track to burn cities, to ravage countries, and to butcher alike, young and old, male and female? Long enough have the despots of Europe kept their subjects in ignorance, in order to preserve their own sway. Long enough have they lorded it over the consciences and birthrights of men. The divine right of kings, which they have altered into the milder term legitimacy, will not do. "The right divine of kings to govern wrong," is not a maxim for this bold, busy, and inquiring age. There is a spirit abroad too dangerous to be trifled with. Its outbreakings have already been seen in various parts of the earth. If the masters of the old world yield to its progress, it may reform abuses gradually, as the water-drop wears the marble, and they may hide in obscurity their imbecility and their shame. But let them form themselves into alliances, and by combinations endeavor to preserve their sway, and “ the overstrung nations will arm in madness." Let them endeavor to breast and stop the tide of improvement which is rushing onward, and it will sweep them away in its mighty torrent. The murmurings of the storm are already heard in the forest, the sighings of the gusts of wind, and the groans of the laboring trees. If they prostrate themselves before the coming tempest, it may pass them untouched, unhurt; but wo to those who endeavor to brave it, for the angel of death will ride on its rushing wings. Reverses may ensue in the cause of freedom; hope delayed may sicken the souls of patriots; the exertions of heroes and martyrs may be, for a while, in vain; brave hearts may spill their best blood on the points of mercenary bayonets, but the cause of human nature and of God must triumph! I say the cause of God, for the Almighty has not placed the longing after freedom any more than the longing after immortality in our bosoms, that it should only for ever be a source of disappointment and despair! Our history must inspire all. And it is curious to reflect that our forefathers, despised and insulted by the potentates of the old world, brought that here with them which shall react, nay, FREEDOM AND PROGRESS. 207 is reacting on their persecutors with tremendous energy. They came here "to plant the tree of life, to plant fair freedom's tree," which has grown up so large and beautiful, and will overshadow all the earth- the tree which shall prove to the free of all nations a shelter and protection, but to tyrants and oppressors will be more deadly than the Upas, which blasts and withers all who approach it. The only condition on which liberty is granted to man, is that of perpetual vigilance. This subtle spirit of oppression must be met in its first approaches, it must be guarded against with ever anxious care. Man cannot procure any thing of importance unless by striving for it, nor can he retain any thing worth having, unless by guarding it. The husbandman, before he can expect the earth to yield its increase, must prepare it by his toil; and after his stores are gathered, his care is still necessary to preserve them. The accumulator of property, when he has amassed wealth, if he would not lose all the fruits of his labor and anxiety, must still be ever on the alert lest it vanish, and all his fond hopes be prostrated. No other blessing can we expect to enjoy long without activity and care on our part, and why should we expect that liberty, the greatest of blessings, can be retained without either? Why should we imagine that, because we now have liberty, we must always possess it, however supine we may be? If freedom is worth fighting for, it is worth preserving. Let us never listen to the voice which would calm all our apprehensions, and lull us into slumbers of security; into a quiet which might be repose indeed, but would soon be the leaden sleep of despotism. CHOCORUA'S CURSE. BY CHARLES J. FOX. THERE is a high and abrupt mountain, overlooking Burton, N. H., which is called Chocorua's Peak, and a strange fatality has attended the settlements at its foot. Tradition relates that many years ago, Chocorua, the last survivor of his tribe, was hunting upon this mountain in time of peace, when two of the early settlers suddenly came upon him. They hated him because he was an Indian, and, telling him that he must die, gave him his choice, to fall by their rifles, or to leap from the precipice. He chose the latter, and, uttering a curse upon the region, was dashed in pieces on the rocks below. The blight and pestilence which have since prevailed there, as if the earth was poisoned, are believed by many to be the effect of Chocorua's Curse. ON the cliff's extremest brow, And in tones the heavens that pierce, "Lands where lived and died my sires, "There my fathers' bones are laid; There the white man make his home; Dwellings rise and forests fall, And a change shall come o'er all! "Wo to them who seek to spoil Wo to all who on this spot Till Chocorua's curse shall end!" CHOCORUA'S CURSE. On his murderers turned he then And around - beneath-his last! Far down and lone, his bones are strown, 18* 209 DEATH OF HARRISON. BY CHARLES Ᏼ . HADDUCK. To the least cultivated the cessation of our animal existence is matter of thoughtful contemplation. To the deepest read in the attributes and destinies of our race, it is a fearful and exciting mystery. The dissolution of this curious and wonderful fabric; the separation of the thinking principle from all material organization; the closing up all known channels of intercourse with material things; the sundering of the social ties; the extinction of endearing and kind offices; the termination of our earthly duties and responsibilities; and, more than all besides, the entrance of another intelligent moral being upon the scenes of an eternal state - these are considerations which give interest and moment to every human death. These are the reasons which draw us so irresistibly to the house of mourning, and attach such sacredness to the last offices we pay to the deceased. These are the causes which spread its profound and mysterious expression over the face of the dead, and hallow the place where we lay them. It is for these reasons, that, on occasions like the present, we pause even from personal and party strife to indulge in humane sentiments and common sympathies. For these reasons death hushes, for a moment at least, our noisy contention for the unsubstantial objects of this life, and soothes the animosities which have been engendered by mutual complaint and recrimination. He is something less than man, and more to be distrusted and despised than any man, who can look upon a fallen antagonist, even though he were |