if had not been for the aid of Dr. His advice was solicited, and he sent one package of his Love Powders, and the result was a happy and speedy union of the above couple. The Doctor has used his Love Powder in more than twenty thousand cases, and has never known it to fail of producing the happiest result; he can send them to you to any part of the world, in letter so securely that the most curious cannot be aware of the contents of the letter. When you write you will please sign your name in a clear style, give the name of your post office, or county, town, and name of the State, and you cannot fail to get the happiest return you have ever had in your life for the small sum of money expended. These Powders are applicable to all sexes and conditions, and will make any person marry you that you wish. All that you have to do is to get one package of Dr. -'s Love Powder, and you can put such a spell on them that they are no longer free agents."

He must know little of human nature who does not believe that there are thousands of ignorant souls who answer to such advertisements. Persons of whom you would not dream in connection with such folly have bought and fed the "powders"-which was no doubt a little buckwheat meal, or something of the kind, sent nicely put up with directions for "50 cents a package, or three for $1." In the same seizure of letters in Philadelphia, to which we have already referred, letters brought to light the fact that a wealthy lady in Reading, Pa., sent $40 to have the Doctor turn the feelings of a certain gentleman towards her. Another lady of Reading, attached to the same "nice man," without knowing what had been done, wrote, about the same time, to have the Dr. turn his feelings toward her. He wrote back that her "letter came only one day too late!"-he had already fixed this man's love on the other lady; but for $50 he would change it back again, and turn it to her! Do you believe it?—the $50 were sent, as the correspondence shows. This young man must have endured singular convulsions in being thus jerked hither and thither in his heart affairs, in so short a time. It is to be hoped that this beautiful man got safely over it.

This dealing with soft heads being a good business, in the money way, it is not to be wondered at that different schemes should be plied. Thus a Dr. Humbug, of New York, sends the whole secret in a book for only $1. This is better-every one can then make his or her own "powders:" "MATRIMONY MADE EASY; OR, How To WIN A LOVER.

A BOOK OF ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY PAGES, 32MO.

Printed on fine paper, and beautifully illustrated. By Prof.

Prof. of New York, formerly of Sweden, where he has been the means of bringing about thousands of happy marriages, will send to any address, on receipt of ONE DOLLAR, post-paid, plain directions, to enable Ladies or Gentlemen to win the devoted affections of as many of the opposite sex as they may desire. The process is so simple, but so captivating, that all may be married, irrespective of age, appearance, or position; and last, though not least, it can be arranged with the utmost ease and delicacy.

N. B.-This is no humbug, but one of the greatest sciences the world ever produced, which thousands of ladies and gentlemen in the city of New York can attest to. No one will ever regret the price paid for such an invaluable secret, which is contained in a book of one hundred and sixty pages, with all the necessary directions. Bills of any specie-paying bank in the United States or Canada received at par. All that is necessary for you to do is to write a letter in as few words as possible, and inclose the money. PROF. New York."

The same paper, and the most widely circulating journal in this country, contains two other advertisements similar to this. The one

offers the book for 12 cents. Wonderfully cheap, but "all letters must be post-paid." This extensive advertising in papers where terms are high, shows that the business is extensively encouraged. Poor human nature. How easy is it for humbuggery to impose on thousands who have been brought up in ignorance, and especially whose religious education has been neglected. What a fearful darkness and stupidity must becloud the mind of any one who can be deceived by such impositions.

If, however, there are some who are fortunate enough to have personal attractions sufficient to win a suitor without resort to "powders," and have merely a curiosity to know what their future husband or wife looks like, they also can be accommodated by Humbug. Hear how a woman beckons to the verdant in the land, through the columns of The New York Herald:

M

ATRIMONIAL.-MADEMOISELLE EMILE VILLETTE, Professor of Autography (or reading of character by a person's hand writing) and a spiritual writing medium, will, upon the receipt of 25 cents, (or equivalent in postage stamps) and a specimen of hand-writing, send to any person a full delineation of their character, affairs of the heart, success, destiny, &c.; also a description of the one they love or will marry. Address, post-paid, Emile Villette, Broadway P. O. Those residing out of the city can safely transmit through the mail. All communications answered one week after their receipt."

All this is certainly silly enough; and it is enough to make one ashamed of his kind to think that such wicked impositions are practiced, and that there are so many beings, with human faces, who can be caught by such chaff. But half is not told. If a weak-headed man's troubles lie in another direction Dr. Humbug is ready for him. Let him read the following testimonials:

EBTS OF LONG STANDING COLLECTED BY THE POWER OF

ger, respecting many persons who owed me money, who were able to pay me, yet had not the disposition. But, by consulting with this gentleman, I have recovered many bills that I had forgotten, and in two months received more money than I ever did in the same time since I have been in business. I would advise all to call, who wish a speedy collection of doubtful accounts, and try his magic, for I am sure they never will regret it. LEWIS RUSHEART.

Ho, ye whose books are full of bad debts, try "the power of Geomancy!" Send on the money and the Doctor will give them "the disposition." Where are the soft heads that pay the cost of this advertisement? Somebody pays it, rest assured, and besides this also a handsome dividend into the Doctor's pocket.

The following exhibits a fruitful source of profit to Humbug:

RECOVERY OF STOLEN PROPERTY. In November, 1849, I

had a watch stolen from me, and was advised to call on Dr. the Astrologer, in Locust street, Philadelphia. In a few days, by following his advice, I recovered my watch. I also confess that Dr. stopped me from drinking liquor. In six weeks he effected a cure; and I have not used or desired strong drink since. I believe he can cure the worst cases of drunkenness.

ROBERT MCINTIRE, White Marsh, Montgomery Co., Pa.

We have in our possession a letter, in the hand-writing of the lady herself, applying for the power of discovering the thief and securing a return of the property stolen. The hand-writing, as well as the com

position, shows that the lady has considerable intelligence, showing that this kind of folly is not confined to the ignorant. This letter was among those already referred to as seized by the police of Philadelphia, and fell into our hands through Mr. Geist, of the Lancaster Saturday Evening Express, who had in his possession a large number of these letters, and who published them in an able expose of this kind of imposition. Here is the letter and the reply:

"HOLIDAYSBURG, December 2, 1850. DEAR SIR: Your letter was received with much pleasure. Mother still thinks that you can bring it back. The girl that was blamed for taking it has gone to Pittsburg. Mother dreamed the other night that the money was in a house in town, and this girl stole it and gave it to the other girl to keep for her. Also, that some one had gave mother power to get it. So that must be you. Every one laughed when she told them that she was a going to send money to you, for you could bring the stolen money back. But she believed so firmly in you, that she did not listen to them. Do you think it is in town? Do please try and get it. Yours, respectfully,

Here is the ignorant scoundrel's reply, verbatim:

"phil'a December 3 '50 I have notice your Remarks; the money is in your Town; and your mother will Get them back but in som cases, it takes Longer time than in others.

Res'y

This very impostor, as was ascertained by official inquiry, in the space of a few years, cleared at this business the enormous sum of FORTY THOUSAND DOLLARS, after paying immense sums besides for advertising. At the time of his capture by the authorities of Philadelphia, he had $15,000 deposited in one bank. When his letters fell into the hands of the officers, and The Sunday Globe began to publish them as an expose of his impositions, he called on the editors and offered them $1000 if they would let him alone. They nobly refused. By the authorities and the public papers he was at last driven from Philadelphia; and yet, in the face of this exposure, he settled down afterwards in New York, Boston, Baltimore, and lastly in Cincinnati, and did a large businessriding out in his splendid carriage, and enjoying himself in the highest style, a very king in the "Paradise of fools" which he had gathered around him.

A SACRED MELODY

Be thou, O God, by night, by day,
My guide, my guard from sin;
My life, my trust, my light divine,
To keep me pure within.

Pure as the air, when day's first light

A cloudless sky illumes,

And active as the lark that soars

Till heaven shines round its plumes

So may my soul upon the wings

Of faith unwearied rise,

Til at the gate of heaven it sings
Midst light from Paradise.

THE TREES OF THE BIBLE.

NO. XVIII. -THE OAK.

BY THE EDITOR.

THE Oak has been a sacred tree among many nations. The Greeks, Romans, Germans, Gauls, and Britons, all held it in the greatest veneration. The Druids celebrated their sacred rites under oaks. It is such a noble tree that Cowper could well say,

"It seems idolatry with some excuse,

When our forefather Druids in their oaks
Imagined sanctity."

"We have reason to think," says one, "that this veneration was brought from the East; and that the Druids did no more than transfer the sentiments their progenitors had received in oriental countries. It would appear that the patriarch Abraham resided under an oak, or a grove of oaks, which our translators render the plains of Mamre; and that he planted a grove of this tree. Gen. 21, 23. In fact, since in hot countries nothing is more desirable, or more refreshing, than the shade of a tree, we may easily suppose the inhabitants would resort for their enjoyment to

"Where'er the oak's thick branches spread
A deeper, darker shade."

Oaks, and groves of oaks, were esteemed proper places for religious services. Altars were set up under them: Josh. 24, 26; and probably in the East, as well as in the West, appointments to meet at conspicuous oaks were made, and many affairs transacted, or treated of, under their shade, as we read in Homer, Theocritus, and other poets. The heathen made idols of oak. Is. 44, 14. The oracle of Dodona stood in a grove of oaks, which was sacred to Jupiter. Celebrated in the scriptures are the "Oaks of Bashan." Is. 2, 13; Zach. 11, 2; Ezek. 27, 6. Orientalists tell us that this is a peculiar kind of oak. The leaves are smaller and the acorns larger than those on our oaks. The acorns and nut-galls of this tree are an important article of exportation in Syria.

The Hebrew word, ALLON-oak-is sometimes translated plain in our English bible. Thus in Judges 10, 37: "The plain of Meonenim," is in Luther's translation "The Magic Oak;" supposed to be called the magic or wizard oak, because it was the spot where Jacob had hid the gods of his wives. Gen. 35, 4. So also in 1 Sam. 10, 3: "the plain of Tabor," is in German "the oak of Tabor." As these trees lived to a great age they naturally became celebrated as the representatives of the localities in which they stood. It was under an oak that Joshua held solemn assemblies of the people, and there also he erected the stone of testimony to remind the Jews of their covenant with God. Joshua 24, 26. Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, was buried under an oak. Gen.

35, 8. The angel of the Lord that appeared to Gideon sat under an oak. Judges 6, 2. Prophets were also wont to sit under this tree. 1 Kings 13, 14. Abimelech was made king "by the plain (oak) of the pillar that was in Shechem." Judges 9, 6.

Besides its great age, there is a solemn grandeur about the oak that inspires in us feelings of respect. A friend of ours is wont to take his hat off when he meets a majestic oak. He learned it from the fifth commandment, the spirit of which he piously thinks extends to aged trees. We respect him the more on this account.

What astonishes us most of all when we look thoughtfully at a large oak is, that such a thing of a hundred "mighty arms" should come forth from a small acorn. Verily, if it should spring up at once into such dimensions it would be a miracle, and we should praise the great God because of it! Is it not just as wonderful-and more so-that it should have become what it is through long centuries of slow, silent growth, encountering the frost of many winters and the rage of a thousand hurricanes and storms. Yes it is a miracle to the thoughtful.

Thou wast a bauble once; a cup and ball,
Which babes might play with; and the thievish jay
Seeking her food, with ease might have purloined
The auburn nut that held thee, swallowing down
Thy yet close-folded latitude of boughs
And all thy embryo vastness at a gulph.
But God thy growth decreed; autumnal rains
Beneath thy parent tree mellowed the soil,
Designed thy cradle; and a skipping deer,
With pointed hoof dibbling the glebe, prepared
The soft receptacle, in which, secure,

Thy rudiments should sleep the winter through.

A SHADOW FROM THE HEAT.

How oppressive is the weather! Our blood boils, our lips are parched, our heads ache. We pant for rest, how sweet to recline under some cooling shade! "Thou hast been a shadow from the heat," says the prophet Isaiah to the God of Israel. And what kind of a shadow is He? We read in the scripture of the shadow of a cloud, of the shadow of a tree, of the shadow of a rock, of the shadow of a tabernacle from the heat. The shadow of a cloud in harvest is grateful; but it passes quickly by. The shadow of a tree under which we sit down is grateful, but it covers only a small space, and the rays often pierce through the boughs. The shadow of a great rock is dense and cool, but it befriends only a little way. The shelter which the soul finds in God is far more than they all together. In the shadow of the tabernacle is a cool and refreshing resting-place. No burning heats are there; no storms of wicked passions are there; no parching droughts are there; no harm of any kind can come there. "The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night." "He that dwelleth in the sacred place of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." Will you not come and dwell under this broad and blessed shadow?