believe, as we have heard nothing since to that effect. Cæsar begins to grow gray; but he is as merry as a skylark; and Wolf, towards whom I formed quite an attachment, is the very prince of housedogs. One sweet little pledge of love has already blessed the union of Charles and Catharine; and the grandmother says it is the best and most intelligent child in the world. But grandmothers are not always the best judges in such cases.

THE STEEL CLASP.

-Will you believe the world?

I thought you knew it better than to take
An accusation for a sentence.

WERNER.

IF any of my readers have ever crossed the Alleghany mountains, on the old road running between Baltimore and Wheeling, which was used, previous to the completion of the present excellent turnpike, they may have noticed, in a small and romantic glen, a few miles after passing Laurel Ridge, an uncommonly rude and uninviting log hut, standing just in the edge of the deep forest by which the valley is shaded. Near its door, a sign-post, to which a small fragment of a sign is still attached, and on the opposite side of the road a horseshed, as large as the cabin itself, mark it as once having been occupied as a tavern. It was in this cabin, a number of years ago, on a tempestuous evening, in the inidst of a severe winter, that a group of three persons was gathered round a blazing fire, busily engaged in narrations of witchcraft, when their conversation was suddenly interrupted by a loud knocking at the door. The oldest person of the group was a female of between fifty and sixty years of age, the extreme coarseness of whose apparel denoted her to be a domestic; the youngest was the daughter of the landlord, a pretty girl of about fourteen; and the other a young man.

called hostler, but whose duties were as multifarious as those of Caleb Quotem himself. The road on which the inn was situated was but little frequented at that season of the year, and it was very unusual for travellers to be abroad at so late an hour; it was, therefore, by no means strange that a loud summons, in the midst of a violent storm, occasioned much surprise to the circle at the fireside, especially when the nature of the tales to which they had been listening is taken into consideration.

"The Lord bless us !" said the old and withered servant, who had been hitherto busily twirling her spinning-wheel in a corner of the huge fire-place-"The Lord bless us! what can that be? Steal softly to the door, Jock, my boy, and find what sort of visiters are wandering about in such a night;-no good ones, I fear. Hist!" (and the revolutions of her wheel were suspended that she might more distinctly hear,) "hist! why sure I heard a groan.'

Betty was not mistaken; and if the sound seemed at all equivocal before, it was now repeated so loudly as to be audible to every ear. The knocking was immediately after resumed, accompanied by the voice of a man, craving earnestly for admittance.

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For the love of mercy," cried the applicant without, "open your door, good people, if you would not have my master, who has been robbed, and nearly murdered, to perish on your threshold, in the storm."

This appeal to his humanity at one dispelled the idle fears of the hostler, and restored him to manhood. The hand that had been almost palsied by dread of supernatural evils, became instantly renerved at the call of real distress, though accompanied perhaps by real danger. Throwing open the door quickly, he rushed out into the storm, to assist those that had besought his aid, whomsoever they might be, provided

K

they but came in a tangible shape, "sensible to feeling as to sight." He soon returned, leading into the apartment a man in military undress, supported between himself and the servant whose knocking had caused their alarm. The face and apparel of the officer were stained with blood, which, contrasted with the palid hue of his cheeks, gave him a ghastly appearance. The servant requested that a surgeon might be sent for; and that, in the mean time, such dressings and cordials might be administered to his master, as would be likely to counteract the effect of loss of blood and long exposure to the storm. His requests were readily complied with. Jock was despatched to a neighbouring town for a surgeon, and the old woman prepared a wash for the wounded man's head, which, if it had no excellent medicinal operation, certainly reduced very much the apparent danger of his situation. She supplied him, also, with a sudorific tea, concocted from several efficacious simples of her own gathering, which produced a slight perspiration, and was soon followed by gentle slumber. Indeed, so great a change did the care and skill of the old lady bring about, that, before Jock returned to inform them that the surgeon, being himself an invalid, durst not venture out in so tempestuous a night, they all agreed that there was but little occasion for his presence.

In the course of the evening, when the household, with the addition of the landlord, who had been engaged in the stables on the first arrival of his guests, were again collected round the kitchen fire, a number of questions were asked of the servant of the wounded officer, in relation to the robbery of his

master.

"Psha!" interrupted the master of the house, he has been robbed, and that's enough to know about it. 'Tisn't the first time such a thing's happened this side of the mountains. I hope the young fellow'll get well

though, with all my heart. Where did you say it happened?"

"I am totally ignorant of this part of the country," returned James, (the name of the servant) "and am consequently unable to inform you. I think we must have travelled at least fifteen miles since the occurrence; but I was obliged to advance very slowly, on account of the condition of my master, and the night setting in very dark and stormy, it is as likely that I proceeded in a wrong, as in a right direction. But you can How far are we from Judge

doubtless inform me.

Roebuck's?"

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Judge Roebuck's!" eagerly asked the landlord. "Is your master's name Captain Belton, the step-son of the Judge?"

"The same."

"Merciful Providence!" ejaculated the landlord, dropping into a chair, "the son of my benefactor! Villain! oh, precious villain!"

"Yes, a precious scoundrel, truly," resumed the servant: "but he has sadly missed his aim this time. Captain Belton will live, as I hope and believe, to see the rascal hanged yet. He thinks he has made a fine haul, and he has, to be sure, pocketed a considerable sum; but he has pocketed with it that which will destroy him."

"What do you mean?" inquired the landlord.

"Why, sir, there are such things as pickpockets and thieves in all countries; and having had occasion to cross Hounslow-Heath a few times before I crossed the Atlantic, I have learned to make use of precautions when setting out upon a journey. When I drew the money from the bank, which the Captain wanted for his jaunt, I took the pains to make a list of all the notes, with the signatures and numbers; and as sure as the knave attempts to pass a single one of them, it