages attending them, still they are easy and we are loth to “ cast them off’.” They are like an old hat, which, though it has become “seedy " and unsightly, still sits comfortably to our head, and we dread the breaking of anew one.