11-11 - 4 8 2 1 F 1° Harding SIMPLE TALES. THE SOLDIER'S RETURN. Is war an irremediable evil?-Some will answer, No;-and indulging their pleasing speculations, they will look forward with certainty to the time when peace shall assume unrivalled sway over the world. But the cautious believer in experience only, asserts the fallacy of these delightful visions, and tells us that war is an evil which must for ever exist, -that it is incident to humanity, and must continue to desolate the world till time shall be no more. I feel myself wholly incompetent to decide between these opposite opinions. 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 so-lest, while pleasing some, I should displease many : therefore, should my readers experience neither interest nor pleasure in the perusal of this tale, I can only exclaim, “I wish you had heard Mary tell it herself!" in 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 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 venience, always sat by the window at work: it was therefore impossible for her not to observe Lewellyn sometimes,particularly as he was young, neatly dressed, well made, and as much an object of admiration to the women as she was to the men: besides, his eyes seemed to be often on the watch for hers, and it would have been cruel to disappoint them. But though Lewellyn's eyes had been talkative, his tongue was still silent, though the state of his heart began to be suspected at home. His father observed that he ceased to be as eager to settle in some business as he used to be; his mother said he was no longer as attentive as usual in anticipating her wishes; and his cousin Mary remarked, in an accent unusually sarcastic for her, that Lewellyn had time for nothing but looking out of the window. "That seems a good industrious girl who lives opposite," said his father, taking his cue from the deep blush that overspread Lewellyn's face at Mary's observation. "I dare say she would make a good wife," added his mother. Lewellyn's head absolutely dropped on his waistcoat, but he remained silent. "She is pretty-looking," said Mary in a faltering voice. "Pretty-looking" cried Lewellyn, roused to utterance by indignation :— 'Pretty-looking, indeed! She is an angel!" His parents smothered a laugh; and Mary, suppressing a sigh, turned up her meek eyes to heaven, and soon after made an excuse for taking a walk. To be brief: Lewellyn's parents told him they saw the state of his heart, and that if he wished to make Fanny his wife, they gave him their consent to try his fortune with her. But true love is always timid ;-and though Lewellyn's parents had consented |