THOUGHTS IN A CROWD.

They've gathered to be happy,—and I'll join the living stream—
The brilliant throng is moving on like pageants in a dream.
Is it not glorious thus to gaze where every brow is bright,
And think so many cheerful hearts are beating here tonight!

And watch the beaming eyes that meet as though they blessed the meeting,
The smiles that speak when words would fail to breathe the tender greeting,
And list the murmured tones that rise like gush of heaving sea,
The multitude of voices, in low deep symphony!

Why can I not be happy ?-Is mine the only heart
That in a scene of joyousness must fail to share its part?
The shadows of departed days-these do not gather here-
In silence and in solitude those hallowed shades appear;
Nor is it that I read my doom upon the future's brow-
O, darker far I've seen the scroll than that which opens now;
Then why this loneliness of soul, this chill as of despair;
Is there another here who feels such weary weight of care?

And yet how gladly do I hail the greeting of each friend,
As o'er the gaily shifting crowd the careless glance I send.
Could one who watched my ready smile, interpret of my heart?
"Tis easy in a cheerful scene to act a cheerful part:
Are there not many actors here? Aye, many who will go,
With eager footsteps hurrying forth as from the haunt of wo,
Rejoicing they are free to cast mirth's gilded chains away,
And sighing that the world condemns the happy to be gay.

We sigh-but dare not whisper this in Fashion's splendid halls,
For like a slave in manacles, we follow where she calls,
And term by pleasure's softened name this fever of the mind-
Pleasure-by Fashion known no more than sunbeams by the blind-
Pleasure-when souls to all but sense are cold as Etna's snows-
And, fraught with passion's burning fires, in treacherous calm repose;
While not a word must breathe of mind, or thought to heaven arise,
For Fashion's stars disdain to draw their radiance from the skies.

Did angels bend recording, and might the page appear,
Filled with the Babel dissonance that now is mingling here,
Would those who furnish forth the page, delight to turn it o'er,

And in the mass, with smiles of pride, their own sweet shore explore?

I will not wrong the spirit thus, it has a loftier flight,

And men would blush at Pleasure's garb, revealed in Folly's light.

'Tis only while we are deceived, and think that others share

The happiness of Fashion's routs that we shall gather there.

And must we, like the desert bird, to solitude retire,

Hoard the warm feelings of the heart to feed the funeral pyre!
No-let our noblest energies to human weal be given,
'Tis faithfulness in things of earth has promises of heaven.
And we were formed for happiness, the social and the free,
The heart and soul companionship, the generous sympathy,
The hopes, that in the bonds of love immortal natures bind,
And give their chiefest joys to flow from pure and perfect mind.

CORNELIA.

One of the last London New Monthly Magazines contains a flattering notice of our distinguished countryman, Cooper the novelist. It of course gives us great pleasure to see his merit appreciated abroad; still more gratifying would it be to find amongst our own editors spirit and courage enough to appreciate and commend native talent, without waiting to be prompted from across the Atlantic. How many American publishers are there who could have given even the meagre biographical sketch of Cooper contained in the English periodical abovenamed? Charles Sprague's Centennial travelled to England, and the Athenæum was candid enough to speak of it as it deserved and now, forsooth, we Yankees are just beginning to inquire when it was delivered, and to echo back the "Yes, truly it is a splendid thing," and admire the good nature of these critics, who, for once, have not frightened us by their usual snarling. Poor Brown died before foreign praise warmed his countrymen into appreciation of his merits; and our greatest wonder is, that all of our authors have not shared his fate. Magnanimous Yankees! Oh glorious "American independence.'

B.

LITERARY NOTICES.

FLORA'S DICTIONARY. By a Lady. Baltimore: published by F. Lacas, Jr.

A taste for the beauties of nature is almost entirely the effect of mental and moral cultivation. The savage prizes nothing that does not administer to his coarse animal enjoyments, or the excitement of the violent passions; and the ignorant, among those who call themselves civilized, are, in sentiment, but little elevated above savages. They think little of the difference between a rose and a cabbage, except that the one is red, the other green-one good to eat-the other only to smell-and, therefore, the rose is a useless weed, compared with the portly cabbage. It is true ignorance may express the delight of wonder at the beauties of creation, but there must be intelligence to appreciate the charms. For these reasons we regard, with deep interest, every effort to cultivate that refinement of feeling, which leads us to associate our amusements and pleasures with the lovely things around us, the living harmonies of inanimate nature; for there is a tone in all these works of the Creator's fashioning, that, when responded by the human soul, makes us better and happier by the intercourse. The beautiful volume before us is worthy to be the production of a lady, for on every page is found the "expression of sentiments, which refine the taste, and elevate the fancy; nor is the mind or heart neglected. It was evidently the aim of the author, when preparing this language of flowers and leaves, to make their sentiments such as would improve while they pleased. The following sentiments from the preface, are finely descriptive of the character of the work, and highly creditable to the writer's head and heart.

Do we make the most of the objects which surround us; do we extract from them all the information and all the innocent amusement they are capable of affording? The question is not addressed to the scientific; but to those, of whom the writer admits herself to be one, who are too content to gaze with a vacant and transient admiration at the works of the creation, and then to remember them no more. Here, for instance, is this beautiful Earth: what an interest has the science of botany thrown over it! Yet how few there are among us, who are disposed to taste of the banquet which this science affords !— Again, these flowers interest us by their beauty and fragrance, and here we stop. Travellers, however, assure us that the people of the East see something more in them than mere objects of admiration. In the hands of these primitive and interesting people they become flowers of rhetoric, and speak their feelings with far more force and tenderness than words can impart.

It is upon the point suggested by this oriental custom, and for the purpose of trying, as a matter of curiosity, how far this emblematic language would be carried, that the following collection has been made."

The plan of the work is to furnish, to the name of every flower and leaf introduced, its significancy of title in sentiment, and appropriate motto in rhyme. The selections are numerous, and, in general, delicately expressive of the meaning the flower is designed to convey. We subjoin a few of these explanations.

Should you wish to express this sentiment to your friend—" Your qualities surpass your loveliness"-send the mignonette; it may be interpreted— " Charms strike the sight, but merit wins the soul."-Pope.

Or,

"Beauty dwells

There most conspicuous even in outward shape,

Where dawns the high expression of a soul."-Akenside.

Should you wish to appoint a meeting with a friend or lover, send the "Everlasting Pea," and it will say,

Or,

"Give me the advantage of a brief discourse."

"Let us consult together; believe me, 'tis no time
For dull delay; 'tis the decisive hour,

And this the very crisis of our fate."

If the party addressed wishes to respond, a portion of the flower sent must be returned. In the case of the Pea it will say,

"Come you this afternoon,

To know our pleasure in this case," &c.

But these associations of fancy and feeling with flowers, pure and pretty as they are, make not the whole worth of the book. There is a variety of instructive hints in botanical science, and the work is arranged in a manner which can hardly fail to interest the minds of the young, for whom it was chiefly intended, in the study of the nature and properties of plants. The introduction, notes, &c. contain much useful and curious information, and evince the industry as well as taste and refinement of the writer. The faults of the work are a few typographical errors; we should not name these did we not regret that a book so carefully arranged and beautifully got up, should have exhibited marks of carelessness in that department which owes its greatest merit to its exactness. The appearance of the volume, however, is highly creditable to the publisher, and as an elegant literary ornament to a parlor table, an entertaining manual of fancy and flowers, and a very fascinating botanical monitor, we take pleasure in commending it to our readers. The author, whom we understand to be Mrs. Wirt, will, we feel assured, find this attempt to combine the emotions of the heart with intellectual sentiment is appreciated by our community. All that tends to refine our enjoyments, and make the senses dependent on the mind for their most exquisite gratification, exalts human nature; and while so many hours are, and must be, given to trivial subjects, it is highly important that associations, which improve and refine, should be connected with every employment, purpose, and amusement of life.

NOTES FOR THE MONTH.

WE have just returned from a call upon the "Chanting Cherubs,” and truly with impressions of the strongest pleasure. They should be called the En-chanting Cherubs.” We are not amateur enough to embody our thoughts in technical language; but perhaps the language of the heart will do quite as well. Both of the children (for they are winged children,) are very lovely, and the attitude in which they stand is one of affection and dependence on the part of the younger, and of protection and love on the part of the elder. The countenance of the younger is the most beautiful, and his head the most intellectual. But both are faultless. We are quite ready to doubt the poet's truth, who says,

-"Beauty has bounds,

And can no more to every heart be so,

Than any coin through every land can go."

When it is recollected that they are the production of an American chisel, all must feel proud as well as happy to visit and admire them.

CULTURE OF SILK. Mr. Samuel Martin, of Philadelphia, offers to give $10, if $20 more be added, as a reward for the best Essay on the usefulness of having at all seminaries for female education, as many Silk Worms raised as will be necessary to impart a knowledge of the best methods to be pursued in the culture of silk.

MOTHER'S BOOK. Mrs. Child is preparing a work with the above title, designed as a practical treatise on the domestic management of children from three years old to sixteen. There is no doubt but the volume will be highly useful. Mrs. Child excels in collecting and communicating practical and necessary knowledge. Her "Frugal Housewife" has been very extensively circulated, four editions already disposed of. We are glad when talent and industry, employed to do good, are thus appreciated. Her "Juvenile Miscellany" well sustains its useful and entertaining character.

The Ladies will, I hope, pardon me for an observation which applies to some of them, but I trust only to a few. I have known a lady expend a hundred dollars on a party, pay thirty or forty dollars for a bonnet, and fifty for a shawl, and yet make a hard bargain with a seamstress or washerwoman, who had to work at her needle or the washing-tub for thirteen or fourteen hours a day, to earn a bare livelihood for herself and a numerous family of small children. This is a "sore oppression under the sun," and ought to be eschewed by every honorable mind."Let it be reformed altogether."-M. Carey.