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LITTELL'S LIVING AGE.-No. 475.-25 JUNE, 1853.

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1853-Hush, 770; Charissa

POETRY: The Planting The Thought, 769; 1815 and
Stanzas, 805; To Michael Angelo Titmarsh, Esq., 822.
SHORT ARTICLES: Europe, Popery, America - Dance of Death, 788; Domestic Habits of
our Ancestors, 820; Scottish Drunkenness, 824.
NEW BOOKS: 824.

From Chambers' Journal.

THE PLANTING.

A PARABLE.

I said to my little son, who was watching, with tears, a tree he had planted: "Let it alone; it will grow while you are sleeping!"

"PLANT it safe, thou little child;

Then cease watching and cease weeping:

Thou hast done thy utmost part;

Leave it, with a quiet heart;

It will grow while thou art sleeping."

"But, O father!" says the child,

With a troubled face close creeping -
"How can I but think and grieve,
When the fierce winds come at eve,

And snows beat and I lie sleeping?

"I have loved my linden so!

In each leaf seen future floweret ;
Watched it day by day with prayers,
Guarded it with pains and cares,

Lest the canker should devour it.
"O, good father!" says the child,

"If I come in summer's shining,
And my linden-tree be dead -
How the sun will scorch my head,

Where I sit forlorn and pining!

"Rather let me evermore,

Through this winter-time watch keeping,
Bear the cold, and storms, and frost,
That my treasure be not lost -

Ay, bear aught!- but idle sleeping."

Sternly said the father then :

"Who art thou, child, vainly grieving? Canst thou send the balmy dews,

Or the rich sap interfuse,

That one leaf shall burst to living?
VOL. I. 49

CCCCLXXV.

LIVING AGE.

"Canst thou bid the heavens restrain
Natural tempests for thy praying?
Canst thou bend one tender shoot?
Stay the growth of one frail root?

Keep one blossom from decaying?. "If it live and bloom all fair,

Will it praise thee for its blooming? If it die, will any plaints Reach thee, as with kings and saints Drops it to an equal tombing? "Plant it consecrate with prayers.

It is safe 'neath His sky's folding Who the whole earth compasses, Whether we watch more or less

His large eye all things beholding. "If He need a goodly tree

For the shelter of the nations, He will make it grow; if not, Never yet His love forgot

Human tears, and faith, and patience. "Leave thy treasure in His hand —

Cease all watching and all weeping. Years hence, men its shade may crave, When its mighty branches wave Beautiful above thy sleeping!"

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The thought that virtue might have led him

In his youth o'er holy ground, And love's early vows have made him

Pure as music's trancing sound :

The thought that knowledge might have placed

him

On the height of truth sublime, Where low vice had ne'er debased him,

Outcast in a sensual clime :

The thought that tuneful inspiration
Might have lived in lofty lays,
And a poet's aspiration

Won the wreath of laurelled praise.

Like a distant, trembling river

To the ear at midnight brought, So his tide of life forever

Trembles with the eternal thought.

Like a wailing ghost, respited

Scenes of youth to wander o'er, All that might have life delighted, Lies a wreck on Ganges' shore.

INDIANUS.

From Fraser's Magazine.

1815 AND 1853.

WHEN war by the great battle closed,
Gave England laurels won with pain,
Our rulers, glad to quit the strife,

Returned, in hope, to peace again.

Then the nation hailed with rapture
The dawning of a brighter day.
The star of conquest sank and paled,
When Reason's power assumed the sway.

Again improvement, long delayed,

Swiftly progressed through Mind's domain, Neath calmer skies, with broad sails spread, Our ships of commerce ploughed the main.

The giant heart of England poured

Her life-blood through her farthest veins, To distant climes unknown in yore, Through Afric's wilds, o'er India's plains.

Then the oak of British science,

By Bacon planted long ago,
Broad branches bore among the stars,
And strong roots sank in earth below.

Then days of science were like years
In the old chronicles of time,
Then years grew large, as ages past,
In rich results-in works sublime.

Loud rang the hammer in the shed,

Swift through the loom the shuttle plied, O'er iron roads our steam steeds ran,

Like thought th' electric courier hied.

Then fair Religion, calm and mild,

The true conserver of the world, Glowed with immortal youth, and smiled

O'er War's dread standard, once more furled.

On all the Sun of Freedom shone,

Kindling the hearts of labor's throng; Advancing Art was 'companied

By Genius, Poetry, and Song.

But now the comet's meteor glare
Returns from journeyings afar,
Sweeps on the sight, and shows again
The long-forgotten form of war.

Well, be it so, what we have gained
We shall not tamely, calmly lose,

If fight we must, then to the death,
Though war we may not freely choose.
Whate'er betide, the end is sure,

There lives on earth that cannot die, Great Heaven will give, as in old times, To Truth and Freedom Victory.

HUSH!

From Household Words.

"I CAN Scarcely hear," she murmured,
"For my heart beats loud and fast,
But surely, in the far, far distance,
I can hear a sound at last."
"It is only the reapers singing,
As they carry home their sheaves;
And the evening breeze has risen,
And rustles the dying leaves."
"Listen! there are voices talking."
Calmly still she strove to speak,
Yet, her voice grew faint and trembling,
And the red flushed in her cheek.
"It is only the children playing
Below, now their work is done,
And they laugh that their eyes are dazzled
By the rays of the setting sun."
Fainter grew her voice, and weaker,
As with anxious eyes she cried,
"Down the avenue of chestnuts

I can hear a horseman ride."
"It is only the deer that were feeding
In a herd on the clover grass;
They were startled, and fled to the thicket
As they saw the reapers pass."

Now the night arose in silence,
Birds lay in their leafy nest,
And the deer couched in the forest,
And the children were at rest;
There was only a sound of weeping
From watchers around a bed,
But Rest to the weary spirit,

Peace to the quiet Dead!

REASONS FOR A SINGER'S COLD. -"What is the reason that fellow is always indisposed at the moment he is wanted to sing?" inquired an Exeter Hallite, just as a sort of SIMS REEVIAN apology had been made for a popular singer. "Oh! it's easily accounted for," answered his stall neighbor; "when you think of the great airs he is continually giving himself, it's no wonder he so often catches cold."- Punch.

From Chambers' Repository.

HENRY ARNAUD AND THE WALDENSES. THE return of the Waldensian exiles to their native valleys, to which they fought their way under the guidance of their pastor and general, Henry Arnaud, in 1689, is one

of the most remarkable and romantic events

in modern history. It will be found fully to deserve the few pages here devoted to an account of it; but before beginning with the actual incidents of their fighting-journey, which were minutely recorded day by day, it may be as well to give a sketch of the circumstances which opened this curious chapter in the romance of history. The Waldenses, or Vaudois, are supposed to have received their name from vallis, or valley, owing to the extremely secluded and peculiar character of the three valleys in which they lived as a community, separated by immense mountains from the rest of the world. In the general map of Europe, the position of these valleys will be best described by saying, that they lie in the slopes of the great range called the Pennine Alps, on the side which stretches towards Italy. This great barrier separates them from Western and Northern Europe; but they are also secluded even from the rest of Italy, as their districts are only approachable by narrow openings, as it were, between subsidiary ranges of hills. These, in other parts of the world, would be called great inountain-ranges; but here they are only the lateral spurs or offshoots of the vast central Alpine chain. The district, generally speaking, is bounded on the sides by Mount Viso and the Col de Sestrieres; and the three main valleys of which it consists are Lucerna or Luzern, Perosa or Perouse, and San Martino or St. Martin. Considerable confusion is sometimes created in the reader's mind by the names in this district, as elsewhere throughout the Piedmontese part of Italy, being sometimes given in Italian, and sometimes in French. Though situated within the sunny territory of Italy, these valleys

have the characteristics rather of a northern than a southern clime, and nourished a hardy race, such as Goldsmith describes on the other side of the Alps :

Thus every good his native wilds impart
Imprints the patriot passion on his heart;
And e'en those ills that round his mansion rise
Enhance the bliss his scanty fund supplies.
Dear is that shed to which his soul conforms,
And dear that hill which lifts him to the storms;
And, as a child, when scaring sounds molest,
Clings close and closer to the mother's breast;
So the loud torrent and the whirlwind's roar
But bind him to his native mountains more.

The poet's description does not, however, apply very accurately where he says No product here the barren hills afford,

But man and steel- the soldier and his sword.

The inhabitants of a land producing nothing else, could only subsist by robbery. In fact, however, the lowest ranges of these valleys almost unmatched in richness. Their owners are generally stripes of flat, soft, alluvial soil, consider every yard of the earth's surface so valuable here, that they grudge even what is necessary for the narrowest pathways; and the stranger feels that he must pick his way carefully, to avoid injury to the rich crop. It will be clear, that, from the nature of the country, no class of inen could well be more isolated from their neighbors than the cultivators of these pastures. The richness and narrowness of the alluvial stripes kept them in the pursuit of their living within a narrow compass; and the great mountain barriers, by which they were nearly surrounded, prevented them from paying unnecessary visits to their neighbors.

Dr. Johnson almost describes in his romance of Rasselas, where he isolates such a place as the valleys of the Waldenses his hero from the world. It was not unnatural, then, that in such places old opinions and traditions would remain longer unchanged than in the more open parts of Europe.;

time

It has been

It is well known to all readers of history that, from an early period, these Waldenses professed a religious creed and observances differing from those of the surrounding naItalians. Since they thus differed from the tions, and especially of their neighbors, the practice of the Pope's immediate dominions, of course their religion was distinguished from that of the Church of Rome. identified-even as it existed at a very early with the Protestant opinions of later days. It was thus very natural to suppose, as the religious rites of the Waldenses were simple, and they had from time immemorial differed from those of Rome, that they were it were, within the wall of mountains, and a relic of the primitive church, preserved, as showing to after-ages what that church had really been before the ecclesiastics acquired their pomp and power. This is not a place whether such views are well founded. It for the investigation of the question as to will readily be understood, however, that this simple people, differing in religious tenets from powerful nations and ambitious mon-archs, were not allowed to entertain their peculiar views in tranquillity. In fact, it is too well known in history, that from genera tion to generation they were oppressed and. persecuted. One of the latest and most signal

attacks made on them was the cause of the adventurous history we have now to relate.

After the powerful intervention of Oliver Cromwell on the behalf of the Waldenses, seconded by the good-wishes of other European potentates, they appeared to be entering upon a career of peace and independence.

the solution seems to be a probable one, although it is proper to say, that no sufficient evidence of the fact has been adduced. They were committed to prison in great multitudes; but it is impossible to believe, what their own authorities relate, that more than two thirds of their grown men perished in dungeons. Many certainly did so; and the number of the captives was much thinned, ere a resolution was taken to release them and send them out of the country.

This lasted for some years; but in 1685 they protection, which was basely broken; and were, with too much justice, alarmed when Louis XIV. revoked the Edict of Nantes, which had been passed for the toleration of the French Protestants. The many fugitives who on that occasion were dispersed throughout Europe, carried the melancholy news of the growing despotism of the great French monarch. It soon became clear, that he would exert his power against a small body like the Waldenses, who assailed his pride by giving sympathy and protection to his fugitive subjects so close to his own dominions. Many threatening hints were made to the Duke of Savoy on the subject. He was told that he must either compel his subjects to conform to the Church of Rome, or drive them out of their valleys. At last he was informed, that if he would not set himself heartily to this task, the King of France would do it himself with 14,000 men, and would then consider the territory a conquest, and take possession of it.

Urged by this threat, which imported no less than a partition of his territory, the duke gave the Waldenses the alternative of submitting, or being driven forth by an armed force. This was not, however, destined to be easily accomplished. The men of the valleys gave an uncompromising refusal to the proposal, and prepared for resistance. In their many series of persecutions, they had acquired a capacity for warfare, which descended from generation to generation; and their swords were the terror of the enemy wherever they appeared. They set at effectual defiance the feeble efforts of the ducal monarch of Savoy; and he required to call in the assistance of the French troops. At that period, owing to the stiff and uniform system of campaigning which had been adopted, regular troops never met the warlike mountaineers, especially on their own rough and dangerous ground, without suffering severely. The Waldenses, acting on the defensive, beat off their foes on both sides the French on the one, and their Savoyard neighbors on the other their successes were remarkable; and, carried away by the preternatural fervor which seems ever to have possessed them, they followed up their victories with ruthless determination, instead of seeking, by moderation, to secure for themselves terms of accommodation.

A very strange and unaccountable result, however, followed these victories, and the use so made of them. All at once, as if driven by some fatality, the Waldenses, in the moment of victory, and when they had by no means shown themselves to be clement conquerors, threw down their arms, and made an entire submission. To account for this singular incident, it has been said that they acted under a secret promise of pardon and

This resolution was adopted in consequence of the remonstrances of the Protestant cantons, and their offer to provide for the unfortunate Waldenses. In 1687, these set out to join their kind neighbors, to the number, it is said, of 3000. To reach their destination, it was necessary to cross the great chain of the Alps, where a few passes only, and these proverbially formidable, occur at distances of many miles. The fugitives, unacquainted with the route, should have had guides and a plentiful supply of provisions- but they had neither; and the hardships they suffered would have exterminated them, if they had not possessed mountain constitutions. Leav ing behind them the great mass of glaciers and precipices, over which Mont Blanc reigns supreme, they descended along the lovely valleys, reminding them of their homes, which slope towards the blue waters of the Lake of Geneva. Here, exhausted, attenuated, and ragged like spectres rather than living beings- they met a warm reception from their sympathizing friends. They were now dispersed chiefly among the towns and villages of the canton of Bern, and were gradually introduced to the means of gaining a livelihood.

But mountaineers seem to have ever a strong yearning after their native valleys, which, in peculiar circumstances, becomes an ungovernable passion. The feeling might have been less ardent had they been removed to some great distance from their early homes, and seen nothing to recall them. But every bright day, as they looked southwards, they saw, clear against the sky, as if they were in reality close at hand, the range of snowy summits among which their beloved valleys nestled; they could see even the commencement of that slope downwards from the smooth white summit, the end of which rested on their own green pastures. The sight seems to have excited them beyond endurance, and they resolved, at all hazards, to return. Their first attempt was discovered and defeated.

Their second was not more successful as to immediate results, but the preparations made for it were of service afterwards. Three of their number had been sent to examine the passes among the mountains, to ascertain which could be crossed

with least risk of detection, and to lay down | denses, who had taken service in the garrison a plan of operations for the whole body. At of Geneva, deserting to take part in the adthat time there was much less habitual wan- venture, created suspicion, and their motions dering from place to place, in any class of were watched. A powerful guard was placed the community, than at present. Gentle- at the bridge of St. Maurice, to dispute their men did not make tours of pleasure, and passage. In fact, their friends of the Protescommon people did not go about seeking tant cantons, although readily affording them work. In fact, the latter class were in gen- a hospitable retreat, were extremely anxious eral slaves, who dared not leave the fields to not to be committed by any line of conduct which they were attached or restricted. Be- they might pursue calculated to offend the sides the liability of being questioned and neighboring states. They would rather be at examined at every city-gate, the bridges had the expense of supporting the exiles among each a warden, living in a tower, whose duty themselves, than be suspected of encouraging it was to look after all suspicious wanderers. them in an aggressive movement. Hence, Commerce was the only legitimate excuse for they not only let it be known to the Piedtravelling; and those who could not prove montese government that there were suspicious that they were merchants, were generally movements among the Waldenses, but traced presumed, when found away from their places their proceedings, and persuaded them to of residence, to be robbers or political spies. abandon their project. About 700 of them The three messengers or spies of the Wal- found themselves on the way to the bridge, denses had thus to proceed with extreme with the unpleasant certainty that it could caution. They succeeded in reaching the not be crossed. Being near the town of valleys, and acquiring a knowledge of the Aigle, the bailiff, or chief-magistrate, assemsafest routes through which an expedition might penetrate secretly towards them. They were not, however, fortunate in their return. They were found in a wild district of the Tarentaise, and arrested by the authorities as robbers. Some sheets of paper were found in their possession, whence it was inferred that they might be political spies; and the sheets were held to the fire, in the idea that this would bring out writing in sympathetic ink, but without success. They stated that they were dealers in lace, and had come to that district, where they knew it was made in abundance, to make purchases. This was not a very fortunate venture. An agent was employed to offer them lace for sale, and they at once agreed to give him twice what the article was worth — a liberality which was by no means appreciated. They persisted, however, in their story; and one of them, who had actually been a pedler in Languedoc, proved satisfactorily to a brother of the ellwand that he was a true man, and obtained his testimony in their favor. They were ultimately released, and went to their brethren with the information they had collected. The body at large resolved to make the venture, and managed secretly to collect hardbaked bread for their subsistence, and make other arrangements.

bled them in the church, and preached to them an exhortation to patience. He chose the text, "Fear not little flock;" and told them that they had but to be patient, and abide the right time, for they were predestined to return to their beloved valleys. This kind magistrate gave them 200 crowns to enable them to return to the places they had left. In their own account of the affair afterwards, they contrasted his conduct with that of the town of Vevay, which not only refused to admit them within its walls, but to allow them to purchase provisions. A courageous and zealous widow of that town, however, at much risk, went forth to them, and gave them comfort and aid. They tell us, that afterwards, when the rest of Vevay was burned down, this widow's house was spared in the general conflagration; and of course, after the fashion of those times, it was impossible to avoid connecting the one circumstance with the other.

But,

The failure of this attempt brought additional gloom over the prospects of the wanderers. The very success with which they had conducted it so far, in making their arrangements, and in marching silently to a common centre, showed how formidable they could make themselves. The Duke of Savoy greatly increased the frontier forces, to intercept them in any future adventure. what promised to be more calamitous, their friends of the Protestant cantons were strongly urged to abandon their cause, and were even told that unless they did so they must stand under an accusation of having connived at their late attempt. The authorities of the cantons felt that, in the conduct of the Waldenses, they had a sufficiently good excuse for compliance with these demands. They asSome of the Wal-sumed the tone of persons who had been

The route they proposed to take was a very formidable one. They were to creep by nightjourneys from their several places of abode, dispersed among different cantons, to Bex, as a general place of rendezvous; and thence passing the Rhône at the neighboring bridge of St. Maurice, they were to cross the great St. Bernard- -a perilous route, even to those who have every appliance of the traveller, and are not afraid of pursuit. The plan, however, was nipped in the bud.

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