WHAT a blessed era in the world’s history that was when the ladies had no nerves! Alas! I was born too late instead of too early, as the complaint of some is. I am cursed with nerves, and, as a consequence, am ever and anon distressed with nervous fears of some direful calamity or painful […]

TWO young men, one with a leather cap on his head and military buttons on his coat, sat in close conversation, long years ago, in the bar-room of the–Hotel. The subject that occupied their attention seemed to be a very exciting one, at least to him of the military buttons and black cap, for he […]

A PHYSICIAN’S STORY. I WAS once sent for, in great haste, to attend a gentleman of respectability, whose wife, a lady of intelligence and refinement, had discovered him in his room lying senseless upon the floor. On arriving at the house, I found Mrs. H–in great distress of mind. “What is the matter with Mr. […]

THERE was something wrong about the affairs of old Mr. Bacon. His farm, once the best tilled and most productive in the neighbourhood, began to show evidences of neglect and unfruitfulness; and that he was going behindhand in the world, was too apparent in the fact, that, within two years he had sold twenty acres […]

“MUST I give up every thing?” asked Mr. Hardy of his lawyer, with whom he was holding a consultation as to the mode and manner of getting clear of certain responsibilities in the shape of debt. “Yes, every thing, or commit perjury. The oath you have taken is very comprehensive. If you keep back as […]

“HADN’T you better give your landlord notice to-day, that we will move at the end of the year, Mr. Plunket?” “Move! For heaven’s sake, Sarah, what do we want to move for?” “Mr. Plunket!” “Mrs. Plunket!” “It’s a very strange way for you to address me, Mr. Plunket. A very strange way!” “But for what […]

WE know a great many businessmen, famous for driving hard bargains, who would consider an insinuation that they were not influenced by honest principles in their dealings a gross outrage. And yet such an insinuation would involve only the truth. Hard bargains, by which others are made to suffer in order that we may gain, […]

“IS any body dead?” “Yes, somebody dies every second.” “So they say. But I don’t mean that. Why are you looking so solemn?” “I am not aware that I look so very solemn.” “You do, then, as solemn as the grave.” “Then I must be a grave subject.” The young man affected to smile. “You […]

“DID you see that?” said Mrs. Jones to her friend Mrs. Lion, with whom she was walking. “See what?” “Why, that Mrs. Todd didn’t speak to me.” “No. I thought she spoke to you as well as to me.” “Indeed, then, and she didn’t.” “Are you sure?” “Sure? Can’t I believe my own eyes? She […]

A REMINISCENCE OF MR. JOHN JONES. IT is now about five years since I met with a little adventure in the West, which may be worth relating. It caused me a good deal of excitement at first; regrets afterward, for the temporary pain I inflicted, and many a hearty laugh since. New things come up […]

“WHAT kind of people have you here?” I asked of one of my first acquaintances, after becoming a denizen of the pleasant little village of Moorfield. “Very clever people, with one or two exceptions,” he replied. “I am sure you will like us very well.” “Who are the exceptions?” I asked. “For I wish to […]

EARLY in life, Mr. Jenkins had been what is called unfortunate in business. Either from the want of right management, or from causes that he could not well control, he became involved, and was broken all to pieces. It was not enough that he gave up every dollar he possessed in the world. In the […]

THE efforts which certain young men make, on entering the world, to become gentlemen, is not a little amusing to sober, thoughtful lookers on. To “become” is not, perhaps, what is aimed at, so much as to make people believe that they are gentlemen; for if you should happen to insinuate any thing to the […]

SUMMER before last, the time when cholera had poisoned the air, a gentleman of wealth, standing and intelligence, from one of the Southern or Middle States, while temporarily sojourning in Boston, felt certain “premonitory symptoms,” that were rather alarming, all things considered. So he inquired of the hotel-keeper where he could find a good physician. […]

A SHREWD Yankee, with about five hundred dollars in his pocket, came along down South, a few years ago, seeking for some better investment of his money than offered in the land of steady habits, where he found people, as a general thing, quite as wide awake as himself. In Philadelphia, our adventurer did not […]

IN a village not a hundred miles from Philadelphia, resided the Rev. Mr. Manlius, who had the pastoral charge of a very respectable congregation, and was highly esteemed by them; but there was one thing in which he did not give general satisfaction, and in consequence of which many excellent members of his church felt […]

NOT many years ago, a farmer who lived a hundred or two miles from the seaboard, became impressed with the idea that unless he adopted a close-cutting system of retrenchment, he would certainly go to the wall. Wheat, during the preceding season, had been at a high price; but, unluckily for him, he had only […]

“DOCTOR,” said a man with a thin, sallow countenance, pale lips, and leaden eyes, coming up to the counter of a drug-store in Baltimore, some ten years ago–“Doctor, I’ve been reading your advertisement about the ‘UNIVERSAL RESTORER, AND BALSAM OF LIFE,’ and if that Mr. John Johnson’s testimony is to be relied on, it ought […]

THE Methodist circuit-preacher is in the way of seeing human nature in many rare and curious aspects. Under the itinerating system, the United States are divided into conferences, districts, and circuits. The conference usually embraces a State, the district a certain division of the State or conference, and the circuit a portion of the district. […]

[From our story of “The Two Brides,” we take a scene, in which some one sorrowing as those without hope may find words of consolation.] IN the very springtime of young womanhood, the destroyer had come; and though he laid his hand upon her gently at first, yet the touch was none the less fatal. […]