I should rather have said artificial, my good Mr. Percy--as it is only habit Habit is second nature, you know, Sir Hugh-and, therefore boog "I must not be interrupted, Mr. Percy'---and the very supposition of such a si heresy startled the servant who was changing Sir Hugh's plate--insomuch that he let it fall---broke it, and with its contents, lodged it on the long flaps of his master's bus Anglobox yba to siet and sine bluow *banoense vidgid laced vest, to the evident disturbance of the Baronet's philosophy. It was but a passing sensation---the poor man apologized and i trembled --Mr. Butler pushed the man with some rudeness from the post of honour---and frowned on him, whilst he applied his clean napkin to the part affected. It's no matter, observed Sir Hugh, collecting all his benevolence of manner, which appeared to be necessary on the occasion; Good Richard did not intend it. "No, indeed, your Honor---Sir Hugh.' "I am perfectly assured of that---go---my worthy Richard...you had better retire---you appear to be much agitated." Such a clumsy fellow!' muttered the steward265-i し -❝Such a master!' repeated the butler.an) dard-act on from Fientiert das God bless him!' whispered the liveried semi-chorus. "The Dresden set, too?" exclaimed Mr. Polson, the steward, in a louder and more emphatic tone of voice. "Never mind that, worthy Polson," said her Ladyship smiling, through some thing that resembled a passing cloud of irritation; "Good Richard's mind must not be disturbed by that reflection.' "Heavenly, considerate being!' cried Sir Hugh, who stood in the act of being rubbed down like one of his long-tailed coach-horses, by his zealous grooms--- Not even the most provoking of all domestic accidents can move the gall of your dovelike temper---most excellent of women---thou redio ques à© shoc "Mistress of thyself, though China fall." To conclude: had “Percy Mallory" seen the light without puff or pretension, it might have been passed, like many other secondary attempts, without any demand of particular criticism; but as the production of the member of a confederacy, whose profession is the detection of humbug, the nonsense must be exposed. If butterflies are not to be broken on wheels, neither are they to be obtruded on us for elephants. We regard the production of a mediocre novel or play as one of the most venial of human offences; and we might have passed over the present humble affair with less animadversion, had we not recollected that per fas et nefas is the motto of the author, and of the virtuous combination of which he is a member. Had he a similar person to himself in his own hands, what would be consequence? It is not right to press on the calamity of any man; but there is a species of animal whose conduct makes forbearance no mean virtue. the I AM fond of walking. Long solitary rambles, with earth below, heaven above, and my own reveries for my boon companions. I never quarrel with myself, nor hate myself, nor pity myself, but stand on that even and friendly footing that I would wish to do with all the world, but which the vile trammels of society, and the undulating sensations of humanity, forbid. If a good fellow or a kind friend come athwart me in my castle-building, I must fain dismiss him or myself; and I never yet met with mortal wight who could bear an unceremonious discharge half so well as myself from myself. The consequence is, that though I really prefer myself to every body else, yet I am constantly refusing converse with that same self, lest I should give umbrage to some cursed fellow that makes his appearance and expects to be listened to,/!! It is this that drives me from home and dear smoky London, to stretch my legs some thirty miles or so, through dale, and hill, and greenwood forest; for there I see none but the unknown passenger, the churlish beggar, or the dark-eyed Egyptian; and few of my acquaintances either like me enough, or understand my track sufficiently, to follow in my path. It is in these walks that I feel sovereign lord and master,-the tyrant of my own domain. I can walk slow or I can walk fast. I may bid my thoughts soar to far-back Greece or on to some future Rome, without hurt I pile thought upon thought, and mix every our of passion of the human soul in my own particular mortar, without being laughed at by any; for none there be to say, "This man is a fool." I look round me and see Dan Phoebus sweeping on in his never-slackening chariot, shining with the most genuine philanthropy, the perfection of Platonic love. The cunning winds, in gentle variation, steal over me, and move Nature's pretty foliage in the sweetest disorder; and if perchance some glassy stream run near in mimic hurly-burly of the ocean's storm, then shall each Zephyr that plays round the spot make the pure drops dance in dazzling motes before my eyes, while the scarce-heard song of Nature's teaching shall mark the ploughman's distant course. This is joy indeed this is an approach toward those golden ages when crime had no name to express itself itself by. It was in one of these rambles, last summer, that I met with a fine young boy crying piteously by the road-side. His cheeks were somewhat disfigured by tears, but weeping had not been able to destroy the rich colour that the hand of health had planted on his skin; and his hair, unbedewed by the drops that flowed from his eyes, sported in wanton dalliance with some gentle air, that, charmed by his loveliness, lingered on its weary way once and again to kiss his pouting lips. The folds of his little frock exhibited some small lodgments of dust, and on the surface of his shoes the loose gravel had found a resting-place, which served to mark that he had travelled for some distance along the road. In spite of his tender palpitations, there was an embryo smile playing round his lips, as it were, innate and inextinguishable; and when I spoke to him, a sudden sparkling of his eye gave outward proof of the first attempts of an inward soul. The little fellow had lost his way, and called for his mammy with all that simplicity that attends the infantine notion, that it is but to ask and to have. He could give no name to the place where he lived, neither could he describe its situation; and it required all my legal ingenuity in cross-examination to make out that "he lived near a place where the birds build high nests, and make a noise one with the other." We were in a cross-road, and no house in sight, but luckily+ for the little urchin, I had about two hours before passed the rookery he described, and recognised his account of it so we soon struck an agreement, by which it appeared that I to retrace my steps, and lead him to the tall trees. What with resting, and carrying, and laughing for tears now, by the terms of our contract, were banished far away, it was more than three hours before we reached the desired spot. When we came to the turn of the road that brought us quickupon the welcome scene, oh then what a shout of gladness did the little wanderer utter as he struggled to release himself from my arms, in the was + swelling thought that he could bound swifter than the wind to his sometime-lost home. The cry had been heard, and a neat-looking female came quickly from the cottage, and had almost reached the spot where we were, by the time I had released my little fellow-traveller. Her cry on catching him to her arms was not so loud, but I am sure it was as genuine as his; and I had more than a minute granted me to survey the group before the one or the other were satisfied with their embrace.d The news had spread dike wildfire,thatiaHarrys was returned, and a gallant race was run between Will, and Ned, and Patty, to see who should be first to greet the lost lamb and now came my turn; for, according to little Hal, was the gentleman that had given him such a ride and my welcomings were not a few, for by this time the good man, on whose face there were still left the marks of late anxiety for his child, had come out, land all concurred in inviting me to the cottageste Isoitosta to form tud 30smevorqai nebom to I never refused a kind offer that I believed to be genuine,ande so without further ado I joined the party, and entered the little Arcadia through a bower of sweet jessamine, interspersed here and there with wild rose bushes, whose delicate flowers appeared to re-open lin spite of the gathering dews of night to welcome back the little wanderer. The cottage, like the children, the parents, the everything,s was the picture of neatness. In the niches on either side of the chimney, and ranged on shelves beyond the reach of the babesi stood the heir-looms of the family; an antique assortment of wassail-bowls, chinallgrotesque jugs, and divers other invaluables, that had descended from sfather to eson for more than a century. More towards the middle of the room two stupendous arm-chairs stood on either side the fire place, whilst the last gleam of moonshine shooting in at the latticed window, cast a long shadow from them, the depth of which beautifully contrasted with the gloss of the polished oak floor.These, and a thousand other indescribable niceties made up the whole of the neat appearance and air of comfort that pervaded the dwelling. As a mark of particular favour, I was invited to fill one of the above-mentioned chairs, which were kept sacred for high days and holidays; and in a very few minutes, on the understanding that I could sleep on the two combined, it was settled that I should pass there; and to enhance the visit, the children had leave to the night sit up an hour. It is not worth while to detail any conversation that might have passed, for there was neither acrimony, scandal, nor any other of the indispensable qualities in it; yet strange to say, such as it was, we all found amusement in it, and it was very near the witching time of night before we perceived that old father Saturn had made a forced march upon us, and shortened our reckoning by at least an hour. On breaking up, I was provided with a blanket, and their sole domestic lighted a chirping fire in the grate. The few, but meaning words, ff Good Night, were exchanged, and in a very short time all was quiet and sat rest in the cottage, vll as shivorg bluoda olduq edt tot ooit onw esort JedT Thus passed the night, and in the morning the pure song of Heaven's choristers poured gently into the cottage, and awakened me from dreams of Mab and all, her fairy elves. In spite of the novelty of the machine in which I had slept, I found myself as much refreshed as if I had lain on a bed of down, and to the utter astonishment of my new e country friends, was the first upon the morning. As soon as I had given myself a shake, and performed the necessary ablutions, I made my way to the door of the cottage; no locks or bolts were there, for robbers were little feared and less known, and by the simple manœuvre of a latch, I was able to pass the threshold and enjoy the natural obower that spread itself over the lowly path. The roses were now out Tin all their vigour, the pearl drops that hanged to their tender leaves by an invisible suspension glittered with the reflection of the sun's first brays Mt was not long before my host made his appearance, and gave the mornings salutation with the same good-humoured smile that had Fadorned his face the previous night, and offered many condolements y for the badness of my night's accommodation. My fair hostess, and the whole of the little tribe, were now up and about, and after a short walk round his farm, where there was little of modern improvement, but much of practical standard invention, we were summoned to breakfast, to which every body paid a strict attenstion; and now came the time most disagreeable both in anticipation and sin performance, the minute was arrived when the word must be "Good Bye-Manya kind interchange of invitation passed, and many a good humoured salutation; and, when I departed, more than one blessing was sent after me, for I had conferred on them a benefit, band corroding selfishness had not yet taught them to receive the advantage and-forego the gratituded it to 1989 sus buoyed evlila no Nor was idlesidHeaven bless thee and thine, thought I, as I turned 1 the corner that had first brought me in sight of the little paradise, and that now banished it from my view-Heaven bless thee and thine, and whether it be spring sending forth sits tender blossoms to stand the first shocks of the rude wind, whether it be summer ripening those blossoms into maturity, whether it be autumn adding the last stroke. the final consummation to its perfection, or whether it be angry winter nipping with its terrific frown the gradual excellence of months, still may as mental sun, able to oppose the blasts of man's rude winter, spread its beams around thy little kingdom, and forming a halo too sacred to be broken, enshrine within its circle thy endearing merit.39 ~/ så ber ding qua f R OBSOLETE AND OBSCURE WRITERS. en dierv 26 SOME writers are born for the amusement of their own age, which, ain vanishing, carries off their works along with it. They They are trees whose roots descend no further than the vegetable mould, being too weak, or too fond of the warm surface, to strike down among the rocks and ribs of the earth. It is turning the handle of time wrong way to attempt to revive them. They were never meant for posterity.The reasons upon which this conclusion is founded," many wand the considering them carefully might be of some service to sboth writers and readers. our is omit $10 & viev s ai bus bogis03 the are That those who write for the public should provide as fully as possible for their entertainment, must be admitted; but it is not unreasoncable for an author to have at the same time an eye tõ fame and possterity. The latter is the true liege lord of the children of the Muses. But living at a distance, he cannot come in at the christening of his an ym to tendencias retig suit or bas awob to bed is no nisl bad I |