It's dowie in the hint o' hairst, At the wa'gang o' the swallow, It would be a sweet and lovely home when Aveline, his mother, and Rose When the wind grows cauld and the burns all of whom loved him so-lived at grow bauld, And the woods are hingin' yellow. Well, that was this afternoon! Only the winds would be colder still before the swallows went; Erne would come raging through his rocky channel with the volume of all the mountain and moorland burns in his arms, and the first violence of his winter temper in his stream. Willie sat on the stone where last time she had been beside him, and the threads of his life began to look as though they might be woven into a bright piece some day; so fleet is time, so quickly does it hurry over crises, or rather, so much living does it crowd into those dull, dreich days which follow them, that the future takes shape out of the broken fragments of our lives, and dark veils taken from our eyes leave a clearer vision. To-morrow, he would follow his brother to the grave, and listen to the service that he had last heard at his father's death. Then he would have to enmesh himself in the difficult business that surrounds the succession to an estate, and in his case it would be doubly complicated. He would have a life as busy and as full as it had once been idle; he would devote himself to the tenants; they were his tenants now; cut down the expenses at Foresk in such a manner as not to affect his mother and sister; and wisely employ what money he could lay hands on for the immediate improvements required in the village. Among other things, he would be engaged to Aveline, openly, publicly, proudly. He was quite sensible enough to feel that after the constraint, and difficulty, and repression of his earlier years, this liberty and freedom that was coming to him was quite deserved. He sat, patting his dog and talking to her, sometimes smiling even, as visions of his future showed themselves to him the future for which he was so ready to use his best strength to make bright for himself and others. Foresk. in the fulness of peace and human-kindness. Their hearts would not then be wrung with tales of suffering they had no means to appease. In the quiet talk he and his mother had had together the night before, when a subdued sorrow and a timid, just born peace had been apparent in Lady Gordon's manner, Willie had shadowed out the idea very diffidently, and had stolen two or three careful glances at her face; it was a new thing for Willie to be nervous, but when we are making a half-confidence, one eye must always be open to see that our friend's mind has not filled in the other half from imagination. Lady Gordon had no idea who Willie could be referring to in this visionary, halting conversation, and, in pondering it over afterwards with Rose, decided that he had been speaking generally, and that, as yet, he had not seen the girl he would care to make his wife. Indeed, as Rose said in her practical way, where could he have seen her? And there Willie sat, thinking over the new future, the new hopes, and reflecting upon the old troubles, now passing away; there was no doubt he would be a good landlord, no doubt that his tenants and his estate would be his first care; and as a rider to every suggestion of his mind came the silver finish of his love for Aveline. In all that scene he saw her, and his eyes rested on the opposite bank, where her gaze had.so often strayed; he saw no more pink scabious, not a flower at all, but just the dry gold leaves hurrying over each dead stem and the decaying calyx. The beech-trees had spread a red carpet underneath their branches, and the elms had laid their shadow court with cloth of gold. In a few days he would meet her here, and have his first long, uninterrupted talk with her. To Willie Gordon this new confidence between himself and his heart's love would be something more fresh and precious than a May dewdrop in a daisy's eye-it would be something as rarely held in the hand of | killing them. She came straight from a man. Under the influence of this hope he got off the stone, and Kate followed him through the woods, making the passage over the Lover's Leap as usual beneath her master's arm. Half-way up the hillslope Willie paused; he and the Foresk woods were in the shadow of their own hills, but the sun, coming through a dip, gleamed on the fire of the rowan clusters on the Ardlach side of the river and threw handfuls of red gold into the windows of the manse; somewhere, perhaps touched by that last sunshine, she was, and there was no one on whom the sun did so well to linger. the deathbed of a little child to Foresk, her, we think." Rose's voice had sunk very low, and her eyes were fixed on her brother; it was as though she wanted him to appreciate the terrible justice of Sir John's death without her mention of it. There was a long pause, and then Willie, whose mind had indeed grasped this light upon the subject, but who was engaged in dreaming of Aveline's gentle courage, said, more with the air of When he turned to go on his way, he saying something than because he was saw Rose coming towards him. interested in it: "Of course one has "I wanted to meet you," she said; heard of that—some one carrying in"I had something to say.' fection in their clothes and passing it on to another, who She turned and walked with him; already she had on a black gown of "But you know the poor girl is dead some sort. After a moment she too ?" said Rose with simple tenderstopped, and he followed her example;ness, and looking sad for the fate that the path was narrow, and each leaned had overtaken her; "that is so terrible, against a tree facing the other; Kate, a isn't it?" little in advance, turned her black head to see if they were coming on, and showed the rose-pink of her mouth and the brilliant glister of her teeth. "She "Yes, poor thing! She died I think four days ago. It is very terrible," looking blankly through the woodland; "it She said no more, for her brother swayed round heavily against the tree trunk, put up his arms, and buried his face in them. "Willie ! " She started forward and put a hand on his sleeve. He said nothing; but when she continued to question him he motioned her to go away; and after a little, very perplexed and puzzled, she went. There is nothing more to say about Willie Gordon. The winds grew colder through the woodland, the autumn mists wound their shrouds around the hills, and the swallows twittered and gathered closer in the big elm-tree where their meeting was every year. He was alone in the "hint o' hairst," and it was nearly the "wa'gang o' the swallow;" but the lines of the old song that Willie had never remembered wailed through the woodlands now : But oh, it's dowier far to see That darkens the weary world on thee. He had met the tragedy of his youth through another's sinning; he had had one hope for a little, and then it had been taken. Truly, his love had been one of those things that " come and gae " and who would watch the pink scabious by Erne's bank next year ? His flower, his love, the sun that had shone out over his life for a few days dead, buried, out of sight of his eyes, deaf to his voice, where his hands could never reach her, however they might yearn. That a Nemesis should have overtaken his brother that was justice; that he should have died of the very scourge he had prepared for others that was justice, bare, awesome, not to be questioned or entreated; but that Aveline should have been the means, the instrument in the hand of Fate, for Fate to use and throw away, and that he, Willie, should be the life-long mourner what was that? - When he was able to think of it, his revolt against the seeming injustice of this world filled all his soul; but he did not think so till later, and it is as well not to follow him in that mood. Better to leave him in the dim, carly autumn night, alone in the great woods, with only his dog beside him; to leave him leaning half-lifelessly against a treetrunk, the rough, fine pattern of the crisp lichens impressed upon a cheek that was wet with the first tears his manhood had ever known. From Blackwood's Magazine. ship of war will watch the ceremonial with critical eye, and the captain will describe the scene to Queen Victoria. Therefore must no effort be spared to open Parliament with dignity on the English plan. The day has dawned cloudless and drowsy; the hum of the fleecy breakers on the distant reef, the whispering of the great palm-leaves, and the faint tap of the gatu mallets, vaguely suggest a reverie in a. hammock, with no more substantial clothing than a vala; but native garments are unlawful to-day, for Parliaments in civilized lands are not opened in bare legs save in the imagination of Carlyle. For days past the stores on the beach have done a spirited trade in trousers, coats, and shoes-not the sort of shoes that may be bought by the dozen at any boot-maker's, but majestic fabrics of leather built expressly for the opening of South Sea Parliaments upon a special last fourteen inches long by eight or nine broad. Such shoes as these cannot be used lightly; and so the spiritual guides of the people, when teaching that no self-respecting Tongan should attend church without black coat and trousers, admitted the religious principle that a man might work out his own salvation in bare feet, and the shoes were relegated to the meetings of Parliament. But the hour is at hand. On the smooth turf between the wooden Parliament-house and the sea, the college students are drawn up in two lines extending from the king's palace to the doors. Outside, the brass band and a guard of honor, composed of the entire army of thirty men, are drawn up to salute his Majesty. Within, the king's chair has been placed in the centre of the crimson dais; and the crown, the HISTORY is to be made to-day. The heaviest in the world, reposes on a nation who solemnly dedicated herself sofa - cushion supported by a threeto heaven, whose spirit contrasting legged table. The benches are filled. with her flat shores has suggested the The sergeant-at-arms, clad in full uniproverb, "Tonga lofty within," with form and lawn-tennis shoes, has ushered whom the great powers are proud to the nobles to the seats below the throne. make treaties, holds her first free Par- on the right of the House, and the repliament to-day. The eyes of the civil-resentatives of the people to those on ized world are upon her. A British the left. The cabinet ministers, headed by the aged minister of finance in a clouds were happily dispersed; it was naval frock-coat and checked trousers, for the legislature to provide for the occupy the front bench. Lower down future by revising all the laws and regsit the distinguished foreigners in Brit-ulating finance. Being convinced that ish uniforms, and behind them a motley | their efforts in pursuit of civilization crowd of invited guests. There is a would not be crowned with success movement outside, and the sergeant-at- until they mastered another language arms vainly endeavors to clear a pas- besides their own, and that national sage through the overcrowded house prosperity could not be assured unless with his gilt scabbard. The door is the population ceased to decrease, he darkened, and he gives way before had provided them with a schoolmaster superior strength. The Princesses Charlotte and Anna Jane - the former barefooted, but majestic with her masculine stature, the latter not less imposing with her nineteen stone encased in magenta satin sail through the crowd, which closes in like the waves in the wake of a ship. for their mind, and a doctor for their bodies. In conclusion, he commended them to God, and trusted that there would be no more dissension between the Churches a hope which the rival missionaries will take care to disappoint, seeing that to proselytize successfully the first efforts of each must be directed towards rooting out the other sects. the triumphal march from Tannhauser, struggle awhile, and arrive breathless at the end within a bar or two of one another. At last! The Tongan National Anthem, the rattle of saluting arms, break the suspense, and George Tubou, the At last the youthful colonel stumbles oldest reigning monarch, strides into to the end of the speech, not without an the room, followed by two aides-de- impatient exhortation from his Majesty camp-the one dressed as an English to speak up, and the king rises and admiral and the other as a colonel of walks out, followed by a mob of senathe Colonial Defence Forces. No gro-tors and invited guests of every shade tesque surroundings can destroy the of color. The band dash recklessly into dignity of the king. His sober black coat is in marked contrast with the bizarre attire of his subjects. A sovereign who wields absolute power may well tire of pomp and circumstance Thus had the morning been devoted after his ninetieth year. As he takes to propriety; pleasure was now to have his seat his great-grandson, the colonel, its turn. In half an hour not a black a boy of seventeen, steps forward, and coat was to be seen. Elderly gentleunrolls the Speech from the Throne. men, who an hour ago excited mirth in His reading is a sorry performance, the garb of Christy Minstrels, now owing partly to the tightness of his strode into the sunlight in all the digtunic, and partly to defective educa- nity of native cloth. Groups formed tion ; but we gather that the speech wherever a tree-top cast a patch of consists of the usual ministerial plati- shade. Strings of men, swinging their tudes, congratulations upon our cor- limbs with the glorious freedom mau dial relations with the other powers,' ," enjoyed before the invention of trouand promises for the future. There is sers, filed up and flung their burdens a very brief allusion to the revolution of of pig and yam upon an ever-increasing twelve months ago, when an ex-mis- heap, while a claque of aged men sionary, who as prime minister had for shouted approval. Let us withdraw. years abused his position, was dismissed Roast pig scents the hot air. In ten from office, leaving an empty treasury minutes the members of both Houses and an accumulation of debt. He, the will be pig-smeared to the elbows, and king, gave thanks to God that these who knows whether we may not be called upon to shake hands! Civilized man is out of place at a native feast. Let them enjoy themselves to-day, for 66 1 Since this article was written, news has been received of King George's death on February 19, of an attack of influenza. to-morrow will bring debates, shoes, [proconsuls of the later empire, this and the knife and fork. dignitary, having cast off the yoke of At ten o'clock next morning H.M.S. the religious body who sent him as Cordelia steamed out of the hazy reef missionary to teach the heathen peace, as the great wooden drum announced turned his arms against the powers that that the business of the country was to sent him, and as head of the Free begin. The House had been cleared Church of Tonga vanquished the Wesfor action. On the dais the throne was leyans, and gave to his native flock a replaced by the speaker's chair; and a taste for warring churches. His attilong table, at which sat four clerks of tude to-day is not warlike, for his stithe Parliament, took the place of the pend from the government as royal visitors' benches. Two sentries of the chaplain figures in the budget. He guards and four stalwart policemen, gives out a hymn; the member for drawn up at the door, saluted us as we Vavau, who forms the choir, bellows went in. Both Houses were in their the tune, while the rest follow him two places, - Nobles on the right and Com- octaves lower pianissimo. Then the mons on the left of the chair. The House shades its eyes with its hands Cabinet had a bench to themselves while the prelate wrestles a while among the nobles, and below them sat in prayer, and discreetly withdraws. the governors of districts. There were There is a pause. Then the chief sixty-eight members in all, only one clerk (who, by the way, is supposed to of whom was a foreigner, who sat ex be undergoing imprisonment for flirtofficio as one of the king's ministers, ing) calls the roll. The new members with the newly invented portfolio of are now to take the oath. The two Fakahinohino, or Expounder of the Roman Catholic members object to be Dark Ways of Civilized Man. sworn on the Protestant Bible, and a clerk runs in hot haste for a Roman Catholic version of the Bible in Tongan. He returns with a thick shiny covered book, which the two members kiss cheerfully. I examined the book afterwards. It was a French and English dictionary. We had reason to remember the terms of this oath, since most of the Commons held that to discharge their duty as representatives meant to oppose the government, whether right or wrong, upon every question submitted to them. Lords and Commons stare at the ceiling without intermission for twelve minutes by the clock. At the end of that time a messenger is despatched to Tungi the speaker. He had been in sight when we came in, but being stouter than formerly, and a bad walker at any time, he has had to rest his shoe-tortured feet every twenty yards of the road. At last there is a movement behind the dais. Claude, sergeant-at-arms, clatters in and cries, The Chair!" (Koe Sea). We all rise. Tungi climbs the dais, panting. Physically he is fitted for his office, for The first business of the day was to move an address in reply. As this never did man wear wisdom so gave an excuse for adjournment, it was plainly written on his face. The only relegated to a Select Committee of six, small thing about him is his stature, while the rest of the House trooped which, small as it is, is dwarfed by an out to smoke sulukas in the shade. Of enormous head and face. The half- the Select Committee, five betook themclosed eyes and square jaws suggest the selves to the arduous task of rolling State secrets of half a century. No the leaf and hunting for a box of human cunning could overreach such a matches, while the minor business of face; it would have foreseen and cir- drafting the address was thrust upon cumvented the trap before it was even the foreigner. He prepared an eloquent devised. Tungi is followed by the speech, exhausting, as he thought, the Pontifex Maximus of Tonga clad in capacity of the language in expressing decent black, and wearing an expres- satisfaction at every announcement in sion of deprecating piety. Like the the speech from the throne. It read |