from the hearth; you sat down in an easy chair, ances. The worm had commenced ravages on Mr. and were made prisoner by its arms; you sought Rudyerd's wooden structure, which, though capathe shade of an arbor, and were set afloat upon the ble of timely repair, would have led to considerable canal. That the more serious device of such a toil and expense had a longer duration been perbrain should have been fantastic and unsound is less mitted to the edifice. It had presented, however, surprising than that it should have endured the no symptoms of serious instability or irremediable weather of the channel for some three seasons. Mr. decay, when, in 1755, it met with a fate from which Winstanley commenced his operations on the Ed- its situation might have appeared to be its security dystone in 1696, a period when the doctrine was destruction, rapid and complete, by fire. The scarcely obsolete that storms might be raised by the catastrophe left Mr. Rudyerd's skill unimpeached malignity of elderly females. If storms could be as an architect, for in respect of solidity his work provoked by the excesses of human complacency had stood the test of nearly fifty winters; but the and presumption, Mr. Winstanley was quite the many instances of marine conflagration should have man to raise them. Having completed a structure warned him that an edifice cased to the summit deficient in every element of stability, he was with tarred timbers was quite as combustible as a known to express a wish that the fiercest storm ship, and precaution against such accident seems that ever blew might arise to test the fabric. He to have been neglected in the arrangements of the was truly the engineer of Mr. Sheridan Knowles' lantern. pleasant lines

The flashes of amateur ingenuity have paled their fires before the steady lustre of brighter lights and surer guides. The voice of a commercial people demanded aid for daring enterprises and great designs. Men like Smeaton and Brindley answered the call; and not among the least of their follow

Who lays the top-stone of his sea-girt tower, And, smiling at it, bids the winds and waves To roar and whistle now-but in a night Beholds the ocean sporting in its place. Short time indeed had poor Mr. Winstanley to "stand aghast;"-for, alas! the undaunted gen-ers are those to whom the humble tribute of these tleman was engaged in a visit of inspection when the storm he had challenged occurred, and its fury left no trace of the lighthouse, its attendants, or its

architect.

ings of the question which would justify us in endeavoring to rouse the perfervid genius of Scottish nationality against such a proposition. We trust, however, that no hasty concession will be made to the mere principle of centralization-a principle misapplied when it disturbs the working of machinery which experience has shown to be adequate to its functions and successful in its operation.

pages has been paid. At this moment we shall be pardoned for observing that the selection and employment of such agents does credit to the Northern Light Commissioners. Did any doubt exist as Mr. Rudyerd, who next undertook the task, was to the merit of the services of that body, given, as certainly a man of genius. It is possible that they are, without fee or reward, we should be England at this time contained no man more com- tempted to reply to the sceptic in something like petent for the undertaking than the silk-mercer of the language of Wren's epitaph-"Si quæras monLudgate-hill, the son of a Cornish vagrant, who umentum, circumnaviga." It is known that sughad raised himself from rags and mendicancy, by gestions have been made for the amalgamation of his talents and industry, to a station of honorable this and the Irish Board with the Trinity House. competence. He designed, and with the assist-We do not claim an acquaintance with all the bearance of two shipwrights constructed, an edifice mainly of timber, courses of stone being introduced solely to obtain the advantage of that principle of vertical pressure of which we have already spoken. In this respect it did present some of that analogy to the oak-tree which the artist of Skerryvore impugns in the case to which Smeaton applied the illustration. It might be said to resemble a tree with iron roots, for the balks of timber which formed the base were bolted to the rock, so as to resist lift or lateral displacement, by iron branches, so called, spreading outward at the nether extremity, on the principle of that ancient and well-known instrument, the Lewis. Mr. Rudyerd did not indeed invent that simple and very ingenious contrivance with which heavy stones have for ages past been raised by the crane, but he, as we believe, in the case of the Eddystone, first applied it to the fixture of bolts and stanchions-an application which is extolled by Smeaton as a felicitous and material accession to the practical part of engineering. It was largely adopted by Mr. R. Stevenson in his operations on the Bell Rock, especially in that difficult and anxious one, the construction of the temporary barrack. In the case of Skerryvore, the hardness of the rock made the process slow and unsuitable, and led Mr. A. Stevenson to adopt other contriv

A CHRISTIAN'S LIFE.
He envied not the pomp and power
Of kings in their triumphant hour,
The deeds that win a lofty name,
The songs that give to bards their fame.
He sighed not for the gold that shines
In Guinea's brooks, in Ophir's mines;
He stood not at the festivals
Of nobles in their gorgeous halls.

He walked on earth as wood-streams pass,
Unseen beneath the freshened grass;-
His were pure thoughts and humble faith,
A blameless life and tranquil death.

He kept, in days of strife and wrath,
The Christian's straight and narrow path;
But weep thou not; we must not weep,
When they, who rest in Jesus, sleep.

Christian Songs.

From Sharpe's Magazine.

THE MAIDEN AND MARRIED LIFE OF MARY

POWELL.

AFTERWARDS MISTRESS MILTON.

then she discoursed with me of things more
seemlie for women than philosophie or divinitie
either. Onlie, when Mr. Agnew and Mr. Milton
joyned us, she woulde aske them to repeat one
piece of poetry after another, beginning with
Carew's―
He who loves a rosie cheeke,

Or a coral lip admires,

And crying at y end of eache, "Is not that love-
ly? Is not that divine?" I franklie sayd I liked
none of them soe much as some Mr. Agnew had
recited, concluding with

Mortals that would, follow me,
Love virtue; she alone is free.

Whereon Mr. Milton surprised me with a suddain
kiss, to ye immoderate mirthe of Rose, who sayd
I coulde not have looked more discomposed had
he pretended he was ye author of those verses.
I
afterwards found he was; but I think she laught
more than there was neede.

We have ever been considered a sufficientlie religious familie; that is, we goe regularly to church on Sabbaths and prayer-dayes, and keepe alle y fasts and festivalles. But Mr. Milton's devotion hath attayned a pitch I can neither imitate nor even comprehende. The spirituall world secmeth to him not onlie reall, but I may almoste say visible. For instance, he tolde Rose, it appears, that on Tuesday nighte, (that is ye same evening I had promised to be his,) as he went

May 24th.—Deare Rose came this morning. I flew forthe to welcome her, and as I drew near, she lookt upon me with such a kind of awe as that I could not forbeare laughing. Mr. Milton having slept at Sheepscote, had made her privy to our engagement; for indeede, he and Mr. Agnew are such friends, he will keep nothing from him. Thus Rose heares it before my owne mother, which shoulde not be. When we had entered my chamber, she embraced me once and agayn, and seemed to think soe much of my uncommon fortune that I beganne to think more of it my selfe. To heare her talke of Mr. Milton one w have supposed her more in love with him than I. Like a bookworm as she is, she fell to praysing his composures. "Oh, the leaste I care for in him is his versing," quoth I; and from that moment a spiritt of mischief tooke possession of me, to do a thousand heedlesse, ridiculous things throughout y day, to show Rose how little I set by the opinion of soe wise a man. Once or twice Mr. Milton lookt earnestlie and questioninglie at me, but I heeded him not. Discourse at table graver and less pleasant, methoughte, than heretofore. Mr. Busire having dropt in, was avised to ask Mr. Milton why, having had an university education, he had not entered y Church. He re-homewards to his farm lodging, he fancied y plied, drylie enough, because he woulde not subscribe himselfe slave to anie formularies of men's making I saw father bite his lip; and Roger Agnew mildly observed, he thought him wrong; for that it was not for an individual to make rules for another individual, but yet that y generall voice of the wise and good, removed from y pettie prejudices of private feeling, mighte pronounce authoritativelie wherein an individual was righte or wrong, and frame laws to keepe him in the righte path. Mr Milton replyed, that manie fallibles e no more make up an infallible than manie finites could make an infinite.. Mr. Agnew rejoyned, that ne'erthelesse, an individual who opposed himselfe agaynst y generall current of y wise and good, was, leaste of alle, likelie to be in the right; and that y limitations of human intellect which made the judgment of manie wise men liable to question, certainlie made y judg-yardes and dark corners of alle kinds; more esment of anie wise man, self-dependent, more questionable still. Mr. Milton shortlie replied that there were particulars in y required oaths which made him unable to take them without perjurie. And soe, an end; but 't was worth a world to see Rose looking soe anxiouslie from y one speaker to the other, desirous that eaches be victorious; and I was sorry that it lasted not a little longer.

As Rose and I tooke our way to y summerhouse, she put her arm round me, saying, "How charming is divine philosophie !" I coulde not helpe asking if she did not meane how charming was y philosophie of one particular divine. Soe

angels whisperinge in his eares, and singing over his head, and that instead of going to his bed like a reasonable being, he lay down on y grass, and gazed on ye sweete pale moon till she sett, and then on y bright starres till he seemed to see them moving in a slowe, solemn dance, to y° words, "How glorious is our God!" And alle about him, he said, he knew, tho' he coulde not see them, were spiritual beings repairing the ravages of y day on the flowers, amonge y' trees, and grasse, and hedges; and he believed 't was onlie the filme that originall sin had spread over his eyes, that prevented his seeing them. I am thankful for this same filme-I cannot abide fairies, and witches, and ghosts-ugh! . I shudder even to write of them; and were it onlie of the more harmlesse sort, one woulde never have ye comforte of thinkinge to be alone. I feare church

peciallie spiritts; and there is onlie one I wd even wish to see at my bravest, when deepe love casteth out feare; and that is of sister Anne, whome I never associate with y worm and windingsheete. Oh no! I think she, at leaste, dwells amonge y starres, having sprung straite up into lighte and blisse the moment she put off mortalitie; and if she, why not others? Are Adam and Abraham alle these yeares in yo unconscious tomb? Theire bodies, but surelie not their spiritts? else, why dothe Christ speak of Lazarus lying in Abraham's bosom while y brothers of Dives are yet riotouslie living? Yet what becomes of the daye

of generall judgment, if some be thus pre-judged? I must aske Mr. Milton-yes, I thinke I can finde it in my heart to aske him about this in some solemn, stille hour, and perhaps he will sett at rest manie doubts and misgivings that at sundrie times trouble me; being soe wise a man.

Bedtime.

Coming out of church he woulde shun y common field, where y villagery led up theire sports, saying, he deemed quoit-playing and y like to be unsuitable recreations on a daye whereupon the Lord had restricted us from speakinge our own words, and thinking our own (that is, secular) thoughts; and that he believed ye law of God in this particular woulde soone be the law of y land, for parliament woulde shortlie put down Sunday sports. I askt, "What, the king's parliament at Oxford ?" He answered, “No; the country's parliament at Westminster." I sayd, I was sorrie, for manie poore hard-working men had no other holiday. He sayd, another holiday woulde be given them; and that whether or no, we must not connive at evil, which we doe in permitting an

it not y Jewish law, which had made such restrictions? He sayd, yes, but that Christ came not to destroy y moral law, of which sabbathkeeping was a part, and that even its naturall fitnesse for the bodily welfare of man and beast was such as no wise legislator would abolish or abuse it, even had he no consideration for our spiritual and immortal part; and that 't was a well-known fact that beasts of burthen, which had not one daye of rest in seven, did lesse worke in y end. As for oure soules, he sayd, they required theire spiritual meales as much as our bodies required theires : and even poore, rusticall clownes, who coulde not reade, mighte nourish their better parts by an holie pause, and by looking within them, and around them, and above them. I felt inclined to tell him that long sermons alwaies seemed to make me love God less insteade of more, but woulde not, fearing he mighte take it that I meant he had been giving me one.

Glad to steale away from y noisie companie in y supper-roome, (comprising some of father's fellow-magistrates,) I went down with Robert and Kate to y fish ponds; it was scarce sunset; and there, while we threw crumbs to y fish and watched them come to the surface, were followed, or ever we were aware, by Mr. Milton, who sat down on the stone seat, drew Robin between his knees, stroked his haire, and askt | holy daye to sink into a holiday. I sayd, but was what we were talking about. Robin sayd I had beene telling them a fairie storie; and Mr. Milton observed that was an infinite improvement on ye jangling, puzzle-headed prating of country justices, and wished I woulde tell it agayne. But I was afrayd. But Robin had no feares; soe tolde y tale roundlie; onlie he forgot y end. Soe he found his way backe to ye middle, and seemed likelie to make it last alle night; onlie Mr. Milton sayd he seemed to have got into y labyrinth of Crete, and he must for pitie's sake give him ye clew. Soe he finished Robin's story, and then tolde another, a most lovelie one, of ladies, and princes, and enchanters, and a brazen horse, and he sayd the end of that tale had been cut off too, by reason y writer had died before he finished it. But Robin cryed, "Oh! finish this too," and hugged and kist him; soe he did; and methoughte y end was better than y° beginninge. Then he sayd, "Now, sweet Moll, you have onlie spoken this hour past, by your eyes; and we must heare your pleasant voice." "An hour?" Monday-Mother hath returned ! cries Robin. "Where are alle y red clouds gone, ment I hearde her voice I fell to trembling. then?" quoth Mr. Milton, "and what business y same moment I hearde Robin cry, "Oh, mother, hathe y moon yonder?" "Then we must go I have broken the greene beaker!" which betraied indoors," quoth I. But they cried "No," and apprehension in another quarter. However, she Robin helde me fast, and Mr. Milton sayd I might quite mildlie replied, "Ah, I knew the handle know even by y distant sounds of ill-governed was loose," and then kist me with soe greate afmerriment that we were winding up the week's fection that I felt quite easie. She had beene accounts of joy and care more consistentlie where withhelde by a troublesome colde from returning we were than we coulde doe in y house. And at y appointed time, and cared not to write. indeede just then I hearde my father's voice swell-'T was just supper-time, and there were the chiling a noisie chorus; and hoping Mr. Milton did dren to kiss and to give theire bread and milk, not distinguish it, I askt him if he loved musick. and Bill's letter to reade; so that nothing particHe answered, soe much that it was miserie for ular was sayd till the younger ones were gone to him to hear anie that was not of ye beste. I bed, and father and mother were taking some wine secretlie resolved he should never heåre mine. He and toast. Then says father, "Well, wife, have added, he was come of a musicalle familie, and you got the five hundred pounds?" No," she that his father not onlie sang well, but played answers, rather carelesslie. "I tolde you how finely on y viol and organ. Then he spake of 't woulde be," says father; "you mighte as well y sweet musick in Italy, untill I longed to be have staid at home." "Really, Mr. Powell," there; but I tolde him nothing in its way ever says mother, "soe seldom as I stir from my owne pleased me more than to heare y choiristers of chimney-corner, you neede not to grudge me, I Magdalen college usher in May day by chaunting think, a few dayes among our mutuall relatives." a hymn at y top of y church towre. Discours-"I shall goe to gaol," says father. "Nonsense," ing of this and that, we thus sate a good while says mother; "to gaol indeed!" "Well, then, ere we returned to the house. who is to keepe me from it?" says father, laugh

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The mo-
At

ing.

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Moll, are you of your mother's mind to give up Mr. Milton altogether?" I trembled, but sayd, "No." " Then, as his time is precious, and he knows not when he may leave his home agayn, I save you the trouble, child, of naming a day, for it shall be the Monday before Whitsuntide." Thereat mother gave a kind of groan; but as for me, I had like to have fallen on y ground, for I had had noe thought of suche haste. "See what you are doing, Mr. Powell," says mother, compassionating me, and raising me up, though somewhat roughlie ; prophecie evil of this match." 'Prophets of evil are sure to find listeners," says father, "but I am not one of them ;" and soe left y room. Thereon my mother, who alwaies feares him when he has a fit of determination, loosed the bounds of her passion, and chid me so unkindlie, that, humbled and mortified, I was glad to seeke my chamber.

" I

"I will answer for it, Mr. Milton will wait the leaste precipitate it not with this indecent a little longer for his money," says mother," he haste. Postpone it till"Till when ?" is an honorable man, I suppose." "I wish he says father. "Till the child is olde enough to may thinke me one," says father; "and as to a know her owne mind." "That is, to put off an little longer, what is y goode of waiting for what honorable man on false pretences," says father; is as unlikelie to come eventuallie as now?"" she is olde enough to know it alreadie. Speake, "You must answer that for yourselfe," says mother, looking wearie; "I have done what I can, and can doe no more." "Well, then, 't is lucky matters stand as they do," says father. "Mr. Milton has been much here in your absence, my dear, and has taken a liking to our Moll; soe, believing him, as you say, to be an honorable man, I have promised he shall have her." Nonsense," cries mother, turning red and then pale. "Never farther from nonsense," says father, "for 't is to be, and by y ende of y month too." "You are bantering me, Mr. Powell," says mother. "How can you suppose soe, my deare?" says father, "you doe me injustice." "Why, Moll!" cries mother, turning sharplie towards me, as I sate mute and fearfulle, "what is alle this, child? You cannot, you dare not think of wedding this round-headed puritan." "Not round-headed," sayd I, trembling; "his haire is as long and curled as mine." "Don't bandy words with me, girl," says mother passionatelie, see how unfit you are to have a house of your owne, who cannot be left in charge of your father's for a fortnighte, without falling into mischiefe !" "I won't have Moll chidden in that way," says father; "she has fallen into noe mischiefe, and has beene a discreete and dutifull child." "Then it has beene all your doing," says mother," and you have forced the child into this match." "Noe forcing whatever," says father, they like one another, and I am very glad of it, for it happens to be very convenient." "Convenient, indeed," repeats mother, and falls a weeping. Thereon I must needs weepe too, but she says, 66 Begone to bed; there is no neede that you shoulde sit by to heare your owne father confesse what a fool he has beene."

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To my bedroom I have come, but cannot yet seek my bed; the more as I still heare their voices in contention below.

Entering y dining-room, however,

I uttered a shriek on seeing father fallen back in his chair, as though in a fit, like unto that which terrified us a year ago; and mother hearing me call out, ran in, loosed his collar, and soone broughte him to himselfe, tho' not without much alarm to alle. He made light of it himselfe, and sayd 't was merelie a suddain rush of blood to y head, and woulde not be dissuaded from going out; but mother was playnly smote at the heart, and having lookt after him with some anxietie, exclaimed, "I shall neither meddle nor make more in this businesse; your father's suddain seizures shall never be layd at my doore;" and soe left me, till we met at dinner. After the cloth was drawne, enters Mr. Milton, who goes up to mother, and with gracefulnesse kisses her hand; but she withdrewe it pettishly, and tooke up her sewing, on the which he lookt at her wonderingly and then at me; then at her agayne, as though he woulde reade her whole character in her face; which having seemed to doe, and to write y same in some private page of his heart, he never troubled her or himself with further comment, but tooke up matters just where he had left them last. Ere we parted we had some private conference touching our marriage, for hastening which he had soe much to say that I coulde not long contend with him, especiallie as I founde he had plainlie made out that mother loved him not.

Tuesday. This morninge's breakfaste was moste uncomfortable, I feeling like a checkt child, scarce minding to looke up or to eat. Mother, with eyes red and swollen, scarce speaking save to the children; father directing his discourse chieflie to Dick, concerning farm matters and ye rangership of Shotover, tho' 't was easie to see his mind was not with them. Soe soone as alle had dispersed to theire customed taskes, and I was Wednesday.-House full of companie, leaving loitering at y window, father calls aloud to me noe time to write nor think. Mother sayth, tho' from his studdy. Thither I go, and find him and she cannot forebode an happy marriage, she will mother, she sitting with her back to both. "Moll," provide for a merrie wedding, and hathe growne says father, with great determination, "you have more than commonlie tender to me, and given me accepted Mr. Milton to please yourself, you will some trinkets, a piece of fine Holland cloth, and marry him out of hand to please me." Spare enoughe of green sattin for a gown, that will stand me, spare me, Mr. Powell," interrupts mother, on end with its owne richnesse. She hath me "if the engagement may not be broken off, at constantlie with her in y kitchen, pastrie, and

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