direction to her mistress; but that she had in vain applied at the house, and at every house in the same street. "Show us the direction, if you have it," said Mr. Russell. The woman said, she had kept it very carefully: but now it was almost worn out. The direction was, however, still legible upon the ragged bit of paper, which she produced-To Mrs. Frances Howard, Portman-square, London. The instant Mr. Russell was satisfied, he was as expeditious as Oliver himself: they all three went home immediately to Mrs. Howard: she had, some time before, been confined to her room by a severe toothach. 6. You promised me, aunt," said her nephew, "that, as soon as you were well enough, you would go to old Paul's with us, to see our poor woman; can you go this evening?"

"O do! do, pray; I'm sure you won't catch cold,” said Oliver, "for we have a very particular reason for wishing you to go. ""

"There is a sedan chair at the door," said Mr. Russell, "if you are afraid, madam, of catching cold."

"I am not rich enough to go out in sedan chairs," interrupted Mrs. Howard; "nor prudent enough, I am afraid, to stay at home."

"O, thank you," said Oliver, who had her clogs ready in his hand; "now you'll see something that will surprise you." "Then take care you don't tell me what it is, before I see it,” said Mrs. Howard.

Oliver, with some difficulty, held his tongue during the walk, and contented himself with working off his superfluous anima tion, by jumping over every obstacle in his way.

The meeting between the poor mulatto woman and her mistress was as full of joy and surprise as little Oliver had expected; and this is saying a great deal, for where much is expected, there is usually much disappointment; and very sympathetic people are often very angry with others, for not being as much astonished, or as much delighted, as they think the occasion requires.

When Mrs. Howard returned home, she found a letter had been left for her, from the marquis of , who was, at this time high in power. It is well known, that a watchful eye is kept upon every rising genius in the great seminaries of public education in England. A young man at Westminster or Eton, who distinguishes himself for abilities, is not distinguished only by his masters and his companions, but by those who see in him the writer or the orator of a future day. Howard's prize essay appeared as well in print, as it had done in manuscript. The names of the boys who received public premiums at Westminster, were sent by particular desire,

to the marquis of ; and with them Dr. B. sent the little essay, which he thought would do Howard credit. He was not mistaken in his judgment. The marquis of who possessed the "prophetic eye of taste," in his answer to Dr. B's note, said many civil things of the performance, and begged to know if there was any thing in his power which might be done for the lady who had so well conducted Mr. C. Howard's education; a lady, who, as he understood, had lately met with unmerited misfortunes. His lordship's letter concluded with a hint, that the place of a housekeeper for one of the king's palaces, an eligible situation, was then vacant, and that a handsome salary would be secured, &c.

Howard's joy at the perusal of this letter was heightened by the delight, which he saw painted in his aunt's countenance. She was a woman rather in the habit of repressing her emotions; therefore her sensibility commanded respect, as well as sympa thy. My dear boy! my dear nephew! my dear friend !” said she, "from this moment forward, remember, we are upon equal terms; and I rejoice at it: let me never hear more from you of obligations and gratitude: you have repaid, amply repaid me for all."

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"No, no; I never can; I never wish," interrupted Howard. But so many ideas, so many grateful feelings, rushed upon his mind, that he could not explain further what he wished, or what he did not wish.

"You can't speak, I perceive," said Mrs. Howard; "but we know you can write: so sit down, and write your answer to lord -'s letter, and I will write mine." "Must there be two answers ?" said Howard. "Not if you approve of mine!"

"That I am sure I shall," said Howard.

Mrs. Howard's letter was quickly written. She expressed, with much propriety, her sense of the honour, which had been conferred upon her nephew; but she declined, decidedly, the fayour intended for herself.

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Why? May I ask why, my dear aunt," said young Howard, "do you send this answer? Is it not right for you to accept, what it is so right in lord to offer? Is it not generous and noble," continued he, with enthusiasm―" is it not generous and noble in those, who have wealth and power, to make so good a use of it? I don't mean to call it generous and noble in lordto praise my essay," said Howard, recollecting himself: "but surely what is said of you, ma'am, in his letter, is very handsome. And you always told me, that you did not love that kind of pride, which will not receive any obligations."

"Nor do I," answered Mrs. Howard: "nor do I now act from that kind of pride: but you do not know enough of the world to feel the nature of this obligation; you do not perceive, that you would hereafter be called upon, probably in honour and gratitude, to return this obligation to me."

"I should, I hope, be grateful for it," said Howard; "but how could I return it? I should wish to return it, if I could." "Perhaps not in the manner it would be expected," replied his aunt. At all events, I should think myself unjustifiable, if I were tacitly to pledge you, young as you are, to any party, or to any public leader of a party. Whenever you go into public life, if that should ever be your choice, you will surely wish to have perfect liberty to act, as your unbiassed judgment and integrity shall direct?"

"Certainly," said Howard.

"Then," said his aunt, smiling, "seal my letter and keep your unbiassed judgment. You will understand all this much better some years hence."

The letter was accordingly sealed and sent.

THE DISCONTENTED PENDULUM.

An old clock that had stood for fifty years in a farmer's kitchen without giving its owner any cause of complaint, early one summer's morning, before the family was stirring, suddenly stopped.

J

Upon this, the dial-plate, (if we may credit the fable,) changed countenance with alarm: the hands made an ineffectual effort to continue their course: the wheels remained motionless with surprise; the weights hung speechless; each member felt disposed to lay the blame on the others. At length the dial instituted a formal inquiry as to the cause of the stagnation; when hands, wheels, weights, with one voice, protested their innocence. But now a faint tick was heard below, from the pendulum, who thus spoke **

"I confess myself to be the sole cause of the present stoppage; and am willing, for the general satisfaction, to assign my reasons. The truth is, that I am tired of ticking." Upon hearing this, the old clock became so enraged that it was on the point of striking.

"Lazy wire !" exclaimed the dial-plate, holding up its hands. "Very good!" replied the pendulum, "it is vastly easy for you, Mistress Dial, who have always, as every body knows, set yourself up above me,it is vastly easy for you, I say, to accuse other people of laziness? You, who have had nothing to

do all the days of your life but to stare people in the face, and to amuse yourself with watching all that goes on in the kitch en: Think, I beseech you, how you would like to be shut up for life in this dark closet, and wag backwards and forwards, year after year, as I do."

"As to that," said the dial, " is there not a window in your house on purpose for you to look through ?"

"For all that,” resumed the pendulum, "it is very dark here : and although there is a window, I dare not stop, even for an instant, to look out. Besides, I am really weary of my way of life; and if you please, I'll tell you how I took this disgust at my employment. This morning I happened to be calculating how many times I should have to tick in the course only of the next twenty-four hours: perhaps some of you, above there, can give me the exact sum.'

""

The minute hand, being quick at figures, instantly replied, "eighty-six thousand four hundred times."

"Exactly so," replied the pendulum: "well, I appeal to you all, if the thought of this was not enough to fatigue one? and when I began to multiply the strokes of one day by those of months and years, really it is no wonder if I felt discouraged at the prospect: so after a great deal of reasoning and hesitation, thinks I to myself, I'll stop."

The dial could scarcely keep its countenance during this harangue; but resuming its gravity, thus replied:

"Dear Mr. Pendulum, I am really astonished that such a useful, industrious person as yourself should have been overcome by this sudden suggestion. It is true you have done a great deal of work in your time. So we have all, and are likely to do; and, although this may fatigue us to think of, the question is, whether it will fatigue us to do: would you, now, do me the favour to give about half a dozen strokes, to illustrate my argument?"

The pendulum complied, and ticked six times at its usual pace:-"Now," resumed the dial, "may I be allowed to inquire, if that exertion was at all fatiguing or disagreeable to you?"

"Not in the least," replied the pendulum;" it is not of six strokes that I complain, nor of sixty, but of millions."

"Very good," replied the dial; "but recollect that although you may think of a million strokes in an instant, you are required to execute but one; and that however often you may hereafter have to swing, a moment will always be given you to swing in."

"That consideration staggers me, I confess," said the pendulum.

"Then I hope," resumed the dial-plate, "we shall all immediately return to our duty, for the maids will lie in bed till noon if we stand idling thus."

Upon this, the weights, who had never been accused of light conduct, used all their influence in urging him to proceed: when as with one consent, the wheels began to turn, the hands began to move, the pendulum began to wag, and, to its credit, ticked as loud as ever; while a beam of the rising sun that streamed through a hole in the kitchen shutter, shining full upon the dial-plate, it brightened up as if nothing had been the matter.

When the farmer came down to breakfast that morning, upon looking at the clock, he declared that his watch had gained half an hour in the night. Q. Q.

MAN AND ANIMALS.

Mr. F. and his children were walking one summer's evening, in what are familiarly called the high woods. A narrow path conducted them through the underwood, where straggling branches of the wild rose intercepted them at every step: the rich and variegated stems of the forest trees were illumined here and there in bright spots, by golden beams of the setting sun, which streamed through the interstices of the massy foliage. Swarms of merry gnats danced in the open spaces of the wood; birds of every note sang, in uninterrupted gladness, amid its deep recesses; the nimble squirrel was observed occasionally leaping from bough to bough; and the timid eye of the wild rabbit was seen peeping from behind the roots of the trees, and then, swiftly disappearing, she escaped into her inaccessible fortresses. How happy are young people, whose taste is raised to the enjoyment of these elevated and simple pleasures, and who find in their parents, intelligent friends, capable of cultivating this taste, of inspiring and guiding their love of knowledge, and of giving a right direction to both!

The liberty and happiness evidently enjoyed by the various little inhabitants of these woods, gave a turn to the evening's conversation, as the party returned home.

"I think," says little Joe," that if I were going to be changed into any thing else, I should like best to be a rabbit, and to live in the woods; they seem so happy and comfortable here.

Father. Can you tell me, Joe, what is the greatest difference between you and a rabbit.