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Dodge's Miterary Tuseum,-
363
the House of York; how John Bunyan and
Voltaire are on the most. amicable terms;
how Cranmer and Queen Mary sing hymns
together, while Simon Renard arranges the
music; how Messalina and Lady Jane Grey
have a sisterly affection for each other, while
Lazarus and Creesus are twin-brothers.
All these references show the triumph of
one of my favorite Isms, and’ the startling
advantages of being made perfect. I do
not think I would have returned to earth,
had it not been for the benefit of my fellow-
mortals. \I wished to make known to them
my experience, else why should I leave a
region of joy and bliss, where the only ob-
jectionable feature is being occasionally un-
der the influence of aspirit-rapper? I per-
formed the journey to earth by the same
easy conveyance with which 1 had mounted
to the heavenly regions—a wiser, and as I
trust, a better man.
THE HOT SUPPER.
[We copy the following suggestive sketch from the
advance sheets of a new work, soon to be issued by
Tappan & Whittemore, of this city. It is entitled
“The Recorded Will,” and purports to be written
by aclergyman’s widow. Our extract opens with a
conversation between two college students.—Ed.
E are to have a hot supper in the
loft over Kinnard’s store,” said a
Junior to Brown, a classmate.“ Turkey,
chickens, apple-pie, and custards, precisely
at twelve. All the class are to be there,
and you won't refuse this time,” said White.
“Jt is to be partiéularly quiet and sober.
You'll not regret it, my good fellow.”
“ Well, perhaps I will go,” said his com-
panion, who had uniformly refused all in-
vitation of this sort, to clubs, oyster-suppers,
and convivialities of. his. fellow collegians,
incurring thereby the odious epithet of a
“stingy Methodist.”
So he handed a bank-note to the Junior,
who left him in high spirits at his unlooked-
for success. )
For nearly three years Brown had firmly
resisted every temptation of this kind, and
his high standing as a scholar, together with
an unblemished reputation and obliging dis-
position, exempted him from the suspicion
and obloquy usually the reward of such
well-doing.
Congratulations were expressed and bets
laid by the high fellows who were surprised
as well as delighted, that at last “the bird
was caught.”
“T tell you,” said Parsons to Stone, “ we've
nailed him. Ile’s coming, and no mistake.
T’'ve laid a bet of, ten dollars that he shall
drink. IIe can’t refuse. Now, remember,
mix fourth proof brandy with his port, half-
and-half, I say.”
“Yes, yes, 1 know,” replied Stone; “and
wouldn’t I give a ten to see the sport?
Never fear.”
The-night was cold and starry, when
Brown threw aside his books, adjusted his
toilet quickly, and walked towards Kin-
nard’s store, not, however, without some
compunctious visitings of conscience at the
consent so hastily given to be present at the
supper.
“For once, it may do no harm to see
what these famous suppers are, although I
had much rather be on my pillow, to tell the
truth.” ,
When he reached the store, the door was
closed, and all was silent; but a faint light
from the loft above gave signs’ of, vitality,
and gently pushing open the door, he made
his way through packages and barrels to the
stairs, and soon was admitted to the busy
group.
Whetted appetites in a keen December
night, seldom luxuriously indulged within
the precincts of commons; various savory
odors from the steaming dishes, together
with the cheerful faces of the young collegi-
ans who were laying the cloth, and produc-
ing from baskets and pails the materials for
the feast, altogether made it a scene of ex-
hilaration and pleasure.
After arrangements were finished to the
satisfaction of all present, the leading mem-
ber of the class arose, and with mock gravi-
ty imitating the doctor, rang a little bell,
and desired some one to say grace.
A general titter went round the table,
but all involuntarily glanced at Brown,
who, nothing daunted, instantly rose, and
reverently asked a blessing of God on the
food so unexpectedly provided.
A silence followed. Stone tried to get off
a witticism upon the chaplain, but it didn’t
take. Great good humor, however, prevail-
ed. »The smoking viands were deliciously
prepared, and the repast went off with un-
usual courtesy and self-restraint.. The frag-
ments soon disappeared ; plates, knives, and
forks were gathered up into baskéts, and
wine followed, as a matter of course.
Parsons,. who presided, bowing low to
Brown, presented the glass, with the toast,
“ Good fellowship.”
“T thank you,” replied Brown; “no one
desires good fellowship with all the present
company more than myself, but as I never
drink wine, I shall only damp your festivity,
and therefore beg leave to retire.”
With this he rose and was proceeding to
the door, when Stone sprang forward and
put the key in his pocket.
“You will not leave this room, Brown,
till you have drank with us. We only drink
to good fellowship. You surely are not the
crabbed fellow to go offnow. Come, Brown,
for once be merry and have a good time.
Who’s afraid ? ”
“Tam not, my friend,” said Brown, firm-
ly, as he returned to his seat; “ and as I be-
lieve courtesy permits me to have the floor,
I will reply to the toast as a fraternal broth-
er.”
Brown then proceeded in a strain of elo-
quence to address his auditors, who had be-
fore expressed the highest admiration for
his talents, and briefly arranged his argu-
ments in favor of a strictly temperate course
of life.
Ilis companions listened in silence while
he alluded to scenes of disgraceful riot which
had expelled some of the. members of. the
college, during the term, to their homes, car-
tying sorrow and distress to their. friends;
and feelingly did he appeal to their nobler
motives to abandon a course which must end
in ruin.
He drew a picture of friends at home,
toiling early and late, to afford them the ad-
vantages of education ; of the mother’s pray-
ers for her absent sons. He appealed to
their future welfare, their. ambitious hopes,
all connected with college life. .
Brown sat down, surprised himself at the
respectful attention he received.
“You've lost your ten,” whispered Stone
to Parsons.
“Yes, and got a temperance lecture in
the bargain,” replied Parsons,
The door was unlocked, and Brown bade
his companions. good evening, and walked
out, but was instantly followed by a young
man who had sat thoughtfully at the lower
end of the table, shading his face with his
hand, :
“Brown, give me your hand. | Listen: I
us, that never will I touch a drop of liquor
again. I have wasted time and money
enough. God sent you to that loft to-night.
Ihave a widowed mother whose very life is
bound up in mine. Brown, you have wak-
ed me from a fatal dream. . God bless you !”
And thus do the delicate wheels of Divine
Providence take up opportunities improved,
faithful, earnest efforts of true disciples,
turning the channels of vice and dissipation
into healthy currents of living streams, which
shall flow on forever.
“Workers with God,” be faithful, for an
eternity shall develop the mighty wonder of
human instrumentality, wrought in, and car-
ried out, by the mysterious machinery of
Divine Providence. *
“ Who is your Biblical Professor?” ask-
ed Brown, several years after, while visiting
a Theological Seminary in one of the North-
ern States.
“Why, Prof. Alden. You must know
him—one of the best of men and most dis-
tinguished scholars.”
“Alden? Ah, yes, I remember him.”
The friends met, and mutual embraces
and rapid inquiries followed.
“Your sermon in Kinnard’s loft was the
instrument of saving me, my dear friend.
From that night I was an altered -man.
But for you, I had been lost. to friends, to
reputation, and to myself.”
Blessed be God, for seed dropped by the
wayside, for links of Providence touching
the festive board, and reaching on through
eternal ages.
When does a young lady wish to win
more than seven beaux at once ?
When she tries to fascinate (fasten eight.)
. . Games of Chance.
I wave heard a story of two persons
playing at backgammon, one of whom was
so enraged at losing his match at a particu-
lar point of the’ game, that he took the
board and threw it out of the window. It
fell upon the head of.one of.the passen-
gers in the street, who came up to demand
instant satisfaction for the affront and inju-
ry he had sustained. The losing gamester
only asked him: if he understood. back-
gammon, and finding that he did, said that
if upon secing the state of the game he did
not excuse the extravagance of his conduct,
he would give him any other satisfaction he
wished for...The tables were accordingly
brought, and the situation of the two con-
tending parties being explained, the gen-
tleman’ put up his swords and went away
perfectly satisfied.—Tazlitt.
A Home Anecdote.
Tite following anecdote should be pasted
up in every homestead. It is a sermon
worth listening to:
ri legroom requested his wife to ac-
company him into the garden a day or two
after the wedding. .He then threw a line
over the roof of their cottage. Giving his
wife one end of it, he retreated to the other
side, and exclaimed,
“ Pull the line!”
She pulled it, at his request, as far as she
could.
He cried,
-“ Pall it over!”
“T can't,” she replied.
“ Pall with all your might !” shouted the
whimsical hus!
But in vain wore all the efforts of the
bride to pu ull over the line, so long as the
husband held on the opposite end. ‘But
when he came round, and they both pulled
at one end, it came over with great ease.
“ There,” said he, “you see how hard
and ineffectual was our labor when we pull-
ed in opposition to each other; but how
easy and pleasant it.is when we bot!
together. If we opposo each other, it will
be hard work; if we act together, it will be
pleasant to lives Jet us, therefore, pull to-
here solemnly promise by the stars above
gether.”
[Written for Dodge's Literary Museum.J
ELEGY
On the death of Helen Louisa, only daughter of Mar-
tim T. and Mary J. Champney, in Boston, 2st
ult., aged 4 years and 8 months.
BY W. 0. EATON.
Her father in a distant land,
Her mother by her side,
Laid prostrate by Death’s icy hand,
Our little darling died.
Yet go, dear spirit, go,
Where all is peace and pleasure;
We will not wish thee back to woe,
Though thou wert such a treasure.
Tier soul was full of life and loye,
And made the household gay,
And oft to mirth our hearts ’twould moye
To see each winsome way
That in her roguish glance,
And mimic voice and motion,
Appeared, each gazer to entrance
With warm, unfeigned devotion,
About the house, she ran so oft,
With fairy foot and free,
Tier artless prattle, sweet and soft,
Poured forth so merrily,
‘We miss her all the more,
We feel the loss of brightness;
The sunshine’s gone from off the floor,
And from our hearts the brightness!
But blest art thou! lost love! to fly
The ills of life so soon;
They shall not dim thy angel eye,
Thou hast God’s brightest boon—
Freedom from sin and care,
Freedom from hopes all blighted,
Freedom from that untold despair
That waits on love benighted!
Dwell there, forever dwell, dear child,
We follow while we mourn,
With prudent footstep, or with wild,
But all with spirits worn.
Heaven! glorious tho’t!. Even I who write,
ess and in sorrow,
Hope soon to pass those portals bright
Which gave thee God’s To-Morrow.
O, may we @ll assemble there,
All sins forgot—forgiven;
And for each cross that here we bear, |
Receive a crown in heaven.
O Death! for all thy ghastly face,
For all thy sore distressing,
Thou teachest us the way to grace,
Thy presence is a blessing!
[Written for Dodge's Literary Museum.}
A SERMON ON MORALITY,
Dedicated to the Sisters.
BY J. G. CLARK.
My Dear Sisters:
Allow me to present to your kind consid-
eration a short sermon on: Morality, as it
exists under two distinct heads: namely,
Genuine Morality, and Bogus Morality.
The former is a rare jewel, and as many
of you may be ignorant of its nature, I will
endeavor briefly to define it.
It proceeds from a pure feeling of truth.
It stands unswayed by expediency and self-
interest, loving justice for itself, and not be-
cause the world professes to admire it.- It
is, in fact, the great center-light of man’s
moral nature; around which all other ob-
jects, interests, and ends should revolve,
like the planets around the Sun.
This we call genuine morality, because it
arises from the Source of all Good, and is ta
its possessor as dew descending from the -.
tree of Life, refreshing and preserying him
on his weary pilgrimage over the. burning
sands of Time, till, safe from the’ dark cor-
ruptions of the world, he finds repose by
the clear, cool waters of Eternity. *
‘The second, and by far the most common
species of morality, is often mistaken for
the first, though they are as unlike as the
two powers of Light and Darkness can
make them.
It goes not out from the pure depths of