Plantation life, with its roomy surroundings, has given many finely developed characters. The oak, the chestnut and the tulip tree of the forest tower higher, because of close contact, perhaps, but in shape differ little from each other. Planted in the open, each one hastens to assume its natural form, and becomes symmetrical in a way with which the other cannot vie. So, too, is it with human life, in country and in city. Flaws there doubtless are in both, and our noblest characters ofttimes adorn themselves with some pet whimsicality or foible for which, like the dwellers of Cranford, they are even more dearly loved. "Life is a gift from divine Love," says the new teaching, and "why divide it up into little bits, and think that little by little we are using it up, and that soon we shall come to an end." "Ignore birthdays, which only carry suggestions of age and ugliness, and remember that _life_ and _goodness_ are immortal." Such doctrine as this could it have been spoken in Dolly's day, would doubtless have voiced her feelings, and been of greatest comfort. For birthdays she greatly preferred to forget, and was apt indeed, to do so. Why should the dear old lady have been reminded so often, of the many milestones past, and the very few ahead? FROM THE COLLECTION OF SIMON GRATZ, PHILADELPHIA. I often desire to see you when I cannot, but now there is a new reason for the liveliness of my wishes--it is to rectify the mistake of a moment, not "of a night." You enquired last evening if I was not one year older than your mother. I answered yes, when I ought to have said several--In truth I could then only remember my first acquaintance with that beloved relation, when all the world seemed young to us.-- She was about seventeen, and I turned of twenty--this was my calculation before I slept last night--and, being anxious to disavow the affection of curtailing some precious years, I will give you a copy of the notice of me in our family Bible, ... and having been all my life in the world, it gives me the advantage sometimes of the nominal advance to eighty. I know you will excuse this little sally on your time because with all your other great qualities you have the most reasonable and indulgent temper. Your friend and cos., Jan^y 29th 1839 D. P. Madison. To The Hon^{ble} W. C. Preston. Darwin has said that a man's worth is best measured by the duration of his friendships. Dolly's friendships were life-long. She never allowed the friends of more recent date, no matter who they might be, to crowd into the background the friends of her youth. In the days of her prosperity, rich and poor were alike welcomed at her lavish board.