looking upwards, said, "The Lord be thanked! He has heard my prayers at last!“ And, now, will it be said this is an exceptional case it happens one time in a thousand? Though we know that this is the foulest of falsehoods, and that the case she had given up all hope of redeeming her daughter from the dreadful doom to which she had been sold, the hapless mother had drooped like a stricken woman. She no longer lifted up her head, or seemed to take any interest in life. When Mr. Harned called on her, she ask- is only a specimen of what is acting every ed eagerly, day in the American slave trade, yet, for „Have you heard anything from my argument's sake, let us, for once, admit it daughter?" to be true. If only once in this nation, Yes, I have," was the reply,,,a letter under the protection of our law, a Christian from Bruin and Hill." ,,And what is the news?" girl had been torn from the altar and the communion table, and sold to foulest shame He thought best to give a direct answer, and dishonour, would that have been a light ,,Emily is dead." sin? The poor mother clasped her hands, and D. MISCELLANEOUS WRITERS. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. AN ALLEGORICAL DREAM. In a dream, I thought myself in a solitary temple. I saw a kind of phantom coming towards me, but as he drew near his form expanded and became more than human; his robe hung majestically down to his feet; six wings, whiter than snow, whose extremities were edged with gold, covered a part of his body: then I saw him quit his material substance, which he had put on to avoid terrifying me; his body was of all the colours in the rainbow. He took me by the hair, and I was sensible I was travelling in the ætherial plains without any dread, with the rapidity of an arrow sent from a bow, drawn by a supple and nervous diversified. I now suddenly perceived so beautiful, so flourishing, so fertile a country, that I conceived a strong desire to alight upon it. My wishes were instantly gratified; I felt myself gently landed on its surface, where I was surrounded by a balmy atmosphere. I found myself reposed at the dawn, upon the soft verdant grass. I stretched out my arms, in token of gratitude, to my celestial guide, who pointed to a resplendent sun, towards which swiftly rising, he disappeared in the luminous body. I arose, and imagined myself to be transported to the garden of Eden. Every thing inspired my soul with soft tranquillity. The most profound peace covered this new globe; nature was here ravishing and incorruptible, and a delicious freshness expanded my sense to ecstasy; a sweet odour accompanied the air I breathed; my heart, which beat with an unusual power, was immerged in a sea of rapture; while pleasure, like a pure and immortal light, penetrated the inmost recesses of my soul. The inhabitants of this happy country came to meet me; and, after saluting me, they took me by the hand. Their noble countenances inspired confidence and respect; innocence and happiness were depicted in their looks; they often lifted their eyes towards heaven, and as often uttered a name which I afterwards knew to be that of the Eternal, while their cheeks were moistened with tears of gratitude. I experienced great emotion while I conversed with these sublime beings. They poured out their hearts with the most sincere tenderness; and the voice of reason, most majestic, and no less melting, was at the same time conveyed to my enraptured ear. I soon perceived that this abode was totally different from that which I had left. A divine impulse made me fly into their arms; I bowed my knees to them; but being raised up in the most endearing manner, I was pressed to the bosoms which inclosed such excellent hearts, and I conceived a presentiment of celestial amity, of that amity which united their souls, and formed the greatest portion of their felicity. The angel of darkness, with all his artifice, was never able to discover the entrance into this world! notwithstanding his ever-watchful malice, he never found out the means to spread his poison over this happy globe. Anger, envy, and pride, were there unknown; the happiness of one appeared the happiness of all! an ecstatic transport incessantly elevating their souls at the sight of the magnificent and bountiful hand which collected over their heads the most astonishing prodigies of the creation. The lovely Morning, with her humid saffron wings, distilled the pearly dew from the shrubs and flowers, and the rays of the rising sun multiplied the most enchanting colours, when I perceived a wood embellished by the opening dawn. The youth of both sexes there sent forth hymns of adoration towards heaven; and were filled at the same time with the grandeur and majesty of God, which rolled almost visibly over their heads; for in this world of innocence, he vouchsafed to manifest himself by means unknown to our weak understand ings. All things announced his august presence, the serenity of the air, the dyes of the flowers, the brilliancy of the insects, a kind of universal sensibility spread over all beings, whose vivified bodies seemed entire ly susceptible of it. Every thing bore the appearance of sentiment; and the birds stopped in the midst of their flight, as if attentive to the affecting modulations of their voices. But no pencil can express the ravishing countenance of the young beauties, whose bosoms breathed love. Who can describe that love of which we have not any idea, that love for which we have no name, that love, the lot of pure intelligent beings, divine love, which they only can conceive and feel; the tongue of man, incapable, must be silent! The remembrance of this enchanting place suspends at this moment all the faculties of my soul. The sun was rising the pencil falls from my hand. O Thomson, never did thy muse view such a sun! What a world, and what magnificent order! I trod, with regret, on the flowery plants, endued, like that we call sensitive, with a quick and lively feeling; they bent under my foot, only to rise with more brilliancy: the fruit gently dropped, on the first touch, from the complying branch, and had scarcely gratified the palate when the delicious sensation of its juices was felt glowing in every vein; the eye, more piercing, sparkled with uncommon lustre; the ear was more lively; the heart, which expanded itself over all nature, seemed to possess and enjoy its fertile extent: the universal enjoyment did not disturb any individual; for union multiplied their delights, and they esteemed themselves less happy in their own fruition than in the happiness of others. This sun did not resemble the comparative paleness and weakness which illuminates our gloomy terrestrial prison; yet the eye could bear to gaze on it, and, in a manner, plunge itself in a kind of ecstasy in its mild and pure light; it enlivened at once the sight and the understanding, and even penetrated the soul. The bodies of those fortunate persons became, as it were, transparent; while each read in his brother's heart the sentiments of affability and tenderness with which himself was affected. There darted from the leaves of all the shrubs which the planet enlightened, a luminous matter, which resembled, at a distance, all the colours of the rainbow; its orb, which was never eclipsed, was crowned with such sparkling rays that the daring prism of Newton could not divide. When this planet set, six brilliant moons floated in the atmosphere; their progression in different orbits, each night 12 to formed a new exhibition. The multitude ful sorrow will not depress my soul; morrow the wailings of an useless despair, „Why, father," said I, „are you then strangers to the agonies of death, the anguish, the pain, the dread, which accompany us in our last moments?" Yes, my child," he replied,,,these angels of the Highest come at stated periods, and carry us all away, opening to us the road to a new world, of which we have an idea by the undoubted conviction of the unlimited bounty and magnificence of the Creator." A cheerful glow was immediately spread over their countenances; their brows already seemed crowned with immortal splendor; they sprang lightly from the earth in my sight; I pressed the sacred hand of each for the last time, while with a smile they held out the other to the seraph, who had spread his wings to carry them to heaven. They ascended all at once, like a flock of beautiful swans, that, taking flight, raise themselves, with majestic rapidity over the tops of our highest palaces. I gazed with sadness; my eye followed them in the air, until their venerable heads were lost in the silver clouds, and I remained alone on this magnificent deserted land. I perceived I was not yet fitted to dwell in it, and wished to return to this unfortunate world of expiation: thus the animal escaped from his keeper returns, following the track of his chain, with a mild aspect, and enters his prison. Awaking, the illusion was dispelled, which it is beyond the power of my weak tongue or pen to describe in its full splendor; but this illusion I shall for ever cherish; and, supported by the foundation of hope, I will preserve it till death, in the inmost recesses of my soul. THE WAY TO WEALTH, AS CLEARLY SHOWN IN THE PREFACE OF AN OLD PENNSYLVANIA ALMANAC, INTITLED, POOR RICHARD IMPROVED. COURTEOUS READER, I HAVE heard, that nothing gives an author so great pleasure, as to find his works respectfully quoted by others. Judge, then, how much I must have been gratified by an incident I am going to relate to you. I stopped my horse lately, where a great number of people were collected, at an auction of merchant's goods. The hour of the sale not being come, they were conversing on the badness of the times; and one of the company called to a plain clean old man, with white loocks, „Pray, Father Abraham, what think you of the times? Will not these heavy taxes quite ruin the country? How shall we ever be able to pay them? What would you advise us to?" Father Abraham stood up, and replied,,,If you would have my advice, I will give it you in short,,,for a word to the wise is enough," as poor Richard says." They joined in desiring him to speak his mind, and, gathering round him, he proceeded as follows: ,,Friends," says he,,,the taxes are, indeed, very heavy, and, if those laid on by the government were the only ones we had to pay, we might more easily discharge them; but we have many others, and much more grievous to some of us. We are taxed twice as much by our idleness, three times as much by our pride, and four times as much by our folly; and from these taxes the commissioners cannot ease or deliver us, by allowing an abatement. However, let us hearken to good advice, and something may be done for us; ,,God helps them that help themselves," as poor Richard says. ,,I. It would be thought a hard government that should tax the people one tenth parth of their time, to be employed in its service; but idleness taxes many of us much more; sloth, by bringing on diseases, absolutely shortens life.,,Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labour wears, while the used key is always bright," as poor Richard says. ,,But dost thou love life, then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of," as poor Richard says. How much more than is necessary do we spend in sleep! forgetting, that ,,the sleeping fox catches no poultry, and that there will be sleeping enough in the grave," as poor Richard says. ,,If time be of all things the most precious, wasting time must be," as poor Richard says,,,the greatest prodigality;" since, as he elsewhere tells us,,,lost time is never found again; and what we call time enough always proves little enough;" let us then up and be doing, and doing to the purpose; so by diligence shall we do more with less perplexity.,,Sloth makes all things difficult, but industry all easy; and he that riseth late must trot all day, and shall scarce overtake his business at night; while laziness travels so slowly, that poverty soon overtakes him. Drive thy business, let not that drive thee: and early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise," as poor Richard says. ,,So what signifies wishing and hoping for better times? We may make these times better, if we bestir ourselves. „Industry need not wish, and he that lives upon hope will die fasting. There are no gains without pains; then help hands, for I have no lands," or, if I have, they are smartly taxed. „He that hath a trade, hath an estate; and he that hath a calling, hath an office of profit and honour," as poor Richard says; but then the trade must be worked at, and the calling well followed, or neither the es for tate nor the office will enable us to pay our taxes. If we are industrious, we shall never starve; for, at the working man's house, hunger looks in, but dares not enter." Nor will the bailiff or the constable enter, for ,,industry pays debts, while despair increaseth them." What though you have found no treasure, nor has any rich relation left you a legacy,,,diligence is the mother of good luck, and God gives all things to industry. Then plow deep, while sluggards sleep, and you shall have corn to sell and to keep." Work while it is called to-day, know not how much you may be you hindered to-morrow. ,,One to-day is worth two to-morrows," 66 as poor Richard says; and, farther, „never leave that till to-morwhich can do to-day." If you were a servant, would you not be ashamed that a good master should catch you idle? Are you then your own master? Be ashamed to catch yourself idle, when there is so much to be done for yourself, your family, your country, and your king. Handle your tools without mittens, remember, „that the cat in gloves catches no mice," as poor Richard says. It is true there is much to be done, and perhaps you are weak-handed; but stick to it steadily, and you will see great effects, for ,,constant dropping wears away stones; and by diligence and patience the mouse ate in two the cable; and little strokes fell great oaks.“ row, you ,,must ,,He that by the plough would thrive, And again,,,the eye of a master will do ,,III. So much for industry, my friends, and attention to one's own business; but to these we must add frugality, if we would make our industry more successful. A man if he knows not how to save as he may, gets,,,keep his nose all his life to the grindA fat kitchen makes a lean will;" and stone, and die not worth a groat at last. ,,Methinks I hear some of you say, Since women for tea forsook spinning and knitting, ,,II. But with our industry we must likewise be steady, settled, and careful, and oversee our own affairs with our own eyes, and not trust too much to others; for, as poor Richard says, ,,Away, then, with your expensive follies, and you will not then have so much cause to complain of hard times, heavy taxes, and chargeable families; for ,Women and wine, game and deceit, |