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same proportion. To such a pitch had wickedness arrived that in the year of the world 1656, God resolved to destroy all mankind by a flood, because," the earth was filled with violence, and the imagination of man's heart was only evil continually." From this most awful judgment, one righteous man and his family were exempted. This was Noah, the great grandson of Enoch, who was commanded by God, to build an ark, or ship, and to go into it. He was directed to take with him two of every kind of fowl, and of cattle, and of every creeping thing, that they might be kept alive.

Catharine. It must have taken a great while to build so large a vessel?

Mother-Moses has not told us, nor has he left any date from which we might calculate how long Noah was thus employed. Profane authors are, therefore, not agreed on the question; some say an hundred years, and others think the labour required even a longer time. While Noah was engaged in building his ark, he warned the people of the impending calamity, but no symptoms of penitence appeared to avert the divine wrath, and accordingly, at the appointed time, " all the fountains of the great deep were broken up; and the windows of heaven were opened, and it rained forty days;-and all the high hills that were under the whole heavens were covered, and all flesh died that moved upon the earth.” "After the end of 150 days," to continue in the words of the sacred historian, for I can find none so descriptive," the waters were abated, and in the seventh month, the ark, which had floated safely throughout this terrible deluge) -rested on the mountains of Ararat, and the earth soon became dry. Noah then brought his family out of the vessel, in which they had been confined a whole year."

Charles. In what part of the world is a spot so remarkable as these mountains, to be found?

Catharine.-Noah landed on a mountain of Asia, in Armenia; a part of the chain called Caucasus.

Mother. The country is high; and is said to have been, in those days, very fertile, and therefore most suitable for the first habitation of man after the flood. The period of time from the creation to the deluge embraces 1656 years, and is called the first age of the world.

The first act of Noah, when he descended from the ark, was to build an altar, and offer a sacrifice; and nothing, surely, could be more natural and becoming, than an expression of gratitude in the most solemn manner, for a deliverance so exceedingly wonderful! But the goodness of his divine preserver did not stop here. He graciously assured Noah, that he would not " again sweep mankind from the face of the earth," and he directed him to consider the Rainbow as a token of his promise.

Fanny. Do you think, mother, that a Rainbow had never been seen before that time! Did it never rain before the deluge!

Mother. The words of scripture, "behold I do set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth," have led some to suppose that the bow was created at this time and for this very purpose: but they do not necessarily imply this narrow construction. It is quite probable that the Rainbow had always appeared, under the same combination of circumstances, that we behold in our own time; but it pleased the Almighty to point to it, on this occasion, as the sign or memorial of a promise. Others have said that though it had rained before the deluge, the same superintending providence which caused the Rainbow to appear as a pledge of his promise, might have prevented the concurrence of such circumstances, in the time of rain, as were essentially necessary to form a bow. It might have rained when the sun was set,—or when that luminary was more than 5 degrees high, when no bow could be seen, and the rain might continue between the spectator and the sun,— or in any other direction, but that of an opposition to the sun.* * See Ewing's lectures, on Philosophy, p. 306.

FOR THE PORT FOLIO.

"MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING."

"From my house, (if I had it,) the sixth of July.”

MR. OLDSCHOOL

A diverting anecdote about a southern gentleman who is coming to these parts to look for a wife, has been merrily running

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the rounds of our newspapers, under the odd title of small-talk.* This is what the lawyers call a misnomer, as I am very sure that so uncommon an occurrence as that of a bachelor of West river, "turning husband," must have made a great talk among the good people of that neighbourhood! Why he should leave his native fields on such an errand, I know not. On the banks of that wizard stream, there are jewels that the world could not buy, and a man might well say with Claudio in the play," I would scarce trust myself, though I had sworn the contrary, if Hero would be my wife." But pray Mr. Oldschool, who is this gentleman who has resolved that the maidens of West river shall not see "a bachelor of three score" in him; but is willing" to thrust his neck into a yoke and wear the print of it?" How shall our Green-mountain girls and curd-pressers of Cheshire, recognize this "Celebs, in search of a wife;"-this " Monsieur Love," who has slung Cupid's quiver over his shoulders, and is coming from the tobacco fields of Maryland to the onion patches of New

* The following is the paragraph, to which our correspondent refers If our young traveller is not afraid of being led by the nose in this perilous adventure, we would recommend to him, Dr. Morse's Gazetteer. In this work he will read of a place which, although it does not overflow with milk and honey, is described by the Doctor as famous for fine girls; and a lover who has got his apparel together, and new ribbands to his pumps,—we infer from the same authority, may find a Thisbe, without submitting to the earnest injunction of Bully Bottom, the weaver.-See Mids. Night Dream, a. 4, sc. 2.-ED. P. F.

SMALL TALK.

LOOK OUT GIRLS-A MARKET FOR A DAIRY WOMAN.

An opulent planter on the banks of the West-River, near Annapolis, Maryland, requested a traveller from this vicinity to send him a good dairy woman-gravely observing, that he would give a thousand dollars for a girl who could make good cheese. The traveller replied, that we did not sell that kind of stock in New England. The old man concluded, by his advice, to send his son to get him a New England wife, and the young man is directed to choose his wife by tasting her cheese.-So, look out girls.

England?" Doth he brush his hat o'mornings?" "Hath any man seen him at the barber's?" "Has he a good leg, and a good foot, and money enough in his purse?" Then he may match with his kindred, though Adam's daughters are his sisters. He may dance the "Scotch jig" of "wooing, wedding, and repenting," and not be awed from "the career of his humour," by quips, and sentences and paper bullets of the brain."

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For my single self, Mr. Oldschool," I do much wonder that one man, seeing how much another man is a fool, when he dedicates his behaviours to love, will, after he hath laughed at such follies in others, become the argument of his own scorn by falling in love." "May I,"—" parcus cultor et infrequens,”—“ may I be so converted and see with these eyes? I cannot tell; I think not: I will not be sworn, but love may transform me into an oyster.". Surely my old friend, Benedict, is not about to" seek a charm for the tooth-ache," among the girls of New England, after "studying eight or nine wise words" for the private ear of an "old seignor." It cannot be so;-" he hath twice or thrice cut Cupid's bow-string, and the little hang-man dare not shoot at him." If, however, he has set out on this adventure, I hope he will not return" unkissed;"" let him erect his own tomb ere he dies;" "live in his mistress' heart, die in her lap, and be buried in her eyes." "Man is a giddy thing, and this is my conclusion."

Wishing you, Mr. Oldschool, health, happiness and honour. I am,-neither " a hawk, à horse or a husband," but "the letter that begins them all

Boston.

H."

†The dowry of a New England wife is made from the profits of an onion patch, which is assigned to her for that purpose, and is cultivated by herown hands. Hence, that part of the farm is always found to be in the finest order.-See Travels in the United States, by Davis, Ash, Wells, &c. ED. P. F.

436

POETRY.

PARADISE AND THE PERI.-From Lalla Rookh. By Thomas Moore, Esq.

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"And the stars themselves have flowers forme, "One blossom of Heaven out-blooms them all!

"Though sunny the Lake of cool Cashmere, "With its plane-tree Isle reflected clear, (*)

"And sweetly the founts of that Valley fall; "Though bright are the waters of Sing-su-hay, And the golden floods that thitherward stray, (+)

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"Yet-oh 'tis only the Blest can say

"How the waters of Heaven outshine them all!

"Go, wing thy flight from star to star, "From world to luminous world, as far

"As the universe spreads its flaming wall; "Take all the pleasures of all the spheres, "And multiply each through endless years, "One minute of Heaven is worth them all!"

The glorious Angel, who was keeping
The gates of light, beheld her weeping,
And, as she nearer drew and listen'd'
To her sad song, a tear-drop glisten'd
Within his eye-lids, like the spray

From Eden's fountain, when it lies
On the blue flow'r, which-Bramins say-
Blooms no where but in Paradise!
"Nymph of a fair, but erring line!"
Gently he said-"One hope is thine.
""Tis written in the Book of Fate,
"The Peri yet may be forgiven
"Who brings to this Eternal Gate

"The Gift that is most dear to Heaven! Go, seek it, and redeem thy sin; ""Tis sweet to let the Pardon'd in!”

Rapidly as comets run

To th' embraces of the Sun:-
Fleeter than the starry brands,
Flung at night from angel hands (†)
At those dark and daring sprites,
Who would climb th' empyreal beights,
Down the blue vault the Peri flies

And, lighted earthward by a glance

(*)"Numerous small islands emerge from the Lake of Cashmere. One is called Char Chenaur, from the plane trees upon it."-Fors

ter.

(+)"The Altan Kol, or Golden River of Tibet, which runs into the Lakes of Sin-hu-say, has abundance of gold in its sands, which employs the inhabitants all the summer in gathering it"-Description of Tibet in Pinkerton.

(t)" The Mahometans suppose that falling stars are the firebrands wherewith the good angels drive away the bad, when they approach too near the empyreum or verge of the Heavens”-Fryer.

That just then broke from morning's eyes, Hung hovering o'er our world's expause. But whither shall the Spirit go To find this gift for heav'n? I know "The wealth," she cries" of every urn, "In which unnumber'd rubies burn, "Beneath the pillars of Chilminar;.(§) "I know where the Isles of Perfume are Many a fathom down in the sea, "To the south of sun-bright Araby; (1) "I know too where the Genii hid "The jewell'd cup of their king Jamshid, (4) "With Life's elixir sparkling high

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"But gifts like these are not for the sky, "Where was there ever a gem that shone "Like the steps of Alla's wonderful Throne? "And the Drops of Life-oh! what would they be

"In the boundless deep of Eternity?"

While thus she mus'd, her pinions fann'd
The air of that sweet Indian land,
Whose air is balm; whose ocean spreads
O'er coral banks and amber beds;
Whose mountains, pregnant by the beam
Of the warm sun, with diamonds teem;
Whose rivulets are like rich brides,
Lovely, with gold beneath their tides;
Whose sandal groves, and bowers of spice
Might be a Peri's Paradise!

But crimson now her rivers ran

With human blood-the smell of death
Came reeking from those spicy bowers,
And man, the sacrifice of man,

Mingled his taint with every breath
Upwafted from the innocent flowers!
Land of the Sun! what foot invades
Thy Pagods and thy pillar'd shades-
Thy cavern shrines, and Idol stones,
Thy Monarchs and their thousand Thrones?
'Tis He of Gazna (**)-fierce in wrath

He comes, and India's diadems
Lie scatter'd in his ruinous path.-

His blood-hounds he adorns with gems,
Torn from the violated necks

Of many a young and lov'd Sultana; (††)—
Maidens, within their pure Zenana,
Priests in the very fane he slaughters.
And choaks up with the glittering wrecks
Of golden shrines the sacred waters!

($) The Forty Pillars; so the Persians call the ruins of Persepolis. It is imagined by them that this palace and the edifices at Balbec, were built by Genii. for the purpose of hiding in their subterraneous caverns, immense treasures, which still remain there.-D' Herbelot. Volney

(1) The Isles of Panchaia."

(4)" The cup of Jamshid, discovered, they say, when digging for the foundations of Per sepolis."-Richardson.

(**) Mahmoud of Gazna, or Ghizni, who conquered India in the beginning of the 11th century.-v. his History in Dow and Sir J. Malcolm.

(tt)" It is reported that the hunting equipage of the Sultan Mahmoud was so magnificent, that he kept 400 grey hounds and blood hounds, each of which wore a collar set with Jewels, and a covering edged with gold and pearls."-Universal History, vol. iii

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