to her favor, by no means desperate. On whispered Augus to me," she is ill, she the following morning he sought her abode must not go on." I remarked, that it again, and returned to me with counte- might be oppression arising from the exnance brightening with hope. treme heat, and begged him to be calm. "She obstinately adheres," he said "to After sustaining herself until the death her. profession; but it is becoming more scene by the most toilsome exertion, she delightfully apparent each moment, that sunk fainting upon the couch prepared for time and absence have failed to eradicate her. Her companions thronged from be the seed sown in childhood and whose hind the scenes and surrounded her. The germ now warmed by the presence and house was all in an uproar, and the people, the passions of its object is budding into after expressing, in every variety of voice, life and luxuriance. This is no conceit of their pity and disappointment, soon disper my vanity, no suggestion of deceiving sed. Augus, leaping from the second tier of hope and to the operation of these hourly boxes upon the stage, was in a moment at strengthening feelings I look for the full her side. I ran for a carriage, in which consummation of my wishes. She is an- with her lover and a female assistant, she nounced to night, as Ophelia. You will was conveyed in a state of insensibility to go?", her lodging. A physician was soon proWe went at an early hour. The house cured, who pronounced her to be in a high was more thronged than before. I never fever. I saw how it was, and groaned witnessed such perfection in the person- over the probable result. Her great ef ification of character, and 1 half excused forts had exhausted her, at the commenceher for the adoption of a profession ment of the disease and took away so that she so splendidly adorned. I caught much of the. strength, which a struggle a glimpse of her father in a remote corner with it demanded. Augus was in an agof the house. A resistless impulse drew ony of alarm, he refused to go home with him thither, in spite of every struggle a-me, declaring he would not quit the house gainst it. He disappeared the instant she in which she was for an instant. As I left retired. Two or three days now went by the house, I passed a person standing near during which the visits of Augas to his the door.-It was the father of the patie 1. mistress were of increasing frequency. In a voice choked with emotion le inqu His devotion to her became of course the red the situation of his daughter. Poor public talk, and, as the favorite of the love old man! thought I, nature is too strong ly actress, he was subjected to the envy within you for this assumption of cruel in and the banter of his old companions. difference to the fate of your child. Itald But he soon stopped their rallying, little him my apprehensions. He shuddered replete as it was with respect to the wo. and turned from me; he never moved man, he adored. In her affections he more than a few steps from the door the made rapid advances; but she still un- livelong night. Augus who had passed yieldingly refused to retire from the stage the hours in pacing one of the lower apart and declared her determination to fulfil ments, opened the door for me in the mor her engagement with the manager though ning with a haggard countenance. She at the expense of her life. was now delirious and the awful crissis The yellow fever had commenced its was hastening onward. But I pass fearful march of devestation and the num- these details of bodily suffering and mee-. ber of its victims increased with each suc- tal misery which rendered the two fol ceeding day. On Saturday night she was lowing days so fraught with wretched to sustain the part of Desdemona.-The ness to those interested in the event. progress of the plague seemed to pass un- On the evening of the second day Clara noticed by the inhabitants, who crowded Dartmore breathed her last, I tore my unto behold her. At the commencement happy friend from the abode of death and she exhibited her usual spirit and power, forced him home with me. He had ne but after some time, animation seemed to ther eaten nor slept for forty eight hours leave her; her countenance grew languid, and the fever was now upon him too: her voice trembled and, her motions be- "another victim," I said, as I beheld the ve came slow and laborious.. "She is ill," rification of my fears and predictions ap

proaching; the same grave will hold you the coffin taken off and the shrouded form both, and there all chance of separation of its lovely and lamented tenant was diswill cease where you are unconscious of played.

the consumation of that eternal union you We stood on either side awaiting the have desired. Augus however was perfect- appearance of the officiating priests, who ly himself, though the infection had mark- in a few minutes came forth from the saed him for its own. He gave no outward cristy in the sacred vestments of their ofexhibition of grief, and seeming to yield to fice. We sunk upon our knees as they my entreaties that he would seek his bed advanced. Pere Antoine, the venerable and submit himself to the treatment of the pastor of the parish church, commenced physician for whom I had sent, he begged the burial service. He was an aged man. me to hasten back to St. Anna Street and of diminutive frame, attenuated features, see that the last offices were performed; and a countenance replete with benevowishing to gratify him in every thing, I lence; a small black cap covered his head went. The intense heat of the weather on whose temples a few grey hairs appearmade immediate interment necessary. Ied, like the last leaves of autumn foliage. found the preparations for the burial of His voice was soft and clear, though Clara going on, and that she was to be slightly trembling with the feebleness of consigned to the tomb in a few hours. years, and his words came sadly articuThe family among whom she had resided late to the car in the rich music of a Latwere rigid Catholics and. wishing the fu- in tongue, while the deep, bass tones of neral service of their own church to be the responding priests contrasted the mild performed over the deceased, they had tenor of his own. When the last amen determined to carry her body to the Cathe-was breathed and the lid of the coffin was dral church, previous to its deposit in the about to be replaced, the heart broken paearth; I could make no objection to this rent came forward from his concealment. arrangement. A little after eleven all "Shut her not up for ever," he said "till I was ready, the coffin palled and placed have made my peace with my poor child. upon its bier, and with three other young While you lived my daughter you were men of the neighbourhood, I assisted in dead to me, but death las restored you to bearing it along. The night was without me alive again. This kiss of reconciliaa star, a priest with his cross and book tion is the token that we shall soon be unipreceded thesm all though solemn proces- ted, never more to be separated or estran sion, and three torch bearers lighted our ged." "Alas my son," said the excellent steps through the narrow and shadowy Perc Antoine, as a tear stole from his eye, streets. Far behind me in the darkness "is this a moment for forgiving those who a moan of anguish occasionally interrupt- have wronged us, and could you thus posted the sad stillness of the scene. It came pone the pardon of your erring child. Or from the miserable parent who bewailed what avail is your forgivness to her now, in death the daughter he had implicably when perhaps she expired under the horrefused to forgive in life; we arrived at rors of your curse." "No, old man, my the Cathedral and entered through a small daughter I could never curse, though she door, near the Sacristy. The spacious merited the anathema, but I did worse, I edifice was illuminated but by our torches, abandoned her to the evil way she had and a few dim candles upon one of the chosen; oh, if it were not now too, too smaller altars. These lights dispelled the late, whither would I not go, what would gloom immediately around us, with a dull I not do to seek and to save thee my poor lustre the ornaments of the chancel and wanderer." He wrung his hands in agogave back a faint far gleam from the gil-nized anguish. "It is indeed too late, my ded organ, which reposed untouched and son," resumed the father, "you cannot resilent in the distant gallery. But a vast vive the form before you, it is our du canopy of sombre shadow, expanding its ty to return it to its kindred ashes; we redusky wings, floated heavily over the spect your grief and cannot interfere with aisles and their melancholy occupants; its indulgence; but for your own sake, we the bier was set down before the alter, would ask you to retire to your closet and the pall removed, the yet unfastened lid of the consolations of your religion, while

Vol III. no. 8-2

66

we proceed to the fulfilment of our me-lease now fairly pervaded his blood and lancholy office."-"Perform your duty," for days I despaired of his life. But a said the unhappy parent, turning away, vigorous constitution bore him through "my eyes have taken their last look of her, and he recovered. Clara's father never and may they now speedily close in dark- left her. When consciousness and memory restored, showed her her father, ac

ness."

The lid of the coffin was now fitted on ting as her nurse, the surprise and the its place, and the first screw that was to shame of meeting him shocked her se fasten it down had been several times verely; and the violence of her emotions, turned when a noise was heard at the and the bitter expression of her 1cmorse, door by which we had entered, aud Au- almost overwhelmed her feeble frame. gus rushed into the church. He stared In the amnesty for all past offences which for a moment wildly around him, then he freely granted her, she found relief and staggered towards the bier, and seizing consolation, and at length enjoyed without the hand of the man who was engaged at alloy the delight inspired by his presence the coffin, with one effort of delirious and his care. In a fortnight the lovers strength tore the plank from the place, to mutually tasted the reviving cordial of a which it was already partially attached; meeting. "I feel" said Clara when her I stepped forward to prevent this act of father and her lover enquired if she would insanity, but he shook me off and snatch- insist upon returning to the stage, "I feel ing the hand of Clara, which reposed by like one who has accidentally swallowed her side, pressed it convulsively between some nauseous dose, mingled with food, his own, held it to his heart as if to warm of which he was extravagantly fond; but by its burnings the cold flesh of the corpse which he ever afterwards regards with and leaning over the pale face covered it loathing. My appetite for the drama was with kisses. He panted for breath, for he morbid and unsatiable; but the incidents had flown to the place and the raging fe- which have just occurred, are like the ver which had seized him scarce left him potion smothered in the sweets; they have strength to reach it. At length he gasped made me look upon the stage with abhor out. "She is not dead, I dreamed that rence."

she was dead, but I have now awaked "You know" said Augus to me one day from the horrible vision. See there is" that I aim at originality in every thing, life, there is motion here, believe me, she and, therefore, my present odd notion cannot be dead." He sunk senseless up- will not surprise you. Clara, with her on the body. I raised him, but as I bent father's approbation has consented to an over the coffin, gracious God! what a immediate union; a thing on many ac sight presented itself. He had spoken the counts desirable; now my freak is, to be truth. The eyes of Clara were wide o-married by the old prest, who performed pen; her lips were parting; her bosom hea- the burial service over my dear Clara, and ving; her form trembling with nervous life. at the very same altar. The hour to be She was not dead in truth. I saw the sure shall be evening not midnight. The course instantly to be pursued, vitality al- association of ideas will be rich and orimost extinguished, had yet slumbered in ginal, and give a spice of variety to the her system, and this was the moment of monotony of the matrimonial ceremony, reaction; I called for wine. There was Besides I hear the old fellow displayed some in the sacristy, which the excellent great good feeling at the burial scene, and old priest hesitated not to divert from its I feel quite attached to him, we are nei holy purpose to one not less sacred. A ther of us Catholics, but if she objects on portion of it revived her sensibly, she was that score we can easily employ another placed in a carriage, still unconscious of clergyman afterwards."-Augus had the outward objects, and once more laid upon management to arrange the matter to his the bed, from which she had been con- fancy, I was present at the bridal and it veyed to the grave. The fever had ex- must be confessed that the comparison of hausted itself upon her and the natural en- the present scene with the past produced ergies had now only to be stimulated. a vivid effect. The benevolent face of Augus was taken to my house. The dis- Pere Antoine lighted with a smile of plea

sure as he dismissed them with his bene- She is. Wipe your shoes. Walk up. dicite. "My children go now in peace; You know the way:' replied the aristothe giver of all good hath brought you cratic servant.

back from the gates of death to the enjoy- Silently and stealthily the poor poet ment of all life's blessings; be never fail- ascended the lordly stair-case, and was ing then in gratitnde to him and in love soon in the presence of his patroness. a to each other; and be assured, that you Again the bell rang, and again the pamwill ever hold a place in the thoughts and pered lacquey, having finished a flirtation prayers of the old man, who now address-with the chambermaid, answered the door, es you, not only for the brief remnant of and admitted and showed up Walter his mortal life, but in that better world, to Mortham.

which he humbly hopes for a speedy Mis Sallow, an old maid, and her aunt, translation." A few days after I saw the Mrs. Caution, the former in a Saffron happy trio safely embarked for their gown and black bonnet, for she was a bas home in the north. "Now" said Augus bleu, and the latter in pink silk, for she had as he shook me by the hand for the last been a beauty, next presented themselves time, "now I will go in chase of my runa- for admission. way baggage."

THE LADY AND THE PAINTER.

Another pull at the bell. Capt. Percy, an English traveller, is the present summoner. A long pause ensues, during which the captain is concocting a paragraph about American servants, and by the time he has weighed and rejected several phrases, the door opens, and he is The house of Mrs. Rivers a beautiful rejoiced with the information that Mrs. widow, stood in a fashionable quartier of Rivers receives visiters. John has now the fair city of Boston, and now, when it lost his temper at the number of calls was rumored that her recent illness yield-upon his time and cooly says: 'Captain, ed to seclusion, and the most charming of you're such an old acquaintance. you may physicians, her door was besieged with as well come in without ringing.' acquaintances, eager to offer their hollow And now reader, perhaps you have congratulations, and their baseless com-been left too long waiting in the vestibule, pliments. and so, performing the part of gentlemanThe first was a pale poet, in a seedy usher, I will present you in due form. coat; one of that pseudo class, who bring Suppose the Rubicon to be passed, and the divine art' into discredit. He rang yourself to be seated at your ease, of the bell with a tremulous air, for such course-in the presence of one of the thread-bare followers of the muses are loveliest women that your eyes ever restever afraid of your spruce lacquey in live-ed on. ry. Mr. Epic was called a follower of Seated on an ottoman, in a half recumthe muses probably because he never over bent posture, which her convalescent state took them. He was the author of the rendered at once graceful and appropriate 'Genius of Washington,' a poem in eighty- Mrs. Adelaide Rivers received her friends four cantos, which might be said to pos- with the air of an unbending goddess, or sess the gift of immortality, since it would an affable sultana. Hers was a form, take a man an age to read it. If poetry ripe, full, and rounded, charming alike by be indeed a drug, this man was an opiate, its contours and its attitudes; large but for its effects were most somniferous, and not oversized; in short such a form as we so pervading that even an article in the fancifully attribute to an empress. The Aboriginal Review, composed chiefly of perfect regularity of her features atoned extracts from the poem put the five old for their want of any marked expression; ladies who supported that quarterly, into and then her eye!-soft, large, and lusta deep sleep, from which they never rous, it beamed upon you as if its pretty awoke. owner really had a soul. Her hair was 'Is Mrs. Rivers at home? asked the of course dark-but for her dress, (dark also by the way,) I must refer you to her

poet'

milliner. In the language of her friends,[ed to one of the most ancient families in Mrs. Rivers was a very sweet woman:' Great Britian. No wonder then that arthose who read her verses, thought she istocratic old gentlemen invited him to was a dull one, but they were no test, for dine. that fashionable young men imitated Mr. Epic was engaged to furnish them at his dress, and that sentimental young la á penny a line. If the lady had been con- dies fell in love with his black whiskers tent with the homage bestowed upon her and his blacker eyes. No wonder that charms, she would have enjoyed a due his very oaths became popular, and that celebrity, or if her success had been pro- even the arthodox professed to be hard of portionate to her efforts, it would have hearing when he swore so elegantly. been universal. Her voice was formed 'What a waltzer !' cried girls with pretto give utterance to the thoughts of poets, ty feet; 'what a love!' cried girls with in the strains of music, not to dwell upon pretty fortunes. "A Percy'! sighed the their merits or their faults in the lan- novel-readers. "Born in Alnwick Castle!" guage of the critics. When she spoke said the admirers of Halleck-(and who the soft nothings of fashionable conversa. does not admire him?,) tion, you admired, but when she attempt- "To return to "wicked Fanny," said a ed to win applause by eloquence, you lady; 'she will be very unpopular. All pitied her; not that she did not sometimes the young gentlemen who formerly admi surprise you with a bright idea, but be- red her, will be her enemies, because she cause her conversation was unequal, and did not marry them-and all the young it was thus she merited the title of the ladies will abuse her, because she won the 'mock Corinne.' hearts of all the young gentlemen.'

To some of her visiters the reader has "The young gentlemen were infidels," been introduced: there were others at said the slayer of men, "if they forsook the levee of Mrs. Rivers, of more or less the true divinity,' bowing very low to Mrs. importance; but as they took little part Rivers. Mrs. Rivers was enchanted. in conversation, we shall pass them over How strange that vanity should give cur in the silence they maintained. rency to false coin of flattery!

"This is a very extraordinary book, "You have given reason for the fair said Mrs. Rivers, in allusion to the recent- F-s unpopularity' said Walter Mortham, ly published journal of an actress, and turning to the lady who last spoke-but full of talent; but there are many reasons there is yet another-she has written a to prevent its popularity. I could say good book." such things of her, if she were not your country woman, Captain Percy.'

"A good book!' exclaimed several voi

ces.

"With a leaven of untruth, I grant-but

'Oh, Gad! madam.' answered the gallant captain, 'pray don't spare her on that still a good book,' said Walter. account. For my part, I think that very "Nothing is good which is untrue," circumstance will give a relish to your said the poet, with a sententious air. satire. One does'nt care what happens "A very talented book then," resumed to a stranger, but the misfortune of a next- young Mortham. A mediocre affair is door neighbour amuses excessively. The much more likely to make its author, than nearer the bone the sweeter the scandal." a very brilliant one. We may patronize "Your position is hardly tenable. Sir," mediocrity, but we cannot pardon talent. said the poet in the seedy coat; 'and I Very good books are read, but not bought; think if you read my "Genius of Wash-like gold, they are too precious to circu ington,' which contains some hints about late. Yet it is from these very good patriotism, you will be convinced! books, so secretly referred to, and little "Very probably, but not till then,' re- talked, about that the current wit of the plied the gallant captain. A word about day is purloined; and as we hate the Captain Percy. He was handsome, and sight of one we 've borrowed money of, an Englishman and that was enough to so we abuse an author, to conceal our obsecure admission into the first society in ligation to him,"

Boston. Moreover, he was furnished "You are fond of paradoxes," said Mrs. with undoubted credentials, and was alli- Rivers. "Mais apropos des bottes, have