in some measure adapted to the sentiment of the verse preceding it, or indicate the character of the verse following; perhaps it would be well to have it partake of the characteristics of both, so that the mind of the audience may be gradually led from the contemplation of the sentiment contained in the one, to the contemplation of that contained in the other. I am no connoisseur of music, but I admire consistency. There may be great variety in the exercises of the sanctuary, and still a uniform and symmetrical character be preserved. Nothing is more disgusting than a very fantastic interlude, or one that consumes more time in its performance than is required for the performance of a stanza.

I have dwelt upon the last topic because I conceived it related to a very important branch of the worship of that Being, in whose sight the heavens are not clean, and who charges his angels with folly. But, aside from churches and the like, I intended to have informed my readers at which of the engine-houses in this city, and not more than a hundred miles from my residence, the company strive to sanctify obscene songs at their meetings, by closing their revels at from one to three o'clock in the morning with a hymn to the tune of "Old Hundred," much to the peace and quiet of the neighbors all around, who are not obliged to open their windows or 'let the lattice down' in order to catch the mellifluous strains. I also inten

ded to have informed you at what corners you could be insulted or thrown from the sidewalks at the option of a gang of over-grown boys, who are more especially on duty during Sunday evenings. I meant to have informed you and all friends of temperance, that there is at least one street in Boston, where are six grocery shops in immediate contiguity, whose keepers are licensed to retail spirits' for the 'public good;' and also to have told you where you could find in this city one tavern or hotel, (legally so called,) with a very imposing and picturesque sign swinging from its front, with the significant motto, 'Only three cents,' glowing in capitals of four inches in height upon each of the sides. And I meant, too, to have dwelt for a moment on the beautiful consistency of ornamenting the windows of temperance grocery stores with an array of images representing fat-bellied 'bursters' smoking the genuine Principes.' I also intended to have informed you where the mammoth' cigar shop could be found, as in NewYork, and other cities more advanced in refinement than Boston; but soon after the opening of this establishment, some evil spirit chalked 'Ichabod ' upon its portals, when up jumped the 'mammoth' and took the line of march, and the 'Dos Amygos,' 'Principes,' 'Long nines' and all followed on, and the procession was brought up in the rear by a crockery mule heavily laden with 'Ladies' cigars.'

6

Thus departed the glory of the 'mammoth' cigar shop, much to the gratification of the adjoining neighborhood, and thus was prevented the necessity of entering into further details of the concern. I also meant to have suggested to retailers the convenience of living in the rear or over their places of business, and the propriety of occupying most of the width of the fronts of their premises with large shop windows, so as not to allow of more than one door, which shall serve as a common entrance to their stores and houses, and thus render both easy of access on all days of the week. One word should have ere this been whispered in the ears of the school committee of this city, upon the propriety of lashing the softer sex in the public schools, for the crime of speaking without leave, and other heinous offences of equal temerity; and another word to the same honorable body on the importance of having all corporal punishments performed before the whole school, for the gratification of the hard hearted and vicious, and for the purpose of hardening the hearts, dulling the sensibilities, and destroying the finer sympathies of those who are not already callous to social qualities and good feeling, as well as for the sake of sharpening the energies and increasing the enterprise of such as may be 'beaten with many stripes' by their perfect and angerless masters. Would not these suggestions have accorded strictly with the march of intellect

and the spirit of the age? Shades of school-mas

ters of threshing memory, whether you do not find some of our city schools!

come back, and see yourselves at home in

There were a number of subjects, in addition to those already touched upon, which I intended to have recurred to; and a multitude of others of equal importance crowd upon my mind at the present moment. But I will mention only one more and I have done. I wished to suggest to obtuse surgeons who may not have the organs of benevolence and conscientiousness largely developed, their interest in increasing the number of racing steamboats and omnibuses. I was going to illustrate to the gentlemen of the faculty, by stating a case that occurred recently while I was in one of the Roxbury omnibuses; but, on reflection, I have concluded to close with an account of a recent occurrence abroad, it being every way proper for a cosmopolite to borrow illustrations from every quarter of the globe. Says the Courier of September 7th, 'The steamer Earl Grey, from Roothsay to Glasgow, lying at the quay, Greenock, burst her boiler on the evening of July 24th, had her deck, cabin, &c., blown away, and thirty-two persons out of forty on board, killed or wounded. It was said she was preparing to race with another boat.'

ON SEEING THE PORTRAIT OF MY FATHER.

My father! what a crowd of sad and bright
Remembrances thy memory cluster round,
When this thy picture 's ushered to my sight,
Or in its fond alcove my heart is bound.
Just like a soft and silvery moon-beam lay
Thy mildly shining path while here on earth;
Just like the gently retroceding day,

Its light was gathered to its source of birth.
What though the world thy name has not inscribed
Upon its honored scroll, nor cast one sad
Reflection on thy death? It hath imbibed

Thy spirit; and the garb in which 't is clad
Is livelier, lovelier, for thy mission here.
E'er may thy blissful hopes my spirit cheer '

HYMN,

FOR A TEMPERANCE MEETING.

Touch not the wine-cup, when its draught
With ruby brightness lures,
The smooth libation often quaffed,

Sorrow and woe ensures.

Taste not of luxury when 'tis blent

With presages of death:

Go not into the bibber's tent,

For poison's in his breath.

Handle not treacherous goblets, though

Proffered by thrice-told friend;