whistling, and, taking his horse by the bridle, led him on one side of the road to allow the wagon to pass more conveniently." Vol. i. pp. 59-61.

Mrs. Romelee and her daughters are thus introduced;

"She was a goodly looking woman of five and forty, perhaps dressed as if she had been engaged in domestic affairs, but still neatly. She had on a black flannel gown, a silk handkerchief pinned carefully over his bosom, and a very white muslin cap, trimmed with black ribbon-her mother had been dead more than a year, but she still wore her mourning. Her apron she would doubtless have thrown off before entering the room, had she thought of any thing save her son; for when she returned, after leaving the apartment to assist her daughters in their culinary preparations, it was laid aside. The dress of the daughters, which, their mother observed, was according to their work,' it may, perhaps, be interesting to describe, and then, a century hence, when our country boasts its tens of millions of inhabitants, all ladies and gentlemen, arrayed in satins and sinchaws, muslins and mecklin laces, chains of gold and combs of pearl, this unpretending book may be a reference, describing faithfully the age when to be industrious was to be respectable, and to be neatly dressed fashionable. Both sisters, who were of the ages of seventeen and fifteen, were habited precisely alike, in striped cotton gowns, in which deep blue was the prevailing color. The gowns were fitted closely to the form, fastened behind with blue glass buttons, and displaying the finely rounded symmetry of the shape to the greatest advantage. The gowns were cut high in front, concealing all the bosom but the white neck, which was uncovered and ornamented-when does a female forget her ornaments ?-with several strings of glass beads, braided to imitate a chain; and no eye that rested on those lovely necks would deem they needed richer adornments. They, also, like their mother, wore aprons; but theirs was of calico, and ruffled across the bottom. The only difference in their costume was in the manner they dressed their hair. Sophia, the eldest, confined hers on the top of the head with a comb, and Lucy let hers flow in curls around the neck. Both fashions were graceful and becoming, as not a lock on either head seemed displaced; both were combed till the dark brown hair resembled fine glossy silk. Around their foreheads the curls were laid thickly, and confined with pins; probably a little more carefully than usual, as the morrow would require a display of dress, which would render all their curls necessary; and these children of nature never had recourse to artificial decorations, or displayed borrowed finery. But those who gazed on their sweet faces, glowing with health and happiness, where the soul seemed beaming forth its innocence and

intelligence, and the smile of serenity playing on lips that had never spoken save in accents of gladness and love, would feel no regret that they were uninitiated in the fashionable mysteries of the toilet. Frankford often declared he never, before seeing them, felt the justness of Thomson's assertion, that

'Loveliness

Needs not the foreign aid of ornament,

But is, when unadorned, adorned the most.'

They were, indeed, beautiful girls-the Romelees were a comely race and every fair reader who honors these pages with a perusal, and does not think them, at least as handsome as herself, may be certain she possesses either a vain head or an envious heart." Vol. i. pp. 78-80.

The house of Deacon Jones figures as follows.

"The house of Deacon Jones was a tolerably fair specimen of Yankee architecture. A genuine Yankee consults no order save the order of his own will; and to suit himself and build as large a house as possible, is the rule of every New England farmer. Should his means confine him at first to small dimensions, he never fails improving the first favorable opportunity of enlarging his tenement, by building what he significantly terms additions-they are rarely improvements-till either age or poverty compels him to desist. And it was in this manner the dwelling of Deacon Jones had acquired most of it size, and, in his judgment, all its importance.

"It was originally a one-story building, wtih two square rooms in front and several small rooms back, and accommodated his family very well. But when Mr. Jones, as he was then called, found his substance increasing, he could think of no better method of displaying his wealth than by enlarging his dwelling; so he reared what he denominated' a back kitchen,' joining his old house, and extending back about forty feet. Here was a capacious dairy room, cheese closet, and every convenience a significant term, and much better understood by a thrifty New England farmer than the sublime-for his large dairy. Yet still he was not satisfied. Some of his less wealthy neighbours were already residing in their two-story houses, and it galled his pride to see the eyes of strangers who visited the village attracted towards their showy buildings, while his were past carelessly by, when he numbered so many more head of cattle, and sold so much more butter and cheese than they did. These reasons determined him to erect a wing, or body rather, to his lowly dwelling. This new building was of two stories, of course, but, to make it appear more elevated, he directed the posts to be made two feet longer than the usual dimensions. The wing was thirty feet by twenty-four; the upper story being divided into two chambers, with ample closets, finished

handsomely, and designed for his daughters. The lower story formed but one room, and many were the conjectures of the good and inquisitive people in the neighbourhood, concerning the use for which such a huge apartment could be designed. Some guessed Mr. Jones was intending to open a tavern, and designed it for a bar-room; others surmised that he was about turning merchant, and would convert it into a store; and the young lads, who hated him for his opposition to their amusements, declared that they knew he was preparing it for a ball-room. One wag actually wrote tickets for a house-warming in Mr. Jones's behalf, inviting all the young ladies and gentlemen of Northwood to meet ⚫ at his new hall, and celebrate its accomplishment. But the worthy proprietor deigned no explanation to any of these surmises. He kept his workmen busily employed in finishing it after the pattern he had shown them, and, on the Sabbath following its completion, after the services were closed, and a conference appointed at the school-house, he arose in his place, and communicated to his brethren, in a solemn tone of voice, the important information, that he had provided a room in which they might, for the future, hold their conferences! The circumstance caused quite a sensation in the little community, and many who had formerly accused Mr. Jones of worldly-mindedness, now acknowledged, that if he had been a little too anxious to obtain property, he seemed willing to improve it for useful and pious purposes. He was soon after elected deacon, by an almost unanimous vote of the church, a station he he had long coveted, and no doubt often sincerely prayed for, but which, had he not made himself useful to the brethren, might not have been so readily or spontaneously granted him. Selfishness is an insidious passion, mingling itself with motives, and inspiring actions which claim to proceed from holy and benevolent feelings. AndI would not teach uncharitableness-when Deacon Jones surveyed his spacious conference-room, completely finished, with a row of seats around, and furnished with a table, chairs, and candlesticks, and all appurtenances requisite for the accommodation of his brethren, and was remembered publicly in their prayers, as one who had opened his doors' for the reception of God's children, he felt quite secure of the divine favor, and ever after attributed his worldly prosperity to the particular approbation of the Most High." Vol. i. pp. 119–122.

MISCELLANY.

CURSORY REMARKS

UPON AN ARTICLE IN THE "UNITED STATES LITERARY GAZETTE,❤ FOR AUGUST, 1826, ENTITLED EXAMINATION OF AN ARTICLE IN THE NORTH AMERICAN REVIEW,'" &c.

[In giving a place in the Miscellany department of this journal, to the following "Remarks" on a paper which appeared in the same department of "The United States Literary Gazette," we would not be considered as responsible for their correctness, or as taking a side in this controversy. We think the general subject an interesting one, and are therefore not unwilling to promote a discussion of it, when carried on with fairness. ED.]

It will be recollected by many of our readers, that, some years since, Mr. Du Ponceau, a member of the Philadelphia Philosophical Society, opened a correspondence with Mr. Heckewelder, a Moravian missionary, who had resided a long time with the Delaware tribe of Indians, and who was reputed to be well acquainted with the language and customs of that particular tribe, and, likewise, to be well informed as to the Indians in general. The result of this correspondence was given to the public in the first volume of the "Transactions" of that Society; and, being ushered forth under such respectable patronage, was generally read with confidence, and regarded as a standard work on the subjects it embraced. Even the best informed of the literati* pronounced high encomiums upon the work, and at once the poet and the novelist resorted to it for their models of savage life. Indeed, all were pleased to see the Indian character, which had before been represented in such dark colors, now appearing in all the softened and alluring tints of almost Arcadian innocence and simplicity. This reputation of Mr. Heckewelder's work continued with little diminution, until the appearance of the article in the "North American Review," which, presuming to call it in question, has called forth the rather angry "Examination" to which we have alluded.

As this controversy has given rise to a question, which involves the reputation of Mr. Heckewelder's work as one of unimpeachable

*We are told, however, that Mr. Walsh pronounced the work to be, in his opinion, greatly overrated.

accuracy, and which will probably determine the degree of credibility he is entitled to, we will not thrust our feeble lance into the combat, but leave the lists to the principal champions, who, we doubt not, will bring it to an issue. But we may be allowed to state, that our confidence in Mr. Heckewelder's account of the aborigines was not shaken for the first time by the article in the "North American Review." We doubt whether any one, having even a superficial knowledge of the Indians (and we profess to have no more, although, like the critic, we have had some "intercourse with natives of different tribes, and have seen many specimens of the red men from the pure and uncontaminated natives of the West," and on their own hunting grounds, too, which is, perhaps, more than the critic can boast, at least we should judge so), we say, we doubt whether any one, having even a limited acquaintance with the Indians, could have read many of Mr. Heckewelder's descriptions, without being led to regard them as the exaggerations of a credulous heart, and somewhat misguided judgment. Even without such an acquaintance, with only a common apprehension of what would be the probable character of a wild man, most readers would set down many of his representations as absurd.

We will cite only one instance which now occurs to us (for it is several years since we have read the work), that of the story of the Indian, who had been converted from the vagrant idleness of a savage life, from the strong aversion to agricultural labor which is and so implanted in the habits of every male Indian, to the steady farmer-like industry of a white man, by a few hints derived from the more assiduous and provident manners of birds and fishes. Mr. Heckewelder says, when he inquired of him the cause of this singular pains-taking and foresight, he gave him an answer, which he relates, as he says, "as nearly in his own words as possible." This answer is too long to be quoted here; but it would do credit to any well-educated moral philosopher, and concludes with the following observations; "And is it possible, said I [to himself], that a being so formed as I am, was created to live in idleness, while the birds, who have no hands, and nothing but their little bills to help them, work with cheerfulness and without being told to do so? Has, then, the great Creator of man, and of all living creatures, given me all these limbs for no purpose? It cannot be; I will try to go to work. I did so; and went away from the village to a spot of ground, planted corn, and raised cattle. Ever since that time I have enjoyed a good appetite and sound sleep; while others spend their nights in dancing, and are suffering