ip**: t"' g MH 
K$ie$3 
;*rw fv *’ Vv.;.i-h>v1 
g«B 
j : 4 <te 3 &i 
if* 
••TV,* 
0 ? (pl/tfw 
^.* . — -L 
fibe ilcbiftofr. 
NEW PUBLICATIONS. 
W'Htfi^a lUocution and Orator//. (New 
York: Clark & Maynard.)—Wo have come to 
look with somewhat of suspicion upon new 
school-books. Too many Of them arc worth¬ 
less, mere Speculative \ onturos on the part, of 
both author and publishers. Therefore we have 
examined this volume by Git \ m, us A. Wiley, a 
teacher ol' Elocution. with considerable care. It 
is a 12-mo. of four hundred and forty-four pages, 
designed to give, as the preface tells us, “the 
principles of vocal culture,and style Of delivery 
now used by the best elocutionists of the day; 
and, at the same time, to present ti work for 
rending and for practice, that would contain the 
choicest gems of both ancient and modern liter¬ 
ature." its object, wo think, is only partially 
fulfilled. The principles of vocal culture are 
good, are clearly expressed; but the selections 
which follow, though voluminous enough, taken 
as a whole are not the “ choicest gems'" alluded 
to. There are many real gems among them, to be 
sure; j et there arc many very cornmon-pltPco 
indeed, and at least two which are not in 
good taste and which decidedly mar the hook. 
“ Wanted a Receipt,” p. 123, is not a fitting se¬ 
lection to place in the hands of youthful read¬ 
ers, is indeed an outrugo upon propriety, and 
“Josh Hillings on Gongs," p.3(l2, though humor¬ 
ous, has not snJBofcnt Immor to compensate for 
its abominable orthography. Such spelling as J. 
II. affects may do lorn comic monthly; it has no 
business in a text-book for the youug. 
«♦> 
Flshlntr in •American iV'atrr*, (New York: 
Harper & Brothers.) —All the poetry and prose,— 
the sentiment and practicality,—of fishing, is at¬ 
tractively set forth here, by Mr. Genio C. Scott. 
An enthusiastic lover of “the gentle art,” as lie 
invariably calls it, Mr. Hcorr has studied the na¬ 
ture of nil i lusse-3 of lish, thoroughly knowstheir 
habits, is perfectly familiar with every art and 
appliance tun --ary lor their capture, and chats 
about them and hlg experiences with them in a 
guiiiol, Im.-c/.y Hivli- which is Iruly charming. 
Ilis work is systematically arranged In five parts, 
devoted respectively to coast and estuary fish¬ 
ing with rod and line, fresh-witter fishing witli tly 
mi l bait, commercial fisheries, ancient and mod¬ 
ern ri.;li culture, and a glimpse of ielithyoicgy; 
mid an appendix Is added, in which are given 
cooking directions adapted to the resources of 
sportsmen in the wilderness or on the wave,and 
Amerleaii game-laws. Nothing so complete, 
embodying so much information useful lo the 
sportsman, with so many pleasant chapters 
breathing u flavor or woods and waters, ha:.ever 
been issued from tho press. The four hundred 
and olglily-lVfur 12-mo pages tiro beautifully il¬ 
lustrated, und some of the head-letter cuts are 
as grotesque as anything in Punch. 
The thndem of Srhmil Sons:*. (New York 
J. W. Hchenncrliorn & Co.)-Having long advo¬ 
cated the introduction of vocal music, as a regu¬ 
lar study, Into our common schools, we take 
especial pleasure in commending this little vol¬ 
ume by Mr. W,m. Tillinguast, designed for 
that specific purpose. It contains a Manual for 
Teachers, in which the elements ol’ music are so 
arranged that any teacher can pr< a nt them 
effectually *, tune-form exercises, lor practice in 
sigh Using mg; a judiolous selection of “ little 
songs for little singersphysical exercise songs; 
an excellent collection of day-school songs, in 
which wo find many of the choicest gems of 
school-music; und several pages of devotional 
song- at tho close. We consider the book l'ar 
better adapted t> tho wants of all grades of 
schools than any other which has come under 
our observation- Mr. Tillinohast, -a phasing 
specimen of whose songs wo lately gave In the 
Ittm.u., and which we shall ere long follow 
with other-, yet more alt motive,—was former¬ 
ly teaeher of music in tho public schools of 
Chicago, and more reeeutlyha* held the same 
relation to the public schools Of Rochester. Ho 
therefore well understands what Is required lu a 
work of this kind, and has admirably met such 
requirement. 
tteecher^s Sermon .»— First Series. (New 
York; J. R. Ford & Go.)—Wo have long medi¬ 
tated a favorable notice of “Plymouth 1’ulplt," 
tlm medium through which tin* sermons of Hk.y- 
ky Ward IJBECHt.n are disseminated weekly, 
thus widely extending the usefulness of Unit 
gentleman's pulpit ministrations. Receipt of 
the first series ®f that most, excellent publica¬ 
tion,—being tin; sermons from fioptootber, 1WI8, 
to March of the current, year, — handsomely 
bound in one volume, tea pleasing reminder that 
such notice should bo no longer delayed. “ Ply¬ 
mouth Pulpit" presents Mr. H.'s discourses in 
cheap, pamphlet, form, printed on tine paper, 
and admirably adapted to binding, os this octavo 
of four hundred and thirty-eight pages illus- 
trates. 11 should be in o\ cry household. Proba¬ 
bly no one touches humanity more nearly than 
Mr. Bmicunu doas, In Ins ministry. Ho Is in 
warm sympathy with men, In all the manifold 
experiences of life; ami his sympathies shine 
out clear and gladdening in the words lie utters 
from Sabbath to Sabbath. And when truth has 
a living, vital sympathy in it, it takes hold upon 
man and does him good. 
-*♦«- 
On the IfV'/iy, (Boston: Fields, Osgood & 
Co.) — Hero is a practical book l'or sportsmen, 
by Jon.v licrMSTHAO, a practical man, ir we 
may judge from his writings, who knows of 
what he treats. It Isa beautiful volume, —well 
printed, handsomely illustrated, —and all fond 
of sporting will find in it valuable suggesti : - .: 
as to selecting guns and caring for thorn, shoot¬ 
ing woodcock, quail, grouse, snipe, rabbits and 
all kinds of water-fowl, together with interest¬ 
ing details as to the manutacture of gnus, gun¬ 
powder, etc. 
•♦«- 
Salt- Water Dick. (Boston : Lee & Shepard.) 
—The “Helping Hand Series,” by May Man- 
keulno, of which this is the fifth volume, hap¬ 
pily combines instruction with entertainment. 
“Salt-Water Dick" tells much about several 
portions of South America that our young 
friends will like to ltnow. 
—-- 
1 he Hnnttr>t OuUte amt Trapper! a Com¬ 
panion. (Hinsdale, N. II.; Hunter & Co.)-“ An 
Experienced Woodsman ’* here presents in cheap 
form much practical knowledge on hunting und 
trapping. 
: v 
- r 
mm 
A..- 
-•-‘J-al "‘ -V 
- - 
. ■ 
• -.a'c.fejfg. 
>■< -J .“wSaCSR 
-x: ^ ^53^ 
i* 
LOOKING A T T K IQ FIRST CHICK OUT. 
hnittalcrginil. 
ENCOURAGE THE BIRDS. 
Oun improvements are driving tho birds. 
There are not the wrens and bluebirds that 
there used to be. Wo now ami then see a 
peewee, and more frequently a robin. These, 
and others, are the birds that wc need. They 
used to keep our orchards clear and our gar¬ 
dens free of insects. They came out of the 
woods, which were near by, and loved, as 
birds do, a new-settled country. The great 
quiet ot the landscape invited them. Now 
there is another quiet, broken by strange 
sounds to the bird, especially the timid, wild 
bird. The robin Is all the more delighted 
to hear the voice of man. Like tho red fox, 
lie belongs to the clearings and improve¬ 
ments. And this is well, as lie is also tho 
clearer of our orchards and gardens—clear¬ 
ing them often of fruit it is true; but in the 
long run he is a benefit, a great benefit, as 
we think we can say we know. We have 
watched a pair ol robins carry the worms to 
their young; it was after wc had prevented 
them from carrying away the berries, (by 
spreading a net over them.) They were 
busy from morning till night. It, was won¬ 
derful how they stripped the bushes and the 
trees of insects. For a little variety, and to 
encourage them, we now and then gave 
them a berry. It seemed to encourage them 
and act as a sauce to their meal. 
These birds are worth their weight in sil¬ 
ver more, in gold; wo would not part with 
them for so many Tunis in gold. They eat a 
cherry now and then — it is only now and 
then, compared with their other food, and 
when the shortness of the cherry season is 
considered. And they will mix “meat” 
witli their vegetable food. 
The wren is perhaps equally important. 
It is a small, lively bin!, and gets food slyly, 
among the bushes, and, if you have its nest 
near the house, among the garden vegeta¬ 
bles. It eats worms mainly, and for a small 
bird, a great many; if, requires much food to 
keep up its active system. 
Wrens may be domesticated, that is, cages 
prepared for them, which they will inhabit. 
But it requires premises that look inviting, 
that have little noise, especially of boys. 
They, the wrens, see at once—quicker t han 
you or I could —much quicker—and tills, 
especially, if tho country is bare; they like 
seclusion; they will have it; if they cannot 
find it in one place they will get it in another. 
Tho bluebird is the queen of our hii;ds, in 
point of value as well as in beauty of plum 
age and in song. No bird law tho ethereal 
notes of tho bluebird, spiritual,—it is a spir 
itual bird, both in its-flight, and its note, soft 
and sustaining, floating without effort, in the 
air. This bird devours insects, and nothin"- 
else. It will let your cherries alone; they 
ant too common food. Dainty insects are 
its dish; in this respect it is related to the 
trout, both are, beautiful and useful in clear¬ 
ing, the one tho brook of insects, the other 
the oreliard and garden, if you can get it lo¬ 
cated near you. 
Wc remember well a pair or bluebirds 
domiciled in a small martin-house wlueli wc 
bad put on the top of a wood-shed- It com¬ 
manded a view of the other buildings and 
the yard, and was one of tlm daintiest sights 
seen on the premises. So important, was it, 
though it. occurred in the years that are 
gone long, long ago,—so conspicuous, so in¬ 
teresting, and so useful (noticed even then) 
was this bird with its mate,—that it is one of 
our most distinct recollections. Here were 
poetry and usefulness combined. Here was 
companionship truly —so truly that it goes 
with us through life. Wo ever sec and hour 
the bluebird, and tile one at, the martin- 
house, fluttering there in tin: light of an early 
May morning. That bird, that pair, may he 
no more, and yet may possibly exist, as we 
do not know the age of these birds. But 
they arc no more at the homestead. Things 
have changed. Now and then the wing of 
an oriole is seen flashing by. But they never 
settle in the orchard, as once. Tho orchard 
is ruined and gone, in part; the buildings 
have changed; strangers inhabit what was 
once the birds’ and the “children’s” home. 
The early time has departed, and tlic birds 
with it. 
We need the birds. In France they have 
killed them, and now they are wanting them 
again to clear the fields and tlm orchards of 
vermin, which lias accumulated since the 
demise of the birds. So it is here. The 
boys have shot the birds and robbed their 
nests; the vermin increases. The company 
ot birds is also badly wanting. We see its 
effect; the race is more hard and morose, 
standing with stone and billet, to drive the 
birds. The olden time of music and bird- 
companionship wo need badly. Wo need 
badly the foray of these birds upon the in¬ 
sect tribes. Let us encourage them by little 
bird cages, and warn away all boys with gun 
and murderous intend. Let us have things 
as quiet as we can, and let tlm birds make 
tlm noise. Quietude, and these little bird- 
house inducements, und a freedom from 
harm, will soon invite t he songsters again, for 
no quicker-sighted things exist to determine 
whether harm threatens or security invites. 
We must encourage the birds, and prevent 
our boys from shooting them. —f. g. 
-*-*-♦- 
THE HOUSE WREN 
Concerning one characteristic of this 
little bird, a writer in a late number of the 
American Naturalist says: —"The mis¬ 
chievousness nf the house wren (Troglodytes 
Verrill) is well known. Tho following 
incident came under my observation a short 
time since. A nair of martins had taken 
possession of a box that I had erected in the 
garden for their benefit; had built their 
nest, laid their eggs, and had commenced 
sitting, when a pair of house wrens, who 
coveted their neighbor’s house, entered il in 
Urn absence of t he martins, and coolly picked 
up their eggs, one by one, carried them out, 
and dropped them to tho ground below. 
“ While engaged in this impudent business, 
tlm martins returned, and while going in at 
one of the entrances of tlm box, the daring 
marauders darted out at, the other, and 
alighting on a tree near by, chattered noisi¬ 
ly, apparently in great glee. The martins, 
finding Unit their nest had been dlspoiled, 
abandoned the box, which was then duly 
taken possession of by the wrens, who 
reared two broods of young hopefuls during 
tho summer, the first about the beginning of 
June, the second the latter part of July,” 
--- 
DRUMMING OF THE GROUSE. 
Doubtless nearly all our readers are 
familiar with the peculiar drumming of the 
ruffed grouse, or partridge. They may not, 
however, be correctly informed as to how 
this drumming is produced, Audi;DON’, on 
page 210 of Vol. I. of his Ornithological 
Biography, says in regard to it: 
” The male bird, standing erect on a pros¬ 
trate decayed trunk, raises tlie feathers of its 
body in the manner of a turkey-cock, draws 
its head towards its tail, erecting the feathers 
ol the latter at flic same time, and raising its 
rutf around the neck, suffers its wings to 
droop, and struts about on the log. A lew 
moments elapse, when the bird draws the 
whole ot its feathers close to its body, and 
stretching itself out, beats its sides with its 
wings, in the manner of the domestic cock, 
but more loudly, i* ml with such rapidity of 
motion, after a few of the first strokes, as to 
cause a tremor in the air not unlike the 
rumbling of distant thunder.” 
THE MARRIAGE OF THE WATERS. 
BY A. A. HOPKINS. 
“T/i c lux! rail of the Pacific. Railroad lx laid." 
Whbuk the billows of sod roll nwny to tho West, 
Witli tho ripples of blossoms bedecking their brenst 
And tlie heavens come down In the distance to kiss 
All tlie far-reaching green witli tlie blue of their 
bliss; 
At the noon of the day. when the smile of tlie sky 
Is as bright ns the dream of a glad hy-aml-by; 
There’s n song of delight borne along on the breeze. 
■For the Iron is plighting the union of seas. 
O, ye pines of old Maine, bend your heads now to 
heart 
Plymouth Hock, wake n voice, and exultlngly elieert 
All ye streams of n ow England, laugh out a glad 
strain! 
And yo proud Allegluinles send bank tho refrain ! 
From the North to tho South, from tins West, to tho 
East, 
Let tlie nations Join hearts in a glad marriage-feast; 
Chant aloud tlie i'r Drum, O Children of men ! 
t or tlie water* are wedded,— Amen, and Amen ; 
There’s a hope for mankind In such tokens as these, 
Tho bridging of space, and the marriage of seas; 
For the heart-boat of nations in unity stirs, 
And Pence clasps their hands close together in hers ! 
Ail tlie noble endeavors of men are made one, 
And tho glory of being seems only begun, 
When the leagues that, divide us are merely a name, 
And the sung of ail peoples is one and tho same! 
tt, is coming tlie time that tlie sagas have told,— 
The time wu have waited since ages of old, 
And the melody throbbing to-day on the air 
Is tlie God-given answer to long uttered prayer. 
Over mountains and plains let the glad echo tly. 
For the Good Time to eomo Is a near By-and-Uy 
And tho marriage of Waters prolific shall bo 
Of glories an early to-morrow shall see! 
Now York, Ms - 180!). 
1 
’tones, for Hunt lists. 
) vIj 
DESTINED TO ILL LUCE? 
A STORY THAT OUGHT NOT TO BE TRUE. 
BY A. A. HOPKINS. 
[Continued from page ,118, last number.J 
CHAPTER III. 
The summer of Ml found Anokf.w Flint 
dull and dejected, lending the life of a hire¬ 
ling. All liia manhood seemed crushed out. 
California had been no kinder to him than 
Iowa or Pike's Peak. There was left in him 
literally no hope for the future. Belief in 
predestination to ill-luck was working his 
ruin. 
When he heard the clash of arms to the 
eastward of tho Mississippi, his friendliness 
and despondency urged him to join the fray, 
lie re-crossed the mountains as a driver, 
still surly and unsocial; made his way to 
St. Louis and enlisted in his connlry’s 
service. Forgive him if lie was moved to 
tliis more by a restless discontent and despair, 
than pure patriotism. As he lacked, in a 
degree, the highest loyalty to himself, so he 
may have been wanting in the noblest 
promptings of duty to his (lag; and yet. he 
was more to be pitied than blamed. Blessed 
is he who draws sword when fired by true 
patriotic zeal; wretched, most wretched, lie 
who shoulders the musket with a feeling 
that to get, shot is the best, lot attainable. 
Such feeling predominated in Andrew 
Flint’s heart when he was mustered In. 
It was his dominant inner influence through 
the mouths succeeding, when his regiment 
was learning the art of war in camp. Ho 
fretted in spirit, and grew more surly, over 
this inaction, than he had done hitherto over 
bail fortune. Indeed, it seemed only had 
fortune intensified, — that the privilege of 
getting shot should thus be kept from him. 
They broke camp, finally. Then came (Shi¬ 
loh, with its terrible carnage, and our friend’s 
regiment saw hot work. lie blanched and 
trembled when first, exposed to the enemy’s 
galling fire; but lie did not forget his inten¬ 
tion to get shot. His unholy purpose nerved 
him to most daring deeds. When the color- 
sergeant fell, mortally wounded, he grasped 
the flag, and bore it where death screamed 
loudest. Into the fiercest of the light he led 
the way. Ilis comrades were struck down 
all around him ; poor fellows who wanted 
to live gasped their lives out, in fearfully 
rapid succession; but he who counted life 
so little worth could not, get, rid of it. His 
flag was pierced by bullets, till it hung in 
tatters; the staff was shivered in his hands; 
yet he bore it on, himself unharmed. 
Anduf.w Flint did splendid service that 
day. Ilis Colonel,—himself bravo to reck¬ 
lessness,—noted it. Hr (felt a sudden and 
keen interest in this man who seemed such a 
stranger to fear Closely, eagerly he watched 
the flag and its bearer; often wa3 lie thrilled 
to see how the man swerved not in the 
direst danger, but stood firm as iron. Near 
the close of the first day’s battle tho Colonel 
saw that the banner had changed hands; 
and he sighed and brushed away a tear as he 
thought, “ Another brave fellow gone.” 
In the very last charge the Colonel himself 
was lilt. He was leading his men on, hat, in 
hand, liis tall form erect, his long gray hair 
streaming behind him, his face, that ordi¬ 
narily showed years and care, fairly radiant 
with a noble purpose, when a minie struck 
his left side and felled him at once. Coining 
to, from tho long faint, that, ensued, he found 
himself in hospital quarters; and stretched 
on a cot but a few feet away was his daring 
color-bearer. 
