From Fraser's Magazine.

hay, cotton-wool, &c., and to make a nest. When LEAVES FROM A NATURALIST'S NOTE-BOOK. he had done this to his satisfaction, he would sit A beaver* arrived in this country in the winter up under the drawers, and comb himself with the

nails of his hind feet. In this operation, that of 1825, very young, being small and woolly, and which appeared at first to be a malformation was without the covering of long hair that marks the shown to be a beautiful adaptation to the necessiadult animal. It was the sole survivor of five or ties of the animal. The huge webbed hind-feet six which were shipped at the same time, and it of the beaver turn in so as to give the appearance was in a very pitiable condition, lean, and with or deformity; but if the toes were straight, instead the coat all clogged with pitch and tar. Good

of being incurved, the animal could not use them treatment quickly restored it to health ; it grew so readily for the purpose of keeping its fur in apace, plumped out, and the fur became clean and order, and cleansing it from dirt and moisture. in good condition. Kindness soon made it familiar.

Binny generally carried small and light articles When called by its name Binny,” it generally

between his right fore-leg and his chin, walking answered with a little, low, plaintive cry, and came

on the other three legs; and huge masses, which to its owner. The hearth-rug was its favorite he could not grasp readily with his teeth, ho haunt in a winter evening, and thereon it would pushed forwards, leaning against them with his lie stretched out at its length, sometimes on its

right fore-paw and his chin. He never carried back, sometimes on its side, and sometimes on its anything on his tail, which he liked to dip in belly, expanding ils webbed toes to secure the full action of a comfortable fire on them, but always whole of his body. If his tail was kept moist he

water, but he was not fond of plunging in the near its master. The building instinct showed itself early. Be- became hot, and the animal appeared distressed,

never cared to drink; but if it was kept dry it fore it had been a week in its new quarters, as

and would drink a great deal. It is not impossisoon as it was let out of its cage, and materials ble that the tail may have the power of absorbing were placed in its way, it immediately went to

water, like the skin of frogs, though it must be work. Its strength, even before it was half-owned that the scaly integument which invests grown, was great. It would drag along a large that member has not much of the character which sweeping-brush, or a warming-pan, grasping the handle with its teeth, so that it came over its generally belongs to absorbing surfaces.

It has been asserted, and in some degree proved, shoulder, and advancing with the load in an oblique that the song of birds depends on that which they direction, will it arrived at the point where it wished first hear ; but their nest-making seems to be the to place it. The long and large materials were result of innate instinct. Binny must have been always taken first, and two of the longest were

captured too young to have seen any of the buildgenerally laid crosswise, with one of the ends of

ing operations of his parents or their co-mates, each touching the wall, and the other ends project- but his instinct impelled him to go to work under ing out into the room. The area formed by the

the most unfavorable circumstances ; and he busied crossed brushes and the wall he would fill up with himself as earnestly in constructing a dam, in a hand-brushes, rush-baskets, books, boots, sticks,

room up three pair of stairs in London, as if he clothes, dried turf, or anything portable. As the had been laying his foundation in a stream or lake work grew high he supported himself on his tail; in Upper Canada. which propped him up admirably; and he would

Bread, and bread and milk and sugar, formed often, after laying on one of his building materials, the principal part of Binny's food; but he was sit up over against it, appearing to consider his

Tender work, or, as the country-people say, " judge it." very fond of succulent fruits and roots.

twigs, especially of the willow, were greatly to This pause was sometimes followed by changing his taste, and he would handle them very adroitly, the position of the material “judged,” and soinetimes it was left in its place. After he had piled closed on them much as a basket-maker would

drawing them through his fore-paws, which he up his materials in one part of the room, (for he do when trying a twig, though less perfectly of generally chose the same place,) he proceeded to wall up the space between the feet of a chest of

An animal so sociable in his habits ought to be drawers which stood at a little distance from it, affectionate ; and very affectionate the beaver is high enough on its legs to make the bottom a roof said to be. Drage mentions two young ones, for him; using for this purpose dried turf and which were taken alive and brought to a neighsticks, which he laid very even, and filling up

the

boring factory in Hudson's Bay, where they interstices with bits of coal, hay, cloth, or any, throve very fast until one of them was killed accithing he could pick up. This last place he seemed dentally. The survivor instantly felt the loss, began to appropriate for his dwelling; the former work

to moan, and abstained from food till it died. Mr. seemed to be intended for a dam. When he had Bullock mentioned to the narrator a similar instance walled

space
between the feet of the chest

which fell under his notice in North America. of drawers, he proceeded to carry in sticks, clothes, A male and female were kept together in a room,

* Part of this narrative appeared, by the permission of where they lived happily till the male was deprived the author, in The Gardens and Menagerie of the Zoo- of his partner by death. For a day or two he logical Society Delineated, 1830. A highly interesting and instructive work.

appeared to be hardly aware of his loss, and brought

course.

a

up the

food and laid it before her; at last, finding that of which was lost. He was very fond of sparkling she did not stir, he covered her body with twigs champagne, and after such a treat, his friskings and leaves, and was in a pining state when Mr. and playful tricks were beyond description funny. Bullock lost sight of him.

His game of romps with Binny was most ludicrous. With no slight regret the writer adds a third Often, while Monsieur Mazurier was seated on his example in the death of his pet. The housekeeper master's instep, the bell was rung for Binny, who was very fond of Binny, always consulting his entered as rapidly as his shuffling gait would percomforts and appetite, making his bed warm, and mit him, immediately came close to his master's treating him frequently to Sally Lunns and plum- leg, uttered his little cry, and caressed the leg, cake, till he became the most plump and sleek of after his fashion, by rubbing the side of his head beavers; and the attachment was reciprocal. At and his nose against it. Presently he would perlast, on the writer's departure from London for ceive Macky, whom he would awake, and endeavor some time, he thought that Binny, who had grown to seduce him to play by prancing and shuffling excessively fat, would be the better for exercise and before him. Macky, nothing loath, would make a change of air, and would be more comfortable if spring on Binny's tail and bound off in an instant. sent to pay a visit to the Tower of London and Upon which Binny would shuffle and prance, expatiate there. Mr. Cops, the keeper of the shake his head, and play wonderful antics. People lions, kindly undertook to take care of him. He may talk of the ga bols of a rhinoceros, but the was suffered to go at large, and had every accom-gambols of the rodent threw those of the pachy. modation, but soon began to fall off in his appetite. derm into the shade, beating them hollow in unIn vain did his kind host try every delicacy to couthness and absurdity. Macky would bound on tempt his guest. With the exception of a few Binny's back, dance a kind of saraband upon him, raisins the dejected animal would eat nothing, and and then leap before him, upon which Binny fell away visibly. Fearing the worst, and sus- would charge the dancer with the most determined pecting that it was pining for its home, Mr. Cops heavy alacrity. Macky was over his head and brought it back to the housekeeper. The poor skipping on his great, flat, scaly tail in a second. beaver immediately recognized her, uttered his Then Binny would shake his head, wheel round little cry, and crept under her chair. But the like a ponderous wagon, and by the time he had blow had been struck; he never rallied, but died, brought his head where his tail was, Macky had as the good old housekeeper declared, with tears bounded from the tables and chairs on and off him in her eyes, of a broken heart. His skin is pre- twenty times. Binny at last would slap his tail served in the museum of the Bristol Philosophical again and again against the floor till he made all Society. Poor Binny! He was a most faithful ring, whereupon Macky would dance round him and entertaining creature, and some highly comic and cut the most extravagant capers, touching scenes occurred between the worthy but slow Binny's tail with his finger and jumping away as beaver, and a light and airy macauco that was kept quick as thought. in the same apartment.

They had evidently a good understanding with The macauco was a white-fronted lemur, * and each other, and were on the best terms.

One day was presented to the writer by the late Captain they were left at large in a room together, where Marryat, R. N. From the excessive agility of there was a linen press, the doors of which had this sprightly creature his master named him been left open. Macky climbed the doors, ran

Monsieur Mazurier," to which name, and also sacked the press, pulled out the sheets, tableto that of " Macky," he would answer by a satis- cloths, &c., and threw them down to the bearer, factory grunting noise. His bounds were won- who, having made a most luxurious bed, laid himderful. From a table he would spring twenty or self down thereon ; and when the room was enthirty feet to the upper angle of an open door, and tered Macky and Binny were found fast asleep, then back again to the table or his master's shoul- the former with his head and shoulders pillowed der, light as a fairy. In his leaps, his tail seemed upon Binny's comfortable neck. When Binny to act as a kind of balancing pole, and the elastic died, his master determined to have no more sorcushions at the end of his fingers enabled him to rowing for pets, and sent Macky to the Zoological pitch so lightly that his descent was hardly felt Society's garden in the Regent's Park, where when he bounded on you. He would come round they got him a wise, with whom he lived long the back of his master's neck and rub his tiny and happily. head fondly against his master's face or ear, and, The two beavers which were in that garden after a succession of fondlings and little gruntings, when the writer gave the late lamented Mr. Bendescend to his master's instep, as he sat cross- nett permission to print the account of his domestilegged before the fire, when he would settle him- cated beaver, were sent to the society from Canada self down thereon, wrap his tail around him like by Lord Dalhousie. They were partially deprived a boa, and go to sleep. When in his cage he of sight before their arrival in this country ; but generally slept on his perch, rolled up, with his one of them had the use of one eye; and the other, head downwards and his tail comfortably wrapped although totally blind, dived most perseveringly over all. If a piece of orange was given to him for clay, and applied it to stop up every cranny in he would lift the fruit to his mouth and throw their common habitation that could admit “ the back his head, so as to secure the juice, not a drop winter's flaw.” They lived some time together, * Lemur albifrons.

apparently happy and contented.

crown.

From Bradburn's " Pioneer and Herald of Freedom." The following spirit-stirring effusion, breathing
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.

the very soul of heroic patriotism, was written by

the late Wm. B. 0. Peabody, D. D., and appeared He is walking with the shining ones, his labor has originally in the Rockingham Gazette, published been long,

at Exeter, N. H., twenty-five years ago.—Boston For him no mournful requiem, but a pæan full and

Journal.
strong ;
But woe! for our poor nation, she may well put

THE ALARM.
on her weeds,

Look there! the beacon's crimson light And her tolling bells lament, for her unholy deeds.

Is blazing wide and far,

And sparkles in its towering height
Alas! alas ! for us, not him—the dearly loved and

The rocket's signal star.
good-

Rise! rise! the cannon rolls at last
Between us and the evil time his reverend presence

Its deep and stern reply;
stood,

And heavier sleep is coming fast,
And the nation, rushing madly on, felt its wildest

Than seals the living eye.
pulses stilled,
As the trembling voice of that old man in solemn And now the warning trumpet peals !
warning thrilled.

The battle 's on the way;

The bravest heart that moment eels
Rest, for the truest of tribunes ! standing faithful The thrilling of dismay :
to the last,

Around the loved, in shrinking fear,
His thin locks like the snow-wreaths, on his native Love's straining arms are cast;
hill-tops cast ;-

The heart is in that single tear,
Now while that snow is wasting, to the grave they That parting is the last.
bear him down,

A thousand windows flash with fires
The glory of his upright life resting on him like a

To light them through the gloom,

Before the taper's flame expires,
The mourning of the many bells, the drooping flags,

To glory or the tomb;
all seem

Far down the hollow street rebounds
Like some dim, unreal pageant, passing onward in The charger's rattling heel ;
a dream;

And ringing o'er the pavement sounds
For following with the living to his last and nar- The cannon's crushing wheel.
row bed,

Then answers to the echoing drum
Methinks I see a shadowy host—a train of noble

The bugle's stormy blast ;
dead.

With crowded ranks the warriors come,

And bands are gathering fast ;
The patriots of our olden time-men who, dying,

Red on their arms the torch-light gleams, left in trust

As on their footsteps spring
Honor and rights our craven land has trampled in
the dust,

To perish ere the morning beams

For death is on the wing.
Till only one of all her sons, the last branch on the

The courier in his arrowy flight
Young Freedom planted, dared to stand, like them, Gives out the battle cry!
erect and free.

And now march on with stern delight;

To fall is not to die. ’T is a strange and mournful pageant, that is slowly

Already many a gallant name
passing on,

Your country's story bears :
The phantom patriots gathered to the funeral of

Go! rival all your fathers' fame,
their son!

Or earn a death like theirs.
In shadowy guise they move along, brave Otis,
with hushed tread,

From the Churchman
And Warren, walking reverently by the father of
the dead.

THE MOANS OF THE OCEAN. Gliding foremost in the misty band, a gentle form πάσαν δ' έπλησας φωνάς άλα.-Moschus. is there,

STREAMS that sweep where thousands languish
In the white robes of the angels-and their glory On the mountain, in the glen,
round her hair;

Seaward bear each cry of anguish
She hovers near, and bends above her world-wide

Uttered by the sons of men-
honored child,

Hence it is that ever ocean
And the joy that only lives in heaven beams on her

Hath so sad, so deep a moan-
features mild.

Calm, or lashed in wild commotion

Therefore is its dirge-like tone.
And so they bear him to his grave, in the fulness

Moaning for the dead and dying,
True sage and prophet, leaving us in our day of With its ever voiceful waves,
many fears ;

For the countless forms that lying,
Never more amid the darkness of the wild and evil Whiten in its coral caves.
day,

Earth the broken-hearted pillows,
Shall his white locks, like a beacon, point the sure

Rivers tell it to the sea,
and better way.

Shall not ocean with its billows,
Amesbury, 1st 3d month, 1848.

Their eternal mourner be? YONAH.

tree

of his years,

E.

LAST PRAYERS.

Rejoicing that whate'er of wrong there be,

Thou seest, and none else have need to see;
Upon Time's outer verge I stand, while laves Thou knowest, and none else can ever know,
My feet Eternity's immortal waves,

The guilt, abasement, pain, repentance, woe.
Knowing that all things which have been before
Shall be to me no more ;

O Father, spare
That dreams, emotions, vanities, desires,

The soul that passeth now all mortal care ; Hope's incense on the altar of youth's fires,

Receive, and bless
And man's ambition, that have been before,

The spirit here released from earth's caress ;
Shall be no more ;

In mercy bend
No more the grief,

Thine eyes upon the voyager towards his end,

And lift his heart
The sting, the passion, penitence, relief,
Sweet memories, the pearls of life's brief story-

From out the dust of which it bears no part;
Sad memories, that dim the rising glory-

Forgive and hear,
Joys which are spent, and sorrows gone before,

O Lord, the penitent whose time is near ;
No more, no more.

The suppliant, who shall cease to live,

Hear and forgive.
0, God! before I go

New Orleans Delta.
Permit my heart its new-born zeal to know,
To know and understand, as well as feel-

From the Churcbman.
My soul within this mantle broad and real

SUNDAY EVENING.
To wrap itself from woe;
A day, an hour, a moment yet impart

How calmly sinks the parting sun!
To hear the prayers of my o'erburthened heart; Yet twilight lingers still,
Withhold the swoop of thy suspended sword, And, beautiful as dreams of heaven,
One moment yet, O Lord.

It slumbers on the hill;

Earth sleeps, with all her glorious things,
O spirit mine!

Beneath the Holy Spirit's wings,
How many hearts have mingled, dust with dust,

And, rendering back the hues above,
Since first inspired me with immortal trust

Seems resting in a trance of love.
Thy spark divine!
How many dwell in rapture or in woe

Round yonder rocks the forest trees
Where now I go!

In shadowy groups recline,
And each hath felt in turn, as I to-night,

Like saints at evening bowed in prayer Remorse, dread, hope, peace, confidence, delight;

Around their holy shrine;
Each one alone hath trod the path to God,

And through their leaves the night winds blow
Which all have trod.

So calm and still-their music low
Nor found the road of all who turned to pray

Seems the mysterious voice of prayer So difficult, when reason led the way ;

Soft echoed on the evening air. And I, though at this hour I know not why,

And yonder western throng of clouds, Have always deemed it difficult to die

Retiring from the sky, This body, which my soul shall know no more,

So calmly move, so softly glow,
This body, which God lent me—to restore.

They seem, to Fancy's eye,
But now, at last,

Bright creatures of a better sphere
The Future's radiant beams dispel the past,

Come down at noon to worship here,

And from their sacrifice of love
And with the lid
Of Heaven's mysterious eye is Error hid,

Returning to their home above.
While angel voices, I can hear them, hymn

The blue isles of the golden sea,
A requiem;

The night arch floating high,
Error
may be the sin and shame of Time,

The flowers that gaze upon the heavens,
But not the crime-

The bright streams leaping by,
May cloud the soul with shadows, but may not Are living with Religion—deep
Its glory blot-

On earth and sea its glories sleep,
May bar external light, to earth akin,

And mingle with the starlight rays,
But never that within.

Like the soft light of parted days.
Hear and forgive,

The spirit of holy eve
O Lord, the penitent, whose time is near-

Comes through the silent air
The suppliant, who soon shall cease to live,
Forgive and hear.

To feeling's hidden spring, and wakes

A gush of music there!
My heart recalls its visions from the past,

And the far depths of ether beam
The earliest and the last-

So passing fair, we almost dream
The brilliant hues that streaked the morning skies-

That we can rise and wander through The morning wings, on which I sought to rise

Their open paths of trackless blue. The failing effort, and the soothing balm,

Each soul is filled with glorious dreams,
The restoration to its early calm-

Each pulse is beating wild,
The pause, the flight, the sudden ebb, the flow, And thought is soaring to the shrine
The progress, and the end of all below;

Of Glory undefiled!
All seem restored, commingled into one,

And holy aspirations start The transient rainbow of my setting sun;

Like blessed angels from the heart,
And ah! how vividly in that recall

And bind—for earth's dark ties are river
I
see,
I feel the vanity of all,

Our spirits to the gates of heaven.

1

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