dern might have the same name, and resemble each other. Liu was so taken up with these reflections that he thought little of the entertainment; the strange perplexity he was in might be seen in his countenance, and something unaccountable made him steadfastly keep his eye on the young boy, insomuch that he could look at nothing else: Hieul, on the other hand, notwithstanding the fearfulness and modesty of his age, looked steadfast upon Liu, and it seemed as if nature had discovered at that instant that he was his father. In short, Liu could no longer suppress the agitation of his heart, and breaking silence all of a sudden, asked Tchin if he was in reality his son? It was not from me, replied Tehin, that he received life. though I look upon him as my own son; seven years ago a man passed through this city, leading this boy in his hand, and by chance addressed himself to me, and prayed me to assist him in his extreme necessity: My wife, says he, is dead, and has only left me this child; the bad state of my affairs has obliged me to leave my country for a time, and retire to Hoai Ngnan among my relations, from whom I expect a sum of money that I may settle myself again; I have not wherewithal to bear the charges of my journey, will you therefore be so charitable as to advance three taels? I will restore them faithfully when I return, and as a pledge of my honesty I will commit to your keeping what I hold most dear in the world, that is, my only son; I shall no sooner arrive at Hoai Ngnan, but I will return and fetch this dear child. This confidence affected me much; I put into his hands the sum that he required, and when he left me shed tears, testifying that he left his son with extreme regret; though what surprised me was that the child seemed unconcerned at the separation; but not seeing the pretended father return, I had suspicions that I wanted to have cleared up; I called the child, and by the different questions that I asked him, I found that he was born in the city of Vou Si; that one day being from home to see a procession pass by, and going a little too far, he was deceived and carried off by a person unknown; he told me also the name of his father and mother, and I soon perceived that the child had been stolen by a villain, for which reason I treated him with compassion, and his behaviour to me gained my heart: I have often intended to take a journey on purpose to Vou Si, to gain information concerning his family, but still I have been prevented by some accident or other: it happened very fortunately that a few moments ago you were speaking of your son, and some of your words recalled past transactions fresh to my memory, upon which I sent for the boy to see if you knew him. At these words Hieul began to shed tears through excess of joy, at the sight of which Liu did the same; a particular mark, says he, will make this matter still more plaia; a little above his knee is a black spot, which was the effect of his mother's longing when she was with child of him; at this Hieul showed a mark, which Liu seeing, took him up in his arms and embraced him: My son! said he, my dear son! by what good fortune have I found thee again after so long hardihood or barbarity displayed in the commission of the crime, is clearly traced in the use of ardent spirits. But it is not new to complain of this mischief, this national cause of crime. I observe it is recommended to apothecaries to put upon certain medicines, a label, with the word poison on it. Would it not be equally salutary to write poison upon every bottle of gin in a public houee? Another writer on the "cause of pauperism" says, "you boast of having laws and a constitution to make men happy, yet you suffer a great calamity to exist, which is the heart of all miseries. You hang a man for an encroachment on liberty, to prevent the means of his becoming a thief. England wants only sobriety to make her an example to every nation on earth; but, alas! to speak the honest truth, she is now pointed at as the drunken nation, and I may add, the swearing nation, which is a natural consequence of inebriety; as men, when flushed with liquor, are urged to a violation of all decency. Thrice happy Scotland, where drunkenness is a rarity, common swearing never heard, and crime nearly unknown, as appears from an observation in the Morning Post, stating that there had not been an execution for murder in Glasgow for twelve years, although the population of the circuit exceeded two hundred and fifty thousand souls! This happy state of things I should impute more to the sobriety of the Scotch people, than even to their re In 1732 or 1733, when distilled liquors were comparatively little known, they were styled the "bane of the nation," and parliament interfered, to keep them as much as possible from the hands of the lower class. "In about ten years, however, that law was so modified, and in part repeal-stealing a sheep, yet you consider it ed, that the same facilities were given, as the public now enjoy, and what was then foretold, has come to pass. We are all convinced of the evil, and we know the remedy; but we dare not propose it; for if we attempt such a proposition, we shall be immediately told of the vast revenue arising from spirits, and of the vast number of persons who get their bread by making or selling them.Doubtless, sir, to annihilate the manufacture of spirits, would now be a great evil. But here is the mischief. || It would not have been a great evil once, if the arguments with which the senate and pulpit resounded, at the period abovementioned, had been listened to. It would have been an evil of comparatively very slight extent. But now, I am willing to allow, it would be, in a financial view, a very great evil; and if it be brought about at all, ought to be brought about very grad-ligious instructions; for the most exually, and with as little risk of individual loss as possible. Still let us not despair. Let us not shut our eyes to the miseries occasioned by the excessive use of ardent spirits, nor be so far deluded as to look for any cause, while this most obvious one exists. Our prison reformers very properly recommended that nothing of the kind should be admitted into prisons. This is an open acknowledgment of the fact I have stated. But would not much more good be done, and the labours of these reformers be much shortened, if the prohibition extended to those out of jail, as well as those in it? P act religious establishment can do but little toward lessening crime, or preserving morals, where the mass of the people are debased by the use of strong drink! Surely, surely, sir! it cannot be said that bad habits, fraught with ruin to man and society, should be licensed any more than the crimes which they produce. A CROWN. A French officer, who was a prisoner, on his parole at Reeding, met with a Bible. He read it, and was so struck with its contents, that he was convinced of the folly of sceptical principles, and of the truth of Christianity, and resolved to become a protestant. When his gay associates rallied him for taking so serious a turn, he said in his vindication, "I have done no more than my old school-fellow Bernadotte, who is become a Lutheran." "Yes, but he became so," said his associates, "to obtain a crown." "My motive," said the Christian officer, "is the same; we only differ as to place. The object of Bernadotte was to obtain a crown in Sweden-mine is to obtain a crown in Heaven." A FAITHFUL TIME-PIECE. A corporal of the king of Prussia's guard, who was remarkably vain, but reckoned a man of great bravery, being unable to purchase a watch, fixed a leaden bullet to a chain, and wore it in his fob. The king one day having a mind to be merry, addressed him thus: "Well, Mr. Corporal, you must have been a great economist, to be able to purchase a watch. By mine it is now six-pray tell me what o'clock is it by yours." The corporal, who guessed the king's intentions, immediately drawing the ball from his fob, said, "Sire, my watch neither points to five nor six o'clock, but every moment informs me that I must die for your majesty."—" Hold, my friend," said the king, who was much affected by the speech, "take this watch, that you may also know the hour when you die for me;" and imimmediately he put into his hand his own watch which was richly set with diamonds. THE ANT. What has been said with exaggeration of the European art, is however true, if asserted of those of the tropical climates. They build an ant-hill with great contrivance and regularity, they lay up provisions, and as they probably live the whole year, they submit themselves to regulations entirely unknown among the ants of Europe. Those of Africa are of three kinds, the red, the green, and the black; the latter are above an inch long, and in every respect a most formidable insect. Their sting produces extreme pain, and their depredations are sometimes extremely destructive. They build an ant-hill of a very great size, from six to twelve feet high; it is made of viscous clay, and tapers into a pyramidical form. This habitation is constructed with great artifice; and the cells are so numerous and even, that a honey comb scarcely exceeds them in number and regularity. The inhabitants of this edifice seem to be under a very strict regulation. At the slightest warning they will sally out upon whatever disturbs them; and if they have time to arrest their enemy, he is sure to find no mercy. Sheep, hens, and even rats, are often destroyed by these merciless insects, and their flesh devoured to the bone. No anatomist in the world can strip a skeleton so completely as they; and no animal, how strong soever, when they have once seized upon it, has power to resist them. It often happens that these insects quit their retreat in a body, and go in quest of adventures. "During my stay," says Smith, "at Cape Corse Castle, a body of these ants came to pay us a visit in our fortification. It was about day-break when the advanced guard of this famished crew entered the chapel, where some negro servants were asleep upon the floor. The men were quickly alarmed at the invasion of this unexpected army, and prepared, as well as they could, for a defence. While the foremost battalion of insects had already taken possession of the place, the rear-guard was more than a quarter of a mile distant. The whole ground seemed alive, and crawling with unceasing destruction. After deliberating a few moments upon what was to be done, 1 it was resolved to lay a large train of || early in the morning, at a great disgunpowder along the path they had taken by this means millions were blown to pieces; and the rear-guard, perceiving the destruction of their leaders, thought proper instantly to tance. As she came near the island, about 11, A. M. a number of the inhabitants collected on the shore to ascertain her name and character. But instead of making good harbour, the return, and make back to their origin-vessel came under full sail directly on al habitation." . The order which these ants observe, seems very extraordinary; whenever they sally forth, fifty or sixty, larger than the rest are seen to head the band, and conduct them to their destined prey. If they have a fixed spot where their prey continues to resort, they then form a vaulted gallery, which is sometimes a quarter of a mile in length; and yet they will hollow it out in the space of ten or twelve hours. But far exceeding in wisdom and policy the Bee, the Ant, or the Beaver, is the White Ant inhabiting the plains of East-India, Africa, and South-America. The animals of this extraordinary community consist of working insects or labourers, about half an inch long, having six feet, and no eyes; fighting insects or soldiers, about an inch long, with a large head, and no eyes; and the perfect male and female insect, which alone are furnished with wings. They build pyramidal structures, ten or twelve feet in height, and divided into appropriate apartments. These are SO firmly cemented together, that they will easily bear the weight of four or five men to stand upon them; and in the vast plains of Senegal, they appear like the huts of the natives. Goldsmith. THE CREWLESS BARK. "About sixty years ago, the inhabitants of the island of Rhode-Island, had their attention attracted by the appearance of a square-rigged vessel, under full sail, coming in from sea, from a south-easterly direction, with the apparent intention of putting into Naraganset Bay. The vessel was seen shore. No persons were seen on deck, nor had any persons, from the time the vessel hove in sight, been seen to leave her. Some of the inhabitants from the shore went immediately on board; when, to their great surprise and astonishment, they found a teakettle over the fire in the cabin, the fire burning, the table set for breakfast, as if for a number of hands, and yet not one of the crew on board; nor was one soul of them ever after heard of. No living creature was found in the vessel, except a slut and her litter of puppies. The boat of the vessel was missing. The truth of the above story cannot with propriety be doubted. The writer of this had his information from a gentleman who had the particulars of the history from a Mr. Lawton, a man of unquestionable veracity, who (being then a boy) saw the vessel come in, and went on board of her. Mr. Lawton lives on the island. Other persons also testify the same thing. The place, moreover, where the vessel was run aground, has from this circumstance ever since been called The Wreck. The vessel belonged to owners in Newport. Papers and writings were found in regular order." New-Brunswick Times. SINKING OF A MOUNTAIN. A high ridge of mountains on the Moselle, called the Sieben Uhren Berg, has been observed for some years past to have in it very large clefts, which, for the last five years, measured above a foot in breadth; thus exciting in the inhabitants of the adjacent banks no unreasonable apprehension of an approaching fall of part of the mountain. This has now taken place. On the 7th of July, in vice I had never seen equalled. "Good Heavens;" I exclaimed, as I ascended the scaffolding erected for the spectators, is this a school for the citi zens of New-York. My blood froze in my veins, and I could scarcely persuade the evening, earth and stones were seen rolling down from the summit, which continued increasing in quantity till four o'clock in the morning, when a whole mass of rock came loose, and fell with such violence into the Moselle, that it forced the water out of its chan-myself that I was among mortals; nel, overflowed the opposite bank to some distance, and drifted away the vessels lying at Bruttig. The damage done is incalculable; it appears that about forty vineyards have been precipitated with the rock into the river. The mountain on the opposite side, called the Kessel, likewise threatens to fall. As this mountain is rent and torn with frightful clefts, as well at the top as in the middle and lower parts, and the front part had sunk three feet on the morning of the 8th, and large masses continually rolled down, it is to be feared that the whole enormous body will fall into the Moselle and fill up the greater part of the channel, which would make the river overflow its banks, and cause the most dreadful ravages.-Lon. Times. Yet wanting sensibility, the man Having some business the other day at Williamsburgh, my curiosity led me, for the first time, to see an amusement that "princes had often admired!" The path which led to the circus was over a field, through which crowds of ragged and half-starved boys were making their way to see the bull-bait. I had scarcely arrived within sight of the circus, when my ears were saluted with the shouting of the spectators: and "set on the dogs, set on the dogs," was reiterated from every mouth. My heart felt sick at the thought of viewing such a scene, and I walked around the place undetermined how to act, till at length curiosity prevailed, and I entered. It presented a scene of it seemed better to coincide with some descriptions I had read of the lower regions. The howling of the dogs, the roaring of the bull. the blasphemous.imprecations and oaths of many of the multitude, might have been pleasing to the ear of an infernal spirit, * but must have grated on the soul of any man possessing sensibility. The demoralizing influence of the practice of bull-baiting, I think can already be seen in the youth who frequent that place for amusement. Such scenes are a disgrace to any civilized nation. Their uniform tendency is to debase the mind, to harden the heart, and render man ferocious as the wild beast of the forest: and I hesitate not to say, that before a man can take pleasure in a bull-bait, he must become a savage. EUGENIUS. VARIETIES OF NATURE. The physical world displays, in all its parts, the wisdom and regard of the Supreme Architect. Around us, above, and below us, we see the stupendous operations of that Being who said, "let there be light, and there was light." The blue concave which envelopes this orb, and conceals from us the splendid and awful presence of the Deity, was framed for most benevolent purposes; in that has the Almighty pointed out the track of the glorious orb of day, whose presence delights the face of nature, and gives to man the grateful vicissitudes of day and night. When the sun has sunk beneath the western horizon, the sil ver moon (fit emblem of the mild majesty of its Creator) cheers us with her smiles, until the revolution of the earth has again brought to us the prime source of light. The pheno |