this analogy those who remained in Galena during the winter called them "suckers." I have been in one or other of these states for thirty-four years, and though I never use the terms, yet distinctly recollect the origin of both. AARON WOOD.

P. S. "J. A. P." gives us still another version of the origin of the term "sucker," to wit: An old hunter, and, perhaps, about "the oldest inhabitant," gives this account in the first settlement of the state. Bees were found in great abundance in all the timbered portions. The early inhabitants used to cut down the trees and eat the honey. From this they were first styled "honeysuckers." In course of time "honey" was left out and the term "sucker" continued in use.

THE TUESDAY AFTER THE FIRST MONDAY-ANSWER.Query." Why are the November elections appointed to be held on Tuesday after the first Monday' in the month? Why not on the first Tuesday in November?"

If the writer wishes to know why the first Tuesday in November was not chosen by the framers of the law in preference to the "Tuesday after the first Monday," we are not prepared to answer, as we know no reason why that particular day should have any preference. But if we are to understand from the writer's query, that he considers the first Tuesday in November the same as the Tuesday after the first Monday, we are prepared to show there is an essential difference in one instance.

Suppose the month of November comes in on Tuesday; then if election was appointed to be held on the first Tuesday in the month, it would take place on the first; but if appointed to be held on the Tuesday after the first Monday, it would take place on the seventh-making a difference of six days in the time of the election.

By the way, quite a difference. If the month of November never came in on Tuesday, then it would not matter whether you said the first Tuesday after the first Monday; it would be one and the same thing. But this has happened many times, and must happen many more. WILL. P. TOLLING OF BELLS AT FUNERALS.-This solemnity is of Roman Catholic institution, and usually took place just at the moment of death. From this circumstance the name, passing bell, was given to it. The object of the knell was to announce that the soul of a Christian was just parting from the body, and to call upon all who heard the solemn sound to kneel and pray for its admission into paradise. Such is the origin of the death knell; but in America, and in some other countries, the bell is not tolled till the moment when the funeral procession leaves the church, or the residence of the deceased, conveying the corpse to its last resting-place. W.

THE VALUE OF THE MARK.-The English people were formerly accustomed to reckon large sums by the mark, as they now do by the pound. When Richard I, the lion-hearted King of England, was taken prisoner by Leopold, of Austria, and confined in the dungeon of the Emperor Henry VI, of Gerinany, he was released from imprisonment only upon the payment of about a hundred and fifty thousand marks. This mode of computation, by marks, continued till about 1720, when the more modern reckoning took its place. In a Historical Register for the year 1719, I read as follows: "Samuel Jordan, who was formerly convicted of perjury, was called to the bar, and received sentence to stand in the pillory, to pay a fine of twenty marks, to suffer three months' imprison

ment, and to stand committed till his fine is paid." The value of the mark is 13s. 4d., or a little over three dollars. S. W. W.

A CLUSTER OF PROVERBS.-Proverbs have always entered largely into the literature of all ages. Ray describes a proverb as "a pithy saying in which more is generally designed than expressed, famous for its peculiarity and elegance, and, therefore, adapted to the learned as well as the vulgar." We append a cluster, each one pregnant with meaning, a text from which a South might have preached a sermon:

He begins to die that quits his desires.

A handful of good life is better than a bushel of learning.

He that studies his content wants it.

He that stumbles and falls not, mends his pace.
A good bargain is a pick-purse.
The scalded dog fears cold water.
Light burdens, long borne, grow heavy.

A fat housekeeper makes lean executors.
He lives unsafely that looks too near on things.
A crooked log makes a straight fire.
Nothing is to be presumed on or despaired of.
Never had ill workman good tools.
When a dog is a-drowning every one offers him drink.
He that will learn to pray, let him go to sea.

An old wise man's shadow is better than a young buzzard's sword.

I

gave the mouse a hole, and she is become my heir. The chicken is the country's, but the city eats it. Love your neighbor, yet pull not down your hedge. Men speak of the fair

As things went with them there.

The best remedy against an ill man is much ground between both.

THE DEATH WATCH.-This name evidently has its origin from dark and superstitious times. It is nothing more nor less than a diminutive beetle, the little creature that perforates the round holes in old worm-eaten furniture and wood work. "The ticking," says an eminent naturalist, "is produced by striking its head against the wood," in the progress of these perforations; and yet how often has it struck terror in the minds of the attendants of the sick, and, from communicating the omen to the patient, the skill of the physician has been completely baffled! Even yet, in isolated rural districts, the belief that it is the harbinger of death remains unshaken.

THE EARWIG. This little creature is generally viewed with disgust, from the foolish prejudice that it attacks the ear of man, and, by entering the head or brain, occasions insanity. The supposition is idle, and without one particle of truth. It is no more subject to this charge than any other insect that moves on the ground or floats in the air. The forceps or curved hooks which you observe projecting over the tail are instruments used for folding and settling their soft wings, which are placed under the outer or scaled wings. These wings are very beautiful, and by their aid this creature has considerable power of flight. It sits upon its eggs, and hatches them

like a hen.

QUERY.-Acoustics teaches that sound passes best through a dense medium: pneumatics that the air is rarest just before a rain. Why, then, do we hear soundas of the cars-twice as far in cloudy and humid weather, as when the air is cold and clear? HORACE.

WE throw in another cluster of the sayings and doings of the little ones. But our catalogue is by no means exhausted:

While her mother was trying to get her little "Anna"-a "wee bit" of three years-to sleep the other evening, she said to her, "Anna, why don't you try and go to sleep?" "I am," she replied. "But you havn't your eyes shut." "Well, can't help it; ums come unbuttoned." S. S.

ROBERT N. is about two years old, and a very interesting lit. tle fellow. He was not permitted to attend Church during three or four months of the past autumn and winter; but on the return of warm weather this spring he was found seated beside his mother in the house of worship. For one so young he was much interested in the services, and especially in the kneeling of the congregation in time of prayer-he kneeling with the rest. On returning home he was asked where he had been. He replied, "'Obert been meet'n." What did Robert see at meeting?" Why," said he, "pa, and ma, and aunt 'Achel, and aunt Fannie said, 'Now I 'ay me down a seep.'" C. C.

HATTIE and Willie were cousins, and their homes were separated only by the highway. They were united in all their infantile sports, and at the age of four were together initiated into the mysteries of the common school. With each a wellfilled basket on one arm, they walked hand in hand to the school-room. One fine morning in June they were somewhat frightened by the strange appearance of an itinerant vender of plaster Paris images, who carried his toys on a sort of plat. form on his head. On reaching the school-house they ran to meet and welcome their teacher with a kiss. After their artless salutations were over, Hattie exclaimed, "Miss L., we met something this morning and were afraid, so we got over the fence and hid in the bushes till it went by." "Did you," said the teacher; "what was it?" "I don't know," said the little girl; "but Willie thought it was an angel." C. R. C.

CHILDHOOD is unselfish in its love, warm in its sympathies, and pure in its affections. A mother, after returning from the funeral of a friend, was telling her little girl-not yet four years old-about the two little children who now had no mother to love or care for them. The child's heart throbbed with painful emotion, and the tears filled her dark eyes, her lips quivered, and she was evidently about to give utterance to her sympathy by sobbing, when suddenly she brightened up, and smiling through her tears she exclaimed, "Why, ma, can't you bring them here and you can be their ma; then they'll have a mother!" C. R. C. LITTLE Branch is two years old and very fond of books, pictures, and papers-a taste which his mother loves to indulge and encourage in every proper way. He often manifests a strong inclination to pursue his scientific investigations by turning over the leaves of "the old family Bible," which his father reads at family worship. This he has often been forbidden to do. But sometimes his curiosity triumphs over his sense of right and wrong, and we find him slyly turning the leaves and admiring the pictured representation of the infant Jesus, or the finding of Moses, etc.; but he usually shuts the book as soon as he is conscious of being observed. One day, however, his mother discovered him sitting erect on the table with the Bible open before him. When he found his mother was watching his movements, he looked up very seriously, and, as if in anticipation of reproof, he said, with a ludicrous air of mock gravity, "I am going to pray God. I'm papa, now."

C. R. C.

LAST Summer "little Charlie" made his first entrance into a church. He was delighted with the music and wished to see

LITTLE KATE, now ten years old, had just completed her fourth year, when, one day, as she was sitting near our babenow in heaven-a portion of the plastering fell from the ceiling upon the babe, doing no serious injury, however. On my return from the school room our little Kate came running to me, all eager to tell the news. She commenced, "O pa! pa!" and she hesitated for a moment, unable to tell what had happened, when suddenly her eye lighted up and she exclaimed, "O pa, the sky of the room fell on Mary!" G. B. J.

My mother always taught us early to pray, and made us feel that God was emphatically the "Good Man." My little sister was called, at about four years of age, to pass to heaven. Shortly before she died she was asked if she was not afraid to die. Her answer was, "No." "But are you not afraid, Hannah, to die and be buried in a deep hole in the ground?" Her answer was full of the confidence of an aged Christian, "No, no, for the Good Man will take care of me!"

G. B. J.

MEN, whom the world calls wise, are often practically guilty of relying upon expedients to escape the torments of the "bad place," as fallacious and deceptive, but by no means as harmless as the following:

Brother D. has two very sprightly little boys. At times they evince their possession of a fallen nature, as is common for children, by expressions of momentary anger. On an occasion of this kind, a few days since, the younger said to Willey, "You will go to the bad place; you are bad, and the bad man will put you in the fire." The mind of Willey was, for a moment, busily employed in meditating upon the consequences if he should reach that place, and then replied with that ingenuity for which children are remarkable, and with evident assurance that his plan for e aping himself would work admirably, "Yes, but then I'lurry wood for the bad man to burn other bad boys." R. L. C.

THE following illustrates the idea children generally have of the situation of heaven. We send it for your "Sideboard:" Joseph and Horace being five and six years old, were overheard by their parents, when the following conversation ensued: "Don't you wish you were in heaven, Horace?" said Joseph. "Why?" inquired the eldest. "Den you could put your hand out and pull in those birds that fly clear up in the skies." S.

My friends, Dr. B. and lady, have with them a sweet little orphan child, which they are training in the fear of the Lord, and have taught her the little prayer beginning, "Now I lay me down to sleep," etc. They arise quite early in the morn ing and permit her to remain in her bed till the hour for family worship. She generally being awoke when they arose, observ. ed that they prayed before leaving the sleeping apartment, while she, when called up, was permitted to omit this act of devotion, which appeared rather mysterious to her inquiring and devotional nature. Not long since she said, "Mother, what is the reason you and the Doctor pray when you get up and I don't?" "Why, Annie," said her mother, "do you not pray in the morning? You ought always to pray when you get up." "I know; but I can't say, 'Now I lay me down to sleep,' when I'm getting up." J. A. P.

Our little pet, on looking out of the window just after sun set, exclaimed, "O, mamma, come here quick; my Lord Papa has made one star and a part of the moon!" A. B. R.

THIS NUMBER.-By some means or other we find an overplus of matter each month, when we come to make up our number. This is especially so at the present time. Several pages prepared for our editorial department, have been crowded out. Our Editor's Table is also crowded into a corner, very much against our will; and, in fine, we are compelled to a very sudden "leave-taking" of our friends.

OUR LITERARY CORRESPONDENCE, we are glad to know, is well received by our friends and patrons. Our London letters may hereafter be expected regularly. They will amply repay a perusal. Our readers will learn much of London, of England, and of English society, as well as of its current literature from them. Let no one of them pass without a careful reading.

These correspondents, as we have already intimated, are editorially connected with eminent literary journals, and have their eye constantly upon the general course of literature.

MILL CREEK.-There are many "mill creeks." In fact "mill creek" is decidedly common, plebeian, vulgar, or whatever other term you choose to employ to express the idea. It smacks of "the old saw-mill," with its unwieldy logs, its unsightly piles of slabs, and its harsh, grating sounds. Or perhaps it is more redolent of "the old gristmill." What man of country origin has not connected with his boyhood, recollections of "the old grist-mill?" It might have been of wood, but most likely of stone-a dingy, dilapidated, wall-cracked old concern-jarring and quivering with every revolution of the ponderous stones. There stands the miller just now, in the door, his hat white, his broadcloth coat nearly as white as his hat, and both made whiter by the flour-dust thickly sprinkled over them. He is thin and pale, it may be that the atmosphere is unhealthy; or it may be that the conscience has contracted a chronic disease from the "miller's toll." You must wait till your turn comes round; but look out how you lean against the wall, or sit upon a chair, or, indeed, how you move around, lest your clothes contract new colors, and lighter than may be altogether seemly. But, reader, our "Mill Creek" is no vulgar spot, where they pile up slabs, or grind out grists; but a cool and shady retreat, where the thick interwoven branches of shading trees bid defiance to the sharpest arrows of a July sun. Come let us enjoy this cool retreat.

THE MOTHER OF JOHN WESLEY.-Very few copies of the likeness of Mrs. Susannah Wesley have ever been brought to this country. We have known of only three. A friend was commissioned last fall to obtain one in London. He succeeded, and also learned from good authority that all traditions represented it as being a good likeness. It has passed through the hands of one of the best portrait engravers in our country, and the result is before the reader. A more expressive countenanceindicating a mind of not only high order of development, but also of harmonious development-in which intellect is graced with the adornments of virtue, and will is tempered with the sweetness of purified affection-we have rarely ever seen.

The reader will recollect that while her husband was in London, on one occasion, she began to hold meetings for the religious instruction of the members of his flock. Those meetings were considered as "irregular" by the "viler sort" in the parish, and Mr. Wesley, moved by their clamors, counseled her to desist. When our eye fell upon this portrait we seemed almost to hear her replying, "Do not tell me that you desire me to do it, for

that will not satisfy my conscience; but send me your positive command, in such full and express terms as may absolve me from all guilt and punishment, for neglecting this opportunity of doing good, when you and I shall appear before the great and awful tribunal of our Lord Jesus Christ." The admirable biographical sketch, prepared by Mrs. Olin, will be concluded in our next number.

EXCERPTA FROM CORRESPONDENCE.-We insert the

following mainly because of its reference to an interesting historical item relating to the Queen of England. The writer, as will be seen, is an Englishman by birth, but is now in the ministerial work in central New York: "I read, with a great deal of pleasure, 'London out of town,' in the Repository, for May, and think no eulogy of it too high. I literally sucked its blood till the last drop was gone, and then, lion like, longed for another victim. But I think your correspondent is in error with reference to the Queen visiting Brighton.

"I resided in Brighton four and a half years of my life, commencing September, 1838, and within that time the Queen and family visited Brighton and the Pavilion, too, and remained some weeks; and more than once I have seen her ride out of the Pavilion gates on horseback. I shall never forget the illumination on the occasion of her arrival; it was the grandest I have ever seen. I believe it a conceded fact, that the Queen never liked Brighton, and the reasons given in the article are doubtless the true ones."

THE following note from Dr. Hannah, addressed to the editor, will be read with interest by the thousands of our Israel:

"How often do our thoughts turn to the United States! God will, we trust, give our brethren there continually increasing prosperity. I am happy to say that signs of good are granted to us in this country. We enjoy almost unbroken peace, and in the congregations- the feeling which often pervades them-and the evidences which arise of the deepening and eniarging of God's work, we thankfully trace hopes of better days. Our missionary income this year is £119,205 8s. 2d.-which, I suppose, is nearly $600,000-and the debt which has existed for years is now entirely discharged. Perhaps I may also name a particular instance of liberality which occurred only last Sunday. I was preaching at Buxton-Road Chapel, Huddersfield-an old and happy station of mine, but which has of late years been painfully affected by agitation- when, at two public collections, more than £1,100 were raised-or more than $5,500-a pretty fair stroke of liberality for one day. But, above all, I trust there is a prospect in that town, and elsewhere, of the return of peaceful and happy days."