THE BENEVOLENT HEART.

ducing joy. As was just remarked, it neither seeks nor expects reward, but it finds it in the consciousness of duty performed. There is much of truth in the oriental apologue, as versified by one of England's poets.

of its power in one great effort, and then retire within itself, unable longer to relieve, but by There is the BENEVOLENT heart. Its emo- systematic and judicious discrimination applies tions are cheerful, and have a right tendency, and the means where and when the most good under the guidance of true principles it aids will be accomplished. It knows that while others, and derives benefit to itself; it yields the sudden shower may give a temporary renoa due deference to the prejudices of education or vation and floridness to the earth, it is the situation; it avoids contentious disputations, but gentle and continued rain which refreshes and maintains the right with a courteous firmness; fertilises. The ancients affirmed that the river it suppresses low desires of rivalry, but cher- Alpheus, taking its rise in Elis, passed under ishes honorable emulation; it does not allow the sea from Peloponnesus, and rose again at envy to spread its withering blight around, a considerable distance in Ortygia, and joined but delights in the view and acknowledge- the stream of Arethusa. If anything was ment of the virtues of others; it checks sus- thrown into the Alpheus at Elis, it would repicion when tampering with reputation, and appear after some time floating on the waters slander when breathing its poisoned whisper- of Arethusa. The benevolent heart casts ings upon fair fame, by bearing testimony to some trifle on the stream of life, and in amiability, and by a defence of the assailed. after years, neither expecting nor seeking a reIn its intercourse with society, it has a modest | ward, is surprised to discover the little unrereserve, free from the affectation of softness, membered act of kindness reappearing, probut by no means degenerating into insipidity; its demeanor is natural and unconstrained, which being the exposition of genuine feeling, and governed by discernment, always exhibits that which is proper and becoming. It gains friends, for it is careful to abstain from everything which might pain the sensitive; it is cheerful without levity, modest without affectation, and reserved without haughtiness. It commands respect and constrains esteem by its excellence. It cheers the toiling wayfarer by the roadside, and in. the crowded thoroughfare prompts civility by its courtesy. Under the impulse of injured or exasperated feeling it may be urged to a passionate expression, but it cannot continue its ill-will even towards an enemy. One of the kings of old had been persecuting men for opinion's sake, dragging them to prison and the stake: a good man at Although your time and patience have been tresa distance, whose peaceable vocation did not passed upon to so great an extent, allow me allow him to take up the weapons of warfare, the privilege of a few remarks in conclusion. In but whose indignant feelings must find relief this age, when the mental and physical energies in expression, petitioned the Deity in this wise: are fully tasked to plan and accomplish vast "Good Lord, take him, the cruel king, by the designs; when commercial enterprise, in search neck, and hold him over the bottomless pit." of traffic and gain, ventures upon new oceans, This was a dangerous position for royalty, and and discovers new resources for the increase in view of the frightful suspension and dread- of its extended and extending sway; when ful result, the better and benevolent feelings of active and speedy communication takes place his nature intervened to effect a compromise between points far remote, by means of the with his sense of vindictive justice" Hold applied power of steam and the electric prinhim over the bottomless pit-and shake him | ciple, shall it be considered a great offence to well—but do not let him fall in!" Its charita- bespeak for the heart a little consideration and ble feelings and purposes are manifested in its regard, that its feelings may not be overpowerbeneficence. It does not expend the energies ed by the engrossing character of the employ

"Abou Ben Adhem, (may his tribe increase !)
Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace,
And saw within the moonlight in his room,
Making it rich, and like a lily in bloom,
An angel writing in a book of gold.
Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold,
And to the presence in the room he said,
'What writest thou?' The vision rais'd his head,
And with a look made all of sweet accord,
Answer'd, 'The names of those who love the Lord."
And is mine one ?' said Abou. 'Nay, not so !'
Replied the angel. Abou spoke more low,
But cheerly still, and said, 'I pray thee then,
Write me, as one who loves his fellow-men !'
The angel wrote and vanished The next night
He came again with a wakening light,

And showed the names whom love of God had blessed,
And lo! Ben Adhem's name led all the rest!"

CONCLUSION.

1

found no admittance within the threshold of prim-looking streets of the native town. The

their homes.

weather was fine; that is to say, parchingly hot; the sky was undimmed by a single cloud. The bland sea-breeze played coyly with the feathery foliage of the tall palms and arckas,

top of broad-leaved bright green bananas. The native bazaar, at the corner of the town, with one end jutting out upon the sea, was, for once, clean and gay. The dealers in fish, fruit, and curry-stuffs, appeared to have put on new clothes with the New Year. The huge white turbans, and gilt-edged muslin scarfs, glistened in the noonday sun; and gorgeous, many-coloured vests and wrappers vied, in the brilliancy of their tints, with the many-hued piles of fruits and balmy flowers. The very fish and vegetables appeared cleaner than usual; while spices, condiments, and sweetmeats looked down from many a loaded shelf to tempt the passer-by.

If, however, the English colonists contrive to monopolise the best berths in the service, the burghers have managed to secure to themselves the most comfortable dwellings, and waved against the azure sky many a with the best gardens. The same jealous exclusiveness which has so completely separated these two classes, impels the European to take up his residence in a quarter as far removed as possible from the suburbs usually occupied by the burghers. The English merchants and civil servants will be found located along the edge of some high road, within a very small patch of burnt-up paddock, once green. Their tenements are of no particular order, being mostly long rambling white-washed places, very like huge rabbit-hutches. A few palms occasionally make an attempt at shading the dusty hot verandah in front; while small tufts of cinnamon-bushes are to be seen withering away in the parched sand, evidently disgusted with their circumstances. How different the dwellings of the burghers! Some of these, it is true, are in the midst of the pettah, or native town, but most of them will be found scattered about in quiet shady lanes. Many are quite hidden from the passer-by, amidst a -dense little forest of fruit-trees, rose-bushes, and evergreens-concealed amidst leaves and flowers as snugly as though they were so many huge red-bricked birds' nests.

Leaving this motley scene, where the song of the Hindoo dancers blended in wild harmony with the Cingalese tom-tom, or drum, I passed on to the heart of the dwelling-place of the middle-class of Burghers.

Before every house was an ample verandah, partly veiled by an open bamboo curtain. In these lofty cool retreats, were seated the many families of the place, receiving or paying the good wishes of the season. Once upon a time, the streets were graced by rows, on either side, of shady spreading souriya trees, bending over the footways, and peeping in at the verandahs, to see how the inmates were getting on; winking the large eyes of their yellow tulip flowers at the daughters, and enticing pretty birds to come and sing amongst the leafy branches. But this was in the good old days of sleepy Holland. Now, all are gone-green boughs, winking flowers, and singing-birds. More's the pity!

It is seldom, indeed, that anything occurs to break the dull monotony of life in the East. With no public amusements, no public promenades, colonists seldom meet each other save at the churches. There are, however, a few days in the year when a little change in this clock-work existence takes place amongst the burgher population; when grim-looking Dutchmen relax the stern rigidity of their bronzed features, and assume some gay suit of As I passed along, I met many groups many colours. When portly sleepy dames of old, young, and middle-aged, evidently rouse up for the emergency, startle the quiet families, in full burgher holiday costume. family halls with their busy tongues, and They were, in each case, followed by two or scare the old watch-dog with the vivid bril-more turbaned fierce-looking domestics, bearliancy of new ribands and clean lace. One of ing enormous trays, piled up with something these very few and much-prized occasions is hidden from vulgar gaze by flowing veils of New Year's Day. muslin. I could not help calling to mind the

In the afternoon of the first day in Janu-procession of slaves, in the Arabian Nights, ary, 1850, I strolled out from the old, ram-which we are informed followed the steps of bling, crumbling fort of Colombo, over a very caliphs and sorcerers, bearing with them shaky wooden drawbridge, through the broad huge presents of precious things from sub

terranean worlds. I watched some of these bourhood, I reached the outskirts of the town, domestic embassies, and perceived that they where are to be seen some of the prettiest and entered the houses of some of the neigh- most retired of the burghers' dwellings. bours; there was a great fluster and bustle, These are mostly fine old mansions of red and no end to the talking and laughing in brick, with solid, grim-looking gable-ends the great verandahs. I entered the dwell- frowning down upon the old rusty gates, and ing of a Dutchman to whom I was known, the great round well by the forest of plantainand found one of these family groups within. trees. I found myself standing before one A rare merry scene it was. The deputa- of these, in a sweet green lane lined with tion had just arrived; friends were shaking lofty palms, spreading gorekas, and huge hands; the great black slave of the "Arabian India-rubber trees. The heavy wall in front Nights" uncovered the hidden treasures on hid the sturdy mansion from my view; but, the tray, and, lo! there were discovered-not the gates being open, I obtained a peep of piles of glittering sequins, and emeralds, the Oriental paradise within. Rare old fruitand rubies, as I had expected, but a few trees on the grass-plot were well laden bunches of yellow plantains, some green with clustering, many-coloured fruit! They oranges, a handful of limes, half-a-dozen pine- must have been in bearing when the old genapples, and a homely-looking cake frosted tleman in the easy chair, and the pink cotton with sugar. These were the universal New trousers, and the black skull-cap, was a mere Year offerings amongst that simple com- child. How cool the place looked amidst all munity, given as tokens of good-fellowship that dense green foliage! One might almost and neighbourly feeling; and, as such, have caught a cold in the head by merely welcomed and cheerfully responded to. Little looking in at the gate. The sun evidently corpulent glasses of cordials, or schiedam, never troubled the little children playing on were handed round amongst all arrivals, rich the grass under the thick clusters of mangoes, or poor; good wishes were exchanged; a few sour-sops and plantains; except, perhaps, for stale jokes were cracked; inquiries were made a few minutes at noon. What a jolly old for the grandmother who was too infirm to house it was, to be sure, with verandahs as join the party; and away went the neighbours large as the Burlington Arcade in London; with another slave and another heap of hidden and such windows! They looked like so gifts, to the next acquaintance. These pre- many roofs of hot-houses let sideways into the sents are not confined among equals; the walls; and, as to the doors, one might have most humble menial scrapes a few challies fancied, from their size, that the family were together for the occasion, and lays at his in the habit of keeping their carriage in the master's feet an oblation of fruits and flowers. back parlour, or setting out the dinner-table The very 66 grass-cutter," the miserable in the doorway: there would have been anger-on of stables, contrives, somehow, abundance of room in either case, and a little › get a few pines and plantains on a blueand-white dish; and, poverty-stricken though she be, pours out her simple gifts before her master with gentle dignity.

to spare, too!

There were nice beds of flowers on each side of the large grass-plot, and orange-trees; and the passer-by peeping in far enough, as I did, Group after group went through the town. might have caught a glimpse of one or two Gay parties continued to amuse themselves in pairs of small pretty feet, and faces to match, many a dusty verandah. Scores of meer- hidden away cosily among the roses and schaums sent forth circling clouds of fragrant oleanders. Well, those are nice, quiet, enwhite smoke; while many a dreamy Dutch-joyable places, and much better than the hot man nodded in his high-backed, richly-carved dusty dignified rabbit-hutches of the English chair of ebony. The hour of vespers ap- on the other side of the fort! proached. There were heard dozens of little tinkling bells; and forth came scores of damsels clad in pure white. Again the dusty streets were busy and alive, and many of the good Catholic verandahs lost their chief charmers.

Straying onwards from this bustling neigh

I passed on, as my fancy led me, until I came to another stout Dutch residence, which pleased me, though not so much as the other one had done. It was altogether another description of house, though doubtless pleasant enough in its way. It stood close upon the

road, with all the garden behind it, so that one saw nothing but red bricks and little Dutch tiles. There was no peeping in, there, through any open gates; no catching the daughters quietly among the flowers.

The owner of the house chanced to be enjoying his evening pipe in the capacious doorway; and, seeing me surveying the premises, he at once rose from his quiet seat and bade me welcome. When he learnt my desire to examine his mansion, he gladly conducted me through the great rooms to the garden. The principal room or hall was of enormous magnitude. I believe you might have driven a stage-coach, with very frisky leaders, round the dinner-table without fear of touching the army of chairs ranged along the walls. I could almost fancy the builder had made a mistake, and roofed in a good part of the road. I looked up, and thought I should never get a sight of the roofing, and wondered whether the sparrows building their nests so high there, ever felt giddy and fell down upon the dinner-table. The other rooms were smaller, but all spacious enough, and well filled with ebony and calamander furniture. On the whole, the mansion was elegant and refined. There was a degree of polish about the windows, and a sort of rakishness in the couchcovers and ottoman drapery, which struck me, while the very screen in the doorway had a jaunty air which there was no resisting.

clerks in a government office, and are none the worse for that. But, when I mention Dutchmen, by the by, do not let any one for a moment picture to himself the burly, brightvisaged, many breeched gentry of friend Knickerbocker: that race has died out long since, within the tropics. Nankeen trousers, a white jacket and waistcoat-all fitting pretty closely on a rather slim-built figure-with a modern London beaver, make up the externals of the Dutch burghers of the East.

Determined to see all that related to the day among the burghers, I had accepted an invitation from a Dutchman, a worthy book-keeper grown grey in the service of one of the leading merchants, to join an evening party at his house. I arrived there between eight and nine o'clock, and found old Samuel Kugper at the door, anxiously awaiting me. I was at once introduced to Mrs. Kugper, a portly dame, whom I found seated in soleinn silence, on a huge ottoman, at one end of the long room. In vain I uttered innumerable speeches, full of compliment; equally useless were my inquiries after her family. The lady, I found, understood not one word of English; and this is the case with most of the female members of these families.

The room we were assembled in, was one of the huge warehouse-looking places I have already described. There were acres of glass in the walls. You could see all that was Right and left from the large house, ex- going on in the supper-room, everything in tended backward, two ranges of sleeping the garden, and not a little in the bed-rooms. apartments and stores, with long stone ter- In front of these fields of windows, were long races, filled with flowering shrubs in gigantic rows of seats nearly all occupied by Dutch pots. At the farther end were rows of huge, and Portuguese ladies of every age. They suspiciously-shaped jars, looking as though presented a strange contrast to the merry they belonged to Ali Baba and the Forty parties I had beheld in the day-time. All Thieves. At the termination of this pottery, the fun and jollity were gone. It was not were wide flights of steps leading to a neatlylaid-out garden, full of the richest flowers, and greenest shrubs, and most tempting fruittrees, the eye ever saw, or fancy pictured. There was a small fountain in the midst, with a seat by the side, and round it lay scattered children's toys.

etiquette to laugh or to speak aloud before the dancing began, and so all sat stiff and silent, like so many mummies. Had our assembling been for a funeral, or for reading a will, the solemnity of the company could scarcely have been greater. It was painful. Our host, however, possessed good-humour enough for half the party; he was all smiles, from the heel of his shoe to the tips of his grey hair. More than once, I caught him rushing out into the garden to have a laugh Such houses are mostly the dwelling-places all to himself. The wife was quite another of old Dutch families, the heads of which may sort of person: happy enough, no doubt, if be lawyers, or deputy registrars, or chief she could but have felt quite sure about

On the whole, this was a pretty place, but not so natural and home-like as the other; besides, the stiff terrace and the jars of the Forty Thieves rather marred its beauty.