"When there is such a weight of sacrifice and suffering, I trust much apology is not needed for my attempt to lessen its burden on those to whose assistance this little offering is dedicated. "I think only the wife of a man much before the public can fully value the sacredness of home, and make it almost a religion to guard against any profanation of its sweet security. Born to and educated in this feeling in my father's house, and confirmed in it by the experience of my own home, it has been a real sacrifice for me to lay open even so small a part of my life. This is unnecessary to say to those who know me, but as such a vast many more do not, and, only seeing what's done, know not what's resisted, I beg of them to bear this in mind, and not think this attempt to relieve suffering more unwomanly or less needed than any of the other new positions in which women are finding themselves during this strange phase of our national life. explained their "policy." Mr. Lay, according to the Times authority, says that by honestly paying the import duties to the imperial Government of China he has engaged its friendship and achieved the direction of its policy. This great end he means to use to capture the whole Taeping army, and transport it bodily to the islands of the Eastern Archipelago, where there is waste land and food and water in abundance. Captain Osborn states that he is going to teach the Chinese humanity, or, in other words, English modes of warfare. Both agree that they are, in effect, the Cabinet Councillors of the Emperor of China, and intend to use their power; and Mr. Gladstone, who was present, is said to have given his blessing, both personal and ministerial, to this gigantic policy, and wished it God speed. Captain Osborn's and Mr. Lay's speeches, if accurately summarized by the writer in the Times, really mean that a knot of Englishmen intend to govern China by Chinese resources; and, indeed, in British India permission to British subjects to enlist in the Emperor of China's service is officially advertised. This is the old East Indian policy initiated on a far grander scale, and with our eyes wide open to the results,-and if true, is by far the most momentous act of the Government during this generation. Yet Parliament has not only not been consulted, but has been soothed into carelessness. A despatch of Lord Russell, published last session, carefully intimated that it was the policy of England to intervene as little as might be in the struggle, and only to defend commercial ports. The new policy, no doubt, will not involve expense to Great Britain, for China will pay; but it involves deeply the most vital principles of our imperial responsibility, and results almost certainly in a gradual annexation. Is Parliament a cipher that this should happen without its sanction? Are we willON Monday last the most important polit-ing to let the greatest political responsibility ical declaration of our day is said to have of our generation be taken up without a been made in a very odd locality, the rooms movement from the nation's conscience or a of the Geographical Society. Captain Sher- sign from the nation's will?-Spectator, 13 ard Osborn and Mr. Lay were there and Dec. "The restraints of ordinary times do not apply now. How many women - many of them rich in the good gifts of youth and beauty, and charm of the mind-minister daily at bedsides of men whose very names are unknown to them, overcoming not only their shuddering repugnance to ghastly sights, butthe deeper instinct of shyness and reserve! They can well bear the sneers of those whose Decameronish instinct leads them to sit apart in pleasant places, and cultivate forgetfulness while the angel of death is leaving no house unvisited. They have 'waked to a higher aim:' they have felt with their native land and are one with their kind." We have no occasion to add that, as this earnest and sympathetic work is from the press of Ticknor & Fields, it is printed with a neatness and beauty worthy of the contents. -N. Y. Evening Post. CHINA AND GREAT BRITAIN. THE BATTLE OF CHARLESTOWN, DEC. 2, 1859. [To-day is the anniversary of the execution of the fanatic, old John Brown, whose soul, however, is still marching on in Virginia and elsewhere. And we may imagine whether he looks down with pleasure to-day upon the gallant colored regiments in Louisiana and South Carolina. The following lines, written two or three days after the execution in 1859, are sent us by a friend.]-ED. PRESS. FRESH palms for the Old Dominion! And a single scarred gray head! Fuss and feathers and flurry- On meadow and mountain hoar- Form, in your boldest order, Let the people press no nigher! Would ye have them hear to his wordsWords that may spread like fire? "Tis a right smart chance to test him- There, in a string, we've got him! (Shall the music bang and blow?) The chivalry wheels and marches, And airs its valor below. Look hard in the blindfold visage (He can't look back), and inquire Not yet? how long will he keep us I reckon it's no use waiting, And 'tis time that we had the show. For the trouble-we can't see whySeems with us, and not with him, As he stands 'neath the autumn sky, So strangely solemn and dim! But high let our standard flout it! "Sic semper!"-the drop comes downAnd (woe to the rogues that doubt it !) There's an end of old John Brown? Dec. 5th, 1859. H. -Hartford Evening Press. THE ISLES OF GREECE. THE isles of Greece, the isles of Greece, The king was sitting on the deck Of his fair frigate on the sea, "The mountains look on Marathon " The men who, on that haunted plain, If they returned to earth again, Strange, that the dream of Homer's land, As hopes of liberty expand, Should be, an English prince to crownTo see an Alfred hold the seas Once guarded by Themistocles. The dream is vain, and yet it shows That Greece is living Greece, even now, That the great hope of Freedom glows Within it and that "rocky brow," If despot treat the realm amiss, May see another Salamis. OVERTURES FROM RICHMOND. BY PROFESSOR CHILD. A NEW LILLIBURLERO. "WELL, Uncle Sam," says Jefferson D., Lilliburlero, old Uncle Sam. "Lero, lero, that don't appear O, that don't appear," says old Uncle Sam, "Lero, lero, filibustero, that don't appear," says old Uncle Sam. "So, Uncle Sam, just lay down your arms," Lilliburlero, etc., "Then you shall hear my reas'nable terms," Lilliburlero, etc. "Lero, lero, I'd like to hear O, I'd like to hear," says old Uncle Sam, "Lero, lero, filibustero, I'd like to hear," says old Uncle Sam. "First, you must own I've beat you in fight," Lilliburlero, etc., "Then, that I always have been in the right," Lilliburlero, etc. "Lero, lero, rather severe O, rather severe," says old Uncle Sam, "Lero, lero, filibustero, rather severe," says old Uncle Sam. 66 Also, some few I. O. u.'s and bets." Lilliburlero, etc., 'Lero, lero, that's quite sincere O, that's quite sincere," says old Uncle Sam. "Lero, lero, filibustero, that's quite sincere," says old Uncle Sam. "You'll understand, my recreant tool," "You're to submit, and we are to rule," "Lero, lero, aren't you a hero! aren't you a hero!" says Uncle Sam, "Lero, lero, filibustero, aren't you a hero!" says Uncle Sam. TO MY WIFE-IN FUTURE. O UNKNOWN lady!-who are ye?" Put up near Cairo or the Bank, miss? Of tigers, elephants, and Sooties? An orphan-left without e'en a bob? "Mine and Bob Toombs's, and Slidell's, and Money or rank, no matter which Rhett's," Lilliburlero, etc. Lero, lero, that leaves me zero, that leaves me zero," says Uncle Sam, "Lero, lero, filibustero, that leaves me zero," says Uncle Sam. "And, by the way, one little thing more," Lilliburlero, etc., "You're to refund the costs of the war," One buys the other in "this here age." And can you sing?—I hope you do!— And is your voice a fine soprano? And do you love your harp ?—and you, Of course, can play on the piano? And do you ever write in rhyme, And have you got a favorite muse, love? And do you-do you think that I'm The sort of man you'd not refuse, love? But circumstances are the things Most people find that make folks marry; I wonder if you know who I am! That we were formed to love together; That you and I shall joy or grieve Henceforth as one ?-I wonder whether! P.S.-An answer addressed to the "Punch' Office will oblige. POETRY.-Cry of a Lost Soul, 146. Moaning Sea, 146. Revolutionary Hymn, 146. Frost in the Holidays, 191. A Sonnet, 191. The Interests of France, 191. The Voice of Humanity, 192. When I get the Tin, 192. SHORT ARTICLES.-Political Antiquarianism, 154. Glory of the Pines, 167. PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY BY LITTELL, SON, & CO., BOSTON. For Six Dollars a year, in advance, remitted directly to the Publishers, the LIVING AGE will be punctually forwarded free of postage. Complete sets of the First Series, in thirty-six volumes, and of the Second Series, in twenty volumes, handsomely bound, packed in neat boxes, and delivered in all the principal cities, free of expense of freight, are for sale at two dollars a volume. ANY VOLUME may be had separately, at two dollars, bound, or a dollar and a half in numbers. ANY NUMBER may be had for 13 cents; and it is well worth while for subscribers or purchasers to complete any broken volumes they may have, and thus greatly enhance their value. |