"On what plea?"

66

"He has higher views for his daughter." Umph!" said Charles, "I see through them now; but love has outwitted the politician. Christina, if your father refuses to bestow you in marriage on the man of your heart, why-I will. Charles, though an uncourteous lover, is not an ungenerous friend."

The delighted pair sunk at his feet; and, with blunt good-humour, he united their hands. Then, bending over the blushing Christina, he pressed upon her snowy brow the last kiss of love he ever proffered to woman.

"Will your majesty pardon me," whispered Christina, "for inflicting such a severe blow upon your royal cheek?"

"Silence," returned Charles; "have I not amply revenged the injury? My bride must be wooed in the field of battle, and won 'mid shouts of victory!"

The following week he honoured the marriage of Christina and Adolphus with his royal presence; and the disappointed politician alone wore a grave countenance at the feast.

THE GRAVES OF A HOUSEHOLD.

MRS HEMANS.

THEY grew in beauty, side by side,
They fill'd one house with glee-
Their graves were sever'd far and wide,
By mount, and stream, and sea!

The same fond mother bent at night
O'er each fair sleeping brow,
She had each folded flower in sight-
Where are those dreamers now?

One 'midst the forests of the west
By a dark stream is laid;
The Indian knows his place of rest,
Far in the cedar shade.

The sea, the blue lone sea, hath one,
He lies where pearls lie deep;
He was the loved of all, yet none
O'er his low bed may weep.

One sleeps where southern vines are dress'd
A bove the noble slain,

He wrapp'd his colours round his breast,
On a blood-red field of Spain.

And one-o'er her the myrtle showers
Its leaves, by soft winds fann'd,
She faded, 'midst Italian flowers,
The last of that bright band.

And parted thus, they rest who play'd
Beneath the same green tree,
Whose voices mingled as they pray'd
Around one parent knee!

They that with smiles lit up the hall,
And cheer'd with song the hearth-

Alas for love, if thou wert all,

And nought beyond on earth!

THE PROVIDENTIAL WITNESS.

A post-chaise was seen one morning travelling rapidly along the narrow street of a provincial town of France. A young Englishman, elegantly attired, was within it, accompanied by his valet, when suddenly one of the wheels came off, and the carriage was thrown violently

over.

"Oh! my lord! my master;" cried the affrighted servant, springing adroitly upon his feet;." he is hurt; he is wounded!" The title of "my lord" given to the stranger, seemed to have a magical effect, for in a few seconds a large crowd surrounded the fallen vehicle. Every one seemed anxious to render every attention to the Englishman. Each offered his services, and the stranger thanked them courteously for the attention bestowed upon him. He had scarcely received any hurt; and his voice, in speaking to those around, betrayed no emotion from the suddenness of the accident.

"This my lord' is quite a gentleman !" whispered a woman to her neighbour.

Yes," replied an old workman; "but what an odd accent he has got; how he murders our French!"

"How can he do otherwise?" remarked another; "he is a 'my lord!"

"But he pays his postilions double fees,” said the driver, in an under voice.

"What of that?" said a by-stander; "is he not a 'my lord?""

"And he has four million francs of income," said the French valet, with emphasis.

"Parbleu! what is that for a 'my lord?'" said another.

However, it appeared that the carriage was so much damaged that it would take at least twenty-four hours to repair, and the Englishman, evidently much disappointed, was compelled to take refuge in a small country inn. What a contretemps for a man of fashion! His countenance bore evident marks of ill-humour; but, in such a case, he could but make a virtue of necessity, and submit. He was conducted with every respect to the best inn in the place, and the whole household seemed anxious to please him. An excellent breakfast was immediately served him, and he appeared reconciled.

"Mr Innkeeper," said the English nobleman, in the jargon peculiar to our countrymen when they speak French, but which is impossible to describe; "what have you remarkable in this little town?"

"Nothing, my lord," replied he; "nothing very curious.'

"What!-nothing? No ruins? no theatre? not a single monument of the ancients? I delight in the antique !”

D

"I am sorry to say, my lord, we have positively nothing."

"How dd insipid; what a bore !" and the stranger forthwith commenced to amuse himself after his own fashion by humming an air while he threw himself on a couch-betraying impatience, disappointment, and, above all, ennui. After some few minutes passed thus, he turned half round to the master of the inn, and with his eyes half-closed said :"Four-and-twenty hours! It is an eternity. What can I possibly do in this monstrous interval; we English, as I dare say you are aware, are monstrously subject to the blue-devils." "But, my lord, you have not touched your breakfast."

"I have no appetite."

"Nay, but my lord."

"I'm positively devoured by ennui.' "Already, my lord."

29

"Already? why, I've been long enough here to drive me mad."

"Perhaps, my lord, you would like to look at our church.'

"A Catholic church! I detest all Catholics!" "We have a Town-hall."

"Town-halls are public nuisances; they are only for the vulgar.'

"We have a court of assize-a jury!" "Ah! oh! then you have a gallows, have you?"

66

'No, my lord, thank God, we do not hang people; it is not our custom."