BAMBOO CANE-AQUEDUCT.

Compiled.

BY THE EDITOR.

(See Engraving.)

Most of the facts respecting the rapid growth and varied usefulness of the Bamboo Cane, are gleaned from the Encyclopædias and other authentic sources.

Bambusa Arundinacea, or the Bamboo Cane, has a hollow, round, straight, and shining stem, and sometimes grows to the hight of 40 feet and upward; has knots at the distance of 10 or 12 inches from each other, with thick, rough, and hairy sheaths, alternate branches, and small, entire, and spear-shaped leaves. There is scarcely any plant so common in hot climates as this, and few are more extensively useful. It occurs within the tropical regions, both of the eastern and western hemispheres, throughout the East Indies and a greater part of China, in the West Indies, and America. In temperate climates, it can only be cultivated in a hothouse; and its growth is so rapid, even there, that a strong shoot has been known to spring from the ground and attain the hight of 20 feet in 6 weeks. The inhabitants of many parts of India build their houses almost wholly of bamboo, and make all sorts of furniture with it in a very ingenious manner. They likewise form with it several kinds of utensils for their kitchens and tables; and from two pieces of bamboo, rubbed hard together, they produce fire. The masts of boats, boxes, baskets, and innumerable other articles are made of bamboo. After having been bruised, steeped in water, and formed into a pulp, paper is manufactured from the sheaths and leaves. The stems are frequently bored, and used as pipes for conveying water; and the strongest serve to make the sticks or poles with which the slaves or servants carry those litters, so common in the East, called palanquins. The stems of the bamboo serve as the usual fence for gardens and other enclosures; and the leaves are generally put round the tea, exported from China to Europe and America. Some of the Malays preserve the small and

tender shoots in vinegar and pepper, to be eaten with their food. Many of the walking canes used in Europe and the United States, are formed of young bamboo shoots. The Chinese make a kind of framework of bamboo, by which they are enabled to float in water; and the Chinese merchants, when going on a voyage, always provide themselves with this simple apparatus to save their lives in case of shipwreck. It is formed by placing four bamboos horizontally across each other, so as to leave a square place in the middle for the body, and, when used, is slipped over the head, and secured by being tied to the waist.

Besides the various and important uses, already enumerated, to which the Bamboo Cane is applied, water in large quantities is sometimes conducted for a considerable distance, across valleys and streams, from hill to hill, in tubes of the largest growth and diameter, as represented in the accompanying engraving. Being hollow, and requiring little perforation, and, indeed, none at all, except at the joints, or protuberances, nature seems to have admirably adapted the cane to such a purpose; the joints or protuberances themselves serving, instead of hoops or bands, to prevent the tube from bursting from the internal pressure of a large volume of water.

GREAT minds had rather deserve contemporaneous applause, without obtaining it, than obtain, without deserving it; if it follow them, it is well, but they will not deviate to follow it. With inferior minds the reverse is observable; so that they can command the flattery of knaves while living, they care not for the execrations of honest men, when dead. Milton neither aspired to present fame, nor even expected it; but, (to use his own words,) his high ambition was, "to leave something to after ages, so written that they should not willingly let it die." And Cato finally observed, he would much rather that posterity should inquire, why no statues were erected to him, than why they were.

66

THE BENEVOLENT CONGRESSMAN.

Selected.

BY MRS. C. W.

DENNISON.

WHERE can I get some plain sewing done?" I inquired of a friend, who occupied with me a cheerful parlor, in the grate of which a coal fire snapped and burned merrily.

66

"I am acquainted with a worthy woman who takes in work," was the reply; if you have a mind to walk out this bracing morning, I will accompany you to her house."

“With pleasure," said I; and in a few moments, cloaked and bonneted, we stepped upon the frost-covered pavement, and proceeded briskly onward.

How cold, but exhilarating, the air! how clear the sunshine of that beautiful morning! and how the trees, gemmed with brilliants that old winter (in an ague fit, I suppose) had shaken from his coronet, sparkled and trembled, as the red rays, with masterly touch, painted a thousand tints on each diamond and pearl.

We passed by the capitol; its majestic walls glittered to the mellow hue of the atmosphere like polished alabaster. The trees, poor leafless things, were the only objects that seemed winter-like and desolate. Swaying so mournfully, they reminded me of the rocking of some poor old body, who, sitting by a cheerless hearth, keepeth time to the sad monitone of her visionary thoughts, reeling to and fro, as if it could assuage the bitter pang of grief and loneliness. I sometimes think, too, when I look at the bending branches, especially if the wind is high, of the soothing, yet sublime melody, that I once loved so well, and that to this day enchants all babydom.

"Rock a bye baby upon the tree top,

When the wind blows, the cradle will rock;
When the tree breaks, the cradle will fall,

Down comes cradle, tree, baby, and all."

A long walk brought us an humble cottage, unadorned without, and cheerless looking in the extreme.

We were ushered into a very comfortable room, neatly, though meagerly furnished, and my friend introduced me o the widow lady, whom I wished to employ.

She was a middle-aged woman; sorrow and care had left deep impress upon a countenance originally handsome, and now beaming with good sense and intelligence. Her dress was plain and humble, and the only pretension to ornament was a tasteful сар, which very becomingly contrasted with the folds of her dark hair. In conversation, she was fluent, though somewhat reserved at first; and I could read the dignity of a well-bred woman, in the retiring gracefulness of her deportment. I admired her appearance, and formed a favorable opinion of her capacity.

After I had engaged her services, my friend and myself lingered some time in conversation, and, among other things, mentioned a late visit to the house of Congress, on the occasion of a speech from the honorable Mr. A—, which had attracted considerable attention. "What do you think of Mr. A- as a speaker?" I asked my friend.

He is eloquent, and, at times, sublime;" she answered. "I often go the house when he is to speak, though I don't like the man. He chains the attention, he is powerful in argument-and, at the proper times, witty and satirical; but-" she hesitated.

"Why do you not like him?" asked the widow, with an expression of wonder upon her countenance.

"O! he looks so cold, so unfeeling, so ambitious. I believe it is his appearance mainly that displeases me, though I have heard that he is heartless, and entirely given to fame. His countenance is dark, designing, and he seems to me like a plotter, merely a piece of mighty machinery driven by the current, the impetuosity of which nothing, save the drying up of the waters, will arrest."

"You wrong him," said the widow, with much emotion; "you do wrong him, and I am sure it is unconsciously. Why, Mrs. C, the man is all heart. It is because his good deeds are silently performed, because he suffers not his left hand to know what his right bestows, that he is thus esteemed. I can vindicate him; hear me, and then judge for yourself.

"Before I married, I had been accustomed to the luxuries of life, and when I gave my hand on my bridal eve, I had every reason to look forward to a bright and joyous future; for my husband was in a good business, and never lived a kinder man than he once was.

You are aware of his fall, Mrs. C. After his first failure, I gave up the small fortune my parents had bequeathed me, and with that capital he again commenced business. But his habits brought on indifference to his own interest: destitution, which he could neither avert nor relieve, came upon him; he sickened, and after lingering a few years, died, leaving me with four little children, myself in poor health, and no one to take me by the hand, and assist me in my poverty.

"I obtained some plain sewing, but it brought me in very little money, and, Mrs. C there are ladies now in this very city, who daily pass me, richly attired in silks and satins, who indulge in every new fashion, whose purses are never empty when they desire delicacies, owing me the paltry sum of two or three dollars, for which I have called repeatedly, in vain.

"Well, things grew worse; I could hardly appear decent in the street, for I sold, one by one, many of my best articles of clothing, and they were not much-to purchase food for my children. They, poor little things, grew so shabby, (for I could not get them new clothes, of the most common kind,) that at last I was obliged to keep them from school. It almost broke my heart so to do, but there was no help for it. I moved into this one little room, a bed, two chairs, and two old trunks, my only furniture. O many a time I've sat up all night, the tears half blinding me, and falling upon my work, with a bit of carpeting over my shoulders, and no fire-warmed my fingers by the dim candle flame, and prayed to God in such utter agony of heart. Day by day I grew poorer; my rent came due, and, paltry as the sum was, I could not make it

up.

"I knew my landlord had a kind heart, so I stated to him frankly all my trials, and he consented to wait another month, although he was himself a poor man: I never knew him to distress a tenant. Well, another month rolled round, and I was worse off than ever. My little ones, for want of proper food, had become thin and ailing.