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. "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." 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 animation, 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 pala ces, 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 sympathy. "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." 66 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. "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 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," generous I," answered Mrs. Howard: "nor do I now act ind of pride: but you do not know enough of the 1 the nature of this obligation; you do not perceive, uld hereafter be called upon, probably in honour and return this obligation to me." d, I hope, be grateful for it," said Howard; "but ■ly," said Howard. said his aunt, smiling, "seal my letter and keep sed judgment. You will understand all this much years hence." was accordingly sealed and sent. HE DISCONTENTED PENDULUM. all the days of your ar after year, as I do. "As to that," said th use on purpose for yo "For all that," resun although there is a at to look out. Be and if you please mployment. This many times I shou at twenty-four hours De me the exact sum. The minute hand, b hty-six thousand Exactly so," repli the thought of t I began to mul ths and years, rea prospect: so after Ito myself, I' The dial could scar but resuming "Dear Mr. Pend ful, industrious e by this sudden at deal of work in dh; and, although nis, whether it wi defavour to give a gument?" ock that had stood for fifty years in a farmer's kitch giving its owner any cause of complaint, early one norning, before the family was stirring, suddenly , the dial-plate, (if we may credit the fable,) changnce with alarm: the hands made an ineffectual efnue their course: the wheels remained motionless e; the weights hung speechless; each member felt lay the blame on the others. At length the dial inrmal inquiry as to the cause of the stagnation; , wheels, weights, with one voice, protested their But now a faint tick was heard below, from the vho thus spoke : ss myself to be the sole cause of the present stopm willing, for the general satisfaction, to assign my The truth is, that I am tired of ticking." Upon , the old clock became so enraged that it was on striking. vire !" exclaimed the dial-plate, holding up its hands. ood!" replied the pendulum, "it is vastly easy for ss Dial, who have always, as every body knows, set above me, it is vastly easy for you, I say, to ac pe The pendulum co re "Not in the lea days of your life but to stare people in the face, and yourself with watching all that goes on in the kitchI, I beseech you, how you would like to be shut up this dark closet, and wag backwards and forwards, year, as I do.” that," said the dial, " is there not a window in your purpose for you to look through ?" l that,” resumed the pendulum, "it is very dark here: gh there is a window, I dare not stop, even for an inook out. Besides, I am really weary of my way of f you please, I'll tell you how I took this disgust at yment. This morning I happened to be calculating times I should have to tick in the course only of the ty-four hours: perhaps some of you, above there, can e exact sum." nute hand, being quick at figures, instantly replied, ix thousand four hundred times." tly so," replied the pendulum: "well, I appeal to you thought of this was not enough to fatigue one? and gan to multiply the strokes of one day by those of d years, really it is no wonder if I felt discouraged at ect: so after a great deal of reasoning and hesitation, myself, I'll stop." l could scarcely keep its countenance during this harut resuming its gravity, thus replied: Mr. Pendulum, I am really astonished that such a dustrious person as yourself should have been overthis sudden suggestion. It is true you have done a of work in your time. So we have all, and are likely d, although this may fatigue us to think of, the queshether it will fatigue us to do: would you, now, do me r to give about half a dozen strokes, to illustrate 66 my endulum complied, and ticked six times at its usual Now," resumed the dial, 'may I be allowed to inthat exertion was at all fatiguing or disagreeable to in the least," replied the pendulum;" it is not of es that I complain, nor of sixty, but of millions." good," replied the dial; "but recollect that although think of a million strokes in an instant, you are reexecute but one; and that however often you may have to swing, a moment will always be given you to 5 "That consideration staggers me, I confess," said the per dulum. "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, up on looking at the clock, he declared that his watch had gained half an hour in the night. MAN AND ANIMALS. Q. Q. massy fol 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 iage. 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 chang ed 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. |