of a Parisian theatre an excellent and much- never so keerful of anything as I was of that ar' "How much money did you lose ?" asked one HOW IKE DROPPED THE CAT. "Now, Isaac," said Mrs. Partington, as she came into the room with a basket snugly covered over; “take our Tabby, and drop her somewhere, and see that she don't come back again, for I am sick and tired of driving her out of the butter.— She is the thievinest creatur! But don't hurt her, Isaac; only take care that she don't come back." "I reckon there was a pretty good roll for a poor fellow like me-there was ten dollars-all I had 'ceptin sixty cents, and I had tew work plague Ike smiled as he received his charge, and the hard for it tew-up to my neck in warter mor'n old lady felt happy in getting rid of her trouble half the time. But the hangnation on't it is, I without recorting to violence. She would rather hain't got nothin' to pay my bill here or to get have endured the evil of the cat, great as that evil home with. Now, ain't I in a fix? Got nothing was, than that the poor quadruped should be into hum. When I get there-got to work and airn humanly dealt with. She saw Ike depart, in the the money agin, for I've got the darndest mean dusk of the evening, and watched him until he set of relations of any young fellow you ever seed; became lost to view in the shadow of a tree. It wal, there isn't one of 'em that's got the first cent was a full half hour before he returned with his and dad he's gettin old now, and used to drink so empty basket, and an unusual glee marked his aplike all git eout, that he hasn't got nothin. There pearance-it sparkled in his eye, it glowed in his was one of my aunts, who did have a little some-cheek, it sported in his hair—and Ike looked really thin, and the foolish critter married a crazy man, handsome, as he stood before the dame, and proclai"You know that, not to mince the matter, you and I swow he put through all the money she had med, the success of his mission. have a frightful squint !" in short meeter, and left her without a eent or an expectation. Fresh exclamations of despair from Samuel. Come," said his frined, after musing for a while, "if this marriage be, as I suspect, all a sham, you may have her yet." Explain yourself." "I know it." "Science will remove that defect by an easy and almost painless operation." "Did she drop easy, Isaac?" asked the old lady, looking upon him kindly, "and won't she A laugh here rolled in from one of the listeners, come back?" when the young man replied No sooner said than done. Samuel under-went "Oh, ye needn't laff, for its true, overy word the operation for strabismus, and it succeeded on't. And now, Mr. Tavern-keeper, can I stay perfectly. His eyes were now straight and hand-here tew nights or not? Don't know but I can some; but the marriage after all, was no shamthe lady became another's, and poor Samuel was forced to seek for consolation in the exercise of his profession. He was to appear in his best character; the curtain rose, and loud hissing saluted him. "Samuel !" "Where is Samuel ?" "We want Samuel!" was vociferated from pit and gallery. When silence was partly restored, the actor advanced to the footlights, and said-" Here I am, gentleman; I am Samuel !" "Out with the impostor!" was the cry, and such a tumult arose, that the unlucky actor was forced to fly from the stage. He lost the grotesque expression. the comic mask, which used to set the house in a roar ; he could no longer appear in his favourite characters. The operation for strabismus had changed his destiny; he was unfitted for tragedy, and was forced, after a time, to take the most insignificant parts, which barely afforded him a scanty subsistence. A YANKEE'S POCKET PICKED. A YOUNG Jonathan visiting Boston lately, for the purpose of seeing the wonders, had his pocket picked of ten dollars. After returning to the house where he was tarrying, he told his story. He was "rather raw," and the manner in which he explained the loss of his money, and the history he gave of himself and “relations,” were well calcula. ted to excite the mirth as well as the pity of those to whom he was talking. He entered the public room his countenance covered all over with sorrow and vexation-and exclaimed "Wal, here's a darned pretty reaw, anyhow! Perhaps ye wouldn't b'lieve I've lost that red mer. rocker wallet of mine, with every cent of money I had in it-ceptin about sixty cents I had in my pocket." { borry money enough of a man who's down here "I don't think I know him," said the landlord. 'Yes, you dew ; ye must know him, for he has been down to Boston twice. But that is neither here nor there, Mr. Tavern-keeper, my gal wants a glass of water, but I feel too jocfired ashamed of myself tew take it tew her. On certainly, you need not take it to her, will send a waiter into the parlor with it, or order it to her room-just which you please," answered mine host. "But that ain't it; I would like to treat her This appeal was so touching that a glass of "There" said the the raw one, as he slapped "Ah! how happened that?' asked the land. down the rhino," darn that the theif, I wish I had lord. seen him take the money-if I had, I swow I'd struck him in a minnit !" "Wal, I can't tell how it happened; I was "She dropt just as easy!" said Ike, letting his basket fall on the floor, and shying his cap upon the table, somewnat endangering a glass lamp, with a wooden bottom that stood thereon; 66 she dropt just as easy! and she won't come backyou may bet high on that." "But you didn't beat and mangle her, Isaac, did you? if you did I should be afraid she would come back and haunt us-I have heard of such things; and she looked anxiously in his face, but, detecting there no trace of guilt, she patted him on the head, and parted his hair, and told him to sit down and eat his supper, which the young gentleman did with considerable unction. "Isaac ! Isaac !" screamed Mrs. Partington, at the foot of the little stairsway that led to the attic where the boy slept, the next morning after the above occurence. "Isaac !" and he soon came down stairs slowly, rubbing his eyes as he came, She had disturbed his morning nap "Isaac," said she," what is that hanging yon. der to a limb of our apple tree?" One scattering tree, as she said, constituted her whole orchard unless she counted the poplar by the corner. "I can't see so far off," said Ike, still rubbing his eye. "Well, I should think it was a cat ; and it looks to me like our Tabby. Oh, Isaac! if you have done this!" and a tone akin to horror trembled in her voice. dare say she thought hard of us for doing it, but she hadn't ought to if she'd have considered a minute." Ike said no more, but went out and cut down the supposed suicide, with a serious manner, and buried her beneath her gallows, deep down among the roots of the old tree, and she never came back. The old lady told the story to the minister, and Ike vouched for it, but the good man shook his head incredulously at the idea of the sucide, and looked at the boy. He very evidently understood how the cat was dropped. TREATMENT OF MONOMANIACS. We often find that men who have accumulated large fortunes from small beginings, when they have passed the middle age of life, imagine themselves in poverty. A singular case has lately oc. cured, for the truth of which we can vouch :A large manufacturer, residing in the wilds of Yorkshire, one day called on the relieving officer of the district and asked relief. Appreciating instantly the state of mind in which the well known applicant was, the officer replied. "Certainly, Mr.call to morrow, and you shall have it." Satisfied, the applicant retired, and the officer hastened to the gentleman's son, stated the case. and expressed his opinion that the relief demanded should be given. "Give it," said the son, "and we'll return you the money." Accordingly the wealthy manufacturer next day received relief, and for many weeks regularly ap. plied for his five shillings per week, until at last the hallucination vanished, and his mind was com. pletely restored. It is possible that this little anecdote contains a valuable hint as to the proper treatment of monomaniacs. A STORY OF THE RAPPING. A STORY of the "knockings" was told us recently, which we think too good to be lost, and therefore give it a start. In the western part of New York the " spiritual manifestations" have created considerable excite. ment. Among the subjects of this excitement was a simple man, of middle age, whose bumps of marvelousness and reverence were equally large. He was, of course, superstitionsly religious, and the knockings of which he had taken eager occasion to be a witness, impressed him with the utmost awe. The man's wife, however, was a very different kind of a being. She scouted the "spirits," laughed at her husband, and took every occasion to rally him upon what she deemed his special weakness. One morning after the "old man" had been out to hear the knockings, the remembrance of which had stolen away a night's rest, he arose early, as was his wont, to make a fire. The wife was awake, and determined on having some fun. So raising himself on her elbow, she regarded her husband not more than half dressed, certainly, as he kneeled at the stove, and abstractedly poked among the ashes. A SCOTCH parson in his prayer, said, "Laird bless the great council, the parliament, and grant they may all hang together." A country fellow standing by, replied, "Yes, with all my heart and the sooner the better. I'm sure it is the prayer of all good people." "But, "I don't mean so that friends," said the parson, fellow does, but pray they may all hang together in accord and concord." "No matter what cord," replied the other," so 'tis a strong one." A person hearing of the death of another, said to an acquaintance, "I thought you told me that S ―s fever had gone off." "I did," replied the other," but I forgot to mention that he went off with it." AN Irish woman who had kept a little grocery was brought to her death bed, and was on the point of breathing her bedside "Jamie," she faintly said "there's Mrs. Malony, she owes me six shillings." "Och," exclaimed her husband, " Biddy darl. ing, y're sensible to the last." "Yas, dear-and there's Mr. M'Craw, I owe him a dollar." "Och, be jabers, and ye're jist as foolish as iver!" "ОCH, Jamie, an' did ye niver hear uv my great spach afore the Hibernian Society?" "No, Pat, how should I, for sure I was not on the ground." the Hibernian Society for a spach; and he jabers "Well, Jamie, you see I was called upon by I rose with the enthusiastsc cheers of thousands and tins of thousands, with my heart overflowing with gratitude, and my eyes filled with tears, and the divil the word did I spake !" IN AND OUT.—An Irish preacher was considerably annoyed (as many before and since have likewise been,) by persons getting up and leaving church during his sermon. His patience being exhausted, he stopped his discourse, and in a rowdy way exclaimed: "Go on my lad, I've seen the top of your head, that's enough!" The fellow, turning round with an angry menacing look, muttered— "I'll see you again, sir." "You had better see me now, 99 replied the preacher," for when I'm in the pulpit I fight for The wife applied her knuckle to the head board the Lord Jesus, but when I'm out of it I fight for of the bed: rap-rap rap! myself." In this city, Alton Z. son of Harvey and Mary Macy, aged 8 years, 11 months, and 18 days. In this on the 27th ult, Darius D. son of Darius D. and Catharine E. Keller aged 2 years and 15 days. In this city, 25th, ult. William Edgar, son of the late William Surfleet, aged 20 years, 5 months and 21 days. In the town of Livington, on the 24th ult. Philip R. Hicks "ged 51 years 11 months. In Stuyvesant, on the 22d. ult. Elizabeth, wife of Joel Gilbert. In New York, on Thursday, 20th, ult. Charles E. only child of Charles E. and Charity A. Cannon, aged 6 months. riginal Poetry. For the Rural Repository. TO REV. MRS. M. P. WILLIAMS. On her leaving her native Isle, for California. BY MRS. M. L. GARDINER. MARY, when on a distant shore. As twilight throws her curtain round, Of home, and home scenes, when the tears May faiths strong power calm all our fears, By pointing where, is never known The thought that those we love can die. Where cherished ones together meet, Are joys that never can decay, Are treasures, where no rust can come, Oh, sweetly you will converse bold, The joy while here, can ne'er be told, And never end in heaven above. Go to your husband, toil with him, Go, save the sinner doomed to die, Sag Harbor, L. I. Other lands may boast of beauty→→→ Fair Italy may wreathe her lyre But fairer still, sweet garden Isle, Thy crumbling towers, with ivy crowned- Yes, dear England !-well I love thee, THE HOURS. BY WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT. THE hours are viewless angels, That still go gliding by, And bear each moment's record up To Him who sits on high. The poison or the nectar, Our hearts' deep flower-cups yield, And some fly on by pinions gorgeous gold and blue, And some fly on with drooping wing Of sorrow's darker hue. And as we spend ench minute That God to us has given. The deeds are known before His throne; And we who walk among them, Like summer bees that hover And bear it far away; Their mission flight by day or night, THE BLIND MOTHER. SAY, shall I never see thy face, my child! That all may gaze, my precious boy, on thee, We are alone again, he never guessed Oh, should he e'er repent him he hath wed Or should his lip grow cold, his hand unkind, But shall I never see thee? Yes, my boy, I yet shall gaze, my darling, in thine eyes; HUMAN FRAILTY. PHILIP FRENEAU. DISASTERS on disasters grow, And those which are not sent we make; The good we rarely find below, Or, in the search, the road mistake. The object of our fancied joys With enger eye we keep in view: Possession, when acquired, destroys The object, and the passion too. The hat that hid Belinda's hair Was once the darling of her eye; 'Tis now dismiss'd, she knows not where; Is laid aside, she knows not why. Life is to most a naueseous pill, A treat for which they dearly pay: Let's take the good, avoid the ill, Discharge the debt and walk away. New Volume, October, 1850. RURAL REPOSITORY, Vol. 27, Commencing Oct. 19, 1850, EMBELLISHED WITH NUMEROUS ENGRAVINGS. Price $1-Clubs from 45 to 75 Cents. THE RURAL REPOSITORY will be devoted to Polite Literature, containing Moral and Sentimental Tales, Original Communications, Biographies, Traveling Sketches, Amusing Miscellany, Humorous and Historical Anecdotes. Valuable Recipes, Poetry, &c. The first Number of the Twentyseventh Volume of the RURAL REPOSITORY will be issued on Saturday the 19th of October, 1850. The "Repository" circulates among the most intelligent families of our country and is hailed as a welcome visitor, by all that have favored us with their patronage. It has stood the test of more than a quarter of a century; amid the many changes that have taken place and the ups and downs of life, whilst hundreds of a similar character have perished, our humble Rural has continued on, from year to year, until it is the Oldest Literary Paper in the United States. CONDITIONS. THE RURAL REPOSITORY will be published every other Saturday in the Quarto form, containing twenty six numbers of eight pages each, with a title page and index to the volume, making in the whole 208 pages. It will also be embellished with numerous Engravings, and consequently it will be one of the neatest, cheapest, and best literary papers in the country. TERMS. ONE DOLLAR PER ANNUM. TALES W. B. STODDARD, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR. THE DEAF PEDDLER. BY CATHERINE W. BARBER. SCOTCH SONG BY M'MACKIN. wouldn't use a new dress so for nothing, especially one that your father got for me. I do wish we lived a little nearer to a store. I am almost always wanting some little thing, and it would be so handy to pick up a few paper rags or a dozen or two of eggs now and then and run in and get them, without troubling the men folks about it; but that is a privilege, Ellen, I never expect to enjoy." 66 Perhaps there may come a peddler along be. fore to-morrow, mother," suggested Ellen, "Well, I really wish there would," continued Mrs. Davis. "I wish there would, and I don't see why they don't come along oftener now-a-days. Last spring, it was nothing but bob in and out all the day long. I have known as many as five call at the door in the course of twelve hours--but now they are as scares as snow-flakes in June. I do wonder what the reason is ?" "Maybe they stay at home during the hot season, and do something else-help make hay, per Farmer Davis replied that he guessed not, and then drove directly home. When he showed his treasures to his wife and daughter, you should have seen how pleased they looked. Mrs. Davis was sure that Mr. Davis was the most thoughtful of inen, and had an excellent taste too for picking out calico, while Ellen fairly danced for joy. The next week they had them cut out, and they work. ed along on them afternoons, as they had time.There was always plenty of house-work to do in the morning, and Mrs. Davis was sure to let none of it go undone. She was a thorough housewife, and kept the house as neat as a pin. They lived It was a warm afternoon in August. Farmer in a little farm-house, with a porch running along Davis' wife was just taking the last stitches in the the south side, next to the road, and Farmer Davis tuck of her calico gown-the gown which her hus- declared that there was no end to the morning. band had bought for her only a few weeks before, glories, bachelor-buttons, marigolds and such when he went up to town with the butter and cheese things which Ellen had planted about the stoop. which she and her daughter Ellen had been so busy And moreover he thought they really did look about all summer. Ellen sat close by her, busy pretty, afternoons when he came in from work, and at her's, for she too had one. Farmer Davis sat down there to read his newspaper, but he nev-haps," said Ellen. brought them both home at the same time, not as er said so. He was afraid that it would encourage "I don't believe that, Ellen; they are a great pay for his wife's and daughter's service-no, not Ellen to spend more time than she ought about such deal too lazy to work. I like to have them call by any means, for they never thought of asking pay, foolish things-she certainly spent time enough now and then, for it is handy getting things of them but because he thooght it would be a pleasant sur- there already, weeding, and watching and tying-but I won't believe many of them are very re prise to them, and moreover the merchant show. up, and he didn't know what not. He had declar. spectable. It always provokes me to see a strong ed him some very pretty calico, quite the prettiested that he had rather see a stalk of rye growing, man-stouter than either your father or little Jom. he declared that he had ever laid his eyes on.my, strolling about the country with a couple of There was a piece of dark-colored, with a brown trunks or a basket of vials hung to his arms. It ground, and wide green stripes with little green looks like little business-picking up a little hero trees all figured between, which he instantly de. and a little there-telling lies, too most of them, as cided would be just the thing for "mamma,' fast as they can speak, I should have a great deal he of late years called his wife, and then there was better opinion of them, if they were buying farms a piece of pink and white sprigged off beautifully, and settling down on them, as your father and I which looked as if it was made on purpose for Ellen. did when we were young," It was just the color of her cheeks, so fresh and rosy-like; so the good, kind-hearted old man laid down his whip, and told the merchant, Mr. Yardstick, that he might, he guessed, measure off four-ing the last stitch in her new dress, when she look. teen yards-seven yards off each piece. ed up with a puzzled face, and exclaimed: as Mr. Yardstick was very happy to obey all of Farmer Davis' orders, for he was one of his moneyed customers, although one would hardly have taken him to have been very forehanded, (that means rich when it is used in the country, gentle reader,) as he stood there with his thick boots and long cart whip, looking at the little matters which lay on Mr. Yardstick's counter, and thinking that it took a heap of finery to do the woman folks up there in town. Mr. Yardstick rolled up the calico in brown paper, and then, with a very obsequious bow, inquired if there was " anything else"-that phrase which a polite merchant is always sure to use. any day, than the prettiest posy in the world, and "Perhaps some of them are not so fortunate as father was in getting a good wife to settle down But, as I was telling you, Mrs. Davis was tak-with," said Ellen, laughing," and possibly some of them may not have money enough to buy farms, until they have made it by peddling." "I declare, Ellen, I cannot finish this to-night now, for I do not believe there is a hook and eye in the house. I do wish your father had thought far enough to have asked the merchant to have thrown in a box with the calico. I dare say he would, for he is very liberal about such things. When I go there to trade, I always ask him to throw in the thread and hooks and eyes, and he most always does. I declare, was there ever anything so unlucky! I wanted this dress to wear to Mrs. Nichol's quilting to-morrow afternoon, but I cannot wear it without catches-that is out of the question. This pinning dresses at the back tears them out, and looks very slatternish besides. I " "I dare say there isn't one among them all, deserving of a good wife," said Mrs. Davis, tartly.I would as soon see you married to a chimney, sweeper, as to one of them much rather see you married to a good, respectable chimney-sweeper, though his face was all the time as black as the pot-hooks." Ellen did not reply, bnt sat sewing, and think ing how a chimney-sweeper looked, for she had never seen one. Her mother, who had once been on a visit to New York, frequently said, that such a thing was " as black as a chimney-sweeper," and she had very sagely concluded that a chimney. sweeper was the blackest thing on earth-a negro, she fancied, must look delicate beside one. She was sure she didn't want the blackest man in the world for a husband, and then her thoughts reverted to a young man with beautiful black hair, black eyes, and a broad white forehead, whom she had seen at church a few Sabbaths before, and the idea came into her brain, that she had much rather marry him, than any peddler or chimney sweep in the world. such a manner that the backside of his head was three cents, the price she was in the habit of paying for tape, and laid them before him, motioning that she would take the tape at the same time. While sitting down in the chair which Mrs. "O, its tape that you want to.day, marm, is Davis placed for him, he took the precaution of in- it ?—yes, three cents, that is just what I ask for forming them in the same squeaking voice that "heit-you are the woman to trade with deaf peddlers was mighty deaf-deaf as an adder, and couldn't hear a mite without his trumpet, and next to nothing with it." Just then old Ruler, a toothless, decrepit old dog, After having become fairly seated, he commen. who was retained in the family because he was al-ced casting glances at the dog in the porch as if most as old as Ellen, and they all loved him, be- by no means certain that he was safe from Rugan to growl and bark out in the porch, where he ler's toothless jaws, though snugly seated in the had been sleeping all day, in the warm sunshine, house. or busying himself snapping at the flies which buz- Mortal 'fraid of a dog marm," he began, seezed around his head. He always took it uponing, that Mrs. Davis was observing his glances himself to give the alarm when a stranger was scen -" mortal 'fraid of a dog. I'm deaf you see, and approaching the house, and on the present occasion, can't hear them when they come close up behind he made all the fuss in his power. me, a barking, and bitting-I wish every one of them was to the bottom of the ocean, where they wouldn't trouble nobody. Want to buy anything to-day, marm?" "Be still, old Ruler," said Ellen, raising her eyes and glancing from where she sat, out into the porch, through the open door. Keep quiet, you are enough to frighten one." "Can I trade here any to-day, marm ?" said a small squeaking voice upon the porch steps-" get out, you puppy! get out! marm please to call off your dog, I'm afraid he'll bite me, sartin if I try to come in." The travelling merchant did not put his ear trumpet up to ascertain what answer was given. to his question, but commenced unlocking his tin boxes and displaying his assortment. At the same time he began naming in a parrot-like manner, the articles he carried. I say "parrot-like manner," for it was apparent that his mind was more intent upon the movements of the dog, than upon the sale of his merchandize. He kept his spectacles turned constantly towards the door, and sat as if ready to spring out of an opposite window or door, at the least alarm in that direction. Pins, needles, snuff-boxes, thread, twist, silk "Corks, cords, door fastenings, latches and I see plainly. It is a terrible affliction! to be deaf, marm-a terrible affiction! It sorter runs in the blood of our family. My father was just so before me, and my great uncle too." Mrs. Davis put on a sympathising look, and nodded her head as much as to say, a great affliction truly-I am very sorry," and then fairly screaming in the end of his ear-trumpet, she asked if he had any hooks and eyes. "Got the hooks in my eyes? No, no, thank God, my ears are terrible deaf, but nothing ails my eyes, only they are kind of weak and watery and that's why I wear spectacles, these green spectacles you see," and he pointed up to them, as if by no means certain that whoever saw him, saw his glasses also, covering, though they might, a large portion of his face. Ellen could no longer restrain her merriment at the poor peddler's expense. She turned her face away, and laughed until the tears started in her eyes. Mrs. Davis looked around, as if half vexed at her daughter's want of civilty, but remembering that he could hardly be made to hear the roaring of a cannon, though discharged at his elbow, she muttred. The man hasn't but two ideas in his headone is, that the dog may bite him, and the other that he is deaf-but, poor creature, he is to be pitied. It must be a terrible affliction, as he says. I wonder that he dosen't get cheated most dreadfully, straying about as he must, among all sorts of people." She then proceeded to toss about the things in his trunks, until she discovered some hooks and eyes and then she went again to her drawer and brought back the usual price. The peddler took it, expressing his opinion again, that she was the right sort of a woman to trade with a poor deaf peddler-a peddler whose father had been deaf, and his great uncle also. Just then Mrs. Davis happened to come across a piece of checked cotton, tumbled up among the lace.edging, shoe-tacks, shaving-soap, and doorlatches, all of which looked as if they had been thrown in without any regard to order-a strange, jumbled up load-and turning to Ellen she exclaini Mrs. Davis stepped to the door, and after scold- Yes, yes, marm, I wish he was dead too. I "I didn't say that I wished he was dead, sir, "Yes, yes, I see you are," said Mrs. Davis in an under tone, as if talking to herself, and then stepping to a small drawer in the bureau she took "Look, Ellen, here is just such a checked apron as I have been wanting for a year." "The poor peddler, whose thoughts were continually intent upon the movements of the dog and the inalady in his ears, never seemed to hear anything but the last word of every sentence, or something that sounded like the last word, and he always framed his answers accordingly. "Put a catnip poultice behind my ear!" he exclaimed, fancying that that was what Mrs. Davis was consulting Ellen about, "it will do no sort of good marm! nothing only stick my hair up, without helping my deafness at all-good old Dr. Pillsbury tried everything in the world when I was first taken. He blistered and plastered, gave pills, steamed and bled me, until I was as white a ghost but it all did no good. I was as deaf as an adder when he began, and deafer, if any thing, when he got through. I am much obliged to you, marm, |