Happily, however, the legislature, having in view the nefarious practices of such criminals, has provided a most potent remedy against this class of robbers, which remedy cannot be too generally known. The Act of Parliament 24 and 25 Vict. s. 49, enacts, _That whosoever shall accuse or threaten any person with a view to extort money or valuable security, shall be guilty of felony, and be liable at the discretion of the court to be kept in penal servitude for life, or for any term not less than five years_. All demands for hush-money met at the outset by firm and unyielding refusal, is the best and only course to adopt. In the majority of instances, a villain would at once be completely checkmated; and even should he venture to extremities, the law is powerful enough to put an end to his shameful trade. Anything is better than to live in constant terror of exposure, and to be remorselessly plundered by such a vampire. We often hear of strange suicides, the reason for which is wholly incomprehensible. It is by no means surprising that, at times, persons wanting in resolution, are made desperate by a system of exquisite mental torture, when unmercifully applied by these extortioners. Innumerable unhappy persons are unquestionably thus tormented, like Prometheus on his rock. Such anguish, although unseen, is far greater than physical suffering, as all mental tribulation is more severe than mere bodily pain. If any one who is assailed by a miscreant in quest of ‘hush-money’ were at once to place the matter in the hands of some respectable solicitor, a course of misery would be avoided, as any attempt to extort money through threats or otherwise comes clearly within the provisions of the Act above mentioned; and criminal proceedings will be found the most effectual means for exterminating so great a social pest. DONALD—A PONY. Are thy tired feet on this rough earth yet walking, Thou patient silent one; Maybe, with humble cart, and poor wares hawking, Thy life-course nearly run? Be thankful that thou dost not e’er remember One radiant summer day; That dreams of June come not in _thy_ December, When skies are cold and gray! He rode on thee along the sunny highway, To meet me where I stood Out from the village, in a soft green by-way— Our young hearts were in flood. He saw me—swift as thought from off thee leaping, He led thee by one hand; And with the other clasped me, sweetly keeping Me under Love’s command. Ah! then began a walk through Eden’s glory— We wandered slowly on; While I, deep blushing, saw and read the story That through his blue eyes shone. We sat, and let thee browse—came some light laughter To ease our brimming hearts, That could not tell their too full joy; till—after— When pierced by parting’s darts.