The Sun.
London, England, 1850-07-08 00:00:00

ELIZA COOK'S JOURNAL.

If, according to the adage, " variety is charming,"
then, indeed, -Eliza Cook's Journal must be among
the most charming of periodicals. Subjects of serious
and of trifling interest mutually add to each others
attraction by their judicious combination. In turn-
ing over the pages of the monthly part just published,
this happy characteristic is immediately apparent.
Now we ponder over some thoughful " Words on
Railways ;" now we are thrilled with horror at a
tale of =the "Hungarian Revolution ;" now, in some
delightful chapters of "Mrs. Dumple's Cooking
School," Silverpen indirectly teaches the close rela-
tion of domestic and political,economy. " Daguerre
and his Successors," a " Bi(graphie Sketch of Mali-
bran ;" Savings Banks," " The Advance of the
Working Classes," and other equally instructive essays,
are contrasted with a variety of pleasing and beautiful
sketches, such as " Margaret's Wedding Ring" and
" Aunt Lizzy." The " Lessons for Little Ones"
contain stories adapted for youthful readers, and the
"Diamond Dust" is as miscellaneous and as valuble
as ever. Eliza Cook's Journal is always rich in
poetical contributions, conspicuous among which are,
of course, the compositions of the editress. Of these
the most beautiful is entitled " The Philosopher's
Stone." After comparing the delusive hopes which,
in sucession, delight and disappoint us in childhood,
youth, manhood, and old age, to the futile search of
the Rosicrucean, the poem concludes with the fol-
lowing truthful " moral" :
" Oh, what folly it seems to be striving to gain
Heaven's alchemy-secret with efforts so vain ;
Why struggle for bloom of celestial birth,
While neglecting the flowers beside us on earth ?
Let ui keep a 'good Conscience'—this talisman seems
To come nighest the charm of our chemical dreams,
'Tis the ray most direct from the Infinite Throne,
And the only enduring Philosopher's Stone.'"
The following sweet verses are rendered most attrac-
tive by their simplicity of style, and by the evidence
furnished by every line that they are the genuine
aspirations of a mother's heart:—

" TO MY INFANT DAUGHTER.
"1 (Time on thy tiny face, my May,
'With many sad doubts and tears,
And I fain would lift the veil, my May,
That covers thy future years. •
"But whatever thy God sees fit, my May,
To inflict of grief and care,
Be sure that thy mothi-r's heart, my May,
In each and all will share.
" I covet not wealth for thee, my May,
Nor beauty, so highly prized:
I've known the owners of both, my May,
Unloved, and oft despised.
" But I pray for thy portion to be, my May,
The tender and loving heart,
That early thou'lt learn to choose, my May,
The wiser, the better part.'
" And ever may'at thou possess, my May,
So much of peace, hope, and love,
As shall make thee a heaven on earth, my May,
And fit thee fur that above.

M. E. H. W."

CRICKET.

MARYLEBONE CLUB WITH CHESTER c. PRESENT

ETONIANS.

This is one of the trial matches to which the Etonians ara
subjected by the N. C. C. in anticipation of the public
schools' contests, which commence in the first week in
August. A perusal of the score will show that at the con-
clusion of the proceedings the difference between the con-
tending parties was no more than five runs, by that amount
the N. C. C. were hailed the victors. The final score was
thus :