Rome; but he did not say whether he was of | Christian does not venture to ask for strength to English origin or not, and, of course, Florence resist temptation, but only to be kept from it; could not ask the question. This would have and that every one of us perhaps would be caught, been to avow a stronger interest in him than con- if the Evil Angler knew what bait to put on his sisted with her views. We should have liked her hook. better, perhaps, had she been more frank and art- Florence had just placed her hand on the latch less. Yet, after all, her conduct was not at this of the door, when she saw a figure come out from time an image of her character, but arose from a | a deep mass of shadow close by, and softly apstruggle between her own simplicity and her re-proach her. It was Angelo. She screamed collection of her mother's warnings. slightly, but so slightly that even he scarcely

It is needless to say that, after many hesita- heard. "Do not be alarmed, Miss May," he said; tions, she now invariably went every day to her"I came here in hopes to meet you as you enteraccustomed seat. This might be interpreted into ed. I could not have slept to-night without askgiving a rendezvous; but she had a prescriptive ing your forgiveness for the rude manner in which right to the place, and why should she be driven I left you, and for my unauthorized accusations. from it by an intrusive impertinent stranger? Do say that you are no longer angry." Impertinent! nay, not so; nothing could be more reserved and respectful than his demeanor; and if he was really in earnest, and if he turned out to be a respectable man, why- perhaps it would be a matter of duty in her not to repulse his advances. Matrimony was indeed, they had told her, an awful responsibility; but if, by undergoing it, she could raise her mother to a more comfortable position, would it not be her duty to make the sacrifice?

Matters went on in this way for several days, and Florence began to wait impatiently for the arrival of her mother, to whom she might relate all that had passed. Angelo, accustomed, perhaps, to more easy conquests, was irritated by her cold caution, not knowing that hers was the hypocrisy of duty. He once even went so far as to say, that he blamed himself for wasting time with a calculating village coquette, and, rising, departed with a formal salute. Florence's bosom heaved with emotion, tears started to her eyes, her lips trembled, and she was on the point of perilling all her prospects by calling him back. But by a prodigious effort of will, she restrained herself, and kept her eyes firmly fixed on the ground until the sound of his steps had died away.

"No," said she, rising, "I am not to be so lightly won. These days have given me experience. He is certainly captivating in manners, but sometimes I think that one moment of weakness on my part And she thought of the fate of Lucy Lightfoot, who had been left to wear the willow, after saying "Yes" too soon.

"Of course - of course; I have no right to be angry. But, for Heaven's sake, sir, retire: I must not be seen by the neighbors talking to a stranger at this hour."

"There is no one in the street, and I will not detain you a minute. Cannot you find in your heart to give me one word of hope, one look of encouragement? I am bewildered, maddened by your cold indifference."

You have no right, Mr. Angelo, to call me cold or indifferent; I have blamed myself for my too great simplicity. My mother will be back tomorrow; I will tell her what has happened; and and- - But I must go in."

"This gives me hope," cried he; “I ask no more. Florence-dear Florence!""

He took her hand, and kissed it once and again, although she almost struggled to get it away. The strong passion of that man seemed to pass through her like an electric shock; and wonderful emotions came trooping to her heart. Suddenly, however, she broke away, and, as if fearing her own weakness, glided into the house without a word, and locked, and bolted, and barred the door in a manner so desperately energetic, that even Angelo, who stood foolishly on the outside, could not help smiling.

"She will come to the meadow to-morrow, said he, rather contemptuously, as if surprised and annoyed at his own success that evening.

But Florence did not come. With the intuitive perception with which modesty supplies woman, she felt that the stranger had pushed his experiments on her character too far. The folIn the afternoon a letter came announcing her lowing day was spent at home in indignant selfmother's arrival for that very day; and it was in examination. What had she done to provoke the excitement that followed this little misunder- that freedom, and authorize what seemed somestanding that she waited for the arrival of the thing like insult? Conscious of innocence, she coach. She wanted an adviser sadly. Should she, proudly answered: "Nothing." But, ah! Florafter what had passed, return next day to the mea-ence, were not those tacit rendezvous a fault? dow, or should she remain at home in melancholy Mrs. May arrived in the evening with a whole loneliness? The question was more important budget of news and complaints. Small was the than even she imagined; for we will not under- mercy by her vouchsafed to the modern Babytake to say, despite Mr. Angelo's lofty senti- lon: a den of thieves was nothing to it. The ments, that his faith was as strong as he pro-"something to her advantage" was a proposal fessed. Might he not have wished to test the vir- to invest her money in a concern that would retue of this beautiful girl, whom he had found, as turn fifty per cent. She had expressed herself it were, by the wayside? Men of the world are "much obliged" to her correspondent; adding, not averse to these trials; and if their unfortu- however, that "some people would consider him nate victim fall, they go away on the voyage of a swindler, indeed she supposed he was. Perlife, leaving her to repent in tears, and hugging haps he would object to pay the expense he had themselves with the idea that they have not been put her to. Of course. Dishonest persons were "taken in." They forget that the most fervent never inclined to pay. She wished him good

morning, and hoped he would repent before hel The stranger had heard of Mrs. May's return, arrived at Botany Bay." Having detailed these and many other brave things which she recollected to have said, good Mrs. May began to pay attention to her tea, and allowed Florence to relate all that she had said, done, thought, and felt during the time of her mother's absence.

"Bless me!" exclaimed Mrs. May at length, setting down her tea-cup, "I do not wonder the house looks rather untidy. You have been doing nothing else but making love ever since my back was turned. There's proper conduct for a clergyman's daughter!"

and was hastening to beg permission to renew the interviews, the interruption of which had taught him how deeply he was moved. The elder lady received him with formal politeness, as a distinguished foreigner, while Florence endeavored to keep her eyes to the ground. Mr. Angelo found it necessary to break the ice by declaring, that he was no Italian, but an Englishman by origin though not by birth.

66

My name, he said, "is Angelo Melvyn, and I am now the owner of Melvyn Park. Sorrowful circumstances, you will perhaps have Florence expressed her regret as well as she heard by tradition, induced my father to go could, and in trying to excuse herself, was com- abroad many years ago. When I became the pelled to dilate considerably on the fine qualities head of the family, I naturally felt a desire to of Mr. Angelo. Let it be admitted that she behold the mansion of my ancestors, which was suppressed all allusion to the last interview. not invested to me personally with melancholy "Well, child," quoth Mrs. May, after listen-associations. It was my fancy to explore the ing to what by degrees warmed into a glowing neighborhood without making myself known. panegyric "I think this is all nonsense; but I met your daughter; and may I hope that you know I have always promised never to in- she has related to you all I have ventured to say terfere with any sincere attachment you may of my feelings towards her?" form. Are you quite sure this gentleman is not merely making a pastime of you?"

Florence turned away her head, and her mother went on. "I shall make some inquiries into his position and prospects, and character of course. If all turn out to be satisfactory-we shall see; but I confess to having a prejudice against foreigners."

It was no easy matter for Mrs. May to gain the information she required. The whole village it is true, was up in arms about the young stranger who had arrived at Melvyn Park, and who as every one knew, had long ago been betrothed to Miss Florence; but nobody could say one word on the subject that was not surmise. Poor Mrs. May was highly indignant when she learned that those visits to the meadows had been watched and commented on by every gossip, that is to say, every woman in the place, and returned home to scold her daughter, and pronounce the mystery unfathomable.

"You must," said she, "forget this person, who evidently has no serious intentions.

"I will try," replied her daughter with an arch look; "but there he is, coming down the street towards our house."

This explanation "made all things straight, as Mrs. May afterwards said. Angelo might have told a good deal more; for example, that his heart was only just recovering from the pain of a bitter disappointment, when the lovely form of Florence appeared to console and indemnify him. But few words in these matters are wisdom; and there is always time to be confidential. Within a month from that period, every one had heard that Mr. Angelo Melvyn was about to be married to Miss Florence May, with whom those who had learned their geography, and were not conversant with the facts, insisted he had fallen in love in Tuscany. "In those southern climes,' said Miss Wiggins to Miss Higgins, "it is the custom for cities to stand godfathers to children." The wedding took place in due season; and it is to be supposed that it turned out a happy one, for the last news we have heard of Mr. and Mrs. Melvyn was, that they have been seen walking along the meadows near the willow-stream, whilst two bright-eyed children-one named Angelo, and the other Florence -were running to and fro, gathering daisies and butter-cups, to make wreaths and nosegays withal.

From The Spectator.

CHINESE EMIGRATION TO THE WEST IN

DIES.

ultimately exercise a powerful influence on the character of the Chinese population.

Among other places to which the men of the Middle Empire have found their way lately, the NEXT to the emigration from Ireland and Ger- colony of British Guiana seems to be one of the many during the last few years, the most remark-places where they have done very well, in spite able movement of any portion of the human of the attempts of certain Colonial journals to family is that which has lately begun in China. represent the Chinese emigration as a failure. With a population equal to forty or fifty Irelands, From a return of despatches relating to Chinese the Celestial Empire is quite as much overcrowd- immigrants recently introduced into Guiana and ed as the latter country was before the potato Trinidad, we are glad to see that, in both colofamine; but it is only within the last few years nies, but especially in the former, the planters that the surplus population has begun to venture speak in very high terms of the manner in which to distant countries in search of employment; the Chinese have conducted themselves. They and as there is evidently a great demand for are described as possessing strength, industry, labor in many parts of the globe, the movement and intelligence; and as being so fond of money is likely to go forward at such a rate as may that they are willing to exert their strength to

the utmost in order to earn good wages. The | binding themselves to work for 1s. a day. At rate of pay offered to those who wish to leave the very moment when such contracts were their native land is very small—only five dollars making at Hongkong, common laborers at the per month with food and lodging, or seven dollars Diggings were earning 20s. to 40s. a day. Well without. These contract prices of labor, how- might Adam Smith say, that of all commodities ever, are very soon broken by mutual consent, human labor is the one most difficult to transport in favor of task-work, which is much more satis- from where it is in excess to where it is most in factory to both the planter and the Chinese coolie. demand. The latter is said to make very good wages; his strength and power of enduring heat and fatigue being far superior to that of the Indian coolie. One great difficulty in the way of a successful immigration and colonization in the West Indies by means of Chinese laborers, is the want of female immigrants. When the project was first mooted about two years ago, Governor Barkly, in his letter to Earl Grey, ascribed the difficulty of procuring female emigrants from China to the practice of female infanticide, and to the custom of crippling the feet of the women, "so as so unfit them not merely for agricultural labor, but for locomotion." This proves to have been a mistake, however. Mr. White, the Government Emigration Agent, who went to China for the express purpose of obtaining information on the subject, and of organizing the conveyance of laborers to Guiana and Trinidad, although doubtful at first whether it would be possible to obtain Chinese women, admits that, "after more extended inquiry," the difficulties are not so great as he had been led to believe. "Many of the intending emigrants, who applied to the office in Hongkong to be registered, stated that they would send for their wives and children after they had been a short time in the colony;" and as for their feet, the class of women who are likely to emigrate are those accustomed to manual labor, and they are said to have "full-grown and undeformed feet, are strong and well formed, and would be very useful on a plantation." Hopes are held out, that if arrangements could be made for conveying a sufficient proportion of female emigrants to Guiana, the Chinese would settle there in large numbers; and as many of them are ambitious as well as hard-working, they might ultimately form a very useful middle class. All accounts agree in representing them as greatly superior to both African and Bengal laborers in every respect.

USES OF PALMS.-In order to be able to appreciate how much the native tribes of the countries where they most abound are dependant on this noble family of plants, and how they take part in some form or other in almost every action of the Indian's life, we must enter into his hut and inquire into the origin and structure of the various articles we shall see around us. Suppose then we visit an Indian cottage on the banks of the Rio Negro, a great tributary of the river Amazon in South America. The main supports of the building are trunks of some forest tree of heavy and durable wood, but the light rafters overhead are formed by the straight cylindrical and uniform stems of the Jará palm. The roof is thatched with large triangular leaves, neatly arranged in regular alternate rows, and bound to the rafters with sipós or forest creepers; the leaves are those of the Caraná palm. The door of the house is a framework of thin hard strips of wood neatly thatched over; it is made of the split stems of the Pashiúba palm. In one corner stands a heavy harpoon for catching the cow-fish; it is formed of the black wood of the Pashiuba barriguda. By its side is a blow-pipe ten or twelve feet long, and a little quiver full of small poisoned arrows hangs up near it; with these the Indian procures birds for food, or for their gay feathers, or even brings down the wild hog or the tapir: and it is from the stem and spine of two species of palms that they are made. His great bassoon-like musical, instruments are made of palm stems; the cloth in which he wraps his most valued feather ornaments is a fibrous palm spathe; and the rude chest in which he keeps his treasures is woven from palm-leaves. His hammock, The heaviest drawback, however, either as re- his bow-string, and his fishing-line, are from the gards male or female emigration, is the cost of fibres of leaves which he obtains from different conveyance; and this has been greatly aggravated palm-trees according to the qualities he requires by the excessive dearness of freights within the in them, the hammock from the Miriti, and the last twelvemonth. Were China within easy bow-string and fishing-line from the Tucúm. reach of the West Indies, the transportation of The comb which he wears on his head is ingelaborers would go on at a prodigious rate. But, niously constructed of the hard bark of a palm; even before the late advance in freights, the cost and he makes fish-hooks of the spines, or uses of introducing Chinese emigrants into Guiana them to puncture on his skin the peculiar markwas 100 dollars per head, while those from Amer-ings of his tribe. His children are eating the ica and Sierra Leone cost only 30 dollars. Now agreeable red and yellow fruit of the Pupunha or that the demand for tonnage is so much greater peach palm; and from that of the Assai he has all over the world, and that the Cuban authorities prepared a favorite drink, which he offers you to are offering 130 dollars for every Chinese laborer taste. That carefully suspended gourd contains landed in that island, the difficulty of obtaining oil, which he has extracted from the fruit of a sufficient supply of labor for the West Indies another species; and that long elastic plaited cy becomes every day greater.

Were the Chinese population not exceedingly ignorant of what is going on in a country much nearer to them than the West Indies, they would never dream of taking so long a voyage, and

linder used for squeezing dry the mandiocca pulp to make his bread, is made of the bark of one of the singular climbing palms, which alone can resist for a considerable time the action of the poisonous juice. -Palm Trees of the Amazon.

From Chambers's Journal.

upon the leeches, which could not shake them off, but, in spite of all their efforts, were speedily overpowered. Wishing to satisfy himself whether they would attack full-grown leeches in the same way, the experimentalist put several of them, tolikewise filled with water. At the end of a few minutes, they had fixed themselves upon the poor animals, which struggled violently, and endeavored to escape from their enemies, but could not make them quit their hold. This scourge of young leeches is very common in the Seine, and in some of the stagnant pools in the environs of Paris. Naturalists call it the Soft-water Asellus.

FRENCH EXPERIMENTS IN ENTOMOLOGY. Ar intervals during the last three years, Parisian savans have been occupied in various curious researches of equal importance to the ento-gether with two adult leeches, into another jug, mologist and the physician. Every one knows how extensively leeches are used in medicine, and how efficacious their application frequently is. But leeches are every day becoming rarer and more expensive, especially in France, where the efforts made to naturalize them have hitherto been neutralized by various obstacles, and among others, by a destructive agency long unknown to science, which has at length been discovered and revealed to the world by a learned FrenchmanM. Soubeiran.

From these observations, M. Soubeiran concluded that the great numbers of the Aselli frequenting the waters of the Seine and the stagnant pools above referred to, render the propagation of leeches impossible, unless this water could be kept from the basins where these useful animals are reared; and even in that case, this method of rearing them is costly, and not easily practicable.

In April, 1850, M. Soubeiran began his experiments. He caused a large basin of a peculiar construction to be placed in the central surgery of the hospitals, in which basin he deposited a number of leeches, with the intention of watching their habits and ascertaining the best mode of treating them. The basin was circular, and lined Another insect to which the Parisian naturalists with lead; a stream of water could be turned have lately been directing special attention, is the through it at will by means of a jet d'eau, from Acarus of the itch. The repugnance and disgust the head of a watering-pot; and there was an excited from remotest antiquity by this disease opening for the escape of the surplus water, cov- are well known. There is a reference to it in the ered with clear-muslin, to prevent the leeches 13th chapter of Leviticus. It is mentioned by from getting out. At the bottom of the basin Hippocrates, by Aristotle, by Galen, by Horace, was a thick bed of potter's earth, in which were by Cicero, by Juvenal, by Rabelais, and by a hunplaced a number of aquatic plants, such as the dred others. Some of these, and especially RabeIris pseudo-acorus, the Typha angustifolia, or reed-lais, gave unmistakable indications of being acmace, the Caltha palustris, or marsh-marigold, etc.; quainted with the singular insect that causes the and above all, some of the Chara. In one part of disease. But it was reserved for a Corsican stuthe basin was an island level with the water, dent, M. Renucci, to demonstrate the existence composed of a bed of clay covered with a layer of the acarus in such a manner that no one could of light soil and turf, in order that the leeches dispute its authenticity; since that time, people might bury themselves at pleasure in the light have troubled themselves very little about it. earth. Three hundred fine Hungarian leeches The experiments of a learned French physician were placed in the basin thus prepared, where have at length rendered the observations on this they were left undisturbed until the end of Sep-insect conclusive and complete. tember. During this time they were fed three times twice with blood, and once with frogs. But the animals did not multiply, as was expected. When the harvest came to be looked for, only about 100 young ones were found. These were mostly hidden within the folds of the leaves of the plants, and attached to each of them was a small, pale, tetradecapodous animal with a flat clongated body. It had four folded antennæ, two of them longer than the others, and a biforked tail composed of a single segment. Beneath this tail were appendages that continually agitated the water, to renew it at the surface of the respiratory organs; the feet were furnished with a hook. The animal did not swim, but walked at the bottom of the basin, or along the stems of the plants beneath the water. It was found in great numbers upon the sieves used in fishing up the leeches, and upon the stems of the iris and typha; but the greater number lay within the interior folds of the leaves with the young leeches.

M. Soubeiran placed a few of these insects in a jug filled with water, and threw in among them some young leeches. The animals speedily seized

These observations at first presented great difficulties. Dr. Bourguignon could readily study the acarus with the aid of an ordinary microscope. He could define its form; he could even delineate its anatomy and reproduction; but how was he to arrive at a knowledge of its habits?

To arrive at this knowledge, the doctor had recourse to a peculiar species of movable microscope, invented by himself, which enabled him to observe the acarus on the diseased person. This microscope is very simple: it is composed of the frame of an ordinary microscope, the optical and essential part of which has been raised from the socket that supported it, and articulated to a movable knee at the extremity of a lever; the instrument can thus be transported to the part under inspection.

Another difficulty, however, presented itself in the fact, that the ordinary light is obscurity for opaque bodies seen through the microscope. Dr. Bourguignon was forced, therefore, to have recourse to artificial light, the luminous rays of which he concentrates into a brilliant focus by the aid of a round magnifying-glass, which focus he directs upon the chosen point of observation.

We will not here speak of the fantastic form of the acarus-of its fore-paws, which, armed

with a kind of sucker, enable it to fasten itself in the furrow which it digs under the skin; of the movable points which it carries on its back, to fix itself more firmly in these furrows; of its terrible mandibles, and all the other weapons with which nature has armed it, to accomplish its destructive mission. We shall merely notice one or two curious details concerning its habits.

LITERARY PENSIONS. The application of the small fund at the disposal of the Queen is a promising peculiarity of the present time. More frequently than otherwise, the recipients are now authors, or their surviving families; and the public is acquainted by the mere name of the individual with the merit that has obtained this mark of royal kindness and distinction. Formerly, the The acarus is a kind of microscopic tortoise. case was very different. No influence, no enIn the moment of danger or sleep, it draws in its treaty could extort from government a pension for head and feet. If pushed out of its burrow, it the widow of our national poet Burns; but now turns its head from right to left, to find out where this homage is readily paid to the genius of the Etit has been placed; and speedily regaining its trick Shepherd, in a pension to his widow of £50 form, it squats in it instinctively, for it has no a year. The widow of Dr. Moir, the elegant and eyes. Its march is precisely that of the tortoise. amiable Delta, receives £100; the widow of Sir Notwithstanding all his optical resources, Dr. Harris Nicolas is likewise pensioned; and so are Bourguignon has not yet been able to discover a the sister and daughters of our late esteemed felsingle male acarus. All those observed by him low citizen, James Simpson. The pension to were females fecundated, doubtless for many Alaric Watts is more timely than these, for he generations, as is the case with several other in- has still, to all appearance, a long course of life - the gnat, for example. The acarus usu- before him, and is working as vigorously as ever ally lays sixteen eggs, which are carefully de-at literature. The sum is not large- only £100 posited in a furrow under the epidermis, where they are ranged in pairs. They are hatched in about ten days.

sects

Thanks to the observations of Dr. Bourguignon, the disease caused by this insect, so terrible to our ancestors, can now easily be cured in two days.*

a year- but it will help a man of genius in undeserved difficulties, and it is a standing testimonial to his merit, proceeding from the highest quarter. It is not long since we stated our opinion of his productions generally, in reviewing his Lyrics of the Heart; and it is pleasing to us to find that Her Majesty and Lord Aberdeen have formed a similar appreciation of the poet.

DR. WILLIAM HODGE MILL, Regius Professor of Hebrew, Canon of Ely, and Rector of CHARLES DICKENS'S CHRISTMAS READINGS Brasted, died at Ely on Christmas day, after less AT BIRMINGHAM. In fulfilment of a promise than a week's illness. On Monday week he made a year ago that he would read some of his came up to London to attend a meeting of the Christmas books in aid of the new Birmingham Foreign Translation Committee of the Society and Midland Institute, Mr. Dickens commenced for promoting Christian Knowledge. The ex- the series by reading the "Christmas Carol," in treme cold of the day brought on an obstruction the Town-hall. Notwithstanding the inclemency which no medical skill could counteract, and he of the weather the vast hall was well filled, about died without pain, and with all such consolations 1,700 persons being present. Mr. Dickens's reas his friends could wish, on Sunday night. Dr. ception was of the most hearty and enthusiastic Mill took a very high degree in 1813, and was kind; he had a most sympathizing audience, who elected Fellow of Trinity College. In 1820, he caught the spirit of the speaker and the intention went out as first principal of Bishop's College, of the author with appreciative intelligence, and Calcutta, the foundation of Bishop Middleton. for full three hours they sat charmed by the geOn his return in 1838, he received the appoint- niality of the story and the admirable elocution ment of domestic and examining chaplain to the of the speaker, who kept up the interest to the late Archbishop Howley. Subsequently he was very last, concluding amidst great applause. This appointed Christian Advocate. In 1843 Arch- is the first time Dickens has read his books in bishop Howley presented him to the living of public, and the effect was peculiar. He reads Brasted, Kent; and in 1848 he was elected Re-" The Cricket on the Hearth" to-night, and togius Professor of Hebrew, to which a canonry at morrow he repeats "The Christmas Carol," exEly is attached. As a mathematician and scho- clusively to the working classes, who have alrealar, Dr. Mill's attainments were of the very high-dy secured every place in the hall. The proest order; and the pursuits of his youth he continued as the relaxation of his maturer years. His acquirements in Sanscrit have won him an European reputation; and, as a contribution to the evangelizing of India, as well as a classical production in that great language, his 'Christa Sangrita" is a work unparalleled in modern literature. Dr. Mill leaves behind him a widow and surviving daughter, the wife of the Rev. Benjamin Webb, of Sheen.-Examiner.

posed institute, in whose behalf these readings are given, has been very fortunate hitherto. A site for the building, worth from £10,000 to £15,000, has been granted by the corporation, nearly £10,000 additional have been subscribed. and Mr. Dickens's contribution in the shape of the proceeds of the readings, will, it is anticipated, be a handsome one.

When Lola Montes passed through Sacramena parrot, two dogs, and a grizzly bear.

*This article is chiefly taken from the Archives | to, she had these "parlor ornaments" - a piano. de Pharmacie, a French medical journal.