As

have a good secret, Ned, tell it; for it would be selfish to confine good to your own bosom; if you have a bad one, tell it, for the sooner you get rid of evil the better." aunt Sarah thought it did not become me to be familiar with her domestic, Susan and I were obliged to have recourse to stratagem; and, when I had any little thing to disclose, I used to wait until I conjectured my aunt was asleep, and then creep up stairs to Susan's room. This occurred very frequently, till, one night, as the devil would have it, my aunt, by some accident, heard me, and came into the chamber. In vain Susan protested she never knew I was in the room; in vain I pretended to be walking in my sleep-aunt Sarah was inexorable. She gave my head an admonitory tap with the poker, and turned poor Susan into the street. This holds out an admirable moral lesson to young ladies and gentlemen, as it teaches them by all means to avoid telling or hearing secrets until they are quite sure that their aunts or guardians are safely snoring. I was very sorry for Susan-and so I was for my head; but as my aunt behaved pretty well to me afterwards, I thought it only grateful to remain with her until some opportunity of bettering my condition should occur. When I had nothing to do at home, it was my custom to stroll about the more crowded thoroughfares of the metropolis, for the purpose of warning gentlemen of the danger they incurred by letting the ends of their silk handkerchiefs dangle from their coat-pockets; but, seeing that this did not reform them, and that they continued as careless as before, I resolved to strike at the root of the evil, by abstracting these tempting baits whenever I saw them thus exposed. Example, thought I, is better than precept; and these demoralisers, shall find that, to indulge in the miserable vanity of exhibiting a silk handkerchief, they shall not be suffered to tempt the poor and hungry to commit sin, and teach the young idea how to steal. I looked upon this occupation as a public duty, and, like a true patriot, sought no other reward than the applause of

my own conscience. My scheme for the prevention of crime succeeded admirably in those places which I most frequented, where not a handkerchief was to be seen after a little time, every man appearing to have an eye to his neighbour's hand and his own pocket.

Carelessness of any sort I detested, and always felt determined to punish it. One day, as I was sauntering along Piccadilly, a gentleman, on a handsome bay mare, seeing, I suppose, that I was an honest-looking gentlemanly young man, requested me, very politely, to walk her up and down, whilst he went into a shop to make a purchase. I was always too good-natured to refuse granting a favour, even when I expected to be paid for it, so instantly took the bridle, and led the mare to the corner of SackvilleStreet, where a thought suddenly struck me. "This gentleman," said I to myself, "will lose his mare if he don't mind what he is about; for it isn't every one who would be content to walk her up and down without getting on her back, and, when once there, it must be impossible to answer for the consequences." In short, I made up my mind that he was sure to lose the mare some day or other, if not something of more value, through his confidence in strangers, and that it would be doing him a real service were I to mount her myself and ride off; for I felt assured that a man who would leave his mare with a person he knew nothing of, would be very likely to trust his whole fortune to an acquaintance; and I was determined, by making him experience a trifling loss, to put him on his guard, and save him from the pang of having, by his own imprudence, reduced his wife and family (if he happened to possess them) to beggary and despair. I never did any thing yet without having a good object in view, and it is this consoling reflection that has cheered me, when others, who could not enter into my feelings, considered that I was committing a bad action. Such are the judgments of your mindless men: but, thank my stars, I value them not a rush. As soon as the certainty that I might benefit a

fellow-creature flashed across me, I sprang into the saddle, and walked the mare, carelessly, as far as Brewer-Street, where I turned short round, and trotted her in good style. I rode directly to the house of a friend, who always had so much confidence in my honour that he never refused taking any thing I brought him, and exchanged the mare for £27, which made my conscience perfectly easy, as I had heard, from a child, that exchange is no robbery. Having bought a new suit of clothes, I remained at home for a fortnight after this, not wishing to appear vain by sporting them whilst the gloss was on; and, at last, when I did go out, I found that my predilection for Piccadilly had quite worn off, and that the Strand, which I used to think very little of, had supplanted it in my affections. I left my aunt's without saying a word, as I wished to save her the pain of bidding adieu, and took ready-furnished lodgings in Cecil-Street, where I passed myself off as a young military officer of fortune. This I considered a piece of justice that every man should pay to his own feelings, for is it not proverbial that self-degradation is despicable? and must it not then be evident that selfexaltation is praiseworthy? Assuredly. During the last fortnight I passed at my aunt's, I cherished a pair of moustachios, which, with a military frock coat and gilt spurs, settled the business at once; and I honestly confess that these auxiliaries of an officer never, perhaps, had an opportunity of appearing to such advantage before; for although, as you perceive, I am rather short, Nature certainly has striven her utmost "to give the world assurance of a man," by making me nearly as broad as I am long. My face, too, is naturally so engaging and well-formed, that even the ravages of the small-pox, which have left the deepest proofs of their attack, could not efface its beauty. But I will say no more on this head, lest it should be mistaken for vanity. I had only been in my lodgings a few days, when I perceived a lady of very captivating appearance at an opposite window, reading, and I felt an

irresistible desire to become better acquainted with her. After a time, she raised her eyes, perceived me, and, suffused with blushes, retired to the farther end of the apartment. That day I saw no more of her; but the next morning I caught a glimpse of her in dishabille, and was more enraptured than ever. Two carriages stopped before the door during the morning." She is rich," I exclaimed ; and my love knew no bounds. By degrées, I found she looked graciously upon me, and at last smiled-actually smiled. "Ho! ho!" thought I, "the game is my own if played properly;" and then ventured a nod. It was returned—as I am a Christian man it was. And now I set about bribing a servant, who undertook to be the bearer of some verses which I had copied from an old magazine, but which I passed off as my own, at the same time making suitable apologies for their being so indifferent. The following day she gave me one of her best smiles, and, thus encouraged, I ventured to solicit an interview, which after many excuses she granted. I found her very condescending, although she spoke of the Duke this, my Lord that, and Counts and Countesses with whom she was intimately acquainted; but had not been with her more than half-an-hour, when Captain R— was announced. I had no time to withdraw, and so screwed up my courage, and was introduced to him as Lieutenant Thornton. Hẻ looked at me intently, which I have no doubt proceeded from admiration; and, bowing respectfully, sat down and conversed apart, in a whisper, with the lady, who, however, could not conceal the interest she took in me, for she turned every now and then to steal a side-glance, which I need not say was returned most tenderly. I conjectured he was telling her some ridiculous story, for they both laughed very much, and looked at me more than ever, so I laughed too, but at what I knew no more than the dead. The conversation at length became general, and I was exceedingly witty, for they laughed immoderately at every thing I said.

On a sudden, the captain exclaimed, "Oh! Maria, knowing you are fond of poetry, I copied a few verses from a book I met with to-day, which I think will please you;" then taking out his pocket-book, he handed her a paper which she began to read. "Ah!" thought I, "if these verses are better than mine, I'll eat them." When she had perused the lines, I asked, in the politest terms, whether I might be allowed to see them; determined, in my own mind, not to spare them. Graciously smiling, she gave the paper into my hands, and I was preparing a critical face for the occasion, when my eye rested upon,

"If art could ever lend a charm,

To her whom nature made so fair,—"

and I immediately recognised my own adopted, but ungrateful magazine-verses. I never was much accustomed to blushing, so I returned the accursed Bath-post sheet, and changed the conversation, but I was not near so droll as I had been before. Just, however, as I was recovering my spirits, the captain asked me, in a careless manner, to what regiment I belonged? On which, to make all certain, I chose one that I knew was stationed as far off as possible, and added, that I came on furlough from Calcutta. "Well! this is strange, indeed,” said he, "for I have very lately arrived from the same place; and, what is still more singular, I hold my commission in the identical regiment you have just mentioned." This intelligence would have overwhelmed a man of weak mind; but that was not my

case.

Some would have sunk down with confusion, or blushed and stammered most awkwardly; but what did I do? why I took my hat, drew out my handkerchief carelessly, bade the lady and the captain a good evening, and was on the point of retiring, when the latter started up, gained the door before me, locked it, and put the key into his pocket. This, I thought, was carrying matters a little too far, and tried vehemently to get into a passion; but the gentleness of my nature opposed me, and I could not