"That is a difficult problem to solve;" respond talents, without ever having given any distinct manifestation of them, I left behind me the repu-ed one of the frightened pair, with shuddering tation of being the most expert horseman, the surest shot, the best and politest billiard player, and the most dexterous angler, that had ever visited Vilette. P*. ORIGINAL. A College Reminiscence. Ir was the afternoon previous to a public exhibition. I was appointed to take part in the exercises, and for weeks previous had been passing the ordeal of preparation. The writing, copying, committing, and all the sundry accompaniments were completed, with the exception of the necessary rehearsing. On the above-mentioned time, I repaired to a group of trees in the rear of our institution, to make ready for this final requisite. The wind was blowing, the leaves were rustling, and every noise and every object around, were rural, romantic, and inspiring. frame and trembling voice, for he did not stand still for a minute, but spun around continually, like the Dutchman's speckled pig, of anecdote memory. In short, the whole college was soon made acquainted with a most remarkable hair breadth escape." The persons who related the story had seen in the woods a being of uncommon actions. He seemed to be in a state of insanity; running about, raising the most horrid yells, and performing evolutions, that, for their inelegance and gracelessness, would have become a drunken militia-man. And when the wild creature discovered that he had been watched, he seized a massive club, and pursued the objects of his apparent displeasure. But they, with a strict regard to their own safety, immediately fled, and found refuge within the walls of the college. "And how near did he approach the building?" was asked. "As to that, we cannot tell," responded the heroes. "Did you see him after you had freed yourselves from danger?" No positive assurance could be given that they did. In truth, they were involved in doubt as to the precise distance he had pursued them, for their lives were in too imminent risk, and their nerves too much unstrung, to ensure the safety of looking back upon their foe. The I commenced my speaking. Like Demosthenes in his cave, or on the sea-shore-for at that moment my visions were brighter than ever were his-I endeavored to strengthen my voice, improve my gestures, fix the smile and look, and curl of the lip, and all the et ceteras of an unpractised and ambitious elocutionist. The forest echoed my soundsthe birds flew from the branches, in sheer fright at my motions-and the insects of the air feared to light on my face, for the high ascents and deep fur- Such were the particulars, as made known by rows which ever and anon came thereon, like those who had been the actors in the scene. swelling and sinking waves on the surface of the circumstances threw astonishment and anxiety into ocean. But lo! on ceasing and turning my eyes the great body of our students. Some supposed around, I observed two individuals standing at a that this creature in human shape was a maniac distance, and apparently watching me. I could from a neighboring mad-house; others, with more not recognize them, though I conjectured that they imaginative minds, believed that an Ourang Outang were some fellow-students. Ashamed that any had escaped from a menagerie, and was prowling one, and especially my acquaintances, had beheld about in the woods, "seeking whom it might dewhat I now began to think had been my strange vour!' Be this matter as it would, it was an and unnatural actions, I seized a small stick that unanimous resolution that something ought, in lay beside me, and began to beat the ground with mercy, to be done, to prevent any farther danger as much feigned composure as my peculiar circum- from this source; and consequently the whole colstances would allow, in order to prevent any un-lege was summoned forth for war. pleasant interpretation which might be put upon It is useless to detail in fulness the military my conduct. The spectators-as though terrified movements which followed. Suffice it to say, the at this last scene in the singular farce-took to their woods were surrounded in regular order, and an heels, and were soon out of sight. I collected my uniform march was commenced towards the cenwandering senses, indulged a hearty laugh at my tre-the place of rendezvous. The search was happy method of dismissing my audience-and conducted with the strictest care and adroitness. returned, pleased with my adventure, to my room. But nothing of a living nature was discovered. Half an hour had not elapsed when I was dis- Disappointment came over all. Fear for their turbed in my studies by a loud conversation under future security, seized upon every mind. Army window. A large number of students were rangements were immediately made for a second congregated, and something of importance seemed attempt at discovery. Thinking, however, that to be under consideration. I immediately joined the jest had been carried far enough for a denouethe circle. Two were in the centre. With agitated ment, I requested silence, and disclosed the advencountenances, dishevelled hair, and rent garments, ture which had occurred to me a short time before, they were relating a most dreadful tale to their and explained the connecting links between that horror-stricken companions. affair and our present purpose. The whole joke "Did he appear to be of human species ?" asked was readily understood. The two principal heroes one of the bye-standers. 'He was about the size of a man, was dressed in black, and had a huge pair of whiskers," was the answer. "How long did he remain in the place where you first saw him?" was inquired. slunk away, ashamed of having too much indulged their fancies, and magnified a harmless essay at declamation into an attack on their lives. The rest of the party laid down their arms, and retired into quarters, for study, not for warlike operations. E. B. F. A Wedding Night. Influence of Women. I found poor Fanny-quite disconsolate and un- Nor a page in French history, from the sixteenth comfortable. The old boy had been very cross all century to the nineteenth, but has to speak of some day, which made her feel still more lonely; and female reputation-nor is there a path to fame she was quite out of spirits. So I put a good face which female footsteps have not trod! Never have upon the matter, and laughed it off, and said we the French armies been engaged in the neighborshould enjoy the pleasures of a matrimonial life hood, without there being found many of those more by contrast; and at length poor Fanny bright- females-of those delicate and fragile females— ened up a little. I stopped there till about 11 whom one sees in the salons of Paris, slain on the o'clock; and just as I was taking my leave for the field of battle, to which they had been led, not so fourteenth time, the girl came running down stairs, much for a violent passion for their lovers (French without her shoes, in a great fright, to tell us that women do not love so violently,) as by a passion the old villain, (God forgive me for calling him so! for that action and adventure which they are wilfor he's dead and gone now,) prompted, I suppose, ling to seek, even in a camp. At the battle of Jeby the prince of darkness, was coming down to mappes, Dumourier had for his aides-de-camp,two draw his own beer for supper-a thing he had not of the most beautiful, the most delicate, and acdone before for six months, to my certain know-complished women in society, of the time: equally ledge; for the cask stood in that very back kitchen. chaste and warlike, these modern Camillas felt a If he discovered me there, explanation would have veneration for the profession of arms-they delightbeen out of the question: for he was so outrageous-ed in the smoke of the cannon, and the sound of ly violent, when at all excited, that he never would the trumpet. Often, a General told me, in the most have listened to me. There was only one thing to desperate cries of the battle, he has heard their be done the chimney was a very wide one; it had slender but animated voices, reproaching flight, been originally built for an oven; went up perpen- and urging to the charge: " Whither do you go, dicularly for a few feet, and then shot backward, soldiers? Is not the enemy yonder? Advance! and formed a sort of small cavern. My hopes and Follow!" And you might have seen the waving fortune the means of our joint existence almost-plumes and amazonian garb, amid the thickest of were at stake. I scrambled in like a squirrel; the fire."-Bulwer's France. coiled myself up in this recess-place: and as Fanny and the girl replaced the deal chimney-board, I could see the light of the candle which my unconscious father-in-law carried in his hand. I heard him draw the beer; and I never heard beer run so slowly. He was just leaving the kitchen, and I was preparing to descend, when down came the a infernal chimney-board with a tremendous crash. He stopped, and put down the candle and the jug of beer on the dresser: he was a nervous old fel low; and any unexpected noise annoyed him. He coolly observed that the fire-place was never used, and sending the frightened servant into the next kitchen for a hammer and nails, actually nailed up the board, and locked the door on the outside. So there was I, on my wedding night, in the light kerseymere trowsers, fancy waistcoat, and blue coat, that I had been married in that morning, ina back kitchen chimney, the bottom of which was nailed up, and the top of which had been formerly raised some fifteen feet, to prevent the smoke from annoying the neighbors. "And there," added Mr. Gabriel Parsons, as he passed the bottle-"there I remained till half-past seven o'clock the next morning, when the housemaid's sweetheart, who was a carpenter, unshelled me. The old dog had nailed me up so secure, that to this very hour, I firmly believe that no one but a carpenter could ever have got me out." WE see in needleworks and embroideries, it is more pleasing to have a lively work upon a sad and solemn ground, than to have a dark and melancholy work upon a lightsome ground: judge, therefore, of the pleasure of the heart by the pleasure of the eye. Certainly virtue is like precious odours, most fragrant when they are crushed; for prosperity doth best discover vice, but adversity doth best discover virtue. Marine Music. IMMEDIATELY under our vessel we heard a comthose which we could imagine, might proceed from mencement of wild and pleasing sounds, similar to thousand Eolian harps, beginning in slow tones, but gradually swelling into an uninterrupted stream of Chinese gongs, mellowed by distance then of harmony; to this might be added the booming again was heard to join sounds like the chorus of treble to a deep bass: indeed it is useless to atmany human voices, chanting from the height of tempt a description, for I am not able to find any satisfactory similitude to it, either in nature or art. During the time we heard this submarine concert, we felt, or thought we felt, a slight vibration of the each looked in the other's face with a vague invessel. We paused at first from our meal, and quiry. No one could afford information, until a formed us that it was caused by a shoal of trumpet seaman, who had formerly been a fisherman, infish. Long after this little voyage was performed, I obtained a specimen of the vocal residents of the caused the fable of the syrens? The trumpet fish deep. Might not some similar vocal fish have is about thrice the thickness of a man's thumb, twenty-two inches long, including a singular kind of supplementary tail, or membrane, growing out of its tail, about the thickness of strong twine, but tapering to a fine thread, about five inches in length. Its most remarkable peculiarity is its long bill, which justifies its appellation-this is about five inches long; but whether the sounds we heard, were caused by the fishes fastening to the vessel, or as some say, they possess the sonorous power independent of adhering to an object, and can utter sounds by elevating their trumpets above the surface of the water, I will leave naturalists to decide. In about fifteen minutes, the "sea-song" died away. |