And there is thrill of my unde Tis midnight, and the fint is ver, And bush'd the vdes of mirth And silence settles woce again By each line tage hearth The weary wanderers repo While food and lovely eyes keep watch By the Beloved ones But there is one-pig Alas! doth bone the car The dance had many a rotary And so had jest and then, with much emphasis, swore "I might enter | flying, horse foaming, and shawls fluttering, and a any ball-room in Christendom with safety." Unfortunately in his hurry he forgot that the paper had been previously used in packing, and that it bore in consequence some suitable directions. These he very injudiciously left exposed to public gaze, so that any person who viewed me, à posteriore, would perceive at a glance that I was labelled on a certain part with the following mysterious inscription in large characters : Glass! To be kept dry. keen hope shot through our hearts that they might pass without recognising us; but no! when abreast of us the horse was checked with a pull that nearly threw him on his haunches, and "the action," commenced. "Good heavens! Mr. Jones, is that you? I had no possible idea of meeting you here. I perceive by your dress that you have been boating: this is really an unexpected gratification." "I assure you, Miss Thompson, the pleasure is (hem!) quite mutual! We have been on the water, but, having an engagement in town, were obliged to return early; but let us not detain you from your drive-good evening." And here (heaven forgive me) I breathed a fervent an oversight, although he endeavoured to excuse it prayer that the horse might shy at something and by saying that I was merely "Holding THE MIRROR up to nature," that very much added to my annoyance. However, in truth, the costume of my friends was very little superior, for having sat on a seat freshly painted with black, their white trowsers had suffered by the contact, and suggested the idea that some person had painted on the convex portion of their ducks behind a pair of spectacles, in oil and lamp black; in fact, so doubtful an appearance did we exhibit on landing, that Bob unconsciously declared, He did not think there was a jailor in all Ireland who would refuse us a night's lodging!" 66 After enduring sundry criticisms from the few loungers on the Pigeon-house quay, we proceeded towards the metropolis, I taking in my hand the small basket by way of a shield: our intention was to dine at " Cockle-hall," in Ringsend, and thence, at dusk, to proceed without beat of drum to our quarters. To most of your readers it is unnecessary to describe the road connecting the fort called the Pigeon-house with the village of Ringsend. To those who never have been in Dublin it may be requisite to say, that it is an artificial causeway, originally built on piles, running a direct line into the sea about a mile, raised considerably above the level of the tide, and edged with high walls to protect the traveller from the spray on this road. We now proceeded and found it, as usual, deserted and solitary. However, when about half-way we perceived a vehicle (apparently a jaunting car with ladies) approaching. As it advanced, I thought the horse was not unfamiliar to me, and a horrible suspicion crossed my mind. Communicating my fears to my companions, we stopped, and gazed panic struck, and soon, too soon, as the object neared us, our worst apprehensions assumed the shape of reality. I could have sworn to the identity of the blue silk bonnet on one side of the car, and Bob and Frank were equally positive about "The Tuscans" on the other. It was Frank's cousins and my Arabella that were coming towards us in a sweeping trot, and we were doomed men. start off in full gallop; but no, the brute remained quite quiet, and my fair tormentor continued "That she was in no hurry, and that really she was compelled to compliment me on my improved appearance. The jacket did so become me, and though Mr. Esmond's head-dress was rather singular, it certainly was very graceful and nautical." violent fit of coughing, which sounded very like suppressed laughter. During the pause that ensued, I threw a hurried glance towards my rear guard, and perceived that, by a masterly evolution, consisting of a succession of side steps, it had "debouched" from its first position, and had made an imposing demonstration on the opposite side of the car, and were at that moment "actively engaged" with the enemy. So far well: and, although I saw that my faithless Arabella could scarcely conceal her merriment, still the dreadful secret was safe. The flank of "the allied troops" had not yet been turned, and a blessed hope sprang up in my breast that we might retire with honour. And here the fair Arabella was seized with a While indulging this idea, and looking nervously towards Bob, whose movements were far too energetic while descanting on the pleasures of aquatic amusements to his fair inamorata, I caught my beautiful tormentor regarding me with a look that sent the blood curdling to my heart, and made the very brown paper rustle with agitation. I saw, by the expression of her countenance, she suspected something to be wrong, and that she was, like a true woman, deterThis decided me at once to mined to find it out. retreat, and, muttering to her polite offer of taking the basket on the car, something about "glass," and "to be kept dry," I again implored her to resume her drive, and, for the tenth time, bid her "good bye;" but in vain-" she was in no hurry, had much to ask me," and, consequently, with a groan, I resumed my position at the back of the car with the feelings of a man who knows he is standing on a mine, and expects it every minute to explode. After a brief silence, she changed the conversation, and chatted on various subjects with such unaffected Escape was impossible. Bob peeped over the wall, ease and pleasantry, that I insensibly forgot the and said, “Barring a cat, no living thing could terrors of my situation. Few possessed more fascidescend with safety." Flight, with such an enemy nation of manner than she was gifted with, and with on our rear, would be madness, and to stop and meet the tact which all pretty women invariably possess, them little short of suicide: but we had no alterna- she flattered my self-love in a manner that was as tive, and with a desperate sort of calmness we pre-pleasing as unexpected. There was a softness, too, pared to abide the shock, and drawing up in battle array with our backs to the wall, I in the centre, Bob and Frank as my flanking companies, with a forced and unnatural patience, awaited the onslaught. I have often thought since that with some such feeling, at the close of the bloody day of Waterloo, when the French dragoons came thundering to the charge, the British general threw his wounded and wearied men into hollow squares, and bade them "stand firm and prepare for cavalry." Well, on they came, ribbons in her voice and look that was most seductive, and the intoxication of my vanity completed the delirium of the moment. I conversed gaily and boldly, and, regardless of everything but the bewitching creature before me, my fancy soared to realms of bliss, "Nor gave one thought BEHIND." While thus thrown off my guard, and "ridiculously happy" in my ideas, it happened that, on leaning across the car to address one of the fair cousins, Miss Thompson's pocket handkerchief fell from her hand, and a light breeze catching it, it was wafted some four or five yards down the road. With distinctive politeness, oblivious of everything, impelled by the impulse of the moment, I hurried after it, stooped to pick it up, and-all was over! Burning with shame, mortification, and dismay, I sank in a sitting position on the ground, and, as the car drove off, amid bursts of merriment from its fair occupants, sounding in my ears worse than the yells of a thousand demons, I wished that the firm earth beneath would open and hide me in its bosom. Of the remainder of that day I have but a confused recollection, every thing being absorbed in the one deep and bitter sensation of ridicule that haunted me. We dined, I believe, at "Cockle-hall;" but I can recal nothing clearly; all is vague and misty; and the only circumstance of which I have any distinct idea is, that Bob, on leaving our hostelrie, earnestly requested of the landlord, "as the night was dark, and the road lonely, to oblige him with the loan of a poker!" and that, obtaining his wish, during our walk home, he flourished what he was pleased to call "his trenchant steel" in a very alarming manner. For three months after I never crossed Carlisle Bridge by day-light; nor was it until I heard my faithless Arabella had become the wife of an eminent cloth manufacturer in Yorkshire, and had sailed with her husband for England, that I revisited the haunts of men again. Years have rolled on: both my companions have married the objects of their early attachment; but I am still a solitary, single man; and, though time has blunted the edge of my feelings, yet I can never see a sailor without a shudder, or open a brown paper parcel without a blush. THE WARRIOR'S RETURN. "The Spanish soldiers returned immediately after the victory to their homes. * They brought with them the dead body of a comrade, who had been summoned on his bridal day to the field of battle." There is music on the summer breeze, The beautiful and bright of earth, There is a strain of softer joy, Up from the vales it comes, Where 'midst the boughs of vine and rose, By each lone cottage hearth. The weary wanderers repose Within their childhood's homes, But there is one-one gentle girl- Beside the dead to share? Was there no friend to turn to her None thought of her! Back to their homes Each joyous group was gone, Sat by the dead alone. Dear even in death's embrace, "I need not blush to part the hair I need not shrink to press thy lip, I have loved thee with the deepest love And yet I may not weep for thee, And pledg'd love's holiest vow; I felt my soul grow strong that hour, As I arm'd thee, bravest one and best, With thy flowing hair, and dark moustache, And thy broken sword is in thy grasp, Dyed in thy foeman's gore; And thy death-wound's on thy gallant breastWhat could I wish for more? "Why dost thou look so sternly cold? When wilt thou smile again? An icy clasp is round my heart, A fever in my brain! The night-wind stirs the blood-stain'd curls Alas! I'm wandering now! "This must not be. Why should I fear In life I was thy plighted bride, With fearless trust, with quenchless faith, And they will make for us a grave Where Eve's last sunbeams shine!" IDA. THE LIFE OF MAN.-The wise man divides his time sparingly, like one who has but little to lose, and yet has a long life in prospect. Life without changes is like a long road without inns. Nature has apportioned the life of man in the same manner as the seasons of the year. Infancy is the spring of life; the flowers of it are tender and modest, and the hopes gentle and flattering. Youth is the warm and exuberant summer of life; the blood is then heated, and the passions are headstrong and fierce. Manhood is the autumn; it comes crowned with the fruits of the understanding. Old age follows, and is the winter of existence; the leaves of vigour fade and decay, the veins become frozen like streamlets, the head is hoary like snow, or the hair and the teeth drop as leaves from the trees, and life totters over the grave. The voyage of life may also be divided into three parts. The prudent man employs the first part in conversing with the dead; the second in speaking with the living; and the third in communing with himself. THREE GREAT THINGS.-The three great things that govern mankind are, reason, passion, and superstition. The first governs a few; the two last share the bulk of mankind, and possess them in turns; but superstition is the most powerful, and produces the greatest mischiefs. A DAY ON LOUGH CORRIB. It was on a beautiful morning towards the end of October, that I awoke from sound repose, occasioned by the fatigue of the preceding day's journey. When I rubbed my eyes, and collected my senses, I remembered that I was in the pretty village of Oughterard, where I had taken up my abode, previous to my premeditated excursion on Lough Corrib. The town is delightfully situated upon the western bank of the lake, about 15 miles north of Galway, and forms one of the entrances to far-famed Connemara. I quickly arose, and, as I proceeded with my toilette, every now and then took a glance at the quiet scene before me. The sun was slowly raising his head above the rugged hills, gradually thawing the silvery coating of frost which overspread the elevated grassy bank that overhangs the river Feogh, whose waters moved silently beneath my window. Upon the near bank of the stream two or three peasants were angling, not unskilfully, as I afterwards ascertained, by seeing their baskets stocked with some fine trout, for which this river is celebrated. After breakfasting, I bid adicu to the comfortable inn of Oughterard, and upon quitting the house was surprised to see a number of persons of every age crowding round an adjoining building, which answered the purposes of the post-office, and where is also transacted the business of a charitable loan fund-which, by the way, I believe, is of great benefit to the surrounding peasantry. I called a little gossoon, who was after depositing his grandmother's weekly instalment, and giving him my valise, whiled away the time by inquiring into his history, until I came to the house of the boatman, with whom I had previously arranged my route. Having arrived there, I was detained some time while the good man was finishing his breakfast, and remained in the outward apartment, where I was an object of surprise and speculation to a number of children, who gazed on me as anxiously as did the Lilliputians on Gulliver. The beauty of one of these children, a charming little creature of ten or twelve years of age, particularly struck me. She entered the cabin wito a piece of new grey calico disposed as a shawl over her shoulders, and went to the fire-place, where she rested her head against the sooty chimney-place; upon which I spoke to her for being so careless of her beautiful black hair; when immediately her brunette countenance was lighted up by the blush which diffused itself over her face her large black eyes sparkled with delight, while the smile that played upon her pretty lips dimpled her now vermillion cheeks. So passed the time until the boatman made his appearance, when, bidding my juvenile friends farewell, we repaired to the boat, which lay concealed in rushes in a swamp, which I little imagined to be part of Lough Corrib. By dint of pushing, we at length got clear of this unsightly marsh, when a large unbroken sheet of water opened to our view. The boatmen had now room enough, and depth of water, to ply their oars; and in a short time fair Oughterard was lost amidst the encircling hills. We soon approached one of the larger islands, to which we steered, for the purpose of hoisting a sail. Having shipped ballast, consisting of large stones, we shoved off, crossing on our course a pebbly bank, which being frequently uncovered by water, forms a causeway, upon which cattle are driven to graze upon the island. After a good deal of pushing and rubbing, we got out of the shallow, and were once more in motion, our speed being somewhat accelerated by the canvass. The scenery now became of a more interesting character, forming a striking contrast to the southern portion of the lake, which is bleak and devoid of any object worthy of observation, with the exception of of by-gone days stand solitarily upon the verge of the ruins of Aughnanure Castle. These memorials the water, and it was with regret I felt obliged to give up the idea of visiting them, and content myself with the glimpse I had of them, from the road, on the narrows, and not far from the town forms itself into preceding day. Towards Galway, the lake gradually a river, descending turbulently through a rocky channel into Galway bay. But to proceed with my narrative. Upon the western banks now rose a number of hills, cultivated to their summits, between which were emerald valleys, ornamented with clumps of trees. One of the vales stretched out into the lake; its extremity, which was covered with wood, forming a beautiful promontory. We now occasionally passed a heavy boat lazily ploughing the water, with its cargo of potatoes or turf, bound from Galway. A little further we encountered a fleet of a better description, the crews of which consisted of Connemara and Joyce country people, repairing with various commodities to the market of Oughterard. A sketch of one of them may give an idea of the group. There sat, in matronly dignity, the mistress, enveloped in a cloak of bright scarlet cloth, with a cap white as snow, the borders of which flapped with the breeze; it was confined to her head by a kerchief of a deep orange colour. By her side sat her daughter, without bonnet or cloak; her hair smoothly combed above her ample forehead, and looped over the ears; her open countenance beaming with good humour, and perhaps with joyful expectation of meeting at the market some Paddy who promised to be there; while the master himself, with his two coats of frieze, cord small clothes, and yellow vest, in meditative mood kept his eye to the sail; and, to complete the picture, one of the sons and a "sarvan boy" plied the busy oars. Turning our course to the north-west, we were leaving behind the main body of the lake, and directly before us rose majestically out of the water a beautifully shaped conical hill, densely clothed from base to summit with a variety of trees, whose foliage was of every hue, from the light green of the ash, to the more sombre shade of the holly, which was again diversified by the russet tinge of the beech. As we drew nearer to it, the hill lost its regular form, and presented a side, also wooded, spreading along the verge of the lake, which is here but a strait connecting the northern branch with the principal sheet of water. Behind this wooded hill, which, if I recollect rightly, the boatman called Drumsnav, towered the rugged head of a majestic rocky mountain, the name of which I now forget. A little further on, a cottage of very humble construction revealed itself upon the side of the hill, sheltered by the surrounding plantation: one would scarcely suppose it to be the residence of a gentleman of fortune, although I was told it was occupied by such. We now distinguished a sail, which proved to be the pleasure yacht of this gentleman, tacking about, and flying before the wind. Turning the point of a promontory, I at last got a view of the object of my excursion-Hen Castle. But how shall I describe the sensation I felt as I approached this long-wished-for object? I will not attempt it. But, reader, if you desire a trip to repay you, go next summer to Lough Corrib; and if you be so fortunate to have fine weather, as I had, you will then experience, perhaps in a higher degree, the rapture which filled my breast. The day, although so late in the season, was delightfully mild and clear, and so calm that the breeze which wafted us along merely rippled the surface of the lake. We now gained our destination, |