INVITATION TO THE COUNTRY, 
& 
iljje iltbutotr. 
NEW PUBLICATIONS. 
octal 
St 
|optcs. 
THE ART OF RETICENCE. 
i*aii hurt to mi. (New York: Harper 
& Brothers.)—A new novel by the author of 
“My Daughter Ellinor,” will command numer¬ 
ous readers. That 6tory was so thoroughly 
American in tone, and so original in conception 
and execution, that It fully deserved all the 
good things said of St. To this second venture 
in fiction the anonymous author does not. mani¬ 
fest as much improvement as we looked for. It 
Is, perhaps, not less original, but i< is less pleas¬ 
antly so. Some,—at least one,—of the charac¬ 
ters might better have been left out altogether. 
Lrcv Kknwtjt—■ we ha ven’t room for the rest of 
her name—is not a person lo add auy hcult hy In¬ 
terest to the book. The plot is good, and quite 
artistically developed, and the style is often for¬ 
cible, always interesting. But one bad gram¬ 
matical error is repeated at provokingly fre¬ 
quent. intervals from beginning to end, and the 
lapses into slip-shod epigrammatic sentences 
are os numerous as an “My Daughter Ellinor.” 
Nevertheless, though we do not like the produc¬ 
tion, on the whole, as well as we liked its prede¬ 
cessor, we acknowledge it one of the most char¬ 
acteristic American uovels, exceedingly viva¬ 
cious, good for dyspepsia and flirts us though 
there were any connection between these two 
dreadful things!—and certain to be widelyread. 
Peach culture —(Now York: Orange Judd & 
Co.)—w il»e title of a work by Jam i-s Alexander 
Fulton, Dover. Del., t he avowed object of which 
is to furnish “ A hand-book and guide to every 
planter, to be used as a student uses his diction¬ 
ary in the acquisition of a language." The best 
idea we can give of the character of its contents 
is to copy the titles of its chapters:— 14 Site of 
nursery : seed ; seed bed; preparation of ground 
for nursery; planting seed; nursery cultiva¬ 
tion; buds; budding; cultivation of buds; tak¬ 
ing up and sending to market; site for an orch¬ 
ard; planting an orchard; orchard cultivation; 
coming in ; baskets and crates; transportation; 
consignees; ladders; shipping; packing; re¬ 
turns, markets; prntits; culture alter a crop; 
uses, Insects and diseases; special culture, the 
peach-house; varieties; descriptive catalogue; 
fancy varieties." 
The .lien If 'ho .Itiieriine. (New York: Geo. 
P. llowell & Co.)—Fow handsomer volumes than 
this have been laid on our table. Printed on 
flue, heavy paper, with broad margins, and 
bound In the very best style of muslin binding, 
It is a work of which ilm enterprising projectors 
may well fed proud. There are really three 
volumes in one—“The Mon who Advertise,” be¬ 
ing well-written, biographies of those who have 
made fortunes In the use of printers ink; 
“American Newspaper Rato Monk," giving ad¬ 
vertising rates and circulat ion of all the journals 
In the country; amt tbe“ American Newspaper 
Directory,” a compilation most valuable to all 
advertisers and newspaper men generally. Unit¬ 
ing three such volumes makes one of nearly IKK) 
pages, which every publisher atul advertiser 
should be possessed of. So much reliable infor¬ 
mation In regard t o newspapers lias never been 
brought together before. 
ifarrl* etn the Pig — (New York: Orange 
Judd & Co.) is a volume of two hundred and fifty 
pages, handsomely printed and illustrated, which 
contains a great deal of valuable information 
concerning the breeding, rearing, management 
and Improvement of swine. We have neither 
time nor space for an elaborate review of this 
work, but cordially commend it as deserving a 
wide distribution among those who breed and 
roar swine. It is qtiiLe English enough to suit 
American modes of management ; and in tho 
pork-producing regions of tbe West its exact 
detail of experiments will bo less appreciated 
than in the East, where a wasted pint of corn is 
a greater loss to the producer than a wasted 
bushel in the West. 
I’nt in by Sunlight anti OanUght . (National 
Publishing Company.)—This is a subscription 
book, and neither better nor worse than the av¬ 
erage of its class. Literary merit, it has not at. 
all, standing In this respect upon a par with 
guide-books generally. Its description&of points 
of interest, in the French capital are enlivened 
only by the numerous illustrations accompany¬ 
ing, being very dull in themselves. But the 
traveler about to visit Paris might derive con¬ 
siderable helpful Information therefrom, and 
would find a perusal of the volume advantage¬ 
ous. It is well printed and bound, and most of 
the many illustrative cuts arc fairly executed. 
Seal * and Saddle*. (Philadelphia: J.B. F.ip- 
pincott&Co.) This work contains very many 
excellent hints to those who would be* graceful 
riders; and there are, probably, as many poor 
riders in this country as can bo found in auy 
Especially in the Middle and Eastern States is 
it. true; for it is rare to see a good saddle horse 
or a good rider on arty horse, and especially 
turning farmers it is rare to see either. There is 
much we do not agree with iu the chapter on 
Bits and Bitting; but t here are valuable hints, 
too, which make it worth a horseman’s while to 
peruse. 
Talk* to .11 y fat lent*. (Now York: Wood 
& Holbrook.) — In this book a woman talks to 
women, plainly, practically. Mrs. R. B. Glea¬ 
son, M. D., of the Elmira Water Cure, hero re¬ 
produces the "parlor talks” there had with 
those under her care. Much of their subject 
matter should bo carefully studied by wives and 
mothers. 
Seventy- Pice Popular flower*. (Boston : J. 
E. Tilton & Co.)—This little work contains little 
that may not be found io the elaborate seed cat¬ 
alogues of the present day. I Is chief merit con¬ 
sists in the selection of flowers to talk about, 
that by their nature are adapted to the wants of 
those who can give little time to floriculture. 
The Pearl JVetl.lace. (Boston: Henry Hoyt.) 
—Besides the title story, this handsome volume 
has two others — “ Peter Duckett,” and the 
‘‘Flower-Girl of Hampstead.” A11 are good, anil 
each enforces a good lesson. 
Cultivation of the Potato. (Now York! 
Orange Judd & Co.)—This Essay, by D. A. Comp¬ 
ton, contains many valuable practical sugges¬ 
tions upon the management of this crop. It is 
worth the 25o. asked for it. 
Smithi* Uible litetionary , (New York : Hurd 
& Houghton.) Presses on toward completion, 
with no diminution whatever in its many excel¬ 
lences. Part XXVII. is just issued. Itisamost 
praiseworthy work indeed. 
The London Saturday Review discusses 
this social topic in this wise:—But there is 
art, the most consummate art, in appearing 
How yoit hate them when you think of 
the skill with which they took all that was 
offered to them, yet never let, yon see they 
gave nothing back for their own part—rath¬ 
er by the jugglery of maimer made you be¬ 
lieve that they were giving back as much as 
they were receiving! Perhaps it was a little 
ungenerous; but they had the right to argue 
that if you could not keep your own counsel 
fools often make the best reformers of the 
age. Great thinkers have for the most part 
tho weakness that they can see two sides to 
a question; they see that a change will lead 
to certain blessings, but they cannot over¬ 
look the evils with which thosclilessings will 
be accompanied. Now, a good thick headed, 
one-ideaed fool is, on such occasious, of ines¬ 
timable value. 
“ GtIVINO A. 
Already, close by our summer dwelling, 
The Mister sparrow repeats her song; 
A merry warbler, she chides the blossoms— 
'l’ho idle blossoms that sleep so long. 
The blue.hint chants from the elm’s long branches 
A hymn u> welcome tbe budding year; 
Tho south wind wanders from field to forest, 
And suftly whispers, tho Spring Is here. 
Como, daughter mine, from tho gloomy city. 
Before tlu>*o lays from the elm have ceased; 
The violet breathes by our door as sweetly 
As in the tdr of her uallvo East. 
Though many n flower In the wood Is waking, 
Tho daffodil is our door-side queen; 
She pushes upward the sward already. 
To spot with sunshlno the early green. 
No lays so joyous as these are warbled 
from wiry prison in maiden’s bower; 
No pampered bloom of tho green houso chamber 
lias hall tho clmrm of the lawn’s first flower. 
Yet those sweet sounds of the curly season, 
And these fair sights of its sunny days, 
Are only swout when wo fondly listen, 
And only fair whoa wo fondly giue. 
There Is no glory In star or blossom, 
TUI looked upon by a loving eye; 
There ts no fragrance In April breoxes, 
Till breathed with joy as they wnnder by. 
Como, Julia dear, for the sprouting willows, 
The opening Mowers and the gleaming brooks, 
And hollows, green in the sun, are waiting 
Their dower of beauty from thv glad looks. 
(U'm. Cullen Ihunnt. 
|torifs for fUmtlists. 
absolutely frank, yet never telliug anything 
which it is not wished should be known, in 
being pleasantly chatty and conversational, 
yet never committing oneself to a statement 
or an opinion which might be used against 
one afterward —avs celare artem in keeping 
one’s own counsel as well as in other things. 
It is only after a long acquaintance with this 
kind of person that you find out he has been 
substantially reticent throughout, though ap¬ 
parently so frank. Caught by bis easy man¬ 
ner, his genial talk, his ready sympathy, you 
have confided to him not only all you have 
of your own, but all you have of other peo¬ 
ple’s; and it is only long after, when you re¬ 
flect quietly, undisturbed by the magnetism 
of his presence, that you come to the knowl¬ 
edge of how reticent he has been in the midst 
of this seeming frankness, and how little reci¬ 
procity there has been in your confidences 
together. 
You know such people for years, and you 
never know really more of them at the end 
than you did in the beginning. You cannot 
lay your linger on a fact that would in any 
way place them in your power; and though 
you did not notice it at the time, and don’t 
know how it has been done now, yon feel 
that they have never trusted you, and have 
all along carefully avoided anything like 
confidence. But you are at their mercy by 
your own rashness, and if they do not de¬ 
stroy you, it is because they are reticent for 
you as well as toward you; perhaps because 
they are good-natured, perhaps because they 
despise you for your very frankness too much 
to hurt you; but above all things, not because 
they are unable. 
BITE” — FROM A. 3?AINTTUSTG- BY W. MULItFADY. 
[Engraved for Moore’s Rural New-Yorlter.] 
you would not be likely to keep theirs, and I “ We are accustomed to boast that as a 
it was only kind at the time to let you hood¬ 
wink yourself, so that you might not he of¬ 
fended. In manner genial, frank, conversa¬ 
tional, sympathetic—In substance absolutely 
secret, cautious, never taken off their guard, 
never seduced into dangerous confidences, 
as careful for their friends as they are for 
.themselves, and careful even for strangers 
unknown to them—these people are the sal¬ 
vation, as they are the charm, of society; 
never making mischief, and, by their habitu¬ 
al reticence, raising up barriers at which gos¬ 
sip halts aud rumor dies. 
USES OF STUPIDITY. 
An English writer says“ Our stupidity 
preserves a convenient twilight; it hangs 
like a fog over contending armies, which 
enables the rival commanders to shift their 
positions and gradually to occupy import¬ 
ant positions without giving the alarm. Be¬ 
fore we are aware that any change lias been 
made we have undergone a complete revo¬ 
lution, and wonder when we look back, like 
a man who has been walking in a mist and 
has described a complete circle under the 
impression that he was following a straight 
line. 
“ But this service, great as it is, is only one 
Ave owe to stupidity. It is generally said, 
and with a certain degree of truth, men are 
great in proportion as they arc in advance 
of their age, and catch distinct glimpses of 
the goal to which things are tending. But 
it is also to be observed that fools are fre¬ 
quently in advance of their age, and that 
nation we don’t know Avlien \vc arc beaten ; 
taken literally, that amounts, like many other 
national self-glorifications, to boasting of 
stupidity, and if the facts be true, it is a very 
legitimate boast. The Duke of Wellington, 
who is supposed to have profited by this 
quality is, in some respects, an excellent ex¬ 
ample of tho principle. He was not pre¬ 
cisely stupid, but no man who can fairly be 
called great ever had a narrower escape from 
stupidity. With certain great talents he had 
one characteristic peculiarity of fools—that 
of being provided with a pair of natural 
blinkers, which compelled him to see only 
that which av as straight before him, and to 
take the narrowest possible view of his task, 
The stupidest of men could hardly have been 
more blind to tho real nature of the vast 
revolution in regard to which he played so 
conspicuous a part.” 
---- 
OUR MOODS. 
“ Moods” are to be watched lest they in¬ 
fluence us in the wrong direction, and bring 
to us and to others much of trouble and sor- 
They often lead us to magnify trifles, 
row. 
PARKER’S SECRETARY. 
The story 1 am about to tell relates to an 
incident in the history of England which is 
but little known, and which you Avill not 
find in books, but one which nevertheless 
had a great effect on her dest inies. 
About the beginning of this century, while 
the Revolutionary wars were raging, com¬ 
munication in cipher was naturally very 
prevalent; and ingenuity aviis taxed to I be 
utmost on one hand to invent, and on the 
other to detect, the medium used in secret 
correspondence. As a rule, the decipherer 
had beaten the cipher, and no known method 
was secure of detection. If conventional 
signs merely AVcre used, the recurrence of 
the different symbols gave a key easily fid- 
lowed oul. Some ingenious spirits corre¬ 
spond by reference to the pages and lines of 
particular editions of books—methods, al¬ 
though they might preserve the. secret, dis¬ 
closed Avhat was often quite as dangerous, 
there Avas a secret, 1 am about to tell you 
of a plan Avliich for a long time was not, only 
undetected, but unsuspected. 
It was aL that, time when the first Napo¬ 
leon had assembled his fleet and transports 
at Brest, Avith the ostensible, and .as is gen¬ 
erally believed the real, view of making a 
descent on England. The greatest precau¬ 
tions were observed by the English Govern¬ 
ment in regard to correspondence trom 
France, and an amount of espionage was 
practiced at the post-office, which left Sir 
James Graham’s subsequent performances 
in that line far behind. The national ex¬ 
citement avhs intense, and the political de¬ 
partments of the Government were adminis¬ 
tered with an iron sway. 
My uncle, Sir George Trevor, avhs, as all 
the world then knew, high in the Admiralty 
—and as it avhs from him that f heard this 
anecdote, its veracity may lie depended on. 
The dispatches to and from the Admiralty 
Avere the subject of the gravest vigilance 
and tbe most stringent regulations. The 
clerks avciu not permitted to send or receive 
letters Avhicli were not first submitted to tbe 
chief clerk; and it was believed that letters 
addressed even to private residences were 
frequently opened at the post-office. 
At the time I speak of, the chief clerk was 
an elderly man of tbe name of Parser—a 
wizened, wiry, dapper individual,so imbued 
with tbe official tincture of Whitehall that 
it had become second nature to him. lie 
lived and breathed aud thought and slept 
solely for the Admiralty, and knew no other 
pleasure or care. He avhs, withal, a genial 
and kindly soul, keen and energetic in the 
affairs of his office, and in all others a mere 
child. 
lie had assumed as his private secretary a 
young fellow of the name of Beaumont, 
who was one of the most promising subor¬ 
dinates in the establishment lie was modest 
and unassuming, very good-looking, with a 
countenance and an air suggestive of depres¬ 
sion and melancholy. He was evidently of 
good education, and probably well born 
also, for bis manners were easy and indi¬ 
cated good breeding, lie was a native of 
Jersey, and lnv<l been introduced to the notice 
of tho Admiralty authorities by some influ¬ 
ential member of Parliament. He Avas much 
liked in the office, and discharged his duties 
to perfection. 
One morning Parker presented himself 
to play the fool with striking ingenuity. 
Moments of spite and weakness often cause 
words that can never be recalled, often des-, , . ... 
troy the happiness of the domestic circle, | ^ my uncle with a v.sage pale with woe 
often fritter away affection and sour the kind¬ 
ly feelings of the heart. Keep watch over 
your “ moods ” and conquer them, or they 
will conquer you. 
Yotjng folks grow most Avhen in love—it 
increases their sighs wonderfully. 
and trembling with excitement. 
“ Why, Avhat is the matter, Parker ? Has 
Bonaparte come?” 
“ He may have, for aught I 1<iioav,” said 
Parker. “ Things arc all wrong, Sir George!” 
“ What is wrong?” 
“ The letters arc wrong. There is a spy 
