BEAVER IN NORTH AMERICA.

The natural habits of the Beaver are topics so generally, though often so imperfectly handled, that we will rather speak at present of the manners which it is found to display in a domestic state, and of one or two other particulars less generally known.

We have domesticated certain animals, and most of those only. to a certain extent, and are therefore apt to fancy that those are the only animals susceptible of domestication, and that they surpass all others in sagacity and companionable affections. But there is a very long list indeed, of animals, apparently the last to be thought of, for domestication, but which, nevertheless, would please, and be pleased if they, like others, lay in our bosom, ate out of our dish, and sat at our firesides, and that would make manifest their understanding, and more than answer our caresses. An example presents itself in the beaver, whose habits in domesticity are pictured by a North American trader.

"I have kept several beavers," says Hearne, "till they became so domesticated as to answer to their name, and to follow those to whom they are accustomed, in the same manner as a dog would do, and they were as much pleased at being fondled as any animal I ever saw. In cold weather they were the constant companions of the indian women and children, and were so fond of their company, that when the indians were absent for any considerable time, the beavers discovered great signs of uneasiness; and, on their return, showed equal marks of pleasure, by fondling them, crawling into their laps, lying on their backs, sitting like a squirrel, and behaving like children who see their parents but seldom. In general, during the winter, they lived on the same food as the women did, and were remarkably fond of rice and plum-pudding: they would eat partridges and fresh venison very freely, but I never tried them with fish, though I have heard that they will at times prey on them. In fact, there are few gramnivorous animals that may not be brought to be carnivorous."

Of the things usually eaten by the beaver, the same writer gives the following account: "Their food consists of a large root, something resembling a cabbage stalk which grows at the bottom of the lakes and rivers. They also eat the bark of trees, particularly those of the poplar, birch, and willow; but the ice preventing them from getting to the land in the winter, they have not any bark to feed on in that season, except that of such sticks as they cut down in summer, and throw into the water opposite the doors of their houses; and as they generally eat a great deal, the roots above mentioned constitute a principal part of their food during the winter. In summer they vary their diet, by eating different kinds of herbage, and such berries as grow near their haunts."

Beavers having returned in considerable numbers to Nottaway river and its tributaries, Mr. Ruffin of the Farmer's Magazine, suggested the propriety of an experiment to domesticate them, with a

view to the annual procurance of their rich furs, without destroying their lives. As this inoffensive and valuable animal is rapidly disappearing before the stratagems of the trapper, and the march of civilization, this resort may become necessary if practicable and might perhaps turn out to be a profitable enterprise.-Ed. Tenn. Farmer.

SILK MANUFACTURE.

The New York Star states that such is the success which has attended the manufacture of silk at the establishments in Massachusetts, that the silk company at Northampton determined at their late meeting to raise immediately $30,000, in addition to the large capital already invested, in order to enlarge their sphere of operations. This company was one of the first that was formed in this country, and had to labor under all the disadvantages attendant on the commencement of a new branch of manufacture, which those recently established have not had to contend with. In one instance a Silk Company, which has only been in operation two and a half years, has divided $100 on each share, where but $25 were paid

in.

MISCELLANEOUS.

To please the fancy and improve the mind.

(SELECTED.)

"ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL."

BY JOYCE JOCUND.

'I am quite worn out, and worried to death! My existence is one unvaried course of bad luck-nothing prospers with me!'

These words so expressive of discontent, were addressed by Richard Briggs to his bosom friend Jack Somers, during a stroll through their native village, while waiting the arrival of the stage which was to convey Jack to London. No persons could be more dissimilar than the two friends; Briggs all dissatisfaction and complaint, Somers very good-natured and contented. The former somewhat envious of his friend's 'better luck,' as he termed it, often remarked that Jack had not been born with merely a silver spoon in his mouth, but rather a 'whole service of plate;' while, for his part, he certainly had inherited considerably more than a fair average of miseries, which would have been otherwise, had Dame Na

ture or Fate at his birth but condescended to a more equitable division of this life's troubles, and not heaped a dozen people's ills upon his unoffending existence. Notwithstanding such opposite temperaments, Jack Somers and Richard Briggs had become inseparables; they hunted, shot, fished, rode and walked together. Both possessing a competency, they might have been equally happy; but while Somers looked at the bright side, poor Dick viewed the world as some folks gaze at the sun, through a darkened glass, and beheld all its pleasures in eclipse. Yet they were seldom apart, and the constant association of these adverse dispositions gained for them the title of 'Pleasure and Pain.'

'I am heartily sick of it,' resumed Briggs, looking as dull as a church-yard in a fog, and twice as miserable, 'I repeat, that I am truly and heartily disgusted!'

'Patience, my dear fellow!' said his companion; 'time brings all things round.'

'Does he?' replied Briggs; 'then I wish he would bring all things square, for matters have assumed most alarming shapes lately.' "When they come to the worst,' observed Somers, 'the old proverb declares that they will mend.'

'Nonsense!' grumbled Dick; "they cannot come to the worst; they are, always were, and they ever will be, at the worst. I am superlatively unlucky beyond comparison. Even in the minor pursuits of life there are no exceptions. If I fish, I never get a bite, or I break my tackle. Now you are proverbially fortunate; all the heavy fish seize your bait, all the birds get up on your side of the cover; when, if a chance shot comes within my range, my gun never misses—to flash in the pan! Then are you not constantly in at the death, while I cannot so much as keep up with the hounds!'

'Fie, Dick!' replied Somers, 'this last instance should be a subject of congratulation as it prevents you-'going to the dogs!'

"Tis beyond a joke,' observed Dick. Do I know what a day's pleasure is! Was not the steamer in flames on my last trip to Gravesend? And did not the coach upset when I returned? Who ever heard of any accident occurring to you.

'I have escaped thus far, and that without any pretensions to setting the THAMES on fire; while you positively had a hand in the MEDWAY?"

"Of all things, I hate an ill-tempered jest,' said Dick, becoming more angry as he continued to dwell on his fancied evil fortunes. 'Domestic affairs afford me no relief; I cannot rear any poultry; my pigs won't get fat; in the garden nothing flourishes. I am a sort of walking mildew, a peripatectic pestilence. Whoever saw a single plant from seed of my sowing? If I water a rose bush, the plant withers. Now, I feel convinced that if you were to stare over the hedge of a fallow field, the next morning it would become a waving crop of corn.'

'My dear Dick,' remonstrated Somers, 'by the aid of a little method

'Stuff'exclaimed Dick, admitting that I may be deficient in method in these matters, let us proceed to more important affairs. Did not the mail break down, and was not the letter delayed that should have summoned me to the death of my uncle, from whom I had good expectations, and did he not cut me off with a shilling for supposed indifference? And did he not leave his money to some specious artful hussy, who gained his affections?'

Not to say his good will,' interrupted Jack. However, had the letter arrived in time, of your uncle's favorable intentions you could not be assured.

'Assured! no,' sighed Briggs; nor was my cottage when set on fire by lightning."

That was an evident want of prudence and foresight on your part,' said Somers.

Want of foresight. I give you joy of that remark,' replied Dick. 'Who would have foreseen that Topps and Lopp's bank would have suspended payments the day after I had paid in three hundred £s.? But any connection with me is sure to be attended with fatal consequences. Was I not eight months poring my eyes and brains out, and scribbling my fingers off, before the editor of the County Magazine thought fit to accept an article for the ensuing number? I worked myself into a perfect fever.'

Typhus, no doubt, said Jack. And the ultimate fate of this baby of your brain!'

'Was most melancholy! it never appeared, for the Magazine died without issue!' and here Dick looked as wretched as the joke he had just attempted.

'That was playing our cards badly,' observed Somers.

'Cards!' shrieked Briggs, seizing the opportunity to find fresh cause for complaint-Cards! do I ever have a trump? As for scoring eight and holding honors, I must confess my weakness, but I do once in my life desire to know how persons feel in such a position. What can it be like?'

'Why, like to win the game,' replied Jack. But you are disposed to grumble, that, were you at such a point, I fear you would 'call out!'-'My dear Dick,' continued Somers, I have patiently listened to your catalogue of woes, and feel confident that the great portion are imaginary, and the remainder caused by your own inadvertence. Instead of finding a remedy for trifles, (that are magnified into matters of importance,) you chafe at each little incident that does not present itself in exactly the position of colors that you would prefer, and abandon yourself to useless repinings. Precaution would thwart the evils which you fancy are ever flowing to your discomfort! Don't mount your watch towers of discontent to look out for trouble-they find us too speedily, and we have no need to light up a beacon for their guidance or to sound a trumpet of welcome on their arrival. I shall not be a month absent; on my return let me meet my friend with smiles upon the lip that shall greet the renewal of our intercourse. See, the stage is in sight.'

'I see the coach and a vacant place,' murmured Dick, not much relishing the proffered advice. Had I been going to town, every horse would have fallen lame, or the axle have broken to prevent my journey.'

Anticipating again!' said Jack provokingly, as he pressed Dick's hand and mounted the vehicle.

'Well!' exclaimed Dick, 'we are sure of a month's fine weather at all events; it is always favorable for your trips. When I went, the world was threatened with a second deluge, and I never saw the sun till my return, when I did not care a fig for the weather.'

Jack shook his head as the coach moved rapidly onward, but not so speedily as to prevent him hearing his friend's adieus grumbled forth in a tone and with a look of despondency, that would have made the fortune of any tragedy hero at any theatre in the United Kingdom.

There are persons who never will be happy; so Richard Briggs enveloped himself in the mantle of despair and revelled in all the luxury of woe!

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We pass over a month. Our friends were again seen sauntering up the avenue leading to the old ivy-colored church. They appeared to be in earnest conversation, and Dick's face assumed a resplendent appearance, upon which phenomenon some additional light may be thrown by the following colloquy.

I can scarcely believe it,' cried Somers. My dear Dick-you going to be married!'

Fact!' said Dick, with a real downright smile illuminating his features, hitherto unused to joyous looks. "Yes! I am really about to enter the holy state of matrimony.' And again he smiled, until his own familiar mirror, before which he had shaved all his life, would not have recognised the face it had reflected for so many years redolent of frown and lather.

'And how well you look! ten years younger I declare,' said So

mers.

'I hope the novelty will not soon wear off,' said Dick. But let me tell you the particulars. You remember the steamboat taking fire?"

'Most clearly,' replied Jack; 'I never can forget that unhappy circumstance.'

"The very luckiest event of my life!' exclaimed Dick. 'Surely I have heard you complain a thousand times'Exactly!' interrupted Briggs. But the strangest things have come about; I won a bumper last night of old Dingleberry and his wife, before we supped off the fish that I had caught in the morning. with a brace of birds that I shot three days since, being one out of eight I bagged in about three hours. Now for the steamer. You must know, Jack, that among the hissing flames, and on board that very boat, I made the acquaintance of a most worthy old gentleman, and the loveliest creature, his daughter. I had the good