OCTOBER. Thy gentler sister-she who's strewn the leaves In truth thou art array'd most gloriously; And thy tire-woman, Nature's self, 'twould seem Would make a jest, by thus adorning thee. Floats o'er thy form; anon, thou'rt wrapp'd in cloak As a sultana most thou lov'st to come, And in good truth the guise befits thee well: Thy loveliness has a maturity To e'en luxuriant Summer quite unknown, And far out-rivalling the virgin Spring. And in thy quiet moods, thou hast a voice, A deep, still voice which breathes forth words unheard From other lips than thine. The list'ning ear And "heart of him whom Nature's works can charm," Full of deep wisdom and most solemn truth. What deeds shall mark thy brief, but lovely stay ? How will the record of thy visit read? A mixed memorial of joy and grief, Of hope and fear, of life and death 'twill be. Thou'lt hear the first faint cry of new-born life, And the last wail the summoned soul shall give; Art thou not then a teacher to our hearts, Breathes low an admonition to the ear. It bids us pierce the mist before our eyes, 97 WOMAN! poets, from time to time, in rapturous strains, have sung thy praises, and called thee an angel; but, ere you exult in the appellation, consider whether you belong to that class who are angels of light and mercy to the world in which you live; or whether you are of those who, in consequence of rebelling against the just laws of a holy God, are called fallen angels, and are fit only for the abodes of darkness. I saw Martha come forth upon the great stage of life, arrayed in the attractive garb of youth and loveliness; I saw her turn away from the bowers of Pleasure and Ease, and say to Idleness, begone, thou thief of time; I saw her enter the chamber of the sick, and there, bending over the couch of pain, I saw her bathing the aching head, and giving drink to the fevered lips: then, thought I, she is an angel of mercy. Again, and I saw her open the door of her hospitable mansion to the poor wayfaring man, and give him shelter from the storm; I saw her go to the lowly dwelling of the humble poor, I heard her speak to them words of comfort, and from her own stores, L saw her administer to their wants: O angel of kindness. I heard her plead the cause of the injured, and reprove the tongue of Calumny: angel of charity. I saw her gather about her groups of neglected children, and teach to them the words of life. Again, and I saw her forsaking kindred and friends, and going to the dark and Benighted corners of the earth, and there I beheld her rear the banner of the cross. Inscribed upon it were words of glad tidings to all people: "Look unto me, all ye ends of the earth, and be ye saved." "Come unto me, all ye weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Well might she be called an angel of light and mercy. But O, how shocking is the thought, that any of the lovely beings created in the female form, and made capable of such vast usefulness, should apostatize, and despise their high destiny. I looked again, and Matilda appeared. She was of an exquisite form, and moved, a nymph, on the stage of life. Throngs of admiring swains followed in her train, and eried, "What an angel of beauty!" I saw her enter the giddy dance, and slide along, "the gayest of the gay." She sung in the strains of a siren, and promised a voluptuous paradise to all her followers. Many a promising youth stood within the sound of the charmer's voice. I cried, "Young men, beware! she leads to the chambers of death; her steps take hold on hell; she is a fallen angel." Some gave a listening ear to my warning, and began to consider: when they considered, reason resumed her empire, and the mist. fell from their eyes; then they beheld the hideous form of her nature through the thin drapery of her outward charms, and called on the guardian angels of virtue to protect them. Soon, I saw each with one by his side; I saw them stand before the man of God, and plight their vows at the hymenial altar; I saw them enter yonder dwelling, and there erect the family altar; there was offered up the morning and the evening sacrifice, accompanied with melodious songs of praise; no jaring sounds, nor angry looks disturbed the quiet of that dwelling. A few years passed on, and I beheld them surrounded by a family of little ones, whose sweet, smiling faces told that good order and harmony prevailed. I saw their guardian angel (their mother) administering to all their little wants; I saw her closely watch each expanding thought of their young and tender minds; and with what avidity did she root out the noxious weeds of vice, and plant in their stead the principles of virtue and piety. She was indeed, a guardian angel. But where are Matilda and her votaries, and how did their career end? Their story is a sad one. For awhile, they figured in the giddy rounds of intoxicating pleasurespleasures that left a sting behind; they eagerly pursued happiness, but still she eluded their grasp; yet they pressed on, blindly hasting after that phantom which lures only to destroy. Bewildered by folly, they were easily led into vice; and from one step in vice, the way to another is short. Hope mocked them; pleasure deceived, and left an aching void; conscience upbraided; memory of the past haunted; the future threatened eternal death. Soon were heard the angry sounds of discord and contention; all the malignant passions of a fallen angel were in full exercise. Some flew to the gaming table, some to the intoxicating bowl, and the dark hours of midnight beheld their horrid revels. These extravagancies introduced their consequent evilsdisease, want and misery. Next, I beheld them on a bed of languishing and distress, while the king of terrors rapped loudly at their door for admittance, and could not be refused, for his command was absolute. Matilda and her fallen sisters could afford no consolation, for they had none for themselves-naught but dismal groans echoed and re-echoed through their gloomy apartments. Then came death, and dropped the curtain of time. I saw the yawning grave receive them; and, as the cold clods fell upon their coffins, I thought within myself, O, if what I have seen of their misery here, on the confines of time, is but a foretaste of their future state, how feeble would be any attempt of language to describe its horrors! I turned from this threshold of perdition, and went to the dying chamber of Martha. There was peace like a river-the smiles of her Savior shed a holy joy around. “Ò,” said she, "death to me seems but the gate of endless joy. I feel that legions of angels hover around me, and are waiting to waft my soul to the paradise of the redeemed, who surround the throne of God." Carlisle, 1842. It is impossible to read the following charming letter, without admiring the spirit of "beautiful humanity" it displays. Though unknown to us, the fair invalid has our highest esteem; and we are sure that all our readers will pay her the same tribute.-ED. PEARL. BIRDS. "The time of the singing birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in the land." Rev. Mr. Linsley: Dear Sir: Having often heard that yourself and family were very fond of birds, and something of a very interesting nature concerning them having come directly under my observation, indeed entirely in connection with myself, I thought an account of it might not prove uninteresting to you. Early in the Summer of 1840, as I was one morning reclining on my couch, in the back room, the doors being open, a very small bird came hopping in, and ran about the floor, apparently in quest of something to eat. I happened to have a soda biscuit by me, and instantly threw it some crumbs, which it ran to and ate as if very hungry. In a few minutes, it flew out. Before long, it returned, bringing another with it. I fed them 8* 455944 both plentifully, and they flew out. In a short time, one returned and partook again; after awhile, the other; so they continued through the day. I did not think of seeing them any more, but I had no sooner taken up my accustomed place on my couch the next morning, than in came one of my little visitors, quite tame, and quite at home; it ran near me, took a hasty breakfast, and ran out. Soon, its mate came and took his, in quite as friendly a manner. Thus they continued coming from ten to thirty times a day, and soon became so attached to their hostess that they would seldom take their meal, ever ready on a clean paper by the door, but would run close to my couch, and look up to me, to have me. drop it to them at my side, which they would take perfectly unconcerned. They appeared for a time quite afraid of strangers, particularly children, and would look to me as they came in, as if to ask, is it safe? However, they soon lost their fears of them, and would come in when three or four were present. After a few weeks, they began to carry away large pieces every time they came, after satisfying their hunger, which convinced me they had little ones to feed, and I was astonished to see what a load they would carry, oftentimes three pieces at once, as large as half a large pea. Thus they continued visiting me for months, until some time in the last of September, just after tea, at the edge of a delightful evening, I heard such a chirping and chattering as almost deafened me. In an instant, the little mother appeared enticing along her dear little ones, which were almost splitting their throats with their chattering; and soon the father appeared. They ran up the steps into the room, and stopped just in the door perfectly still, except the mother, who ran to me very hastily, stopped at my side, looked up in my face, and began to talk, as she thought, as intelligibly as any person would, conversing with me. I never was more astonished. I supposed that she was asking me to protect her little ones. She stood in this manner a few moments, talking as fast as she could, when she ran back to her children, and they all commenced eating the abundant meal, which had been prepared for them. When finished, they flew out, and visited me no more. I was then convinced that the mother was expressing her gratitude instead of asking protection. I mourned the loss of my dear little family, not expecting ever to see them again; when, O, how was I delighted, as, sitting at my bed-room window one Sunday morning, early in the month of the next June, the dear little. creature that first made its appearance came running up the walk, directly to the door. Feeling very ill, and the morning being rainy, I could not go to let it in, (the family being at church,) and was obliged to let it go away, which it did very broken-heartedly, after waiting some time, without giving it a welcome. I reconciled myself, thinking it would return the next day; but I waited for it, and it did not come, and I had entirely given up the idea of seeing it any more, when, how was I overjoyed one morning to see it fly in at the door, and run directly to my couch. She stopped directly before me, looked up and began to chipper. I answered her little "how do you do," and gave her some breakfast. She ran out, and soon her mate came. They then continued their visits from ten to forty times a day, sometimes together, sometimes alone, would often stay and run about the room and appeared delighted when I felt able to answer their prattle. On stormy days, not being able to bear the damp air from an open door, when finding it closed, they would come to the window and flutter, begging to come in. I would open the door a little space, just large enough for them to pass through; they would immediately fly to the scraper and crowd through evidently delighted, and try to show their gratitude. After taking their meal, totally unconcerned at being shut in, they would amuse themselves awhile, then crowd out again, and fly to their INSCRIPTION FOR A MONUMENT. 101 nests. Thus they continued their visits to me again for months, quite at home, and for several of the last weeks carrying away a large mess every visit, which convinced me they had again a little charge to feed, when one beautiful morning, about ten o'clock, such a chirping all of a sudden, and in a moment I had five little visitors on the threshold of the door, the younger ones fluttering and chirping so as almost to deafen me, but appearing so happy as hardly to know what to do. I threw down a large mess of crumbs, when the parents instantly ran to me and took them to their little unfledged children, put them in their mouths, and came again and again for some minutes; after being sufficiently fed, all flew out. Thus they continued to come, at times all together, sometimes the little ones, one or two at once, sometimes one alone, for several days, but generally three or four together, and hardly leaving me alone at all, running round my feet when at table, and picking the mites as they fell, and trying to amuse me. In about two weeks they all came at once, after tea, took an abundant meal, ran about and chattered to me, and ran out. I saw the dear little creatures no more. Should they return again the coming Summer, as they probably will, I shall give you a further history. In the meantime, believe me, sir, most respectfully yours, Stratford, Feb. 4, 1842. C. C. The above-mentioned bird is the chirping sparrow (fringilla socialis of Wilson). She and her mate have again returned to visit their hostess. If you deem the above worthy an insertion in your daily, it is at your service. It furnishes good evidence of what kindness and gentleness to the feathered race, at the hands of a young lady, can accomplish. Yours, &c. J. H. L. New Haven Herald. Original. INSCRIPTION FOR A MONUMENT ZRECTED BY A WIFE ΤΟ THE MEMORY OF HER HUSBAND. BY MRS. L. H. SIGOURNEY. HERE shall the drooping willow wave The pearly night-dews fall, And cherish'd flowrets rise to deck Thy couch-my earthly all. My earthly all-thine image dear But Christ hath given a glorious hope |