equally trifling in their origin and disgraceful in their character; until the silly couple made themselves so disagreeable to each other, that their home became unendurable, and they separated.

Now, I doubt not, the reader is ready to pronounce this quarrel about the opening of an egg, a foolish affair. It was so; and yet I seriously question if the first quarrel between a newly-married pair ever has a much more elevated beginning. Little things do great mischief, and are to be watched with suspicious care.

POWER OF A SMILE.

A DECENT Countrywoman, says an English divine, came to me one market-day, and begged to speak with me. She told me, with an air of secrecy, that her husband behaved unkindly to her, and sought the company of other women: and that, knowing me to be a wise man, I could tell what would cure him. "The remedy is simple," said I; "always treat your husband with a smile." The woman thanked me, dropped a courtesy, and went away. A few months after, she came again, bringing a couple of fine fowls. She told me with great satisfaction, that I had cured her husband; and she begged my acceptance of the fowls in return. I was pleased with the success of my prescription, but refused the fee.

A GEM.

THE sunlight that follows a shipwreck is not less beautiful, though it shines upon the remains of the broken bark; what is saved is so much more precious than that which has been lost. The domestic circle is always too small to allow of rupture; it is always too precious to make excusable any neglect to prevent or heal disturbance. There are enough to minister by hints and reports to domestic unkindness; and unfortunately the best, under such circumstances, are much prone to mistake, and thus misrepresent motives; and trifles, with no direct object, are magnified into mountains of unintentional offence. It is the same in social life. Let us guard against it. Delicate relations are like the polish of costly cutlery; dampness corrodes, and the rust, though removed, leaves a spot.

"A SOFT ANSWER TURNETH AWAY WRATH"

A HUSBAND, in a moment of hasty passion, said to her whom, but a few months before, he had promised to honour, love, and protect: "If you are not satisfied with my conduct, go, return to your friends and your happiness!"

"And will you give me back that which I brought to you?" asked the despairing wife.

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Yes," he replied, all your wealth shall go with you-I covet it not."

"Alas!" she answered, I thought not of my wealth

-I spoke of my maiden affections-of my buoyant hope-of my devoted love; can you give these back to me ?"

“No,” said the man, throwing himself at her feet "No, I cannot restore these; but I will do more; I will keep them unsullied and unstained. I will cherish them through life."

MORE PRAYER.

A LADY in Germany, who had been a sincere follower of Christ, but whose husband was still unrenewed, was very much afflicted on his account, and told a clergyman that she had done all in her power in persuading and beseeching him to turn from his evil practices, to no effect. "Madam," said he, "talk more to God about your husband, and less to your husband about God." A few weeks after, the lady called upon him, full of joy that her prayers to God had been heard, and that a change was wrought upon her husband.

THE MOTHER.

MATERNAL AFFECTION.

THE MOTHER.

"It may be autumn, yea winter, with the woman; but with the mother, as a mother, it is always spring."

I saw an aged woman bow

To weariness and care;

Time wrote in sorrow on her brow,
And mid her frosted hair.

Hope from her breast had torn away
Its rooting, scathed and dry;
And on the pleasures of the gay
She turn'd a joyless eye.

What was it, that, like sunbeam clear,
O'er her wan features run,

As, pressing towards her deafen'd ear,
I named her absent son?

What was it? Ask a mother's breast,
Through which a fountain flows,
Perennial, fathomless, and blest,
By winter never froze.

What was it? Ask the King of kings,

Who hath decreed above,

That change should mark all other things
Except a mother's love.

THREE DAYS OF AGONY.

L. H. S.

THE following beautiful story is literally true, and was first published in a lecture delivered by William Tracy, Esq., of Utica, on the early history of Oneida county.

One of the first settlers in Western New-York was Judge Wwho established himself at Whitestown, about four miles from Utica. He brought his family with him, among whom was a widowed daughter with an only child-a fine boy, about four years old. You will recollect, the country around was an unbroken forest, and this was the domain of the savage tribes.

Judge Wsaw the necessity of keeping on good terms with the Indians, for, as he was nearly alone, he was completely at their mercy. Accordingly, he took every opportunity to assure them of his kindly feelings, and to secure their good will in return. Several of the chiefs came to see him, and seemed pacific. But there was one thing that troubled him an aged chief of the Oneida tribe, and one of great influence, who resided at a distance of a dozen miles, had not yet been to see him, nor could he ascertain the views and feelings of the