TRIFLES; OR, THE FIRST OF SEPTEMBER. BY H. E. A. E. "Trifles make the sum of human things, Perhaps it would be difficult to point out an axiom containing more truth, or truth more applicable to all stations and abilities, or more suited to the necessities and common casualties of this every-day world, than this our motto; and yet we are for the most part content to bestow on it colloquiai approbation alone, rather than, by preferring it to a prominent place in our mental repositories, suffer it to influence our actions, by giving that encouragement and warning for which it is so eminently calculated. So incongruous were the workings of nature in this particular with Hubert Wittol, Esquire, that even while admiring to a friend the justice and force of the sentiment, he actually broke into an astounding passion with his groom for misunderstanding his orders respecting a favourite gun, which he had desired to be prepared for active service by the First of September, a day on which he designed, with the assistance of a warmly attached friend, to seal the fate of myriads of the feathered tribe, or rather of that particular family, called in English, Partridge. This friend, Finnemor Birline, Esquire, was a barrister, and though young, was of some practice; yet he had engaged on this day to desert the soul-inspiring study of the law for the purpose of lending his aid in inflicting ills beyond the power of its sister profession, physic, to remedy. The first-named gentleman was lord of Manor, and his sister enacted, very much to the general satisfaction, lady of the mansion, and Lady Bountiful of the village; and there were not wanting those who surmised that the bright eyes of this young lady were concerned in drawing the young barrister from his studies; but when he protested he was enthusiastically attached to the country in general, far be it from us to hint that he had any penchant for Manor in particular, especially as he represented himself as strongly interested in the excitement of field sports; consequently, the slander levelled against the supremacy of law must, or ought to, recoil on the heads of the propellers, to their lasting confusion. The First of September! Who may, who can pass it over unmarked, when such numberless circumstances make it so audibly and visibly apparent? To the resident in urban districts the day is momentarily demonstrated by the unnumbered loads of game; some exposed to view, with merely addresses ap pended; others partially concealed; and again more, carefully secured from prying eyes by matting, wicker, &c., as the case may be, yet exciting no curiosity in the most inquisitive, every one feeling morally certain of the contents of packages from friends in the country on such a day; while the suburban or rural sojourner is too early, too continually, regaled with the sundry pops and bangs, with their reverberating echoes in every direction, to leave the slightest chance of its being forgotten, till the God of Day (who at this time in the year is usually grown somewhat supine) gives decided tokens of betaking himself to his repose earlier than wont, peradventure impelled by drowsiness, or probably induced by the effluvia of ammu nition or noise, from the unceasing discharge of fire-arms, which, while fraught with fatal mission for aerial wanderers, to the contemplative mind ring the knell of departing summer. little The particular First,' so ardently anticipated by Hubert Wittol, Esquire, and his friend learned in the law, dawned late and heavily. Up to this time the weather had been so bright and warm that one might have fancied summer had taken a new lease, intending to put winter hors de combat; but if such were the case, all must have been speedily reinstated in its natural order by the sight of this morning's immense volumes of mist resting on the earth, filling the surcharged air, that was already so heavily laden, one might well wonder how the immense drops of rain contrived to get through, especially at such tiny intervals. This state of things had been so indicated or expected, that the gentlemen were not well prepared to encounter either a superabundance of moisture or disappointment— nathless, the day was come, the barrister arrived, the guns were pronounced in prime order, and an attempt must be made. Miss Wittol, who had risen earlier than usual to welcome her brother's friend, or the auspicious morning, perhaps both, requested Hubert would, after their sport was over, and which was to end early, call on Mrs. Blandford, present her with game course, and excuse his sister from accompany ing her in the proposed afternoon drive until the morrow, when she would be at her service. This was promised, and further to insure its performance, Mr. Birline undertook to refresh his friend's memory on the point, if need were. The rain had abated, and, soon after they had of sallied forth, desisted for a time indefinite, leaving their road—which, be it known to the uninitiated, lay through woods and thickets, over ploughed land, soft marshy meadows, bushy fences, and deep ditches-in a most delectable condition. But all this is far beneath the notice of true sportsmen, and therefore our heroes, who forgot to mingle a sigh to the falling leaves (which strewed their path) with their aspirations for plenty of sport; and they toiled on, and on, mindful only that they had traversed some considerable breadth of land, without having enjoyed a single chance of testing their fowling pieces, or the exact state of their own nervous systems, and the temper-no, the sanguine spirits of the small party began to flag. They proceeded in moody silence till an unlucky bramble swept the face of Hubert, and in its rebound caught the trigger of the barrister's fusile, which, yielding to the force, sent a sharp report through the air, whose reverberating echoes startled the doomed ones with the first intelligence of their danger. This untoward accident caused an immediate halt, and an alteration in the disposition of things; Mr. Birline being requested by his friend to place in the hands of their attendant the weapon he had proved himself so unequal to keep under proper restraint, until they reached the preserves,' where Hubert expressed himself certain of finding a large supply of what as yet had been not scarce, but virtually a nonentity, 'game. This wished-for place was eventually gained; but alas! the winged occupants of the leafy enclosure had apparently received notice of the murderous intentions, had possibly studied Punch's inimitable almanac; be it as it may, no at homes' could be met with for a considerable space of time, at the end of which up flew a covey. Disdaining to appear startled by an event they were ostensibly expecting, and ought to be prepared for, Hubert tried hard, but the trigger hung, or the powder was damp, or something was wrong which has yet to be accounted for, as the whole escaped to all appearance scatheless, and to his great mortification he lost an opportunity of displaying his brilliant prowess, tact, and skill, to the admiration of the comparative tyro; still it was but a trifle, and had it escaped the combination of a fatiguing walk to small purpose, and the provoking smile of his companion, who had not quite relished his forced resignation, though he had submitted as having no alternative, it might have fallen into the obscurity ordained for trifles. Hubert shot again, but irritation is incompatible with physical precision, and he was again unfortunate; the bird, though wounded, followed the example of its predecessors, and escaped. The barrister next essayed a proof of his prowess by missing his bird, though Hubert declared he had the advantage of him in point of distance. At length, both dogs brought one point, and each prepared for action, not doubting it to be a covey of partridges; but on the instant up flew that gem of English birds, a pheasant. Both had been raised, and fired; it was too guns late to retract, for quick as lightning the mutilated remains of what a moment before was a peerless beauty lay at their feet in disjointed atoms; both had hit it, and the novice, to insure the expected prize, had given it the contents of both barrels. What was to be done? To shoot a pheasant before October is poaching, according to the game laws; and what gentleman would lay himself open to such an accusation? Each might have sought to exonerate himself by casting the blame on the other, but the shattered state of the bird set such recrimination at rest; and they were now convinced past doubt they could shoot, they could hit, they could kill, for here lay the evidence before them. The attendant was directed to put out of sight the tangible proof of their error, while they walked on with tempers little improved by the last-named incident, which added one more to the list of trifles. A little while, and two partridges crossed their path, one of which made its escape; but the other answered to the summons sent from either gun, and each claimed the bird as his own, believing himself the victor. Unfortunately, but one could have the bird, or, what was more weighty still, claim the honour. Hubert declared it quite preposterous to think he could be excelled by one who had so little exercise in the sport, for the condition plainly shewed that the contents of one barrel only had reached it; and was it feasible, he asked, that he, Hubert, who was deemed a good shot even in that neighbourhood, so celebrated for its artistes in that line, would miss such a chance, or be excelled by one possessing few opportunities of practice! "The very reason," returned the other warmly, I why such an one should not be deprived of the honour when earned." "But is it earned?" exclaimed Hubert, with more heat than the occasion merited, or his position warranted. "I say yes; but as you deny it, let us hear what says our only witness, though I fear he is too much under influence to give verdict in my favour." The witness referred to was their follower, a youth of some eighteen years, and an original of his kind; he replied to the interrogatory"It's my notion ye neither of ye shot it, for master, meaning to be sportsman-like, and give it plenty of law, pitched too high and too wide; an' you, sir, knowin' better what to do with law than to use it to kill birds, 'specially when it's to give 'em a chance of livin', why you didn't give 'em no law at all, and so you pitched too low, and the bird bein' up to the trade-p'raps bin shot at so last year-popped up, an you shot under it." "How then do you account for its death?" cried both, constrained to smile, and amused in spite of themselves. “Oh!" said he, assuming a look of extreme gravity; "I s'pose there was such a rattlin' o' shots in the air that it thought best to save its life by droppin' down; and then, may be, the shots from your two guns pounced aginst it so hard, 'twas bleeged to die, an' tho' only some of 'em went in, out of the scrimmage how can we tell which gun they come out of; an' as for the bird, I should like to know what partridge was ever made so much of afore. It's my belief the thing wouldn't be alive agen if it could, 'less 'twas to hear the speechifications." sory) to parry the home thrusts of Mrs. Blandford concerning the adventures of the day, his skill, success, &c., &c., to all which he endeavoured to reply with calm serenity; but when he fancied his young hostess an amused coadjutor in the scrutiny he was undergoing, he certainly kept within the pale of politeness, nor said, nor manifested in any way, that it cost him an effort, however slight, to do so. And thus was concluded, as it began, in disappoint day long anticipated, and dwelt on as promising much of real delight. How few, how very few are there but could point to some trifle as having influenced their proceedings, both in thought and action, which influence has extended to remote subjects in an indefinable degree! The true importance of trifles is little considered, otherwise, how many are there which a due reflection would shew it incumbent on us to avoid or pursue with decision, which are now passed over as totally indifferent. The cackling of geese is said to have saved an ancient city; more modern, and nearer our own times, was the drum beating which is noted as having preluded the first outbreak of a continental revolution. Many momentous circumstances may be traced to one small action; even an untimely burst of temper, or an unfriendly word, which being more bitterly remembered by others than intended by ourselves, may be productive of many evil consequences. But to our conclusion. The young barrister was no more invited to try a day's sport at If this did not satisfactorily settle the matter of ownership, it certainly made each feel the awkwardness of having acted childishly (to give it the mildest terin), and that too in the presencement, vexation, ill-humour, and discomfort, a of a menial, who plainly shewed them he was cognizant of the fact; yet, though each was conscious of error, pride forbade the smallest step towards accommodation or acknowledgment on either side; but Hubert remembered, with a gleam of pleasure, that his character as host would soon give him the power of doing his best to avert the chagrin of his guest, without compromising his own dignity or foregoing his pride. All pacific overtures were rendered unavailing at present, however, by a disastrous event which happened to his friend: this was a mal-apropos roll into a ditch, defended by a thick, sturdy border of nettles, and which revenged their outraged feelings roused by this unceremonious intrusion, by stinging the hands and face of the intruder in right good earnest. It took neither much time or labour to rescue the gentleman from his unpleasing position, which was unfortunately more ludicrous than perilous. It may seem strange that we say unfortunately, but a sense of danger usually dislodges every particle of spleen, both in ourselves towards others, and them towards us, and would doubtless have done so in this instance; as it was, involuntary laughter acted vice versa by making the sufferer painfully conscious of his disfigurement, which he feared might, by lasting through the evening, deprive him of the pleasure he promised himself as a sort of offset against his numerous disappointments during the day. The young lady's commission, in their contentions, had been entirely forgotten, nor once thought on until the presence of the loquacious Mrs. Blandford gave them an intimation of their negligence. That lady, unmindful of the alteration of Miss Wittol's arrangement, called according to promise, when her presence told the young lady her request had been unremembered, or at least unexecuted, and in a fit of pique she pressed her visitor to remain her guest for the evening, and assist in entertaining their visitor. The elder lady, to whom a stranger was as a bright star in her narrow hemisphere, readily complied. For a company where parties were pre-occupied by private matters, this lady would have been invaluable; and even here her fluency was convenient, as it shielded the young men from the necessity of too frequently addressing each other; but unhappily, Mr. Birline soon found it also nullified his most strenuous efforts and best directed ingenuity to engage the younger lady's exclusive attention; and, after many nugatory attempts, he was compelled to give up the contest (though not without internally accusing Miss Wittol herself of being an acces Manor, nor did any of the parties meet again till years of experience had been added to their sometime slender stock; and then the smile at their former captious irascibility was blended with regrets that they had permitted such undue influence to trifles as enabled the contested body of a poor little bird to estrange individuals nature had formed for dearest friends. THE WEST INDIAN CREOLE BY THE HONOURABLE JULIA MAYNARD. Half-drooping lids! deep-fring'd they shade Madonna-wise divided there, Havannah's spicy forests weird, Associate ever seem with thee. Too finely organized to bear Our chilly clime, so bleak and rude, TRUE NOBILITY; OR, THE BLACKSMITH'S DAUGHTER. BY MRS. EMMA C. EMBURY. "This is the prettiest low-born lass that e'er "Well, well, mon ami, I will not argue the point with you; as an American you are right in holding such a belief; but you must still allow me to think there is something not to be despised in ancient and honourable descent. I cannot but believe that the descendant of those who for generations had been ennobled by lofty deeds of high emprise will be more likely to perform magnanimous actions than the son of the humble plebian." "You agree with me precisely, Henri; but we differ in terms. I assert that the children of a family which can look back with honest pride to deep integrity and uprightness, of virtue and heroism, are the true scions of nobility; for their patent bears the signet of an Almighty hand." 66 "Then the son of an honest blacksmith ought to be as proud of his birth as the heir of a Montmorenci or a Conde; is that your opinion?" 'Something very like it, I confess, Henri. What was the origin of the nobles of the old world? Rapine and violence gave them their heritage of broad lands; while servile submission to a monarch, or perhaps treachery to his enemy, was often the price paid for sounding titles. Had they been ennobled for their virtues, Henri, and had they transmitted these, together with their proud names, through succeeding generations, then well might their descendants have gloried in their birth; but surely you need not be reminded of the black catalogue of crime which might be appended to every genealogical chart in merri England,' no less than in your 'grande' nation?" "I won't quarrel with you about it, Frank; but I shall never become a convert to your doctrine. Perhaps I am too deeply infected with such prejudices, but they were a part of my lawful heritage." "I know it, Henri: the blood of one of the noblest families in France runs in your veins, and the only wonder is, that under such circumstances you should possess so much true nobility." "What do you mean?" "I am surprised that you did not follow the example of most branches of a noble stock, and make the fame of your ancestors a license for your own worthlessness." "Frank, you are incorrigible," said Henri, laughing; "according to your creed I ought to rank you, who possess so many estimable qualities, among the lowest of the low." "Place me in what station you choose, Henri, so long as you find no cause of despising me. But you mistake me; I do not think nobility of soul incompatible with nobility of birth; I only mean to assert that heroic deeds are more frequently performed by men in a lowly than in an exalted station, for the latter have an inheritance of fame, and are too often content to use it to its last grain, without adding anything to it for the next generation." "I should like to see your father, Frank." "You shall be gratified if you choose to accompany me home in the spring; but, in what station do you expect to find him?” "If I must judge by your theory, I should say he is some humble artisan. But I know better than to believe such a thing; I suppose he is one of the aristocracy of your republican country, living in the most independent of all modes, as a gentleman farmer, and I should not be surprised if he had carefully preserved a box of old papers, which enabled him to trace his descent from some English yeoman of the eighth Harry.” "You were never more mistaken in your life." "Well, don't tell me anything about him; I mean to go and see for myself. But no one shall persuade me that you could derive from any mean parentage the chivalrous sentiments which led you to save my life at the risk of your own." Pshaw, I wish you would not think so much of a trifling service." 66 "You may underrate your disinterestedness as much as you please; but if any one else were to tell me that the man who bound his own lifepreserver on a sick stranger, when the black waters were yawning to devour him, had performed only a trifling service, I think he would find a little of the spirit of my ancestors in my reply." The speakers who thus discussed points of honour, while they puffed the fragrant smoke from their Habanas,' were Henri de Valance, a young West Indian of large fortune, and his friend Frank Western, who had left his native village to seek wealth in New Orleans, that El Dorado of all who can resist mosquitoes and yellow fever. They had met as strangers on board a Mississippi steamer, where Henri was suffering from the feebleness attendant upon a niture; chairs, evidently the handicraft of some long illness. Before they reached their port of village mechanic, offered little promise of luxudestination, the boat was snagged, and the pas-rious ease; and the row of shining brass cansengers were in the most imminent danger, when Frank, seeing the pallid stranger at his side, quietly took off his life-preserver, saying, "I am strong, and can swim; but you are utterly helpless take this, and save yourself." The opportune arrival of a steamer rescued them, after an exposure of some hours to the most imminent danger; but Henri never forgot the heroic act of his new friend. With the warm heartedness of his age and clime, he attached himself closely to Frank, and even resolved to accompany him to his native home, rather than part with him for a whole season. The first spring buds were unfolding their soft green to the warm gales, when the friends set out on their northern journey. Henri was charmed with everything he saw in nature, though strongly disposed to find amusement in some very natural traits of individual character. The bold and magnificent scenery of our beautiful land, excited his enthusiastic admiration, while his prejudices were sadly shocked at some occasional glimpses of American life. By the time he arrived at New York, he was more deeply confirmed in the ideas of the advantage of high birth; and as he contrasted the quiet, gentlemanly deportment of Frank with the coarse manner of some of their travelling companions, he could not help congratulating himself on having a friend among the better class of our plebian citizens. dlesticks which decorated the chimney-piece, were certainly better calculated to excite ideas of utility than of beauty. But Henri soon forgot these things in the pleasure he derived from the warm and hearty welcome with which he was greeted. The family consisted only of Mr. Weston and his daughter, and the young stranger knew not whether to be most charmed with the frank and courteous manner of the old man, or the fresh and glowing beauty of his friend's sister. Lucy Weston was a true American beauty; not one of those fragile, delicate creatures to be seen in gossamer robes and silken slippers, treading the muddy streets of our great cities, and awakening, by the very character of their loveliness, the painful remembrance of decay. She had a clear complexion, a deep yet cool colour upon her cheek, a mouth perhaps rather too large for regular beauty, but full of expres sion, eyes blue as the sky in spring, and arched by brows of the darkest chesnut, hair of that rich golden brown which is rarely seen in perfection among the unmixed Saxon race, a form slender and graceful, yet developed into perfect symmetry by healthful exercise, and all these were characteristic of American loveliness. Remember, gentle reader, I am describing the native charms of a village beauty. Lucy Weston had not been immured in the impure atmosphere of a heated nursery during her infancy; she had not spent the best ten years of her life amid the restraints of a boarding-school--she had not been taught that a game of romps was a very "ungenteel thing," and that "little ladies should never move faster than a walk." She had sported and played, and enjoyed a thorough drilling in that physical education which is now so much neglected. The merry little hoydon had acquired the rich treasure of health, while she was only pursuing the bent of her childish nature; and when she did apply herself to mental labour, she brought to her duties a robust frame and perceptions quickened by It was late in the afternoon of one of those balmy days which make June so delightful a month in America, when the travellers approached the spot where Frank Weston was born and bred. As they proceeded slowly along a road cut in the side of a mountain, they looked down upon the villages lying at the foot of the declivity, and nothing could be more beautiful than the view. The neat snow-white cottages were clustered together in a delightful valley, through which ran a clear and beautiful stream, spanned by a rustic bridge. Large elms, those most beautiful of all forest trees, were seen, studding the inequalities of the ground in posi-daily use. Sooth to say, Lucy would not have tions that seemed chosen for their picturesque beauty; and, as the beams of the setting sun shone aslant between their broad stems, gilding the surface of the little river, and reflected in gorgeous hues from the casements of the pretty cottages, Henri thought he had never seen so lovely a spot. 66 figured to much advantage at a musical soirée, or even at a ball. She was indebted to the village singing-master for her little knowledge of music; and though she occupied a distinguished place in the church choir, she would scarcely have been able to join in an Italian duet. And as to her dancing, it was lady-likeYou will find my native home rather a for she could do nothing that was not so; but, humble abode, Henri," said Frank, as he ap- certainly, her teacher had added few "foreign proached it. Henri did certainly look a little airs" to her "native graces." She was very surprised when he found Frank's father occupy-deficient in the requisites for obtaining distincing a house not a whit superior to his neighbours -a low-browed cottage, with plenty of room on the ground-floor, but possessing no claim either to stateliness or gentility. To be sure it was as neat as woman's skill could make it. Carpets of home manufacture covered the floors; tables of cherry wood, polished so as to rival mahogany, supplied the place of more costly fur tion in fashionable life; but then she possessed no small share of useful accomplishments. She made the whitest bread and the sweetest butter that ever graced a breakfast table-her puddings and pies were delicious-her skill in darning and mending, that most necessary talent of "making auld claithes luik 'maist as well as new," was unrivalled-she was the neatest and quickest of |