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If I had been humbled and ashamed of myself before; if I had repented my disgusting suspicions on seeing Maria's note, this explanation of John Fraser's absence was very little calculated to restore me to my former happy state of self-approbation. Taking my friend by the arm, and calling Neptune, I said, By and by, John, you shall be thanked as you ought to be for all your kindness; but you must first forgive me. I have been cruelly unjust to Maria, to you, and to poor old Neptune here. Come with me to Berkley-square. You shall there hear the confession of my past rashness and folly; and when my heart is once delivered from the burden of self-reproach that now oppresses it, there will be room for the expansion of those happier feelings, which your friendship and Maria's tenderness have everlastingly implanted there. Never again will I allow a suspicion to pollute my mind which is injurious to those I love. The world's a good world; the women are all true; the friends all faithful; and the dogs are all attached and staunch and if any individual, under any possible combination of circumstances, is ever, for a single instant, induced to conceive an opposite opinion, depend upon it, that that unhappy man is deluded by false appearances, and that a little inquiry would convince him of his mistake."

:

"I can't for the life of me understand, Lionel, what you are driving at."

"You will presently," I replied: and in the course of half an hour, seated on a sofa, with Maria on one side of me, with John Fraser on the other, and with Neptune lying at my feet, I had related the painful tale of my late follies and sufferings, had heard myself affectionately pitied and forgiven, and had concluded, in the possession of unmingled happiness, the series of my day's REVERSES.

THE SLEEPING BEAUTY.

YEAR after year unto her feet,
The while she slumbereth alone,
Over the purpled coverlet

The maiden's jet-black hair hath grown,
On either side her tranced form

Forth streaming from a braid of pearl;
The slumb'rous light is rich and warm,
And moves not on the rounded curl.

The silk star-braided coverlid

Unto her limbs itself doth mould
Languidly ever, and, amid

Her full black ringlets downward roll'd,
Glows forth each softly shadow'd arm
With bracelets of the diamond bright;
Her constant beauty doth inform

Stillness with love and day with light.
She sleeps! her breathings are not heard
In palace chambers far apart;
The fragrant tresses are not stirred
That lie upon her charmed heart.
She sleeps; on either side up swells
The gold fringed pillow lightly pressed;
She sleeps, nor dreams, but ever dwells
A perfect form in perfect rest.

ន

A RECOLLECTION.

LET me for once describe her-once,—for she
(Julia) hath passed into my memory

As 'twere some angel image, and there clings
Like music to the harp's Eolian strings:

A word a breath-revives her, and she stands
As beautiful and young, and free from care
As when upon the Tiber's yellow sands
She loosen'd to the winds her flowing hair,
In almost childhood, and in past time run,
Like young Aurora from the morning sun.
Oh! never was a form so delicate

Fashion'd in dream, or story, to create
Wonder or love in man-I cannot tell
Half of the charms I saw-I see-but well
Each one becomes her. She was very fair
And young, I said; and her thick tresses were
Of the bright colour of the light of day:
Her eyes were like the dove's-like Hebe's-or
The maiden moon, or star light seen afar,
Or like some eyes I know, but may not say.
Never were kisses gathered from such lips,
And not the honey which the wild bee sips,
From flowers that on the thymy mountains grow
Hard by Illissus, half so rich-her brow
Was darker than her hair, and arch'd and fine,
And sunny smiles would often, often shine

Over a mouth, from which came sounds more sweet
Than dying winds or waters when they meet
Gently, and seem telling and talking o'er
The silence they so long had kept before.

THE SOLDIER'S WIFE.

A SKETCH.

It is now many years since the first battalion of the 17th Regiment of Foot, under orders to embark for India,-that far distant land, where so many of our brave countrymen have fallen victims to the climate, and where so few have slept in what soldiers call "the bed of glory," were assembled in the barrack yard of Chatham, to be inspected previously to their passing on board the transports, which lay moored in the Downs.

It was scarcely day-break, when the merry drum and fife were heard over all parts of the town, and the soldiers were seen sallying forth from their quarters, to join the ranks; with their bright firelocks on their shoulders, and the knapsacks and canteens fastened to their backs by belts as white as snow. Each soldier was accompanied by some friend or acquaintance, or by some individual, with a dearer title to his regard than either; and there was a strange and sometimes a whimsical mingling of weeping and laughter among the assembled groups.

The second battalion was to remain in England, and the greater portion of the division were present to bid farewell to their old com

panions in arms. But among the husbands and wives, uncertainty as to their destiny prevailed for the lots were yet to be drawn-the lots that were to decide which of the women should accompany the regiment, and which should remain behind.-Ten of each company were to be taken, and chance was to be the only arbiter.-Without noticing what passed elsewhere, I confined my attention to that company which was commanded by my friend Captain Loden, a brave and excellent officer, who, I am sure, has no more than myself forgotten the scene to which I refer.

The women had gathered round the flagserjeant, who held the lots in his cap-ten of them marked "to go"-and all the others, containing the fatal words "to remain." It was a moment of dreadful suspense, and never have I seen the extreme of anxiety so powerfully depicted in the countenances of human beings as in the features of each of the soldiers' wives who composed that group.-One advanced and drew her ticket; it was against her, and she retreated sobbing. Another, she succeeded; and, giving a loud huzza, ran off to the distant ranks to embrace her husband. A third came forward with hesitating step; tears were already chasing each other down her cheeks, and there was an unnatural paleness on her interesting and youthful countenance. She put her small hand into the serjeant's cap, and I saw by the rise and fall of