MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER: AN AGRICULTURAL AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER. 
237 
€\)i Hitral Ikrttjj Stook. 
CARRIE LANGLY’S CHOICE. 
A LZ3AP YEAR STORY. 
CHAPTER I. 
One bright evening in the beginning of a 
certain leap year, (not this, dear reader,) a 
young man made his exit from a genteol- 
looking house in i'-street, and as the 
door closed upon him he gazed up to the 
mansion with a peculiarly significant air, as 
ho muttered to himself: 
“ Not another month shall pass over my 
head before I know whether I am to be mas¬ 
ter of this goodly estate or not; but,” ad¬ 
ded ho, as ho walked away, “ I need have 
no fears upon the subject, for I have no ri¬ 
val, unless that'upstart of a fellow, Woods, 
considers himself as such. Pshaw ! I need 
not fear his rivalry,” and a supercilious 
smile lurked under his glossy moustache.— 
“ If that confounded aunt was not always 
sticking herself in the way, I should suc¬ 
ceed.” 
Leaving him to his meditations, wo will 
return to the house which ho has just left; 
wo will enter the richly-furnished parlor, 
whoso only occupant is a young lady dress¬ 
ed in half-mourning; she is'”sitting upon 
an ottoman, her artn leaning upon a tablo, 
her band supporting her head, whilst she 
seems buried in thought. Making ourself a 
“ fly in tho corner,” we will listen to the so¬ 
liloquy. 
“ Surely, Gustave is very handsome— 
what a rich complexion he has, and such 
splendid black eyes—why, they nearly daz- 
zlo my own, and then such magnificent 
whiskers ; and what a love of a moustacho, 
too—I am sure alhtho young men must on- 
vy him—then his manners are so graceful, 
so unembarrassed, and his voice so soft, that 
I am perfectly fascinated in his presence, 
and I really think if he had proposed to me 
to-night, I should have accepted. I almost 
know he intended to once, when aunt Ma¬ 
ry's entrance spoiled tho whole. I do be¬ 
lieve she dislikes Gustave, though for what 
reason I cannot imagine. I begin to think 
it is not accident that brings her into the 
room every time a gentleman calls to see 
mo, and as for my going out with them, 
whenever invited, unless she accompanies 
me also, why, that is entirely out of the 
question, for somehow sho seems to antici¬ 
pate all my movements, and is most annoy¬ 
ingly omnipresent, to mo, at least. I did 
think that when I became of ago, and came 
in possession of my property, that I should 
bo at liberty to act as I pleased, and not al¬ 
ways be under tho espoinage of an old-maid 
aunt, but here I’ve been eighteen three 
months, and sho is more arbitrary than ev¬ 
er. That’s just tho way with old maids who 
never in all their life had a beau; they can¬ 
not endure that anyboby else should have 
a man look at them. It’s great business, 
truly, that I cannot bo mistress in my own 
house, sometimes ! Only to think, sho ut¬ 
terly forbade my taking a sleigh rido with 
Gustave tho other day, and then sho is al¬ 
ways forcing that flat-headed adopted son 
of hers in my way, and forever dwelling 
upon his virtues; but I strongly suspect 
sho is tho only being who ever discovered 
them. I’m sure ho hasn’t wit enough to 
know when tho girls* are poking fun at him, 
and is eternally making a spooney of him¬ 
self.” 
Hero the “ fly in the corner ” perceives a 
sudden ray of light cross tho fair girl’s face, 
and clenching her small, white hands, she 
exclaims: 
“ l have it. Aunt Mary wants to make a 
match between her adopted and myself; 
that is why sho is afraid of all my gentle¬ 
men acquaintances, and is so uncivil to them 
that they scarcely visit mo now; but she 
need not think to succeed, for I never will 
have such a silly dolt as Ned Ray; I’d elope 
Avith a ‘ grease and ashes man ’ first—why, I 
detest the youth, and the next time ho 
comes here, I won’t treat him decently, so 
now. 
“ Heigho! I Avish I could outwit aunt’s 
manouvres by getting married; but I don’t 
see as she is likely to give anybody a chance 
to ask me, so I suppose I ain to bo toted 
about in leading strings until I am an old 
maid myself, and forced to take Ned or no¬ 
body. I only wish it Avas custom for ladies 
to pop the question, and I’d do it instan- 
ter. Bless my soul, so I can—it’s leap year, 
sure enough, and I’ll exercise my right this 
time, if I never do afterwards. Aha ! aunt 
Mary, your reign will be short now, as true 
as my name is Carrie Langly, for I will pro¬ 
pose to—let mo see—there’s Gustavo do 
Clinton, he is so handsome and fascinating, 
and so lover-like, too, for all I have known 
him so short a time; but then there is 
George Woods, Avho loves mo, 1 knoAv, 
though ho never said so much, and I really 
liked him very much before I knew Gus¬ 
tave ; oven now, when Do Clinton is not 
near, I think I could prefer George, for 
though he docs not Avear a killing mous¬ 
tache, nor lift his hat to all tho ladies Avith 
so much politeness as does Gustavo, still ho 
has a frank, noble countenance, and it Avould 
greatly improve him wero ho less diffident, 
I knovv, for onco I heard him conversing 
Avith a learned man, Avhen he not only dis¬ 
played great conversational powers, but a 
highly motivated mind. ’Tis true ho never 
flatters, and talks fol-do-rol, nor tells mo I 
am charming, as Gustave does Avhen avo are 
alone for a moment, but I sometimes imag¬ 
ine he seems quite relieved at aunt Mary’s 
intrusions; then George never makes me 
presents, nor invites mo to tho theatre, or 
sleigh-rides, (though I couldn’t go, thanks 
to aunt Mary,) but still I know lie loves me, 
for there is something in his eyo that tells 
me so. 
“Well, I am determined to bo married, 
for it must be vastly more agreeable to be 
ruled by a husband even, than by my pres¬ 
ent sovereign ; so I must decide "to AA'hich of 
my lovers I Avill propose, for of course 
neither of them Avill bo ungallant enough 
to refuse—let me see—Mrs. Gustavo do 
Clinton would sound charmingly—but Mrs. 
George Woods is so common, somehoAv; 
then all the girls would die Avith envy if I 
became Mrs. Do Clinton ; GustaA r eisso ele¬ 
gant and fashionable that they all try hard 
to catch him, running to make all their pur¬ 
chases at the dry good store Avhere he is 
head clerk, (and expects soon to be a part¬ 
ner, ho tells me.) Avhilst poor George is book 
keeper at the iron Avorks—no danger of 
girls running to such a noisy, smutty place, 
to smile upon him.” 
Suddenly tho young girl raised her eyes, 
and as she encountered the mild face of her 
mother’s portrait, she gazed earnestly up¬ 
on it, and then with a deep sigh resumed 
her soliloquy. 
“ Alas ! my mother, in my foolish vanity 
and childishness, I had forgotten thy dying 
advice to thy iioav orphan child. I had for¬ 
gotten tho promise I made thee ere the 
hand of death had closed thine eyes, which 
ever gazed upon me in love. Kneeling by 
thy side, clasping thy cold hand in mine, 
amidst tears and sobs of anguish, I promis¬ 
ed thee that when left an orphan in this de¬ 
ceitful Avorld, Avhen deprived of thy watch¬ 
ful care, I Avould, in seeking my future hap¬ 
piness, remember and heed thy request.— 
Thy words Avere: ‘ My child, you will, as an 
heiress, be surrounded by the flattering and 
gay, but do not trust to appearances ; look 
deeper than tho outsido. and let true merit 
and goodness alono securo your confidence. 
l)o not, Avhen sought after, rashly give your 
earthly happiness into another’s keeping, 
but study avoII tho heart and mind of avIio- 
evor seeks your hand, ere you decide, re- 
membering that an agreeable outside may 
cover selfishnoss and hypocrisy within.— 
You can only truly love Avhere you can tru¬ 
ly esteem. One sight into such a character 
is often vvorth moro than the outside show 
of a Avhole lifetime.’ 
“ I will obey thee, gentlo mother,” whis- 
pered tho Aveeping girl. “May thy pure 
spirit Avatch over thy erring child, and all 
will be well. Tavo years have passed, tAvo 
long, weary years, since thou didst join my 
father in hoaven, and much have I suffered 
by persecution fro pi one whom thou thought 
would strive to fill thy placo in kindness at 
loast, to thy child, and now I trust thy saint¬ 
ed spirit Avill not blame the course I am 
about to pursue.” 
A long time sho sat, intensely thinking, 
until tho toars dried from her fair cheeks, 
and a merry smile onco more beamed upon 
her countenance. 
Finally, with a mirthful laugh sho sprung 
up, oversetting the ottoman in her vehe¬ 
mence, and clapping her hands, ejaculat¬ 
ed.— 
“ I’ll manage it—and then see if aunt Ma¬ 
ry don’t rue this leap yeai\” 
Deer Carrie ! Aveeping ono minute and 
laughing tho next; in thy childhood, thy 
smiles Avere plenty, and thy tears I’oav, in¬ 
deed. 
Carrie Langly avus tho petted but not 
spoiled child of fond parents, and never 
had she knoAvn tho meaning of sorroAv un¬ 
til Avhen, in her twelfth year, her father 
died. It Avas a terrible blow to Mrs. Lang¬ 
ly, Avho gradually faded, and when Carrie 
Avas sixteen sho was an orphan, herself and 
property, to the amount of thirty thousand 
dollars, being consigned to tho care of a 
maiden aunt of her mother, avIio thought it 
best to continue tho establishment, and 
forthAvith took upon herself the office of 
house-keeper in general, and superinten¬ 
dent of her great-nieco in particular. She 
treated Carrie as a mere child, using to¬ 
wards her also tho utmost severity and 
strictness, Avhieh Carrie’s naturally amiable 
disposition had borno Avithout repining, un¬ 
til, as her soliloquy shows, sho determined 
to submit no longer. In childhood sho had 
been a lively, spirited girl, but though her 
light-heartedness had been much subdued 
by her heavy afflictions, yet her natural 
merriment and independence of spirit, 
Avero not so smothered, but that aunt Ma¬ 
ry’s opposition had evidently fanned a 
flame which sho could never again quench. 
CHAPTER II. 
Tut next evening after our introduction 
to Mr. Gustavo do Clinton, as he sat in his 
room at his boarding-house, indulging in a 
cigar to settlo his supper, ho Avas informed 
that a young girl Avaited beloAv to seo him. 
“ Well, sIioav her up here—I’m not going 
doAvn,” muttering under his breath, “ that 
tiresome Avasher-Avoman again, I supposo.” 
Soon after, hearing a timid knock at the 
door, ho called out, “ Come in,” and a girl 
entered Avith downcast eyes, apparently 
much abashed. 
“ Tell your mother,” sharply observed the 
young man, “ that she need not keep troub¬ 
ling mo Avith her bill, for I cannot settlo it 
uoav ;—Avhen I am ready I’ll let her knoAv; 
if that does not suit, I will got some other 
person to do my Avashing;” and he waved 
his hand for tho young woman to leave. 
“ I am not your Avashing-woman,” answered 
a SAveet, trembling voice, “ but I have taken 
the liberty of calling upon you to ask char¬ 
ity for my poor mother, avIio is ill and de¬ 
pendent upon mo for support. I have 
heard that you aro a A r ery liberal gentle¬ 
man, and have intruded upon you, hoping 
to obtain assistance for my parent.” 
“Beg your pardon, dear, for supposing 
you tho Avasherwoman,” said Gustave, ap¬ 
proaching tho girl, Avho remained standing 
by tho open door; “ Avant assistance, hey ? 
Avhat kind of assistance ? sit down hero by 
mo and let mo knoAv,” seating himself, and 
endeavoring to look under her boijnet. 
Tho young girl stepped back a little and 
replied. 
“ I hopod you might have some sewing for 
mo, Avhieh would assist mo greatly. I am 
not used to begging, but for my mother’s 
sake I shall bp grateful for tho least favor 
your kindness may bostow.” 
“ Really, a fine-spoken girl!” said Gus¬ 
tavo to himself, and then added aloud, “ I 
am sorry I cannot assist you, for your sake, 
but unfortunately 1 have had so many calls 
of this kind that just ijoav I am drained.— 
Hero is a trifle, however, handing her a 
dime, Avhieh at first sho seemed disposed to 
reject, but accepting it, sh.e thanked him, 
and Avas turning to leave the room, Avhen 
stepping toAvards her, ho seized her hand, 
at the same time attempting to turn her 
face to his vieAv, Avhilst she struggled to free 
herself. 
“You must toll me Avhere. you live, my 
girl,” observed Do Clinton, “and I will go 
to seo you; perhaps you’ll not be so bash¬ 
ful about shoAving your pretty face then, 
and I may even get a kiss, too—eh ?” 
With an exclamation of horror the girl 
released herself from his grasp, and thero 
was something in the indignant flash of her 
fine eyes, as for an instant sho raised them, 
that caused Gustave to recoil. 
Quickly sho threw the coin at his feet, 
and her countenance betrayed tho greatest 
scorn and contempt, Avhieh she seemed about 
to pour upon him in Avords, but suddenly 
sho stooped, and picking up the money, 
hastily SAvept from the room Avith a dignity 
not at all becoming in beggars, leaving Do 
Clinton standing tho picture of astonish¬ 
ment, Avondering where he had beforo met 
thoso eyes. 
Quickly tho young woman left the houso, 
but a look of anguish Avas on her face, and 
her breath came heavily as if struggling 
Avith emotion, as sho gained the street, and 
paused as if hesitating which way to turn ; 
then hastily Avended her Avay through sev¬ 
eral streets. Sho entered a small court, 
and ringing at a door, inquired for Mr. 
Georgo Woods, and Avas invited into a neat, 
but plainly-furnished little parlor, Avhere 
tho Avished for gentleman sat reading. He 
immediately arose, and placing a chair for 
her. inquired if she Avished to see his mother. 
His visitor responded in the negative, and 
then proceeded in a faltering voico to mako 
tho same request that she had a few min¬ 
utes beforo solicited of Do Clinton. 
Mr. Woods appeared embarrassed, but 
expressed much sympathy, and said that if 
sho Avould leave her address bis mother 
would call upon her if able, and if not would 
take measures to ascertain what Avould most 
assist her parent, and present her case to 
benevolent persons Avhose means Avere great¬ 
er than their oavii. 
“I have myself,” ho continued, “an inva¬ 
lid mother and a young brother entirely de¬ 
pendent upon my exertions, butd Avillingly 
contribute my mite,” at the same time hand¬ 
ing her a two dollar bill. 
Tho young girl Avas quite overcome, but 
managed tolerably avoII to express her grat¬ 
itude, and at the request of Mr. Wood told 
her residence. 
“ If you Avill call to-morrow,” resumed 
Woods, “my mother will furnish you Avith 
Avork, as I Avish to have some dono Avhieh 
she is not able to perform ; to-night sho is 
unable to attend to it;” adding, “I think I 
knoAv a young friend Avhom I can interest 
in your favor.” 
Again tho young girl thanked him, and 
tho door closed upon her; but it was Avith 
a light step and a merry smile, sho bent 
her Avay towards home, whilst George Woods 
resumed his reading, thinking, “I hope I 
Avas not Avrong in giving, for certainly a 
voico so gentlo, and manners so modest, 
cannot belong to an imposter.” 
It Avas yet early in the evening when she, 
Avhom avc havo been folloAving, Avent into a 
miserable tenement in a narroAv place near 
P-street, and gx*oping up a dark stair- 
Avay, entered a room occupied by a woman 
sick upon a bed, and a young female bend¬ 
ing over her seAvingi Throwing herself into 
a seat she exclaimed, 
“ Well, Nancy, I havo come back in safe¬ 
ty, notAvithstanding your fears to the con- 
trary, and my mission has succeeded satis¬ 
factorily.” 
Nancy, Avho had thx-OAvn doAvn her work 
and approached the neAv comer, replied, — 
“ I am sure I am right glad, miss, you 
have come to no harm, for I have worried 
Avell about you—and you not used to being 
out alone at dark.” 
“I Avill tell you my success,” returned the 
other; “ but first lot mo take off these clothes 
and resume my OAvn, for aunt may send for 
mo soon.” 
Instantly removing tho large, old-fashion¬ 
ed bonnet, and sorno false hair of raven hue 
from her head, and shaking down her broAvn 
curls, tho old plaid cloak and faded calico 
di’css Avere exchanged for garments of richer 
material; the young girl began to relate the 
most of what this chapter contains, but 
suddenly starting up, and flying to a basin 
of Avater, she cried : 
“ Oh, I had forgotten to remove my com¬ 
plexion, Avhieh, after all, is the surest part 
of my disguise ;” ami immediately tho olive 
tint and black eve-broAvs gave placo to the 
fair skin and rosy cheeks of Carrie Langly, 
at which, reader, you aro probably not sur¬ 
prised. 
Nancy, Avho had been a favorite servant 
of Mrs. Langly, and had left Carrie but a 
foAv months beforo, to attend her consump¬ 
tive mother, Avas frequently visited and as¬ 
sisted by .Carrie, who had explained her 
stratagem to Nancy, and borroAved of her 
tho disguise. Sho farther planned for Nan¬ 
cy to visit Mrs. Woods the next day, and 
passing herself as tho one who had called 
upon her son, to procuro the work of which 
ho had spoken. It Avas Nancy’s address 
that Carrie had left Avith Georgo; but she 
(Carrie) avus to do the Avork, as Nancy was 
fully employed at that time. 
( Concluded next week.) 
Tears are as dow Avhieh moistens tho 
earth, and renoAvs its vigor. Remorse has 
none; it is a volcano, vomiting forth lava 
which burns and destroys. 
No man is wholly bad all at once. 
3CuMm’ Jtparltmnt 
Written for the Rural New-Yorker. 
THE SISTER BAND. 
TO TIIE MISSES FOSTER, OF AVARS AAV, N. V. 
Ye’re a sister baud of seven, 
Six on Earth, and one in Heaven,— 
Six where perish bloom and lioAvers —• 
One amid immortal bowers : 
Six where friends are met and parted, 
Spirit grieved and broken hearted; 
One where they who meet ne’er sever, 
Sorrow is unknown forever. 
Ye’re a sister band of seven, 
Six on earth and one in Heaven. 
Ye’re a sister hand of seven, 
Six on earth and one in Heaven. 
When the flowers of earth were dying, 
AVlien the withered leaves were flying, 
Then ye left your loveliest sleeping, 
AVhere the willow boughs were Aveeping, 
Sunbeams o’er her grave are playing, 
FloAvers have come, but she is staying. 
Still ye are a band of seven, 
Six on earth and one in Heaven. 
Ye’re a sister band of seven, 
Six on earth and one in Heaven. 
Ye fr^n earth must sometime sever—• 
She in Heaven remaineth ever. 
Jesus, when the six are weary 
Wandering Avhere all seemeth dreary, 
May they stay their footsteps roaming, 
AYlxere perennial flowers are blooming, 
And that sister band of seven 
Circle round thy throne iu IleaA’en. 
Carlton, N. Y., July, 1852. Kate Woodland. 
For the Rural New-Yorker. 
SUGGESTIONS TO YOUNG LADIES 
OA\ TXIE PURSUIT OF LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC STUDIES. 
I. ITS BENEFITS AND NECESSITY. 
The benefits derived from tho study of 
science and literature seem to havo been 
overlooked in tho education of young ladies, 
while too much timo has been bostowed up¬ 
on the acquisitions termed “ tho accomplish¬ 
ments.” Not that these should be discarded 
entirely, but that things of real utility 
should bo considered of paramount impor¬ 
tance. The result has been, in many cases, 
that manners and appearances have been 
cultivated, Avhilo tho intellectual and moral 
powers have boen neglected. Though some 
may bo enabled in this manner to partially 
dcceivo the mass, tho consequences per¬ 
taining to theinselvos aro dcplorablo. Tho 
mind soon groAvs satiated Avith more outside. 
Much as Ave may be pleased Avith a beauti¬ 
ful face, a graceful carriage, and suavity of 
manners, unless we find tho montal qualifi¬ 
cations and moral virtues in some degree 
corresponding, wo turn from them in dis¬ 
gust. A young lady so educated, finds her¬ 
self the sport of fortune; and if rank and 
wealth—tho bubbles by which many esti¬ 
mate character—desert her, sho is throAvn 
upon tho world, tho most pitiablo object in 
existence. 
I knoAv no good reason Avhy these pur¬ 
suits do not ofibr as many inducements to 
young ladies as to young men. They are 
certainly capable of comprehending and 
appreciating them. Such knOAvledge fills 
up that chaos of tho mind when deprived of 
society, and directs it into a useful and 
healthful channel; while tho investigations 
tend to the improvement and instruction of 
others. Whatever bo the pursuit and aim 
of life, it facilitates the acquisition of the 
object. It opens the avenues of thought 
and impresses a conviction of tho grandeur 
and sublimity of tho order of creation. It 
giA’es strength and copiousness to the poAv- 
ers of tho mind from tho mere exertion and 
application required 'to pursue it. It gives 
a permanency to character by forming log¬ 
ical habits of thought—of patient investi¬ 
gation and reflection—and storing the mind 
Avith sublime and inestimable truths. It 
lays tho foundation of thoso principles Avhieh 
enable her to sift out truth from error, and 
form such rules of action in early life, as 
Avill ensure her future happiness, and prove 
a faithful guido and dependence. A thor¬ 
ough, practical education will elovate Avoman 
above the petty annoyances of malice and 
envy, and make ho her a thinking, intelli¬ 
gent being. It introduces hor to tho high¬ 
est ranks of society, and enables her to 
draw around her spirits congenial to her 
own. The beneficial result of good society 
and tho contaminating poAver of tho vicious, 
cannot bo too strongly urged upon thoso 
just commencing the drama of life. Much 
as they may guard against it, it wears in¬ 
sensibly upon them, and they gradually 
imbibe the same propensities, tastes, and 
aspirations Avith those around them. The 
success of two-thirds of thoso persons 
avIio have risen to eminence, may bo traced 
back to the influences throAvn around them 
by their early associates. A well informed 
mind has not only tho poAver of making a 
judicious selection, but vice, conscious of 
inferiority, turns aside Avhen sho finds vir¬ 
tue and Avisdom arrayed against her. 
Tho fault that tho sciences havo been so 
generally neglected by young ladies, is not, 
I think, Avholly attributable to thorn, but to 
an erroneous impression in regard to the 
position Avhieh Avoman occupies in society. 
It has been deemed an unnecessary ac¬ 
quisition. I havo even heard it asserted 
that it unfits her for tho duties incumbent 
on her station. Tho jibos and jeers of the 
sterner sex havo boon hurled at intellectu¬ 
ality in Avoman. Tho idea of her being 
versed in tho sciences has seemed to carry 
Avith it tho impression of something unfem¬ 
inine. 
Tho necessity of such acquirements to 
thoso who may hereafter have the charge of 
families, neod scarcely ho urged. As tho 
marriage relation is ono Avhieh God has 
sanctioned and ordained, and as Avomen 
generally sooner or later enter into its bonds, 
tho necessity of their being thoroughly edu¬ 
cated, I think must impress itself upon ev¬ 
ery reasoning mind. Woman takes upon 
herself with the marriage voav, no trifling 
responsibility. It is a question which in¬ 
volves for a lifetime the happiness of per¬ 
haps many individuals. If marriage, then, 
is tho destiny of woman, is she not in duty 
bound to prepare herself to discharge that 
rolation honorably ? But Iioav can she do 
this, unless her mind has received that dis¬ 
cipline which tho pursuit of letters and of 
science alono can give. Unless sho has 
gleaned many things from tho Avisdom and 
experienco of others, her knoAvlcdgo must 
necessarily bo limited. Is an uneducated 
mother avIio has spent her youth in the gid¬ 
dy round of fashion, and devoted that time 
to tho decoration of her person Avhieh ought 
to havo been employed in tho culture of her 
mind, capablo of directing as sho ought the 
minds of her children and training them 
up to manhood ? Is sho fitted to bo their 
guido to immortality ? Tho position, and in¬ 
fluence which mothers hold is ono of fearful 
moment. One Avhieh may be wielded to 
extend virtue, happiness, and wisdom over 
the Avorld; or exorted to crush everything 
ennobling and beautifying in human nature. 
The mother finds herself placed in a sit¬ 
uation Avhieh calls into exercise every facul¬ 
ty of tho mind. Duty imperatively com¬ 
mands her to provido herself with such a 
fund of useful knOAvledge, as shall enable 
her to educate her children properly, before 
sho takes upon herself this responsibility. 
The formation of the minds of her children 
should be a consideration above all others, 
and to which everything of minor impor¬ 
tances houUl succumb. How can sho trust 
that beautiful casket in the Viands of an¬ 
other, which should be moulded exclusively 
by hor. It is a common error to supposo 
that persons of very limited attainments 
are as capable of teaching young children, 
as thoso of a higher order. They lack that 
judgment and discrimination—that adapta- 
tivo capacity to tho minds of children, so 
essential to them. It requires more knowl¬ 
edge to teach little things xcell, than great 
ones. The first lessons—the first principles 
inculcated upon tho young, make the most 
lasting impressions, and form the basis of 
tho future character of the individual.— 
Uoav all-important, then, is tho judicious 
and well educated mother to tho care of 
youth. b. a. mc’n. 
THE WEST INDIES.- 
We oxtract tho following from N. P. Wil¬ 
lis’ letter, from the Island of St. Thomas— 
one of the West Indies: 
The Avomen do all tho monotonous and 
hard labor in this climate. The negroes are 
even the chambermaids, as AA r ell as the boat¬ 
men, drivers and tide-waiters ; but tho ne- 
gresses bear the heavy burthens out of doors. 
Thoy unlade coal-vessels by a troupe of 
Avomen, who carry baskets, of tho incredi- 
blo Aveight of tAvo hundred pounds upon 
their heads, the men only lifting their baskets 
for them, and Avorking tho windlass which 
hoists the lading from the hold. As we ap¬ 
proached Louisen-hoi, tho road was under¬ 
going somo repairs, and the stone, Avhieh 
Avas taken loose from the soil, was to bo 
used in a Avail some fifty feet above. Two 
men Avere overseering the job—one, Avho 
seemed to bo the path-master, and stood 
looking on; and another, Avho directed tho 
loading of tho heads of seven negresses, 
Avith fragments of rock, and then Avalked 
beforo them in sIoav procession to tho placo 
of deposit. Tho poor barefooted girls, 
straight as arroAvs, and as deli berate as priest¬ 
esses in their gait, Avero submissively patient 
and grave; and I thought, as 1 looked 
at them from a littlo distance, that you 
Avould have to explain, to a neAv visitant to 
this planet, that thoy Avero not nobler, in 
their employment and demeanor, than tho 
merchants walking hurriedly and ungrace¬ 
fully about tho market-place beloAv. 
No man lies down under a tree in this 
climate. Tho ants, lizards, toads and snakos, 
aro in previous possession. On almost eve¬ 
ry tree ono sees an ant houso, as big as a 
half bushel basket; and tho lizards, accus¬ 
tomed to bo well treated by man, coolly and 
deliberately walk off from any branch you 
may direct your hand to, but shoAv no haste 
or apprehension of violence. Tho Consul 
told us thero Avas a kind of lizard, however, 
of Avhieh the natives aro very much afraid. 
Its first impulse, Avhen surprised, is to spring 
to tho human hand, and fasten its teeth and 
claws into the flesh ; and, in proportion as 
this vampire is resisted or terrified, it deep¬ 
ens its hold, never loosing its clutch till it 
is cut to pieces. Of this awkward customer 
avo fortunately saw no specimen. 
Sorrow is the night of tho mind. 
