How, when the wind the foliage heaves, It sparkles on the glossy leaves;

And what soft light and shade were shed
bed;
On every bush and every

And what a sheet of light was spread
Over the level lawn.

Then roved her eye from star to star,
And soon her thought had fled as far;
For thought has neither chain nor bar,
It ranges far and free:

And as she had not wings to fly
Amid the starry realms on high,
She marvell'd that a mortal eye

Those distant worlds could see.

Their gentle mother enters now,
And pleasure gladdens Martha's brow ;
For lo! on either hand she bears
With tender touch, these hats of theirs ;
While in her basket store is seen
Some glossy yards of ribbon green;
And having now unrolled it,-

She forms the bow, she twines the band;
Behold, with light and dexterous hand,
And there does eager Martha stand,
Suggesting this, approving that,
And all her soul is in her hat,

(Full large enough to hold it.)

Nor think that thoughtful Anne defers
To thank her mother, too, for her's:
She came, and with a grateful look,
And duteous word, her hat she took,
And bore it to its place :

Yet that fair ribbon, bright and new,
Scarce cared she if 'twas green or blue;

For now her mind was braced with thought,
Some nobler happiness it sought
Than 'ere, with nicest art, was wrought
With ribbon, pearl or lace.

As years increased, still Anne inclined
To train and cultivate her mind,
At reason's nobler voice :.

While Martha strove with equal care,
To deck her person light and fair :
Now, reader, these pursuits compare,
Compare and make your choice.

XXIV.

SOLILOQUIES OF THE OLD PHILOSOPHER AND THE YOUNG

LADY.

"how nar

"ALAS!" exclaimed a silver-headed sage, row is the utmost extent of human knowledge! how circumscribed the sphere of intellectual exertion! I have spent my life in acquiring knowledge, but how little do I know! The farther I attempt to penetrate the secrets of nature, the more I am bewildered and benighted. Beyond a certain limit all is but confusion or conjecture; so that the advantage of the learned over the ignorant consists greatly in having ascertained how little is to be known.

"It is true that I can measure the sun; and compute the distances of the planets; I can calculate their periodical movements; and even ascertain the laws by which they perform their sublime revolutions: but with regard to their construction, to the beings which inhabit them, of their condition and circumstances, whether natural or moral, what do I know more than the clown?

"Delighted to examine the economy of nature in our own world, I have analyzed the elements; and have given names to their component parts. And yet, should I not be as much at a loss to explain the burning of fire, or to account for the liquid quality of water, as the vulgar who use and enjoy them without thought or examination!

"I remark that all bodies, unsupported, fall to the ground and I am taught to account for this by the law of gravitation. But what have I gained here more than a term? Does it convey to my mind any idea of the nature of that mysterious and invisible chain, which draws all things to a common centre? I observe the effect, I give a name to the cause, but can I explain or comprehend it?

:-

"Pursuing the track of the Naturalist, I have learned to distinguish the animal, vegetable, and mineral kingdoms; and to divide these into their distinct tribes and families but can I tell, after all this toil, whence a single blade of grass derives its vitality ?--Could the most minute researches enable me to discover the exquisite pencil that paints and fringes the flower of the field ?have I ever detected the secret that gives their brilliant dye to the ruby and emerald, or the art that enamels the delicate shell ?

"I observe the sagacity of animals; I call it instinct, and speculate upon its various degrees of approximation to the reason of man. But, after all, I know as little of the cogitations of the brute as he does of mine. When I see a flight of birds overhead, performing their evolutions, or steering their course to some distant settlement, their signals and cries are as unintelligible to me as are the learned languages to the unlettered mechanic: I understand as little of their policy and laws as they do of Blackstone's Commentaries.

"But leaving the material creation, my thoughts have

often ascended to loftier subjects and indulged in metaphysical speculations. And here, while I easily perceive in myself the two distinct qualities of matter and mind, I am baffled in every attempt to comprehend their mutual dependance and mysterious connection. When my hand moves in obedience to my will, have I the most distant conception of the manner in which the volition is either communicated or understood? Thus in the exercise of one of the most simple and ordinary actions, I am perplexed and confounded, if I attempt to account for it.

66

Again, how many years of my life were devoted to the acquisition of those languages, by the means of which I might explore the records of remote ages, and become familiar with the learning and literature of other times! and what have I gathered from these but the mortifying fact, that man has ever been struggling with his own impotence, and vainly endeavouring to overleap the bounds which limit his anxious inquiries?

"Alas! then, what have I gained by my laborious researches but a humbling conviction of my weakness and ignorance? of how little has man, at his best estate, to boast! what folly in him to glory in his contracted powers, or to value himself upon his imperfect acquisitions!"

"Well!" exclaimed a young lady, just returned from school, "my education is at last finished: indeed it would be strange, if, after five years' hard application, any thing were left incomplete. Happily that is all over now; and I have nothing to do, but to exercise my various accomplishments.

"Let me see!—as to French, I am mistress of that, and speak it, if possible, with more fluency than English. Italian I can read with ease, and pronounce very well: as well at least, and better, than any of my friends; and that is all one need wish for in Italian. Music Í

have learned till I am perfectly sick of it. But, now that we have a grand piano, it will be delightful to play when we have company. I must still continue to practise a little ;--the only thing, I think, that I need now to improve myself in. And then there are my Italian songs! which every body allows I sing with taste, and as it is what so few people can pretend to, I am particularly glad that I can.

"My drawings are universally admired; especially the shells and flowers; which are beautiful, certainly: besides this, I have a decided taste in all kinds of fancy ornaments.

"And then my dancing and waltzing! in which our master himself owned that he could take me no farther; --just the figure for it certainly ;-it would be unpardonable if I did not excel.

"As to common things, geography, and history, and poetry, and philosophy, thank my stars, I have got through them all! so that I may consider myself not only perfectly accomplished, but also thoroughly well informed.

Well, to be sure, how much I have fagged through! the only wonder is that one head can contain it all!"'

XXV.

THE WISE MAN.

FREDERIC and Philip, with their sisters Julia and Kate, were amusing themselves together one evening while their father and mother were engaged in conversation. The children paid no attention to what passed, till Philip, (who was very lively and inquisitive) happened to hear his father say, of some person he was speaking of, that he might be truly called, a wise man! These