THE TWO STUDENTS.

A TALE.

Two young men, destined for the legal profes- person, prepared to share his fate. A few thrusts sion, carried on their studies at the university of were exchanged, one of the offensive party was Catania. Being intimate friends, and from the wounded, when lights were seen approaching, at same part of the country, they resided together in the sight of which the aggressors ran off, leaving a house, situated a little beyond the arch called the the others by themselves. The gentleman politely Portico del Molo. On one side of this gateway thanked the student for his timely interference, stands the superb palace of the Bishop of Catania; "which," he said," he hoped one day to find a suion the other, within the town, is the residence of a table opportunity of acknowledging; but that, at noble family of the city. Both students were young present, circumstances forbade his making himself men; one was about eighteen, his companion known to the person who had so signally obliged somewhat older. Being one evening invited to the him." He also declined further assistance, as the house of a friend, when the younger was ready to persons who now came up with lights, proved to go, his companion, who had to undergo an exami-be his own domestics. The student, wishing the nation on the morrow, told him he would follow stranger good evening, left him, and continued his him shortly, being still engaged in study. The course to the house of the friend who had invited other accordingly left the house by himself. Hav- him. When the servant opened the door, the young ing passed through the portico, when he came op- man was surprised to perceive that he seemed diposite the mansion of the cavalier we have men-verted, and laughed at his appearance. Paying tioned, he was surprised to hear a female voice but little attention to this circumstance, he entered call from the entrance. "Andrea! Andrea!" As the room where the party was assembled; they this happened to be his name, he approached the too began smiling, and he now became aware that door, when a woman immediately put something the hat which he held in his hand was not his own, carefully enveloped in a shawl into his hands, say- which had fallen off in the scuffle, but one he had ing, "Here, take it, and when you have delivered taken up, instead, belonging to some character in it safe, make haste back." With these words she mask. It was surrounded by a band of jewels, shut the door. It is to be observed that this took fastened by a buckle of brilliants of considerable place during the last days of the carnival, when value. To the inquiries of the company on the many strange adventures happen where least ex- subject he gave evasive answers; and being anxious pected, and many jokes are practised on the un- to communicate the affair to his friend, who had suspecting. What was the young man's astonish- arrived before him, after a short stay, prevailed on ment when he perceived that the object so strange- him to return home. As they conversed together ly consigned to his care was no other than a new-on the strangeness of the accidents, they arrived at born infant! Here he was in a situation not a lit- the Portico del Molo, when it seemed that the adtle embarrassing. What was he to do with the ventures of the evening were not yet come to a conchild? He felt an honorable scruple to become, clusion; for a figure in black suddenly started up by re-delivering it at the house, the means of dis- before them, and moving with a slow and solemn covering a secret of which circumstances, unac- pace, disappeared under the archway. As they countable but perhaps imperative, had rendered passed they were startled by a deep groan: looking him the depositary. He determined, therefore, to to ascertain from whence it proceeded, conceiving carry it to his lodgings, and have it looked after by it was some trick to alarm them, they discovered the house-keeper until morning, when he hoped to the black figure, which had preceded them, extendfind some means of elucidating this extraordinary ed on the earth. They found it was a female, enadventure. When he gave the child, which was veloped in the long mantle used by the ladies of richly dressed, to the old woman, she could not Catania. She was in a swoon, and our friends avoid testifying her surprise that having been conceiving themselves bound to assist this unfortuscarcely three months in Catania, he had found a nate person, conveyed her still senseless to their present of such a description already. She, how- habitation, where the housekeeper put her to bed, ever, promised to take care of it, and comply with and for a long time unsuccessfully tried to bring his directions. her to herself; even in this state they could perceive that she was surprisingly beautiful, and not more than sixteen years of age. At length she recovered a little, when the old woman declared that she had fainted from weakness, and that if some nourishment was not immediately administered, she would again fall into a deliquium, which might prove fa

Having left the child in safe hands, he again set out for the party to which he was invited; but no sooner had he passed the arch, than he perceived near the house from which he had received the infant, a gentleman, who with his back to the wall defended himself against the attack of several persons, exclaiming against the meanness and cowardice of his assailants, who were so many to one. Our student, who was a young man of courage, indignant at the sight, being armed with a sword canc, drew, and placing himself by the side of the

tal.

The friends were generally in the habit of taking their meals at a tavern, so that there was nothing in the house but some conserves and wine; a little being put into her mouth, she swallowed it, and in a few minutes found herself considerably

restored; but before she began to speak, the hat of the younger student caught her eye. Alarmed at the sight she sank back on the bed, and seemed threatened with a return of the swoon; eagerly inquiring how it had fallen into his possession, she was somewhat consoled when he told her, what indeed was the truth, that he had found it in the

street.

But before evening came, and their plan could be put into execution, the agitation and anxiety caused by the purpose and preparation to abandon her home, perhaps forever, unluckily brought on the very event, the apprehension of which had rendered the step necessary. It took place in the apartment of her cameriera, and matters were managed so well, that not the least suspicion was excited in the family. Information of what had

cessary that he should fulfil his engagement without delay, in order to preserve her honor in the eyes of the world, and perhaps her life from the indig, nation of her father. The prince, on his part, declared that he was ready to make good his promise, even at the risk of incurring his mother's displeasure; but he insisted that the marriage should be private, and kept concealed until a favorable opIn the meantime the servants, who had been dis- portunity of divulging it might occur. It was arpatched into Catania, returned, bringing cordials ranged that she should leave the paternal roof, and restoratives necessary in her situation. The where she was no longer in security, and accomstudents took their leave, giving her in charge of pany him to a villa at some distance from Catania, their housekeeper, with directions to pay her every in which he then resided, having hired it for this requisite attention. In the morning, the old woman purpose. The vigilance of her father and brother, informed them that she was still in a weak condi- who entertained suspicions that all was not as it tion, and greatly in want of quiet and repose. De- should be, obliged them to defer her escape from sirous, therefore, as they were to discover the day to day. At length the near approach of a cerevents that had brought a person so young, so beau- tain event rendered further postponement dangertiful, and of no ordinary condition, as was evident ous. It was fixed for the evening on which our from her apparel, into the situation from which story commences, when a masked ball was to take they had relieved her, they were constrained to de- place at the Casino de Nobili, at which it was supfer their curiosity to a more fitting opportunity. All posed her father and brother would be present, and offers of calling in medical assistance she peremp-under shelter of the night, their escape from Catatorily declined, earnestly entreating that every nia would be undiscovered. To disguise his perthing relating to her might be kept a profound se- son more effectually, the prince was to come dresseret, as she had otherwise to apprehend the most ed as for the masquerade, in a habit, which, having distressing consequences. The two following days seen before, she would be enabled to recognize she continued incapable of removal, and still seem- again. ed as little inclined as ever to enter on the subject of her own story. On the third day the housekeeper, either to divert the attention of the young lady from the settled grief which seemed to prey on her, or suspecting the real state of the case, during the absence of her hosts, brought into her chamber the infant delivered to her care by the younger student. As soon as the lady saw the dress of the child she appeared to recognize it, caught it in her arms, covered it with kisses, and then unable to re-occurred was immediately conveyed to the prince, strain herself, wept long and bitterly over it. Soon after the friends returned with information that the daughter of the Cavalier T―, who resided near the Portico del Molo, had eloped some evenings before, and that her family, having made fruitless inquiries among their relations and acquaintance, had at length given information to the police, which was making the most exact researches. When the young lady heard this, she exclaimed in an agony of terror that she was the person sought after, and calling for the two friends, she entreated them to provide for her safety, for she was utterly lost if she fell into the hands of her father. In a few words she then related the circumstances which had led to her extraordinary elopement. She had formed, about a twelve month before an acquaintance with the Prince of C——, a young nobleman of Palermo who professed an ardent attachment to her; but not having attained his majority, he was still under the control of his mother, who having in view an advantageous match for him with a Palermitan lady of high connexions, would never be induced to consent to a union with a family, which, though respectable, was neither among the most illustrious nor most wealthy in Sicily. The prince therefore promised to marry her privately, and in this hope she had imprudently continued to meet him unknown to her parents, until her lover taking advantage of the affection she entertained for him, she found herself in a condition which rendered it ne- What became of her afterwards, until she found

who sent word that a confidential servant, named Andrea, would call for the infant as soon as it grew dark, and promised, in case the mother was in a condition to be moved, to persist in their scheme for escape. About the hour appointed she heard the clash of arms in the street, and her brother was brought in wounded. What became of the prince she was unable to say; not having come himself, nor sent any of his domestics to account for his not having done so, she was fearful, that enraged at the hostility of her brother, he had come to the resolution of abandoning her. Her father, infuriated at his son's wound, suspecting too, that the person who had been observed for a length of time to haunt the premises, carried on a clandestine correspondence with his daughter, reproached her bitterly and violently, throwing out threats, which knowing her situation, alarmed her to such a degree, that she determined, even in the state in which she was to risk an attempt to escape, fearful every moment that some unlucky accident might discover the whole truth to her father. Scarcely had she crossed the paternal threshold, ignorant which way to proceed, and hardly able to sustain herself for weakness, than the two students made their appearance. Trembling with apprehension, she endeavored to conceal herself, by retiring under the portico, where her strength failing, she had fainted.

herself in the house of our students, was known to the whole affair to the Cavalier T-——, and assure themselves. him of the prince's intention to repair the honor of his family, by an immediate union with his daughter.

Whilst

Having effected their object, the brother students returned to Catania with the welcome intelligence. On their arrival at home, their surprise and mortification were great to find that during their absence the lady, the infant, and the house-keeper had all disappeared. The servants, who had been purposely sent out of the way, could not tell where they were gone. The promise to the prince considerably perplexed them, as they were fearful he might imagine them privy to her flight. they debated on the plan to be pursued, a loud knocking was heard at the door. It was the police which came to search the premises, which were fortunately among the last examined, being situated without the walls of Catania. The companions instantly comprehended that apprehension of the intended visit had caused the second flight of their terrified guest; but as she had left no clue by which they might trace her retreat, they were as embar

rassed as ever.

building, withdrew, leaving the students to themThe police having examined the selves, who determined next morning early to revisit the prince, and apprise him of the unexpeced event which had taken place during their ab

sence.

The young men did their best to comfort her, declared they did not doubt the prince's honor, and that it should be their care to bring him to a clear and explicit explanation. They, in fact, resolved to wait on him, detail all the circumstances con nected with their share of the adventure, and in case they found him disinclined to do justice to the lady so strangely thrown on their protection, they determined, in the disinterested spirit of chivalry, to call him to account for his breach of faith with their swords. As there was no time to be lost, they immediately departed on their errand. Soon after they were gone, the house-keeper hurried in to say, that all Catania was in motion, and that the police had received orders to search the lodgings of all students not residing within the walls of the university, as they were always suspected to be concerned when any mischief was on foot. At this intelligence the spirits of the poor girl sunk anew, and she gave herself up for lost. What was to be done? to remain was to insure discovery, and to subject herself to all the vengeance of her justly irritated father. She had fortunately concealed on her person jewels of some value, the gift of her lover; mentioning this circumstance, the old woman calculating perhaps on the chance of turning the affair to her own advantage, said, that as any risk was preferable to falling into the hands of her father, weak as she still was, she would hire a lettiga and In the meantime the juvenile mother, her infant, accompany her to Jaci Reale, where she was acand the house-keeper had arrived safe at Jaci Reale. quainted with a certain canon, the bishop's vicario The worthy canon hearing her story, readily proin that town, with whom she had formerly resided mised to exert himself in her behalf, and offered her as servant. He was a worthy man; the young ing ascertained the direction of the prince's villa, he for the present an asylum in his own house. Havlady might discover herself to him, and she was sure he would take the most effectual steps either undertook to wait on him the following day. When for uniting her to the prince, or reconciling her to our disappointed students, therefore arrived at the her family. At worst, she had the means of sup with the vicario, who had already communicated to house, they found the young nobleman in company porting herself in concealment for a considerable time, in case matters should not turn out so favora-him the escape of the young lady from Catania, and bly as she hoped. The distance was only ten miles had engaged him to repair with him on the ensuing and the lettigas were an easy conveyance. The day, to Jaci, for the purpose of being united by him young lady, terrified to distraction, eagerly caught to the object of his affection. The Cavalier at the offer. The vehicle was procured, into which was of an honorable family, and the good the harassed mother, her child, and the old woman canon had little doubt of the princess, his mother, hurried with all possible dispatch. being speedily reconciled to a union which it would Whilst this took place in Catania, the students be no longer in her power to impede. The goodhad discovered the abode of the prince, and intro-natured students on their part promised to wait on duced themselves, had narrated to him the adven- the bride's father, in order to announce to him at tures that had befallen the young lady. They found once, the joyful intelligence of the recovery and he had been badly wounded in the rencontre with marriage of his daughter with the Prince of the brother. Being unable to leave the house himself, he had given directions to the confidential serAll things succeeded according to the most sanvant we have mentioned, to communicate the guine expectations. The father was pacified, the circumstance to his mistress, and concert a second princess reconciled, and the lovers lived long and time the means of escape; but the domestic to his happily, always entertaining a sincere friendship master's disappointment, only learnt that the lady for our students,-whom fortune had so strangehad already eloped. The prince in the interim had ly rendered the instruments of their mutual felicaused inquiries to be made, but without effect. He city. now testified in lively terms his satisfaction at the tidings brought by the students, and declared that it had always been his intention to do the lady all the justice in his power. It was arranged that the prince should, if the state of his health permitted, return next day to Catania, and remove his intended bride to his own villa. In case a discovery took place before, the friends were authorized to reveal

Nothing sinks a young man into low company, both of women and men, so surely as timidity and diffidence of himself. If he thinks that he shall not, he may depend upon it he will not please. But with proper endeavors to please, and a degree of persuation that he shall, it is almost certain that he will.

A TALE OF THE REVOLUTION;
Or, The Father's Curse.

FEW there are among us who, in turning their gaze upon the prosperity of our fair country, appreciate fully and truly the bloody sacrifices that were made by the noble and self-devoted soldiers of the revolution, in achieving to their posterity, the soul-stirring title of a "free, sovereign, and independent nation!"

Surrounded by the armies of a proud and powerful enemy, aided by savage tribes of the fierce, cruel, and unrelenting Indian-torn by their intestine commotions-in every hour a prey to blackhearted treachery-with one hand grasping the standard of freedom, the other the crimsoned sword, they stood alone and unawed amid the storm, waging an unequal conflict with that mightiest power of Europe.

There was, however, a proud consciousness of right, ruling with iron sway, in the breasts of our fathers, which the high-born of earth could trample on but to their own destruction. They were the noble champions of freedom! "Freedom," oh, there is a spell of deep joy in that name, which thrills through the heart like the melody of the Æolian, with a glowing exultation.

shall I hear that loved voice cheering my youthful heart, and gladdening with his endearing tone, the joyous days of childhood. He is dead! And oh! what a dark and dreary void is left upon the heart; what a deep sense of utter loneliness and desolation comes o'er the soul, when we see a loved one snatched away from us, and feel that we shall know him no more! But, reader, I will not tire you.

The old man paused a moment, and then related the following: "My boy, I must now take you to the American camp, on the morning before the battle of the Cowpens. It was very early, and all was still and silent within the camp, save now and then the measured tread and stern challenges of the sentines came floating on the light breeze. Two persons, evidently officers, were seen to take their way to a grove of small oaks that crowned an eminence in the rear of the tents. The eldest was not above the middle height, and slightly formed. His countenance was calm and cold, and there was nothing in his appearance which gave token of the spirit which ruled within, save now and then a sudden and startling change would come across Forgive me, reader, but I cannot speak coldly his marble features, so marked and singular as to upon these cold things. I cannot look back upon cause the beholder to shrink from him with surthe deeds of that "little band of patriots" as things prise, if not with awe. It was a look in which done only to be forgotten; as things looked at but pride and fierceness struggled with an adamantine once with the idle stare of curiosity, and then to inflexibility of thought and action-and there had be remembered no more! No! I cannot gaze upon been in the proud curl of his thin lips, an appearthat bright array of noble hearts, but with feel-ance of recklessness and impetuosity, but for the ings too keenly sensible of the injustice and indifference they have received at the hands of their

countrymen.

Full well do I remember the happy hours I have sat upon my grandsire's knee, listening to the tales of those bye-gone days: full well do I remember that venerable countenance o'er which time had lately passed his icy fingers-that mildly beaming eye, which ever and anon would brighten with youthful fire, as memory rolled back upon the soul, the living impress of seenes long past, and long forgot to all save him.

Reader, will you hear a 'rough, unvarnished tale.' "Twas the last he ever told me. I remember the time as though it was but yesterday. The aged veteran had called me, but I had not come as quickly as my wont; "Charles! Charles!" said the old man, with a quivering lip, “Charles, will you not listen to the last tale your father can ever tell you?" His tone startled me; I looked up into his face-a tear was trickling silently down his cheek, and he gazed upon me with a look of such mournful tenderness, that the recollection of my neglect almost smote me to the earth. "Oh, do not say so, father-do not say so-" my feelings choaked me, and I hung down my head and wept. "Say no more, my boy," said the old man, as he seated me upon his knee-" but listen." His words were but too true! It was his last story. No more

contrast of his lofty forehead, which told truly that genius had there erected her temple on no barren soil-a temple whose sanctity could govern the natural waywardness of his spirit.

The youngest was tall and elegantly formed. His countenance bore the stamp of high and manly beauty-but it was pale with care and anguishand that had given it an appearance of effeminacy, but for the finished outline of every part. But his eye, Charles! none could bear the fierce glance of that dark eye! It was like the vivid gleam of the lightning, when it burns along the dark curtain of the storm at midnight! and yet at times it would be so mild and endearing as to fascinate the very soul; but it was only that the next moment might sear the heart with its hellish wildness; there was a devil in that look of his! His name was Edward Seymour. He had entered the army not long before as a volunteer, and had risen rapidly from the ranks to the station which he then occupied. He came, no one knew from whither; and few, if any, had heard ought of his history.

"It may not be, James, it may not be;" said Edward to his companion, there is not any thing in the incidents of my life which I may hope will interest you. 'Tis but the sad record of one, for whom not one heart can beat with friendship-of one for whom all the bright ties of earth are sev. ered, and all is dark and desolate. I am alone.

"Edward," said the other in a tone of disap- hand of misfortune may weigh down in the gloomy pointment, "I did not hope to find it necessary to despondency of the present, the memory of other say that there are those who feel a friendly interest and better days; but when the question comes for your welfare—” home to the soul in its depth, ever, ever shall we find a warm feeling of love, joy, and gratitude, bursting forth free and full in our bosoms. But when those affections are cast aside forever-when the fibre which binds the heart to love, is snapped asunder by the hand of coldness and unkindness, then only, do we feel bowed down to earth with an unchangeable feeling of desolation; then, and then only, does the heart feel utterly alone.

"Forgive me," said Edward, interrupting him; evidently touched by the manner of the other, "forgive me, if my expression seemed harsh. I know too well what it is to suffer, my friend, to inflict a wound upon the meanest of earth's creatures."

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He paused a moment, while a marked emotion was visible upon his pale countenance. At length he again addressed his companion. "I need not "Yet, my friend, there is one green spot for tell you, perhaps, that no common occurrence memory, even in this saddening waste. Mine was could have made me what I am. No slight inci- a spirit formed for feelings less masculine and stern dent could have scathed my heart, and dried up the than most of youth-formed for the enjoyment of spring of life in one young as I am. I will tell all the blissfulness of love and friendship-formed you," continued he, fixing his dark eye upon his for the enjoyment of that soul-enthralling sympacompanion, and be you the judge. I will not thy which binds hearts of the same noble nature weary you with the relation of the circumstances together inseparably. I loved-nay, do not smile. of our family, nor with the naming of ancestral I could once laugh at the fictitious passions of rohonors and dignities—I detest them all. I will pro- mance. I too could once sneer like the cynic, and ceed at once to the circumstances which have condemn with critics' accuracy. I did once dream brought me here. In my father's family, and nearly those highly wrought tales were but the rich stores of the same age with myself, he being a few of imagination, with more of vividness than reality. months older, was Julian Monteith. We were But there is a deeper feeling than all these, James," reared together, but despite of the kind attentions he continued with enthusiasm, "when you shall shown him by the family, and his dependant situa- look on beauty, and have your burning gaze flashed tion, Julian became rude and ungovernable in his back from eyes beaming with rapture—from eyes manner, to all except my father, whom he feared. into whose liquid depths you can look as you To him he was ever the mild and playful boy-so would gaze at the far-off stars of heaven, with much so that my father had conceived a great chastened feelings of awe and admiration, when affection for him, which seemed to increase every you can hear the words of tenderness flowing from hour. To me, being the stronger, he was at once a pure and holy heart-when you can press a a tyrant and a task-master. His hatred for me had loved one's throbbing heart to yours, in one long been great and apparent, from our very childhood. embrace of more than mortal joy-and when you Why, I know not, for I had ever been to him as a can imprint a breathless kiss on a fair and polished brother; and my meek temper always submitted to brow-then you will know the thrilling intensity of his strength without a murmur. But I am changed a first and only love! 'Tis thus I have felt-but a from that lowly, yielding youth, and I am startled | change has come o'er the spirit of my dreams, for when I think what a tempest of passion gathers in I now feel it was a dream too bright-visioned to this breast of mine now. But let me pass from last. That too has vanished! But I will hastenthese things, to those more nearly connected with My father was a loyalist, stern and uncompromy story. We grew to manhood-he, the same mising. My inclinations led me to have different dark spirit, and I the same yielding one of younger views from his. I considered the cause of our coldays. But too truly had I marked the kindness onies not only as a cause of humanity, but comwhich my father felt for Julian. And, oh, too bined with this, one of strict justice. In short, much had I marked the estrangement of my father's James, I was a rebel, at least in sentiments-and affections from myself; by far more withering was although this was well known to my father, it was the conviction, from the certainty of their being never made a subject of comment but once. fastened upon one unworthy of a single throb of one evening we were sitting alone; I took up one kindness from one humane heart. Days rolled on. of the proclamations of Cornwallis and read it More and more deeply did my father's heart seem aloud. The strength of the appeal roused my twined with that of my cousin; until at last, I father from his usual indifference of conversation could no longer shut my eyes to the fact, that the on that subject, and turning to me with a contracted kindness of a parent was alienated from me. Long brow, he demanded, "Why, young sir, do you redid I resist the conviction-but oh, my God! when ject such convincing language as that you have it did come with withering intensity, how uner- just been reading? Why are your opinions against ringly did the scorching arrow speed to my throb- your rightful king? tell me, sir." Well knowing bing heart! My friend," he continued, in a tone of that at that time of excitement, such a subject of deep earnestness, "there are feelings of sacred indifference could not fail to awaken all his youthlove and tenderness which a child feels for a pa- ful opinions and prejudices. I endeavored to pass rent. Months and years may roll on to cloud their from this dangerous theme, and change alike the brightness-a long farewell uttered to the friends subject and his feelings; but it was in vain. Again of youthful days, and to the loved recollections of he said, "No more of that, sir; answer me directly, childhood, may diminish their lustre-the compan- I command you." I did answer as calmly and ionship of a cold, unchastened and dreary world briefly as I could, but it was as fuel to the fire. may shade their vividness-and the blanching The flame burned with greater energy than I had

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On