The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1855-09-25 00:00:00

114 other part of the world could produce its equal. The im mediate cause of the wreck was the steamer H. R. W. Hill running' into us, owing to misunderstanding the bell signal ; most providentially she caught alongside of us after striking ; if she had not done so, God alone knows who could have been saved. As far as I could ascertain, all the first-class passengers were saved. Do not stare at the word first-class, for although in this country of so-called equality, no difference of classes is acknowledged, poor helpless emigrants are taken as deck passengers, and as freight is the great object, no space is set apart for them ; they are stowed away among the cargo as best they can he, with no avenue of escape in case of accidents, and with the additional prospect of being buried beneath bales and barrels. I believe fifteen passengers perished in this way : one poor Englishwoman among the deck-passengers fought her way through the freight, and, after being nearly drowned and trampled to death under the hoofs of the cattle, succeeded in escaping. A slave merchant, ;with about a dozen negroes, managed to save all of them, inasmuch as, being valuable, he had them stowed away in a better place. The moment the wreck was completed, we proceeded up the river, wasting no time in trying to save any part of the cargo or luggage. My own position was anything but a pleasant one, though I trust I was truly thankful for my preservation. I found I had _managed to throw my desk between the two steamers, and it was therefore irrecoverably lost, with all my papers, letters of credit, journal, &c. I had also lost everything else except what I had on,—rifle, guns, clothes, —all were gone. A few things, such as money, watch, note-hook, which I always kept in my pockets, were all my stock in trade. Fortunately my friend had saved his papers, and thus our identity could be established at New Orleans. In the course of a few hours we saw a fine steamer coming down the river, in which we embarked, and again pursued our journey south. In the afternoon we passed several pieces of the wreck: the shores were covered with the casks of pork and mustang liniment which had formed a great part of our freight. At one place, a large portion of the wreck was made fast ashore, and being 'plundered by the settlers on the bank; boxes and trunks were all broken open and cleaned out—little boats were flying across the river full of pork and other prizes—it was an universal scramble in all directions, and appeared to be considered as lawful plunder by them as if they had been Cornish wreckers. It was hopeless to try and recover anything, so we continued our journey, and left our goods to the tender mercies of the landsharks on the banks. The preceding is a fair specimen of our author's descriptive talent, and although by no means free from the blemishes of style to which we have pre viously alluded, the scene and circumstances are nevertheless depicted with skill and effect. Little Millie and her Four Places. By Margaret Maria Brewster. Edinburgh : Thomas Con- stable and Co. The object of this simply-written, and, though simple, really eloquent little tale, is to inculcate the beauty and usefulness of patience and docility on the young, particularly of the lower classes. The story is that of a village school-girl, the daughter of a widow, who, with the best inten tions for her daughter's future welfare, maintained her in such a position at the village school as secured for her the fullest amount of elementary education afforded by the humble seminary ; but anxious, in her mistaken kindness, to save the poor girl from over labour, the indulgent mother kept her entirely ignorant of household work. Forced by narrow fortune, the little girl, who had been the quickest and most successful pupil of the school, as well as the idol of her mother's care, has to betake herself at an early age to domestic service. Here the accomplishments she had acquired at school are found to be sorry sub stitutes for that more practical training which the unthinking kindness of her mother had prevented her from acquiring, and the absence of which subjects her to bitter and oft-repeated humiliation. Possessed, however, of really good natural sense, and imbued with the principles of Christian patience and humility, she attracts the attention of several parties, who, fortunately for her, impart in gentle and persuasive ways the knowledge of those household duties of which she was ignorant, thereby rendering her at once useful and happy in her humble sphere. In the progress of the SUPPLEMENT TO THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. story, Amelia Linton, the " Little Millie " of the tale, passes through four " places" as probation ary scenes in the brief and inartificial drama, in the course of which she arrives at last at the enviable position of a really intelligent and useful domestic ; one who, knowing her duties, performs them from a sense of duty, instead of rendering her services in a perfunctory and disdainful manner. Throughout the whole of her training the admirable working of the " law of love " is carefully and delightfully inculcated. Ultimately, as in all such cases, poetical justice is done, and " Little Millie " becomes the happy wife of a happy and good " farmer husband." The tale, as already said, is artlessly told ; but the tale weaving is the least valuable portion of the and is obviously subservient to the good lessons conveyed in the course of its develop ment.- It is eminently calculated to be use ful, and should form part of every school library in the kingdom. Within its few pages will be found practical teaching for all classes. The harmony resulting from affection is touchingly indicated by its contrast with the evil agency of tyrannical sway—in its few per suasive chapters the heart is touched while the reason is satisfied. A useful chapter in this little manual will be found in the " hints to young girls going to service." On the whole Miss Brewster has rendered good service , particularly to the humbler classes of society, by the publication of this unpretending work. The Museum of Science and Art. Edited by Dr. Lardner. London : Walton and Maberly. This useful and interesting miscellany of popular science has now reached its seventh volume, and still continues as fresh and instructive in its con tents as these were when it first courted general attention, In the volume now under considera tion we have plain and suggestive expositions of the phenomena of tides and other matters of terrestrial importance, together with popular ex planations of various astronomical peculiarities, including a comprehensive as well as popular exposition of the nebular theory. In optics the prevailing opinions of scientific men are lucidly shown, and some of the most pleasing experi ments with optical instruments are carefully ex pounded. The Christian Family Advocate, Edinburgh Murray and Stuart. The September number of this pleasing serial continues to discuss religious and moral topics with its customary propriety and success. Its well-qualified editress has commenced to enrich its pages with a series of chapters on English composition, the second of which appears in the present number. This is a new and useful feature in such a publication, and it is one which must aid greatly in extending the popularity of the work, which also is deserving of encouragement from the sensible remarks it contains on Education. LAURA G.RAHAHE ; OR, THE RESULT OF A REVERIE. LAURA GRAHAME stood where they had left her ; the " farewell" of the grave Walter Elliot and her gay cousin still rang upon her ears, and Grace's warm kisses still burned upon her lips ; she returned their farewell with her usual smiling dignity, and stood motionless, watching their re treating forms until the trees hid them from her eyes. Gradually the smile faded from her lips, and a look of deep settled sorrow clouded her young face ; the easy dignified attitude was lost in the drooping figure and dejected expression. We will leave her thus, lost in painful reverie, and sketch for our readers her previous history. Laura Grahame was left an orphan when only 1°7 6. 05 [SEPTEMBEr; ,—; --- o pr, . con ts three years of age ; her father died' 0 - e ; to . hin l Off' tion, and her mother soon follow-- --,4 1% 0 grave. Mr. Danvers, h er m other' s to r ts i adopted the orphan, _and . no paren t's c li nq be more tender than that which h er aunt aunt lavished upon the little Laura- bicivor owned large estates in the West Indies, wool f became the property of the orphan. a 0 0 1 ,0 was about ten years old her uncle an ji i i c moved there, with Laura and. their ° 0 , iie Grace, then just seven years of age- ifl / ills They had been but one year in. th eir , 0 0/9 0 0 when Mrs. Danvers was taken da n g e 'bet and the physicians soon pronounced 4 hopeless. , 1 , no so It was a darkened room, in,wwen, 4 , A ti pli save the low breathings of the inTs a uf get t ioi stealthy movements of Moma, the old n . ~, h be heard. Laura sat by her aunt's Easw ooo l7 her fevered hand in one of her own e in while the other was pressed upon Wivor burning brow. A strange feeling o f s 1 presentiment of evil kept her silent. o f, " Laura," said Mrs. Danvers in s ~11 ° tone. Aor o "I am here, dear aunt Emily. OF - iolv for you ?" ;11141,00161 " Nothing, darling. My poor ch , --0,, 0 , lost your own mother, and now I, vill ° o o ',ool to fill her place, am about to leave yot i ltir " Oh, aunty, how can I do Niro,•oe sobbed the child, all her long NEP' fa al bursting forth. b ijo) ;e r I ° ' " You have been a good, dutifal c , 9° darling, and a great blessing to ill e c d ile must be a double daughter to yea r ti , ii , , and a dear, older sister to my Grace . l i atrl' A t " Oh, if I were but older," sa l c o 0",,i1 would be her mother, as you have 1 0 0 4 4, r i p "You are old enough, Laura, t ° , fole r t iol influence over her. She loves you yo you can, by • example and affectil tbyietride good or evil. You are serious s ii iirairgo, beyond your years, while Grace is CiP i.e tt ° and gay, but affectionate and frank,, - 0 P tiii ' her, Laura, by love, as I would ' ef te were I to remain." al ° be ° Aff "I will, I will, dear aunty l eile oci itill cation and interests shall alwa/ s ' 1 3 ts " t 0 her good." e A i g 0 Ile yt " Poor Laura! you are young t 1 0 ts - oa need a mother's care yourself ; b, ll 5 0 le de I you. Remember, she has 0 114 al s 0 1 father." nli se toel) the 4O 4.es . ~ . Faithfully did Laura keep 4 o,' s V pi; the dying. Young as she was s' od, ' fol e ble obligations it imposed upon her' s ifsi. b j l J9 said, her own interests always g a med "; vv . cousin's. Laura's tasks were Ors i c : lot of diligence, in order that wil ed racy ° 0 0 assistance in hers it should " these tif ief oot o yl, There was a warm love betwee n c old tors of! less ones that nought but deatl! N eil / poly Wa l l V t h er en Ell L io a t u , r a a ywouansgamboauntinnEheerasitiViii?o,s4o;; was much interested, cam gr. j e y year t be . e v ir father had been for m iite partner in business, and an Vi rY aS t u er u 'd on a fir lll ,e ffi , ll 2 ter o / , his own father, sought and I° tl ha uds c lot P his former partner. a m ll e e di w c s a l stlie cle b a a t c l oora j ili v gent young man, hcleoaslethapspevliecraetliyo,natnodhtih. his h p o h : ye s s ' ic il o i tt o s io r v e s c re tio o 4, ; a winter in a warmer dim s . t i, bizt w a d cip .i i Mr. Danvers to pass i t vil ctel e ' o rlY ei was e xpe c e a ,i accepted, and Walter , in t he t o .0 ~ It was a bright clear u nie, sicl‘? hagfr,l November, when e a rrive Week t with his long sea volaging fall/.0 house. Grace was sPen gr . W a lter, 1 3 ' d van= with Mrs. Ellis ;