a wild tree, whose wanton strength
Had swollen into irregular twigs
And bold excrescences,
And spent itself in leaves and little rings;
So in the flourish of its outwardness
Wasting the sap and strength
That should have given forth fruit;
But when I pruned the tree,
Then it grew temperate in its vain expanse
Of useless leaves, and knotted, as thou seest,
Into these full, clear clusters, to repay
The hand that wisely wounded it.
Repine not, O my son!
In wisdom and in mercy heaven indicts,
Like a wise leech, its painful remedies.

SOUTHEY.

WEATHERCOCKS.

Weathercocks do not always show the real direction of a very gentle wind.
The strange figures of them, usually the productions of capricious fancy,
is one cause of their imperfection as vanes to indicate the wind. Griffins,
half-moons, foxes, or figures of St. Margaret and the dragon, are not good
shapes for weathercocks, which ought to be plain fans, the large surface of
one side being counterbalanced against the weight of the other.

THE VALUE OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

A general, though superficial acquaintance with such subjects as
well-educated men and women talk about in mixed society is absolutely
necessary. A practised eye will easily distinguish the silence of modest
attention from the mute weariness of ignorance. The most inveterate talker,
if he be not quite a fool, desires to be listened to as well as heard; and
a "yes" or a "no" may be placed and accented so as to show intelligence, or
betray stupidity. Grace in action and deportment is so essential, that it
may almost be said to make all that is beautiful in beauty. We do not mean
that a lady should, in dancing, walking, or sitting, display attitudes
worthy of a painter's model. In walking we, however, recommend something
between the listless saunter of a she-dandy, and the bustling gait of a
notable body, who perhaps saves three minutes out of four-and-twenty hours,
by doing every thing throughout the day with a jerk and a toss.--Dancing,
unless it be done quietly and gracefully, without the fatal results of a
shining face, and red neck and arms, it is far better to forbear
altogether, it being a very superfluous quality in a gentlewoman; whereas
_to please_ by all honest means is her proper calling and occupation. A
high degree of _positive_ grace is very rare, especially in northern
climates, where the form is degraded and spoiled by ligatures and by cold;
but eve