Imatges de pàgina
PDF
EPUB
[ocr errors]

none more than the two blind beggars, who pleaded more money out of her purse than of fifty others. These fellows, not deficient in shrewdness, called her the Sister of Charity, which they managed should reach her knowledge in an apparent side wind. Nor was their appellation lost upon them. On a particular occasion, this blessed pair, who had never been to Bethsaida, nor washed in the Pool of Siloam, nor sat at the gate having five porches, were visited by ague, and prevented being at their accustomed post in Solomon's Porch.' The lady, missing them, literally ferreted Bath half over till she succeeded in reaching their miserable abode. As the footman, a fine, tall, young Irishman, preceded her up the steps in a corner of King's Mead-street, he tapped at the door, the cue having been given him by an old washer woman below stairs. He tapped a second and a third time. Great was the scuffle inside during the interval-but no reply to the applicants. At length, however, on the fourth tremendous ratatat-tanta-taro, the door was opened by a little wizen female, with a patch over her osfrontis, who, struck almost lifeless to see so fine a lady, and her gaudied livery servant, stammered out," Your pleasure, good lady, with poor blind people." -"Oh! I see it is right, Simeon," said the lady; " you may depart for the present, and wait for me."

Simeon retired with a rather suspicious look which, if it meant any thing, indicated credulity and surprise.

A chair was put for her ladyship;

she sat down in it with as much complaisance as in her own drawing-room. The blind men were wrapped in large blankets, shivering by the fire, and the wizen woman, their nurse, held an abracadabra, muttering to them, to check their chattering, which now gave full vent to the fit on them. The lady raised her hands and eyes to heaven on hearing them. As soon as it subsided, they turned towards their distinguished patroness and visitor, and kneeling before her, gave her the real and fervent outpourings of their hearts in utterance never equalled. The leading boy, their vade mecum and guide, stared in vacant wonder. Their nurse opened her face into singular shapes; and Simeon, as if distrusting the safety of his kind mistress, stood with the door in one hand half opened, and his gold-headed walking stick and hat held in the other. "Rise, rise!" said her ladyship, in a little squeaking voice and pleasing in

tonation" I have brought you this purse—(laying it on the table)—to cure you; for, since your prayers are not heard at the Abbey, by your sincerity I know they will be heard in heaven.”~ "Amen!" said the blind men-" God will never leave or forsake your ladyship for relieving the poor stone blind!" Like the voluntary after service in the Cathedral, the music of the blind pair commenced in a psalm of thanksgiving as her ladyship descended the stairs; and if ever the heart took a part in lipservice, it was now.

The length to which the article has run in respect of these characters, precludes any further remarks upon others. The lady was

Gay in her taste, and was gay in attire,
But in practice a Christian, with means
for desire.
INTERLOCUTOR.

SACRED MELODY.

There is a thought can lift the soul
Above the dull cold sphere that bounds it ;
A star that sheds its mild control
Brightest when grief's dark cloud surrounds
it;

And pours a soft pervading ray
Life's ills may never chase away.
When earthly joys have left the breast,

And e'en the last fond hope it cherish'd
Of mortal bliss, too like the rest,
Beneaths woe's withering touch hath
perish'd;

With fadeless lustre streams that light,
A halo on the brow of night.

And bitter were our sojurn here,

In this wild wilderness of sorrow, Did not that rainbow beam appear,

The herald of a brighter morrow,

A beacon of mercy from on high,
To guide us to ETERNITY.

EXTRAORDINARY DREAMS, AND

THE EFFECTS THEREOF.*

MR. DONALDSON, a literary man, in order to attend the House of Commons, had taken apartments in St. Anne's church-yard, Westminster. On the evening when he took possession, he was struck with something that appeared to him mysterious in the manner of the maid-servant, who looked like a man disguised; and he felt a very unpleasant emotion. This feeling was strengthened by a similar deportment in the mistress of the house, who soon after entered his room, and asked him if he wanted any thing before he retired to rest; disliking her manner, he soon dismissed her, and went to bed, but the disagreeable impression made on his

* Records of John Taylor. Bull.

mind by the maid and mistress, kept him long awake; at length, however, he fell asleep. During his sleep he dreamed that the corpse of a gentleman, who had been murdered, was deposited in the cellar of the house. This dream co-operating with the unfavourable, or rather repulsive countenances and demeanour of the two women, precluded all hopes of renewed sleep; and it being the summer season, he rose about five o'clock in the morning, took his hat, and resolved to quit a house of such alarm and terror. To his surprise, as he was leaving it, he met the mistress in the entry, dressed, as if she had never gone to bed. She seemed to be much agitated, and inquired his reason for wishing to go out so early in the morning. He hesitated a moment with increased alarm, and then told her that he expected a friend, who was to arrive by a stage in Bishopsgate-street, and that he was going to meet him. He was suffered to go out of the house, and when revived by the open air, he felt, as he afterwards declared, as if relieved from impending destruction. He stated, that in a few hours after he returned with a friend, to whom he had told his dream, and the impression made on him by the maid and the mistress; he, however, only laughed at him for his superstitious terrors; but, on entering the house, they found that it was deserted, and calling in a gentleman who was accidentally passing, they all descended to the cellar, and actually found a corpse in a state which the gentleman's dream had represented. Before I make any observations on the subject, I shall introduce a recital of a similar description, and care not if scepticism sneer, or ridicule deride, satisfied that I heard it from one on whose veracity I could most confidently depend. I will, however, now take leave of Mr. Donaldson, though I could with pleasure dwell much longer on the memory of so valuable a friend. The other extraordinary story to which I have alluded, I heard from what I consider unimpeachable authority. Mrs. Brooke, told me that she was drinking tea one evening in Fleet-street, where a medical gentleman was expected, but did not arrive till late. Apologising for his delay, he said he had attended a lady who suffered under a contracted throat, which occasioned her great difficulty in swallowing. She said that she traced the cause to the following

carman's

circumstance. When she was a young woman, and in bed with her mother, she dreamed that she was on the roof of a church struggling with a man who attempted to throw her over. He appeared in a carman's frock, and had red hair. Her mother ridiculed ber terrors, and bade her compose herself to sleep again; but the impression of her dream was so strong, that she could not comply. In the evening of the following day, she had appointed to meet her lover at a bowling-green, from which he was to conduct her home when the amusement ended. She had passed over one field in hopes of meeting the gentleman, and sung as she tripped along, when she entered the second field, and accidentally turning her head, she beheld, in the corner of the field, just such a man as her dream represented, dressed in a frock, with red hair, and apparently approaching towards her. Her agitation was so great, that she ran with all her speed to the stile of the third field, and with difficulty got over it. Fatigued, however, with running, she sat on the stile to recover herself, and reflecting that the man might be harmless, she was afraid that her flight, on seeing him, might put evil and vindictive thoughts into his head. While in this meditation, the man had reached the stile, and seizing her by the neck, he dragged her over the stile, and she remembered no more. It appeared that he had pulled off all her clothes, and thrown her into an adjoining ditch. Fortunately, a gentleman came to the spot, and observing a body above the water, he hailed others who were approaching, and it was immediately raised. It was evidently not dead, and some of the party remarking that the robber could not be far off, went in pursuit of him, leaving others to guard and endeavour to revive the body. The pursuers went different ways, and some, at no great distance, saw a man at a public house sitting with a bundle before him. He seemed to be so much alarmed at the sight of the gentlemen, that they suspected him to be the culprit, and determined to examine the bundle, in which they found the dress of the lady, which some of them recognised. The man was, of course, immediately taken into custody, and was to be brought to trial at the appraching assizes. The lady, however, was too ill to come into court, but appearances were so strong against him, that he was

5

kept in close custody, and when she was able to give evidence, though he appeared at the trial with a different dress and with a wig on, she was struck with terror at the sight of him, and fainted, but gave evidence; the culprit was convicted and executed. The medical gentleman added, that when she had finished her narrative, she declared that she felt the pressure of the man's hand on her neck, while she related it, and that her throat had gradually contracted from the time when the melancholy event occurred. At length, her throat became so contracted, that she was hardly able to receive the least

sustenance.

THE STOCK EXCHANGE.

The following extract is from "Our Island;"* consisting of clever and wellwritten tales:

"Two three-quarters?' 'What's the meaning of two three-quarters?" said a stripling of some eighteen years, who had wandered into this scene of active business. 'Ninety-two threequarters,' said a good natured broker, with an obvious feeling of compassion for the ignorance of his enquirer. What is ninety-two three-quarters,' again asked the young man. Consols, to be sure,' returned the broker, passing quickly forward to another place. What do you think of it? what do you think of things now?' said a stout gentleman, evidently from the country, to a care-worn personage, whose opinion he seemed anxious to gain. The person whom he addressed was a slim, short, withered form, with a forehead as deeply furrowed as though he had been wont for years to poise the balance of empires. His eyes started strangely from their sockets; his lips seemed the eternal utterers of calculation; his long wasted fingers moved to and fro with a precision which close thought alone could have dictated; whilst the jaundiced sunken cheek betekened the ravages of incessant toils and straining accuracy. What do you think?' was the reply of this ghost-like counsellor, who scarcely deigned to cast a look upon his visitor when he spoke. think they'll be lower,' said the other. 'Do you?' was the answer of the broker, who accompanied the exclamation with a convulsive shudder, and a shrewdly penetrating glance. What makes you think so? continued he. I think I

* E. Bull.

I

shall sell ten thousand,' said the countryman. 'Will you ?' replied the other, with an air of affected compassion. 'Have you made up your mind?' said he again, atter a short pause. If you please, sir, said a gay, tripping young woman, will you buy a hundred pounds for me into the funds?' Into what funds, my dear?' replied the broker. "Into the three per cents, sir, if you please-if it's worth your while to take so much trouble.' That 1 will, and very much obliged to you, my dear, although it is but half-a-crown. And so saying, he sprang out with an alacrity peculiar to his craft, and jerking his hand to his hat, with a sudden bow was almost instantly out of sight. A crowd had now collected at the corner of the Exchange, whose eager looks bore evident witness that something of no common occurrence had happened, or was then at hand. These were the frequenters of the great gamblinghouse, where the changes of men and times are talked over with as much carelessness as the chances of a horserace. These were the bulls and bears of that day (according to the phraseology of the place), whose characters were for ever shifting with the tides of fortune. He who was a bull a week since, when the funds were at their. height, might be an earnest bear a few days after, upon a decline of those securities. A victory or a peace would be wont to make a hundred bulls, or speculators for a rise; a defeat, a few riots, or an unfavourable report, would turn the whole hundred bears beyond redemption. But now there seemed to be something quite rare; it could not be a battle or a conquest-for profound peace reigned throughout the land; it could hardly be a mere disturbancefor an event of that sort would never stir up such a commotion as the present: it was an affair, to judge by the riveted gaze of the multitude, of most unpromising appearance. At this moment, when heads and shoulders were mixed up together in a most motley assembly, a youth, a stranger, who had long watched the party with intense interest, ventured amongst them: but his presence was instantly detected, and no sooner perceived than resented. general clamour arose; one seized the unhappy intruder by the shoulders, another pulled him by the coat, a third knocked off his hat, and it cannot be ascertained to what extent the violence would have been carried on, had not the young man dexterously extricated

A

himself from his tormentors. Gladly enough did he scamper down the court, into whose precincts he had so incautiously entered; and it is even said, that he felt his pockets as he issued forth from the inhospitable land, fearing that, instead of being punished for his curiosity, he had fallen among thieves. The mysterious conversation still went on; but its purport remained concealed from the public, who continued to stray about the Exchange, buying and selling, as the fancy of each prompted. At length rumours of strange occurrences reached the barrier of that unapproachable spot; and truths, which would have been kept secret had it been possible, were no longer suppressed. It is customary when a failure takes place at the great mart of money, for an individual, appointed to the office, to strike several times against the wall with his hand. `This signal announces that bankruptcy has happened; the speculating mob rush together with eagerness to gain the name of the defaulter, and each begins to anticipate the accuracy of his own private surmises. Presently the name is mentioned, and the accounts are of course referred to the all-powerful committee; whilst, if the unfortunate insolvent be a man of note, a hundred tongues are let loose at once, and become profusely slanderous, as jealousy or interest may chance to dictate. Bangbang-bang,' resounded at this time against the wall more than once, or twice, or thrice: the assembly were aghast; no one knew the cause of such united disasters, though whispers of a general bankruptcy were by no means silent.Bang-bang-bang,' Consols eighty-eight-seven-six-five

four-three-two-one. 'Bang-bang -bang.' Failures of ten, twenty, fifty -one hundred thousand. The public soon participated in the terror-confusion, panic, suspicion, despair, succeeded; and in a very short interval as great an alarm prevailed as when the pretender of fading memory, was marching to London with his handful of Scots. In a quarter of an hour after the breaking out of the rumour, one thousand pounds were worth a diamond of double their cost; and in a short half hour after that, no ordinary man would advance five hundred pounds to his neighbour upon any pretence."

[ocr errors]

MIRACLES OF THE VIRGIN.

Vol. 35 of the Cabinet Cyclopædia, speaking of civilisation in Spain, and

showing the superstitious miracles that are attributed to the Virgin, gives the following humorous account:

"Milagro the third acquaints us with the death of a devotee, who came to a violent end, and, not being judged worthy to be interred in consecrated ground, was hastily thrown into a ditch. Incensed at the dishonour thus offered to his remains, the Glorious appeared to a priest of the same church, and commanded that they should be removed to a decent tomb, threatening to take ample vengeance unless her commands were obeyed. Her will was speedily done: on opening the ditch, a flower of exquisite fragrance was seen growing from the mouth, and the tongue exhibited all the freshness of life. Sometimes she appeared to her dying suppliant, taking care that the soul should be escorted by angels to its eternal reward. Generally, however, her worshippers were too wicked thus summarily to enter heaven, and were fortunate enough to escape, for a time, the doom they deserved. Thus there was a notorious robber by profession, who, with all his crimes, never failed to repeat his Ave, and to bow before the image or picture of Our Lady whenever he saw one. At length he was taken, condemned to be hung, and led away to the gallows which had been erected for him; there his eyes were covered, the rope adjusted to his neck, and up he was hoisted, amidst the acclamations of the spectators, who exulted in his well merited punishment. In appearance, no Jack Ketch could have done his business more dexterously or more effectually; so that, after gazing a time, the crowd departed, together with the ministers of justice. On the third day came the kindred and friends of the culprit to cut down the body and honour it with the rights of sepulture; but, instead of a corpse, they found the rogue, not merely alive, but merry and laughing. He told them that no sooner had the hangman pulled away the platform, than the Glorious placed her hands under his feet, and held them there as comfortably as if he had been seated in an arm-chair; he would have been glad to hang a whole year! The wondrous news flew from mouth to mouth; but some there were who did not believe it, and who exclaimed that he had practised some trick to escape the gallows and the devil. Again was he clutched by the hand of the law, and sentenced to be beheaded; and again did the Glorious befriend him! in vain

did the executioners strike; they could not so much as touch him. Astonished at the miracle, they acknowledged the hand of Heaven, and left him in peace. It is added, that he amended his life, and died in a good old age.

"Milagro the twentieth exhibits an equal instance of her maternal care. A monk one day entered a wine-shop, and drank so deeply, that he could not stand on his legs, but laid himself down on the ground. There he remained until the approach of evening, when the vesper-bell smiting his ear, roused him to something like recollection. With difficulty he raised himself, and staggered along the cloisters towards the door of the church. As he proceeded, what should meet him but the devil, in the shape of a bull, which was preparing to gore him with its horns, when the Glorious descended, and with her mantle scared the enemy away. Just however as he was beginning to ascend the steps, the same devil assailed him, in another form; but the same aid was at hand. The third attack was more serious: a large lion, and fierce as large, obstructed his passage, and opened its jaws to devour him. In consternation, he invoked Our Lady's aid; and, as before, she immediately appeared-this time with a large staff in her hand. 'Don Traitor,' said she to the lion, hast thou no fear of me? I will now give thee thy deserts, and make thee know what an enemy thou hast dared to brave!' She began lustily to lay on the beast; never were his sides so lathered in his life. 'Don Traitor,' said the Glorious, let me again catch thee here, and thou shalt be drubbed still better!' Well pleased was Don Devil to scamper away, and long was it before he was cured of his bruises. Anxious to see her votary in safety, the Glorious took him lovingly by the hand, led him to his dormitory, laid him gently in bed, threw the coverlid over him, put on his nightcap, and said, Lie still; for well tired art thou, and a little sleep will recover thee. To-morrow, when thou arisest, go to my friend such-a-one, and confess to him; for he is a good man, and well I know he will give thee heavy penance.' The drunken knave by this time was sufficiently recovered to ask her name; and knowing that she was the mother of our Lord, he attempted to rise and fall at her feet; but she vanished from his eyes. The following day he made his confession, and was absolved, both

confessor and penitent being filled with devout astonishment at the condescension of heaven's great queen. Her praises were soon resounded throughout the monastery, both by night and day."

Table Talk.

SINGULAR TRADITION.-The inhabitants of the neighbourhood of Sicligully believe that a tiger watches over the deserted tomb of a warrior, whose name has been lost amid the stirring events which followed the early Moosulman conquests of Bengal. The lamp has long ceased to burn upon his grave; but some unseen hand preserves the interior of the mausoleum from the dirt and litter which usually accumulate in ruined buildings. The tomb itself, standing boldly on the summit of a hill in the vicinity of Rajmahal, forms a very interesting and picturesque feature in the landscape. A similar superstition prevails at Secundermallee, in the Carnatic. The mountain is held sacred by all castes, it being supposed to contain the tomb of Alexander the Great, whose temple, on the summit, is said to be regularly swept by royal tigers with their tails.

Now beggars

THE BEGGARS OF MULLINGAR."When the gallant 50th were removed to Mullingar, it was supposed that this town produced a greater number of beggars than any in the King's dominions -a swarm of paupers rendered the streets almost impassable, and ingress or egress to or from a shop was occasionally impracticable. were to the Mad Major an abomination; and for two days he ensconced himself in his lodgings, rather than encounter the mendicants of Mullingar. Confinement will increase bile, and bile may induce gout; and at last, wearied of captivity, he sallied forth, and to every application for relief he specified an early day, requesting the numerous supplicants to be punctual to the appointed time. His wish was faithfully attended to, and on the expected morning the street where he resided was literally blocked up. The Major, under a volley of blessings, appeared at the hall-door. 'Are you all here?' he inquired in accents of the tenderest compassion. All, your honour,-all, young and owld!' responded a big beggar-man. 'We're all here, Colonel, avorneen!' exclaimed a red virago,

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

but my own poor man, Brieney Bok

« AnteriorContinua »