This humor, which I regret to say, is sometimes evinced by "children of a larger growth," speedily passes away, and then, as they play happily together, how changed the tones!

Many a mother's ear has been saluted with sounds like the following, from some petted, and of course half-spoiled child:

Slow.

Now she resorts to the natural language of endearment, which a mother best knows how to employ :

What makes the chords of sympathy thrill like the tones of grief?

-b

With such expressions of natural language as I have mentioned, and many others which might be named, every one is familiar. But when we attempt to give it an extent, commensurate with the possession of vocal organs, and more than this, to consider it, in some respect, the result of education or experience, and in another, almost conventional, the ridicule of some, and the stubborn disbelief of others, can nei

ther discourage me on the one hand, nor daunt me on the other. Reader, I do not apprehend that you belong to either class, but rather, that you are one of those who adopt the motto, "read, reflect, and then judge.”

Slight as is our acquaintance with the habits and dispositions of the animate world, there are but few individuals, who, at some period in life, have not noticed how frequently the voice is employed, and how varied the feelings which are thus communicated, even though their observatory may have been a barn, and the sphere of their observations, the limits of the cattle-fold or the pickets of the poultry-pen.

The wild scream of the wounded panther, sounding as if incarnate rage had torn it from his very throat, and the half-choking yell of the savage, are expressions of sion, to which no set phrase of speech can possibly give vent. Infancy and age alike quail before such terrific displays of passion's demoniac mastery. The tone of exultation in man, and the clarion-cry of the victorious game-cock, have been noticed by every one. How different from the exclamation of joy in the former, and the defiance-note of the latter!"

The purring of the feline species, is the very language of contentment. Who can mistake the complaining mew of the houseless cat, for the deep, desolate tone of the same animal, as she wanders from room to room, seeking her little family, in vain? At last, when the anxious mother discovers them, snugly stowed away by some juvenile hand, in box or basket, who does not rejoice in the light, rapid tones that tell her joy, or feels ashamed to sympathize with maternal affection, though manifested by "the brute that perisheth." The chicken just escaped from the shell, twitters in joyful expectation, when a little fly is presented to it; but substitute a wasp, and its voice instantly assumes a tone of disapprobation and

alarm. Geese, too, slandered as they are; the creatures to which everything, otherwise incomparably stupid, is likened, even geese have language. In passing near their quarters, at night, when every loyal goose has carefully deposited her head beneath her wing, have you never observed a gander or two, on the alert, as gallant ganders should be, keeping watch? Did you not mark the peculiar gabble with which the whiterobed sentinel saluted you, as if he said, "Stand! who goes there?" What a bustle in the camp; what a noisy conversation ensued, and how different the tone in which it was carried on! They evidently mistrusted the proximity of their ancient enemy, the fox. Then, as you passed on, making no assault, did you not distinguish another note still, expressive of returning security, which gradually died away, till the most loquacious had gabbled forth its last comment upon the averted danger? To such a midnight signal as this, did Rome's fortress once owe its preservation. Assault them in the day-time, and they will manifest their contempt, with a hiss as expressive, as the fifth act of a dull play ever called forth.

The cluck of the hen, with which she keeps her errant brood together; the low, persuasive tone with which she lures her little family under her wings; the cluttering note which announces the discovery of some hidden grain; the cry of alarm, at the appearance of the hawk, echoing from tenant to tenant of the feathered community, till the loud ko-e-ut, ko-e-ut of the turkey, and the harsh tone of the geese, swell the concert of fear, are all familiar sounds. What farmer's boy does not recognize the cackle of the hen when she leaves the nest, or when she brings off her brood?

When the swine falls into the merciless hands of the butcher, how different his voice from the complacent monosyllable

with which he does honor to the yellow treasures of the crib; and how readily every individual of the genus grunter, in the neighborhood, catches the cry, and comes hastening, with porcupine back; to the rescue.

The horse, too, understands the natural language of his rider, and the dog, the mood of his master. There is truth, as well as poetry in Pope's oft-repeated couplet :

"The bounding steed you pompously bestride,

Shares with his lord, the pleasure and the pride."

A soothing sound allays his impetuosity; an encouraging one, curves his neck, and gives unwonted elasticity to his step; speak harshly to him, and how striking the contrast!

The language of the canine race, for the expression of their feelings, is more copious than is generally supposed. Without being misled by a fanciful conceit, we may reasonably conclude that his singular companionship with as. capricious an animal as man is, may have wrought changes in his vocabulary. The howl of ferocity is forgotten, and as his disposition is ameliorated, and the savage wildness of his habits yields to the power of what, for want of a better term, may be called civilization, his language becomes proportionally mild. Your favorite dog is permitted to accompany you in your walk. As he frisks and gambols with excess of joy, hear him!

Take care! you have trodden upon his foot:

On another occasion, you have fastened him securely, in the barn. Untie the poor creature; listen to his expressive

tones.

Such are a few, a very few of the expressions of natural language; drawn, not from the marvellous account of the traveler; not the fruit of wanderings in the forest, the desert, or the foreign land; but collected about home; on the farm, if you please, and for this very reason, should be thrice valued. While I firmly believe that the whole range of animated nature, presents a noble field for investigation, upon this subject; one, which long years of unwearied toil, would still leave half untraversed, and one, which I freely acknowledge I have not the ability to examine; yet enough has been said to establish the position, that even the bird in her nest, and the beast in his lair, possess an intelligible, natural language.

It now remains to speak of laughing, which, although it combines the language of the countenance, with that of the voice, may properly be mentioned in this connection. This expression of feeling, may, perhaps be considered as peculiar to man; indeed, some writers have designated him as “the laughing animal.” However this is, it is certain that crying would by no means distinguish him, for, though it has been frequently denied, yet we have the concurrent testimony of many respectable witnesses, for believing that tears trickle down the half-human face of the seal, when bereft of her young.

A little observation will convince any one, that a laugh is as frequently the expression of malevolence, as of any amiable or pleasurable feeling. Indeed a real thrill of joy is