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and it is suffered to grow no more.

These little feet are called

golden lilies, and are considered a mark of rank, as none of the poor people cripple their children in this manner.

Sometimes these

and are

reduced to poverty, may be seen tottling about the streets, asking

charity. They limp along in the most awkward and painful manner, and generally excite great compassion.

This custom is confined entirely to the native Chinese, and was never followed by the Tartars, who, on the contrary, wear shoes with soles two or three inches thick, longer than the foot, and turned up in front, as may be seen in the Chinese pictures.

Long nails are also considered a badge of rank, and are cherished with the greatest care. Little cases, made of bamboo, to fit the finger, are worn at night, to prevent the nails being broken during sleep.

China was made known to Europe by Ptolemy.

The first English vessel, under Capt. Weddel, visited Canton in the year 1687.

Trade between China and America commenced in 1784.

Formerly, all trade with foreigners was transacted by sixteen persons appointed by the Chinese government, called Hong merchants, these merchants were heavily taxed by their rulers, and paid themselves by charging high prices for their goods; and as there was no competition, this was submitted to.

Formerly, ships on arriving here paid the mandarin of the port a present, amounting to 2 or 3000 dollars, for a permission to trade.

Since the English war the board of Hong merchants has been abolished, and all persons may trade with the Fauquies, (as the English are called.)

The current coin of the country is a small piece of copper, of the value of a mill; they are used in bunches of 100, strung together by a square hole in the centre. The bunch is called a mace. Foreign dollars are much used in trade, but they are marked by each one who pays them out, and become very much defaced; they are then called chop dollars.

WHAT IS BRANDY MADE OF?

A chief of the Ottaway Indians, called White John, being once asked what he thought brandy to be made of, answered, that he believed it must be made of hearts and tongues; for when he had drank plentifully of it he felt as if he had a thousand hearts, and could talk much faster, louder, and longer than when sober.

SUMMER, bright summer, is spreading again
Her sweet-scented flowers o'er mountain and glen;
The gay birds are tenderly nursing their young
In the nest so securely on the bending branch hung.

All nature is busy- the mowers at dawn
Are swinging their scythes on the flowering lawn,
While the damsels so blithe in the fields all the day
With songs lighten labor while making the hay.
There the infants are mimicking labor, you see,
As they sport on the grass in their innocent glee;
Their light hearts as yet know no sorrow nor care,
But are cheerful and buoyant, and free as the air.

O blest rural scenes, in the country, away

From the city's wild din, both by night and by day;
There the hot cheek is fanned by the balmy fresh breeze,
And labor finds rest beneath blossoming trees!

The hum of the insects, the warbling of birds,
The song of the milk-maid, the lowing of herds,
Drive sorrow away from the grief-smitten heart,
And the gladness of youth to the aged impart.

Wishes.

"How I wish I had a rocking-horse," said

threw down a broom-stick he had been riding; would have this vacation!"

Harry Curtis, as he "what nice sport I

"And I wish I had a wax doll," said his sister Mary Ann, "all dressed like Emma's."

"O," said cousin Emma, "if some good fairy, such as I have read of, would rise up and grant us our wishes-"

"How many fine toys I would have," cried Harry. "What would you wish for Emma?"

"Money enough to buy whatever I might want," answered his cousin.

Just then Mr. Curtis, who had seemed busily reading a paper in the further part of the room, rose and came towards the children. "Tell us a story, papa," cried Harry, "tell us a pretty story." "Do, papa" and "Do, good uncle," joined the little girls.

“Well, my children, your conversation just now reminded me of a fable I have heard. I will tell it to you, and talk with you a little

about wishes." "Thank you," and Mr. Curtis thus began

them. you."

," "Do so," interrupted the little folks,

An honest old Scotchman and his wife were sitting one evening by their cottage fire, and they chanced to be talking of the good which riches would do them, and how many nice things they would have; if they could afford them, when all at once a bright fairy stood before "Wish three wishes," said she, "and they shall be granted Visions of splendid happiness, such as they had not thought of till then, rose up before them, and they determined to consider well and wish wisely. But while they were thus silently considering what they would wish, a feeling of hungry uneasiness came over the old man, and he spoke out unconsciously, "I wish I had a yard of black pudding." No sooner had he said it than there was the pudding before him. The old woman, enraged that one of the three golden chances should be thus thrown away, exclaimed, "I wish it was on the end of your nose." And there it was the yard of black pudding on the end of his nose. man cried, "I wish it was off again." It was off in an instant, and the fairy had vanished, leaving the old couple just as well off as they were before the "three wishes."

Seized with horror the old

"That is a funny story papa- but we should not be so foolish; we should not be like them."

"You would be like them in one respect, even if you did not forget your wish. You would be no happier for the fairy visit."

Not with so many nice toys, papa?"

"As soon as you had them you would wish for something else just as much."

"But my wish," said cousin Emma, "would be better. If I had plenty of money, when I was tired of one thing I could buy another, and always have what I wanted."

'No,” replied Mr. Curtis, "your wish, though more comprehensive, is no wiser than the others. You would prize nothing you could obtain so easily, and you would find springing up a thousand wants, which money could not satisfy. Believe me, my children, with all your real wants supplied you could not be so situated as to have fewer wishes than you have now, unless you should learn the secret discovered by a wise man of olden time."