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ed on the cradle are from the antique legend,
which has been revived for this occasion:
“ Gif Leverpooles good maior sd ever bo
Made fatherre off nVaibYaltee,
Thenne sal be giften by ye townmenne tree,
Ano silverre craddle too hys fair ladye.”
The cradle is a fairy-like model of a value
of $l2O. Placed under a glass case it forms
a superb ornament for the drawing room.
The general form of the body is that of the
nautilus shell. On one side is chased, in
high relief, a group of figures, representing
a mother placing in the arms of its father
their new-born child. Supporting the medal
lion on which the figures are placed are two
angels, with expanded wings; and issuing
iiom beneath them, and under the medallion,
are beautiful scrolls of poppies and lillies,
emblems of Sleep and Peace. On the top of
the scroll or apex sits the genius of Liver
pool; and at the foot stands the liver, the
ancient bearing in the arms of the town.
YOUR HANDS,
Look to your hands, young man, and tell
us, what they were made for. Were they
made to be hooped like kegs, and to hang
dangling by your side ? Why not put them
to some use ? What if your father is rich ?
Will he always remain so ? Who knows
that you will receive a cent of his property,
even though he should die before you ?—which
is not at all probable from his active habits
and your idle life. Why not put your hands
to some profitable use, as nature designed
them ? They are admirable things to shove
a fore plane, push a shovel, or draw a hand
cart. Now, they are of no manner of use,
and at times, they play the mischief with
you; for they will occasionally handle a few
dollars which your parents have earned to
cast them to the four winds. Take a word
of advice, Just begin to make a right use of
your hands, and one word for it, you will be
happier and healthier. The prospect is that
you may be of some little service to mankind,
and every trifle helps, you know, in such a
world as ours.
There—that’s right —move your hands and
put them to use. Work for fun at first, if
you please, and you will soon love it better
than to be idle. We shouldn’t wonder if you
yet made a smart man. Heaven help you to
keep your good resolution.
> —i
SMITH O’BRIEN A POET.
The following lines are said to have been
written by Smith O'Brien, to a young lady
who presented him with a bouquet of flow
ers, while standing in the dock, a prisoner of
State:
Sweet girl! who gave in danger’s hour,
To lift my soul, a beauteous flower,
And by thy bright, yet modest eyes,
Cheered me with softest sympathies;
Oh ! may thine eyes ne’er shed a. tear!
Oh! may thine heart ne’er know a fear !
Thus from his dreary solitude—
Thus speaks a prisoner’s gratitude.
WILLIAM S. O’BRIEN.
1 i
- BEAUTIFUL EXTRACT.
I saw a mourner standiug at eventide over
the grave of one dearest to him on earth.
The memory of joys that were past came
crowding on his soul. “And is this,’’ said
he, “all that remains of one so loved and so
lovely! I call, but no voice answers. 0!
my loved one will not hear? O death! in
exorable death! what hast thou done ? Let
me lie down and forget my sorrow in the
slumbers of the grave!”
When he thought thus in agony, the form
of Christianity came by. He heard the song
and the transport of the great multitude
which no man can number, around the
throne; there were the spirits of the just
made perfect—there, the spirit of her he
mourned! Their happiness was pure, per
manent and perfect. The mourner then
wiped the tears from his eyes, took courage,
and thanked God; “all the days of my ap
pointed time,” said he, “will I wait till my
change comes; and he returned to the duties
of life, no longer sorrowing as those who
have no hope.
As long as you live, seek to learn:
do not presume that old age brings wisdom.
t I
Take care how you speak all that
you know.
In the presence of the stars,, nothing
on earth is great, nothing in the breast
little.— Richter.
i >
Women love strength without imi
tating it; men, tenderness without returning
it .—Richter.
§© © OIEIS El ILinrStEAtEY ©ASHYYtg.
Growing Old. —Are you growing old 1
Let not the thought disturb you. You have
enjoyed the sunny spots of youth—the ac
tivity of manhood and the sober evening of
life. Now the shadows lengthen in your
path—the sun declines in the west and you
are drawing towards the tomb. Be of good
cheer. The thought that you have passed
an active life—that you have added to the
welfare and happiness of three generations
—must be consoling to reflect upon. With
true Christian courage persevere in the race
you have begun, and in a few days you will
reach the end of your pilgrimage. In a
world of bliss shall you reap the rewards of
a life of virtue. Repine not, then, aged
sire. Lift up your head and your heart.
A moment of darkness may be yours, but
soon the unclouded plains of heaven will
burst upon your vision. And gathered to
your fathers, you will enjoy the presence of
Him, which is better than life, and partake
of those pleasures of which the heart can
form no conception.— Boston Olive Branch.
Presidential Ages. —The President elect
of the United States was born on the 24th of
November, 1784, and is therefore in his sixty
fourth year. He is, with the exception of
General Harrison, elected at 67, the oldest
President ever chosen. Mr. Polk, elected at
49 was the youngest. It is a fact rather re
markable that among the twelve candidates
that have been called to fill the Presidential
chair, (General Taylor included.) five were
fifty-seven years old at the time of their
nomination; the average of these ages being
fifty-seven years and a half. General Cass
and Mr. Van Buren, both born in 1782, were
two years older than their opposing candidates.
1
Sympathy. —lt is sweet to turn from the
chilling and heartless world—the world that
so often misjudges our motives—to seek in
some sympathizing heart for consolation—to
find congenial souls that can feel our sorrows,
can share our joys, can understand and ap
preciate the feelings which actuate us. In
sorrow, how consoling is the blessed voice
of sympathy. In our greatest trials it light
ens our burdens—making smoother our path
way before us, and pouring a healing balm
into our wounded hearts, and our lesser afflic
tions are forgotten in its presence.
PjUosojjljß for tl)c people.
HINTS FOR PIANISTS.
Have your piano forte tuned at least four
times a year by an experienced tuner; if
you allow it to go too long without tuning,
it usually becomes flat, and troubles the
tuner to get it to stay at the concert pitch,
especially in the country. Never place the
instrument against ail outside v/all or in a
cold or damp room, particularly in a country
house; there is no greater enemy to a piano
forte than damp. Close the instrument im
mediately after your practice; by leaving it
open, dust fixes on the sound board, and cor
rodes the movements, and if in a damp
room, the strings soon rust. Should the
piano forte stand near or opposite the win
dow, guard, if possible, against its being
opened, especially oil a wet or damp day;
when the sun is on the window draw the
blind down. Avoid putting metallic or other
articles on or in the piano forte; such things
frequently cause unpleasant vibrations, and
sometimes injure the instrument.
Artificial Preparation of Ice. —After
numerous trials made by M . B. Mujlink with
dirierent salts, for the purpose of converting
water contained in a tin vessel into ice, dur
ing their solution, he ultimately gave the
preference to a mixture of four ounces of
nitrate of ammonia, four ounces of sub-car
bonate of soda, and four ounces of water.
This mixture in three hours produces ten
ounces of ice, while with the mixture of sul
phate of soda and muriatic acid, he obtained
ice only after seven hours.
Changes in Solid Forms. —The gradual
change of form of a body which still con
tinues solid, is a problem at which many are
confounded, because they cannot imitate the
great experiments of nature. On a grand
scale, it does not hold; but, in a smaller way,
the barley sugar, which, in course of time,
becomes crystaline and dull, presents an ex
ample of change of structure without any
alteration of its solidity ; an 1 copper coins,
buriod in the earth, becomes oxidized without
losing their impressions.
$2P* Pay your debts, and your neighbors
will pay theirs.
EDITOR’S DEPARTMENT.
ATHENS, SATURDAY, DEC. 16, 1848.
VALUABLE PRIZES!
The Editor of the Southern Literary Gazette , be
ing desirous of developing and encouraging Literary
Talent in the South, lias resolved to offer tbe sum of
One Hundred Dollars, in prizes, as exhibited in
the annexed schedule:
THE FIRST PRIZE
For the best Tale of the South, . . Fifty Dollars.
THE SECOND PRIZE
For the second best Tale, . . . Twenty Dollars.
THE FIRST PRIZE
For the best Poem, Twenty Dollars,
or a copy of harper’s splendid pictorial bible.
THE SECOND PRIZE
For the second best Poem, Ten Dollars,
All competitors must send in their MSS. before
the first day of February next, and they must
come, if by post, pre-paid. They should be legibly
written on one side of a sheet only. The authors’
names must be sent in separate sealed envelopes,
which will not be opened until the prizes have been
selected —when the successful competitors will be an
nounced. The articles will be submitted to the ex
amination and decision of a Committee, composed of
several gentlemen of distinguished character, whose
names will be announced in due time. The award
of prizes may be expected to be made known in the
last number for the present year, and the publication
of the First Prize Tale will be commenced with the
New Year.
The articles offered in competition will become
the property of the Editor, and those which are
deemed worthy will appear in the Gazette.
All communications relating to the prizes must be
addressed, post-paid, to the Editor.
COMMITTEE OF AWARD.
The following gentlemen have kindly consented
to act as Judges upon the articles offered in compe
tition for the above prizes:
Professor JAMES P. WADDELL,
Dr HENRY HULL,
JAMES W. HARRIS, Esq.
j The California Gold Fever.
i We shall offer no apology for making this theme
’ the subject of our leading article this week, since it
lis the absorbing topic of the day. Our exchanges
| are filled with letters and paragraphs, couched in
I such glowing language and revealing such dazzling
pictures of the gold-gathering in California, that
1 their readers may be pardoned for running crazy
! upon the theme. Nor is it surprising to us to hear
! that already four thousand persons are employed in
the alluring toil—that vessels touching at Monterey,
in the vicinity, are immediately deserted by their
crews, all of whom are eagerly engaged at twenty j
dollars a day by the enthusiastic capitalists employ- |
cd in the labor. All this we can readily believe— j
and we give credence to the reports of the extrava . ,
gant prices a deed and obtained in that region for 1
all the appliances of life and labor. Thitj is all
doubtless, true to the letter. The matter for doubt
is the reality of the discovery which has given riso
to this wonderful immigration of laborers, and these j
extravagant rates of toil. That there are extensive ;
gold regions in California, is certain; but we are
slow to belfbve that the United States have been
! fortunate enough to annex to their territory another
’ Pern. We do not say that the reports which reach
us of the amount of gold daily collected are false
we only suggest that they should he received with
; caution an l with much allowance.
; The tendency of the age is to violent exaggera
tion. It matters little what may be the subject of
report, provided only the scene be remote enough to !
give coloring to otherwise vain representations—ten
: thousand rumors are immediately set afloat, some
by design, others in mere wanton .‘port, but all ex
aggerated as they fly, like the accumulative snow
ball, until they become almost too wonderful for be
lief. Thus has it been, we fear, with the California
j Gold and we shall not bo at all surprised if, in the
end, there should be found much less of the shilling
mcial than is at prose .t supposed te exist.
We are told that a week’s labor is never m . ,
ed with less than some thousands of dollars—tl ‘
runaway sailor fills his vast trowsers’
the )el low grains, or perhaps with solid bars—
that you have only to scratch up the sand with v.
fingers to get at the precious dust! Millio ° UI
the lowest figures in the
we may reasonably expect to hear next that the f
me of the Region has been discovered, pronitiat i*
and induced to shew the way into caverns filled with
gold and sparkling with diamonds! By allaeco *
a pedlar with a load of tin basins might speedily e ’
change his stock for its weight in yellow gold a ‘\
for a few weeks’ actual labor receive enough mo
to load up his wagon, and enable him to come baTk
to the States and set up for a veritable John Jacob*
The adventurers in that El Dorado—
“ Gold ! and gold, and nothing but gold-
J he same auriferous shrine behold—
Wherever the eye can settle!”
Verily may we now expect to realise the exqu
site fable of Hood, in his story of Miss Kilwan*.
segg,” who was baptized in
“ a bowl of American gold—
NV on by Raleigh in days of old,
In spite of Spanish bravado,”’
and of whose father it is said by the poet, that he
had—
“ Gold andgold! and gold without end
Le had goldto lay up and gold to spend—
Gold to give and gold to lend,
And reversions of gold in futuro.
In wealth his family revelled and rolled
Jlimsch and his wife, and his sons so bold’
And his daughters sang to their harps of gold
O bella, eta del’ oro !” ’
But to look at the subject more seriously. We
repeat that we have no doubt there is gold in Cali
fornia, and we cannot help believing the respectable
testimony of C 01. Mason, military commandant in
that country, who writes, officially, many things,
that from an anonymous source we would discredit—
and who really “ thinks” that $50,000 worth of gold
is collected daily! As this is not a declaration, but
an inference, of the worthy Colonel’s, we must take
the liberty of suggesting, that one-half the amount
is a very extraordinary sum—that is all!
Mr. Polk, in his recent Message to Congress, re
commends the establishment of a branch Mint in
California; and we think the suggestion a very im
portant one. Whether the reports we receive are,
or are not, greatly exaggerated, there can be no
doubt that much gold will be obtained there; andif
no facilities are furnished by our Government for
coining it, it will find its way chiefly to the Mexican
and South American Mints, and thousands of beau
tiful eagles and part eagles will be lost to our coun
try. The recommendation of Mr. Polk is highly
judicious and praiseworthy therefore, and we hope
Congress will act upon it promptly.
It has yet to be proved that gold mines area bless
ing to any territory. The history of gold regionsis
certainly unfavorable to such a conclusion, and the
history ot owners of gold mines is generally quiteas
iatal to the argument. Ibis, however, will not be
regarded by those who have the glittering goal in
view, and they must reap the harvest, though it
should prove one of disappointment.
N\ e think it not amiss to utter a word of warm
to those who may bo tempted by the “ Arabian
Night -like tales they have heard of California
gold, to go thither in quest of Fortunatus’ pur.se.--
Let them be assured that they will not find it. The
surest way to make gold is to pursue diligently the
calling in which Providence has placed us. To “do
with our might whatever our hand findeth to.do,”is
the secret ot prosperity. The love goldis toopow
erful a passion tq be allowed to. get the mastery ol
the soul. And yet, wo can scarcely understand how
a man can throw himself into, the midst of the fever
isn excit ement of California, without yielding hisi
self to the master passion, and sacrificing all noble
principles to the groed of gold 1
Our Prizes.
We have been several time? remonstrated with for
allowing so brief an interval to elapse between the
announcement of our Prizes and the day of award.
In several instances this has prevented writers from
entering the lists, whom we should gladly see at our
intellectual tourney. To obviate this objection, and
to afford to all who desire it an opportunity to com
pete for the prizes, we have resolved, with the ap
probation of the gentlemen composing the Commit
tee of Award, to postpone the loading of the & 1
cks, a id the decision on their merit, until the sh-t
day ofFeb’y., 1849.
Wo will take this occasion to assure our readers
that these Prizes are offer ed in good faith, and will
be bestowed by tbe honorable Committee witho’* 0
favor or prejudice. We have seen, in some of tho
Northern Journals, an article reflecting severely on
the system of Prizes as pursued by some of the larg*
newspapers in that section—and if what is allege*!
of them be true, they deserve to be denounced. t*
beg leave, however, to remind our readers that if
some are dishonest, all are not necessarily so, a®* l 11
such a practice does obtain in the North, it