I ob

I had at last the satisfaction of feeling that I was not known. served that the unknown stranger seemed astonished when I ordered the porter to take in my luggage, but nothing passed, and I was heartily glad to be rid of his presence. At the door a pretty rosy-cheeked chambermaid asked if the young gentleman would be shown to his room. I assented; and after having shaken off the dust with which the ride had encumbered me, I proceeded to the traveller's-room and ordered refreshments. I had here ample chance to look around me. In the public room were seated several mercantile men, some engaged in conversation, others over their port, or reading their newspapers. One or two mawkish-looking young men were talking largely about the Newton races, which had just come off. I took a seat near the window, to command a view of the passers-by. The twilight continued far into the evening, and tempted out the most recluse; now a student from one of the colleges would pass with cap and gown; next came tripping by some tradesman's daughter, dressed for an evening out; next the sturdy laborer, covered with dust and sweat, going home after his day's toil to meet his wife and children, and be refreshed; some servant girls, in their Sunday's best, were talking and laughing very loud, as they sauntered along the pavement, watched by three or four young men, who might have been students, though they had doffed the garb of the college; carriages rolled along the street; the hackman was soliciting a fare. The very town seemed agog that evening, it was so delightful; and occasionally the rigid, unearthly sound of a passing Israelite would startle me with its never-ending 'Clothes! old clothes!' Presently a Frenchman made his appearance with two little dogs which he had taught to stand the one upon the shoulders of the other, (each upon their hind legs,) while the by-standers, by offering inviting morsels, first to one and then to the other dog, endeavored to disturb their equilibrium. The poor animals, although evidently very hungry, maintained their position, casting ever and anon longing looks toward the tempting bribe, and then despairingly toward their master, who only scowled at them, shook his head, and muttered, 'Dé donc !'

After the performance was over, requisition was made for pennies and sixpences, according to the liberality of the donors. The old man, it was evident, could speak no English beyond the 'var' good,' 'tank-ee,' which he used most generously, whether his suit was favored or rejected. As he approached me, cap in hand, leading his little dogs, I thought I could discover traces of deep feeling concealed under the air of mendicant entreaty which he assumed. A strong feeling of pity came over me; and as he passed, I dropped into his cap a half-crown piece : Dix mille grâces-ah! mon Dieu!' exclaimed the poor fellow; and then, as if remembering himself, repeated with great energy, three or four times, 'Var' good; tank-ee, tank-ee!'

6

As the old man turned away, after receiving his contribution, I walked up and addressed him in his own tongue. Had I cast a handful of guineas into his hat, it would not have had half the effect that was caused by a few familiar words in his native language falling upon the poor creature's ear. He stopped, clasped his hands together, lifted his eyes to heaven, and poured out a torrent of exclamations, blessings

a

and thanks, as if it were by some direct interposition of the Deity that I had crossed his path. After this was over, Laurent, for that was the old man's name, informed me that he was valet to the Marquis de distinguished nobleman of France; that his master, with his wife and only child, a beautiful girl, sixteen years of age, barely escaped with their lives from an infuriated Parisian mob, and by the assistance of humble friends, had found their way to the sea-board, and thence on board an English vessel, bound for London, where they landed about two months previous; that the marquis was too proud to make any application to the English government for relief; that madame was in very delicate health, and that the whole charge devolved upon Mademoiselle Emilie, who took care of her mother, sang and played for her father, and wrought at embroidery every leisure moment, from the proceeds of which a considerable sum was weekly realized. Laurent in the meanwhile fulfilled his usual duties as valet to the Marquis, to which were added those of steward and cook.

Beside this, whenever an opportunity allowed, and as Laurent confessed, without the knowledge of the family, he stole away with his two little dogs, which had been trained to innumerable grotesque feats to please his young mistress in happier days, and exhibited them in the manner I have described. The additional sum derived in this way was absolutely necessary to support the household, although they occupied a miserable little hut in the suburbs of the town.

I was deeply affected with Laurent's narrative, which was detailed with great effect, and in a most forcible manner, but resisted his earnest entreaties to accompany him home, believing that the natural pride of the marquis would overcome any other feeling he might have in seeing a stranger, no matter under what circumstances. So pressing a guinea upon poor Laurent, who went into another fit of ecstacy on the occasion, I bade him adieu.

Here was a new current given to my thoughts, and for the first time in my life, sentiment came into play. As I walked slowly toward the inn, I revolved Laurent's story over and over; every word that he told me of the unfortunate family was full in my mind. But the thought of the young girl, so devoted, so cheerful, so persevering in her efforts to provide for her parents, in this their hour of adversity and distress, was uppermost in my thoughts. How I regretted that I had not accepted the invitation of the valet, and thus obtained an interview! I will see her yet, I exclaimed; I will show her that an Englishman can sympathize with her, and she will understand my feelings, I know. I had wrought myself up into a fever-heat of enthusiasm by the time I reached the inn. Around the door were collected another group, intent upon the mummeries of an old gipsy, who, bent nearly double with age and pretended infirmities, was soliciting fortunes from the by-standers. The old creature was evidently well known, and consequently, although there were numbers ready to listen to her prophecies, few cared to be the subject of them. As I came up, the hag cast her black eyes upon me, which were still bright and piercing, and exclaimed,' Here is a fine youth, that I warrant me never has had his hand crossed by old Elspeth. Try a sixpence, now, and see if you do n't have a fortune with it.' I

don't know what devil prompted me to assent to this appeal. I knew the gipsy habit well, and had a thorough contempt for their jugglery; but the crowd gave way, and the old crone hobbled up to me; and aimost without my knowing it, she had my hand. First, she crossed it with a 'silver sixpence'- of course of my bestowing. A strange hand!' muttered she; 'I must cross it again with a silver shilling; it must needs be, young master,' she continued earnestly. I was prepared for this, and as I had commenced I determined to go on; so the silver shilling was produced. Another cross followed, and again old Elspeth was in a quandary. Indeed, I can say nought,' she muttered; my tongue is strangely tied. GOD wot what it means; but if I had a half crown piece to get the right angle with, you would hear something worth knowing.' By this time the attention of the crowd was attracted, for the fortune-teller's demand was exorbitant, even for a gipsy. Determined to end the scene, which was becoming any thing but agreeable to me, I put a half crown in her hand, and said, 'Take what you will, only have done with this foolery.' The old creature took the money, without paying any notice to my remark, crossed my palm with it very carefully several times, till she seemed to have struck upon the right line, then stopped, drew herself up till her form was erect, and looking me full in the face with her keen sharp eyes, she uttered slowly :

'WHEN ye St. Leger shal marrie a virgyn fair,
Shal build a new castel both wondrous and rare,
Lett him warnynge tak, for ye last of his race
Shal he meet in yt castel, face to face.'

Had every possible calamity of earth been at that moment announced as about to happen to me, I could not have been more completely overwhelmed.

All the gloom of my whole life-time gathered around my heart again, and nothing could exceed the blackness of darkness that succeeded. But pride, that pride which afterward supported me under so many emergencies, came to my relief. I forcibly withdrew my hand from the hag, and turned quickly away, exclaiming as I left her, 'Pshaw! I have heard that doggrel a thousand times before; if this is all you have got to say, 't is hardly, as you promised, worth the knowing.' 'If you have heard it before, heed it now! heed it now!' quoth the crone. 'Ah! ah!' continued she, give but one golden guinea, and old Elspeth will reveal wonderful things, fearful things; and perhaps a way to get by the doom.' I had by this time reached the door-way: without heeding this last appeal, I turned neither to the right nor left, but sprang to my chamber, locked and bolted the door, and threw myself upon the bed, in a state of phrenzy and despair.

TEMPERANCE DICK: AN EPIGRAM.

'DRINKING,' says DICK, 'is foolish, without doubt,
For when the wine is in, the wit is out:'

But if the lack of wit makes man a toper,

Pray when, since DICK was born, has he been sober?

HUMBLY to THEE, our SAVIOUR GOD, this treasure we resign,
The object of so fond a love, exceeded but by Thine:
And for the earthly hopes and joys in our fond hearts destroyed,
Grant us the fulness of Thy love, to fill the aching void!

We know that she was taken in her youth's undimmed sun-shine;
Only the happiest hours of life, beloved one! were thine;
Thy GOD has ta'en thee to himself, ere yet their light was dim,
And with bowed down and trusting hearts, we yield thee up to HIM.

Oh sad would be the world, and drear, were not the blest hope given,
That as Love's circle narrows here, 't is widening in heaven:
Then farewell, gentle spirit: we shall claim thee as our own,
From out the white-robed company that sing around the throne.'

M Y GRAND-F A THER'S HOUSE.

BY HANS ΤΟΝ SPIEGEL.

6

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SHADE of Sir Walter Raleigh!' I exclaimed, as I lighted my cigar at the scorching hearth of a tavern fire-place, of how much pleasure would the decriers of thy favorite plant deprive us!' There was something in the old-fashioned arm-chair which I had drawn up to the fire; something in the comfortable inclination of the back, curvature of the arms, the softness of the well-worn leather cushion; that carried me back to the merry time of childhood, when I used to sit in just such an old time-worn chair, gazing into the huge fire of my grandfather's kitchen. Thickly came the fancies and memories of the past; but the impatient Hurrah!' of the stage-driver, as he gathered up the reins into his buckskin grasp, and cracked his whip on the piercing air of a December morning, brought me once more into the cold realities of life, and broke my revery. Throughout the day, undisturbed by the crunching of the snow under the horses' feet, and the groaning of the runners as they ploughed through an occasional drift, or by the comical appearance of my fellow-passenger on the front seat, whose red face was covered with a red comforter, and that with long white tendrils of frost, I thought of the scenes which that old chair had called up before me. One after another the lighted Havanas wasted to close proximity with my lips; and when four of the clock found me safely deposited in my room at the 'C- Hotel,' after a hearty dinner, I was still thinking of early friends, many of whose names were already chiselled on the cold grave-stones. When I fell asleep that night, dreams akin to my waking fancies came to my pillow; and next morning before I got up I promised myself a visit to that old home in New-England,

When winter had passed, and the spring with its freshness had gone, the summer sun looked down through the tall locust-trees, and seemed to welcome me as the coach set me down before the gate of the old house with my valise and double-barrelled gun. Except a little space in front, the old mansion was hidden by the dense foliage of the locusts and elms that grew in unshorn wildness around it; but what I saw of the red, weather-beaten front-door, over which the woodbines spread a thick green awning, and the dormer-windows jutting out from the steep roof, and the half-ruined chimneys, made me a child again, and I wept, just for the keeping.' Ah, PETER! you smiled when I told you of it, and even jested on my weakness; but you could not conceal the glistening of your own eyes at the very time, nor the readiness to speak of your own childhood, and the old house by the brook, and the willows that drooped over it. You may pretend to stoicism as much as you please, but your lips and eyes belie you all the while. You and I, perchance, never will harden into statues, but we shall be men for all that; the whole world to the contrary notwithstanding. Gentle reader, do you smile in derision, because my heart welled over in tears when I saw the old house, and the woodbines over the front door, just as they were a score of years before, only that the woodbines had climbed up to the eaves and fastened themselves among the shingles of the roof? Well, smile on, if there are no hallowed memories of childhood in your bosom. I will be sorry, but not angry; yet I would rather you should look sympathizingly, and feel part of a pleasure that to me is sweet. Perhaps you would not have thought of smiling, had I told you at first why I loved that old house so well. Shall I tell you now?

The greater part of my childhood, until the age of eight or nine, had been spent at my grandfather's, so that it seemed always like home; indeed I loved it almost as well as the fireside where my brothers and sisters were. Here my first love of the romantic had its birth, and here was it fostered by a maiden aunt, whose queer notions of men and things, drawn in part from old novels and romances, and in part from her own fervid imagination, were to me an exhaustless store of entertainment and instruction. How often did I sit in her lap, or as I grew older, on a 'cricket' at her feet, listening to her marvellous stories of ladies rescued and huge monsters subdued by the sword of some gallant knight! The times of the feudal lords and the lion-hearted Richard were as familiar to me as yesterday; and I have been surprised since I have read the chronicles of Sir John Froissart, that my aunt should have had so accurate a knowledge of the times and legends which the old knight portrays. Many of his stories, word for word almost, I found that I knew by heart; but how my aunt could have read him, is to me a wonder: for she did not appear to have read French, and the English translation was so scarce then, that I doubt whether there were three copies in all New-England. However this may have been, and whence she drew the greater portion of her legends, she at any rate kindled my childish fancy; and there danced before me visions of splendid tourneys, with their faces of beauty, and plumes, and glistening armor, and pranc. ing barbs; while a smile of kind-hearted joy played over her features, that she was adding new distance to the horizon of my enjoyment.