All I know with certainty is, that war is, in most respects, an evil; that every new regiment of soldiers carries with it, into the peaceful village and quiet country town, allurements to vice, and all its disgraceful consequences; and some of its pernicious effects I shall exhibit in the following tale.

Simple is the story, and lowly are the hero and heroines of it; and perhaps, were I to relate it in their humble language, its interest would be much increased but I dare not do solest, while pleasing some, I should displease many : therefore, should my readers experience neither interest nor pleasure in the perusal "I wish of this tale, I can only exclaim, you had heard Mary tell it herself!” Fanny Hastings was the daughter of a publican in the little town of South Wales. When she was only eight years old both her parents died, and she became dependent on the kindness of an

in

aunt, and on the labours of her own hands, for support; and she soon found sufficient employment to enable her, with the aid of her relation, not only to maintain herself, but to appear better dressed than many girls whose situation in life was not higher than her own.

Fanny was beautiful; so much so, that her beauty was the subject of conversation even amongst the genteel circles in and many a youth of the same station with herself was earnest to be her accepted lover; but professions of love she listened to with pleasure from one only.

Lewellyn Morgan, with his father and mother, and his cousin Mary, was her opposite neighbour. His father was a carpenter, his mother took in plain-work, and he himself was undecided whether to follow his father's business or seek a different employment,-when he fell in love. with our handsome sempstress.

Fanny, whether from coquetry or con

that he should marry Fanny, would she, and would her aunt consent? But they were opposite neighbours, and Lewellyn soon learnt to take advantage of opportunity; he first began to make acquaintance with Fanny by handing her over the kennel when she went to carry home her work, then he begged leave to carry her parcel for her, and so on: and these attentions at last Fanny received so graciously, and was so often coming to the window to thread her needle, that Lewellyn began to flatter himself that her heart was a little touched in his favour. True, there were other opposite neighbours to Fanny, young men too, who had time to look out of the window as well as he; but then Lewellyn did not know that, and he thought Fanny's needle-threadings were all for him however, he was right in taking the smile and nod which she gave on these occasions to himself, and Lewellyn was authorised to hope: but when he

was on the point of declaring his love, Fanny fell ill, and was confined to her bed.

Oh! the anxiety of poor Lewellyn! He walked tip-toe across the floor of his own house, as if fearful of disturbing the invalid over the way; and on his mother's complaining of a bad head-ache, and not being able to bear any noise, he flew to expend his little savings on a litter of straw to lay before the door; and having bought enough for both sides of the way, he sent to Fanny's aunt, and asked permission to lay it before her door too. He said, nay, he even persuaded himself that he did this merely for the sake of his mother: but Fanny and her aunt thought otherwise, and Mary too, I believe; and when Fanny recovered, she thanked him for his attention in a manner so tender, that he took courage, declared his love, and was accepted.

The next thing to be done was to choose

a trade, or rather to let Fanny choose it for him, and she decided that he should follow his father's business: but, as he had it yet to learn, it was judged impru dent for them to marry immediately; and the young couple were looking forward to the hour that was to unite them, when an increase of the standing army, in consequence of the declaration of war, and the gradual change of private citizens into soldiers, produced an alteration not only in the appearance of the place, but in the manners of its inhabitants.

A military spirit pervaded the whole town; the industrious artisan forsook his work-shop to lounge on the parade: here too the servant girl showed herself in her Sunday clothes; and even Fanny preferred listening to the military band, and beholding the military array, to a quiet walk in the fields with her lover.

But the sound of martial music was not the only one that reached and delight