exemption from a woe that withers manhood in man, bowing him downward to the brute. And so questioned, this man gives in modesty of spirit -in very thankfulness of soul. His alms are not cold, formal charities; but reverent sacrifices to his suffering brother.

It was a time when selfishness hugs itself in its own warmth; with no other thoughts than of its pleasant possessions; all made pleasanter, sweeter, by the desolation around. When the mere worldling rejoices the more in his warm chamber because it is so bitter cold without, when he eats and drinks with whetted appetite, because he hears of destitution prowling like a wolf around his well-barred house; when, in fine, he bears his every comfort about him with the pride of a conqueror. A time when such a man sees in the misery of his fellow-beings nothing save his own victory of fortune-his own successes in a suffering world. To such a man, the poor are but the tattered slaves that grace his triumph.

It was a time, too, when human nature often shows its true divinity, and with misery like a garment clinging to it, forgets its wretchedness in sympathy with suffering. A time, when in the cellars and garrets of the poor are acted scenes which make the noblest heroism of life; which prove the immortal texture of the human heart, not wholly seared by the branding-iron of the torturing hours. A time when in want, in anguish, in throes of mortal agony, some seed is sown that bears a flower in heaven.

T

THE QUILTING.

HE day is set, the ladies met,

ANNA BACHE.

And at the frame are seated,
In order placed, they work in haste,
To get the quilt completed;
While fingers fly, their tongues they
ply,

And animate their labors
By counting beaux, discussing clothes,
Or talking of their neighbors.

Dear! what a pretty frock you've on ;"
"I'm very glad you like it;"

"I'm told that Miss Micomicon

Don't speak to Mr. Micate."

I saw Miss Belle, the other day, Young Green's new gig adorning;" "What keeps your sister Ann away?" She went to town this morning."

YANKEE, walking the streets of London, looked through a window upon a group of men writing very rapidly; and one of them said to him in an insulting manner, "Do you wish to buy some gape-seed?" Passing on a short distance the Yankee met a man, and asked him what the business of those men was in the office he had just passed. He was told that they wrote letters dictated by others, and transcribed all sorts of documents; in short, they were writers. The Yankee returned to the office, and inquired if one of the men would write a letter for him, and was answered in the affirmative. He asked the price, and was told one dollar. After considerable talk, the bargain was made; one of the conditions of which was that the scribe should write just what the Yankee told him to, or he should receive no pay. The scribe told the Yankee he was ready to begin; and the latter said,—

"Dear marm:" and then asked, "Have you got that deown?"
"Yes," was the reply, "go on."

"I went to ride t'other day: have you got that deown?"

"And I harnessed up the old mare into the wagon: have you got that deown?"

"Yes, yes, long ago; go on."

Why, how fast you write! And I got into the wagon, and sat deown, and drew up the reins, and took the whip in my right hand: have you got that deown?"

"Dear me, how fast you write! I never saw your equal. And 1 said to the old mare, ' Go 'long,' and jerked the reins pretty hard: have you got that deown ?"

"Yes; and I am impatiently waiting for more. I wish you wouldn't bother me with so many foolish questions. Go on with your letter."

"Well, the old mare wouldn't stir out of her tracks, and I hollered, 'Go 'long, you old jade! go 'long.' Have you got that deown ?"

58

THE LIGHT BRIGADE AT BALAKLAVA.

"Yes, indeed, you pestersome fellow; go on.”

"And I licked her, and licked her, and licked her [continuing to repeat these words as rapidly as possible.]

"Hold on there! I have written two pages of 'licked her,' and I want the rest of the letter.'

Well, and she kicked, and she kicked, and she kicked―[continuing to repeat these words with great rapidity.]

"Do go on with your letter; I have several pages of 'she kicked.'" [The Yankee clucks as in urging horses to move, and continues the clucking noise with rapid repetition for some time.]

The scribe throws down his pen.

"Write it deown! write it deown !”

"I can't!"

"Well then, I won't pay you."

[The scribe, gathering up his papers.]

"What shall I do with all

these sheets upon which I have written your nonsense ?”

"You may use them in doing up your gape-seed. Good-by!"

THE LIGHT BRIGADE AT BALAKLAVA.

THE

WILLIAM H. RUSSELL.

HE whole brigade scarcely made one effective regiment according to the numbers of continental armies; and yet it was more than we could spare. As they rushed towards the front, the Russians opened on them from the guns in the redoubt on the right, with volleys of musketry and rifles. They swept proudly past, glittering in the morning sun in all the pride and splendor of war. We could scarcely believe the evidence of our senses! Surely that handful of men are not going to charge an army in position? Alas! it was but too true their desperate valor knew no bounds, and far indeed was it removed from its so-called better part-discretion. They advanced in two lines, quickening their pace as they closed towards the enemy. A more fearful spectacle was never witnessed than by those who, without the power to aid, beheld their heroic countrymen rushing to the arms of death. At the distance of 1200 yards, the whole line of the enemy belched forth, from thirty iron mouths, a flood of smoke and flame, through which hissed the deadly balls. Their flight was marked by instant gaps in our ranks,

CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE.

59

by dead men and horses, by steeds flying wounded or riderless across the plain. The first line is broken; it is joined by the second; they never halt or check their speed an instant. With diminished ranks, thinned by those thirty guns, which the Russians had laid with the most deadly accuracy, with a halo of flashing steel above their heads, and with a cheer which was many a noble fellow's death-cry, they flew into the smoke of the batteries, but ere they were lost from view, the plain was strewed with their bodies and with the carcasses of horses. They were exposed to an oblique fire from the batteries on the hills on both sides, as well as to a direct fire of musketry. Through the clouds of smoke we could see their sabres flashing as they rode up to the guns and dashed between them, cutting down the gunners as they stood. We saw them riding through the guns, as I have said; to our delight we saw them returning, after breaking through a column of Russian infantry, and scattering them like chaff, when the flank fire of the battery on the hill swept them down, scattered and broken as they were Wounded men and dismounted troopers flying towards us told the sad tale-demigods could not have done what we had failed to do.