My Leonora," said he, taking in his pale | THE SICK POET'S SONG TO SUMMER. wasted hand one of the black ringlets that encircled her dark glowing countenance, and matching it with the ring, "you have discovered my theft.' "Yes, my dear Ludovico, but that kind look procures your pardon." His look was, indeed, the very essence of softness, but his eye soon wandered.

CHILDREN SLEEPING. Flowers of my life! how sweetly are ye folded In the calm stillness of your happy rest.

The fond reliance that an angel watches

Your tranquil slumber, fills each sinless breast; And the young lips, whose last sweet breath was prayer,

Smile, as if seraph music lull'd ye there!

Flowers of my life! how fresh and fair ye blossom,
Thus bound together by the silken tie

Of my heart's love! Alas! that Time should sever
The fond frail link, and cast it heedless by-
That years, and change, and sorrow's cankering
breath,

Should blight the scatter'd roses of my wreath!
Yet, if the dew of faith, and heavenward seeking,
Has sunk within your hearts, and not in vain ;
Your watcher still may trust, when Time has
perish'd,

Her flowers shall bloom in Paradise again!
Bright in immortal beauty undecay'd,
An Angel garland-never more to fade!

Felix," said she-my readers may wonder at her throwing away her speeches upon a baby, but I would have them remember the baby's mother was there, and was sure to receive every word on her heart. "Felix," said she, which she was just saying when I rudely interrupted her "I am Queen Felicita!" This announcement did not awe the young cradling in the least, but he cooed and crowed louder than ever. "I have taken you," continued she, still waving her wand, "I have taken you under my especial protection: all "You wont rear that good-tempered babby, your sayings shall be admired-all your doings Mrs. Lovegrove," said one of her neighbours, shall be approved. I give you," continued she, whose witch-like countenance and crone-like voice "the sunshine of the soul, and you shall only wish had invested her prophetic words with as much for such things as your endeavours, seconded by infallibility as his highness the Pope could desire.me, will enable you to procure. The frowns of "You won't rear this here babby, Mrs. Lovegrove." She was standing at the foot of his cradle, leaning her chin upon her stick, and looking as important as if she and she alone possessed secret information of "the term of time" allotted to all here.

not bear to make it unhappy, poor dear; the troubles of life would soon enough encompass it; its first years, at any rate, should be happy ones-and thus the evil day is only put off. Trouble will find the darling out; he has, from nature, such passions as will always make him accessible to trouble and sorrow; and the fence paternal love has thrown round him is not invulnerable. The mother's arms are laid in their last long sleep, and cannot now rise to inclose him; he buffets with the world alone, unaided by mortal or bodily resources. Cruel, cruel mothers-cruel in your most self-denying kindnesses; how much more justly would you have been mourned, had you fortified the mind with virtue, which would have taught them instinctively to appreciate your worth! Nature to be sure had given Felix a temperament of peculiar efficacy against the ills of life, and his mother would here add, the good Queen Felicita had taken him under her especial care; but I have known dispositions that bid as fair as his to be happy and useful, been warped in childhood to overbearing

insolence and idleness.

lightly into it, she disappeared-how, Mrs. Love-¡ grove could never tell; for a louder chuckle than common from her boy, as he saw the bright chariot and its auxiliaries, called her attention from the Queen Felicita. Deep in her maternal bosom did she bury this memorable occurrence-not even her husband was allowed to share the treasured secret; and as Felix grew up to be too old for the cradle and his mother's arms, and approached to that era when the " unmentionables" of after years are appropriated to the use of boys-that era which my reader will probably be able to understand better if I tell her, in plain unvarnished English prose, Felix Lovegrove was breeched! Up to this time I intreat "my candid reader" to believe he had never disgraced the petticoats, but had been as gentle, loving, kind and affectionate, as any entire proprietress of those wearables could desire. The pockets of Felix were deep, very deep, as any person might presume by the distance of Master Lovegrove's digits from his elbows; this, and the peculiarly contented smile of the young aspirant to manhood, perhaps reminded his friends and relatives that pockets were created for a defi- All the children in the neighbourhood liked to nite purpose, viz., to put money as well as hands play with Felix; he was always agreeable and in; bis looking so contented might be another anxious to please them more than himself, and, as reason for their liberality, as persons are more a natural consequence, they all sought his comprone to give where it is not wanted than where pany. The old apple women rubbed into brilliancy it is. Another deep question for metaphysicians. the polish of their best codlins when he became or At the end of the first week of his appearance in sought to become a purchaser, and "bless his his present character and costume, he thought pretty face" was a common benison as he aphimself as rich as a Jew, the shillings and six-proached, and as he departed. His schoolmaster, pences had tumbled in in such abundance. This was who being somewhat old and rather fretful, never hailed by his fond mother as another of the thou- failed to relax his rigid features into something sand-and-one instances of good resulting from the very nearly resembling a smile of satisfaction when fairy's gift; and, to do her justice, she had hitherto he came, for he had always chanced to remember brought him up so wisely and so well, that a child something which either he or his old dame had less favoured than he by the especial notice and wanted-something perhaps not worth a pennyprotection of the Queen of the Fairies, would have "but it was so kind and thoughtful of the child to been, with his fine intelligent countenance, a gene- remember it ;" and the wealth of Master Felix, acral favourite. I might here expatiate on the cruel quired on his coming of age-to wear breechesevils ill-judging parents heap on their children by was reserved for these and similiar acts of kindover indulgence; no person can be a greater adTo confer blessings, benefits, and kindness vocate than I am for never-varying kindness and on others, were the only luxuries his young heart judicious rewards and punishments-such manage- courted; no wonder then, though with his small ment is the very essence of that rule whose cha-means, he was a happy child, and that the gift of racter is order. But to surfeit a fretful child with his fairy friend proved of inestimable value. In kisses when he deserves the birch, is conduct only vain the varied and luscious treats at a neighbourfit for a lunatic. It has been said by many clevering pastry-cook's shop daily solicited his attention theoreticians, example is better than precept. and patronage; to be kind to others was a more Well, here is Felix Lovegrove as an example of a tempting luxury, and within his reach. His old well-managed child. "Yes," say the doating schoolmaster-whom Fortune in her frolics had once mothers, drawing their squalling children towards had at the top of her wheel, but had now consigned them, and endeavouring vainly to stop their mouths to the opposite point-was a man of liberal educawith kisses" yes, but you must confess there is tion; and, as he found Felix had brains as well as an immense difference in children's dispositions." a heart, he taught him progressively all his most Granted; but this only demands more care and valuable knowledge; amongst which may be watchfulness on the part of the parent. Children reckoned a branch in which his mother was deare quick and acute observers generally; they will ficient-namely, knowledge of the world: he watch the eye of their parent or tutor, and will stripped him of all her flimsy disguises, and taught readily foresee how the debate will terminate; him her extreme obnoxiousness, and iniserable they seize the symptoms of irresolution in a mi- end. nute, and will reason-" Ma says, I must not do so and so; but she laughed at me the last time I disobeyed her, and so I will try again;" and the child becomes unmanageable, and the mother has her own selfish weakness alone to blame. She could not bear to hear her child cry. She could

ness.

Though this was a side of the picture which had never previously been presented to Felix, and though the information gained was almost nullified by his extreme benevolence and his unsuspecting nature, the first cloud which darkens over a youthful and sensitive heart-that of hearing for

the first time, that Cain's nature is inherited by many still-that the "seed of the serpent" is widely diffused on the earth, and that persons often smile, and smile, and play the villain, and press their neighbour's hand at the same time they are meditating how to pick his pocket. This first unwelcome intelligence, though it caused a passing pang, made but little further impression: he loved his fellow-creatures en masse as well as ever. In the mean time his education progressed, to use a transatlantic term. He had long been aware whether Europe was a continent or an island; he also knew the difference between an island and a promontory, an isthmus and a lake-knew that they seldom ate ices in the torrid zone, or wore gossamer petticoats in the frigid; and had he gone to sea, the sailors would not have been able to hoax him in crossing the line. He knew also that our earth, not to be outdone by Columbus, takes herself an annual excursion round the sun-a species of circumnavigation which leaves every other pigmy attempt immeasurably in the back ground; and he consequently was not likely to fall into the error of the Scotch pupil and his instructress, which is recorded in Chambers's Journal, which being altogether Scotch is likely to be a veritable chronicler on the subject; it says

"Aunty," said a puisne urchin, "what do 'em mak o' a' the old moons?"

"Indeed, laddie, I canna just tell," she replied; "maybe they'll clip 'em doon and mak stars o' em." Felix's mind was immeasurably better informed than this said puisne urchin's. He had even some knowledge of the nature of eclipses, and looked with an instructed eye on the marvellous field of wonders the evening sky presented; he was beginning even to follow the extraordinary calcula

amas

to him; there was a smile which savoured so strongly of incredulity whenever Fairyland and its inhabitants were mentioned that Mrs. Lovegrove dreaded to arouse their anger, by abruptly communicating to him his good fortune, and running the risk of his knocking it all down by disrespect or unbelief. Mrs. Lovegrove was essentially a superstitious person-Felix, whose mind had been early under the tuition of a Christian and a worthy man, was constitutionally the reverse; he had been taught early to look into his own heart, to detect its weakness and its hypocrisy; for he soon found-and who has not found who searched-that there was much in his comparatively pure heart which required the skilful hand, to pluck up, to disarrange, to cultivate, and to arrange. He loved his mother dearly; of his father he knew but little, as he was away, ploughing the ocean, generally ten months out of the twelve. Time wore awayfor I have always observed time will keep trotting insensibly on, whether he has "all appliances and means to boot" for his journey, or whether he is but scantily and sparingly furnished therewithhe industriously plods on, and steam boats may blow up, or burn, or sink, (a variety) and steam carriages may have the choice of the two former delightful alternatives-balloons may rise or fallomnibuses may suffer their horses to go to sleep, and cabs to frighten the very stones from the pavement, but Time, like a careful and engrossed tradesman, will still move on at his accustomed pace, neither slackening nor increasing his velocity, although the Royal Exchange itself should be on fire. Time, which brought "old Dobson" to his eightieth, brought Felix Lovegrove to his eighteenth year; and though he was an only child, it was agreed on all hands that he should do something for himself; and he was most cordially of this opinion, although the nightingale's notes never wearied him, and the roses and violets, in their respective seasons, brought fresh joy and gladness to his heart. I have not troubled my readers with an account of his numerous charities, in fact I cannot be supposed to know them, as he acted upon that plan which "suffers not the left hand to know what the right hand doeth." He had now bid farewell to his kind schoolmaster, whom he hath loved and reverenced, and had drawn largely on his private purse to furnish presents for him and his kind wife. One day, seated in his favourite lane at the side of the wood, in sorrowful and recess in Wood, he heard some persons in a

anxious communication.

tions of astronomers on the comet's erratic course. The Great Bear and its tiny companion were as familiar to him as bipeds of the same genus on earth; he could parley vous-knew the celebrated and sublime poetry beginning amo ~(I won't say by heart, for his time was yet to come); was master of the varied evolutions of Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta; in short, to his mother he appeared a walking Encyclopædia, and she often thought, though she had too much good sense to express her opinion, that it was a very great wonder that one small head contained all he knew." To all this learning, my reader is aware he added what Queen Elizabeth has aptly termed a perpetual letter of recommendation, a fine countenance; and though like other letters of recommendation, if upon a near acquaintance its possessor's character is found to give the lie to its fair speeches, the letter becomes null and void; yet no person but the ill-favoured is ever found to refuse to give it at least a reading. His perpetually sunny brow, over which a smile or a semblance of a smile ever rested; his clear and finely-formed cheek, and his dark blue eyes, which appeared to possess the softness of the blue with the fire and expression of the black; his chesnut hair-the tout ensemble of his face and figure were indeed, "It strikes me," said her husband, "that our strictly speaking, what the discerning Queen has landlord knew nothing of his steward's conduct. so ably characterized. His mother, though sheOuthwaite says he is abroad, but something strikes joyously hailed the evident signs of the value of me that he told this falsehood to prevent our the Fairy's gift, never had mentioned the subject applying to him."

66

Alas, our home!" said a female, "what are we now to do?"

"It is better to be the oppressed than the oppressor," answered a stronger voice.

"True, George," she answered; "do not suppose I would even now exchange consciences with the unhappy Outhwaite; but what is to become of us and these four dear children?" and she wept bitterly, while the children appeared to be offering her the small comfort they could suggest.

but those of nature; no fascinations but those of truth. When he had concluded, his attentive listener, who had heard him with extreme surprise, answered

"You tell me of strange conduct, Mr. Lovegrove," he did not use the privilege of persons of rank to forget the names of their inferiors, and he had as great a right to do so as any of them, for he had never seen or heard of Mr. Lovegrove before, and his name had been only mentioned by him on his entrance, and Lord Falkland was not remarkable for a good memory, but the secret lies in this perhaps, he had learnt to do unto others as he would they should do unto him ;" he felt sure if he was honoured with an audience of one of his superiors, and they Lord Falkland, and Falker'd, Falktomn'd him, he should have felt hurt; he therefore remembered and distinctly and courteously pronounced, "Mr. Lovegrove, you tell me of conduct I never once suspected; I am sorry to say Outhwaite must be a sad hyprocrite if your information is correct. It is strange," continued his Lordship, musingly, "it is strange now I never suspected him, but my daughter, my youngest daughter too, she never liked this Outhwaite, and was continually guarding me against him." "The ladies," said Felix, modestly, 66 are very acute observers, generally."

Felix had by this time made his way through a gap in the hedge; he beheld a travel-worn and interesting looking couple, and four small children, seated on a bank, they were parting amongst them a loaf. Felix approached, and with his peculiar look of cordial kindness, which never failed to go direct to the heart, he told them he had heard a part of their trouble, and he now offered to serve them to the extent of his power; he listened to their tale-they were the occupants of a small farm, which only just supported them; they had, from sickness, been unable to pay their last year's rent, and were mercilessly ejected by Outhwaite, Lord Falkland's steward, and all their goods taken from them; and before they had been turned out many hours, the father of a young girl, to whom the steward | was attached, was installed as the occupant. Felix's heart was deeply grieved at this tale, and after inquiring Lord Falkland's town residence, and some particulars respecting the steward and his residence, he gave them all the money in his possession, and entreating them to remain at a lodging he would procure for them until they saw him again, he hurried home and told his mother what had come to his knowledge. His mother's opinion of the infallibility of his judgment, being constantly backed by her remembrance of the Fairy's promises, she furnished him liberally with Lord Falkland rang the bell. "Tell Lady means for his journey, and promising to look to Laura to come to me," said he to the servant, who his pensioners in his absence, Felix departed with appeared, and presently bounding in like a young a light heart for Y. Wonderful to relate, fawn, came Lady Laura Falkland. Of course she though a country youth and almost the first time from home, he committed no desperate blunder pect, and would feel yourself deeply aggrieved if was beautiful, reader, that you will naturally exor extravagance, which is another proof, among a she was not. Well, she was beautiful as heart or thousand, that good sense and good nature are eyes could desire-about seventeen years of age. more essential goods than any a young person can Care had never crossed her path in any shape or possess. By the help of these united qualities disguise, and you might have thought to have and that blessing which attends our exertions in looked at her that those laughing eyes had never another's behalf, Felix found Lord Falkland had shed a tear; it was indeed almost so. She was so just arrived; and though at an unseasonable hour, complete a darling that anything within the comon hearing Felix had come some distance to see pass of her father's, her mother's, or her sister's him, he was admitted. It is perhaps equally surpower to obtain, they never dreamt of denying prising that the sight and presence of a Lord, the her. Lady Laura bounded in, but seeing a stranger first probably he had ever seen, Felix should not excite she blushed and curtsied slightly. Felix was reany awkwardness of manner or internal agitation.quested to repeat his account-and this time I And this did not proceed from any improper feelings of equality which are spreading in the present day-Felix had been taught to "render honour to whom honour is due," and Lord Falkland was a man who as a commoner might have claimed this. But there is in every well-regulated mind an equable as well as an equitable scale of respect, in which self-respect is never forgotten. Lord Falkland was of a figure which almost of itself speaks of nobility, and Felix while he allowed this its legitimate weight, remembered though his own birth was lonely, in Burn's words

"A man was a man for a' that-"

or in Pope's-that

"A wit's a feather, and a chief's a rod,

An honest man's the noblest work of God;" and with Young,-that

"A Christian is the highest style of man." Thus firm and perfectly self-possessed, he told his "plain unvarnish'd tale," which had no graces

cannot say he succeeded so well-when he looked at Lady Laura, be forgot every thing, but looking at her; and he found at last it would be wiser to look at Lord Falkland, and endeavour to forget that two of the most beautiful eyes in the world were looking at him with evident interest; on this arrangement he succeeded better, and managed to conclude his tale pretty much to the credit of his heart and his head.

"I told you so, Papa," said Lady Laura, (for ladies, however kind, fond, or well-bred, never fail to remind gentlemen of their superior penetration; it may be because having little of mental superiority to lay claim to, they are willing to place in a conspicuous foreground what is justly theirs.) "I told you so, Papa," said she, "I always suspected that prim, over-righteous, or would-be righteous Outhwaite; now you see the consequences of not taking good advice; here is a respectable family distressed, and had it not been for this gentleman-she bent to Felix as she spokeperhaps they would have been driven to the ten