kntering tho french lines at he maison do ctocheton a long walk through the aigzag approaches led to the advanred trench wcrc glimpses over the parapet nnd through loopholeb rendered precarious by


the prox imity of the russian riflemen who fired iu cessantly revealed the features of the ground


in a green hollow or basid at tho head of the inlet known as quarantine day is a russian cemetery having in the midst a small church surrounded by crosses and headstones


no english country churchyard where the forefather of the hamlet sleep can


in its trim sanctity be more suggestive of repose than this peaceful spot above the occupants of whioh rude requiems of musketry and cannon had for months broken tie silence


instead df mourning friends marksmen had crouched in the grass of the grntes or lain in the shadow of tho tombstones


on the previous night there had been hard fightin above the dead on the thresholds of whose green abodes lay others ready to join them


the cemetery is surrounded by a vrall and is about seventy yards squme the further wsll was leas than a hundred yards from the wall of the town which was cf masonry upright those of for tified places are in generatstrengthened with sloping buttresses termed revetments and having no ditch


it was breached in three or four places though not extensively enough for the assault but it woe evident that in a few hours the french batteries cnnld whenever they pleased destroy the whole extent of wall which it would have been impolitic to do until the momeut for storming had arrived


between tho wall of the cemetery and that of the town was a line ot rifioscrcens strongly constructed of earth and gabions and capablo of holding each at least n dozen marksman


only two of these hail been taken bt the french and the number of dead stretched on the gross show ed at whst cost


the cemetery was cleared of russians who had retired to their remaining riflepits and its right wall now formed part of the french parapet


the russian batteries before the town were silent end the garrison had hoisted a flag of truce which the french refused to respond to os it was known the attack was to be resumed in greater force tho same night rd mid on returning in the evening i met bodies of troops entering tho lines


in oil it ivcs saiil that men were to assembled in the trenches for this new attack


that night at nine oclock the cannonide and musketry opened as before but soon become fainter and by midnight died away


the russians cowed by the saughtcr of the previous night and overpowered iiy the numbea of tho assailants withdrew withih their works after a short struggle and left the whole of the riflepot to our allies who connected them by trenches opened n communication with their nearest approach and occupied hum as a new ad vanced line


on the th there wes a trace for six hours to collect the dead


the french lost killed and wounded of whom about a fourth were killed


they delivered to the russians bodies j more were collected by tho burial parties on the ground most of whom had been killed by tho fire cf four french field pieces which ploughed through the enemys dense columns drawn up in support and the loss of the garrison in o to attacks could scarcely have been less thin men


on tiie rd the expedition again bailed for kerttch and this time accomplished tho object of its mission


on the afternoon of the the allied force disembarked at kaniuh n village south wcbt of kei tsch


about ui tisrian cavalry showed themselves there but did tot offer to at tack and the garrison after bloving up their msgnzines and spiking most of their guns were secn moving off


next morning the allies advanced on kertsch and halted for an hour in tho town where they destroyed a largo foundry and bulletfactory and then advancing on yenikalp and finding the place deserted they proceeded to intrench them selves


in all gunb w re taken many if them large calibre poundcrs which in another week would have been mounted in the batteries offering a formidable defence


some of our war stcamcra of light draught and gunboats ipmeiintciy entered tho sea of azoff captnring boats laden with grain nnd proceeding to arshnt a strong fort at the southern extremity of the long narrow isthtnub by which tho lar


a communication with tho neighbouring provinces of russia is munfait ed blew up with the first shell fired an itnmcnso magazine there


a fow days afterwards genitsch at the other extremity of tho isthmus of arabat was set on fire and g boats destroyed in its harbour


tho whole of tho sea of azoff was scoured by this light armament the town of bcrdiansk on the north shore was abandoned by the enemy as was soujoukkale near anapa and besides the towns gunb ammunition and vessels in cluding four war steamers sunk by them selves the russians either destroyed or lost grain sufficient for men for four months moreover the road by which supplies had chiefly bees sent to tlebastopol was ren dered unavailable to bt continued


the portland guardian and normanby general advertiser


published every monday wednesday friday


to protect our rightsnot to infringe upon those of others


wednesday december


adventures and observations in australia


by allster macalister gent


chapter vii


port phillip


during the day active preparations were made with a view to an early landing


great excitement prevailed and for the most part it was excitement of a pleasur able kind


the crew from the captain to the cabinboy were in high spirits


some of the sailors who had been at melbourne before were ludicrously extravagant in their descriptions and commendations of the place which according to them had only one fault but that was in their esti mation a very serious onethe exorbitant price of grog


one old saltl in speaking to myself said that there was no danger where we were going of being sick at night and buried in the morning and that if the rum were only as cheap as it was in the west indies australia would be the finest country in the world


the pass gers with few exceptions were lively and happy in the anticipation of good


i was not in the number of joyous expectants


a chilling despondency came over my spirit and i stupidly wondered at the busy scene and the gay mirth that occasionally broke out around me


i foolishly con ciuded that my shipmates could have no right to be merry because i was sad and instead of being cheered was annoyed in witnessing so much enjoyment of life


never did i experience such a sense of loneliness in a crowd


all seemed to have something to care for and something to gladden their hearts but they had no interest in me nor i in them


our ways were to be separate and in a few hours we would part as if we had never met


hope had almost died within me and difficul ties in the future arose in my mind like spectres and long as the voyage of the swift had been i wished that it had been continued indefinitely


i was quite aware of the absurdity and even sinfulness of in dulging in this mood and vigorously endeavoured to shake it off by engaging in conversation with my fellowpassengers but with all my efforts i only partially succeeded


we had on board two old people who had attracted a good deal of my attention from their quiet retiring simple manners


they were man and wife


the former was seventysix years of age the latter about seventy


they were catholics from the south of ireland and i had gained their favor by restoring to the old women an ebony cross which i had picked up on deck and ascertained was her property


these old people had under their charge a girl thirteen years of age who was their grandchild and they were about to join the father of this child who was now a prosperous man in melbourne


the sub stance of their history as i received it from themselves is interesting and may be told in a few words


when they began life together the husband had suceeded his father in one of the most extensive farms in his county


they had only one son on whom they doated and to whom they gave the best education which the neigh bouring market town could afford and for many years they had a large measure of prosperity


but sad times came bad crops and bad markets and the money they had saved gradually disappeared


to crown their grief the son of their heart and hopes when he grew up disappointed their fond expectations


he became dissipated and idle and was more frequently in the town than on the farm


things went on from bad to worse


the worthy couple were necessitated to retire to a small hold ing and here they struggled year after year for little more than a bare subsistence


in the meantime the son married an amia ble young woman moving in a station above his own


the old people were pleased with their daughterinlaw but her own parents disowned her for what they had good reason to consider a disre putable connection


the girl on board was the fruit of this marriage


a few weeks after her birth her father got im plicated in an election riot in which one of the police was killed and several persons seriously injured


he thought it prudent to leave the country and preferred to sail to van diemans land rather at his own charge than at the charge of the govern ment


his affectionate wife leaving her infant behind accompanied him in his flight


they remained in van diemans land five years


shortly after their arri vial the husband obtained employment as a teacher and latterly he became a surveyor and architect


but his income continued to be of no great amount and be could only occasinrially send trifling sums to the assistance of his parents


hundreds or i might more correctly say thousands were flocking to the new colony of port phillip


he went with the multitude and soon established himself in a lucrative business


he now sent liberal supplies home and at last insisted on his father mother and child joining him in the scene of his pros perity


he made all the arrangements so far as he could make them for this pur pose and there was the near prospect of its being realised


they had not how ever acted up to their instructions


simple and unassuming and having learned the value of money by the want of it they had preferred a steerage to a cabin passage


the interesting couple with their young charge were standing quietly apart from the bustle and excitement which prevailed on deck and i felt myself irresistably drawn to enter into conversation with them


the old man was frank and cheerful but the old woman was nearly as low spirited as myself and told me that it was on account of a dream she had had the night before and that she was afraid that after all their trouble she would never again see her own dear sober boy


he had always a good heart she said only the drink poisoned it but he has told us in his letters that he has drunk nothing stronger than cold water since he left ould ireland and that that is the reason he is now a gentleman


sure enough and it may but i never knew a small drop of good poteen hurt man woman or child


but ooh that dream


she had dreamed that the ship was wrecked just a few minutes before the passengers expected to land and that all had gone to the bottom


i tried to smile in her face and asked if she did not know that dreams read con trary


now arent you a witch ex claimed the old man joyously


and sure in the confusion replied his wife i did not remimber that same


praise be to god


we came at last in sight of the heads a bold projecting rock marking the entrance to port phillip


the wind was fresh and favourable but the sea was more than usually rough and three men were at the wheel


i was holding on by a rope opposite the capstan on which was spread a chart of the entrance which was being earnestly examined by captain hunks and his chief officer at this time the stewards boy brought them a message what it was i could not hear although it was repeated more than once before it received the least attention


suddenly however captain joseph turned round and without speaking a word quickly flung the toe of his boot at the messenger a posteriori which sent him reeling with bewildered amazement into the lee scup pers


had i been certain that we were all about to perish i could not have re frained from laughing outright


the supreme ludicrousness of this little incident may possibly be imagined but it far surpasses my feeble powers of description


the poor boy who was not much hurt speedily gathered himself up and exhibit ing a singularly seriocomic countenance retreated in doublequick time to the pantry with his unappreciated knowledge


the pilot could not come on board out side the heads but after we had entered them and when all danger was past if indeed any danger there was he made his ap pearance and took command of the shit and captain joseph hunks was reduced for a brief season to the rank of a subor dinate which he evidently did not relish


he attempted to interfere with the orders of the man in authority but that conse quential officer told him and confirmed his declaration with a nautical curse that he had nothing to do with the working of the ship till she was anchored in hobsons bay but that after that he might either run her ashore scuttle her or set her on fire if he thought proper


no creature could be more uncomfortable than honest joseph deprived of command not even a live fish out of the water


he was un speakable and bearish and paced up and down with his hands thrust deep into the pockets of his blue surtout and passing me without recognition i overheard him mumbling strange oaths and muttering to himself in not the most elegant language that his slavery would soon be over


the entrance to port phillip is only a mile and three quarters across but we soon found ourselves in a magnificent bason forty miles long and forty miles broad and cast anchor in hobsons bay the part of a melbourne distant only a few miles from that town at halfpast ten pm


our anchors were scarcely down when we were boarded by two reporters for the press one of them connected with the melbourne argus and both of them intel ligent frank and gentlemanly


they brought us the papers of the day and ob tained in exchange one or two extracts from the log and a few items of informa tion


though their stay was limited i was exceedingly pleased with their manner and bearing and entering into conversation with the representative of the argus i al most entirely absorbed the little spare time at his disposal


when off the cape i had written some verses pertaining to our situ ation and had corrected and recorrected them till in my own estimation i believed they were nearly perfect


these i trans ferred to my journal and at the same time wrote out a fair copy which i carefully folded and laid past to my pocket book as something much more valuable than a bank of england note


the precious verses i proffered to the reporter for insertion in his paper and was not a little hurt at his ap parent carelessness in relation to my gen serous offer


my good fellow he said this may be all very well but we are not in the habit of giving space to schoolboy rhymes


nay do not look so glum i would not dishearten you and will take the lines with me


but be open to coun sel take a strangers advice and as you would prosper in this new country discard the muses and bring your mind to deal with tangibilities and a life prosaic


the lines did appear in the argus and if the affable reporter of that night be still alive and should by any chance glance on this page he will not fail to smile when he re calls my silly and egregious vanity


i have just now summoned courage to read the verses and am heartily ashamed of them


they will not bear transcription and must slumber in my journal along with other absurdities


i saw the reporters over the side of the vessel into their own nice fairy shallop which bounded away from us like a thing of life


the wind had subsided and the moon was shining brightly over the calm waters


it was a quiet and lovely night and as i had nei ther disposition to go back to the cabin from which the jolification proceeded nor to turn into my berth i promenaded up and down the deck entertained by a variety of fancies but on the whole of a much less sombre character than those which had oppressed me during the greater part of the day


i had a firm belief not only in the sovereignty but in the providence of god and remembering the old saying that god only helps those who help them selves i determined that in the time to come i would put forth my best exertions in dependence upon promised divine assis tance


i was in this frame of mind when the surgeon more sober than i had reason to expect joined me


i did not feel his doing so an intrusion on my meditations for i had formed a strong liking to the man notwithstanding his glaring faults


he said he had got tired of his associates and that he had come up to breathe the fresh air to smoke a cigar and to try to think


i replied that i could see no particu lor harm in any of these exercises but that if he were specially bent upon thinking i had better retire and leave him alone with the moon


i am in no mood for joking he answered bear with me you are a kind simple clever soul


and i like you


indeed you are the only one in the slip that i would give sixpence for to save from perdition


but i talk like a fool and yet i am going to make myself appear more foolish


listen do not inter rupt me till i have finished i will not de tain you long


i have a presentiment that i shall soon be done with this world


dont start be silent


it is not the insults of such worms as joseph hunks and his chief officer nor the fact that the twin boobies have determined to put me ashore here at which i am annoyed no not an noyed but mad


mad mad


hear me i shall be calm presently


i had a mother


i believe my father is still living a wealthy but a worthy man


he has had sufficient sorrows on my account and his tears for my death are i hope by this time dried up


for hearing of his anxie ties about myself in order to end them i caused a fictitious letter to be written to him from one of the west india islands communicating the details of his profli gate sons decease


i have led a life of fever and folly and it is rapidly drawing to a close and i have found no solid en joyment in my career


i question much if such enjoyment is to be met with on earth


they say it may be discovered in the bible perhaps so but i have been accustomed to scout and ridicule the book although to speak candidly i am totally ignorant of its first principles


i have lived a fools life and shall die a fools death but i sincerely desire that you may profit by my fate and that you may be spared whether in prosperity or adversity to ap prove yourself every inch a man


i do not wish you to become a saint i do not forbid or advise you to read the bible of which i myself know nothing but as a dying person i solemnly warn you of two things which have been my ruinbeware of gambling and drunkenness


i am confident death is at hand nay do not in terrupt me i am cast out of this ship like an unclean thing but strange as you may think it i have a strong aversion to being buried like a dog and i have earnestly to request should you have opportunity that you will perform a brothers office by having me put decently out of sight


i was at a loss what reply to make to this singular speech


for a moment i thought the speaker had gone insane


but his calm sad deliberate assured manner disabused my mind of any such idea


with much difficulty i expressed my surprise and told the miserable man that i was afraid he was iabouring under a temporary mental delusion but that i trusted it would disappear after a nights sleep


he shook his head incredulously and i abruptly stopped by saying that i deeply sympathised with him and that he might command my servces in any way he saw proper


he thanked me and then en quired with great coolness but without the slightest impropriety if i intended to take lodgings in melbourne because said he we might be together if not disagree able to you and such an arrangement would afford me the liveliest satisfaction


i would certainly rather not have entered into the plan proposed but i could not resist the surgeons appeal and declared my readiness to comply with his wish


it was now close on midnight and we were disturbed in the midst of our con versation by a boat pulling alongside


our curiosity was speedily gratified


the parties in the boat were soon on deck and one of them proved to be the son of the old irish couple


the ship had been telegraphed to melbourne and the son with all the kindly warmth of his coun try had hastened to welcome his child and his aged parents


their meeting was worth a lifetime of ordinary existence


i had the pleasure of being introduced to the son and of receiving his address


years after the good old people were still alive and i found them in their sons ele gant villa in the neighbourbood of mel bourne surrounded with every comfort


i went to my berth agitated in mind my sleep was disturbed with fearful dreams and in the morning i arose spiritless and unrefreshed


the story of the old wolf


translated from the german


chapter iii


sir isegrim felt more than ever the injurious effects of a questionable reputation


he could no longer live by his teeth as a wolf his coat would not permit him to pass for a dog


all his elo quence could not win the confidence of the shep herd or the affection of the flock


my skin he exclaimed is against me but the third attempt generally creates or dissipates the charm


may it be so in this instance


no thing will prove my reformation but bringing the head of a wolf in token of my eternal hostility to violence and my admiration of persecuted inno cence


the blood of the pack cannot taste so sweet as what i well remember but will not whisper


but i must go warily to work there is some danger to be dared yet hunger is supe rior to fear and will enable me to dare anything


as the shadows of evening closed the wolf re turned with slow and marshalled steps to the door of a neighbouring shepherd


you see ex claimed sir isegrim a sense of justice has proved strongcr than the claims of nature


you may talk mr shepherd of your brutuses but who would have expected a wolf to avenge on his own kindred the violence done to a helpless sheep


i caught this individual of our species in the very act of worrying one of the flock and i said within my self on the one side i have fraternal tenderness and on the other old prejudices to hinder an act of justice tis hard to injure a brother one who has shared the same repast and followed on the same trail but virtue triumphed and i took his life as a warning to others


henceforth wolves will learn that i am determined either to reclaim them by my example or to destroy them utterly


ah


sir isegrim said the shepherd you are a most extraordinary wolf


extraordinary indeed you shall find me said isegrim if you will hire me as the guardian of your sheep


you see i cannot return to my old habits


i am now committed


if my brethern catch me alone i shall be worried to death


besides in your em ployment my experience will be serviceable to me and to you too shepherd for i have seen a good deal before today


and so yo think master isegrim said the shepherd that i suppose wolves quarrel only about points of honour and humanity


because you have killed one of your pack you think i shall be duped by assuming that you will hence forth do no murder


rogues and robbers not only shed blood in acquiring but often in dividing the spoil


as you have done justice to your worthy congener crown the novelty by doing the same justice to yourself


i cant trust you ise grim


cant you growled the wolf then you must watch me


j uf


and aivintuus of mahtin


ciiuzzlliytlt v c cickess esq


oifiniialnun our bit


chaptell x containing stiiakgi


uatteli ok wlllon von


tiiiiln good or ivil isiuiicr clliftfly uelknd


but mr pecksniffcnme in town ou business lie had forgotten lint t was be always taking liia pleasure with todcrss ioviiil bnud un uiinuyul of the serious demands uhnlcur thev may be upon ins calm cousideniliui i no time and tide will wail iur no man snith i lie adage


but all men bive lo wail for time an i tile


that iiiln wliirh tilu t ilic flood wuuld lead sctji pfctsnilv on tu tviilunc was marker


down in ilie tnhlo nnd about to flow


no idle lecksuifl linsrioil farinhiuil


unmind ful of tbe chmijrrs iif ihu stream inn there upon the waters edr over bis times already mood the worthy crcntnrr prepared to wallow in llie verv miij so that it slij towards tile ijiiarlcr ofbis hor


tlio trustfulness of liis two fair iliminhtars was lieiiutifnl indeed


thev liai tiiat firm re liance on th


ir pawns lintun which tiublii tlicni to feel certain tint in nil ik diil he had his purpose straight and lull biwe


iii


ami tint its noble enl and ubjrtt was liimaelf


whicb nlniosl as necessitv incluihil linn they new


the dcvoi ion of these imiils wci o pernci


tlieir filial confidence was rerdrnd tlic more dwelling ul ilieir bavin


no kiioirlcikn


v


waucearcair they bibivof his proceeding was that every inoriiii


s allcrtliii early break fast he repaired to the iiustoilire and enquired fur letters


that uisv performed bis business lortlir


dav was over mid he amin relaxed until ilic risiii


of another sun proclaimed tbe udvclitofniiotlirrpml


tliis ivpnl on for four or fiin drive


ai lenib one morning mr pecksniff returned inhiin nvollier hiies wcnlniinnd seeking immediate fcti with his dnmrhlers shut imself


nil uilli lliem in prirara conference for two whole hours


ol all that passed in ibis period only the following words of mr ectsuifis uunraiice are known if it should turn out as elperl that he has we neednt stop to enquire


my dears i have my lbourhts upon the siibjmt but i will nut impart lliem


it is oikujrii ilit we will nut be proud resentful or unforgiving


if be wants our friendship be shall hive it


we know our duly i hope i that same dav at hood an old gentleman aliened from a imckiirvcwicji at the post office and


sivinjr his name inquired for i letter addressed to himself nnd directed lo he left there till cnllil fir


it liiul been lyiiisr mvcksmirhand


nud


it was sealed with mr pecksniffs seal


it was verv short containing indeed nothing mure than tlie address uithllr


pecksniils respectful and notwithstanding what had passed sincerely nffeclionale regards


the ujil rcntleniti tore on the direction scmtirijiy the rest in fragments lo the winds and givinir it to the coachman bade him drive as near that place us he could


in pursuance of litse where ho airaiu alwned dismissed the vehicle and walked towards toderss


though the filer andform and cait of this old man and even his trip of tbe stout slick on which he leaned were all expressive of re solution nut easilv shaken and a purpose it mm wrs little whether riijlit r utoiijt just vived the rack ami hail its strangest life in weakest death slill ihore were frrmus of iji tition in his mind ivhich made him now avoid a gleam of sunlight thai brightened tbe little churchyard hard by


there mav have been in tbe presence of those idle heapsofdust among the busiest stir nf life something to increase his wavering but there ho walked awakening the echoes as he jweed up anil down until the church dock striking the quarters for the second lime since he had been there roused him from liis meditation


sliakiua off iiin in latitude as the uir purnsl with the sound of the bells be walked rapidly lo the house and knocked al the door


mr pecksniff was seated in ihe landladys little room and his visitor found him rrwdiii by an accident he apologised for iian ex cellent theological uurk


there was cake iiii


i wine uiiuii a little lablebv muljer acci ilent for which he also ainkxised


indeed he said he had inn his victor u and was ulnint to partalii of ihnt simple refltshment with his chldren when he knocked at the door


vour daniilcrs are well said old martin laying down his hat and stick


mr pocksuiil eudcjvoiirpj


lo conceal his agitation as si father whtn he answered yes they were


they were guod girls he said commend mr churalewit to tali


the easy chair or to keep out ol the drauirlilof the door


if be made any such sugarestion he would expose himself lie feared to must unjust sus picion


he would therefore content himself with reinarking that there was an easy chair in the room and lliul the iloor uas far from heiiiif air tight


this biter imperfection he ulonly tlblincrwiuciiiloodhuuesl ucum the old man sat down in the easy chair iii the first place let me tliauk you for coming to london so promptly al iny almost unexplained request i need scarcely add t my cost


at limit cost my good sirl cried mr pdcksnilf in u tone of area


surprise


it is nut said jlaviiii iauii his hand impatiently my habit to pui nnwcll


my relatives to any personal expeiiao to grauly my caprices


caprices my good sir i cried m r peck eniil


that is scarrclv the proper word either in this instance saij the old man


no


you ore rijjht


mr pecksniff was inwardly very much re lieved to near it though he didnt at nil knou


why


you are right repeated martin


it is not a caprice


it is built upon reason prauf and cool comparison


caprices never nrc


moreover i am not a capricious man


i never most assuredly not said mr pecksniff


i how do you know


returned the other


quickly


you arc to begin lo know it now


you are to lest and prove it in time lo come


i you and yours


arc lo find that can be con i gtant and am not lo be diverted from inv end


i do you hear


i perfectly said jj r pecksniff


i very much regret


martin resumed looking steadily nt him nnd speaking in a slew and measured tone i very much regret that you and i held such a conversatiun toge ther as that which passed between us si our last meeting


i very much regret that laid open


lo you whut were then my thoughts of you so freely as i did


the intentions tlim bear towards you now are of another kind and deserted by all in whom i have ever trusted hoodwinked mjil beset by nil who should help and sustain me i fly to you for refuge


i confide in you to lie my nily to ntfncli yourself lo me by lies of interest and kxlmictuliiiii he laid great stress upon these words tlinisrli mr pecksniff particularly begged hiill not lo mention it and lo help species of metinuess dissimulation mid sub tlety on tbe right heads


my noble sirl cried mr pecksniff catching nt his outblrehlied jiuud


and rail regret the having harboured an unjust thought of me f you witb those gray hairs


itfjjrete l


martin ire


fie natural property if grey hairs nnd i enjoy in com


inoii imtliullulher men at least my share such inheritance


and so enough of that


i repret having been severed from you po long


if i had known you sooner and sooner used you as you well deserve i might have beon a happier man


m r pecksniff looked up to the ceiling and clasjied his hands in rapture


your daughters aid martin after a short silence


i uont know them


are they like y in the nose of my eldest nnd the chin of my youngest mr cbuzzlewil returned the widower their sainted parent not myself ihcir mother lives again


i dont mean in person said the old man morallv murally


tisnot for me to say retorted pecksniff with a genile smile


have done my best i could wish to see them slid martin are they near at baud


they were very near for they had in facti been listening at ihu door from the hginuiul of this conversation until now when they pre cipitatelv retired


having wiped the signs of weakness from his eyes and so given them time to fret up sutirs mr pecksniff opened the door ami mildly cried in the passage my own darlings whero are you f hear my deur pal replied the distant voice of charily


come dowii into ihe hack parlour if you please my love said pecksniff and bring your sister with you


yes my dear pa cried merry and down they came directly being all ulimlience shilinir ns they came


notiiinn could exceed the astonishment of the two miss pecksniffs when thy found u stranger with tlleirdear papa


nothing cutilil surpass their mute amazement when he said my children mr chuzziewit


liut when he told them that mr chuzzlewit ami lie were friends and that he had said such kind and lender words as pierced hlb very heart the iwo miss pecksniffs cried with one aecurd thank heaven for this i and fell upon the eld mans neck


and when they hid em braced him with such fervour of affection that no words can describe it they grouped them selves about his chair and bung over him as hvuring to themselves no earthly joy


like that ihe reniamderof his life tlie love they would have diffused over their whole existence from infancy if he dear obdurate


had but con sented to receive the precious offering


the old man looked attentively from one to the other and then at


pecksniff several times


what he asked of mr pecksniff hap pening to catch bis eye in its descent for until now it bad been piously upraised with something of ihat expression whirh ihe poetry of ages has attributed to a domestic bird when lircalhing its last amid the ravages of ail elec tric storm what are their names


mr pecksniff told him and added ralliei hastily his calumniators would have said wih a view to any testamentarv thoughts that might be flitting through old martins mind puritans my dcare you had belter wnte them down


your humble autographs are of no value in themselves but affection may jirize affection said the old man will expend itself on ihe living originals


do not trouble yourselves my girls


i shall not so easily forget you charity and mercy as to need sir


said mr pecksniff with alacrity


do you never sit down


why yes occasionally sir said mr pecksniff who had been standing all this time


will vou do so now


i can you ask me returned jir


pecksniff slipping into a chair immediately whether i will do anything tliit vou desire


you talk confidently said martin and you mean well butl fear you duulknow what know what it is to be required lo court bis likings and disliking adapt yourself to bis pivjuiijccs


lo ins bidding lie it wlmt it may bear willi his distrusts and jealousies anil ahviiys still be zealous in his service


when bv it injurious tljuujrhts i lately cutcymiiivd of you hardly dare to claim you for my my wortliy sir returned his relative how ran you talk in such a painful strain hat was more natural than thai you should make the slight mistake when in all other rejects vou were so very correct and have hnj sudtreiisoii such verv sad aud undenia ble reason lo judge of every one about you in ihe worst liiht


true replied the oilier


you are ray l we always saidniy girls and cried mr pecksniff with increasing obsequiousness


misfortune in leiir confounded willi the base md mercenary still we could not wouiler at it


my dears ynu remember i oh vividly i a thousand times


we uttered no complaint said mr peck sniff


occasionally we had the presumption to console ourselves uiiu the remark that truth would in ihe end prevail and virtue be triumphant but not olien


my loves you recollect f kecollccil could he doubt it


dearest pa andwheu vsawyoul resumed mr peck sniff wilb slill greater deference in ihe little unassuming village where we lake the liberty of dwelling i said you were mistaken in hie my dear sir that was all think


o not it nil said martin who had been sitting with his baud upon bis brow for some time past and now louked up again you said much more which added to other circumstances llmt have come lo my know ledge opened my eves


you spoke to me disinterestedly on behalf of needut name him


you know whom i mean


trouble was expressed in mr pecksniffs visairc as he pressed his hot hands together and replied with humility quite disinteres tedly gir assure vou


know it said old martin in his quiet way


am sure of it


i eaid so


it was disinterested too in you to draw that herd of harpies off from me aud be their victim your self most oilier men would have suffered them lo display themselves in all their rapacity aud csinnation


voftlf and drove them off fur which i oe you many thanks


although lell the place know what passed behind mv hack iou see


you amaze inc sir cried mr pecksniff j which was true enough


my knowledge of your proceedings said ihe old man docs not stop at this


you have


yes sir rejoined the architect i liave


lie must quit it fluid margin or for yours


asked mr pecksniff pur any shelter he can find the old man ausnircd he has deceived vou


hope not said mr pecksniff cairerly


i trust not


i have been extremely well disposed towards that young man


i liape it ciinnot be shown that he has forfeited all claim to my protection


deceit deceit iny dear mr chuzzleuit would be final


i should hold myself hound ou proof of deceit to renounce him instiinlly


the old man glanced al both his fair sup porters but especially at miss mercy whom indeed he looked full in the face witb a greater demonstraton of interest titan iiad yet appealed in his features


his gaze again oicouulercd mr pecksniff us he said com posedly of course vou know thai he has made his matrimonial choice f oh dear


cried mr pecksniff rubbing his hair up verv stiff ujnn his head staring wildly at his daughters


this is becoming tremendous i


you know the fact


rereaud martin


surely nut without his gruudnilhcrs con sent and approbation my dear sirl cried mr pecksniff


dont icii me that


tor tbe honor of iiuindu nature


ny vouri not about to tell me thai j


i thought ho had suppressed it said the till


indignation felt by mr pecksniff ol this terrible disclosure was only to be equalled by tbe kiudlingangerof his daughters


whatl had they taken to tlieir hearth and home a secretly contracled bcrpent a crocodilej who had made a furljve offer of bis hand animpo sition on society a baukrupt bachelor with no effects trading with tbe spinster world on false pretences


and oh to think that he should have disobeyed and practised on that sweet that venerable gentleman whose name he bore that kind and tender guardian ills more than father to say nothing nt nil of mother horrible horrible i to turn him out wilb irnominv would be treatment much too good


vus there liolhingelsecouldbcdonelo jiijiit had he incurred io legal pains aud penalties


could it be that the slaluus of the laud were so remiss as to have affixed uo punishment to such delinnuencv f monster how basely had they been deceived i i uiu glad to find you second me so warmly said the old man holding up his hand to slny e torrent of their wrath


i will not deny that il is n pleasure to me to find you so full nf zeal


we will consider that topic as dis posed of


no my dear sir cried pecksniff not as disposed ol until i have purged my house of his pollution


that will follow said the old mnn in its own time


i look upon tbatns done


you are very good sir answered peck sniff shaking his hand


you do me honor


you may look upon it as done i assure you


there is another topic said martin on which i hope you will assist me


you remem ber mary cousin


the voung lady that i mentioned to you mv dears as having interested me so very much roiuaiked pecksniff


excuse my in terrupting you sir told you her history said the old man


which i also mentioned you will recollect my dears cried pecksniff


silly girls mr cliuzzlcwit quite moved by it they were


why look nuwl said martin evidently pleased j feared i should have had lo urge icr case upon you and ask you to regard her favorably lor my sake


but i find you have no jealousies


i


well i you have no cause for any to be sure


she lies nothingto guiu from me my dears and she knows it


the two miss pecksniffs murmured their approval of this wise arrangement and their curdiil sympathy with its interesting object


if i could have anticipated what has come to pass between us four said the old man


thoughtfully but it is loo late to think of that


you would receive her courteously youncr ladies and be kind to her if need where was the orphan whom ihe two miss pecksuiffs would not have cherished in their sisterly bosom


hut when that orphan was commended to their care by one on whom the dnmmedup love of years nas gushiug furth nhat exhausllcss stores of pure affection yearned to expend themselves upon her


an interview ensued during wluch cliuzzle vrit sat gazing at the ground without uttering a word and as il was plain thai he had no desire to be interrupted iu his meditations mr pecksniff and his daughters were pro foundly silenl also


during the whole of the foregoing diulogue he had borne his part with a cold passionless promptitude as though he had learned ami painfully rehearsed it all n hundred times liven when his expressions courarriur lie had retained the sumo manner without tlie least abatement


but now there was a keener brightness iu his eyo and more expression iu his voice as he said awakening from his tlioughlful mood yon know what will be said of this


have you reflected


said of what my dear sir mr pecksniff asked


of this new understanding between us


mr pecksniff looked benevolently sagacious and at the same lime far above all earthly mis construction as lie book his head and ob served that a great many things would be said of it no doubt


great many rejoined tue old man


some will say that i dole iu my old age that illness has shaken me that have lost all strength of inind and have grown childish


you cairbcar ibat


mr pecksniff answered that it would be dreadfully hard to bear but he thought he could if he made a great effort


others will say i speak of disappointed angry people only that you have bed and fawned and wormed yourself through dirty ways into my favour by such concessions aud such crooked deeds such meannesses and vile endurances as nothing could repay no not ihe legacy of half the world we live in


you can bear that


mr pecksniff made reply that this would bo also very hard to bear as reflecting in some degree on the discernment of mr chuzzlewit


slill he had a modest confidence that he could sustain tiic calumny with the help of a good conscience aud that gentle mans friendship


with the great mass of slanderers said old martin leaning back in his chair the tale as clearly foresee will run thus that to mark my contempt fur the rabble whom despised chose from among them the very worst nnd made him do my will and pam pered and enriched him at ihe cost of all the rest


that after casting about for the means of a punishment which should rankle in the bosoms of these kites tlie most and strike into their gall i devised this scheme at a time when the last link in the chain of grateful love and duty that held me to my wee was roughly snapped asunder roughly for i loved tiiin welt


roughly fur i had ever put my trust iu his affection roughly for he broke it when i loved him most god help me i and lie with out a pang could throw me off the while i clung about his heart


now said the old man dismissing ibis passionate outburst ns suddenly as he had yielded to it is your mind made up to bear this likewise


lay your account with having it to bear aud put no trust iu being set right by me


my dear mr chuzzlewit cried pecksniff in qu ecstacy for such a man as you huve shown yourself lo be this day for a man so am at a toss what precise tann to use yet al the same time so remarkably i dont know how to express my meaning for such a man as have described i hope it is no presumption lo say that i and am sure i may add my children also my dears we perfectly agree in this i think would bear anything whatever


enough said martin


you can charge no consequences ou me


when do you return whenever you please my dear sir


to night if you desire il


i desire nothing returned the old roan that is unreasonable


siich a request would be


will you be ready to return at the end of this week


the very time of nil others that mr peck sniff would huve suggested if it had been left to him to make his own choice


as to his daughters the words let us be at home ou saturday dcur in were actually upon their lips


your expenses cousin


rid


martin ukinga folded slip of paper from hit pocket book may possibly exceed that amount


if so


let me kuow the balance that owe you when ue lieu meet


it would be


useless if i told you where i live just now indeed have no fixed abode


when have you shall know it


you and your daughters moy expect to see me before long in ihe mean time need not tell you that we keep our confidence


what you will do when you get home ia understood between us


give me uo account of il at uny time and never refer to it in any way


osk that us a favour


i am commonly a man of few words cousin and all that need be siij just noir is said i think


now let mo go said martin


my dears good morning but ibis distant form of farewell was by no ineaiib leuder enough for the yearnings of the young ladies who ngiin embraced him with all their hearts with all their amis at any rate to whicli parting caresses tiicir newfound friend submitted with a better grace than might have been expected from one who net a moment before lal pledged tlieir parent iu such a very uncomfortable manuer


these endearments terminated he took a hasty leave of mr pecksniff and withdrew followed to the door by both father and daughters who stood there kisilier their hands and beaming with affection untiljlie disappeared though by the way he nevet once looked back alter lie ilad crossed the threshold


to hecontimei


cathomc mry literature


the devils dice


from ilie german


chapter ii


the second throw


the congratulations that came to henrys ears upon his return back to the town sounded to him like hissing reproaches


even the sweet kisses and the tender embraces of his beloved charlotte could not for a moment still the gnawing at his consciencestricken heart that by meansof diabolical arts alone had he saved his own life whilst he caused the foul murder of an affection nc uuiuiciuc


despite of her fatherspride dite still more f his prudence charlotte becanf united to the man over whose head the puriisirient of death iiad but a few days before impended


even in the midst of his nuptial carousalss there was neither joy on the brow norhappinesa in the heart of her bridegroom


there was gloom like that of death upon him which seemed to prognosticate the sad event which speedily fol lowed his nuptials that was thedeath of the fa ther of hisbride


that death however brought to the newly married couple considerable wealth and left them to dispose of it as they pleased


idleness wastefulness unmeaning extrava gance and thoughtless frivolity were not longin consuming the large property which charlotte possessed and with it all the remnant


of that vast estate which had once belonged to the family of schroll


with poverty came forth the evil passions of schroll


he illtreated the wife who had given him everything and in order that he might still the pangs of conscience he plunged into the most vile debaucheries


but of all the species of dissipation in which he indulged it was soon remarked that that beyond all others to which he seemed most devoted was gambling


ever since the time that he successfully threw for and won his life the very sight of the dice seemed to fill him with ecstacy and at last he could not bear to be in the society of any others than those who participated in the same vice


soon but too soon did the consequences of his evil life visit him


first his magnificent man sion was taken possession of then his property was sequestrated and at last not a single per son could be found to lend him a stiver


the sick wife and the child of the murdered wilfred that he had at first supported were deprived of a home and food and at last schroll himself his own wife charlotte and their child were house less and breadless without a roof to shelter them


without a morsel to eat


he could not think of supporting them by his toil for he was unaccustomed to labour and was well aware he had not the strength to endure daily work what vas then to be done


he bethought himself of a medical institute to whom the poor whilst living sold the right of posses sing their bodies and dissecting them after their death


he applied to the director of the institute and the latter foreseeing that the desperate life schroll had been leading must be inevitably ter minated by a speedy death willingly accepted the offer made to him


but this money even this the last he could ever hope to possess and that might have relieved his wife and allayed the cries of hunger in his child schroll took with him to the gambling house


he lost it all there and as the last dol lar was swept from him he grasped up a die and gnawed it between his teeth and as he did so these words came tingling in his ears gently comrade all dice are not as easily broken as that at the place of execution


horrorstricken henry turned round but there was no appear ance of any one near him who could have giver utterance to these words


he burst from the house uttering forth the most horrible curses against himself and his fel low gamblers and in his despair as he rushed on ward he perceived that be had approached the great church yard of the town


he climbed the wall and fell crashing down amongst the white bones of the dead that strewed the earth


he laughed out wildly and furiously as he stamped over the graves of the departed and then rose to shelter himself in a ruined vault from the cold icy wind which now began to blow sharply and bitterly upon him


the rays of the moon penetrated through the broken roof of the vault and tinged as if with a silvery halo these words which appeared in golden letters on the wall blessed are those who die in the lord


filled with rage schroll snatched from the earth a spade that was lying there and dashed it against the golden letters


they seemed to be ineffaceable for each new assault upon them appeared to make them shine out but more brightly than before


he then laid his band upon a pickaxe in order that he might deface them when he felt some one clap him on the shoulder who thus addressed him


let it alone comrade


you are but giving yourself much and unnecessary trouble


schroll shrieked with terror for in the voice he recognised that of wilfred who had been shot through his means and upon looking round he saw the murdered man standing before him


what wouldst thou


asked henry as he stretched forth his hands in fear as if to repel from him the man who stood before him with his face all dabbled with blood as he lay on the sand t hill after receiving the fatal fire


t to console you my respected comrade an


i swered the terrific being now changing his ap pearance to that of theiler who had placed the s enchanted die in his hands


you have forgotten me and therefore have you fallen into this sad plight acknowledge now your friend in need i one too who merely comes again to bring you luck


and if thou wouldst do that wherefore assume a form which to me beyond all others i must be the most awful and the most to be feared


i because i will neither deceive you nor any i body else who requires my aid


even before you i used the charmed die i gave you i let you sus i pect i could not help letting you do something


more than suspect who if was you were dealing with with whom then have i really to do cried schroll as his eyes stared with horror and his hair stood bristling with terror on his head


you know comrade well do you know answered the other with a sardonic grin as he clapped henry on the shoulder you know it ven at this very moment but say what is it you wish


schroll struggled for a moment with himself bnt seeing the utter desperation of circumstances in which he was placed he hurriedly and timidly said i will have a die to win with as often as


i wish to do so


good


but then j come out of the burning light which i feel coming from that inscription i on the wall


you have nothing to do with it now nor ever will


take this die but mind you are never to part with it


if you do the conse


i quence will be great illluck to you


take care also of ever being present when the priestly bene


i diction is given in the church


and then if you should ever again stand in need of me at the last stroke of the clock at the hour of midnight i light a fire and thtn with a loud shout of laughter cast the die into the burning flame it will at once burst with a loud report and when it does


so you must plunge your hand into the fire and seize it


neglect not that important moment or you are utterly lost


you must however have courage you must not let your senses be dazzled by the deceitful images that will present them selves to you and but that one indispensable impediment that always lies in my way when i approach those who have once been baptized you must too be careful not to light the charmed fire upon any day that is marked as the festival of a great saint


here now take the die


schroll grasped at the die with one hand i whilst the intensity of pain he felt in gazing afc the strange being before him compelled him to cover his eyes with the other


when he again looked up he found himself


standing alone in the vault of the dead


he hurried away from the dreadful spot as quickly as he possibly could and then sought out the gambling house from which he had fled in despair a few moments before


there he met with one of those that in the days of his pros perity he had called his friend and with some difficulty procured from him the meanest trifle to stake at play


he won he doubled his stake won again and so went on until morning when he returned home laden with gold to the miserable garret where his wife and child were perishing from hunger


the riches he had gained were not alone suffi cient to supply their necessary wants but to se cure for them rich clothes and a handsome dwell ing and still to have ac his command a consider able sum of money


thus provided schroll betook himself to the richest gambling table of the town and did not quit it until he again returned with a profusion of gold pieces


his luck continued and in the course of a few weeks his vast expenditure of money attracted towards him the attention of the police


he felt


tbat


he was under their surveillance and he therefore abadoned the town in which he and his wife had now become so well known


henry found it necessary to be constantly on the move from one great bathing place to another for his extraordinary and unceasing good fortune drew down suspicions upon him whenever he ap peared and although his die still faithfully aided him and brought him immense sums of money yet his own extravagance and that of bis wife kept pace with it and he lived as he began with out having even a piece of gold to spare beyond that required for the purposes of gambling


at length there was a change in his destiny and it was attended with the most deplorable re sults


in the midst of his life of dissipation the eyes of henry were directed towards a young and beautiful lady he sought to be in her society at balls at concerts and he even persecuted her with his attentions at cliurch


in no place was she safe and no building was so sacred in his eyes that it could guard her from his admiration


one evening that henry who now called him self captain von schroll expected to make by means of his die an enormous fortune when he hoped by one great effort to possess on the in stant a superfluity of riches such riches that they should dazzle and confound by their extent the lady that he admired that very evening when he commenced playing with these calculat ions in his mind and at his heart the die refn


a o perform its office


he lost and lost and wt igain all his ready money all his jewellery


ii hat be had in value and finally encumbered hi self with a frightful mass of debts


x foaming with rage he returned to his homo ind asked for his wife


he was told sue wu


i ibsent


he looked at the die and it seemed not o be his own


a suspicion then crossed his mind


i fhe dame von schroll had also made up ft i herself a circle of female gamblers


be had told i tier of the magic powers of the die without i telling her how it came into his possession or my of the peculiar conditions attached to it and i she had often besought of him to lend it to her b if it were but for a single evening


the die was never parted with by him not even in his sleep m


but then whilst sleeping it might have been pur h loined from him


the longer he brooded ov this thought the more did that which was proba ble appear to be possible and the possibility at i length assu med the appearance of certainty whilst to add as even conviction of proof she returned aome in a joyous mode and declared that she nad had that day the most extraordinary run of i rood lack and saying so she covered the table i tvith a heap of gold whilst she laughingly added l


now i do not want your die for fhave


cot j


me of my own that i would hot give for twenty i ike it


j i i henry confirmed now in his opinion of her i reachery demanded from her that die of which


lie declared that she had robbed him


she laughed at his rage but denied the truth of the i accusation


he persisted the passions of both oecame excited and in his fury he plunged a f inife into her heart


stie gave a single shriek i md fell dead at his feet


he searched for the lie found it on her and then imprecated curses ipon his head when he examined it and plainly perceived it was not his own


i during this scene of murder his child had i slept but he felt that with the morning must i jome the knowledge of the dreadful deedhe had perpetrated unless he could persuade the man in i whose house he lodged to be silent


he made the attempt he promised the man first to bestow jn him a large sum of money and next to take m bis daughter as his wife and endow her with all r the wealth of which that person from his style of g living supposed him to be possessed


p how then was the murder to be concealed


it k was pretended that the dame von schroll who i aad long been observed subject to fits of melan li holy had in a moment of madness laid violent b tands on herself


the tale passed or if indeed ft there vas a doubter to be found where vas the friend or relation of the deceased to whom lie


could communicate his suspicions


h


that which affected the heart of henry still more than the awful deed of which he was guilty


vvas the dreadful circumstances in which he found b himself placed


he was laden down with debt bis die had lost its magic power and now he must have recourse to the assistance of the evil i one who had before helped him to escape from bis difficulties the night that hshad fired for the trial came and as each hour brought him nearer to midnight he felt his soul shaken still more and more with terror


the house that he had selected for his incantations vas lonely and deserted and some miles distant from that where he had left his child for whom his affections each day increased in in tensity


he knew there was no one in the man sion in which he dwelt but himself and yet he i seemed to hear whispers in every corner and the b steps of strange beings in every room


he felt h that the task he had assigned to himself was an h awful one that even his malignant councillor e had forewarned him to be courageous and that all k depended upon the command of his nerves and


resolution


now he must onward with the dread if ful deed or starvation for his child and an igno k minous death for himself were inevitable


there if was he perceived no choice left and therefore h did he as the clock pealed forth


the last


moment


i of midnight set fire to the wood piled on th i hearth his hand trembled as the flame caught the pile and he flung into the midst of it the fatal die with a laugh so loud so wild and so terrible that the walls sent it shrieking back to bis ears with a demonlike shout of exultation


i utterly confused he stood gazing upon the f smoke which curled up high and broad with toe quivering flames and as he looked he beheld the smoke assume a form and then gather itself into distinct fragments which uniting together pre sented to him a picture in which he saw himseii in his fathers house


he saw his father lyiuf on bis deathbed he saw himself kneeling beswe the bed he beheld again as it had happened be fore bis father rising with pain to look at mm to warn him against the temptations of the cvi one and as he did so fallback again in the con vulsions of death


j


the heart of henry was moved deeply nioveo j by this picture for it recalled to him the non resolutions he then formed the kindly generous feelings of his early youth the promise ot honourable manhood and of a worthy position j society and as he thought of this the di e lot i first time crackled in the flames and cnr terrified turned bis eyes towards the flea


again the smoke rolled and wreathed upwards thick steamy volumes and a fresh picture formed by them


he saw himself sitting n v son the day before that fixed for the execute i lhe clergyman was by bis side and seemed to i have just uttered the words blessed are they i who die in the lord


henry thought of the courage that then animated him of the christian resignation that inspired him of the glorious hopes to which the priest had elevated him of the generous feelings that then actuated him that whatever might befall him he would do naught unworthy of a man who desires to be respected here and who trusts lie may be happy hereafter and as he thought of these things he began to sorrow for his past life when the die crackled in the flames a second time the smoke again was i verolred in still gloomier darker wreaths and i again settled down into a scene of the uttermost want and poverty where sat the widow of the i soldier who had been shot instead of henry and i whose child had for want of a person to feed and h protect him become a common thief


the deso r iate widow seemed to invoke curses on the head h of the assassin whilst the mangled body of the b husband and father seemed to lie in the back if ground and on its forehead were imprinted in letters of blood the single word vengeance


with the third explosion of the die the body of henrys murdered wife burst from out the midst of the smoke and following him as he fled i round and round the room at length stood be i tween him and the fire


as it thus rested his


i dead father issued from the dark mist and iri stancly he was succeeded by the mangled wilfred


i the three figures raised their spectral hands at the same momerit and then seemed to burst from their i bloodless lips a still almost noiseless but heart piercing exclamation of woe


avoe woe


j upon the devoted head of henry


i henry looked to the flames arid he saw them sink down lower and lower


he approached the hearth but as he did so the misty figures raised their hands and seemed to threaten him if he attempted to come a step nearer


now or never he exclaimed as he saw the red ashes begin to lose their colour and the moment of his destruction predicted to him was on the point of being accomplished maddened with despera tion he dashed through the threatening appari tions that sought to stop up his path he grasped the red hot die and the instant he touched it it i burst with the awful explosion of a clap of thunder and at the same instant the spectres vanished from his sight


his evil adviser clad as a gravedigger stood by his side and in a sneering tone inquired


well what do you want with me now to remind thee of thy promise replied schroll shakihg with fear


thy die has lostits wonted craft


li and whcse fault is that asked the evil one henry covered his eyes for he felt the glances of the evil one flashing around him like the blue


flame of the lifedestroying lightning


whose fault i ask is it but your own you a married man should forsooth fall in love with a young lady and you must go to church after her fool and idiot


did i u of warn you that you should not ever receive a priestly benediction


in that benediction the power of the die was ex tinguished


attend better to my warnings for the future


he disappeared as he uttered these words and schroll upon looking at the hearth found there were placed there three new dice


to be concluded in our next


a grracjgfui compliment


a father on being asked what he intended to do with his girls replied i intend to apprentice them all to their excellent mother that they may learn the art of improving time and be fit ited to become like her wives mothers and heads of families and useful members of so ciety


military engineering of the iitjs suns


whatever blunders and fantastical experiments the russian engineers may have made under schilder at silistria the allies have here at sebastopol evidently a different set of men to deal with


the justness and rapidity of glance the promptness boldness and faultlessness of execution which the russian engineers have shown in throwing up their lines around sebastopol the in defatigable attention with which every weak point was protected as soon as discovered by i the enemy the excellent arrangement of the i lane of five so as to concentrate a force su i prior to that of the besiegers upon any given point of the ground in front the preparation


of a second third and fourth line of fortifi cations in rear of the first in short the whole conduct of this defence has been classic


the late offensive advances on malakhoff i bill and to the front of the kornileff bastion me upparalleled iu the history of sieges and stamp their originators as firstrate men in their line


it is but just to add that the chief engineer at sebastopol is col tod tieben a comparatively obscure man in the russian service


but we must not take the mence of sbeastopol as a fair specimen of russian engineering


the average between ouistria and sebastopol is nearer the reality


w york tribune


n im nnit ktkt


the kiddyswell


chapter ii


the kiddyswell looked all round the table when they were fairly seated


there was no jollyfaced old gentle man at


the foot no sirloin of beef there was only the somewhat sharp visage of miss jane and


a couple of rabbits


it was with feelings of considerable disgust he felt he was a false prophet and the house was an impostor


the soup had been made on strickly homoeopathic prin ciples with regard to the mutton supposed to be used in its composition the rabbits were tough and an immense leg of mutton which succeeded the soup was very much under done


the kiddyswell almost repented having v lifted the ladies out of the ditch but comforted himself with the anticipation ef the fine old port in which he felt sure he could not be mistaken and with that he was resolved to make up for all other deficiencies


on the strength of this anticipation he exerted his powers of facination more unreservedly than ever


he looked and bowed and drank wine with all and sundry some stray glances even got so far down as to illumine the darkness an which the blue niece sat next to her aunt jane equally neglected by that enraptured spinster on the one side and by jr


gargle who sat on the other


there was something in the smirk with which she received the sun rays of his glances that showed she was an attentive observer of all that was going on and on every succeed ing glance he wondered more and more at the absurd infatuation that led her aunts to suppose she was so despe rately young


it wouldnt have astonished him half so much if he had known that she in return for the compli ment thought them desperately old


by the way of giving a more military turn to his stories he related anecdotes of several members of his circuit iinder other names


quartermaster brownes adventure hvith the lamplighter at birmingham passed off very well but


when he came to describe the incident of the respected mr mullinss acquaintance with the drunken irishwoman accompanying it with admirable mimicry of both when i say he described that adventure and called the hero of it commodore mullins of our regiment the pro fessional prejudices of captain sporig were somewhat injured


i beg your pardon general he said i believe thats not a rank known in the army


isnt it replied the kiddyswell with a look of com passion not in the milicuous perhaps but quite the jthing in the reglars


you should be more cautious captain spong said miss jane of course the general knows better than you


why miss jane i appeal to dr gargle a man who by his admirable knowledge and the active discharge of all the duties of life has qualified himself to answer any question of the sort


what is a commodore


a commodore my dear sir


why then i must say with all respect for the general that a commander strikes me to be something on board of a ship a major of marines i believe


to be sure said the kiddyswell and when serving on


land hes a major in the army isnt he


ill trouble you sir he added looking very jfierce at capiain spong to be mighty careful before you con tradict me again befere ladies that i respect and honour


captain spong made no answer and meditated sending a challenge but the victorious general now entirely master of the field was more brilliant than before


by


the time the ladies left the room he had persuaded them all that he was the pleasantest person they had ever seen the least puffed up with his rank and that captain spong and the worthy apothecary were the incar nations of envy hatred and malice and alluncharitableness r now then said the general now that these old j tabbies are fairly off let us have in another bottle of wine


and enjoy ourselves


sir said the apothecary


ring the bell blister my boy thats what i say and let us have in a bottle of port


sir said captain spong emboldened by the manner of his friend


out with it my captain of the british grenadiers


youre no relation bytheby of the captain bold of halifax are ye said the general


sir you presume on your rank to insult two quiet country gentlemen and you have also called our amiable hostesses tabbies


i did nothing of the kind sir it was dr gargle me sir


i declare to heaven sir


whats the use of declaring any thing about it said the kiddyswell


you asked me to ring the bell for port and either you or captain spong i forget which called the ladies tabbies


do you think im deaf trerits


while making this speech lie rang the bell him self and told the maid to give captain spongs compli ments to the ladies and tell them be wished another bottle of port


captain spong started up but before the immense in dignation in his bosom had time to disengagd itself and assume the form of speech the maid had disappeared and the mischief was in all probability done and looked across the table to the doctor who was also silent from excess of wrath and amazement


pon my soul you make pretty free captain spong said the general pushing the new bottle towards that sulky soldier


you seem to order fresh bottles of wine just as you like but perhaps youre doing tlie civil to one of the old cats


why dont you marry her at once


sir the extraordinary nature of your conduct equalled only by the surprising style of your expressions makes me conclude that we have been deceived in you


and you wont answer a plain question


come blister tell us all about it


little spong is certainly going to cut you out if you dont look sharp


which is it elizabeth or jane


the gentlemen again looked at each other while the general helped himself to another bumper with the utmost unconcern may i ask what service you are a general in


said


captain spong


in his imperial majestys the emperor of all the turkies asiatic and european


but you do not answer my question


come now boys let us have a little pleasing conversation


who is the fat beanty in blue


the miss huskers niece answered dr gargle wil ling to keep the boisterous general quiet


any dust v dust sir


mopuses shiners tin


money you mean


oh yes when she comes of age


of age


pon


my soul she would run at any race and carry additional weight


why she lias nearly lost mark already


how much


cant say sir never enquired


oh then youre on the lookout for the ancients


heres their healths


the fact is sir or general or whatever you are said captain spong that we both feel so deep an interest in the ladies of this house that we feel called on to caution you about the manner you have ventured to speak of them


i speak of them


why didnt you both begin by calling them old tabbies


pretty fellows you are to talk of cautioning me j


sir i did not said captain spong in an angry tone


you contradict me


pon my soul if i werent very goodnaturedi would break every bone in your fat little body but


i wontdont be frightened


why dont you drink


i wouldnt drink with such an ungentlemanly dis agreeable


general and commanderinchief well never mind


ill drink for yon but the bottle is out


ring the bell spong


certainly not sir


then ill do it myself and send gargles compli ments


iou snail ao notmng


oi me sort sir saia uragie no sir you shall not id spong


well i wont then but the ladies shall most cer tainly be informed of your behaviour


and of yours sir said the two gentlemen following the general up stairs


the ladies were sitting up in great state the silver teaset all laid ont on the table


the general entered the room and bowed and smiled and pulled down his wristbands and settled his whiskers i think gents he said to his two followers this is a sufficient answer to your request for more wine


gargle ladies grew so friendly that he wished to celebrate my arrrival with another bottle but i wouldnt allow it


how can some people be so blind he continued as lie salrdown on the sofa very close to miss jane as to prefer wine to beauty


really ladies began captain spong looking very red and embarrassed i dont know how to say what i think you ought to be told but


then dont try it my good fellow never try to do any thing you cant do


this person calling himself general merchant has used language tonight


i have ladies and who wouldnt


when i hear two people i never saw before call two ladies who have shown me such kindness cats and tabbies


here a scream from the two injured damsels interrupted his eloquence


yes cats and tabbies


can you wonder at my losing


my temper and threatening to horsewhip them on the spot


insolent


sobbed miss lizale t i gargle


ungrateful


sobbed miss jane with a basilisker at captain spong


insulting


but my sister and i know how to behave


dr gargle we desire not to see you any more and you captain spohg dont say a word leave the house this minute


this moment gents added the general by heavens


if any man had used such language in my


regi ment i would have had him roasted and added to the soldiers mess


and partly with hustling partly with threatening he managed to hinder the indignant gentle men from saying any thing intheir defence


they rushed from the room vowing vengeance against their traducer and left the kiddyswell revelling iri the enjoyment of his victory


oh general merchant exclaimed miss elizabeth we are so much indebted to you for defending us against these dreadful men


i never suspected they could be such dissemblersj said miss jane


to call us old cats said the senior putting her handkerchief to her face


tabbies said tlie other turning up her eyes to the ceiling


and worse than that hinted the general with a mysterious nod


worse


impossible


they said you weie both straining every nerve to catch them but it wouldnt do


they liked some one else better


did captain spong say he liked some one else better enquired miss jane


did dr gargle


oh the ungrateful wretch


echoed miss elizabeth


and that other person continued the general in a whisper not to be heard by the stout young lady in blue was


here he gracefully bent back his thumb over his right shoulder and winked in a very decided manner


our niece said the ladies in a breath


shes but a child


lord love ye said the general do you think cropped heads and long trousers keep a girl a child foir ever


they told me they knew her age to a day


the ladies looked aghast


janej said miss eliza beth this must be looked to


it must


what must be looked to ladies


asked the general with a sympathetic smile


can i be of any use


com mand me


i shall be at your servicet tomorrow evening


by that time i hope to have shot your two insulters


they will challenge me of course


a duel


oh gracious


we are ruined quite ruined


exclaimed miss elizabeth and to have exposed you our friend our deliverer to danger perhaps to death


oh


poh never mind me


how will you keep the two wretches if i miss them from running off with little miss bluebeard


oh we will send her back to school the impudent minx but its your danger we are most concerned for dear general said miss jane


captain spong has often told me he can snuff candles with pistol balls


the devil he can said the general


and dr gargle once shot an irish ensign said miss elizabeth


you dont say so


not dead


but he had to amputate his right leg


the general held out his dexter supporter arid gazed on it as if he was considering how it would feel with a bullet in the knee


ill tell you what ladies i wish the scoundrels hadnt called you manes or told such lies


they said for instance that the bluebell was as rich as a jew all iii her own possession the moment she comes pf age


did they say any thing about the house


oh lord yes answered the general let me see they said the house and land what was it they said


did they say the house was hers and that we must give up possession when she marries pon my soul i think they did said the general carelessly but who cares what such lying fellows say


they cant speak truth if they tried


can they ladies


we have found them full of falsehood answered the elder with a melancholy sigh but thanks to ybu we have discovered their perfidy and despised them


sarah go to bed youre sitting up a great deal too late for a child of your age she added looking daggers and doses of poison at her unfortunate niece


that rubicund yonng lady took the hint though rather unwillingly and lighted a bedroom candle


the general sprang up and handed her to the door squeezing her hand as he wished her good night and bestowing a glance on her into which he condensed the whole powers of his admiration


the girl held down her head and thought what an immense sensation such fine manners would have made in the school at davantry


poor little creature said the general going back to the ladies she doesnt seem more than twelve and very backward of her age blowed if i wouldnt put her into long clothes aigain


but the duel exclaimed miss elizabeth that cruel horrid dr gargle


what can be done


it is captain spong said miss jane i am more afraid of


he has often told me he was a very brave man


the general looked a little disconcerted as if he felt he had got on dangerous ground


but perhaps he said as a gleam of hope broke in on them perhaps after all they wont say any more about it


at that moment as if to convict him


of being a false prophet an aligry knock thundered at


the frcnt door


the yoice of captain spong was heard and the maid breath less and terrified rushed into the room with a letter in her hand


this here is from captain spong he says hell feast ori blood tomorrow morning


he frightened me so


the kiddyswell took the letter and the two ladies gazed on in speechless fear


sir your insulting behaviour tonight and gross pre varications leave me no other alternative than to demand satisfaction


i shall expect you with pistols in the orchard tomorrow at eleven oclock my second dr gargle being engaged in the dispensary till that time


your ser vant john spong


at this dreadful realization of their worst fears the dis consolate ladies drew round their deliverer and vied with each other in declarations of their grief


that gentleman turned first to one than to the other and dis played sundry symptoms of perturbation not quite in ac cordance with his high military rank


at last however miss jane as if inspired with the heroism of joan of arc and called for pen and ink and said general just con descend to write to captain spong that youll meet him tomorrow morning


and be shot oh jane how can you ask our deliverer to expose liis valuable life


he shall not expose his life sister i value it tootbut


oh gracious what have i said pon my soul ladies youre excessive polite and if you could let me have the smallest sneaker of cold with out


i think i could answer the challenge


cold without enquired the ladies


ay and warm within replied the general


i mean a small go of brandy and water


when his request had been complied with he wrote a note to the beligerent captain sir t will not fail to meet you as per invite in the orchard and will teach you to keep a civil tongue in your head an d not insult the most amiable ladies i ever knew


your servant the general


when this important missive was discharged a new difficulty arose


the ladies had intended to ask a bed for the general in the house of dr gargle but as that was now impossible they were forced with many fears they were acting with impropriety and many apologies and fine speeches to get a couch ready for their handsome guest iii their own house


there were sundry jokes and much blushing on the occasion between the parties but at last all were settled in their respective rooms and waited with great anticipations the events of the following day


to be continued


marie antoinette on the chevalier of the red house


continuedfrom our last


chapter xli


whilst the scene described in the last chapter was passing in the register office as well as in the chamber occupied by the gendarmes other preparations were being made in the womens ward


suddenly the figure of a man detached itself like a stone statue from the wall against which he was leaning


he was followed by two dogs and whilst he sung the a ira which was much in vogue at that period he rattled the bunch of keys which he held in his hand against the five bars of the windows of the queens prison chamber


the queen at first started but immediately recognising the movement as a signal she softly opened the window and commenced sawing through the har with a more experienced hand than miarht have been believed


for whilst her royal husband amused himself formerly in making locks in his workshop during a great part of the day she had handled instruments similar to those upon which her whole safety now depended


as soon as the turnkey heard the queen opening the window he knocked at the door at the division occupied by the gend armes


ah i ha i said gilbert it is citizen mar doche who is knocking


himself replied the turnkey


well it seems you keep a good watch


as usual citizn turnkey


at all events i think you do not often find us at fault


ah said mardoche


but on this very night more vigilance is necessary than ever


bah said duchesne approaching him


you dont mean that


most decidedly


what the matter then


open the window of your compartment and i will relate jt to you


open it said duchesne


gilbert obeyed and shook hands with the turnkey who had already made himself a friend of the two gendarmes


what is the matter citizen mardoche repeated gilbert


the last meeting of the convention was a a little stormy


have you read the accounts


no


tell us what has occurred


in the first place citizen hebert discovered something


what was that


why that conspirators who were supposed to be dead are alive and lifelike


ah yes said gilbert you mean


deles sart and thierry


i have heard of that before but they are in england


and the chevalier of the lied house said the turnkey raising his voice so that the queen could hear him


what the chevalier


he is in england also


not at allhe is in france continued mardoche elevating his voice to the same pitch


he has then returned again


he never left france


that is a bold man said duchesne


you are right in that at all events said the turnkey


well they will soon arrest him


certainly they ought to do so but acord ing to all appearances it will not be an easy matter


at this moment the file used by the queen ras podso loud that the turnkey fearful of her being overheard notwithstanding bis efforts to cover the sound pinched the foot of one of his dogs which immediately uttered a loud howl


eh i poor devil said gilbert


bah v aid the turnkey


he ought to wear shoes


will you be quiet girondin


will you he quiet then


whot is your dog called girondin citizen mardoche


yes that is the name i have given him


so you told us resumed duchesne who bein a prisoner himself took the utmost inter est in all news


you told us


ah truei said that the citizen hebert there is a patriot for you


i i said that the citizen hebert had proposed to take the aus i trian back to the temple


t


and w hy


so


because he asserted that they had merely withdrawn her from the temple for the purpose of removing her from the immediate care of tbe commune of paris


ah


and likewise to remove her from the attempts of that accursed chevalier said gilbert


it strikes uie that the tunnel exists


so the citizen santerre said in his reply but hebert responded that after being mice warned no farther danger could exist that she could be as well guarded in the temple as elsewhere and with one half of the precautions required here and that in fact tbe temple was a more appropriate place than the con ciergerie


by my faith said gilbert i wish they would reconduct her to the temple


i see how it is


you are wearied of guard ing her


no but it makes me melancholy


the chevalier coughed violently for in pro iortion as the file cut into the iron bar a ouder noise was producod


and how did they decide the question asked duchesne when the turnkeys fit of coughing had passed


they resolved on leaving her where she was but decided on preparing her accusation immediately


poor woman said gilbert


duchesne whose hearing was more acute or whose attention wag loss oaptivuted by the che valiers recital bent his ear in a listening atti tude towards the second compartment where the queen waa


the turnkey perceivpd the movement


so that you must understand citizen duchesne continued the chevalier quickly that the attempts of these conspirators will become more desperate the less time they are allowed for carrying their schemes into execu tion


the guards are to be doubled in the prison


that concerna youcitiren gendarmes for nothing less than an armed irruption will ensue


the conciergerie will be invaded


the conspirators will slay every one who stands in their way until they can reach the queen


that is all i have to say


ah i bah i


how could such conspirators penetrate here


disguised as patriots they will enact another second of september


once within these walls adieu to you


a moments silence occurred through the stupefaction of the gendarmes at such intel ligence


the turnkey heard with miugled joy and terror the file still at work nine oclock struck


at the same instant some one knocked at the door but the two gendarmes were too muoh occupied to attend to it


well well said gilbert we shall keep a good watch and should it be necessary added du chesne we will die at our post like two re publicans


she ought to have done it already said the turnkey mentally and at the same time wiping his brow


and you said gilbert will also keep a good watch i bhould imagine


for you will not be spared any more than us in the event of such a thing happening as you allude to


that i believe said the turnkey but i patrole during the whole of the night


you have a relief and may sleep at least every alter nate night


again a knock was heard at the door


mar doche started because the slightest interrup tion whatever might cause his project to fail


what is that asked he involuntarily


nothing nothing said gilbert it is only the clerk from the warofnee who is retiring for the night and who is giving me warning


ah


very good said the turnkey


but still the clerk continued knocking


good good cried gilbert good night adieu


it seems to me said duchesne that he spoke will you answer him


the clerk was then heard speaking in a loud voice open the door citizen gendarme said he i want to speak to you a moment


that voice accentuated by emotion made the turnkey prick up his ears for he seemed to recognise it


what do you want citizen durand


asked gilbert


i merely wish to say a word to you


well you can do so tomorrow


no noi must speak to you tonight


oh muttered the turnkey what is going to happen


that is dixmers voice


and its echo seemed ominous and prolonged beneath the hollow vaults of the corridor


duchesne turned round


come said gilbert since he desires it i will speak with him


and he moved towards the door


the turnkey profited by that unexpected cir cumstance which absorbed the attention of the gendarmes


he ran to the window of the queens compartment


have you done said he


i have cut half through the bar answered marie antoinette


my godmy god i muttered the cheva lier


make hastemake haste i


well citizen mardoche said dcheme what has become of you


i am here exclaimed the turnkey return ing rapidly from the queens compartment


at the very moment he returned a terrible cry rang through the vaults of the prison then succeeded an imprecation and the rattle of a sabre being rapidly drawn from ita sheath


ah


wretch


i ah brigand


cried gilbert


and a struggle was heard in the corridor


at the same instant the door opened dis closing to the turnkey two figures struggling in tho doorway


a woman pushed duchesne aside and rushed into the queens compart ment


duchesne without attending to the woman hastened to the aid of his comrade


the turnkey bounded to the other window


he saw the woman kneeling before the queen


she was praying and supplicating the prisoner to exchange clothes with her


he gazed with glaring eyes at this woman whom he believed he too well knew


suddenly he uttered a cry of pain


genevive genevive


exclaimed he


the queen allowed the file to drop upon the ground


this was another abortive attempt at a rescue


the turnkey seized the half sawn bar with both hands and pulled it with a powerful effort


but the file had not cut deep enough and the bar resisted his utmost strength


during this time dbtraer had succeeded in i overthrowing gilbert and was about to enter the department inhabited by the gendarmes when duchesne pushed the door back and re pelled him


but he could not close the door


dixmcr who was desperate had placed his arm between the door and the wall


he retained the poinard in his hand which having glanced off the buckle attached to the gendarme nearly penetrated his breast after cutting his uniform


the two gendarmes encouraged each other to exercise their utmost power of resistance shouting at the same time for aid


dixmer felt his arm about to be broken


he placed his shoulder against the door gave a voilent push and succeeded in withdrawing his wounded arm


the door closed with a loud hang


duchesne bolted it on the inside after having dragged in his companion and also locked it


a rapidly retiring footstep was heard in the corridor and that was all


the two gendarmes gazed at each other in astonishment


they then detected the sound made by the pretended turnkey whilst endeavouring to break the iron bar


gilbert then rushed in to the queens com partment where he found genevive on her knees still beseeching marie antoinette to ex change dresses


duchesne seized his carbine and rushed to the window


he perceived a man hanging by the bars which he shook with rage vainly endeavouring to break them asunder


he aimed at him


the young man on perceiving the barrel directed towards bim exclaimed


yes yeskill mekill me v


in the sub limity of despair he even exposed his breast as if io defiance of the ball


chevalierexclaimed the queen chevalier i implore you to livelive


on hearing her voice the chevalier fell upon his knees


the carbine was discharged but the kneeling saved him and the ball merely whistled over his head


genevive supposing her friend to be slain fell senseless upon the floor


vhen the smoke was blown away no one was seen in the outer court


in about ten minutes afterwards thirty soldiers conducted by two commissioners of police searched throughout the whole of the conciergerie omitting not one of its most secret recesses


no one however was discovered


the registering clerk had passed father eichard with his usual calm and smiling aspect


as for the turnkey he left the prison crying help help the sentinel attempted to stop him by pre senting his bayonet but his two dogs seized him by the throat and pulled him to the ground


the only person who was arrested examined and imprisoned was genevive to be continued


e t perennials no ii


by patty parsley


chapter i stern reasbn is to judgment cortie arrayed in all her forms of gloom


emily bronte


how sadly you speak my dear esther are your fears for our boy so very great


my utterance is the birthcry of my thought rolandmy soul trembles to launch this cargo of precious hopes upon the rolling waves of the sea of life


commit your cares unto the lord he will preserve our pet lamb commenced the husband in a tender voice but he was prevented from saying more by the entrance of the object of the mothers so licitude


and in truth lester eshton was a boy worthy to inspire the utmost anxiety in a mothers heart


not hand some not even goodlooking he yet en gaged the interest of all who knew him


those deep earnest eyes did not betoken more thought than the brain possessed that massive brow did not tell a false tale of intellect for now at the age of fifteen years that intellect was plainly shewn in his language


the full rich lip and gentle smile told of a kind and noble heart and the boys daily actions proved their truth


yet mrs eshton trembled when the time came that lester must be sent from beneath her tender care to the sterner kindnesses of a public school


yes for with all his tenderness with all his intellect lester eshton pos sessed not an atom of ideality and not the remotest approach to veneration


already the young strong mind had stood firm and combatted with quick repartee the gentle womans theology


in vain she had tried with her most winning words to tell of the faith that believeth on the unseen


lester kissed and caressed her but mother dear he said you would not have me say i believe that which i do notand i must see to believe


in vain she tried to ex plain that the bright world around the blue sky above and even mans own very nature proved the truth of the religion on which she placed her faith


ma bonne mere said the boy your reasons have not a firm basis for you cannot explain how you draw your conclusions in favor of christianity from those smd proofs of which you speak


she turned to the bible


ves he said it is a noble book if it is true but what proof of its tfuth exists


and she had no other answer but tho already rejected ones faith and nature


and though her own faith lived vital as ever the mothers heart was faint with fear for her boy


she feit that she as committing the barque without a compass to the waves and her heart died within her as she thought of the rocks and the quicksands upon which it might be wrecked and lost for ever


and so she grieved sadly to part with lester and free him from the restraint which his filial love had hitherto thrown around his scepticism


mr eshton was more hopeful


our prayers cannot be in vain he said we have asked and i believe we shall receive


esther the daystar will arise on our boys heart yet


it was after a long conversation that the words with which i commenced were uttered and that lester interrupted his parents with his presence


they did not dismiss him for on the morrow he left for oaklands and every moment of his company seemed precious to his mother


he threw himself upon a stool at her feet and laid his curly head upon her knee


so they sat for a time


then mrs eshton laid her hand on his brow lester there is one book i shall give you ere we part tonight and i entreat you to promise that no day shall pass without some moments spent in its perusal


he glanced up with a sparkling eye


the bible mother


it is my son


mother i promise you that i will read it as your book and remember you as i readi can no more


no move


his mother echoed sadly well lester i accept your promise my dear boy


lester said his father


you never rest until you have formed your opinion on every other subjectwhy do you not the same on this


the lad turned an earnest eye towards his father


i never shall rest i never shall rest until i have formed a decided opinion oti the subject


if i could be lieve that glorious bookif i could firmly believe that bookfather mother my steps might be upon earth but my heart would be in heaven


but there are no real proofshe added sadly they are all unsoundthere are no real proofs


oh lifegiver enrich my boy with faith murmured the mother


the daystar will arise prophesied the father the daystar will arise yet esther


oh come come moaned the boy as he buried his head in his handsmy mothers my fathers god if thou art in being come and give me rest and peace rest and peace


lester had revealed more in the excite ment of that night than if he had been more collected he would have permitted himself to have done


beforetime he had preserved an unconcerned demeanour in his theological arguments and ap peared uninfluenced by either side christianity or infidelity


but then he revealed what was indeed the truth that the consciousness of the existence of an unseen and omnipotent being was har rasing his brain despite the spirit of overrealism that induced him to insist on the necessity of tangible proofs to enforce the belief in a faitli which is its own and only but all engrossing proof


poor lester


his passionate cry that night but dimly painted the anguish and indecision of his soul


but to his mother those wild words of sorrow caused a deeper thrill of joy and hope than had long brightened her heart and fervent were her prayers that night that her boy might never regain his calm quietude until he had surrendered his intellect to his maker and placed it in utter subser vience to the divine will


and oh she murmured if he may escape the com mon fate of noble minds and be pre served from bruising out his life of life on the stubborn marble of its own talent then indeed he shall be mine my twice born for he shall be mine and we both shall be the lords for ever and ever


akin to such


thoughts were her part ing words the next morning