been despatched to give him lessons in the etiquette of Olympus, and Aurora has promised, as to-morrow is the shortest day in the year, and she will have time enough before day-break, to bring him up in her phaton. Now, my dear boy, my plan is this: let Iris do her part-it will save you the trouble. I will contrive that old Tithonus shall detain Aurora; and do you, an hour before daybreak, go down on the stoutest of my black eagles, explain the situation of affairs, and bring him up with you. Juno will not dare dispute my will; and you shall be well rewarded." "Excuse me to these people"-and he turned to leave the room -"say a headache compels me, &c. &c. Oh! by the way, Hermes, tell Pallas to get ready a thunder-storm at 3 o'clock this morning in Ethopia-there's a man to be struck with lightning for impiety, and they want rain at Rhodes, I hear. I've a great mind, my son, to make you secretary of the weather department, it's such a bore:" Jupiter retired-and an hour after the sound of rolling wheels and closing doors announced the breaking up of the party. A few moments more, and Juno's step sounded on the stairs-her hand turned the lock of the door. Jove closed his eyes, to escape a curtain lecture-and Hera mentally reserved it for next morning.

CHAPTER V.

δινόχοσς τε θεῶν Γανυμήδης.--Hesiod Theogon.

The queen of heaven looked vexed and out of temper when the deities met around the breakfast table the next morning. She had lectured her spouse to his heart's content, boxed Iris's ears until that worthy abigail turned all the colors of the rainbow, and yet was not satified. Nor was it strange; nothing had been heard of Aurora and her phæton with its precious charge.

"Jove, my love, shall I give you three, or four lumps in your chocolate." "No more, I thank you. Mercury, bring my boots and the morning papers." As Hermes opened the door, Apollo entered, and walked shivering up to the fire. After standing for a moment with his back to it, contemplating his violet-colored slippers with much complacency, he apologized negligently for coming down with his hair 'en papillotes,' and added, "Do, Hyacinth, run up stairs, and get my furred dressing-gown-this is so distressingly thin. The purple one-stay-no-yes-no-bring the crimson velvet, with the ermine border: it's hanging on the left side of the cheval glass; and bring me a boa. I'll have the bath at 70°. Why don't you order warmer weather, father?" "Phobus, I leave you to help yourself; there will be some warm cakes presently. You're very late," said Juno, with an ill-humored look, as she rose and moved across the room to Venus's worktable. "La! Pallas, do look here! What in the world are you about, Cythera? what's that curious work?" "Oh! nothing,

only a pair of slippers I'm embroidering for Uncle Neptune." "What odd looking things," said Athena, scornfully." "I suppose they're water-tight?" "Oh dear! I had forgotten that" and Venus dropped her work in despair. "But do tell me, my dear Glaucopis, you must know, can I get some colored Indiarubber crewels? Are there any such things? They say those mortals make a thousand ingenious things. Do get me some, will you, dear Pallas ?" "Pshaw!" replied Minerva, with a sneer, you would be better employed in mending Cupid's pantaloons. He looks like one of the indigent colored orphans whom Latona speaks of so feelingly." I will do so if dear Juno will give me a piece of her mantilla!" Hera would probably have had a ready answer, had not her attention been distracted by Pallas, who had just taken up Apollo's flute, and was practicing "Di tanti palpiti." The tones were exquisite; but the expression of her features was so ridiculous as to draw a merry laugh from both the goddesses, in which Apollo faintly joined. Minerva raised her head, and seeing in the gold-fish vase that stood near, the distortions of her face, threw the flute out of the window. "You will get me a new one, will you not, Athena?" drawled Apollo. A loud ring at the door silenced the party, and the next moment Mercury entering, announced Thetis. "Oh, yes," said Jupiter, "she promised me a visit on business. Conduct her into the library; but see, first, whether she will not take a cup of coffee." "She has already breakfasted, sire." Ah! then say I will join her in an instant-as soon as I can put my boots on. Oh, Hermes!" in a whisper-" has he come ?" "Yes," was the reply in the same tone, "he is waiting on the east terrace." "Bring him in, then, the moment I leave the room." Mercury vanished. Apollo sauntered towards the sofa; and as Jupiter quitted the apartment at one door, his pet eagle sailed in at the other, bearing on his back-Ganymede.

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In the course of half an hour, Jupiter returned, escorting Thetis to her carriage. Hera and Pallas were sitting together with looks of suppressed rage. Ganymede was lolling, with his feet carelessly crossed on the fender, in Juno's favorite rocking-chair. Apollo had given him his own morning gown, and was leaning over the back of the chair, playing with his ringlets, and caressing his forehead. Venus had just poured out some chocolate for him; and Cupid was on his knees, toasting a piece of bread, as Ganymede had directed him. "Oh! Mercury!" exclaimed the capricious boy, already more than half spoiled, do get me a petit plat of rose-buds stewed in spermaceti"-" Certainly, sir!" replied Hermes, and flew like the wind to execute the whimsical commission. Jove smiled-and from that hour Ganymede has officiated as the divine cup-bearer.

AREM,

NECESSITY OF NATIONAL DECAY.

THE deep interest, which is felt in relation to the circumstances of our present social condition, as affected by the changes of future events, is founded in the best principles of our nature. Necessarily restricted by the laws of our being, to a short period of direct, personal concern with the affairs of society, we naturally look forward and endeavor to compensate for the brevity of life, by tracing out, as far as possible, the results and tendencies of present institutions; and hence it is, that we find even our remote anticipations among the most pleasing of all our speculations. Indeed, the progress of time, which so rapidly removes the individual from society, does not destroy all his connection with it, His patriotic feelings, his personal influence in the performance of private and official duty, and the mementos of his name and reputation, he leaves behind, all lead him to contemplate the future; and thus, in the prospect of occurrences expected in the ordinary course of things, or dimly shadowed forth by less obvious indications, he is enabled to enjoy the pleasure of a prolonged existence in the land, and among the friends he has loved so well.

Such are the feelings of thousands of individuals in every country where life is a blessing; and such indeed is the feeling of almost every nation at some period of its history, especially at the time of its highest prosperity. Such, we are persuaded, is the state of feeling in our own country at the present moment; and its beneficial influence, we believe, is beyond all power of estimation. If we are making more rapid advances in public happiness than any other nation, it is owing without doubt, in a great measure, to the causes that have produced high national anticipations of a bright aspect. Let it be impressed on the public mind, that our institutions of government are not of permanent duration, that the whole organization of society is soon destined to decay and dissolution, and that a nation of another name and race is to occupy our places, and a death blow is struck at the vital principles of national enterprise. The present time is with us, most emphatically, a season of hope. We do not say that it is altogether well founded; we do not say it is not exaggerated, and we need not say, that some are found, who see nothing promising in the prospect of the future, and are contented to use only the language of despair. While we repose great confidence in the national expectations to which we have alluded, as affording strong grounds of hope, in regard to the permanent prosperity of our own country, we would not be understood as implying

that they constitute, of themselves, the best or even a very good reason for their realization.

It must need a faith, more sanguine, and more effectual than the faith of miracles, to constitute a nation immortal, even if the impression should become universal that it could never die. Rome, in the height of her glory, was called the eternal city; and at that time, the epithet might have accorded as truly with the belief, as it was flattering to the pride of her citizens. Indeed, it is owing to inferences from this and other similar instances, so frequently to be met with in ancient history, that has led our modern political soothsayers of national ruin, to announce not only a sure and speedy dissolution of our present forms of government, but what is even a much more gloomy anticipation, they have become convinced, that all other nations in common with our own, are alike doomed to decay and perish.

In support of this opinion, it is often said, that there is an analogy between nations and individuals, and hence the destiny of the former is determined by a certain law, which, it is declared, has been so universally applicable, that the disposition and decrees of Charon were not more certain and inexorable, than is that stern necessity, that consigns all nations to a common destruction. "Man is born to die, and so are nations,"

is a short argument, and it is as formidable as it is brief. Nor is the inference of what is here predicated of man, less true and terrific, when applied to other things, which are of vastly more consequence than even the existence of nations. Man is mortal, and so must the mountains melt and the heavens fade away. But it does not hence follow, that a satisfactory method is attained of determining the laws of national existence. With the early nations of the world, the analogy may hold good, in respect to the simple point of fact, that they have perished. But all resemblance entirely fails, as to any strict uniformity in the manner of their origin, in the time of their duration, or in the causes of their decline.

The want of this uniformity is very essential, and it arises from the most obvious and fundamental distinctions, in the nature of those laws, or causes, on which the existence of nations and individuals depends. The life of an individual is under the control of physical laws. The existence of nations depends upon moral causes. The life of an individual under the most favorable circumstances, cannot be prolonged beyond a certain limit. The existence of nations is subjected to no such limitations. "The springs of the body politic," says an English historian, "do not necessarily undergo a perpetual change from time. It is not regularly progressive, from weakness to strength, and thence to decay and dissolution; nor is it under any principle of corruption