EDWARD CLEONE'S BIBLE.

Passing down one of the crowded streets which intersect

in the line of promotion would look forward to the day when he should himself preside at the head of some one of them. Therefore, as well from motives of economy, as for the sake of making of our ever-busy Metropolis, chance led me to the door of one ficers familiar with the details of the system, it is second-hand auction shop. I was about turning away, when of those odd receptacles for every variety of old traffic, a proposed that the clerks' duties of the Post-Cap- the sonorous voice from within poured into my ear these tains' Bureaux be performed by Navy officers. The mystic words: walk in gentlemen-walk in,—its a real chief assistant of each Bureau should be a Com- continentaler, and no mistake-here it is, printed many a mander, who, in case of sickness, or temporary ab-year before either of us was born,-how much for it?" sence of the chief officer, might supply his place and act in his stead. The subordinate officers should be relieved at least once in three years. It is necessary to maintain more officers in the Navy, than are barely sufficient to perform the service connected with it in peace. Therefore, the duty of these Bureaux, if conducted by Navy officers, in the manner proposed, would afford them useful and honorable employment, and would not be attended with the additional cost of a single dollar-for with or without Bureaux, those officers would receive their regular salaries.

and I bought the book. It proved to be a copy of the Bible, The quaint binding of the old volume struck my fancy, which had the appearance of having been well read and carefully preserved. On the first leaf was written, in a female hand, "Edward Cleone's Bible-from his mother,to be read every day."

On inquiry, I learned that it came under the auctioneer's

Few

hammer on account of the recent decease of its owner, an
old man, who was found dead in his chair a few weeks ago.
The neighbors among whom he resided, crowded round me,
and related his brief history in the simplest manner.
of them but shed tears over his mournful story. He died
in extreme poverty, but they said his Bible was his con-
stant study. When he was first discovered, his hand was
resting on the opened volume, which he had apparently just
been perusing. On the poor worm-eaten table by his side,
were found these lines, traced by the tremulous hand of age
on a blank leaf which had dropped from his time-worn

treasure.

The taper is lighted and the wax is in my hand, but before I proceed to close up the "Lucky-Bag" forever, and to seal it, allow me, Mr. Editor, to thank you for your kindness, and your readers for their attention. Permit me also to say to those of my bro-man! He had seen "better days," but he never forgot his ther officers, who (if there be such) may feel that God. any of the foregoing statements bear hardly upon them, that I have sought

"Nothing to extenuate,

Or set down ought in malice."

Actuated by the desire to see abuses reformed, and the Navy placed upon its proper footing, I have felt it my duty, not to put forth bills of indictment, but to take my stand as a witness before my fellowcitizens, and tell what fifteen or twenty years of service in the Navy have enabled me to know. That things do go wrong, every officer will admit. To show wherein they do go wrong, and how they may be set right, has been the sole object with me, in ripping open the "Lucky Bag." By this means have I sought to call public attention to the condition of the Navy, knowing that if once properly directed to the subject, wholesome correctives would be applied. If such a result be not accomplished, the fault is not with the subject, but with the writer. And whatever be the result, his only reward will be the satisfaction, which one derives from the consciousness of having cast in one's mite for the common good. If, with this explanation, Mr. Editor, there be any to compare the abuses and the evils set forth with their own acts, and to complain-in homely phrase, I can only say to such-" if the cap fits, wear it." If called on in relation to any thing contained in the " Lucky Bag," you are at liberty to raise the mask, which conceals your friend,

Reader! 'tis a beautiful lesson, the death of that old

JOHN V: 39.

Search the Scriptures! Seek and ponder
Mighty Truths in every line-
When the feet of childhood wander,
Toward the heavenly page incline.

Search the Scriptures! daily, nightly,
Truth that on life's threshold stands ;--
Like a beacon, burning brightly,

They will warn of treacherous sands.
Search the Scriptures! pray, believing,
Aged man with locks of snow,-
Trust in God! go on, receiving
Joy the world can never know.
Search the Scriptures! Jesus taught them:
Way, and Truth, and Life are they;
Saints in heaven long humbly sought them-
Saviour! help us to obey!

Boston, November, 1840.

ONWARD.

"Fleeting as were the dreams of old,
Remembered like a tale that's told,
We pass away."-Longfellow.

Onward, swift, the river flies,

Bounding to the silent deep,-
Onward, through the azure skies,
Far the glitt'ring planets sweep.
Onward wing the summer birds
To a distant, brighter sky,-
Onward float the mutt'ring words
Tempests speak so solemnly!

F.

Onward thus, a fleeting band,
Swiftly all our moment's fly;
Onward to the silent land,
Onward to eternity.

SABBATH EVENING THOUGHTS.

BY CHARLES LANMAN.

Ever since I was a child I have always thought the Sabbath to be the most beautiful of days. In the pilgrimage of life it is our resting-place; and as we approach it we may lay by all our cares, and prepare the mind for the society and converse of God and holy angels. Who is there, in the Christian world at least, that does not welcome with joy the Sabbath evening? To me it comes fraught with a thousand pleasing recollections of childhood, and in fancy I behold myself innocent and happy. It is the hour best fitted for calm and sober reflection-for the veil of twilight is spread

over the landscape, and seems to hide from view the busy cares of the coming week.

but

of wealth, in a distant clime, among strangers;
in the prime of manhood he was called to die, and
the cypress now sighs above his grave. Another
said "I long for the applause of men." Ambi-
tion urged him onward, and the world did for a
time listen to the magic of his name; but alas! he
too is among the forgotten dead. These three, the
dearest friends of my boyhood, have gone to the
world of spirits; and the fourth, the most unworthy
one of all, is still in the land of the living. Strange
and mysterious indeed are the workings of Provi-
dence!

dered at the carelessness with which its inhabitants
In thinking upon a great city, I have often won-
look upon a passing funeral. They are so much oc-
cupied with temporal pursuits--so anxious to become
great, and rich and powerful, that they seem to be
ignorant of the fact that they all must die. It is
strange that men should be so heedless of that so-
lemn hour, when the soul leaves the body and wings
its flight to Eternity.

tion bear ample testimony. All bespeak change, decay, and death.

That we must die, the works of the whole crea

We twine our affections about the heart of a young and delicate child; we delight to caress it, and we hope the innocent creature will live a long and joyous life; but in one short hour it is cut down by the rude hand of Death, and perishes like a flower in the bud. Ought we to weep because that child has gone to rest in the bosom of its God? Every thing that we love must die. The father and mother, the tender husband and wife, and affectionate brothers and sisters, and our

I have been standing this afternoon beside the mound where lies interred the body of a dear friend. Even beside his grave I was not sorrowful, for I knew that he had died a Christian; and I remembered the many happy hours we had passed together, when we were young and strangers to the world. It does not make me sad to think of the departed, when I know they have been cleansed in the blood of the Lamb. I know not why think-selves too, must all be gathered to the cold grave— ing upon death should make the heart gloomy! Is it because we wish our friends to live forever in this "valley of tears?" Are we so selfish as to mourn, because they are happy in another and better world? I love the poet and the Christian who could write these words:

I would not live always; I ask not not to stay,
Where storm after storm rises dark o'er the way!
The few lurid mornings that dawn on us here,
Are enough for life's woes, full enough for its cheer.

to that earth which is the receptacle of all. The grave-yard is a silent city, where we shall all repose in peace, and where the beggar is equal to the king.

In view of these things, to what must we look for consolation? Conscience answers-" to Religion." Let us think less of the vanities of earth, and more of God and his kingdom. It would be better to lead a Christian life, even if there were no reward beyond the grave. The memory of a good man is more sacred than that of an infidel or worldling, and therefore in this point of view we should be gainers. But there is another world, and there are rich rewards awaiting those who follow the religion of Jesus. It is a pure and holy How beautiful when it is the guardian How unearthly is its influence

It is twenty short summers ago, this day, that four happy boys were seated upon a beautiful hill in New-England. The services of the Sabbath were ended, and they had gathered there to gaze upon the setting sun. They looked with pleasure at the golden clouds, lingering in the west, but lit-religion. tle did they think those clouds were emblems of spirit of old age! themselves. I remember with what fond antici- upon the heart! Look at it, when the young man, pations each looked into the future. Before their visions, every thing was bright and full of promise. One, a dark-haired, noble boy, said, "I would be a sailor." He left his home to roam upon the sea; but the voice of the tempest does not disturb him proud step, the journey of life, until at last he now, for his body is beneath the wave. Another reaches heaven, and is a glad worshipper in the said "I wish to be an opulent merchant." He presence of his God.

in the vigor of life, is guided by its sweet and heavenly voice. Far beyond the boundaries of this world he beholds a light, and urged by the happiness which it points out, he pursues, with a strong

also left his home and friends, and became a man Is any young man anxious to win to himself the

love of the wise and good, and is he anxious of be- the reputation of the highest famed for genius, and coming the leader of the brave and noble, he must be without Religion.

be guided in all his actions by the spirit of virtue. Religion is the only antidote for Death. If we To him the voice of wisdom says-"Let no earthly walk in the path which God has pointed out in his fascinations, no corrupting sentiments, no hollow Holy Bible, we shall not be afraid to die. If we example, seduce you from the path of virtue, keep his commandments, and follow the example and plunge you into whirlpools of inevitable of the meek and lowly Saviour, when we are called ruin."

to pass through the valley which leads to Eternity, Religion! how beautiful, too, when it has made we shall be supported by His omniptent hand, and, its home within the bosom of a young and beauti- at last, shall be welcomed by Him and his anful female! See her at the hour of rest, when, gels into that glorious kingdom, prepared for the bending before her Maker, she offers up a fervent righteous from the foundation of the world. Readprayer, beseeching Him to forgive her sins, and er! this very night thy soul may be required of lead her in the path of uprightness and virtue. thee-therefore, I warn thee to prepare to die. With a clear conscience she lays her head upon her pillow, and her slumber is peaceful and happy. Borne as it were on the pinions of faith, her mind soars upward, and she beholds her future homethe heavenly Jerusalem. When morning dawns she awakes from her refreshing sleep, and enters again upon her duties of kindness and of love. Can it be denied that angels look upon such a being as upon a sister spirit?

Religion will make us happier even in this world. It is this alone which can administer consolation to the mourner, the persecuted, and the poor. It calms the troubled feelings of a bereaved mother, for it whispers in her ear that God has gathered to himself his own, and that she will meet the loved one in a few short years in a land where parting is not known. It tells the afflicted sister and beloved friend, that the time is coming when they will be reunited to the companion of their childhood; the brother that he will yet meet his departed and much loved sister; the father that he will again meet his lovely and much loved child. As for me I had rather be the poorest being upon the earth, the despised of the despised, than to be deprived of that sweet enjoyment which Religion alone can impart. When sorrow and disappointment gather around my path, to cloud my cherished hopes, I look upon the bright and perfect form of Religion, and, notwithstanding the chilling blast, I am resigned and happy.

The foundation of true Religion is everlasting. "The creations of the sculptor may moulder into dust; the wreath of the bard may wither; the throne of the conqueror may be shivered by an opposing power into atoms; the fame of the warrior may no longer be hymned by the recording minstrel; the hope of the youth may be disappointed; but that which hallows the cottage, and sheds a glory around the palace-virtue-shall never decay. It is celebrated by the angels of God; it is written on the pillars of heaven, and reflected down to earth." I would rather be in his place; I would rather have the inward glory with which the poor man is crowned, than overshadow the world with my martial banners. Rather would I be the humblest of the lowly, and unknown to earth, but a Christian, than to have

TO THE COFFIN WORM.

O! worm of darkness and the tomb!
O! thou who livest midst the gloom
Of man's last narrow bed!
Reveal! thou loathsome reptile-tell
The secrets of thy dayless cell-

The dreamings of the dead!

Thinks she, when heave you 'midst her hair,
The fingers of her lov'd one there,
And murmurs vows of faith?
Or does her pale blue lip e'er quiver,
Or doth a blush come mantling ever
At words the dreamer saith?

*

*

Thy life, O worm! thy life-ay, thine—
Hath joys perchance, as well as mine,
Perchance thy hours of mirth !
Strange regulated sphere, where we
the hand which gives to thee

Must
weep
Thy feast beneath the earth!

SHELLEY.

Mr. T. W. WHITE:

P. G.

BOSTON, Dec. 10, 1840.

views, and, in a great measure, with the practice of Milton. With that prying injustice, which characterizes the English press, in relation to persons holding obnoxious opinions, the facts were misrepresented, and Shelley described as one of the most cruel monsters. So much for his matrimonial career. Now, as to his views of Religion and Marriage, "A Friend to Virtue" is shocked at my remark, that "opinions are not in themselves legitimate subjects of moral approbation or censure." He should have quoted the whole sentence. The reason adduced is, that they are independent of the will." This I maintain to be correct. I know not what are the grounds upon which "A Friend of Virtue" estimates his kind. For myself, it is my honest endeavor to look through the web of opinion, and the environment of circumstances, to the heart. Intellectual constitutions differ essentially. They are diversified by more or less imagination and reasoning power, and are greatly inDear Sir:-In a letter which appeared in your fluenced by early impressions. Accordingly, it is last number, animadverting upon my remarks on very rarely that we find two individuals who think Shelley, occurs the following observation-"I do precisely alike on any subject. Even in the same not pretend to be minutely acquainted with the deperson opinions constantly change. Their formatails of his life, having never read his letters re- tion originally depends upon the peculiar traits of cently published." And yet, confessedly ignorant mind with which the individual is endowed. His of the subject as he is, your correspondent goes on particular moral and mental experience afterwards to repeat and exaggerate the various slanders modifies them, so that, except as far as faithful which have been heaped upon the name of one inquiry goes, he is not responsible in the premises. whom I still believe should rank among the most We must then look to the heart, the native disponoble characters of modern times. It is not a lit-sitions, the feelings, if we would really know a tle surprising that while, in all questions of science, man. Thus regarded, Shelley has few equals. men deem the most careful inquiry requisite to Speculatively he may have been an Atheist; in his form just conclusions, in those infinitely more sub-inmost soul he was a Christian. This may appear tle and holy inquiries which relate to human cha- paradoxical, but I believe it is more frequently the racter, they do not scruple to yield to the most case than we are aware. An inquiring, argumenreckless prejudice. Far otherwise do I look upon tative mind, may often fail in attaining settled consuch subjects. When an individual has given the victions; while at the same time the moral nature most undoubted proof of high and generous charac-is so true and active, that the heart, as Wordsworth ter, I reverence human nature too much to credit says, may "do God's work and know it not." every scandalous rumor, or acquiesce in the sug-Thus I believe it was with Shelley. Veneration gestions of malevolent criticism, regarding him. was his predominant sentiment. His biographer Had your correspondent examined conscientiously and intimate friend, Leigh Hunt, says of him: “He the history of Shelley, he would have discovered was pious towards nature-towards his friends— that he never abandoned his wife, and thus drove towards the whole human race-towards the meanher to self-destruction. They were wholly unfit est insect of the forest. He did himself an injuscompanions. Shelley married her from gratitude, tice with the public, in using the popular name of for the kind care she took of him in illness. It the Supreme Being inconsiderately. He identified was the impulsive act of a generous but thought- it solely with the most vulgar and tyrannical noless youth. They separated by mutual consent-tions of God, made after the worst human fashion; and sometime elapsed before she committed sui- and did not sufficiently reflect that it was often cide. That event is said to have overwhelmed used by a juster devotion to express a sense of Shelley with grief, not that he felt himself in any the Great Mover of the Universe. An impatience manner to blame, but that he had not sufficiently in contradicting worldly and pernicious notions of considered his wife's incapacity for self-govern- a supernatural power, led his own aspirations to be ment, and provided by suitable care for so dreadful misconstrued. As has been justly remarked by a an exigency. After this event Shelley married writer eminent for his piety- the greatest want of Miss Godwin, with whom he enjoyed uninterrupted religious feeling is not to be found among the greatdomestic felicity during the short remainder of his est infidels, but among those who only think of relife. His conduct accorded perfectly with the ligion as a matter of course.' The more impor

The pillared firmament is rottenness,
And earth's base built on stubble.

Truly, yours,

H. T. TUCKERMAN.

tant the proposition, the more he thought himself cial institutions; but, as far as my experience bound to investigate it; the greater the demand goes, they are full of error, and do great injustice upon his assent, the less upon their own principles to humanity. I respect the man who in sincerity of reasoning he thought himself bound to grant it." of purpose discusses their claims, even if I cannot Logical training was the last to which such a na- coincide in his views. Nor is this all. I cannot ture as Shelley's should have been subjected. lose sight of the fact, that Shelley's nature is but Under this discipline at Oxford, he viewed all sub-partially revealed to us. We have as it were but jects through the medium of mere reason. Ex- a few stray gleams of his wayward orb. Had it ⚫ceedingly fond of argument, in a spirit of adven- fully risen above the horizon instead of being preturous boldness he turned the weapons furnish- maturely quenched in the sea, perchance its beams ed him by his teachers, against the venerable would have reflected at last the holy effulgence of form of Christianity, and wrote Queen Mab. Be the Star of Bethlehem. Let us pity, if we will, it remembered, however, he never published it. the errors of Shelley's judgment; but let not preThe MSS was thus disposed of without his know- judice blind us to his merits. "His life," says ledge, and against his will. Yet at this very time his wife, "was spent in arduous study, and in acts his fellow-student tells us that Shelley studied fif- of kindness and affection. To see him was to love teen hours a-day-lived chiefly upon bread, in or- him." Surely there is a redeeming worth in the der to save enough from his limited income to assist memory of one whose bosom was ever ready to poor scholars-stopped in his long walks to give support the weary brow of a brother-whose puran orange to a gipsey-boy, or purchased milk for poses were high and true-whose heart was enaa destitute child-talked constantly of plans for the mored of beauty, and devoted to his race: amelioration of society-was roused to the warm-if this fail, est indignation by every casual instance of oppression-yielded up his whole soul to the admiration of moral excellence-and worshipped truth in every form with a singleness of heart, and an ardor of feeling, as rare as it was inspiring. He was, according to the same and kindred testimony, wholly unaffected in manner, full of genuine modesty, and possessed by an insatiable thirst for knowledge. Although a devoted student, his heart was unchilled by mental application. He at that time delighted in the Platonic doctrine of the preexistence of the soul, and loved to believe that all knowledge now acquired is but reminiscence. Gentle and affectionate to all, benevolent to a fault, and deeply loved by all who knew him, it was his misfortune to have an early experience of ill, to be thrown rudely upon the world-to be misunderstood and slandered, and especially to indulge the wild speculations of an ardent mind without the slightest worldly prudence. Shelley, phrenologically speaking, had no organ of cautiousness. Hence his virtues and graces availed him not in the world, much as they endeared him to those who enjoyed his intimacy. In these remarks I would not be misunderstood. I do not subscribe to Shelley's opinions. I regret that he thought as he did upon many subjects for his own sake as well as for that of society. The great mass of his poetry is not congenial to my taste. And yet these considerations do not blind me to the rare quality of his genius-to the native independence of his mind—to the noble aspirations after the beautiful and the true, which glowed in his soul. I honor Shelley as that rare character a sincere man. I venerate his generous sentiments. I recognize in him qualities which I seldom find among the passive recipients of opinion the tame followers of routine. I know how much easier it is to conform prudently to so

THE ROSE:

VERSIFIED FROM THE GERMAN.

BY MRS. E. J. EAMES.

"I see all the flowers around me die, yet only of me they say-Alas! for the fading Rose--the early perishing Rose!'

I.

The Queen of the Flowers sat on her Throne,

But the rosy gems from her crown were falling-
And a paleness was o'er her beauty thrown,
For she heard the Death-Spirit on her calling!
Lowly she bent her royal head,

And mourn'd in tones of plaintive sweetness,
That mortals should call her the fading Rose--
The Rose of early perishing fleetness!

II.

"Ungrateful man! do I not make

My span of life (though short) delicious-
Yield you rich perfume-e'en after death?
Yet there is no bound to human wishes.
I see all my sister flowrets fade,
And their blighted forms around me lying;
Yet only of me 'tis sung and said-

Alas! for the Rose so early dying!"

III.

"Be not displeas'd with us, lovely one,"

Said a fair young maiden standing by her--""Tis not that thy race is so swiftly run

But we fain would fix thy destiny higher.