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excursion. See to it that the youth is properly j equipped, or he may suffer.” “I am persuaded that'you are right,” said I, on reading the last lines. “ You have had an opportunity of informing yourself.” “If that is your spirit,” replied 11., “you will do well. You and Preston will be good friends.” So I placed myself under the directions of the gallant Captain, who assigned me a place in a mess, and saw to the purchasing of my accoutre ments. My messmates and I hired an old hunt er, to accompany us, and act as “ chief cook and bottle washer;” and besides, I carried Howard, a bright negro, of about my own age, who had been my playmate in childhood, and my sen-ant afterward. There was one point on which I needed no urging—to make me provide myself well I spared no pains, nor expense, to mount myself and my follower in good style; and we rode forth on steeds equal, in speed and strength, to the best.” We left the station on a bright, lovely morn ing, with a sky over our heads as blue as Italy ever saw. It seemed to look down propitiously and smilingly upon us, as if offering the shelter of its canopy to men who were not to sleep under a roof for many, many nights to come. Clad in my tasty hunting suit—a frock of dressed deer skin, with a cape, edged with gaily-colored fringe, leggings of the same material, also fringed, and a glazed leather cap, whose large, projecting visor sheltered the eyes from the sun and rain— as I bestrode my noble bay, my blood bounded with tumultuous joy, and I could hardly refrain from such an exhibition of enthusiasm as would have called forth smiles of contempt from the veterans of our party. I felt a sensation of wild freedom and inde pendence, as I remembered that I was about leaving, for a while, civilization, with its thou sand shackles of form and conventionality, to see nature in its grand unmutilated magnificence, and to mingle with tho rudest and simplest of her children; I compared the frivolity and want of purpose of the fashionables, with whom I had associated, to tho earnestness and manliness of my present companions and the red men we were to meet. I looked around on our cavalcade, and saw tho weather-beaten veteran, with grizzled hair and iron countenance, but undimmed and eagle eye, sitting his horse with the ease known only to those who are accustomed to the saddle from childhood, and swinging his ponderous rifle as strength alone will enable one to do. Beside him rode the young ranger, whose eager and restless glance betokened tho spirit as yet un disciplined by hardship and danger. Our gallant Captain was distinguished for his graceful horsemanship and soldierly bearing.— lie seemed fifty-five, or perhaps sixty years old; but although his locks wero turning gray, and he had been designated as old by my friend, there was not the slightest evidence of ago in his movements. And although one of the most careful and wary of men, when there was neces sity for being so, his manner was ordinarily dashing and bold. All of us wore dresses similar in their main features, and varied a little, according to the taste, or ideas of convenience entertained by each particular wearer; to-wit, a frock, confined by a belt—in which wero stuck the indispensa ble repeaters—leather leggings, and caps** We marched steadily on for several days, stopping only at night. At the end of that time, we halted for twenty-four hours, to allow those who were so “ keen” for it, an opportunity of hunting. Among these, of course, I was one.— Our huntsman, old Hinks, went oiit, and invited me to go with him, but I chose to try my luck alone. With rifle in hand, I sallied forth, to ward a heavy clump of timber on the side of an eminence to the Cast of the camp. I had never had much experience in stilf hunting, but I trusted to the little knowledge I had picked up, and to a sort of instinctive insight into wood craft, which I inherited from my father. Wandering through the silent forest, I passed several places likely to afford deer, but saw none for a good while. As I walked warily along, stopping now and then to reconnoitre, at length, as far ahead as my vision would reach, I saw in a little dell, green and fresh, around the head of a marshy thicket, five of the “ denizens of the forest”—one noble buck with branching antlers, aucj four does. My heart fluttered at the sight. They were feeding fearlessly and leisurely, unaware of the vicinity of their enemy, man. I regretted that I did not bring my double barreled gun, as I felt confident of being able to get near enough for a shot with it to take effect. If I had brought it, instead of the ride, I thought I should have killed two deer, whereas, I must now satisfy myself with one. Immediately, on seeing the game, I stepped behind a large tree, and having formed a plan of approach, I com menced to shorten the distance between myself and the quarry. The large trees stood convenient, and availing myself of them, I drew nearer and nearer the un conscious deer. Where the growth was thick, it was easy work, stealing from one massy trunk to another; but before I could get to the giant of the forest, from whence I expected to make my shot, I had to cross an open space. To pass this, unseen, required nice management. Down on all-fours I went, sliding my rifle along, while I moved on, personating a hog, keeping a stump, or something of the sort, between me and my game, as well as I could, and stopping perfectly still whenever the old buck turned his head to wards me. [to be continued.] Origin op Punctuation. —Written letters were at first not divided into words, but in ancient in scriptions whole sentences form one continuous series. It was at a much later period than is common ly imagined, that dots, or similar marks, were first employed to part sentences and words from each other; to leave an open spaco between them is a comparatively modem improvement. Marks of punctuation, also, remained unknown until the time of the Alexandrian grammarian, and es pecially Aristophanes of Byzanz, and the Maso retes in Hebrew writings. Even then, however, they were only used as an aid in*books of instruc tion, and neither the Goth, nor the Coptic, mnch less the Northern Runes, ever knew their use. The order in which the fines of written letters are arranged, has varied considerably. Among the ancients; the direction from the right to the left prevailed generally; modern writing follows the opposite direction. The Chinese and Japan ese place their words, not side by side, but un der each other, and arrange the perpendicular columns from tho right to the left; Greek, Eas tern Indian, and Runic writing is horizontal, but begins also at the right.' Tho oldest writing is “Boustrephedon,” combining both directions, and so called from its resemblance to the movements of a plough. Mrs. Smith, did yeu say, in the hearing of my little girl, that I was a great rusty rat t" “ No, my dear Mrs. Jones, I said you was a great aristocrat,” XBS mVTM&XM SMttffl SBII VXRSBXSB. [Written for the Southern Field and Fireside.] THE EARLY SETTLERS OF GEORGIA-A CON TRAST. It is well, in more respects than one, not to despise the day of small things. In seasons of prosperity we forget the humble condition in which wo began our struggle. The people of Georgia, though not vain above the average of humanity, may take a lesson which will bring with it sobriety of judgment, and, perchance, wis dom in action. Within less than two lives of three score and ten, the colony of Georgia was planted as a re fuge for the poor. Then, in 1732, as now, in 1859, Great Britain was burthened with a pop ulation for whose absolute wants she found it difficult to provide. Her lands belonged to the crown and aristocracy, and labor was compelled into a starving, tread-mill routine, from one gen eration to another, without the possibility of a change for the better. Society was laid off into distinct classes, each revolving within its orbit, like the planetary system, and any deviation from the established order was deemed as strange a perturbation, and produced as much alarm as woidd the crossing tho Earth’s orbit by Mars, Ju piter, Herschell, or any other of the planetary bodies of our solar system. As a prudential measure, it became necessary to draw public attention to another hemisphere of fabulous capacities for social prosperity and happiness. To this end, King George 11. was pleased, in the following royal phraseology, to set forth the ne cessity of emigration, and the advantages, partic ular and general, of American colonization. “Whereas, we are credibly informed, that many of our poor subjects are, through misfortunes and’ want of employment, reduced to great necessity, insomuch as by their labor they are not able to provide a maintenance for themselves and fami lies; and if they had means to defray their charges of passage, and other expenses incident to new settlements, they would be glad to settle in any of our provinces in America; where by cultivat ing the lands, at present waste and desolate, they might not only gain a comfortable subsistence for themselves and families, but, also, strength en our colonies, and increase the trade, naviga tion, and wealth of these, our realms.” And therefore, His Majesty proceeded to name twenty of “his truly and well beloved subjects,” among whom were John Lord Viscount Purci val, and James Oglethorpe, whom he incorpo rated as a body politic by the style of “ the Trus tees for establish ing the Colony of Georgia in Ameri ca.” This charter bears date, June 9, 1732. Funds having been collected to defray the ear ly expenses of the-enterprise, the first emigrants, consisting of one hundred and fourteen persons, (men, women, and children), were shipped on the 16th of November, 1732, accompanied by Gen. Oglethorpe. On the 13th of January, 1733, Gen. O. wrote from Georgia, to the'Trustees in Eng land,. notifying them of his safe arrival, with the loss of only two children among his people, dur ing the voyage. His next letter is dated, “From the Camp near Savannah, the 10th of February, 1733,” giving an account of the locality lie had selected for a town, ten miles from the sea, ac cessible to ships drawing twelve feet of water.— He says: “ The landscape is very agreeable, the stream being wide, and bordered with high woods on both sides. The whole people arrived here on the Ist of February; at night their tents were got up. Till the 10th, we were taken up in un loading, and making a crane, which I then could not get finished; so I took off the hands and set some to the fortification, and began to fell tho woods. I have marked out the town and com mon ; half of the former is already cleared, and the first house was begun yesterday afternoon. A little Indian nation, the only one within fifty miles, is not only in amity, but desirous to be sub- His Majesty, King George, to have lands given them among us, and to breed their children at our schools. -Their chief, and his beloved man, who is the second man in the nation, de sire to be instructed in the Christian religion.” During the first year, the private donations in England, to assist the colony, amounted to about eighteen thousand dollars; and, in the succeed ing year, Parliament voted fifty thousand dollars, out of the sale of lands at St Christopher. This was the extent of pecuniary aid. The Indians made a formal cession of the country to the King. Five thousand acres of land were granted by the Trustees to three of the colonists, at the time of embarkation, in trust, “to make grants, from time to time, to every man of twenty-one years of ago, and upwards, (who should arrive in Geor gia, and desire tho same), fifty acres of land, to hold to him, and his heirs male.” Many appli cations were made to the Trustees in England, by persons who proposed to go over and settle in the colony, at their own expense, to whom particular grants of land were made, under the same tenure, and on these conditions: “ That they should, within twelve months from the date of their grants, go to, and arrive in Georgia, with one man servant for every fifty acres granted them; and should, with such ser vants, abide, settle, inhabit, and continue there for three years; that they should, within ten years, clear and cultivate one-fifth part of the land granted them; and within the next ten years, clear and cultivate three-fifth parts more of the said lands, and plant one thousand white mulberry trees upon every one hundred acres thereof, when cleared. And that they should not, at any time, hire, keep, lodge, board, or employ, any negroes within Georgia, on any account what soever, without special leave.” From an official report, made up to 1740, it appears that fifteen hundred and twenty-one per sons had been sent over, of whom nine hundred and fifteen were British, six hundred and six were foreign Protestants; and of all the number, six hundred and eighty-seven wero men, being an average of about two hundred a year. Such was the beginning of Georgia. In the meantime, much discontent prevailed among the colonists. The Trustees appointed sundry Bailiffs and “Wardens, in whom the judicial authority was vested. Some of these were accused of being tyrannical and corrupt. Tho grand jury at Savannah, in 1737, made a strong representation, specifying many acts of the kind, to the Trustees. One of these Bailiffs was mag azine" keeper, having the custody of the provi sions and supplies brought over, and otherwise collected, for the subsistence of the colonists. — He was charged with gross partiality, and of alluring weak minds to his support by the power he had of feeding, or starving them. Some of the magistrates were said to have purchased New York cargoes, and other commodities, with trust funds, and then retailing at exorbitant rates, as tho necessities of the people permitted. The list of grievances is of formidable extent.— Among other hardships complained of, was the refusal of the Trustees to allow rum or other ardent spirits to be used in tho colony. This restriction cut off a main source of income, by de stroying the lumber trade with the West india Islands; for when the latter could not dispose of their rum, they were unable to purchase return cargoes of lumber. For the want of ne groes, it was contended, the lumber trade in Georgia could never compete with that in South Carolina where negro labor was employed; hence, the colonists applied to the Trustees for permis sion to introduce slaves. On the 9th of December, 1738, a petition to this effect was signed at Savannah by one hundred and seventeen land holders. In the meantime, settlements were made at Frederica, Darien, and other points near the sea board, all of which experienced embarrassment and trouble—sometimes of a very distressing character, from the diseases of the climate, the oppression of rulers, and the rapacity of the vicious among the colonists themselves.— The details may be read in the records published by the Georgia Historical Society, in 1842. They cannot be given at greater length in this article. The Trustees, finding that they could not manage the affairs of the colony so as to give general satisfaction, surrendered their charter to the crown in 1752. The twenty years administration under the Trustees resulted in failure. Os exports, there was nothing of any value—not a bale of cotton, and but very little rice, indigo, or other produce. In 1742, the Board at London appointed a com mittee to “consider how far it may be convenient or proper to admit the introduction, and use of negroes, in the . Province of Georgia, and under what limitations and restrictions.” The result of the inquiry has not been ascertained, nor at what period negroes were first imported into Georgia. The Europeans who attempted field labor under the hot sun, and debilitating climate of Southern Georgia, soon became exhausted, from their inability to endure it, and gave up in despair. One chest of raw silk, weighing forty-jive pounds and two ounces, prepared by Mrs. Mary Camuse, wile of Lewis Oaniuse, was shipped at Savannah, in 1741, and created quite a sensation in England, where, in 1742, the Trustees “ Resolved, That it is recommended to the Com mon Council to give Mrs. Camuse a gratuity for every person who shall be certified to be properly instructed by her in the art of winding silk.” Tho idea of raising silk in Georgia induced the Privy Council to adopt a new seal for the Gov ernment, on one side of which was to be repre sented the Genius of the Colony offering a skein of silk to His Majesty. By command, the Lords Com missioners for Trade and Plantations laid before the Council, a plan for the government of the Colony of Georgia, which was adopted in 1754, when the King appointed John Reynolds, Esq., “Captain-General and Govemor-in-cliief of His Majesty's Province of Georgia, and Vice-Admi ral of the same.” At this time, the population of the Colony did not, perhaps, exceed five thousand souls, judg ing from the ratio of increase before noticed.— But it was the germ of an Empire, as the pres - ent will show. For convenient reference, the cen sus of Georgia is given from 1790, the first year it was taken after the Government of the United States was organized under the Constitution: Year. Whites. Slates. Total. 1790 52.556 29,261 82,548 184)0 101,678 59,404 162,101 1810 145,414 105,218 252,433 1820 1 ■'9,556 149,654 840.987 1880 296,806 217,531 616,823 1840 407,695 280,944 691,392 iB6O 521,572 881,662 906,185 , During sixty years, embraced in the above ta ble, the white population of Georgia has multi plied itself by ten. The slave population has in creased in a still greater ratio, having multiplied itself by thirteen. The taxable property of the State is shown by the Comptroller General’s Re port for 1858: 83,780,805 acres of land valued at $138,859,970 482,124 Slaves 227,468,927 Money and solvent debts 89,762,797 City or Town property ..80,110,244 Foreign Bank Capitla! 778,413 Merchandise 10,462,511 Capital employed in shipping and tonnage 763,235 Manufactories, &c., 8,868,786 Household and Kitchen furniture over S3OO, 2,051,505 Other property not enumerated 34,928,856 Aggregate value of whole property $539,055,114 Valuation in 1857, i 527,828,963 Increase in 1858, $11,226,151 The Comptroller General states the number of polls to be 97,048; professions, 2,978; and free persons of color, 1,093. The average value of land per acre is $4 II; the average value of slaves, per head, $52 639. Number of voters in 1857, 104,394; general tax in 1858, $441,- 965. This view will suffice as to the permanent re sources of Georgia, from which the State Gov ernment is supported. Estimating the white population at 700,000 in 1859, there would be an average of $770 in property to each individ ual. Another exhibit of the strength of Georgia has yet to be made, in her works of internal im provement. These have attained for her, by general consent, the title of “ Empire State of the South." A list of railroads, with the length and cost of each, is here given: * Miles. Cost Atlanta and LaGrauge 86>£ $1,171,716 Augusta and Savannah 58 1,030,100 BarnesvilleandThomaston 16 320,000 Brunswick and Florida SI 800,000 Central 192 3,750,000 Etowah ... S 120,000 Geonria 171' Warrenton branch 4 Athens branch 39 4,174,492 Washington branch 17, Macon and Western 101 l,so<MftP Main Trunk 8)$ ftUrut Milledgeville and Gordon 17 200,000 “ “ Eatonton 22 300,000 Muscogee 50 1,216,518 Rome 20 300,000 Savannah, Albany, & Gulf 68 1,151,751 South-Western 106) Butler branch 22 v 2,269,323 Cuthbert branch 9) Western and Atlantic 188 5,901,497 Total 1,174 $24,268,163 Before the day of* railroads, a trip from Macon to Savannah, in sulkies, or on horse-back, could usually be made in five days, hard traveling. When a line of stages was established, the time was not less than two days and a half. Now, the same distance is run by the cars in eight hours—sometimes less—passengers taking sup per in Savannah and breakfast in Macon. There is similar dispatch from the seaboard to the mountains. It once required as much time to perform a journey, by private conveyance, from Columbus to Savannah, as it now does from New York to Liverpool. For these, and other advan tages, common in our day, far beyond what has fallen to any preceding age, let us manifest our gratitude, by increasing the means of intelli gence, that our successors may be as far in ad vance of us, as we excel in social, civil, and po litical privileges, and material prosperity, the little band of Europeans who first scarred the forest on the banks of the Savannah. M. “ Will you give me that ring ?” said a village dandy to a lady; “ for it resembles my love for you; it has no end.” “ Excuse me sir,” was the reply, “ I choose to keep it, as being emblema tical of mine for you; it has no beginning.” — i■ i A Yankee who had seen the statue of the “ Greek Slave,” and was asked if he was not in raptures with it, answered, “ Well, to tell the truth, I don’t care much about them stone gals.” [Written for the Southern Field and Fireside.] THE LITTLE FOLKS. Oh! tho bad little ones! oh! the dear little ones! That darter around almost every hearthstone; They're all that is wayward, they're all that is loving; How sad our homes would be, if they were gone! With their wee restless Angers, and tireless feet. They are, all the day long, spying some mischief out; i They tear up the books, and they litter the room, And scatter the basket of spools all about; Til mama, with a sigh, says she wishes they all Were big girls and boys, and well out of her way: But the words are scarce uttered, e'er quickly recalled— 1 For what would she do, without Willie and May? Should a visitor call, they're sure to detect Red hair, and cross eyes, wry mouth, or bald head; And despite mother’s whispers, and frowns, and aught else, I Some unsavory truth is most sure to be said. Then, again, they will suddenly spring from their play. And with countenance lifted to yours, very grave, Some question will be put you, you cannot reply to, Unless you've more wisdom than most mothers have. They're wicked, they’re wilful, but deeeil. we thank God, In the bosom of childhood not oflen|hath place; While the world tries to cover the heart with a veil, The thoughts of our children arc writ in the face. When the friends that surround us, in friendshl p bestow Thetr words of affection, we list with a fear, That the lips, only speak; but when the child tells ns, “I love you a million,” we know he's sincere. Oh ! the dear little, sweet little, worrying pets, That cluster around almost every hearthstone; With their soft clinging arms, and their loving caress, They're twined round our hearts, and we would not spare one I • c. e. g. — [Written for the Southern Field and Fireside.! STRAY LEAVES FROM THE DIARY OF A COUNTRY LADY. BY. M. M., OF WALNUT GROVE. Christmas Eve. This has been a busy day with me; and, were it not for the iron chain of habit, I should un doubtedly lie asleep just now, instead of scrib bling over the ordinary incidents of the day. But the custom of reviewing, in some way or other, tho good and evil of daily life, is too strong to be laid aside, for a temporary fit of fatigue. Owing to sundry mishaps, a little tardiness, and the blessing of an abundant crop, we have just managed, while the last rays of the setting sun were gilding the revolving levers of the screw, to pack the last snowy fibre of our cotton; and as I take a liberal share in all the troubles and per plexities of the plantation, as well as its pleas ures and profits, I felt as though an incubus were lifted off my shoulders, when I saw Jack and John, with a grin of satisfaction peculiar to themselves, roll, by their united strength, the last ponderous bag from under the screw.— John gave it a hearty thump with tho sledgo hammer, byway of a parting salutation, I sup pose, and then, majestically setting his arms akimbo, he ordered his dusky satellites, “to pick up them baskets, and ropes, and baggin’,” put ’em up in the gin ’ouse, lock the pick-room door, and give him the key.” No prouder, happier darkies walked the earth, than did John and his crew from the gin house, this evening, where I could not resist the temptation of going myself, to witness the winding up of the agricultural drama for tho year. The packing of the last bag is always one of proud triumph, to black and white, and a general jubilee ensues accordingly; but when it happens on Christmas eve, when all hands are sure “ that last bit of scatterin’, cotton in tho new groin’ cut” is safely stowed away in the last bag, and there will be no more “botherin’” about it, ■ who can tell what visions of roast pig, turkey, and ham, the substantials of the coming feast to-morrow, and the “ Christmas” that is to be given out the smoke house, for their own private management and possession, are floating in floury splendor before these dus ky sons and daughters oftoil? Well, they have fairly earned it, and with an unsparing hand it shall be dealt out to them; for truly it is here, that I, at least, exquisitely realize, that “ it is more blessed to give than to receive." This morning, aunt Betty and I put our wits and hands together to make our Christmas cake; the batter was uncommonly light and fine, but some how, a vision of a “raw streak in the middle" has been haunting me ever since I felt its weight; but aunt Betty says, “it’s all right,” and of course she knows. Our Christmas box of fruits, nuts, and candies, which Bill brought home from town, in the; wagon last night, I with Eve-like curiosity, had to peep into to-day, and, thanks to G.’s care, they are, to use his own favorite terms, “ truly splendid." Joe cried for a stick of candy, and as I had petted him up to this stage of naughtiness, I had, of course, to continue the process, and give it to him, though I had promised myself that nothing should be touched till to-morrow. Black as he is, I see he is not lacking in developing the same traits of character, common to all other young Americans. This afternoon, I sent Dinah to hunt hollies and evergreens, to decorate the rooms. She came back loaded with water oaks, cedars, and mistletoes, but reported no hollies to be found; so I had just despaired of carrying out my old childish practice of “Decking our houses, on Christinas day. With holly and ivy, so green and so gay,” When I saw big Jack coming with an armful which he had found, while hauling a load of wood. I appreciated them all the more, that I had not sent him for them; but he knew of old my fancies for “sich nonsense,” as I understand he terms it, in the kitchen —and ministered to them accordingly. I busied myself very pleas antly in arranging festoons and flower-pots, and was so fortunate as to find a few faithful roses on the never fading monthlies, and just an ounce more of sunshine would have brought out the hyacinths and jonquils; but, never mind, they will be here by and by. So I contented my self with delicate pearls of the mistletoe, which contrasted charmingly with the rich scarlet berries of the holly. I remembered the beauti ful running cedars and ground pines, we used to get at home, long ago, but these, I knew, did not grow in this latitude, so I twined them around the halls of memory, and left them there, green and fresh, as they hung in days of yore. I have had only one drawback to my pleas ure to-day, one tiny spot on the kaleidoscope of home life, and that is in itself so silly lam half ashamed to pen it. Aunt Betty with the pertina city of long-standing and undisputed authority in all culinary matters, insisted I should point out which turkey she must kill for to-morrow. I half suspect this to be a species of refined cruelty, which she practices towards me, for she knows how much 1 dislike to do it; yet, I had to go w*h her to the turkey house, where she had diem all safely imprisoned, and point out the ris* 1 one i but I felt all the while like a judge, to pronounce sentence of death upon an innocent victim of fate instead of crime, -ts we must eat turkeys, and pigs, and chicken*) I had rather not see them till they are stalled and browned, and brought to the table, (hough I must admit this is rather an odd sort of fastidiousness. One more item, and I have done for to-night, or “Santa Claus” wdl be startled to see me sit- ting up, ready to receive his elfish majesty when he tumbles down the chimney. Having been most successful with turkeys, this year, it oc curred to me, if I knew a family whose necessi ties were such that they had not a turkey, and could not procure one for a Christmas dinner, I would supply the want; but strange, yet pleasant to record, I have taxed my memory in vain to dispose of a single gobbler upon these terms. I can think of no family in our neighborhood that cannot afford a Christmas turkey, if they wish it And thereupon, I caught myself indulging for a moment in what some would deem the un womanly habit of philosophizing a little and re flecting. “ What can be the cause of this?” said Ito myself; “ why are we of the South dis tinguished so favorably from some other sections of our country ? Can slavery have anything to to do with it? Is it owing to this institution tliat all, among us, who practice a reasonable degree of industry and economy, are so well to do in the world, that charity, in one of its most com mon and important forms, is likely to become ex tinct, just Irom the lack of opportunity for its exercise ? This cannot be averred as strictly true in all parts of the South. In cities, no doubt, to a certain extent, unavoidable poverty and desti tution, do and must exist; but in the country, at least in this section of the South where I reside, necessary want is almost unknown. A generous soil always rewards honest industry, with competence and comfort. Christmas Night. At last, the day is over, with its cares, its plea sures, and I must add, its trials, too. If it be true, that trifles, light as air, make up the sum of human happiness, (and I am fain to believe they do,) I suppose it is equally true that trifles, of the same specific gravity, make up the sum of human misery. Christmas day belongs here al most exclusively to negroes. The whole house hold of them is invariably astir long before day, and one’s precious morning nap is sadly inter rupted by cries of “Christmas gi/J’ missis!” “Chrismus gif, master!” shouted at you, from every cabin door you pass, and by grinning elf. that can pronounce the words. Popping bladders, and guns touched off with a coal of fire, arc fitting accompaniments to such chorus. This matter of “gifts" or presents is often a serious tax upon one’s resources of imagina tion, and material supply. Innumerable collars, and caps, and ribbons, and coats, and pants, and cravats, are to be forth-coming, for each must have something. Half the morning, too, is to be spent in the smoke house, sharing out “Christmas” in the shape of flour, lard, su gar, coffee, and molasses. This, however, the negroes claim as no gift, but their right. It is theirs, by prescriptive, traditionary title. Then, there were passes to write, and aunt Betty’s do mains to visit, and there was the distribution of prizes, for cotton-picking, which we postponed for to-day, to be presided over. I had kept a faith ful register of weights, for my own satisfaction, as well as theirs, and we managed it so that each should get something, a dimo only, some times, for the small ones; but some carried off, in prizes, as much as five dollars. Mr. 8., the overseer, says they have picked uncommonly well during the fall, and the weights bear out his assertion. I scanned the countenances of all, as they received their money; the men, cap in hand, with a grin, a bow, and the inevitable scrape of the foot; and the women, with their own peculiar, short bobbing curtsey. There was not a shadow of discontent; for jealousy among themselves (thanks to the simplicity of their na tures.) is a feeling almost unknown. About twelve, our guests arrived, and my toilette waa-barely made to receive them, so many and various had been my occupations of the morning. In the evening, some one pro posed to solemnize the “Yule Log,” an enormous one of oak. (F. insisted that it should be put on, though it was almost warm enough to liave dis pensed with fire.) So we gathered up the scat tered “chunks,” and placed them carefully away. For myself, I confess a momentary feeling of superstitious awe came over me as the thought occurred, should we all, of that social group, be spared to gather around the ample hearth, and kindle again the flame of friendship, with the cheerful blaze of another Christmas fire? But all things must end. It is now late at night Our guests have departed; and lam alone, making up my day’s account. The gifts have been dis tributed to the grateful and grinning recipients; the bladders are all popped, ammunition is ex hausted, and the guns are still. The hub-bub of Christmas day is over. For servants and children at the South Christmas is the happiest day of the year. And to us old folks—the masters and the mistresses—the fathers and mothers—is it not the happiest for us too ? If it is not, ought it not to be? On what other day of the three hundred and sixty-five do we make so many hearts glad ? so many hearts of those depend ent upon us for support and happiness, to leap for joy? m - Growth of Animals. —Man grows for twenty years, and lives ninety or one hundred. The camel grows for eight years, and lives forty years. The horse grows for five years, and lives twen ty-five years. The ox grows for four years, and lives fifteen or twenty yeais. The lion grows for four years, and lives twen ty years. ’ The dog grows for two years, and lives twelve or fifteen years. The cat grows for one and a half years, and lives nine or ten years. The hare grows for one year, and lives about eight years. The guinea pig grows for seven months, anil lives for six or seven years. The rule by which the above taMe bas been made out, is one which French philosophers pro fess to have discovered, viz.: that animal life is extended to a term about -"qual to five times that which it requires to a/rri-e a,t maturity from btrth. A Goon Wife *ho Found “ Good in Eveby tiiino.” A faraier was once blessed with a good natured, contented wife; but it not being in the nature of mm to be satisfied, he one day said to a neighb<"’» he really wished he could hear his wife sold once, for the novelty of the thing. Whereupon, his sympathising neighbor advised hi.ii to go to the woods and get a load of crooked sticks, which would certainly make her as cross as he could desire. Accordingly, the farmer col lected a load of the most ill-shaped, crooked, crotchety materials that were ever known under the name of fuel. This he deposited in its place, taking care that his spouse should have access to no other wood. Day after day passed without a complaint. At length the pile was consumed. “ Well, wife,” said the farmer, “ I am going after more wood; I’ll get another load just such as I got last time.” “ Oh, yes, Jacob,” she replied, “it will be so nice, if you will; for such crooked, crotchety wood, as you brought before, does lie around the pot so nicely.” 35