The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-04-14

/ off mountain top into the domain OF the beau
| tiful.
| Maternal love finds an Interpreter in Hinck-
| ley, whose |" twin" lambs, weary OF gam ooas'
| lie on the grass before their mother. me
sober certainty of lhomefelt bliss rests SO ul=
m;st.kablv on that grave face, and settles 80
Comfortably in the lines of the homeiy ngure'
that one feels absolutely happy from sympathy,
and perceiyes that there are compensauonS
even in. being sheep. We, prescient, ration
al and dyspeptic, look forward to the time
when those little lambs shah come under the
knife of the cruel butcher man." but no
vision of impending mutton mars the repose OF
her happy present. Her household treasures"
all the wealth and blessing of her sheep life,
all that the world from Indus to the Pole"
can proffer, lies before her. The fulness of her
content cannot even brook the presence of the
flock, and with the exclusiveness and selfish
ness of proud and happy mothers, she has be-
taken herself to a secluded corner, where she
can feast her eyes, undisturbed, on her "bless-
ed babies Oh for the millennial day, when
"sprisg lamb and peas" shall not be incom-
patible with the exercise of the highest benevo-
lencel
But maternal love is in a terrible ferment
close by. A handsome cock, the real, old
fashioned /" rooster" of the barn yard, whose
lovely red wings and magnificent tail, arching
so gracefully and shining SO splendidly pink
and green in the sun, were the admiration OF
our childhood, has been treating one of his Sc
date wives and her young brood 70 picnic
excursion. BVt their rural felicity is suddenly
interrupted by the unwelcome appearance of a
hawk in the heavens. Down comes the vii
famous fellow, in awful gyrations. A series
of historical clucks from the terrified mother
notify the younglings that there is trouble IN
the camp. Fear does not precisely lend wings
but it spreads out to the fullest extent the
scrawny little ones they already possess, and
infuses wonderful enthusiasm into their slen-
der legs Nearer and nearer comes the foe,
striking Decline" for this so lately happy
family The pater familias grows shaky in the
knee-ioints. His neck feathers are ruffied with
rage and terror. But, though "scared to
DEATH he is evidently determined 'never to
desert Mrs. Micawber," and will show "puck
to the very tip of his plumed tail. Down swOop
the huge wings, widespread. The hideous
curved beak is ready for the prey. There IS a
fell side-gIance out of those wicked-looking
eyes of his. Will he make a dinner of that
one unhappy chick that is SO convulsively en-
deavoring to reach the mothers shelter? 1t
is to be hoped not Such parental care and
courage deserves better reward
Louis Lang gives us his idea of sewing
society" 1t is a nice place-nice piazza, very
nice girls, particularly nice young men only
We don't profess to be very well posted in the
proprties Of the feminine toilet-but really We
have very strong impression, that when we
frequented such assemblies in the days Of our
youth, the young ladies were not accustomed
to bloom out in corn-colored silk and white lace
dresses. However.
The evening meal" by J. T. Peele, is quite
charming Children are always charming-in
pictures. 4 beautiful little barefoot girl sits
Oh the rustic stoop with her porringer of bread
and milk, and her pet kitten with her porringer
keeps her company. The merriInent of the
little maiden has been for a moment checked
by some unseen intruder, unseen by US, not by
her-and there is fascinating, halfshy, half
arch look in the deep brown eyes. One white
shoulder has slipped out of the coarse frock,
and the whole attitude, the slightly bent head
and up-look, are fall Of childish grace. The
little one had forgotten the porringer, which
tits more and more, till the milk is in a very
precarious situation-the careless little thumb
is already enjoying bath. Never mind, pet,
it viii be just good, and kitty will rejoice in
all :" the drops that fall"
1t wos!d be pleasant to ramble thus through
the gallery, and note here rock, moss carpeted
and vine-draped; there, stretch Of sea-shore,
bare and grand; here, a waterfall dashing down
a wild guIly there, mountain masses heaped
up to the clouds. There are faces one would
like to stndy--wood-pa it would be pleasant
to thread-meadows in which we could dream
away many an hour-a group of shells, notified,
ribbed, and rainbow-tinted, and over-drooped
by branching coral, before which we stand,
marvellng how earthly dust can
g. suffer a seacbange