a

to make his arrangements for the next day's payments; a practice that he had never omitted, for more than twenty years. But instead of remaining to chat with his partner and his head book-keeper about the currency, and other kindred matters, for an hour or two, he jumped up as soon as his task was finished, and hurried back to his house. The thought of there being somebody at home that required his attention, gave the old merchant an excitement that he had not known since he was first elected a bank director. When he reached his house, he found the little vagabond sound asleep on the rug, and notwithstanding he had persuaded himself that it was his duty to send the boy out to the House of Correction, when he looked upon the cherub-like face before him, his heart softened, and his resolution faltered; and he almost blushed at the thoughts that obtruded themselves

upon his mind. The lad had a beautiful head of glossy hair, which, in spite of the discipline that had shorn it of its full glories, clung in curls to his neck and temples, as if enamoured of his lovely skin; the delicate flow of youthful health overspread his cheeks, and his parted lips displayed a row of teeth unusually white and even, in one so young. Mr. Tremlett sighed as he looked upon the sleeping child ; perhaps he was thinking of the time when he himself was as young, as innocent, and as beautiful; or he might have been casting up in his mind how many thousand dollars he would have been willing to have given, if he could but call the urchin his own. He looked around the room to see if he was observed, and then sank upon

his knees by the side of the child; but whether it was to put up a prayer in his behalf, or to kiss his ruddy cheek, is not known. A tear glistened in the merchant's eyes; a fountain had been unsealed in his heart ; his eyes ran over, and a tear falling upon the face of the boy, awakened him from his sleep; and as he fixed his blue eyes upon the figure by his side, he appeared suddenly struck with awe, for his hitherto smiling features assumed a grave and serious aspect. Mr. Tremlett jumped upon his feet, very hastily, and walking across the room three or four times, he sat down in his arm-chair, and trying to speak as near like a criminal judge as he could, he bade the boy get upon his feet, for he was already sitting upon his haunches, and looking round him with genuine astonishment pictured in bis countenance.

Come here, Sir!' said Mr. Tremlett. The little fellow approached his chair with as much confidence as a child would have gone to a parent.

• What is your name ? continued the merchant.
• John,' replied the boy.
• John what, Sir ?'

John,' again repeated the lad.
• Well, what else beside John ?'

Don't I tell you it is John ?' said the boy, laughing. *Don't laugh, you young scoundrel !' said Mr. Tremlett, a little out of patience.

'I can't help laughing, you talk so funny!' said the boy. Why, what an impudent little scamp!' exclaimed Mrs. Swazey, who had just come in. “Do n't you know who you are talking to ??

• No,' was the reply. • Well, if I ever heard such impudence!' exclaimed Mrs. Swazey,

'Don't you know what your name is?' asked Mr. Tremlett. 'Don't I say it's John?' answered the boy.

'Well, then, what is your father's name?'

I don't know what you mean!'

Have you got no father?'

I don't know.'

'Have you got no mother?'

The boy shook his head, without making any other reply. 'Who took care of you?'

'The old devil,' replied master John, looking very serious.

What an awful wretch!' exclaimed Mrs. Swazey, lifting up both her hands.

as big as you are; he told me if I would do it, he would give me a penny.'

Ah, he was a vile rascal,' said Mr. Tremlett; but you are a very bad fellow yourself, and I shall be obliged to have you punished, and kept in a place where you will be taken good care of, and instructed to do justly.

I can say my prayers now,' replied master John; 'Our father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done

Stop, stop!-not so fast!' interrupted Mr. Tremlett; you must not pray in that manner.'

"Why? Can't God hear me if I pray quick ?' said the youngster. 'Yes, of course; He would hear you, though you were only to think your prayers; but I cannot keep the run of you, when you

speak so fast.'

Ah; but I was not praying to you; you are not our Father who art in heaven;' rejoined the lad, looking up seriously into the merchant's face.

'Hush, hush! looking very grave.

you must not say such things,' said Mr. Tremlett,

as she got our hero under her exclusive jurisdiction, and said she could hardly keep her hands from off him, yet she manifested all a woman's tenderness in providing for his comforts. And before she retired to her chamber, she stole quietly into the room where he was sleeping, and gently drew the coverlid over him, from which he had extricated himself in his sleep. She stood for a moment to look upon his beautiful face, and she would have kissed his rosy lips, had she not been afraid that it would awaken him. And he slept on, unconscious that a gentle being was watching over him, and regarding him with looks of tenderness and pity. And thus we move through the world, all unaware that the good angels of God are watching over us, and shielding us from the thousand evils which continually surround and threaten us. Here endeth the second chapter.

H. F.

.

THE day passed sadly, and the evening fell,
The light wind to the last beam sighed farewell;
Then calmly o'er the quiet waters crept,
And o'er their pure and placid bosom slept:
The flag drooped heavily against the mast,
And all was deadly calm, too calm to last:
Dark clouds were spread along the western sky,
Like heavy folds of funeral drapery,
As if they waited for the daylight's close,
To drop their curtain o'er the sun's repose:
Yet e'en their ragged edge the last ray tinged,
And with a deep and golden border fringed;
And o'er their bosoms lighter clouds careered,
That, deeply red, surcharged with fire appeared;
A distant, indistinct, and murmuring sound,
Was all that broke the calm which reigned around;
While something like a weight, so sultry-warm,
Hung o'er, sure token of the coming storm.

Slowly those dark clouds soon began to spread
Their pall-like, sable curtains overhead;
And distant thunder, like a signal drum,
Bade heaven's artillery to battle come;

Then the hoarse thunder muttered o'er the waves,
And roused them from their sleep in coral caves;
Each rolling billow shook its foamy crest,

And danced and leaped for joy on ocean's breast;
Fierce darting onward, with a wild delight,
Like white-plumed warriors rushing to the fight;
While the red sky its vivid lightnings sent,
To mingle in the roaring element;
And the long whistle of th' awakened wind,
Seemed calling to the clouds that lagged behind!

Where was the vessel, mid that wild uproar?
And where, oh! where, the fearful hearts it bore!
Where was the ship?'t was indistinctly seen,
The dark some seas, the watery cliffs, between;
Now hidden, as the waves swept o'er the deck,
Now rising for an instant, a black speck!
'Tis gone at last I cannot see it more;
And where it was, the waves are battling o'er;
While high above the boiling of the surge,
The sea-bird screams the vessel's funeral dirge;
And the loud shriek of death and agony,
Is lost amid the howling of the sea!

UNION OF THE AMERICAN NATIONS.

THE following reflections upon a subject which the writer believes will gradually enrol among its friends and advocates the wisest and best of our race, were written at a period shortly subsequent to the time when the great mind of BOLIVAR had matured a plan, which promised the happiest results to our continent; and the melancholy failure of which may be read in the history of all the Independent States south of us, since the time when a spirit of selfishness was allowed to mar the noble design of the great Liberator. Some few of the observations may appear inappropriate, from the lapse of a few years; but the subject itself, in its general application, intimately connected as it is with the happiness and true glory of our race, has, since the period referred to, taken a hold upon the minds of men, that is evidently working out the grandest results.

THE future destiny of social institutions, and their probable influence upon the character and happiness of our species, is a subject that must create deep interest in the breast of every philanthropist and patriot; and while the anxious regards of the civilized world are fixed upon the great events that are acting in the western hemisphere, the situation of these States, in reference to those events, as well as to the retrograde movements of mind in the old world, evidently points to a closer union between the independent states of the two Americas, than any which is the result simply of uniformity in political sentiments. We have perhaps but little to fear from European hostility. The period probably has passed, when a crusade against the political opinions, or religious faith, of a distant and powerful people, would meet with many advocates. Her past history, and more recently twenty-five years of bloodshed and revolution, the result of such unholy attempts, have taught her rulers the necessity of caution, and of a prudent regard to public opinion. Subject as Europe is, however, to a blind fatality in the elevation of those individuals who administer the most exalted and dangerous power, and placed as they are beyond the reach of responsibility, and absurdly invested with attributes that do not belong to our nature, although not unfrequently exhibiting in their characters the extremes of littleness and depravity, should some aspiring and master spirit appear among them, in whose person were united the possession of great hereditary power, brilliant qualities, and a fanatic hatred of republican institutions, the ocean itself might prove but a feeble barrier against hostile attempts. The hatred and dread with which such institutions are regarded by them is but too apparent. Our own times have beheld the appalling spectacle of an alliance, such as the world never before saw, for the professed object of controlling the independence of uations, and stifling in its origin every attempt at amelioration. Although there may be but little apparent cause for alarm, yet in the ever-changing course of human events, should a period arrive when the western nations were to become the anticipated victims of a powerful conspiracy against the rights of man, the existence of an effective bond of union between them, would render the attempt abortive, and one of the probable results of a conflict of continents would be, the diffusion of those blessings which are at this time our peculiar heritage.

But the most important consequence which would result from an