322 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
and what I was trying to do for Louie, and he 
had even Kent her some new books to relieve 
the dull hourK of her confinement. He had 
asked permission to call, and had been Intro¬ 
duced to papa by a mutual acquaintance. Bo I 
had learned to consider him a very true friend 
and told him all about myself, except the one 
secret concerning my attempt at authorship, 
until lie really seemed to take a warm Interest 
in our family. 
One morning I gathered several sketches 
from Lou's table (she had fallen asleep and I 
would not disturb her), and prepared for my 
UKuai walk. Half In half out of her portfolio I 
saw a pretty little painting which evidently 
belonged to those prepared for Mr. Reynolds' 
store. So, wrapping it up with ttie rest, I hur¬ 
ried down town. Reynolds said it was the 
prettiest picture of them all, and placed It In 
a conspicuous position. I merely noticed that 
It represented a parting scene between two 
who might be lovers, or man and wife—1 didn’t 
know which, Lou had forgotten to give the 
picture a name. A pretty little twilight scene 
besido a meadow gate, and certainly worth 
anybody’s buying. “Call It a Summer Ro¬ 
mance," said I to Reynolds, and then started 
for home just os it began to sprinkle fust. 
Presently somebody came beside me, and an 
umbrella was raised over my head. 
“ Careless girl, to come out without being 
prepared for this threatened storm I ” I looked 
up as Mr. Randall took my bag from me, and 
caught a glance from his brown eyes which 
made my heart boat fast. I gathered my skirts 
from the muddy pavement and replied, pet¬ 
tishly : — 41 1 know I'm careless and everything 
else that Is horrid! I’m positively mud when I 
think how useless I am compared to Louie and 
Dell, wlto have at least the talents of any 
ordinary person to use in case of necessity.” 
He laughed. “So j fou must be a very tmor- 
dinary little person, since you think you possess 
no talents at all!" 
“ Y r ou are jesting about it, Mr. Randall," 
said I; “but / think I’m an object of sincere 
pity and a subject for tears 1" 
There was a moment of silence, during which, 
witli my usual heedlossness, I came near walk¬ 
ing directly through a huge mud puddie. Draw¬ 
ing me quietly one side and out of danger, Mr. 
Randall said, softly, “Ntta, you have one 
talent at least that 1 hope you will use to the 
best advantage for yourself, and particularly 
for me!" 
I looked surprised. “ Well, what in the world 
can it be?’’ 
“You know how. If you choose, to make me 
the happioet man »n this earth, little Ntta I 
Will you please cultivate that talent, with my 
assistance? " 
Never mind what I said ! It concerns nobody 
but Hardy Randall and myself. Rut he 
called on papa that very night, and since then 
Dell dure not snub me, orsneer at me, because 
—because—we 11 —beenlire ' 
I mustn’t forget to sny how lucky it was about 
that picture I t ook to Reynolds. It was not 
intended to be sent with the rest. I made a 
mistake in taking it without consulting Lou. 
Rut it turned out nil right in the end, since 
Richard Ware (who didn't have a foreign 
grave after ail), a noble, bronzo-faoed Captain, 
chancing to pass Reynolds' store, saw the pic¬ 
ture and found out, where she lived who, long 
ago, acted a part in the original of that sketch, 
ono happy summer in the country. Poor fel¬ 
low!- he had suffered all sorts of dreadful 
things from shipwreck and sickness after hav¬ 
ing left Louie with what they called “an 
understanding,” and started on his first voyage. 
But it nearly killed him whon became home 
the first time and found no trace of our family, 
so securely were we hidden, and so he wont off 
again, and the papers reported his vessel lost 
with all hands: and all that while Lor was let¬ 
ting her heart break silently. Rut, thanks to 
niy mistake, things are all right now, and we 
arc as happy as can bo. Dell will probably be 
an “old inaid," but darling Louie, with her 
talents, and tittle I, without any, save one pe¬ 
culiarly diicovered, vrUl have a double wedding 
some day. 
There, I've finished this just in time to sew 
on that button for papa, who is calling me. 
-- 
THE DESTRUCTION OP NEW YORK. 
BY EMMA C. WANGHOP. 
The incident recorded below was told to me 
by an old gentleman of unquestionable ve¬ 
racity, who was at that time a resident of New 
York: 
About the year 1826 a watchman stationed 
near a cemetery, heard suddenly a loud voice, 
apparently coming from the sky, saying, in 
solemn tunes, “Woe, woe to this great cityl 
Woe to this city, on account of its wickedness!" 
The watchman was startled. Jt was a late 
hour of a dark night. He wondered If he could 
be dreaming, and hastily called the nearest 
watchman. The voice came as distinct and 
awful as before, and went on to foretell the de¬ 
struction of the city at no distant period. 
All these things were told by the watchmen, 
and, as they were men of undoubted honor, full 
credence was given to their statements. In a 
short time the story spread all over the city, 
and New York was shaken to its center. Scarce¬ 
ly anything else was talked of by the con¬ 
science-stricken people. The papers were full 
of speculations and warnings to the people to 
fly from their impending doom, while prayer- 
meotings were held daily. To add to the ex¬ 
NOV. M 
citement the comet came distinctly In view, 
and It was found by the scientific that, at the 
rate It was approaching, it would strike the 
earth on precisely the same day which the voice 
had predicted would be the last for New York. 
In the evening vast crowds would assemble to 
watch the approaching comet, and as they did 
so, in the stillness of the night, a strange sound 
came to tbeir cars which had never been no¬ 
ticed before — a curious, buzzing, humming, 
awful noise, apparently coming from a great 
distance. This was noticed every evening, and 
some said it increased. Could it be the comet? 
The day approached and thousands prepared 
to leave the city. The almost universal convic¬ 
tion was that the voice was a warning from 
heaven. At last the day dawned, calmly and 
beautifully, as It did in the oldeD times over 
Sodom and Gomorrah, many said. Mure than 
half the city left as speedily us possible, bidding 
a sad good by to their loved homes and obsti¬ 
nate friends who would not be warned, and 
placed themselves In a position to view the 
whole scene. The hours wore away, and night 
came on at last, while nothing remarkable had 
taken place. 
The people, glad to still have their homes yet 
vexed that they had been imposed upon, re¬ 
turned, determined to know whence that voice 
came, and that strange noise. It appeared, in 
time, that some graceless fellows, who wished 
to obtain a body for dissection from the ceme¬ 
tery, had appointed ono of their number to 
foretell the destruction of the city from the 
top of a tall tree, at the top of his voice, that 
the> might work unmolested. They succeeded 
in getting the corpse, though where they were, 
at the time of the discovery of their trick was 
not known. The noise came from a large es- 
tabliHhment that bad been started a short time 
before on the other side of the river. The 
comet passed peacefully on, and the sturdy 
ones, who would not believe, continued to 
crow, without restraint, over their more super¬ 
stitious neighbors. 
Washington, Tazewell Co., Ills. 
Stftq JKtqaifg ®otjld. 
NEW PUBLICATIONS. 
Messiah.— By William M. Willett. Boston: B. 
B. Russell. (8vo.— pp. 800.) 
Rooks on this theme are sure to be popular, 
for the charm that was around the person of 
Jesus in His life, and which seems to have been 
transferred to the simple histories of the Evan¬ 
gelists, will never cease from among men, so 
long as they can comprehend the beauty of 
self-sacrifice, the sweetness of a love that was 
divine, a purity that glorified humanity. If we 
could imagine all the joyB, the hopes, the fears 
the triumphs, the sorrows, that cling round the 
name of Jksup, wrought into the experience of 
millions of believers, we should cease to wonder 
that 8o many books faintly try to illustrate the 
theme. 
Of course, in a book like this, disputed points 
have to be assumed as settled, the theology will 
not suit every one; but the earnest, lovingspirit 
apparent through it all, enables one to pass 
doubtful points by with only a note of recog¬ 
nition. The style of the writing is good, for It 
is generally clear and natural, with just enough 
of diffusiveness to show the writer’s careful 
study of the subject. We could have wished 
that newer type and better presswork had been 
used for a book that is so handsome externally. 
Not In Their Set i or, In Different Circle# of So¬ 
ciety.—From the German Of MARIE LENZEN. 
Bouton: Lee & Shepard; New’ York; Lee. Shep¬ 
ard k Dillingham. 
This Is a German story, and not devoid of in¬ 
terest and instruction, especially to those un¬ 
familiar with Gorman life. Yet. It is not a story 
whose influence upon young people is likely to 
be such that we can commend. It furnishes 
too broadly a view of the loose morality which 
obtains In the aristocratic circles of Europe 
relative to the ante-marital relations of men 
and women. It will do no harm to the matured 
mind, but the young und impressible ought not 
to have such a story put In their hands. 
Katherine Earl.— By Adeline Trakton. Bos¬ 
ton : Lee & Shepard ; New York : Lee, Shepard & 
Dillingham.. 
This is a pleasant New England story—pleas¬ 
antly written, we mean, though the phases of 
the life of Katherine Earl are not altogether 
rose-colored. The struggles of a poor girl are 
narrated in detail, the adventures of her life 
given, the mental development traced, and the 
happy termination of her troubles finally an? 
nounced. The lessons the book teaches may 
help some young person to nvoid the mistakes 
she made, the suffering In which she was In¬ 
volved, and yet realize a useful life. 
The Mother’s Hygienic Hand-book i for the 
Normal Development and Training of Women 
and Children, and the Treatment of their Dis¬ 
ease# with Hygienic Agencies.—Bf R. T. Tkall, 
M. D. New York : 8, R. Wells. (12mo.i prloe fl.) 
There is no class of human beings whose 
lives it is more important should be regulated 
correctly hygienically than women’s —those 
who are or who are to become mothers. Any 
book, therefore, prepared by a man or woman 
of practical scientific experience should be wel¬ 
comed and studied by this class. This book is 
to be recommended as treating of matters of 
the utmost importance to all women. 
Choice Receipts. By M. 8. W. Boston: James 
It. Osgood. 
This Is a model receipt book. There is noth¬ 
ing superfluous about it. It is neatly printed, 
clear and full in Its statements and directions 
and, according to the author, “every receipt 
here will bes r the test of experiment,'’ for she 
says she has acc >pted nothing from tradition; 
each receipt Is the practical result of repeated 
trials by several hands, and like the proverb 
represents the wit of many.” We can consci¬ 
entiously commend this volume to Rural 
housekeepers. 
Field, Covey nml Trap Shooting. — (New 
York : J. B, Ford & Company.) 
This volume Is by Adam H. Bogardus, the 
“Champion Wing Shot of America,” and is ed¬ 
ited by Charles J. Foster,. It embraces hints 
for skilled marksmen. Instructions for young 
sportsmen, haunts and habits of game birds, 
flight and resort of water fowl, breeding and 
breaking of dogs, etc. Mr. Bogardus has had 
an extended experience as a sportsman, and 
knows practically of what he writes in refer¬ 
ence to hunt ing matters. His book Is a desir¬ 
able contribution to this class of literature. 
Songs oi Grace nnd Glory.— (New York : Horace 
Waters & Bon. No, 4“1 Broadway.) Price 86 cents. 
This is one of the best Of those unpretending 
Sunday-scbdcrl books which exercise so potent 
an influence In molding the thoughts and feel¬ 
ings of the young. Many books are filled with 
musical baby-talk, and have justly been sub¬ 
jected to severe criticism. We have examined 
this work with some care, ami are glad to find 
the words are pure, not extravagant, and the 
music Is fresh and lively, without being trivial. 
We recommend the book as being just what 
many Sunday-schools need. 
The American Cyclopa'dla, Vol. VIII., (D. 
Appleton A Co., New York,) Is published. 
This volume of this Popular Dictionary of Gen¬ 
eral Knowledge includes subjects from Glas¬ 
gow to Hortense. We have hitherto commend¬ 
ed this revised edition of this great work. It 
is better far to buy It fyr the fanner's family 
(or any other) than to spend the same amount 
of money buying costly and so-called popular 
subscription books that arc frequently valueless 
for reference. Each volume of tills Cyclopae¬ 
dia is a library of useful knowledge In Itself. 
The Confessions of ti Minister.—Philadelphia : 
T. 13. Peterson k Bros. (12mO.—pp. 188.) 
Under the thin disguise of a diary of Rev. 
Josephus Lkonhardt, the book Is a hint of 
the writer's idea of the origin, progress and 
proper termination of the Brooklyn Scandal. 
The aceno Ib laid in Berlin, nnd there is no hint 
ol Brooklyn In It, but all ita Incidents point 
thitherward. Still, if the book be read as if it 
wen* what It purports to lie, it Will repay pe¬ 
rusal, for it is well written, and willl awaken 
much interest. 
Ill# Prison Burs; and the Way of Escape. By A. 
A. Hopkins. Rochester: Rural Homo Publish¬ 
ing Co.; New Yurk: Hurd & Houghton. 
Mr. Hopkins is a ready und graceful writer, 
and his stories are always wholesome in tone 
and teaching, no matter what other merits, or 
demerits, may belong to them. Tills story may 
he introduced Into the family with confidence 
that it w ill not mislead those who may road It, 
and that is will be found pleasant reading in 
leisure hours. _ 
The Lily and the Croos. -A Tnleof Acadia. By 
Prof. James De Mille, author of '.’The Dodge 
Club," Ac. Illustrated. Boston: Lee A Shepard; 
New York: Lee, Shepard k Dillingham. 
We have not found time to read this story, 
and cannot 6peak of its merits: but those of 
our readers who have read the other works of 
this author, “The Dodge Club,” “Cord and 
Creese," etc., will know bow to estimate this 
story of 264 pages. 
Take a Peep.— By Paul COBDEN, author of " Who 
will Win?" " Going on a Mission,” etc. Boston : 
Lee & Shepard j New York: Lee, Bhepard & Dil¬ 
lingham. 
This is one of the “ Reckoning Series,” with 
w’hich, doubtless, many of our young readers 
are familiar, and embraces a series of pictures 
of real life, oach of which has its lesson. 
The Runaway Match.—By Mrs. Henry WOOD. 
Philadelphia: T. B. Peterson & Bros. (8vo.—pp. 
83. Price 25 cents.) 
A good and well told story. No great amount 
of incident or plot, but an abundance of pleas¬ 
ant, gossipy dialogue. 
--- 
Cheap Music-—We have heretofore spoken 
favorably of the Dime and Half-Dime Series of 
good music published by Bkn.j, W. Hitchcock, 
No. 439 Third avenue. New York, and he has re¬ 
freshed our memory by sending us a number of 
his latest issues: 
“ What to Take," No. 488 of Half-Dime Series, 
Is a Temperance Song and Chorus, having a 
good theme, pleasant melody and easy accom¬ 
paniment. It is not bad to take. The fol¬ 
lowing of the Dime Series:—"Dream Laud,” 
by Clajubel; “Little Mischief Galop,” by W. 
Budik, form No. 161 Musical Bouquet Series. 
The song is a thoroughly good one, and the 
Galop will be popular with the young. Of the 
same series we have also “ Chorusos from Lo¬ 
hengrin,” by K. Wagner. No. 132, "Kiss me 
when we meet," by H. Millard. No. 102, 
“ Where the Citrons Blossom," Waltz, by 
Strauss. No. 168, “Who’s at my Window?” 
Piano Solo, by G. A. OsBOBNE. Though so 
cheap, these are all on good paper, printed 
neatly and clearly. 
Sabbath Reading. 
MY TREASURE. 
11Y violet. 
ONCE I held within my keeping 
Costly treasure, rich and rare, 
It could hold my eyes from weeping— 
It could ease my heart of care. 
Often when my life was dreary 
Have t used thi# treasure bright; 
It could rob my days of sadness— 
Could with glory gild my night. 
All my little daily trials 
Melted Into summer air; 
’Neath its power my soul grew purer, 
Every prospect seem’d most fair. 
E’en in failure it did cheer rue, 
And my heart orrtlmee grew bright, 
Then I saw each weak endeavor 
Turn to blessing* through it« might. 
But at length thoru came unto me 
One with aspect free and bold, 
Smiling, tempting came he forward 
As he came to Eve of old, 
Then he offered seeming treasures 
For iny prised and valued one - 
And e’en while I faltered lightly, 4 
Ere I knew it, It was gone! 
When I looked upon the baubles 
He had left in charge of me— 
Ah, at last my eyes were opened, 
All their falseness I could see. 
Empty pleasure I had chosen, 
Mucking dreams that seem’d so fair. 
He had come and for them taken 
My best treasure, golden Prayer. 
That which gave me such rich blessing— 
That which opened heaven to me— 
O, my blindness! Oh! my folly! 
Where wan l, I did not see? 
Long 1 wandered on in darkness, 
For iuy life had lost its charm : 
I had none to aid or help me. 
Trusting to an earthly arm. 
For the bread of life Eternal 
i had chosen bitter grain,— 
Oh, I could not bear tho bargain 
I must have my own again. 
Then 1 look’d—and lo! An angel 
Stood nnd beckoned unto me. 
In his band I saw it glisten— 
My own lost nnd treasured key. 
Then lie gave it back onto me, 
And I hold It now with care. 
Oh, my Treasure! Oh, my Jewel 
Oh, my precious gift of Prayer! 
Nova Scotia, 1874. 
-- ♦♦♦ - 
A SEASONABLE RELIGION. 
How many people tlo you know who regu¬ 
larly pack up their religion In camphor for the 
warm months? Strange, how easily they Blip 
out of the old habit, and don the new. Won¬ 
derful what a difference it makes in their per¬ 
sonal appearance; how much more stylish and 
elegant they look In their summer suits. You 
would hardly know them for the same people. 
Everything fits so touch more loosely. They 
had a habit in the winter of going to church 
regularly. But. away in the country for the hot 
weather, it Is such a bore, and nnfcody goes, and 
there is no preaching that they care to hear, and 
it wouldn’t do them much good at any rate; 
and so,—well, that habit is certainly much too 
heavy and close for the summer. 
--- 
PRAYING THAT IS NOT PRAYING. 
There is a good deal of this praying which is 
not praying at all. Men piously ask the Lord 
to undertake works by the score which they 
are too lazy or too penurious to do for them¬ 
selves. Prayer becomes a cloak for laziness, 
and piety a mask for avarice. In tills po'nt of 
view, missionary meetings are often the saddest 
places a thoughtful man can sit In, for an hour's 
meditation. He finds himself often wondering 
In them, not that tho heathen are not convert¬ 
ed, hut that there are any Christians left. Men 
meet, and pray, and exhort, and turn the whole 
business over Into the Lord’s hands with an air 
of pious resignation, contributing a dollar or 
two as they leave it, as their share towards the 
enterprise.—C7i u rch Journal. 
-v-*-*- 
44 COME.”— There is not a shorter, more pre¬ 
cious, more hopeful, more inviting word in all 
the Bible than this small word "come.” It is 
indeed the key-note of the Gospel. To the 
weary and heavy-laden, 44 Come, and find rest 
to the thirsty and fainting, 44 Come, come and 
drink“ Come and take the water of life free- 
tyonly come. Was ever so much depending 
on a condition so simple ? 
-- 
There la scarce any lot so low hut there is 
something In it to satisfy the man whom it has 
befallen: Providence having so ordered things 
that in every man’s cup, liow bitter soever, there 
are some cordial drops,—some good circum¬ 
stances, which, !f wisely extracted, are suflieient 
for the purpose he wants them,—that is, to 
make him contented and. If not happy, at least 
resigned.— Sterne. 
--- 
The Bible from first to last insists upon per¬ 
sonal righteousness. Common life, or society, 
teiiches us also that a salvation that did not 
insist upon virtue would be the destruction of 
society In all ita interest. If heaven could be 
sustained aud peopled by faith without good 
works, earth at least could not. 
