Daily American telegraph., 1852-07-29


took his youthful wife with him to Hong Kong,
China, where the couple were visited by a
wealthy mandarin. The latter regarded the
lady very attentively and seemed to dwell with
delight upon her movements. When she at
length left the apartment, he said to the hus-
band in broken English worse than broken
China):
"What give you for that wifey-wife yours?"
"Oh!n replied the husband, laughing at the
singular error of his visiter, two thousand
dollars
This the merchant thought would appear to
the Chinese rather high figure; but he was
mistaken.
"Well," said the mandarin, taking out his
book with an air of business, "s'pose you give
her to me; give you fUe thousand dollar"
!" 1t is difficult to say whether the young
merchant was more amazed than amused but
the very grave and solemn air Of the China
man convinced him that he was in sober ear
nest and he was compelled, therefore to re
fuse the offer with as much placidity as he
could assume The mandarin, however con-
tinued to press his bargain:
give you seven thousand dollar said he,
"you take 'em?"
The merchant, who had no previous notion
of the value of the commodity which he had
taken out with him. was compelled, at length
in the habit of selling their wives after they
were once in their possession-an assertion
which the Chinaman was very slow to believe
The merchant afterwards had hearty laugh
with his young and pretty wife and told her
that he had Just discovered her value as he
had that moment been offered seven thousand
dollars for her. a very high figure, Gas wives
were going" in China at the time.
Harper's Magazine.
ANECDoTE OF LAFAYETTE-Shortly after
Lafayette's second return from America, he
was at Versailles when the King was about to
review division of troops. Lafayette was in
vited to join the review. He was dressed in
the American uniform, and was standing by
the side Of the Due de Condo, when the King,
in his tour of conversation with the officers,
came to him. and after speaking on several
topics, asked him questions about his uniform
and the military costume in the United States.
The Kings attention was attracted by little
medal which was attached TO his coat in the
same manner as the insignia of orders are
usually worn in Europe and he asked what it
was Lafayette replied that it was a symbol,
which it was the custom of the foreign officers
in tho American service to wear, and that it
bore device The King asked what was the
device. To which Lafayette answered, that
there was no device common to all, but that
each officer chose such as pleased his fancy.
"And what has pleased your fancy" inquired
the King. my Device said the young Gen
eral, pointing to his medal 2 is liberty pole
standing on a broken crown and sceptre.' The
King smiled, and with some pleasantly about
the republican propensities of French mar
quis in American uniform turned the CONVEX
station to another topic. Condo looked grave
but said nothing-To-Day
AN ENCOUNTER WITH BoA-Mr Mason
in his recently published work, Pictures in
Mexico relates the following circumstances,
which occurred TO him while lettering along
shady path in the forest: I" ] stepped aside for
a moment to admire rich tuft purple flow-
ers, my mule having plodded on about eight or
ten yards ahead when, as | turned from the
flowers towards the path, a sensation as of n
fash of lightning struck my sight, and saw
brilliant and powerful snake winding its coils
round the head and body of the poor mule. IL
was large and magnificent boa, of black
and yellow color, and it had entwined the poor
beast so firmly in its folds that ere he had
time to utter more than one feeble cry, he was
crushed and dead. The perspiration broke
out on my forehead as thought of my narrow
escape; and only remaining moment to view
the movements Of the monster as he began to
uncoil himself rushed through the brushwood,
and did not consider myself safe until | was
entirely free of the forest"
HEALTH.-Do not be tempted to oycr.exer.
ton. 1t is not by few surprising efforts that
the steam engine penetrates the solid rock. or
lifts enormous weights but by quiet unceasing
application and so must the farmer allow him
self time-the more labor to be accomplished
the greater the necessity for system and eau
ton. A sudden effort and haste often disables
hand for a whole season Drink sparingly
Of cold water when heated-drink slowly, q
swallow at time, taking the glass away from
the lips at each swallow Retire early and rise
early. Man alone perverts nature in transpo-
sing the order Of time for rest. The birds and
beasts retire and rise early
Night is the time for rest
= now sweet, when labors close
70 gather round the aching breast
Inc curtain Of repose
stretch the tired limbs and Law tho hand
upon one own delightful bed"
HoME.-Love watches over tho cradIo &C tho
infant, over the couch Of the AGED o,or re
welfare and comfort Of each and ALI e. ho
happy, man retires from the outdoor worid.
home In the household circle the troubled
heart finds consolation, the disturbed finds rest
the Joyous finds itself in its true element Pious
souls, when they speak Of death, say that they
are going home. Their longing for heaven i,
to them inconsistencies Jesus also represent
ed the abode Of eternal happiness under thu
picture OF home--a fathers house Does no
tins tell us that the earthly home is appointed
70 be a picture Of heaven, and O forctaste o
that higher home?