Mary - dearly - ay, like my own soul. Am I not a fool to confess this? for, of what avail can it be? Do you not despise me - hate me? 99 6.66 Dear Sir," said she; but he was absorbed by his feelings, and interrupted her a "It was weak, indeed - it was mad, absurd, to dream that you, in the first bloom of life rich in hope, in youth, in beauty could neglect those like yourself, and stoop to me, me, a poor bookworm recluse, with the weight almost of half a century upon Nevertheless, when I am gone think of me sometimes, Mary me! I confess it all. - - and I shall soon go - kindly, if you can 'He was proceeding in a strain of passionate despair -no longer struggling to restrain his emotions, but abandoning himself to the power of the passion that consumed him-when he felt a small soft hand forced gently within his own! In an instant the tempest ceased. The Halcyon is not a fable! He turned his eyes upon the fair girl beside him, (whose gaze he had till then avoided,) and beheld those dark orbs, that he had so often loved to look upon, bent - with an expression which none could mistake full upon him. A new agitation now assailed him. "You pity me, then, Mary?" 'She sighed. "I do not give my hand from pity," said she. a word?" petitioned he; and he drew her, not unwilling, near him. """What more is there to tell? was her soft answer. "Dear Mr. Baliol, if my love is all that you seek, it longer than I dare to tell you!" has been yours "A kiss, Long as his exile, sweet as his revenge," rewarded the proud Roman, as he trod once again within sight of the Capitol. So the kiss which followed the last syllable of the tender villager, told how entirely her lover felt requited for all his troubles past. A few words were not wanting- exclamations of delight protestations - gratitude - promises of endless, endless love from him: from her murmured halfdistinct sentences (so murmurs the honey-bee) — all full of meaning to the ear of love, but not to be translated to alien spirits. 'Besides, we are true biographers. We will not betray a syllable, detracting from the merit of our hero. A philosopher should not be wholly unveiled to common eyes; but should live - magnified, indeed, yet half hidden, in the misty light of his renown object at once of respect and wonder.' an And here, reader, let us leave, to their own retiring happiness, Baliol and his bride. For that they were happy, do not doubt. Above all, do not found your scepticism, if it exist, upon any disparity of age or station. The historians of Love have never fully understood their subject; or, they have traced imperfectly the origin of this the most wonderful of all the passions. Equality may belong to Friendship; but inequality constitutes the essence of Love. It is that which marries the strong to the weak- the rough and courageous soldier to the fair and timid maid. It was that which linked the lovely lady' to 'the Moor,' the Thane of Cawdor to his awful wife. Some secret sympathy or resemblance there may be, which allies hearts to each other; but there is a dissimilarity or difference also, which is not without its attraction. Some day or other, when you and I have more leisure than at present, we will try to resolve the problem. 1839. THE world is full of teachers. From the full-blown doctor, head of his college, or from the high-pensioned pedant, hard, pompous, and dogmatical,— down to the button-holder who gives you his advice for nothing (its precise value), you may reckon a hundred varieties. These are, for the most part, the pride of classic ground-that over-cultivated region, in which so many a sickly flower and parasite plant are nourished, where little is taught in many words,where the art of rising in the world takes place of all other arts, where the line of demarcation, between the high and the low, is made plain to the meanest capacities, where every one learns to imitate the vices of his neighbor, and to no one is recommended the counsel of 'Know Thyself' - Amongst the most prosperous teachers, may be enumerated the masters of public schools—of wellendowed grammar-schools- the pedagogues of select academies - graduates who 'prepare gentlemen for the two universities' fellows of college who cram the dunce for his degree- private tutors of all principles, ages, shades, and colors — of all humors also; from the solemn coxcomb, whom conceit makes stiffer than a poker, to the toad-eater whom self-interest renders as supple as a cane. But peace be with them all! Although their roots are (or were) in the earth, yet they bloom high above us. The object of our search is a natural production found in a lower stratum—one that, like the truffle, never peeps above ground. In a word, it is- THE USHer. And who is the Usher? The Usher is a man of low degree. He is the gentlest of his family. The rest have bones and sinews, the fronts of bullocks, the fierceness of bulldogs; but he, poor fellow! has been ailing from his cradle, and has nothing for his portion, save an active and imaginative brain. His brothers are tillers of the ground, farmers, shopkeepers, clerks, mechanics, useful members of society. They mingle with the crowd, and are ‘of it;' learn how the world is moving; how trades or factions prosper or decline. They return at intervals to their home, full of cheap acquirements; busy, chattering, shining characters; thinly lackered over with conversational knowledge; prouder than thieves of their mosaic gold. They eat heartily, laugh heartily, are irresistible amongst women, and good fellows amongst men. They have the mark of goodluck upon them, and are sure of success. In the mean time, he the humblest of his race dwells apart, silent, forgotten. He is deemed by all the black sheep of the flock; and, indeed, he is melancholy and inactive; does little; earns nothing. However, his |