sight. Mary could not forbear shedding a few tears; then, smiling at what she deemed her own silliness, she hastened home. Jamie now pursued his journey, and arrived safely at the place appointed. Time passed away until winter appeared again on the earth, and he had now the delightful hope of returning once more to his beloved Mary. Big with expected delight, he started on his journey homeward. Mountain and moor were no obstacles in his way, though highly dangerous at such a season. A late thaw, however, had completely cleared them of snow, and a continued frost had rendered them perfectly hard; he therefore crossed them with tolerable ease. It was a cold, moonlight night, when he arrived at the spot where he had last parted from her who was dearest to his heart. The thought of those sweet blue eyes seemed to inspire fresh vigour into his frame, and he bounded forward, till, in a short time, he was descending the hill into the valley. He was soon upon the road a little way above the cottages. He hastened forward-they were under the shadow of the hill, he therefore could not discern them at a distance; but with rapid steps he approached that of Mary's father. Good heavens, what did he see! one mass of shapeless ruins and loose stones, many of which were rolled down into the deep ravine below. He stood motionless-the perspiration turned cold upon his brow-for an agonizing thought of the cause of such a scene shot through his brain. He turned round, and in a moment after stood at his mother's door. On hearing him enter, the old woman raised her eyes; they seemed swollen with weeping. This added no little to the horrible ideas which floated in his mind. He gazed wildly around, and, through a door which led into an inner room, beheld a white coffin, with a sheet carefully thrown over it; the lid being removed, and a small candle burning near the head. He rushed towards it, and removed the sheet and a small curtain which hung before the face, when, to the agony of his soul, he beheld, composed in the rigid stillness of death, the features of his Mary. he exclaimed. But, alas! she was insensible alike to his words and caresses. Never more might those blue eyes beam upon him, or her words of enchanting sweetness fall upon his ear. She was gone for ever. He continued for some time to hang over the coffin, in silent agony. At length, his mother, by gentle and soothing words, succeeded in her efforts to persuade him to leave the corpse. He turned away, and walking into the other room, threw himself upon a rude couch or settle, while she related the sad story to him. It was on a cold evening, about a fortnight. before that of Jamie's arrival, that the events which she proceeded to relate took place. The weather for the last month had been unusually severe, and the snow, by a succession of storms and hard frosts, was piled in huge drifts on the tops of the hills and in the depths of the valley. These had apparently become as hard and solid as the earth beneath them. The Frost King had said— "Here let the billows stiffen and have rest;" and the water hung in long clusters of slender icicles from the precipices that frowned over the deep glens, while the waters in the bottom were congealed into thick ice. On the evening in question John Redford closed his door, and collected his family round the turf fire. The wind had suddenly settled, and one of those intervals of calmness and silence took place, which are not unusual in the winter season. Soon after, the wind began to howl with a wailing and dirge-like tone, and unaccompanied by that shrillness which mostly characterizes a frost wind. John knew the meaning of this, and hastened to the door. On stepping upon the highway, he found the snow splashy and melting fast, while overhead large masses of thick clouds stretched like a dark canopy from hill to hill; drops of rain were also descending: he hastened within, and proclaimed a thaw. The wind now rose louder and louder, and the rain beat against the little window as if it would break it in. They now To convey any adequate notion of his feelings began to tremble with terror, for it was evidently at this moment would be impossible. Those one of those sudden changes from frost and may form some idea of them-of the tumult of snow to wind and rain, which do such heavy love, anguish, and terrible despair within his damage in close narrow dales. Their fears bosom-who, in the bloom of youth, when the were, however, not altogether for themselves; heart throbbed with expected delight, and all John unlatched the door, in order to cross the was pleasant and beautiful around them, have way to his lonely neighbour, and induce her to found their fairest hopes blighted in a few mo-join them, but he found the road so completely ments, and the earth rendered a desert to them flooded, that it was impossible for him to do so, for ever. and he closed the door again. Trembling and silent, he gazed upon the lifeless clay which lay stretched before him, until his mother approached, when he exclaimed, in an almost unearthly voice, "O mother, how is this?" She answered only by a flood of tears. Wildly embracing the cold form, and pressing the marble lips to his, he called on her to speak to him. Mary! I have come to you again. Speak to me, my Mary!-you cannot be dead!" 66 The vast piles of snow upon the mountains had now melted into deep pools; these being swelled by the continued rain, burst down upon the valley, sweeping everything before themhouses, barns, and all they contained. The terrified inhabitants, in many instances, quitted their houses before they were swept away; but no place was safe: torrent after torrent rushed roaring from the hills on every side; and in leaving one place they were liable to get into another still more dangerous. John Redford's cottage, as I think was mentioned before, stood in an exposed situation; every blast of wind shook it to its foundation, and the water entered several crevices at the upper end. To leave it now was impossible, so completely were they surrounded by water; he therefore desired his family to kneel them down beside him, while, with a trembling voice, he committed them and himself to the protection of heaven. Just then a noise louder than thunder was heard, followed by a fearful crash. Several loud screams rose above even the voice of the tempest, as the cottage was overturned, and swept over the low precipice into the boiling stream below. Early next morning it became known that John Redford's cottage had been swept away; consequently, as soon as the flood had subsided, a search was made for the bodies. Six of them were found far down the valley, and were soon after interred in the church-yard of the principal town of the dale. Mary alone was missing-she was found not far from the scene of the dreadful catastrophe; a bunch of willows, amongst which she had become entangled, had supported her above the water, and she was still alive. She was conveyed to the house of her neighbour, and was with difficulty restored to her senses; but she lingered only a few days, when she breathed her last. A messenger had been despatched for Jamie, but having missed him on the road, he arrived, unconscious of what had happened, the evening before the funeral. Some years have elapsed since old Jamie was gathered to his fathers; he sleeps in our churchyard, just by the side of a common foot-path. Never do I pass through, but I think of that noble heart, and of the instance which it gave of eternal and unchanging affection; and remember that, by his death, another of those links which connect us with a state of primitive simplicity in manners and habits, which is fast passing away, hath been severed, amongst the many which are breaking around us every day. Peace be with thy soul, old friend! Banks of the Bain. A FEW REMARKS ON MANY THINGS. BY MRS. VALENTINE BARTHOLOMEW. No. VI.-DRESS. It is a great art to dress well. Some people have an intuitive perception of what best suits their face and figure, without studying any of fashion's rules; others will sacrifice taste and decorum, and render themselves ridiculous by adopting the last mode, however unbecoming it may be. It would show no small portion of wisdom on the part of tailors and dress-makers, if they would gravely contemplate the imperfections as well as the perfections of a human form; but usually they make the cut of one pattern do duty for all sizes and ages, and persuade a short dumpy person to wear precisely the same length of waist that is suited only to a slight and sylphlike form: they never trouble themselves to consider the style of the wearer, and entirely overlook that the fashion of a robe which adorns one-half of mankind would completely disfigure the other. The French never make these mistakes; they possess the marvellous power of adapting the material, colour, and texture of a dress to the age and condition of the wearer. Our first impressions, agreeable or disagreeable, are produced by the effect of dress, before we get the opportunity of judging from manner. How frequently the exclamation of surprise is uttered, when persons of talent are pointed out to the by-stander as the cele brated Mr. or Mrs. So-and-so, habited in a style that would disgrace an old nurse or a shoe-black! The time is gone past when genius was courted and petted the more for the eccentric carelessness it assumed in its habiliments: a really great mind is never ashamed to attend to the minutest trifles. Some years ago a party had procured cards to visit the studio of a female artist of great repute: they were told at the door that the mistress was not at home; nevertheless, the pictures could be seen; and the visitors were ushered into the room, to feast their eyes with some master-pieces of art. In a little time a very dowdy, ill-dressed person joined them, and in a civil, quiet manner, pointed out the paintings which were considered most worthy of observation. On leaving the apartment, one of the ladies, considering she was the housekeeper, slipped half-a-crown into her hand, which was quickly returned, with the astounding announcement that she was the artist. Taste, neatness, and economy in the wardrobe, ought to forin in every school part of the education of the children of the middling classes; for it takes no small portion of a limited income to properly clothe a large family of sons and daughters. Some people possess the praiseworthy management of appearing beautifully dressed at a very small cost; their grand secret is CAREFUL- times; it is suited to all ages and to all societies; NESS; they never let dust accumulate in folds it is never out of place, at home or abroad: a and flounces; they recollect that dark colours close pelerine makes it a morning dress; a bow retain dirt as well as light ones, only it is not of bright ribbon, or a bouquet of roses, converts perceptible to the eye; so every night, on taking it into a costume fit to grace the most fastidious off their apparel, they remember to wipe their assemblage; in short, there is no end to the dresses and their bonnets with a clean soft becomingness, the respectability, and the duratowel; they do not throw their shawls, huddled bility of a black satin dress. Its rival in usefulup, upon chairs or tables, leaving the ends to ness and beauty is white muslin; but then it trail on the carpet, but fold them up, not cross- can only be gracefully worn up to a certain ways, but in a square form, which takes out the age; some may appear in it up to thirty-five, creases acquired by a single day's wear. If feet but very few have the assurance to sport it after are so badly formed that the heel of shoes get that period. There is no picture so lovely as a trodden down, they remedy the evil by pulling young girl arrayed in white, with white and red up the leather into its proper shape, every time roses or camellias in her hair; such a dress is they take their shoes off; and with a "stitch an emblem of the purity and innocence of youth; in time" they prevent fingers from peeping it is ever new, and ever to be varied with the through ragged gloves. Shoes and gloves de- changed colour of the sash or ceinture. Blue is signate the lady more than any part of her ward- also very becoming: scarlet geraniums harmorobe. A cheap dress, made in a simple and un-nize well with this colour, so do white flowers, pretending style, will often look more recherché but beware of pink ones; something black than a costly material overloaded with trimmings, and vulgarly put on. Jewellery should always be real, for there is no occasion to wear ornaments, unless persons are in circumstances to buy them good. It is better to give a low price than a high one for articles whose fashion is always changing; but it is an expensive economy to buy things cheap which require great wear and tear. It is very absurd to walk the streets in a costume fit only for a carriage; a velvet dress sweeping the dirty crossings of a city is a very pitiable sight. When you pay an evening visit, and are doubtful whether the party be large or small, it is better to go too little dressed than over dressed; but it is very unfair of the hostess to mislead her guests: a young lady who goes in costume de bal, and meets but four or five persons in high dresses, is likely to feel uncomfortable and embarrassed all the evening. I once witnessed the awkward position in which a lady was placed by entering a brilliantly-lighted drawing-room, filled with ladies rustling in silks and sparkling with jewels, whilst she was attired in a dark merino dress, made up to the throat, having been invited to spend a quiet evening en famille. Much might be said on the choice of colours; to make them produce a perfect effect, perhaps requires a painter's eye; yet surely the incongruities which some persons fall into might easily be avoided; for instance, who could admire a lady dressed in green, with a blue bonnet, yellow shawl, and pink throatlet? Yet this is no uncommon sight. Others again will wear a light transparent robe, fit only for a zephyr, and weigh it down with a huge mantle of velvet, forgetting there is always harmony in nature, and that weather which is sufficiently warm for a muslin robe does not need a woollen blanket for the shoulders. How out of place looks a pale-pink silk bonnet, on a day when the rivers are bound up by the icy fingers of winter. Yet such inconsistencies are constantly seen. A black satin dress is in season in all round the wrist or throat should always be worn with straw or primrose colour, with a bunch of purple and white violets in the hair and bosom; pink is also fatal to this hue. Greens and lilacs mix well together; nothing can be more lovely in summer than a lilac dress, with lemon-coloured gloves and a black scarf. Violent colours should never be opposed to each other; the deep red and the bright green are frightful when brought into juxta-position in any part of a lady's attire. To some the picturesque style is most suited, whilst others look better in a plain garb. Short people should wear stripes, not large checked patterns, and eschew flounces; but they may indulge in side or front trimmings, as they serve to make the figure appear taller. A lovely woman may wear anything; the star of her beauty will still shine out through the thick clouds of fashion; but those who possess no outward gifts of nature, should be careful to invest an ordinary person with neatness, not conspicuousness; and all women should make dress some matter of importance; there is always a father, husband, or brother, in whose eyes they should wish to appear attractive; and a slatternly neglect of the toilette betokens, to say the least, a very careless and apathetic mind; a proper vanity regarding one's self-appearance is not only allowable, but positively necessary, to keep up those little courtesies which ought always to exist between the sexes. It is quite necessary for the wife to dress as much for her husband as she did for her lover; it is much more difficult to preserve an affection than it is to create one; and when a wife, as soon as she becomes a mother, neglects to foster her personal attractions, she must not be surprised to find that her husband begins to doubt if she ever had any. It is a difficult thing to learn to grow old; and still more difficult it is for people of a certain age to dress consistently; it is better at once to jump into the high dress with long sleeves, than expose a complexion which is no longer fair. False curls and wreaths of flowers are strange amalgamations, which remind us of BB as hard as ever he could tear, determined on satisfying his hunger on the remainder of his herring as soon as he had traversed the ap We had had a blank morning-the hour of eleven had arrived, we had not found-and the next covers were several miles off. What was to be done? It was too early to return home-pointed distance. it was too late to try fresh ground. Tom Jinnigham, of Ballyrock, called myself and the master of the hounds aside. "Sure I'll tell ye what we'll be afther doing. Come down to Ballyrock, and let's all have a bite and a sup; and while we're at it, I'll be sending Micky, the Omadhawn, with a drag across country. Though he's a nat'ral, he's rare runner, and I'll pound it will give us sport; it's myself will answer for that same." This proposition we rather relished; so, mutually promising to keep the secret, we once more joined our brother sportsmen, and prepared to partake of an early luncheon at our friend's place. Tom, it was well known, had always a fine "red round" ready to be "cut and come again;" his wine was notoriously good; so without a single seceder, we one and all adjourned to Ballyrock, leaving the hounds outside in the park while we endeavoured to get rid of our good appetite as well as we could. In the mean time, the Idiot (for in almost all families of any rank or station in Ireland, an afflicted creature of this kind is kept as a necessary appendage to the kitchen circle) was despatched with a dried salted herring tied to a string, which he was ordered to trail after him as he ran across the fields for two or three miles. It was in vain the poor fool begged to be allowed to have his dinner before he started; he was commanded instantly to be off. It was settled that half an hour's law only should be given him. The hungry but active boy went off, and having ascertained the direction they wished to follow, immediately set out, drawing the savoury drag after him. Over the high banks (styled in Ireland ditches), across the fields, and down many a dangerous slope, ran poor Mickey of He had been ordered to stop at a certain farmhouse, and there wait till the party should arrive, when he was promised an ample meal; but till the huntsmen came in sight he was not to shew himself, or betray the secret of the drag, as Tom Jinningham particularly wished to surprise his tenant's wife by the sudden appearance the hunt near her premises. Arrived at the ap pointed goal, Master Mickey suddenly resolved on what he considered an excellent plan. He crept into an empty pig-stye, and began greedily devouring the remainder of the drag, with the warm gusto of a first-rate epicure. In the mean time the party had finished their luncheon, and having remounted their nags, were not a little surprised, within five minutes after leaving the table, to see the hounds suddenly come upon a strong scent, and with a joyful cry, go off at full score. Away they went, at their best pace, following the track without doubt or check. The eager sportsmen, little suspecting the trick that had been played off at their expense, dashed along with emulous desire to keep up. The country was remarkably bad, and more than once Tom cursed the Idiot in his heart for having led them across such a stiff line. Two or three of the best riders were thrown in attempting to fly the stone walls, which were so light as not to allow of touching; and more than one horse rolled on his side, as he endeavoured to scramble down the steep banks. In Irish hunting, however, it is an allowed fact that the greater the danger, the greater the fun; so one and all declared that they had never had such a run. Suddenly the hounds changed their direction, and turned into a farm-yard; in another moment they rushed with eagerness into a pig-stye, where flowers, showers, the fox had evidently sought shelter. The strong The "seed-time and harvest," and sunshine and cries of the wretched animal showed they were destroying him. His screams were piercing, but, mingling with the loud yell of the dogs, scarcely reached the ears of the huntsmen, who, assembled round the wall, were eagerly opening the gate, in order to enter the yard. Presently an old crone rushed out from the house, and springing across the space, in a voice of horror, screamed forth-" "Tis the voice of my boy! "Tis the cry of Mickey, the jewel of my soul! Mickey avourneen-Mickey elana !" The by-standers for a moment stood petrified with horror; then actively jumping the wall, the principal whip, with others, leaped the pig-stye. It was too late! Mickey, the Idiot boy, was still alive; but, happily, no longer conscious. The flesh had been torn from his cheeks, shewing the white bone beneath; a wide gash across his throat was letting out his life's best blood. Two of the hounds were dragging the skin from his now feeble arm. His clothes had been torn off by the savage creatures, who with famished eagerness were now actually tearing open his body. The distracted mother threw herself upon the still quivering remains of her helpless child. The hounds in turn would have torn her to pieces, but the whipper's interference saved her. The ferocious brutes (for with their lips reeking with human blood, they seemed almost infernal) were driven from their victim. Any attempt to save the life of the Idiot boy was now palpably futile. The raging mother (who has since become a maniac) was carried back into the house. The next morning every dog in the pack was hanged, to satisfy the infuriated peasantry; and poor Tom Jinnigham, who only intended a harmless prank, has never followed a hound since. So much for running a drag in Ireland! And Autumn's rich graces, and Spring's gentle sung Is the blight of the heart-and a knell that is rung! And our weary hearts left on their pilgrimage still! LIFE'S CHANGES. I. I knew her in her childhood's glee, Her merry laugh came o'er the ear, Like echo of some warbled song- Unconscious of a wrong. Her childhood was a fairy dream Where love concealed all sorrow; JUNE. BY CAMILLA TOULMIN. Beautiful Month of our beautiful Isle! And the North sends a tribute all hearts to subdue II. I knew her in her later spring, Poetic fancy clothed the earth With loveliest hues and sunny gleams, Yet could her clear eye pierce the veil The echo of a heart crushed low. III. I knew her in her womanhood, When Thought with Fancy shared her mind- And love for beauty of all kind MENTIA. |