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From the New York Mirror.
Catharine.

CHAPTER I.

On the first day of November, in the year 1800, a young woman was walking up one of the narrow streets of New-York, accompanied by an errand-boy who carried her portmanteau. It was about one o'clock, and the rain, which had been a mere drizzle at first, now, with a change of wind, poured down in torrents, so that it was with great difficulty that any one could proceed, even unincumbered with an umbrella. The little boy, with the sharp north-easter in his face, and wet to his skin, began to murmur; whilst the young woman, scarcely less perplexed and annoyed than himself, was endeavoring to encourage

him.

Just at this instant, a noise, proceeding from an opening door, made the young stranger start and turn her head, which action aused her umbrella, bibe to kept up with great skill and effort, to bend upwards, and in an instant it was shivered to pieces, and sent by the fury of the wind to a great distance. A tall, thin, elderly woman, with her head thrust out of the half-opened door whence the noise issued, seeing the distress of the stranger, begged her to come in until the rain abated. The little boy, not finding the lure of two shillings sufficiently strong to induce him to encounter further difficulties, seized this opportunity of laying down the portmanteau on the steps, and making his escape. Too much embarrassed with cold, wet garments, and painful feelings, the young woman did not at first miss the boy, but when the portmanteau was taken in and the door closed, she begged that he might be allowed to come in from the storm. After looking up and down the street to no purpose, the door was again closed, and the shivering stranger was taken to a neat, comfortable room, where there was a good fire.

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If our Elsey were at home,' said the woman, 'I could borrow a few clothes for you, for though you are much thinner, yet you are nearly of a height. I think, however, as you are so wet, that you may venture to take a pinch of snuff, Miss; it will cheer you as it often does me, and come nearer the fire until I return.'

The few articles comprised a whole suit; for the poor, young stranger had not a dry thread on her. She seemed sad and spiritless, and was scarcely able to make apology for the trouble she gave; and on

an

being entreated to lie down, she suffered
herself to be led, unresistingly, to a bed,
where she had scarcely rested a few minutes
before she fell asleep.

The good-natured woman, who had thus
comforted her, now hung up her wet garments,
and then proceeded to the kitchen to eat her
own dinner, and prepare some little refresh-
ment for her guest when she awakened.
The dinner passed, the good woman took
a peep at the bed, but her charge was still
asleep.

NO. 23.

am I to do? continued she, rising and seeming every instant to gather fresh recollection of her forlorn situation.

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'What are you to do, Miss?' answered the woman, looking at her with surprise. Why, take a pinch of suuff, in the first place. What, you don't snuff! I wish I could say the same. Then, in the next place, sit down and drink some tea, for you have had no dinner; and lastly, after tea, I will send old Jack (that is our old porter) to your friends, and let them know that you are safe.' 'I

to

The evening began to close, and the storm. • Friends!' exclaimed the stranger: instead of abating, seemed to increase. The boy did not make his appearance, and the have not a single friend in the world, exceptyoung woman had been in a heavy slumbering the captain with whom I came for four hours. The shutters were now America. We arrived this morning, and he closed, a candle was brought in, and a tea- gave me a letter to a relation of his who lives table was rolled gently into the room by a in the upper part of the city. The little little black girl, whilst the woman of the house errand-boy knew the house, and I was going followed her with the tea-things. there when you so kindly took me in from the storm.'

How soundly the poor girl sleeps,' said
she to the maid; even the creaking of the
rollers has not awakened her. She must
cordial that I
have been very tired, but
forced her to take has helped to lull her.
Take a pinch of snuff, Hetty-but, no-you
are too young to snuff, or else it would be a
comfort to you: but you need not now walk on
tip-toe; it is time for her to awaken. Go
down and bring the portmanteau.'

It was brought in and placed on a chair
near the fire; and the noise that Hetty made
in putting it down, caused the stranger to
awaken. She raised her head, and like all
persons after a harassed day and a sound
sleep, seemed unable to collect her senses.

'You had a good nap, Miss,' said the woman of the house, approaching the bed.

The snuffy, discordant tone in which this
was said fully awakened the young stranger.
She now recollected the storm, her change of
garments, and the kindness of the person
who stood before her.

'I could not at first,' said she, sitting up in
How much
the bed, recollect where I was.
trouble I have given you-I am quite ashamed.
I must have slept a long time, for it is candle-
light. Has the little boy returned?'

While she was thus hurrying through these
sentences, the woman was assisting her to
rise. They then approached the fire; and the
black girl placed the tea-table between them.

Your kindness oppresses me,' said the young woman; 'how can I be grateful enough to you for thus sheltering a stranger! But I must not trespass on your goodness any He longer. Surely the boy will return. cannot intend to leave me-and he alone knows the street where I am to go.

Where is the note?-give it to me,' said the woman.

It was in the portmanteau, unsealed and without direction. It ran thus:

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DEAR SUSAN-The bearer of this note is a passenger of mine-a very respectable young lady. I wish her to lodge with you until I see you, which will be either this evening or to-morrow. Give the boy, that carries the portmanteau, two shillings, as I have no change. I have brought you a pretty set of tea china. Pray, take great care of the young lady, as she is very much fatigued. Your affectionate cousin, ROBERT GRANT.'

The woman of the house turned the paper round and round, but there was no clue by which the name of the person or street could be discovered. She looked perplexed.

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And is this all you know of the person to whom you were going?"

'Yes. I may have heard her name, but I have forgotten it. The captain intended to have gone with me himself, but some gentlemen came on board, on particular business, which detained him. He therefore wrote these hasty lines, and giving me in charge to the boy, who does his errands on shore, I walked on with him until I saw you. What to do I know not.'

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Why, I do; and the first thing, (as I told you before.) is to drink your tea. What, do you think that I invited you in from the storm, whilst you had day-light before you, to turn you out in a worse storm, now that it is pitch dark?"

So handing over a cup of tea and a muffin, she prevailed on the timid stranger to eat. When the servant disappeared with the teaWhat things, the woman drew her chair near the

stranger, first putting the candle on the mantlepiece, that the fall light might fall on her face.

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And hail it did, and the large shots came pattering against the windows.

Now, how very curious our Martin would, the ship, and we will get the captain here, if be to find out who you are. I am glad that ship there be, which, as I said before, I very he went with Mr. Bingley. If there is any much doubt; for only listen, I do believe it It is very awkward, Miss,' began she, body,' continued she, snuffing prodigiously, hails.' for two people to be in the same room if there is any body that I hate, on the face together, without knowing each other's names.of this earth, it is our waiter. He is the My name is Deidamia Witherstonfield, most impertinent fellow that ever made tea.' and I am housekeeper to Mr. Bingley; but Made tea!' said Catharine. my name being a little too long for common use, I am called Damy Field, and if you please, you may call me so.'

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Catharine's grief was renewed. Her own situation had power enough to distress, but 'Yes-made tea. He makes tea for Mr. the fear of losing her only friend, and the Bingley. You must know, Miss Catharine, dangers into which he might now be driven, that I always made tea for Mr. Bingley until were too much for her; she wrung her hands. Then you are not the mistress of this this disagreeable man came. There is not Poor Damy, seeing this fresh burst of house? said the young person, rising. Ia copper's difference between me now and sorrow, had no other resource but her snuffam sure that I am doing wrong in staying, for then, that I can see, and certainly Mr. Bingley box; again she presented it, again it was it may injure you if it be known that you have is as kind to me as ever. He never would refused. She had tried every effort at taken in an entire stranger.' have told me that he preferred Martin to me, consolation, and had not succeeded; and she in tea-making,' continued poor Damy, twitch-sat with a snuff-box in one hand, and a pinch of snuff in the other, looking ruefully at her young companion.

Sit you down. What I, that have been housekeeper to Mr. Bingley for six-and-ing around on her chair, for she was on a twenty years, (and that is ever since he was subject most grating to her feelings. I born; and a kind-hearted gentlemen he is, might have poured out his tea to this day, but too.) cannot I invite a friend in from the for that ugly, conceited man. Why, Miss storin? You know but little of Mr. Bingley, Catharine, he calls me a race-horse-and in Miss. Besides, make yourself easy: he is the energy of her resentment, she jerked up from home at present, and so is Elsey, our her long body from the chair, and snuffed the cook; she took the opportunity of going candle most vehemently. home to see her mother: and our waiter, an impertinent fellow as ever lived, he has gone with Mr. Bingley; so that there is no one at home but the little black girl, old Jack, and myself.'

Catharine followed her figure as it rose abruptly before her, and a smile passed over her face on seeing how applicable the term was to her kind friend. With a very small head and very small features, her person was Reassured by this, the young stranger felt tall and gaunt. She was flat chested and much relieved, and tears, for the first time,narrow shouldered, and this narrowness fell from her eyes. continued below her waist, so that it was Thank heaven for this mercy,' said she-exceedingly difficult for her to keep the black and raising her clasped hands, Oh, my good Mrs. Field, I am the most friendless creature in the world; and what would have become of me if you had not given me leave to stay here this night?

This will never do,' thought the tenderhearted creature; she will kill herself if she grieves thus;' so making sundry guttural efforts, for sympathy had produced a thickness of speech, she commenced another strain.

How beautifully your hair curls, Miss Catharine; does it curl naturally?'

Yes, it curls naturally,' said the young woman, rousing herself.

I do not see well by candle-light, but I think your hair is black.'

No, Damy, my hair is brown. I suppose that the wetting it got this morning, inakes it appear darker than it is.'

Your eyes are black, however.' 'No, they are dark blue.'

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calimanco petticoat, that she usually wore, on the right line to meet her short-waisted 'Yes,' said the simple Damy, 'I know, that shortgown. This continual slipping down of being in the rain, and such a rain, too, is the petticoat, therefore, made a long division enough to alter any one's features. I dare between the two garments. The intermediate say that your eyes will appear several shades Well, don't let us talk any more about it,' space was occupied by a bandana handkerchief, lighter-when they get dry-she was on the said the good Damy, taking a huge pinch of tied tightly round her waist; and, in Catha-point of saying, but Catharine smiled. snuff, for she was getting exceedingly nervous,rine's eyes, at that moment, as Damy stooped Damy laughed aloud; and taking a huge as mental exercise always had an effect upon to pick up the snuffers, she looked more like long pinch of snuff, indicative of her satisfacher. Come, let us talk of other matters. a grey hound than a race-horse; but when tion, she continued her observation. You have not told me your name.' she stalked aeross the floor, to call the girl, My name is Catharine-Catharine White, the illusion vanished, for her pace was irregsaid the young woman, blushing deeply. ular, slow, and awkward, and one shoulder Well, Miss White, you are just as welcome after the other dropped as each foot advanced. with a name as without one.' Her equanimity was restored when she returned to her chair; and looking at her guest, with great complacency, she offered her the snuff-box.

Call me only Catharine,' said she, hastily; I prefer it.'

Damy's eye glanced at the portmanteau, which lay open near the hearth.

Had you not better take out your clothes, Miss Catharine? perhaps the rain may have wet them.'

Take a pinch, Miss Catharine. What, you don't snuff? Well, you are saved a great deal of trouble, I can tell you. I have lived six and-twenty years, as I said, with The things were, however, quite dry; and Mr. Bingley, for I nursed him when he was as Catharine closed the trunk, she observed a child, and I do just what I like. We never that she must have been greatly overcome, have a dispute but about my snuffing and for that she had forgotten that there were sneezing, and that is a thing that I cannot several changes of apparel in her portmanteau.help; for I defy any body to take this kind of You can easily, my dear madam, imagine how much I am indebted to you. I'

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• Well, well, never mind talking about it, Miss Catharine; but only hear how the wind howls! I wish the vessels may ride out the

storm.'

Catharine, mentally, offered up a prayer for the good captain Grant.

'I doubt much, however,' said Damy, whether all that were seen in harbor, or on the coast, will be found by morning light.'

snuff without sneezing, and I cannot take any
other, so he gets used to it, as it were.'

'It was a silly thought, that of mine; but it has served to make you smile: and such pearly white teeth I never saw, and I dare say you have a good color'—

When I get dry,' added Catharine, again smiling. No, I have not much color; I am generally pale.'

How white your hands are, and what tiny, slender fingers you have; and for that matter, Mr. Bingley has very handsome hands, too.'

The mention of this gentleman's name brought Catharine again to a sense of her embarrassing situation. She had several times heard Mr. Bingley's name mentioned, and every time she felt that she was an intruder, and she shrunk from the bare possibility of his being displeased with Damy for giving her shelter. In her own mind, she ran hastily over the events of her very brief The simple loquacity of poor Damy was life; for she was scarcely eighteen. She had not sufficient to keep Cathatine from dwelling but few objects to love, and but little to hope on her own singular and unhappy situation. for the future. She had been overwhelmed She sighed deeply in the midst of the har- by a recent occurrence, and now, precarious angue, and the good Damy eyed her with pity.as was her present shelter, she looked Independently of her real good nature, she forward to the morning as to the commencewas delighted to have a companion; for she ment of new troubles, harder for her to bear disliked to sit alone, and she loved to talk; than any she had yet encountered. Hiding so finding that the unpleasant reflections of her face with her hands, she bent down in her guest made her rather a poor listener, she grief. endeavored to encourage her by a few cheering remarks.

Oh, do not say so, my good Damy; let us hope that they may escape, unharmed. This was more than Damy could stand; How much additional grief shall I feel, if any just, too, as she thought she had overcome misfortune happens to my kind friend,' I dare say that it will storm away as hard every difficulty. All her attempts at consoDamy, finding that her attempts to enter-to-morrow as it does now; and, in that case,lation had only tended to aggravate, and she tain, by enlivening conversation, did not you need not stir, Miss Catharine, and if it became more and more nervous; and when operate as a cordial, tried another strain. does not blow too hard, I will send old Jack to in this irritable state, she took, unconsciously,

The room fairly rung with Catharine's laughter.

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a prodigious quantity of snuff. Sneezing, glimpse of the sun, that you can have the
was thus brought on, which sometimes lasted finest sneeze ?'
an hour or two. She had been in a perplexed
state all day, and her sympathies having been
wrought up to the highest pitch for the inter-
esting young woman, her malady came upon
her, and the first sneeze that she gave, had
more power over Catharine's tears, than any
thing that had hitherto been urged. It rang
through her head like the slamming of doors,
and the rattling of china in a dresser. It
certainly was an awful sneeze-none of your
little cat sneezes, but such a one as a man
would exult in-one at a time-but, heavens
and earth, what a consternation would seize
bin, were he to have two-nay, three of these
magnificent sneezes at a time, as was Damy's
case. Neither romance nor real grief can
go on whilst the parties are sneezing; even
the acute sorrow under which Catharine at
this time labored, was suspended whilst her
friend was thus rioting.

had passed away. Damy seemed to read her
thoughts; for she observed, in her loose,
vague style, that the rain was over, to be sure,
but the wind was so high, that old Jack would
Unused to excite mirth of this kind, (for scruple to go down to the shipping. One
poor Damy was held cheap by her fellow day more would not signify much; Mr. Bing-
servants as it respected her colloquial powers,) ley had not returned, and she would be so
she could not tell, exactly, how to receive lonesome. This half-invitation was thank-
this burst of gaiety.
fully accepted by Catharine; she felt it as a
Why, what upon earth, Miss Catharine, reprieve, and the breakfast passed over much
can make you laugh so? One minute you to their mutual satisfaction; for Catharine
are sighing and crying, as if your heart would had secured a friend, and Damy's evening
break, and the next, you carry on as if you predilections were confirmed by her moru-
were at a farce. And here lies Hetty, fasting's inspection.
asleep, on the carpet. Hetty, Hetty, get up
and go to your bed.' Then, raising the
sleeping girl, she dragged her out of the
room, leaving Catharine to compose herself
as well as she could.

Have you been long addicted to this practice, Damy ?'

Left thus to herself, and in darkness, (for Damy had taken the candle,) she quietly returned to her own melancholy thoughts; and much did she marvel how it were possible that so mere a trifle could so entirely Why, bless you, Miss Catharine'- -snee- divert her thoughts from herself. She had zing-I have snuffed ever since I was a little the fear, too, of having given offence to her girl-and off she sat again, sneeze-sneeze-kind friend, and she was subdued and humble as if her brains would fly out. enough when Damy returned.

Now, what could Catharine do? She gazed at her in astonishment at first. No sympathy could be shown or received for an affliction so preposterous; for, afliction it seemed-for Damy, as each round of sneezing went off, was forced to press her poor, thin hands tight over the bandana handkerchief, to keep her ribs in their place.

Catharine's look of amazement gave way, and the ludicrous was so apparent, that a titter seized her, and before Damy had rung half a dozen peals, she laughed aloud.

Sneeze-sneeze-continued Damy; and she stared, in the most rueful manner, at her young guest's mirth; and between every sneeze, which bent her almost double, she snatched the opportunity of turning herself quickly to stare at Catharine, who, now no longer able to restrain herself, had hidden her face in the bed-clothes.

This regular fit having subsided by degrees, Damy was able to attend a little to what was passing; but so far from feeling offended at her guest's apparent rudeness, she began to apologize for her infirmity.

I am glad, any way, Miss Catharine, that I have made you forget your troubles; but I can tell you, that it is no laughing matter with me. Do you know that my sides are as sore as if they had been pounded? Just take a pinch of this snuff, and if it does not set you sneezing, then my name is not Damy.' This gave the finishing stroke to Catharine's mirth, and she became almost convulsed.

Too much intent on preparing another bed in the room, and in making arrangements for the night, she had no leisure to observe Catharine's altered looks. In fact, she had forgotten every thing but the delight of having a companion, and one, too, who would be likely to create some bustle and confusion.

She assisted Catharine to prepare herself for the night; and after covering the fire, and extinguishing the light, she took possession of the cot that had recently been brought in

the room.

Now it was in the stillness of darkness and when the mind was quieted by prayer, that the fullness of the storm was heard. It did not seem possible that a vessel could remain safe even in the harbor.

Catharine, although much agitated by the events of the day, and vexed, too, with herself for the indecorous folly of the evening. was soon asleep, for she was exhausted by sea-sickness and her anxiety; and her laughter at Damy's propensity, although it was ludicrous enough, was as much in consequence of irritated nerves, as of the cause that excited her mirth. Her last determination, before she closed her eyes, was to return to the ship, and get fresh information from the captain; for she concluded that the boy would not return to the vessel immediately. She felt certain that the simplicity of her new friend could not be of much service in the way of advice. She knew, too, that it was improper to stay in a house whose master might be displeased with his housekeeper's hospitality. She therefore resolved on quitting Daniy early in the morning.

Troubles-quoth Damy. Catharine was in the most forlorn situation imaginable. She was houseless, friendless, almost pennyless, and yet, although under a thousand obligations to poor Damy, and But this was the farthest from Damy's towards whom she was beginning to feel a thoughts. She, too, had her reveries, and great respect and tenderness, yet, was she was more impatient for the morning than unable to repress her mirth at the self-inflict-poor Catharine, who certain of a shelter for ed and ludicrous convulsion of her friend. the present, was in no haste to rise, and she 'As to my snuffing,' murmured Damy, in only roused herself when Damy opened the that dubious attitude in which a person is shutters, and told her that the breakfast was seen who is endeavoring to catch at a sneeze-ready. as to my snuffing, Miss Catharine, I had A clear, cold day succeeded the storm. weak eyes, and as boring my ears did no The wind was still very high, but the sun was good, I was recommended to snuff. Do you bright and dewless; and Catharine's sigh, as know that if you find you are going to be the bright rays shot across the apartment, balked of a sneeze, and you can only get a secmed to indicate a sorrow that the storm

When Hetty had taken away the breakfasttable, Catharine, who had been arranging her thoughts, drew her chair closer to Damy, and rested her beautiful white hand on the yellow, snuffy fingers of her friend. She was about to explain the reason of her being in this unpleasant situation, but the action so disconcerted Dany that she could not sit still. With the hand that was disengaged she felt for her snuff-box, and Catharine, fearing another sneezing frolic, withdrew her hand until the pinch was taken. Seeing that nothing dire ensued, she again laid her hand on Damy's, and arrived so far as to say, 'It is but right that you should know something of a person'-when Damy stopped her short, by saying,

'I don't want to hear your story, Miss Catharine; I dare say it is a melancholy one, and would be very agreeable to hear, but it will only set me sneezing again, for I cannot bear to hear of any body's troubles, having enough of my own.'

'I am sorry that you are not exempt, my kind friend; I thought that you were very happy under Mr. Bingley's care.'

Bless you, Miss Catharine, so I am; but I should our waiter is such a torment to me. not have found fault with his calling me a race-horse, if he had not sneered so much at my snuffing. He began to undermine me the very first week he came here, but he was mistaken; for it would take more than a creature like Martin to set Mr. Bingley against me, excepting in the way of making tea. I was pouring out tea, one afternoon, when I chanced to sneeze. I did try to keep my head as far away from the table as possible, (and to this day I don't think I did any harm,) but Martin, just to show himself, lifted up the plate of toast that stood near me, and took it out of the room. Now, I sneeze when I get fidgetty, and Mr. Bingley knows this, and is clever enough never to notice me at such times-he knew what the consequence would be in Master Martin's bearing off the toast, for he quickly said, Bring back the toast, Martin; it is no matter'-But I had got to my second sneeze before he said it, and in my fright, and fearing to drop the tea-pot, I suppose I did not turn my head sufficiently round, for Mr. Bingley rose, in a passion, and said, This is intolerable, Damy; I can You must either quit bear it no longer. snuffing, or else Martin must pour out my tea.' He left the room without tasting his tea, and Martin has poured out for him ever since. I am a sort of nobody now.'-She paused a moment, and then went on And he is so ungrateful, too; for after all this, he took sick, one day, and I, foolishly, made him a bowl of gruel, and took it to his room. Thank you, Damy,' said he, for coming What have you there? It is a to see me. bowl of nice gruel, with bloom raisins in it.'

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with a small image of our Savior exquisitely wrought in silver.

One that had observed the unfortunate queen kneeling before that crucifix in the beautiful humility of her heart, with her streaming eyes fixed earnestly on the silver image, her fingers clasped, and the pearls on her slender neck rising and falling with her quick respiration, must have forgiven her worst offences in the certainty of her deep repentance. God forgave them, even though her sincere prayer ascended from a misguided though humble heart. As the energy of her supplication abated, a sweet calmness overspread her features, and she arose with the spirit of a smile beaming in her face, and her fancy hovering round her son, as when a sweet infant she had last seen him. Hope came to her heart again as she thought of him, and with quiet eye she arose and returned to her employment.

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He raised himself up in the bed, and peeped || fearful thing it is to be alone with bitter in the bowl. What little, brown things are thoughts! those that are sailing about, Damy? Why.. The unhappy captive wiped the tears from nutmeg,' said I. Are you sure, Damy?' her face, had lights placed by her embroidery said he―and, Miss Catharine, his eye was frame, and again plied her needle, while dark fiery red with fever at that blessed time- and gloomy retrospections passed through Are you sure, Damy, that you did not her mind. She thought with painful regret sneeze while you were coming up stairs? of France, her own dear France, the home And then, the very next day, I was silly of her youth, the land of gayety and chivalry. enough to forget his impertinence. His While these tho'ts occupied her mind, her fever did not get better, and I just stepped in taper fingers lingered on the silk, and large to ask him if I should send for the doctor, tears rolled down her still round cheeks, and when he begged me to pull the shutters to, as a splashed on the rich embroidery over which ray of sun came right in his eyes. I told she bent. A moment, and a deep color was you, Miss Catharine, how good a ray of sunbreaking into her cheeks, over which the was for a sneezy person, so I just caught a tear-drops fell at more distant intervals. glimpse of it— Oh, my good Damy,' said he, She was thinking of Scotland, then of her 'do sneeze again such a shower of gold as I|| reception after crossing the channel to take saw dancing and glittering in that sun-beam; possession of her hereditary crown. She it did my head good. Talk of the goose and remembered the ridicule her refined accomthe golden egg-talk of Jupiter'-What more plishments had excited in the rude people she he meant to say I don't know, for I left the was called upon to govern; then the warm The robe was finished, that dear work of room.' blood deepened and burned in her cheeks, months. It was splendidly beautiful; and He must, indeed, be an ungrateful person, almost drying the tears that lingered there, with a feeling of happiness she had not felt to disregard such uniform kindness; but, with its heat. Darnley, the sensual, brutal for years, the anxious mother took a last my good Damy, it is of more consequence to Darnley was in her mind, the husband on look at the bright fabric and exquisite workretain Mr. Bingley's friendship. It seems whom she had for a time lavished the wealth manship before she folded it as a present to that the only point of dispute lies in your of her warm affections; the man who had her son; then she stripped all the rings, taking too much snuff; for as to the snee-rewarded her love with infidelity, and her except the royal signet, from her fingers, and zing, that would never occur if you snuffed kindness with base ingratitude. By degress substituted a black ribin for the chain of less. If I see you often, (which I hope to her cheeks regained their pure white-the large pearls that suspended a cross to her do,) I will try and prevail on you to quit the muscles of her sweet mouth were working neck. He will not receive this,' she said practice altogether. But now you must allow about the corners, and twitching under the sorrowfully, they have made the beautiful me to talk of myself. If I never expected to white skin; her open forehead contracted religion of his mother hateful to him;' and see you again, it would be of little conse-itself, and her little hand lay trembling upon with a deep sigh she replaced the golden quence to know who I am, but you may as the frame, with the needle between its fingers. cross under her high ruff. Kissing the pearls, well know as much of my history as I know The working of that speaking face told more she placed them, together with the rings and myself.' plainly than words, that the horrid circum-all the ornaments her captivity had left her, stances of Darnley's murder were passing in in a small ivory casket, vainly hoping that the her imagination; but the remembrance of the foul suspicions that had been attached to herself soon bro't back the glow to her cheeks and the peculiar brightness to her eye; her Give me something to sew for you. Igraceful head was erect with the consciouswill make you a pretty cap, and show you ness of perfect innocence. Indeed, it is how to wear it; and I am sure it will astonishing that the suspicion of murder become you.' could rest for a moment on one who had never been found guilty of a single act of cruelty, and who, to her kind and gentle nature, together with a want of firmness, owed all her misfortunes. In short, the very womanly virtues of Mary Stuart proved the ruin of the queen of Scotland; while the want of those virtues kept the tigress Elizabeth upon the throne of England, and gave her power over the liberty and life of her beautiful cousin. The cunning and duplicity of Elizabeth, and her want of feeling, were her safety; while the very frankness and gayety of Mary's disposition, expanded as i SEATED by her embroidery frame, Mary had unwisely been by a foreign education, Stuart, the unfortunate queen of Scots, was helped to work her ruin. A want of proper adding the last silken violet to a rich border resolution, rather than an unholy passion, led of fruit and flowers, which her magic needle to her union with Bothwell. Now she could had wrought on a robe of thick, orange-col-look back and trace the events that led to ored silk. Her supper stood untasted on a that most imprudent step; but when she little table at her elbow; and it was not till reflected on that, her thoughts shrunk from the twilight had darkened all the brilliant it as the plague spot of her life. Now when colors into one, that she permitted herself a it presented itself before her in the solitude moment's respite-then she turned to the of her reflections, with an expression of self table and placed a bit of food between her disgust she dropped her needle, drew back lips. With difficulty she swallowed it, pushed shuddering into her chair and covered her the table from her, and threw her graceful face, as if that could still the consciousness form back into her heavy chair. Bright tears of her self-abasement. For some moments gathered in her eyes, and she looked mourn she sat, still pressing her hands to her face, fully on the nearly finished robe and mur- while her low sobbing broke the stillness of mured, * It will soon be finished-this sweet the apartment; when she arose, and within hopes of happiness and freedom when I hope will no longer cheer me, and then what trembling steps advanced to a table at the will occupy my lonely hours? Alas, what all head of her couch, on which was a crucifix

Well, then, tell it to me to-morrow, but. indeed, now I must go below to prepare our dinner. Perhaps Elsey may return in that case, I can sit with you all day-but how will you pass your time?'

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Damy got her the muslin, and Catharine went cheerfully to the task.

[To be Continued.]

From the Portland Magazine.
The Captive Queen's Gift.

BY MRS. ANN S. STEVENS.
'Let me weep awhile!
Bear with me-give this sudden passion way!
Thoughts of my son, his cruelty, his guile,
Come, as a wind that o'er a reed hath sway,
Till my heart dies with yearnings and sick fears;
Oh could my life melt from me in these tears!'

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next lips that pressed them would be her son's, quivering with love and pity for the mother who had taken her last ornaments to form a gift worthy of his acceptance.

'He never can know the magnitude of my love for him, the yearning for one look from his eyes which has kept sleep from me and rendered my captivity doubly bitter-he will not know this, but surely he remembers me. He cannot have forgotten the sweet nights when I slept with him on my bosom, and was awakened in the morning by his dear mouth pressing mine, and his little hands patting my cheeks as he knelt over me-they have not taught him to think me guilty, vile-oh no, I will not think it.' Again the poor queen's frame was shaken with terrible emotion as these thoughts passed within her. She began to write the letter which was to accompany the gift, before her agitation had subsided. Rapidly she penned the outpouring of her maternal love, while quick sobs now and then broke from her lips. Twice she was obliged to press her beautiful eyelids firmly together, and when she unclosed them they were dripping with the tears she had thus striven to send back to their fount. The letter was finished, secured by a band of floss silk and laid on the folded robe, and after again kneeling before her crucifix, Mary placed the package by her pillow, and dropped asleep with her hand upon it.

Touching were the directions Mary gave to her messenger on the following morning. Tell the prince,' she said, how you have left me, confined in damp apartments, without friends and without books, and only indulging

think of him. Tell him my health is failing under the pressure of affliction, and that I

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From the New-York Mirror.
London.

weary the Virgin Mary with entreaties to see TRAVELING SKETCHES. from the royal levee. The show was less him again before I die-and oh!" she added, pressing her beautiful hand on the messenger's arm in her earnestness, oh, mark him closely-tell me if he weeps when he reads my letter-if he kisses it or looks sorrowful. Tell me if he has grown tall and comely like she could not pronounce the name; but turning her troubled face from the messenger, motioned him hastily to withdraw, and sunk sobbing into her chair.

*

*

splendid than the same thing in Rome or Vienna, but it excited far more of my admiration. Gaudiness and tinsel were exchanged for plain richness and perfect fitness in the First view of London--the king's birth-day-procession carriages and harness, while the horses were of mail-coaches-Regent-street-Lady Blessington-The original Pelham-Bulwer, the novelist-John Galt-D'Is incomparably finer. My friend pointed out raeli, the author of Vivian Grey-recollections of Byron- to me the different liveries as they turned influence of American opinions on English literature. the corner into Piccadilly, the duke of WelFROM the top of Shooter's Hill we got our lington's among others. I looked hard to first view of London-an indistinct, archi-see his grace: but the two pale and beautiful tectural mass, extending all round to the faces on the back seat, carried nothing like the horizon, and half enveloped in a dim and lurid military nose on the handles of the umbrellas. smoke. That is St. Paul's !-there is Westminster Abbey-there is the Tower of London! What directions were these to follow for the first time with the eye!

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The annual procession of mail-coaches followed, and it was hardly less brilliant. The drivers and guard in their bright red and gold uniforms, the admirable horses driven so beautifully, the neat harness, the exactness with which the room of each horse was calculated, and the small space in which he worked, and the compactness and contrivance of the coaches, formed altogether one of the most interesting spectacles I have ever seen. My friend, the clergyman, with whom I had walked out to see them pass, criticised the different teams con amore, but in language which I did not always understand. I asked him once and said something about 'gammon,' evidently quite sure that my ignorance of London was a mere quiz.

The week that her messenger was expected to return from Scotland, the captive queen wandered like an unquiet spirit round the uncomfortable prison-house in which the unjust Elizabeth had confined her. Her employment was forsaken, and scarcely tasting food or indulging in sleep, she spent From Blackheath, (seven or eight miles her time in watching anxiously for the ex- from the center of London,) the beautiful pected news from her son. The morning on hedges disappeared, and it was one continued which the man arrived, she had risen from mass of buildings. The houses were amaa restless bed with a heavy depression on zingly small, a kind of thing that would do for her spirits and the sickening sensation of an object in an imitation perspective park, but hope deferred at her heart. After her the soul of neatness pervaded them. Trellises morning orisons she threw open the casement were nailed between the little windows, roses that commanded a view towards Scotland, quite overshadowed the low doors, a painted and descried a horseman in the distance. fence enclosed the hand's breath of grass-plot, A faintness came over her when she became and very, oh, very sweet faces bent over lap-an explanation; but he looked rather grave, sure that it was her messenger. For worlds fuls of work beneath the snowy and loopedshe could not have spoken, but stood motion-up curtains. It was all home-like and amiable, less, with fixed eyes and white lips, watching There was an affectionateness in the mere him till he dismounted.-Then she tottered outside of every one of them. to the door, received between her trembling hands the package he extended, and shut herself in, that she might open it alone. With quivering fingers the poor woman unfolded the wrapper and shook open the contents—a casket fell at her feet, the lid gave way, and her own jewels were scattered over the floor. The robe she held was her own gift returned. A faint sickness crept over her frame, the unnatural tightness of her nerves gave way and with a gasp she fell

senseless on the floor.

We walked down Piccadilly, and turned After crossing Waterloo Bridge, it was into, beyond all comparison, the most handbusy work for the eyes. The brilliant shops, some street I ever saw. The Toledo of the dense crowds of people, the absorbed air Naples, the Corso of Rome, the Kohl-market of every passenger, the lovely women, the of Vienna, the Rue de la Paix and Boulevards cries, the flying vehicles of every description, of Paris, have each impressed me strongly passing with the most dangerous speed-with their magnificence, but they are really accustomed as I am to large cities, it quite nothing to Regent-street. I had merely time made me giddy. We got into a 'jarvey' at to get a glance at it before dark; but for the coach-office, and in half an hour I was in breadth and convenience, for the elegance and comfortable quarters with windows looking variety of the buildings, though all of the down St. James's-street, and the most inter- same scale and material, and for the brilliancy esting leaf of my life to turn over. Great and expensiveness of the shops, it seemed to When Mary's attendant entered the apart-emotions interfere little with the mechanical me quite absurd to compare it with any thing ment, she found her lying like a corpse upon operations of life,' however, and I dressed and between New-York and Constantinoplethe floor, her beautiful hair scattered in dined, though it was my first hour in London. Broadway and the Hippodrome included. profusion over her pallid face, and her black I was sitting in the little parlor alone over It is the custom for the king's tradesmen velvet dress lying in folds about her, contrast- a fried sole and a mutton cutlet, when the to illuminate their shops on his majesty's birthing strongly with the gorgeous robe still waiter came in, and pleading the crowded night, and the principal streets on our return grasped in her hand. The frightened attend-state of the hotel, asked my permission to were in a blaze of light. The crowd was ant called for assistance, and laid her spread the other side of the table for a immense. None but the lower order seemed insensible mistress on the couch. It was a clergyman. I have a kindly preference for abroad, and I cannot describe to you the long time before a slight quivering of the poor the cloth, and made not the slightest objection. effect on my feelings on hearing my own captive's eyelids bespoke returning life. When Enter a fat man, with top-boots and a hunting-language spoken by every man, woman and sufficiently conscious to know that her mes- whip, rosy as Bacchus, and excessively out child about me. It seemed a completely senger was at her bedside, she raised herself of breath with mounting one flight of stairs. foreign country in every other respect, difupon her elbow, and pointing with unsteady Beefsteak and potatoes, a pot of porter, and ferent from what I had imagined, different finger to the robe and jewels scattered upon a bottle of sherry followed close on his heels. from my own and all that I had seen, and the floor, she attempted to speak, but could With a single apology for the intrusion, the coming to it last, it seemed to me the farthest only articulate Why? why ? and fell back on reverend gentleman fell to, and we ate and off and strangest country of all-and yet the her pillow, still looking in the man's face with drank for a while in true English silence. little sweep, who went laughing through the such beseeching, heart-broken earnestness, crowd, spoke a language that I had heard that his eyes filled, as he saidattempted in vain by thousands of educated people, and that I had grown to consider next to unattainable by others, and almost useless to myself. Still, it did not make me feel at home. Every thing else about me was too new. It was like some mysterious change in my own ears-a sudden power of comprehension, such as a man might feel who was cured suddenly of deafness. You can scarcely enter into my feelings till you have had the changes of French, Italian, German, Greek, Turkish, Illyrian and the mixtures and dialects of each, rung upon your hearing almost exclusively, as I have for years. I wandered about as if I were exercising some supernatural faculty in a dream,

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'James, your son, refused the gift because it was not, directed to him as king, instead of prince, of Scotland.'

A smile, an indescribable smile of agony came into the poor queen's face, a look that said her bruised heart was crushed for ever, crushed by her own son.

HOSPITALITY.'T-,' said a traveler, is one of the finest fellows I know. He exhibits real hospitality. He not only has a plate ever ready for any of his friends, but he sends a horse to your door whenever you wish to ride. That, indeed,' replied another, • is real horse-pitality.'

6

'From Oxford, sir, I presume,' he said at last, pushing back his plate, with an air of satisfaction.

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No, I had never the pleasure of seeing
Oxford.'

R-e-ally! may I take a glass of wine
with you, sir?'

We got on swimmingly. He would not believe I had never been in England till the day before, but his cordiality was no colder for that. We exchanged port and sherry, and a most amicable understanding found its way down with the wine. Our table was near the window, and a great crowd began to collect at the corner of St. James's-street. It was the king's birth-day and the people were thronging to see the nobility come in state

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