displeasure, and moved to the farther end of the room. I departed with a greatness, which might never have belonged do not know whether or not he felt the repulse: for it is as difficult to read the inflexible countenance of Taily, as for the antiquary to decipher the almost illegible inscriptions of past ages. to him, had he lived to attain to maturer years. It is one of the strongest propensities of human nature, to place an exaggerated value upon that which is no longer within the possibility of our enjoyment. Death is ever an unwelcome Our country visits are very different from the brief, fash-guest. The objects he tears from our reluctant hearts, ionable calls of the city. They are rarely shorter than a seem, to the eye of "weeping memory," the best and day, and are often extended much beyond that period. It brightest; and we accuse the tyrant of striking, like the is not easy to decide which is the preferable way of seeing our acquaintance; for the prolonged gratification of being with those whom we admire and esteem, as afforded in the unceremonious intercourse of the country, has its counterpoise, by our being obliged to endure, for the same space of time, the society of stupid, uninteresting visiters. vivid lightning, that which approximates nearest heaven. Had Edward Langdon sunk under the disease which for the two last weeks has pressed heavily upon him, how would I have magnified every latent and good quality that he possesses! He had nearly recovered from his late accident, when he was attacked with fever. There was Mr. Tally's hat was evidently hung up for the day--or if some tincture of romance in his first confinement; but the taken down, it was only to cover his head as he strolled la- painful disorder, with its concomitant circumstances of salzily about the premises. Another circumstance "gave fear- low visage, aberrant intellects, and almost infant weakness, ful note" of his intended stay:-he wore his bottle-green had nothing to distinguish it, but dull, cold reality. As I coat. Among the various trials that this life presents, that have sat by the unconscious sufferer, watching the progress of placing a disagreeable admirer upon the catalogue of of the disease in his sunken cheek, and seen his eye lighted ills, might seem erroneously and unnecessarily adding to up with unnatural brilliancy, I have felt more than a sister's its length. But it must be remembered, that there are dif-sympathy in his sufferings-more than a sister's interest in ferent grades in human trials; and although that to which his recovery. Langdon, from having been thrown so much we have reference does not require us to call to our aid upon my good feeling, appears to view me as intimately our united mental energies, yet it is such as demands no connected with his happiness and comfort. If he walks, small exercise of patience to endure. It is difficult to re- I must attend his feeble steps; and my voice, either in strain the scornful glance, the tart reply, ever ready to es-reading or singing, is in continual requisition. With recape from those faithful outlets of the soul-the eye and turning health and spirits, Langdon betrays towards me the mouth. I do not know whether it would be altogether deco-tenderest regard. Laura is as unremitted in her devotion rous for a clergyman to make love and courtship the sub-as ever. Except when accidentally detained at home, she is jects of his discourse from the pulpit; but I think that some useful hints on Christian gentleness, in connection with rules of behavior towards a disgusting lover, might not be amiss. When Tally was gone, Langdon commenced rallying me on the conquest I had made. I was too seriously displeased to reply, and, blushing with anger, I left the room: nor did I return thither until many hours after. When at last I repaired to him, he said "You take my badinage too earnestly, Miss Walton:-of course there can be no truth in the jest, or I would not have spoken on the subject. I hope I have not offended past forgiveness." "I acknowledge I was very angry." sure to pay us a daily visit. Her great personal attractions, and evident desire to please, often inspire me with unpleasant sensations; while I am assailed by an occasional pang of jealousy, which however is not of so furious a description as to cause hate, or a desire of revenge. In this undisguised disclosure of my weakness, I am painting nature as it is, not what it ought to be; and when I recall the bitter tears which I shed in secret, when Langdon presented Laura the loveliest flower he gathered, while we walked in the garden, I fear I have been too lenient to my mortal frailties, which, if depicted by the pencil of impartiality, might present a darker outline than my self-love has dared to sketch. "I wish to goodness," said Will, one day after Laura had departed, "that she would quit coming here. She is breaking her neck after every one she can git holt of. She's dead up for you, now." "And you were determined to punish me by depriving me of your society? You know your power, and exert it." "I had not the vanity to suppose that I would be missed, but I wish at once to crush a jest so very, very disagreeable to me. Mr. Tally is the particular friend of my uncle, Langdon, to whom the conclusion of this speech was adwho would be displeased if I were to show rudeness or dis-dressed, colored up to the forehead. respect to any one whom he admits to his house-but if my name and Mr. Tally's are to be coupled together, I cannot answer for the consequences." Langdon laughed-I scarcely know why, but his laugh rung discordantly in my ears. It is very certain that he entertains for me no other feelings than those of respect and esteem. CHAPTER IX. "O, woman! in our hours of ease, By the light, quiv'ring aspen made: When pain and anguish wring the brow, Scott. Many obtain for themselves a fictitious excellence by dying in youth. The glowing predictions of what such an one might have been, had not the untimely frost of death blighted the opening blossoms of his excellence, invest the "There is not much to flatter the vanity, in attentions that are so promiscuously distributed," he at length replied, glancing his eyes at me. "Joe Harden is яs mad as fire at her," proceeded William-" he thought that he had got her before you came." "You may inform him from me, that I have no disposition to interfere with him. You know I am disenchanted." "She is a little clipper, I tell you," said William, proceeding to launch out into very unbecoming invectives against Laura, which, while they diverted Langdon, were evidently but the ebullitions of hatred and mortification. I felt so much displeased at my cousin that I could have choked him. In vain did I frown and hem, but his wrath, once unlocked, bore away all moderation and propriety. "The very hounds join in the cry," observed Langdon, as the animals, aroused by the loud voice of their master, began to bark with all their might. "What ails the dogs?" asked uncle Daniel, entering at the instant. "They are barking forth the demerits of Miss Laura,” said Langdon. "She is a mighty clever little girl," said uncle-" for my part, I think a heap of her; I don't know what it is that you | circumstance of her being the eldest, and far the least pretty have all got against her." The words of my uncle filled me with shame and mortification. I was conscious that I had not participated in the conversation, which could not either be said to have been sanctioned by my silence; but this random vindication of the person in question, was unintentionally delivered in such tones, and with such an expression of countenance, as to make it appear, that innocence was suffering from malevolence and envy. To attempt what I had not before, an open vindication of Laura, I at once perceived would only be making matters worse; and when Langdon and myself were left alone, I remained many moments in embarrassed silence. I do not know what occupied the mind of Langdon while he also continued mute; but when he again began to speak it was upon a subject foreign from that which had recently engaged us. Every thing this day seems conspired to give our guest an unfavorable opinion of our family, or at least of some of its members. Betsey Polhill, with her arm bare to the elbows, paused on her way from the smokehouse to the kitchen, to give us an account of a wonderful cure Laura had made on old Mr. Travers's "darter," by the timely administration of a "dost of calamy." This attention to the miseries of the poor, was calculated to place Laura in a more favorable point of view than she had hitherto been represented; and confirmed the idea-if such had found place in Langdon's mind--of her having been held up by my cousins in an unjust light, purposely to disgust. As Betsey dwelt with tedious minuteness on each symptom of the sick child, and expatiated on the kindness of Miss Hazlewood, I remained inflexibly silent: sincerity would not permit me to extol goodness, which I was convinced was exercised too contiguous to Bellair, to be quite disinterested. I knew that there were many within a nearer compass of the Grove, who had better claims upon Laura's considerate attention, but who had never experienced it. The cabin of Mrs. Travers rears its humble top among a cluster of fine trees, and is accessible by a pretty shady lane, in which Langdon often walks. Laura is aware of this circumstance; and her confining her charity to a spot where it is most liable to meet his ears, is too suspicious to pass unnoticed. CHAPTER X. "The happy bridegroom by her side Beheld his prize with victor's pride." Scott. A wedding in the country is very much like weddings in general. The bride is dressed in white, even to her shoes. The groom wears a blue coat, white inexpressibles, white gloves, and sometimes a white satin stock. The cakes take as elevated a stand ;--some lift their ice-crowned tops near others of lower grade, and less ample circumference, crowned with myrtle, cedar, and roses. of the two. It would have subtracted much from the joy of the family, had it been the younger daughter: for the gigantic figure of Miss Sarah, dancing a melancholy pas seul without her shoes, would have been one of those events that must have excited the contrary emotions of the disciples of Democritus and Heraclitus. "I hope she will let her mouth go," said Nicholas--" she has screwed it so tight for the last twenty years, that you could not drive a pea through it with a mallet; I reckon she holds it so to keep her remaining teeth from escaping." Nic expanded his jaws at his own wit, and displayed a handsome range of well set teeth, slightly discolored with tobacco. There was a large party assembled at the Squire's; and many a bright eye and blooming cheek, whose lustre and beauty are little known elsewhere than in the piney-woods, gave light and life to the gay circle. The bride with becoming decorum, was removed with her attendant nymphs, from all curious eyes, until the arrival of the clergyman who was to unite her to her future husband. "Does he not look like an old racoon peeping from a bunch of moss ?" whispered Nicholas, bursting with laughter and pointing to the bridegroom. Indeed, Mr. Maggee was not such a "man as ladies love to look upon." He was much below the middle stature, grey-eyed, grey-haired, and grey-whiskered-with a mouth, which, if it opened with a smile, showed a solitary tooth, sitting like Marius among the ruins of Carthage. The appalling ceremonials of matrimony seemed not in the least to daunt him, having twice before been principal in the same scene. All the idle forms of a wedding were strictly attended to. Pieces of cake were passed through the ring; the iced-sprig of myrtle in the bride's cake, was cut for by the bridesmaids and groomsmen. Miss Rachel, by an adroit turn of her knife, contrived that the ominous bush should fall to her lot, and when it did, started back in well-feigned astonishment, declaring that they must cut over again— that she had no idea of such a thing occurring-that she really was provoked at it. "Your turn will come next, that is certain, Rachel," said Maggee, rubbing his hands and chuckling forth a most unearthly sound. Miss Rachel protested against there being any more reason to joke her, than any other present. "O! but it is all fair," said uncle Daniel, with the best intention, but the least regard to politeness-"age before honesty. Too many of the girls have already got married before you-you must try and follow your sister's example." "And a very good example it is," cried Maggee, with every vacuum of his mouth crammed with pound-cake. The delicacy and refinement of Byron could not endure the sight of a woman eating. I was equally distressed at witnessing the ravages of the bridegroom; for it is a dreadful spectacle to see the operations of manducation performed with but one solitary tooth, and that tooth standing in the very "fore-front of the battle." The bridal of Miss Sarah Harden was graced by all the élite of the settlement. The event of her marriage was joyful and unexpected-for this lady, together with her sister, It was not exactly in accordance with Mrs. Harden's as has already been mentioned, had reached that period of principles to permit dancing in her house, but the occasion life, when the ripe fruits of their intellectual autumn were was one that might sanction a departure from established judiciously brought forward, to hide the decaying bloom of rules; and the young people were so very pressing, that at their retreating summer. Uncle, who is Squire Harden's last she yielded. If there is not as much grace introduced most intimate friend, has been engaged the greater part of into our dances in the country, there is much more life and the last week, in listening to the old gentleman's number-spirit. The floor echoed with the vigorous kicking and less arrangements, and witnessing law-papers. It has, for thumping of our piney-woods beaux-and there was none some years past, been a source of regret and surprise to their father, why the Miss Hardens should have remained so long unmarried, when others, with as few charms, and lighter purses, have been led to the hymenial altar. The marriage of Miss Sarah gives peculiar satisfaction from the that could surpass cousin Nic. If activity and speed could avail any thing, Terpsichore might have claimed him as her own, and the handsome, good-humored face of Nicholas, flushed with exercise, and expanded into greater amiability from the hilarity of the scene, together with his well formed person, presented as fair a sample of a light-hearted, him to depart, still he lingers as if unwilling to break the vigorous youth, as could have been well imagined. spell that binds him to Bellair; and, although Fern-bank is "Primenade shoshay-lemonade," proceeded energetical-distant but a few miles, the idea of separation fills me with ly from the mouths of the black musicians, as they called regret. Nic, who is not so dull as the rest, often rallies me the figures of the dance. on the preference I have inspired, and which I entertain. "I am going to give you an opportunity of retaliating on me," he remarked one day. "I have long wished to tell you a secret, cousin." "Well, I am ready to receive the sacred deposit," I re I was the partner of Joe Hardin for four sets; and, as it is a rule with young ladies to imagine a conquest under similar circumstances, I feel no hesitation in placing Joe among the number of my most devoted admirers. "You are the only one that I would give a cent to danceplied, smiling. with," said he, as he conducted me to my seat-" as for her," pointing at Laura, "she may sit till she is tired before I take her out." Laura did not seem to enjoy herself. Langdon was absent. He had been threatened with a return of indisposition, and prudently declined being of the party. The wedding supper was a substantial one. Among a variety of dishes a pig made one of the number. This, no doubt, in fashionable life, would have been considered an outrage, but here it passed without comment; and manyjudging by the reception it met with-were rejoiced that the light of its countenance had been shown among us. The fine pickled oysters and shrimps, against which our inland settlers entertain a strong prejudice, were suffered to remain untouched. Those persons living at a remote distance, were obliged to stay at Mr. Harden's all night. Uncle Daniel and his trio were among the number: and it was not until daylight that the merriment of the male part of the company was hushed to silence. Tired and sleepy, I gladly heard the last echoes of their retiring footsteps, when I sunk to slumber. The following day shone forth in freshness and beauty on the happy pair. The groom appeared quite well after his nocturnal gormondizing on cake and other delicacies. The bride, arrayed in a snowy morning dress, with a cap and white ribbons, looked as interesting as possible. I was happy to hear the voice of uncle Daniel, issuing orders, immediately after breakfast, for our departure-which accordingly took place as soon as the horses were put to the carriage; and as the impatient animals dashed off, I sympathized in their anxiety to be at home. CHAPTER XI. "And is he gone? how oft on sudden solitude The fearful question will intrude." Byron. When we reached home, the first object that presented itself was Langdon, advancing to meet us with a counte nance lighted by smiles at seeing us again. "I should have run away had you staid much longer," he said, as he led me to the house-"I have always boasted that solitude had no terrors for me, but I find that I have been in error." "What will you do when you go home?" asked Will. "I do not know, unless I can prevail upon your cousin to accompany me." William did not seem to notice this speech, which was rather too plain to be quite agreeable; but observing the fond expression of Langdon's eyes as he turned to me, I felt pleased and reassured. "You know, or at least you have seen, Ophelia Moreley?" said Nic. "Yes! what of her?" "Nothing very particular," answered Nic, blushing a little. "I should say by the expression of your face that there was; but I hope, my dear cousin, that you have no serious thoughts of Ophelia Moreley." Why not." Her family are disreputable-their present wealth is no cover for their infamy." "I know that I do not care a cent about their propertyOphelia will not get any of it; you know she is the niece of old Moreley. If you were acquainted with her, you would change your opinion." "I entertain no individual prejudice against her, but you never can hope to live on terms of friendship with her connexions. Frank Moreley is a reckless, dissipated character, always ready for a quarrel; in short, himself and brother are nuisances to the settlement." "Well, say no more about it; only let me bring Ophelia here." "I have no objections," I answered; and the lover, pleased with my prompt acquiescence left me to visit the subject of our dialogue. Nicholas had scarcely departed when uncle and Langdon entered. From what I gathered from their conversation as they approached, I could learn that it was the intention of the latter to leave us. "You may do as you please," said uncle, "but I see no use in your going so soon. Your house is not yet finished. You are complaining of your head, and it will do it no good to be among the racket of carpenters. However, as I said, please yourself." Uncle made his exit to attend the call of some one, when Langdon said "You do not second your uncle's kind invitation to stay: but I am selfish and unreasonable to expect you to feel as much regret at my departure as it affords "We shall see you very soon, and very often, I hope." "And therefore you think that I magnify a trifle into something of consequence. I know the world would laugh," continued Langdon, "to hear me declare how painful is this parting; but it knows not the many nameless sympathies, that will, in consequence, be interrupted." He took my hand and would have proceeded, when the reappearance of uncle Daniel prevented him-and hearing that his carriage was ready, abruptly bade me adieu. When the receding figure of Langdon no longer met my view, it was then that I felt how intimately my future happiness was connected with him. I puzzled myself in conjecturing how his conversation would have terminated, and regretted its interruption. Nicholas's graphic description of the wedding, diverted On the evening succeeding the day of Langdon's deparevery one that was present. Even uncle Daniel, whose ture, Tally supped with us. What a contrast did the vulsense of the ridiculous is far from keen, laughed immode-garity of his manners and conversation form to those of our rately. The spirits of Langdon, which in general are rather late guest. cheerful than gay, rose above their ordinary quiet tenor; If there was a penalty attached to making the trivial ocand I could not help believing that they flowed more from currences of every day the subject of discourse, it would be the pleasure of my return, than from any ostensible cause. the means of imposing almost perpetual silence on some Though his health is sufficiently reëstablished to permit persons. "I hear Mr. Harden has a voylant fever. Old Mrs. Travers's house was nigh cotching fire last night—and, | to crown all, sister Patty's black sow had as fine a parcel of pigs as ever you seed." This last piece of Mr. Tally's intelligence, was uttered with that "much-ado-about-nothing” expression of face, that could not fail to impress the hearer with the belief that it was intended to amaze. "I am sorry to hear of friend Harden's illness," said uncle Daniel-"what ails him?" "He cotch cold at the muster last week." "Indeed! I always thought, that like you and me, he was past militia duty." This remark did not appear to please Tally, who, summoning up a martial look and air, declared that he could "handle a sword and fire a gun as well as any mar.." "No doubt of it-no doubt of it," said uncle; "I think the law is too lenient to us on that score; but I suppose you avail yourself of the privilege that the age of forty-five gives you?" "I should not stay away from musters if I could spare the time," said Tally-" for my share, I'd as leave go as not." Tally's eyes vainly sought mine, which were resolutely fastened to the floor. It was with difficulty that I could restrain my indignation at his persevering attentions; for though I might pardon his being the victim of a passion, whose influences are involuntary and inexplicable, I was not so indulgent to the presumption that could dare foster a hope of his success. Without any positive reason. I had established in my mind, that Langdon would call the following day; but I was disappointed. On what "leaden wings" did the hours pass. How interminable the interval between breakfast and dinner! Nor did the time that brought the evening meal arrive more swiftly. Long before my usual hour for retiring, I repaired to my room; I wished to abbreviate the tedious space that must elapse before another day-till, aroused at last to a sense of my weakness, I endeavored to employ myself as heretofore. (To be concluded in the February No.) JACK MAINSTAY.* Jack Mainstay was dear to his comrades so true : A lad that no danger could fright; Jack said to his Suke, as she wept on the shore, "My country has call'd, all her wrongs to redress, And the rights of the tar to defend; Then would ye by sniv'ling, Jack's spirits depress, When he fights to so noble an end? ye know? "Fore and aft we've been wrong'd, do ye see? by the foe: Nabb'd by land, and at sea too, that's tougher; And forc'd 'gainst our country to fight, do Which, hang me, no sailor can suffer. "Avast then, my girl, wipe the tears from your eye; A bold sailor no danger appals. 'Tis glorious, you know, for our country to die; Then cheer up, 'tis my country that calls. *The above song was written at the commencement of the last war with Great Britain, when our little Navy was acquiring such glory, in its conflicts with the vessels of the enemy. In pain the eye may be, Yet bright in smiles and tears! So in the longing heart, Lie slumbering hopes and fears, That waking up do fight, And wave, in endless strife. You do not soothe my pain, Don't flow tears,-now too rife! Upon me also shone, The beams of sunny MayTerrific clouds and storms Anon obscur'd the day. I, happy, dreamed of bliss, Of endless bliss for me. Oh! Fate, that image dear Recall, I would it see! Delightful, hallow'd hours, With beauty bower'd, and love! Ah! whither hast thou flown Enchanting Time--above? Days, months, have passed away, Yet scarcely does it seem ;Of her alone I dream, The blest, the blissful dream. Return, oh! Mary dear, And look with smiles on me! Come, gentle Lady, come, I'll share a Heaven with thee! Perhaps vile calumny, Yet bright in smiles and tears! So in the longing heart, Lie slumbering hopes and fears, That waking up do fight; And wave in endless strife. You do not soothe my pain, Don't flow tears,-now too rife! Richmond, Dec., 1840. SUCCESSIVE DEGREES. W. H. P. P. Solomons, the celebrated violin player, gave lessons in music to King George III. of England. He one day remarked to his august pupil, "Violin players may be divided into three classes: To the first belongs those who do not know how to play at all; to the second those who play badly; to the third those who play well. Your Majesty' has already advanced to the second class." MARY. "I have a passion for the name of MARY," And merely said for sake of spinning rhymes, Save when with truth and honesty it chimes: MARY!-there's something in the very sound And full, clear-toned, and without mouthing; And well believe, though some may think it nothing, This sweetest name some magic power possesses, Each lovely owner that adorns and blesses! I never knew a MARY yet, but what Had a sweet, amiable way about her- Freedom from envy, manners without hauteur, Or ever had acquaintance with in life, That such an one would make a first rate wife' AMBITION. L. J. CIST. mischiefs upon themselves by the unrestrained gratification of the animal propensities, commonly called the Appetites. But the love of ruling; of giving the law to a circle whether more or less extensive, when it has become the governing propensity, has been checked by only a few, if by any, restraints: for disregarding personal safety and comfort, it contemns human suffering, depopulates countries, and deluges fields in blood. The dependence of man on man, and his wants, nurse and strengthen this desire. Whether we live in a natural or in an artificial state of society, there must be an exercise of, and a submission to, power. The advantages of the union of many persons to form one family, flow from the exercise of the functions of government by some acknowledged head of the household. And men have, universally, considered the advantages increased by an union of many families into one body politic. Thus all mankind have received government as a thing necessary, or even useful to their wellbeing. And that which the great mass of men have submitted to from convictions of propriety, the aspiring have sought after for self-gratification. History is a bloody record of the contests for pow er. ་ One unbroken series of struggles carried on by man against his fellow-man, for supremacy, constitute the annals of our race. So constant has been this warfare, that Old Hobbes was induced to imagine, that war was the state of nature. Why did Sesostris lead his Egyptian host to conquest? Why was so much havoc committed in the reign of Semiramis? Thirst after power prompted these mighty conquerors to the invasion of Ethiopia and to the devastation of India. Why did Cheops and Cephren oppress their subjects? Merely to gratify a The desires, or those immediate movements or senseless ambition of immortalizing their names acts of the mind towards objects which possess by works of an amazing magnitude, and at an enorsome qualities on account of which we wish to ob-mous expense. How disgusting was the ambition tain them, lie, to a great extent, at the very foun- of Xerxes, and yet how dreadful were the consedation of human character. All those attainments quences of it to his own subjects! Alexander's and gratifications which we are in the daily pursuit desire of ruling was so great that this mighty of, when in our possession or enjoyment, must be military chieftain was distressed, and sighed because influential on our moral condition; the degree of there were no more worlds for him to oppress and influence depending on the nature of the objects conquer. Wherever there has been oppression, we seek after, and the strength of the desires there the love of power has existed. And the which urge us on to the encompassing of them. world is full of the monuments of oppression. If our desires are properly regulated and directed, The mouldering relics of once powerful nations atworthy conduct will, necessarily, follow. If they test its former existence. Its impress is seen in are not under the subjection of the wholesome re- Egypt. The tokens of its triumphs are found straints of reason and the moral principle; if the amidst the desolations of Roman and Grecian authority of the immutable laws of moral rectitude greatness. And the clanking of chains, among is denied and the rigid control of conscience is the serfs of Eastern despots, is no feeble proof that thrown off; we are left at the mercy of unhallow-the desire of power has not been weakened by its ed passions and evil lusts, and soon become their past humiliating conquests and oppressive victories. prey; and our moral feelings fall into every kind The conduct of nations, as well as of men, has of irregularity and derangement. And from none been actuated and influenced by this same desire. of the desires have more evils resulted than from The contests for power between the Kings of Sythe inordinate desire of Power, or Ambition. Men ria and of Egypt, the kings of Pergamus and Mahave brought innumerable and almost inconceivable cedon, were long and bloody. The disputes of the VOL. VII-7 |