EDITOR'S DRAWER.

AMONG the most amiable virtues with which human nature is adorned is filial affection. It is sweet to feel; it is sweet to behold; and very sweet it is to record such a touching instance as the following, which a distant correspondent kindly transmits to the Drawer:

"A few weeks ago Dr. Clark was called to attend an old gentleman, who had unfortunately fallen and broken his leg. The anxious family, children and grandchildren, clustered around him, as serious doubts were entertained of the old man's being able to withstand the shock he had received. The Doctor assured them that he would get along, but they were very fearful that he would be crippled for life. When at last the surgeon had completed his labors of setting and bandaging the broken limb, and was about to leave the house, one of the old man's sons, a stout fellow of twenty or more, called the Doctor aside, and with great earnestness inquired,

"Doctor, will you tell me candidly, do you think the old gentleman will get well?'

"You need feel no solicitude on that point, John,' replied the Doctor; I am very sure he will.' "Well, now, Doctor,' John began again, with anxiety in his face, do you think he will ever be able to walk again?'

"I fear not,' said the Doctor; 'at least not without crutches.'

"John's face brightened as he added, Well, the reason of my wanting to know was that, last week, the old man bought a first-rate pair of new boots, and they just fit me; so, if you think he won't want 'em any more, I would like mighty well to have 'em!'"

Nice boy that-very!

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER.
LIFE is a race where some succeed,
While others are beginning;
'Tis luck at times, at others, speed,
That gives an early winning.

But if you chance to fall behind,
Ne'er slacken your endeavor;

Just keep this wholesome truth in mind-
'Tis better late than never.

If you can keep ahead, 'tis well,

But never trip your neighbor;

'Tis noble when you can excel
By honest, patient labor.
But if you are outstripped at last,
Press on as bold as ever;
Remember, though you are surpassed,
'Tis better late than never!

Ne'er labor for an idle boast

Of victory o'er another,
But, while you strive your uttermost,
Deal fairly with a brother.
Whate'er your station, do your best,
And hold your purpose ever;
And if you fail to beat the rest,
'Tis better late than never!
Choose well the path in which you run,
Succeed by noble daring;

Then, though the last, when once 'tis won,
Your crown is worth the wearing.

Then never fret if left behind,

Nor slacken your endeavor;

But ever keep this truth in mind-
'Tis better late than never!

he was reading the hymn, he heard the twang of a
musical instrument in the choir, ard, pausing, he
demanded:

"What's that you've got up there in the choir ?"
"A bass viol, Sir," meekly replied the leader.
I say it isn't!" said the indignant elder; "it's
a great, ungodly fiddle! Take it away!"
They took it away.

ONE of the most amusing scenes in the Legislature of Pennsylvania occurred on a motion to remove the Capitol of the State from Harrisburg to Philadelphia. A matter-of-fact member from the rural districts, who had heard of the great facility with which brick houses are moved from one part of a city to another, and who had not the least idea that any thing but moving the State House was in contemplation, rose and said,

"Mr. Speaker, I have no objection to the motion, but I don't see how on airth you are going to git it over the river."

A VICKSBURG correspondent assures us, in a private letter, that the following resolutions were passed by the Board of Councilmen in Canton, Mississippi:

"1. Resolved by this Council that we build a new jail. "2. Resolved that the new jail be built out of the materials of the old jail.

"3. Resolved that the old jail be used until the new jail is finished."

Could Dublin or Cork beat that?

JONES was up for Congress, and Robinson was They met for a debate, running against him. and, as usual, turned from discussing politics to abusing one another. Jones had a massive head, and his opponent's looked small by the side of itgiving peculiar force to this sarcasm with which Jones wound up a fierce attack:

"And still they gazed, and still the wonder grew, That one small head could carry all he knew." Robinson hardly allowed him to get into his seat before he pointed to the big head of his rival, and exclaimed:

"And still they gazed, and then began to hint,
So large a head, and yet so little in't!"

A TRAVELER one day asked a "lapidary" if the road he were on was the way to Aberdeen. The knight of the hammer, glad of an opportunity to rest himself, quietly said, "Now, whar cam ye frae?" The gentleman, nettled at not receiving a direct answer, asked him, "What business have The macadamizyou with where I came from?"

er, taking up his hammer and resuming his occupation, said: "Och! just as little business as with whar you're gain tae!"

A YOUNG lady became so much dissatisfied with a person to whom she was engaged to be married that she dismissed him. In revenge, he threatened to publish her letters to him. "Very well,' replied the lady, "I have no reason to be ashamed of any part of my letters except the address."

LORD TENTERDEN, Chief Justice of England, who sprung from a barber's-shop to the wool-sack, YEARS ago, when as yet the pomps and vanities was stiff and formal in his manners, as if afraid of of the world had not invaded the churches, Father familiarity and requiring the protection of digniOstrander was presiding elder among the Method-fied station-which probably arose from the recolists in this region. To his horror, one Sabbath, as lection of his origin and of his boyish days. He

OL. XV.-No. 88.-N N*

A FAR-AWAY Correspondent says: "Out in Elizabethtown, in this State, there is, and has been for many years, a respectable Baptist church venerable which has the honor of numbering among its lead-ial Philo ing members "Old Uncle Johnny More" and Jas. S. Shellwood. As they have no choir in the congregation, any one who considers himself qualified has authority to hist the hymns. A short time since, when the church was crowded to overflowing, the minister read the hymn and waited for some brother to start it. Whereupon "Uncle Johnny" made one or two attempts, but having signally failed, he called on Brother Shellwood. Brother Shellwood, full of confidence, pitched into it, and had reached the middle of the second line, when Uncle Johnny, raising his tall form to its full height and stretching out his long, beny arm, exclaim-many wi

LORD TENTERDEN, Chief Justice of England, who sprung from a barber's-shop to the wool-sack, YEARS ago, when as yet the pomps and vanities was stiff and formal in his manners, as if afraid of of the world had not invaded the churches, Father familiarity and requiring the protection of digniOstrander was presiding elder among the Method-fied station-which probably arose from the recolists in this region. To his horror, one Sabbath, as lection of his origin and of his boyish days. He VOL. XV.-No. 88.-N N*

ty town where he was to officiate as Judge, Lord
Ellenborough proceeded to array himself for his
appearance in the court-house. "Now," said he,
"where's my wig-where is my wig?"
"My Lord," replied his attendant, "it was
thrown out of the carriage-window!"

would voluntarily refer to these among very inti- | left by the ditch-side. Having reached the counmate friends, but he became exceedingly uneasy when he apprehended any allusion to them in public. Once, however, he was complimented upon his rise under circumstances so extravagantly ludicrous that he joined in the general shout of laughter which the orator called forth. Sir Peter Laurie, the saddler, when Lord Mayor of London, gave a dinner at the Mansion House to the Judges, and, in proposing their health, observed, in impassioned accents, "What a country is this we live in! In other parts of the world there is no chance, except for men of high birth and aristocratie connections; but here genius and industry are sure to be rewarded. See before you the examples of myself, the Chief Magistrate of the Metropolis of this great empire, and the Chief Justice of England sitting at my right hand-both now in the highest offices in the State, and both sprung from the very dregs of the people!"

Lord Tenterden is placed in a very amiable point of view by Macready, the celebrated tragedian, in a lecture which he delivered to a Mechanics' Institute after he had retired from the stage, and which he published with several others possessing great interest. The lecturer gives an account of a visit paid by him to Canterbury Cathedral, under the auspices of a verger who, by reading and observation, had acquired wonderful knowledge of architecture and mediæval antiquities. Having introduced us to his guide, the ex-tragedian thus proceeds: "He directed my attention to every thing worthy of notice; pointed out with the detective eye of taste the more recondite excellence of art throughout the building; and with convincing accuracy shed light on the historical traditions associated with it. It was opposite the western front that he stood with me before what seemed the site of a small shed or stall, then unoccupied, and said, 'Upon this spot a little barber's-shop used to stand.' The last time Lord Tenterden came down here he brought his son Charles with him, and it was my duty, of course, to attend them over the Cathedral. When we came to this side of it he led his son up to this very spot, and said to him, 'Charles, you see this little shop; I have brought you here on purpose to show it to you. In that shop your grandfather used to shave for a penny! That is the proudest reflection of my life. While you live never forget that, my dear Charles.' And this man, the son of a poor barber, was the Lord Chief Justice of England. For the very reason, therefore, that the chances of such great success are rare, we should surely spare no pains in improving the condition of all whom accident may depress or fortune may not befriend."

LORD ELLENBOROUGH was once about to go on the circuit, when Lady Ellenborough said that she should like to accompany him. He replied that he had no objection, provided she did not encumber the carriage with band-boxes, which were his utter abhorrence. During the first day's journey, Lord Ellenborough, happening to stretch his legs, struck his foot against something below the seat. He discovered that it was a band-box. Up went the window, and out went the band-box. The coachman stopped, and the footmen, thinking that the band-box had tumbled out of the window by some extraordinary chance, were going to pick it up, when Lord Ellenborough furiously called out, "Drive on!" The band-box, accordingly, was

A GRAND melo-dramatic spectacle was being rehearsed in the Park Theatre a few years since, in which a magnificent car, drawn by horses, was to make its appearance on the stage, through a trapdoor. Mr. Manager Ssupervised in person the rehearsal. The period arrived when the horses should appear dragging the gilded car; the stage was detained-the actors impatient-the manager wrathful, demanding in a loud voice of the man whose business it was to see all right below, in the regions of mystery and enchantment, why he delayed the car. "Somebody has cut the traces. Sir." "Cut the traces ?" asked the manager; "why, nobody had access there to-day but yourself." "They wasn't cut with axes, Sir; they vas cut with a knife!"

A PAPER Called the Comet has been started in Pennsylvania, and is to have a new tale every week.

Is tramping on a man's corns one step toward cultivating his acquaintance?

OLD English ballads tell us of the tastes and humors of the people long time ago. Here is one that is called

THE RURAL DANCE ABOUT THE MAY-POLE.
Come, lasses and lads, take leave of your dads,
And away to the May-pole hie;
For every he has got him a she,
And the minstrel's standing by;
For Willie has gotten his Jill,

And Johnny has got his Joan,
To jig it, jig it, jig it,

Jig it up and down.

"Strike up," says Wat; "Agreed," says Kate,
"And, I prithee, fiddler, play;"

"Content," says Hodge, and so says Madge,
"For this is a holiday."

Then every man did put
His hat off to his lass,
And every girl did curchy,

Curchy, curchy on the grass.
"Begin," says Hall; "Ay, ay," says Mall,
"We'll lead up Packington's Pound;"
"No, no," says Noll, and so says Doll,
"We'll first have Sellenger's Round."
Then every man began

To foot it round about;
And every girl did jet it,

Jet it, jet it, in and out.
"You're out," says Dick; "'Tis a lie," says Nick,
"The fiddler played it false;"
"'Tis true," says Hugh, and so says Sue,
And so says nimble Alse.
The fiddler then began

To play the tune again;
And every girl did trip it, trip it,
Trip it to the men,

"Let's kiss," says Jane: "Content," says Nan,
And so says every she;

"How many?" says Batt; "Why, three," says Matt,
"For that's a maiden's fee."
But they, instead of three,

Did give them half a score,
And they in kindness gave 'em, gave 'em,
Gave 'em as many more.