MISCELLANEOUS. posed. With what eyes could Simon look upon this child? he must necessarily remain a lasting monument of your misconduct and disgrace. I can discern by your eyes that your choice is made; but you ought to consider, that you cannot always remain with this good woman, whose circumstanees, however desirous she might be of befriending you, render it impossible. The money that Nanette sends you is taken from the support of herself and family. Nanette labours the ground while you caress Benjamin; and Nanette has been guilty of no fault. You have but one resource, which is to go into service either at Geneva or Chambery; but I doubt whether, without separating from your child, you would easily find a place. I allow you two days, to reflect on these matters. You will then inform me of your determination; and, depend on it, I will do every thing in my power to assist you." Claudine was sensible of the truth of all the curate had said; but she found it impossible to live without Benjamin. "After passing a day and a night in reflecting on what she ought to do, she at last resolved: and after writing a letter to the curate, acknowledging all his kindness, which she left on her table, she made a bundle of her clothes, tied up twenty crowns, which still remained, in a handkerchief, and taking Benjamin in her arms, she departed from Salenches. "She took the road to Geneva, and slept that night at Bonville; for, on account of little Benjamin, she could not travel far. The second day she arrived at Geneva. Her first care was to sell all her female clothes, and provide herself with a suit of man's at tire; she even sold her fine black hair, and bought a knapsack, into which she put her clothes. She fastened the ring which she had always hitherto worn on her finger, round her neck. Thus clad like a young Savoyard, with a stout stick in her hand, her knapsack on her back, on the top of which Benjamin was seated, clasping his the mountains; and people were so "She was twelve days in crossing much pleased with the air and appearand of the child whom she carried on ance of this handsome little Savoyard, her back, and called her little brother, that she was hardly allowed to pay her reckoning by amusing the compaany thing, but commonly discharged ny with some of the little beautiful when Claudine arrived at Turin, she songs peculiar to her country; so that which she hired a little garret, bought had still some of her money left, with by little Benjamin, who never left her, a brush and blacking, and, followed shoes, in the Palais Royal, under the she set up a little stall for blacking name of Claude. (To be concluded in our next.) SINGULAR PRESERVATION. An interesting article upon the colwhich the emigrants are about to setony of the Cape of Good Hope, in tle, appears in a late English periodical work; portraying its adsituation the emigrant is likely to be vantages and disadvantages, with the placed in, on his first arrival. In noor Keboor) Colonist with his musket, ticing the unerring skill of the grazier, the writer of the article relates the which was a person of the name of following little narrative, the hero of ilous and fearful shot," is given in Van Wyk, and the story of his "perhis own words. "It is now," said he, "more than two years, in the very place where the most daring shots that ever was we stand, I ventured to take one of hazarded. My wife was sitting within the house, near the door; the children were playing about her: and I in doing something to a waggon; was without, near the house, busied when, suddenly, though it was mid day, an enormous lion appeared, came up, and laid himself quietly down in || alas! she had none! She was an or the shade, upon the threshold of the door. My wife, either frozen with fear, or aware of the danger attending any attempt to fly, remained motionless in her place, while the children took refuge in her lap. The cry they uttered attracted my attention, and I hastened towards the door; but my astonishment may well be conceived when I found the entrance to it barred in such a way. Although the animal had not seen me, unarmed as I was escape seemed impossible; yet, I glided gently, scarcely knowing what I meant to do, to the side of the house, up to the window of my chamber, where I knew my loaded gun was standing. By a most happy chance I had set it in a corner close by the win-guile or treachery in another, judging phan. Long had a mother's voice ceased to instruct her by its precepts; a father's arm to protect and administer by its labour to her necessities. Both had been consigned to the grave; and Emma was left without a friend, on whom to depend for counsel or assistance. She was then beauteous; her form and graceful movements were those of Diana; the health of Hygeia bloomed upon her cheek; and the lily's spotless whiteness lent its complexion to her neck and bosom. Her mind was intelligent, though not learned; her heart a compound of virtue and credulity. Never had Emma performed an act that was wrong, knowing it to be so; never suspected dow, so that I could reach it with my hand; the opening being too small to admit of my having got in, and still more fortunately, the door of the room was open, so that I could see the whole danger of the scene. The lion was beginning to move, perhaps with the intention of making a spring. There was no longer any time to think; I called softly to the mother not to be alarmed, and invoking the name of the Lord, fired my piece. The ball passed directly over the hair of my boy's head, and lodged in the forehead of the lion, immediately above his eyes, which shot forth, as it were, sparks of fire, and stretched him on the ground, so that he never stirred more." From the Boston Patriot. the world as it were by the standard of her own honesty and truth. Thus acting and believing; unskilled in the deceptive character of man; forlorn and needy; she was approached by a youth, whose prepossessing form and manners soon engaged her affections. With the malice and cunning of the arch fiend of old, he wooed, won, and deserted her! Wretched Emma! Virtue was once thy richest pride and solace-virtue! And is it then but a name that the charitable look at ? Art thou, Emma, still virtuous? Shall the fell machinations of a villain cast that approbrium upon thy purer nature, which only his infamy deserves? Yet it may be said that thou too art infamous! No, not so; thou art wretched but not infamous. It was not a fault to believe as thou hast believed; it was a misfortune. That innocence which should have been thy protec A sketch from the Miscellany MS. tion, is nevertheless thy apology. You of Mr. Charlton. The tempest of a dark December night had for some time vented its fury, when a wretched woman, drenched by the rain, dishevelled, and in tattered garments, sunk on the ground as she journeyed over the heath. She had wandered from her home home! saw the tears trickle down from eyes, while those eyes beamed rapture upon you; you heard a voice silvery and sweet, which formed itself to your situ ation, declared its passions, and pledged its unalterable truth. Could you Kk doubt it? No: that heart which never deceived, that heart which had so often throbbed with sympathetic emo 266 tions at the bare recital of "past tales tion in another, when its feet is laid look whiclı might have melted a stone, cy; an orphan; shunned by my for- "I "One (replied the stranger) who feels it his duty to succour the afflicted; one that never sported with the unhappy, nor promised but to per form." " Angel! minister of heaven:" exclaimed the orphan and sunk her icy forehead upon his bosom. He was a MASON! and the Mason has kept his word. Emma is seen, blooming and beautiful as ever, moving in plenty. Her error has been long since forgotten by all but herself, in consideration of her correct deportment, sed na firs 100. at 267 and the exercise of her charities. She || recollect the odium he brought upon is the almoner of the village. Her kindness heals the afflicted; her precepts tame the obdurate. Once a year, when the night winds blow bleak, does Emma hie her to the spot where her preserver found her. He accompanies her. It is the indulgence of a whim in her which he sanctions, more because he believes it to be the exer cise of a penance for her crime, than from a fear that without any perpetuation of it, she might again fall its victim. One act originating in extreme sensibility and uncounselled by experience, weaned from her the sympathies of the world. One generous bosom snatched her from destruction, and gave to society again its brightest ornament. Adieu sweet Emma! thy sufferings and thy persecutions are treasured up in every honest heart; and the hour is blest, in which the Mason found thee an orphan on the heath. From the Boston Palladium. LOUISIANA MOUNTAIN OF SALT. In the interesting letter, written by general Miller, governor of Arkansas, dated September 2d, 1820, lately published, among other important facts is mentioned an extent of country covered with pure chrystalized salt, six inches deep. He adds, all men agree, both white and Indian, that this article is in such abundance, some distance above where he was, that they could cut and split off pieces a foot square. himself, by telling his pupils and the public, that vast bodies of the purest of Europe and Asia, and that he fully salt were to be found in different parts believed what was related of its existence in our newly purchased territory. Now, "fair play is a jewel," says those who were ridiculed and injured the proverb; and it is but right that then, should have justice done them now. Abused as president Jefferson was, at that time, he never said a word on the subject, and the reason of his silence will appear in the following extract from one of his letters, as late tired from public life. as 1813, a long time after he had re "The fact (says Mr. Jefferson) was stated by major Stoddert; but I never heard of it till certain writers drew forth the morsel so delicious for the exercise of their wit. I thought it as innocent a tub for the whale as could be given them, and said nothing. "But if truth is their object, they may now take up the Major's book on (page 403) he vindicates his former Louisiana, lately published, in which assertions, and produces facts, on whom the wits may display all their science, and after demolishing major Stoddert's salt mountain, may solicit an auto da fe to burn you, who believe in the heresy." From the Haverhill Gazette. Gather up the fragments that remain, The exemplification of this moral The public cannot have forgotten that this subject of the Louisiana Salt Mountains, was the butt of ridicule in is perpetually occurring on the most Mr. Jefferson's administration. The Credulity of the philosopher of Monti- The very paper on which I am now cello was the subject of wit and ridi cule in newspapers, and in our most Fashionable circles. It may be re common objects of daily attention. example. writing affords me an membered too that one of the profess- ty would have swept it to the door, but the industrious rag-man took it up returned to me the former old rag in a new form, no less pleasing than useful. My gentle friends, in obedience to the great Master, gather up the fragments which remain. The little piece of cloth which falls from your scissors, may be the means of carrying the light of the knowledge of the glory of God to far distant and benighted lands. God himself loses nothing; and to a contemplative mind it is both instructive and entertaining to observe the many ways which he takes to gather up the fragments. I rose up from the feast, and went out to drink the fresh evening air. As I passed the gate, old Lazarus, the beggar, was sitting and making a rich repast on the very piece of baked mutton I had left on my plate. His dog stood by, and the bones, &c. of which Lazarus could make nothing, afforded a delicious meal to poor Trim. By the time I returned, a little flock of sparrows occupied the ground where Lazarus had sat with Trim, and picked up the crumbs which had fallen from them. They flew off at my approach; but their place was instantly seized by a number of flies and other insects, all greedily devouring the fragments which remained of the sparrows; and that nothing might be lost, a little laborious ant had got a huge crumb on her shoulders, and tottering under the burden, was carrying it to her nest. A small affair it seemed, indeed, to me, but small as it was, it afforded a full feast to herself and her little family. "Go to the ant, thou sluggard, consider her ways and be wise." Lord God Almighty, how manifold are thy works! in the vast range of thy economy, nothing is lost! From the Franklin Chronicle. CONTRASTED JOYS. A real fact. The reverend James Harvey was once riding in a stage coach, with a gay young lady, who expatiated, in a very lively manner, on the pleasures of the theatre. Indeed (she said) I enjoy much happiness before I go, in anticipation, and when there, my pleasure is indescribable; and the recollection of the scene affords me much happiness the followlowing day. Mr. Harvey replied, "and is that all the happiness, madam, the theatre affords you? Is there not one joy beside? Have you forgotten the happiness it will afford you in the hour of death?" The youth, struck with the scene of eternity, which opened to her imagination, was brought under genuine conviction of sin, and the vanity of fugitive amusement, to participate in the solid pleasures of religion. From the Montreal Herald. KINGSTON, FEB. 6. On Saturday last, two men, residents at Cape Vincent, on the American side, observed, while coming round the southern end of Wolf Island, a strange animal on the ice, about two miles from the shore. They immediately pursued it, and on catching it found that it was a seal. They have brought it over to this place to exhibit as a curiosity, and multitudes are flocking to view this new inhabitant of our fresh water sea. When first informed of the circumstance we were rather sceptical, and were inclined to think that the animal had in reality been brought from the ocean, and that the story in circulation was a mere hoax. We have, however, the most respectable testimony on the subject, and can no longer doubt the fact of the seal having been found, as described, on the ice in our neighbourhood. We hear, also, on the authority of Indian traders, that seals have heretofore been seen on the borders of our lake, though the circumstance is one of very rare occurrence. Conjecthe animal found its way here, and ture is busy in devising by what means some persons suppose it must have come up the St. Lawrence under the |