the Troglodytes, now prepared to call Miss Judith Ball the second Joan of Arc. Several of the friends of Colonel G. were present when the Troglodytes, in a body, made their appearance. The Colonel, taking Miss Judith by the hand, said, "Now, my smart, fine girl, what shall I give you as a reward for your courage and kindness? Ask freely; don't be mealy-mouthed;" suiting the expression to her vocabulary. The girl, blushing, replied, "I don't know how to read." "Well, well, no matter," said the Colonel; thinking it was a sort of an apology for the language she might be about to use. "But I want to know how to read." The Colonel, struck with this sensible wish of the girl, said, "You shall know how to read, and have books to read too." Parson D. was there, and made a sage remark, which was, "that Solomon's request of the Lord, in his dream, was of the same nature." The dream of Solomon was unknown to Judith Ball; it was an original wish in her. The family were removed to a comfortable dwelling-house; the children sent to school; the boys in the evening, and during the six winter months, and the girls constantly, until they could read, write, and cipher. The Colonel, in his gratitude, was noble, but judicious; he assisted them to make themselves. The cavern was filled up with sand, and the name of the Troglodytes was changed into Skipper Ball and family. He being the owner of a bank-fishing schooner, and his boys, grown men, were sharers in his voyages. The daughters were well married, it being known that Colonel G. would be the patron of their husbands, if they deserved it, by their

industry and good conduct. Peace, plenty, and happiness, was in all their borders. Poverty was banished from their habitation. Their misfortunes were only such as befall the best, the common casualties of life. One of the sons was killed fighting bravely on board the sloop of war Wasp, in her first engagement. He was gunner of the ship, and as smart a fellow as ever walked a deck. His distinguished commander bore testimony to his worth. The other son, and the two daughters and their children, are among the respectable commonalty of the country. Their aged father and mother have lately sunk to rest, in a good old age, bearing unexceptionable characters for morals and piety. At their funerals, the Colonel followed them to the grave as a mourner, next to the family. Their benefactor, too, has since paid the debt of nature. His bounty was judiciously bestowed, and produced the best effects. The most lavish hand, without these kind attentions, would not have laid the foundation of respectability through the medium of industry. This short tale proves that there are good feelings in the hearts of the humble, and that patronage and gratitude are not always empty

names.

9*

THE TENSONS.

"They sung

Of Palfries white, of Lady's love,
And courtly Knights in armor brave."

Provencial Poetry.

WHEN Raymond Berenger and his successors, who governed Provence, introduced into the south of France a taste for letters, and the arts and sciences, a spirit of chivalry and a love of liberty burst forth unknown to former ages. This passion for letters and science had flourished for centuries in Arabia, and was at this time rapidly spreading through Spain as well as the south of France. A taste for poetry was a natural concomitant. In Provence it was cultivated by many, and patronized by all. At this period of history, when the crusades had given a new impulse to the human mind, women arose from being only the help-meets of man, such as she was made for, to be a divinity to worship. destinies of men, and demanded This age of gallantry had its uses. It softened the barbarous features of the dark ages, by diffusing knowledge among the wealthy, which if followed by freedom of manners, certainly was accompanied by refinement. This excitement produced the Troubadours, a body of poets and musicians, who for several centuries held a higher

They directed the homage from them.

rank, and had a more extraordinary influence, than any class of the literati in any age of letters. They were admitted to the highest grades of society as equals, and to them genius, wealth, and beauty, paid the homage of admiration. The princes and dukes of the land numbered them among their friends. The potentate who had in his household the greatest number of these bards, was the most to be envied. From these Troubadours have sprung modern poetry, and modern music, as is agreed on all hands. At the time of their glory, distant nations sought for these bards, as means of exalting a nation and giving a whole people a taste for letters— "the humanizers of mankind." About the middle of the twelfth century, Geoffrey de Resdel of Blieux, in Provence, was invited to England by a brother of Richard the First. Here he was held in the highest honor, and made wealthy from the royal coffers;-but on hearing from the knights who had returned from the HOLY LAnd, of a lady of exquisite beauty, of great piety and of unbounded liberality, one who had extended to the knights the most generous hospitality, he fell violently in love with this fair dame, the Countess of Tripoli, whom he had never seen; but her virtues and her charms occupied his whole thoughts. He wrote poetry on her-addressed to "a far distant love," and wrought himself up to so great a phrenzy, that he could no longer endure the palace of a king, but must needs have a sight of this darling of his soul. Having prevailed on one of his friends, Bertrand d'Allamaron, a Troubadour, like himself, to accompany