the like.  Meanwhile the two priests continued to walk among them; they repeatedly mounted on the benches, and trumpet-mouthed proclaimed to the whole congregation ’the tidings of salvation;’ and then from every corner of the building arose in reply, short sharp cries of ‘Amen!’ ‘Glory!’ ‘Amen!’ while the prostrate penitents continued to receive whispered comfortings, and from time to time a mystic caress.  More than once I saw a young neck encircled by a reverend arm.  Violent hysterics and convulsions seized many of them, and when the tumult was at the highest, the priest who remained above, again gave out a hymn as if to drown it.  It was a frightful sight to behold innocent young creatures, in the gay morning of existence, thus seized upon, horror-struck, and rendered feeble and enervated for ever.  One young girl, apparently not more than fourteen, was supported in the arms of another, some years older; her face was pale as death; her eyes wide open, and perfectly devoid of meaning; her chin and bosom wet with slaver; she had every appearance of idiotism.  I saw a priest approach her, he took her delicate hand, ‘Jesus is with her!  Bless the Lord!’ he said, and passed on.  Did the men of America value their women as men ought to value their wives and daughters, would such scenes be permitted among them?

“It is hardly necessary to say that all who obeyed the call to place themselves on the ‘anxious benches’ were women, and by far the greater number very young women.  The congregration was in general, extremely well dressed, and the smartest and most fashionable ladies of the town were there; during the whole revival the churches and meeting-houses were every day crowded with well-dressed people.”

“It is thus the ladies of Cincinnati amuse themselves; to attend the theatre is forbidden; to play cards is unlawful; but they work hard in their families and must have some relaxation.  For myself, I confess that I think the coarsest comedy ever written would be a less detestable exhibition for the eyes of youth and innocence than such a scene.”

* * * * *

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

THE COFFIN-MAKER.

The paper in the New Monthly Magazine, under this title, occupies a sheet or sixteen pages, and is stated to be from the pen of the Hon. Mrs. Norton.  It is written in an almost breathless, and purposely hurried, style, and the narrative of feelings and incidents flows with such rapidity, that the reader is carried onward, nolens volens, vi et verbis through the adventures.  The writer is the son of a carpenter:  his father dies; unable to obtain any other employment, he obtains that of a coffin-maker.  His aversion to the trade, and the state of his feelings is thus naturally described: