this valuable animal, and they are so much sought after that but for the severity of the climate few would continue to exist. The Arctic or blue fox inhabits the whole extent of both continents beyond the 69th degree of latitude that is to say, Russia, Siberia and the high regions of North America. The pelage of this species is very long, soft and thick, and is sometimes white, frequently of a gray slate color with a tinge of blue. It is the object of a considerable trade. This animal differs considerably from the ordinary fox in its habits. It prefers naked hills to woods, and makes its burrow on their southern slope. It is not afraid of water, and frequently swims rivers and arms of the sea to surprise aquatic birds or obtain their eggs. A trait which is particularly characteristic of the blue fox, because it is exceptional in the order of Carnivora, is its custom of migrating in crowds when game fails in a country it has hitherto occupied. After remaining absent three or four years it again returns. The female Arctic fox brings forth seven or eight young toward the month of May. It is a lucky chance for a hunter when he can capture some of these cubs, as he rears them and sells their fur as soon as it has reached the period of its greatest beauty. Travellers relate that it is not unusual to meet in Scandinavia poor women who share their care between their child and several blue foxes. Various other species of foxes inhabit Asia and Africa. We may particularly cite the fennec, the smallest of its kind; to its enormous ears it owes its extreme acuteness of hearing. It is found in the Algerian Sahara, Egypt, Nubia, Abyssinia and Dongola. THE DESERTED VILLAGE. WEET Auburn, loveliest vil- | And still, as each repeated pleasure tired, lage of the plain, cence and ease, Seats of my youth, when every sport could please, How often have I loitered o'er thy green, Where humble happiness endeared each scene! How often have I paused on every charm- The decent church that topt the neighboring spired. The dancing pair that simply sought re nown, By holding out, to tire each other down; The bashful virgin's sidelong looks of love, reprove, These were thy charms, sweet village; sports like these, With sweet succession, taught e'en Toil to please; These round thy bowers their cheerful influence shed, These were thy charms; but all these charms are fled. The hawthorn bush with seats beneath the Sweet smiling village, loveliest of the lawn, shade For talking age and whispering lovers made! tree, While many a pastime circled in the shade, Thy sports are fled and all thy charms with drawn ; Amidst thy bowers the tyrant's hand is seen, way; Along thy glades, a solitary guest, And sleights of art and feats of strength Amidst thy desert walks the lapwing flies, went round, Remembrance wakes, with all her busy train, A time there was, ere England's griefs Swells at my breast and turns the past to But times are altered: Trade's unfeeling And keep the flame from wasting by re Those calm desires that asked but little I still had hopes, my long vexations past, room, Here to return, and die at home at last. Oh, blest retirement, friend to life's decline, A youth of labor with an age of ease- And, since 'tis hard to combat, learns to fly! No surly porter stands in guilty state Sweet was the sound when oft, at evening's Up yonder hill the village murmur rose; slow But now the sounds of population fail; To pick her wintry fagot from the thorn, morn, She only left of all the harmless train, Near yonder copse, where once the garden. smiled, And still where many a garden-flower grows wild There, where a few torn shrubs the place The village preacher's modest mansion rose. The mingling notes came softened from Nor e'er had changed, nor wished to change, below. The swain responsive as the milkmaid sung, The sober herd that lowed to meet their young, his place; Unpractised he to fawn or seek for power More skilled to raise the wretched than to The noisy geese that gabbled o'er the pool, The playful children just let loose from school, The watchdog's voice that bayed the whis- His house was known to all the vagrant pering wind, And the loud laugh that spoke the vacant He chid their wanderings, but relieved their mind,- These all in sweet confusion sought the shade And filled each pause the nightingale had made. train; pain; The long-remembered beggar was his guest, breast; The ruined spendthrift, now no longer proud, | Truth from his lips prevailed with double Claimed kindred there, and had his claims allowed; The broken soldier, kindly bade to stay, Shouldered his crutch and showed how fields were won. Pleased with his guests, the good man learned to glow, And quite forgot their vices in their woe: Careless their merits or their faults to scan, His pity gave ere charity began. Thus to relieve the wretched was his pride, And even his failings leaned to virtue's side; But, in his duty prompt at every call, sway, And fools who came to scoff remained to pray. The service past, around the pious man, And plucked his gown, to share the good man's smile. His ready smile a parent's warmth exprest: Their welfare pleased him, and their cares distrest; To them his heart, his love, his griefs, were given, But all his serious thoughts had rest in heaven, As some tall cliff that lifts its awful form, He watched and wept, he prayed and felt, Swells from the vale and midway leaves the Despair and Anguish fled the struggling Well had the boding tremblers learned to Comfort came down the trembling wretch to The day's disasters in his morning face; |