countenances of friends, let the ear do what it can to make
up for the loss by every cheering word of sympathy and hope. In God's
Providence there is a principle of compensation that aims to balance every
privation by some new privilege, as for instance by giving new acuteness
to the senses which are called to do the work of the senses lost. But
genial humanity is the great principle of compensation, and by this God's
children glorify the Father in Heaven. May this volume serve his merciful
will, and may the light shed from the stars of our literary firmament do
something to lessen the night upon every dark path.

S.O.

GIFTS OF GENIUS.

OUT AT ELBOWS.

THE STORY OF ST. GEORGE CLEAVE.

BY JOHN ESTEN COOKE, OF VIRGINIA.

I.

How good a thing it is to live! The morn is full of music; and Annie is
singing in the hall!

The sun falls with a tranquil glory on the fields and forests, burning
with the golden splendors of the autumn--the variegated leaves of the
mighty oaks are draped about the ancient gables, like a trophy of banners.
The landscape sleeps; all the world smiles--shall not I?

I sat up late last night at my accounts; to-day I will take a holiday. The
squire has bidden me good morning in his courteous, good-humored way, and
gone in his carriage to attend a meeting of his brother magistrates:--I am
away for the time from my noisy courts--the domain is mine--all the world
is still!

No;--Annie is singing in the hall.

She sings to herself, I think, this autumn morning, and would not like to
be interrupted. I will therefore take a ramble--and you shall accompany
me, O friend of my youth, far away in distant lands, but beside me still!
Whither shall we go? It is hard to decide, for all the world is lovely.
Shall we go to my favorite woodland? It skirts the river, and I love the
river; so we pass into the forest.

How regal is the time of the fall of the leaves! A thousand brilliant
colors charm the eyes--the eyes of their faithful lovers. How the mighty
oaks reach out their knotty, muscular arms to welcome us!--how their
ponderous shoulders bear aloft the imperial trappings--trappings of silk
and velvet, all orange, blue, and purple! The haughty pines stand up like
warriors--or call them spears of nordland heroes, holding on their summits
emerald banners! The tulip-trees are lovely queens with flowers in their
hair, who bend and welcome you with gracious murmurs; the slender elms
sway to and f