to Pickwick himself, who has most unquestionably been a criminally slow coach during the whole of this transaction, but whose speed will now be very unexpectedly accelerated, and whose wheels, Gentlemen, as he will find to his cost, will very soor be greased by you! But enough of this, Gentlemen. It is difficult to smile with an aching heart. My client's hopes and prospects are ruined, and it is no figure of speech to say that her occupation is gone indeed. The bill is down but there is no tenant! Eligible single gentlemen pass and repass but there is no invitation for them to inquire within, or without! All is gloom and silence in the house; even the voice of the child is hushed; his infant sports are disregarded, when his mother weeps. But Pickwick, Gentlemen, Pickwick, the ruthless destroyer of this domestic oasis in the desert of Goswell-street, Pickwick, who has choked up the well, and thrown ashes on the sward, — Pickwick, who comes before you to-day with his heartless tomato-sauce and warming. pans, Pickwick still rears his head with unblushing effrontery, and gazes without a sigh on the ruin he has made! Damages, Gentlemen, heavy damages, is the only punishment with which you can visit him, -the only recompense you can award to my client! And for those damages she now appeals to an enlightened, a high-minded, a right-feeling, a conscientious, a dispassionate, a sympathizing, a contemplative Jury of her civilized countrymen ! 2. THE ART OF BOOK-KEEPING. Thomas Hood. Born, 1798; died, 1845. How hard, when those who do not wish to lend, thus lose, their books, Are snared by anglers, · folks that fish with literary Hooks, Who call and take some favorite tome, but never read it through; They thus complete their set at home, by making one at you. I, of my "Spenser " quite bereft, last winter sore was shaken; Of" Lamb" I've but a quarter left, nor could I save my "Bacon ;" And then I saw my "Crabbe," at last, like Hamlet, backward go; And, as the tide was ebbing fast, of course I lost my "Rowe.” My "Mallet" served to knock me down, which makes me thus a talker; And once, when I was out of town, my "Johnson" proved a "Walker." For though I caught them stealing "Swift," as swiftly went my "Steele " Hope" is not now upon my shelf, where late he stood elated; But what is strange, my "Pope" himself is excommunicated. My little " Suckling" in the grave is sunk to swell the ravage; And what was Crusoe's fate to save, 't was mine to lose, a "Savage." - Even "Glover's" works I cannot put my frozen hands upon : Though ever since I lost my "Foote," my "Bunyan" has been gone. My Hoyle" with "Cotton" went oppressed; my "Taylor," too must fail; To save my "Goldsmith" from arrest, in vain I offered "Bayle." I "Prior" sought, but could not see the "Hood" so late in front; And when I turned to hunt for " Lee," O! where was my "Leigh Hunt"? I tried to laugh, old care to tickle, yet could not "Tickle" touch; My life is ebbing fast away; I suffer from these shocks, They still have made me slight returns, and thus my griefs divide; For, as they never found me "Gay," they have not left me "Sterne." 8 THE MAGPIE AND THE MONKEY. — Yriarte. Born, 1760; died, 1791. "DEAR Madam, I pray," quoth a Magpie, one day, To a Monkey, who happened to come in her way, "If you 'll but come with me To my snug little home in the trunk of a tree, I'll show you such treasures of art and vertu, Such articles, old, mediæval, and new, As a lady of taste and discernment like you Will be equally pleased and astonished to view; In an oak-tree hard by I have stowed all these rarities; And if you'll come with me, I'll soon you show where it is." The Monkey agreed at once to proceed, And, hopping along at the top of her speed, To keep up with the guide, who flew by her side, As eager to show as the other to see, Presently came to the old oak-tree; When, from a hole in its mighty bole, In which she had cunningly hidden the whole, One by one the Magpic drew, And displayed her hoard to the Monkey's view: A ribbon dropped by a gypsy lass; A tattered handkerchief edged with lace, A very small cake of Castilian soap, And a medal blessed by the holy Pope; Half a cigar, the neck of a jar, A couple of pegs from a cracked guitar; Beads, buttons and rings, and other odd things, And such as my hearers would think me an ass, if I At last, having gone, one by one, through the whole, In return for the sight that I've shown you to-day? Should be treated in such a contemptuous way. I looked for applause, as a matter of right, And certainly thought that you'd prove more polite." At length, when the Magpie had ceased to revile, "Well, Ma'am, since my silence offends you," said she, - To the digging of roots, and the prigging of fruits, In short, Ma'am, while you collect rubbish and rags, I gather for use, and replenish my bags With things that are really a comfort and blessing, - The Monkey's reply for I must, if I'm able That I wonder, whenever I chance to inspect them, - THE RICH MAN AND THE POOR.-Translated, by Dr. Bowring, from the Rus sian of Khemnitzer. So goes the world; if wealthy, you may call You seek respect, no doubt, and you will find it. On such a score; "T is all in vain; the world will ne'er inquire 'Strange!" cried I; "whence is it? Said, by their silence, "Better stay at home.' As Croesus rich, I 'm sure He could not pride himself upon his wit; What a confusion! - all stand up erect; Down to the earth. Is 't possible to show And to himself he said, "This is, indeed, beyond my comprehension !" Then looking round, One friendly face he found, And said, "Pray tell me, why is wealth preferred "That's a silly question, friend To wisdom?". Replied the other; "have you never heard, A man may lend his store Of gold or silver ore, But wisdom none can borrow, none can lend?" 6. WHITTLING-A YANKEE PORTRAIT.- Rev. J. Pierpont. THE Yankee boy, before he 's sent to school, No little part that implement hath had. Projectiles, music, and the sculptor's art, His wind-mill, raised the passing breeze to win, You'll see his ship, "beam ends upon the floor," Thus, by his genius and his jack-knife driven |