Imatges de pàgina
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taken from Sir Thomas Purcel's last night is concealed.'

I have long suspected these men -Smith, I think, they call themselves; yet they are but two. Now, we have abundant proof that three men abso lutely entered the house-'

"There was a third,' murmured Grace, almost inaudibly. "Who?'

"My-my-my-husband!' and, as she uttered the word, she leaned against the chimney-piece for support, and buried her face in her hands.

"The clergyman groaned audibly; he had known Grace from her childhood, "and felt what the declaration must have 'cost her. Sir Thomas Purcel was cast in a sterner mould. We are put clearly upon the track, Mr. Glasscott,' he said, and must follow it forthwith; yet there is something most repugnant to my feelings in finding a woman thus herald her husband to destruction."

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"It was to save my children from sin! exclaimed Grace, starting forward with an energy that appalled them all; God in heaven, whom I call to witness, knows, that though I would sooner starve than taste of the fruits of his wickedness, yet I could not betray the husband of my bosom to-to-I dare not think what! I tried laboured to give my offspring honest bread: Ineither asked nor received charity; with my hands I laboured, and blessed the Power that enabled me to do so. are poor, we will be honest, was my maxim and my boast; but he -my husband, returned; he taught my boy to lie-to steal; and when I remonstrated -when I prayed, with many tears, that he would cease to train our-ay, our child for destruction, he mocked - scorned- told me that, one by one, I should be bereaved of my children, if I thwarted his purposes; and that I might seek in vain for them through the world, until I saw their names recorded in the book of shame! Gentlemen, this was no idle threat-last night Abel was taken from me-'

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idea of his grandchild's danger, or disappearance, he knew not which, took possession of his mind; and. filled with the single thought his faculties had the power of grasping at a time, he came forward to the table at which Mr. Glasscott was seated, and, respectfully uncovering his gray hairs, his simple countenance presenting a strong contrast to the agonised iron-bound features of his daughter, he addressed himself to the worthy magistrate: "I trust you will cause instant search to be made for the child Abel, whom your reverence used kindly to regard with especial favour.'.

"He repeated this sentence at least half a dozen times, while the gentlemen were issuing orders to the persons assembled for the apprehension of the burglars, and some of the females of the family were endeavouring to restore Grace to animation, At last, Sir Thomas Purcel turned suddenly round upon Abel Darley, and, in his stentorian tone, bawled out, And who are you!'

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"The schoolmaster of Craythorpe, so please you, sir-that young woman's father, and one, whose heart is broken!"

"So saying, he burst into tears; and his wail was very sad, like that of an afflicted child. Presently there was a stir among the little crowd-a murmur

and then two officers ushered Joseph Huntley and his son into the apart

ment.

"He walked boldly up to the magistrate's table, and placed his hand upon it, before he perceived his wife, to whom consciousness had not yet returned. The moment he beheld her he started back, saying, whatever charge you may have against me, gentlemen, you can have none against that woman.'

"Nor have we,' replied Sir Thomas; she is your accuser!'

"The fine features of Joseph Huntley relaxed into an expression of scorn and unbelief. She appear against me! Not-not if I were to attempt to murder her!' be answered firmly.

"Grace!' exclaimed her father joyfully, here is the child Abel-he is found!' and, seizing the trembling boy, with evident exultation, led him to her.

The effect of this act of the poor simple-minded man was electrical the mother instantly revived, but turned her face from her husband; and, entwining her son in her arms, pressed him closely to her side. The clergyman proceeded to interrogate the prisoner, but he answered nothing, keep

ing his eyes intently fixed upon his wife and child. In the meantime, the officers of justice had been prompt in the execution of their duty: the Smiths were apprehended in the village; and the greater portion of the property stolen from Sir Thomas Purcel was found in the hut where Grace had beheld it concealed.

"When the preparations were sufficiently forward to conduct the unfortunate men to prison, Joseph Huntley advanced to his wife. The scornful, as well as undaunted, expression of his countenance had changed to one of painful intensity; he took her hand within his, and pressed it to his lips, without articulating a single syllable. Slowly she moved her face, so that their eyes encountered in one long mournful look. Ten years of continued suffering could not have exacted a heavier tribute from Grace Huntley's beauty. No language can express the withering effects of the few hours agony; her husband saw it, and felt, perhaps for the first time, how truly he had once been loved, and how much of happiness he had sacrificed to sin.

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"A very singular woman. Her in formation transported for life a husband whom she loved notwithstanding his coldness, and his crimes, She had, at that time, three children, and the eldest had already become contaminated by his father's example. She saw nothing but destruction for them in prospective, her warnings and entreaties being alike unregarded; so she made her election sacrificed the husband, and saved the children!'

"But what does she here?"

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"Her eldest son is now established in a small business, and respected by all who know him; her second boy, and a father whom her misfortunes reduced to a deplorable state of wretchedness, are dead; her daughter, a village belle and beauty, is married to my father's handsome new parish clerk; and Mrs. Huntley, having seen her children provided for, and by her virtues and industry made respectable in the Old World, is now on her voyage to the New, to see, if I may be permitted to use her own simple language, whether she can contribute to render the last days of her husband as happy as the "Twas to save my children,' was first they passed together.' It is only the only sentence she uttered, or rather justice to the criminal to say, that I bemurmured; and it was the last coherent lieve him truly and perfectly reformed.' for many weeks. Her fine reason seemed overwhelmed. It was a sight few could witness without tears. The old father, tending the couch of his afflicted daughter, would sit for hours by her bedside, clasping the child Abel's hand within his, and every now and then shaking his head when her ravings were loud or violent.

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"It might be some fifteen years after these distressing events had agitated the little village of Craythorpe, that an elderly woman, of mild and cheerful aspect, sat calmly reading a large volume she supported against the railing of a noble vessel that was steering its course from the shores of merrie England,' to some land far over sea. Two gentlemen, who were lounging on the quarterdeck arm-in-arm, frequently passed her. The elder one, in a peculiarly kind tone of voice, said, "You bear the voyage well, dame.'

Thank God, yes, sir!' "Ah! you will wish yourself back in old England before you are landed six weeks.'

I did not wish to leave it, sir; but my duty obliged me to do so.' "The gentlemen walked on. "'Who is she?' inquired the younger.

"And on this chance she leaves her children and her country?"

She does! She argues that, as the will of Providence prevented her from discharging her duties together, she must endeavour to perform them separately. He was sentenced to die; but, by my father's exertions, his sentence was commuted to one of transportation for life; and I know she has quitted England without the hope of again beholding its white cliffs.""

MANNERS AND HABITS OF A

TURKISH NOBLEMAN.

Mr. Slade in his "Records of Travels in Turkey, &c." gives the following description of the third man in the empire:

I have hitherto said little on the capitan pasha-those of most Ottoman grandees. He led a life of absolute ennui. He could neither read nor write, nor was there any body to read to him, had he wished it. He did not play at chess, therefore had an enjoyment less than the sailors: neither had he any person to converse with, an advantage possessed by every body else on board. Between a master and his slaves there can be no conversation,

since the latter must assent and smile en regle. His legs seemed made for no other purpose than to bend under him his hands to run over his comboloyo (rosary). A narghiler was never from his lips, except while he afe, or prayed, or slept; how he performed the first of these offices I have described; suffice for his meals, that they took place twice a day at unsettled hours. Officers continually stood before him, arms crossed eyes cast down-a painful apprentissage which every Osmanley goes through before arriving at power-and anticipated every desire with surprising dexterity. If he wished to rise, he was lifted on his legs; if he drank, the glass was held to his lips; if he walked, he was supported by the arms; if an ignorant fly alighted on his brow, officious fans warned the intruder not to return; even when he spat, which was not rare, he being asthmatic, there was never wanting one to hold his handkerchief for the precious token. Such servility

evening on his quarter-deck couch, always doing me the honour to place me beside him with a chibouque; and no doubt it was a droll sight to the crew, who all gathered round the pasha and me thus cheek by jowl.— His band, consisting of as many drums and cymbals as could be collected, with two clarionets and one fife, usually made a noise for our benefit. It played the hunter's chorus in Freischutz, Zitti zitti, and Malbrook, over and over till I fairly wished it at the bottom of the sea. I not only could not stop my ears, but was obliged to applaud liberally. Thinking, one evening, that its style was more adapted to Turkish music, at the same time intending a compliment, I asked the pasha whether it could perform any Turkish airs.—

Turkish air,' he repeated with astonishment; Mashallah, have you not been listening to them these two hours? I bowed, and took refuge in ignorance. He asked me one evening, if I would like to see his regular solbeing

though perfectly natural from the effect diers; I had never heard scare-crows

of early education, therefore not ab- on board. Presently six stractedly servile-was disgusting to marched aft, preceded by a drum and witness, performed, too, by men who fife, each carrying a musket, and wearin their own homes exacted the same ing a shabby tactito uniform. A firstfrom their inferiors, and thus made rate's marines! I could scarce refrain themselves amends for their own humi- from laughing out at the idea, although liation. From the top to the bottom of a thousand eyes were fixed on me to the ladder is a gradation of similar ser- observe my admiration. The pasha vitude." The grand vizir kisses the told them seriously to do their best, for sultan's foot; he bows to Mohammed. a judge of military performance was by. The pasha kisses the grand vizir's foot; Accordingly, they went through the the bey, the pasha's; the aga, the manual exercise, and the same was renbey's; and so on. No mussulman sub- dered exceeding amusing by the drolject is so high but what he has a 'mas- lery of the jester, who, shouldering a ter, and none so low as not to have a long chibouque, acted as a fogelman, slave; the son is slave to the father. to the roars of both spectators and solI often saw the capitan pasha's son, a diers. I warmly applauded, and the royal page, with him; but the youth pasha in delight gave the corporal a never sat or tasted food in his presence. piece of gold, which was contested by With all his deficiencies, Achmet Pa- the jester, who swore that without him puchgi was a good-natured man, a the troop would have been disgraced. complete contrast to his predecessors The chief entertainment of every evenduring the last twenty years, who were ing was provided by the crew, who, all remarkable for cruelty. The quality when our orchestra closed, commenced seemed inherent to the Office. In the acting gross buffoonery, such as duckmiddle of the day he into the ing in tubs of water for money, when kennel abaft the mizen-mast, and repos- many a poor fellow half-drowned himed for some hours, his example being self in vain attempts to take with his duly followed by the officers, stretched lips the thin bit of silver, shining at out on the quarter-deck, and covered the bottom; or playing at bear and by flags to keep off the sun. On awak- monkey, when both the bear and moning, coffee and chibouques were served. key well deserved the piastres their Water was then brought, with a com- beating gained them; or blind man's plete change of garments, and in the buff. This last game was capital. same narrow box, six feet by three, by The blind man, provided with a stick, two high, he washed and dressed; then was at liberty to hit every body within came out and enjoyed the cool of the reach, only subject to the inconveni

ence of tripping over the bodies of his prostrate fellows, or over the comings down a hatchway. The pasha's attendants received sundry blows in keeping off the presence, and as he readily found his way amongst them, I supposed that he was purposely allowed a peep-hole, especially as his excellency enjoyed it much. A game also of men hanging in pairs to the spanker-boom, till one turned senseless or cried quarter, afforded infinite amusement. Each exhibition the deck was convulsed at the writhings of the actors; the pasha, forgetting his hauteur, would join in the laugh, and rapidly combing his beard with his fingers, throw pieces of gold at the victor. Well,' he said to me one evening that I was more than usually tired of this foolery-does your capitan pasha amuse himself in this way? I could not for the life of me flatter him. I simply answered that the English capitan pasha had always else to do. A dead silence, and mutual looks of surprise, ensued. Such were the occupations of the third man of the empire; of one of the chiefs on whom depended the fate of Turkey."

"In the morning we were close off the Bosphorus, nearly becalmed. Not a strange sail was in sight, a void marvellonsly consoling to the crew, among whom I perceived a sad spirit of apprehension. I am not vain enough to say I did not share it, (the mere circumstance of there being no surgeon on board was discouraging) but at any rate I did not shew it, and being in fairly for the worst, determined to make the best of it. I considered the trial of our strength only deferred. My principal aim was to encourage the chief, and, therefore, having first breakfasted on coffee thick as chocolate, without sugar, bread, and honey, I repaired to him. He was undergoing the operation of having his head shaved, and looked very dismal; that done, he performed his minor ablutions, and said his prayers, I all the while smoking his narghiler on the divan. 'What can I do? the pasha despondingly said, with such men, such means they know nothing.' " Nor do you,' I thought, and replied, Let us do our best; allow me to exercise the guns, it will give the men confidence; if we do meet the enemy, let us not die like dogs!' He scarcely heeded me at the moment, for his attention was suddenly attracted by the appearance of a boat coming off. He hoped it contained his

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jester and his pilot, who had missed their passage the day before, and whose absence considerably annoyed him. He was disappointed; it brought an order from the seraskier pasha to steer out to sea again. His countenance fell; and we were about to fill the maintop sail, when a merchantman's boat was seen emerging from the shade of the canals high banks. We distinguished in it a Frank and an Osmanley, the objects of the pasha's solicitude. The jester skipped on deck with the confidence of one who knew that his presence would excuse his absence. He was gaily attired in scarlet and gold, and his fez was bound by a silver band. He was dumpy in stature, but active in limb ; and his countenance displayed more archness than folly. He saw the suppressed smile of the officers, and at once ran up to the pasha, who affected to look stern, and, making a somerset, took hold of the hem of his robe, saying, Thus will the Russian admiral reel before your potent thunder, and thus will I salute him, making a sign with his foot. 'Pezzveng,' said the old man, taking him good humouredly by the ear, I will nail this to my cabin-door.'' The fool will then hear the wiseman's secrets,' replied the other, and you will have to sew his mouth up. What would you do without his tongue? Talk to him,' he added, pointing to the pilot, who stood at the gangway, doubting what to do without his boat your highness's Tom Fool must have come off on a porpoise's back, for the Pezzveng caikgis will not take jests for piastres." This acknowledgement, which included a scarcasm on his slender emolumen's, secured his companion's grace; and with this invaluable addition we made sail. He had originally been a dervish, (a jester's profession, after all,) and was much liked by all the crew, for whom he was always ready to exert his influence."

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When the first news of the capture of Varna reached Warsaw, a German trader ventured to doubt its truth, in a large coffee-house, where the company were discussing on the subject, and said that it wanted confirination. was scarcely out of his bed, the next morning, when a police-officer came into his room without ceremony, and informed him that the grand duke wanted to see him. Why-what-'exclaimed the terrified German, What have I done?" You will soon know,' replied

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the satellite. With unpleasant forebodings the poor man arrayed himself in bis best, and obeyed the summons. 'So,' says Constantine to him, you do not believe that the emperor's army has taken Varna-what do you know about Varna that makes you doubt of its fall?' 'Please your highness, I am a poor ignorant man:-I merely thought "You thought; then, sir, you must learn to think right. Pardon, your highness-I meant no harm. There is no harm done; do not be afraid. Hold!' continued Constantine, seeing the Germian about to prostrate himself a courier is this moment going to Varna, you will go in his kibitka and clear up your doubts.' Away they go, click clack, day and night the poor German in a mortal fright, under the idea that he is on the road to Siberia. They arrive at Varna, and the courier addresses his companion for the first time since they left Warsaw. 'Sir, this town is Varna; you will have the goodness to put the question to any body you like, and convince yourself. Now, sit, you see these troops-look at them well-examine the uniforms. Are you satisfied that they are Russian troops? I am perfectly satisfied,' answered the German. Then, sir,' replied his companion, you have no farther business here. In a quarter of an hour another courier will start for Warsaw; you will return in his kibit ka, and report yourself to the grand duke.' Away he goes again, jolt, jolt, in fear of dislocating half his bones, for being free, this journey, from mental anxiety about Siberia, he had leisure to observe that he was made of flesh and nerves. Constantine welcomed him with a horse-laugh. Now,' he said, 'you will go to that cafe where you were the last evening you were in Warsaw, and acquaint the company that the Russians are in Varna.'

THE MIDNIGHT WIND.

Mournfully! oh, mournfully
This midnight wind doth sigh,
Like some sweet plaintive melody
Of ages long gone by;
It speaks a tale of other years—

Of hopes that bloomed to die-
Of sunny smiles that set in tears,
And loves that mouldering lie!
Mournfully oh, mournfully

This midnight wind doth moan; It stirs some chord of memory In each dull heavy tone: The voices of the much-loved dead Seem floating thereuponAll, all my fond heart cherished Ere death had made it lone.

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The kindly intercourse will ever prove A bond of amity and social love, only hits Bloomfield. ERE half another week elapse, this year will be cast into the abysm of eternal ages. Were we to trace some of the events which have taken place, politically and literary, we should call to mind important changes likely to arise, by the loss of several great and shining characters, But, as politics de not fall into our immediate track, and] the public press takes a full and correct estimate of them in criticism, detail and chronology, we are reminded of our losses in the lapse of the labours of literary and scientific men, whose places are not readily filled in the vars rious walks in which they were distinguished. Yet, as these men have left their works for our edification, and many writers in their several classes are eminent in their wake, we need not fear the want of Romance, in which some have excelled; or doubl, but quite as many disciples in the ratio of organs, will be as ready to bump,' as persons found to have their heads shaved for craniological and phrenological development. We doubt not, that, as the colleges, boarding, schools, and seminaries in the empire,of are emptied of the refractory and stu-to dious; the grand emporium, the metropolis, is filled in all quarters, and beni lieve the romances in real life, will supersede the necessity of troubling the library shelves, containing the arti ficial and marvellous, Police Ree ports' will detail the works of deline quents and criminals, and the Scan Mag.' calendars delineate the tete tete of the 'haut ton; and authors in literature be temporarily forgotten. Instead of feeling casts, many will fully prove their tendencies to be cast against harder, if not thicker, substances than those of which they are naturally pos sessed, by using remedies to allaya A thirst, and gourmanderie, to exhibit the beauties of gluttony, to their most unamiable and fullest extent of capa city. Thus, eating and drinking will

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