Oldalképek
PDF
ePub

live once more to behold the man I love!'-" It was, it was Eliza' faid he, preffing her to his bofom thy husband lives, and we fhall now be bleffed.

When their excefs of joy began to be fomewhat abated Eliza defired an account of what had happened to him fince he left her; and afked if he knew how she came to receive that melancholy information which made her the most miserable of human beings.

As foon, my dear,' faid he,' as I came over, I found that the affairs of the house were not, by much, in so bad a way as was first imagined, and fome time after received a larger fum from it than ever I expected. This and an opportunity which now prefented itself of my fettling greatly to my advantage, gave me exceffive fpirits, and I began to hope, as I wrote to my Eliza, that happier hours might now await us.

It was not long after my writing that letter, which bade thee haften to my arms, that a stranger came to this part of the Ifland, in hopes of improving his health. Amongst others, I went to pay him my refpects. Can you conceive what pleafure, mingled with furprize and pain I felt, when in this ftranger I beheld a brother? this was that

brother

brother whom Eliza has heard me mention. He was banished by my Father for fome indifcretion of youth, and left his native country with the little fortune which had been given him by his grandfather. He fettled on a diftant part of this ifland, where he made a conqueft-for his perfon was remarkably fine-of a widow, who poffeffed one of the largest eftates upon it.

He was overjoyed to fee me. "I cannot much longer continue here," said he; "I am going to the eternal abode appointed for human nature. Since my banifhment from my father's Houfe, Heaven has bleffed me with fuccefs. I am told he forgave me with his dying breath: good old man! You are now, Eraftus, the only remaining hope of our family: I little dreamed of ever seeing you again; but heaven is kind. The terrors of diffolution are leffened at the fight of thee. It is not an unpleafing reflection, that thy friendly hand will clofe my eyes. Beware, Eraftus, nor mifemploy the wealth I fhall leave thee; it was got with honour. I can scarcely advife thee to marry; it is to the lofs of the beft of wives, which was foon followed by that of an only child, that I owe my prefent diforder. We were happy. She was the beft of women!" at these words Eraftus fixed his eyes upon Eliza: "May Heaven continue our

lives,"

lives," faid he; "may we never know the pang of feparation till age has filvered o'er our heads and then it must be fhort!"

The brother asked Eraftus what accident had brought him to that part of the world; who told him that, upon the first appearance of his illnefs, he had written to England, to enquire whether he was ftill living and that he had already made a will in his favour, and left him the entire fortune he poffeffed.

"It was not long after his arrival' refumed Eraftus, that he died, and left me an eftate even beyond the ambition of my wishes. It was his funeral you met: it was Eraftus they were bearing to his grave, but not Eliza's Eraftus: he lives to, be once more happy with the partner of his joys!" At these words he preffed her to his bofom with a warmth expreffive of the most perfect love. "Upon my return from the funeral, I was told, by fome one whom I met, the ftory of a woman's fainting, with fuch circumstances as made me think it was thee. I haftened to the house where the hofpitable ftranger had conducted thee, and found thee funk into the arms of thy maid. Shall I tell my Eliza, that even this circumftance at prefent affords me a degree of pleasure? Indeed, it does; it convinces me that I ftill am bleffed with thy tendereft

C c

dereft love, without which, as Eliza once faid to me, no circumstances could make me happy!'

Eraftus was now poffeffed of a fortune which might enable him to pass his remaining days independant of the cares of business. He fold his eftate to advantage, and returned to his native country; where he now lives in all the felicity of elegant ease. The greatest part of their time, they spend in the country, and now and then a winter in the rational amufement of the town: wealthy without arrogance, œconomist without avarice and liberal without profufion; univerfally beloved by those who have any connection with them, and admired by the few who are happy in their intimacy.

ORIGINAL ANECDOTE

OF THE LATE

Dr. SHEB BEARE.

HEN the Doctor was adjudged to stand on the pillory, on account of his fixth letter to the People of England: towards the clofe of executing his fentence, it began to rain, and as the Doctor was particularly well dreffed, fome of his friends

friends fent up an Irish chairman with an umbrella to hold over him. Next day Paddy appeared at the Doctor's lodgings, "hoping his honour was very well, and that he got no cold the day before."

"Pray, my friend, (fays the Doctor) have not you been paid for your services yesterday?"— "O yes, your honour; I got a guinea."—" And don't you think that fufficient for a quarter of an hour's ftanding?"—"Why, to be fure, in regard to work, I can't fay but it is-but G-Z-ns, your honour, confider the difgrace."

The Doctor, fo far from being displeased with the reply, gave him a crown more, for which the man was fo thankful, that he left him his addrefs if ever he should have occafion for his fervices again.

THE

IMPORTANCE OF PUNCTUALITY.

BOYLE has obferved, that the excellency of

manufactures, and the facility of labour, would be much promoted, if the various expedients and contrivances which lie concealed in private hands, were by reciprocal communications

[blocks in formation]
« ElőzőTovább »