at his lips;
and amid screams of laughter, he chases the flying hours, until at
length a 'pale cast of thought' flits over the baby's face, like a
cloud in a summer sky. This is the signal for immediate
seriousness. The father grows grave--then frightened. He raises
him gently from his lap, and with a single exclamation of 'Take
him mother!' consigns the precious charge to her arms, and darting
a hasty glance at his 'pants' he walks in silence from the room.
Nor do we bachelors always escape with impunity. Anxious to win a
smile from some fond mother, more than one of us may have dared to
approach, with a kiss, the hallowed lips of her darling. But mark
the quick wing of vengeance! Darting from its lurking place in the
mouth, out flies the little doubled fist, and slams a
well-beslabbered biscuit into the face of the intruder. He
recoils, with his 'reeking honors fresh upon him,' and the little
squab coos in triumph at his failure.'

NATIONAL ACADEMY OF DESIGN.--The growing interest felt in relation to the
Fine Arts in this country, and the influence which the NATIONAL ACADEMY OF
DESIGN has had in producing that interest, make it imperative upon us to
notice the pictures which are annually sent to this exhibition. In passing
through the Academy with this object in view, we have been at some loss to
know where to begin. Finding however by chance at the end of the catalogue
an alphabetical arrangement of the exhibitors' names, we have adopted this
as the best method of laying the merits of the several pictures before our
readers. We therefore begin with:

V. G. AUDUBON, A.--Mr. AUDUBON exhibits four pictures this season: of
these, No. 133, 'Grove of Palm-trees' in the Island of Cuba, we prefer.
This picture appears to be a faithful representation of the scene, and is
handled with a free and firm pencil. The trees are perhaps a little too
literally represented, to be agreeable to the eye, consisting as they do
of so many equally straight and unpicturesque lines. No. 237, 'Moon-light
Squall coming up,' is a pleasing representation of one of Nature's
poetical moments. The light is clear and silvery, and the water
transparent and truthful. The whole scene is interesting, and there is but
little to find fault with; although perhaps parts would admit of more
warmth of color.

J. D. BLONDELL has six pictures, the majority portraits. No. 80, 'Portrait
of a Lady,' ha