No. CXX. -Mortal pleasure, what art thou in truth! CAMPBELL, (Continuation of the Vicar's Tale.) SUPPER being removed, after chatting some time, my worthy host conducted me to my bedchamber, which was on the ground floor, and lined with jasmine, that was conducted in at the windows. After wishing me good night, he retired, leaving me to rest. The beauty of the scenery, however, and my usual propensity to walk by moon-light, induced me to leave my fragrant cell. When I sallied forth, the moon was darting her temperated rays through the shade that surrounded the cottage, tipping the tops of the venerable oaks with silver. After taking a turn or two on the lawn, I wandered to the spot where "the rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep." It was small, and, for the most part, surrounded with yew-trees of an ancient date, beneath whose solemn shade many generations had mouldered into dust. No sooner did I enter, than my attention was caught by a pillar of white marble placed on the summit of a small eminence, the base of which was surrounded with honeysuckles and woodbines, whilst a large willow overshadowed the pillar. As I was with attention perusing the epitaph, I was not a little alarmed by the approach of a figure clothed in a long robe. The apparition continued advanc ing towards me with a slow step, and its eyes fixed on the ground, which prevented it observing me till we were within reach of each other. Great was my wonder at recognising my worthy host in this situation; nor was his astonishment less at finding his guest thus courting the appearance of goblins and fairies. After each had expressed the surprise he felt, I proceeded to inquire whose dust was there enshrined. To my question he returned answer :"There, sir, sleeps Harriet's mother, an innocent, but unfortunate woman. Pardon, me, sir (said he), if, for a moment, I indulge my sorrow, and bedew my Harriet's grave with tears, a tribute that I often pay her much-loved memory, when the rest of the world is lost in sleep."-Here he paused, and seemed much agitated. At length he requested my permission to defer the recital of Harriet's woes till the next day, as he found himself unequal to the task of proceeding in the painful detail. To this proposal I readily ac www ceded, and we returned home. I retired to my room, but every attempt to procure sleep proved ineffectual. Harriet had so wholly occupied my thoughts, that no moment of the night was suffered to pass unnoticed. At length," when "soared the warbling lark on high," I left my .couch, and rejoined my worthy landlord, who was busily employed in the arrangement of his garden. Though I declined mentioning the subject of our last night's adventure, yet he saw the marks of anxious expectation in my countenance, and proceeded to gratify the curiosity he had inspired." It will be necessary (said he), before I proceed to relate the woes that befel my daughter, to give a short sketch of my own life.-Six and twenty years ago, Mrs. came hither for the benefit of her health, the air being recommended as highly salubrious. On her arrival she gave out that she was the daughter of a clergyman who was lately dead, and had left her in narrow circumstances. - I thought it my duty to visit her, and offer her any little attention in my power. She received me with politeness, and expressed a wish to cultivate my acquaintance. I continued to repeat my visits for some time without suspecting that there was any thing particular in her history, till, one morning, I found her in tears, reading a letter she had just received. On my entrance she gave it to me; it contained a notification from Lord B's agent, that her usual remittance would no longer be continued. On opening this letter, I was led to suppose that her connection with Lord B was not of the most honourable nature. But all my suspicions vanished on her producing several letters from Lord B to her mother, with whom he had long been connected. From these letters, I learned, that Mrs. was the daughter of by Miss Mby Miss M, sister to a Scotch baronet, whom he had seduced and supported during the remainder of her life. But he had, it seems, determined to withdraw his protection from the fruit of their connection. Mrs. Lord B declared she knew not what step to take, as her finances were nearly exhausted. I endeavoured to comfort her, assuring her that she should command every assistance in my power. On hearing this, she seemed a little satisfied, and became more composed. After sitting with her some time, I returned home, to consider in what manner I might most easily afford protection to the young orphan whose whole dependance was on my support. If I took her home to live with me, as I was unmarried, it would give offence to my parishioners: my income was too confined to admit of my affording her a separate establishment. Thus circumstanced, I determined to offer her my hand. You will, no doubt, say, it was rather an imprudent step for a man who had seen his fortieth year to connect himself with youth and beauty: but, as my brother was then living, it was impossible for me to render her the least assistance on any other plan. She received my proposal with grateful surprise, and accepted it without hesitation. In a few days we were married, and have now lived together six and twenty years in a state, the felicity of which has never been interrupted by those discordant jars which are so frequently the concomitants of matrimony: though, alas! our peace has received a mortal wound from one, the bare mention of whose name fills me with horror! but not to digress: before the return of that day which saw me blessed with the hand of Emily, my happiness received an important addition, by the birth of a daughter, who inherited all her mother's charms. It is superfluous to add, that she was equally the idol of both her parents; and as she was the only fruit of our marriage, she became every day a greater favourite. My wife had received such an education as rendered her fully capable of accomplishing her daughter in a manner far superior |