HASZARD'S GAZETTE, FEBRUARY 2. rue YOUNG MUSICIAN AND His SICK MOTHER- The following passage in the life 0i an English composer, will thrill the heart of many a m0ll|(‘l‘ who will read it here, no doubt, for the first time: “ Little Pierre sat liuniining by the bed- side of his sick iiiotliei-. 'l‘lici-o was no bread in the closet, and for the whole day he hail not tasted food. Yet. he Sal _l'“”" ining, to keep up his spirits. Still, "t l|"W5. he thought of his loiieliiicss and liiiiigcfr and he could scarcely keep the tears lroni his eyes, for he knew nothing would be 80 grateful to his poor invalid mother, use good sweet orange, and yet he had not a penny in the world’ This little song he was singing was his own, one he composed with air and words: for the child was a ge- nius, and ii lervcnt worshipper at the shrine of music. As the tears would roll down his cheeks, and his voice would falter at the sad, and thoughts, he did not dare tolet his mother see, but, hastily rising, hurried to the wind :\\', and there watched a man putting up a great bill with yellow letters, announcing that Madame M:, then a favo- rite cantatricc, would sing that night at the Temple. “ Oh, if l only could git." lh°"gm little Pierre; and then pausing it moment he clasped his hands; his eyes lighted with un- wonted lire; and running to the little stand ho srnoothed doivn his yellow curls, and tu- king from his little box some old startled paper, gave one eager glance at his mo- ther, who slept, and ran speedily ljrmll the house. “ \‘Vho did you say is waiting for me?" said Madaine M., to her scrvairt ‘I am alrcaily worn out with company.’ It is only a very pretty little boy with yellow cur-ls, who if he can only see you, he is sure you will not be sorr_V. “ml he ‘Vlll "Oi-l keep you it inoincnt.’ “ Oh, well, let him: come,‘ said the liravitil'-il singer, wit smile, 'l can llt‘\’i‘l' rcfii.-‘c eliildri-ii.’ Lit- tle i’ir-rre came i.i, his lint under his aim, and in his hand it littli- roll of paper. \\'ith a inuiilirriss ii usual for it child, he walked strtiiglit to i\ladaini-. r\l , and lmwiiig siiiri, “ I came to see you liecausc my iiiotlier is very sick, and we are too poor to get food r and iiii-diciiii-. l tliought that pei-liars if you would sing only my little song at sortie of your Cultccrlrl, ‘niaybe some pllltllalt(‘l' would buy it for a small stun, anzl sol could get food and aiedicinc for my mother.’ The beuutitul woinutl rose ti-oni her seat, very tall and stately she was; she took the little roll fr-xiii his hand, and lightly huiiiined the air. ‘ Did you compose it?’ she asked, you a child? And the words? Wonderful little genius! Would you like to come to my concert?’ she aslted alter a few iaoinents of thought. ‘Oh yes;’ and the boy's blue eyes grew liquid with linppiness;_‘but I could not leave my niotlier.' ‘I will send somebody to take care of your mother for the evening, and here is a crown with which do you go and get food and medicine. I.-lcre is also one of my tickets; come to-night; that will admit you to a seat near me; my good little fellow, your mother has a trea- sure in you.’ Almost beside himself with joy, Pierre bought some oran es, and ma- ny a little luxury besides, an carried them home to the poor invnlid,_ telling her, not without tears, of his good tortune. _ Never in his life had Pierre been to such a grand place. The music, clashing and rolling, the myriad of lights, the beauty,‘ the flashing of diamonds and rustling ot silks, bewildered his eyes and brain. At last she came, and the child sat with his glance rivetted upon her glorious face. ould he believe that the grand lady, all |,|uing with jewels, and who everybody seemed to worship, would really sing his little song? Breathless he waited; the band, the whole band, struck up a little plaintive melody: he knew it, and clapped 'his_hands fin 50’, And, oh how she sung it! it was no simple, so monroful, no son -subduing, many a bright eyo dimmed with tears, and naught could be heard but the touching words of that little song, oh, so touching! Pierre walked homo as if he were moving on the air. VVhi_it cared lie for mpney now.’ The g,.e,,i¢_5t priina donna in all lauro elind sung his little_ song, and thousnnhs llvtld wept at his griet'._ The nest day“! e was frightened at it visit from Miidimie . Slio [aid |,¢f‘hancl'ori his yellow ciirls, and lltlltlh ing to the sick woman. SW’. Y'""' ‘ll '3 boy, mm’ by brought you ,a fortune. l was offered this morning, by the best publislicr in London, three liunilrcd pounds for his little song; and after he has realized it ccrtiiiii iiiriouiit for the sale, little Pierre, here, is to share the profits llrladariw, thank God that your son has a gift from Hi-avert.’ The noble.-liearti-d singer and the poor woinan wept togetlii-r. As to l’ier- re, iilwiiys mindful of Him who watches ovci- the tired and tempted, ho knelt down by his inothoi-'s bedside, and uttered a siiii- ple but eloquent prayer, risking God’s bles- sing on the kind lady who had deigncd to notice their aflliction. And the memory of that prayer made the singer even more tender-hearted; and she who was the idol‘ of England's nobility, like the worlds great Master, went about doing good. And in her early happy death, when the grave dumps gathered over her brow, and her eyes grew dim, he who stood by her bed, his bright face clothed in the mourning of sighs and tears, and smoothed her pillow, and lightened her last moments by his un- dying alfection, was the little Pierre of for- mer days—-now rich, accomplished, and the most talented composer oftlie day. All lio- nour to those great hearts who, from their high stations, send down bounty unto the widow and the fatherless child!” om LEAP \’EAlt—-THE LADIES. Leap car has come again, when,.b_y long-established customs, ladies are privi- It-god to “ pop the question.” Crusty old bachelors go about in terror, giving a wide berth to every pretty girl they meet, and blcssiiig Heaven for the invention of hoops, which prevents the fair creatures seizing tlicni ri el armis._ Sweet little creatures, l-nr wlinni coy swains have long sighed in vain, pluck up C0lll‘i'l"(.‘ and by a few '_’t'ltllC hints, which area iio lonigcr unl:idy- like, bring the modest youths to the point. i‘vltttl(X‘tl\'Cl'lllg mnniiniis, thanking their stars that leap year comes once every tour years, but secretly wishing also that it came every year, look for a line harvest out of bashful lovers, and hurry their daiigliters “into society,” that they may take advantage of the blessed time. Even papas, rubbing their hands in glee, rejoice over the privileges of leap year, as they calculate the annual cost of their daughters anil tlic cent. per cent. thcv could make outof the money if saved. Lucky leap _ ear! Propitious leap year! The inventor oftlie happy custom ought to have a statue raised to him by the ladies. Or, if the inventor was a woinan—for we doubt our sex having sagacity enough for sucha splendid coup de main——they should honor her by a leap year festival, as the ancients honored Ceres.—-Philadelphia Ledger. A Son Mms.—Sonora (California) pa- pers mention the discovery of a “soap mine” in Table Mountain. The writers in the papers have seen and handled, and washed with the article. ‘They solemnly assure the public that there is no lie or hoax about it. The Union Democrat re- marlin: “ Mr. Dinsmors, of the Kennebec Min- ing Company, near Vallecita, has furnished us with several curious specimens of a deposit taken out of his shall. so nearly resembling soap, that it is difiicult to dis- tinguisli it from the genuine manufactured article. The cakes are ofa brownish hue, and, from practical test, we find they on- swer all the purposes of bodily ablation, quite as well as any soap. The vein is about six inches in thickness, and forms a distinct stratum between what is called the pipe clay, seine fifteen feet from the surface. l‘he article is destitute of both taste and smell.” A sea captain, relating the fact that he had a daughter who could eat a pound of cheese at a sitting, ll wag thought it not at all strange that a skipper’: child should be fond of that article. Mr. A. Bronson, of Meadville, Pa., says, from tiller.-n years’ experience, he finds that Indian mcal poultico, covered with young liyson tea, softened with hot water, and laid over burns or frozen flesh, as hot as can be borne, will relieve the; pain in five 9;. minutes... . . . ti’ . - .r': S\\'l'l'Zl*lRLAND. Switzerlriid is, in many respects, a peculiar (!f'lllIll‘\ ; the Federation does barely exceed that of those Lower (.‘olo~ies; the capital, Geneva has no :trt':i about tli:ii of this city ; ncvertlieless, it has fznqucntly plziyeil an irhportant part lll the history nl'Eur(ipc, litiving, like Venice. derived inoi.- \\'t'l-_{lll from the energy and ilaiiiitless spirit of its people that from its territorial or ll)-llL'l'lal resources. When, in |838, l"r.'ini-e- (lCll|iIntl(‘(l the expul- n of Louis Napoleon Boiiapartc. the Swiss promptly refused ; and \\'llt'lI Louis l’hilip threat- ened to inaieh an army into their territory, the heights ol tlie.lura, from Neufchzitel Souths aid were speeililv occupied by nndanntcd mountain ecrs ; but, France did not insist, arid the refugee continued to receive the protection ofthis gal- lant people. The only weaknessiof the Swiss Federation lies in divisions and jealousies between State and State—which, by the way, is a bane common to all Federal Governinents—a fact sullicieiitly per- ceptible in the instance ofthe United States, bu. there a single—the smal|est—St:ite would absorb the whole Swiss Republic; and, again, it is in the smaller, more minutely divided and subdivided country, that diversities of sentiment and policy become the numerous, and collicts of opinion more fierce and dangerous to the integrity nfthe niou. The Swiss Cantons vary from each other very materially in their political constitution. The Catholic (‘.antons differ from the Protestant, and the Protrsiant, again, one from another. there are single and double tfiantons; in some democracy is qualitied, lll ntln-no it is absolute. In one or two the aristocratic element is still perceptible, tlioiiglr nearly di-stroyed, whilst one Canton (Neiifcliatel) presents the anomaly of formin-.' part of :| llepnh- liean Fetli-r:itioii, yet owing a sort of allegiance to a Monarcliial Govcrnnient (Prussia). Again. these political ditlizreiicrs, of tlieniselves, one llll,l_'lIl. naturally suppose, sulliicient to paialtzee anytliing like unity ol action, are lrupieiitlv ren- dered more violent and eoinplzcatcd b_v l(‘lI|_:ll'lIS ilirsi-ntions, uliicli. more than 0llt't! in the present century, have been carried out in s:iii;ziri- nary civil wars. 'l‘he truth is that, in Sivi:zer land, as in the United States, the Lilii-ral or lladiral p:irty—thc most iiuincrons party—has ltt ver lresiiaied to carry iiiio political contests an intolerant hatred of the Catliolic Clergzv, and as ii natural (‘llll‘.t"l]lll!l)('(’, the ltoman (.'atholi«' Minis- try have never hesitated, on occasion, to have rrcouise to arms \\'llt‘l| out-numbered by votes. Ncvi-rtlrclitse, \Vitl'll their perfect iiidependencn as .1 Federal llrpulilit! has at any time, or by any lorei.-.iii power. been threatened, this siiigiilaily brave and hardy purple li.-we llI.‘V('l liesiiaied to {lock around their national standard, and show a united and hold front to the tlireateinnr; or actual ly invading foe With patriotism and the undy~ ing love ofliberty are sentiments paraniount and above all otliers.—Hali[i1.r Sun. O ‘: Swirnicri.—Wo learn from a good source (says Nurcmburg Correspondcn‘) that, besides the treaty of Nov. 2!, there are in existence special conventions between the Western Powers and Sweden. These acts were prepared durintztlic stay of General Csnrobert at Stockholm. 'l'liey remain still to be ratified, and will not be publish- cd unless hostilities against Russia ehould continue in the spring. These conventions will ilace Sweden in an entirely new attitude to lliissia, and will have for their effect mucti more than to concede depots and stations to the allied Ieets. mom Further European Items. Lennon, Jan. 8th.—Lord Psnmure has this day received a despatch of which the following is wopy, addressed to his lordship by Gen. Sir illiam Codrintrton. . .: . "Sebastopol, Dec. 25th. My Lord—Notwith- standing tho recent severe weather, the ther- rmoineier a few nights ago having fallen nearly to zero, the general state of health of the army has continued good. The roads are in fair wotltiniz order, and though the efficiency of the locomotive engines was impaired by the "0". ll"? damage has been made good. "The final operations on the docks have been somewhat delayed on our side by the influx ot water and by the freezing of pumps. “The firintz on the northern side of the harbour continues and it is at times heavy. but the casual- ties. I am happy to say, are few. “Tliero has been no movement of important on the part of the enemy, in our neighbourliond of late. “A rlctatchment of French troops surprised a - lfossacli post our l\ilon, I few days ago killing several men and taking the rest prisoners. "The general drill-of the army makes good progress. Bu.-rlc Piisiuiirrions. The naval authorities of (Iherbourg have been ordered to aria three screw liners and three sailing frigsies, which are of ilie llaltie in April next. In addition to these ‘ships are to be fitted out with all possible drlpltcll . , .‘lierbnurg K is to arm the war screw transport ‘Towers of I500 tons. .4 to be ready for the opening out of the canipsign. lhe vessel of the lceland station, and mo fivg hoirib vessels and the twelve steam giinboais which have tetiirired from the last campaign in the Baltic. are to be part of the formiiliilitu tsxpg. ditinn which is to operate in that Sen next spriiw. The news from Sweden states, that Generiil mttclts fttltttstt-r of war in Norway, and Coni- inaniler in Chief of this army, has been directed in titgztlllze the Norrie-_'iziri troops in concert with lllt'.“lIetttl.tIl‘ the war ili-prirteinent at Stockholm. ‘ llie bu-edisli Journal reports, under date of Stat-klrolin, I)ec. 24. “Activity unexampeld rcrgi-s in every inaniifactory for producing articles necessary to the equipment of an arm .” The Colonels of all the regiments received orders to supply their troops with everything ne- cessary to prepare them for marching at the tint signal, llie order was given secretly, but it was in it. nature impossible of coneslinent. All leave; of absence are refused to offit.-era. 1"-"°"."l’0‘llt here believes. that in can tho Allie. should open the war with vigour in the Baltic next spring, our Govenment will feel itself com. pclleil to take an active part therein, ienna, Jan. 4ih—'l‘he anmesty which ha. been granted to the Poles includes some foreign- Wsa atnvntz whom are ten Germans and thfge 1*‘rcncli_mcn. ‘ Colonel Dclllanteutfel had an gudi- encc ol the l'.rriperor yesterday. The chgnceg of an understandiiig between Prussia and Anni. appear to be increasing. .___. 'l'iii: ().tv.ii.iiv AF]-‘Allls AT Krtiirt-ii.—'l‘lie “lluiisian victory in the Crimea ”appPl|la to l"‘"" l"3"" "WY “"1” iIHlH‘tl. The 'l'nrliish cavalrv defeated was onlya fm»;.gj,,,_. ,,,,,»,y ,,f 3"“3’ “"0 men. who were surprised and surround- ed by a hundred-t'old their number of l{ug5i.ng_ Capt. Sherwood, their Englisn officer, m,t,-,,-mt 3 rem-;it.but they were obli<_-i-dto cut their way tliroiigli the iiizisscs ofalic eneinr. 'l‘hp 'l‘.i.kig|, soldiers llll’l‘\V lllf‘lnS(!l\'t'S on their (‘llenllvstltid fun-_:lit with heroisni. Capt. SlIl‘l\\'(It‘il’ “in, W,“ (‘(|ll$[llt'.ltlll3 by his l‘:llL'llal| iiiiiloiin, tell one"! tho lirst. llii tlt-nth did not elm-,k the ,,,.,|,,, ,,f “,0 soldiers. wlio fought with rein-ivril fnrv. ’l'\y,g,,- iv~fi\'c siict-er-ilnil in (‘tilllti_' their iv.-iv ilu-ooh and st) cscipi-rl :|‘Ire I't‘llIl|lltltI;_’ lorty lioisi-men, otfi- cars and solilivrs t'l’llt‘|' tlli'tl on the battle-field, or ircro taken l|flt~tillt‘l§ Tm" " ’\""3'l"""‘ -'\""""”‘°l*” L'i\'t's the follow i118 5 ill“ ~'|f3L'"‘u=|lt' population ol the \\'iirl;l A l'ric.1 1tm.o::o,i§oo Aincrica 57.7(t6,88:) 3"‘ 29,()0ti,otto Australia 1'44/“mo 1'3--win‘ 263,5l7,5‘.2 l'v')'";‘m l,5tltl,t|0t) '1 1,050,169,403 A rliaracteristic anecdote is told of one ofgho Tiirkisli soldiers uho uas the first to set foot inside the battery at In our. Perceiving . Russian colonel lying dead upon the ground he plucked oll'_his glove and appropriated a valuable diamond ring which was upon his finger. Knowing, however. that it would be impossible very long to keep secret the possession ofgo valuable a prize, he showed his Usbsshi, or CEPNIIIMI his treasure, and requested permission to keep it. The Usbsshi told the mini that he was quite right to bring the prize to him, and that licnceforward it should be transferred to th. finger of the said Ushaslii. The soldier, not satisfied with this arrangement, referred the matter to the Bimbashi, or Major, who aid that both he and the Usbuhi were highly culpable in daring to retain the ring from their superior officer, and that he would therefore relieve them ofthe subject of dispute. From the Ilimbjphi the soldier went to the Kaima Kama, or Lieiit Colonel, who at once followed the example of bisiuleiinrs, and took possession of the ring. The soldier still persevered, however, and went ‘" ‘ll!’ M9" “‘_(C0l0Ml). who determined that he was the rightful oueuopofihg fin" by virtue of his rank, and ililsmisacd the rival claim- ants rom his presence in the most summary |na|’|"0f- Nell day I French oflicer attached to the Stall’ of Omar Prchs observed a private soldier prowling near the tent ofthe Commander in Chief. The story of the ring was at one. retsiled by its original pnsvaaorm ihj. ,-_.emie_ man, who laid the matter before his hinliness and the man hail not only the satisfaction of regaining possession of his propertv, but of lK“°tVl"L' that those who had atieinpted'succerive- l to deprive him of it had been seventy reprimanded for their conduct. SONNE'l' ’ fis better far .-.n active life to live, 'l‘lian to let indolenee the soul encriii-t ; Use keeps things bright, inaction causes runt, They seldom aught attain who never strive, Oh ! never let us our own lierirls ilcceiro I But nobly let's {still our tiiiilicsi tni.-t-5- Cast prejudice aside and be more just ; Then much of l_ssI|Iuz good no slimitd achieve. V Come let us strive by counsel or lo)‘ song, To point the way h_v which man may attain A brighter state of being ; than or. -Earth what it lost. oi‘ Edna "would regain, v unlupeus cause will always stand the test ; Then let us toil in hope Ild-dflnnr but. W ' —.lonit Boons.