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and irregular. Mary, with a powerful effort rose from her seat, and threw herself upon my neck. Edward!" she exclaimed-"Dearest Edward! do not stain your hands with that bad man's blood! For my sake, dearest,-do not !"-And her tears fell hot and fast on my parched and panting cheek. I slowly withdrew my foot, and my prey rose as slowly, and, having done so, leaned pantingly upon the sofa. My wife-with all a woman's weakness, and her softness, immediately gave him a cup of water-wine, we had none-not even a drop for the suffering invalid-he drank it; and seemed revived.

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'You have had me in your power, Williams," he said, "and you have spared my life. I thank you.' He moved slowly towards the door. For your kindness, Mrs. Williams,” he continued, "I have much to be indebted for rest assured I will pay that debt"-and, so saying, he speedily quitted the room, and left us to our gloomy and harassing thoughts.

(To be concluded in our next.)

A MOTHER'S PRAYER.

In the year 1793, Major Monteith left his family, (with whom he had retired to a romantic cottage, on the banks of the Lynher, a short distance from the village of St. Neot's,) to take part in the conflicts which were at that time raging on the Continent. Devotedly attached to them, the struggle between his affection and his patriotism was a painful one, but the love of his country prevailedher welfare had ever been with him a paramount consideration, and he could not remain inactive while she required his services. The sorrowful mournings of his children and the tears of his wife, completely unnerved him when the time of his departure arrived, and he gazed upon them in silence, unable to suppress the melancholy thoughts which crowded upon his mind; at length, by a painful effort he assumed an air of cheerfulness, and endeavoured to soothe their agonized feelings: then, fearing lest he might himself be overcome, he tore himself from their arms, and hastily mounting his horse, exclaimed, "farewell Emily: remember you are a soldier's wife; be courageous, and look forward to the hour when I shall lay my laurels at your feet."-The laurels were gathered, but the brow they should have adorned was laid low with many a brave companion in arms: Major Monteith fell, covered with honour-a lamented and self-devoted victim to the Moloch of war.

From the time of her husband's death, Frederick, the eldest of his VOL. III. NO. XV.

two orphan children, became the darling object of Mrs. Monteith' affection and solicitude, for his sister Margaret shared little either of one or the other. Deprived of her first support, she clung to this feeble branch with a fondness injurious to both, for while it impeded his growth in virtue, she found by painful experience the danger of leaning too confidently upon that which hath its foundation only in the dust. As he inherited his father's personal attractions, she weakly imagined he would also inherit his virtues; and regarding him by the deceptive light of a mother's love, believed that he was all he wished she should be. Frederick, in reality, possessed few, if any, of the good qualities for which Major Monteith had been universally beloved: the seeds of selfishness were plentifully sown in his heart, and his mother's partiality tended to encourage their growth: the pernicious weed soon over-ran the soil, and choked the fairer flowers which might otherwise have adorned it: he saw himself adorned, and it is not surprising that he suffered from the idolatry: accustomed to the indulgence of every desire, his passions became ungovernable, and the slighest opposition raised a storm which never abated until his wishes were obtained; but as this, in Mrs. Monteith's opinion, was a proof of a fine and independent spirit, it was encouraged rather than checked, and he grew up a tyrant to others, and a slave to himself. His sister's character was widely different : she was generous and warm-hearted, almost to enthusiasm. With a mind very superior, she resembled her mother in disposition: from childhood her most cherished wish had been to love and be beloved; and, when she found she had no place either in her mother's or her brother's affection, the world seemed a blank to her, and she would weep for hours in a solitude which no one cared to disturb. The flame of piety had been kindled early in her susceptible heart, and the situation in which she was placed, afflictive as it then seemed, in all probability saved her from striking against the rock upon which her mother's happiness was wrecked. She listened in vain for the language of kindness from kindred lips, but it breathed in almost every page of the holy book, which was the treasured companion of her solitary hours. Some one has loved me," she would say, as, with a soothed and grateful spirit, she paused over the records of her Saviour's sufferings, or felt his parting words sink down into her heart; some one has loved, and will ever love me; why should I feel so lonely and neglected, when I know all that my God has done for me? Can I be so cold-hearted as to look in vain for an object on which to bestow its best affections? Can I, ought I, to be unhappy, when they have a resting-place in the ark of my Saviour's love a home in the mansions of my heavenly Father?"

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Frederick had chosen the army for his profession, not, as his father had done, from patriotic motives, but to gratify his taste for shew and admiration. Vain of his profession, he concluded that, with military decorations, it would be irresistible. Mrs. Monteith pur●hased his commission in the life-guards, which at that time was not

expected to be destined for foreign service-a point on which they were agreed; for Frederick did not over-value himself for his personal bravery. Full of his own joyful anticipations, and wholly regardless of the feelings of others, time seemed to move slowly until the period arrived when he was to join his regiment, or, to use his own expression, he should "begin to exist." He left the home and companions of his boyhood without one pang of regret, and, with a light step and still lighter heart, sprung into the vehicle which was to convey him from them. The slight, cold pressure of his hand struck a chill into the warm and affectionate heart of Margaret; but his mother was too much agitated to observe the heartlessness of his farewell. The long-past melancholy hour of separation from her husband returned to her mind with the freshness of yesterday, and with it the bitter reflection, that this too might be a final one. She looked forward impatiently to the arrival of his first letter, and it soon came, filled with accounts of the flattering reception he had met with, the eclat and admiration which had attended his first appearance, and the gaiety and pleasure of his new career. His fond mother was satisfied, for it was of himself only she wished to hear; but Margaret, as she read the letter aloud, glanced hastily over it, in the hope that there might be some kind expressions of sympathy with his mother's feelings; but descriptions of parades and balls alone met her eye, and she might well have concluded her search with the observation of the preacher—" All is vanity." For some time letters of the same description reached them punctually, but they soon followed each other in less rapid succession, and in a style more constrained and studied; at length they ceased entirely : post after post came, but brought with them nothing but disappointment. Mrs. Monteith's constitution, naturally delicate, sunk under the alarm and anxiety she suffered, and with a feeble hand she wrote and told her son of her declining health: but he was still silent.— "My boy is ill, or something dreadful has happened he would have hastened to me now that he knows I am ill," she exclaimed, as the servant returned from the village post-office, with the usual answer to her eager inquiries? As she spoke, she looked almost unconsciously over the newspaper he had brought her eye caught the name of her husband, and she read, with a voice almost inaudible from agitation, the following paragraph :- "It is reported in fashionable circles, that the daughter of a certain wealthy Baronet is about to be united to the son of the late gallant Major Monteith; but we believe it to be without foundation. The worthy baronet is an excellent father, and it is well known he is not in the habit of acting upon the most liberal principles; it is therefore not probable that he will bestow his daughter upon one who is the first in every scene of profligacy and dissipation, or his wealth to be expended at the race-course or the gaming-table." The death-blow was struck : his unkindness and his infamy pierced her to the soul-the idol fell to the ground, and the heart in which it was enshrined became a

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ruin! Unknown to her mother, Margaret wrote once more, and used every persuasive argument she could think of, to prevail with him to obtain leave of absence and return home to his dying parent; but he came not, and her last hope was extinguished. Day and night she watched by the bed of the broken-hearted sufferer and endeavoured to impart to her mind the hopes and consolations of religion it was not in vain. The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the unquiet waters--the storm of grief subsided, and the shattered vessel moved towards the harbour of eternal rest.

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Worn out by fatigue, Margaret had fallen into a disturbed slumber. In her dreams she imagined that her brother stood before her, not as she had last seen him, but with a pale and haggard countenance: his hands were bound with fetters-she thought that he implored her to unloose them. And then "a change came over the spirit of her dream," and she seemed to be attending her mother's funeral. The service of the dead proceeded : she watched the slowly descending coffin as it lowered into the grave, and listened to the hollow sound of the loosened earth falling upon it. The clock of the village church striking twelve awakened her; but her mind was so impressed that she could scarcely divest it of the idea that it was the knell of death. Starting hastily, she drew back the curtain of her mother's bed. As the light of the night lamp fell upon her pallid features, Margaret, was struck by the alteration in her appearance; the damps of death were on her brow, while the expression of her tranquil countenance seemed almost unearthly. "I am glad you are awake, my love," she said, "I was unwilling to disturb you, for you do, indeed, require rest; but we are about to part, and I have something I wish much to say before I leave you. Why should you cry, Margaret, why should you wish me to live, now that you have taught me to die?" A tear started in her eye, as she continued, 'you have never known, and cannot miss a parent's care; but the Almighty will watch over you, my kind and forgiving child, as you have done over me, and return into your own bosom the peace you have imparted to mine. This lock of hair," and her voice became tremulous, "is for your brother; give it him, with my blessing, if he ever shed a tear to his mother's memory. It is whiter than it should have been," she added, as with a melancholy smile she placed it in Margaret's hand, but it matters not now. I would entreat you to seek the wanderer, for it is my dying wish; but I am sure you will make every effort to reclaim him, and you will succeed; for I believe," and as she spoke, faith and hope lighted up her faded countenance, "the prayer of an erring and repentant mother is registered in heaven." Her eyes closed, as she sunk back exhausted on the pillow, and Margaret knew not, until the hand she held became cold in death, that the wasted form before her was lifeless and untenanted, so gently did the willing spirit take its flight.

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Domestic Intelligence.

The prevailing topic during the month has been the conduct of the Police Magistrates-of Major Lord, we have nothing at present to say, seeing that the Chief Police Magistrate has taken that unfortunate affair in hand, and the Public, we feel confident, expect and will receive, nothing but justice from the hands of Captain Foster. The conduct of Mr. Dumaresq, the Colonial Times has so completely exposed, that very few words from us will suffice; it appears that Mr. Dumaresq when Surveyor General had the opportunity, which he did not allow to escape, of apportioning to himself, allotments and grants quite equal to, if not above the value, to which he had a right from his services, or the capital he brought into the Colony. But not content with this, his influence was sufficient to procure a maximum grant of 2,560 acres at New Norfolk for a cousin, Mr. Anley, who, he represented, intended to establish himself in Van Die men's Land; this took place, in 1830, since which time, no Mr. Auley has been heard of, and the land is under the supposed control of Mr. Dumaresq. Comparing this affair with the resumption of land in several instances by the Government, and especially as until a stir has been made about the matter, nothing had been done to improve these grants, it does really look like favouritism, to allow Mr. Anley or Mr. Dumaresq still to remain in possession of the property; and not only favoritism, but direct injustice to those whose lands have been resumed. For Mr. Mason, as Assistant Police Magistrate, we never entertained any strong predilection, and his conduct in the affair of Greenwood, has not in the least raised him in our esteem. What can be more horrible than sentencing a man, who, in all probability would soon suffer the extreme penalty of the law, to the torture of one hundred lashes? We have ever supposed that, in civilized nations at least, it was the custom to merge the smaller into the greater offence, considering death sufficient for all crimes; but in this case, as it were with the rope about his neck, ready to be hurled into eternity, the wretched criminal is doomed to writhe

beneath the torture of the lash, which is inflicted with such severity, as the wounds scarcely to be healed when he ascended the scaffold.

We have heard that a Public Meeting will be called on the subject, and we look forward to the expression of public opinion being decisive on the occasion.

An accident, which might have proved fatal, has happened to the daughter of our esteemed Colonial Secretary. A trap door in Mr. Burnett's office, had incautiously been left in an insecure state, and the young lady happening to tread on it, was precipitated down a depth of fourteen feet. Captain Forth, who was present, gallantly descended, and Miss Burnett was conveyed home very severely bruised.

This month, the black whaling season has commenced, and several of the parties have proceeded down the river. boat belonging to Mr. Young, which ha been reported to have been lost, it ap pears had only put into Port Arthur, which intelligence will be a relief to the families of various individuals employed by that gentleman, as they were extremely anxious to know exactly who had been the persons in the boat at the time she was so reported to have disappeared.

The improvements in Hobart Town, are every day becoming more and more visible. The new shop of Mr. Wintle, in Elizabeth-street, would be thought handsome even in London, and is exceedingly well stocked with an extensive assortment of boots and shoes.

Mr. Cameron, with his company, started from Hobart Town to Launceston, on the 27th. We are given to understand that he will open with the "Stranger," one of the best pieces performed during the season.

A very diabolical murder was committed on the 3rd inst., on the person of Mrs. Howell, at the farm (which her son rented) of Lieutenant Dyball. It is said that very conclusive evidence has been produced against three men, servants on the farm, and that they are fully committed to take their trials for the crime.

The high price of provisions is very appalling. Bread, the four pound loaf, one shilling and a penny. The arrival

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