But human nature is human nature; though clothed in drab broadcloth or veiled in starched muslin. Notwithstanding the general habit to which I have alluded, which prevents Friends from prying too closely into their neighbors' concerns, some leading questions about the number of his farms were occasionally put to Reuben by his brethren; and more than once an adventurous sister, disguising a burning curiosity under an air of quiet sympathizing pleasantry, would hint to Hannah with a smile, that she did not believe even she could tell the number of Reuben's farms. Hannah, if she knew, never did tell.

Meantime the number went on steadily increasing.

Reuben kept up his business establishment, which became more and more lucrative; but he firmly resisted all inducements to extend it on borrowed capital, and as resolutely set his face against speculations of every other kind. He would have nothing to do with the Bubbleville Factory or the Grand Trunk Railroad, which was intended to run round the skirts of Blue Hill, and connect the Old Colony, Providence, and Worcester lines. In a word, he did nothing but buy more farms.

This course of conduct at last became the subject of serious concernment, and Friends began to speak rather plainly about it. Most doubted the wisdom of these acquisitions; some thought it downright folly to purchase unprofitable farms. Some of the world's people suspected sinister designs. Why should a man like Reuben Mitchell wish to monopolize all the land in the country? It was certainly an unusual thing for a Quaker. It was foreign to the genius of our political institutions, and contrary to the first principles of republican government. It was a first and a dangerous step towards a landed aristocracy. The Columbian Semi-weekly Mosquito & Hemisphere came out with a stinging Leader, in which, under a feigned name, Reuben was evidently aimed at.

At length, as Reuben all the while went on buying more

farms, this subject began to be pretty loudly talked about at Quarterly Meeting and Yearly Meeting; and a proposition was seriously made in a private circle at which the public business was arranged, " to deal with Reuben on the subject." This was overruled by the older brethren, who admitted, however, that they felt some concern on the subject. One of them at length, who had for years been a business friend and a near neighbor of Reuben, suggested as a wise course, that some judicious friend should go to Reuben, and in a discreet and prudent manner, converse with him, and in fact interrogate him on the subject. This counsel found great favor with the brethren, and the Friend who proposed it,-Nahum by —was unanimously requested to assume the office.

name,

Friend Nahum accordingly contrived as soon as possible, to fall in with Reuben. He felt, however, even in exchanging salutations, that he had undertaken a somewhat difficult task. He dwelt rather longer on the topic of the weather, than is customary among Friends, and prolonged his remarks on the prospects of the whaling season and the price of oil to a tedious extent. At length, clearing his throat, he approached the difficult topic: "Friends were conversing,-Friends had often wondered, several Friends from a distance had inquired of him,-how it was that friend Reuben spent so much money in buying farms; and the question was often raised how many farms friend Reuben really owned;-and 'Thee is aware, friend Reuben,' continued Nahum, in the softest tone, 'that I have no knowledge on the subject, and I have thought I would just inquire of thee, what I shall say to Friends, who ask me how many farms friend Reuben Mitchell really

owns.'

Reuben listened to these remarks with calmness. Though it was the first time he had been directly questioned on the subject, he was aware that the number of his farms had been a matter of some curiosity, and had even been mooted at the formal gatherings of Friends. Considering it a business of

his own, which concerned nobody else, he did not feel much disposed to gratify this curiosity. It was one of his maxims, that the best way to have your secret kept is not to tell it. Accordingly when Friend Nahum ceased, Reuben remained silent for a short time, reflecting on the proper reply. He was not at all embarrassed, but hesitated a little what to say. As men a little at a loss are apt to do, he looked up to the ceiling for a moment; looked out of the window for a moment; twirled his fingers; moved his lips silently without any definite object; and counted the fingers of his left hand with. the forefinger of his right. These movements were almost unconsciously made; but Friend Nahum's imagination was excited; and he attached a great significance to Reuben's manner and motions. He thought that, by way of preparing an accurate answer, Reuben was counting up the number of his farms on his fingers.

In this he was altogether mistaken. Reuben in a moment or two roused himself from his reverie and said, “The number of the farms is indeed considerable; not so great perhaps as some Friends suppose; but larger than may be thought by others. Friends thee says, are desirous of knowing the number, and thee has done wisely, Friend Nahum, not to attempt. to give it at a venture. It is important Friends should not be misinformed. If thee states the number too high, thee gives an exaggerated idea of my means, and perhaps causes the tax-gatherer to raise my assessment. If thee states too few, Friends will not believe thee; and in either case thee errest from the truth."

These guarded remarks raised Nahum's curiosity to the highest pitch. He rejoiced at the same time at what he considered the certain success of his efforts to solve the great mystery. He eagerly assented to Reuben's reflections. He warmly and earnestly responded to his remark, that it was very important to avoid any mistake. He was fully confirmed in his idea that Reuben's momentary hesitation in replying

arose from a wish to reckon up the exact number; and to prevent any lapse of memory, he took out his memorandumbook and pencil, and wrote the words "Fourth month, third day, number of Friend Reuben's farms,"-and then paused with a look of intense expectation, to write down the figures from Reuben's lips.

Reuben still hesitated a moment;-Nahum, with a most insinuating smile, renewed the question, "What shall I tell Friends who inquire how many farms thee has?" And Reuben replied, "In order to make the number neither too large nor too small, it will be safest for thee, when Friends next inquire, to tell them thee does not know."

NUMBER FIVE.

THE COMET.

Visit to the Observatory at Cambridge on the 6th of October-Description of the evening-Position of the Comet and its appearance through the Comet-seekerDrawings by Mr. George P. Bond and Mr. Fette-Appearance of the Comet through the great refractor-Professor Lovering's experiments with the Polariscope--The Cluster in the Constellation Hercules-Remarks of Professor Nichol -The Penny Cyclopædia-History of Donati's Comet-Its period-Its rapid development-Progress of Astronomy in the United States-Remark of GibbonComets no longer subjects of alarm-Beautiful reflections of Addison-Apostrophe to the Comet.

On the 6th of October last I visited the Observatory at Cambridge, accompanied by the accomplished and efficient Vice Regent of the Ladies' Mount Vernon Association for the State of New York, Mary Morris Hamilton (granddaughter of Alexander Hamilton), then on a visit in this neighborhood. I had asked permission the day before of the venerable Director of the Observatory, William C. Bond, to make this visit. Even with this precaution, it was not without hesitation that I allowed myself, for a half hour, to divert to the gratification of a curiosity, however natural and laudable, any of the precious moments which, when employed by the skilful observer in the use of a powerful telescope, are so important to science. No one ought to visit a first-class Observatory, without remembering that, while he is gratifying his taste by contemplating the heavens through an instrument like the great Equatorial at Cambridge, he is wasting the time of men of the