Columbus

A poor traveler knoeked ono day at the gate of an oíd conveut in the South of Spain, to beg bread and water for his boy. While eating this liumble meal, the Prior of the convent passing by, was struck with the nobla aud intelligent look of the strauger. He stopped and spnke, and observing that lie was u foreigner, he kindly inquires iuto his history. ïhe conversation of the stranger kindies a lively interest in tho Prior, who invites hioi to come in and rest from the fatigues of his journey ; he then wnda for some friends from a neighboring village, aud every one is impressed with the appearanco and words of the strauger. Thöy enter iuto his plan with a friendly zeal ; nevor had he found such sympathy before ; it was as unexpccted as gnUeful, and grateful as unexpeeted. The poor wayfarer was Christopher Coluiubus, uufolding to a little cirole of new-found frieuds tiis grand and eherished enterpriso of exploriug the oeean to discover that uew land, whicli ho was firmly persuaded existed on the other side of the globe, and which turned out to bo the great American continent. The views of poor Columbus had never before fouud hucIi favor. No body in his own country believed in him, aud he had just come to Spain, iu order to seek tor that help in the furtherance of his plans which had been elsewhere denied hirn. Though the Prior beholds him alone, poor, and frieudless, he discerns a superior ruind, and persuaded that the euterprise which Columbus proposes would be of great advantage to his country, offers to give him a letter of nitroduotion to the kiog; and Ookiinbus, corniorted and eucouraged by the sympathy of his new friends, departa from the convent to present his case before kiug Ferdinand and queen Isabella, the sovereigns of Spain. They were then at Cordova, engaged in wars which occupicd all their time and thoughts; so that wheu Oolunibus arrived there in the spring of 1486, he found it impossi ble to gam a hearing; and ahnest every one to whotuhe opened his miud, looked upon his project as weak aud uuworthy of confidence. At last he was directed to present bis views to a body of learned men, in order to have their judgment upon them. - They heard all his reasonings and argutnents in relation to the existence of a new continent, but they were not convinced ; indeed, they ridiculed the notiou, aud pronouuced it contrary to sound knowledge and Scripiure. This was a severe blow to poor Coluiubus, but it did not crush him. He would not give it up. He had his case piesented to the king and queao. They were told the decisión of their learned men, and that it did not become such great princes to engage in an enterprise of the kind on such weak grounds es had been advanced. Upon this they decliued helping him, and iu sorrow and disappointment he leit the city. When the worthy Prior beheld Columbus once more arrived at the gate of his convent, after nearly saven years of vain affort, and saw how poor aud disappoint ed he was, he w;!fi dceply affected. Cohunbus was now determined to try the French king. "No," said tho Prior, "you must not leave Spain niy queen must befriend you ; she is noble and generous and she will." And the old Prior saddled his mule and started off to the quoen himself, bidding Columbus stay at the convent uutil his return. He reached the place, was adtnitted into her presence, whoso teacher he had once been, and pleaded the cauae of Columbus with such hunest zoal and sound judgment, that Isabella was immediately iuterested; she had never heard the case so presented before. "Send Columbus back," she cried, "and forward him money for his expenses ; I will befriend him " How delighted must the old Prior have been, at the generous euthusiasin of his queen. As soon as possible, Columbus was on his way back to the palace, with some fears, I dare siy, mingled with his hopes. The kiug looked coldly on the matter, and it was objücted that there was uo money in the treasury to furuish ships for such a voyage. "No money !" excliimed the Queen, "I will pledge ïïiy jewels to raise the neecssary funds." - With the interest of such a queeu iu his behalf, his propositions rapidly gained favor, and iu a short tiine orders were issued for ships and iren to engage iu this great Voyago of discovery ; aud Co lumbus took leave of tho palaue aud joy fully set out for the conveut of bisfneud. Let those who are rcady to faint under difBculties in currymg out any great aud worthy undertaking, reiueiuber that Columbus was eighteen years trying to carry his plans into effect ; the most of that time was passed amid poverty, noglect, and ridicule ; that the primo of his hfe had wasted aw.ay in tho struggle, and that wheu his perseverance was final ly crowned with success, ho was in his fifty sixth year. Let his examplu eucourage us never to dospair, never to give up iu the pursuit of high and worthy objecta; or as the Bible expresses it iu relation to the highost aim of 1 i fe, ' Be ye steadfad, immovable, always abouudiug iu the work of the Lord." The Lord Afhburton whoee death i announued by the last arrivnl from Europe, is not the distingnished Rtatesman whoee name is so closely identified with a critioal period in our own bistory, (the Ashhai ton controversy,) but his son. The former died in 1848-eight yeara after the conclusión of the fumous treaty between our government and that of Great Britnin, deterraining the Northwestern boundary. - i 11 - i Thn moment a man ie s.itisfied with himself, everybddy eleo is disoatisfied wiïh tica.