that cast such sweet perfume on the warm air, where Ellen and he wandered in delightful converse, or more delightful silence, along that same road, sunny and pleasant in the bright month of May. That smooth expanse of deathly white, streaked with veins of frozen streams, looking inky black in contrast, was it the smooth daisy-bespangled sward, on which village children played, making the summer evenings ring with joyous laughter? It was hard to believe that this deathlike landscape was, so short a time ago, so full of life and beauty. These thoughts were in Willy Regan's mind, as he paused a few moments on the eminence referred to-they made him sad. He resumed his way, reached the moors, and the frequent reports of his fowling-piece soon resounded through the lifeless air. Game was plentiful, and he did not miss a shot. Yet he felt no exhilaration in his sport, as he was wont to do. Again and again, the sadness induced by that look down on the wintry country from the hill, returned and oppressed him. Those rambles under the perfumed hawthorn trees-now so cold and ghastly-seemed memories of a past that was never to be equalled by any future. It was in vain he tried to cheer his mind by the recollection that this white pall of snow would surely pass away-that the hawthorn trees would bud and grow beautiful again that after dreary winter, would come cheery springtime and glowing summer. was in vain, he said to himself, that Ellen would soon be his wife, and mentally pictured scenes of domestic bliss and quiet contentment. An opposing voice sadly whispered, the trees may become beautiful again-the snow may pass away-the spring and summer return joyous and sunny as ever, but you will never feel the happiness of the past again. A gloomy foreboding of evil that could not be shaken off, oppressed him throughout the whole of the leaden day. It He turned homewards when the sun was sinking-blood-coloured, without any of a summer sunset's glorious beauty, behind the western mountains. The house of his betrothed was not very far out of his way, and naturally enough he resolved to call there ere he went home. When within about fifty yards of it, a woodcock sprang from a furze brake near him-he was carrying his gun under his arm uncocked, so was not prepared to fire ere the bird was out of range: he stopped and looked after it. 'Willy, Willy, he's landed in the dyke below the road," called a man from a height near him-it was Ellen's father. "Go straight on to the road, Willy, and you'll put him up." Willy cocked both barrels of his gun, and walked forward briskly. The moment he reached the road, the woodcock sprang again. The gun was raised and a barrel discharged instantly, bringing down the luckless creature quite dead. Another besides its owner had heard the name Willy called, one to whom the owner and the name were very dear, Ellen Mangan; she came out of the house at the moment Willy fired at the woodcock. Her lover saw her at once, and turned down the road towards her, forgetting to put down the hammer of the undischarged barrel of his gun. Ellen came forward to meet him, leaving the door open, through which a bright fire was seen to shine, They met, and Willy wound his sinewy left arm tenderly round her grace. ful waist. "How is my dearest Elly this evening," he whispered. They waited until Mr. Mangan came down from the height and joined them. "I am glad you came this way, Willy, Nell has a nice dinner just ready." She then walked down the road to the house, Ellen now leaning fondly on Willy's arm. All sadness had vanished from his brow; as he felt the beating of that loving little heart, he so well knew was all his own, what could he have to do with gloomy forebodings? They reached the threshold, and an odour of savoury viands floated out to meet them. "It makes me hungry to smell it," said Willy with a laugh. Eilen laughed also, and disengaging the hand which Willy was pressing to his side, entered the house. She turned round when within the threshold,still laughing merrily, when Willy slipped on a frost-covered stone without, and the loaded barrel of his gun went off-Ellen screamed and fell. With a wild cry of terror Mangan ran to her and raised her in her arms-Willy stood silent and motionless, horror in every feature, on the spot where the gun had fallen from his hand after going off. She gave a low sigh of pain lying against her father's breast -she murmured, "Willy, Willy!" "My love, my dearest love-oh good God!"—cried Willy, kneeling at her feet in an agony of horror. The terrified servants crowded round confusedly. Mangan drew her softly into the cheerful parlour, where the light of the candles discovered the bosom of her dress saturated with blood. She had fainted. "Well, doctor?" whispered Willy. "Bad case, I fear. Is it long since she spoke?-Did she speak at all since it hap "Oh good God"-murmured Willy, strik-pened?" ing his clenched hand against his forehead. The "Yes, once before Willy went for you, then she fainted. She opened her eyes again since we brought her up here, and called out,' Willy, Willy,' twice, very low in voice-since that she did not stir.-Will she die, doctor ?" said Mangan, in a calm voice, terrible in its unnatural freedom from excitement. "I fear there's little hope. I'll do what I can." She lay in a state of stupor all the night and the next day. The watchers never left her bedside. It was about six o'clock in the evening of the next day when she opened her eyes, and gazed languidly about her. Her glance after a while fell on Willy, and her face lit up with an expression of joy. She spoke in a barely audible voice. These disconnected words were all that could be understood "Ride to town for the doctor, one of you," said Mangan, looking up fiercely at the groups of servants. He was kneeling, still supporting the senseless girl, her lovely head leaning motionless against his breast. Willy started, ran from the room, and was in the stable saddling a horse in a moment. next moment he was galloping madly through the yard to the road that led to the neighbouring town. Fast along the road, over frost-encrusted stones, and hardened snowheaps,-fast past stark trees, and dismal iceprisoned brooks,-fast by cottages whose lights glimmered cheerfully on the cold black night-fast by miserable cabins whose inmates, without fire or food, froze and starved. So into the town and through it, till the gasping horse was reined up at the doctor's house. The doctor, a kind-hearted man, and a skilful one in his profession, hurried out from his pleasant hearth, surprised and alarmed at the loud and continued knockingly, and even loudlyat his door. Few words passed, and back along the bleak wood rattled the doctor's gig, to which the horse Willy brought was harnessed. In vain the doctor implored his young companion to spare the exhausted animal-lash after lash was rained upon him to urge on his failing speed-the cruel whip drew blood from his smoking flanks. Fast again along the bleak road, no rest, no mercy for the horse, till the farmyard is reached again. 66 Easy now, easy now," said the doctor as the servants crowded round him-all talking together. "Let us be cool, one at a time, one at a time. Is she sensible ?" "No, sir, not now, she was a while ago," said an old woman. "We put her to bed a while ago, and she opened her eyes for a bit and" "Now show me the room. Let no one come with me but Willy Regan." Willy and the doctor followed the old servant woman through the parlour and up stairs to Ellen's room. Ellen lay outside the coverlet, still supported in her father's arms, her head resting on his breast. She was insensible. The doctor opened the bosom of her dress, gently washed away the clotted blood, and examined the wound. "Willy--meant to do it-oh no-no." Perceiving that she was not understood, she with an effort of evident pain, said clear "Come to me, Willy." He came and took her hand. Fierce selfreproach had as it were scorched his eyes, and left him no tears. Dark lines of agony were visible in his face. He pressed her hand silently to his heart. "You could not help it, Willy," she said slowly and distinctly, each word evidently causing pain, "you could not help it, dear, - good bye." She raised herself quickly and drew her arms round his neck and kissed him. Then she sank back murmuring, "pray for me, pray for me," and so died. And the white-plumed hearse bore her across the snowy road to the church-yard, a few days afterwards, and the iron ground was dug up, and they buried her. There were loud wailings from the professional keeners sounding far through the clear winter air, but the grief of her father and betrothed was silent and made no signs. They walked side by side behind the coffin, and stood side by side close by the grave as it was filled in. Many people looked reproachfully at Willy Regan, and the unobservant or thoughtless said his motionless face was evidence of want of feeling or remorse. that night some labourers returning home late from the village, heard suppressed groan But ing as they passed the church-yard. Their curiosity overcame their terror, and they peeped over the wall, and saw a man stretched on his face in the frost-whitened grass of the newly-made grave.-They called to him, and he started up, and walked away. But by the moonlight they recognised Willy Regan. Time, the soother of every human ill and affliction, in the course of years calmed and softened the grief of her father and relatives -she became a memory of the past to them, the recalling of which was not without a saddened satisfaction. And no conversation gave more interest around the winter fireside than a talk about poor Ellen, whom they buried long ago-how good she was, how gentle and how beautiful, and what a melancholy death was hers. And time too, softened the passionate tearless agony which tore Willy Regan's breast. But he was from the day of the burial a changed man. He became very gentle and reserved he had heretofore been open and fiery, and from being the keenest sportsman and best shot of the county, became morbidly nervous about fire-arms; an eccentricity which increased with his years, until the mention of a gun was sufficient to recall all the first agony of the loss of Ellen, and place wildly before his mind every circumstance of her tragic death. As he grew old this eccentricity was all that shewed he still had the memory of his first and only love green in his heart.-He mingled as before in meetings of business, and even something of pleasure, and in the natural desire of rest from work, in recreation, he became a passionate "lover of the angle." He always turned indifferently, if not with disgust, from the proposals of marriage made by those who take upon themselves the office of match-makers for the parish. And as his farm was a good one, and his position respectable, these proposals were frequent, and often troublesome. However, it became pretty clear to these self-elected supporters of Hymen, after repeated failures, what peated failures, what was Willy Regan's determination, and they now allow him to live in peace the life of an Old Bachelor. REGISTER FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY, 1863. 1.-AN influential meeting, of persons of all persuasions, was held at Castletown, Berehaven, to organise means of relieving the extreme distress prevailing in the district. 2. The Atlantic Steam Navigation Company, at length received the reluctantly conceded promise from the Government of the restoration of the Postal subsidy. The thirty-third half yearly General Meeting of the Shareholders of the Dublin, Wicklow, and Wexford Railway was held in Dublin, and dividends of 6 per cent, on 6 per cent, Preferential Shares; 5 per cent, on the 5 per cent, Preferential Shares, and 3 per cent, on the original Stock of the Company, were declared. 4. An influential meeting was held in Ardee, to take steps to relieve the distress existing in that town and neighbourhood. 5.-Parliament was formally opened, and the Queen's Speech read by commission. References were made to the intended marriage of the Prince of Wales, and the necessity of providing a fitting establishment for him; to the refusal by Prince Alfred of the Greek throne; to the readiness of England to cede to Greece the Ionian Isles, should the inhabitants declare their desire to that effect; to the American War; to the partial distress in the cotton manufacturing districts of Lancashire; but none to the fearful distress prevailing through most parts of Ireland, particularly in the west and south. The Council of the Empire of Russia, received instructions to introduce reforms into the administration of the Kingdom of Poland, with the view of checking the progress of the insurrection. 6. The Venerable Archdeacon Fitzgerald, P.P., Rathkeale, died in his 75th year. His death was regarded with profound regret by all classes. This revered and highly-gifted clergyman had been a true and consistent patriot, and an earnest friend of the tenant farmers of Ireland. 7.-Mr. Henry Walker Todd, a principal member of the firm of Todd, Burns, and Co., Dublin, died at Rathgar. A meeting was held in Nenagh, to adopt measures to relieve the severe distress existing in the town and neighbourhood. 8. Patrick Maher, Esq., of Kilrush, Co. Kildare, died after a long exercise of the most generous charity. He had been a great benefactor of religious establishments and Catholic schools, particularly of the admirable institutions of the Christian Brothers. Thomas Neville Bagot, Esq., J.P., of Ard and Ballymore, died at Boulogne, in his 79th year. He had been for over fifty years a magistrate of the King's County, and the Counties of Galway and Roscommon. 9.-A meeting was held in Newry to take steps to relieve the existing distress. 10.-A great meeting of the clergy and friends of Tenant-right, and of about 20,000 of the people, was held at Mullingar. The object of the meeting was to petition Parliament for a Tenant-right Bill, and take into consideration the distress, depression and depopulation of the country. Over 500 police were in attendance, and a large force of infantry, cavalry and artillery was also present: evidently to deter the people from attending, as no disturbance was anticipated. Edward M'Evoy, Esq., M.P., took the chair: great unanimity prevailed, and everything passed off quietly. Lisburn was a scene of great violence on the part of the Orangemen, who supported the election of Mr. Verner, against the Liberal candidate, Mr. Barbour. Desperate fighting took place, and the Orangemen were at length driven out of the town. There was, however, no display of military force. A meeting was held in Rathkeale to adopt measures to relieve the prevalent alarming distress. 11.-An influental meeting was held in Clifden, Connemara, with a view to alleviate the extreme distress, amounting to absolute starvation, prevailing to so alarming an extent in that part of the country. 13. In the House of Commons Sir Robert Peel declared that Government had no intention of introducing a Bill for regulating the relations between landlord and tenant in Ireland. Remarking with insulting jocularity, that he "thought that question was settled." 15. The Very Rev. John Canon Levins, P.P. Ardee, died in the 78th year of his age, The venerable and revered clergyman was nearly 53 years on the mission. The Very Rev. Martin B. Kelly, Prov. and Prior, O.D.C., Clarendon street, Dublin, died at the age of 42. 17. The Marquis of Normanby, in the House of Lords, denounced in strong terms the conduct of the English Government on the Roman question. 19.-Parliament granted an income of £40,000 to the Prince of Wales, and £10,000 to his intended bride, the Princess Alexandra of Denmark: should the Princess survive him she is to enjoy £30,000 a-year. A highly respectable and numerously attended meeting, convened by the Mayor, was held at Sligo, on the subject of the existing distress. The most Rev. Dr. Gillooley addressed the meeting, and bore testimony to the dire distress, affecting not only the poor, but the labouring and industrious classes of the inhabitants. 20. Sir Robert Peel was at length obliged, in the House of Commons to admit the existence of distress in Ireland, but finally and absolutely refused on the part of the Government, to give any loans for the construction of Railways or Public works, or in any other way interfere to relieve it. 21. Mr. Barbour was elected at Lisburn by a majority of six votes over Mr. Verner. An important letter addressed to the Tablet, was published by the Very Rev. Dr. O'Brien, President-General of the Young Men's Societies, on the connexion of the members of those associations with politics, in which the Very Rev. gentleman said: :"So far is our rule or our spirit from condemning political movements, that as men and Christians, we deem it a duty to exercise out. side the Society, all the influence we possess, and combine all the influence we can gather for the national good. In fact, the more we can do, the more we think ourselves bound to do; and the greater the object we have in view, the greater ought to be the effort, and the sacrifice, if necessary, to accomplish it. The more politics the better; the more politics the more virtues, if the politics be for one's country, and not for himself. And furthermore, let me honestly add, that the young men of Ireland, and the Irish in England, are not only strong politicians, but they are strong Irish politicians. They think their country cruelly treated by England-fed upon and exhausted by England; regarded and respected only as a kind of draw-farm for England, and traduced and misrepresented by England, in order that a false picture of her character may divert the world's attention from her wrongs. The young men of Ireland are deeply impressed with the belief that no country in the Christian world is worse governed thantheirs,and that no subjects have less reason to be loyal. The constitution is grand, but 'tis made for English landed proprietors; the laws are wise and strong, but they are for men who have something to protect and something to gain. The laws they think are all for landlords and capitalists, and serve only to pauperise, exterminate and exile the people of the soil. They think that there is a steady, systematic policy to clear Ireland of every inan that loves her traditions or hopes for her a happier future. The young men of Ireland read the English newspapers, and are not insensible to English never-ending insults. Whatever Ireland loves, values, or reverences, they see every, day menaced, insulted, or ridiculed. At home, her distress is mocked or denied; and abroad, English statesmen will travel the world to have a blow at her religious faith. In fact, statesmen have given an emphatic reality to the expression of the old chancellor's spleen, when he called the Irish aliens in blood and aliens in country.' This is a state of things which I attest, and which I have sufficient opportunities of knowing. Government may ignore it, or contemn it, but it would not be wise to suppose the maturity of such feelings so easily combated as the results of them twenty years ago." 24. The remarkable libel case of "Francis Morgan v. John Gray," which occupied the Court of Exchequer for ten days, terminated by the disagreement of the jury. 26.-A letter from the Rev. Father Lavelle, Admr. of Partry, was published, complaining of the shocking persecution his parishioners were receiving at the hands of the executive, arising out of their resistance to attempts to proselytise them. Amongst other grievances, that a pretext was made for crowding the district with police, so as to crush the ratepayers of one of the poorest localities in Ireland, by a police tax of EIGHT SHILLINGS AND TWO-PENCE in the pound! A very able lecture was delivered by Joseph Fisher, Esq,, proprietor of the Waterford Mail, in the Mechanics' Institute, Dublin, on "The Life and Death of the Irish Parliament," in which he refuted the sophisms of Mr. Whiteside and others on the same subject, and showed the incalculable wrongs and injuries inflicted on Ireland by that nefarious measure. 27.-Mr. Pope Hennessy brought the question of the Polish insurrection before the House of Commons. Adverting to the systematic cruelties and breach of treaties on the part of Russia; to the bold stand now taken by the Emperor of the French in favour of the oppressed Poles; and calling on the Government to interfere in their behalf. The members on all sides of the house concurred in expressions of sympathy for Poland, and the Premier expressed himself strongly on the subject. ROYAL MARRIAGE PROCESSIONS IN THE OLDEN TIME. In 1236, Henry III. married Eleanor of Provence, at Canterbury, and journeying to London with his bride, they were met in Southwark by the Lord Mayor, aldermen, and the principal citizens, to the number of 360, all being mounted on stately horses, dressed with splendid furniture. The busier streets were adorned with tapestry and plate. At nightfall, torches were kindled all over the City. Henry V. entered London with his Queen Katherine, being welcomed by an immense multitude of the Londoners, the corporation having prepared a magnificent pageant for the occasion. Previous to this, Edward, the Black Prince, had wedded the beautiful Joan, Countess of Kent, much to the joy of the whole nation, and especially of the Londoners, who kept holiday for many days to celebrate the event. This warrior Prince of Wales kept another grand festival when, in 1357, he entered the City from Southwark, in company with his prisoner, John, King of France. The royal captive rode on a noble white horse, but the prince accompanied him on a mean-looking black pony; they were met by the whole corporation, splendidly attired, who conveyed them to the Savoy, where John was to lodge. The procession was several hours in passing through the City. Henry VI. a good but weak sovereign, married Margaret, a daughter of the blind King of Anjou. The reign was little but a succession of troubles; yet she was a noble-minded queen, and upheld the red rose of Lancaster with no feeble hand. Her hapless son, Edward Prince of Wales, married Ann of Warwick, at Amboise, but while a mere lad was mercilessly slain, at Tewkesbury, 1471. His widow afterwards became the wife of Richard III. and is the Lady Ann of Shakspere's drama. Henry VII. by espousing Elizabeth of York, united the contend ing factions, and gave his people a reasonable cause for rejoicing, as he thus terminated long years of intestine war. His son Arthur, Prince of Wales, when hardly fourteen, was married to Katherine of Arragon, a princess much his senior, who, on the demise of her boy-husband, was induced to wed his brother Henry, afterwards Henry VIII. The history of that learned, accomplished, and popular monarch and his six unhappy wives, his brutish follies and caprices, his cruelty and licentiousness, is well known. The procession of Lady Anne Boleyn through London, previous to her marriage, was remarkably gorgeous. May 31, 1538, all the citizens were busy from early morning, The streets were covered with gravel from the Tower (where she lodged, and where she was soon to die on the block); the footpaths were protected by barriers, and occupied by the companies, in full livery. Cornhill and Gracechurch-street were tapestried and hung with rich arras. Cheapside had a still richer dressing of cloth of gold and fancy velvets. At a signal from the Tower guns, the procession issued from the fortress. First came the French ambassador and his train, twelve knights in blue velvets, their horses decorated with white crosses; a troop of English gentlemen, two and two; the Knights of the Bath in full costume; the abbots, bishops, and peers on horseback, robed, and with massive gold chains; the Lord Mayor, with the City mace; Garter King-at-Arms and the Lord Marshal; the Queen's household, in scarlet robes; the High-Constable, with his wand of office; lastly, a splendid chariot draped with white silk, drawn by white palfreys in housing of white damask, Anne Boleyn keeping her state under a gilded canopy, hung with silver bells.-City Press. |