casion. The remainder of the barn was profusely decorated; from the ground to the ceiling there was a profusion of garlands and green leaves. The beautiful mistress of the farm of Valremy must have forgotten her sad presentiments when her husband's old friend, the quartermaster-the president of the festival, gave her a seat on his right, whilst her husband took the left. The Dominie was perched on a stool at the right, and in advance of the president. He had before him a small table covered with books and unknown objects, concealed under a fine piece of cloth, white as snow. The neighbours and servants seated themselves where they liked on benches symmetrically placed behind a raised bench, which was destined for Jean and Marie. With his drum, the old drummer created a sensation somewhat enhanced by the fact that having lost his left leg at some battle of the Empire, the brave old fellow was obliged to beat his instrument on his right leg, which, however, he did most vigorously. When all were seated, the master of the farm of Valremy made a sign, the drummer performed a sonorous roll, and, after the last strokes of the sticks, everybody remained in profound silence and expectation. The quartermaster, as president, and at the request of his old friend, attempted to address the company; but all he could get out was as follows: . Virtue "My dear children, your father and your mother. always finds its reward. God save the Emperor !" The schoolmaster spoke in his turn. The worthy man repeated what he had already told old Raymond, namely, that the children knew more than he did, and his emotion was so great that he hastened to proclaim the prizes: there were prizes for reading, writing, arithmetic, geography, history, in fact Jean and Marie had merited everything, and if, at that epoch, there had been prizes for growth and health, Jean and Marie would decidedly have carried off the first. After the distribution of the prizes, Raymond approached the table and took from under the white cloth aforesaid, a splendid gun-a veritable musket with a real bayonet-all complete, with powder-flask, and bullets, which were presented to Jean; whilst for Marie, there were a golden cross, a beautiful rose silk dress, handkerchiefs, toys of all kinds, a complete treasury of pretty trifles, the sight of which was saluted by a general clapping of hands, in the midst of which Jean and Marie, with shrieks of joy, jumped from their bench and hugged and kissed the old farmer, and then embraced their good mother, whose face was radiant with joy and satisfaction. Dancing on the green followed the ceremonial; and then the assembled villagers competed for a prize at running in sacks. Nothing can exceed the merriment of this performance: the grotesque appearance of men with the sacks pulled up to their necks, hopping and tumbling in the desperate effort to go a-head, amid shouts of laughter, produce a scene which must be witnessed to be appreciated in all its comical incidents. In the very midst of this hubbub and enjoyment, old Raymond rushed in, frantic with excitement, and tearing his hair in desperation, exclaiming : "To arms, my friends, to arms, we are attacked-the bandits are upon us!" Obedient to the command, the villagers, snatching up the first implements that were at hand, followed their leader, and soon disappeared from the scene of the late rejoicing, so suddenly interrupted. Where were Marie and Jean? the dear children had been allowed to mingle with the crowd of villagers in their rollicking amusement. As the poor lad always took particular care of his little sister, she was always considered safe in his hands; but the first alarm at once froze the mother's heart, with its dreadful presentiments, and she rushed out frantically calling for her daughter. A few villagers who had remained to guard the farm, endeavoured to assuage her excitement, by assuring her that the bandits only. wanted plunder, and that the sturdy band led forth by Raymond would soon give a good account of them. All was in vain; the mother's heart was prophetic of evil; she could not be comforted. "My daughter! my daughter! the gipsies!" were all the words she uttered in reply to those of re-assurance, adding :-"Oh! I well knew that misfortune entered our home with the gipsy. Oh! my poor head, my poor head is splitting-I'm going mad!" In the very midst of this excitement, poor Jean, pale with emotion, and with trembling, approached the distracted mother, and with faltering accents tried to soothe her, saying: "It is nothing serious, mother!" "Where is thy sister ?" fiercely asked the mother, "what have you done with your sister, wretch that you are? Ah, ah, thy sister! Did I not say that thou wouldst bring a fatality upon us, vile race of gipsies ?" "Oh, mother!" exclaimed Jean. "Don't call me mother, I forbid it! I had only one child-the one they have torn from me. As for thee, thou art a foundling, a Go to thine own race, "Ah! 'tis grief that gipsy like those who have stolen Marie. boy, and be for ever accursed with them!" "Accursed!" timidly said the poor lad. turns your poor head-you know not, mother, what you say." "Tis false, I say-I am in full possession of my mind, understand me well. I tell thee thou wast found in a pit, in the highway, half dead with hunger and thirst. I say that it is thou, son of perdition, marked as thou art with the infernal sign, who art the cause of my new misfortune. Go thy ways, let me never hear thee again-let me never see thee again, go! go!" Effectually the poor lad rushed out and running as hard as he could, met Raymord returning, when he stopped. "We cannot overtake them, Jean, it is impossible! They have carried off Marie !" The poor lad, in the horrible revulsion caused by Madame Raymond's terrible denunciation, could not heed the father's grief, being so full of his own, and he said to Raymond : "You must explain something to me." : "Jean! what does this mean?" asked the bereft father, astounded at the decided manner of the boy, hitherto so docile and respectful. "Is it really true," went on the poor child, "is it really true that I am only a bastard-a foundling?" " Who told you so? A foundling! what wretch told you so ?" "No wretch, father," replied the child, bursting into tears at the thought that such an epithet should be applied to her whom he had loved as a real mother. "No wretch, father, but my mother told me so !" "Your mother! my wife! It is impossible!" "There she is," said Jean, pointing to the farmer's wife who was then being led by an attendant into the house, and without noticing the crowd in the courtyard, was approaching the steps leading to her chamber, which she had so joyously left in the morning. "Marie, my dear wife, where are you going to?" exclaimed Raymond, scarcely recovered from the stupor into which he was plunged by the poor orphan's expostulation. "Marie is dead!" replied the distracted wife. "Marie is dead, and that bastard is her murderer!" Alas! the poor woman had gone mad! When we see grief killing the afflicted our heart is wrung with pity; but when it cruelly stops short, killing the mind and leaving life to its tenement-alas! what a visitation of Providence is that in the hard battle of life! (To be continued.) MEMORANDA OF CAVALRY REGIMENTS WHICH HAVE SUCCESSIVELY BORNE THE SAME REGIMENTAL NUMBER; AND OF CAVALRY REGIMENTS WHICH HAVE BORNE IN SUCCESSION DIFFERENT REGIMENTAL NUMBERS: FROM 1740 TO 1865.* The practice of numbering regiments appears to have commenced in the Cavalry, as in the Infantry, during the reign of William III. At the reduction of the army at the peace of 1712, all Cavalry corps junior to the present 8th Hussars were disbanded. Again, in 1740-48 all junior to the 14th ilussars were reduced. *For a similar List of Infantry Regiments see November number of this Magazine. U.S. MAG. No. 446, JAN. 1866. D The 15th Hussars (Elliot's Light Horse), the first Light Cavalry Regiment, was raised during the Seven Years' War, and several others were raised immediately after. All regiments junior to the 16th were ordered to be disbanded in 1783, but the reduction was not carried beyond the late 19th. Light Dragoons. After the peace of 1816, the Cavalry was reduced as far as 17th Lancers. Hussars were first formed at the outbreak of the French war of 1793, in imitation of some foreign corps then taken into our pay. Lancers were first formed after the peace of 1815-16. The only corps armed in this fashion, which had previously existed in the English Service were the British Uhlans, a French emigrant corps. Corps now disbanded have prefix * Corps still existing under a different Regimental Number have prefix † 4th Ditto Now Royal Horse Now 1st to 7th Being permanently stationed in Ireland, appears in Gazettes between 1760 and 1800 as 1st Irish Horse. (Royal Irish) Previously 5th Horse.. Ditto as 2nd Irish |