is highly gifted—she could make many proselytes. | prayer, may I beg your majesty to permit a son to I have been obliged to keep a strict watch over her ask what has excited your displeasure against his movements; and, besides, I am no favorite with mother?" her. M. de Stael, it is in the interest of those whom she could compromise, that I ordered her to quit Paris."

At this interrogatory, so pointedly made, the persons present began to fear for the young de Stael, thinking that the emperor, pressed hard, When once Napoleon launched forth upon the might lose all patience. All kept their eyes bent topic of recriminations, it was not easy to stop on their plates; the grand marshal seemed uneasy him; however, M. de Stael did interrupt him to and fidgety on his chair; Berthier bit his nails; defend his mother. The emperor, without being Lauriston picked with the point of his knife the angry, permitted him to speak, and then replied to pippins from the pear he was eating. However, him with a certain calmness, which might lead they were disappointed in their fears. Napoleon you to suppose that, being convinced, he was dis-only, startled at the question, struck the table with armed. But those who knew the emperor could his snuff-box, which he was constantly turning in easily judge that the solicitor would obtain nothing. his hands, and looking right and left at his guests, However, when M. de Stael finished the explana- who never moved, exclaimed, like a man astonished, tion of his demand, Napoleon replied: "This is really too much! 'T is too bad!"

M. de Stael was not dismayed; and, in a respectful and dignified tone, hastened to add :

"Sire, some persons have told me that it was the last work of my grandfather which had so displeased your majesty, and created unfavorable impressions against my mother. Then, sire, I can certify that my mother had no hand whatever in that work."

""T is true," replied Napoleon frankly. "This book of your grandfather contributed much to excite my displeasure; M. Necker was an ideologue, a raving dotard. At his age, to dream of reforms,

"Sir, she would furnish me with ten of them, and the overthrow of my constitution! In truth, instead of one!"

"Sire, I am convinced that my mother would live in a manner that would be considered by your majesty as quite irreproachable. I dare then en treat your majesty to give her a trial, even for three months. Deign to authorize her to spend this short time in Paris, before you take a definitive decision."

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That cannot be; she would be a standard and rallying point for the Faubourg St. Germain. Even should she resolve to see nobody, could she do it? She would be visited, and she would return visits; she would pass her jokes, her bon mots, to which she might attach little importance, but which I should consider very important, because my government is not a joke, nor a fiction, but a reality, and every person must be made to know that."

"Sire, I appeal to you, who love France so much, what punishment can be greater than to be expelled from it? Should your majesty be pleased to grant my entreaties, your majesty can reckon on us all-my mother, my brother, and myself amongst the number of your majesty's most faithful and most devoted subjects."

states and kingdoms would be prettily governed, with system-mongers and inventors of theories, who judge men according to books, and who think of regulating the affairs of the world in looking upon a map !"

"Sire, since the plans traced by my grandfather are nothing but vain theories, according to the opinion of your majesty, I cannot conceive, therefore, why your majesty is so displeased. It is not of economists who have written

"Economists!" exclaimed Napoleon, interrupting him, with a singular tone of voice; "but, young man, you do not know them. They are shallow-brained people, who dream of plans of finances, and are ignorant of the duties of a taxgatherer in a village. The book of your grandfather, I repeat it to you, is the work of an obstinate old fool."

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"Some evil-disposed persons have, doubtless, rendered this account of the work to your majesty." Sir," said the emperor, beginning to be fatigued at the discussion, "I have myself read this trash, from one end of the book to the other; it was not entertaining.”

"Then your majesty must have observed the justice rendered to your genius by my grandfather.”

"You and your brother-that is possible; but your mother-pshaw, pshaw !" and the emperor “Fine justice, truly! He calls me the indisaccompanied this exclamation with the little usual pensable man; and, according to his idea, the first shrug of the shoulders when there was a doubt in thing to be done was to cut off the head of this his mind. This manifestation, which every one indispensable man !—thanks! Surely," continued remarked, far from discouraging the young man, Napoleon, becoming warm as he spoke, "I was served on the contrary to animate him the more, indispensable to repair all the fooleries of your and he replied vivaciously, grandfather to efface the evils he caused to his "Since your majesty is pleased not to grant my country; for it was he who overthrew the mon

archy; it was he who conducted Louis XVI. to well-informed, well-educated; follow a better road the scaffold!"

"Your majesty cannot but know, on the contrary, that it was for having defended the king that the estates and property of my grandfather were confiscated."

than your grandfather, especially than your mother, who, by her babbling and by her writings, has compromised the future prospects of her family."

Having said this, he rose from table, his officers rising also. M. de Stael still persevered, though "He, Necker! defend the king! Ah! ah! timidly, in order to obtain the recall of his mother. Let us understand each other upon that point, M. Without replying to his importunities, Napoleon de Stael! If I gave poison to a man, and car-approached the young man, and taking hold of ried him the antidote when he was in the agony him by the ear, spoke to him in a mild, paternal of death, would you say that it was my wish to tone of voice :save this man? Well, then, such is the mode adopted by your grandfather to defend Louis XVI. As to the confiscations you speak of, they prove nothing. Have they not confiscated the property of the good Robespierre, who perhaps did less evil to France than Necker, for your grandfather provoked the revolution. I confine myself to that. You have not seen all, because you were too young; but I have seen those times of terror and public calamity. As long as I live, those deplorable epochs shall not come back, be assured of it. Your project-makers trace utopias on paper; the idle and unemployed read them, and hawk them about; fools believe them; general happiness is on the lips of every one. Shortly after, the people want work, and, consequently, bread; they rise in revolt; and here is the result of all those fine doctrines. Sir, your grandfather was a great culprit."

In pronouncing these words, Napoleon pushed away suddenly the little cup of coffee left near him a few minutes before by Roustant. His ire seemed raised to so high a degree, that his guests believed, this time, that the storm was on the point of bursting on the head of young de Stael, whose countenance, hidden in the darker part of the saloon, Napoleon did not see; for, if he had been able to examine it, he would have spared him a little from such a torture, and, by mere compassion, from the last angry sally. The features of the poor young man were contracted and convulsed, and every one could judge of the efforts that he made, in order that reason might triumph over the feelings of resentment working in his mind; however, he was sufficiently master of himself to reply in a calm but agitated tone of

voice.

"Sire, let me at least but hope that posterity will be less severe, in regard to my grandfather, than your majesty."

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'Posterity, did you say? The best way would be to consign the whole to oblivion."

Here the conversation ceased for a few minutes, during which Napoleon drank the coffee which Roustant had placed before him, and afterwards, addressing himself to his guests, he resumed, with rather a forced smile, the dialogue.

"M. de Stael," said he, "you are very young; if you had my experience, you would judge things better. I am far from being angry; your frankness has pleased me; I love a son who pleads the cause of his mother. Your mother gave you a difficult mission; you have acquitted yourself in an intelligent and becoming manner. Whatever may be the result, I do not wish to give you false hopes; you shall obtain nothing from me. If your mother were in prison I would not hesitate to liberate her; but she is only in exile; let her remain so."

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Sire, is she not as unhappy in exile as in prison ?"

"Those are romantic ideas.

Your motheris she much to be pitied? Why, with the exception of Paris, she can travel through all Europe. After all, I cannot understand why she is so anxious to come to Paris, to place herself thus within the reach of my tyranny. You see, I speak candidly; can she not go to Rome, Berlin, St. Petersburg, and London? There she will be safe, and can, all at her ease, write libels against me; but Paris is the place of my residence, and there I will not suffer any persons to remain who are unfavorably disposed towards me. Do you know what would happen if I permitted her to return to my capital? She would corrupt and spoil all the persons about me, in my court, as she has spoiled my tribunate. She has seduced Garat; she could not refrain from meddling with politics."

"I can assure your majesty that my mother's tastes and inclinations are exclusively employed in literature."

"But, sir, politics are mixed up in her literary pursuits. Besides, women have no business to write; they should employ their time in knitting. In short, sir, if your mother is not content in Vienna, she may go where she pleases."

In saying this, Napoleon, thinking himself freed from the importunities of M. de Stael, turned his back on him, and moved towards the fire-place, where the fire was getting low, etiquette being opposed to throwing wood on it in his presence. To get some warmth, he endeavored to stir up the embers with the end of his boot. In the mean "After all, I should not utter too much against time Lauriston, who guessed the mind of the emthe revolution, for I have lost nothing by it ;" and peror, winked at the young man, to make him unturning round towards M. de Stael, he said in a derstand that he would act wisely by retiring; but mild tone of voice, "The reign of insurrection is M. de Stael did not pay attention to this warning, finished. I wish authority to be respected, be- and seemed as if nailed to the spot. The emcause it comes from God. You seem to me to be peror, having burned the end of his boot, turned

round to the side where M. de Stael stood, who did not fear to speak again, saying:

"Sire, will your majesty permit—”

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Are you asleep, Duroc ?" "No, sire," stammered out Duroc, aroused from his slumber.

This time, Napoleon did not allow him to finish his phrase; but raising his head, suddenly inter-" rupted him with a frown, and a tone of voice which had made crowned heads shake.

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"Was I not a little hard," said the emperor, in my conversation with young De Stael ?” The grand marshal remaining silent, Napoleon continued :

"I fear it. After all, I have not said too much to him. His grandfather had no talents in the administration of affairs. I know something of it.”

Berthier, who had not said a word since their arrival at Chambery, here remarked: "In that respect every one renders a plenary justice to your majesty."

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"In short, I am not sorry," said the emperor, "to have explained myself categorically, on the score of Madame de Stael, because I am freed from further importunities. Those people rail at me and blacken all that I do; they do not understand me."

Now, sir, let us see what you still require." "I wish to have the honor of stating to your majesty," continued the young man, with tears in his eyes, "that the presence of my mother is indispensable at Paris for the recovery of a sacred It is well known that Napoleon travelled with debt against the French government." great celerity. The 29th December, 1807, he left "Well, sir, are not all debts against the state Chambery at half past six in the morning; after

sacred?"

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Certainly, sir, but ours is accompanied by circumstances which render it more of a private nature."

"Ah! are we come to this-a private affair? Every creditor said the same. M. de Stael, I do not know the nature of your demand on my government. Moreover, that does not concern me. If the laws are in your favor, you will obtain redress; but if it is a special favor you require, I now apprize you that my interference cannot be obtained in any way whatsoever."

"Deprived of the counsel of my mother, what shall my brother and myself do to pursue the business?"

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"There is no lack of lawyers in Paris, who will undertake the matter," said the emperor, interrupting him, even supposing the case be bad. In fine, manage the business as you please; but I declare to you for the last time, that I will hear no more on the subject of your mother. Adieu, M. de Stael," added he, with a movement of the hand to make known to him that his audience was finished, and that he must withdraw.

passing by Lyons, Macon, Auxerre, and Melun, he was at the Tuileries the 1st January, 1808, at 7 o'clock in the evening; and, half an hour afterwards, sat down to dinner as if he had only just come into town from St. Cloud.

About three months from this period there was a reception in the grand apartments of the palace. The court was very brilliant, and the diplomatic body numerous. Napoleon appeared well pleased with the political news he received that morning. Leaning on the arm of the grand marshal, who named to him the personages whom he did not know, he passed through the splendid saloons of the Tuileries, addressing kind words to every one on his passage. Arrived in the middle of the Salon de la Paix, he spied in one of the angles of this saloon, (before the pedestal on which was placed the marble bust of Washington,) a small group of foreign diplomatists, who were talking together in a low voice; he moved on quickly; they perceived his approach, and all were at once silent.

"Gentlemen, I do not wish to interrupt you," said the emperor, smiling, and addressing himself in preference to the minister plenipotentiary of This conversation lasted more than an hour. Baden, who seemed to be speaking as he apThe emperor never gave so long a time to a solic-proached; continue, I pray you. What were itor. His intention was only to remain twenty minutes at Chambery, and he staid an hour and a half.

M. de Stael withdrew with a heart so afflicted that he could not refrain from weeping. Lauriston saw him cross the hall of the hotel, holding his handkerchief to his eyes, apparently choking with grief; every one pitied him.

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you saying?"

"Sire," replied Admiral Verhuel, "M. de Dalberg was speaking to us of a new work published in Germany, which causes at this moment a great sensation."

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And what is the title of this new work which makes a sensation ?" demanded the emperor, smiling.

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A few moments after, Napoleon stepped into Sire, those gentlemen say that it is the his carriage, and remained silent until within a Considerations sur les Principaux Evenéments few leagues of Bourgoin. The day began to de la Révolution Française,' written by Madame dawn. Napoleon seemed absorbed in deep re-la Baronne de Stael.”

flection, when, pushing slightly with his elbow the "Ah, nonsense!" exclaimed the emperor, grand marshal, who sat on his left, half asleep, with surprise; "I bet that I am spoken of in he said to him, in a jocular manner,it."

NATURAL MEANS.]

"Sire, the authoress praises and extols the | [GOD'S GRACE, LIKE HIS PROVIDENCE, WORKS BY wonders created by your majesty; but—" The admiral did not finish his phrase. "I understand you," said Napoleon, with a singular inflection of voice; "they speak ill of me in that work;" then turning towards the grand marshal, who, placed behind him, winked at the ambassador of Holland, in order to hinder him from saying any more of the book.

"Well, then! Duroc," continued the emperor, "you recollect our young man of Chambery. Was I not right to hold firm? You see there is no end with this woman."

And, giving to his body a light swinging motion, Napoleon bent a little his head, as if he wished to look at the fine buckles sparkling in his shoes, and exclaiming, as aside, to himself"There are some persons who are incorrigible !"

Then, after a moment's silence, raising up his head suddenly, he saluted the group, in order to give a word to the Austrian minister, M. Metternich, whom he observed modestly seated in the most retired part of the saloon.

"EARLY TO BED AND EARLY TO RISE.".

"EARLY to bed and early to rise"

Aye, note it down in your brain,

For it helpeth to make the foolish wise,
And uproots the weeds of pain.

Ye who are walking on thorns of care,
Who sigh for a softer bower,

Try what can be done in the morning sun,
And make use of the early hour.
Full many a day forever is lost

By delaying its work till to-morrow;
The minutes of sloth have often cost
Long years of bootless sorrow.

And ye who would win the lasting wealth
Of content and peaceful power,

Ye who would couple labor and health,
Must begin at the early hour.

We make bold promises to Time,

Yet, alas! too often break them;

We mock at the wings of the King of kings,
And think we can overtake them.
But why loiter away the prime of the day,

Knowing that clouds may lower?

Is it not safer to make life's hay
In the beam of the early hour?

Nature herself ever shows her best

Of gems to the gaze of the lark,

“"T is true indeed, and we readily acknowledge, that there is an obscurity sitting upon the face of this dispensation of grace; for we cannot feel the impressions nor trace the footsteps of its distinct working in us; the measures of our proficiency in goodness seem to depend entirely upon those of our own diligence; and God requires as much diligence as if he gave no grace at all; all this we acknowledge, and that it renders the dispensation obscure; but then, on the other side, it is as plain that there is the same obscurity upon every dispensation of God's temporal providence; and so there is no more reason for doubting of the one than of the other. They that will not allow that God does by any inward efficacy confer a sound mind, allow nevertheless that he gives temporal good things; but how, in the mean time, does this dispensation appear more than the former? For when God intends to bless a man with riches, he does not open windows does not enrich him with such distinguishable in heaven, and pour them into his treasures; he providences as that wherewith he watered Gideon's fleece, when the earth about it was dry; but he endows such a man with diligence and frugality, or else adorns him with such acceptable qualifications, as may recommend him to the opportunities of advancement, and thus his rise to fortunes is made purely natural, and the distinct working of God in it does not appear; when God intends to deliver or enlarge a people, he does not thereupon destroy their enemies, as he did once the Assyrians, by an angel, or the Moabites by their own sword; but he inspires such a people with a courageous virtue, and raises up among them spirits fit to command, and abandons their enemies to luxury and softness; and so the method of their rising becomes absolutely natural, and the distinct work of God in it does not appear; and, in the same manner, when God does by the inward operation of his grace promote a man to spiritual good, and bring him to the state of undefiled religion, he does not thereupon so suddenly I change the whole frame of his temper, and chain up all the movements of his natural affections, and infuse into him such a system of virtuous habits as may make him good without application and pains; but he works his spiritual work by a gradual process, and human methods; instilling into such a man first a considering mind, and then a sober resolution, and then a diligent use of all such moral means as conduce to the forming and perfecting of every particular virtue; and now, while God, in all these instances does work in a human and ordinary way, and never supersedes the power of Nature, but requires her utmost actings, and only moves and directs, and assists her where she is weak, and incompetent for her work; both his grace and

When the spangles of light on Earth's green breast his providence are like a little spring, covered with

Put out the stars of the dark.

If we love the purest pearl of the dew,

And the richest breath of the flower,

If our spirits would greet the fresh and the sweet,
Go forth in the early hour.

Oh! pleasure and rest are more easily found
When we start through morning's gate,
To sum up our figures, or plough up our ground,
And weave out the threads of fate.
The eye looketh bright and the heart keepeth light,
And man holdeth the conqueror's power,
When, ready and brave, he chains Time as his slave,
By the help of the early hour.

ELIZA COOK.

a great wheel, though they do all, they are not commonly seen to do anything; and man, when he pleases to be vain and ungrateful, may impute all events to his own power and application. Now 't is certain that God leaves this obscurity upon his dispensations on purpose to administer an advantage and commendation to our faith, not an opportunity or argument to our doubting; but yet if we will doubt, the case is plain, that we may as well doubt of any act of his ordinary providence as of his sanctifying grace; and so (by this method of reasoning) God will have no share left him in the management of the world."-Dean Young's Sermons, vol. 1, p. 155.