nion or
destroyed its federative character; nor did it adopt or assent to the
novel theory that the States and the whole people residing in them had
forfeited all sovereignty and all reserved State and individual rights,
because a portion of the inhabitants had rebelled; nor did it admit that
the usurpation of a portion of any community could bring condemnation
and punishment on all. The usurpations and acts of the rebels were
considered not legal acts, but nullities.

GIDEON WELLES.

LUCILLE'S LETTER.

Out of the dreary distance and the dark
I stretch forth praying palms--yet not to pray;
Hands fold themselves for heaven, while mine, alas!
Are sundered--held your way.

Brief moments have been ours, yet bright as brief;
Oh! how I live them over, one by one,
Now that the endless days, bereft of you,
Creep slowly, sadly on.

Garnered in memory, those bewildering hours,
A golden harvest of enchantment yield;
Here, like a pale, reluctant Ruth, I glean
A cold and barren field--

Barren without a shelter: and the hedge
Is made of thorns and brambles. If I fain
Would lean beyond the barrier, do you see
The wounding and the stain?

Did God make us to mock us, on the earth?
Why did he fuse our spirits by His word,
Then set His awful Angel in our path,
His Angel with the sword?

Why, when I contrite kneel confessing all,
And seek with tears the way to be forgiven--
Why do your pleading eyes look sadly down
Between my face and heaven?

Why does my blood thrill at your fancied touch--
Stop and leap up at your ideal caress?
Ah, God! to feel that dear warm mouth on mine
In lingering tenderness!

To lie at perfect peace upon your heart,
Your arms close folded round me firm and fast,
My cheek to yours--oh, vision dear as vain!
That would be home at last.

Leon, you are my curse, my blessing too,
My hell, my heaven, my storm that wrecks to save:
Life daunts me, and the shadows lengthen out
Beyond the grave.

MARY L. RITTER.

SOME OLD ALMANACKS.

Do you know, gentle reader, what an interesting, valuable, and useful
book an "Almanack" once was? You are gorged with books, and newspapers
lie about thick as leaves in Vallambrosa. Do you ever buy an Almanac for