e dashes away innumerable gallons of water against panes, to the great annoyance of passengers in the

been told, that an action at law was once brought ne of these water-nymphs, by a person who had a of clothes spoiled by this operation; but, after a iment, it was determined by the whole court, that 1 would not lie, inasmuch as the defendant was in ise of a legal right, and not answerable for the cons; and so the poor gentleman was doubly nonsuited; t not only his suit of clothes, but his suit at law. smearings and scratchings, washings and dashings, ly performed, the next ceremony is, to cleanse and he distracted furniture. You may have seen a houseor a ship-launch, when all the hands, within reach cted together; recollect, if you can, the hurry, bustle, and noise of such a scene, and you will have some his cleaning match. The misfortune is, that the ct is to make things clean; it matters not how many namental or valuable articles are mutilated, or suffer nder the operation; a mahogany chair and carved ndergo the same discipline; they are to be made all events; but their preservation is not worthy of

stance, a fine large engraving is laid flat upon the aller prints are piled upon it, and the superincumbent racks the glasses of the lower tier; but this is of no ence. A valuable picture is placed leaning against p corner of a table; others are made to lean against il the pressure of the whole, forces the corner of the ough the canvass of the first. The frame and glass è print are to be cleaned; the spirit and oil, used occasion, are suffered to leak through and spoil the g; no matter, if the glass is clean, and the frame is sufficient the rest is not worthy of consideration. - mathematician has made an accurate calculation, on long experience, and has discovered that the nd destruction incident to two whitewashings, are one removal, and three removals equal to one fire. cleaning frolic over, matters begin to resume their

1

pristine appearance. The storm abates, and all would be well again; but it is impossible that so great a convulsion, in so small a community, should not produce some farther effects. For two or three weeks after the operation, the family are usually afflicted with sore throats or sore eyes, occasioned by the caustic quality of the lime, or with severe colds from the exhalations of wet floors or damp walls.

I knew a gentleman, who was fond of accounting for every thing in a philosophical way. He considered this, which I have called a custom, as a real periodical disease, peculiar to the climate. His train of reasoning was ingenious and whimsical, but I am not at leisure to give you the detail. The result was, that he found the distemper to be incurable; but, after much study, he conceived he had discovered a method to divert the evil he could not subdue. For this purpose, he caused a small building, about twelve feet square, to be erected in his garden, and furnished with some ordinary chairs and tables; and a few prints of the cheapest sort were hung against the walls.

His hope was, that, when the whitewashing frenzy seized the females of his family, they might repair to this apartment, and scrub and smear and scour to their hearts' content; and so spend the violence of the disease in this outpost, while he enjoyed himself in quiet at head-quarters. But the experiment did not answer his expectation. It was impossible it should; since a principal part of the gratification consists in the lady's having an uncontrolled right to torment her husband, at least once a year, and to turn him out of doors, and take the reins of government into her own hands.

There is a much better contrivance than this of the philosopher, which is, to cover the walls of the house with paper: this is generally done; and, though it cannot abolish, it at least shortens, the period of female dominion. The paper is decorated with flowers of various fancies, and made so ornamental, that the women have admitted the fashion without perceiving the design.

There is also another alleviation of the husband's distress; he generally has the privilege of a small room or closet for his books and papers, the key of which he is allowed to keep. This is considered as a privileged place, and stands like the

Goshen amid the plagues of Egypt. But then he extremely cautious, and ever on his guard; for, › inadvertently go abroad, and leave the key in his housemaid, who is always on the watch for such an ity, immediately enters in triumph, with buckets, nd brushes; takes possession of the premises, and puts all his books and papers to rights-to his utter 1, and sometimes serious detriment.

LESSON XLVIII.

ance of considering both Sides of a Question.— BEAUMONT.

days of knight-errantry and paganism, one of the sh princes set up a statue to the goddess of Victory, t where four roads met together. In her right hand a spear, and her left hand rested upon a shield; the of this shield was of gold, and the inside of silver. former was inscribed, in the old British language, goddess ever favorable;" and on the other, "For ories obtained successively over the Picts and other nts of the northern islands."

opened, one day, that two knights, completely armed, -lack armor, the other in white, arrived from opposite the country at this statue, just about the same time; neither of them had seen it before, they stopped to - inscription, and observe the excellence of its work

contemplating it for some time, "This golden -says the black knight-" Golden shield !" cried the night, who was as strictly observing the opposite side, if I have my eyes, it is silver."-"I know nothing of -es," replied the black knight; "but, if ever I saw a shield in my life, this is one.' -"Yes," returned the night, smiling, "it is very probable, indeed, that they expose a shield of gold in so public a place as this!

For my part, I wonder even a silver one is not too strong a temptation for the devotion of some people who pass this way; and it appears, by the date, that this has been here above three years.'

"

The black knight could not bear the smile with which this was delivered, and grew so warm in the dispute, that it soon ended in a challenge: they both, therefore, turned their horses, and rode back so far as to have sufficient space for their career; then, fixing their spears in their rests, they flew at each other with the greatest fury and impetuosity. Their shock was so rude, and the blow on each side so effectual, that they both fell to the ground much wounded and bruised; and lay there for some time, as in a trance.

A good Druid, who was travelling that way, found them in this condition. The Druids were the physicians of those times, as well as the priests. He had a sovereign balsam about him, which he had composed himself; for he was very skilful in all the plants that grew in the fields or in the forests: he staunched their blood, applied his balsam to their wounds, and brought them, as it were, from death to life again. As soon as they were sufficiently recovered, he began to inquire into the occasion of their quarrel. "Why, this man," cried the black knight, "will have it that yonder shield is silver."-" And he will have it," replied the white knight, "that it is gold." And then they told him all the particulars of the affair.

"Ah!" said the Druid with a sigh, "you are both of you, my brethren, in the right, and both of you in the wrong: had either of you given himself time to look at the opposite side of the shield, as well as that which first presented itself to view, all this passion and bloodshed might have been avoided: however, there is a very good lesson to be learned from the evils, that have befallen you on this occasion. Permit me, therefore, to entreat you never to enter into any dispute, for the future, till you have fairly considered both sides of the question."

LESSON XLIX.

he Flight of Xerxes.-MARIA J. Jewsbury.

SAW him on the battle-eve,

When like a king he bore him ;

roud hosts in glittering helm and greave,
And prouder chiefs before him:
he warrior, and the warrior's deeds-
he morrow, and the morrow's meeds,-
No daunting thoughts came o'er him;
e looked around him, and his eye
efiance flashed to earth and sky.

[e looked on ocean; its broad breast Was covered with his fleet;

'n earth; and saw from east to west,
His bannered millions meet;-

While rock, and glen, and cave, and coast,
hook with the war-cry of that host,
The thunder of their feet!

He heard the imperial echoes ring,—
He heard, and felt himself a king.

saw him next alone :-nor camp,
Nor chief, his steps attended;
Nor banner blazed, nor courser's tramp
With war-cries proudly blended.
Te stood alone, whom Fortune high
So lately seemed to deify;

He, who with Heaven contended,
led like a fugitive and slave!
Behind,—the foe;-before,-the wave.

He stood,-fleet, army, treasure,—gone,—
Alone and in despair!

But wave and wind swept ruthless on,

For they were monarchs there;