years past-perhaps I may disburden myself now. has been a fickle jade to you, I hear." Fortune "We have experienced, indeed, a great reverse in our condition." "So have I-you knew me as I was-you see me as I am; who do you think worked the change? You! I was ignorant, you gave me learning; I was degraded, you ennobled me; I was despised, you made me respected; I was in rags, and you dressed me in jewels; I was a beggar, and now I'm a banker; I had nothing, and you gave me every thing!" exclaimed Howard, with vehemence; but instantly recalling his last words, he added, in a choaked voice, no, not every thing; no, not every thing;" and pressing his hands tightly on his forehead, remained silent for the space of a minute; then, recovering himself, said, in his usual voice, in reply to Mrs. Jerningham's exclamation of wonder and delight, You may perhaps feel interested to hear my story; I'll spend the evening with you, and relate it 'twill somewhat hurt me-but never mind that." Mrs. Jerningham expressed her sense of the favour, and her anxiety to learn the adventures of so many years. Meliora sent to Hamilton Place to make excuses for the length of her stay; and after tea had been served, the mother and daughter composed themselves to listen with attention to Mr. Howard's narrative. (To be continued.) METRICAL SKETCHES. BY MISS M. L. BEEVOR. No. I.-THE DESOLATE ONE. Mirth, music, are around her, in the lordly castle hall, With rich, warm beauty, formed to hold worn icy hearts in thrall; The noble and the proud are there-the loved and loving meet Whilst glad young voices blend with sounds of dancing, joyous feet. A chastened, pearly lustre, like pale moonlight on the hills, From vases, nestling amid flowers, the column'd area fills; Night's perfumed breezes steal through webs of silken gossamer, And madd'ning draughts of ecstasy are quaffed by all, save her! The Desolated One-she sits within that charmed bower, And more 'mid revels, than amid wild hermit shades, alone! Alone-in drearest loneliness-the solitude of heart; cherished And, like a statue on a tomb, she guards and wooes the DEAD! The throng she sits amid are told that they must make her gay; But e'en sad, heavy thoughts have wings, and her's have soared away, Unto a dreamy band, to that glad company unknown- She sees bright forms and faces-the young husband of her heart, With pale and lovely babes, from whom 'twas death indeed to part; Whilst kindred, brethren, parents, seem, with solemn, tender eyes, To gaze upon their DESOLATE, and smile her to the skies! She hears glad voices murmur all around her-not of earth; Till her seared soul is wrought to frenzied agony at last! So, though stern, still, and cold her gaze, as if her iron eye, What, then, are they to her who with the rosy, holy light Oh! she feels those laughing bright ones do but sadly mock the GONE! What, to the DESOLATE, are things which own a witching power A deep, unearthly ravishment, in this enchanted hour? Roses, and perfumed breezes, moonlight lamps, and music rare, Which sweeps so rich in blessings through-it sanctifies the air? NOTHING -she asks not, heeds not these; but, for her woman's heart, That, which shall soothe, and make her feel she hath in life some part: Recall the dead she would not, from their unkenned happiness, But only craves one smallest thing-again to love and bless! For Love is woman's LIFE :-nay, then, look up, thou DESO LATE! Thou breathing monument! and heed no more thy lorn estate; Since whom thou mournest are "not dead but sleeping," and shall yet Requite the fond, the faithful one, who never could forget! Great Marlow, Bucks. THE PEASANT EARL. Autumnal delights, harvest pleasures, and rural festivities, had surrounded the "Hall of Scoresby," when one Edward Browne, habited in a shepherd's dress-a kind of pea-green jacket-his throat à la Byron, and a "staff with an ivory crook," the very antipodes of poetry and romance-appeared at the door. His countenance had an expression completely at war with his appearance; it was really noble, and taken individually gave an idea of high birth, and superior station. His features were regular and manly, his brow lofty, and shaded by thick glossy curls; and the young ladies of the family were induced to imagine that he was some runaway youth, who had come to offer his services by way of a frolic. That he did offer his assistance that he entered the family of the Scoresby's-that he became a general favourite with every member, is "most clear." Dubious conjectures veiled, at this time, his proper character. Ellen, a lovely girl of seventeen, scrutinized every action, and really had many complaints to make against him; but yet it was rather singular, she always took his part when her father, or any of the family, found fault with him, and blushed most bewitchingly when they expressed their approbation at his conduct. Edward was rather partial, at the close of the day, to saunter by an adjoining wood, and exercise his little pipe, on which he performed very creditably. On these occasions Ellen was very anxious, being uncommonly fond of music, to take a stroll with her sisters; and although they liked music very well, they never seemed so much disappointed as she did, when they missed hearing him, or the weather prevented him from following the bent of his inclination. Ellen, independent of being a very smart housewife, had a relish for more elegant accomplishments; and, for an amateur, painted very pretty flowers and landscapes. I must not forget to speak of the view behind her father's house, with the river meandering through his meadow; the village spire peeping above the rising corn-fields, and the whole bounded by the sombre wood. No wonder, then, that Ellen should have thought so charming a spot would make a pretty drawing; and accordingly she took it into her head to take a sketch from a little summer-house, in which she and her sisters were accustomed to spend part of their afternoons. The wood, and the meadow, and river, were already committed to the paper, when she remembered that the most delightful landscape was incomplete without a human figure. She first drew some cattle, then a dog; and at last appeared, by the side of the wood, a shepherd; and what was very singular, he seemed playing on a flageolet. She had proceeded so far when, being called away, she left the drawing on the table where she had been sketching it. The next day, on returning to finish her performance, she was most agreeably surprised to find some one had saved her the trouble, the outlines were filled up, and all the colours looked more glowing; it was evidently finished by a masterly hand, particularly the figure of the shepherd, who strongly reminded her, as she told her sisters, of some one she had seen before, but could not tell whom. "Don't you think it is a little like Edward Browne?" asked Mary, with an arch look. Ellen did not dare to reply, or look up, but hid her face blushingly in her sister's bosom. Why, or wherefore, I cannot tell, but certainly it was a curious thing, as none of the family could draw, how the piece should get finished. Mary herself marvelled, although a girl of much acuteness. What communication afterwards passed between the sisters we were not fortunate enough to be made acquainted with. They seemed rather reserved towards each other, but still were as tender and affectionate as ever. Edward, in the meantime, got a prodigious favourite with all the family. Mr. Snowdon, at the solicitation of Jack, made him his gamekeeper, as he was fond of piping in the woods, and using his fowling-piece. And Henry had him to read for the purpose of improving his cacology, as Lord Duberley would say. Things went on in this manner for the space of two or three months, when one morning, breakfast having waited a considerable time, Charles noticed that Ellen had not come down; and her brothers and sisters having expressed their astonishment at her laziness, as she was always one of the first, one of them went and tapped at her door. To his surprise no one answered: he then went into the room, but could see nothing of her; the bird had evidently flown upon his mentioning it to the family, they thought she had gone to visit one of her pensioners in the neighbour. |