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by his means, I've nigh about as good as lost three tons of hay. I do n't think it's my duty to put up with it any longer.'

Accordingly, as soon as breakfast was over, Mr. Frier was out, spattering along in the mud and rain, with his old great-coat thrown over his shoulders, the sleeves flapping loosely down by his side, and his drooping hat twisted awry, wending his way to court, to appear before the grand jury.

'Well, Mr. Frier, what do you want?' asked the foreman, as the complainant entered the room.

'I come to complain of Jerry Guttridge to the grand jury,' replied Mr. Frier, taking off his hat, and shaking the rain from off it. 'Why, what has Jerry Guttridge done?' said the foreman. I did n't think he had life enough to do any thing worth complaining of to the grand jury.'

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'It's because he has n't got life enough to do any thing,' said Mr. Frier, that I've come to complain of him. The fact is, Mr. Foreman, he's a lazy, idle fellow, and wont work, nor provide nothin' for his family to eat; and they 've been half starving this long time; and the neighbors have had to keep sending in something, all the time, to keep 'em alive.'

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'But,' said the foreman, Jerry's a peaceable kind of a chap, Mr. Frier; has any body ever talked to him about it, in a neighborly way, and advised him to do differently? And may be he has no chance to work, where he could get any thing for it.'

'I am sorry to say,' replied Mr. Frier, 'that he 's been talked to a good deal, and it do n't do no good; and I tried hard to get him to work for me, yesterday afternoon, and offered to give him victuals enough to last his family 'most a week, but I could n't get him to, and he went off to the grog-shop, to see some jockeys swap horses. And when I told him, calmly, I did n't think he was in the way of his duty, he flew in a passion, and called me an old, miserable, dirty, meddling vagabond, and a scoundrel, and a scape-gallows, and an infernal small piece of a man!'

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'Abominable!' exclaimed one of the jury; who ever heard of such outrageous conduct?'

'What a vile, blasphemous wretch!' exclaimed another; ‘I should n't 'a wondered if he 'd 'a fell dead on the spot!'

The foreman asked Mr. Frier if Jerry had used them very words.' 'Exactly them words, every one of 'em,' said Mr. Frier.

'Well,' said the foreman, then there is no more to be said. Jerry certainly deserves to be indicted, if any body in this world ever did.' Accordingly the indictment was drawn up, a warrant was issued, and the next day Jerry was brought before the court, to answer to the charges preferred against him. Mrs. Sally Guttridge and Mr. Nat. Frier were summoned as witnesses. When the honorable court was ready to hear the case, the clerk called Jerry Guttridge, and bade him hearken to an indictment found against him by the grand inquest for the district of Maine, now sitting at Saco, in the words following, viz: We present Jerry Guttridge for an idle person, and not providing for his family; and giving reproachful language to Mr. Nat. Frier, when he reproved him for his idleness.' 'Jerry Guttridge,

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what say you to this indictment? Are you guilty thereof, or not guilty?'

'Not guilty,' said Jerry; 'and here's my wife can tell you the same, any day. Sally, have n't I always provided for my family?'

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Why, yes,' said Mrs. Guttridge, I do n't know but you have as well as

'Stop, stop!' said the judge, looking down over the top of his spectacles at the witness, 'stop, Mrs. Guttridge; you must not answer questions until you have been sworn.'

The court then directed the clerk to swear the witnesses; whereupon, he called Nat. Frier and Sally Guttridge to step forward, and hold up their right hands. Mr. Frier advanced, with a ready, honest air, and held up his hand. Mrs. Guttridge lingered a little behind; but when at last she faltered along, with feeble and hesitating step, and held up her thin, trembling hand, and raised her pale blue eyes, half swimming in tears, toward the court, and exhibited her careworn features, which, though sun-burnt, were pale and sickly, the judge had in his own mind more than half decided the case against Jerry. The witnesses having been sworn, Mrs. Guttridge was called to the stand.

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Now, Mrs. Guttridge,' said the judge, 'you are not obliged to testify against your husband any thing more than you choose; your testimony must be voluntary. The court will ask you questions touching the case, and you can answer them or not, as you may think best. And in the first place, I will ask you whether your husband neglects to provide for the necessary wants of his family; and whether you do, or do not, have comfortable food and clothing for yourself and children?'

'Well, we go pretty hungry, a good deal of the time,' said Mrs. Guttridge, trembling; but I don't know but Mr. Guttridge does the best he can about it. There do n't seem to be any victuals that he can get, a good deal of the time.'

Well, is he, or is he not, in the habit of spending his time idly, when he might be at work, and earning something for his family to live upon ?'

Why, as to that,' replied the witness, Mr. Guttridge do n't work much; but I don't know as he can help it; it does n't seem to be his natur' to work. Somehow, he do n't seem to be made like other folks; for if he tries ever so much, he can't never work but a few minutes at a time; the natur' do n't seem to be in him.'

'Well, well,' said the judge, casting a dignified and judicial glance at the culprit, who stood with mouth wide open, and eyes fixed on the court with an intentness that showed he began to take some interest in the matter; well, well, perhaps the court will be able to put the natur' in him.'

Mrs. Guttridge was directed to step aside, and Mr. Nat. Frier was called to the stand. His testimony was very much to the point; clear, and conclusive. But as the reader is already in possession of the substance of it, it is unnecessary to recapitulate it. Suffice it to say, that when he was called upon to repeat the reproachful language which Jerry had bestowed upon the witness, there was much shuddering, and an awful rolling of eyes, throughout the court room.

Even the prisoner's face kindled up almost to a blaze, and thick drops of sweat were seen to start from his forehead. The judge, to be sure, retained a dignified self-possession, and settling back in his chair, said it was not necessary to question the witness any farther; the case was clearly made out; Jerry Guttridge was unquestionably guilty of the charges preferred against him.

The court, out of delicacy toward the feelings of his wife, refrained from pronouncing sentence, until she had retired; which she did, on an intimation being given her that the case was closed, and she could return home. Jerry was then called, and ordered to hearken to his sentence, as the court had recorded it.

Jerry stood up and faced the court, with fixed eyes and gaping mouth, and the clerk repeated as follows:

Jerry Guttridge! you having been found guilty of being an idle and lazy person, and not providing for your family, and giving reproachful language to Mr. Nat. Frier, when he reproved you for your idleness, the court orders that you receive twenty smart lashes, with the cat-o'-nine-tails, upon your naked back, and that this sentence be executed forthwith, by the constables, at the whipping-post in the yard, adjoining the court-house.'

Jerry dropped his head, and his face assumed divers deep colors, sometimes red, and sometimes shading upon the blue. He tried to glance round upon the assembled multitude, but his look was very sheepish; and, unable to stand the gaze of the hundreds of eyes that were turned upon him, he settled back on a bench, leaned his head on his hand, and looked steadily upon the floor. The constables having been directed by the court to proceed forthwith to execute the sentence, they led him out into the yard, put his arms round the whipping-post, and tied his hands together. He submitted without resistance; but when they commenced tying his hands round the post, he began to cry and beg, and promise better fashions, if they would only let him go this time. But the constables told him it was too late now; the sentence of the court had been passed, and the punishment must he inflicted. The whole throng of spectators had issued from the court-house, and stood round in a large ring, to see the sentence enforced. The judge himself had stepped to a side window, which commanded a view of the yard, and stood peering solemnly through his spectacles, to see that the ceremony was duly performed. All things being in readiness, the stoutest constable took the cat-o'-nine-tails, and laid the blows heavily across the naked back of the victim. Nearly every blow brought blood, and as they successively fell, Jerry jumped and screamed, so that he might have been heard well nigh a mile. When the twenty blows were counted, and the ceremony was ended, he was loosed from his confinement, and told that he might go. He put on his garments, with a sullen but subdued air, and without stopping to pay his respects to the court, or even to bid any one good-bye, he straightened for home, as fast as he could go.'

Mrs. Guttridge met him at the door, with a kind and piteous look, and asked him if they had hurt him. He made no reply, but pushed along into the house. There he found the table set, and well supplied, for dinner; for Mrs. Guttridge, partly through the kindness of

Mr. Frier, and partly from her own exertions, had managed to 'pick up something,' that served to make quite a comfortable meal. Jerry ate his dinner in silence, but his wife thought he manifested more tenderness and less selfishness, than she had known him to exhibit for years; for instead of appropriating the most and the best of the food to himself, he several times placed fair proportions of it upon the plates of his wife and each of the children.

The next morning, before the sun had dried the dew from the grass, whoever passed the haying-field of Mr. Nat. Frier, might have beheld Jerry Guttridge busily at work, shaking out the wet hay to the sun; and for a month afterward, the passer-by might have seen him, every day, early and late, in that and the adjoining fields, a perfect pattern of industry.

A change soon became perceptible in the condition and circumstances of his family. His house began to wear more of an air of comfort, outside and in. His wife improved in health and spirits, and little Bobby became a fat, hearty boy, and grew like a pumpkin. And years afterward, Mrs. Guttridge was heard to say, that, somehow, ever since that 'ere trial, Mr. Guttridge's natur' seemed to be entirely changed!'

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SPRING TIME.

BY W. GILMORE SIMMS, ESQ., AUTHOR OF GUY RIVERS,' ETC.

Now's the time when Winter's going
From the bowers he blighted long;
Now's the time when Spring is glowing,
Breathing into bloom and song;
When green buds are hourly springing,
In soft bed and sunny vale;
When the merry birds are singing,
Fearless, round the cottage pale;
And, a long-expected comer,

From the gardens of the south,
Swims in sight the blushing Summer,
Sweet in smiles, and warm in youth.
Gladsome notes are floating by us,

And from earth a murmur steals, Softly, which must still ally us

To the clod that breathes and feels.
Life is round us in the breezes,

In the ground a labor grows,
And the humblest motion pleases,
That from living fountain flows.
Stagnant now no more, and frozen,
Lo! the waters flash and run,
And the lake unfettered glows in
The new glances of the sun.
Stoop to earth the ear, and listen;

Hark! the murmur from below;
Lift the upward eyes-they glisten
With the rich and rosy glow.
Wide and wondrous is the dwelling,
Where the lovely builder works,
And the murmur upward swelling,

Tells us where her agent lurks. Prompt and ready at her summons, When the signal sounds of spring,

Lo! arise her peers and commons,

Fleet of foot and wild of wing.
In the mansions long forsaken,

Free to spin, to build, and moil;
Now they gather, glad to waken,
Though they waken still to toil.
From their labor grows their treasure,
Silken robes and honied spring;
And their very toil is pleasure,

Since they fly, and flying sing.
Yet, throughout her vast dominions,
What unequal forms appear!
Some on gold and purple pinions,
Seem the princes of the air.
Sweets from others' toils assessing,
Stooping only to partake

The rich juice and luscious blessing,
Which they never stoop to make.
Like the lily near the fountain,
Neither do they toil nor spin,
Yet, in joy and splendor mounting,
Life and happiness they win:
Flying ever round the summit,

Heedless of the tribes, that low,
Ply the shovel, dip the plummet,
Grope in earth, and groping, grow.
'T were meet answer to repining,
Did the lowly grub deplore;
"These were made for soaring, ehining,
Shining, singing, as they soar.
When thou wear'st a golden pinion,
Bright like that which soars so free,
Thou shalt have a like dominion,
And the grub shall toil for thee.'

SKETCHES OF A TRIP TO LAKE SUPERIOR.

BY HENRY R. SCHOOLCRAFT.

III.

Gitchee Naigow, 1838.

THE traveller has no sooner entered the vast expanse of waters beyond the Igomean capes, than he anticipates something like a nonfulfilment of the imposing promise of the contiguous mountain scenery, made by their rocky altitude. Mountains, it is true, are in store for him, and cliffs, and falls, and cascades, and caves of most fearful aspect, amid all the rude magnificence of nature; but he must traverse miles of the liquid plain, bounded by a coast of sand and bare hills, before these higher treasures of the grand and picturesque can be enjoyed. In passing these shores, a broad inland sea is before him. The waters are clear and blue. The sky is bright, and the air pure and fresh. Often the duck starts, with her half-fledged brood, from some sandy cove, or the gull displays her pointed wings, in rapid flight. Sometimes a raven on the distant sands excites a temporary interest in the voyager, under the impression of approaching a bear, or some monster of the forest; for the effects of refraction and mirage, along these shores, are often most surprising. Once we saw a beautiful martin nimbly retrace its steps from the water's edge up a steep bank into the forest, and more than once, the men landed to get a shot at a bald eagle.

Nor is the structure of the coast itself, in these less elevated parts, without interest. A bright stratum of pure yellow sand serves as a basis for the growth of pines, of two or three varieties. The water's edge exhibits a fringe of rolled pebbles, sufficiently varied in color, shape, and composition, to delight the most inveterate geologist. And between this assembled representation of all that is primitive and transitive, or medial and submedial, spreads a broad and smooth belt of hard sand, on which we had several fine races with the children. To walk here, away from the busy world; to breathe the pure air, and drink into the eye delicious views of the noblest lake in the world; is one of the purest enjoyments of life. And where there are so many objects to excite reflection, and delight the senses, it is impossible not to look from nature up to nature's God,' who has spread out so beautiful a creation for human occupancy. In some places there are extensive layers of peat, elevated several feet above the lake, and in others, pure massy beds of the finest iron sand, without a particle of admixture. And there is enough of this article, on the shores of this lake, to supply all the counting-houses in the world. At all places, the shores are so clean and sweet, that a person might sit down to his meals, or port-folio, without in the least soiling his clothes.

The tempests of autumn and spring have cast over these sandy coasts the decorticated and washed trunks of trees from other shores, which, after having been thus drained of their sap, and dried in the sun, furnish excellent fire-wood, and put it in the power of the traveller always to enjoy a cheerful camp-fire. We were often induced to sit around our evening fires, gazing at the stars of the northern hemis

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