cease here, flow back to their original fountain. The pressed his cold lips upon her cheek, and then came beings who leave us now, will be joined to us hereafter the pang, the struggle, the agony, the convulsion, the in a brighter and a purer sphere, and we will then silence. She stood, at that solemn hour, alone with the wander with them forever." dead! "To what do your words tend, dear George?" asked Mrs. Morton, as a suspicion of their meaning for the first time flashed upon her. "Our child!" was the only reply. Ere that, the robber had rifled the unfortunate man of purse and watch, and had drawn from the finger of the lady its only ornament, a small plain ring. The approaching horseman came nearer; but ere he reached "What of her? what of her?" exclaimed the now the spot, Montanvers, for he was the robber, had distracted mother. "Calm yourself, my best, my dearest, or I cannot speak," said he. He hesitated-it was but a moment, for he noticed the calm resignation of his wife. "You may have noticed that a stranger handed me a letter whilst supping to-night. By that letter I learned that our child, while walking by its nurse's side, was accidentally trodden upon by the horse of a stranger who had just entered Paris-an Italian nobleman, from what I can gather. The letter is not minute; but our child is either suffering, or perhaps dead!" She did not answer, for before the words were finished, the carriage had been stopped, and in the next moment the window was opened, and a masked form was before them. The intruder, noticing the lady, spoke to her companion in a softer voice than he had probably intended, or than would in all cases suit his occupation as a gentleman of the road "Ah! my dear sir-sorry to trouble at so late an hour, but my wants are urgent. Be so good as to loan me your purse and watch." The traveller hesitated complying with even so polite a request, and the robber, withdrawing from a concealed belt a pair of pistols, pointed one at the breast of the lady, and the other at the head of the man, and shouted in a loud and angry tone "Deliver or you die!" "Never!" replied the brave minister, dashing the pistol of the robber from his wife's bosom, and pointing one that he had in the mean time drawn from his carriage, full in the face of the robber. It flashed. Just at this moment the sound of an approaching horse was heard in the distance, and the robber maddened by the resistance and bravery of the man, and rendered desperate by the approach of others, suddenly fired upon the unfortunate minister. A loud shriek went forth from the wife's lips, as her husband's arm fell from the waist around which it had twined, and he dropped, steeped in his flowing blood, at her side. "Oh! my own-my love-my life. You will not die! Speak, speak!" she cried. departed. The horseman was Francis Armine. His horse suddenly started, from some object in the road, which the rider on noticing approached. It was the carriage of the unfortunate Morton. Opening the door, he beheld the murdered man and the lifeless woman. He entered; the blood was still oozing from the wound of the man--the limbs stiffened, and the body cold. But the woman--she moved, she breathed, and was not dead. A thought flashed upon him. In the darkness of the night, he rushed to the water's edge--he did not walk; the hope of saving the life of a fellow creature swiftened his pace--he almost flew. He reached the river's side, and with a handful of water flew back. The carriage had gone. A sound was heard in the distance; it was-oh no! it was not a human cry; he listened again, and through the deathlike stillness, was heard the shriek of the night-bird--dread omen! We find a long lost treasure--and knowing it not, lose it! SUMMER MURMURS, HOW UNLIKE "SPRING JOYS." I have sung of spring and its delicious joys—but alas! the blossom has fallen from the tree, and the rose-bud has withered on its stem. I am half dead with ennui. The sun gets slowly from his bed of molten lead, and angrily keeps up his journey through the day. We open the windows of a morning, and stretch out our hands among the honeysuckles that cluster around the sills. The smelt of those flowers cheer us for awhile, and the buzz of the humming bird prolongs the decaying memory of active and sportive springtime. But the long-billed lilliputian is off, and he wanders about among the stern and irresponsive apple trees, hoping to find some bud that has been spared by the genius of ripening nature. What yawns and stretches occupy our time before the coming of the cool water from the pump. We see the drowsy servant, half full of dreams, lounging along and stumbling forth, pitcher in hand. The perspiration of impatience beads itself upon our brow, and the first power of heat is brought upon us, by our halloing to the valet to make haste. We sit at the open window in the meantime, with our sleeves rolled up, while the flies, mustering in dark groupes, dash like the armed Arabs at our neck and hands, and fly off laden with their tiny cargoes of blood. Anon comes the servant, with his pitcher half full of the limpid water-step by step we count his approachHel we hear his lazy and heavy foot ascending the stairs That soft, sweet, musical voice, brought back the gem-like memories of the past, and stopped the spirit's wing ere it soared to the far off world. That voice! It had first weaved the golden chain of love around him: it had echoed in his ears like a spirit's whisper, amid the bloom and brightness of youth, and in the darker pathway of manhood, and now it came as sweet as ever when death's dread angel hovered around the fleeting soul like a stern and mysterious conqueror. He smiled as he looked for the last time upon her; as he heard for the last time the rich tones of her voice; and faintly whispered, "Bless thee, my wife; we will meet again-there-there" He lifted his eyes for a moment, and again they fell; the dull glazed film of death came upon them. we rush to meet him-we lift the pitcher high in the self upon the cooler mould--the pump, swayed to and air-out flows the delicious stream—our head, ears and fro by the hands of perspiration, creaks as if its very flowing locks are in the basin, and the beautiful emotion founts were boiling hot-the horse laps the surplus of morning freshness, of youth, speeds, fanning as it water from the stones, and with insane eye and feroflies, through every vein and fibre of our body. To the cious teeth snaps at the tormenting fly. The cows look heart to the brain it goes, and we lift our crown reek-piteously to the skies, and their long tails flash through ing with pearly drops, and “Richard is himself again.” | the air like scorched serpents. The distant brickkilns The poorest hind on earth, with his head in a basin, or send up their tribute of hot air, and the corners of a tub it may be, of cold, sparkling water, is as happy, houses emit a thick and trembling body of heat. The oh happier, than the proudest king who bathes in la-universal nature, from the topmost zenith of the fir vender and cologne. But it must be in the midday mament to the shadiest nook of the thick woods, seems tide of the summer fires, when the dog-star rages hot. to pant and sink and die-a hush, like the silence of a Poetry, and eloquence, and music, and oh! thou rich- burnt empire, glooms down upon the world, and desest, and dearest of all earthly thoughts, bright love, pair and fire and fever, the triumvirate of the solstice, may come to us along the impalpable atmosphere of sway mankind with a rod of lighted lava. Oh how the dreams and delusions, may wind themselves around us, head swims and the inmost recesses of the heart throb, until we fancy the earth a paradise, and ourselves gods; as we look forth upon the immovable face of things. but how dull, how void are they all when the sun rises Books are thrown aside-the pen is only retained, on the first limb of the heavens, and pours down his lest the apathetic soul should flee away in the torture consuming rays upon the earth. We are no longer of this withering idleness; and even the loved breath men, to feel the soft influences of those natural impul- of our youngest child, breathed so gently and so sweet ses that enlighten and elevate us. We are the torpid upon our cheek, and that ought to be so cool, is burncreatures of heat, the whole burnt offerings to fire. ing now. The sun is on his march of desolation. Phaeton once more has robbed his sire of the reins and madly drives the chariot through the zodiac signs. The scorpion and the great bear, and orion, the belted knight of heaven, are writhing under the burning hoofs of the enraged steeds. He shoots, like the comet that consumeth worlds, through the palaces of the clouds; and as his axle revolves, we see the lightning and hear the crashing thunder bellowing over our heads. The ocean and the lakes-the rivers and the rivulets, from the broad Atlantic down to the gentle stream that creeps amid the flowers of a lady's garden, are cool no more. Gods, will round-jackets cure it? will summer clothes abate the evil? will getting shaved twice a day do aught to stem the tide of suffering? Are there no gentle showers in yonder brazen arch-no drops of dew to fall upon the wilderness-no tear of pity to moisten the parched fields, and bring back the dying lily to its beautiful existence ? The cook has done her best to drown, in the aromatic coffee, all ideas of the passionate sun that is mounting the fiery walls of heaven, with his hordes of satellites, all clothed in burnished gold. The black demons of summer, the flies, creep down the ends of my fingers, get upon the spoon, and with all the insolence of people out of debt, drink of the coffee. The servant, in driving them away, dips his peacock feathers in the cup, and lo! my white pants, the pride of the wash tub, and my delicate vest, (exultations of washerwomen,) are spattered with deep brown stains. The window shutter flies open, and the honeysuckle has crept down, that the sun-beam may fall upon my forehead with its full powers. The waiter, even now dosing over the back of one of the chairs, has forgotten to ice the butter, and it looks like a melted lake. The biscuits are burning hot, and the unmindful cook has made no toast. Even the refrigerator is out of sorts, and the thermometer, smiling in the coolest place about the house, luxuriates with its silver blood up to 900. I'll plunge the measure of heat into the spring among the ice, and try and regu-licious thirst. It rises gradually over the top of the late the weather in that way. There is a speck shading the western sky-a little cloud that inspires me with hope--with joy-with a de horizon, and I now perceive that it stretches forth like It is singular, but true, that whenever there is a tre- an eagle who poises his wings amid the eternal mounmendous siege of hot, suffocating weather, without tains. From a speck of dust blown by the unfelt curwind, or breeze, or infantile zephyr, or impotent breath rent of the upper air, upon the face of the skies, it of a zephyr, that the dust is sure to mount from its dry boldly spreads forth its mantle to shadow the earth. It bed in the street, and make its appearance into your is a dusky cloud, not black like the monumental clouds house. Just as my second cup was getting creamed, of gloom that battle with the winds after a fierce temand my hand, gemmed with flies, was outstretched to pest upon the seas. It is grayish, with an inky fringe, receive it, a puff of dust took its position upon every-and it rolls upward with its highest point whitened like thing in the room. How it came in heaven only knows. a billow crested with foam. Gently on my forehead How it mounted from the street no priest of the oracle of Delphos could tell; but there it was, sandy and choking. There is a mystery in dust that goes beyond my penetration, puzzles the will, and confounds the understanding. Shade of McAdam expound it to us! Not a breath of air stirs among the trees-the chickens, with their wings outstretched, and beaks open, pursue their search for food no longer-the sun, like a magnetizer, has touched their nerves, and even they, more voracious than the slandered pig, are still at last. The dog has scratched up the earth, and nestled him flows an almost imperceptible breath, as if a spirit troop was passing through the air, and breathing on me as they passed-a motion is perceived among the trees-bands of flies crowd in at the windows-the sounds multiply in the streets, and I can almost imagine I hear a throb of joy coming from the dark bosom of the earth. I watch that cloud with a more abiding interest than ever lover gazed upon the rising planet that signalled him to the interview with his mistress. The whole people are watching it-they seem to cry aloud "there is rain in yonder cloud!" Even while I write it has darkened the western heaven, and a glorious shadow has fallen from its pinions. The thunder is awake-I hear the muttering giant, and see that he has seized his spear, which already gleams around the universe. His banner is unfurled, and his mighty hosts are crowding up the sky-paths from every mountain pass and hoary sea. The drops are falling on the trembling trees--the rush of the tempest is on my ears--the thunder and the lightning are abroad, the heat reigns no more--there is music among the spheres, as if a thousand bards had struck their musical harps, and sang united around the footstool of the Most High. While the war of majesty and glory is in progress, I will turn me on yonder couch and sleep until the servant wakes me to cool air and comfortable tea and toast. Washington, July 12, 1839. THE MAGNOLIA. bordering on the Catawba river. It has also been found in Florida and Kentucky. In all of its different situations it seems to prefer a light, virgin soil. It may be frequently seen growing very luxuriantly on some rugged and abrupt hill side, where it is protected from the sun by the surrounding growth. Indeed, a cool situation seems to be greatly conducive to its prosperity. Yet it is not exclusively restricted to this its native and favorite situation. It bears transplanting very well, provided some attention is paid in having it occasionally irrigated during dry seasons. Το ensure its future growth, with some degree of certainty, after removal, I would recommend, as a precautionary measure, the planting of rose bushes, lilacs (syringa vulgaris) or other small undergrowth about its roots. These will keep up a coolness and moisture during the heat of summer. The Magnolia may also be raised from the seed; and this method is, perhaps, the most advisable when young plants cannot be easily procured. It is admitted by the most assiduous collectors in Botany, that this species of Magnolia has the largest leaves and flowers of any other tree in North Amidst the great variety of trees indigenous to America. It is in the vegetable kingdom that we the United States, there is, perhaps, none which behold the finest delineations of nature amply and more forcibly claims attention or commands ad- richly portrayed. Her choicest pencilling, her miration than the Magnolia. This beautiful most delicate tints, and brilliant hues, we find genus or family of trees, consists of about fifteen attractively displayed on the variegated flower. species, and is almost equally divided betwixt the And with what pleasurable emotions do we reUnited States and China. The generic term cognize her beautiful finger-work as exhibited in Magnolia is derived from Magnol, a distinguished the large and snow like blossoms of the MagnoFrench botanist of the eighteenth century. The lia. The magnitude of the leaves is not a little genus is arranged under the class, Polyandria, and remarkable, and naturally suggests to the inquiorder Polygynia, of the sexual system of Linnæus.sitive mind the idea of coolness, shade, and protecThe two most interesting and ornamental species tion. They are frequently found measuring from are the Magnolia Grandiflora, and Magnolia eight to twelve inches, in breadth, and from Macrophylla. In Florida where the former flour- twenty-five to thirty inches in length. These ishes in extreme luxuriance and grandeur, the dimensions, it is true, are vastly inferior in size forest, during the flowery season, is represented as to the leaves of the Palm trees of Ceylon, which being sublimely picturesque, and presenting one are said, by a distinguished writer, to be capable of the most enchanting views in nature. It not of sheltering whole families from the inclemency unfrequently presents a living column of eighty of the weather. But it may be observed, that in or ninety feet in elevation, almost unobstructed tropical climates all plants assume a more luxuriby branches, and terminating in a spreading top ant growth, and the magnitude of the leaves seems of the deepest perennial verdure. It has a pyra- to be the result of benevolent design by the author midal, or semi-elliptical head, when not injured of the universe in consulting the health, the comby accident. From May to August, in favorable forts, and the pleasures of the inhabitants destined situations, it is generally covered with brilliant to live beneath the scorching rays of a torrid sun. white flowers on the extremities of the young Even in a medical point of view, the Magnolia is branches. Another species of Magnolia frequently worthy of attention. The bark of all the species met with in our forests, and which has been culti-are known to possess camphorated, aromatic, and vated to some extent, is the cucumber tree (Mag- tonic qualities. In intermittent fevers, chronic nolia Acuminata.) It derives its familiar name rheumatism, &c., several species have been adfrom a resemblance betwixt its cone, or seed-ves-vantageously used. But it would be foreign to sel, and the common garden cucumber. But it is this sketch to enter into detail. The preceding the Magnolia Macrophylla which attracts the great-remarks are made with a view of pointing out the est share of attention, and on which it is chiefly in- most desirable species of Magnolia, and presenttended to make a few desultory observations. The ing to the general reader a brief outline of its extent of this species in the United States is ex-natural history. In Philadelphia and other northtremely limited, and its diffusions but partial ern cities, where the Magnolia has been successwherever found. Nuttall observed it on the banks fully cultivated, a great value is attached to it as of the Cumberland river, Tennessee, but of very an ornamental tree; but in our own more favored small size. He also points out its most noted locality clime, in this respect, it is too frequently doomed in a "narrow tract of about two miles in length, to realize the line of the poet, twelve miles south-east of Lincolnton, Lincoln county, North Carolina." The limits, however, of this species are more extensive than those assigned by the above distinguished naturalist. In Lincoln county I have been enabled to discover several other localities in the section of country "Born to blush unseen," and deck its secluded retreat in solitary grandeur. To the lovers of Flora, and particularly to the ladies, who delight to see dame nature attired in, her inimitable drapery, from the purest white to PAYMENTS TO OUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER, FROM THE 20TH OF JULY TO THE 20TH OF AUGUST, 1838. All persons who have made payments early enough to be entered, and whose names do not appear in this published receipt list, or in that of the next number, are requested to give notice of the omission immediately after receiving the October number, in order that the correction may be forthwith made. Auten, P. W........ Anderson, Alexander.....W HW....N. Carolina........vol 4 Bayley, Pierce.............. Booton, Miss Martha H. Beck, Edward. ..Maryland..vo 1, 2, 3, 4 .......Georgia........vol 4 ..........Richmond........vol 4 ......New Kent........vol 4 ..Sweet Springs........vol 4 .Richmond.....vols 3, 4 .N. Carolina........vol 4 Tennessee........vol 3 WHW....N. Carolina.. ..vol 3 WFR pt.. ..Mississippi.. .......Vol 4 WFR pt....Mississippi.. ....Georgia........vol. 4] Jones, Randolph M.. ..Charlotte, N. C........vol 4 Cook, Col. E. G... .....W HW....N. 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Hill, Dr. John....... WHW....N. Carolina. .......vol 4 Wilson, Thomas A...... ..Mississippi. .....vol 4 Wilson, Robert....... ..NA S....N. Carolina........vol 4 Yarbrough, Charles W. B.. .N. Carolina. ..vol 4 Young, Miss Frances Ann Atkins.. CORRECTIONS.-In the article, "Political Religionism," (in this No. of the MESSENGER,) page 547, strike out "is" in 2d line, first column, and insert "are"-page 548, second column, 18th and 19th lines from the bottom, strike out the words "of the Union," to avoid repetition-and, on page 552, first column, end of the second paragraph, it reads, " the inmates are to be consumed," it should be "conserved." NOTICE TO EDITORS. The beautiful article by Mrs. L. H. Sigourney, "ON HEALTH-To Mothers," which was first presented to the public in the July No. of the Messenger, has, we perceive, been extensively copied without acknowledgement. This has been the case with various other articles, within a short period. Whilst we are pleased to see the productions of our correspondents thus attracting public attention and becoming more widely diffused, we think common justice ought to induce the borrowers to give us the ordinary credit for their selected wares. We hope this hint will be sufficient to induce more caution in future. |