524 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Noy. 



ing into yellow on the lower parts ; tail tipped 

 •with bright yellow. The shafts of the secondaries 

 of the wings are prolonged into small, bright red, 

 oval appendages, resembling red sealing wax. The 

 whole plumage is delicate, the coloring soft and 

 pleasing, and the general contour and carriage of 

 the bird elegant. 



The Bohemian Wax-wing {Ampelis garrulus, 

 Linn.,) is a little larger than the preceding, but 

 similarly colored and ornamented ; and some of 

 the earliest writers persisted in calling the above 

 a mere variety of this, from their near resemblance. 

 It is but little known here, being a Northern bird, 

 and is seen here only at long intervals, and in se- 

 vere winters. It is abundant farther northward, 

 and "millions" are said to be sometimes seen along 

 the borders of the lakes, between the United States 

 and Canada. It likewise inhabits the north of Eu- 

 rope, emigrating southward in winter. In habits 

 it appears to differ but little from the preceding. 



August, 1862. j. a. a. 



THE HIGHEST BALLOON ASCENT. 



Late English papers contain reports of ascents 

 made by M. Glaisher, an aeronaut, who has reach- 

 ed a higher elevation than had ever before been 

 attained. On a recent trip he ascended to a height 

 of five miles and three-quarters (30,360 feet.) 

 Approaching that point, he observes, the correct- 

 ed barometer read 10.8 inches. "In endeavoring 

 to read the wet bulb, I could not see the column 

 of the mercury. I rubbed my eyes, then took a 

 lens and also failed. * * I endeavored to reach 

 some brandy which was laying on the table at 

 about the distance of a foot, and found myself un- 

 able to do so. My sight became more dim. 



I looked at the barometer and saw it at 10 inch- 

 es, still decreasing fast, and just noted it in my 

 book. Reading was at this time about 9| inches, 

 implying a height of about o% miles, as a change of 

 an inch in the reading of the barometer at this ele- 

 vation takes place on a change of height of about 

 2500 feet ; I felt I was losing all power, and en- 

 deavored to rouse myself by struggling and shak- 

 ing. I attempted to look at the barometer again ; 

 my head fell on one side. I struggled and got it 

 right, and it fell on the other, and finally fell back- 

 wards. My arm, which had been resting on the 

 table, fell down by my side. It became more mis- 

 ty, and finally dark, and I sank unconsciously as 

 in sleep." 



The writer continued insensible for some time, 

 but his place was taken by a Mr. Coggswell, who 

 ascended still higher, until the barometer is be- 

 lieved to have marked only eight inches, implying 

 that they were then six and a half miles above the 

 ground ! The temperature was then some degrees 

 above zero ; on leaving the surface it was fifty- 

 nine degrees Fahrenheit. The descent was made 

 without any accident. Pigeons let loose at an 

 elevation of four miles fell down like stones, and 

 were taken up dead on the ground. 



Substitute for Yeast. — Boil one pound of 

 flour, a quarter of a pound of brown sugar and a 

 little salt, in two gallons of water, for an hour. 

 When milk-warm bottle and cork it close, and it 

 will be ready for use in twenty-four hours. — Ex- 



For the New England Fanner. 

 THE VOICE OF AUTUMN". 



Within a silent glen I, musing, walked alone ; 



No flowers were tliere, no bird to cheer with merry tone 



My lonesome way, and make my longing heart rejoice ; 



But in that shady dell I heard a gentle voice, 



A whispering soft, a low, melodious sound, 



Amidst the fading leaves which strewed my path around. 



It was mild Autumn's song, aa she, with busy hands. 

 Painted the leaves, and spread strange beauties o'er the land: 

 The words she sang were few, but wise, and softly fell, 

 Like sweetest music in that wild, secluded dell ; 

 And while she stained the woodland lake, and forest tree, 

 I treasured up her words, kind friend, for you and me. 



Summer has passed away, 

 No blossoms deck the spray. 

 No bird with brilliant wings 

 Within the wildwood sings. 



No breath of fra^ant flowers, 

 Lured forth by gentle showers, 

 Is borne on softest gales 

 O'er hills and fertile valea. 



But I, with lavish hand, 

 Pour plenty o'er the land ; 

 And load, with yellow grain, 

 The cornfields on the plain. 



And on the boughs I've hung, 

 Wliere summer birds have sung 

 And charmed the perfumed air, 

 The blushing peach and pear. 



Among the tinted leaves 

 My fancy interweaves. 

 The golden apples shine— 

 With grapes I bend the vine. 



Around their crowded bams, 

 Secure from rude alarms. 

 And want, and guilt, and woe. 

 The smiling farmers go. 



The swamps, and forests old, 

 I tinge with red and jold, 

 Till pictures, rich and grand. 

 Make earth like faii-y land. 



From nature's glowing book 

 I teach mankind to look, 

 With confidence and love. 

 To Him who rules above. 



Her voice is hushed ; but mellow echoes of her song 

 Upon the hills and in the va!iej-s lingered long ; 

 And when her many charms, and magic beauty fled 

 From Winter's icy breath, and stern relentless tread, 

 I saw her gild with brightest hues the western sky. 

 As leaving earth, she soared to boundless realms on high. 

 Of<o6er 1,1862. s. l. tt. 



Controlling the Inclination. — Tt is hard 

 work to control the workings of inclination, and 

 turn the bent of nature ; but that it may be done, 

 I know from experience. God has given us, in a 

 measure, the power to make our own fate ; and 

 when our energies seem to demand a sustenance 

 they cannot get, when our will strains after a i)ath 

 we may not follow, we need neither starve from 

 inanition, nor stand still in despair. AVe have but 

 to seek another nourishment for the mind as 

 strong as the forbidden food it longed to taste, 

 and perhaps purer, and to hew out for the adven- 

 turous foot a road as direct and broad as the one 

 Fortune has blocked up against us, if rougher than 

 if. — Chnrlotfe Brovte. 



