the spirit of nature : when shaking off welcome was hearty though unpothe cumbrous load of earthly inquie. lished, and his furrowed cheeks and tude, she roams in freedom through snowy locks gave him a reverend her boundless expanse: nor fettered and pleasing appearance. My hostess to the present, Memory kindly lends seemed about fifty; her features were her' aid to conjure up the past, and rather of a melancholy cast ; a clean Fancy leads her on to contemplate cap restrained her grey hair, which the future.

time had much thinned ; and from “ I arrived in my ranıble at a spot her waist hung a pincushion and pair which Nature seemed to have chosen of scissars. She placed refreshment to blend all her powers of charming: before me, of which I partook most The dark foliage which grew around heartily, and answered my questions threw a soft and melancholy shade with civility, and even politeness. upon the scene; the beautiful wild After recompensing the aged couple flowers loaded the air with their sim- for my entertainment, I at length deple perfume ; while the wind, which parted, with many thanks and rehere sighed with a deeper murmur, newed apologies for my intrusion. accorded well with the rippling of “ From a farmer in the neigha brook that rolled over the white bourhood I enquired concerning this and shinning pebbles, winding along family; and he told me, that they had in intricate mazes, till the eye lost once a son, a most promising young it's track among the thick under- man, their chief, and indeed their only wood, which flourished on it's mar- delight. He had been pressed on gin. It was a spot which a poet board a ship of war, and as he had would have hung over with rapture, never been since licard of, it was a painter would have loved to de- conjectured that he bad either fallen lineate on his canvas, and which an in some engagement, or been lost angel might have lingered to gaze in the waves. He shewed me also upon, and thought it Eden.

a likeness of him, which he had rc“ So intent was I in admiring this ceived from himself, a great friendnatural garden, that it was some time ship having existed between them : before I perceived a cottage which but as I soon after went to a distant reared it's thatched roof under the part of the kingdom, I speedily forgot shade of a venerable chesnut, that the coitage and it's inhabitants. spread it's giant arms far abroad on * I exchanged the calm repose of every side. I wished to know who the country for the bustle of a seawere the inhabitants of this terres- port town, and the songs of birds for trial paradise ; and therefore ap- the creaking of cordage and the meproaehed, and knocked gently at the lody of the boatswain's whistle. One door ; the threshold of which was day, turning hastily ronnd the corner embroidered by froneysuckles, that of a street, I was struck by the figure twined around it, and kissed the pro- of a man who sought relief from his jecting cottage roof. It was opened distress in the charity of his fellowloy an elderly woman, the very per- creatures, but his wan countenance sonification of hospitality. She in- and extended arm alone pleaded for rited me to enter; which I did, after him with mute eloquence. I thought apologizing for my intrusion, and I knew the features, but vainly enoffering my long walk as an excuse deavoured to recollect where ; and for resting myself. I bad now an giving him a few balfpence, passed opportunity of observing the inte- His idea still baunted me, and I rior of the dwelling, or at least of returned in the afternoon resolving to the part where I sat. It was a small enquire who he was, but he was not low apartment, but the white-washed there. The next day, however, I was walls, the clean windows, whose small more successful : he thanked me for pancs of glass were partly obscured my assistance the day before ; his hy the shrubs which climbed around name, he told me, was S- - It them, and the briglit rows of well- struck me in a moment. It was the polished pot-lids, and other culinary son of my old cottagers. I took him utensils, gave an air of neatness and home to my lodgings; and telling him industry to the room. Near the fire- what I knew respecting his family, place sat an old man, seemiugły much desired to hear from him the remainuppressed by age and pain, but his der of his bistory.---' It is a narrative

of little but misfortunes,' he an- a loud call from the mast head, and a swered; • but if the relation will in bustling confusion on the deck. I any way please you, Sir, I owe it sprang up, for I was then almost to your kindness not to refuse.' recovered from my illness, and went

• • The night when I was pressed, to enquire into the cause of the I was as one stopified. The next tumult. One of the sailors pointed day, however, I became composed out to me a dusky object which floated I prevailed on a friend who had ob- on the waves at a considerable distained leave to see me to carry a tance; and told me, that it was an message to a young woman whom Algerine vessel which was bearing I was attached to, and to desire her, down upon us. The uproar had by if possible, to visit me before my de- this time subsided, and every one was parture. He did so, and to the last called to bis post. My sensations at moment I cherished the hope of see- this instant were almost indescribable. ing her. But it was in vain ;-she In a few moments, I should be called

a did not come, and our vessel set sail. upon to face death, and perhaps 10 The neglect from one I had so ten- deprive others of existence. This derly loved was more cutting than interval, as it were, between life and all the rest. I believed her unfaith- death, was filled with an awful feelful; I deemed myself cast off by all ing: it was not fear, nor hope, mankind, and left unfriended and but a confused mixture of both, which alone 10 traverse over boundless seas. was augmented and sustained by the My dejection of spirits, together with silence which prevailed, for the first the new life I led, destroyed my health, shot dissipated all feelings but those and I lay for weeks a prey to a raging of energy and activity. The hostile fever; during which I was nursed with vessel now approached, hove to, and the greatest care and attention by summoned us to surrender. A broada young man with whom I had con- side was the reply, and in a moment tracted a friendship on board the ship all was smoke, fire, and destruction. in which I was. He seemed ill suited The enemy were much superior to us in to the life he had chosen, for he was strength, and at length they boarded extremely delicate ; but he had some- We fought hand to hand;- it thing in his countenance which re- would be in vain to describe the horminded me of Elinor ; 'and this, per- rors of the scene, they can only be baps, attracted me to him, for I still imagined by those who have witloved her, notwithstanding her neg- nessed them. Their captain haplect: under his care, I at length reco- pened to come near me. I aimed a vered, and was allowed to venture blow at him with all my force ; which upon the deck to inhale the refreshing he parried, and my sword broke short breeze.

in my band. The barbarian listed his " • Here I gazed, with a strange sword to strike me, when my friend, and awful feeling of astonishment, whom I had not seen during the acon the immense plain of waters, from tion, sprang between us, and received which I was separated only by a few the stroke which was aimed for mc. boards, and listened with pleasure I caught him as he fell; but that dyto the rushing of the waves by the ing shriek, that last expiring glance, side of the vessel as she cut through that soft pressure, told me all. It the deep. How great, I thought, must was Elinor ! noble, generous, selfbe the ingenuity of that being, who can devoted being, who, while I was uppass in safety over this mighty ex braiding her with neglect, had braved panse. But I was shortly to sce that all the dangers of a sea life to follow ingenuity exerted for purposes, and me,--to nurse me, to watch me, and in a manner from which the soul last, worst, and bitterest,-to die for revolts.

me! “ • One night, when the crew had " " I have little else to relate. retired to their hammocks, I had been We were taken,-and afterwards retalking to my friend ; I had dropped a taken by an American; by whom we few words of anger against my neg- were well treated, and carried to New lectful Elinor. He sighed deeply, York, where we had some clothes and once I thought he was weeping; and other necessaries given us. Some but I attributed it to his compassion of my companions remained there ; On a sudden, we were alarmed by but I wished to return to piy native

us.

country. I worked for some time as a “ Here his narrative concluded; joiner, a trade to which I had once and I will hasten to the conclusion been a little accustomed in England; ‘of mine. I conveyed him home, reand at length gained sufticient to pay stored bim to his parents, and was for my passage to England. I was amply rewarded with their boundlanded here without money or friends. less gratitude. He is now in an eliMy fatigue bád also worsened my gible situation, which does not rebealth, which I had not perfectly quire any great bodily exertion; be recovered, so that I was unable to is comfortable; and, could he forget gain any thing by labour. I had, the unhappy fate of his Elinor, be therefore, subsisted on charity ; in might be happy." soliciting which, I was so fortunate as to meet with you, sir, who have

uu. h. a. so kindly relieved me.'

The Black Rainbow;
OR, THE DEATH OF CHARLES THE BAD.
So bad a death argues a monstrous life.

SHAKSPEARE.
HIGH above Pampeluna's towers,

Where CHARLES at life's last hour was lying,
The moon's pale radiance fell in showers,

As if to light from hence the dying:
And court them to a world on high,

That endless pleasures are adorning;
Where hope is lost in ecstacy,

And life is one eternal morning.
But joys like these, were not design'd
To bless the Sinner's evil mind;
Though such delights can never part
From the pure Christian's faithful heart:
And Charles was one, whom history's pages
Will blush to own in after ages :
For France hath fix'd upon his name
Her blot of everlasting shame,
The Bad !-then fearful might he view,
The hour of death which onward drew,
And find no comfort in the sight
Of that most calm and heavenly night.
'Twas in such blessed moonlight scene,

Lured by an hour so fair and smiling;
Two courtiers trod the garden green,

Their sad and weary thoughts beguiling :
Ere morning broke on tower and plain,
And sleeping nature waked again;
Causing the night more swift to roll,
In swcet exchange of soul with soul.
And much they spake of France's state,
And of their dying Sovereign's fate;
And conn'd the names and actions o'er,
Of Kings, who centuries before
Had slept in dull Oblivion's clay,
And left the sceptres of their sway
To those, whose vice or virtue shone
The curse or blessing of the Throne,
While, upon Memory's wing, thus fast
Glided the Monarchs of the past.
Each in a low and and gloomier tone
Spake sadly of their dying one,

And fix'd his tear-beclouded eyes
Upon the blessed moonlight skies;
For all have some who hold them dear,
The worst may claim one pitying tcar ;
And e'en the vilest hearts have found
A soul to which their love was bound !
'Twas said, that night was fair to view;
And such a heaven of streaming blue,
Hath seldom o'er th’eternal space

Spread out a robe so soft so pale ;
It was as if noon's golden face

Shone brightly through night's loveliest veil! There was not in the azure air,

Aught that appear'd like mist or cloud ;
But morn with midnight blended there

The brightest hues and lightest shroud.
One vast eternal screen o'er all
Seem'd from the skies to earth to fall,
Casting a dim transparency
While shining bright and riding high,
The glowing stars held on their way;

Pale Luna shed ber light around,

As calm as if in sleep profound, The lovely planet lay. And where the scene in distance blent It's features with the firmament, A fleecy lustre seem'd to dress The purple mountain's loneliness : O'erhanging with a veil of white, That half display'd, half hid from sight, The limits of the landscape bright. On beauty soonest will the eye A blemish or a stain descry ; In summer skies are soonest seen The clouds that shade their light serene; The fairest spots are foulest made, When horrors their delights pervade : And the young earth in beauty built, Seem'd loathsome when accursed by guilt. So fared it then. As gazing o'er That scene wbich spread those towers before The Courtiers saw, extended wide, A broad black arch from side to side Of the vast space extended glide ; Spanning the heavens, and all below, Within it's dark and fearful bow.

The elder Courtier then, who trod

In silence his young comrade near,
At length broke forth,-"O mighty Gop!

Look, GAREIAS, what a sight is here!
By every saint that o'er us treads

The azure pavement of the sky,
What is that sign in heaven, that spreads

It's awful sable arch on high ?
By such a form, we sure might scan
The rainbow's covenant-seal with man ;
But there, no beauteous tints are blending,
No colours in each other ending
And not a ray of this fair night
Hath gemm'd it with a spark of light;
But all is fearful, black, and strange,
Without one tint it's hue to change!"

Then spake the younger Courtier, who

Look'd on in fear, with stilled breath, • If old Tradition's tales be true,

Yon apparition speaks of death!
Of Royal Death !--When Monarchs die,

And down to dusky tombs are hurl'd,
Their fates are spoke by carth and sky,

And read and mourn'd by half the world ;
And this thou know'st may we believe,
And the dark sign as truth receive

At such an hour as this:
Yon fearful, sable midnight bow,
Our King's descent may well forcshow;

To the grave's dark abyss;
For ne'er did Time and Fate unite
To form so wild and fair a sight
Of gloom and brilliance, darkness, light,
A scene of pleasure and affright;

Of all, and aught save bliss.
Unhappy Charles !"—the gale swept by,

And they who to the wild winds wake,
Well know that oft some fearful cry

Seems with their hollow sounds to break. Unhappy Charles !—that gale replied,

Then came a sbriek like demons howling ; When in their hour of fiendish pride,

O'er some new victim they are scowling ! Each Courtier sprang with beating heart, And quick drawn breath, and sudden start, Nearer the palace, whence there came, Bright flashes of unearthly flame! As if the Sprite who rules the air Had come with all his terrors there, To bear his royal living prey To realms of darkness far away. But yet those courtiers could not stand Like some who form the lordly hand, And leave their King alone to lie In Death's most dark extremity; And not one former friend be near, His parting soul to soothe and chcer ; And thus, though terror bound them fast, On to the palace quick they pass'd. Within the dreary chamber shone

No livid fires, no flames were strcaming; One pallid watch-light's ray alone

Was through the dark apartment gleaming.
And not one echo of that sound
Was heard throughout the palace round;
It was as if the awful cry
Did with those lurid meteors dic,
And all attendants silence kept,
As if the King for ever slept :

Save where the sound arosc,
Of the low prayer, and sullen toll
That hymn'd to rest the parting soul,
That it's last hours might peaceful roll,

And calm in death reposc.
"Tis known to all, that men have said,
In death the heart may best be read;
For tben is torn the veil away
That life wraps round our mortal clay ;