Although Matilda had never consider- actions which I have now related: yet ed the improbability of passing this door, knowing that the term of her probation": she now reflected with wonder how she was about to expire, he resolved once had passed it, and fear of a discovery more to attempt some means of gaining began to operate, as she with more cau- admittance to her convent. With this tious steps moved silently through the view he made a journey thither in the cloister towards the outer gate; which disguise of a peasant; and, on the very when she approached, she heard Thersa's morning in which his mistress had escapvoice whispering these words: "Adieu, ed, he presented himself at the gate.. dear Conrad; but remember that your Conrad, who had by letter from the life, as well as mine, depend on the secre- Abbess been informed that her prisoner cy of our conduct:" then tenderly em- was fled, was desired to come immédiatebracing each other, a man ran swiftly ly, and devise some excuse to the sisters from her, and the Abbess turning round, for what had happened; for although stood motionless with horror at the bloody both to Conrad and Theresa the fact was spectre firmly approaching. The guilty evident enough yet the sister nuns were mind of Theresa could only suppose the distracted in conjectures; till, by one of horrid vision to be the departed spirit. of those artful stretches of assurance, which one whom she thought her cruelties had consumate villany finds it easy to exert, murdered; and while the panic seized Conrad recommended a plausible story; her whole frame a gust of wind from the And now Religion (that constant comfort gate, extinguishing the taper, Matilda of the good, and powerful weapon of the seemed to vanish, as she resolutely pa hed wickel) presented itself, as the only rethrough the postern door still open. source in this emergency.. Theresa was Theresa was too well hackneyed in the taught to say (for the present), that she ways of vice, to let fear long take had no doubt the sinful. reluctance of possession, of her prudence: the night Matilda to receive the veil had excited the was dark, and it would have been in vain wrath of Heaven; and that she was mito pursue the phantom, if her recovering raculously snatched away, or perhaps courage had suggested it; she therefore annihilated, to prevent the dreadful profaresolved to fasten both the doors, and nation of the holy ceremony at which return in silence to her own apartment, she must that day have assisted. waiting in all the peturbation of anxiety This plan had been settled, and Conand guilt, till morning should explain rad, was going with all haste in pursuit this dreadful mystery. Meanwhile Matilda, conscious in her of the fugitive, when, at the outer gate, he met the pretended peasant.-The peneinnocence, and rejoicing in her escape, pursued a wandering course through the rating eye, either of Love or Hatred, unfrequented paths of this mountainous soon discovers a friend or enemy, howdistrict, during three whole days and ever earfully disguised. Conrad and Albert nights; partly supporting her fatigue by of hatred, jealousy and fury, kindled in knew each other.-Instantly the flames. the provisions she had taken with her, their bosoms; and Conrad seizing Albert but more from a degree of insanity, which gave her powers beyond her natural by the throat, exclaimed, "I've caught strength; yet, in her distracted mind, this "the villain, the sacrilegious "ravisher. "" last instance of Theresa's wickedness, Conrad drew.his sword; but Albort (who -A sever struggle ensued, in which had excited a disgust and loathing, bor

.

dering on fury against every Religious had no weapon) dextrously wrenched the

or Manstic institution.

instrument from the hand of Conrad, and During the whole twelve months of plunged it in his bosom--The villain fell; Matilda's noviciate, no intercourse of while Albert fled with the utmost precipitation froin the bloody scene, and return-.. any kind had passed betwixt her and, Albert, who continued under the proteced in the evening to this convent., tion of this house, alike ignorant of her father's death, and of all the other trans

How shall I describe (said the good old Monk) the contrast betwixt the looks

of our unhappy youth at this moment, and When Matilda first perceived the dog, and on the proceeding morning when he she looked with wildness round her left us! Then innocence faintly enlight- then fixing her eyes with tenderness on tened by a gleam of hope, smiled in his the animal she said, "Are you returned to. features, as he cheerfully bid us adieu, me again? and are you now my friend? and said "perhaps I may again hear tid- Fie fie upon it! Shall even dogs seduce ings of. Matilda, should the will of Hea- the helpless!Perhaps you repeni of ven deny me happiness with her, I will what you have done-You look piteouscome back resigned,. and dedicate my ly, Alas! Matilda can forgive you! future life to holy meditation void of guilt." Poor brute you know I followed you all But now, he returned breathless and pale, the day long, and would have followed his hands besmeared with blood, his limbs you for ever, but that you led me to a detrembling; he could only utter, in faulter- tested. convent!Thither Matilda will ing words, Save me, reverend Fathers not go-Why should you lead me to a save me from justice, from myself, if possi- prison? a dog cannot plead Religion in ble! Behold a murderer!" :: excuse for treachery!" She paused, then "Some hours elasped before we could taking a rosay, of pearls from her side," collect from him, the circumstances of a she fantastically wound it about the dog,s crime, which had produced this extreme neck saying, "I have a boon to ask, and degree of horror and compunction in a thus I bribe you, these precious beads are mind so virtuous and innocent as that of yours now guide me to the top of this Albert; and, having heard the whole, in high mountains, that I may look about which he took all the blame to his own me, and see all the world. Then I shall hasty conduct, we promised him protec- know whether my Albert still be living tion; and endeavoured, though in vain, Ah, no! it cannot be! for then Matilda for two whole days to speak comfort to would be happy! and that can never be!" his troubled mind, and to inspire confi- She then burst into a flood of tears, which dence in the boundless mercy of his. God. seemed to give her some relief. On the third day we were diverted from When I thought she was sufficiently. this arduous task, by the return and be- composed, Jerome and I discovered ourhaivour of one of our dogs; the poor ani- selves. On this she shrieked, and hid her mal, who had been out all day, was rest. face; but calling to her I said, " Albert is less, and shewed evident marks of a de- still alive.". She looked at us, till by desire that we should accompany him to grees she wildly, examined us from head the relief of some poor wretch, who was to foot; then turning to the dog, she seized unable to reach our convent. him by the throat and would have dashed

Father Jerome and I resolved to follow him down the precipice, saying, Ah, tiņihim; and we proceeded about half a mile tor! is it thus thou hast betrayed me!" when we turned from the beaten track-But the animal struggled and got from guided by our dog, to a retired glen her, She then firmly looked at us, and where human feet had hardly ever trod cried, "Here I am safe, deceitful monsters! before. Here, on a rock, which projected safe from the tyranny of your religious over a dreadful precipice, sat an unbap- persecution; for if you approach one py half distracted object; I need not single step, I plunge into the yawning tell you, it was Matilda She had crept gulph,. and so escape your power. Ha! with wondrous difficulty up a steep ascent ha! ha!" Then recovering from a franto a ledge of rock which overhung a fear- tic laugh, she said, "Yet tell me, did you ful chasm (the very recollection of the not say that Albert still lives? Oh! that place freezes my blood!) when we first such words had come from any lips but discovered her, she was eagerly clinging those of a false monk!I know your to a branch of yew which grew from a arts; with you such falsehoods are refissure in the rock above, and which half ligious frauds; this is a pious lie, to enshaded her melancholy figure. snare a poor helpless linnet to its cage: "The dog followed her steps; but, Je- but I tell you cunning priests! here I derome and I, unable to ascend a path so ty you; nor will I ever quit this: rock. dangerous, stood unobserved by her, at a till Albert's voice assures me I may do it little distance on the opposite side the safely."

glen.

VOL. 3-1-8°

purposes honourable to Heaven, and use already executed a deed, resigning all the ful to mankind these hospitable doors fortune of her father to favour of Matilda, are ever open to distress and the chief he had declared his guilty commerce with object of our care is to discover and re- Theresa, that he might repent, or suffer lieve it. This holy mansion has long punishment; he had paid a the debts of been an asylum against the oppression of Albert and justified his character to tlie human laws, which drove thee from thy world and, finally, he had resolved to home; and, but a few days since, thou implore the prayers of myself, and the thyself blessed an institution which saved venerable fathers of this house, to inake the wretched Matilda, perishing with in worthy of becoming one of our holy. madness. Nay, at this very moment, its ordet: that if he lived, he might be useful mercy shelters from the hand of justice, or if he died, he might be happy.

a murderer! yet thy presumption dates.The prior then concluded this interestdeny its general use, from thine. own ing narrative, by saying, that Albert and sense of partial inconvenience, and exe- Manda were united, and are still blessed crates monastic institution of the sexes, in each other's virtues, improved by dif lewdness and sensuality are checked: ficulties thus sutmounted; that Theresa but know, short sighted youth, that the had too far profanet, the laws of Heaven, world will not remain unpeopled, because to have any confidence in religion, and a few of its members consecrate their died by her own hands but that Conrad lives to haly meditation; nor. shall the recovered slowly from his wave and, human species, become extinct, because after living many years an honour to the Albert and Matilla cannot be tited to order he professed, he died in peace the propagate a race of infidels and murder faithfid dog (he said) was the favourite ers. I stopped, for I perceived the gen- companion of Albert; and Matilda, who the Albert was touched with my rebuke; had begged him from the convent, and and falling on his knees, he cried in the encouraged him to pursue his task of dispathetic words of, scripture, "Father! I covering travellers who had lost their have sinned against Heaven, and in thy way, but whom he now brought.th the sight." It is enough, my son, I replied, hospital mansion of this Virtuous pain. and now I will compassionate your situa-He then briefly hinted arguments in tion; I will do no more, for though I favour of monastic institutions; yet libercannot detain Matilda longer than till she ally allowing that the religion of his coun is well enough to be removed; yet in that try might in certain points be wrong, and time (if Heaven approve my endeavoirs) knowing me to be a Protestant. I.suppose I may contribute to your happiness, by in be acknowledged more than I ought in tercedeing with her father, and should justice to cander to his relate. For this fail in the attempt, this roof, which thy I have purposely, suppressed the name hasty passion has profaned, shall yet be and situation of his convent; but I shall a refuge to thee from despair, and I will ever remember these words, with which strive to raise thy thoughts above the the finished this discourse: "True Religion trifling disappointments of a transitory (said he) however it may vary in outward. world' ceremonies, or articles of faith, will always.

"I could not wait the reply of Albert, teach you to do good, to love and help (said the Prior) being at this time called each other; it will teach you, that no sin out to welcome the arrival of a stranger, however sectet can long remain conceal who they said was dangerously ill this ed; and that when the world and all its proved to be no other than the wound vanities have palled the sated appetite ed Conrad. He, in few words, explained you must seek refuge in conscious innothe motive of his visit, telling me that im-cence; or a sincere repentance. Then mediately after, the rencounter, dreading no matter whether you choose a convent that awful presence in which no seceret is for retirements or commune with your concealed, and to which he apprehended own heart upon your bed, and be still. he was summoned by his own sword in the injured hand of Albert, he had rowed (if heaven would grant him life) to repair. he wrongs he had committed. He had

BOW, WOW, WOW,

FOR THE DOG DAYS.

For the Visiter-BY W. D. BAKER.

In the thirteenth century, it seems, a

who like bodies positively and negatively electrified mutually attraet each other, are very fond of each others society, give and take nay they may be compared to the electric fluid itself, for they are frelaw was passed in Poland for the suppres-quently concerned in jars and prove" suppres-shocking to those with whom they come sion of slander. The slanderer was com pelled to take a place under a table, on all in contact." fours, and bark like a dog, exclaiming to which the negative one gives assent by The positive slanderer makes the assertion between every caninish imitation, that he had lied like a dog,. silence or by a shrug, or Bless me you

Now, with all due submission for the dont say so-I thought so-Well, welllegislative wisdom of past ages,, it does or sometimes compassionate and consider. scem that the giver of said law was the ve- late, by saying we had better not let it go ry first, who should have been subjected to and further. Taking care however, as the full infliction of its penality. Most soon as convenient, to entrust the slanfaithful dog foully wast thou slandered. der as some great secret; to one of the Thou never didst it never was, it never weakest of the weak sex, knowing that the crabbed Crabbe was right" will be, in thy noble nature to lie.

"Secrets with girls, like loaded guns with boys,

Were such a law as that of Poland Are never valued till they make a noise." propos in one of our legislative bodies, Ah! good friends you are nodding as-" most learned and sapient speeches sent to what has been said; No, mehercule, would be made pro and con, on the one snoring! well, here follows-and now when side, while no objections would be made awake you shall hear about the dream, to the bow, wowing; it would be most what a continued and tremenduous: bow, strenuously urged, that the passage of the wow, wowing, shall, pervade these dreams. phrase" he lied like a dog" would inevita- You are awake now, halwell Dream bly bring distress and ultimately ruin upon ed I thus..

the country. The opposite party would Miss Sophanisba Tattle was a splendid most pertinaciously insist upon the policy specimen of feminine beauty, mental as of the phrase, that upon its retention most well as corporeal.. Her personal beauty, indubitably, depended the prosperity and oh ye masculines, need not be described, happiness of our beloved country.-Fi-ye view her equal whenever ye do look nally, to escape the horrors incidental to upon your lady loves. But in the acomintestinal commotion, a compromise plishments of the day, she by far excelled would be effected, by, which the one side your heart-stealing sweet-hearts. No would lose nathing, while the other would one could surpass the natural way in which gain-nothing. she painted her cheeks. But in drawThe obnoxious phrase would be stricken ing the men after her; she indeed stood. out, and wisely too, for in our country unrivalled. She played the fool or there are female slanderers, and they coquette (which is pretty much the same could not, with any propriety apply to thing), beautifully she was beautiful and themselves the weid dog, it being as is none but a beautiful woman, or one who supposed, admitted by all the literati, to thinks herself so would dare be coquettish. be a word of the masculine gender. She rode horses and rowed boats, drove Let me now fall asleep, and dream that tandem, at length, and in short drave a such a law was at present in operation. In drove of heaux about their business every desiring you to fall asleep, in the meanwhile fortnight, notwithstanding this she retainmost intelligent reader. much is not asked ed two. beaux, and used the one pretty of you, for the foregoing prosing is ad much as cupid uses his bow, for the purmirably calculated to facilitate your ense of wounding others, and the other rance into the land of Nod: Before sleeping as her quiver, for he appeared to be the however, let it be said, that morally con-arcowy receptacle, more in love than all sidered (and be kind, enough to suppose the others, and after being well filled was legally speaking) there are two kinds thrown behind her back which certes of slanderers; the positive and negative, made him quiver with rage.