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13 The Thread of Discourse. “ Borne people contract strong habits of what may be called external association, the body being more concerned in it than the mind, and external things than ideas. They connect a certain action with a cer tain object, so that without the one, they cannot easily perform the other : although, independently of habit, there is no connex ion between them. Dr. Beattie mentions the case of a clergyman, who could not compose his sermon, except when he held a .foot-rule in his hand, and of another,who, while he was employed in study, .would al ways be rolling between his fingers a parcel of peas, whereof he constantly kept a trenchei full within reach of his arm. Locke speaks of a young man, who in one particular room, where an old trunk stood, could dance very well: but in any other room, if it wanted any such a piece of furniture, could not dance at all. A writer in the Tatler, mentions a more probable instance of a lawyer, who in his pleadings used always to he twisting about his finger a piece ot pack-thread, which the punsters of that time called, with some reason, the thread of his discourse. One day a client of his had a mind to see how he would acquit himself without it, and stole it from him. The consequence was, that the orator became silent in the midst of his liarrangue , and the client suffered for his waggery, by the loss of his cause.” Ills ofTife. “ Theie are three modes of bearing the ills of life : by indifference, which is the most common : by philosophy, which is the most ostentatious : and religion, which is the most effectual. It has been acutely said, that ‘ philosophy readily triumphs over past or future evils, but that present evils triumph over philosophy.’ Philoso phy is a goddess, whose head indeed is in heaven, but whose feet are upon earth. She attempts more than shq accomplishes, and promises more than she performs. She can teach us to hear of the calamities of others with magnanimity : but it is le- ligion only that can teach us to bear our own with resignation.” love and Jealousy. “ Love may exist without jealousy, al- thouth this is rare ; but jealousy may ex ist without love, and this is common : for jealousy can feed on that which is bitter no less than on that which is sweet, and is sustained by pride as often as by affec tion.” ,.v. “We forgive, as long as we love.” THE COUNTRY MAN Old Grimes. “ Old Grimes is dead’, that good old man, •We ne’er shall see him more, He used to wear a long black coat’ All buttoned down before. His heart was open as the day, His feelings all were true, His hair was some inclined to grey, He wore it in a queue. Whene’er he heard the voice of pain, His breast with pityjburned, The large round head upon his cane From ivory was turned. And ever prompt at pity’s call, He knew no base design, „ His eyes were dark, and rather small, His nose was aquiline. He lived at peace with all mankind, In friendship he was true, His coat had pocket holes behind, His pantaloons were blue. Unharmed, the sin which earth pollutes He passed securely o’er, He never wore a pair of boots, For thirty years or more. But good old Grimes is now at rest, • Nor fears misfortune’s frown, He wore a double-breasted vest, The stripes ran up and down. He modest merit sought to find, And pay it its desert, He had no malice in his mind, No ruffles on his shirt. HLs neighbors he did not abus§, Was sociable and gay, * He wore large buckles on his shoes, And changed them every day. His knowledge, hid from public gaze, He did not bring to view, Nor make a noise town-meeting days, As many people do. His worldly goods he never threw In trust to fortune’s chances, But lived (as all his "brothers do) In easy circumstances. Thus undisturbed by anxious cares, His peaceful moment's ran, And everybody said he was A fine old gentleman. This amusing ballad has been long.circula- ted anonymously, and has been generally much liked. Its authorship is now made known. With the exception of the first verse, the origin of- which is still unascertained, it was written by Albert G. Greene, of Providence, R. I.”— 1834. • Discouragements of Authors. .“The Pilgrim’s Progress is one of the most popular books in the English lan guage : yet Bunyan says, in his poetical preface to that, work, that lie was advised not to publish it. ‘Some said, John, print it, others said no.’ Thus the existence of this interesting work was made to turn upon the author’s just' estimation of his own production. It is known that tire Rambler was very poorly received at first, and that the whole life of the author was embittered by poverty. Dr. Johnson’s literary labors never afford ed him a comfortable living, notwithstand ing he was a very voluminous writer. In his declining years, a small pension was settled on him by the king, which just sav ed him from suffering in his old age, but never fftnounted to competence. When Sir Walter Scott had written a -volume of his Waverly novels, he submitted the man uscript to a friend, and asked his advice about publishing it. His friend assured him that it was not likely to be popular, and advised him not to publish. The vol ume was accordingly laid aside for several years, but afterwards Sir Walter published it, and it proved to be one of the most pop ular of his works. Hume, whose history of England is alasting and sufficient mon ument to his genius, on the publication of the first volume of that work, was so vex ed by the cotemporary critics and unfeeling writers, that he resolved to expatriate him self, and was prevented, I believe, from carrying the resolution into effect, only by some uncontrollable circumstance.—We may learn from the above, this, at least : that a few individuals and the public often differ in opinion. The appeal from the few to the many is, notwithstanding the defects of the latter court, one of the most precious rights of the ^philanthropist and the scholar.” To Banner <fc Times. I return the money, and send you my paper. Please reciprocate. Way to Promotion. “ Speed relates that Guymond, chaplain to King Henry the First, observing that for the most part ignorant men were advanced to the best dignities in the church, as lie celebrated divine service befoie the king, and was about, to read these words out of St. James, ‘It rained not upon the earth iii yeais and vi months,’ read it thus: < It rained not upon the earth one—one— one years, and five—one months.’ Henry noticed the singularity, and afterwards took occasion to blame the chaplain for it. 'Sir,’ answered Guymond, ‘ I did it on purpose ; for such readers I find are sooner preferred by your majesty.’ The kiDg smiled, and in a short time afterwards presented Guy- mond to the benefice of St. Frideswid’s in Oxford.” “ Women are not aware of the extent of their coquetry.”