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Northern Star (1837-1852), 21st December 1844, Edition 3 of 4, Page 3, • 8Wt.aB1.t0.

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      -A . CHBISIILLS GJ ^ BXJJTD . ¦ " FID the stirrnp enp with glee ; Sing a merry roundelay ; Christmas trings its revelry : Dance , and sing , ana lefts "be gay . Hey fbrmirth and jollify ; Push abont the rnbj Trine ; 3 Ierry let the minstrel plav , Care and mirth can ne ' er combine . " Jl "Welcome , good reader , and good cheer to thee ' for again approaches the head and chief of " Merry . England ' s ^ nappy ioKdays—alas 1 too few—joDf holly , Christmas . . * - TThether the recent unaccountable , — -we had almost

      said abominable , —weather , in which with marrowfreezing eold was combined March wind without March ' s spring associations , and JJune ' s dust , -without June ' s warmth and brightness , forming a trinity in unity ^> f annoyances most provoking and ¦ unbearable ; -whether this atmospherical scourge has congealed the ideas in ihe heads of our poets making of their Helicon a Serpentine , and turning their Parnassus into a wintry waste , we tnow not "; bat we are strongly tempted to this conclusion from the almost total absence ofanvtldngpoefiealrekting to "the season in tie publications of the dav which have come -under our notice . "W inter , "Kith , its attendant evils , is surely the direst curse that through ibtar mortal oreer fells vn the poor of this metropolis . If the wealthy merchant , or the weH-fnrred lady , whose blood runs warm , and who are ^ Ipjjssantw

      fed with the juices of generous meats and costly drinks ; who with coats , and cloaks , and shawls and furs , seem prepared to defy the storm and disarm the ehiffing Hast ; if these , when exposed for a moment to log and frost shiver and cower before the enemy in Tain they guard against ; if such with well stored larders , well-filled cellars , and onghtly blazing hearths to greet ihem on their crossing the threshold of home ; if such feel keenly the biting blast of the wintry storm , how much heavier must the scourge of this cheerless season fa ! upon those who possess none of these blessings " Poor naked wretches , whereso ' er Ton are , That bide the pelting of the pitBess storm . Bow shall Tonr houseless heads , and unfed sides , Tom- Uoop'd and window"d raggedness , defend Ton From seasons such as these P *

      Thus wrote our immortal Shakspeabz , too plainly telling that the " good old days , " if they ever had an existence , were not in his time . Bow mneh farther back " Toung England" would go to seek for those days we know not ; but this is certain , that the search Jbr them , even in the vaunted days of " Good Queen Bess , " would be fruitful only of disappointment . Misery was then the lot of " the many . Misery is still their lot . Shall it ever be so ^

      . Alas ! the misery , the thick-spreading wretchedness cf this huge metropolis I We speak not now of the apparent and all-appalling misery which stalks ' through London ' s interminable streets ; which festers in its filthy bye-ways , and fructifies in its ginpalaces , pr isons , and dens of prostitution . Ofsuch we speak not : but of that misery which , vainly strmngby incessant tofl to stave on" utter destruc tion , toils on unceasingly , and alas ! unrewarded In our " Garland" for * 1 S 44 , appeared Hood ' s * Song of the Shirt , " which , oi itself , would be all-sufficient for its author's fane , though he had neither l > efore nor since penned aught that "the world vrill not willingly let die . " That " Song" seemed for the moment to stir up the

      heart of society : nor is that stirring up yet forgotten . But , if society has a heart—a matter which , according toMr . ' D'Israeli , has been held in doubt , if not entirely forgotten—it would seem that that heart has been too long a stranger to right emotions to be more fha-n temporarily excited even by the pen of a Hood : otherwise we should not hareheard , through the present year , so much of the continued and unalleviated miseries oi the poor needle-women . But despite all discouragements , the cause of the poor and the oppressed cannot be considered as hopeless while such eloquent and earnest advocates as Miss Sheridan Carey are found , as in the following beautiful poem , to plead that cause : —

      A TTASKI 5 G C 3 . T . T offing from the morning grav—Toiling , toiling through the day , T 21 the spirit faints away , Bound , in triple iron bound ! By the taper ' s JamishM light . Toiling , toTR-Tig thron ° - > i rhe nichi TUl the dinim'd and aching a < rht

      &ees but shadows gathering round . Till the lip's warm hne is gone—Till the brow is worn and wan—Till the pitying snn looks on Gasping slaves in srnpor cast ; Toiling throngh the hours of pain , Taiing hand , * nA heart , aT > rj brain , Breads—and scarcely bread—to gain ! Shall this—shall this ever last ? Shall the spoiler seize by stealth Tooth , and tope , and strength , and health ? yatnre's dowry—Nature ' s wealth—Shall they—sTiaTl they ever be—T outh and hope , an April beam ! Strength , delnson ? health , a dream ? Sse—a fearful ghastly themeand

      J * aiu , and ^^ pt penury ? Thoc who seesl . Thot : -u-ho hearest ! Taor the mourner ' s heart whocheerest TBor who Tcii'd in clouds appearest Sivifi , and terrible , and strong ! Tnto Thee , -with stony eye , Bloodless eheek , and boding err , Doom'd to toB and toQ— -or die , "Want appealeth , " Los . i > , l& \ cl ( sng r Te whose "' confidence ** is gold , Palse . rapadons , crafty , bold"Who the labourer ' s hire -withhold"Who the frniis of toD deny"W ho the siarring poor distress , TTho the weak , the old , oppress—Tremble" Ther shall have redress .

      Lo ! their groans are heard o ?> bigb ! Tremble ! tremble' -vreH je insy , Godless tyrants of a day , Trampling on tout fellow-clay ! Trampling 3 uonc 5 i Jiearts to dast ! ¦ Vengeance is tee Lobp ' s : beware ! He wiHJist the poor man's prayer , Raise the crnsh'd , and chase despair ! Tyrants , wo : the Losd is Jcst . ' T ^ e cannot better follow up the ahore soul-stirring denunciation of gold-gorged villany , than by giving the following heart-inspiring lines , holding out the promise of a sore and certain glorious future ibr the iuman race . The author ( deceased )! 5 Bzsbt WiHE ; we presume an American , ne find the lines in that excellent American paper , the Boston Labourer .

      VTTSXSglOS -SHAIX SOT AlWiTS XIIGJ Oppression g ^ aTI not always reign : There comes a brighter day , ^ Hien freedom , burst from every chain , Shall have triumphant way . Then right shall over might prevail , And trnih . like hero armed in mail , Tit hosts of tyrant -wrong assail , And hold eternal sway . 5 / en now , thai glorious day draws near , Its coming is not too far ; In earth and heaveii its signs appear , TVe see its morning star ; I ^ s « Ja-5 ^ a has finshed the eastern sTsj : The western hills reSeet it high ; Tht southern clouds before it fly—Hurrah I bnrrah ' . hurrah *

      WhatToice -will bid the progress stay Of troth ' s -victorious car ? ¦ » That arm arrest the growing day , Or qnenrh the solsr star ? "What dastard sonL though stout and strong > hall dare bring back the ancient -nTong , And freedom's morning bar ? Tie hoar of rrioznph comes apace : The iated , promised honr . Then earth , upon a ransome-d race , Bw beanrtoos gifts shall shower . Bing , liberty , thy glorious bell , Bid high thy sacred banner swell ; - Let tromph on trutnph the triumph itD , Oi heaTen ' s avenging power . The day has come , the hour dra-srs nigh , "W-e hear the coming car ; Send-forth the glad , exulting cry , Hurrah . ' hurrah J hurrah I

      i Tom every MD , by every sea , In shonts proclaim the great deeree , *' -JS cioiw art 'burst , ad men arefrte . '" Hurrah hurrah I hmxah ' But this was to be a Christmas Garland . In good sooth , but little yet about Christmas have we written : but Christmas , with it ? jovialities , must not be Passed over . From " grave to gay" is only fair , i-ast year , Chabxbb Dickesb's Chriitmas Carol appearerd too Jate for tjs to notice in ear then "Garland . " ? so ^ natter . TThatever Dickens has penned may at any time be read with as much pleasure and profit as when newly issued from the press Carol

      To such of our readers as have not read the , we say , get it by all means if you can . Better late than never . It -jronld be out of place , or rather ont of time , now to " review" it ; we shall therefore restrict ourselves to two or three extracts from that delightful book , which , could it be read hy all—Vouldthat it were in the hands of all—would do more to promote " peace on earth , and good will to * men , " than all the sesmons and homilies erer Uttered or penned . The moral of the book , that Ow Christian Spirit woridn g Tdndly in its little tpi&r * ., whatever it may bf , tr ill find its Utortal life too short for iu vast means of uttfulness , is a gem of priceless worth . " Were these words written on the hearts of all men ; was their spirit felt and

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      acted up to ; what an EJysdum might this earth be , instead of the " vale of tears" which so manv find it .

      A CHXISTSU 3 MOSSING . The house fronts looked black enough , and the windows blacker , contrasting ivith the smooth white sheet of . snow upon the roofs , and with the dirtier snow upon the ground : which last deposit had been ploughed up in de ^ p farrows bv the heavy -wheels of carts arid wag - gons ; farrows that crossed and re-crossed each other hnndreds of times where the great street- ; branched off , and made intricate channels , hard to trace ; in the thick yello-ir mud and icy water . The sk y was gloomy and the shortest streets were choked up * with a dingj ' mist , half thawed half frozen , whose heavier partielts descended in a shower of sooty atoms , as if all the chimneys in Great Britain had , " by one consent , caught fire

      , an J were blaring a-ivay to their dear hearts' content . There was nothing xery cheerful in the climate or the town ; and yet there was an air of cheerfulness abroad , that the dearest summer sun might have endeavoured iO diffuse in vain . For the people who were shovelling away on the house-lops were jovial and full of glee ; calling out to one another from the parapets , and now and then exchanging a facetious snow-bal ] hetter-narured missile ferthan many a w ordy jest langhing heartily if It went right , and not less heartily if it went wrong . The ' poulterers' shops were still half open , and the fruiterers' were radiant in their glorv . There were great , round , pot-bellied baskets of chesnnts , shaped like the waistcoats of jolly old gentlemen , lolling at the doors , and tumbling into the streets

      in their apoplectic opulence . There were ruddy , brownfeeed , broad-girthed , Spanish onions , shining in the fatness of their growth like Spanish Friars ; and winking from their shelves in wanton slyness at the girls as they went by , and glanced demnrely at the hung-up misletoe . There were pears and apples , clustered high in blooming pyramids : there were btmches of grapes , made , in the shopkeeper ' s benevolence , to dangle from conspicuous hooks , that people ' s mouths might water gratis as they passed ; there were piles of filberts , mossy and brown , recalling , in their fragrance , ancient walks among the woods , and pleasant shufflings ankle deep through withered leaves ; there were Norfolk Biffins , squab and swarthy , setting off the y ellow of the oranges and lemon s , and in the great compactness of their juicy persons ,

      urgently entreating and beseeching to be carried home in paper bag-s and eaten after dinner . The very gold and silver fish , set forth among these choice fruits in a bowl , thongh members of a dull and stagnant , blooded race , appeared to know that there was something going on : and , to a fish , went gasping round and round their little world in slow and passionless excitement- The Grocers' ! O , the Grori-rs' - ' nearly closed , with perhaps two shutters down , or one ; but throngh these gaps such glimpses ! It wju not alone that the scales descending on the counter made a merry sound , or that the twine and roller parted company so briskly , or that the canisters were Tattled up and down like juggling tricks , or even that the raisins were so plentiful and rare , the almonds so extremely white , the sticks of cinnamon so long and so straight , the other spices so delicious , the rondird fruits &o caki-tl

      and spotted with molten snsrar as to make ihe coldest lookers- « n feel faint and subsequently bilious . Nor was it that the figs were moist and pulpy , or that the Trench plums blusfctrd in njode-i tartness from their highly decorated bo& < = s , or that tr > crjihing was jr . » uil to tat and in its Christinas dress ; but the customers were all so hurried and so eager in the hopeful promise of the day , that they tumbled up against each otixr at the door , clashing their wicker baskets wildly , and left their purchases upon the counter , and came running baci to fetch them , and committed hundreds .. f thv like mistakes in the best humour possible ; while the grocer and his people were so frank and fresh that the polished hearts with which they fastened their aprons behind might have been their own , worn outside for general inspection , and for Christmas daws to peck at if thev choose .

      TJ 1 X CBBISTHiS GOOSE AXD PLrM PUDDIXC . Bob Cratchit turning up his cufis—as if , poor fellow , they were capable of being made more shabby—compounded some hot mixture in a jug with gin and lemons , and stirred it round and round and put it on the bub to simmer ; Master Peter and the two ubiquitous young Crachits went to fetch the goose , with which they soon . returned in high procession . Such a bustle ensued that jf u might have thought a goose the raivst of all birds ; a feathered phenomenon , to which a black swan was a matter t > f course : and in truth it wa * som < -i ) jin } . ' very like it in thai house . Mrs . Cratchit madt- Use gravy I ready beforehand in a little saucepan ) hissing hot ; ilaster Peter mashed the potatoes with incredible vigour ; Miss Belinda sweetened up the apple-sauce ;

      Hartha dusted the hot plates ; Bob took Tiny Tim beside him in a tiny corner at the table ; the two young Cratch its stt chairs ft » r everybody , not forgetting themselves , and mounting guard upon their posts , crammed spoons into their mouths , lest they should shriek for goose before their turn came to be helped . . At last the dishes were set on , and grace was said . It was succeeded by a breathless pause , as Mrs . Cratchit , looking slowly all along the carving-knife , prepared to plunge it in the breast ; but when she did , and when the too long expected gush of stuffing Issued fortft , one murmur of delight arose all around the board , and even Tiny Tim , excited by the two young Cratchits , beat on the table with the handle of his knife , and feeblv cried " Hurrah f There never was such a

      goose . Bob said he didn't believe there ever was such a goose cooked . Its tenderness and flavour , size and cheapness , were the themes of universal admiration . Eked ont by the apple-sauce and mashed potatoes , it was a sufficient dinner for the whole family ; indetd . as Mr . Cratchit said with great delight ( surveying one small atom of a bone upon a dish ) , they hadn ' t ate it all ai last ' . Yet ever ; one had had enough , and the youngest Cratchits in particular , were steeped in sage and onion lo the eyebrows . ' But now , the plates l >; -ing changtd by iliss Belinda , Mrs . Cratchit left the- room alone—too nervous to bear witnesses—to take the pudding- up , : md bring it in- Suppose ii should not be done enough ! Suppose it should break in tumiug it out : Suppose somebodv should have got over the wall

      of the back-yard , and stolen it , while they were merry with tht goose 1 a supposition at which the two young Cratchits berime livid : All sorts of horrors were supposed . Hallo : A jrrent deal of > team ! The pudding was out of the copper . A smell like a washing-day . ' That was the cloth . A smell like an eating-house , and a pastrv-cooks next door to each other , with a laundress ' s next door to that . ' That was the pudding . In half a minute Mrs . Cratchit entered , smiling proudly , with the puddine . like a speckled cannon-ball , so hard and firm , blazing in half of half-a-quartera of ignited brandy , and bedight with Christmas holly stuck into the top . Oh ! a wonderful pudding : Bob Cratchit said , and . calmly too , that he regarded it as the greatest success achieved bv Mrs . Cratchit since their marriage .

      itrs . Craiebit said that now the weight was off her rnir . fi she would confess she had her doubts about the quantity of flour . Every body had something to say about it , but nobody said or thought it was at all a small pudding for a large family . It would have been flat heresv to do so . Any Cratchit would have blushed to hint at such a thing . " At last the dinner was all done , the cloth was cleared , the hearth swept , and the fire made up . The compound in the jug being tasted and considered perfect , apples and oranges were put upon the table and a shovel-full of chesnuts on the fire . Then all the Cratchit family drew round the hearth , in what Bob Cratchit called a circle , meaning half a one ;

      and at Bob Cratchit ' s elbow stood the family display of glass ; two tumblers , and a custard-cup without a handle . These held the hot stuff from the jug , however , as well as golden gobk-ts would have done ; and Bob ' served it out with beaming looks , while the chesnuts on the nre sputtered and crackled noisily . Then Bob proposed : Merrj Christinas to us all , my dears . God bless us : " Which all the family re-echoed " God bless us every one f After so much of £ oose and pudding , —may every Cratchit in ihe land have a Dielcemfs dinner on "Wednesday next!—' tis time we clearedour pipes : so here eoes with a chant for

      THE mSLETOE . Come I sing we a song of the misletoe . ' For , a sturdy plant and free , It h ^ edeth not when the north -Kinds blow , And scathed is the stricken tree : Bnt on , in storm and snow it blooms , When earth hath not a flower , And the plants have shrunk to their silent tombs From the scowling tempest ' s power . A proud and a mighty thing . ' it throws Its branching arms aroand The bending oak , that , its patron , grows From the spura'd and lowly ground . It asketh nonght from the niggard earth , It needeth not the sun : But , seated high in iu pride of birth , Is it left its race to run .

      The storm doth sweep the waste across ; The groaning forests bow ; € » n the deep the foaming billows toss To the bleak sky ' s frowning brow ; Bnt gaily waving to and fro , As the shrieking winds awake , Still singeth the merry misletoe , Till earth doth in concert quake . Then raise we a song , a joyous song , For merry hearts there be , "Whilst the spoiler ' walketh his way among The proud , the fair , the free . The knell hath toll'd , —the sound is old , — Unheeded let it fall ; And the song of the mystic misletoe In chorus join we all .

      But what have we here ? As we live , another Carol , another gift of beauty and of truth from the inexhaustible brain of glorious B 02 ; who , if ever writer deserved the title , truly does he deserve that proud one " the poet of the pooe . Yes ; advisedly we say Poti . TThere is the living ymter , be he ever so great in prose or rhyme , who can so well , so txnthfullv describe the sufferings , thesorrows , the hopes , ' the joys , of the million ? Who can paint the minntia ol the hie of Labour s children , without and within , alike that which is visible to the eve and that which , belonging to the mnerman , mav be within the compass of a poet ' s ken but of none other of the sons of men < Such was the godlike po-wer , the exercise of which liasmade Sharspzake ,

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      Burss , and Bthos , immortal . The first and last ofl these , unfolded to the world ' s gaze the passions ¦ which agitate the ; breasts of kings and the mighty ones of the earth . Bukxs , on the other hand , took for his delineation thechildren of thepeople . By the side of Burns , Digress will take his stand : and who could desire a destiny more glorious ? Some one , we forget who , defines poetry to be " musical thought . " Tried by this test , where is to be found suMimer poetry than that which breathes through every page penned by Dickeks ? Yes , Dickexs m the poet ot the poor ; prouder position , greater glory , for now and for all time , no man could hope to acquire . "

      THE CHIMES , A GOBLIN STORY OF SOME BELLS THAT JtAXG AX OLD YEAR OUT AND A NEW ONE LN . Such is the title of Mr . Diekens ' s new work . For this week we forbear the critic ' s task , anxious as we are to at once gratify our readers with a toothsome taste of the volume itself . The hero of this goblin story is one Toby Veck , a ticket-porter , oftener called Trottu Veck . They called him Trotty for his pace , which meant speed ,

      if it didn't make it . He was a weak , small , spare old man ; but poorly dad , and no ways a match for the sturdy assaults of a December blast . His post of duty -was " a breezy , goose-skinned , blue-nosed , red-eyed , stony-toed , " tooth-chattering place , " nigh to a church-door , whose goblin bells are made to ring out the chimes of this story . Y 7 e have claimed for Mr . Dickejb the title of Poet , and here , at the very outset of the work is a specimen of " musical thought" which makes good the claim .

      THE HOME OS TBE CHIMES . The night wind has a dismal trick of wandering round and round a building of that sort [ a church ] , and moaning as it goes ; and of trying , with its unseen hand , the windows and the doors ; and seeking out some crevice by which to enter . And when it has got in—as one not finding what it seeks , whatever that may be—it wails and howls to issue forth again ; and not content with stalking through the aisles , and gliding round and round the pillars , and tempting the deep oisao , soars up to the roof , ana strives to rend the rafters : then flings itself despairingly upon the stones below , and passes , muttering , into the vaults . Anon , it comes up stealthily , and creeps along the walls : seeming to read , in whispers , the inscriptions , sacred

      to the dead . At some of these , it breaks out shrilly , as with laughter ; and at others , moans and cries as if it were lamenting . It has a ghostly sound , too , lingering within the altar : where it seems to chant , in its wild way , of wrong and murder done , and false Gods ivorshippi-d ; in deb&nce of Hie Tables of the Law , which look so fair and smooth , but are so flawed and broken . Tgh ! Heaven preserve us sitting snugly round the fire It has an awful voice , that wind at midnight singing in a church ! But high up in the steeple 1 There the foul Wast roars and whistles : High up in the steeple , where it is free to come and go through many an airy arch nnd loop , hole , and to twist and twine itself about the giddy stair , and twirl the groamnj . ' weathercock , and make the verv

      tower shake and shiver ! High up in the steeple , where the belfry is , and iron rails are ragged with rust , and sheets of lead and copper shrivel by the changing weather , crackle , and heave beneath the unaccustomed tread ; and birds stuff shabby nests into corners of old oaken joists and beams ; and dust prows old and prey ; ar . d speckled spiders ; indolent and fat with long security , smnj idly Jo and fro in the vibration of the bells , and never lose their hold upon their thread-spun castles in the air , or climb up , sailor-like , in quick alarm , or ilrop upon tbejrrouud and ply a score of nimble legs to save a life ! High up in the steeple of an old church , far above the light and murmur of the town , and far below the Hying clouds that shadow it , is the wild and dreary place at nijrht : and high up in the steeple of an old

      church , dwelt the Chimes 1 tell of . But return we to Toby . Toby had contracted a liking for the Bells : — " And though I had said his love , I would not have recalled the word , though it would scarcely have expressed his complicated feeling . For , being but a simple man , he invested them with a strange and solemn character . They were so mysterious , often heard and never seen ; so high up , so far off , so full of such a deep strong melody , that he regarded them with a species of awe ; and sometimes when he looked up at the dark arched windows in the tower , he half exj > ecte < l to be beckoned to by something which was not a bell , and yet was what he heard so often sounding in the Chimes . For all

      this , Toby scouted with indignation a certain flying rumour that the chimes were haunted , as implying the possibility of their being connected with any evil thing . In short , their were" very often in his ears , and very often in his thoughts , but always in . his good opinion ; and he very often got such a crick in his neck by staring with his mouth wide open , at the steeple where they hung , that he v , as fain to take an e ^ ttTa trot or two , afterwards to cure it . ** The very thing he was in the act of doing one cold day , when the last drowsy sound of twelve o ' clock just struck , was humming like a melodious monster of a bee , and norty any means a busy bee , all through the steeple .

      TOBT ' S OBSEBWAT 1 ON . " ' Dinner time , eh ! ' said Toby , trotting up and down before the church . ' Ah !' " Toby's nose was very red , and his eyelids were very red , and he winked very much , and his shoulders were very near his ears , and his legs were very stiff ; and altogether he whs evidently a long way upon the frosty side of cool . ' Dinner-time , eh . " repeated Toby , using his right muffler like an infantine boxing-plove , and punishing his rhest for bring cold . Ah-h-h-b . " " He took a silent trot , after that , for a minute or two .

      " Thtrt ' s liothinp , said Toby , more regular in its Coming round than dimier-time , and nothing li-ss regular in its coming round than dinner . That ' s the great difference between ' em . It's took me a long time to find it out . 1 wonder whether it would be worth any gentleman ' s while , now , to buy that obwrwation fur the papers , or the Parliament ' . ' " Toby , wrapped in a "brown study" continues his " observation * . " Toby lias evidently heard of the Malthusian Philosophy ; perhaps located near a church , he has jjoanl that surh is the pliilosophy of Charles John ' , Bishop Bloomfield : —

      TOBV S DOfBTlNGS . 1 It seems as jf we < -ah ' t po right , rio right , or be righted , ' said Toby . I hadn ' t much schooling myself when 1 was young ; and I can ' t make out whether we have any business on the face of the earth , or not . Sometimes 1 think we must have a little , and sometimes I think we must be intruding . 1 get so puzzled sometimes that I am not even able tomake up my mind whether there is any good at all in us , or whether we are born bad . VTe seem to do dreadful things ; we seem to give a deal of trouble ; we are alwavs being complained of and

      guarded against . One way or other we fill the papers . Talk of a New Year '•! ' said Toby , mournfully . 'lean "bear up as well as iixiother man at most times ; better than a good many , for I am as strong as a lion , and all men an ' t ; but supposing it should really be that we have no right to a New Year : —supposing we really are intruding ? ' " Probably Toby had been led to reflect on the possibility " of there really being " no seat for him at Isature ' s board , " from the fact that he was too often -frithout a dinner . From his reverie Toby is aroused bv the voice of his daughter .

      MAXTHTB SEFCTED . " Why , father , father . '" said the pleasant voice again . Tobv heard it this time—started—stopped—and shortening bis sight , which had been directed a long way off as seeking for enlightenment in the very heart of the approaching year , found himself face to face with his own child , and looking close into her eyes . Bright eyes they were . Eyes that would bear a world of looking in before their depth was fathomed . Dark eye ? , that reflected back the eyes which searched them ; not flashingly , or at the owner ' s will , but with a clear , calm , honest , patient radiance , claiming kindred with that light which heaven called into being : eyes that were beautiful and true , and beaming with hope . VTith hope so young and fresh—with hope so buoyant , vigorous , and bright , despite the twenty years of work and poverty on which they had looked , that they became a voice to Trottv Veek , and safd : " I think we have

      some business here—a little 1 " Poetry that , my masters ! Nature pleading through the affections for those truths which a brutish miscalled philosophy would fain , —but happily in vain , strives to , —extinguish . Toby ' s daughter , Meg , has most unexpectedly brought him a dinner of hot tripe , which he enjoys seated on a door step . While thus employed the daughter imparts to him her love for Richard , a stalwart blacksmith , who has vowed to wed her on I ^ e-w Year ' s-dav . Hear how beautifully the brighteyed girl pleads what we shall take the liberty to

      callous PHILOSOPHT . "He says then , father , another year is nearly gone , and where is the use of waiting on from year to year , when it is so unlikely we shall ever be better off than we are now . He says we are poor now , father , and we shall be poor then ; but we are young now , and years wil make us old before we know it . He says that if we wait , people in our condition , until . we see our way quite clearly , the way will be a narrow one indeed—the common way—the grave , father . * * * * " And how hara , father , to grow oia , and die , and think we might have cheer- J and helped each other ! How hard in all onr lives t . ; love each other ; and to grieve apart , to see each btfcur working , changing , growing nd

      old and grey . Even if I got the better of it , aforgot him ( which I never could ) , 0 , father dear , to have a heart so full as mine is now , and live to have it slowly drained out every , drop , without the recollection of one happy moment of a woman ' s life , to stay behind and comfort me , and make me better !" The father and daughter are here joined by the latter ' s sweetheart , Richard , and almost at the same moment the door opens , and the footman of Alderman Cute nearly puts his foot into the tripe dish . > Ir . Cute is attended by two friends , Mr . Filer , a cold-blooded political economist—Mr . Dickens paints the class to the life—and a red-faced gentleman , in a blue coat , representing a Toi-y of the oli school , whose eternal prate is about " the good old

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      times . ; These three worthies denounce poor Toby an 7 i A 5 ' «?>»* g infamously extravagant , and calculated to bring ruin « n ( he country . AIDEBMak CUTE ' S WAT OP DEAUNO WITB THE COMMON

      n . PEOPLE . ntnt j you know , ' said the Alderman , addressing his two friends , with a self-complacent smile upon his face , wh 1 Ch was habitual to him , < I am a plain man , and a Pracfieal man ; and I go to work-in a plain , practical ^ ffi , * mj" Way- There is not the least mystery or difficulty m dealing with this sort of people , if you only understand ' em , and can talk to ' em in their own manner . Now , } ou porter . ' Don't you ever tell me , or anybody else , my friend , that you havn ' t always enough to eat , and of the best ; because I know bettt ' r ... W ^ , t 3 Sted youp tri * ' y ° u know - smA J ° can ' t ctiafT me . You understand what " chaff" means , en J That ' s the right word , isn't it ? Ha , ha , ha ! iord bless-you , ' said the Aldermanturning to his

      , mends again , it ' s the easiest thing on earth to deal with this sort of people , if you only understand ' urn . ' * amous man for the common people , Alderman Cute Never out of temper with them ! Easy , affable , joking , (< knowing gentleman ! Tou see , my , friend , ' pursued the Alderman , ' there ' great deal of nonsense talked about want " hard up , " you know :. that ' s the phrase , isn ' » ha , ha , ha !—and ^ I intend to put it down . That ' s all ! Lord bless yo » , ' said the Alderman , turning to his friend again , ' you mayputdown anything among this sort of people , "y ou only know the way to set about it !' "Trottv took Meg ' s hand and drew it through his arm . He didn't seem to know what he was doing though .

      "' Tour daughter , eh V said the Alderman , chucking her familiarly under the chin . Always affable with the working classes , Alderman Cute ! Knew what pleased them ! Not a bit of pride !' ''' Where ' s her mother V asked that worthy gentleman . "' Bead , ' said Toby . ' Her mother got up linen ; and was called to heaven when she was born . ' '" Not to get up linen there , 1 suppose , ' remarked the Alderman pleasantly . " Toby might pr might not have been able to separate his wife in heaven from her old pursuits . But query : If MrB . Alderuian Cute had tone to heaven , would Mr . Alderman Cute have pictured her as holding any state or station there ?

      From denouncing tripe , the precious trio proceed to . the abusing of Matrimony : —

      A POLITICAL ECONOMIST ' S LAMENT , " ' ^ nd you ' re making love to her , are you ? ' said Cute | $ o the young smith . " ' " Yes , ' returned Richard , quickly , for he was nettled by the question . ' And we are going to be married on New Year ' s Pay . ' " ' What do you mean V cried Filer , sharply , ' married !' " ' Why , yes , we ' re thinking of it , master , ' sitid Richard . ' We ' re rather in a hurry , you see , in case it should be Put Down first . ' " , cried Filer , with a groan . ' Put tfuit down , mdeedj Alderman , and you'll do something . Married ' . Married : ! The ignorance of the first principles of political economy on the part of these people ; their improvidence ; their wickedness ; is , by Heavens ! enough

      to—Now look at that couple , will you V "' Well ! They were worth looking at . And marriageseemed as reasonable and fair a deed as they need haviin contemplation . ' " ' A man may live to be as old as Methusalch , ' said Mr . Filer , ' and may lubour all his life for the benefit of such people as those ; and may heap up facts on figures , facts on fijrures , facts on figures , mountains high and dry ; and he can no more hope to persuade ' em that they have no right or business to be married , than he can , hopes to persunde Vm that they have no earthly right or business to be horn . And that we know they

      havn't . We reduced it to a mathematical certainty long age ' Our ^ readers who . are ajso readers of Punch , —and we expect but few are otherwise , —must be pretty well acquainted with the doings of Peter the Great { ass ) , who hesitates at nothing , and is omnimpotent at " putting down" all delinquents , from Joseph Ady to G iant Despair : —he puts all down : a mighty genius is Peter ' . 1 It strikes us we have erenow Been the veritable orig inal of Alderman Cute , presiding at the City Mansion House Police Court . We may be wrong : but doubtless Alderman Sir Peter Laurie can say whether we are right .

      THE MAN " WOTS DETEKM 1 NED TO PUT POWN SUICIDE . " " Alderman Cute was . mightily diverted , and laid his right forefinger on the side of his nose , as much as to say to both his friends , ' Observe me , will youl Keep your eye on the practical man 1 ' and called Meg tu him . " ' Come here , my girl , ' said Alderman Cute . " The young ( blood of her lover had been mounting , ivrathful-ly , within the last few minutes ; and he was indisposed to let her come . But , setting a restraint ' upon himself , he came forward with a stride as Meg approached , and stood beside her . Trotty kept her hand within his arm still , but looked from face to face as wildly as a sleeper in a dream . " ' Now I ' m going t 9 give you a word or two of good

      advice , my girl , ' said the Alderman , in his nice easy way . It ' s my plnco to give tulvlcc , you fcllOW , DCCaUSC Y ' mtl justice . You know I ' m a justice , don't you ?' " Meg timidly said , ' Yes . ' But everybody knew Alderman Cute was a justice ! O , dear , so active a justice always ! Who such a mote of brightness in the public eye as Cute ! "' You are going lo be married , you say , ' pursued the Alderman . ' Very unbecoming and indelicate In one of your sex ! But never mind that . After you are mariSed jou'H quarrel with jour husband , and come to be a distressed wife . You may think not ; but you nil ] , because I tell you so . Now I give you fair warning , that I have made up my mind to put distressed wives dowii . So don't be brought before me . You'll have

      children boys . Those boys will grow up bad , of course , andrun wild in the streets , without shoes and stockings . Mind , my young friend I I'll convict ' em summarily , every one , for I am determined to put boys , without shoes and stockings , down . Perhaps your husband will die young ( most likely ) and leave you with a baby ' . Then you'll be turned out of doors , and wander up and down the streets . Now don ' t wander n * ear me , my dear , for I am resolved to put all wandering mothers down . All young mothers , of all sorts and kinds , it's my determination to put down . Don ' t think to plead illness as an excuse with me ; or babies as an escuse with me ; for all sick persons and young children ( I l ) ope you know the Church service , but I'm afraid not ) I am' determined to put down . And if you

      attempt , desperately , and ungratefully , and impiously , and fraudulently attempt to drown yourself , or hang yourself , I'll have no pity on you , for I have made up my mind to put all suicide down . If there is one thing , ' said the Alderman , with his self-satisfied smile , on which I can be said to have made up my mind more than on another , it is to put suicide down . So don ' t try it on . That ' s the phrase , isn ' t it ? Ha , ha ! Now we understand each , other . ' " Toby knew uot whether to be agonised or glad to see that Meg had turned a deadly white , and dropped her lover ' s hand . '

      " ' As for you , you dull dog , ' said the Alderman , turning with even increased cheerfulness and urbanity to the young smith , ' what are you thinking of being married for ? What do you want to be married for , you silly fellow ! If I was a fine young strapping chap like you , I Bhould bci ashamed of being milksop enough to pin myself to a woman ' s apron-strings ! Why , she'll be an old womaa before you arc a middle-aged man J And a pretty figure you'll cut then , with a draggle-tailed wife and a crowd of squalling children crying after you wherever you go !' * ' Oh , he knew how to banter the common people , Alder , man Cute ' . ''

      Here for the present we must close our notice of the Chimes . Next week we shall return to them , and put our readers in possession of what becomes of Trottv , Meg , and Richard . As a Blacksmith figures in the Chimes , and as we doubt not all our fair readers will by this time be the entertainers of feelings sympathetic for the young Vulcan , only second in intensity to those of his loving Meg , we think we cannot do better than have a song-, a right hearty and noble one , from the pen of the talented Charles Mackay , ( one of whose beautiful compositions appeared in our last year ' s Garland , ) in honour of the prince and father of the manly craft : —

      } TtJBAL CAIN . Old Tubal Cain was a man of might , In the days when earth was young : By the fierce red light of its furnace bright The strokes of his hanjmer rung ; And he lifted high his brawny hand On the iron glowing clear , Till the-sparks rushed out in a scarlet rout , As he fashioned the sword and spear : And he sang " Hurra for my handiwork ! Hurra for the spear and sword ! Hurra for the hand that shall wield them well For he shall be King and Lord . " To Tubal Cain came many a one ,

      As he wrought by his roaring fire , And each one pray'd for a strong steel blade As the crown of his own desire ; And he made them weapons sharp and strong , Till they shouted loud for glee , And gave him gifts of pearls and gold j And spoils of the forest free . And they sang "Hurra for Tubal Cain , Who hath given us strength anew ; Hurra for the smith , hurra for the fire , And hurra for the metal true !"

      But a sudden change came o ' er his head . Ere the setting of the sun , And Tubal Cain was filled with pain For the / evil he had done ; : He Baw that men , with rage and heat , Made war upon their kind , And the land was red with the blood they shed , In their lust for carnage Wind , And he said " Alas , that ever I made , Or that skill of mine shouldplan , The spear and the sword for inen whose joy Is to slay their fellow-man !" And for many a day old Tubal C ' anT Sat brooding o ' er his woe ; And his hand forbore to smite the ore , And his furnace smouldered low ; f

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      But he rose , at last , with ! a cheerful face , And a bright courageous eye , And bared his strong right arm for work , While the quick flames mounted high . And he sang , " Hurra ftjr my handiwork !" And the red sparks litithe air ; Not alone for the blade iyas the bright steel made ; And he fashion'd the first plough-share . And men , taught wisdom from the past , In friendship joined their hands , Hung the sword in the hall , the spear on the wall , And plough'd the willing lands ; And sang " Hurra for old Tubal Cain , Our staunch good friend is he ; And for the plough-share and the plough

      To . him our praise shall be ; But while oppression lifts its head , Or tyrant would be Lovu , Though we may thank litvn for the plough , We'll not forget the sword !" The great length of our extracts from Mr . Diekens's works compels us to omit for this week many things we had intended to haye said , and also several choice poetical pieces we had prepared for our Garland . We say for this weel- ; for in our next we shall resume . If in this number of the Star our Garland appears imperfect , be it understood that it is not as yet completed , jln the meantime , reader , we wish thee and thine I" A Merry Chkistsias !" If thou art a Scrooge ( which Heaven forbid ]) , we wish thee a quittance of all thy evil spirits , and a regeneration as complete as " that worked in the hero of Dickens ' B Carol , j If thou art a Cratchit , we wish thee ( we repeat ) such a Christmas Goose and

      Pudding as Diekens hai pictured ; and we would help thee to , were we V the Ghost of Christmas Present . " And if thouj art like unto Scrooge ' s nephew , we don't know that we could wish thee aught better than the good heart thou wilt in that case be the possessor of j unless indeed it be the additional good of having the means at thy command to obey the dictates of such a heart . To the rich we say , give to yourj fellow creatures who are poor : and to the poor we say , sympathise with each other , and strive to ease the heavy load which , like Pilgrims , you aro forced to bear . To each and all we wish Plenty , Beneficence , and Happiness ; and all we ask in return is , that each and all will join us in drinking with flowing glasses to those lights of life--THE Poets ; anil , first and foremost , to France and Freedom ' s poet , Beraxokr ! In his glorious strains we ask our friends , with nine times nine , and one cheer more ; to chant the praises of

      WOMAN AND WINE . In varying hues of grief and mirth , How fruitful Nature's face appears ! Beneath its dark wing rolls the earth , In ruins , blood , and tears . But beauty reigns where ' er we go , And see , with grapes tl ^ e vines are clad Let woman smile , let goo . d wine flow , And lo ! the world is glad . A deluge o'er each land hath flown ; But ah ! how few , howl verv few ,

      Some sheltering ark have ever known , Whom misery ' s waves pursue ! When flics the dove , when bends the bow Above that waste of waters sad—Let woman smile , let good wine flow , And lo . ' the world is glad : In dreary , dark , and funereal gloom , A withered laud ' neath Etna lies , Which hurls from out itsibuming wonib The Hell against the skies ! Its rage expires , and muttering low ,

      Ilests that mysterious mountain mad—Let woman smile , let goad wine flow , And lo ! the world is g | ad ! The frightful vulture of the East , The deadly plague with hoarse voice calls , And man , to furnish fort ^ i her feast , Before her flying—falls ! Heaven is appeased—with angel glow Soft Pity tends these victims sad !—Let woman smile—let good wine flow—And lo ! the world is glad . Stern Mars awakes his cruel fires ,

      And rolls his car of sanguine hue , And the same laud that drank the sire ' s , Still drinks the son ' s Wood too ! But man grows tired and ; stops the blow , And nature whispers , sweet tho' sad—Let woman smile—let go 0 d wine flow—And lo I the world is glad ! Instead of blaming Nature now , See Spring ' s bright tresses stream above , 0 ! let us wreathe her fragant brow With earth's best roses , joy and love ! Spite of the slavish ills we know , 'Mid mouldering ruins iivy clad , Let woman smile—let good wine flow—And , lo ! the world is glad . ' 4 BOWL OF "PUNCH" FRESH BREWED

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      Bustles versus Providence . ^—— "There "is a Providence thatflhapes our ends , " « aith the immortal William Shakspeare ; and yet ladies , wear buatles . A Yankee Bajibisxkb . prosecuting ^ , & womaii for maltreating her infirm husband , exclaimed , that most of the sex were devils ! Seeing severalgenteel / efliales in court , he sought to correct nis /< tf « c ^«* by adding , tl but . the rest are angels , and tmny of thqn are present . " , . ¦¦ . -. * A Toast fob TEET 0 TALLEB 8 . ' ^ - "Hwe ' 8 to thetman who cut down the trees , who cleared the land , who ploughed the ground , who planted the corn , which fed the goose , that raised the Quill , whjch formed the pen , with which was written the total abstinence pledge . " = Optics . —The Duke of Cumberland told Dr . Price that lie had read his pamphlet on the JN ' ational Debt ¦ with much delight , and sat up so late to finish it , that it had almost blinded him . '' Rather strange , V said the author , "that it should have such an effect on your Royal Highness , for it has opened the eyes of everybody else . "

      Measure for Measure . —A Q , uak « r at an inn called for some porter , and observing the pint deficient in quantity , thus addressed the landlord : — "Pray friend ^ how many butts of beer dost thou draw-tn a month ? " " Ten , sir , " replied the publican . " And thon wouldst like to draw eleven if thou couldst , " rejoined Ebenezer . "Certainly , " exclaimed the smiling landlord . "Then I will tell thee how , friend , " said broadbrim : "Jill thy measures . " Thk Wandering Jew . —According to a letter from Leipsic , fourteen translations of Al . Eugene Sue ' s romance , the " Wandering Jew , " are now publishing

      in Germany . —Augsburg Gazette . The Polka—Why is the Polka like bitter beer ?—Because there are so many hops in it . The Rose has Thob . ys . —Milton , when blind , married a shrew . The Duke of Buckingham called herarose . " lam no judge of colours , " repliedMilton , " but I dare , say you are right , for 1 feel the thorns daily , " Boswell and the Bear . —Boswell asked Johnson once whether he had heard that people compared him tb » a mad dog , "Have you heard , sir , " said the Doctor , "that people compare you to the tin-kettle tied to my taii ¥ '

      Gentility . —A very irritable Irish baronet once fancied himself insulted by a country bumpkin who could not trace his blood for more than 300 years from labour and shaking his horsewhip in his face exclaimed ^ " Damn you , sir , if you were a gentleman I'd horsewhip you to-night and shoot you to-morrow morning . " " Thank you , Sir John ; its not the first time that I have had to return thanks to providence for not being a gentleman , " was the slirewd reply . A Fact . —About fifty years ago , in tbe " good old times" when beating was cheap in Ireland , there happened to be five or six cases of manslaughter in different parts of the county of Kerry the same day , and the weather being very hot the coroner could not hold an inquest upon each in sufficient time ; and

      therefore in order to satisfy the friends of one of the deceased who followed him thirty miles , lie said he would summon a jury there , and without view of the body take their evidence , if they could swear to the facts . This appeared perfectly satisfactory . The jury was instantly summoned , and the whole business concluded in about half an hour by a verdict against nine of the Shannabans , three of the Macartya and four of the Doolans , for the wilful murder of Timothy Driscoll . The accused were all scut to prison ; and the first day of the assizes true bills again 3 t them were presented to the grand jury , and the name of

      Timothy Driscoll indorsed on the bill , to be examined as the principal witness . After a few questions by the foreman of the grand jury , ho observed that the name of the witness and the deceased wore the same ; and asked him : "Witness , were you any relation to the deceased ? " " To the deceased is it '{ " replied Tim ; " wisha , my God , aint I the deceased myself ( " " No , no , 1 mean " the murdered man ; are you any thing to the murdered man ? " " My God , aint 1 telling you that rnithemurtheredman myself ' . Look here , " says Tim , showing a huge wound in his head : " wasn't that enough to kill an ox 'i and look here , and here , and here , " exhibiting all his wounds , observing :

      "Wisha then if I wasn't murthered that night the devil a Kerry man was ever muitliered since . " In this dilemma the foreman of the grand jury thought it best to consult the judge ; and proceeding to the court accosted him as follows-. — " My lord , we are rather in a predicament , " then related the circumstance ; adding , '' What we wish to know , my lord , is , if under the peculiar circumstances of the case we can find bills against the Shannahans , Macartys , and Doolans for manslaughter , as Driscoll ' s not dead ?" His lordship , as might be expected , looked hard at the applicantand then significantly said "No . "

      , O . ne Discharge at a Time . —When the Irish yeomanry corps were first embodied , the men were in the habit of not discharging their muskets , in oi-der that they might preserve the cartridges . The captain of a corps , not distinguished by a very military ear , had had this nrank freauently practised on him . An old martinet was one day inspecting the corps , whose tar was shocked by the Irregularity of the fire , and no observed to the captain— " What the devil do you itfeaii , sir ? these men can't fire ; do you call that a discharge ? not a man to the right has fired ' . " whereupon the captain in a terrible rage vowed vengeance

      against the right wing , if , as he said , " it didn t make its share of noise the next time . " When the word "fire" was given , bang went the right , sure enough , and' up flew half a score of muskets , and back staggered as many men . The poor captain , flabbergasted , ran to take up one of the muskets , when the owner , who had partially recovered , roared out at the top of his voice , '' Ogh captain jewel , captain jewel ; wisha , for God ' s sake , don't go near it or touch it , for by gor there ' s nine charges in it yet ! that ' s only one of them gone off ; and they will all blow up and

      turn . " A . Farmer's Corps for Service . — In the year 1798 , when the Irish weavers and all the little Protestants were " just as loyal as the loyal royal Repealers of the present day , these worthies volunteered their services to constitute a volunteer cavalry corps in the neighbourhood of Galway , of wliich the gallant captain was a parson . Government received daily accounts of the loyalty , the discipline , and the courage of this wonderful coVps -. and at length notice was , received by ' the gallant parson , that Lord Cathcart would be in Galway on the following Monday to inspect the loyal royal-Protestant tinkers and tailors . No time was to be lost . Not one of the gallant troopers had over mounted a horse . Horses had to be borrowed , and

      the most to be made of the time . Well , Monday came , and Lord Cathcart came , and great was the consternation . There were the tinkers and tailors ; and there was the dog ' s-meat , with long tails , and short tails , and no tails at all ; with saddles , and without saddles ; with bridles and halters , and without bridles or halters . Seeing the great Protestant zeal manifested , his lordship was willing to make all allowance for a first experiment . The troop was put in motion , and his lordship , to encour age , vouchsafed a familiar observation , such as , " How long have you been m the riding-school ? " No answer . " Pray what a your name ? " Still no answer . " Have vow evev belonged

      to any other corps V No reply . '' Would vou volunteer into the line ? " Mum , and a sagacious look . The General could withstand this indifference no longer , and roaring out at the top of his voice to the gallant parson , exclaimed " What the devil do you mean ; have these fellows no tonguea ? Why , General ? " " Why I have spoken to that man , and that man , and that fellow , and not a word ' could I get out of them . " " Come here , Tim Murphy ; why didn t vou answer the General , you blackguard , when he was go civil as to speak to you ? " " Answer him is it , said Tim ; " wisha , by Shasus , captain , Id enough to do to mind my riding , without talking to the likes of him . The devil from a , but I be 111 dread oi my life to spake while I ' m riding : by the powers , I'd fall off as sure as day . "

      Thirty Years Ago . —Byron , in 1814 , wrote to his friend Tom Moore , to apprise him that he was an accepted lover . The letter ( which is as follows ) is an admirable specimen of easy and familiar correspondence ;— " Newstead Abbey , Sept . 20 , 1844 . " Here ' s to her who long Hath waked the poet ' s sigh ' . The girl who gave to song What gold could never buy . " " My dear Moore , —I am going to be married : that is . I am accepted , and one usually hopes the rest will

      follow . My mother of the Gracchi ( that are to be ) you think too straight-laced for me , although the paragon of only children , ' and invested with ' golden opinions of all sorts of men / and fuU of ' most blest conditions' asDesdemonaherself . MissMilbanke is the lady ; and I have her father ' s invitation to proceed there in my elect capacity ; which , however , I cannotdo tilll have settled some business in London , and I get a blue coat . She is said to be an heiress ; but of that I know nothing certainly , and shall not LT quire But I do know that she U talente and excellent qualities ; and you will not deny her judgment after having refused sLx suitor * and | iken me .

      Seeing Through It— ' What is light * " asked a schoolmaster of the booby of the class . A sovereign that isn't full weight is light , " was the prompt r ^ ply . Agree to Differ . — " You are no gentleman , " said an im <* ry disputant to his antagonist . " Are you V * quietly asked the other . " Yes , I am , sir . " * # hen I-am not ? was the caustic reply . Att . One , and no Change . — A gentleman finding his servant intoxicated , said : " What ! drunk again , Sam ? , I scolded you for being drunk last night ; and here you are , drunk again . * "No , massa : same drunk , massa ; same drunk , " replied Sambo . A . Manly Advertisement . — Tnere is wmething very manly ( says a Canadian paper ) about the following advertisement published . m Portland by oneofthe fair sex :- "This is to certify , ^ that I , ^ fe * h Wright , have left my husband ' s bed and board on account of his misconduct I do , therefor ? , give up all ri-ht and title to him for life , . as I flatter myself thatl can take care of myself , as I have always done since and before niarriage .

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      Agricultural Museum . — -The Agricultural Museum , lately opened under the auspices of the Royal Society of Agriculture , mil wellVepay a j visit to the rooms of the Society in Hanover Square . For the information of persons visiting London , we supply an imperfect catalogue , which will direct the visitor to what are ceriainly the Lions of the Museum . j Case 30 . —Very curious , containing specimens of " The English Labourer" ( vulg . " The Country ' 6 pride" ) , natives of the various agricultural counties , presented by different boards of guardians . f No . 1 . A Buckinghamshire labourer . — Stands six feet high—weight , nine stone—colour sallow—eyes sunkbones very prominent . The ] smock-frock nine years old —breeches ragged—boots very bad—found in damp cottages . Fed upon bread anil water , with a little bacon . "When taken , attempted to destroy himself in the House . Mind uncultivated . Habits sullen and brutal .

      No . 2 . A Norfolk labourer . —Characteristics as above . This is one of the incendiary species . A ' os . 3 , 4 , 5 . Essex , Wiltshire , and Somersetshire labourers . ¦ —The curious visitor is requested to observe the clothes of these interesting specimens . The cases by the-side of each contain portions of their usual food , and a week's wages . j Case 40 . —Contains a treasure , which is indeed unique , and which the Society feels justly proud of : — A new coat ! ! purchased by a labourer with a family , on 7 s . a week wages ! As far as the Society can learn , the only one ever exhibited ! i Case 54 . —The inentieal biit used by Lord Coningsby in the game at cricket played by his Lordship with real labourers . There is always ~ & crowd round this case , and no wonder . [ Case 60 . —A sovereign , returned by Lord Radnor to a poor tenant on quarter-day ]; sent from Highworth . By many considered the gem of the collection .

      Case 100 . —Very old " duties of property , " discovered lately in Iloldernesse-house , by the Marquis of Londonderry . When furbished they have a very imposing appearance , and were brought out with great effect by the noble owner at a recent dinner given to his tenantry in Ireland . i Case 120 . —Numerous specimens of a new invention called " the rights of labour . " The ingenious patentee declares that these rights were known to our forefathers , though the secret has been lost . He expects great results from their re-introduction . J

      Novel Mode op Paying for the Marriage Cebeuony . —On Sunday morning last an extraordinary proceeding took place at St . Mary Abbotts , Kensington , after the marriage of two individuals . The ceremony having been performed by the Rev . Mr . Stevens before the morning service , the bridegroom a waiter at an hotel in the neighbourhood , went into the vestry-room to pay the usual fees , his new-made bride being directed by him to wait at the porch till he had settled . The bridegroom , upon being told the amount of the fees he had to pay ( 8 s . 6 d . ) commenced

      deliberately to count a ivast number of farthings ,, which he placed four in a pile . He went on this way until the table was nearly covered , and the clerk suggested to him that it would be better , as he seemed determined to act in such an extraordinary manner , to count out the number at once ; but , heedless of the advice , he went on till the little piles came to the amount he had to pay . ! The clergyman could not wait till the end of the tedious financial operation , as he had to read the prayers in the church . The farthings were soon changed for silver at a neighbouring house , and the whimsical bridegroom joined the bride , who was shivering with cold at the church door . j

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      A CHBISTMJiS CiBOL . To Church betimes ! The Christinas chimes Are calling high and low in ; To Church then all , both great and small ! C'honis of rrttmy voices . Vf e ' ve not a coat to go in ! Like our old sires , with roaring fires , The fangs of winter { braving . Huge logs pile high , to sit thereby . Chorhis . We've not a single shaving ! Good Christmas fare is physic rare To warm the regions inner ; Plum-pudding join to stout sirloin . Chorus . Wn ' ve not a crust for dinner !

      Fill glass and bowl , each jovial soul , As round the hearth we close in ; Our wine is bright in its ruddy light . Chorus . Our very water ' s frozen ! Right late we'll sup , and keep it up Till time to morn shall creep on ; Then sink to rest in dowuy nest . Chords , We ve not a lied to sleep on ! Loud be the song , the ilaughter long Our joy no care shall leaven ; Christmas is here but once a year . Chorus . For that , at least , thank heaven !

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      December 21 3 J 844 . ^ THE NORTHERN STAR , 3

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Dec. 21, 1844, page 3, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct687/page/3/