MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER: AN AGRICULTURAL AND FAMILY JOURNAL. 
CitmcAtitnial. 
THE “IS BEING BUILT” PRINCIPLE -AGAIN 
Edward Everett writes—“The spot where 
this new and strange tragedy was acting .” 
BY L. WETHER ELI,. 
Mr. Editor -Presuming that you are lu,b anu birau 5 e 
willing to hear both sides of a question, I Danicl Webster sa J s -“ An attem P U ' s ma- 
nmnnee tn „ w nm.rVc in mnW t n Kng in the English Parliament,” Ac. 
propose to make a few remarks in reply to ^ nl 9 * n ^he English Parliament, etc. 
an article on the •* Conjugation of the com- Washington driving-- The fortress was 
pound verb, ‘To be being,’” in number 17 ^IdxngR J - F Cooper -”While th.sne- 
present volume of thp Rural. ’ ce - ssai 7 movement was makingBancroft 
I have been engaged in teaching for more ~ Whi]e thcse thin S s were transacting.” - 
than 20 years, during which time I have From the North American Review-” We 
made, not only grammar, but language and must P ass t0 a ra P ld notlce of the ma g nifi ' 
PERSEVERANCE. — A BIRD ANECDOTE. 
THE UTTERMOST. 
“ Having light, we seek to Impart it.” 
its principles, a study. There are few points «*•>* ch “ rch ” ow er ‘ ctin 9 - in New Y . ork -”— 
in grammar, either English or Classical FronUhe 8 ame-“Then«-/<r^rfand«orf 
& ’ ° orrUrr-icrr, ‘ hair* n r/nna' Ltr- 
uncouth solecism, ‘is being done,' for the 
good old English idiomatic expression, ‘is 
doing’—an absurd periphrasis, driving out 
-—- i • i t i , r i _.. _ • •_ 'urivuuu* cs ucinu uu/iv, jur me 
on winch I have not formed an opinion un- * . y 9 
DOYOBKNOWWHiTYOUK CHILDRENHEAD- deretandi , ot ^ muoh from the study S*” 1 M E ”8“ tdiomatic expression, ‘is 
Not many days since we saw a couple of books as from the study of language it- <loing'-«n absurd penphraas, driving out 
of young ladies returning from the city self. 1 have, therefore, not only made up » pomtedand pithy turn of the English 
library with two or three volumes apiece, my mind on these subjects, but am prepar- an S ua g e - 
which they had selected to read or to be ed to give a reason for the opinions I have O ur correspondent must acknowledge 
s read. In looking over the titles, we inquir- formed. Ridicule is feeble argument. *Fat “ facts in this case are against his 
\ ed of one of the ladies, does your father In regard to the combination, “ To be “opinion.’ When this is so, experience has, 
\ allow you to read such books as these?— being,” it is no more a “compound verb” undoubtedly, taught him that it would be 
Our correspondent must acknowledge 
that “facts” in this case are against his 
“ opinion.” When this is so, experience has, 
undoubtedly, taught him that it would be 
Mark the reply. She said, “he does not know than “ to be writing” is; as will appear in unwise to complain, though others should 
.. , ii i-i , i i_ _ . 1 ..,_ i t * i_not adoDt his “oninion.” when the usaee of 
it” We should like to know how many the sequel. Let us look at the analogy.— 
fathers and mothers do know what their We have in the regular conjugation of a 
not adopt his opinion,” when the usage of 
the very best English writers are against it, 
children are reading. The facilities for ob- verb, two forms of expression, one denoting i-e. lus “opinion. 
s taining books, periodicals and papers never the simple act, indefinitely; as, “I eat,” “I We are not so sanguine as to believe that 
\ were greater than at the present time. Not write,” i. e. whenever I please, when it is we can change the opinion of one who has 
j only good books, but books, publications convenient, Ac., the other denoting the same been so long under the discipline of that 
J and prints of the very worst, yes, of the act definitely; as, “I am eating,” “lam best of schoolmasters, “experience;” nei- 
( most damning kind, are sown, as it were # writing,” i. e. now. This form always im- ther is it very probable-that he will change 
\ broad cast over the land. plies progress, continuance. Hence, it is our view of the subject, though our opin- 
( Publications of the vilest kind are eager- called the progressive, while the former is ions and experience may be limited. 
( Iv sought by the young, and at an age called the “simple,” form. Both these 1 
3 , ° 3 .? • , tv ? , i i , ’ • • „ tv RICHES FOR CHILDREN. 
\ when they are most easily ruined. By the forms belong to the “ active voice. But _ 
\ reading and perusal of such books and the same ideas, the indefinite or simple, and The late Postmaster General of the Uni- 
| prints, the mind is filled with an imagery the definite or or progressive, are required ted States, was once a very poor boy, so 
How wonderful is that principle, with 
which the Almighty has endowed brute 
creatures. To them it is an unerring pow¬ 
er pointing out their best good, and the 
means of attaining it In some it seems 
akin to craft or cunning, and in a few' ap¬ 
proaches in a measure to reason. 
It is by this the ox chooses the herbage 
suitable for his food, rejecting whatever is 
po^onous or disagreeable. By it the bird 
selects an appropriate place fur her nest, and 
builds it of the same pattern and perfection 
of her remotest ancestors. It is the same 
principle that impels the little duck to for¬ 
sake the watchful care of its foster-mother, 
die hen, to sport itself on the first pond of 
water it meets. Among the wild animals 
we find it exhibited in greater perfection. 
With the domesticated ones the guardian 
care of man in part takes its place. 
Many are the anecdotes and curious facts 
given of Instinct in various creatures, and 
the immediate object of this little article is 
BY MRS. T.. H. SIGOURNEY. 
“ He is able to save to the uttermost.’ 
TnE uttermost—upon the skirts 
Of the far host of life, 
Who share not, on the heights of power, 
Its glory, or its strife; 
They hear the burden and the toil, 
Nor banner lift, nor plume, 
Yet there's an Eye that marks them all 
Amid their rayless gloom. 
The uttermost—the last in sin. 
The lost, whom men condemn, 
And banish from ihe realm of hope, 
He careth even for them: 
He listened) at their prison-grate 
For prayer, or contrite sigh; 
He knockeih long, he knocked) late, 
Even where is no reply. 
The uttermost—t.ll life recedes. 
Even to the latest sand 
Of time’s most frail and brittle glass. 
He still doth waiting stand: 
He bendeth o’er the dying man 
Till the glazed eye is dim; 
He saveth to the uttermost, 
Thatali inay trustin Him. 
DANGER OF STRIVING FOR RICHES. 
,ho immediate object of this little artide is 
to note another which has just come under are dug out ot one’s own heart, and des- 
my own observation, where a woodpecker troy the mind. Unjust riches curse the 
worked many long hours to secure a grub owner in getting, in keeping, and in trans¬ 
fer his meal that lay snugly in the heart of noting. curse his children in their 
a green and solid white oak limb, three I in their o wn wasteful hab- 
, 1T , , , ;. , , its, in drawing around them bad men to 
RICHES FOR CHILDREN. 
inches in diameter. Whether the bird de- be t ] ieir companions, 
tected the worm by its acute sense of smell 
or by some other practical observations, we 
While I do not discourage your search 
for wealth, I warn you that it is not a 
that is pondered over until the heart is cor- in the “ passive voice.” 
rupted, and sleep, even, nature’s restorer, E. G. simp. I love, Prog., I am loving, 
is disturbed by the mind’s vile imaginings. Act. Voice. 
poor that he could scarce afford a pair of 
shoes, without which “ the Master would 
not allow him to come to school.” Our 
boyhood was passed in the village, in which 
may query. At all events, it was instinct cruise upon level seas, and under bland 
wonderful as it may seem. Hard as was 
his task, he persevered until he had pecked 
skies. \ ou advance where ten thousand 
are broken in pieces before they reach the 
mart; where those who reach it are worn 
wilh his slender bill a cavity, If inches in outb lheir labors . enjoying their rich- 
A .^ X iU ,, . 1 1 _* .1 .1 1 J J o 
Impurity of thought precedes impurity of Simp. I am loved,Prog., I am being loved, wtire spent his earlier professional years, diameter at the surface, l£ inches in depth, es. You seek a land pleasant to the sight 
action, and where you find the latter, it Pas. Voice. We remember once being in his company 
may nqt unfrequently be traced to the read- Simp. The house is built, simple, com- after be had been elevated to the Supreme 
ing of that species of publications to which plete, finished. b< T h . in his native State, and hearing him 
b . r i r n „ . ...... make in substance, the following statements: 
we have referred. Simp. The house is being built, progres- T , A . , 
a oxo << I rpmpmhpr aai/i hp fhp tirst tirnp I 
It cannot be regarded by any thoughtful give; i. e. is in a state, or condition, of “ be- yisited Burlingt0 ’ n as Judge of the Supreme 
parent a matter of indifference as to what ing built”—the very idea that we wish to Court—I had left it many years before a 
his children are reading. No parent should convey; and which is conveyed by this mode poor boy. At the time I left, there were 
permit his children to select reading matter of expression, better, than by any other. tw0 families of special note for their stand- 
from any public library. The work of se- It is therefore the progressive form of the * n £ and wea ^^’ ^ ac ^ them bad a 
, .. / , . , ,, t. u tt • yt • son about my own age. I was very poor, 
lecting books to be read by children, should Passive Voice. , J . b ■ , A r • • 
o J ’ v anH thpsp hvn hf)VS w*rfi vpvu rip.h llnrinrr 
and f of an inch in diameter at the bottom; bul dangerous to the feet; a land of fra- 
when he triumphantly secured his prey and winds, which lull to security; of gol- 
was amply rewarded. 
Men have been incited to perseverance 
in great endeavors, when the tide of affairs 
den fruits which are poisonous, of glorious 
hues which dazzle and mislead. 
\ou may be rich and pure; but it will 
cost you a struggle. You may be fich 
apparently set with unconquerable force and go to heaven; but ten, doubtless, will 
against them, by observations of little in- sink beneath their riches, where one breaks 
, .. , ) . . j i , _ , T . son about my own age. 1 was very poor, 
lecting books to be read by children, should Passive Voice. , J ° r . ’ 
b J ’ and these two boys were very rich. During 
always be done by parents, or by some one « But,” says the objector, “ If this is tbe i ong years 0 f hard toil which passed 
whom they can trust English, then it is good English to say, before my return, I had almost forgotten 
There are books and prints in circulation ‘The house was being built,’—‘ Shall, or them. They had long ago iorgotten me 
among the young that would put the most will, be being built,’ ” Ac. I answer, so Approaching the Court House for the 
depraved to the blush, that is to say, if far as regards the form of expression, it is ^ rst in company'with several gentle- 
corruption itself can be tinged by shame, unquestionably “good English;” but it is Court House „ ard ]arge pile of old furni . 
We took a book of this kind from a pupil not used, for the simple reason that it is not ture about to be sold at vendue. The 
in school and consigned it immediately to needed. Hence its apparent awkwardness, scenes of early boyhood, with which I was 
the fire. The boy was very indignant at There are few verbs of which all the parts now surrounded, prompted me to ask whose 
the time, but we rejoice to say that we are required. “I am hanged,” “I was was - \ it belonged to Mr. A. 
have lived long enough to receive his most killed,” “I had been murdered,” “I have V se finals.) Mr. A.. I re- 
. , , , b . ® Ti . ’ „ member a family ot that name very wealthy 
hearty thanks for it. It was as we knew, been eaten,” “swallowed,” “drowned,” Ac, _ there was a son too; can it be?’ I was 
and he can see it now, an act of kindness Ac., are certainly correct English forms, but told it was even so. He was the son of one 
to him. The book was calculated to awa- are never used, because not needed; and so of the families already alluded to. He had 
ken impure desires, and to feed and nour- of thousands more. inherited more than I had ever earned, and 
ish them until they should manifest them- But why notsay, “The house is building?’ s Pj nt 11 all; and now ^‘ s ® w , n . famil y were 
selves in acts which lead to the utter ruin I answer, because it is wholly unphiloso- ture was that day to be so]d for debt i 
and destruction of both body and soul. phical to use the same form of expression, wen t into the Court Room suddenly, vet 
How many a child after growing to man- both actively and passively, authorities to almost glad that I was born poor. I was 
hood has sought an opportunity to thank the contrary notwithstanding. Why use soon absorbed in the business before me. 
his parents and teachers for like restraints an ambiguous, nay, a decidedly erroneous ^ ne 011 iirs “ cases called was that of B. 
which at the time seemed cruel and unkmd. phrase, merely because it can be explained, bu , whck> ifweremember Sghtly, origi- 
The child will seek eagerly that which his where it is not required, and where both na t e d in a low drunken quarrel. Mr. R ? 
passions and appetite urge him to, without analogy and philosophy are against it? thought I, that is a familiar name. Can it 
any reference to the future. Being with- But it is said, “ The words are incom- be? In short, I found that this was indeed 
out knowledge and experience sufficient to patible when united, one denoting present, ^ ie son ot Fer wealthy family already 
guide him, he must be directed by his pa- and the other past time.” The same ob- I w<« overwhelmed alike with 
b . , , T f .i /• m J i r , 1 . astonishment at the change in our relative 
ren s an teaciers. iej. ail through jection would be against the p>resent and the standings, and thanks giving that I was not 
indulgence to guide him aright, such pa- future tense of the passive voice of every born to inherit wealth without toil, 
rents and teachers will receive as is their English verb, which, as every grammarian Indeed, all my experience has taught 
most just due, the curses of such children knows, “is formed by adding the perfect me that those fathers provide best for their 
in manhood, as have been thus ruined. participle of a transitive verb, to the pres- children, who leave them with the highest 
If a child, who has a desire to read, has ent or future tense of the verb “to be;” as, ec5ucatl ^ n > tlie pm-est morals, and the least 
J 7 mnnpr ”- trn.vnm.pr (ihRPWfr 
sects surmounting seeming impossibilities through them to heaven. If you have 
after many fruitless attempts Wemaygath- en ^ ere( i shining way, begin to look 
er wisdom from simple events,—one such as ^° r snares ailc ^ ti <aps. Go not careless ol 
. your danger, and provoking it. S.e, on 
that of the patient perseverance of the wood- i 
r . every side of you, how many there are who 
pecker, might give an impetus to flagging seal God’s"Word with their blood: 
spirits and nerve the endeavor to renewed “ They that will be rich, fall into temp- 
attack, which peradventure may remove the tation and a snare, and into many foolish 
obstacle, and so permit us to march onward an ^ hurtful lusts, which drag men to des- 
to the full attainment of our resolve. 
FLOWERS OF FLORIDA. 
On the sides of the most barren and ster¬ 
ile slopes, growing in apparently pure banks 
of sand, I have found some of the most 
beautiful and complex productions of nature 
—a delicate species of the Cassia trails out 
truction and perdition. Eo r the love of 
money is the root of all evil, which while 
some have coveted after, they have erred 
from the faith, and pierced themselves 
through with many arrows.”— Rev. II. W. 
Beecher. 
SUNRISE. 
Who is there that ever looked up to the 
its arms to the distance of several feet from " S°^ den g a t es °f the resplendent west, ” 
the root; its briers and leaves minutely and and beheld them arrayed in all their mag- 
. . , . . J 'Ll__] A-V 1 a l. . x • r 1 1 
^ -... VI JULUI* veuo* yjv uiv, ^ uu, „_ (} am J r ; er Observer 
acquired a taste for light reading, and has “I am loved,” “I shall be loved,” “the ^_ v 
free access to a publlic library well stored house is built,” Ac. Hence the objection RULES FOR PRACTICAL LIFE, 
with such books, he will read little else than proves too much, and therefore proves noth- . V 
^ 7 i I i7 t? tn Awintr rnl as wptp o* 
exquisitely formed; its stem rising but four n *bcence, and watched the beautiful depar- 
or five inches from the ground, the whole * are V ie S od ^ a 3’» an( ^ bas not felt 
being much the most sensitive of any of himself lifted’from .earth to heaven, and 
which I have any knowledge; on the slight- ^.' s f ee bngs spiritualized by the contempla- 
est irritation at the root of one of its branch- bon of the scene? Ihe glories of sunset 
es every leaf will collapse, and on touching can b e seen an d enjoyed in the greatest 
the extremity of one of its leaves the plants b^ness only in the country. The winds 
will droop and fall down for several inches a ^ e now bushed among the foliage—the 
towards the root. It bears a small purple birds of heaven have ceased their warbling 
flower, emitting a sweet odor. an b tbe voice of the laborer is no long- 
Often found almost overshadowing this er beard silence hangs like a canopy up- 
humble beauty is the gorgeous Passion 011 b ie scene. At such a season, go walk 
Flower; it trails over and along the tops of ft bout the country; carry no book to aid 
the herbs in its vicinity, and sometimes y our reflection; go alone or with a friend; 
reaches a great height by climbing aloft on ^ 3 7 ° ur heart be open to the influence of 
more lusty neighbors, supporting itself sole- ^ic scene; let its home-felt delights rise up 
ly by its tendrils. Its splendid and varie- unrepressed; resign yourself freely and en- 
gated flowers have been wrought by nature b re ty to emotions of your own bosom—and 
in some mood of her wildest fancy; it bears ^ }’P U have not been corrupted and con- 
an oval gourd-like fruit, of which the In- taminated by intercourse with the world, 
dians are very fond; but the most singular y ou return a better, happier, holier man. 
part of the plant is the astonishing complex- —' -- 
ity, regularity, and beauty of its petals and j Doing Good. —How often do we sigh 
x . , i x x x j i xu r , . 1 1 he followincr rules were given by the 
what he ought not to read, and the more ,„g. Tire other objections are equally ]a(e Mr Jeffer ^ n> in a l eUer b of adv f oe t0 
lie reads the less intellectual power he feeble. liis namesake Thomas Jefferson Smith, in 
stamens; they are arranged with all the arti- for opportunities of doing good, whilst we 
ficial nicety of a kaleidoscope picture; I neglect the openings of Providence in little 
seems to have, until, as is not unfrequently I have not said half that I wished to say, 
the case, he becomes a fit inmate for the bu t I am reminded that merit sometimes 
insane asylum. 
What we would impress upon parents is, 
that they should know Avhat their children 
consists in “ brevity.” h. 
Down East, April 28, 18ol. 
Remarks.—O ur correspondent is truly a 
are reading, and that there should be no man of experience, and a man of “opinions.” bave jg 
his namesake Thomas Jefferson Smith, in 
1825. 
1. Never put off till to-morrow, what you 
can do to-day. 
2 Never trouble others for what you can 
do yourself. 
3. Never spend your money before you 
bave found them covering the ground in things, which would frequently lead to the 
the most remote and lonely situations in accomplishment of most important useful- 
the woods, where the chances were that! ness!—Dr. Johnson used to say, “ He who 
the foot of man had never been before. 
On the banks of streams, in moist places, 
or in the black land of the hummock, the 
waits to do a great deal of good at once, will 
never do any. ”—Good is done by degrees. 
However small in proportion the benefit 
occasion for them to say, our parents do not His long and varied experience has unques- 4. Never buy what you do not want be- 
know what we are reading, although the tionably taught him, that, concerning the cause it is cheap. 
the children know and confess that they are passive use of the imperfect participle under 
reading what their parents would not ap- consideration, there are different opinions. 
5. Pride costs us more than hunger, 
thirst, or cold. 
prove if they knew the character of the There are a few, who, perhaps, may be jj tde 
6. We never repent of having eaten too 
books. Parents cannot be too vigilant in deemed respectable authors, that use the 7, Nothing is troublesome that we do 
the discharge of this duty to their children' phrr«ec!ogy which is in harmony with our willingly. 
—nor can children be too thankful for hav- correspondent’s “opinion.” The prevail- How much pain have those evils cost 
ing parents who take the whole oversight ing practice of our best authors, however, n eyer happened, 
ot matters which have so important a bear- as he well knows, is against Ins opinion, and band ] e 
ing upon the formation of the character for in favor of the use, occasionally, of the com- io. When angry, count tei> before you 
all the future. pound passive participle. For example: speak; if very angry, a hundred. 
yellow jasmine bears a profusion of flowers, which follows individual attempts to do 
scenting the air with its delightful perfume good, a great deal may thus he aecomplish- 
for a hundred yards around. Its stem is ed by perseverance, even in the midst of 
wreathed into all conceivable forms, it discouragements and disappointments.— 
twists round every plant it meets, and in- Crabbe. 
serts itself into its branches, or trails over - - —~~—-- 
its top; with a stem as small as a quill near Reliance upon God. —In our efforts to 
the root, it will sprout out for many yards, d° g°°d> we are prone to rely too much on 
supporting a profusion of flowers to the very human, and too little on Divun aid. Of 
last twig. In the midst of marshes, where this truth we need to be frequently remind- 
you will not willingly go, grows the Sarra- e< F Our great association's, our well plan- 
cenia, the side-saddle flower, its long tabu- ne( ^ enterprises, can accomplish nothing 
lar leaf filled with water, the heart of the without the blessing of God. This blessing 
flower overshadowed by a vegetable mem- ’ 8 n °t something that is merely desirable, it 
brane like an umbrella; its bright crimson is essential. 
or yellow flowers attract the eye from afar, -—----— 
and you feel that hands more than human Kindness, like the gentle breath of spring, 
have left their impress thereon.— Lit. World, melts the icy heart. 
)VJAVV«VViVVi B AV,i 
■HUH 
