sofa. She burst into tears and fell upon her | tiful creature had ceased to suffer. Many a knees before him. "Oh! my still honoured and beloved father, give me food for my starving children. I implore you not for myself, but for those who are dearer to me than life. Oh! refuse not-" She could say no more, for tears choked her utterance, and she only fixed upon him her beautiful eyes, expressive of affection and supplication. "When I pronounced a curse upon your disobedience," said the father, "I bade you never cross the threshold of my house. I sufficiently warned you of the consequences, ere you gave your hand to a worthless scoundrel, and now I bid you again to go and starve, for you are no longer my child, and shall never receive one farthing from me. Go." Caroline's pale cheek kindled at the epithet of worthless scoundrel, but grief for her children subdued the impulse of her heart, and she was proceeding again to implore her father, in the name of God, in the name of her dead mother, and of her own children, when Churchill rang the bell violently for a servant to conduct her out. Caroline rose, and weeping convulsive went out to return to her suffering children, that had fasted all day. "Thank God, there are few such fathers," said a gentleman, who had been standing at the window. “If you will accept it, madam, here is a sufficiency for your childrens' wants, at present." This gentleman was Dick, the water drinker, and old friend of Frank. He had loved Caroline himself, which was the reason that he did not introduce him to her. Dick had led a sober life, and was on the high road to fortune and respectability. Though Caroline had rejected his addresses he pitied her, and used every means to restore her husband and render her happy.Every means, however, failed; and Caroline, through poverty and grief, wasted away. One day in November, a number of officers entered their hut in search of her husband. Despair in a moment seized her, for she feared the worst. She demanded their business, and was told that her husband had been discovered in forging the signature of Caroline's father, to a considerable amount; and that they had come to arrest him. At this moment the silver cord snapped, and Caroline became a broken hearted wife. She swooned, fell into the cradle, and when a neighbour came in and raised her, it was found that her youngest child had perished beneath her weight. She was conveyed to bed, where she lay a long time the very picture of death. Frank was arrested in the gambling room, with his money before him, and conveyed to prison. Caroline came to her senses and discovered that, unconsciously, she had destroyed her child. The next morning it was found that she had, in the night, risen, crawled to the corpse of her child, and died. Her arms were enfolded round it, and her lips pressed upon those of her child. Thus perished the heart broken mother, a victim to moderate drinking. When Churchill heard the affecting story of his daughter's death, all the father came upon him; and over her lifeless form he wept—but wept in vain. The beau tearful eye was seen at the grave of the heartbroken mother and her child. Many a father looked on and sighed. The fate of Frank is soon told. He lingered out a few miserable years in the penitentiary, stung by remorse and galled by regret. He had ever loved Caroline, but habit fixed her chain upon him, and he found it hard to break. A lock of Caroline's hair was the only memento he had of her in prison. He died with it in his hand. Remorse cut him off in early life. Churchill, as an atonement for his cruelty, took the boy Caroline left, with the determination of educating him, and to lead him in a path more happy than that which his father had trod. The convict sleeps in the same church yard with Caroline. MILFORD BARD. ORIGINAL. THE MOTHER'S DECISION. Theirs was a melancholy pledge, A dark and bitter token, Of hearts by sorrow broken! Is this the gift? Aye, is this all A mother's heart could bring For her own cherished, worshipp'd childIts proudest offering? All-is it all?--a seal of wo- A stern command to part! Ah, mother, didst thou never weigh Unhappy mother, wretched child, Can never mingle more! That stern command, that dark decree, ever seen. PERPETUAL YOUTH-THOUGHT. PERPETUAL YOUTH. 369 that Miss Betsey had the skill to discover, the conI saw lately, in a newspaper, the death of "Miss stancy to preserve so dangerous a secret; and she had Elizabeth B- -The history of this singular indi- her reward. She flourished in eternal youth. But vidual was so extraordinary, that I cannot forbear like all great public benefactors, her motives and chacommunicating such portions of it to the ladies of my racter were misunderstood, her memory was bitterly acquaintance, as come within my recollection. It has execrated by the old maids of the Old Dominion.the advantage of being authentic, if not interesting-Even when alive she did not escape persecution. I for the facts which I shall relate are notoriously true. have, when a boy, seen very respectable ladies of my If you have ever stopped at the little old anterevolu- aunt Abigail's acquaintance, work themselves up into tionary city of A—, on your pilgrimage to Mount a perfect agony, in speaking of her. "She paints," said Vernon, perhaps I can recall her to your recollection, Miss Coldcream; "she powders," observed Miss Starch; by her small, light, perpendicular form, her tasteful "she has a false face," exclaimed Miss Looking-glass; dress, her girl-like trip, her laughing blue eye, golden "she sleeps in kid gloves," shouted Miss Whalebone; ringlets, smooth, delicately tinted cheek, coral lips, "she blankets herself," shrieked Miss Magnesia,; pearly teeth, rounded neck, small handsome feet, slim 'but her lips," said Miss Vermillion; "and her neck," waist, beautiful bust, graceful motion, perfect mouth, said Miss Powderpuff. Here Miss Whalebone fell and-in short, I have no doubt, you fell in love with into hysterics, and Miss Coldcream began to foam at her. I think I saw you one day, standing upon New- the mouth; Miss Starch fainted. At length Miss ton's steps, watching her little form as it flitted in and Looking-glass, after a little reflection, spoke up; "I'm out, of the shops, on King-street, and heard you say determined," said she, "to find it out, if key-holes will she was more like a real sylph, than any thing you had serve my purpose; she shall come to my house and take the blue room, and keep it a fortnight; and then,' said she, while a buzz of applause went round the room, "then we shall be mistresses of the greatest invention that female ingenuity ever discovered. Then shall the whole army of bachelors yield, and the glorious company of unmarried men be subdued. Then shall our sex be respected, admired, adored!" Her enthusiasm was contagious. Miss Starch forgot her dignity, and clapped her hands. Miss Vermillion absolutely coloured; Miss Powderpuff, for the first time in her life, showed her teeth, and Miss Whalebone, to my astonishment, capered about the room like a frolicsome child. But the secret was never discovered. Miss B. always dressed and undressed within the bed-curtains. At last, the opinion was advanced by Dr. Brown, that she changed her skin every spring, and that further inquiry was useless. Many thought this a ruse of the doctor's to keep his professional faith inviolate. But as he happens to be still alive, 1 will say no more upon that subject. 'He knows all about it!" said Miss Looking-glass, 'the vile wretch attended her through her last sickness. But he is an old bachelor, what can you expect of him?" Well, sir, if I had told you that this little fairy was seventy-five years old, you would not have believed but that I was joking; but nevertheless, I should have spoken nothing but the naked truth. Long before the revolutionary war-oh, she must have been older, for at that time she was the belle of Williamsburg, the toast of Norfolk, and the barbacue of all that part of Virginia. Colonel H. whom Mrs. H. allows to be sixtyfive years old, told me that when a boy, his uncle, old William H. of King and Queen, was near getting into a duel on her account, with Major S. who died some years ago, of old age. In fact, there is no telling how old she was; her origin is not recorded. Like that of the pyramids, it rests solely upon tradition. My good sir, she must have been more than seventy-five when you fell in love with her. At the time of the capture of Cornwallis, she was in love with a young midshipman of the British navy, by the name of Gimbold, who made a narrow escape by jumping into James' river. After this, she remained single, in spite of various offers from several generations of men, down to the present time. Many are the hearts and souls, which, like Hajji Baba's, have become roast-meat for her sake. But the citadel of her affections remained firm. In vain was the raw recruit and the old veteran brought against it; the wall was closed up with the "English dead." Her heart was in the bottom of James' river, with Thomas Gimbold. But the most melancholy part of her death is, that the mystery of perpetual rejuvenescence has died with her. The whole case clearly proves, that a woman can keep a secret; and it establishes beyond a doubt, that she can make scientific discoveries. Nay, more, it proves that a woman can act upon principle, for had she disclosed her secret of eternal youth, the world would have been turned upside down. In the history of a woman, an epoch, dreadful to imagine, would have arisen. We should not, thenceforth, have been able to distinguish our grandmothers, whom we may not arry. We should have fallen in love with our greataunts. The old ladies, having more art than the young, would have had a decided advantage over them. A queen of May, might have had her great great-grandmothers, for maids of honour. We should have had no respect for the aged. A bachelor, who had no particular fancy for octogenarians, would have been oblig ed to pray the gods for help to enable him to distinguish them, and strength to resist their charms. When he thought himself the happy bridegroom of blooming nineteen, he would suddenly have found himself the unfortunate stepfather of five successive generations. But I will not dwell on the picture. It is sufficient, Alas, poor Miss Betsey! she fought long and manfully against time, but the old tyrant has conquered her at last. Peace be to her shades! If ever I go back to Virginia, I shall surely make a visit to the spot, to see what the stone-cutter has put upon her tombstone.-West. Monthly Mag. Written for the Casket. THOUGHT. Oh! 'tis sweet to think when all is fled 'Tis sweet to think one heart is true, 'Tis sweet to think, when grief and tears 'Tis sweet to think, when world forsakes, "Tis sweet to think, though all should fly, One heart will love us 'till we die. 370 GERMAN CONFEDERATION OF ROBBERS-TALE OF A CONJURER. GERMAN CONFEDERATION OF ROBBERS. The members were bound to the society by the most tremendous oaths, which they were rarely tempted to break, well knowing that an invisible dagger hung over their heads, which was sure to descend even on a suspicion of their falsehood. A miserable wretch who had been taken by the police, and securely lodged in a dungeon, once revealed, in the agonies of his terror, the rendezvous of his chief, the famous Picard. The next night, while reflecting in horror that, even by his treachery, he had probably been unable to save his life, he heard his name pronounced in a whisper and looking up, saw an arm passed between the iron bars of the window. "Who art thou?" inquired the robber trembling. Thy master-Picard; I have ventured my life, as in duty bound, to set thee at liberty!" In a few minutes his irons were sawed off, and one of the bars wrenched from the window-frame; and, following his conductor, he scaled the walls, and scented the free air of the neighbouring forest. The band were ready to receive them, drawn up in a semicircle, and standing under arms, in a dead silence. Their delivered comrade was placed in the middle. "Schleichener "" said the chief, addressing him with the slang epithet for traitor; "didst thou imagine that the word of treason would be unheard by Picard, because it was whispered in the depths of a dungeon?Die, coward, in thy guilt!" "I deserve death," replied the apprentice, "yet try me once again. To-morrow the girl will be my wife, and we shall remove-far from her friends and acquaintance-wherever you command! Only try me! I am as brave as thou!" "Thou hast broken the laws of the band, and therefore thou must die! Down on thy knees!-down!" and with one herculean arm he bent him, by main force, to the earth, while with the other he raised a hatchet above his head. TALE OF A CONJURER. For persons who are pleased with the supernatura! we add the following from “Oonagh Lynch," a new London publication. "Sir Patrick presented some jewels of value to his bride; and when she had admired them and thanked him, he drew forth a small flat ebony case, and said, I have yet another gift to make you, of more value, which I would not confound with the trifles you have received: it has been the most esteemed of our possessions for some generations back. It has been given always by the head of our house to his bride. and preserved with the utmost care. There is, added he, Mercy, mercy!" cried the wretch, as the pistol smiling, 'some superstitious tale, which I forget at touched his ear. "Give me death, but let it be in bat-tached to it. I give it you, and shall be really grieved tle! Lead me, on this very night, were it to the attack of an army, and let me de upon the bayonets of the foe!" 66 "It must not be," said Picard calmly; "thou art unworthy of the death of the brave. Comrades! shall the laws of the band be set aside in favour of a hound like this?" "No!" growled the deep stern voice of the lieutenant; and the word was echoed by some in cruelty, by many in dismay, till it died away like a prolonged groan in the forest. The white lips of the coward closed at the sound; and a bullet passing through his brain at the same moment, quieted his fears forever. Another story is told at Aix-la-Chapelle, which does not satisfy quite so well one's ideas of retributive justice. A fine young man of that city was enrolled as an apprentice by the ferocious Jikjak of Mersen, and awaited impatiently the commands of his chief, being desirous not only of distinguishing himself in the career to which his follies had driven him, but of obtaining money enough to enable him to marry his sweetheart. It is not known whether his weakness was owing to love, or wine, or both together; but, unhappily, he divulged, one evening, the secret of his destiny to the terrified girl; and the next morning he was called by Jikjak, in person, to accompany him in an expedition. The youth followed more in shame than in fear; inwardly resolving to make up for his harmless treason by gaining that day a character for courage which should command the respect of the band. if you lose it.' The case contained a most curious and magnificent rosary of gold and enamel, with precious stones and large pearls interspersed; the workmanship as beautiful as the materials were precious. Anastasia readily promised to preserve it all her life, and caused a cabinet to be constructed, three sides of which were glass, on the fourth the rosary and all the jewels of value she possessed were suspended, and visible, though locked up. This cabinet accompanied her in all her journeys. Sir Patrick, previous to the Revolution, had sometimes been intrusted with secret missions to the court of France, where he was always well received, and Lady Lynch, who was very beautiful, much admired. On the last of these occasions they remained some months at Paris; and among the persons who frequented their hotel was a young Italian abbe, who was remarkably clever and agreeable and made himself extremely useful. He knew where every thing was to be found, and its price; where every body lived, and who they were. He par ticularly shone when a fete was to be given; he planned the preparations, and saw to their execution,-in short, he began by pleasing, and ended by being neces sary. One day Lady Lynch accosted him with an air of anxiety, very unusual to her fair face: 'Ah, Mr. l'abbe,' said she, 'I must confide a circumstance to you which distresses me more than I can describe. My beautiful rosary has been stolen from my cabinet, see the glass in that side has been broken, and it is gone! I have looked every where, and so has my And yet, as he followed his mute and gloomy con- maid; I cannot learn how it has gone; and how can ductor, a misgiving at times, came over him. There I look Sir Patrick in the face? he will be so angry! were numerous other apprentices, he knew, in Aix-la--He returns from Versailles the day after to-morrow. Chapelle, and in the villages through which they pass- What shall I do? I do not like to proclaim my loss ed. What kind of enterprise, then, could the renown- and apply to the police, in the hope I may find it with. ed chieftain contemplate, in which he desired the as-out Sir Patrick knowing that it ever was missing. sistance of only a single unknown, untried individual? The young man shivered as they entered the black shade of a forest; but, when his conductor stopped suddenly at a new-made pit, resembling a grave, his knees knocked together, and the hair rose upon his head. "Perjured traitor!" said the chief, "say thy paternoster, for thou must die!" What shall I do? The abbe expressed his satisfaction at her having had recourse to him, and undertook the affair with great readiness, though he had only two days to dedicate to the search; on the third he was to proceed to Italy on affairs of the greatest moment. He assured Lady Lynch that, if her jewels were still in Paris, he thought he should succeed.-Meantime Lady Lynch frequently expressed to her maid the anxiety she felt that the rosary might be re- | Mr. Bontemps flourished a long ebony wand round covered. The maid, after many of those broken hints his head, uttering many words in some unknown with which persons who are eager yet fear to make a language. He then drew aside the curtain; and the disclosure precede it, at length confessed she knew a smoke from the brasier beginning to subside, Lady man who had on similar occasions served persons in Lynch beheld, in the mirror, an apartment represented such circumstances, and proposed Lady Lynch should which contained an Indian cabinet with folding-doors: consult him. Anastasia, who was naturally nervous, that on the right hand was open, and she beheld her timid, and imaginative, though fearful, was curious, and rosary within it; and her friend the abbe writing at a. resolved to consult the conjuror, if it could be done table, on which were many parcels! She contemprivately, for she feared the ridicule of her husband and plated the scene for several minutes, when the sorcerfriends. Her maid made the necessary arrangements; er again threw some gums on the brasier, and, when and late in the evening Anastasia, dressed in the the smoke was dissipated the curtain had fallen. Some, clothes of her attendant, who accompanied her, pro- moments of silence ensued, when Mr. Bontemps said, ceeded in a hackney coach, through a number of dirty 'You have seen, I doubt not, madam, the jewels you and d stant streets, to an obscure house, in a quarter seek. I know not the person who sat by, but depend with the appearance of which she was entirely unac- upon my assurance that they are in his possession. quainted. At length they descended from the carriage, You have also seen the place where he has deposited his which was desired to wait; and the maid guided Lady prize. You must do the rest; and above all, ememLynch through a long narrow alley, terminated by a ber your promise: if you fail in your part of the engagedoor, where, after ringing, they waited some time for ment, be certain I shall not forget mine.' As he proadmission. An aged negro asked whom they nounced these words, the countenance of Mr. Bonwanted; and on the maid replying that they came to temps assumed an expression so sinister, and his voice speak to Mr. Bontemps, the negro rang another bell, sounded so hoarse and sepulchral, that Lady Lynch, and leaving them for a few moments, returned with a in much perturbation, reiterated her promise, and desmall brass lamp, and preceded them up a gloomy parted, after having munificently recompensed the stone staircase, where the dust of ages seemed to sorcerer, whose presence she rejoiced to quit. She have accumulated. Anastasia, as she followed, almost directly ordered the coachman to proceed to the abode repented her curiosity. They arrived at another door, of the abbe, which she knew from having frequently at which the negro knocked, and they were immedi- addressed notes of invitation, or containing commis ately admitted by a tall man, who asked their com- sions for his performance. On arriving there, she mands. There was nothing very remarkable in the would not suffer herself to be announced, but ran up appearance of Mr. Bontemps: he was tall and sallow, stairs, closely following the servant. On the door of with a keen bold eye, about fifty years of age, express- the abbe's apartment being opened, she found his ing himself in a slow distinct manner, civil and calm. chamber precisely similar to that represented by the The maid assumed the office of explanation, and told mirror of Mr. Bontemps! The abbe was sitting at a him her friend had lost a rosary of value, and wished table covered with packets, and between the windows him to tell her where to seek it. Mr. Bontemps replied, stood a black Indian cabinet. He rose in some conbe should have pleasure in doing so, but there was a fusion at the unexpected visit with which he was honpreliminary condition to be observed. Anastasia drew oured, and with which, at that moment, perhaps he forth her purse, and presented him with five louis-d'ors. would willingly have dispensed. Lady Lynch said, that "Though I accept your ladyship's gift, I shall expect a having business in that part of the city, and not choos similar sum if I have the good fortune to serve you ing to be seen, she had gone out in a hackney coach, upon this occasion,' replied Mr. Bontemps. "This is which had broken down opposite his door; and that not all I exact; you must swear never to reveal to any knowing he lived there, she had determined to come human being your visit to me, and its result.' Lady in to ask for a glass of water, and to recover her Lynch, though rather alarmed and surprised at being alarm. There is no knowing what construction the called by her title, readily promised never to reveal abbe might have put upon this extraordinary proceedher visit, and what she should then see, to any human ing of Lady Lynch, had he not been, from the moment being. Though I make no doubt of your sincerity of her entrance, so pre-occupied and embarrassed, and resolution, madam,' said the conjuror, 'your fideli- that he could with difficulty recollect himself enough ty to the engagement is of so much importance to me, to call for water, and offer it with an attempt to exthat I am obliged to make it your interest to preserve press concern for her alarm. Anastasia seated herself your promise inviolate. Should you betray me, eight on a stool near the cabinet, and after speaking some days and eight nights from the time you do so, you will few moments on indifferent subjects, admired his pay with your life for the indiscretion.' Anastasia apartments; and, affecting to laugh, said, looking at willingly, though not without perturbation, agreed to the cabinet-"This is, no doubt, the repository for your the justice of a punishment which she resolved not to billets: I shall look at it.' The abbe started, and said incur. Mr. Bontemps then drew from a small shagreen the cabinet contained letters only; and was rising case a lancet, with which he slightly touched Lady from his seat, when Lady Lynch suddenly opened the Lynch's hand, and extracted a drop of blood, into door, and discovered her rosary in the spot correspondwhich he dipped a pen, and requested she would write ing with that represented in the conjuror's mirror! the first letter of her baptismal name on a slip of parch. She took it up, saying-Oh! what a trick! I suspect. ment he presented. She did so. He then desired the ed you had a mind to frighten me and really you sucmaid to wait for them, and led Anastasia through a ceeded. In another day I should have been quite ill with long gloomy passage, hung with spiders' webs of ex- vexation. It was too mischievous of you! She contraordinary dimension, and only lighted by the lamp tinued to laugh and reproach him." he bore, to a very large room. On one side hung a large dark curtain of brown stuff. There was no furniture except a wooden stool, on which he request. ed the trembling inquirer to seat herself, opposite but at some distance from the curtain. She obeyed; and he then threw some powder and gums on a small brasier of charcoal that was near, but which she had not till then observed. A blue light spread around the apartment, the brasier burnt with a hissing noise, and Sir Patrick returns home, hears of her mysterious absence, becomes jealous, and she reveals the secret, with great misgivings. "In order to distract her attention, he insisted on her accompanying him to a great entertainment, which was to take place that evening at the hotel of the English Ambassador, and she unwillingly prepared to ac company him. In spite of her anxiety, she had never looked more beautiful than when she prepared to des cend to her carriage; and Sir Patrick could not resist an exclamation of admiration as he surveyed her appearance, while she paused to open a letter which the Sorvant had just presented. Lady Lyneh suddenly uttered a loud shriek, and fainted. In the confusion that ensued, and during the convulsion which she underwent for some hours afterwards, the attendants knew not what to attribute her strange disorder. Sir Patrick sought for the letter which she had received at the time, and found only a blank cover, containing a small strip of parchment, on which Anastasia had written the first letter of her baptismal name at the request of the sorcerer! Lady Lynch's complaints did not decrease, though her senses returned. The attendance of the most skilful physicians was of no avail; and though when her agitation subsided, a quickened pulse and feverish excitement were the only symptoms of malady that could be detected, she grad ually sank, and on the 8th evening from that on which the explanation took place with Sir Patrick, she raised her head from the pillow, and pointing to the dial of a clock which stood opposite to the foot of her bed, she sank back and expired!" his hat, and having filled it with the nut-shells he could Thus he continued amidst the laughter of all present, stopping the fellow's mouth with a nut-shell every time he attempted to speak, till he fairly pelted him out of the room, at the door of which he emptied his hat upon the critic's head, exclaiming, "you must ex From the Traveller and Times. YOU MUST EXCUSE ME; IT'S MY WAY. Dining at the York hotel, where a numerous party were assembled, S-R-, the comedian, and several of his brothers of the sock and buskin grouped them-cuse me, it is my way." selves towards the end of the table. This arrangement was quickly perceived by one of the amateur critics, would-be literaries, who are the pest of all public companies, indeed of all companies into which they can get admission. Fellows with no more brains than a squeezed turnip, and who gabble monstrously. Now this fellow, who yielded neither in folly nor assurance to any of his taste, no sooner perceived the arrangement, than he determined (though utterly unknown] to make one of the party. In this he sueceeded, was politely received, and all went on well till the fruit came on the table. He then preluded a discourse, with which it was his evident intention to astonish, if not to enlighten his auditors, by one or two gross remarks upon actors in general. Against this violation of decorum S-R remonstrated, but in the mildest terms. The remonstrance, however, seemed to take effect. He was quiet for a time, and Sam, who is known to be one of the best dinner companions in England, began as usual to play the first fiddle. Indeed, considering the convivial talents of Rwe are not susprised he sat still for some hours, when the small beer began to phiz, out flew the cork, and an explosion took place. Leaning across the table, in tones by no means modulated, to the purpose of privacy, our would-be thus addressed R THE MISTLETOE BOUGH Oh! the mistletoe bough! Oh! the mistletoe bough! They sought her that night, and they sought her next day "By God, Mr.R , you are one of the most fa- Thus he went on for a long time, interlarding his comments with "you must excuse me; it's my way," until those present began to suspect Sam intended to play Jerry in real life. It is true the critic was one of the six-foots but Sam was thought to be a man who never respected the thews or sinews of an antagonist. At length, the discourse being ended, Sam called for She hid from her lord in the old oak cheat- Oh! the mistletoe bough, &c. "What is the difference between a General and a Commissary-General?" said a lady to a Commissary. General, who is rumoured to have made a large for tune not very honestly. "The only difference," inter rupted a by-stander, "that I know, is the one bleeds his country, whilst the other bleeds for his country." The explanation was sufficient. |