declaration could alone convince her of his infidelity; and were she convinced, her heart would break at her own want of power to retain his affections, without once accusing him of cruelty or faithlessness."

"Poor girl!" said Margaret, in a tone of deep feeling; "she is indeed to be pitied for having thrown away such a heart on Augustus Vernon. But are his friends now apprised that any such engagement exists?"

should find it necessary to apprise some of the mind were they strong as Holy Writ; his own family that an engagement still subsisted between him and a very young, unprotected girl; she is very innocent, very beautiful and well born, though poor, and placed by circumstances in a peculiarly isolated and somewhat obscure station. Her mother died while she was yet a child, and she was left to the care of a distant female relation, who resided as a dependent with her father, and of a parent who was the most simple-minded, unsuspicious being I ever saw, devoted to literature, and a complete recluse in his habits; a for- "No, and they would never consent to his fuleigner, too, he seemed to have no interests, no filling such an engagement: it is partly on this world beyond his simple home; his mind and his ground that Vernon justifies himself in acting as heart were filled with his studies and his child. if no such vows had ever been made. He treats Yet his love was perhaps even a disadvantage to it entirely as a childish affair, and says that it poor Clara; he had no knowledge of human na- would be utterly impossible to fulfil such an enture, no idea how to form the character, or en-gagement, even if he wished to do so, and that lighten the mind of a young girl; she was his the moment he saw your sister he was convinced pet, his idol and plaything, and his excessive ten- he had never known love before; he thinks it derness and indulgence, and her complete seclu- would be hard for the sake of a youthful entansion from the world, softened a heart already too glement which never could end in any thing, to sensitive, and filled a mind too imaginative with throw away the happiness of his life. Yet inwild and unreal notions. The education which finitely unworthy as I deem him to be of your her father gave her consisted only of elementary sister, it seemed wisest to unveil his real characinstruction in the simplest branches of know-ter, which she has had no opportunity of knowledge; she became also thoroughly acquainted ing, to preclude the possibility of destroying the with the German language, as he was a native happiness of such a pure and lovely being." Then of that country, and generally preferred using his with evident emotion and embarrassment, he native tongue in speaking to Clara. His resi- added, "I should have acted thus from this modence was not more than a mile from the college tive alone, had no other impelled me, and I trust to which I went, and as I had at this time an ar- you will not deem my zeal officious or impertident desire to become acquainted with the Ger- nent." man language, I persuaded him to give me pri- Margaret felt the blood recede from her heart, vate lessons at his own house, and in this man- and rush back with increased violence; a variety ner became acquainted with all these circumstan- of mixed and painful sensations made her agitaces, and my interest was awakened both for the tion nearly uncontrollable yet, with a strong efold man and his daughter. Augustus Vernon fort, she replied, "Believe me, I am fully sensimatriculated as my college career was closing; ble of your kindness, and thank you from my inbut I afterwards learned from a friend, that hav-most heart for making this disclosure as all Viring met with Clara in a solitary ramble, he was ginia's friends must do." so much attracted by her beauty, as to determine him to submit to the drudgery of studying German, for the sake of gaining access to her father's house. The consequences of this step may easily be imagined. Clara was persuaded to enter into a secret engagement with him, and he was to obtain the consent of his friends. Her father died a few months ago, in ignorance of this "I shall certainly mention it to no one else but affair I am sure; for I know with his high my brother Charles, who is a sort of confessor sense of honor, he would not have permitted to us all, and on whose prudence and secresy Clara to continue a clandestine engagement, and you can perfectly rely."

66

'Yet I hope what I have just told you will be communicated to no one but your mother and sister. I am very anxious that no publicity should be given to the matter, not only for the sake of Augustus Vernon but for that of the unfortunate girl, who will have enough to suffer without this exposure."

she is left now with no other reliance but the af- "Then as I confide implicitly in your judgment, fection and honor of Augustus Vernon. Such a I must extend my permission to him but no farnature as hers is capable of the most implicit ther."

confidence and almost adoration, for her feelings A pause ensued, Margaret saw that Gerald's are of the tenderest nature, uncorrected by know- eyes were fixed on a picture of Miranda playledge of the world, observation or reason. No ing chess with Ferdinand, she remembered that proofs of his infidelity could be convincing to her he had observed a few evenings ago, that Miranda

VOL. XVI-4

strikingly resembled Virginia, but she did not it that indicated a wounded, though no longer an recollect at the same time that this picture had irritated state of feeling.

served as a sort of text for a very eloquent Margaret felt an increasing and almost overdiscourse which he had thus held on the beauty powering unhappiness, but she forced herself to of the female character, during which he had smile and speak about indifferent things, she saw said many things which, with all her fondness that Gerald was deeply hurt, that he was unhapfor Virginia, she had thought strangely inappli- py, but she ascribed this state of feeling to his cable, if meant to describe her. She felt every supposing that she had understood his intimamoment more strongly the danger of betraying tions with regard to his love for Virginia and her own emotions, and the consequent necessity that she had endeavored to prevent his making of doing or saying something immediately. Ad- any avowal of his sentiments. The tone of dressing Gerald in a tone which she meant to be haughty indifference he had for a moment assumat once careless and kind, but that sounded in ed towards her, the expression of sad reproach his ears like one of the most provoking indiffer- with which he turned his eyes from time to time, ence, she said "My mother will not pardon involuntarily, upon her, suggested the painful me, Mr. Devereux, for depriving her of your thought that he regarded her as hostile to the company, especially as it is almost your last success of his suit with Virginia, and was mortivisit for some time. I must apprise her that you fied to find in her not a friend as he had expectare here," and she rang the bell for a servant ed, but an enemy to his dearest hopes. The who instantly obeyed the summons and was or- manner too in which he had announced his indered to inform Mrs. Selden that Mr. Devereux tention of going to Travers Lodge awakened the was in the parlor. suspicion that he meant to see Virginia and judge Gerald looked vexed, mortified, put out com- for himself whether he had any chance of obpletely, but he did not oppose Margaret's inten-taining her favor.

tion, or request a longer private interview. "Al

most for the last time," he mentally repeated, not but remark that her hand was colder than When Gerald bade Margaret farewell he could "and is it thus she speaks of a separation which may be so long? How could she more plainly intimate her indifference, her unwillingness to listen to any avowal I might make," and his brow crimsoned with a glow of painful indignation. "Quite for the last time," he replied in a tone which he meant to be as indifferent as her own, "for many, many months, perhaps years. I regret that it will not even be in my power to take leave of Mr. Selden and Arthur, as I have indis

pensable engagements for the remainder of the day, and set out early to-morrow morning for

Travers Lodge."

his own, and he thought a tear glistened in her eye, but this he ascribed to compassion natural enough to a heart warm and kind as Margaret's, at ciated intimately, and on whom it has been found parting from a person with whom one has assonecessary to inflict pain. And thus they parted mutually miserable and mutually misunderstanding each other.

What a glorious gift is beauty when it has power to win such a heart as Gerald Devereux's, without one effort on the part of its possessor! thought Margaret as she paused to look again at the lovely picture of Miranda, which appeared Margaret grew pale at this announcement, to her more strikingly than ever to resemble Virthere was something also in Gerald Devereux's manner at which she too, in her turn, felt deeply hurt, and they were both relieved by the entrance of Mrs. Selden, who advanced towards Gerald with an air of the kindest cordiality.

ginia. Her eye accidentally rested on the reflection of her own image in a mirror opposite to her and an involuntary sigh was instantly succeeded by a blush at her own weakness, and the thought that she could not be satisfied to owe the A heart never beat in a human bosom more possession of Gerald Devereux's heart entirely alive to kindness than that of Gerald Devereux, to her personal attractions, even were it in her and the assumed expression of haughty indiffer-power to become as beautiful as Virginia by a ence which his countenance wore was instantly wish. Thoughts of tenderness too for that fair succeeded by the open brow, and warm look of sister whose happiness had always been dearer kindness which were natural to him whenever to her than her own, filled her heart and even in he spoke to his friends. He conversed for a this painful and trying moment she resolved that while as he was wont to do, and as the time no effort should be wanting on her part to redrew near to say that little word "farewell," move the infatuation which blinded her eyes to that word which has been uttered with bitterer the merits of Gerald Devereux.

pangs than any other in the English language,

his manner involuntarily became sadder, softer,

and there was an indescribable something about!

F......

It never strikes a foe without first warning him | ash, which are so obnoxious to their nervous of his danger. In form it is somewhat cor- system as to produce the most painful contorpulent, has a flat heart-shaped head, and is sup- tions of the body. When travelling at night in plied with fangs, varying from a half-inch to an search of food, or for purposes of recreation, as inch in length, which lie hidden horizontally in it may be, they have a fashion of visiting the enthe flesh of the upper jaw, and are capable of campments of hunters, and it has been ascerbeing thrown out like the blade of a knife. The tained that the only way of keeping them at a venom emitted by it is so deadly that it has been respectable distance is to encircle the camp with known to cause the death of a human being in a rope, over which they are invariably afraid to a very few hours, and to destroy a dog or cat in crawl;—and it has frequently happened to hunless than twenty minutes, and yet we have met ters, in a snake country, that on awaking after with some half-dozen individuals in our travels a night of repose, they have discovered, on the who have been bitten by the rattlesnake without outside of their magic circle as many as a dozen being seriously injured. Horses and cattle are of the charming creatures, carefully coiled up known to become exceedingly terrified at its ap- and sound asleep. It is also related of this snake pearance, and generally speaking, when bitten, that it has the power of throwing off or suppresdie in a short time, and yet we once saw a horse, sing a disagreeable effluvium, which is quite sickwhich was only troubled in consequence of its ening to those who come within its range. If bite, by a disease resembling the scurvy. The this be true it occurs chiefly in the month of Auhair dropped from the skin of the quadruped, gust, when the weather is sultry and the snake is and he looked horribly if he did not feel so. As particularly fat. That this snake has the power of to the effect of this poison upon hogs, it has fre- charming, as some writers maintain, may be true quently been proven to be perfectly harmless, but we know not of an authenticated instance. and we know it to be the custom in certain por- That it may have a very quiet way of stealing tions of the country for farmers to employ their upon its prey seems to us much more plausiswine for the express purpose of destroying the ble, but upon this fact we are non-commital. rattlesnakes infesting their land. The effect of As to their power of hissing,—that also is an the rattlesnake's bite upon itself is said to be undecided question. In regard to their manner generally fatal. In regard to the antidote of this of biting we can speak with more confidence. poison we are acquainted with only one, which They never attack a man without first coiling is the plant commonly called the rattlesnake themselves in a graceful manner, and instead of weed. Both the leaf and the root are employed, jumping they merely extend their bodies, with and applied internally as well as externally. the quickness of thought towards their mark, This plant grows to the height of six or eight in- and if they do not reach it, they have to coil ches, has one stock and a leaf resembling in shape themselves again for a second effort, and when the head of the rattlesnake, and is almost unva- they hit a man at all, it is generally on his heel, riably found in those sections of the country for the bruising of which they have the authority where the reptile abounds. of the scriptures.

The courage of the rattlesnake is by no means The rattlesnake is peculiar to the American remarkable, and it is but seldom that they will continent. Four varieties alone are known to dispute the right of way with a man who is not naturalists, three of which are found in the Uniafraid of them. They are sluggish in their move-ted States, and one in South America. In the ments, and accomplish the most of their travel- states bordering on the Gulf of Mexico they atling during the nocturnal hours. They feed upon tain the length of seven and eight feet and a dialmost every variety of living creatures, which ameter of three to four inches,-the males havthey can overpower. They are not partial to ing four fangs, and the females only two. These water, but when compelled to cross a river or are characterized by a kind of diamond figure on lake they perform the feat in a most beautiful the skin, and are partial to the low or bottom manner, holding their heads about one foot from lands of the country. Those found in the Midthe surface, and gliding along at a rapid rate. dle and Northern States are called the common They are affectionate creatures, and it is alleged or banded rattlesnakes, and are altogether the that when their offspring are very young, and most abundant in the Union. They vary in they are disturbed by the presence of man, the length from two and a half to four feet, and are mothers swallow their little ones until the danger partial to mountainous and rocky districts. There is past, and then disgorge them alive and writh- is also a very small, but most dangerous variety, ing. called the ground rattlesnakes, which are found Another of their peculiarities consists in the on the sterile and sandy prairies of the west, and fact, that they may be entirely disarmed by bran- to a limited extent in the barren districts of the dishing over their heads the leaves of the white South. In Canada they are almost unknown,

and even in the more thickly settled States of nation of not writing a single paragraph, (for the the Union they are rapidly becoming extinct. As above legend, after a fashion, is historical,) which to their value, it may be stated that their oil and could be classed with the unbelievable things gall are highly prized in all sections of the Union called "Snake Stories," but the following matfor medicinal purposes, and by the Indians and ter-of-fact though disconnected anecdotes, may slave population of the South, their flesh is fre- not be unacceptable to our readers. They are quently employed as an article of food, and re- genuine. ally considered sweet and nourishing.

that there were two rattlesnakes within the room where they were lying. We arose of course horrified at the idea, and as we were in total darkness, we were afraid even to move for fear of being bitten. We soon managed, however, to strike a light and when we did so, we found one of our visitors on the hearth, and one in the remotest corner of the room. We killed them, as a matter of course, with a most hearty relish, and in the morning another of the same race, just without the threshold of the cabin. The reptiles had probably left the cabin just before our arrival, and on returning at midnight, had expressed their displeasure at our intrusion upon their abode, by sounding their rattles.

We were once upon a fishing expedition among The attachment of the Aborigines to this fa- the mountains of North Carolina, with two other mous reptile is proverbial: among nearly all the gentlemen, when it so happened that we conclutribes, even at the present day, it is seldom dis- ded to spend the night in a deserted log cabin, turbed, but is designated by the endearing epi- belonging to one of the party. By the light of thet of grandfather. It is recorded, however, a large fire, we partook of a cold but comfortaby the early historians, that when one tribe de- ble supper, and after talking ourselves into a sired to challenge another to combat, they were drowsy mood, we huddled together on the floor, in the habit of sending into the midst of their directly in front of the fire-place, and were soon enemy the skin of a rattlesnake, whereby it would in a sound sleep. About midnight, when the fire appear to have been employed as an emblem of was out, one of the party was awakened by a revenge. And as to the origin of the rattlesnake, singular rattling noise, and having roused his the old men among the Cherokees relate a legend companions, it was ascertained beyond a doubt to the following effect, which the reader will notice bears a striking analogy to the history of our Saviour. A very beautiful young man, with a white face and wrapped in a white robe, once made his appearance in their nation, and commanded them to abandon all their old customs and festivals, and to adopt a new religion. He made use of the softest language, and every thing that he did proved him to be a good man. It so happened, however, that he could make no friends among our wicked people, and the medicine men of the nation conspired to take away his life. In many ways did they try to do this-by lashing him with serpents and by giving him poison, but were always unsuccessful. But in process of time the deed was accomplished and On another occasion we were of a party of in the following manner. It was known that the anglers who killed a rattlesnake on one of the good stranger was in the habit of daily visiting mountains overlooking Lake George, (where a certain spring for the purpose of quenching his this reptile is very abundant,) and after its head thirst, and bathing his body. In view of this had been cut off and buried, one of the party fact, the Magicians made a very beautiful war- affirmed that there was not a person present who club, inlaid with bone and shells, and decorated could take the dead snake in his hand, hold it with rattles, and this club they offered to the out at arm's length, and give it a sudden squeze, Great Spirit, with the prayer that he would teach without dropping it to the ground. A wager was them how to destroy the stranger. In answer offered, and by the most curious and courageous to the prayer, a venomous snake was created of the party was accepted. He took the snake and carefully hidden under a leaf by the side of in his hand and obeyed the instructions, when the spring. The stranger, as usual, came there the serpentine body suddenly sprang as if ento drink, was bitten by the snake, and perished. dowed with life, and the headless trunk struck The Cherokee nation then fell in love with the the person holding it, with considerable force snake, and having asked the Great Spirit to dis- upon the arm. To add that the snake fell to the tinguish it, by some peculiar mark, from all the ground most suddenly is hardly necessary. We other snakes in the world, he complied by trans- enjoyed a laugh at the expense of our ambitious ferring to its body the rattles which had made friend, but the phenomenon which he made kown, the club of sacrifice so musical to the ear, and so remains to this day entirely unexplained. Since beautiful to the eye. And from that rattlesnake that time we have been led to believe that there are descended all the poisonous snakes now scat-is not one man in a thousand who would have tered through the world. the fortitude to succeed in the experiment above

We commenced this article with the determi-mentioned.