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* reached. maturity, its plump proportions, and beau-
Oexest Iam old; the dance, the gong,
Gay crowds and sports no more allure ;
“I shun the gay and giddy throng;
“Yet, ah! how far more sweet and pure
» Home’s tranquil joys and mental treasures;
_Mhan Dissipation’s proudest pleasures...»
sea; 1am old; Ambition’s call,’
| «, Fame, wealth, distinetion’s keen pursuit, 5 i:
“Phat once could charm and chest me—all >,»
Are now detected, passive, mute !
© Thank God! the Passions and their riot
o\' Are bartered for coutent and quict !
“Yes, Iam old; but as I press | :
The vale of sears with willing feet,
Btill do I find life's sorrows less, :
. And all its hallowed joys more sweet$ fre."
“Since Time, for every rose he snatche:
2 Takes fifty thorns, with all thelr scratches,”
Froi the Southern Literary Gazette.
MUTTON IN, BRA AMBLETOWN.
_ In those regions where wolves are numerous, it
‘usually follows that-, mutton ..ix’ proportionately
scarce., In Brambletown, before the Legislatire of
the State passed the present law, relating to boun-
ties on the slaughter of these disagreeable animals,
it frequently happened that nothing in the shape of
sheep or lamb could be obtained for love or money:
All attempts to produce sufficient mntton to supply
the demand for it,. were complete failures,’ and it
was always with the greatest, difficulty that ‘even a
single lamb designed for Christmas ér Thanksgiv-
ing could be raised and fatt@hed in a farmer's kiteh-
en.,,; The care ‘taken to. keep silly sheep within
sight of human habitations during’ the day, and in
pens , at night, .was, of little consequence. ! The
wolves were sure to come in-for their share, which
was usnally so exorbitant that there was ° nothing
left for the farmers. 9.0) wii i te
Mr, Bellamy, an enterprising” ictlturist id
one of the most inflaeatial men in‘ Brambletown,
made repeated attempts to raise sheep; well satisfied
that moderate : profits in'wool and‘ mutton wonld
richly recompensd! him for ‘devoting’ a‘ portion lof
his,land to pastarage..:' Bat Mr: Bellamy had been
no more successful than his neighbors, and at last
his entire flock became reduced to a Solitary sheep;
All the rest had ‘been! so unfortunate as to ‘excite
the desire of rapacious wolves ; and, instead ‘of ar-
riving at the dignity of “chops”. and “roast,” the
fouad wretched stares in a the thaws of their fero-
cions enemies.::
The “cosset” remained. Lnckily for him he had
been brought up “by haad,”.and never . trusted out
of the narrow doot-yard; within the limits of which
no wolf, however hungry, had ever ventured ‘to in-
trade by daylight; and. every night’ he’ had been
shut in Deacon Bellamy’s wood-house, where noth+
ing, could disturb him..-, Knowing no fear, and hay-
ing, I suppose, only vague dreams of the wolf, the
peacefal; lamb grew | fat; and even before it had
tiful fleece delighted the eye of the farmer.:9) 0?»
Now, like many ‘children, this stuptd cosset' was
often’ sadly inclined ta indalge in prohibited plea
nres, which every sensible person knows to be hurt:
fal.o Having long learned to jamp, and at: a later
day enjoyed a taste bf. prassi beyond the limits’ of
his narrow pastare, it required continual “care ‘on
the part of the Bellamys to keep him at home.”
“I{e’s more trouble than he's worth !” cecafined
Be Deacon, his patience being: at Iength ‘ exbanst-
eo “I would Ii e to keep ¥ you till: Thanksgiving,”
mating the lamb ‘on his head) “but F sce’ you will
continue to Jump, until some day you will jump in-
to the maw of :a wolf, arid that will: be the “last of.
you; /You ate your worst enemy, poor. fellow; for
you compel me to butcher you.”
OA GAPITAL STORY. |":
selves. oi o0)
The Deacon chose | a cool afternoon in “Angas,
necessity and a loin of muttori could have induced
the Deacon and his son to enact.
had ceased straggling and gasping, he was laid out
on. board, raised about three feet from the groand,
and thena group of Bellamys ‘nas gathered about
The younger children, “with water in their ‘mouth,
if not in their eyes, held the legs of the cosset,while
the deacon and his eldest son skinned them, scien-
tifically, These last duties to an old, friend, Iam
compelled to admit, were cheerfully, performed by
‘|i parties ; not that they loved cosset, less, but that
they loved mutton more, When the- Deacon had
finished skinning, the hind legs, the carcase was
suspended in the usual fashion, upon a, gambrel,
and, the rest of the skinning , accomplished... Other
necessary matter having been attended to, the Dea-
con proceeded to divide the fiesh. There was noth-
ing like narrow selfishness about Deacon Bellamy:
He had said to his, wife—
“1 think we ean get along with a ‘hind-quarier of,
the lamb, and as a taste of mutton will be very ac-,
ceptable to our neighbors, suppose we divide the
rest among them as equally as we can.”
| | “That i is just like you, dear,” ‘replied the ‘good
heasted woman. ‘Do as you like, but allow, me to
suggest, that a whole | quarter should be sent to the
minister.”
|“To Mr. Nolly—to be suro!.a good i
the Deacon.,
Accordingly ‘the ‘excotient man sent the two fore:
quarters, in pieces a as ‘nearly, equal as possible, to
half a dozen of his nearest neighbors, reserving for
the clergyman a ‘portion | quite as large as his own.
It was dark, howeyer, before the boys had accom,
plished their first half-dozen errands; and the way
to the clergyman’s house, lying through the woods, |},
it was thought best not to send him his mutton un,
til morning. .. The Deacon feared the wolves might
smell the meat, and enraged that so small a portion
should have fallen to their, share, make up for the,
deficiency by eating the boys, The quarter in qnes-,
tion was accordingly. wrapped up, in. the, skin, and
deposited i in the wood-house, on a board erected di-
rectly over the bed so lately occupied, by the living
cosset. On the following morning the whole fami-
ly break fasted on mutton; and the boysCharley,and
George, having finally had satisfaction of thelamb,
which had butted them so often with impunity.pres,
pared to carry the minister's portion
1A long, covered basket 1 was brought ‘for the pr par-
pose, and Mrs, Bellamy, . went to the wood house
herself to seé the matton nicely packed, in order
that it might look’'as inviting as possible to the
eyes of the, clergyman’s 's family. Then, what was
the consternation of the kind-hearted, lady on dis-
covering that, the quarter of mutton had disappear,
tt
said
z
“George YP" bhé said, “call your | futher, at once—
Tell ‘him thé lamb ‘is ‘gone !”
8 And while! George ra out in great haste, she
cast her yes round the wood-honse, vainly hoping
to! ee the meat in some other place, to’ whicli her
husband might have removed it, The outer door
”! had“not been locked the previous night, it is troe,
ahd ‘thieves might have entered, ' ‘yet she’ could not
conceive of such utter depravity as might exist in
tho heart of a man, who could be guilty’ of steali z
anything 60 sacred as 0 leg of mutton.
of his existence, (with a butcher knife) just under
his chin; a sad fate, which should'serve as a warn-
ing to all bad boys who disobey their parents with-
out considering that the’ latter know a: great deal
| | better what is good for them than they know them-'
to perform ‘the Jast act in the tragedy of the pet
lamb.’ I pass over in silence the butchering, as I
wish to avoid lacerating the feelings of the reader | Mr. Nolly.”
with the sad details of the scene, which only due
° [Te glanced first ‘at the stone then at his astonished
as acceptable.”. Soon
the cover of the basket, the cine had penned the
following note—
“Rev. Mr. Nouur—Dear Si
esteem. I had designed to send you a present,
which might. have been. more acceptable, but cir
cumstances which I may: explain at some future
time, have Provented ane from doing as, I would
like, i Yours traly, .
} : Josran Betiamy.»
| The two 5 Bellamy ‘85 Charley and George, were
now sent through ‘the woods, with the cheese in the
basket, and the note in Charley's coat pocket. The
boys were gone. much longer than was necessary to
do their errand, for’ éome'-tempting blackberries,
growing on the borders of the’ woodland, would not
dew, and their lips and teeth stained ‘with berries.
“Well,” said thé Deacon, who happened to be at
the house, yon have really got back ! 1° was be-
ginning to think-the wolves had canght you! ”
| “Mr. Nolly kept us waiting —" 3 er oe
| “Kept you waiting!" Wells what ‘aia Mr. Nolly
keep you waiting ‘for ?”
| “Bor this letter whleh he was writing,”
ler, promptly. wat
| The Deacon took ‘he note and road as follows:
|MDEAR Brorner Bertawr—t don't know what
could have been more acceptable than the nice; gen-
erous piece of inuitton you have been so kind as to
send ni¢. In ‘return, please ‘accept my ‘sincere
a Char
urs,
ws Aoxzo0 Norter?
ype Deacon rabbed his eyes, and! scratched his
wha fe 2 asked Mrs. Bellamy >.”
, “AVhy, Rolley’ thanks ‘us, for the’ nice, generous
piece of mutton we sent him f° What does he mean?
There is’ some’ difference, jetreéen mutton and
bheése.?
i “Oh, it's a slip of the pen,” replied the charitable
Mrs.'B,' “Ile was thinking of the mutton—for ey-
ery body knows you killed yesterday—and be wrote
hice mutton, instead of nice cheese.”
, Mi must bo 80,” rejoined ‘the’ Deacon ; “butt
must say, Twas foolish enough to fea
that! was silly.” ) ©
eyphat ep? ein aa os :
. “T thought Nolly might have taken! offence: bo
cause we did not tend him any mutton’, and alluded
to it ironically; in order to hurt our feclings.” 7
“ &Q; fie! Mr Nolly is not seh’ & man as ‘that I~
But here—what have we gotin thé basket 1 #8
‘ There was something done up ina cloth. ¥?
: {The basket’ fi is heavy enough; anid the " Dea
con? 5% seats
7 "0 goodness no wonder gasped Mrs. ‘B sik
ing into’a chair. *"'! A
She had just: raised the cloth, and aroppea it
again, as if she had seen a’serpent. * The basket
contained a large flat stone t
" The Deacon became pate ‘with “ consternatio
ty
“What is the matter? Can’s find the mutton?”
ra -
wife, avd finally turned sternly to the boys.
“Iwas just. thinking,” ‘rejoined Mrs.. Bellamy,
“that the best apology we can send him, ‘is one of} ket into another room, after asking us to sit down
our, nice new cheeses, which. I; know, Mrs.. Nolly | and wait. Then, after awhil
will be glad enough to have in her family. ., There } with the basket and this letter—”.
is one that,will just go into the basket. in place of} ~ '*Tell me—is this the solemn trath ?”
the mutton, and I don’t know but it will be quite
“J believe you are right? replied her husband. —] salted with his wife.
*Do you put up the cheese, while I write a word to
“Mrs. Bellamy required . no: farther encourage- did think Mr. Nolly was a good man, and a Chris- |
ment to go at once to the dairy,and select the finest} sian”
After the cosset cheese on her shelves as a present, to the. minister.
By the time she had Jaid it neatly in a cloth under
let them pass without tasting them.’ Hewever,they |
at length’ returned,” with their trousers wet with ;
thanks, avd the in P present you y val find i in the 3
asket *
that—Oh! o
| ; .
IM
\
i TERMS! 81,50 PER YEAR.
{ < L One Dollar for Eight Months, in cdvanos
| ~ : .
° : ; : — : —
: SAN INDEPENDENT FAMILY JOURNAL OF LITBRATURE, NAWS, Se... att ot Beet
4 onre s
“VOLUME XV. PORTLAND, “SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21,°1852. NUMBER 45. *
Pp OETRY. The young cosset had also contracted a bad hab- cried the Deacon, entering abraptly. “Why, good-|. “Charles 1” °° oS .
° it of butting, which had grown with his growth,and | ness! true enongh!’ It has been stolen !” “Sir” .
strengthened. with his strength,’ until the younger | © And for once the Deacon’s benevolent’ counte-]; “What does this mean?” demanded the Deacon,
‘CONTENTED OLD’ AGE. Bellamys could not come into the yard without’ | nance was darkened with a frown of displeasure. severely.
“I know I'm old—my strength decsines; being knocked. down. by the ungrateful wretch ; “Well, there is no use in lamenting misfortunes,” |! | “I—I don't know. . We gave the basket toto,
j - vant wrinkles fll the ene of Times and even the Deacon and his oldest son frequently [he said, aftor a pause, during which he: had ascer- Mr. Nolly, himself, with your note—” |, t
j : . Not Se decay bat manhood's prime; on getting over the fence, received unwelcome as-'| tained for a certainty, that the mutton was gone.— “And added an impertinent message of “your
} " For all within is young and glowing, sistance froni behind. ott “May the sinner repent before the ill-gotton mutton | own!”
j , Spite of old age’s outward showing. . Thus the cosset persisted \in “his wrong actions,’ | digests. .\All we can do is to send an apology to]! ‘No; we never said any thing, but Tere’s som-
p until he compelled his patron to cut off the thread | Mr. Nolly.” .:0'sy
thing father sent you'—did we, George ?”*
“No, we didn’t; and Mr. Nolly carried. the bas
‘he came to us again.
“Yes, sir,” said Charles, with a look of candor
“Tho Deacon sent the boys out of doors, and ©)
“* was never so confounded i in my life,” he mnt.”
tered, glancing again at the minister’s note. “I
“Tam thunderstrack 1” replied his wife, “What
| “That I wished hini to accept the trifle sent — .
in place ofa present which might have been more’
Pease accept the acceptable, that T had designed \for him; and he"
accompanying trifle, as a ‘token of }friendship and} writes back—I don't know what could have been *
more acceptable than the nice,’ generous: piece * ‘of
matton. Ob! what a disposition the pian sonst
have, to take offense, because I sent pieces of. ‘imut-
ton to the neighbors, and none to" him! “And my
apology must have been sufficient, am sure—
Then to send back a ‘stone! I never can “forgive |
wow; Deacon, this is barily Christian-like in ‘
you,” remonstrated the good woman: “It is all ag?
gravating, to be sure ; but remember that the best
of ‘men have their weakness. ‘Instead of cherish '!
ing enmity against your brother in the church, go >
.to - SA ATC eel fiona iw dt.
*
iGo to Bim foe ttt
“Certainly, ani
“After y what bat happened te ‘Afr be has ina ”
ed us!” :
“Go and ‘ask an 1 explanation,
‘Be a' Christian.” ?
The Deacon pressed his wife’s hand. ’A gleam '?
‘of sunshine cleared away the cloud from his brow. 4
“You always counsel ' well—like a! Costin t
he exclaimed warmly. ° “I wish I was as
meek, as forgiving as you are! But I’ feel peter m
now.’ I will go directly to Mr. Nolly, and T won't >
be angry, either.” ita eben et
‘| “Bless'your kind heart, go. ‘And Til tell you
what, Deacon, it is always best to return good fot
evil. You mast not go with an ¢mpty basket.” > Ma a
“Oh! after sending him a cheese, and receiving
a stone in return—"* ° abalt
, | "Good for evil, Deaeon.' There is a little of the“
mutton left. * We can do without it’ well enough. is
“ “I understand you,” exclaimed the Deacon. f°
Wis is your daty
ally then if*his heart does not melt, r shall give 0
chim up asa hardened wretch.” ‘! ~ She
_ Glorying in the kindness he had intended t to! ao’
the minister, Mr. Bellamy took the basket on bis.»
arm, and went himself through the > woods, t to Mr:
Nolly’ 's house.) its 7 :
) ‘The Deacon's face was all ein she knock-'*
ed at the door.’ The minister's little! girl appeared ! nt
“Is your father at, home,’ my dear” he asked.
“fe just went to ride with mamma’ and the ba
by,” she replied: ‘ Won't youo come in ‘and waits a8
Te will be back soon.” Betas
’ Being quite anxious to see the. clergyman; ‘he a
Deacon entered, and, the girl having ran down the’
road, to see if her parents were coming, he thought!
he, would carry the basket, into | the Pantry him-,
self. .
If the Deacon had | already b been’ considerably as.
tonished that morning, his amazement was now ine!
‘creased a thousand fold. For a moment he-could |:
not believe the evidence of his senses."* But what”
he saw waS no illusion. © Upon one ‘of the shelves,
‘before his very eyes, lay the quarter of maton | which =
had been stolen from his wood-house. °
"The Deacon staggered. breathed heavily, aad int
great trepidation examined the’ meat ‘more closely!
its recognized it by a peculiar cut which he remem-. --*
seems “
bered making on the joint.
will carry Mr. Nolly what there is left, and tell him“!
winrneeen.
