weak brain. Who knows? She may be proud and happy yet. ger surely. "Wha hae we here? Puir craitar! She maun be deid or deean." It was a woman's voice that said it, with the But when she was restored to strength tenderness of one who had known afflic- again, was able to come with her babe, tion. And the woman was not alone; be- through the snow, to the widow's hearth, side her stood a little girl. Together they then Widow Macraw said she should "seek raised the prostrate one. "Com' wi' us. her ain folk and mak' her paice wi' them Try tae mak' it oot. Oor hame's nigh lik' a Christian lass." Leastwise, she "cudhan.' We'll tak' ye in the nicht." And na maintain her yont a day or twa mair." they led her stumbling steps towards the Then, again, all the wretchedness of her cottage where they dwelt. It was scarce life beset her. The hope that had shone a hundred yards up the hill-side. "Haud into her breast as she watched "the bairn" ye up! See, ye can mak' oot the firelicht died away; for her brother's face conthrough the panes." Scarcely half con- fronted her; her father's faltering yet scious she went with them, and was quickly stern decision still rung in her ears. She growing sick in the heat of the peat-fire never dare approach them. Hagarlike, on their cottage floor the cottage of the she must wander forth into her poor Widow Macraw. "Shak' doun the waifs' world's arid desert. Can you wonder that bed, Mary," said the widow; "she maun heart and flesh did faint and fail her? lie doun at aince. I'll gie her some mait She felt in all its bitterness how terwhan she's under the claes." The widow | rible it is to be God-forsaken, feeling it saw what was wrong; but after a moment the more because she first had forsaken of hesitation, in which she felt all the burden of her charity, she went cheerfully forward to perform what God had so clearly given her to do. Him. Whither should she go? Turn to the right hand or to the left, a vista of long, long months of life from the strange hand of charity alone appeared to her, for body and arms of her were bound to the infant, whom in very wretchedness she pressed more closely to her breast. In the depths of her misery she cried to the Lord, and I think He heard her. For an angel, a good angel from heaven, all unexpected and unwished for, stood beside her in this crisis, even the beauteous and beneficent angel of Death, who gently closes our eyes when the light of life becomes unsupport The waifs' bed" stood in the end of the widow's byre, in which also stood her only cow, mainstay of her little household. Poor Jean was quickly lying in the bed, and the kindly widow brought her hot gruel to drink, and set two bottles of hot water beside her to warm the cold bed. "An' what may yer name be, puir lass? Nae doot ye war wranged, e'en though ye war far wrang yersel'." "Jean." "Puir Jean!" said the widow; and she able. Oh, it came unwished for, unasked no more. Oh, bitter are the pain and anguish that have no sustenance of love, no hope of a fruition of joy! Yet the life that scarce is worth the living will cling to the pained one that fain would lay it down, as gladly this pained one there on "the waifs' bed" could have hid her shame in death. For ten days the widow nursed and kept Jean, giving her of her tiny milking, giving her of her slender stock of meal and other food. And as the mother nursed her boy-babe, some little gleam she had of all the rich outpouring of tenderness and beauteous feeling with which God visits the mothers who please Him. A watery, tearful gleam it was, yet fulgent with God's own tenderness, as she yearned over her son. What a strange wonder is the human mind! This poor babe of shame not only bound her to the life she loved not, but, lying there on the wanderers' bed, fanciful hopes grew up faintly in her thought of, and full of affright! On the twelfth day, the day her wanderings were to begin, the angel stood beside the waifs' bed while the child slept. The goal must ever be won by suffering more or less, and thus the child awoke in pain. “O Jean! ye maunna steer till the bairn's better," said the kindly widow. But on the morrow of the next day it was dead. Is human life so rare and priceless that we shall bewail this babe unblest, because it came not to know life's work, life's sorrows, life's sins? Still will the poor mother weep over her embryo hope thus withered in the bud, as if her tears were rivers of water. And she wept the more in broken-heartedness, lest God, whom she only knew afar off, mostly through the cloud of her troubles, lest God who had taken it from her might ungraciously deal with its spirit, not for its own but for its parents' sins. "Jamie Knockans," jack of all trades, down in the Leens, made for it a little "kist," as a coffin is termed in our land, rope may well be dwarfed into compara a little kist of somewhat rough deals, and as paint was rare, and black cloth not at all, he blackened it with oil and soot. I am sure it mattered not in what the poor babe slept. And she washed it, and dressed it, and kissed its cold baby lips, and sobbed and wept as if God had dealt very hardly by her, nor heard her cry at all. Yet in her heart she felt that He was a good gracious God, whose ways not being as her ways, nor thoughts as her thoughts, had shown her mercy even thus. tive insignificance in our eyes. It is not well, however, to allow these to be altogether excluded from our view; and we may advantageously spare a few moments from the pressure of nearer interests to realize what is passing at the opposite side of the globe. 66 66 The East" is ceasing very rapidly to be the mere geographical expression" Italy was once derisively considered. Great Britain and Russia have both stretched their arms across the territories "Knockans" carried the little coffin, and which constitute the continent of Asia, abthe widow and Jean, now bearing her bun-sorbing and appropriating no small portion dle, followed him along the snow-clad way by a process of conquest and annexation to the distant "acre" at Langrig, where a combined. India and Central Asia have tiny graveblack blotch it looked on the in this way been brought in great degree earth's white breast- received it. The under European rule. The Anglo-Saxon man lighted his pipe, and set coolly to fill on the other side, crossing the continent up the gap. The mother, losing sight of of the New World, during the last quarter the coffin, wept afresh. She offered him of a century, now stands fronting the Japall the money she had- -a shilling and anese and Chinese, scarcely separated by some coppers. "Na, na," said the gruff the Pacific Ocean, which, in these days fellow; na, na, puir lass; it's no for hire of steam and commercial enterprise, is the noo." Then she threw her arms round little more than a herring-pond. Thus from the little widow, and broke out in a loud both sides, by land approaches from Euburst of grateful weeping; and they rope and by sea from California, the Westparted, Jean going whither she would. ern and Eastern races from opposite points of the compass meet, and with ideas almost as widely opposed as their positions on the map. A great commerce has, moreover, grown up within the last few years between San Francisco, and China, and Japan. The Pacific has proved no greater obstacle to this ever-increasing intercourse From The Spectator. CHANGE AND PROGRESS IN JAPAN. son. group of nations. In thirty days, passengers and goods are transported from one coast to the other with ease and safety. Whole fleets of steamers keep up the communication, and thousands of Chinese emigrants every year are passing over to make the railroads, till the cotton fields, and work the sugar plantations of the United States, supplying and cheapening their labour market. A BRIEF notice in the Court Circular of the presentation to the Queen of Higashi-than the Mediterranean to the European Fushimi-no-Miya, a Japanese Prince, lately come to England for the prosecution of his studies or, in other words, for an education is an incident scarcely noticed in the whirl and dissipation of a London seaAnd yet it marks an epoch in the history of a nation. It is the evidence of a change in the political constitution and ideas of a whole race which is without a parallel for its completeness and suddenness, in either ancient or modern history. That our descendants there and the We have seen many changes of the most crowds of emigrants from our own shores startling character in Europe during the which anually swell their numbers, should last few years. The restoration of Italy rejoice in such rapid progress, and overas a sovereign power, with the downfall of flow in self-gratulations at the anticipation the Pope's temporal rule, the collapse of soon becoming, like the parent State, and utter ruin of the first military power a great Eastern power, with dominant inin Europe, and the equally sudden and fluence over Mongol, Chinese, and Japanunanticipated resuscitation of the German ese, is very natural. Nor are such sanEmpire under the control of Prussia, the guine hopes so utterly devoid of solid territories of the latter increased by the foundation as many on this side of the dismemberment of France, are all events Atlantic will be apt to conclude. China of such transcendent magnitude and im- and Japan are conscious of what is to them portance, that all other changes in the des- a common danger and a common want. tiny of nations beyond the limits of Eu-The danger is that of territorial encroach -- ment or absorption from the preponderat- breadth, they were rudely awakened by ing power and aggressive character of the apparition of an American squadron, Russia. The want, a knowledge of Eu- with a summons to enter the comity of ropean arts and sciences - the art of war nations, and the alternative of being treated more especially- and the sciences which as enemies of the human race. Both the develop the strength and multiply the re- message and the messengers must have sources of a nation. The best antidote to come upon the Japanese Daimios with this danger, and the readiest means of something of the effect of an earthquake supplying the want, are to be found in strong enough to rouse the Seven Sleepcloser union or alliance with their nearest ers. To realize their position and feelings neighbours, after the Russians, the one must be able to picture their dream of Americans. And that these are not un- security, the completeness of their prewilling to extend the right hand, and if vious isolation, and undisturbed conviction need be material aid and protection, may of their power to maintain it against the be inferred from many circumstances, world. From this to pass in a single though these are of a kind to escape notice night to the knowledge that a squadron in Europe. The New York Herald was was anchored in the Bay of Yeddo menacsomewhat too precipitate in announcing ing the capital, and with an expressed dethat an uncle of the Mikado had been termination on the part of a great Westsent to America as an Envoy of Japan. ern power to open intercourse with the But the error is rather one of time than country, was a transformation far tranof fact,- foreshadowing something in the scending Rip Van Winkle's experience on future instead of keeping to the present; his return to the waking world. The the fact being that the Mikado has policy loudly proclaimed by Taiko Sama directed three Princes of the Blood, 250 years before, as the unalterable nearly related to him, to proceed to rule of Japan, had remained until that foreign countries for purposes of study, fatal morning undisturbed and unques one to proceed to Prussia; one, who has lately arrived, to remain in England; and one to stop in America. A chargé d'affaires has also been appointed to represent Japan in each of these countries. A large number of Japanese students, many of them sons of officers and high functionaries, have been similarly distributed for their education. There are at this moment forty-six located in England. We can easily understand therefore that the President of the United States spoke in all sincerity to one of these Princes, when he told them that the United States had seen "with pride the young men of Japan coming there to receive scientific education," and that "he would take great pleasure in contributing to make their residence in the country both agreeable and useful to them." A revolution more strange than any recorded in history has recently been effected in Japan, and is thus revealed to us. Since the American Commodore in 1853 first threw open the doors previously closed to all, and gave entrance not to merchants and their goods only, but to ideas of progress, and new hopes and fears as well as interests, another nation has sprung into existence, and is now preparing to run a race with European States. From a long sleep of isolation and feudalism, with stereotyped laws, and customs from which no one under penalty of death was at liberty to deviate by a hair's tioned. This is what Taiko Sama, the founder of the Tycoon's dynasty, now no more, announced, in a letter addressed in 1591 to the Portugese Viceroy of Goa, who had dared to propose friendly relations and intercourse :-" Japan is the realm of the Kami, that is of Sin, the beginning of all things; and the good order of the Govern ment depends upon the exact observance of the ancient laws, of which the Kami are the authors. They cannot be departed from without overturning the subordina tion which ought to exist of subjects to their sovereign, wives to their husbands, children to their parents, vassals to their lords, and servants to their masters. These laws are necessary to maintain good order within and tranquillity without. The Fathers have come to these islands to teach another religion; but as that of the Kami is too deeply rooted to be eradicated, this new law can only serve to introduce into Japan a diversity of worship very prejudicial to the State. It is on that account that, by an Imperial edict, I have forbidden these strange doctors to continue to preach their doctrine. I have even ordered them to leave Japan, and I am determined not to allow anybody to come thither to retail new opinions." But the year 1853 brought an American Commodore for a Plenipotentiary— "backed by such a naval force as would secure him a respectful hearing," with instructions "to show a resolution not to take 'no' for an answer"-and the re-history it is. Within the last ten years sult was the reluctant and oft-repented re- the whole social and political fabric of the versal of the traditionary policy of isola- State has been revolutionized. The pres tion, soon to be followed by the opening ent descendant of a race of fainéant Sover of its ports to trade, under the pressure eigns, sleeping and dreaming away their of English, French, and Russian negotia- weary existence among their wives and tors, following in the track of the United concubines, never stirring from the preStates. cincts of his palace-prison under viligant Not twenty years have yet passed, and guard of successive usurping Tycoons, has in that period, short as it is in the life of been roused from the lethargy of ages. a nation, the Japanese have cleared at a He now not only reigns, but governs a nabound the space of centuries which inter- tion of thirty millions of willing and devened in Europe between feudalism and voted subjects. The Tycoon, his former modern institutions. The mayors of the jailor, is deposed and banished, and the palace, with their dual government, spirit- nobles of the realm have gathered round ual and temporal, feudal and military, have the Mikado to guard the throne. Railroads all disappeared, and in their place there and telegraphic lines in that short time reigns a Kami-descended sovereign still, have been introduced. Stranger still, Japbut with all the most approved constitu- anese Scrip is quoted on the Stock Extional forms and checks on despotic rule. changes in Europe-and at 98 to 100 — a The princely feudatories have merged into rate which many of the oldest European a deliberative House of Peers, renouncing States may envy. A mint from London all their feudal privileges; and to complete has been set to work, and the notes for a the revolution of ideas, three of the princes paper currency are now preparing in Frankof the Imperial blood are now in Europe fort with all modern improvements. A for their education! If we would know with what object, we have but to listen to the address of the Prince on his presenta tion to the President at the White House at Washington:-"Our travellers and students, like myself, on their way abroad, will hereafter become better acquainted with your country and people. We shall constantly encourage intercourse, and aim to annually increase more intimate and important relations. The Government of Japan is well aware that education is the basis of all progress, and therefore sends her young men to receive a scientific education in America and Europe, hoping thereby to fitly prepare them to take a wise and discriminating part in the affairs of our Government. Our Government has commissioned a diplomatic representative to this country, to assure you that it is earnestly seeking for permanent progress in all that is great and good, as rapidly as it can acquire these cherished ends, and it desires particularly to cement more closely the already friendly relations and interests existing between our respective peoples." penny postage stamp and a postal service are also preparing, to take the place of two naked runners and a paper bag. Medical schools have been established, and with anatomical classes, the greatest achievement of all, perhaps. Ironclad steamers ride at anchor under their own flag where not a score of years ago an American squadron took the nation by surprise. An army of European-drilled natives, armed with the best breech-loaders, has been organized, and arsenals for casting cannon are in operation. Such are a few of the changes which place Japan in the foremost rank of Eastern nations, distinguished before all others by its capacity for progress and power of assimilating the ideas and the best fruits of Western civilization. In one direction they appear disposed to adhere resolutely to the policy so loudly proclaimed by Taiko Sama, and to hark back to their oldest traditions. They still object to the conversion of their people, if they no longer prohibit "strange doctors continuing to preach." They have quite recently swept away whole villages and doomed their inhabitants to death or Well might the President of the Great slavery for listening to missionaries. They Republic hail the arrival of these students seem, indeed, disposed to go further still, and travellers as heralds of a new era for and to uproot Buddhism, which came from their nation, in terms of congratulation and China, according to Japanese chronologists, friendly courtesy! The world has never some 500 years B. C., superseded in a great before seen so great a change in so brief a degree, but never entirely, the native relispace as the advent of these Japanese gion, in which the Supreme Being is worPrinces demonstrates. It reads more like shipped without any kind of idolatry. a description of the transformation-scene | This ancient and purer faith, it is said, the of a pantomime than sober history, yet Japanese ruler is now bent on restoring, to the exclusion of every other. And it may began instantly to look for the Red Revbe remembered that in none of their treat-olution. A profound stillness, the exit of ies with foreign powers could they be in- four passengers from the train, and the duced to admit the toleration clause im- presence of two carriages before the grand posed by force majeure upon the Chinese. Looking to the sudden and sweeping character of the changes above enumerated, it might be imagined that the Japanese, like the inhabitants of Honolulu, had simply fallen under the sway of certain enterprising Americans, who had obtained sufficient influence to revolutionize the State, and place themselves in office for the administration of a constitution on an European model. But nothing of the kind has taken place. The Japanese are their own regenerators, although a few foreigners have been taken into their service. And no better proof is needed than this tendency to revert to their ancient faith, and cast out that which has been so long naturalized among them as a foreign importation. When will China acknowledge "education is the basis of all progress," and progress itself an essential condition of the permanent well-being and development of a nation? They are as far from it now as they were in the days of Kublai Khan, the Mongol conqueror of the thirteenth century. And they cling as obstinately to their Asiatic love of repose, the traditions of the past, and their detestation of all innovation and progress, as in the days of Confucius, who lived 500 years before the Christian era. All honour to the Japanese, then, who bid fair to be, at the opposite side of the globe, what the British islanders have been on this- the pioneers of progress and with their courage and enterprise to realize Taiko Sama's dream,if not of annexing the inert colossus, China, only separated by a narrow belt of sea, of far outstripping it in the race of life and the acquirement of power to maintain their independence, not by hermetically closing their ports, but by freely opening them to the commerce of all nations. Not, as the Chinese vainly strive, by refusing access, so far as they dare, and blindly treading round and round the same vicious circle of ignorance and prejudice; but by going forth with their eyes wide open into all lands, and profiting by the experience and accumulated results of ages of progress and scientific culture. From The Spectator. entrance, these were the only remarkable circumstances. I contemplated the competitive cochers and chose my man, a brisk pleasant fellow, with merry black eyes, fine white teeth, the traditional red waistcoat, which survives empires and revolutions, a shiny hat, and an innocuous whip. His strong grey horse had probably been imported since the siege, as he had evidently always had plenty to eat. "Citizen," said I, adhering to a promise extorted by a nervous friend," I have very little time, a great deal to do, and a strong desire to see as much of Paris and the citizen patriots as possible. May I engage you by the hour, and is it dangerous for me to drive about the city?" Nothing could be more agreeable than the proposed arrangement to the citizen cocher, or less dangerous to Madame (I was so much disappointed that no one called me citoyenne), and she should see everything of interest in Paris, especially the barracks and the ambulances. I got into the most comfortable coupé within my experience, and we rolled leisurely off towards the Rue Lafayette, discussing our route through the front window. Firing had been brisk in the direction of the Porte Mailot, and the vicinity of the Arc de Triomphe was not desirable. This was unfortunate, for part of my business for a later hour of the day lay in the Rue de Monceau and the Rue de Lisbonne. The citizen cocher thought it likely we could reach both without difficulty, if I did not mind not going quite up to the Arch. On we went towards the centre of the city, through empty, silent streets, for the most part- meeting an occasional coupé, a few omnibusses, occupied by blouses and National Guards; some heavy waggons, probably containing ammunition, under sinister and disorderly escort of men in motley costumes, with guns and bayonets; past small groups of patriots seated on the kerbstone, their guns against the wall behind them, with, in many instances, a loaf stuck on the bayonet point- towards the centre of the city. The sky was grey, the wind was piercing, there was next to no movement, and absolutely no sound. What had become of the swarming life of Paris? Every shop was shut, many were boarded up, from a few windows hung shabby red flags, but the very buildings looked dead. It bewildered me. I could find no traces of the siege, and all my previous ideas of a revolution were dispersed. |