Miscellaneous Pieces.

I.

A DAY'S PLEASURE.

ONE fine May morning, a large party of young people, of which I was one, set off for the purpose of viewing a nobleman's seat at some miles' distance. This was an excursion to which we had for some time been looking forward with much pleasure. It had been long promised us, and the day fixed more than once; but the weather, or some other untoward circumstance, had hitherto disappointed us. But now every obstacle was removed-the party assembled, and when, after many presages of bad weather, with which some of the least sanguine and more experienced of our number had alarmed us the night before; when, after all these forebodings, the carriages drew up, and we found ourselves safely seated and driving off, there was not an eye that did not sparkle with pleasure.

The morning was bright and promising. Who does not know-who, at least, does not remember,

how unusually blue and bright the sky appears on a holiday morning? The fields were yet sparkling with dew-drops. Some early husbandmen going forth to their work, saluted us as we passed. The lark sang merrily over our heads. There was not a cloud-no, not one, to be seen from east to west: Oh, it was a lovely morning! We were in open carriages; which was the more agreeable, as the first part of our road, especially, lay through a most delightful country, richly cultivated, and now all covered with the verdure of spring. We were, as may be imagined, in the highest spirits, and laughed we knew not why. When the first glow of happiness, occasioned by setting off, had subsided, we began to expatiate on the expected pleasures of the day. The place of our destination was one of the finest seats for many miles round. We had heard it talked of very often; but none of us young ones had yet seen it. Most of the beauties and curiosities had been described to us, and on these our imaginations fixed with delighted anticipation ; — The grotto; the hot-houses, with their rare collection of foreign plants; the picture-gallery; and, above all, the curious old tapestry hangings, which decorated one of the apartments, and which were esteemed the greatest curiosity of the place. Then there was the fine Belvidere at the top of the hill, which commanded, we were told, a most extensive prospect. You might from thence see five counties: and on a very clear day you might just distinguish Gloucester Cathedral. 66 ، Well, we could not have a clearer day than this," said we : so we shall see

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five counties, and Gloucester Cathedral!" Thus we went chatting along.

But we had scarcely reached the third milestone, before our pleasure was greatly damped by the indisposition of one of our party. She had risen with a head-ache, but strove to conceal it: however, it became so much worse with the motion of the carriage, that she was quite unable to proceed; so with great reluctance we were obliged to leave her at a friend's house, which stood by the road's side. This misfortune cast a gloom upon us during the greater part of the ride. She was one of the most lively and intelligent of our whole party: there was not one but could have been better spared. However, as we drew near the end of our journey our spirits revived, and our regret for the loss of our companion gradually subsided.

But now a new cause of uneasiness arose :-A few rather threatening clouds had for some time been gathering in the south-west, which the elder part of the company regarded with an anxious eye. We young ones, however, were persuaded they would soon pass off; and as they began to gather over head, we declared that we should prefer it being cloudy during the heat of the day. "Yes, it would be much pleasanter!" Just as I said the word, I felt a large drop of rain upon my cheek, which was quickly followed by many more; and now the most sanguine of us took the alarm. When we were yet a mile from the place of our destination, a soaking shower came on, to which, being without any shelter, we were completely exposed. Still we tried to laugh

at our misfortunes: till, upon approaching the place, the rain fell with redoubled violence; and as we galloped up the avenue, it ran streaming off in spouts and torrents from our hats and parasols. We had, therefore, little inclination to look about us: the first thing, as soon as we arrived, was to beg the charity of the servants; and we were completely occupied, for a full hour, in drying our clothes, and refitting, before a large fire in the housekeeper's parlour. By the time this was done, and we had partaken of some refreshments, we began to make ourselves so merry with the adventure, that some of us thought we gained as much in fun as we had lost in sunshine.

It still rained so giving up all thoughts of an excursion without, for the present, we proceeded to view the apartments. They were splendid indeed, and we were delighted: for my own part, the only thing that prevented my being quite as much so as I expected, was, that my exposure to the rain had brought on a slight tooth-ache; it was not violent, but yet just enough to take off the edge of my enjoyment. I went about holding a handkerchief to my face; and when any of my companions pointed me to any thing remarkable, I could only nod assent, and smile somewhat piteously. Upon inquiring for the tapestry hangings, we were informed that they were always taken down when the family was absent; they had been removed only the day before.

The continuance of the rain, while it prevented our expected ramble about the grounds, yet afforded us an opportunity of examining more at leisure the

curiosities within; with this consideration we consoled ourselves. When we had viewed every apartment, and fully satisfied our curiosity, we were joined in the picture-gallery by the old housesteward, a venerable man, who, as he told us, had served the family for upwards of fifty years. He presently began recounting to us some of the family history, and many amusing anecdotes, pointing with his staff to the portraits of those to whom they related. "This," said he, "is poor Lady Susan, who died when she was only seventeen; and there is old Sir James, taken when he was a child, playing with his favourite spaniel: he was the present Earl's great grandfather." We were much amused with this antiquated man and his stories; and agreed that it compensated to us for not seeing the tapestry.

It was now growing late in the afternoon: we had given up all hope of reaching the Belvidere, and viewing the gardens; and were still lingering about the picture-room, when suddenly a bright golden beam of sunshine broke into the apartment; it streamed down the long gallery, and lighted up the pale faces and faded draperies of the old brown portraits, from one end to the other. An exclamation of joy burst at the same instant from the whole party. We hastened to the windows: already a broad line of bright sky appeared along the horizon; the clouds were dispersing in all directions; the rain had nearly ceased; and the heavy clouds that were rolling off on the opposite side exhibited a brilliant rainbow.

By the time we were equipped for our