ing sense' of it from top to toe; and as you hie away to business, you shall feel such a glow and elasticity as never came from bolus, draught or pill. Break not the physical lines; you may be precipitated from the beautiful gardens of health into the dark morasses of disease, where will-o'-the-wisps abound, and blue-devils race their nightly mares.

Social lines next claim our attention. By these I mean the lines which divide society into castes. It is a singular fact that these lines are drawn all over the world; showing that human nature is modelled upon pretty nearly the same general principles throughout all the various races of the globe. The red men of the forest have their proud and aristocratic chieftains as well as the savage of low degree. The highborn East Indian turns up his nose at the representative of a lower class; and if he understood the Queen's English, would ask why he came between the wind and his nobility. Even in besotted Africa there are those who vaunt themselves above the rest. The nations of Europe have their peerages and their serfs; and here, around us, in our own country, we see no less distinctly the lines which divide society into castes. Under proper restrictions, and drawn in the right kind of spirit, these lines, according to my view, are highly beneficial. I do not like social lines based upon claims merely hereditary or merely monetary. In the higher circle there should be found the complete gentleman, of polished manners and well-stored intellect; the finished lady, of gentle carriage and winning loveliness. No coarse and vulgar jest should here arise; here should never be witnessed attacks upon old Priscian. No asinine foppishness or tawdry bedizzenment should here be known. No person should have her ornaments counted, for proof that she was a lady; nor his whiskers smoothed, as principal witnesses of the fact of his being a gentleman. There should be no necessity of a residence near Washington-Square, Clinton-Place, Fifth-Avenue, or St. Mark's-Place; but every complete gentleman and lady should be admitted to the most recherché circles, whether from the east end or west end, whether from avenue or alley; whether living in a splendid mansion, or in a small two-story dwelling; whether a retired millionaire, or an honest mechanic. And then the social lines between higher and lower circles should divide the finished gentleman and the accomplished lady; nature's high-born souls, from low vulgarity and importance based upon mere dollars and cents. Such lines as these would indeed prove a blessing to society.

The lines of party politics are not unworthy of our consideration. Those master-spirits who spin and stake out these lines, go upon the presumption that every body must have an opinion with regard to the great political parties of the day, and that he must openly and avowedly express these opinions to the world; unless perchance he be a minister in holy things; and even then, there are many who are often annoyed: or unless some other very extraordinary circumstances intervene, the poor soul will be visited by ward-committees and district-prowlers, who will worry his very life out of him; till he declares for Democracy, or Whiggery, or Abolitionism, or something else. The lines of party politics aver that every voter, native or foreigner, legal or illegal, must have a political opinion, and that he has no right to nourish and cherish it

in his own bosom. These lines are very stiffly drawn, almost to breaking; or as brother Jack would say, they are remarkably 'taut.' After becoming an adherent to one party, these lines render it extremely difficult for a man to change and support the other. On some accounts these lines are beneficial; but on the whole, I think they make too much of a political automaton of an immortal being.

The lines of a warlike troop, as they are drawn out upon the field of battle, must be a glorious sight. Jump on to Napoleon's steed, or the Duke of Wellington's war-horse, and ride up and down in review! Thousands upon thousands of veterans, pressing shoulder to shoulder, with their implements of death, flags, ensigns, plumes, epaulettes — all these must send a thrill through a susceptible heart. Gaze upon the out-side show, and then reflect upon the workings of the souls that compose those lines: hopes, fears, jealousies; mad ambition, and fierce struggling passions! Yet this is not always so. Review the lines which WASHINGTON So often reviewed, and see pure Patriotism arraying itself for its country's defence. Perhaps, under PROVIDENCE, no lines have had a greater influence upon the world's destiny than such military lines.

To descend to simpler themes; suppose we touch a moment upon clothes-lines! A poet of no ordinary wit has rendered them immortal, in a poem entitled The September Gale.' They sustained those famous Sunday breeches! Without them, what would the poor washerwoman do? How they have figured on cold winter mornings, when some illstarred urchin has been forced, by paternal authority, to break paths through the deep, deep snow, in order to tie them to their accustomed posts! What peculiar burdens clothes-lines have to sustain, from all the little and great unmentionables, to the hoisting of the main sheets! Should they chance to break, and send their precious loads into some neighboring ditch or gutter, oh! what murmurings! loud enough to drown the winds that snapped the unlucky cord! But enough; let us pass to fish-lines.

Banks of New-Foundland, shores of Cape Cod, and all ye inland lakes, streams and ponds, swell forth your experience!' Tell of the ecstatic delights of that noble company who own no other leader than the great Izaak Walton. Speak of the glorious nibbles,' the spirit-stirring bites,' the heavy hauls,' the looks of bitter disappointment or gladsome self-satisfaction, which fish-lines produced! Do but this, and I will leave the subject, and pass to lines matrimonial.

These, according to my theory, are peculiar, decidedly peculiar. I believe that near the age of sweet seventeen, or manly twenty-one, every person begins to live on some kind of a matrimonial line. I will mention a few of the species. The first are short, and upon them the person runs to that bourne from which no traveller returns. The second are mere tangents to the circle of matrimony; and those that are bent thereon will naturally turn out spinsters and old bachelors. The third are the ones that lead through the regions of matrimony, and deserve to be noticed more at length. One of the peculiar features of these lines is, that they are found in pairs, with a specimen of the masculine gender strung upon one, and of the feminine gender upon the

other. They are sometimes, though rarely, found running parallel through the matrimonial regions. In this case the two persons just get hold of each other's hands, and float along like two ice-bergs held together by a brazen chain. This is decidedly an unfortunate arrangement for any son or daughter of Adam. But in the generality of cases these two lines meet each other just as they enter old Hymen's domains, and at all the possible angles which imagination could devise. The more acute the angles, the nearer they get to parallel lines, and consequently the colder the union. The more obtuse, the farther they get to the other extreme; and consequently often produce the most disagreeable effects. After repeated observation, I have come to the conclusion, that the most favorable angle under which these lines can meet is the angle of ninety degrees; that is, a right angle. In this case the two lines pass insensibly into one, and the happiest consequences ensue. I have not room upon my paper for another line.

in his own bosom. These lines are very stiffly drawn, alm ing; or as brother Jack would say, they are remarkably becoming an adherent to one party, these lines render it ex cult for a man to change and support the other. On s these lines are beneficial; but on the whole, I think t much of a political automaton of an immortal being.

The lines of a warlike troop, as they are drawn out u battle, must be a glorious sight. Jump on to Napoleon Duke of Wellington's war-horse, and ride up and do Thousands upon thousands of veterans, pressing should with their implements of death, flags, ensigns, plumes, these must send a thrill through a susceptible heart. out-side show, and then reflect upon the workings of th pose those lines: hopes, fears, jealousies; mad amb struggling passions! Yet this is not always so. which WASHINGTON So often reviewed, and see pure Pa itself for its country's defence. Perhaps, under PRO have had a greater influence upon the world's destir tary lines.

To descend to simpler themes; suppose we touc clothes-lines! A poet of no ordinary wit has rende in a poem entitled The September Gale.' They sus Sunday breeches! Without them, what would the do? How they have figured on cold winter morni starred urchin has been forced, by paternal autho through the deep, deep snow, in order to tie them posts! What peculiar burdens clothes-lines have the little and great unmentionables, to the hoisting Should they chance to break, and send their pred neighboring ditch or gutter, oh! what murmuri drown the winds that snapped the unlucky cord! pass to fish-lines.

6

6

Banks of New-Foundland, shores of Cape C lakes, streams and ponds, swell forth your exp ecstatic delights of that noble company who ow the great Izaak Walton. Speak of the glorious ring 'bites,' the heavy hauls,' the looks of gladsome self-satisfaction, which fish-lines prod I will leave the subject, and pass to lines matri

These, according to my theory, are peculiar believe that near the age of sweet seventeer every person begins to live on some kind of a mention a few of the species. The first are person runs to that bourne from which no second are mere tangents to the circle of matr bent thereon will naturally turn out spinsters third are the ones that lead through the regio serve to be noticed more at length. One o these lines is, that they are found in pairs, w culine gender strung upon one, and of the

ur,

equally false? May not ent a voice broke on my

ell.'

ice ceased. It was unlike strange it should be unacas the hour, and the place, I

ed hour. I had time to conthe solid rock, winds round the em, with a few small windows, and now, as the faint flickering it bore the appearance of that

ght bell fell on my ear; and, as grow short; a cold dew stood on me as I never before had felt it; unted eleven- one more: the lame of purple light seemed to float orror and amazement, standing on h, how terrible the feeling that then of the past, the peril of the present, n my mind, while he blandly smiled ark of the stranger is on the billow; > is thinking of home and friends he wind through the rent sails; the sea he bark will be a wreck. Behold!' in burst on my ear; the surface of the re rolled a ship without a rudder, at the a loud crash, and the mast was gone by apstan, I beheld the stranger! Pale and his eyes, methought, imploringly on me. rms toward him; while Ambrosine said: wilt.'

?' I exclaimed, forgetting all the past in

while his eyes sparkled, 'place thy right here by my side.'

I had been accustomed to hear came on the ied; his eyes rolled fearfully; and his body hile a voice chanted:

WE come without bidding,

We come without charm,

From our bowers of bliss, maiden,

To shield thee from harm.

Believe not the Tempter;
Stand not by his side!

If thou giv'st him thy hand,
He will claim thee his bride.
30