THE elegant and accomplished | cargo might have been thrown overWelford saw for the first time, the board with a view of lightening the pensive, though beautiful Lucy Ed-vessel, which had apparently sprung wards at a fashionable watering- a leak, as nothing of value was place, where her father had taken found on board, and not even the her, rather for the recovery of her slightest vestage of a human creaspirits, than from any indication of ture. This induced some to beill health. Lucy was at the early lieve that the vessel had been plunage of seventeen, engaged to a youth dered by pirates, and that her whole of unexceptionable character, who crew had fallen victims to these had received a mercantile education ocean fiends. Still, from the absence in her father's counting-room; after of her boats, which indeed proved which, wishing to obtain some nothing in favour of their safety, knowledge of the world, he engaged others hoped that some lives at least as a supercargo in a brig bound to might have been saved. The most Europe, of which her only brother diligent enquiries respecting their was the second officer in command. fate, was however fruitless; all reA few months after the departure mained a mystery, and after three of that vessel which contained two long years spent in alternate hopes beings dear to her as life, a mast- of their return, and sorrow for less wreck, bearing only the their loss, the father and daughter name of the brig, was found tossing were at length painfully convinced upon the broad Atlantic, at the of the necessity of reconciling mercy of the wind and waves. On themselves to this inevitable decree examination it appeared that her of fate.

At this period when Lucy left her home to commence a tour of pleasure, she neither had, or wished to forget her lover; still in the bloom of life, and with a heart strongly susceptible of all the enjoyments of nature, and a refined taste for the elegancies of society, it is scarcely to be wondered at, that her bosom felt a returning glow of happiness, on revisiting those scenes, from which she had for so long a time been a voluntary exile.

finely fitted to her slender form, while the soft madona-like expres sion of her beautiful face,though unaided in its effect by artificial tresses, certainly derived a peculiar charm from her bright golden hair, which with the classic simplicity of the Grecian huntress, was parted upon her fair forehead and gracefully arranged in a knot of clustering ringlets on the back of her finely formed head. This lovely picture dwelt unceasingly in the heart Although the health of Mr. Ed- of the enthusiastic Welford. He wards was evidently declining, "sighed and looked-sighed and yet all his solicitude appeared turn- looked, and sighed again;" in short ed towards his daughter; anxious he became her very shadow-was to promote whatever might afford ever near to secure her hand in the her pleasure; she was now his only dance, turn the leaves of her music, earthly tie, and as he gazed with furnish her with books, or proffer the fond pride of a father on her his arm in a rural stroll. It has surpassing loveliness, which was the often been remarked, that those subject of universal admiration, he who strive to render themselves aindulged a secret hope, that the greeable, generally succeed, even youth who had intimated a wish to though sometimes the defects of address his daughter, might succeed nature would seem to operate to in interesting her affections; feel- their disadvantage. Conscious that ing that his term of life was short, he was highly indebted to her libe -he anxiously wished to see her rality, both in point of face and transferred to the protection of one person, he by no means addressed worthy of her love, and capable of Lucy as a lover without hope, a rendering her happy. He was pleased though several months transpired, with Welford, who was a scholar, ere he could obtain from her an exand a man of polished manners, pression of that partiality which she but although he knew him to be really entertained for him. During possessed of the strongest passions, their summer tour, constant oppor he had never on any occasion wit- tunities occurred that were favora nessed their expression uncontroul-ble to his views, affording him the ed by reason; confident that liberty of paying her all those litle Lucy possessed his undivided af- attentions which are necessary in fections, he believed that her vir- travelling, and rendered more st tues must ensure their continuance. ceptable by being tendered with de So devoted was Welford to this love-icacy; he was well acquainted ly girl, that he beheld with a jeal-with the route which Mr. Edwards ous eye every one who approached had chosen, and consequently could to pay her those compliments which name to Lucy all that was worthy her beauty excited. Still there was of her attention; and by degrees nothing in the face and person of she did indeed find on returning Lucy calculated to strike the ev-home, that her intelligent and social ery-day connoisseurs of female beau- companion had so interwoven his ty; she owed little or nothing to or- image, and his sentiments, with nament or the extravagancies of every scene of pleasure through fashion; her dress was neat and which she had passed, that his ab

sence now from their little society, of the dying father, fled to that being to whom his prayer had just consigned his children. What a contrast now presented itself in this scene! "the funeral baked meats did indeed too soon coldly furnish forth the marriage tables." Welford led the agonized girl from her lifeless parent, with all that delicate tenderness which his sacred relationship imposed; and gave orders that every honor should be paid to the memory of that excellent man which his virtues claimed from a numerous circle of friends. K.

would leave a void which no other friend could supply. The circumstance which Welford learned, of Lucy's once having loved another, abated not the ardour of his attachment; indeed he seemed to take a pride in awakening again that passion, the disappointment of which, had been succeeded by the deepest melancholy, and lighting upon her pale cheek that glowing blush which owed its birth to the reciprocation, as well as to the expression of his love. Welford was in the profession of the law, and established many miles distant from the residence of Lucy; but after having obtained her consent to be his, at some indefinite period, he embraced the proposal of her father to remove to their village, as he could not bear the idea of parting with the society of his beloved child. The event of their marriage was soon after his removal, accelerated by a melancholy cause. Scarcely had Mr. Ed

(To be concluded in our next.)

Saturday Evening.

FOR THE BOWER OF TASTE.

THOUGHTS ON DEATH. Our dying friends come o'er us like a cloud, To damp our brainless ardours, and abate That glare of life, which often binds the wise. Young.

some

THE subject of death is one, at - wards obtained his wish with rewhich mankind naturally revolt gard to the future settlement of Lu- from contemplating, and which, cy, ere he felt the commissioned when made the subject of meditamessenger of death weigh heavy up- tion, excites in his bosom such feelon his heart, and calling his sorrowings of dread and horror, that he ing daughter to his pillow, he en- gladly turns his mind to treated that before he should leave thing more congenial to the feelings the world she would give Welford Almost evof his earthly nature. a legal right to protect her; it was a ery day brings with it, some new trying scene to the sensitive and instance of mortality, to impress affectionate girl, still she felt it a upon our minds this important subduty to sacrifice all personal consid-ject. Who among us has not lost erations to the will of one of the some friend or relative, for whom kindest of parents who had no oth- we have felt a strong and affectioner view than her happiness. Wel- ate regard? Who hath not thought ford joined his entreaties in fa- of the last resting place of all ?-the vour of this proposal-the priest was grave. How many can say— summoned, and a few friends has-"There have been sweet singing voices tily called in.-Mr. Edwards for In our path, which now are still, the last time made an effort to sup- There are seats left void in our earthly homes port himself in the chair long enough to witness the marriage cer- How few reflect, when standing emony. Yet the instant the reve-by the death-bed of a dear friend, rend man closed the nuptial bene- how soon their own bodies must diction, the spirit which had for a mingle with their native earth, and moment animated the upturned eye their spirits return to the God who

Which none again may fill."

MATERNAL REVENGE. GIANNINA was one of the most comely damsels in Calabria, and had many a wealthy suitor. To none however, did she seem inclined to lend a willing ear, Some of a more timid nature admired the maiden and would fain have wooed her, but they were kept aloof by the haughty glance of her bright blue eye; a glance that was rendered more remarkable from the tender colour of the eye, whose sable fringes formed another striking but agreeable contrast with its azure hue, and agreed with the glossy raven locks that shaded her snowy brow.

Giannina it had been defeated. She was roused in the night by an attempt to force her window, when, seizing a hatchet, she struck at man who was in the act of entering. The robber fell to the ground as Giannina's father, whom her cries had brought to her assistance, arrived, but only in time to witness the intruders escape, which he effected, although the blood with which the window was still imbued, testified he had not escaped unhurt.

Not long after this, a stranger made his appearance in the village, and succeeded in obtaining the af fection which Giannina had so constantly withheld from her rustic admirers. The suitor to whom she seemed thus favorably inclined was about thirty years of age, of handsome, though wild and haughty as pect. His stature was considerably above the middle size, and he would have appeared robust, had not his extreme paleness, occasioned by a wound, that he said he had lately received at the chace, and which still obliged him to wear his arm in a sling, given a sickly delicacy to

his features.

Giannina's father, whose will was entirely subservient to her own, consented to the marriage; but from the day that it took place, the bride and bridegroom disappeared, leaving the afflicted parent as completely ignorant of their fate as the rest of the villagers.

"Giannina," said Antonio to his bride, as, after the marriage cere mony, they were returning towards their father's roof, "let us escape awhile from the noisy festivity that

Giannina's father was by no means a thrifty man. His cottage had a better appearance than most of those in the village, of which it was the furthest habitation. The village itself was on the confines of a wood, which reached half way up the side of a wild, and in some places inaccessable mountain, and dreadful were the tales told of the banditti, with which it was infested. The villagers, however, having nothing to lose, had also little to fear from their depredations; and in-await us, within the shade of the deed of late, only one instance had adjacent wood." been given of any attempt to dis- ""Tis but a dangerous resort," turb their tranquillity. This attempt rejoined Giannina. "Dost the was made on the abode of Gian- fear?" said Antonio; and the in nina's father, and it was supposed flection of his voice seemed to im to have been thus directed from his port more than "dost thou fear! being reputed one of the wealthiest Giannina attended but unto the inhabitants. By the courage of words. The damsel was proud of

More than once had Antonio, for whose head a large reward was offered, been rescued by the quickness and courage of Giannina. But the Tyrolese troops, to whom the Austrian commander at Naples had assigned the task of exterminating the banditti, left them no repose. One day, harrassed beyond measure, and closely pursued, they reached a bridge so exposed to view, that they dared not hazard passing it. It was in summer, and the river over which the bridge was built, now flowed in a narrow bed, but yet too deep to ford. They determined to take refuge under one of the arches which the current had abandoned. Hark! their pursuers approach! their steps are heard on the bridge! The outlaws scarcely dared to breatheGiannina pressed her infant to her breast-it gave a feeble cry-Antonio smothered it upon its mother's bosom!

her merited renown for courage, the babe at her old father's door, and replying with a degree of pique, with these words, "It is Giannina's that she would prove her daring, child!" But they were distant now took with him the road that led to far distant from her home, in the the ill-famed forest. They had recesses which Salvator has porwandered some minutes in its glades, trayed in all their wildness; he had when Giannina asked Antonio if he wandered there with bandits, and could not still reproach her with her he has left us the wild mountain fears? "What should a sovereign scenes, and the rude bandits, and dread within her realm?" he answer- his captive self storied on his canvass. ed in a sarcastic tone. "My realm!" "Aye, thine, my bandit queen!" and on a loud whistle, a number of well armed ruffians appeared to rise from the earth, descend from the trees, and in a moment to encompass them. "Homage to our Queen," said the robber captain, for such he was, and taking his wounded arm from a sling-"My gentle bride," said he, "dost thou know this nerveless hand! It was not such the night it opened thy casement! But for this hand of mine, I've now a hand of thine; and the few drops of blood I do forgive thee! Homage to my Queen!" And at this moment Giannina looked a queen. She turned to Antonio as though he also were a subject. "I neither love nor fear thee! Of love thou art unworthy! and fear-what have I left to fear?-Deem not I shall attempt to forgo my fate, for whither should I fly but infamy would follow? I do devote myself thy victim, nay, thy faithful wife, and my own injuries forgive. Beware alone, no deed of thine do injure aught of mine! of that alone beware, for even a victim may revenge. Respect my father and all that is mine!" She was a faithful wife. Three years had passed, and Antonio's band had been hunted down, until some had died of hunger and fatigue-some on the scaffold. Antonio and Giannina wandered now alone, except that Giannina carried in her arms an infant, that slumbered sweetly among dangers. She thought if ever she again could reach her native village, to leave

The danger was past-Giannina dug a grave in the sand, and placed within it the body of the poor life less child.

*

"Antonio, the robber's head!" cried the populace of a small town in Calabria, as a female with dishevelled hair and haggard mien brought a bleeding head, fresh from the trunk, to the magistrate of the district.

"A thousand crowns are thine, thou second Judith !"

"I seek not the reward-Antonio was my husband-ke killed my child but yesterday-this night I slew him as he slept!"