without the aid of any kind friend stepping in to say it is wearisome and unnecessary." was Shall I proceed? shall I relate how the evening spent in musical discussions? How much the young Tweedles played, and how indifferently, because, without real talent and ear, music was forced upon them, and, moreover, like the unfortunate band of Dullbeach, they were made by their mother to perform pieces, at which they had scarcely looked, for three special reasons: first, to practise them in playing at sight; secondly, to oblige them by dashing on at random, to conquer timidity; and thirdly, to make them ashamed, before strangers, of their idleness, in not having got up" their last new music? Shall I relate how both father and mother, working themselves up into a passion, greater for a piece or two of imperfect music, than if a heinous crime had been committed, abused their hapless sons and daughters in the most shocking terms, turned the lads out of the room, and sent the young ladies in tears, to bed, with strict orders, under certain penalties, to rise and be at practice by four o'clock next morning? Shall relate the grumblings and growlings which followed their exit, so utterly inconsistent with harmony, so inimical to quiet? Shall I tell how the parents of these young people bemoaned their hard fate, in being tormented with such idle and stupid children? and, how the triumphant Mrs. Tweedle of the morning was completely humbled into the desponding Mrs. Tweedle of the evening? Alas! alas! that such things should be! for that they are, experience has many a time shewn me! Those, however, of my readers, who are only blessed by hearing and seeing, the dramatic exhibition of youthful amateur musicians in a drawingroom, and know nothing of what passes behind the curtain in a really musical family; i. e. in a family where the study and practice of music, all divine as it is, is a manin, will not recognize the fidelity of my picture. We returned to our rooms hurt and disgusted, and my uncle pronounced our honourable friends more mad than Miss Oakley." To bed we retired, but not to sleep, for our poor insane neighbour being seized with one of her most violant paroxysms, the trampling, scuffling, and flinging down of furniture in her room, were alarming and incessant, and her screams appalling; Captain Stormaway rendered no better by the uproar immediately over his head, raged like a tropical tempest, and plied his bell, with little cessation, through the night, as if he meant it to be beard at York. At four o'clock precisely the young Tweedles commenced their doleful practice, a jargon of tones, and time, resembling that of the Conservatorios, or Music Schools of Italy. At six my aunt, uncle, Harry, and myself, were up and packing, and at ten all arrangements having been completed we quitted our quiet lodgings at Dullbeach, for ever! My uncle was in a better humour than I had seen him for some days, though conscientious Mistress Mudge took care to charge in our bill, for, (what every lodger had probably been mulcted to repair or replace, since the hour in which they had been first damaged) the cracked window pane, the chair-leg, and a broken bell-rope! But my aunt, highly chagrined at the result of her expedition, was, during many miles, exceedingly out of temper, and vowed never to speak to Miss Triss, as long as she lived: and next time, when she required a watering-place for the cure of nervousness, and quiet lodgings, to betake herself to Cheltenham, or to Brighton. Great Marlow, Bucks. SONNET. I love to gaze upon the Evening Star, When Nature almost slumbers:-nought is heard Which breathes its wildest, softest strains afar,- Which, floating o'er the bosom of a lake, But Oh! I love the more to gaze thereon, Since, Emma, thou didst love thereon to gaze,- Glad star of Eve! Elysium unto me!- bas qu And the clouds that on it lie doidw at Tuod edt ere acety aft 9 The rose, our garden's star, Idoid May turn its eye afar vasm yaiwbTo the stars of Heaven's shore ; But the winds our rose will blight; ridgid He comes no more! Wake not the festal lute ! For broken is the chain bound our hearts in vain, 0169 beauteous lips complain -He comes no more! -1sts as T No. II.-TлoU WERT THE RAINBOW OF MY DREAMS. Thou wert the rainbow of my dreams, To whom the eyes of Hope might turn, -956And bid her sacred flame arise } The cypress weeps upon thy tomb; Se this cold world appears more bright No. III.-How LOVELY IS THE HOUR. How lovely is the hour! When the queenly bride of night, How lovely is the hour! When sunbeams gild the rose, When thy lips reply to mine, EPIGRAM, ON THE MARRIAGE OF MISS DONILLY, OF BLACKWATER TOWN, TO THOMAS BROOK, ESQ. OF LOUGH ESK, COUNTY DONEGAL. When Daphne once fled From Apollo 'tis said, The form of a river she took; To escape from Love's snare, DOMESTIC TALES.-GRATITUDE. CAROLINE'S TALE. There is not a more pleasing exercise of the mind than gratitude. It is accompanied with such an inward satisfaction, that the duty is sufficiently rewarded by the performance. It is not, like the practice of many other virtues, difficult and painful, but attended with so much pleasure, that were there no positive command which enjoined it, nor any recompence laid up for it hereafter, a generous mind would indulge in it for the natural gratification that it affords. Addison, that's a dear good child," cried Mrs. Jerningham, as she imprinted an affectionate kiss on the cheek of her niece, yet glowing with the modesty of merit seeking concealment," you shall be no loser by your charity, my love," continued she, in allusion to a scene that she had accidentally witnessed, where, Emma having listened with tearful interest to the recital of a bare-footed beggar girl, who presented her petition for alms at the hospitable gate of Atherfield, without consulting any one but the dictates of a benevolent heart, and, as she imagined, without being an object of observation, had hastened to relieve the wants and miseries which the sympathies of her tender nature taught her keenly to appreciate, though her elevated sphere in society removed her far from the apprehension, that she should ever experience them. The ample domain of Atherfeld, situate within a few miles of the commercial city of Norwich, of which Mr. Jerningham was the present occupant, had not descended to him in right of inheritance. The heir at law having been lost in his passage homeward from the West Indies, the estate had reverted by virtue of the testament of its late possessor, to Augustus Jerningham, his very distant relation, who, together with his wife, his son, an orphan niece, whom he had taken under his protection, and a numerous train of happy and well regulated domestics and dependents, resided constantly on the manor; and proved, by his beneficence to the indigent, and the senti ments of esteem with which he was regarded by an extensive circle of friends, that the property could not have fallen into more deserving hands. |
