"Take care, take care, Master John," said I; "you're getting personal. You forget that I also am a schoolma'am."

"Well," answered John, apologetically, "you've got two eyes, and can see out of them too can't you? You're not beginning to lose your faculties quite yet," he added, mischievously.

I got up to give the youth a box on the ear, but he was too quick for me. He disappeared, laughing, from the room, and I soon heard him whistling below. In about fifteen minutes, however, back he came.

Here, Miss Carrie," said he, handing me a nice-looking parcel. Christmas is coming (some time), you know; so please accept, as a token of my regard.”

"Thank you," said I, quietly putting the paper in my pocket.

Two or three days afterwards I happened to think again of John's gift, I beg his pardon for forgetting it so long, and, pulling out the parcel, I proceeded to examine it. Four nice white wrappers came off, and still the present lay unrevealed; but in the fifth, laid with the utmost care, I beheld a pair of eye-glasses (minus the glasses), the rims manufactured of brown straws, in imitation, no doubt, of Miss Jenkins's gold ones, and these few words in the handwriting of Master John Fordyce :

Please wear, for fear of accidents."

BOMBARDMENT OF SUMTER.

BY MILLINOCKET.

THE HE failure of the assault on Wagner caused a modification of the plans of the general commanding the Federal forces. Had Wagner fallen, our breaching batteries could have been erected within close range of the walls of Sumter, and our heavy projectiles would have made short work of the piles of brick of which the fortress was composed. But our columns had been repulsed in the evening attack, and it was evident that Wagner was too strong to be taken by assault, and that it could only be reduced after a protracted siege. As the guns of Sumter would annoy our batteries during this siege, General Gillmore resolved to silence them before he proceeded to active operations against Wagner. But how was this to be done? Sumter was more than two miles distant, and, with the exception of Fort Pulaski, no fortification had then been breached, even at the distance of a mile, by

The rebels felt perfectly secure, and the distinguished rebel engineer Beauregard assured his troops that Sumter could not be injured by our guns until Wagner should fall, and our batteries be erected nearer the point of the island, and therefore closer to Sumter. But our skilful engineer Gillmore thought otherwise, and believed that he could hurl his shot over Wagner and destroy Sumter, even if it was more than two miles distant. With great energy he erected his batteries, and mounted them with cannon whose range and power had not been seen since the time of the famous siege of Constantinople, in the middle of the fifteenth century, when the grand old city, after a thousand years of splendor, fell before the colossal cannon of the Ottomans.

"Can you," said Mahomet II. to an Hungarian cannon-founder, Orban, "found me a piece sufficiently like the thunderbolt that a ball launched by it may shake the walls of Constantinople?"

"I can found you one,” replied the renegade artisan, "that would overthrow the ramparts of even Babylon."

Orban then cast for the sultan a cannon of bronze, the ball of which was twelve palms in circumference, and weighed twelve hundred pounds. (The solid shot of our enormous twenty-inch Rodman guns weighs only one thousand and fifty pounds.) This colossal engine of destruction, with eleven others of like dimensions, was brought to bear upon the strong walls of Constantinople, which had successfully withstood the attacks of more than twenty sieges, during a period of ten centuries. These guns were called the Twelve Apostles, and not only has history preserved a record of them, but their tremendous effects are still visible on the shattered walls of the Bosphorus, and on the ruined ramparts of Rhodes, whither they were carried when Solyman the Magnificent attacked that stronghold of Christendom. The Turkish cannon which guard the Dardanelles to-day, though smaller than the celebrated Apostles, are larger than any ordnance now used by the civilized nations.

But the Ottoman cannon, though of immense caliber, were of short range, while the guns which General Gillmore proposed to use, though of smaller dimensions, were of far greater power and range. In fact, they could have silenced the ancient Turkish batteries at the distance of three miles, and without receiving a shot in return.

Our engineers commenced the erection of

our breaching batteries against Sumter on the night of the 25th of July, and the work was pushed with great vigor, both night and day. Nothing interfered with the labors of our troops; neither the drenching rains, nor the withering heat of an almost tropical sun, nor even the fierce bombardment of the watchful enemy, whose shells tore in pieces many of our men while working in the trenches.

To erect these batteries, which were eight in number, many thousand men were required. A great many men were needed to relieve, every few hours, the fatigue parties in their perilous and exhausting labors in the trenches; and several thousand more were engaged on the adjoining islands, cutting and hauling the timber for the batteries, magazines, stockades, frises, &c.

During these labors, Colonel Serrell, of the engineers, conceived the idea that he could erect a battery on the wet marsh a mile to the westward from Morris Island, and, after mounting one of his two-hundred-pounder Parrott guns, toss a few shells into Charleston, even though it was five miles distant. The idea of erecting a heavy battery on a trembling bog, where a pole could be run down sixteen feet without touching bottom, seemed to be absurd; and so the lieutenant who was ordered to build it viewed the plan as entirely visionary, and, in making his requisition on the depot quartermaster for materials, he requested one hundred men, eighteen feet high, to wade through mud sixteen feet deep. The lieutenant found himself under arrest for his pleasantry; but the work was commenced and finished in fifteen days. This battery was built entirely of sand bags, laid on a heavy foundation of timber sunk several feet into the mud. A single gun was mounted in it, - a two-hundred-pounder, - and it was floated out at night, on a raft of pine timber, to its place.

Finally all was ready, and a detail was made from the Eleventh Maine Regiment to man the gun, which was to be fired at night. Millinocket had the honor of giving it its famous name- the Swamp Angel.

The distance to Charleston was so great that the gun had to be fired at an elevation of thirtyfive degrees for the projectile to reach its destination.

Late at night the first shot was fired. Upward went the shell, so high in the sky that the glimmer of its burning fuse was lost to our view. Then we listened for the distant explosion; but the distance was too far. Again and again we threw the shells; but the strain on the gun was too great, and it burst at the thirty-fifth round.

The first shell struck a warehouse belonging to a gentleman originally from the State of Maine, and nearly killed a Yankee from the same state. The people of Charleston were thrown into great consternation when the shells came descending from the skies and exploding in their midst. Many ludicrous stories have been told of the panic that prevailed during the darkness of that night.

Beauregard was mortified and very indig. nant, and threatened dire vengeance if we continued to toss our bombs into an unprotected city. The bombastic hero had encircled the city with hundreds of cannon, and believed it impregnable. But, when we hurled our shot miles over his head, he then whined about the defenceless citizens.

By the 16th of August our batteries were so far completed that all the guns were in position, and ready to fire, with the exception of the great three-hundred-pounder. This immense gun, which weighed twenty-seven thousand pounds, could be handled only with great difficulty. It had to be hauled by hand from the dock to the battery, which was more than a mile, and the path lay through deep sands, and marshy land overflowed by the tide. Three times it broke down the gigantic wheels between which it was slung; and it could be moved only at night, lest the enemy might perceive it, and injure it with their shells. This huge gun, though not quite so big as the colossal cannon of Orban, which required five hundred pounds of powder, -so tradition says, could throw its immense shell, of three hundred pounds' weight, nearly six miles. A keg of gunpowder was used for a single charge, and the shell required two thirds of a keg to fill it.

On the 17th of August the batteries were completed, and they contained nearly forty great guns and mortars. There were one threehundred-pounder, six two-hundred-pounders, nine one-hundred-pounders, besides two eightyfour-pounder Whitworth guns, a number of thirty and twenty-pounders, and the great mortars, comprising in all the most effective batteries ever used to breach a distant fortification.

On the morning of the 17th of August the bombardment commenced. The land batteries opened a terrific fire. The monitors Patapsco and Passaic boldly moved up the harbor, and plunged their shot directly into the face of Sumter, while the huge Ironside, with the five other monitors, ranged themselves alongside Fort Wagner, and raked the batteries with grape-shot and shell, so that the gunners could not stand to their guns and live. At

Emma. What, for being ugly-looking? Laura. No, I don't mean exactly that, either; but it isn't pleasant to see them round.

Maggie. Well, we hold, in this part of the country, that character is the true test of merit, and not mere appearance.

Emma. Yes; and many of the best people in the world have been the ugliest, or homeliest, as we call them here. Our old minister was so plain, he used to say, laughingly, that his horse was afraid of him; but he was almost an angel, for all that.

Maggie. Handsome is that handsome does, is the motto in our community.

Laura. Well, for my part, I want to see good looks as well as good behavior; and if you have many more specimens like this that I have described, I shall go home.

Emma. I am afraid, dear, you will find many here not up to your high standard.

Maggie. What would she think, Emma, of the widow Tibbs, under the hill?

year for others, until, in her old age, every hair of her gray head is loved by us all, and every home in the village is open to her; for, wherever she comes, an angel seems to attend her.

Emma. That is a true picture, Laura; and if you knew her, you would love her, as we do.

Laura. I don't see anything so wonderful in the sketch. You can find better than that any time in a story paper.

Maggie. Why, Laura!

A knock at the door. Enter Miss MOFFATT, the lower part of her face muffled; gray hair; dress as described by LAURA, very old-fashioned, but neat. EMMA and Maggie bot' rise to greet her, and lead her to a seat.

Maggie. Dear Charity, this is so good for you to come to see us! I am the more glad, because Emma and I have a young visitor here from Frothville, who I know will like to be acquainted with you. Miss Laura Manners, cousin Charity.

Laura. (Aside.) The very old witch of the

dener?

Maggie. Or of Dolly Sloate, the miller's daughter?

whom my friends hold in such high esteem. Charity. And it gives me pleasure to meet you, my dear miss. Such pleasant and bright

Maggie. Or of Mr. Doolittle, the grocer? Laura. There, do stop, girls, for pity's sake! Is it possible there are so many ugly, homely people in this place?

Maggie. Why, this scarcely begins the list of the very homely ones, and the degrees are many between them and perfection.

Emma. Ah, there's one we've forgotten, and we should have named her firstMiss Charity Moffatt. O, if you but knew her, Laura! Laura. What of her, pray?

on the flowers, giving them new vitality. I am a plain body, Miss Manners, and there come to me seasons of sadness, when I imagine I am no more useful than ornamental; but these young creatures dispel the mist, and give me new assurance for the struggle that is almost over. Thank God for your youth and beauty, Miss Manners; but cultivate cheerfulness of spirit and holy trust, that, if you are deprived of both the former, the latter will be an anchor to you, as it has been to me.

Maggie. When she was young, the story goes, many, many years ago, she was engaged to be married to a young man who went to sea. She was handsome and good, and everybody loved her. Well, just as he was expected home, the news came that he was dead, and was buried in the ocean. She was very sad for a long time; but she was a Christian, and said she knew the sea must give up its dead, and she should meet him again; and therefore she did not despair. She then devoted all the love she felt for him to doing good, and was found everywhere among the sick, helping the poor, and, like an angel, ministering to the sorrowing. She took sick at last with some disease that destroyed her beauty; and ever since,

Charity. There is nothing like cheerfulness of spirit. It gives the zest to life, and without it the world would be dark indeed.

Maggie. Will you not stop with us?

Charity. No; I am on my way to visit Mrs. Green's sick child, and came in only to see if you would not accompany me. Can you not go and take your young friend with you?

Emma. Well, Laura, what do you say? Laura. I say, first, I ask forgiveness for my folly; for this is the person I described to you. Emma. We knew it all the time.

Laura. My frivolity must have pained you; but I promise you it shall do so no more. Don't think hard of my silliness, I beg you.

Maggie. Dear me, no; for we throw over all the loving mantle of CHARITY.

THIS

HIS body, which is composed of delegates from the different State Associations, held its thirteenth annual meeting at Boston, on Wednesday, December 8. This Association makes the laws and rules governing the game, and their annual deliberations are looked forward to with great interest each year by the base ball fraternity, who wish to learn if any changes have been made in the rules.

The convention met at the rooms of the Lowell Club, and for harmony of action and rapidity of legislation it surpassed that of any former year. The following states were represented at the meeting:

But few changes were made in the constitution and in the playing rules. The date of the annual meeting was changed to the last Wednesday in November. The profession question, which, it was expected, would excite considerable debate, was settled in a brief space of time by the striking out of Section 7, of Rule V., which is as follows:

"All players who play base ball for money, or who shall at any time receive compensation for their services as players, shall be considered professional players, and all others shall be regarded amateur players."

A rule was adopted whereby any club, who, in playing a match game, shall leave the field to avoid finishing the game, shall lose the game, and the club remaining on the ground shall be entitled to score nine to the opponents' nothing.

The National Chronicle, of Boston, was adopted as the official paper of the Association, and its editor, Mr. C. R. Byram, was commended for his efforts to keep the game clear of anything detrimental to its welfare.

Mr. Edward Duffy, who was expelled from the fraternity some two years ago, was reinstated to a full membership by a vote of the

Delegates

J. Wildey, W. A. Conant, J. C. Bertholf, W. Glenn, T. Cantwell, J. B. Wells, C. Bailey, G. R. Minot, Jr., H. B. King.

New Jersey, twenty-one clubs. Delegates J. H. Westervelt, C. O. Hudnut, S. Bellan. Pennsylvania, twenty-three clubs. Delegates -John J. Rogers, W. Moffatt, E. H. Hayhurst. Alabama, eleven clubs. Delegates C. R. Byram, C. E. Coon.

The Association adjourned to meet at New York city the last Wednesday of next November.

In the evening the delegates attended Selwyn's Theatre by invitation of the, Lowell Club; and after the performance they sat down to a banquet at the Parker House, provided by the Lowell and Harvard Clubs, over which the Mayor of Boston presided. A grand sleigh ride on the Brighton road the next day ended the attentions shown the delegates, and