And there, as she beholds the day Or in some stately ruin'd fane, With ivy-wreaths around it spread, Whose mouldering tombs conceal the plain She rests beside the pensive urn, Which crowns the wall, defaced by age, 'Or, in the quietude of night, With placid brow-uplifted eye, And countless orbs, that gem the sky; MYSTIFICATION. It was getting late in the afternoon of one of the most sultry dog-days of that most sultry of all sultry summers, 1827, that John Padds, the Croydon carrier, was preparing for his diurnal migration from the Nag's Head, in the Independent Borough of Southwark, -(as it is invariably designated by all candidates at all general elections,) to his Surrey head-quarters at the Old Swan, when his attention was attracted by the arrival of a new customer. It was indeed, at almost the very moment when his vehicle being nearly loaded, and its owner was rejoicing himself with a rough calculation of the probable profits of his journey, that a porter bending under the weight of a huge hamper, entered the inn-yard, and, inquiring for Mr. P.'s errand cart, deposited in it what he called significantly two articles for old Slaughter of Croydon-he knows what-which must be delivered that night, and he must cut them up directly." 'Aye, aye, he shall have 'em, never fear," responded Mister Padds; 'I go by his house to the stable, so I'm sure not to forget him, at any rate.' The hamper-bearer having departed, the huge hamper being safely stowed, and all other preliminaries finally adjusted, the carrier now began seriously to address himself to his departure, and, as a note of final preparation, took a last look to see that his packages were all in the cart, and all secure. A single glance of his professional penetration served to convince Mister Padds that every thing was correct Books for the parson :-tea and "bacco for the Angel; three chepapa for Muster Tadpole,- -potticary's stuff for Doctor Leech: a new bridle for the squire's lady-and summat mortal ch! - what!- List ge hamper for Surgeon heart for Slaughter! map durely too!-why, qarulated the afghted carrier, qe his ever oponoć, to the rew contents of the hamper which he had en unwittingh, taker unde his especial care: and from the slightest vxamination rehval he was then enabled to make of the suspicious profque his trois: four were confirmed! Chanel by profess to he a general carrier, yet Mister Padds tyy sun, trunis being packed up to go by his van; and phu love pic het passengers as those in the basket, to have the porter, who had immediately abcrain Trom whence the hamper came, was now, the question; to leave it behind was equally tas emma, therefore, he very wisely resolved, as soon as he could; and secondly, to expose n, help it. + A te viltuous resolutions, he was at last really on the when a fresh annoyance presented itself, in a troubles had but too frequently assumed before,— , who, having been to visit her cousins in Clerkened to return home to Croydon, per cart, this idenHere then was a new difficulty, for which the worthy cty unprepared. He had long since determined not at in such company has he had been inveigled into m; but how to manage with his better half, he knew P. not being peculiarly manageable at any time. Like men, therefore, her spouse sagaciously resolved to trust tances, which might, perhaps, turn out better than he and not to mention a subject which would infallibly lead vituperation, if not to a direct breach of the peace. taly, having taken her seat, was, however, very naturally tave, as to why her husband did not mount also. "da! I wants to stretch my legs a little, my dear, that's all; so walk to Kennington, I think :" and though every one, who w tall John Padds, likewise knew that his legs by no means red stretching, still this excuse, in default of a better, served atull their arrival at Kennington Common, when Peggy P. again cited her spouse's company in the carriage. Noa, thank you, my love, noa; I may as well walk a little I, as I am out. It must be uncommon warm in the cart, I'm and I would'nt crowd you for the world.” salar tender entreaties, and equally ingenious excuses, were ar Brixton, Streatham, and in fact, at every stoppage, as well every mile-stone, until their arrival at Croydon; the near ap pearance of which respectable market-town, in the clear and cloudless moonbeams of an August midnight, not a little cheered the drooping spirits of Mister Padds; whose thoughts, despite of his more than customary potations, had latterly been wandering amongst church-yards, Burkers, and resurrection men! Now, however, he was once more approaching the "haunts of men," paved streets, and inhabited houses; and though, as he said, he would still have gladly given his ears,-which it must be confessed would have been a very long price,-to have got rid of the mysterious hamper as easily as he procured it, yet his spirits now so far recovered their customary elasticity, that he actually beguiled the remainder of his weary way by perpetuating a song. A most emphatic "Woa, Smiler!" abruptly terminated the display of vocal melody, for the cart was now at Mr. Slaughter's door, the night bell of which Padds rung long and loudly, until, in anxious anticipation of a summons to some profitable patient, the surgeon, putting his bed-gowned body half out of an upper window, demanded the reason of being thus disturbed. "Oh! you know well enough," replied our friend the Croydon carrier, in a suppressed tone; I've brought you them as you expects!” "Brought what?" exclaimed the professional gentleman. Why, the stiff-uns, I tell you; so make haste down, and take 'em in, will you, for I'm tired on 'em." "You must be either drunk or deranged," responded the man of medicine; 'What do you mean by stiff ones, fellow?" 66 "Well! that is a good one! You does'nt want me to tell all the neighbourhood, I suppose," replied Padds, his voice gradually swelling above caution pitch. You must tell me, if I'm to know myself," rejoined the surgeon; What do you mean by stiff-ones? speak intelligibly, man!" Why, subjects!-CORPSES! then; and I was to tell you that they was to be cut up directly. So I suppose you knows now, doan't you, doctor?" screamed out John Padds, at the extreme pitch of a voice, which, loud as it proverbially ever was, he never before exerted half so effectually! The result was as instantaneous as it was decisive; for not only did divers heads in night-caps of all forms and colours, suddenly appear at every bed-room window within hearing of this most extraordinary colloquy, but Mistress P., (whom the sudden stoppage of the cart had already wakened from the slumber induced by her husband's singing,) upon thus abruptly hearing who had been her fellow-passengers, screamed out still more clamourously than her spouse, and bundling out of the vehicle, she never could tell exactly how, joined him upon the pavement. Confusion" now became yet worse confounded:" the surgeon loudly vociferated that the articles in question were none of his; the carrier still more loudly contended that they were; whilst the carrier's lady, far more loudly VOL. III, NO. XVII, 21 than either, outscreamed them both, by vilifying her husband, and abusing the doctor. Nearly half an hour had been pleasantly passed in this gentle war of words, when, in the hope of closing this discussion, the surgeon closed his window, leaving his assailants, their cart, and the stiff-ones," all in statu quo below. So very manifest a breach of etiquette was, however, not to be borne patiently; and thereupon Mr. Padds pulling the night-bell handle, as if he would extract it by the roots, and Mrs. P. at the same moment seizing the knocker, very speedily summoned the medical gentleman to another consultation. Vainly did he then threaten them with the assizes and the treadmill; the carrier and his wife were both immoveable; and as by this time, many of his neighbours had dressed themselves, and sallied forth to see the end of it. Mr. S. at length capitulated, and came down stairs to settle the business. "There they are!" bellowed out Mister Padds, and much good may they do ye; and if ever I ——————” "Stop, and see the baskets unpacked first, if you please, Padds," interrupted the surgeon. "If it be for me, its contents are not what you suppose, and I insist on your being satisfied." "Oh! that's impossible! they can't be nothing else, and I've had enough on 'em. I don't want nothing for bringing 'em." Mr. Slaughter, the carrier, and the carrieress, now once more commenced all talking together; yet though kindly assisted by several of the neighbours, it was very soon found that bawling would not supply the place of argument at Croydon, though it has been known to do so elsewhere. At length, however, whilst the principal disputants were vociferating with an exuberance of voice and language, that would have done honour to Billingsgate in the sprat season, the curiosity of a portion of the company so far overcame their politeness, as to induce the opening of the hamper; when, to the unutterable astonishment of all parties, the vituperated "stiffones" were found to be two fine dead pigs! "What a fool I must have been!" exclaimed Mister Padds,never once thought of old Slaughter, the Pork butcher!" THE PRSENT, THE PAST, AND THE FUTURE. The Present is a flitting thing, That hovers on unsteady wing, Who, while you gaze upon her face, The Past with sad, but tranquil mien There are few spots in the Colony, upon which the care and industry of man have been exercised, so replete with the tranquil beauties of solitude, as that portion of the lower settlement of Pittwater, which extends to the eastward of Sorell Town, and which lies between Forcett, and the small, but secure, bay of Frederick Henry. Here, in the bright and balmy mornings of the spring, the 'bush" is one living, joyous mass of bird and insect. The gay rosella parrot, with its crimson breast and purple back ;—the graceful wattle-bird, with its long and pendant ear-rings; the laughing jackass, with its black and white plumage, and numerous other birds, all sporting in the bright sunshine, create a scene of inspiriting gladness, and send, at once, into the heart of erring mortals, a conviction of the goodness and mercy of HIM, whose power is omnipotent. In a retired and shady glade, or 'bottom," by the green banks of a creek or rivulet, which ran gurgling over its pebbly bed towards the sea-and, almost, through the centre of the spot in question-reclined the figure of a man, upon whose open brow the weight of grief, rather than of toil and age, had impressed the marks of premature age. His countenance was still handsome, but the restless brilliancy of a full dark eye, told, more plainly than words could tell, that the throne of man's God-like attributereason—had been overthrown. By his side lay two large, gaunt kangaroo dogs, descended, on the mother's side, from a famous English mastiff, and, on the father's, from a thorough-bred grey |