Speak gently!-it is better far To rule by love, than fear, Speak gently-let not harsh words mar Speak gently!-Love doth whisper low Speak gently to the little child, Its love be sure to gain; Speak gently to the young, for they Speak gently to the aged one, Grieve not the careworn heart, Speak gently!-'tis a little thing The most valuable part of a man's education is that "Now, just look at you, Mr. Jones! I declare ! it gives me a ch 11 to see you go to a drawer.What do you want? Tell me, and I will get it for you." Mrs. Jones springs to the side of her husband, who has gone to the bureau for something, and pushes him away. "There now! Just look at the hurra's nest you have made. What do you want, Mr. Jones?" The husband throws an angry look upon his wife; mutters something that she cannot understand, and then turns away and leaves the room. "It's too bad!" scolds Mrs. Jones to herself, commencing the work of restoring to order the drawer that her husband has thrown all topsy turvy. "I never saw such a man! He has no kind of order about him; and then if I speak a word he goes off into a huff. But I won't have my things forever in confusion." In the mean time Mr. Jones, in a pet, leaves his house, and goes to his store without the clea pocket handkerchief, for which he had brout, search. Half of the afternoon passes.s before gets over his ill-humor, and then he ated for the happy. Mrs. Jones is by no meansed too greatmind. She is really sorry th there were not roughly, although she does n that ere long Alcoto herself, that she has don our shores, and we be and then, she utters he wretchedness and the against the careless hce. But experience has that were really anere too sanguine; and that the had been marriedough destined to eventual triJones had cmove slowly yet surely. Sometimreturn. Julia attempted, time and again, auch leisure, time to wing her lover under the influence of the nands, and he soon Washingtonians, but in vain. He would not lis"Be not weary of well-de habit of taking a social ten to their arguments, nor be prevailed upon by panions, to while away the their entreaties. "He could govern himself," he Jones, on the evening of the same day, "You are the most trying man alive." Pity you had'nt a chance to try another," replied Mr. Jones, sarcastically. The offence given was a careless overturning of Mrs. Jone's work-basket, and the scattering of needles, cotton, scissors wax, and a dozen little et ceteras about the floor. slippers and placed them before him, but did not understand the expression of her face exactly, nor feel comfortable about it. Mrs. Jones did not seem angry, but hurt. After she had handed him his slippers, she took the soiled dress from the clothes-basket, over which she had spent an hour at the-ironing table, and endeavored to remove the dirt which the boot had left upon. The reply of Mr. Jones hurt his wife. It seem-it-but she tried in vain. The pure white mus ed unkind. He had brought home a new book, lin was hopelessly soiled, and would have to which he intended reading, but the face of Mrs. go into the washing tub before it would be again ⚫ Jones looked so grave after the overturning of the fit to wear. work basket, that he felt no disposition to read to her, but contented himself with enjoying the book himself. "If you knew, Henry," she said, in a voice that touched her husband's feelings, as she laid aside the dress, "how much trouble you give me sometimes, you would be more particular." "Do I really give you much trouble, Jane" Mr. Jones asked, as if a new idea had broken in upon his mind. "I am sure I am very sorry for "Indeed you do. If you would only be more thoughtful, you would save me a great deal. 1 shall have to wash out this dress myself, now, for the washerwoman is gone, and I can't trsst Sally with it. I spent half an hour 'n ironing it to-day, hot as it is." "I am very sorry, indeed, Jane. It was a careless trick in me, I must confess; and if you will forgive me, I will promise not to offend again." It must be said that Mr. Jones was a very trying man indeed, as he had alleged. He could open closets and drawers as any one, but the thought of shutting either never entered his mind. The frequent reproofs of his wife, such as-" Had it." you any doors in the house where you were raised?" or, "Please to shut that drawer, will you, Mr. Jones ?" or, "You are the most disorderly man in existence;" or, "You are enough to try the patience of a saint, Mr. Jones," produced no effect. In fact, Mr. Jones seemed to grow worse and worse every day, instead of better. The natural! habits of order and regularity which his wife possessed, were not respected in the least degree. He drew his boots in the parlor, and left them in All this was new. Both Mr. and Mrs. Jones the middle of the floor-put his hat upon the pi- felt surprised at themselves and each other. He ano, instead of hanging it upon the rack in the pas had offended, and she did not get angry; she had sage-tumbled her drawers whenever he went to been annoyed, and he felt really sorry for what he them-left his shaving apparatus on the dressing had done. Light broke into both their minds, and table or bureau-splashed the water about, and both made an instant resolution to be more careful soiled the wall paper in washing, and spite of all in future of their words and actions toward each that could be said to him, would neglect to take other; and they were careful. When Mr. Jones the soap out of the basin-spattered everything offended, as he still too often did, his wife checked around him with blacking when he brushed his the instant impulse she felt to upbraid him. He boots-and did a hundred other careless things, perceived this, and appreciating her self-denial, that gave his wife a world of trouble, annoyed compelled himself, in consequence, to be more orher sorely, and kept her scolding at him nearly derly in his habits. A few years wrought so great foul the time. This scolding worried him a good a change in Mr Jones, that, to use no hyperbole, that havut it never for a single moment made him past all couously about reforming his bad habits. he came in to dinner. It was a hot A PROPER COK into the chamber where his wife in favor of women,ew himself into a large rocking hearers, depend upon and tossed it upon the bed, wife." "I beg your pai half a dozen lace collars, female auditory, a bad hd off his boots with such ded upon the bureau, Ye who are eating the apple-de-et, soiling a white lasses of wealth, should not forget sucking the herring bone of poverty. he hardly knew himself. He could shut a closet door as well as open it-could get a handkerc.ief, or any thing else from a drawer, without turning it upside down-could hang his hat upon the rack, and put his boots away when he took them off-in fact, could be as orderly as any one, and without feeling that it involved any great self-denial to do so. SLANDER AND DETRACTION.-The deadly weacor Mrs. Jones pons of slander and detraction, which are malixpected a c ed at the moral of vitals the innocent, his wif The greatest tyrhough justly, by the integrity of "This can't be beat," (beet) as the farmer said human imagination, back to theguilty heart of their his daughter to marry a same fatal stab they were when he pulled up a carrot. G THE BROKEN PLEDGE. A TALE OF TRUTH. 387 time. Gradually his potations became more fre- the Previous to relinquishing a seafaring life, he The friendships formed in our early youth leave, asually, the most abiding influence on our minds, had formed an attachment for Julia Mand we feel a far deeper interest in the welfare, and eldest daughter of a distinguished member of more poignant sorrow at the ruin of the friends of Congress, residing at F, Henry's birth place. our childhood, than of those into whose society This attachment, which had commenced at an we are thrown in the succeeding portions of our early age, was mu ual, and had grown with their It was with the utmost pain, therevisearthly pilgrimage. Such were the feelings enter-growth, and had strengthened with their increastained by the writer, at the sad career of Henry ing strength. Possessed of a high order of intellect fore, that Julia observed in his more frequent rare personal beauty, and an amiable and affec- its that Henry's face was flushed, his step unsteady tionate disposition; universally beloved, and surrounded with all the advantages which wealth and fashion could bestow, none seemed more likely to live pleasantly than he. But it is well Divine Provience has cast a veil over the future, and hidden from mortal man his destiny. Were it otherwise, how many should we see whose youth is cloudless as a summer's morn, to whose future career is reserved the thick and murky cloud, the ferce tempest, and the wasting tornado; whose sun sets ere it reaches its meridian, and no ray of light pierces the thick veil of darkness which hides it from mortal vision! How many, on the other hand, whose cradle has been rocked by the winds, and on whose infant heads the tempest has wreaked its fury, find the evening of life calm and serene, and its last hours lit up by a resplendence so holy and pure, that it seems like a reflection of the glories of the second Eden! But to return to our narrative. Henry, as he approached the age of manhood, evinced a decided predeliction for a nautical life; and his father who had followed the sea in early life, offering no opposition to his wishes, he shipped on board of one of the first class London packets, as a common seaman; and such was his activity, intelligence and amiable demeanor, that he was rapidly promoted, and at the age of twenty found himself first mate of a packet ship of 800 tons burthen.Soon after his promotion Henry's father died, and by his will left him ten thousand dollars in money, Possessed besides a large amount of real estate. of so considerable a fortune,he resolved to abandon nautical life, and live upon his income. Hitherto, he had maintained, under all circumstances, a strictly moral deportment, and was regarded as a young man of unblemished character: But there was one weak point in his disposition. He could not refuse the solicitations of his companions, even ,when his better judgment decided that they were in the wrong. He yielded, although he protested This proved his ruin. against their course. Having in his new position much leisure, time began to hang heavy on his hands, and he soon formed the pernicious habit of taking a social glass with his companions, to while away the after She was convinced and his manner constrained. of his intemperance, but vainly hoped that others had not discovered it. Soon, however, the eviHe was seen in the public dences of his intemperate habits became too palpable to be mistaken. streets in a state of intoxication; and finally, Soon after, while intoxicated, reeling about for some time, fell into the gutter, hopelessly drunk. he called at the house of Hon. Judge M—, the father of Julia. This circumstance so much incensed Judge M- that he forbade his daughter receiving any further attentions from Henry.Heart-broken at this stern command, (for she had loved as only woman can love, with an an affection which no earthly power could destroy or diminish,) yet not daring to disobey her father's mandate, Julia determined to attempt the reformation of her lover, hoping that his irregular habits having been abandoned, her father might consent to the renewal of his visits. It was the era of the Washingtonian reform, and the hearts of the philanthropic beat high with hope, as they saw the degraded and besotted drunkard throwing off his fetters, breaking his allegiance to the destroyer, and with his own hand signing that second Declaration of Independence the Washingtonian pledge. It seemed that the Millenium was about to dawn on our benighted and sin-ruined world, and the songs of the redeemed take the place of the bacchanalian shout, and the notes of thanksgiving from hearts before bowed down with sorrow, be substituted for the voice of revelry? No change seemed too greatno reformation too wonderful, and there were not wanting those who prophesied that ere long Alcohol would be banished from our shores, and we be But experience has freed from the curse, the wretchedness and the misery of intemperance. proved that these were too sanguine; and that the car of reform, though destined to eventual triumph, inust move slowly yet surely. But to return. Julia attempted, time and again, to bring her lover under the influence of the Washingtonians, but in vain. He would not lis"He could govern himself," he ten to their arguments, nor be prevailed upon by their entreaties. said; Ellen M one that he must be thirsty. Henry declined, howeve er, despite his repeated solicitations, and his ow desire for the liquor, and quenched his thirst from the brook. Defeated, but not disheartened, L resolve Undismayed by defeat in this attempt, Julia resolved to change her mode of attack, and accordingly, having drawn up a pledge of total absti- to lay another stratagem. Accordingly he direct nence from all that can intoxicate, differing some-ed his daughter to issue invitations for a large par what in its form from that used by the Washing-ty, and to invite Henry Gamong the guests tonians, she solicited the aid of her younger sister He furnished some choice wines for the party, and in attempting to persuade him to sign it. instructed his daughter to persuade Henry to drink of the most beautiful and with her. Actuated by the same demoniacal spire gifted girls I ever knew, possessed that rare com- it as her father, she performed her part to perfec bination of energy, decision and prudence which tion. She requested Henry to take a glass of wine admirably fitted her for this duty, which she enter- with her, and when he respectfully declined, she ed upon it with zeal. Seeking him at those seasons urged it strongly, and rallied him so much on his when he was least under the influence of alcohol, want of gallantry, that he, who could never bear she portrayed, in language of the most artless elo- ridicule, at last drained his glass. That glass was quence and touching pathos, the consequences of his ruin! It roused his dormant thirst for alcohol, the course he was pursuing, the wretchedness he and ere he left the house that evening, he was in-be was bringing upon himself and his friends, and toxicated. The next morning early he was found her sister's anxiety in his behalf. Anon she would at T's store, calling for a morning dram, and change the subject, and paint in vivid colors the the heartless wretch smiled fiendishly at the suc happiness of the reformed, the ease of the refor- cess of his stratagem. mation, and the bright hopes of the future which awaited him. Poor Henry refused at first to sign the pledge, but as she continued to urge upon him, its claims, his stubborn heart relented, and brushing a tear-drop hastily from his eye, he affixed his signature to the instrument with a trembling hand. Words cannot express the joy of Ellen Mat her success. She flew with eager haste to her sister, and exhibiting the precious document, exclaimed-" "Tis done! 'tis done! Henry is free!" Julia could hardly trust the evidence of her eyes as to the fact of the signature; but having obtained from her sister even the minutest details of her successful efforts, she seemed at length to comprehend its truth; but the emotion was too much for her feeble frame. She fainted from excessive joy, and it was with difficulty that animation was restored. Numerous attempts were made to induce Henrys again to abandon his cups, but in vain. He plung ed deeper into dissipation, and at length, some two years after, during a carousal of more than ordi nary duration, he was seized with delirium tre mens, and in a paroxysm of the disease put an end to his own life. In one corner of the grave-yard at Fbe seen two graves, the one that of Henry G—, the other that of Julia M. When all hopes of Henry's reformation had ceased, she began to droop and wither like the flower smitten by the breath of the tempest. Her disease had already made fearful progress, when Henry's death occurred, and in six short weeks afte that event, she, by her own request was laid by his side, the victim of consumption! temperance, and not, like the fabled syren, lure by your enchantments the unwary to destruction! --- Oye, who by your magic smiles and frowns rule the world, be warned by this simple but true For eight weeks Henry kept the pledge solemn-narrative, to wield your influence on the side of ly. He remained at home, frequenting no longer the house of dissipation, but devoting his attention to adorning and improving his estate, which had suffered from his neglect. But he was not UNANSWERABLE ARGUMENT. The following is thus to escape the snare of the fowler. The fiend the severest rebuke that puritanical hypocrisy probin human shape from whom he had formerly pur-ably has ever received, since it "stole the livery chased the poison, had missed him from his accus- of heaven to serve the devil in." tomed haunts, and indignant at losing so valuable a customer, had resolved to inveigle him back to his old habits. For this purpose he repaired to his house one morning early, and proposed a fishing excursion. Henry consented, and the two walked along the bank of the beautiful stream near the village, where they angled for an hour or more with indifferent success, when the rumseller pulled from his pocket a flask of brandy, observing slander. When Wolff was missionary to Jerusalem, a Turk pointing to Calvary, said, "There, on that very spot, where your Lord poured out his blood, the Mahommedan is obliged to interfere to prevent you Christians from shedding the blood of one another." We are too prone to listen to the voice of THE TRADE IN POISON.-Death is an awful visitation to all "It was brought on by drinking! For the last few years he "Then you mean to say he was poisoned ?" OUR MECHANICS.-They are the palace builders of the world; not a stick is hewn, not a stone shapened, in all the lordly dwellings of the rich, that does not owe its fitness and beauty to the mechanic's skill; the towering spires that raise their giddy heights among the clouds, depend upon the mechanic's art and strength for their symmetry, beauty and fair proportions; there is no article of comfort or pleasure, but what bears the impress of their handiwork. How exalted is their calling, how sublime is their vocation! Who dares to sneer at such a fraternity of honorable men-who dares to cast odium upon such a patriotic race? Their path is one of true glory, and it is their own fault if it does not lead them to the highest posts of honor and renown. A GOOD CHARACTER. A good character is to a young man, what a firm foundation is to the artist who proposes to erect a "Yes-certainly by alcohol. You see the sign! "The house building on it; he can build with safety, and all who behold it licensed; in Chestnut street, too." "Then his death was caused by the rumseller. Ought he t to be made to indemnify his family for the loss of their ad ?" "Yes, in justice this ought to be. But not in law. The man ho keeps the poison den has a license to kill. The law au orizes his business." "Then you mean to say the law authorizes murder?" And is this the morality of a christian country?" will have confidence in its solidity, a helping hand will never be wanted-but let a single part of this be defective, and you go at hazard, amidst doubting and distrust, and ten to one it will tumble down at last, and mingle all that was built on it in ruin. Without a good character poverty is a curse-with it, it is scarcely an evil. Happiness cannot exist where a good character is not. All that is bright in the hope of youth, all that is calm and blissful in the sober scenes of life, all that is soothing in the vale of years, centres in, and is derived from a good character. Therefore acquire this as the first and most valuable. RECIPE.-Many of our married lady readers are not aware how a good husband ought to be cooked so as to make a good dish of him. We have lately seen a recipe in an English paper, contributed by one "Mary," which points out the "modus operandi" of preparing and cooking husbands. "Mary" states that a good many husbands are spoiled in the cooking. Some women go about as if their lords were bladders; and blow them up. Others keep them constantly in hot water, others again freeze them with conjugal coldness. Some smother them in "Then you mean to say that murder is encouraged on the the hotest beds of contention and variance, and some keep them abbath day?" Yes, and it is more than that. It is the religion of a chrisan country; for these dealers in poison have the exclusive ivilege to kill on the Sabbath day. No honest trade is peritted on that day. But rum dealing is the pet business of the bbath, because on that day they can murder more than on by other." "Such is the fact. Look and examine for yourself. Look! ou see another funeral coming down the street. It is that of youth of sixteen, who got intoxicated on the Sabbath day; ent boating, and was drowned, while bereft of his senses by ison. Who was the murderer ?" Unquestionably the vender of the poison." "But the law?" "True; society was an accessory before the act."-Phil. un. in pickle all their lives. Other women always serve them up in sauce. Now it cannot be supposed that husbands will be tender and good, managed in this way, but they are, on the contrary, quite delicious when preserved. "Mary" points out her manner thus: "Get a large jar, called the jar of cheerfulness, (by-the-bye, all good wives have it on hand.) Being placed in it, set him near the fire of conjugal love; let the fire be pretty hot, but especially let it be clear. Above all, let the heat be regular and constant. Cover him over with quantities of affection and subjection. Keep plenty of these things by TRUTH.-Truth has been thus eloquently described by a wri- you, and be very attentive to supply the place of any that may r who lived upwards of two hundred years ago: waste by evaporation or any other cause. Garnish with modest and becoming familiarity, and innocent pleasantry, and if you add kisses, or other confectionaries, accompany them with a sufficient secrecy and it would not be amiss to add a little prudence and moderation. The number of Temperance Societies in the United States is estimated at ten thousand, with four millions of members! |