I had the pleasure of hearing Mr. Adams, of Massachusetts, make a speech. He is very old, and his hand trembles, and his voice breaks. I was sorry to see that he got very angry――very angry indeed. It seems to me that such an old man should not get angry; but perhaps I am wrong, for I am only a boy. I should have loved him, if he had been mild, and calm, and dignified. I must now close my letter: perhaps I shall write you again. Good bye. Yours, truly, JAMES NORTON. [Music:] The Two Leaves. MUSIC COMPOSED BY GEO. J. WEBB. Upon a bough a yellow leaf, Seemed sad and sighing, full of grief; While bright beside it gaily sung Another leaf, still green and young; And then the old leaf whisper’d light, Unto its neighbor fair and bright―― “Why giddy leaf art thou so gay, While I, thy sister, fade away? While I, thy sister, fade away? “Look down, and mark the valley deep, Where we must soon in shadow sleep; And is it meet so frail a thing,―― A trembling leaf,――should dance and sing?” The green leaf, answering, softly sung, “Sweet sister, once thyself was young, And thy fond bosom danced with bliss, E’en though the zephyr stole a kiss! “I sing a soft and cheerful lay, Perchance, because my heart is gay; Perchance to please a floweret, born Beside me on my own birth-morn. “So pray forgive, my sister sere, If more I court the smile than tear; And when I’m yellow, withered, pale, I’ll sigh, and sink in yonder vale.” MERRY’S MUSEUM. Vol. VII. FEBRUARY, 1844. No. 2. [Illustration (ice skaters)] [Illustration: F]ebruary is upon us; a severe, unrelenting month, in which winter seems to reign, in these northern regions, with resistless sway. Far to the south, as in Georgia and Louisiana, the birds have chosen their mates and are building their nests; the peas in the gardens are in blossom; the strawberries are beginning to form, and the lilacs and roses are in bloom. But here, alas, the rivers are in icy fetters――the earth is wrapt in snow――and not a symptom of starting vegetation is seen over the whole face of nature.