'Yes, got for dinner! Is dinner such a very strange thing in these parts? I say again, have you got any dinner ready?"

'Yes, your excellency; a 'cold collection' is prepared, and

'Well, lead on to it, then!' interrupted the stranger, impatiently; I must be off to the next town, amazing quick. I'm hungry as a bear; 'pears to me I could bolt an ox!'

During this conference, the Guards had been resting on their firearms, ignorant of its purport; and now, at a signal from the lawyer, the music again struck up, and the grand cavalcade moved toward Dodge's Tavern. Passing under the arch, the school-master took off his hat, and immediately the little choristers commenced singing 'See the Conquering Hero comes!' and the chairman of the Selectmen came out, with his child in his arms, who was to place a wreath upon the head of the President.

Venerable man!' said the chairman, in the language of the editor of the Democrat,' who had written the speech for him, 'For the first time in your life, you have honored our town with your presence, and our citizens with the sight of their country's benefactor. Receive our humble thanks for the many great and inwaluable benefits which you have so generously bestowed upon the country, Accept this little wreath, and allow us to place it upon your gray hairs, as a slight token of our gratitude; and believe us ever your firm, unflinching friends. Remove your hat!'

I'll be d-d if I do! D' you s'pose I'm going to catch cold, all for two or three flowers?' said the illustrious pilgrim. 'Go ahead, so'dgers!'

The chairman shrunk back precipitately, the very type of stupid wonder,

If the behaviour of the guest was singular and eccentric in the street, it was still more so when they were all seated at the 'cold collection.' He helped himself to every thing upon the table, without the slightest ceremony. Meats, puddings, pies, speedily vanished from before him. Long before the repast was over, half the invited guests had quitted the room in disgust.

A sort of council was now held by the triumvirate, the lawyer, editor, and chairman, to ascertain, if possible, whether the huge feeder who was exhibiting his gastronomical prowess in the next room, was the veritable Simon Pure, or not. From the captain of the Guards, they learned, that while the escort was waiting at the tavern, in the next village, their guest, in the identical chaise which had been used for his entry into Unionville, drove up at full gallop to the inn, and called for bandy-and-water. The landlord immediately informed them, with great secresy, that it was no other than President Jackson, travelling incog., to avoid display. Without farther notice, they had surrounded the chaise, and extorted from its occupant a reluctant promise that he would proceed on at once to Unionville.

Before the committee could decide upon the proper measures to be taken, the voice of 'the nation's guest' was heard in the yard, or dering his horse to be put into his gig, and consigning the landlord and stable-boys, in no measured terms, to the devil, for not moving faster. The chaise, it is needless to add, was speedily brought to the door. 'Good bye!' exclaimed the stranger, as he jumped into the vehicle;

and before a word could be returned, crack went the whip, and in a trice the carriage rattled out of the yard.

Astonishment for a moment held every beholder dumb; and hardly had they recovered the use of their tongues, when a new marvel appeared. Two horsemen, stout, brawny six-footers,' galloped up to the door, and cried out lustily for liquor.

'Landlord,' said the foremost, as he returned the cup, after tossing off its contents, 'you hav' n't seen no man about here, a sort o' scapegallows-looking scamp, all talk and no cider, have you?'

No; stay, though; how did he look? - how did he dress?' demanded twenty eager voices.

'Long grayish hair, sunken eyes, and a brown coat, rather the worse for wear, and a shocking bad white hat.'

The landlord looked at the lawyer, the lawyer at the editor, and the editor at the assembled company; and all exchanged mysterious glances.

'We have had a visitor,' replied the landlord, but he was n't a scape-gallows; not he! He had a scar over his left eye, and 'Yes, yes! go on!' answered both horsemen.

'And a Roman nose,' added the editor.

'Exactly!' He's our man; we've got him!' exclaimed the foremost rider to his companion; I thought we were on the right track !' 'What do you want of him?' asked the landlord; he's the President!'

'Who?' exclaimed both equestrians, at the same moment. 'President Jackson.'

'President Fiddlestick!' rejoined the first speaker, while the other burst out into a broad laugh. Do you know who you have been enentertaining?"

-

'No!' was the unanimous reply. 'We are now in pursuit of a rascal and your description tallies exactly with his appearance - who is one of a gang of counterfeiters, that broke out of prison about a week ago. A reward of one hundred dollars has been offered for his apprehension. Which road

In the same number of the Democrat,' was a notice that lawyer Brown had brought a suit to recover damages for certain panes of glass, broken by the firing of ordnance, in honor of the supposed arrival of General Jackson,' together with an advertisement of the village landlord, that a large plated tankard, with several silver spoons, had been stolen from his table, on the day before, for the recovery of which a liberal reward would be paid.

To this very day, The President's Visit' is an exceedingly unpopular theme in Unionville.

THE mother wept her first-born, for its little soul, like other tones, had been dissipated in the atmosphere of life. Death had breathed upon its butterfly being, and it rose from the world's tempestuous storms, into the ever-peaceful ether; from the flowers of earth, to the flowers of paradise.' JEAN PAUL RICHTER.

THE HILL OF CIVILIZATION.

A DREAM OF THE PRESENT.

ONE evening, as was my custom, I was walking in a neighboring wood, when presently my mind became occupied with contemplations of mankind; the vicissitudes of human life, the influence of wealth, and the consequent grades of being. The envy of the menial, and the haughty pomp of the affluent, as it were in a series of moving pictures, passed before me, in sober succession. It was a season for tranquil, uninterrupted musing. The clear heavens were thickly strown with stars, and in their midst, the moon floated in her own celestial light. The fluttering leaf descended to the earth, wet with dew. The fitful roar of a distant waterfall, and the low, melancholy music of the crickets, chimed in solemnly with the dreary aspect of nature, and brought home to me my own mortality, and the vanity of all earthly pride and ostentation. Retiring to rest, I fell into a pleasant slumber; and as I slept, I dreamed a dream.'

Methought I stood upon a wide plain, bounded by the horizon, in the centre of which rose a high mountain, called the HILL OF CIVILIZATION. This plain was covered with human beings, ignorant of civilization, and was called the 'Wilderness of the Savages.' Among them, I recognised people from every nation, all mingled together; some worshipping the sun, others the moon; some kneeling to blocks and stones; and a very few acknowledging no God at all. They seemed chiefly to subsist by hunting and fishing; and their only pleasure appeared to be, the gratification of the animal passions.

The Hill of Civilization rose to a peak, and was portioned into three divisions, formed by circular walls, each of which was inhabited. Passages were to be seen, here and there, through which those passed who ascended from below, each of which was guarded with great watchfulness. The first division was thronged, for the most part, by a crazy set of bedlamites, whose carousing, laughter, intemperance, and blasphemy, shook the very mountain itself. Wretchedness and crime polluted the atmosphere, and my heart sickened at the spectacle. A few of the number, however, turned their backs upon these scenes, and resisting every temptation, broke from their companions, and commenced climbing the precipice, with their eyes fixed upward. With the jeers of the multitude sounding in their rear, they nerved themselves to their task. Laboring manfully, they soon reached the gate of the second division, at which JUSTICE presided, who admitted them, with many encomiums upon their enterprise and exertion.

After making acquaintance with their new associates, they had much reason to rejoice. Yet even here, they were not a little annoyed by a select few, who had more pride than common sense. For example, they were asked: How they passed their journey;' if they had any poor or vulgar relations remaining behind; if their blood had ever ran so high before;' 'how much gold they brought up with them,' et cetera. One portly gentleman, of evident authority, objected to them because they were interlopers; but being

reminded that his father, fifty years before, came up the same path, he felt the necessity of remaining silent. But the majority greeted them with a welcome, and they soon became incorporated members of the society.

I observed that industry was the leading feature among this second or middle class. On every side business was rushing on with giant might. The busy rolling of water-wheels, and the clattering of machinery; the clinking of the hammer, and the lading and unlading of goods; all mingled together in a sort of systematic confusion; while the harvest song, echoing among the hills, told where the husbandman walked like a king among his golden sheaves. Here Health, the child of Industry, flourished as a rose; Contentment was singing her song, where the mechanic stood gazing at his own workmanship. Intelligence beamed from every eye; and affection shed a holy charm over the family circle. Fashion, that tyrant of nations, here exercised but weak authority. She was subordinate to Taste and Convenience, who managed all the domestic affairs of this people.

There was one thing, however, which marred the felicity of a por. tion of this middle class. On the summit of the mountain, girt with a wall of brass, stood the Temple of Luxury, with its dome partly veiled in clouds, and its roof, inlaid with gold, burning in the glories of the setting sun. From thence came the breathings of bewitching music, the murmur of pleasant voices, and loud peals of laughter; which, with the glimpses of gorgeous sights, and showy equipages, deluded many of the sober inhabitants below. These temptations were continually sounding in their ears, owing to a breeze which blew down the mountain, and which also prevented the complaints of the more miserable at its foot from rising upward.

My eyes were soon turned to where a large number were struggling up the rugged path that led to the Temple of Luxury. Anxiety was visible in all their movements. They seemed also to lack that independence which had previously characterized them. They presently arrived at a magnificent gate, over which swelled an arch, crowned with rich figures in sculpture. This was guarded by a large gentleman, of florid countenance, and dropsical aspect, whose name was WEALTH. Money was the passport, reputation being of secondary consideration. But as the fame of the rich travellers had preceded them, they found no difficulty in effecting an admission. As they passed along, salutations were showered upon them from every side ; the only wonder seemed to be, that they had never had the honor of meeting before. Apologies were tendered, excuses made, every exertion manifested, to render the new-comers happy. In fact, all the grandees around the temple did nothing but compete with each other in the preparation of gorgeous entertainments for the strangers of worth, who had come among

them. Upon a closer inspection, the new inmates found that the Temple of Luxury was not what it appeared from a distance. Vice was alarmingly triumphant. Bloated Intemperance staggered along, clad in purple and fine linen ; hobbling Gout, with his limbs swathed in flannel, followed in his train ; pale Dyspepsia, with his rueful countenance, and skeleton form, groaned with the weary load of life;