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strangely imagined, that his well-being, present and future, greatly depended on my curbing and thwarting what I called his whims; but this sort of discipline was more than half a century too late.'

Yet, notwithstanding the discordance of our principles and natural dispositions, our mutual attachment, I am sure, continued unabated. Strange, that I should have no more command over the ebullitions of my temper, with this habitual conviction on my mind! that I could on no occasion yield one particle of my own present convenience, or waive an opinion on the merest trifle, in compliance to that being whom I valued beyond all the world! All my goodness seemed to consist in resolves for to-morrow; but against the assaults of to-day I was ever unprepared. That I was myself not altogether exempt from whims and unreasonable caprices, my preceding history pretty clearly evinces, and Richard could see them; but he was neither rigid nor severe in noticing or opposing them; so long as he could have his own way, he was indifferent as to the rest, and well contented that I should have mine: he seldom retorted upon me, as he might very fairly have done, had he been so inelined; and it was well that he did not, because it must have led to endless recriminations.

But which of all my whims and caprices could be named in comparison with his requiring me to drop nine drops of rum into a glass of water for him every night, immediately before he retired to his room! I objected to it from the very first, as a most unreasonable and ridiculous custom. "Lucy," said he, "my hand shakes so of late, that I cannot do it myself, or I would not trouble you; and now I cannot give it up, for I have taken it these seven years.”

“Then,” said I, " permit me to say, that you have taken it seven years too long."

Still he went on to insist on it most peremptorily, as actually essential to his night's repose. Nine drops of rum in a glass of water, neither more nor fewer, for he maintained that he could ascertain the exact quantity to a single drop! Now I would rather have walked or run nine times up and down stairs every night, and the same every morning-or what would have been still worse, have had nine of his jovial companions to dinner,-than perform a service so irrational and slavish. So after sundry reasonings and expostulations, and occasional sallies of wit had been resorted to ineffectually, (in which so much had been said, that nothing new remained to say)-I determined to brave his irritability, and put in the quantity at random, though I will do myself the justice to add, that I aimed at as accurate a guess as possible but at such perpetual slavery to a ridiculous whim, my reason (as I thought), or my temper, revolted. Not for a single day, or month, or year, but to the end of life, if I now yielded, should I be doomed every night to the intolerable drudgery of pouring nine drops of rum into a glass of water!--with less it would be chillingwith more it would taste of the spirit! and so a dispute, often amounting to what some people might have called a downright quarrel, was, of the two evils, in my opinion, to be preferred; and it became so habitual, that at length we regularly sat down to supper in full array for the onset.'

"Come," said I, one evening, when my brother's fretfulness on the subject had exceeded the usual bounds, "you love to tell us of your valour, and your brave exploits; but remember, that he who ruleth his spirit, is greater than he who taketh a city,'

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"Yes," said he, "and there are those who can boast of having done neither the one nor the other."

So saying, he rose, and left the room in great irritation.

The next morning, he did not appear at breakfast: all alarm, I hastened to his chamber, and tenderly inquired if he was unwell, "I do not feel quite the thing," said he; "but let me alone, and I shall probably be up by dinner time."

He was up-but evidently disordered; he had no appetite, and his cheeks were alternately pale and flushed. Tortured by fears and self-reproach, I believe I oppressed him with officious tenderness : he seemed to retain no resentful feelings, but became so rapidly ill before night, as to need medical assistance. The disorder, however, continued to baffle all our endeavours. My pen here fails to depict the torture of my mind. What sacrifice would I not have madewhat sufferings would I not have endured, to have protracted his life but a few more weeks?-long enough to have afforded me another opportunity of evincing the sincerity of my affection, by uniform kindness, and such attentions to his innocent caprices, as a brother so loving and so beloved had a right to claim.

I approached his bed with a glass:-" Here is your water," said I," dear Richard, with just nine drops in it. I assure you it is exact; perhaps it will refresh you."

He wanted it not: I knew he did not yet I raised his head, and applied it to his parched lips! but, oh! his clay-cold hand, as he attempted to guide it, struck a chill to my heart. I felt that very few more of my officious services would be needed. I hung over him with all the yearnings of tenderness and despair.

"I do love you, dear Richard," said I. "I do love you; you' believe that I do?"-but he spake not, neither regarded.

"Only let me know that you believe it," continued I, "by just raising your hand."

At that moment there was a slight motion of the hand; but I have never been able to ascertain whether it was an involuntary movement, or in compliance with my request. No day passed for many succeeding months, in which I did not torture my recollection, if possible to establish the fact; and, occasionally, to this very hour, I cannot avoid dwelling on the scene, in the vague hope of extracting that particle of consolation from it; although every day increases the difficulty, and renders the image I attempt to portray, more and more indistinct.'

-The death of her brother plunges her into a state of despondeney, which issues in a dangerous illness. On her recovery, better views and better feelings appear to have gained the ascendency. Accidental circumstances lead to a renewal of her acquaintance with the inestimable friend of her early years, the

wife of Farmer Thoroughgood, now the widow of a second husband; and from her son William, now a widower, our heroine receives a sober renewal of the offer he had made forty years before. But she was not disposed to afford amusement to her contented neighbours, and was no longer given to change; and Mr. Thoroughgood, appreciating her motives, acquiesces in the propriety of her refusal. In the society of his aged mother, her daughter, and grand-children, Mrs. Burrows finds a source of salutary interest and sympathy, which has the happiest effect on her feelings; and the evening of her days is serene and cheerful, attended by the consolations of friendship, and gilded by the hopes of immortality.

In one respect only we anticipate an objection to the tendency of the tale. It certainly is not adapted to reconcile the fair reader to the idea of a single life. Mrs. Taylor is, we shrewdly suspect, a friend to matrimony, and we venture to believe, not without reason. But she will readily concede, that a more dangerous determination cannot be formed by any young lady, or any single lady not young, than to be married at all events. The apprehension of being left in a world of strangers, is likely to operate far more forcibly on strong and cultivated minds, than any fear of the world's dread laugh,' or any regard for the vulgar prejudices attaching to the single state; and the fate of Lucy Burrows may seem to hold out a warning, not merely as to the effects of temper, but as to the consequences of refusing a good offer, and not having another till too late. Now, we are not sure that this is exactly the lesson which either our Author intends to convey, or which the circumstances of society call for. Is there not, on the contrary, some danger that, under. the apprehension to which we have alluded, a compromise of respectability, a surrender of true independence, and a perilous risk of happiness may be incurred, when, late in life, an opportunity presents itself to an individual in Miss Burrows's circumstances, of attaining the rank and dignity of matron?We know of but one way in which Mrs. Taylor can effectually repair any mischief which she may in this respect have unsuspectingly occasioned; and that is, by furnishing us with another tale, as an antidote to the miseries' of a single life, in which the heroine shall have the merit of declining an offer at an age when it would not have been ridiculous to accept it, and the still higher merit of providing her own happiness by means equally. within the reach of married and single. This is a debt which we think our Author owes her sex and the public; and with the understanding that she will in due time discharge the obligation, we give our very cordial recommendation of her present volume, as replete with the most instructive lessons both to young and old, and in every way worthy of the Writer's well earned reputation.

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Art. XI. Scripture Portraits; or Biographical Memoirs of the most: illustrious Characters recorded in the Evangelists: adapted to Juve-'nile Readers. By the Rev. Robert Stevenson, of Castle Hedingham. In Continuation of two former Volumes. 2 vols. 12mo. Price 10s. London. 1820.

CRIPTURE History is so frequently read by young persons as a task, rather than as a pleasure, that any attempt to place it in an engaging point of view, is worthy of commendation. We do not mean to intimate that there is any thing repulsive in the original phraseology: on the contrary, its simplicity, its venerable antiquity, and its unaffectedness are peculiarly attractive. At the same time, the habit of reading the Scriptures in early youth, before the mind is sufficiently matured to appreciate their peculiar beauties, and, more especially, the practice of making them a book of elementary instruction in reading, must have a tendency to produce a degree of inattention, and to render the mind insensible to the freshness and originality of the style. A ripened understanding may, in part, correct this evil; yet, it is, we apprehend, with the youthful reader, a difficult task to sit down to the study of the Scriptures with a mind as keenly alive to their beauties, and as free from previously formed habits of inattention, as when engaged in the perusal of the literary productions of the day. Hence, the very same facts when presented in a different form, may probably arouse that attention, and excite that curiosity which would otherwise have lain dormant, and thus counteract the prepossessions of an ill-conducted education, by leading to the study of the sacred volume with ardour and perseverance.

The work before us, of which we noticed some time ago the first two volumes, is professedly adapted to juvenile readers,' and as such, it is entitled to indulgence. We could wish, however, that the subjects noticed had been treated in a way more calculated to call forth the intellectual energies of its youthful readers. A wide field was opened before the Author, and it would have been easy to make the discussions bear more directly on some of the grand questions of theology, as well as to employ more copiously the aids of Biblical criticism, or to illustrate the narratives by references to oriental history, customs, aud manners. For instance, in noticing the Temptation,' the 'marriage at Cana,' the cure of demoniacs,' it would have been advisable to make a more explicit reference to the various opinions entertained with regard to those parts of the Scripture narrative, and to mention the grounds of the more probable interpretation. The sketch given of the Resurrection, comes. nearest to our idea; yet, even in this instance, the enumeration of the evidences, though comprehensive, is neither so clear nor

so forcible as, with a very slight research, it might have been rendered.

Had this course been adopted, we think that a double advantage would have been secured. The book would not have been confined to juvenile readers,' but would have interested and instructed the middling classes of society generally, by presenting some of the most important and most pleasing topics.of... theological truth in a popular form; and it would have called into exercise the mental powers of the young, for whom it is principally adapted. The grand requisite is, to destroy habits of inattention in young persons, and to make them think; and we believe that if young people were treated more as men, and less as children, this desirable effect would be in great measure produced. No method is more fitted for accomplishing this object than, in books written for them, touching just so far upon points of inquiry and of speculation, as will render some degree of application necessary, and produce a desire for further information.

Probably, the venerable Author intended by this little work, to afford the benefit and pleasure of instruction to that numerous description of young people, whose limited information would leave them incapable of following him into a more literary path. Much instruction may be derived from it, and there is an unaffectedness in the style which it is but justice to commend. Above all, a spirit of ardent piety and of tender solicitude for the best interests of the rising generation, breathes in every page. It is peculiarly pleasing to observe an aged minister, who has passed through the long stages of a protracted life, and whose "hoary head is a crown of glory," who has warred a good warfare, and is fast verging to the confines of immortality, where his toils will be rewarded with unfading honours,* dedicating the last of his mental energies to those who are entering upon the career of active life, and who are soon to fill up the stations which the "fathers in Israel" have vacated. Such a spectacle does the estimable Writer of these volumes present. We give one quotation, selected rather for its brevity than as being superior to other portions of the work.

THE GENERAL CHARACTER OF CHRIST AS A TEACHER.
No trumpet-sound at his approach,
Shall wound the wond'ring ears;
But still and gentle breathes the voice"
In which the God appears.

The venerable Author expired suddenly on New Year's day.

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