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~ Sparta}. ‘TIIE PREMIER‘AND THE STATION- MAS'rEn.â€"At one of the chief sta- tions on the Great Western Railway (says the Western Daily News) is a station-master noted for selt‘sconceit and fiunkeyâ€"ism.. His reverence for a person with a handle to his name ' .is'cqualled only. «by the esteem in which lie-holds. himself; “One day he descried. a gentlemanpa’cing the platform With a cigar in his mouth. Mr. --â€"-~ at once accostedthe-‘audao cious offender, and requested him forthwith to stop smoking.” The " iiitii‘Lus. “ Who hath despised the day of small things.” Why do we speak of a “ little thing," And “ trifles light as air '1” ’ Can aught be a trifle which helps to bring ' One moment’s joy or care 7 The smallest seed in the fertile ground, Is the germ of a noble tree; ’ The slightest touch on a festering wound, Is it not agony 7 "RICHMOND ’ HILL ' ADVOCATE AND VADVERTISER. “ Let Sound Reason weigh more with us than Popular Opinion.” AURORA ’AND V V TERMS: $1 50 In Advance. . - gentleman took no notice of this ALEX. SCOTT, Proprietor. What is a trifle 7 a thoughtless word, Forgotten as soon as said! ‘I ' ” g ”‘ , . . , . . _ - ‘ l ‘ ' ~ ’ _~â€"_W command, but continued his walk, usechoshaiiyerbeheard Vol. III. No. 44.. RICHMOND HILL, FRIDAY, 0LTOBLR 4. 1861. Whole No- 149. emittinu a silvery cloud. Irritated When l11651maker is with the dead- V _ _ , 7 , . .. . ._ .. , ' V. . , . . 7 . ‘ V . .. V V, , . _ by thisodisobcdience, Mr. re¢ That thoughtless word is a random dart, And strikes we know not where; It may rankle long in some tender heartâ€" ls it a trifle there I Is it a trifleâ€"the first false stop On the dizzy verge of sin 7 'Tis treacherous groundâ€"one little slip May plunge us headlong in. One light temptation and we may wear Death’s galling chain for aye; One little moment of heartfelt prayer May rend these bonds away. Drops of water are little things, But they form the, boundless sea; Mildlé‘hfifes the wild birds sings, Yet his song is melody. Little voices, now scarcely heard, In heaven shall bear their part, And a little grave in the green churchyard Holds maiiya parent’s heart. This werld is but little if rightly weighed, And trifling its joy or care; But, not while We linger beneath its shade~ There are no trifles here. The lightest burden may weigh like lead On the faint and weary soul. In the uphill path it perforaco must tread. Before it reach the goal. Cease then to speak of a “ little thing,” Which may give thy brother pain; Shun little sins, lest they haply bring The greater in their train. Seize each occasion, however small, Of good which may be given, 80, when thou hearest thy Master’s call Thou shalt be great in heaven. â€"-Church qf England S. S. Quarterly. illittittttu. _.___.__..._.- ‘ .LZM-f‘ ' [For (he Yoik Hamid. AN 0RIGINAL INDIAN TALE. F. BY J, LAB“. IT was evening; the sun had just sunk beneath the glowing horizon, . and was casting. back his last linger- ing beams of purple and gold, as they playfully danced along the line of the blue Pacific. The light winds came tn fitful gusts across “the'bosom of the restless waters, bearing upon its wings a balmy and grateful feeling of exhilarating freshness. I sat musingly upon the decayed trunk of a fallen tree, view ing the dreamy prospect around me that seemed well suited to my then present occasion. Four days prior to this event a small party of eight of our most courageous and athletic young men and myself, left the re- tiied settlement of our quiet co- lony, on the banks of the dark Mis- ‘souri, to hunt deer. Havmg struck ,upon a trail, we divided off, think- ing to meet around the bend of the gO‘ge. Night overtook us, and I having wandered the furthest'l'rom the direct track, became lost from my companions. The sound of my clarion horn was not answered, and I knew that I was lost, and was past the hearing of my companions. Darkness set in, and I reclined my weary limbs upon a moss-covered crag. Fatigue lent sweetness to my slumbers, andl did not awake until the day began to dawn in the eastern sky. Iarose and pursued my uncertain course, for the con- tinued ,windings of the path forbid me a direct course. The day was ,spent in fruitlessly trying to regain the principal trail ; my hunting ra- tions were completely exhausted.â€" I had seated myselfin my forlorn condition, tired and perplexed, me- ditating what course to pursue. The soft winds came sighing among '. the ‘branches of the bending trees; white fleecy clouds were skimming along their ariel track, while the bright sails of many crafts were to be seen upon the distant waters, as these vessels boldly parted the blue Wave. Not a sound disturbed the attentive ear, save the loud dashing of the surges upon the hollow shore. There; Was a wildness in the motion of those leaping billow that I loved to watch. At this instant there emerged from a thick cluster of pines that stood angling from where I sat, a female figure dressed in a broad flowing robe. It was care- lessly thrown over her shoulders, displaying a form of the most per- fect symmetry and gracefulness.- Cautiously approaching me, and with an enquiring glance said, in very good English :- ‘ Why docs the white man tres- pass upon the “Indians hunting ground?’ The suddenness of my visitor’s appearance, together With her searching gaze, completely threw me off my equalibrium to reply.-â€"â€" ings of the mountain maid. spirit directed vou to her lonely rctrcat'l’ Having recovered my akward- ness,I related to her the incidents of my separation from the other hunters; that I was lost, and de- sired her tO'inform me of the near- est route to the village of . ‘ Wyanka knows no Such place as the white warrior speaks of,’ she returned,- ‘but follow me, I will take you to my tribe, and some of our braves miglit'know.’ To hesitate was to loose my guide; to comply might be still more fatal; butl chose the latter. and springing to my feet waved her forward and followed. What if there should be treach- cry in the bosom ofmy Indian guide, thought I“, but remembering the soft impassioned expression of her dark liquid eye, when relating to her my misfortune, [ felt quite willing to trust her confidence.â€" The light was fast fading from the world ; the orange and purple folds became fainter, as it shaded by the most delicate touch of a painters hand. The gorgeous splendour was passing away. giving place to the curtain of ebon night. The winds had lulled, and a breathless stillness reigned throughout that wild and forest domain. The birds were caroling in happy strains, while their notes rung through the windings of that mountain range. All my timidity had now forsaken me, and I followed the elastic foot- steps of my companion and guide. The warriors circuitous path was frequently intercepted by huge masses of crumbling rock, or the remains of fallen timbers; but on she bounded, regardless of the im- pediments in the way, occasionally looking back to see the result of my arduous efforts to follow. At one time a crash, like the noise pro- duced by the falling of a heavy tower, arrested our attention. The earth seemed to convulse and tremble beneath our feet; for just at the left from where I was stand- ing, when first startled by the noise. an old and weighty pine uprooted, and was sent hurling into the giddv depths below. I called to VVyanka; quick as an antelope she was by my side, while with a mischevious smile she said : ' ‘Does the white warrior that which the Indian scorns 1’ And again her pliant feetscarcely touching the mossy cliff, scaled each gutting crag with magic bound-â€" She darted over them with the same case that she Would have done upon a level surface. From steep to stecpdid she lead me, until we came to the table land over- looking her Indian village. ‘ Let the pale-faced hunter remain here,‘ she exclaimed, hqu turning herself, ‘while the blue sky oftthe mountain descends to her people.’ Looking in the direction of her voice, she had disappeared. Bend- ing over the rocks I could catch a view of her white floating mantle at intervals, spreading like a small summer cloud, and dropping from height to depth as she neared the broad surface-of the valley beneath. A shrill cry like the scream of the vulture came rolling up the ac- cliVious spot. Instantly an answer echoing back to the frowning hills, rung with the hideous yellings of her savage friends. There was a hurrying to and fro among the dusky crowd that thronged around at her approach; they looked like small moving specks, while they ga- theer in the grey depths of their woodland dell, and crouched submis- sively to their forest queen. One wave of her hand was sufficient to calm the tumult that was fiercely rising among them. The white robe had again disappeared, but a short interval had elapsed since I beheld its position, when a slighttnp upon my shoulder arrested my at- tention to its meaning; and upon looking around discovered my guide and a huge fright of an Indian deck- ed in his entire war trimmings. He was surveying me from head to foot with severe and intent curio- sity. At last he said in broken English : ‘White man, do you know that you are in the power of the Moun- tain Eagle l’ ‘I feel perfectly safe in your hands,’ I replied; ‘for never did an Indian injure any one that was thrown by accident into his domi- fear Her voice was soft and musical, sinus." ' like tones ofa silvery into. The chief paused, and seemed _ ‘Why arc_you hero I’ she con- flattered by, the remark of confid- .,.tinued, ‘ to intercept the wooden cncc last uttered; forprcsently he VVhatt returned : indeed find a home in the Indians wigwam.’ And turning to my fur- mer friend, said: ‘Tukc the pale face to the banks of our fishing streamâ€"to our ' summer abodeâ€"â€" where the waters g;lideâ€"~â€"where the doves hatch their young in the tall thick treesâ€"where the grape-vines arc clusteringâ€"~whcie the butternut bloomsâ€"â€"where the red bird builds his nestâ€"â€"take him to that quiet re- ‘the white warrior shall tenances. Wyanka new set about collecting some of the choicest fruits, which she placed before me, together with some newly killed venison, saying : ‘ Let the white friend eat in the In- dians home.’ _ q The fruit Was of the most delici- ous and perfect kind, being nurtured in a Warm and southern climc. After our rcpast was ended, she and her attendant retired to an ad- trcat; and plucking a feather from joining Wigwam, leaving me with his waving plume bade me wear it. The moon had now risen, and her silvery light came streaming along the dark concave of heaven, while a few lingering rays of purple and gold gave beauty to the gorge- ous west. The winds had died away, and every leaf Was new still. All nature seemed sleeping, calm as an infant upon its mother’s breast. My companion again broke the deep quictudc by reminding me to keep clear of the shelving precipice that was hidden by the thick matted boughs of the green cedar. There was a peculiar arclincss in the ex- pression of her almost claSSic fea- tures that spoke of truth and kind- ness, humour and hidden volumes. There was a gentleness, mingled with dignity, fully displayed in her commanding dcportmcnt; vet I could not banish the thought that my position was a very critical one. I could ‘not doubt the truthfulness of my newly made friends; still fear seemed to haunt me that all] ' The future, how- ‘first, that was not right. ever, convinced me that all my fore- bodings were decidedly groundless. At this time spoken of war was waged between the white and red man. The hatchet remained un~ buried, and the pipe of peace had long since been dug up. The know- ledge of this sustained my fears.-â€"â€"l enquired of my guide the reason that the chief presented me with the choicest feather from his plume. ‘That token,’ answered she, ‘will secure you from the wrath and enmity of my peeple, who are sworn to exterminate every White enemy that may fall into their hands. his decision was tnade at the last council of our chiefs. Now, who- soever shall behold you,and observe the feather, will offer you peace, considering you one of our house- ltold.’ l thanked her for this agreeable intelligence,and we proceeded down the trail. Suddenly stopping and facing me Willi her soft gazelle-like eyes fixed intently upon my own, she said : ‘My tribe style me the Nymph of the Mountain, owing to the great liking that I have for its lonely haunts. Had you when into other hands than mine, [here she falt- cred, and a tenderness beamed from her sweet countenance while her voice seemed to wail with a soft- ness that died like the evening zeyphcr, and touching like the Eolian lyre in its bursts of entranc- ing melody, she exclaimed]â€"â€"â€"‘ the white warrior would now be sleep- ing; the fresh dew that moistens the dead leaves at our feet would be gathered cold upon his brow, and his warm breath would have , ceased forever. But let us away! Already are the shadows deepening, and the chill night is approaching. A few more windings and the grey smoke of our but will be seen curl- ing its bending columns upward, while they dissolve amid the hea- vier elements. Here I was startled by a rustling in the bushes beside me, and imme- diately a snow-white fawn came gliding past me joyously to the side of its mistress. It had not as yet perceived the second person, so much was it taken up with its car- essing of friendship. ‘Poor Nena,’ she said, ‘my ten- der Nena !’ But it had gone; for at my com- ing up with Wyank a quick bound conveyed the afl'righied little crea- ture into the thicket. Three sus- picious looking dogs came forth, as if to enquire into the unusual tres- lpass. The conceal but was situated within a thick cluster of young pines. Upon entering I beheld seated upon some figured matting, used forcarpcting, a female Indian, aged and Squalid in her appearance. She was arranging some nets for fishing. purposes. The wildest sur- prise was depicted in the restless 1and flashing glance of her eye at Observing so strange a visitor. TWO Indian boys were lounging m'oodily 'upon a'riide‘sort of ottoman, Willi no less degree of Itittt‘VCIOUSDCSS displayed in their mysterious coun- thc two young Indians. The moon had risen high in the heavens, sil- vering the valley with her Spangled beams, when the chief stealthin entered the rustic cabin. I should not have known him, so much was he changed in his appearance. No longer did he wear the war dress; the paint was removed from his face, revealing features of the most complete and chiselled cast. The eye no longer were that fierce and deadly expression, nor had his voice so harsh and revolting a tone.-â€"â€"- There was a milduess accompany- ing the settled earnestness of his gaze : the shadow had forsaken his brow, while his features were lit up with a brilliancy descriptive of the highest class of thought. ‘The white chief need fear no- thing from our red warriors,’ said be, ‘upon the condition of three things.’ ‘ What are they I’ I replied, ‘ wishing to know the worst.’ ‘ They are these,’ he continuedâ€" you continue with us until the end of the war; secondly, that you instruct your people in the art of building and other useful knowledge; and, finally, that you make no attempt to escape from our territory.’ ‘ Then I am your prisoner,’ I re- plied: ‘how long is my bondage likely to continue I’ ‘That is more than I am able to inform you of at present,’ retor ted the chief.’ , My countenance 'must have be- trayed some uneasiness at the un-. welcomed proposal,for immediately, while his features darkened with a lowering and mysterious expression, he said: ‘ ‘Does the white man’s meditate evil; does he purpose his own'deliverance. Beware! al- ready is the war cry given. Three thousand of my braves are at this time performing the war dance at the camp, preparatory to meeting the enemy on the frontiers; and whosoever isnot for us isagainst heart us, and we shall deal With them .as ‘ such} ,With his features commanding,I greater terror, he exclaimed: ‘ This is a time of peril to the pale faces, yet you are perfectly safe to' remain among us; but tovtry to escape will be certain death. I shall give you until my return to consider your fate, and I shall set a strong guard over you, and you will be closely watched.’ He withdrew in the same cauti‘ ous manner that he entered. (To be conbluded in our next.) THE OPPOSITE INFLUENCE on THE Suxss 1N 'FRAINING.-â€"W’Ity is it that in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred those women who have been brought up chiefly amongst men, who have had no sisters, who have lost a mo- ther early in life (doubtless, for many reasons, asad affliction to a girl), who have been dependant on fathers or brothers for society and conver- sation, should turn out the most fa- scinating and superior of their sex .9 Why is it that in nine hundred and ninety-nine out of a thousand the boy who is educated solely by his mother becomes a triumphant and successful man in after life? Per- haps the opposite influence of either sex is beneficial to the other; per- haps the girl derives vigorous thoughts, expanded views, habits of reflection, any more, charity and forbearance, from her male associ- ates, as the boy is indebted to his mother’s tuition and his mother’s companionship for the gentleness and purity of heart which combine so well .with a manly and generous nature, for the refinement and deli- cacy: of feeling which so adorn true courage; and above all, for that ex- alted standard of womankind, which shall prove his surest safeguard from shame and defeat in the coming bat- tle; a shield impervious so long as it is bright, but that, when once soil- cd. slides_aud crumbles from his grasp, leaving him in the press of angry weapons, a naked and dc- fencelcss maii~ MAN STOMACH. â€"_. “The cause of morality is tnore dependent upon the bodily health than. many politicians. moralists, and divirres seem ready to belieVe.” Hum Subsacivw. BONAP'ARTE used to attribute the loss of one of his battles to a had dinner which had disturbed his digestion; THE MORALITY OF THE HU- cated by his face. A man lovcsbet- tcr, prays better, and reasons better, A clitnb up Arthur’s Scat worms a man’s heart while it braces his nerves; and a- good game at cricket does far more to strengthen one’s moral prin- ciples than a lecture in moral philoâ€" :ih health than in sickliness. sopliy. and we are disposed to think the CHARDENING OF THE BRAIN. cause quite adequate to the effect. If a man's stomach is out of order, -.. Softening of the brain is not un- so, by consequence, must be his brain fl'e‘luele the "05"“ 0f OVCI'taSl‘mg and he is not himself either iii heart will dellcate and wondcl’fm Off-la“- ,or head. paintings with a woman suffering from neuralgia, or ask a charitable subscription from a man with the colic, and you will see at once the truth of our observation. In the paintings of old monkisli times you invariably find the pious and godly man depicted with a pale, thin, ghost- ly face, while all the bluckguards and idolaters are fine, big, lusty men, effervescing with anttnal health and spirits. We all know what. sort of religion it has coexistcd with this atrocious theory as to the relation of physical and spiritual health. If the “muscular Christianity” of our day tends to fly into an extreme, it is in the recoil from a still worse extreme. We do not say that Mr. Kingsley is a better Christian because he is a fox- hunter, but we entertain no doubt that his Christianity owes much of its buoyancy to his robust and vigor- ous constitution; and, much as we dissent from many oer. Kingsley’s tenets, we think his faith incompar- ably more Christian than that of the anchorites, which led Simon Stylitcs to pine away for thirty years on the top of a bolum, and St. Dunstan to shut himself up in a cell five feet long, flogging himself by day.'and and singing psalms in cold water du- ring winter nights. The fact is that bodily. suffering and disease acting on a nature already depraved is one of the most prolific sources of evil ; and it is probable that all the here- sies, false philosophies, suicides, murders, and treacheries that we read and hear of, were dependent more or less directly on the state of the stomach. It seems a very car- nal view of the matter, but it is not the less just. A most important principle in moral philosophy is him- ed at in the words which Shake- speare puts in the mouth of Cesar : “ Let me have men about me that are fat: Sleek-headed men, and such as sleep 0’ nights: .Yondl Cassius has a lean and hungry look: He thinks me me ellâ€"such men are dangerous.” Old Samuel Johnson Said that ‘cveryman was a rascal when he was sick,’ and a greater man than Johnson said to Timothy: ‘Use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities;’ and we have no doubt that Patti gave that advice because he knew that, if lTimothy’s digestion was impaired, |he would be less able than other- [wise to withstand the seductive in- fluence of Greek philosophy and to {fight the good fight of faith. Men are prone enough to sin at the best, and they can ill bear to have the strength of ‘ the old man’ augment ed by the corrupting tendencies of disease. Is it not a notorious fact that so trifling a thing as a cold in the nose will often convert the most amiable of men into a public nui- sance? A man kindly and gener- 'ous when in health has only to over- load his stomach, and forthwith his liver is affected, then his brain. His sensibilities are deadened; his unâ€" casiness makes him fi'etful; his fret- fulncss is contagious; and in these circumstances he will say and do things from which in health he would have recoilcd. There is quite as much truth as humor in Sydney Smith’s remark that ‘old ‘fi'icndships are often destroyed by toasted cheese,’ and that ‘hard salt meat has led to suicide.’ Health has much more to do with godliness than used to be supposed, Ufcourse healthis not in itself piety, nor can it ever engender piety; but it is a condition very favorable to itâ€"some- times, perhaps, essential. Hence, all innocent amusements that serve to exhilarate, and all innocent games and exercises that tend to invigorate a man, deserve the most cordial en- couragement from all who desire the social and spiritual elevation of the the people. The volunteer drill may be doing as much for healthy religion, in an indirect way, as a tract society. . We are told that David was ruddy and of a beautiful countenance, and we believe his personal courage and his faith in God were all the strong- lei‘ because of the bodily vigor india 'ed ltome l GO 10th,) exhibilion of Southey. the poet, died ofthc'dis- ease, and it is sometimes produced by sensual excesses as well as by mental labor. But according to a distinguished modern anatomist, hardening of thc'bra‘in is more com- men than its opposite. Nothing can be more easy than to induratc the organ of thought. It can be done either by soaking the contents of a dead man’s cranium in alcohol, or by the introduction of liquor into the skull of the living subject in the form cf drains. In short, drunken- ness sometimes hardens the brain during life as effectually as a bath Of fourthâ€"proof spirits could solidify it after death. I-Iyrth, the celebrated physiologist, declared that he could distinguish in the dark, by the resis- tance it offered to his knife. the brain of a di‘unkard from that of a person who had lived soberly; and when he found a hardened brain in the dis- secting room, was accustomed to congratulate thestudehts in his class on obtaining a specimen so thorough- ly prepared for presentation and for the purposes ofdemonstration. How horrible thus to petrify, as it were, the seat of thought, the organ of the soul, while its arteries still throb with the pulses of life, and its gossamer tissues are permeated and acted up- on by the immortal principle of our being! Does the inebriate ever re- flect that he, may be literally wall? ing his mind out of its God-appoint- 'Does he realize, as his- ideas become more and more obtuse, that the instrument through which they are developed is hardening ; that. it must soon lose all flexibility and elasticity, and become utterly powerless; that were it scooped from his skull now, and given to the sur- geons, it would be the jest of the dissecting-room as ‘ a drunkard’s brain 2’ Well has it been said that hubtual intoxication dries up all the fountains of feeling, leaving behind only ‘ a brain of lead and a heart of stone.’ THE DUKE or BUCKINGIIAM.-â€"-â€" The late Duke of Buckingham, whose death has been recently re- corded, was nearly related to the great Tudor family that once sat on the English throne. From the Phi- ladelphia Press, which is excellent authority in matters of British ge- nealogy and family history, we com- pile one or two items of interest. The Duke succeeded in 1839 to a dukcclom, two marquisates, two earl- doms, one viscounty, one barony, and a million a year. He married a daughter of the Marquis of Breadal- bone, from whom he was afterwards divorced, and was a member of one of Sir Robert Peel’s Cabinets. At his magnificent palace at Stowe, be entertained Queen Victoria and Prince Albert for three days, in 1845 in a style equal to that which Lei- cester bestowed on his famous rc- ccption of Elizabeth. His Grace is said to have spent a million and a half on this three days’ visit of his Sovereign. In less than three years from that time, Stowe and its muâ€" seum of contents, equal in rarity and vertu to the contents of any royal palace in Europe, were put up at auction and sold to the highest bid- der. . The Duke had got embarras- sed by gambling, and such extrava- sance as entertaining queens, and ab- solutely lost everything he had in the world. He persuaded his son. the Marquis of Cltandos, to cutoff the entail of the family estates, and afterwards prosecuted his son for perjury. The Marquis brought a host of such witnesses into court, as Lord Brougham. the Provost cf Elon, &c., to prove his character, and of course did prove itvsatisfacâ€" torily; after that he supported his father until the death of the Duke. A Woman has been detected in, drawing pay from the New York Volunteei Fund for three husbands, anotherifor two, others for men not married; while others have been allowed'for five, six, and seven chil- dren, when they had but one, and in some instances none. posted his belicsts more pei'emptorily than before; but still the owner of the Havannah maintained a provo- king disregard. A third time the order was repeated, accompanied with the threat that if the obstinate fellow did not obey, he would be handed over to the tender mercies of the porters. The stranger took no more heed titan before; and so at last, enraged Mr. pulled the cigar out of the smokcr’s mouth and flung it away. This violent attack produced no more effect than‘com- mands and threats, and the peripa- tctic philosopher centinued his walk quite serenely. Presently a carriage and four drove upâ€"an equipage well known to Mr. as that of the Duke of To his inconceiv- able horror the refractory smoker entcred the said chariot, and drove off in style to . Mr. ask- ed in trcniulous tones who the strait- gcr was, and be oh ready to sink into the earth when he heard“ that it was Viscount Palmerston, K.’ G., First Lord of the Treasury. He did not hesitate long, however ; he at once ordered a chaise and pair and drove off. Arrived there, he sent in his card, and urgently re- quested a private interview with Lord Palmerston. His Lordship soon appeared, when Mr. be- gan a most abject apology for hav- ing ‘ sogrossly insulted his Lordship. Had be known who his Lordship was he would not have so treated his Lordship for the world.’ The Premier heard the station-master out then looking down upon him sternly, and with his hands in his pockets, said, ‘ Sir, I respected you because I thought you Were doing your duty like a Briton .; but now I see you are nothing but a snob.’ Thus ended the station-master’s interview with the Premier. NATURAL BAROMETEn.-~The spi- der, says an eminent naturalist, is almost universally regarded with dis- gust and abhorrence; yet, after all, it is one of the most interesting, if not the most useful. of the insect tribe. Since the days of Robert Bruce, it has been celebrate-l as a model of perseverance, while in in- dustry and ingenuity it has no rival among insects. But the most extraâ€" ordinary fact in the natural history of this insect, is the remarkable pre- sentimcnt it appears to have of an approaching change in the weather. Barometers, at best, only foretell the state of the weather With ccr- tainty for about twenty-four, hours, and they are very frequently fallible ‘ guides particularly When they point to settledfair. But we may be sure that the weather will be fine twelve or fourteen days, when the spider makes the principal threads of its web very long. The insect, which is one of the most economical ani- mals, does not commence a work re- quiring such a great length of threads which it draws out of its body, un- less the state of the atmosphere in- dicates with certainty that iliis great expenditure will not be made in vain. Let the weather be ever so bad, we may conclude with certainty that it will soon change to be settled fair when we see the spider repair the damages which his web has received It is obvious how important this in- fallible indication of the state of the Weather must be in many instances, particularly to the agriculturist. *â€" A Glasgow antiquarian recently visited Cathcart‘. Castle, and asked one of the villagers “iflie knew anything of an old story about the building?” “ Ay,” said the rustic, “ there was neither auld storey, but if fell down long since.” Sons of Mrs. M’Clarty.â€"â€"A country laird, at his death left his property in equal shares to his two sons, who continu- ed to live very amicably together for several years. At length one said to the other, “Tam, we’re getting auld noo; you’ll take a wife, and when I dee you'll get my share 0’ the ground.” “Na, John, you’re the youngest and inaist active; you’ll take a wife, and when 1 due you’ll get my share.” “ Oh,” says John, “Tam, that’s just the way wi’ you when there’s ony fasli or troubleâ€"ne’re a thing you’ll do at a’.” CRINOLINE.-â€"-The large tub-hoop made their appearance in the reign of Queen Anne. The apology was its coolness in summer, by admitting a free circulation of air. Grainger says: “ It was no more a petticoat than rDiogenes’ tub was his breecltcs.” Swift says, in one ofhis letters to a friend in Ireland: “ Have you got the w/idlcbone petticoat amongst you yet? I hate them; a woman may here conceal a moderate gallant under them.” Henry IV. of France, it is well knowu, was saved from assassination by hiding himself under. his Queen’s (Margaret of Valois) hoop. “Everything, however preposterous,” re- marks Mr. James Bruce, “may be made _ mini.”