The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 48 pages of information about The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction.

The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 48 pages of information about The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction.

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THE DELICACY OF THE MARIKINA.

The marikina is a pretty little animal which has often been brought into Europe.  Its elegant form, graceful and easy motions, beautiful fur, intelligent physiognomy, soft voice, and affectionate disposition, have always constituted it an object of attraction.

The marikina, or silken monkey, can be preserved in European climates only by the utmost care in guarding it from the operation of atmospheric temperature.  The cold and humidity of our winters are fatally injurious to its health.  Neatness and cleanliness to a fastidious degree are constitutional traits of the marikina, and the greatest possible attention must be paid to it in this way, in a state of captivity.  The slightest degree of dirt annoys them beyond measure, they lose their gaiety, and die of melancholy and disgust.  They are animals of the most excessive delicacy, and it is not easy to procure them suitable nourishment.  They cannot accustom themselves to live alone, and solitude is pernicious to them in an exact proportion to the degree of tenderness and care with which they have been habitually treated.  The most certain means of preserving their existence, is to unite them to other individuals of their own species, and more especially to those of an opposite sex.  They will soon accustom themselves to live on milk, biscuit, &c. but mild and ripe fruit is most agreeable to their taste, which to a certain degree is also insectivorous.—­London Magazine.

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THE SELECTOR; AND LITERARY NOTICES OF NEW WORKS.

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A SONG FOR MUSIC.

BY T. HOOD, ESQ.

  A lake and a fairy boat
    To sail in the moonlight clear,
  And merrily we would float
    From the dragons that watch us here!

  Thy gown should be snow-white silk,
    And strings of orient pearls,
  Like gossamers dipp’d in milk,
    Should twine with thy raven curls.

  Red rubies should deck thy hands,
    And diamonds should be thy dower—­
  But fairies have broke their wands,
    And wishing has lost its power!

The Plea of the Midsummer Fairies and other Poems.

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THE ARRIVAL OF A TRANSPORT.

Numbers of boats soon surround the ship, filled with people anxious to hear news, and traffickers with fruit and other refreshments, besides watermen to land passengers; a regular establishment of the latter description has long existed here, many of whose members formerly plied that vocation on the Thames, and among whom were a few years back numbered that famous personage once known by all from Westminster stairs to Greenwich,

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The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.