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NEW PUBLICATIONS. 
Cathcart’s Youths Speaker.—By George R. 
Cathcart, A, M. New York : Ivlson, Blakeman, 
Taylor & Co. 
A handsome volume of nearly two hun¬ 
dred pages, filled with fresh and judicious 
selections, within the comprehension of the 
youngest speakers. Such American authors 
as Story, Wilson, Seward, Webster, Loving, 
JBoutwell, Greeley and Everett contribute 
to this hook, which should find a place in the 
hands of all teachers. The poetry is good 
and simple, and a number of new dialogues 
complete the work. 
The Wonders of Veitetntion, from the French of 
Fulgenee Muriou. Edited by Prof. SuUim.e j>e 
Verb. With <51 Illustrations. New York: Charles 
Scribner A Co. 
An attractive and enticing work, which 
will lead many to a further study of botany. 
The most remarkable phenomena connected 
with the wonders of the vegetable kingdom 
are narrated in this book with scientific ac¬ 
curacy. No people surpass the French in 
rendering science as attractive as fiction, 
and no better American editor could be 
that, iu a land where any citizen may fill 
the highest office, so little attention is paid 
in the education of our children, to teach¬ 
ing them the structure of our political or¬ 
ganism; and that so few thoughtful men 
seem to regard it their duty to know what 
forces arc omploved to administer our laws. 
This volume is a compendium of informa¬ 
tion upon the subject of its title, prepared 
by a gentleman who has held public office, 
and is familiar with both the law-making 
and law-executing duties of Federal officers. 
IHeistcv Karl's Sketcli-Boolc.—By Chari.es G. 
l.i.i. and (Huns Urcltmanni. Philtidclpnitt: I'. B. 
Peterm.ui ,fc Brothers. 
This now and elegantly gOtteu-up edition 
of a long-time popular work, needs neither 
praise nor introduction at this late day. 
Washington Ikvinu called it one of his 
choice books, full of raciness, quaint erudi¬ 
tion and graphic delineations. Mr. Leland 
has seen much of the world, and writes with 
a rare, subtle humor. He takes his readers 
all over the world, calls to their minds many 
beautiful legends, and tells them pleasing 
stories. This book is intensely interest ing, 
and will be the delight of all who peruse it. 
The edition at haud makes a volume of IKK) 
pages, on fine tinted paper, hound in purple 
and gold. 
©nr *?uivii-(teller. 
BEFORE AND AFTEIL 
A THRILLING ROMANCE OF THE 
WAR FOR THE UNION. 
Written Expressly for Moore’a Rural New-Yorker, 
BY TWO WELL-KNOWN AUTHORS. 
IV.—The Mystery of Susan. 
[Continued from page IOC.] 
Bratton, you are not looking well to¬ 
night,” said the Colonel, as ho passed the 
gentleman in the hall on his way to the 
library to enjoy his usual evening’s smoke. 
“ Come in and try one of the royal Havanas 
just arrived to-day. I tell you, sir, they’d 
put life in a dead man! ” 
“Nothing personal intended, I trust?” 
said Brayton, cheerfully. 
“ Oh, no, not, that exactly; but ’pon hou- 
* >i% my dear fellow, you do impress me latter¬ 
ly as a man very much down iu the month. 
You don’t anticipate ruin from this infernal 
muss, 1 trust?” 
“ I don't anticipate anything. Col. IIeatii- 
erstone; T am almost convinced that both 
“ The matter is this, Colonel, I gave Su- 
san her liberty. She was for several years 
a petted slave on rny plantation. She was 
forced hack into bondage by a wretch who, 
if God spares my life, 1 will yet gel square 
with. You bought her from him, and fiml- 
ingall attempts to make him refund fail, I 
wish to place in your hands the sum you paid 
for her, and sot the poor woman free once 
more.” 
Just, then Hannibal entered with wood 
to replenish the fire. He had evidently 
heard the last part of Mr. Brayton’s re¬ 
mark, and lingered a little to catch the 
reply. 
“ Don't you think, Brayton. that this 
would be a very dangerous precedent to in¬ 
augurate at tins time? Don’t you think 
you hud better wait till the storm blows 
over a little? ’Pon honor, I should rather 
be excused from the arrangement just 
now-” 
Hannibal tugged away at the logs. 
“ I hope you are not offended, Brayton. 
Policy now, by-and-by generosity,” con¬ 
tinued the Colonel. 
“No, T ani not offended,” slowly replied 
his companion,—" only disappointed ; and 
yet I don’t know .why I should be. If you 
will excuse mo,—t f lunk I will retire now,” 
and Brayton arose to go. 
Hannibal arose also, and for a moment 
the old negro seemed absolutely transform¬ 
ed. Ilis eyes shone with a strange light. 
Nothing more magnetic, commanding or 
_ JURAL fi£W-¥©RKIR 
-A-IsT TJ 1ST PL E .A. 3 A. N' T REFLECTION.’ 
found than Prof. De Vere. This book is of 
especial interest to people engaged iu rural 
occupations, and would prove an ornament 
to any library. The young are sure to be 
delighted with it. The illustrations are very 
fine, and the book is handsomely printed. 
The Federal Government t Its Officers and their 
Duties. By Ransom H. Gili.kt. Now York: 
Woolworth, Ainsworth & Co. 
This is a volume which should be in the 
library of ©very American citizen. Every 
man who exercises the right of suffrage, and 
upon whom devolves the duties of citizen¬ 
ship, should make himself familiar with the 
construction of the Government under 
which he lives, and in the administration of 
which he has a voice. There is a far too 
general ignorance among the people upon 
this subject—a matter vital to their individ¬ 
ual and collective interests. Few, alas! 
even know the character of their own town¬ 
ship and county organizations, much less 
that of the State and National Govern¬ 
ments. We not unfrequently meet men 
born in other lands, who, before coming 
hither, were better posted in relation to the 
details of our governmental system, by far, 
than the average citizen. And it is strange 
“AN UNPLEASANT REFLECTION.’’ 
The picture of a King Charles Spaniel, 
admiring him6olf in a mirror, which wo 
give to the readers of the Rural New- 
Yorker this week, is a reproduction of a 
painting by Mr. Percy T. Macquaid, re¬ 
cently exhibited iu the Dudley Gallery in 
London. Dogs differ iu character, as well 
us men, and are quite as apt to be spoilt iu 
disposition by bad training. The Spaniel 
represented has all the advantages of high 
breeding and aristoevatio education. He is 
a soft, silky, pretty little creature, but lias 
not, by nature, many high qualities. This 
dog, so cleverly-painted, is, doubtless, the 
spoilt pet of the lady of the house. lie is a 
terror and nuisance to any one but his mis¬ 
tress, as he is to himself in the present in¬ 
stance, under the impression that he sees 
an intruder. If such “ reflection ” were ft 
reality, it would prove decidedly “un¬ 
pleasant,” for he can brook no rival in bis 
mistress’ apartment, and so near his bone, 
too; so he snarls and barks at his own fig¬ 
ure iu the glass, and will continue to do so 
until he has raised the house, or discovered 
his mistake. 
hope and fear were crushed out of my na¬ 
ture long ago; but I should like to talk to 
you a few moments, if you have the time to 
spare, about Susan;” and the red blood 
mounted into the broad, white forehead, 
and for a second Mr. BraytON’s voice 
threatened to fail him utterly. 
“Susan, eh?” and Col. Heatherstone 
took a long puff of the fragrant weed, then, 
with a light laugh and a familiar slap on his 
visitor’s shoulder, rolled the lounge a little 
nearer the fire, and bade him be seated. 
“The trouble with you, Brayton [you’ll 
excuse mo, 1 know, because I speak for your 
good], is that you are inconveniently sensi¬ 
tive. Do not suppose that, it is necessary 
for you to say one single word to me on the 
subject you propose. True, I saw you out 
with the girl a few days ago, but bless your 
heart, that was your own concern! I’d like 
to sec any one minding my business on such 
a mat ter ” 
“Just as I supposed. Col. Heatherstone; 
you do not understand me,” interrupted 
Mr. Brayton. 
“Understand you? What the devil is 
thereto understand? If there’s any mys¬ 
tery, out with it at once, and don’t keep a 
fellow on the anxious seat.” 
saintly could possibly be imagined than 
Hannibal’s appearance at this time. 
“ For Heaven’s sake, look at that nigger,” 
said the Colonel, evidently strangely moved 
by the sight. “ What, the devil ails you, 
Hannibal?” 
“ A wision, Massa, dat’s alll” replied the 
old man, respectfully. 
“A vision f What kind of a vision ? Speak 
if you can, and don’t make a fool of yourself 
another minute.” 
V.-Freedom, Love, Death. 
“OhI It he nuffin to tell on;” replied 
the negro, partially recovering himself. 
“Hannibal do sometimes make a fool of 
himself, dut be a fac’, massa, and nobody 
bab so much information on dat pint as dis 
berry nigger! Good night, gentlemans,” 
and the slave attempted to leave the room. 
“Not so fast— you black rascal,” said 
Col. Heatherstone, who had not, yet re¬ 
gained his composure—“Tell what you saw 
—and tell it. very quick, too. T’ve a notion 
to”-and the strangely excited man rose 
from his reclining posture, and advanced 
with doubled fist to the side of the negro. 
“ Don’t be hasty,” said Mr. Brayton, in 
an undertone. 
“ I’ll teach him to come in here with his 
stories about apparitions and ‘ wisions.’ 
The truth is that he has been humored in 
his freaks ’till he really believes he does see 
supernatural things. Speak out now—you 
