"Indeed!" replied the stranger, "that rank, I presume, in taking quarters, is equivalent to a Lieutenant's ?" "Yes, Sir, it is, Sir," rejoined the Apothecary to the forces: "and now, Sir, let me ask you, Sir, what is your rank, Sir?"

"The only difference between our respective ranks is this," said the stranger," that you are Apothecary to the forces-I am Commander-in-Chief of the same forces; and now, Sir, I order you to be out of these quarters in half-an-hour!"

The tiny gentleman stared; and with the most polite and submissive bow, (when he had recovered from the consternation into which the explanation had thrown him,) pulled out his watch and said, Half-an-hour? your lordship-half-an-hour? that's very short notice indeed; say thirty-five minutes, and it shall be done."

The Commander-in-Chief nodded assent, and, laughing heartily, left the little gentleman to take his own time in removing.

LOVE.

From Pollok's “ Course of Time.”

HAIL, holy love! thou word that sums all bliss!
Gives and receives all bliss; fullest when most
Thou givest. Spring-head of all felicity!
Deepest when most is drawn. Emblem of God!
Overflowing most when greatest numbers drink:
Essence that binds the uncreated Three:
Chain that unites creation to its Lord:
Centre to which all being gravitates:
Eternal, evergrowing, happy love!
Enduring all, hoping, forgiving all;
Instead of law, fulfilling every law.

Entirely blest, because thou seek'st no more;
Hopes not, nor fears; but on the present lives,
And holds perfection smiling in thy arms.
Mysterious, infinite, exhaustless love!
On earth mysterious, and mysterious still
In heaven; sweet chord that harmonises all
The harps of paradise: the spring, the well,
That fills the bowl, and banquet of the sky!

THE THREE JEWELS.

THERE are many examples in ancient and modern story, of lovers who have worn various disguises to obtain their mistresses; the great Jupiter himself setting the pattern by his notable transformations. Since those heroic days, Love has often diverted himself in Italy as a shepherd with his pastoral crook; and I propose to tell you how, in more recent times, he has gone amongst us in various other shapes. But, in the first place, I must introduce you to a handsome youth, named Torrello, of Bergamo, who was enamoured of Fiorenza, the daughter of gentlefolks in the same neighbourhood. His enemies never objected any thing against Torrello, but his want of means to support his gentlemanly pretensions, and some extravagances and follies which belong generally to youth, and are often the mere foils of a generous nature. However, the parents of Fiorenza being somewhat austere, perceived graver offences in his flights, and forbade him, under grievous penalties, to keep company with his mistress.

Love, notwithstanding, is the parent of more inventions than Necessity, and Torrello, being a lively-witted fellow, and withal deeply inspired by love, soon found out a way to be as often as he wished in the presence of his lady. Seeing that he could not transform himself, like Jupiter, into a shower of gold for her sake, he put on the more humble seeming of a gardener, and so got employed in the pleasure-ground of her parents. I leave you to guess, then, how the flowers prospered under his care, since they were to form bouquets for Fiorenza, who was seldom afterwards to be seen without some pretty blossom in her bosom. She took many lessons, besides, of the gardener, in his gentle craft, and her fondness growing for the employment, her time was almost all spent naturally amongst her plants, and to the infinite cultivation of her heart's ease, which had never before prospered to such a growth. She learned also of Torrello, a pretty language of hiero

glyphics, which he had gathered from the girls of the Greek Islands, so that they could hold secret colloquies together by exchanges of flowers; and Fiorenza became more eloquent by this kind of speech than in her own language, which she had never found competent to her dearest confessions.

The mother of Fiorenza, chiding her sometimes for the neglect of her embroideries, she would answer in this

manner:

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Oh, my dear mother! what is there in labours of art at all comparable with these? Why should I task myself with a tedious needle to stitch out poor tame formal emblems of these beautiful flowers and plants, when thus the living blooms spring up naturally under my hands? I confess I never could account for the fondness of young women for that unwholesome chamber-work, for the sake of a piece of inanimate tapestry, which hath neither freshness nor fragrance; whereas, this breezy air, with the odour of the plants and shrubs, enspirits my very heart. I assure you, 'tis like a work of magic to see how they are charmed to spring up by the hands of our skilful gardener, who is so civil and kind as to teach me all the secrets of his art."

By such expressions, her mother was quieted; but her father was not so easily pacified; for it happened, that, whilst the roses flourished everywhere, the household herbs, by the neglect of Torrello and his assistants, went entirely to decay, so that, at last, though there was a nosegay in every chamber, there was seldom a saliad for the table. The master, taking notice of the neglect, and the foolish Torrello, in reply, showing a beautiful flowery arbour, which he had busied himself in erecting, he was abruptly discharged on the spot, and driven out, like Adam, from his paradise of flowers.

The mother being informed afterwards of this transaction-" In truth," said she, "it was well done of you, for the fellow was very forward, and I think Fiorenza did

herself some disparagement in making so much of him, as I have observed. For example, a small fee of a crown or two would have paid him handsomely for his lessons to her, without giving him one of her jewels, which I fear the knave will be insolent enough to wear and make a boast of."

And truly Torrello never parted with the gift, which, as though it had been some magical talisman, transformed him quickly into a master falconer, on the estate of the `parent of Fiorenza; and thus he rode side by side with her, whenever she went a-fowling. That healthful exercise soon restored her cheerfulness, which, towards autumn, on the withering of her flowers, had been touched with melancholy; and she pursued her new pastime with as much eagerness as before. She rode always beside the falconer, as constant as a tassel-gentle to his lure; whilst Torrello often forgot to recal his birds from their flights. His giddiness and inadvertence at last procuring his dismissal, the falcon was taken from his finger, which Fiorenzo recompensed with a fresh jewel, to console him for his disgrace.

After this event, there being neither gardening nor fowling to amuse her, the languid girl fell into a worse melancholy than before, that quite disconcerted her parents. After a consultation, therefore, between themselves, they sent for a noted physician from Turin, in spite of the opposition of Fiorenza, who understood her own ailment sufficiently to know that it was desperate to his remedies. In the meantime, his visits raised the anxiety of Torrello to such a pitch, that, after languishing some days about the mansion, he contrived to waylay the doctor on his return, and learned from him the mysterious nature of the patient's disease. The doctor confessing his despair of her cure.

"Be of good cheer," replied Torrello; "I well know her complaint, and, without any miracle, will enable you to restore her, so as to redound very greatly to your credit.

He then related, confidentially, the history of their mutual love, and begged earnestly that the physician would devise some means of getting him admitted to the presence of his mistress. The doctor, being a good-hearted man, was much moved by the entreaties of Torrello, and consented to use his ability. However," said he, " I can think of no way but one, which would displease you, and that is, that you should personate my pupil, and at tend upon her with my medicines.”

The joyful Torrello assured the doctor that he was very much mistaken in supposing that any false pride could over-master the vehemence of his love; and accordingly, putting on an apron, with the requisite habits, he repaired on his errand to the languishing Fiorenza. She recovered very speedily, at his presence, but was altogether well again, to learn that thus a new mode was provided for their interviews. The physician thereupon was gratified with a handsome present by her parents, who allowed the assistant likewise to continue his visits till he had earned another jewel of Fiorenza. Prudence at last telling them that they must abandon this stratagem, they prepared for a fresh separation; but, taking leave of each other upon a time too tenderly, they were observed by the father, and whilst Torrello was indignantly thrust out at the door, Fiorenza was commanded, with a stern rebuke, to her own chamber.

The old lady thereupon asking her angry husband concerning the cause of the uproar, he told her that he had caught the doctor's man on his knees to Fiorenza.

"A plague take him!" said he, “'tis the trick of all his tribe, with a pretence of feeling women's pulses to steal away their hands. I marvel how meanly the jade will bestow her favour next; but it will be a baser varlet, I doubt, than a gardener or a falconer."

"Alas!" exclaimed the mother, "it is the way of young women, when they are crossed in the man of their liking; they grow desperate and careless of their beha