A Phase in City Life. wormed its way from some cracked-fiddle voice down the street, up and around the corner; or out of some alley, with a broken English accent, that sounded almost as much like "lager bier" as it did like the commodity the immigrant, struggling to eke All over this great poverty-burdened, and out his precarious existence, wished to sell. wicked, waste, extravagant city, at this season, that cry goes up, nightly proclaiming one of the habits of this late-supper-eating people. Yes, we missed that cry. "Hot corn" instrument to a weary man, for the treble was no longer like the music of a stringed string was broken, and to us the harmony spoiled. Again I heard the same plaintive cry of "Hot corn, here is your nice hot corn!" come up, through our open window, on the midnight air, while the rain came dripping down from the overcharged clouds in sufficient quantity to wet the thin single garment of the owner of that sweet young voice, without giving her an acceptable excuse for leaving her post before her hard task was completed. At length the voice grew faint and then ceased, and we knew that exhausted nature slept-that a tender house-plant was exposed to the chilling influence of a night rain-that an innocent little girl had the kerbstone for a bed, and an iron post for a pillow-that by-and-by she would awaken, not invigorated with refreshing slumber, but poisoned with the one of the ten thousand, just as miserable, sleep-inhaled miasma of the filth-reeking which may be daily heard where human gutter at her feet, which may be breathed misery has its abode. That voice, as some with impunity awake, but like the malaria others have, did not haunt us; but its abof our southern coast, is death to the sleeper. sence, in spite of all reasoning, made us feel We do not believe in spirit maniNot soothed by a dreamy consciousness of uneasy. hearing a mother's voice, tuning the soft have their too-credulous and wonder-loving festations half as strongly as some would lullaby of listeners think, yet we do believe there is a spirit in man, not yet made manifest, which makes us yearn after co-existing spirits in this sphere and in this life, and that there is no need of going beyond it, seeking strange idols. "Hush, my child, lie still and slumber;" but starting like a sentinel upon a savage frontier post, with alarm at having slept; shivering with the night air and fear, and finally go home trembling like a culprit, to hear the hard words of a mother-yes, a mother-but oh, what a mother!-cursing her for not performing an impossibility, because exhausted nature slept--because her child had not made a profit which would have enabled her more freely to indulge in the soul-and-body-destroying vice of drunkenness, to which she had fallen from an estate when "my carriage," was one of the "household words" which used to greet the young ears of that poor little death-stricken, neglected street-sufferer. It was past midnight when she awoke, and found herself with a desperate effort just able to reach the bottom of the ricketty stairs which led to her home. We shall not go up now. In a little while, reader, you Shall see where live the City poor. Tired-worn with the daily toil-for such are the words of an editor who caters for the appetites of his morning readers-we were not present the next night to note the absence of that cry from its accustomed spot; but the next, and next, and still on, we listened in vain-that voice was not there. Sure, the same hot-corn cry came floating upon the evening breeze across the Park, or 1 What was that voice to us? It was but We shall not stop to inquire whether it was a spirit of "the first, third, or sixth sphere," that prompted us, as we left our desk one evening, to go down among the abodes of the poor, with a feeling of certainty that we should see or hear something of the lost voice, for that spirit led us on: perhaps it was the spirit of curiosity; no matter-it led, and we followed in the route we had seen that little one go before—it was our only cue; we knew no name-had no number, and knew no one that knew her whom we were going to find. Yes, we knew that good Missionary, and she had told us of the good words which he had spoken, but would he know her from the hundred just like her? Perhaps. It will cost nothing to inquire. We went down Center-street with a light heart; we turned into Cross-street with a step buoyed by hope; we stood at the corner of Little Water-street, and looked round inquirin gly of the spirit, and mentally said, "which way now?" The answer was a far-off scream of despair. We stood still, with an open ear, for the sound of prayer, followed by a sweet hymn of praise to God, went up We groped our way along the foot of an outside staircase, where our conductor paused for a moment, calling our attention to the spot. "Here," said Pease, "the little sufferer we are going to see, fainted a few nights ago, and lay all night exposed to the rain, where she was found and beaten in the morning by her miserable mother, because she had not sold all her corn." "Great and Unknown Cause! hast thou brought us to her door?" Our friend started, but did not comprehend the expression. "Be careful," said he, "the stairs are very old, and slippery." from the site of the Old Brewery, in which | how could men live in such a place, below we joined, thankful that that was no longer the surface of the earth? Has rum rendered the abode of the worst crimes ever concen- them proof against the effect of carbonic trated under one roof. Hark! a step ap- acid gas? proaches. Our unseen guide whispers, "ask him." It was a curious question to ask a stranger, in such a strange place, particularly one like him, haggard with overmuch care, toil, or mental labour. Prematurely old, his days shortened by overwork in younger years, as his furrowed face and almost frenzied eye hurriedly indicates, as we see the flash of the lamp upon his dark visage, as he approaches with that peculiar American step which impels the body forward at railroad speed. Shall we get out of his way before he walks over us? What if he is a crazy man? No; the spirit was right-no false raps here. It is that good Missionary. That man who has done more to reform that den of crime, the Five "Yes, beat her, while she was in a fever Points of New York, than all the muni- of delirium, from which she has never rallied. cipal authorities of this police-hunting and She has never spoken rationally, since she prison-punishing city, where misfortune is was taken. Her constant prayer seems to deemed a crime, or the unfortunate driven to be to see some particular person before she it, by the way they are treated, instead of dies. Oh, if I could see him once morebeing reformed or strengthened in their re- there-there-that is him-no, no, he did not solution to reform, by hard words rather speak that way to me-he did not curse and than prison bars. "Sir," said Mr. Pease, beat me.' Such is her conversation, and "what brings you here at this time of night, that induced her mother to send for me, but for I know there is an object; can I aid I was not the man. Will he come?' she you?" says, every time I visit her, for, thinking to sooth and comfort her, I promised to bring him." "Perhaps. I don't know--a foolish whim a little child-one of the miserable, with a drunken mother." "Come with me, then. There are many such. I am just going to visit one, who will die before morning-a sweet little girl, born in better days and dying now-but you shall see, and then we will talk about the one you would seek to save." We were soon treading a narrow alley, where pestilence walketh in darkness, and crime, wretched poverty, and filthy misery go hand in hand to destruction. "Behold," said our friend, "the fruits of our City excise. Here is the profit of money spent for license to kill the body and damn the soul" Proven by the awful curses and loud blows of a drunken husband upon a wife, once an ornament of society, an exemplary member of a Christian church, that came up out of one of the low cellars, which human beings call by the holy name of home. The fetid odour of this filthy lane had been made more fetid by the late and almost scalding hot rains, until it seemed to us that such an air was only fit for a charnel house. With the thermometer at 86, at midnight, "Beat her?" said we, without regarding what he was saying. We had reached the top of the stairs and stood a moment at the open door, where sin and misery dwelt, where sickness had come, and where death would soon enter. "Will he come?" A faint voice came up from a low bed, in one corner, seen by the very dim light of a miserable lamp. That voice! We could not be mistaken. We could not enter. Let us wait a moment in the open air, for there is a choking sensation coming over us. "Come in," said our friend. Two hands were stretched out imploringly toward the Missionary, as the sound of his voice was recognised.' "She is much weaker to-night," said her mother, in quite a lady-like manner, for the drunken wrong to her dying child had kept her sober, ever since she had been sick, “but she is quite delirious, and all the time talking about some man that spoke kindly to her one night, and gave her money to buy bread." "Will he come?" "Yes, yes, through the guidance of the Good Spirit that guides the world, and leads us by unseen paths through dark places, he has come." The little emaciated form started up in her bed, and a pair of beautiful blue eyes glanced around the room, peering through the semi-darkness, as if in search of something heard but unseen. "Katy, darling," said the mother, "what is the matter?" "Where is he, mother? He is here-I heard him speak." "Yes, yes, sweet little innocent, he is here, kneeling by your bedside. There, lay down, you are very sick." 66 Only ouce, let me put my arms around your neck, and kiss you just as I used to kiss papa I had a papa once, when we lived in the big house-there, there-oh, I did want to see you, to thank you for the bread and the cakes. I was very hungry, and it did taste so good-and little Sis, she waked up, and she eat and eat, and after a while she went to sleep with a piece in her hand, and I went to sleep; haven't I been to sleep a good while? I thought I was asleep in the Park, and somebody stole all my corn, and my mother whipt me for it, but I could not help it. Oh dear, I feel sleepy now. I can't talk any more. I am very tired. I cannot see; the candle has gone out. I think I am going to die. I thank you. I wanted to thank you for the breadI thought you would not come. Good bye -Sisse, good bye, Sisse-you will come-mother, don't-drink--any more!--Mother -good b--.” Tis the last of earth," said the good man at our side; "let us pray." Reader, Christian reader, little Katy is in her grave. Prayers for her are unavailing. There are in this city a thousand just such cases. Prayers for them are unavailing. Faith without works won't work reform. A faithful, prayerful resolution to work out that reform which will save you from reading the recital of such scenes-such fruits of the rum trade as this before youwill work together for your own and others' good. Go forth and listen. If you hear a little voice crying hot corn, think of poor Katy, and of the hosts of innocents slain by that remorseless tyrant, rum. Go forth and seek a better spirit to rule over us. Cry aloud, "Will he come?" and the answer will be, "Yes, yes, he is here." EDITOR'S OMNIBUS. The Foreign Mission of the Dove. For three years and more, this bird of peace has held on its flight, and dropped its message-thoughts of good-will among the populations of Continental Europe. Thus far, no screeching, swooping hawk of war has crossed its way, to tear its Olive Leaf, or ruffle its plumage. Should the fiery deluge of human passions engulf one portion of Christendom for a period, we hope that the ideas of peace may be scattered in more generous profusion over the countries that escape the scourge of war. We would earnestly entreat all who have taken part in this dissemination, to "bate not one jot of heart or hope;" to hold fast and unswerving to their principles, believing they will stand the test of any of the events of these stormy times. Like immortal truths, these principles will come out of this or any ordeal like gold tried in the fire. If the nations will not yield obedience to them, until constrained by new and bloody lessons of experience, let no one who has believed in their power and obligation weary in holding them up before the public mind. Let their still small voice be heard in the tempest of man's wrath and fury. They are of God, and will prevail, though the heathen rage, and violence redden and ravage the earth. The Free-Labour Movement. We trust that, in the April number of the Bond, we may have some interesting facts to communicate in reference to this movement in America. We are now about to set out on a long journey through the Southern and Western States, and hope to collect information which shall be useful hereafter, as the basis of new and more extensive operations connected with this department of philanthropic labour. It may not be safe or expedient now to define these operations, for they must be conducted with great discretion and prudence, especially in the first stage of their execution. We will merely say, that we intend to visit Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Missouri; and hope we may be able to obtain some accurate and practical knowledge in reference to the capacities of free labour in those States, while we make the Ocean Penny Postage movement the chief object of the tour. The friends of the cause in Philadelphia are moving in the matter with vigour. George W. Taylor, the proprietor and manager of the Free-Labour Depôt, has pervised the translation and printing of just published a proposition to erect a fac- them with great taste and care. Arrangetory for the manufacture of all kinds of ments will be probably made, by which a cotton goods. Several members of the few packets may be obtained at 35, BroadAssociation have subscribed liberally to street Buildings, London. supply the requisite capital, and the plan will probably be carried into operation during the present season. The establish ment of a factory of this kind will give the movement a new status in this country. The production of cotton by free labour in the Slave States is now considerable, and we trust the plans about to be set on foot wil greatly increase it. Ocean Penny Postage.-We trust that this question will be brought before Congress for decisive action, sometime in April. The streams of public opinion are finding their way to Washington, through the medium of petitions, the influence of public meetings, and the more powerful agency of the press. The prospect of its adoption, so far as the U. S. Congress is concerned, is encouraging. We would earnestly invite the readers of the Bond to persevere in their efforts to obtain this great boon. Let Parliament be plied with petitions in its behalf, to show that the people will give them no rest until this postal reform is fully conceded. Simultaneous action in Parliament and Congress is most desirable. So, let us beg the friends of the cause to make one more effort in its behalf, and try to increase the volume of that public sentiment, which is sure at last to turn the helm of Government. The Leaflets in German.-The writers of these little lessons in the law of love must be pleased to learn that twenty of them have been translated into German, and brought out in a neat style in that language. They are of the same size as the English Leaflets, and headed by the same cut, or illustration. They make a beautiful packet of literature for the children, and, we trust, will have a large circulation among them. Thus these simple thoughts, penned by many different persons, who perhaps never saw a line of their own in type before, have not only been widely disseminated in Great Britain, but are already being scattered among the young in other lands and languages. Perhaps it would be well for the members of the Olive Leaf Societies, and other friends of the cause, to supply themselves with a few packets of these little stories for distribution when travelling in Germany. Our friend and co-worker, Adrian Van Andel, of Hamburgh, has su Correspondence with the American Circles.--Although the postage on letters crossing the Atlantic is very high, we hope it will not prevent that correspondence between the Olive Leaf Circles in Great Britain and the United States, which would be exceedingly serviceable to both, adding a new element of interest to their monthly meetings. The subject is quite new to ladies in America; for they never were invited before to take a direct and active part in the Peace movement in an associated capacity. War has seemed to them a very distant evil, inasmuch as they look upon their country as too widely separated by the ocean from European nations, to be exposed to any serious hazard of war with them. Besides this, not one American woman in a hundred ever saw a soldier of the American army; and not one in a thousand has any connexion in the army; the rank and file of which is almost entirely filled by foreigners of low reputation, and such natives as are looked upon as candidates for the States' prisons. Thus it requires a little more effort to bring the subject of peace home to their convictions and sympathies, than it does in the case of ladies of other countries. We advert to these facts, merely to enlist the co-operation of the English Circles, in aiding the American bands with counsel, sympathy, and suggestion. We hope many of the Societies in Great Britain will write, at least once in two months, to the Circles in this country. We would propose that two communications, both enclosed in oue envelope, and weighing under half an ounce, should be sent from one Circle in England to two in America, so that the postage of each should not be more than sixpence. If written on thin paper this could be easily arranged. The answers might be returned in the same way; thus postage would be saved. The amount expended in this correspondence should be furnished by each Circle that carried it on; for no appropriation would be more legitimate and helpful to the cause. If the Olive Leaf Societies in Great Britain will thus lend a hand to stimulate the little sisterhood of Circles in America, they will greatly advance the mission of the Dove, both at home and abroad. The Great Struggle with Slavery is fast coming to a kind of Waterloo climax in PENNY POSTAGE AND OLIVE LEAF MOVEMENTS The record of these movements closed in the February Bond with a notice of the great public meeting in New York, Jan. 6. On the following Tuesday, the 10th, we met a large company of ladies in Brooklynn. There were forty-five present, most of them possessing ample means, as well as other abilities, to promote the cause. We went over the whole Peace movement from the beginning, describing the Congresses, and dwelling at length upon the origin, objects, and operations of the Olive Leaf Mission. They all listened with fixed attention and manifest sympathy, and several agreed to unite in forming a society. This will be a great gain to the cause indeed, constituting a centre and source of influence which will be very helpful. America. A proposition to give the slave- in this way, -- The Economy of Slavery. A New Orleans journal, in answering an antislavery article in the New York Tribune, states that a slave eats twice as much as a northern free labourer, and performs but half as much work. This admission illustrates the economy of the system. John Mitchel, the Irish patriot, has shown the cloven foot of his patriotism by stating in his Citizen that he did not regard it even a peccadillo to buy, hold, sell, or beat slaves, and he should be glad to own a snug plantation in Alabama well stocked with them! The comments of the American press on this declaration of principles must be instructive to all of his genus. E. B. New Britain, Conn., U. S. A. Feb. 7, 1854. From New York we proceeded next day to Philadelphia, and on Friday, the 13th, there was an important public meeting in the Musical Fund Hall, the Mayor of the city, Charles Gilpin, Esq., in the chair. He made some excellent and effective remarks on opening the proceedings, and we followed with a detailed exposition of the project of Ocean Penny Postage. The subject was received with great favour, and many seemed almost surprised that it embraced such a wide range of interests. Two petitions-one to each house of Congresswere adopted, and signed by the Mayor in behalf of the meeting. On the same day, at 3 p.m., met a small number of ladies belonging to the Society of Friends, and described the Olive Leaf Mission to them. One of their number was a member of the Circle in Manchester, Englaud; and another had travelled recently in Great Britain, and attended the monthly meetings of some of the Circles there. All united with hearty good-will in forming a society, which, we trust, will be a kind of centre to the little constellation of these sister-bands in America; for no city on this continent, or in the world, owes more homage and hearty adhesion to the principles of peace, than Philadelphia. We hope the Friends, especially, may be actively enlisted in the cause, and contribute liberally to its advancement. The next day we returned to New Britain, and on the following Monday, the 16th, went to North Brookfield, Mass., where the new Olive Leaf Society had got |