"It was on a fine bright morning in July, that Mr. and Mrs. Leslie, with their four children, embarked on board one of the Dover steam-packets, bound for Bologne. The young people had never before had an opportunity of beholding the sea; of which they had heard so much, so that their delight was unbounded. The day before, Charles, Frederick, and Henry had climbed the Dover heights, with their papa, and gazed with wonder, not uninixed with awe, at their gigantic proportions. Their little sister, Ellen, not being old enough to accompany them, had remained at home with their maina, whose health was very delicate. Indeed, it was partly on her account, and partly for the purposes of education, that Mr. Leslie was taking his family to reside for a year or two at Bologne.

"The children were much entertained with all the bustle of embarkation. There were elderly ladies and gentlemen, who walked very cautiously over the plank, and younger ones, who seemed principally anxious to show the agility of their limbs in reaching the vessel. Then there were porters bearing heavy trunks, and servants carry ing their mistresses reticules, cloaks, and parasols. "Some were making up their faces, and strangely distorting their features, as if they thought sea-sickness would be a necessary accompaniment of a voyage; and others were laughing at the novelty of their situation, or siniling and waving their hands to friends on shore. Then, again, there were others who appeared inclined to grumble at every one, and every thing: in one part of the vessel they found it too hot, in another too cool; or the charges were so exorbitant that they were certain no other persons could be imposed upon as they were.

"Soon, however, every eye was directed towards the French coast. The lofty tower, built on a hill near Bologne by Buonaparte, when he was intending to invade England had long been visible.

"After a beautiful passage of little more than two hours and a half, the steam-packet entered the harbor of Bologne. The novelty of first landing in a French town was very striking to the children. The difference of costume and manners, the general din of human voices in a foreign language, high above which, are heard the tongues of proprietors of the different hotels expatiating to the newly arrived passengers, on the superior comfort,

and moderate charges, of their houses; all at length concluded by the unpleasant duties of the customhouse.

"The boys would have enjoyed the fun of all this; but they were so afraid it would be too much for their mama's strength, that they felt glad when they were quietly settled at the Hotel du Nord, where Mr. Leslie intended to remain till he could procure a suitable residence of his own.

"The young people could not have visited France at a better season for observing the manners of the nation, as the three Revolutionary days of July, were being commemorated by every kind of rural festivity. The streets were decorated with flags, and at night partially illuminated; pleasure and amusement appearing to form the only occupation of the inhabitants.

“In the evening Mr. Leslie and his little boys walked down to a handsome building on the beach, containing the library and reading-room, connected with the bathing establishment. An open colonnade and terrace-walk, stretching the whole length of the building towards the sea, were filled with groups of fashionable dressed people, differently engaged, in walking, reading, or conversation.

"There were some coincidences which render the scene, on the evening of which I am speaking, peculiarly impressive, and of which Mr. Leslie did not fail to take notice, and to improve. Inmediately before them was the scene of that melancholy shipwreck, still fresh in every one's remembrance, in which the lives of so many unhappy convicts were lost. Mr. Leslie had himself been a witness of that awful destruction of human life, and had seen the bodies brought in, while the whole shore was strewed with fragments of the wreck.

Now the sea was perfectly calm and unruffled, so that the wave broke with an almost imperceptible murmur on the beach. There seemed something almost ominous in the general stillness of the air, disturbed only by the not loud, but long, reverberations of the distant thunder. The sky had for some hours been blackening over the harbor: no rain fell, but the extreme vividness of the lightning, and the unusually long time that each flash quivered among the dark clouds, formed altogether a scene of so much seriousness, and sublimity, that Charles and his brothers could scarcely withdraw their attention from it to the gayer scene immedi ately around them. As the shades of evening began to fall-the room was brilliantly lighted up. Some of the company were promenading, within, while the rest were still sauntering, or sitting in groups without, listening to a party of itinerant musicians, who were sweetly accompanying the guitar with their voices, in the most admired Italian strains.

"After having enjoyed the combined novelty and solemnity of this scene for about an hour, Mr. Leslie and his boys returned to the hotel, scarcely

in time to avoid the storm, which at length descended in torrents of rain; accompanied with loud and startling peals of thunder.

"The next morning they arose at an early hour, to bathe in the sea. The tide being low, the children were quite pleased with the long jolting drive they had in their machines. The bathing establishment is on a large scale, and it was really quite a pretty sight to see the picturesque-looking bathers, (so different to the bathing-women in England,) who, when not otherwise engaged, were frequently amusing themselves with dancing and singing in the water, Dansez, mademoiselle, dansez?' they said to little Ellen; and, when she had courage to look round, and saw so many pretty little children playing amongst the sparkling waves, as they gently rippled by, all her fears vanished.

"Afterwards the family party re-assembled, to walk on the sands; but, as the morning was oppressively warm, Mrs. Leslie, feeling unequal to any fatigue, sat down, while the children played about. Well, papa', said Henry, I cannot think how the Amphitrite could be lost off this smooth-looking shore; but I suppose there are sunken rocks, and the ship might have been driven on them in the storm. I am almost sure, if I had been a man, I could have saved some lives.'

4

What would you have done my boy?'

Why, papa, I would have had a rope made fast round my waist, and then I would have swam towards the wreck : and, you know, if I could have saved the life of only one fellow-creature, it would have been worth all the trouble and danger.'

That's my brave boy,' said Mr. Leslie, I think Henry, we must make a little sailor of you.'

That profession would just please me,' replied Henry ; and then I should like to rise higher and higher in it, till I became Lord High Admiral of England! I would spend my life in the service of my country, so that, if I were killed in battle, my countrymen might say, The conquest has indeed been gained, but, alas! we have lost Henry Leslie, who led us on to victory!'

"All the party smiled at Henry's enthusiastic patriotism.

Harry now laughed heartily in his turn, at Frederick's ambitious desire, though he wondered any one should like study, better than fighting for Old England.

Well,' said Charles, 'you shall hear now what my desire would be. I should like to spend my life as the celebrated Howard did, of whom we were reading the other day; and go from town to town, and village to village, instructing the ignorant, feeding the hungry, relieving the oppressed, and comforting those who were in sorrow.'

Why, certainly,' said Frederick, 'I have often observed that people do not always admire most what is really good: at least, what God would most approve.'

Oh, do look at little Ellen!' exclaimed Henry, she is trying to leave the print of her shoe on the sand, and as fast as she does it, the waves come and wash it smooth again.'

Little Ellen is the best moralist of you all,' replied Mrs. Leslie, smiling; she is teaching you, by that simple action, the instability of all earthly admiration and applause. Try to excel in every thing you undertake, my dear boys; aim at high literary acquirements; but ever remember, aniid the attractions of science, that the glory of God is the Christian's chief end and aim; and that the higher the sphere you occupy here on earth, so much the greater will be your final responsibility before the judgment-seat of the Almighty.'

ORIGINAL.

To ·

My heart untouch'd hath lain through years-
A weary night-a dreary number-
Till now thy heavenly face appears,

Like sunshine calling it from slumber.
Thy voice is music from the skies

To melt the hearts of men and win them, Young Peri! and thy glancing eyes

Have heaven's own radiant light within them. Oh! could kind Time once more restore

To me the glow of boyhood's brightness,
And, clambering all Life's shadows o'er,
My heart regain its vanish'd lightness;-
Oh! could I be as I have been,

My soul would kneel to thee in duty,
And Hope illume life's future scene
With the bright sun-bow of thy beauty.
It may not be !-too late, too late,
For me thy opening beauty shineth,
Past is the morning of my fate,

Down western skies my sun declineth.
And when the twilight hues of time

Around me low'r in ages sadness, Thou in thy cloudless summer prime

Shall tread the sunny Earth in gladness.
Most lovely star gem! may no cloud

Of sorrow ever gloom before thee;
And mayst thou walk amid Earth's crowd
With Purity's white mantle o'er thee! -
From spot, from blemish, ever free
May Virtue's guardian arm protect thee;
And Vice itself, admiring thee,

Blush for its frailties, and respect thee!
Around thee may her opening flowers

Spring proffer in unbounded measure! Bright be thy path!-may all life's hours

Be charm'd to peace, or wak'd to pleasure! Late be the day that call thee hence!

Brilliant thy years as Eastern story! And may thy pure soul's recompense Be change of earth for endless glory! L.

have learned to govern himself before he undertook the subjugation of the world."

Ericson reddened, and his proud eye flashed, as he replied with some warmth, Cannot you, madam, enter into the noble zeal which hurries a brave man into the focus of danger, and induces him to relinquish life, and all its petty enjoyments, to gain the wreath of immortal fame?"

"No, indeed," returned Christina; "I have no feelings in common with the destroyer. I would rather be celebrated for conferring blessings upon my fellow-creatures, than be immortalized by their I have ever looked upon great conquerors as fools or madmen-a scourge to their own people, and an intolerable pest to society."

curses.

"My lord," said the minister, striving to mollify the rising choler of his guest, "you must pay no heed to my daughter's impertinencies. Her knowledge of battles and conquerors is confined to the chess-board. On that limited sphere, she enacts the General so well, that even an old soldier like me finds some difficulty in taming her audacity."

Ericson regained his composure, and, turning to the laughter-loving Christina, with more gallantry than she imagined him capable of displaying, challenged her to play a game with him.

“With all my heart," said Christina; "but if I should beat you?"

"It would not be the first time that I have been vanquished by you, Lady Christina," said Ericson, looking her full in the face. Christina colored, and cast her eyes to the ground, only to flash them again upon the Count with a proud glance of mingled coquetry and disdain. But the ice was brokenthe bashful youth had gained more confidence; and he met her indignant look with an expression of admiration and defiance.

"There is more mettle in this proud boy than I imagined," thought Christina, as she took her seat at the chess-board; "my father has set me to play a dangerous game." She shaded her glowing cheek with her hand, and fixed her eyes immoveably on the board, determined, out of pure contradiction, to play as stupidly as she possibly could, to mortify her opponent. The game, however, required no particular skill to ensure a conquest on her part. Ericson scarcely looked at his pieces. His moves were made without judgment: they were rash, and easily counter-planned.

"My queen gives check to the king," said Christina, with a triumphant air.

Fair tyrant," said the defeated, "do not you wish that you could make the king your prisoner?" No, it is enough that I have him in my power." "Most completely," said Ericson, rising and pushing the board from him: “you have checkmated me." "Father, how could you impose upon me by bringing Count Ericson here as my wooer? Do you imagine that a girl of any sensibility or taste, could condescend to marry that awkward boy?"

*

He is nineteen; just two years your senior; is brave, wealthy, and nobly born. What would you desire more?"

But many days passed away, and Christina was too much amused in tormenting her unfortunate lover, to put her threat into practice. Besides, Von Hesse purposely absented himself from the house; or, when present, behaved in so cold and distant a manner, that Christina saw no other way of restor ing him to his senses than by flirting with the Count. I had the misfortune to dream of you last night," she said one morning to the enamored youth; "I wish, for the future, that you would not presume to disturb my slumbers by your unwelcome presence." "I, too, had a dream," said Ericson: "I dreamt that you smiled upon me, and I was happy." "You must take dreams by their opposites," said Christina. "I know better, waking, where to bestow my smiles."

"How did I appear to you last night?" said the Count.

“Oh, just as agreeably as you do to-day." "Scornful girl, teach me how to woo you," cried Ericson, suddenly imprinting a kiss upon her ruby lips. This freedom, the rudeness of which he was not quite aware of, was repaid by so smart a blow, that the offender, as he rubbed his crimsoned cheek, marvelled how it could have been inflicted by a hand so soft and delicate.

"Your father led me to imagine," he said, in a sullen tone," that you would not receive my addresses with indifference."

Who are you sir?" demanded Ericson, fiercely. "A soldier," said Von Hesse, flinging his sword carelessly upon the table: "one who has bled in the cause of his country, and is ready to die in her service."

"We must be friends," said Ericson, extending his hand.

We are rivals," said Von Hesse, drawing back. "Does Christina love you?"

"She has told me so a thousand times. See what it is to trust to the faith of woman. You are no longer an object of indifference, and I resign my claims."

"To whom?" said Christina, the tears slowly gathering in her eyes.

"The King," said Von Hesse, turning away.

Stay!" said Charles. The young man reluctantly obeyed. "I have seen your face beforewhat is your name?"

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