at last, for your mother and I had trouble enough in forcing our way through this big jam of a crowd— well, how are you old fellow? I did not expect to see such a grand party when I dropped in to pay you a social, every day visit; I hope I'm nice enough looking, aint I?" Peter carelessly smoothed down his Byronic collar. Almeria drew herself up with all her exclusive dignity, while she scanned Mr. Peter Adolphus from his elaborately curled head, which often caused his doating parents and sisters to wonder "that one so small could carry all he knew," down to his sharp pointed, high heeled boot. At length, as if fully satisfied that that one look was answer enough, she turned to Sinclaire saying"Helas! Monsieur, do you not think a little mother close behind. Her sleeves were rolled learning is a dangerous thing'"-and with a loud laugh, she again bent her eye upon the immovable Peter, asking-" Savez vouz quiest ce, Monsieur-là, vis-a-vis to your sister Milly?" 'Mr. Jenkins," quickly answered Peter; "you know, Miss Clifton, politeness, interest and untoward circumstances often compel us to mingle with uncongenial people gregariously. I dare say poor Emilie is now suffering mentally, in consequence of her present juxtaposition and apparently homiletical intercourse with those around her." Peter's easy flow of speech was lost in wonder at the vexatious interruption, which was considerably increased, when his eye fell upon his panting half up, disclosing to view her large red arms— her cap, decorated with orange colored ribbon and flowers, was set more jauntily upon her head, while the longest sort of strings hung upon her broad expansive bust-in her hand, she held a tremendous turkey feathered fan, which she flapped with all the vehemence of a whirlwind across the face of the shrinking Almeria. "Indeed, you may well complain of the heat," said she, puffing like some steam engine," the girls would have more coals than usual put in the grate,"Pray, who and what is Mr. Jenkins," said Al- we dont mind expense in any thing for our sworay, meria; "he looks very like a shoemaker I have but I reckon 'tis the breaths of so many persons seen in Bonde street. I do believe he is the very that makes the heat so overpowering. But grin identical one, who furnishes our servants shoes. and endure it my dear, we'll soon be cooled by What girl is that dancing with Edward Lorimor- some des-glaces. Dont you dance? La Pet-if he is not actually listening as respectfully to her Pierre I mean, what in the world has become of conversation, as if she was a". Peter inter- your politeness? why dont you ask Miss Almira to rupted her from finishing her invidious comparison. join the same cotillion with Emilie and Josephine? "Miss Sawdust is indeed quite a savant young I am sure you need not fear being too conspicuous, lady, highly accomplished and recently returned for your coat fits as well as Mr. Sinclaire's." from the same boarding school, my sisters were educated at." tion." Almeria had in vain retreated from the good bustling Mrs. B., until she felt the wall would pre"Is that Mary Sawdust, the carpenter's daughter? vent another move, and she resigned herself to the I might have thought so, for her stiff, straight terrible approximation of mother and son, although figure looks as if it had been ruled and lined by the latter's attention had been somewhat monopoher father's measuring rule. I vow there's a mil-lized by his intruding friend. "I am glad,” conliner's daughter, with her plentiful garden of arti- tinued Mrs. B.," you were so complaisant as to stay ficial flowers and dangling ribbons, the fac simile and see our supper, for I think you will enjoy the of her mother's last block, and I suppose next to eatables, every thing, meats and all, were cooked her is the heiress of a mantua-maker, judging by by a Frenchman. I thought as every thing was the tight whaleboned fit of her dress. Really, Mr. done different now-a-days, and the crowd would be Sinclaire, you ought to submit to an introduction so great the people, wouldn't know what to call for, to some of these ladies, doubtless Mons. Browns- that we ought to have bills of fare, but Pierre low will perform the ceremony of your presenta- wouldn't hear of it. We old folks have to give way. I dare say, Miss Almira, your pious, godly mother has to do the like by you, especially respecting having dancing in our houses, when we are members of the church. The best way to get over our strict parson is to let it all appear accidentally Mr. Sinclaire was just at that moment called to done. I do wish our ministers of the Gospel would another room, and as Almeria reluctantly withdrew grant us some sort of a thing, (I dont know the her arm from his, Peter bowingly presented his, name, Pierre called it too the other day,) that they but she declared the heat of the room was too op- say the biggest Pope in Rome does to his great pressive to endure such an approximation. Not people, and let us do as we choose about dancing, at all daunted, he still maintained his position, and for it is a monstrous inoffensive amusement." had just resumed the conversation, when his arm If Almeria's every look betrayed the most suwas roughly pulled, while a stentorian voice salu- preme disgust for the mother, it was not at all dited him : minished or relieved on seeing Peter move nearer, "How-dye-do, Pete-I'm duced glad to see you as if about to introduce his friend. And never had VOL. X-29 "It would be supervacaneous for me to assent, as Miss Clifton must be aware her law is my delight-in willing chains she binds me, for beauty always draws us by a single hair.'” her eye rested on a more unique, queer looking started for the college. I managed to wheedle a figure. His square-built, cumbrous person, was license out of the old professor, while I fooled the encased in "righteous blue;" the coat was gar- whole set by my lavish expenditure of money. nished with countless huge brass buttons, and the The dear girls, who were as plenty as blackberries pantaloons were of a paler shade, which, in their in them parts, were completely gulled, for you know fit, somewhat resembled the Turkish trowsers. A they always give more smiles to a lawyer and doccollar of knee deep dimensions, surmounted a yel- tor, and poor things they never dreampt all the low neckerchief, which was carefully tied in a dou- time, I was only an old overseer's son." ble knot, and then crossed over pompous ruffles, "I thought you never imposed yourself upon whose undulating motions were not a little re- any lady?" said Almeria, es he paused to take strained by the weight of a saucer breast pin, on breath; and I can assure you, a stranger like mywhich was elaborately painted two loving doves, self, cannot feel interested in a history of your sipping from a bowl of Cupid's nectar. A vest of parentage, or classical career." marigold tint, over which shone a massive large "Classical," echoed Mr. Dobbins, with a hearty linked chain, completed his dress. The head piece laugh; "bless you, Miss Almiray, I never dipped of this bust of god-like man, was of Herculean into them sort of secret sciences. All I cared for, size, boasting a luxuriant abundance of carotty hair, was a placard with the gilt letters 'Mr. Timothy that hung in heavy array over a face as redolent Dobbins, Attorney at Law,' which now hangs pretty with good humor, as it bore the visible stamp of staringly at the court-house, a few miles from here. exposure to the sun. He flourished a handker- I thought, before I entered into the clatter and chief of divers colors in his hand as he approached Almeria. "Allow me to introduce Mr. Dobbins to you Miss Clifton," said Peter, with an angular bow. clash of my professional career, that I would step into the city, and see what my old friend Pete was doing. Never mind, old fellow," added he, slapping Peter on his back, "If our good fathers are tailors and overseers, we can trip it away now with the ladies as well as any body, for we can boast that placard, you know;--those big letters ‘Attorney at Law' are very precious-aint they?" "Very glad to see you Miss-tho' I may be a strange chap to you-yet I've heard about you, when you used to live in the place where I went to college. I tell you what, I did fool the old folks at home, also, the old professors, for they thought I was a monstrous hard student." "You have mistaken my name probably for Ition of your profession. I myself had rather be even am confident you never heard of, or saw me in any such place, we reside in this city." Peter replied with surpassing dignity— an obscure defender of my country's civil code, than to bask in all the wealth and purchased splendor of "Yes I know you do now, at least Pete tells me an ignoble mechanic, or a successful speculating tenso-but that's no reason you never lived anywhere tative dealer in cloth and woman's gear. What scielse; however, if I never saw you before, the stu-ence could be more ennobling than that of litigationdents used to talk about a Miss Almiray Clifton; the preservation of man's liberties and rights?— but surely you cant be the same one, for they call-who so deserving of the pedestal of eminence, as ed her rather old maidenish, and you look as fresh he who pleads for, and supports those unalienable as a clover shining in the dew." rights, without which we would be levelled with the savage and forever tossed on the estuating waves of anarchy, discord and inhumanity. To ascend this great apex is my daily aspiration." "I have no doubt such eloquence as you pos 66 You are very familiarly complimentary. I am well convinced, that were you once seen, one could hardly ever forget the vision." success, and future generations will own you a real ignis fatuus light through the bogs and quagmires of law and justice. Come, let us banish all professional cares, and as Bill Shakspeare says, 'throw law as well as physic to the dogs.' Pon my soul, I feel in for a job of love; I mean to flutter awhile in the court of Cupid, and I think (glancing around the room) I will have a first rate chance here among such a host of pretty girls,-what do you think of my determination, Miss Almiray." "Much obleeged to you Miss. Pete told me you were very civil to young men, and the students sess, Pete," replied Mr. Dobbins, slapping him said the same; but, as I never like to impose my-more furiously than at first, "will ensure you self on any lady, I always am pretty free spoken. You see as how, my father was an overseer, who, feeling often the plaguey disadvantages of having no book-learning, when my uncle left me a legacy, (he was a bachelor, thanks to reading so much of Mr. Pope's notions about the tender sex,) he advised me to go to college. Now, I had often thirsted to drink from that wonderful spring Squire Nonsense's son used to call education; and as I used to let the horse guide the plough, while I read some tattered book, I thought I might turn out This inquiry was followed by the action of pulsomething great, like one of our statesmen who ling up his plentiful collar and drawing off his busused to do the same, so I determined not to trot kin gloves, displaying a hand of no small size, and through life as hard as my poor father, and off I'not unlike the speckled surface of a guinea's egg, which he passed through his pendent locks, causing every golden hair to show its exact length by a setaceous obedience. Ere Almeria could reply, Mrs. Brownslow approached, loudly announcing that supper was ready. Mr. Timothy Dobbins extended his hand, while Peter Adolphus, bowingly offered his arm to Almeria, who gave an agonizing glance around in quest of Mr. Sinclaire. What was she to do, for she certainly would go forever without a supper-nay, she would die before she accepted the escortage of either. But her fears were allayed when she saw her own elegant, refined Sinclaire making his way towards her. "For Heaven's sake come to my rescue and take me home, or any where, so I am released from such bores and uncouth creatures aping man. Positively my every nerve is unstrung, and I am exhausted with the clatter of vulgar tones." Mr. Timothy Dobbins' large white eyes grew larger with astonishment, and shrugging his shoulders, be turned to ask Peter "if that tall, whiskered animal-looking man was a lawyer or doctor, to cut them out so nicely ?" But Peter's motions had been as rapid in leaving Timothy as Almeria's, so he was forced to follow on with the crowd to the supper room. As they entered, or rather poured into the small back dining-room where the tables were arranged, Mrs. Brownslow's voice was heard above that of every one "You all must excuse the smallness of the room, the girls and Pierre would have a set down table, and I thought as many as could chock in might come along-so make yourselves at home, and just help to whatever you may fancy." "Dont mind your coat so much," continued the old man, as Peter endeavored to dodge him when he presented a glass of ice cream to Almeria. "You know I can cut another just as good a fit, and while we are in for a penny, we can throw in a pound, not even counting the cabbage." If looks of entreaty, displeasure and various winks could have silenced the more than usually garrulous Mr. Brownslow, those that Pierre bestowed upon him would have done so completelybut it seemed as if he had entered into the very life and spirit of the great sworay, which he took every opportunity to comment upon. The supper passed off, and with it the exhausted Almeria, who gave one long breath of relief as she threw herself in the carriage, declaring, "that all the blood of all the Howards" would never make the Brownslows even passably genteel. It was a most apropos moment for Sinclaire, seated beside one so fair and languishing, in the full enjoyment of an uninterrupted tete-a-tete, how could he refrain an unreserved confession of his ardent love and devotion? The offering of his enchained heart was laid at her shrine-it was in her power to crown his life with unspeakable bliss, or to blight its promising bud forever, by a cruel rejection. Ah! anxious reader, it was not in the nature of one so kind and considerate as Almeria so to act towards the handsome and refined Sinclaire. All the annoyances and mortifications she had that night been subjected to, were fully compensated by the happy denouément. Never, no never would she forget the Brownslows party, for the first proposal of marriage was the result. Though she was twenty-five, still 'twas even so. Mr. Sinclaire was the first offer; many had been caught in the magic circle of her charms, but then, they managed always to make a speedy retreat, ere Cupid had very seriously Just think, reader, it was Mr. Brownslow who wounded them in the conflict. But Sinclaire was had, unperceived by his better-half, entered the an offer not to be spurned-his mustache, whisroom, having been disturbed in his bed by the dan-kers and Hyperian curls, were irresistible--and, cing below; he said he thought it would make him provided "ma chère mère consented," was her own feel young again to shake his old feet, so down he came, full of delight and ready for a jig. "Yes, rejoined a voice equally as loud and clear, and you all may cabbage too just as much as you choose, for these French flummeries will be of no service after this great sworay is over.". A dead pause followed his entrée and remark, but soon the clamor of voices and the bursts of laughter told that a reaction had taken place; all hands, as well as mouths, were busily obeying the injunctions of their kind host and hostess. Mr. Brownslow no sooner perceived Almeria, than he pushed his way towards her, dragging the horrified Peter with him. soft, sweet answer. Had you been in Almeria's situation, fair reader, I am sure you would have done likewise; and it would be better for many, did they but look well and regard thus carefully their first offer. But our interest and sympathy must not be wholly bestowed upon Almeria-we will therefore return to our friends the Brownslows. The guests had all departed-the numerous lights flickered into waning dimness-crushed pieces of cakes and nutshells, instead of faded garlands, strew"Here's Pete, Miss Clifton, who can serve you ed the floor, and all the consequent confusion and to any thing, for he understands all the Frenchifi- desolation after a giddy revel reigned in the parcations, and you need not fear eating what he re-lor; still the family lingered there. The two girls, commends, for I dare say he has tasted them all." "What shall I do," cried Almeria, clinging to Sinclaire's arm; "if I ever get clear of this scrape, Heaven defend me from such another." pale and haggard, sat in the sofa, looking the picture of the deepest mortification. Pierre Adolphus paced the room with an air of elevated indignation-while Mrs. Brownslow stood before the ex piring fire, a shade of anxiety having displaced her will never make the world think any more of you, usual look of jolly good humor. "Oh! Mamma, how could you say such coarse things to Miss Clifton; what must she have thought of our gentility, and why in the world did you permit Papa to come into the supper room? You might have been sure he would have exposed us by his vulgar ignorance and shop-like sayings. What will become of us? We may now give up all attempts or hopes of ever getting into the first societé." Poor Emilie entirely forgot all her exultation of feeling when she stood before her mirror, a few hours previous, arrayed in her beautiful white satin, as she thus gave way to a paroxyism of wounded pride. for forgetting you are a tailor's daughter. Though this may be an insupportable stroke of mortification to you, yet I wont regret it if it will bring you all to your reasonable senses. As to you, Pete, if you choose, you may go just where your plaguey learning will be of some service. I begin now to think I was the biggest fool of the two, in not teaching you to cross your legs on the board and learn the tailors stitch, instead of all your dabbling in law and languages." The family cabal ended by all retiring to rest. Had we the power of reading the hearts of Pleasure's devotees, when exhausted satiety bids them seek refuge in the calm repose of solitude or slum"I am off to-morrow from this now hateful place," ber, what a map of infinite variety would be sketched said Peter. "I could never show my face in pub-out for our warning instruction and beneficial imlic, after so signal a defeat. Timothy Dobbins was provement. Oh! that insupportable aching void! the apex of vulgarity and preposterous pretension; he completed the tout ensemble of my chagrin and disappointment. I must hie to some more congenial cycle, where I can gather honors for myself, and forget my father is a plebeian tailor." "What, Peter, leave your loving mother and family for such a trifle? Indeed, I never tried so hard to do my best and genteelest, but the more people try, the worst is always sure to happen. You all are very ungrateful children, to upbraid me for the fauxes passes of others. I do believe, as Shakspeare says, 'ingratitude in a child is the biggest sort of a monster.'" "Oh! mamma, you even butcher the apothegms of the immortal Shakspeare. If you have any respect for my learning and cultivated taste, spare me that profanation. Yes, I am resolved to leave you all after this tremendous downfall of every cherished hope, whether you deem me ungrateful or not." Peter was about retiring in all his resolute importance, notwithstanding the tender expostulations of his fond mother and sisters, when the short, lean figure of his father confronted him. "What's all this colliky about? Why wife, what are you blubbering about, and if Milly and Josee aint doing the very same thing after this great and mighty French sworay. If this is the way that dandified, slick-haired race do, after they give their grand parties, then I'll never give another. Dear me! I shall never be able to set things to rights in the shop, or get to work quietly, after sitting up so late." "Oh, Papa," cried Josee, "we are undone, completely exposed, and I fear we will never be ranked among the genteel." "Well, well, I could have told you as much. You may rely on it, my children, you would do better and be happier to know, and never quit your proper place. Hereafter, take my advice, and never appear what you cannot with truth and propriety support. All the sworays, French jabberings, strummings on the piano, and the furbelows of finery, How the grim spectre of disappointment obtrudes his repulsive visage, banishing the sweetest fancies, and bearing on his head Folly's cap of jingling bells, instead of the firm and all enduring helmet of Reason, while he casts his sardonic smile on the wreck he has wrought. Too often do men in their weakness I "play such fantastic tricks before high Heaven As make the angels weep." [To be Continued.] LINES. BY MRS. MARIA G. BUCHANAN. "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and Bright words of Love, ye're like the tears Of mem'ry's harp--our childhood hours, No blight was found to mar its brightness, Within his heart some thoughts of gladness; When o'er its chords roam Hope's bright fingers, Where oft, alas! too oft he lingers; And are they not to erring heart As sweet as thoughts of childhood's hour, When sin was as a thing apart, As yet unfelt its Demon power? And steal they not like sunbeam glad, And breathing Christ thy God has risen? Salvation's path by Jesus moulded. That dawns on sorrow's night of sadness? The soul by Sin's fierce light'ning riven Awakes to life and hails the light Of Mercy by a Saviour given. Wetumka, Ala., Dec. 4th, 1843. PROFANE GENESIS. BY C. B. HAYDEN. The brilliant developments in every department of science and research, which so strikingly characterise the present age, constitute it a golden era, both in the annals of the world and of the human mind. The discoveries of the age, which have so richly rewarded the labors of the artizan, student and philosopher in every path of their varied research, are intellectual achievements displaying the far-reaching power and in-dwelling strength of the human mind. In these revelations of the gigantic strength of the intellectual man may be discovered faint traces of that divine and bright original, in whose image man was first created. If, as men, we claim with conscious pride a natural brother hood with the master minds who have achieved these triumphs of human genius; if, as philanthropists, we hail these blessed results as the harbingers of social improvement and civil and political happiness; with what feelings of prayerful, heartfelt gratitude must we as Christians regard those developments which have so signally advanced the fane Genesis, corresponding with, and corroborative of the Sacred Genesis. The evidences afforded by this Profane Genesis are the more conclusive, from their entire freedom from bias, as, in many instances, they have been derived from the labors of the avowed enemies of the Bible: not unfrequently they have been the result of researches professedly hostile to it, and generally, they have been developed by those indifferent to the cause. They hence, from their independence, appeal with equal force to believer and skeptic-to all, they convincingly prove the divine origin of the Bible, and conclusively show, that this magna charta of the Christian did, in truth, emanate from heaven, and that it bears the impress of the Great Seal of the King of Kings. As these evidences are now generally inaccessible, from the scarcity, costliness and technicality of the works containing them, it is proposed to present them in a popular form, in a series of articles in the Southern Literary Messenger. CHAPTER I. The Sacred Genesis informs us of the existence of a primitive people, and makes us acquainted with their religion, philosophy and history, previous to their dispersion and consequent peopling of the earth. The information here given us respecting this people is that which all nations are most solicitous to preserve. From the importance which every people attach to their origin and early history, traditions respecting them are treasured with religious care; they constitute the chief subjects which, among all nations, are the repositories of of the legendary songs and traditionary poetry primitive national history, which is thus handed down to after ages. An examination into these sources should, therefore, if the Mosaical account be true, show a general agreement between the tions of the earth, and that given in Genesis of primitive history and religion of the different nathe primeval nation from which all others have descended. The coincidences with the Sacred Genesis derived from these and other sources, as already mentioned, constitute a Profane Genesis, which illustrates and confirms the Sacred. The better to compare the two, the different subjects as they respectively occur in the Sacred Genesis, will be collated with the parallel portions of the Profane. (A.) The Creation of the World by God and His Attributes. cause of natural and revealed religion by illustrating the word and the works of God? Every portion of Holy Writ has derived confirmation and support from modern research, but particularly Genesis. This book, so long the rallying ground of the skeptic and infidel, now enjoys an enviable preeminence from the confirmation it has derived from the deductions of astronomy and geology res- We learn from Genesis, that God created Heapecting the origin of the planets and the physical ven, earth, and sea, and all that in them is. The history of the earth, and the researches of the his- earth, and every living thing that moveth upon it; torian, antiquarian and philologist into the primi- the green herb of the field-the fish of the sea, tive history of the human family. The external and the foul of the air,-the firmament of the heaevidences derived from these and other sources, ven, and its two great lights to give light upon the are so full and conclusive, as to constitute a Pro-earth-all, originated in his will, and were created |