a

runs that he may marry whichever of had been favoured; and next, that he. the sisters he chooses to select.—Thus would educate him for the ministry. The stands the opening narrative, when canny Yorkshireman, thinking she had a we are introduced to new and more good title at present to dictate in such comic personages in Triptolemus Yel- matters, subscribed to all she required. lowley and his sister Barbara, whose

A man-child was accordingly born under

these conditions, but the state of the mos family lineaments are drawn with the

ther did not permit her for some days to author's happiest naiveté."

enquire how far they had been complied

with. When she was in some degree con« Old Jasper Yellowley, the Father of valescent, she was informed, that as it was Triptolemus," having married a certain thought fit the child should be immediately Mrs. Barbara Clinkscale, finds “ the do- christened, it bad received the name of minion which his wife began to assume Triptolemus; the Curate, who was over him much confirmed by her proving man of some classical skill, conceiving to be,- let me see !- what is the prettiest that this epithet contained a handsome mode of expressing iti~in the family and classical allusion to the visionary way. On this occasion, Mrs. Yellowley plough, with it's triple yoke of oxen. had a remarkable dream, as is the usual practice of teeming mothers previous to “ Meanwhile, and within a year after the birth of an illustrious offspring. She the birth of Triptolemus, Mrs. Yellowley was a-dreamed,' as her husband ex

bore a daughter, named after herself, Barpressed it, that she was safely delivered bara, who, even in earliest infancy, exhiof a plough, drawn by three yoke of An- bited the 'pinched nose and thin lips by gus-shire oxen; and being a migbty in- which the Clinkscale family were distinvestigator into such portents, she sat her- guished amongst the inhabitants of the self down with her gossips, to consider Mearns; and as her childhood advanced, what the thing wight mean. Honest Jas- the readiness with which she seized, and per ventered, with much hesitation, to the tenacity wherewith she detained, the intimate his own opinion, that the vision playthings of Triptolemus, besides a dehad reference rather to things past than sire to bite, pinch, and scratch, on slight, things present, and might have been oc

or no provocation, were all considered by casioned by his wife's nerves baving been attentive observers as proofs that Miss a little startled by meeting in the loan Baby would prove her mother over above the house his own great plough again.' Malicious people did not stick to with the six oxen, which were the pride say, that the acrimony of the Clinkscale of his heart. But the good cummers raised blood had not on this occasion been cooled, such a hue and cry against this expo- and sweetened by that otold England ; that sition, that Jasper was fain to put his fin- young Deilbelicket was much about the gers in bis ears, and to run out of the house, and they could not but think it odd apartment.

that Mrs. Yellowley, who, as the whole, «• Hear to him,' said an old whiga world knew, gave nothing for nothing, more carline,- hear to him, wi' bis' should be so uncommonly attentive to. owsen, that are as an idol to him, even heap the trencher, and to bll the caup, of as the calf of Bethel! Na, na, it's nae an idle blackguard pe'er-do-weel. Bat pleugh of the flesh that the bonnie lad when folks bad once looked upon the ausbairn,--for a lad it sall be,--shall e'er tere and awfully virtuous countenance of striddle between the stilts o'– it's the Mrs. Yellowley, they did full justice to her pleugh of the spirit,--and I trust mysell propriety of conduct, and Deilbelicket's to see him wag the head o' him in a pu'. delicacy of taste.” pit; or' at the warst, on a hill-side.' " I do not know whether it was impa

Triptolemus is sent to Saint Antience to give to the light a being des- drew's to be educated; but the vision tined to such high and doubtful fates, or

of the plough predominates, and his whether poor Dame Yellowley was rather fate is decisively to be a great ayrical-' frightened at the hurly-burley which had turist and improver. He hạted all the taken place in her presence, but she was Classics but those who treated of rutaken suddenly ill; and, contrary to the ral afľairs, such as Virgil in his Georformula in such cases used and provided, gics, Cato de re Rustica; and, of later was soon reported to be ' a good deal authors, Columella, Tusser, Hartlib, worse than was to expected.' She and similar worthies. On the death took the opportânity, having still all her wits about her, to extract from her sym. gratified, and he is recalled from col

of his mother, his master-passion is pathetichusband two promises ; first, that he would christen the child, whose birth lege to assist his father in the farm: was like to cost her so dear, Ly a name “ And here it might have been supposed indicative of the vision with which she that our Triptolemus, summoned carry

into practice what he had so fondly studied e But although Mrs. Barbara bronglit in theory, most have been, to use a simile faithfully to the joint stock all savings which he would have thought lively, like which her awful powers of economy ac2 cow entering upon a clover park. Alas, complished to scrape together, and almistaken thoughts, and deceitful hopes of though the dower of their mother was by Runkind!

degrees expended, or nearly 80, in aid. * A langhing philosopher, the Demo- ing them npon extreme occasions, the critus of onr day, once compared human term at length approached when it seemed * Ife to a table pierced with a number of impossible that they could sustain the

koles, each of which has a pin made ex. conflict any longer againt the evil star of actly to fit it, but which pins being stuck Triptolemus, as he called it himself, or the in hastily, and without selection, chance natural result of liis absurd speculations, leads inevitably to the most awkward mis. as it was termed by others. Luckily at takes. • For, how often do we see,' the ora. this sad crisis a god jumped down to tor pathetically concluded, -- how often, their relief ont of a machine. In plain I say, do we see the round man stuck English, the noble Lord, who owned their into the three-corned hole?' This new farm, arrived at his Mansion-house in the illustration of the vagaries of fortune set neighbourhod, with his coach and six, and every one present into convulsions of his running footmen, in the full splendout laagbiter, excepting one fat alderinan, who of the seventeenth century." seemed to make the case his own, and insisted that it was no jesting matter. To

By this poblcman, who happens to take up the simile, however, which is an

hold the oflice of Royal Chamberlain excelleut one, it is plain that Triptolemus of the Orkneys and Shetland, and is, Yellowtey had been shaken out of the bag like Triptolemus, a great experimenat least a bandred years too soon. If he talist in his way, the latter is appointed had come on the stage in our own time, his factor, to reside in Zetland, and that is, if he had flourished at any time carry agricultural improvement into within these thirty or forty years, he could the barren soil of those storm-swept not have missed to have held the office of and trecless isles. : He accordingly, vice-president of some eminent agriculta establishes himself and Baby at the ral society, and to have transacted all the farm of Stourbrugh, or Harfra, which besipess thereof under the auspices of some noble Duke or Lord, who, as the lies in the dreary track between Burghmatter might happen, either knew, or did Westra and Jarlshof; determined to not know, the difference betwixt a horse introduce new ploughs, new breeds and a cart and a cart-horse. He could of cattle, and innovations of every not have missed soch prefernient, for be kind. Into whicb abode Mordaunt, was exceedingly learned in all those parti. returning home from a visit to the colars, which, being of no consequence Udaller, is driven by the storm of that in actual practice, go of course a great peculiar dread which is not uncommon way to constitute the character of a con- in those tempestuous latitudes :noisear in any art, but especially in agricalture. But, alas! Triptolemus Yellow

He "had not advanced three hotirs upon ley had, as we already have hinted, come his journey, before the wind, which had into the world at least a century too soon; been so deadly still in the morning, began for, instead of sitting in an arm-chair, at first to wail and sigh, is if bemoaning with a hammer in his band, and a bumper beforeband the evils which it might perof port before him, giving forth the toast, petrate in it's fury, like a madmau in the -To breeding, in all it's branches,' his gloomy state of dejection which precedes father planted him betwixt the stilts of a his fit of violence; then gradually en. plough, and invited him to guide the oxen, creasing, the gale howled, raged, and on whose beanties he wonld, in our day, roared, with the full fary of a northern have descanted, and whose rumps he storm. It was accompanied by showers of would not bave goaded, but have carved. rain mixed with hail, which were dashed Old Jasper complained, that although no with the most unrelenting rage against one talked so well of common and several, the hills and rocks with which the travel. wheat and rape, fallow and lea, as his ler was surrounded, distracting his attenlearned son, (whom he always called Toli- tion, in spite of his uttermost exertions, mns,) yet, dang it,' added the Seneca, and rendering it very difficult for him to :

nought thrives wi' un,-nought thrives keep the direction of his journey in a coun-, wi'un.' It was still worse, when Jasper, try where is neither road, nor even the becoming frail and ancient, was obliged, slightest track to direct the steps of the as happened in the course of a few years, wanderer, and where he is often inter. gradnally to yield up the reins of govern. rupted by las ge pools of water, lakes, ment to the academical neophyte. and lagoons. All these inland waters

were now lashed into sheets of tumbling Eur. Mag. Vol. 81. Jan. 1922.

H

臺

foam, much of which, carried off by the ther has but the soul of a man in him,
tary of the whrilwind, was mingled with or if there be a pair of jougs at Scallo-
the gale, and transported far trom the way.'
waves of which they had lately made a 6. The iron was never forged on sti-
part; while the salt relish of the drift thy that would hauld her,' said the old
which was pelted against his face, shewed maid servant. “She comes,--she comes,
Nordaunt that the spray of the more dis- --God's sake speak her fair and canny, or
tant ocean, disturbed to frenzy by the we will have a ravelled hasp on the yarn-
storm, was mingled with that of the in- windles.'
land lakes and streams,

“ As she spoke, a woman, tall enough
“* Amidst this hideous combustion of almost to touch the top of the door with
the elements, Níordaunt Mertonn struggled her cap, stepped into the room, signing
forward, as one to whom such elemental the cross as she entered, and pronounc.
war was familar, and who regarded the ing, with a solemn voice. “The blessing
exertions which it required to withstand of God and Saint Ronald on the opens
it's fury, but as a mark of resolution and door, and their braid malison and mine
manhood. He felt even, as happens upon close-handed charls!'
usually to those who endure great hard. * • And wha are ye, that are so bauld
ships, that the exertion necessary to sub- wi' your blessing and banning in other
due them, is in itself a kind of elevating folks' houses? What kind of country is
triumph. To see and distinguish his path this, that folks cannot sit quiet for an
when the cattle were driven from the hill, hour, and serve heaven, and keep their
and the very fowls from the firmament, bit gear togither, without gangrel anen
was but the stronger proots of his own and women coming tbigging and soruing
superiority. They shall not liear of me ane after another, like a string of wild-
at Burgh-Westra,' said he to himself, ' as geese?'
they heard of old doited Ringan Ewen- “ This speech, the understanding rea-
son's boat, that foundered betwist road. der will easily saddle on Mistress Baby;
stead and key. I am more of a crags- and what effects it might have produced
man than to mind fire or water, wave by on the last stranger, can only be matter
sea, or quagmire by land.'”

of conjecture; for the old servant and

Mordaunt applied themselves at once to His reception by the Yellowleys is the party addressed, in order to deprewhimsically described; whose terrors, cate her resentment ; the former speakparsimony, and selfish huu ty, how- ing to her some words of Norse, in a tone cver, end in affording him a rather of intercession, and Mordaunt saying in unwilling shelter, and boiling a salted English, “They are strangers, Norna, goose for his dinner. The table is and know not your name or qualities; just prepared for this repast, when ano- they are unacquainted, too, with the ther unwelcome stranger encroaches, must hold them excused for their lack of

ways of this country, and thercfore we namely, Bryce Snaelsfoot, a pediar or hospitality, Jagger, whose appearance almost en- 6. I lack no hospitality, young man,' tirely overthrows the patience of the said Triptolemus, miseris succurrere disco, penurious Baby; and her uiter dis- --the goose that was destined to roost in comfiture ensues, when a third intru- the chimney till Michaelmas is boiling in der enters, in the shape of Norna the pot for yon: but if we had twenty of the Filful-Head,--the most striking geese, I see we are like to find mouths to and important personage in all the

eat them every feather,--this must be drama. It will not be easy for us to amended.' convey an adequate idea of this admi

“« What must be amended, sordid rably drawn character; for so much slave!' said the stranger, Norna, turning depends on the nice shades between in- at once upon him with an emphasis that savity, and actual power; superstition, ed? Bring hither, if thou wilt, thy new

made him start,– What must be amendreality, and delusion, that what might fangled coulters, spades and harrows, appear inconsistent in a sketch, is fea

alter the implements of our fathers from sible in the view of the extraordinary the ploughshare to the mouse-trap; but whole. With this remark, in justice know thou art in the land that was won to our author, we present his extraor- of old by the flaxen-haired Kempions of dinary heroine :

the North, and leave us their hospitality

at least, to shew we come of what was “What new tramper is this?' echoed once noble and generous. I say to you, the distracted Baby, whom the quick suc- beware,-while Norna looks forth at the cession of guests had driven well nigh measureless water from the crest of Fit. crazy with vexation. 'I'll soon settle ful-bead, something is yet left that reber wandering, 1 sall warrant, if ruy bro, sembles power of defence. If the men

6

of Thole have ceased to be champions, and hung ronnd his neck a Runic chain and to spread the banquet for the raven, of fairy gold. Before leaving Yellowthe women have not forgotten the arts that ley's, she predicts a wreck from the lifted them of yore into queens and pro- siorm, which she exhibits her power phetesses.'

** The woman who pronounced this sin- þy allaying with incantations, and then galar tirade, was as striking in appear hoine to Jarlshof, with which injunc.

departs, bidding Mordaunt speed ance as estravagantly lotty in her preten: tion lie complies. On the ensuing sions and in her language. She might well have represented on the stage, so far day, Mertoun and his son ascend the as features, voice, and stature were con- promontory, to view the finale of the cerned, the Bonduca, or Boadicea of the storm, when a dismasted vessel, apBritons, or the sage Velleda, Auriniæ, or parently descrted by her crew, is seen any other fated Pythoness, who ever led drifting in the roost, or rapid stream, to battle a tribe of the ancient Goths. that runs against the Head which she Her features were high and well formed, approaches, and is dashed in pieces. and wonld have been handsome but for One man, clinging to a spar, emerges, the ravages of time, and the effects of ex- from the wreck, and Mordaunt galposure to the severe weather of her coun, lantly saves his life. In this scene, try. Age, and perhaps sorrow, had queoched, in some degree, the fire of a

Snaelsfoot, Norna, and the natives, dark blue eye, whose hne almost ap

all eager for plunder, are conspicuproached to black, and had sprinkled pusly engaged: the single sorvivor snow on such part of her tresses as bad from the furious element proves to be escaped from ander her cap, and were Captain Cleveland, the Pirate, a bold, dishevelled by the rigour of the storm. free, young and handsome man, of a Her upper garment, which dropped with brave nature, and not unpleasing adwater, was of a coarse dark-coloured dress. From Jarlshofhe'goes to Burghstuff, called Wadmaral, then much nsed Westra, where bis reception is warm in the Zetland Island, as also in Iceland and hospitable. Here he obtains a firm and Norway. Bat as she threw this cloak footing, and Mordaunt's star declines back from her shoulders, a short jacket, of dark blue velset, stamped with figures, nuous youth, who is stung almost to

as his ascends. This galls the ingebecame visible, and the vest, which corresponded to it, was of crimson colour,

madness, by the report brought to and embroidered with tarnished silver. him by Snaelsfoot of the estimation in Her girdle was plated with silver orna- which the Captain is held, and of prements, cut into the shape of planetary parations for observing the festival of sigus,--her blue apron was embroidered St. John, where he is to lead the rewith similar devices, and covered a petti. vels, instead of the once favoured coat of crimson cloth. Strong thick en- Mordaunt. This temperament is exduring shoes, of the half-dressed leather cellently painted; he wanders forth to of the country, were tied with straps like or lake, where the strange those of the Roman baskins, over her and unearthly Norva breaks suddenly scarlet stockings. She wore in her belt upon his musings: and at her instigaan. ambiguous looking weapon, which might pass for a sacrificing knife' or dag. tion, with a hint that his early friends ger, as the imagination of the spectator

are in danger, he goes to the feast chose to assign to the wearer the charac. uninvited, and is coldly received by ter of a priestess or of a sorceress. In Magnus and his daughters. Among her hand she held a staff, squared on

the company assembled on this festive all sides, and engraved with Ronic cha. occasion, are Mr. and Miss Yellowracters and figures, forming one of those ley, Lady Glowrorum and two nieces, portable and perpetual calendars which and Claud Halcro, a good-natured were used among the ancient natives of Zetland poet and musician, who in the Scandinavia, and which to a superstiti- great world, London, has met with ons ere, might have passed for a divining the wits of the age, including Dryden, rod." * Such were the appearance, features, idol of his worship, and is now the

or “ glorious John,” as he calls this and attire of Norna of the Fitful-head, upon whom many of the inhabitants of the Halcro's is a playfully drawn charac

owner of one of his native rocky islets. island looked with observance, many with tear, and almost all with a sort of venera- ter, with the inveterate habits of a tion."

confirmed proser; holding the buttons

of his wearied auditors, and eternally This singular being had shown a repeating the same anecdotes with Basked predileetion for Mordaunt, the most minute and tedions digrese

a voe

sions. When he could pounce apon They start, and find the latter not a patient listener, he is delineated purely imaginary, for Norna herself with amusing truth; and with Mor- is trimming her lamp in the chamber, daunt, the listless spectator of the and muttering discordant sounds. drinking bout, at the feast we bave With many fearful rites she unfolds mentioned,

her mysterious history to the appalled "-he was the more meet prey for the

daughters of Troil, whose near rela

tion she is, as the daughter of their story-telling Halcro, who had fixed apon lim, as in a favourable state to play the grandfather's brother. A heated enpart of listener, with something of the thusiast when young, and nurtured in same instinct that directs the hooded the firmest belief of Norwegian Drows crow to the sick sheep, which will most and Scaldic supernatural agencies, patiently suffer itselt to be made a prey she is rapt in an ideal creation, A of, Joyfully did the poet avail himself of storm which assails her at the Dwarfie the advantages afforded by Mordaunt's Stone, produces so strong an effect on absence of mind, and unwillingness to her brain, that in a vision or trance, exert himself in measures of active de. she meets Trolld the Dwarf, who protence. With the unfailing dexterity pe- nounces her doom to be," to reeve culiar to prosers, he contrived to dribble her life's giver of the gift which he . out his tale to double it's usual length, gave”-and thenceforward to have by the exercise of the privilege of unli authority to controul the elements, mited digressions ; so that the story, like a horse on the grand pus, seemed to be ad. The monstrous prediction is confirmed vancing with rapidity, while, in reality, it by her accidentally destroying ber scarce was progressive at the rate of a yard father, in escaping to a forbidden in the quarter of an hour. At length, how. lover; and she becomes the wild beever, he had discussed, in all it's various ing described in the Pirate, fancying bearings and relations, the history of his herself the most wretched, and the friendly landlord, the master fashioner in most potent of human creatures. An Russel-street, including a short sketch of interesting example of this, and of the five othis relations, and anecdotes of three manners of the age, is given in an acof his principal rivals, together with some count of her acting the Volupsa, or angeneral observations upon the dress and fashion of the period; and having marched

swerer of questions, in a kind of runio thus far through the environs and onto sortes, played in sport by the visitors works of his story, he arrived at the body at Westra, but which is turned from of the place,"

jest to gloom by ber reply to Minna's

enquiry :The revels at Westra, it's masques, « Untouch'd by love, the maiden's breast balls,&c. are then faithfully pourtrayed; is like the snow on Rona's crest ; and a Whale Hunt, which accidentally So pure, so free from earthy dye, constitutes a part of the amusements, It seems, whilst leaning on the sky, enables Cleyeland to acquit his obli- Part of the heaven to which 'tis nigh; gation to Mordaunt by saving his life. But passion, like the wild March rain, The enmity between these two parties, May soil the wreath with many a stain. however, breaks out on every oppor- We gaze,---the lovely vision's gone, -tuinity, and is only restrained from A torrent fills the bed of stone, openoutrage by the influence of Brenda That hurrying to destruction's shock, over her old friend, whom she trusts Leaps headlong from the lofty rock.” with the secret of her sister's love for Disturbed by this response, Minna Cleveland, and becomes the single cannot rest; and while her innocent object of his attachment. In the midst sister reposes on her neck, she is sereof the festival, the Jagger brings ac- naded by Cleveland, who is to de. counts of the arrival of a ship at Kirk- part for Kirkwall by day-break to aswall, which proves to be the consort certain the situation of his old com, of the Pirate's lost vessel. This news, panions. His music is interrupted and concurrent circumstances, lead to hy Mordaunt's voice; and an altereamuch agitation. The sisters, sleeping ţion, a struggle, and a groan, are heard together, are disturbed by boding by poor Minna. She rushes to the dreams,-Minna of a melancholy cave, window, and sees one man bear off and mermaid prophecy; Brenda of another; leaps to the ground, and endeavouring to sing a lively song, desperately attempts to follow them, which she can only execute in the but encounters Halero the poet, and barsh notes of the Rein-kevnar, Norna. is obliged to return to her sleepless