gether, then heated ami put on the cannon, till 
this wrought iron coil becomes a compact piece 
with the breech end of the cannon. Such a piece 
cannot he burst by any ordinary charge, and I 
may here say the 300-pounder at Charleston was 
not injured by the charge of the cannon, but by 
the bursting of the shell in the gun by some 
defect in the fuse. 
“Do yon want to buy a boat?” said he to a 
large boy, who was passing. 
“ ^ 0,1 out!” said the boy, as he knocked 
the boat into Johnny's face, and broke the mast. 
The poor boy’s heart was almost broken, too, but 
he made another mast, and stood at the door 
again. Two little girls came along, and Johnny 
asked if they wished to buy a boat. 
“ What do you call It ? a boat ?” said one of 
the girls. “It is a funny-looking beat” “We 
don’t sail boats,” said tho other girl. 
“ Well, you don’t know what fun it is," said 
tho little boat-builder. 
“ We have no wish to know,” said they, as they 
went off, laughing at poor Johnny. 
Presently an officer of the frigate that was 
lying in the harbor passed. “Please buy my 
ship !’’ said Johnny, very Imploringly. 
“ Did you make it ?” said the officer. 
“ Yes, I did, all myself,” said Johnny. 
“What put it into your head to make a ship ?” 
said the good-natured man. 
“ Why, you see,” said the little fellow, “ Sis 
hasn't any bread to eat, and 1 thought I'd work 
and earn some money, and buy some.” 
“ Who is Sis F said the captain. 
“Why, don’t you know, Sis?” said Johnny; 
“just look in here.” So the officer entered, and 
saw Sis asleep on the bed, 
“ Whom do you belong to ?” said the captain. 
“ To mother now,” said Johnny, “ for father is 
dead and gone away.” Just then little Sis 
opened her eyes, and, seeing the uniform of the 
officer, she began to laugh. 
“ What do you ask for your ship ?” said the 
captain. 
“ One eont, if you can’t give any more," said 
Johnny. 
The captain gave him a pat on the cheek and 
said, “ Wait a few minutes, and I’ll come back 
and buy your ship.” 
He went out and bought two large loaves of 
bread, and carried them back and gave them to 
Johnny. 
“ Are you God,” said the little fellow, with his 
eyes as large as saucers. 
“ No,” said the officer, “I am only one of his 
servants.” lie then patted Johnny’s head, and 
told him to be a good boy, and ho would come 
again and see his mother. He did call again, 
and after learning all ubout the family, he prom¬ 
ised to take care of them; and when Johnny was 
a great boy he took him Oil board his ship, and 
in time made an officer of him, and adopted him; 
aud after a battle, when be wasdyingol'a wound 
ho bad received, ho asked Johnny, who was now 
Lieut. Cole, to hand him that casket on tho desk. 
“Open it,” said the captain, giving him a key. 
“ What do you find there ?” said the captain. 
“ Nothiug but my shingle boat,” said Johnny. 
“When you made that boat, you made your 
fortune,” said the captain. “Under tbe boat is 
my last will, and ail the property I have is 
yours.” 
John became a rich man, and he deserved it’ 
Now, what, is the object of this story ? Merely to 
teach you that, if you are good, aud do all you 
can, God will in some way help yon. The shin¬ 
gle boat was a small affair to the unfeeling boy 
who broke It, aud to the thoughtless girls who 
laughed at it, but to the officer aud to God it was 
above all price. 
THE PARROTT GUN. 
JAPAN AND THE JAPANESE 
The “Veteran Observer” of tbe N. Y. Times 
favors the readers of that journal with a long 
description of the l’arrott gun, which has caused 
so great a revolution in tbe science of war, from 
which we extract the following: 
When you hear of shells falling in Charleston, 
with destructive effect, at the distance of five miles 
from OUltnore's batteries, you are startled, and 
begin to realize that a new element has appeared 
on the stage, or. at least, a mode of action. 
You are probably under the impression that 
those shells were thrown from 300-pounders. 
This is not, so. They were thrown from 200- 
pounders, whose shell is really about 150 pounds 
weight. I Thay say, however, that tho distance 
at which the 100-pound and the 200-pound shell 
may be thrown is about the same with that of 
the 300-poundcr. Thediff'erence is in the momen¬ 
tum, or crushing effect, which must be the great¬ 
est in the 300-pounder. 
I shall confine myself here chiefly to siege 
guns, because, if they are made perfect, the 
field artillery can be made to conform to its irn- 
The object 
THE DEPTH OF SPACE, 
In 1837, Professor Bessel of Germany com¬ 
menced a seriesof astronomical measures forget¬ 
ting the exact distance of the fixed stars, a thing 
that had never been done. The instrument 
which he used in connection with a powerful tele¬ 
scope, in his experiments, was a heliometer (sun- 
measurer. ) After three years hard labor he was 
so fortunate as to obtain a parallax, butso minute 
that he could hardly trust his reputation upon it. 
But after repeated trials and working out the 
result, he was fully satisfied that he could give 
the true distance to 61 Cygni! But who can com¬ 
prehend this immense distance? We can only 
convey an idea to tbe mind of this distance, by 
the fact, that light, which travels 12,000.000 of 
miles in a minute, requires not less than ten years 
to reach list Just let any one try to take in the 
idea. One hour would give 720,000.000 of miles; 
one year, then—8,760 hours—this gives 6,307,200,- 
000.000, and this multiplied by ten, gives 63,072,- 
000,000,000. This, according to Bessel, is the dis¬ 
tance of the nearest fixed star to the sun. AH as¬ 
tronomers confirm the correctness of Prof Bessel’s 
calculations. But this distance, great as it is, is 
nothing to bo compared to the distance of the 
Milky Way. Sir William Ilorfichel says that the 
stars or suns that compose the Milky Way are so 
very remote that it requires light, going at tbe 
rate ot 12,000,000 of miles in a minute, 120,000 
years to reach the earth. And he says there are 
stars, or rather nebula 1 , five hundred times more 
remote! Now make your calculation120,000 
years reduced tomioutes, and then multiply that 
sum by 12,000, 000, an d the produce by 500. W bat 
an overwhelming ideal The mind sinks under 
such a thought; we can’t realize it; it is too vast 
even for comprehension. David says, Psalm ciii. 
10, “The Lord hath prepared his throne in the hea¬ 
vens, and his kingdom (or government) ruletk 
over all.” 
As we pass into tho shop, we come upon a 
number of toy cages occupied by mice with pink 
eyes, turning a wheel which sets in motion half 
a dozen of the primitive machines with which 
they separate the rice from its husk here as In 
China. Poor little workmen! they arc happily 
unconscious—happier than many higher placed 
in tho scale—that It is a life-slavery of bootless 
labor, to which a hard fortuno has consigned 
them? In the shop is the dried body of a mer¬ 
maid most ingeniously put together, as natural 
and life-like as auy dried mummy! But I must 
not take you over tlic lacker, and silk, and por¬ 
celain shops, or whore Hhould I slop? A broad 
sheet of the Times would not suffice; and, be¬ 
sides, it would bo a sort, of Tantalus cup, for I 
atn positive, were I to describe some of the 
things, the desire to possess them would haunt 
my readers like a droatu of unattainable bliss. 
mediate objects, on the same plan 
desired by a siege piece is, first, momentum, by 
which the crushing effect, on artificial structures 
is obtained; secondly, tbe greatest distance pos¬ 
sible. and, thirdly, directness. In regard to 
momentum tho chief elemeut is the weight of 
the ball thrown, (other things being’equal,) 
hence a heavy ball is always desirable. As to 
distance, we have, I believe, no previous record 
of effective balls thrown at the distance Gillmore 
threw them at Charleston. In regard to direct¬ 
ness the same remark may be made. I am not 
familiar with sieges; but doubt whether the his¬ 
tory of tbe world furnishes any example of tho 
accuracy of tho lire from cannon, at a great dis¬ 
tance, which has been exhibited in our present 
war. This is due to rifled cannon, which gives to 
large pieces of artillery nearly the same accuracy 
as our common rifle. All these objects have been 
attained in our American artillery, till we see 
Fort Sumter battered dowu at the distance of a 
mile and a half, three-fourths of all tbe shot tak¬ 
ing effect within ten feet of the point intended. 
Charleston shelled so that persons are killed, und 
shells bum in warehouses at the distance of five 
miles, and an embrasure, at tho distance of 1,000 
yards, struck with such accuracy that the gun 
is dismounted at a single shot aimed for that 
purpose. When we see such results, we are 
startled at the results of practical science aud 
the tremendous energy of war. 
The Parrott Gun is manufactured at the West 
Point Foundry, where at this time nearly a thou¬ 
sand men and an immense quantity of material 
are employed in turning out these cannon for 
the use of the Government The West Point 
Foundry was originally established by a com¬ 
pany. aud till very recently was managed by 
Governeur Kimble. Mr. Parrott, has, however, 
been connected with the establishment many 
years, and exercised his ingenuity as well as in¬ 
dustry in improving the machinery, and is now 
the manager. Robert Parrott is from New 
Hampshire, graduating at West Point in 1824 
very high in his class. In 1836 he was Captain 
of Ordnance, but resigned to become Superin¬ 
tendent of the Iron and Cannon Foundry at Cold 
Springs—now called the West Point Foundry. 
Let us go to the Foundry. 
There are now made at this Foundry six 
classes of guns, viz.: 10-pound, 20-pound, 30- 
pound, 100-pound, 200-pound and 300-pound. 
The 60-pound has not yet been made, but Ls 
ordered. Tbe 100-pounder can be made at the 
rate of one per day: and the 200-pounder two 
per week, and the smaller ones much more 
frequently. At this moment the large yards of 
this establishment contain numbers of these 
cannon of all sizes, as well as shell for their use, 
which are manufactured at the rate of about 10,- 
000 per week. 
In order to give some idea of the range of 
these guns, I add the following brief table of 
the diameter, elevation and range of some of 
them—disregarding the charge: 
Calibre. Diameter of Bore. Elevation. Range. 
10-Pounder. 2.7 inches 1 deg. GOOyardn. 
10-Pounder, 2 0 inches 20 “ 5,000yards. 
20-Pounder, 3.07 inches 1 « C 20 yards. 
20-Pounder. 3 67 inches I a •< 4 , 401 ) yards 
30-Pounder, 4.2 inches 8 ) 4 " l.sijo yards. 
30-Pounder. 4.i2 inches 23 <* C,7W yards. 
100-Pounder. 6.2 inches 3,y •< 1,430 yards. 
100-Pounder, 6.2 inches 25 “ 6,320yards 
100-Poundcr, 0 2 inches 33 •• 8.433 raW 
CHATTANOOGA 
Tub city of Chattanooga used to contain about 
5,000 inhabitants, four or five churches, five hotels, 
two printing offices, a bauk. a number of very 
fine residences. Ac. It is in Hamilton county, 
Tennessee, jnstnorth of the dividing line between 
that State and Georgia, situated on t he left bank 
of the Tennessee River, und is the northern ter¬ 
minus of the Western and Atlantic Railway, the 
southern terminus of which is Atlanta, Georgia. 
It is also the eastern terminus of the Nashville 
and Chattanooga railroad, and forms an angular 
connection with the line of railroud from Charles¬ 
ton, South Carolina, to Memphis, Tennessee. It 
is 151 miles from Nashville, 432 miles from Sa¬ 
vannah, and 447 miles from Charleston. The 
city is situated on a high bluff overlooking the 
rushing waters of the Tennessee river, which at 
this point spreads out to a greater extent than at, 
many others in the vicinity. Being the terminus 
of two important roads, and the most prominent 
point on another, (the Charleston and Memphis,) 
it became the most available place where the 
rolling stock of all could be repaired and new 
stock manufactured. Hence wore established 
hero numerous machine-shops, foundries, Ac., 
which, up to the outbreak of the rebellion, were 
doing a thriving business and contributing, in a 
great measure, to tbe advancement, and prosper¬ 
ity of tho place. 
The Tennessee river is navigable for steam¬ 
boats from the Muscle Shoals, twenty miles in 
extent, above Florence,^Alabama, up to Knox¬ 
ville, Tennessee, which is one hundred land ten 
miles by railroad northeast of Chattanooga, and 
of course much further by the windings (of the 
river. The upper waters of the Tennessee river 
are extremely beautiful, varied as the landscape 
is in. wild mountain scenes and pastoral lands. 
The Lookout Mountains, immediately around 
Chattanooga, and in which so many deserters 
from tho rebel army are said^to bavojbeen wait¬ 
ing Roaccrans’ corning, Ibrinj-ono of jthe boldest 
and most romantic objects tojbe seen. 
HOW TO TAKE LEAF IMPRESSIONS 
Hold oiled paper in the smoke of a lamp, or 
of pitch, until it becomes coated with the smoke; 
to this paper apply the leal' of which you wish 
an impression, having previously warmed it be¬ 
tween your hands, that it may be pliable; place 
tbe lower surface of the leaf upon the blackened 
surface of the oiled paper, that the numerous 
veins that are so prominent on this side may re¬ 
ceive from the paper a portion of the smoke; lay 
a paper over the leaf, and then press it gently 
upon the smoked paper; with the finger or a 
small roller, (covered with woolen cloth, or some 
like soft material,) so that every part of the leaf 
may come in contact with tho sooted oil paper. 
A coating of the smoke will adhere to the leaf. 
Then remove the leaf carefully, and place the 
blackened surface on u piece of white paper, not 
ruled, or in a book prepared for the purpose, 
covering the leaf with a clean slip of paper, and 
pressing upon it with tho fingers or roller as be¬ 
fore. Thus may be obtained the impression of a 
leaf, showing the perfect outlines,,together with 
an accurate exhibition of the veins which extend 
in every direction through it, more correctly than 
the finest drawing. And this process is so simple 
that any person, with a little practice to enable 
him to apply the right quantity of smoko to the 
oil paper and give the leaf a proper pressure, 
can prepare beautiful leaf impressions, such as 
a naturalist would bo proud to possess. Speci¬ 
mens thus prepared can be neatly preserved in 
book form, interleaving the impressions with tis¬ 
sue paper.— Art Recreations . 
VISIT TO THE SOLDIER’S FAMILY, 
Come, my young friends, let us look into this 
house. This was but lately the home of one of 
our thousands of bravo soldiers who have died 
in camp and field for the sake of our beloved 
country. The wife is now a mourning widow; 
and the little son, tho only child, is left a poor, 
helpless orphan. But the means of living, once 
furnished by tho industrious soldier to his family 
being now no longer received, the sorrowing 
mother laburg very hard to keep herself and dear 
little child from suffering and want. 
There are, however, kind-hearted neighbors 
around her, who do not forget her condition. A 
gentleman ha- just called to speak wmrds of com¬ 
fort, and to afford such help as may appear 
proper. His little daughter asked to come along 
and bring a basket-full of cakes and other good 
things for their worthy neighbors. The lady, in 
very touching words, expressed much thankful- 
nosH for tho kindness shown toward herself and 
her dear little child. 
On tho way toward this house, the father tried 
to make his daughter understand the duty of 
every one to the soldiers and their families. He 
said the noble men were suffering and laying 
down their lives for what is dear, not only to 
themselves, bnt to all of 11 s. He said that all 
should, therefore, feel it a duty and a privilege to 
attend to the comfort of our soldiers und their 
families, and that it would be disgraceful and 
sinful if the people allowed them unnecessarily 
to suffer .—Lutheran 8, 8. Herald. 
RULES FOR DETECTING COUNTERFEITS 
Examine the vignette or picture in the middle 
ot the top; see if the sky or back-ground looks 
clear and transparent, or soft and even, and not 
scratchy. 
Examine well the faces; see if the expression 
is distinct and easy, natural and life-like — par¬ 
ticularly the eyes. 
See if the drapery or dress fits well —looks 
naturul aud easy, and Bhows the folds distinctly. 
Examine the medallion ruling and heads and 
circular ornaments around the figures, etc.; see 
if they are regular, smooth and uniform — not 
scratchy. This work, in the genuine, looks as if 
raised on the paper, aud is very seldom success¬ 
fully imitated. 
Examine the principal line of letters or name 
of the bauk; see if they are all upright, perfectly 
true and even; or, if sloping, of a uniform slope. 
Carefully examine the shading or parallel 
ruling on the face or outside of the letters, etc.; 
see if it is clear, or looks as if colored with a 
brush. The fine and parallel lines, in the genu¬ 
ine, are of equal size, smooth and even. 
There is a child—a boy or girl, 
I’m sorry it is true— 
Who doesn’t mind when spoken to 
Is it you ? It can’t be you! 
I know a child—a boy or girl, 
I’m loth to say I do— 
Who struck a little playmate child; 
I hope that wasn’t you. 
I know a child—a boy or girl, 
I hope that such are few— 
Who told a lie—yes, told a lie ! 
It cannot be "twas you 1 
There is a boy—I know a boy, 
I cannot lore him though— 
Who robs the little bird’s nest: 
That bad boy can’t be you ! 
A girl there is—a girl I know, 
And I could love her, too, 
But that she is so proud and vain : 
That surely is’nt you! 
He that Works Gets the Pat.—“How do 
you like arithmetic ?” said a friend of the family 
to John, as he came home from school with his 
slate under his arm. “ Not very well.” “ How 
do you get on with it ?” “Well enough. Sam¬ 
uel does my sums for me.” “ Why don’t you get 
him to eat your dinuer for you ?” “I couldn’t 
live without eating. I shouldn’t grow any if I 
didn’t eat.” “ Your mind won’t grow any if you 
don’t use it. It would be just as reasonable for 
you to get Samuel to eat your dinner for you, as 
to ask him to do your studying for you .”—Early 
Days. 
Are You Kind to Your Mother?— Who 
guarded you in health, and comforted you when 
ill? Who hung over your little bed when you 
were fretful, and put the cooling draught to your 
parched lips? Who taught you how to pray and 
gently helped you to read ? Who has borne with 
your faults, and been kind and patient with your 
childish ways? Who loves you still, and who 
contrives and works for you every day you live? 
It is your mother—your own dear mother. Now 
let me ask you, Are you kind to your mother? 
Think fob Yourselves.— It is always best to 
think first for ourselves on any subject, and then 
have recourse to others lor the correction or im¬ 
provement of our own sentiments. Thus we 
may reach truth which we should never have 
observed had we caught a particular mode of 
thinking from an author. No principle should 
be received from education or habit merely. Let 
me observe before perusing the opinions of oth¬ 
ers. We check original thought by first learn¬ 
ing how and what to think from others. The 
strength of others should be called to assist our 
weakness, not to prevent the exertion of our pow¬ 
ers. By means of this dependence upon books, 
error as well as truth descends in hereditary suc¬ 
cession. 
THE SHINGLE BOAT. 
It is not necessary to say how the father died, 
and how the poor widow had to go into a single 
room, and work out almost every day to support 
Johnny and his little sister. Johnny did all he 
could to help his mother; and he did a great 
deal, for when big mother was absent ho took 
care of little Sis, and when she was asleep one 
day, he took the jackknife that belonged to his 
father, aud made what he called a boat out of a 
shingle, and then stood at the door and asked 
every one that came along to buy it. 
Mr. Parrott took this fact, and adapted to the 
piece his re-enforcement of that. part. This con¬ 
sists in welding on to this two leet of the cannon 
a c oil of 'wrought iron. I shall not go into the 
manufacture of this re-enlorcement, but merely 
say that heavy bars of iron are heated and rolled 
into coils, whose interior space is the diameter of 
ot the cannon, beaten till it is compacted to¬ 
