admiration; I always think that some day he will return; and if he does not, why-" here was a mournful pausewhy, in the language of the French song

Le cruel il me quitte,

Il me laisse sans appui,
Je l'aimai tant avant sa fuite,

Oui-je l'aime encore aujourdhui.'

She could proceed no farther, and I found my only means of not becoming womanish myself was to rise suddenly and to look vacantly through the window on the town, until we both had recovered our position before the struggle. Harry grew sickly and infirm; every mirror was an accusing evidence to him of the flight of mispent time; the eye of beauty no longer beamed on him, warm smiles no longer welcomed his approach, the tongue of flattery was mute, and he stood alone without a friend; other flatterers occupied his place in gay circles; and lastly, the widow's support ceased with her existence. A vindictive wife would have left him to poverty and scorn, for he sought neither assistance nor reconciliation; ordinary wives would have afforded him a scanty subsistence embittered by reproach; what did Aurelia do? she took him back, and hugged him to her bosom.

I was sent for by her to a retired cottage, where I found him, surrounded by his family, pillowed on a sofa, and reclining his head on his partner's arm. He had broken a blood vessel, and was in a great state of debility; every comfort, however, seemed to be about him, and as Aurelia supported and encouraged him, the smile of assumed cheerfulness was at great varience with the trembling grief-drop quivering in her eye-lid. "He is vastly better," said she to me, since yesterday, and oh! how happy he has made us since he has come to the cottage; bless him, he has given us all fresh life." He blushed, and here she wiped off the cold perspiration from his forehead, kissing it at the same time, and making use of the same handkerchief to dry her dewy cheek. "Brother soldier," said he to me, extending his arm, it is all over with me, the day is lost; I wish I had come here sooner, you see-" he groaned, clasped Aurelia to his heart, and expired.

"

The group-yes, the group-it would be hard to describe

it; a painter might throw down his brush, and I must cast away my pen; it can serve me no longer; the feeling mind must finish the picture, and fancy the rest; the rough outline may, however, serve as a lesson to wives who still may reconcile and save, whilst hope and life remain, and it will be an accusing monitor to those husbands who pass from ab. sence to alienation, and from alienation to hostility; who, weaned by pernicious pleasures, wander until the precipice is before them, and return becomes impossible. May every wife he an Aurelia, but never be tried like her.

THE WOODLAND SEAT.

The primrose flower was smiling sweet
Where wither'd foliage rustles now,
When last within this calm retreat

I heard the thrush sing from the bough,

Still down the gray rock flows the stream,
And I can trace, methinks, the tone
Whose silvery softness, like a dream,
Sooth'd my young heart in moments gone.

The song is hush'd-and mute are those
Lov'd ones who linger'd with me here;
The darkness o'er their slumber grows.-
Oh joy thou bringest many a tear!

Thou mossy seat, where oft we've play'd
On thee in sorrow let ne kneel,
While falls dim ev'ning's solemn shade,
And weep the wounds no art can heal.

Around me is decay-the flowers

Of mind and matter both are fled.
The cold wind sighs through leafless bowers→
Sails the black rain-cloud overhead.

Haunt of my childhood, fare thee well!
Perhaps I may return to die

In theend where their green graves swell,
Join the lov'd forms of memory.

STOPPING THE MOUTH.

THE phrase of stopping a person's mouth, who, from being a professed enemy, is brought over to our interest, first came into vogue in the reign of James I. It is said to have o igi. nated in the following laughable incident :

Gondemar, the Spanish minister, had dealt out his bribes to the ladies as well as the gentlemen of the court, in order to make them speak favourably of the match between Prince Charles and the Infanta of Spain. The nation, in general, were against the marriage. Gondemar applied his master's treasure to remove the prejudices of the courtiers of each sex. He became, through this means, so great a favourite with the ladies, that as he passed in his litter to the court, they would approach the balconies, or windows, to pay him their compliments.

Lady Jacobs had a house in Drury-lane, which was at that time a fashionable part of the town. Gondemar pissing one day by the house of Lady Jacobs, her ladyship approached the window: Gondemar bowed most profoundly; the lady returned the compliment only with a gape. Gondemar ascribed this to a sudden fit of yawning; but yet he thought she might have expressed some token of respectful salutation. He was resolved to try her the next day, and accordingly ordered his coachman to drive by her house Lady Jacobs appeared at the window; Gondemar stopped, and bowed with all the graciousness imaginable. His civilities were returned only with an extended month; she even opened her mouth wider than she had done on the preceding day. Gondemar was now satisfied that this must be something more than a fit of yawning: be sent one of his gentlemen to Lady Jacobs, to know the reason of her conduct, as he had not been accustomed to experience such affronts from the ladies of England. Lady Jacobs said, "It was very true that Gondemar had purchased some of their favours at a dear rate, but he should consider, that she had a mouth to be stopped, as well as the rest of her countrywomen."

Gondemar taking the hint, sent her a handsome present, which cured her of her gaping disorder; and whenever he afterwards passed by her house, she was sure to drop him a most becoming curtsey.