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"Our fathers" says a great English writer, "find their graves in our short memories, and sadly tell us how we may be buried in our survivors." And this in a rather different sense is applicable to us,-we soon forget our predecessors, and are soon forgotten by those who follow us. Come, then, and write a word on these pages; they will remain when we are gone,-little read perhaps,-little regarded; but if we write what we feel, who knows but that we may wake an echo in some breast many a day to come-who knows but that some heart as young and gay as ours is now, may muse an hour with us when we are far away?

PETI, OR THE LANGUAGE OF ENDEARMENT.

μέλιτος γλυκίων ῥέεν ἀνδή.

ILIAD I, 249.

About a hundred years ago, one George Psalmanazar invented an Alphabet, compiled a Grammar, and arranged a language for the island of Formosa. Whether the natives were naturally dumb, or whether their language was so hopelessly guttural, that a new one seemed necessary before any improvements in literature could take place, does not appear; and George's motive in his intellectual undertaking is likewise wrapt in obscurity. But the fact remains, that George Psalmanazar made a language, and as a devotional exercise translated the Church Catechism into that tongue.

If any one, therefore, suspects me of wilful invention in the language I am going to speak of (though I believe I am only discovering its formation and rules), I shall put a bold face on it, and refer as a precedent to my afore-mentioned friend.

It will have been observed that every individual in addressing a spaniel, kitten, monkey, baby, or in fact any intelligence that bears the name of pet, uses an articulation widely different from the vernacular, in which the business of life is usually conducted. To give an immediate instance, had I a grape in my hand, and did I wish to offer it to a baby, I should not say-" Here then is a grape for you,"-but rather "Heresy den-sal he have a grapey, papey." Again, were I addressing a favourite dog on the subject of his general agreeableness, I would not say, "You nice little dog!" but rather " Zoo nice ittle doggy."

There is, then, a distinct form of expression used on these or similar occasions. Now remains the question, is it merely a patois, or is it a separate tongue? I am inclined to think the latter supposition true, and

Sir T. Brown, in the Urn-Burial.

for this reason, that though the pronunciation and idiom of our native language differs widely in Devon and Yorkshire, yet this form of expression with regard to pets would be the same in both.

The words in English and Peti are, of course of common origin from their general resemblance; but as much may be said of English and German.

Four principal points of difference appear to be distinguishable in the two languages. 1st. Peti adjectives differ from English in the ellipsis of the initial letter; for example, little Eng.-ittle, Peti. 2nd. In Peti you state a fact by asking a question thus. “He shall have a plum," Eng., "Sal he have a plummy: yes he sal," Peti; and as will have been observed, by answering the enquiry immediately afterwards. 3rd. In Peti a word is often reduplicated with a different initial,-thus" dog," Eng., "doggy poggy," Peti. 4th. Nouns in Peti bear a resemblance to diminutives in English, thus,-" horse," Eng., "horsey" or "horsey porsey,'' Peti. D and Z are much used for th and y, thus,-"then" in English would be "den" in Peti, and you, "zoo."

There is very little extant literature in this language, though some of our nursery ballads bear traces of being translated from Peti. An ode commencing "Twinkle, twinkle, little star!" I conceive to have been originally written in it, and there are internal signs of its having been the composition of an astronomer and a true poet. It commences with a fervent wish that nothing may interrupt the harmony of nature, but that the glorious orbs of night may still continue their scintillations. This leads him to a consideration of the insufficiency of human intellect to explain the secrets of immensity, and brings from him a burst of natural curiosity to explore the worlds of space. The seemingly impassible distance between heaven and earth next suggests itself, and leads him to a feeling of contempt for merely earthly and grovelling affairs. I cannot think it accidental that the ode is addressed to only one star. There is a laudable humility, in confining his admiration to a solitary orb. His perception of the vast design and grandeur of the heavens made him feel how inadequate the words of a finite being were to celebrate the beauties of Infinity. He concludes with comparing the beautiful body which had inspired his song, to the precious things of earth, purified and exalted by a place in the firmament. "A diamond in the sky," is the exquisite simile which crowns the pious sentiment and moral sublimity of this well-known and justly-admired performance. I have heard other stanzas, stated to be a continuation of this ode; but as I never met any one who could repeat more than this one verse, I conclude that the rest were interpolated by interested individuals at different times, and probably for political purposes. One pleasing characteristic of the language I must mention before I end my paper. It is only used for expressions of kindness

and endearment, so that when I call my dog, I say, "Come, den, nice ittle fellow," and when he declines complying with my wish, instantly fall back on the vernacular, and shouting "Come here, you brute," kick him into obedience. Yes, it is too true, honest Queen's English is sufficiently copious and energetic for the unkind word,-and few, alas, ever find recourse to another tongue necessary, when they would deliver themselves of the bitter taunt or the heart-rending reproach.

CHILDHOOD.

"The child is father of the man."

The above line has been selected as a terse and forcible expression of an idea, which has occurred to many authors besides Wordsworth, and of a truth which is generally recognised. But this truth is often treasured up as "a thing of beauty" in the memory; and if ever summoned forth from these mental recesses, it is employed rather to feed the imagination than to guide the practice. We will now, however, endeavour to bring home the truth, and if our manhood be the offspring of childhood, we will enquire what signs it ought to bear of its parentage; and how far a family likeness ought to exist between the two. We will briefly point out how far the soul of the child ought to transmigrate into the soul of the man; and what traces of our former nature we ought to carry forth with us into the world.

Now a distinctive feature in the youthful character is what Dr. Arnold calls "teachableness." This quality would appear to result from the faculties not being pre-occupied, and the willingness we naturally feel to fill up the vacuum caused thereby. The spring bending under no former pressure, can bring all its elasticity to the support of any weight that may be placed on it. We may remember how eagerly in our childhood we caught at every new object of sense-how cheerfully we entered into every new field of action or of thought-with what enduring characters each little fact was written on our dawning memories-in short, how "teachable" we were. Well did Virgil describe children playing at whip-top when he said "Dant animos plagæ.” * The same description may be applied to them in all their occupations, whether serious or sportive. Their "animus" is in their work-their attention is absorbed in each successive department-they study as if they had no sports-they play as if they had no studies,

But then it was our dilating fancy, our bursting sympathies that roused and sustained the exertion of our energies. Now, perhaps, our imagination has run riot till it has fatigued itself; and our sympathies, which we once bestowed on our work, have since found other

* Eneid, 7, 383.

objects to rest upon, and our energies since the spirit which once animated them has been transferred elsewhere, perform their functions mechanically. Hence it is that early, is so much better than later, instruction-hence the difficulty of compensating in manhood for idleness in youth. But we are shortly to be ushered, as it were, into a new world, with new scenes, new habits, new languages. Shall we not need more than ever a genuine and notļa mechanical exertion of our faculties? Will not our energies need, for their new sphere of action, every incitement with which our whole nature can supply them? To acquire the teachableness of childhood, which will be so peculiarly needful, we must either by our moral efforts re-impart to our energies the buoyant vigour they once possessed, or else re-awaken those sympathies, the keenness of which has perhaps been blunted, and concentrate them on our duties.

In childhood we had an obedient spirit-that state of mind most fit for the reception of the faith mentioned in Scripture. Then we were conscious that a vast world was opening before us; and though we felt confident as to our own powers, we felt diffident in our own attainments. As vast a world is opening before us now, as there was then; we no doubt have the same self-confidence as before, but have we the same self-diffidence? The artless, unalloyed sensibilities of childhood have been often described. Such are the feelings attributed to Paul and Virginia-to Gertrude of Wyoming-to the "Lily of Liddesdale." They indeed wear "Nature's dress," which "is loveliness." And although Providence has ordained that such feelings may not always exist fresh, as it were, from the hand of nature,- but that other elements must be introduced, still that character must have been formed on false and hollow principles that has not such feelings for its foundation.

But for us it is specially necessary to recall the sensibilities of our early years to re-produce, as it were, our former natures. For it is by such a mental process that we shall learn to sympathize with our future protégés. We shall at first find them aliens alike in dispositions as in conntry. Our respective natures, though originally similar, are now widely separated, having been clouded over in the one case by superstition, in the other by prejudice,

"The pride of lettered ignorance that binds
In chains of error our accomplished minds."

But these feelings of childhood, which speak to every heart in every clime, have existed in these people, and may be retouched by us, if we can but realize them to ourselves. And so having restored the original purity of their minds, we may, by our superior reason, engraft on them the lessons of truth. We have thus endeavoured to point out one or two of the qualities of the child which ought to be qualities of the man.

More might easily be enumerated, but we will conclude by remarking that in all our natures there appears to be a golden age, which must be followed by a silver, and perhaps an iron, age. But the gold having been tempered by the fire may shine forth at last in its perfected state; and we in our maturer years may exhibit our primitive natures, regulated "second childhood" and directed by reason and experience. And thus which generally conveys to old age the greatest reproach, may be to a certain extent its greatest praise.

H. L. C.

PETER PEEPSKIN.

We have gathered from indisputable authority that the morning of the 18th October, 18-, was one of unusual brilliancy, that the sun-ever impartial in the distribution of his favours-had darted his refulgent rays through an opaque window of sombre hue, piercing to the inmost recesses of an apartment characterized by an air of discomfort,-no carpet, and a strong flavour of brandy and water.

A young man was in bed. The poverty of our language excludes us from affixing a more appropriate title to the wonderful complication of articles which composed this piece of household furniture, consisting of a trunk, a form, a green baize carpet, and a broken chair,—it would probably be painted by the Persian in that figurative and charming style, so characteristic of the nation, as-"An apparatus for sleep," The ingenuity displayed in the arrangement of these materials, so as to form a commodious resting-place, must have been considerable, for the individual reclining on its bosom presented an appearance of tranquil and comfortable composure,-it was Facile Cheatem.

With eyes half closed, and the corners of his mouth drawn down, he smoked a cuba with infinite relish, shooting the curling wreaths of smoke into fantastic phantoms, which, sporting for a moment playfully about his countenance, dashed into his hair and there reposed.

While thus employed, we will hastily detail the circumstances that had worked so palpable a change in his prospects and mode of living.

Having added the grossest insult to the most cruel injury, Facile Cheatem, as before described, swaggered with an air of Christian composure from the parlour, leaving the illfated Peter paralyzed with rage.

Like a cataleptic patient of pugilistic temperament, Peter unconsciously maintained the attitude of defiance, which the cool and insulting language of the other had excited; but aroused by hearing his own surname shouted several times upon the stairs, he at length succeeded in exhibiting an appearance of composure with much the same ease that a small boy of amiable disposition forces himself to smile when swallowing a dose of rhubarb and magnesia,

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