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GERMINAL.

A VISION OF PERPETUAL SPRING.

A VIRGIN, waking from dear dreams of love, The Earth stirs faintly, and with slumberous

hand,

Half-conscious, flings away the robing snow

Desirable, divine: the pleasure drawn
From promise never ending or complete-
The promise of the blossom in the bud,
The promise of sweet nut in sourest pod,
The promise of the fruitage in the bough,
The promise of all summer bees and birds,
Autumnal apples and autumnal corn—

That warmed her couch for winter. Like a A beauty never learning in decay

bride

Elate to meet her lusty lord, the Sun,

She issues forth all smiling, when its light
The vernal matin of the year reveals-
That annual Morn of Nature, whose approach
The cuckoo's clarion celebrates, what time

The crocus streaks with purpling gold the dawn
Of gradual vegetation. So the hours
From dewy April, and from blossomed May,
Spread open to their burning Noon July:
So lengthen to October's mellow Eve,
When Autumn, like a sunset, throws a flush
Of glory o'er the woodlands, till each leaf
Its radiance saturates with crimson; when
The yellow wall-fruits blush, and in the grass
The ripening sorrel reddens to the tips.
Yet now the Spring-born Day is but begun,
The prelude of its harmonies the song
Of throstles in the thicket. Cooled with rains,
The clean-washed grove, in all its brownest
twigs,

Throbs with a latent budding of young leaves.
Pale glitters forth, thro' tangled briars and moss,
In form a tiny paten of fair gold,
The darling primrose. Prattling rolls the
brook,

Warm,

Where clustered hazels hang white tassels down
To dally with the bubbles. On its brink
A casual movement of the cress proclaims
The liquid path it mantles. Like a veil
Asunder riven by the solar beam,
The mist floats back in gauzy amplitude.
Creation feels thro' each minutest pore
The vital influence of the season.
The green sap boiling from the root, imparts
Unseen pulsations to the greener rind,
And so, thro' bowery dell and o'er the lawn
Where gilded king-cups and the silver sheen
Of early daisies 'broider all the turf,
The vivifying dews spread, verdurous.
Along the undulating lea stray lambs
That crop to milky core the meadow-vetch.
Around, in air crystalline as the sky
That crowns ideal groves in Faeryland,
On wings erratic float the babbling rooks.
By tufts of knotted cowslip beetles run
In mail resplendent with metallic dyes,
Now golden-green in hue, now purple-black,
They thread the mazes of the sprouts, and
gleam

Like precious jewels glimmering in the sod.
A poet once in dreamy Rhineland sighed
To girdle round in flight the rolling globe,
Perpetual twilight trailing in his wake,
And gorgeous clouds before him shadowed from
An everlasting sundown. Not such mine
The dazzling fancy loved and cherished most.
Eternal daybreak in eternal spring

For me would have a charm more exquisite,

The sorrows of fruition. Thus for me
Let life in endless sweets evaporate,
Insatiate passion glowing thro' the veins
Of all things sentient to the thrills of love-
The plant that opes its petals to the ray
or drinks the tears of even; and the midge
On silver tissue pinions sailing by:
The lordly moth of radiant dragon-dyes,
Its wings of damson velvet dusted down
With powder gold like amber in a meal :
The finch green-flickering from the privet-
white

With creamy blossoms curdling into bloom:
The callow linnet in its woven lair:
And more than all, the blushing Queen of
May-

A garland of white roses round her brow-
Her nut-brown locks descending to the edge
Of silken bodice clasping daintily
The swell of her pure virgin bosom. Thus
For me should rural freshness be renewed,
And foliage blurred no more by summer dust
Or cankered by the blight-worm: but for aye
Mad frolics in the garden croft resound,
And dances on the village green, and trysts
Beneath the flowering hawthorn-when the
breeze

The music of enamored tones should blend
With floral sweetness gushing from the spray.
-Dublin University Magazine. W. C. K.

THE NORTH-EAST WIND.
LET the luscious South wind
Breathe in lovers' sighs,
While the lazy gallants
Bask in ladies' eyes.
What does he but soften
Heart alike and pen?
'Tis the hard grey weather
Breeds hard Englishmen.
What's the soft South-wester?
"Tis the ladies' breeze,
Bringing home their trueloves
Out of all the seas:
But the black North-easter,

Through the snow-storm hurl'd,
Drives our English hearts of oak
Seaward round the world.
Come, as came our fathers,
Heralded by thee,
Conquering from the eastward,
Lords by land and sea,
Come; and strong within us
Stir the Vikings' blood;
Bracing brain and sinew;
Blow, thou wind of God!

-Kingsley's Poems.

From The National Magazine. THE MARRIED BACHELOR. "I WAS married once, sir, for three days.” Poor little man! with what sympathy-I may almost say, with what affectionate sympathy did I regard the unfortunate Frenchman, his cup of bliss dashed so rudely from his very lips. Those eyes, now sparkling almost wildly, I imagined, with the juice of the grape (indulged in first, perhaps, in moments of despair and agony),—how many tears of bitter misery must they have shed! that heart, so open and ingenuous as I had found it, how often must it have almost ceased to beat in choking fullness beneath that yellow waistcoat! Such and similar were the thoughts that rushed in a moment through my brain at his last words.

I had met my companion at what mine host of the Singe Rouge at Calais was pleased to call the table-d'hôte; and a small acquaintance had sprung up between us: it was sympathy, I suppose,-his English agreed so well with my most execrable French. Of course he of the volatile nation had com

menced the intimacy; and I must say I speedily got to like him. His troubles appeared to have pretty well agreed with him: he was a punchy little fellow, with a jolly nose, and looked a very Puck behind his richly-colored meerschaum, as he said,

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Well, monsieur shall hear my history; but I warn him 'tis a sad one. Know, then,

my name is Jules Canard, my age is fifty, and

I am a bachelor."

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Ah!" burst out the little Frenchman, " you never saw, you never can imagine-"

I might have told him that I thought I could easily; but n'importe —“What's So he Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba " turned up his eyes, made a vigorous attack upon his Burgundy, and went on uninterrupted.

"Monsieur, I was one day seated on a bench at Père-la-Chaise,-thither I had repaired to indulge in my delightful anticipations,-when a slight and graceful figure in Her veil was deep mourning drew near me. down, so that her face was hid; but I felt at once that she was young and beautiful. Scarcely had she passed me, when, sinking on a neighboring tombstone, she burst violently into tears. I rose immediately, judging her to be a mourner, whom religion bade me leave alone with her sacred grief; when a movement on her part suggested to me that illness might be the cause perhaps of her emotion. I approached her, therefore: Are you ill, mademoiselle?'

"Alas, no, monsieur,' she answered almost

inaudibly, except in spirit.'

"Exquisite being!' I exclaimed, putting my arm round her unresisting form, and leading her to the seat I had just quitted, 'what is your sorrow? Confide it, I entreat, to one who would console and succor you!'

"Well, monsieur, it was the old, old story here in France-marriage without love. Estelle was an orphan; it was her father's grave that lay before us; her mother, poor, She was courted was consequently heartless.

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Down went my sympathy, and went my up curiosity, with a jerk of corresponding veloc-by a rich old man; and her surviving parent had besought her, for her sake, to accept his ity. "A married bachelor?" thought I, "that's rather odd." offer. Duty and filial affection had conquered aversion and disgust, and they were to be My father dying," he continued, "left me Such a tale, told bea fortune of ten thousand francs, with which married in four weeks. I traded to so good purpose that in a few tween bursting sobs, by such a being and in years I had multiplied each franc by ten; on a place, would have moved the hearts discovering which, intending to cheat For- even of the stones around us, had they any tune of any opportunity of turning round to be moved; and it did mine, you may be sure. Her veil, too, in her agitation, had acupon me (a dirty but favorite trick of hers), I determined to quit trade, turn gentleman, cidentally become for an instant displaced, and live at ease. But fortune had me too and I caught a momentary glance of the tight to let me slip off unobserved; she sug-agination,-I have since thought indeed it countenance beneath. It may have been imgested that it was my duty as prudent merchant to make every arrangement for the must, but in that glance I saw an angel. future ere I shut up shop; and among sundry this old chiffonnier, this huckster, bids for And what, Estelle,' I cried, 'what is the sum other little items desirable for retired felicity, I found jotted down upon my list—a wife. A hundred thousand francs,' was "This idea being a new one, took my fancy. What prompted me I know not; I saw noththe reply. In a moment I was at her feet. I began to sigh after a cherry lip and pretty ing, I considered nothing: but for that passankle, to compose verses addressed to no one in particular, and to indite most flattering ing glance, I had not even seen her face; I replies by return of post. I'll not detail to had but felt the pressure of her hand, and I you, monsieur, all my endeavors to obtain was conquered. I did not so much as ask that which I so ardently desired, but in vain, far his pretensions were inferior to my own; whether the aged villain had a rival, nor how

till chance decreed that I should meet Estelle.

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I only thought the moment had arrived, and as well as husband. Happy children,' cried I must seize it. the crone again, Heaven be with you!' "She seemed very old and feeble, in mind as well as body; and I was watching her as she kept muttering something to herself, in the hope of seeing her sink off to sleep, and so leave Estelle and me a quiet tête-à-tête, when suddenly nôtre mère aroused herself once more.

"A hundred thousand francs!' I cried. 'Estelle, I will outbid him by five thousand. For this I've toiled these fifteen years; for this I have endured fatigue and penury, hoarding each centime, grudging almost my daily food-for thee, Estelle. Thou art the vision that has urged me to ply my task by day, that has been the subject of my nightly dreams; unseen, unknown, thou hast been my guardian spirit, and now at length we meet, here, at the very moment you most need my aid. Estelle, dearest Estelle, on my knees before you' Monsieur it is enough; I rose a happy man."

"Rather premature though, M. Canard,— was it not?"

Monsieur C. replied to my suggestion with that unanswerable_reminder,-" Sir, you forget; we are in France. With you coldblooded Englishmen it might be premature -it would, I know; but what was I to do? A twofold inducement lay before me,-to succor helpless virtue in distress, and to possess myself of the object of my desires without a troublesome, and perhaps eventually fruitless search. The opportunity now of fered, and I embraced it, and also my Estelle; and believe me, monsieur, never did I feel such contentment as at that moment when raising her veil, she turned her tearful eyes upon me, and pointed to her father's grave. Thither once more I led her; and there, above the ashes of that departed grocer, I swore fidelity to her, his child. She was very fair, monsieur; not quite so young perhaps as I had thought at first, but under thirty certainly, and I was forty-five."

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"To business,' she exclaimed, to business, my dear children. M. Canard, what is the sum you offer for Estelle?'

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"A hundred and five thousand francs, madame,' I answered coldly; for I did not like the commercial tone assumed by the old lady.

But to me,' she cried testily, how much am I to look for?

"A churlish answer mounted to my lips; but a glance at the burning face of my Estelle, as she stood covered with grief and shame, checked me at once.

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"You, madame,' I replied as gently as I could, shall have no cause for discontent. The mother of my wife shall be cared for as my own; a yearly income, paid as you may please, shall be at your disposal.'

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"This, however, did not seem to satisfy nôtre mère. She desired, with all the indelicacy of superannuated avarice, that I should pay her, then, and there, a given sum,-ten thousand francs, no less. This I peremptorily declined; my finances, I urged, would not endure such a sudden diminution. I had not realized my stock as yet; in short, I had not so much in hand. At this confession even Estelle looked almost lowering; but a few words cleared up the doubt that, for the moment, had rested in her ingenuous mind. My friend paused here again to light hisNo,' she thought, what adventurer would meerschaum, and seemed about relapsing seek out me, a poor, friendless, helpless wointo a reflective mood. 'Well,” said I, as I man?' and she dismissed the suggestion as refilled his glass. one unworthy of herself,-of me. So at "Well," he continued, "it was then ar- least did I translate the varied shades of ranged we should proceed at once to the emotion as they passed across her lovely face. maternal residence of my Estelle, there to The mother, however, was less generous; she see her mother, and invoke her blessing. It persisted in her first demand, so firmly too, was in a narrow but respectable locality, such that even my Estelle appeared to think it as night well be occupied by small, retired best to humor her, entreating me to yield. tradesmen or their families; and the house What was to be done, monsieur? I proat which we stopped was one of the hum- posed a compromise. It is well, madame,' blest. We were admitted; Estelle passed I cried; on our wedding-morning you shall in first, to, prepare, as she said, her mother have your money;' and I intimated that it -our mother-for the interview. was a payment once for all. Even to this not, however, long kept in suspense. the hag demurred; but if she had a will of "Heaven bless you my children!' cried her own, I had one also. A bachelor occathe old woman from her easy-chair as filially sionally has, monsieur," said my friend with we knelt before her. You, young man,-for a particularly knowing look; " and so I gained you have saved my child from misery, perhaps my point. from death; and me, her mother, from remorse and sorrow. You, Estelle; for you have found a friend as well as a protector, a lover

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"It was then arranged-the old woman for the sake of her money acquiescing-that our civil marriage by the mayor should take

place on Thursday in the coming week, and the religious ceremony three days later; Estelle insisting on the delay, that Sunday being the festival of her patron saint, she said. Impatient as I was, to so sacred an excuse I could but yield; and I passed the ensuing days with my betrothed (having first, of necessity, realised a portion of my property), selecting her wardrobe, paying her accounts, and adding almost hourly gifts."

M. Canard again paused, lost in meditation and the smoke of his tobacco.

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"Monsieur, excuse me, this lady is my prisoner.'

"And excuse me, monsieur,' cried I, looking fiercely up at him, this lady is my

"At length the day arrived, and we ap-wife! peared before the mayor. The customary "As you please, monsieur,' said the big declarations made, the registers were signed, huissier coolly. My business is with you, and it required but the blessing of the then. A debt,' he continued,-'a trifling Church to make my happiness complete. matter of ten thousand francs ;' and he looked But l'homme propose,' &c.; and I had yet about the room as if to take a mental list of three days to wait. How I strove to kill my effects.

those days; how early I retired to rest, how "Coquin!' I cried, enraged. Then turning late I rose to take my morning meal! Mean-to Estelle, who had sunk weeping on a seat, while I closed my shop, and abandoned my-And you, madame, what have you to say to self to an idle life. I steered clear of the this?' But instantly relenting at the sight of old lady, however, and walked with my Es- her pale face and streaming eyes, Estelle, telle through the most busy streets of Paris, forgive me!' I exclaimed passionately, throwentering many a shop, and making purchases ing myself at her feet. Tell me, Estelle, is at each. Her taste was truly charming,-a this-can this be true?' little perhaps above her contemplated station, as I thought; but what of that? Should I not be proud of so beautiful a wife in this shawl or that mantilla, made as they seemed expressly to exhibit her lovely figure and contour?

"Her charities, too, (at my expense), appeared to know no bounds.

"Jules, you know my old pensioner, Manon?'

"Not in the least. What of her?' "I took leave of her yesterday, and found her bathed in tears.'

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"Alas, M. Cunard,' replied my beloved, her bursting sobs choking her utterance, 'it is indeed too true. Poverty is a bitter lot, monsieur, starvation a sharp pang; a daughter's heart a tender one. May you never feel what. I have suffered. I could not work, I would not steal, I dare not die. I ran in debt; it was a crime, I know,-and with so little prospect as I had of payment, as bad as theft. M. Pierre knew of my distress, and on the promise of my hand relieved it, discharging all my obligations; but now I have forsaken him for you, he turns upon me, arrests me, as you see, and I- Estelle could proceed no further, and I felt a very culprit for my impatience with her. But enough, monsieur,' she said at length, with difficulty rising from her chair; I should have told you this before; that it was due to you I know: I feared to do it, and am justly punished. Fare you well.'

"The large huissier stepped up and laid his hand once more upon Estelle. He seemed to touch her gently though, or I should have knocked him down, or tried it.

"Alas!' she cried," madame' (she was the first who called me so, dear Jules), what shall I do? My only son, my comfort, my support, will to-morrow lose his liberty unless he can procure five hundred francs.' What was the result, monsieur? I found Estelle, in the fulness of her heart, had promised I should lend them, without interest too. I gave them her at once, and confess I grew tired of pulling out my purse so often. At this rate, thought I, I must keep shop another year or so. Yet how could I "Stay,' I cried: it is your first deceit, refuse Estelle? Estelle, and may it be your list. In the law's "At length the three days passed, and Sun-eye I am your husband, and responsible. day came. It was, I well remember, a wet and miserable morning,-such a weddingday! I rose betimes, however, and dressed myself once more in all my finest clothes. Before I was half through, I heard the voices, loud and angry, of people ascending the stairs, and drawing towards my door. At the first knock, I hastily threw my dressing-gown around me, and prepared to open. What

Here is your money, monsieur le huissier;' and I counted out the notes with an agitated hand. The fellow examined them, and coolly put them in his pocket, wrote me a discharge, and was making off.

"One moment, if you please,' said I. You have been kind enough to bring this lady here, do me the favor to escort her safely home again. I would do so myself, but-'1

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"A pretty morning's work,' thought I as passed the razor round my face. If Estelle turns out as costly a wife as she has already proved a mistress, farewell to my retirement and domestic happiness, for at least the present. Ah, ah, my little shop! it strikes me you and I are to be acquainted yet for many a day. Mothers, wardrobes, pensioners, and huissiers- A gash from the razor cut short my meditation, and turned the current of my thoughts.

"At the appointed hour I was at the church, and found I had arrived the first. Of course,' thought I, 'impatient lovers always do.' I stood within the porch, safe from the rain, whence I could see every approaching vehicle. At length, after a long delay, a vigilante drew near, and stopped at the entrance to the church. Three young girls in white alighted; then the bride. I was about to precipitate myself to the coach-door, when a young man anticipated me, and handed out the blushing demoiselle. It was a bride indeed, but not Estelle. Impatience was consuming me, and I hated the young gamin and his fiancée.

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Well, monsieur, hours passed, and at noon the church was closed. Then, in frenzy, I left the sacred edifice, and rushed headlong towards the residence of my Estelle. I flung open the well-known door, and almost fell over three small children.

"What do you want?' asked the eldest, a sturdy handsome fellow, ten years old, but as bouncible and brawny as an infant Hercules. Estelle, Estelle!' I cried, scarcely hear ing and less heeding the question of the child.

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CROMWELL TO FAIRFAX, PREPARATORY TO THE KING'S TRIAL.-"My Lord-I find a very great sense in the officers of the Regiments, of the sufferings and the ruin of this poor kingdom, and in them all a very great zeal to have impartial justice done upon offenders: and I must confess I do in all from my heart concur with them, and I verily think and am persuaded, they are things which God puts into our hearts. I shall not need to offer any thing to your Excellency; I know God teaches you, and that he hath manifested his presence so to you, as that you will give glory to him in the eyes of all the world. I held it my duty, having received these

"This time I heard and heeded him. I dropped into a chair, and glared at the three children with eyes of flame. The two youngest, girls, the living pictures of Estelle,turned and fled in terror, leaving Hercules to fight it out alone. The truth seemed bursting on me all at once; I seized the chair, and was about to hurl it at his head. I looked upon him once, his face, his form,the huissier all over. Monsieur, I can remember nothing more.

"That very evening the little shop reopened, and commenced a steady trade. Many a sympathizing friend dropped in, and many a stranger, too, to hear the tale. At first of course I was averse to tell it; no man likes to paint himself an ass; but soon I found such monstrous lies were going abroad, that I was glad in self-defence to publish my own story. Twenty times a-day I had to tell it, as I have told it now to you; and after the first smart was over, I found my profit in it. I, Jules Canard, was getting a celebrity, and in consequence my shop was well attended. It was many a day ere I dared count my losses through Estelle; but when at length I ventured on the task, and weighed them with what I had subsequently gained, I almost found the balance in my favor. And so began and ended my first-and, if I know it, my last-courtship too.

"I saw Estelle again, and often see her now; but not a word have we exchanged, you may be sure. She looks as bewitching as ever, and almost as beautiful, or she and her accomplice should ere this have visited the galleys at Teulon,-the one for bigamy, the other fraud. I need scarcely say her huissier's name was one unknown upon the public registers, though not perhaps on those of the police. I often feel inclined to poniard him; but my soft heart tells me he is Estelle's husband, and prudence whispers I am four-foot six, while he is six-foot four!"

petitions and letters, and being desired by the framers thereof, to present them to you: the Good Lord work his will upon your heart, enabling you to it, and the presence of Almighty God go along with you. Thus prays, my Lord, your most humble and faithful servant, O. Cromwell.

| Cromwell seems to have thought that Fairfax would take a leading part in the tragedy which was now preparing. The conduct of Fairfax towards Lisle, Lucas, and Lord Capel, gave him reason for thinking so.

"Knottingsley, 20 Nov. 1648.”

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