to the fountain of consolation--a Saviour's love.-and she realized the fulfilment of the promise, "A bruised reed He will not break." In one of the neatest houses, in the village of N——, is seen a lovely girl, who often, with a look of sadness, says, "Uncle Edward, how I wish my dear Ma had lived to come here. Why did you not find us sooner? I wonder if you are the same Edward Barnes that I heard Papa talk about? He told Ma he supposed she wished she had married Edward B. instead of him, and with a dreadful oath he left the house, saying he would be in the way no longer; and he never did come back-but the next day four men brought him Oh, uncle I cannot tell you, it makes me tremble to think of it! Poor Ma was so ill, I thought she would have died, and I should be left all alone!" * * * * Edward B. could not refrain from mingling his tears with those of his little neice-nor can you, fair readers, withhold your sympathy. But let none say or think, that "a reformed rake makes the best husband.” THE AMERICAN SNOW BIRD. "There are some things in the history of nature involved in mystery and obscurity. Others can only be explained by the scientific reasoning of learned men, and others dependent on certain facts, which have never been discovered or investigated. In the course of one's life, various objects are presented to our view, calculated to awaken our curiosity and arrest our attention. The habits of the American snow bird were unintelligible to me from infancy. I concluded. however, that my ignorance would be dissipated when manhood advanced, and that the books of Ornithologists would tell me all about the pretty little blue bird with two snow-white feathers in its tail. man. To my surprise, these only taught me what I knew before. According to them, the snow bird is remarkable for the obscurity which hangs round its history. On the first approach of winter, it suddenly makes its appearance in very numerous flocks, about the fences and hedges, and the uninhabited houses of plantations. The inclemency of the weather seems to make it court the society of No one could heretofore tell me whence it came or whither it went. Some supposed it to be another bird, which by some mysterious and irresistible power, entirely changed its plumage. doubts are now removed, and I am no longer compelled to believe the incredulous stories of the conversion of frogs and field sparrows and snow birds. They migrate to the mountains in summer, both for the purposes of propagation and of enjoying an atmosphere congenial to their nature. They cannot live in hot climates; and excessive cold will destroy them. When the mountains become uninhabitable, by the congelation of ice and snow, and the berries My which serve them for sustenance are destroyed, they pay their complements to us of the plain. The following facts I derived from governor Stokes, in one of his interesting accounts of his own history. As one of the commissioners to survey the boundary line between North Carolina and Tennessee, he passed over the Smoky Mountain, for a distance of about eight miles. It is so thickly covered with trees and undergrowth, as to be almost impassable; and ground whortleberries are its chief production. Bears and numerous other wild beasts resort to it as a place of refuge when pursued by the hunters; and on the whortleberry bushes, snow birds build their nests. The Providence of God is nowhere more conspicuous, than in the protection of the innocent inhabitants of the Smoky Mountain. From some cause or other, snakes do not establish their abode there, to devour the helpless callow of the apparent rightful owners of the shrubs and underwood. When this bird visits us, it delights to hover near stacks and meadows, feeding on the seed which they contain; while in very bleak weather when the earth is covered with snow, it may be attracted to windows of a house, by placing a few crumbs on the sill-the desolation around causing it to forget its natural fear of man. A feeling of melancholy crosses the mind, and at mournful sadness depresses the heart, when the wide and dreary landscape, deserted by all other light tenants of the barren air, is only enlivened by the presence of the pitiful snow bird. Yet even in the bitterest season, it is always gay and lively; and the scenery around seems to have no saddening effect on its cheerful heart. What a lesson was I taught, While left, in childhood's ruinbow hours, Hiding thee from ruthless showers, O, how my youthful eyes would strain, Yes, gentle bird! I mind the time, Thou'st sported round my window seat-- Pleas'd, it would seem, my face to greet. And feeding with confiding stay, There breathes an everlasting Power, Let winter come with stormy voice, He sees, protects and feeds thee still.” TO THE PATRONS OF THE REGISTER, The present number completes the second volume of the Delaware Register, and with it, for want of sufficient patronage, the work must end, at least for the present. Having but a partial knowledge of the expense incident to such a publication, it was unadvisedly commenced, before our subscription list was large enough to warrant the undertaking. For some time we hoped our patronage would increase, but in this we have been disappointed; owing principally to the price of the work, which is higher than that asked for similar publications in our cities. It should however be remembered that in a city, they can procure ten times as many subscribers as we can in the country; hence the secret of their being able to afford their works cheaper. We regret being compelled to own that our "Annals of Delaware," are not as perfect as they ought to be; which is not owing to any want of exertion on our part, but to the difficulty of procuring facts in relation to our early history, and particularly that portion of it connected with the revolution. We know there is in the possession of individuals much valuable information on this subject, which is well worth publishing, but which we could not obtain in time for our magazine. It is our intention soon, to offer to the public a prospectus for a second series of the Delaware Register, of about the same size as the present work. The publication to commence in April or May next, provided a sufficient subscription list can be obtained to afford it, for Three Dollars per annum. In the new series we shall from time to time, publish such facts as we may be able to collect, which will tend to the completion of the annals of the State, and continue the biographies of distinguished citizens. The agricultural and miscellaneous departments will be conducted on the plan heretofore pursued; and, in addition to these subjects, we intend occasionally to publish important decisions of our courts, relating to constructions of the constitution and laws of the State, so far as the same may be useful to the public generally. Although we have not republished any of the many favorable and flattering notices of our magazine, contained in the newspapers of the day, we have not been insensible to the good opinion of the conductors of the press, and now beg leave to tender to them our sincere acknowledgments and warmest thanks, for their uniform and disinterested kindness. INDEX TO VOLUME II. ANNALS OF DELAWARE. James the 2d.-pardon of offenders against the established religion, Declaration in favor of liberty of conscience, William Penn's defence against the charge of popery, Dispute between the members of assembly from the province Protest of the Delaware members, Proceedings of the governor and council thereon, William Penn deprived of his government of Pennsylvania and territories by William and Mary, and Benjamin Fletch er appointed in his place, 4 6 8 9 10 ib. 12 14 15 17 The Swedes-their good moral character, 19 Their correspondence with Charles XI. of Sweden, 23 Account from the New Castle records of the arrival of Wil liam Penn at that town, 25 Governor Fletcher arrives, and convenes the legislature, Address of the freemen of the province to the governor, Governor Fletcher's answer, Hamilton retires and John Evans appointed, Separation of the members of the assembly of the province and territories, and a session for the three lower counties. held at New Castle, 179 Style adopted in acts of legislature by Delaware, 180 Death of William Penn, July 15, 1718, 180-His character, 181 scrupulous of taking an oath 254 Thomas Penn arrives as governor, 255 Maryland, executed by Thomas, John and Rich. Penn, ib. One containing similar provisions executed by lord Baltimore, 259 Boundary line finally agreed upon and fixed Names of the different governors from 1738 to 1776, First constitution 1776, View of natural rights and privileges in a civil war, Delaware regiment raised and mustered at Dover, under co- lonel Haslett, Death of colonel Haslett at battle of Princeton, Letter from Cæsar Rodney to Mr. Killen, - 260 ib. 331 337 411 412 413 ib. ib. ib. 414 Colonel Vaughan takes command of Delaware troops, for the relief of Charleston-placed under the command ib. ib. 416 417 Account of captain Kirkwood from Lee's memoirs, Lee's opinion of the Delaware troops, Affair of Ninety-six, Retreat of the southern army 422-their sufferings, Eutaw Springs-resolutions of congress October 29, 1781, 419 422 423 423 Copy of a letter from captain Robert Kirkwood to his father, 425 The Oat, 50-Bones--Manure-Industrious habits, 52 |