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No. 58.]

THE BEAU MONDE;

OR

Monthly Journal of Fashion.

LONDON, OCTOBER 1, 1835.

THE WHITE ROSE IN MULL.

A TALE OF THE 14TH CENTURY.

Wilder than fiction's night-mare dreams themselves,
Are oft the changes memory records

As Truths-yet Truths that History but tells
To sneer at ;-since, forsooth, they come not down
On musty parchment-but the living tongue!
THE TELL-TALE.

It was in a stormy night of September, in the year 1398, that a gillie (or household man-servant) of Donald, the potent and undisputed Lord of the Isles, as indeed he was virtual monarch of the Western Highlands of Scotland,-sought to steal out unperceived from a rude postern in the wall which surrounded a mass of buildings, imposing rather from their extent than from any other characteristic, which formed the castle, or habitation of the island Chief. It was placed on the north-west coast of Mull, in a situation protected in some degree from the violence of the prevailing winds, by the small island of Ulva, whose shores, though not lofty, formed a sort of breakwater to the inner channel, in which lay at anchor the galleys of Donald, whose warlike strength, as may be supposed from his title, was rather maritime than chivalric. Angus, or Crochcan, as he was called, from the name of his father's farm, was, like many other young men of four and twenty,over head and ears in love. He, to be sure, did not very well know whether it was with Flora, the fairhaired nurse in the family of Donald's brother, whose residence was a short way from the castle, or with Morag, who presided over the culinary details of the same community. Flora, he allowed, was the comelier of the two, but, then, Flora was a nurse, and that without the priest's permission; and Morag had saved some certain silver crowns in the course of her longer period of service than Flora. Crochcan was, however, resolved upon seeing one or other of the rival queens of his affection that night, even at the hazard of the high displeasure of Donald himself, who had ordered the warders to take care that no one approached or departed from the castle, from dusk till dawn; such precaution being rendered necessary by certain rumours, that Robert the Third, of Scotland, or rather, that his more ambitious brother, Albany, the real governor of the Lowlands, was not altogether satisfied with Donald, for his not resting contented with the sovereignty of the Hebridean Archipelago, but occasionally hinting the propriety of making settlements further inland than he had hitherto attempted. The warder, however, as in duty bound, having drank his master's health in usquebaugh, with the more fervour and frequency that there was some likelihood of danger to it from Lowland cross-bows, -was comfortably asleep in his plaid, which, by the way, was all the softer that it was as wet as a Mull mist could make it. We presume the same loyal devotion had made the seamen on board the galleys, if galleys they could be called,—many of them being but coracles No. LуIII. VOL. V.

[VOL. 5.

of wicker-work, covered externally with raw hides,— be more easily lulled to rest by the wind which, to ears unattuned to the stern elemental music of the Hebrides, would have appeared to blow a gale. As it was, not a living thing, save Crochan and his dog, were astir,unless, indeed, Morag and Flora could be said to be so, who were lying and tossing about their nether limbs, either from anxiety at the delay of Crochcan's visit, curiosity to learn for which of them it was really meant, -or the peculiarly populous condition of the colonies, that in these days were allowed to locate themselves on all woollen coverings, both north and south of the Spey. Crochcan, a little, light, active fellow, was stepping out with a very free and unencumbered gait,—the wind taking considerable and somewhat unjustifiable liberties with his kilt,-when, all of a sudden, his dog gave a growl, which he knew to be an infallible sign that something either with two legs or four was approaching. It was nothing, however, with legs at all, that was nearing them, although it held those which had these needful aids to locomotion on dry land, we were about to say, till we remembered it was of Mull we were writing. Crochcan, in fact, was as near to the sea as, upon it, a boat was near to the shore, although, in the darkness of the tempest he had not discerned its approach. The growl of his dog in despite of a "shuist!" or two, was speedily converted into an open bark, which threatened to awake even the warder, as the keel of a vessel of some size, and a build superior to Hebridean architecture, touched the strand. Before Crochcan had time to wonder who the deuce had come so abruptly to interfere with his visit to Flora and Morag, four stout fellows leaped ashore, and pulled their boat high above the surf that was raging round them. There was now enough of light to show that they were not islesmen, even if the dog's violence had not given good reason to infer that they were strangers. Crochcan was no coward, -but he was no sea king or yarl either;-so he thought it best to hold his tongue, though his dog would not. Presently the four seamen lifted out of the stern of the boat a figure, whose helplessness seemed increased by the very quantity of protections wrapped about it. Placed perpendicularly, and relieved from a mountain of moist coverings, Crochcan, for the first time, perceived that it was a human being, but whether male or female he could not make out. He now thought it high time, however, to let the party know there was another looker-on besides the dog; and, accordingly, he advanced and hailed them. The reply of the mariners was in the Erse language, but in a dialect of it Crochcan could not very well comprehend. He knew, however, by its sound, that it was the Irish variety, and gathered enough of its meaning to discover that they asked for food and shelter, till morning would show them where they were, and how to proceed to the residence of Donald, Lord of the Isles. "You shall not need to go far in search of either," said Crochcan, big

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with the dignity of being the representative of his master, even before ambassadors so wild and weary. "But why does not the lady speak?" added he, turning to the muffled figure,-whose draperies were certainly somewhat feminine." She does not speak our language," said the elder of the four, and apparently the skipper of the barque. Although Crochcan had at first, in the dignity of the moment, announced food, shelter, and even Donald himself, as just at hand, a moment's consideration served to show him the danger of trying to awaken a drunken warder, and a fiery-tempered lord, -or, indeed, any of the inmates of the castle, who were likely to fell to the ground the first man that roused them, by way of putting their hand in trim for the approach of the enemy. Morag and Flora, he knew, would be awake; and, even at the risk of spoiling a night's courtship, he deemed it better to convey the strangers to the house of the master of these maidens, and also to appeal to their good offices for two thirds of what he had promised, than run the risk of rousing any inmate of the castle, and showing how very insignificant a personage he was when within it. A gleam of moonshine, it must be confessed, however, had previously shown to Crochcan's perfect satisfaction, that his attractions had nothing to fear by comparison with the external man of either of the four navigators. He did not know what wheedling tongues Irishmen had for the girls, even in the year 1398! To the house of Alister, Donald's younger brother, he accordingly marshalled the party-the muffled figure being almost carried along by their apparent leader. Crochcan was quite right: Flora and Morag were awake, and busy quarrelling with each other for being instrumental in tempting him out in such a night of wind and wet. His presence, in safety, however, soon put an end to the dispute, and the kind-heartedness of women, which is a species of cosmopolitanism, or a higher order of Freemasonry, that prevails in behalf of the forlorn stranger in every quarter of the world, was speedily at work to reconcile the rivals to the loss of a night's courtship, and to the labour of kindling a fire and making a meal Before the crackling blaze of the one, and the exhilarating vapours of the other, the party were soon seated ;-the now unmuffled stranger, however, being placed by the seamen quite aloof from themselves and their good-natured guide. With a shrug of needful acquiescence, the former swallowed the rude, but warming cordial which the skipper, in a tongue unknown to Crochcan, seemed to press upon him—or her. As the fire burned brighter, the person was assisted to disrobe still further, till at length Crochcan became satisfied that it was a man, in spite of his long garments,-consisting of a tunic and mantle, that had been passenger in the galley. The feminine aspect of the stranger might have excused a more prolonged hesitation. His hair was of that bright colour which is vulgarly called red, for want of a better name, although nothing can be more unlike the red of any other substance. Brighter and paler than gold-yet not golden,—it was neither yellow nor white, but of a hue produced apparently by the mixture of hairs of both tinges,-in short, such as all the Italian masters have chosen to paint our Saviour with. brief beard, of the same colour, seemed so fair and soft, that it would hardly of itself have convinced Crochcan of its wearer's masculine character; and cheeks pale, and eyes blue and sad, completed the portraiture. While

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Crochcan was engaged in an examination of features so strange to him, Phaudrig, the younger of the seamen, had contrived, in despite of his Gaelic being different from that of Flora's, to ingratiate himself into her good gracess whilst Terence had made equal progress in those of Morag. So far, indeed, had they proceeded that they seemed actually disposed to taste whether Mull lips were equal to those of the beauties of the coast of Antrim. Crochcan, however, could not stand this; but he found the Irishmen, even then, were as ready with buffets as with blarney. A regular battle was about to ensue, in spite of the imploring looks, and soft, but unintelligible language of the stranger. Morag and Flora were in despair-" The lady would hear them, and come down, &c."-And so the lady did. The wife of Alister was from the low country; she had, indeed, been educated in England, and was a woman of courtly manners, although not above descending to see the occasion of uproar in her kitchen.

Flora,

With a stately step she entered the gloomy den, so called, which was lightened up at one end by the blazing of faggots thrown about in the scuffle by the feet of the struggling combatants and peace-makers. The picture was one which would have startled hearts less stout than that of "Maude Scrymgeour, now M'Donald,”— six men being at each others' throats, where she had only recently left her two female domestics with her infant, which, in these rude times, invariably shared in the humble accommodations of its nurse. Flora, where is the babe ?"-" Morag, what means this, in the name of our Lady!" exclaimed she, as she ran to the bed side, and ascertained that her child was in safety. At the sound of her voice, even the pugnacious and amorous Phaudrig left off both loving and fighting, and Crochcan was dumb; but Morag and Flora, each rendered the other unintelligible by the profusion and rapidity of their explanations. The lady, however, at a glance, intuitively comprehended the state of matters, and also the occasion of the quarrel. A single look afterwards was enough to convince her, that one of the party was no common sea-rover; and without addressing a word of either welcome or reproach to the seamen, she strode up to the again muffled stranger, who, leaning upon the wall of the recess, back to which the flaming embers were restored, wore indeed the air of at once proud but dejected humility and nobleness. “Fair Sir," said she in her Lowland tongue-" that you are a stranger, I see-that you needed shelter, I can believe -that you found it, I am glad. I pray you, be not disconcerted at this rude brawl between your guides and the clansman of my lord and brother Donald, who has wisely, I see, brought you hither, rather than rouse the inmates of the castle. This is no meet place for you, however.-Morag, lift that branch and show the way to your master's chamber-it will be for him to enquire the title of the noble guest, who is honouring his roof by seeking shelter beneath it." Morag lifted the blazing brand, while the stranger, with an agitated air and trembling hand, sought to draw the edge of his mantle over his brow, as he made an obeisance of knightly grace to the lady. It was too late, however. The light flashed upon a face remarkable at any timebut strikingly so among accessories so rude. "Jesu and our Lady!" exclaimed the mistress of the mansion; -" do I dream-Richard of Bourdeaux-Richard of England here-Richard the dethroned-the dead!-My

lord, my lord, let me kneel to you as once before I did in York!-God of Heaven can it be so !-Morag, stay, -till I call your master. My liege, I am lost in wonder-can it possibly be you?"

It was indeed Richard the Second of England, escaped from Pontefract Castle, where, it was given out, he starved himself to death, and now a refugee in Mull! From thence he shortly proceeded to the mainland of Scotland, where, for nineteen years, he was entertained in an honourable but secret captivity, similar to that afterwards suffered by James I. in England, with this difference, that it was in secret. Before he left the island, he had given Flora her marriage portion-added to Morag's store of crowns, and stood sponsor to Richard, the babe whose slumbers he had in so unlooked for a way disturbed.-The Chameleon.

STANZAS.

"There is more loftiness in wrong repented of, Than all the port of never-faltering worth." RIZZIO, A TRAGEDY.

I come to breathe one sad farewell,
One precious hour to pass beside thee;
For Fate's dim page alone can tell,
When next that pleasure may betide me!

I come to print one burning kiss,

From lips disease leaves yet untainted; And in that moment think of bliss,

My raptured visions oft have painted.

I come my last calm hour is thine,
The last high throb of fading spirits;-
To-morrow sees me sickly pine,
Beneath the pangs that Guilt inherits;
Yes, Guilt:-the thrills of fiery pain,
The pulse with fever wildly beating;
This dizzy aching of the brain,

This panic of the heart retreating
Within its very self with fear

Of some unknown but coming danger; These wild regrets the heart that tear, Had all been still to me a stranger, Had Fate and Thou been only kind, But frowning darkly both upon me, Is't wonder that I-headlong-blind, Rushed in where prudence would disown me?

Is't wonder that, my heart on fire,

My blood should share the madding fever;
That Love, and love-born pure desire
Thou to be mine-I thine for ever,

Quench'd by a frown-chill'd by a fate,
-A frown from thee-a fate that parts us,-
Should rouse me to that reckless state
Where even our self-respect deserts us?
Quench'd did I say? The snow-showers fall
On Hecla's ever-blazing crater:
It thunders when they meet-but all
Their chill dims not that torch of Nature!

-So even the coldness of thy mien,

The icy damp thy frown throws o'er me, Can never quench the fire unseen

That glows in me.-I must adore thee!

But ever as these o'er it come,

In all their withering-wintry sadness, The pent up strife, in one wild sum,

Breaks out-and then I'm driven to madness!

Aye! then the haunts of mirthless din
I seek, and vex the night with riot,
Or drench with wine the flame within,
And mortgage years of future quiet.

-But I'll not press thy taintless lip

While I'm unworthy thee-No-Never! Repentance, dregs 'tis mine to sip,

-Then Thine-and Virtue's I'm-for ever!—Ibid.

ON SPECTACLES.

[The following judicious observation we have extracted from a useful little pamphlet entitled "Hudson's Spectaclania."]

The Cases of Indistinct Sight in which Spectacles may be used with advantage.

Near-sightedness arises from the eye being too convex or prominent, and is usually perceived in persons of a very early age; and when discovered, optical aid should be immediately resorted to. It is said that persons engaged in manufactures, or living in large cities, and unaccustomed to view very distant objects, are more subject to near-sightedness than others who are of a profession requiring out-door employment, as sailors, fishermen, and persons engaged in agricultural pursuits, and with the truth of this opinion, I am inclined to agree.

The near-sighted have usually a singular habit of half closing the eyes in looking at distant objects; this may slightly assist them, but they have still a very indistinct view. They are compelled to read, write, sew, or play music at a much closer distance from the eye than other persons. They see, perfectly unassisted, minute objects when placed close to the eye, as well or even better than distant-sighted persons see with the assistance of a powerful magnifying glass, or even with the assistance of a microscope.

The principal inconvenience attending near-sightedness is reading, writing, &c., at an inconveniently close distance, and not seeing, to recognize, an intimate friend in the street, in a church, a concert room, or in a theatre, and these persons are thus purblind at all long distances, and totally incapable of enjoying perfectly the beauties of landscape scenery, and thus lose one half of the pleasures of existence; indeed, some, when quite children, are too near-sighted to learn to read, or receive any education, without the use of spectacles, and are remarkable for holding a book within three or four inches from their eyes to distinguish the letters. The use of appropriate and accurately adjusted concave spectacles will give to such persons a delightfully distinct and perfect view of distant objects, and enable them to read, write, &c., at a proper, convenient, and usual distance, and for a longer time than without them, preventing the fatigue, &c., experienced, especially at night. the near-sighted the occasional use of concave spectacles of a proper sight will often supersede the necessity of using an eye-glass, or opera-glass at the theatre, and will be found an indispensable and most agreeable companion in the promenade. They should be carried about the person at all times. How gratifying it must be to ladies and gentlemen thus situated, to be placed upon an equality, in point of sight, with those persons who see distinctly at all distances. How great this advantage derived from the use of appropriate concave spectacles! They have frequently, after being

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some time worn, enabled the wearer to dispense entirely with the use of spectacles.

Distant sighted persons find they are compelled to place a book, in reading at a greater distance than for merly from the eye, or they require a stronger light in reading or writing at night; they see with difficulty to mend a pen, and have a general inconvenience in seeing objects at short distances, within one or two feet. They still see perfectly well at any distance in the open air, or in the street, nay, perhaps can tell the hour by a church clock at a mile distance, without assistance from glasses; and can see objects at that distance as well as ever they could. These persons thus situated are termed distant or long sighted; and the only certain remedy for this kind of vision is, the occasional use of convex spectacles, properly and with the greatest care adjusted to the sight; they will for the time restore the sight to its pristine distance, and have, in many cases, enabled the wearer to leave off the use of spectacles even after the eye has been accustomed to them for eight or ten years.

To those persons who have any occupation requiring close and constant employment of the sight, at any distance nearer than two or three feet, and who commplain of fatigue and watering of the eyes at night, and on dark foggy days in winter,-spectacles of a slight convexity, called preservers, will enable them to see better and for a longer time than they can see without their use. Distant-sightedness does not usually exhibit itself so early in life as near-sightedness; but the exact age at which it appears cannot be defined. The greater portion of those persons who have applied to me for convex spectacles have exceeded the age of 35; though in one instance, I have known a boy of ten years of age require spectacles for reading of five inches focus. He had not been operated upon for cataract, or any thing of the kind; nor had he any disease of the eye. This is a very remarkable instance.

There are many persons who have not to complain of either distant or near-sightedness, who see perfeetly well at all distances, but who experience great inconvenience from a glare of light at night, from the intense light and heat of the sun, especially as reflected on the London pavement, in summer, from the wind blowing strongly in their eyes, from the dust of macadamized and other roads, from the flies in summer, from a residence in hot climates as the East or West Indies, from chalky soils, and from travelling over immense tracts of snow in various parts of the world. Some of these and other causes produce inflammation in the eyes, and frequently, in severe cases, total blindness ensues, which the judicious use of spectacle shades, made either of glass or wire gauze, might have contributed to prevent, and at so trifling an expense, not necessarily more than five shillings.

The persons who usually require the aid of spectacles (excepting those afflicted with cataract, of whom more hereafter,) have now been enumerated. It has been observed, that "it is very much the fashion to wear spectacles of late, without absolute necessity." Now I can assure the intelligent render, that of a great number of spectacles that I have supplied to persons of rank in society, few have been purchased merely from the fashion, nearly the whole of them have been absolutely required for purposes of vision. The younger members of the legal and medical professions are the only ex

ceptions, to whom they have occasionally given the appearance of a sedate and becoming gravity, inducing a well-merited confidence in their professional abilities. There are few persons who do not, at some period of their existence, require our professional assistance; it will, therefore, be prudent to peruse carefully and preserve for reference, this little pamphlet,—it is the result of my own experience, observations, and labours; it contains nought but facts-no plagiarisms, nor any assertions that cannot be maintained and corroborated by numerous opticians.

Of Coloured Glasses and Wire Gauze Shades for
Spectacles.

A light-blue or azure coloured glass is to be preferred for shading the eyes from light, &c., as the complexion of a person is seen through a blue glass of its natural colour, rather darkened, and through a green glass the countenance has a cadaverous hue. Colours are also more easily distinguished by blue glasses than with green, and the blue answers every purpose of shading or protecting the eyes from a glare of light &c., better than green.

Blue glasses may be obtained of as dark a shade as may be desired, almost to opacity. In most cases a very light blue, of a similar tint to the sky on a bright day, is to be preferred to all others, and as these glasses admit of being ground concave or convex to suit the sight, in the same way that other glasses or pebbles are ground, they will be used with great advantage by the near or distant sighted, who may require some shade or protection from a glare of light, especially in cases of recovery from inflammation of the eyes; they are in these cases usually recommended by the oculist or medical gentleman.

Blue glasses of a very dark shade are sometimes used as spectacles to screen the loss of an eye from observation; and, if skilfully and closely fitted, they effect this desirable object completely, so as, at a small distance, to deceive the inquisitive glance of the most acute observer.

Wire gauze is sometimes used for the same purpose. This gauze has been introduced of late for spectacle shades, and is very finely wove-being iron or steel wire forty or fifty wires to the inch, and japanned of a light blue colour; this has entirely superseded the use of crape for the purpose of shading the eyes from the light, and is found to answer this purpose much better. This gauze is very useful in keeping off the dust or flies in summer, which it does effectually, and at the same time admits a current of air to the eyes, which in some cases is very desirable, and is an advantage that glasses do not possess.

The best shape for these shades is parabolic or horseshoe: and there should be side shapes of the same material, to be worn on the temples when opened, or by closing them the gauze may be worn double, thus increasing the protection for the eyes. The frames of the wire gauze shades should be of elastic blue steel; these are the lightest, the cheapest, attach most firmly to the head, and are consequently the best. All the sorts of spectacle glasses that are really useful have now been described; and it has also been explained, that it is only by the curve of the surface that glasses or pebbles can at all assist or preserve the sight, and that all spectacles are either convex, concave, or parallel-periscopic

being included in the two former. Ladies and gentlemen would do well to consider this simple fact; and, by ascertaining the focus of the glasses, and inspecting the frames, in the way I have described, they will have no difficulty in detecting the impudent audacity, of those who, for interested purposes, would mystify and throw an obscurity over this simple, but transcendantly important subject, and who would assert, that there is a peculiarity, advantageous to the sight, in the glasses of the spectacles they offer for inspection.

Double and Single Eye-glasses compared. EYE-GLASSES are frequently used instead of spectacles, being less formal, and more convenient for occasional purposes,-in reading a letter, viewing goods in a shop window or in examining any object, near or distant as the case may be. Single eye-glasses have, till lately, been more generally used than double eye-glasses. At the present time the double are rapidly superseding the use of the single eye-glasses, and for these obvious reasons:-Persons who are provided with two eyes see better and more objects with both eyes than with one; and they also see better and more objects with a double than with a single eye-glass. Single eye-glasses have also a tendency to weaken one eye, as the wearer, from habit, will apply the glass more to one eye than to the other, which frequently produces what is termed obliquity of vision. The wearer of a double eye-glass will see better, for a longer time, and with more pleasure to himself, than he can see with a single eye-glass he will also have the advantage of using both hands if required, as the double eye-glass will fix on the nose by slightly pressing the glasses nearer to each other. This advantage he cannot have with the single eye-glass, unless he can shrink up the flesh round the eye to support the eye-glass by its contraction. This dexterous feat I have seen performed by some gentlemen; it is an unsightly practice, and in this opinion I anticipate the ladies will coincide. Independent of all these considerations, the double eye-glass has a more uniform appearance, and when closed, has the appearance of a single eye-glass, and is very portable. When the double eyeglass is closed, one glass being upon the other, the concavity or diminishing power, or the convex or magnifying power, is very much increased: this also is a great advantage over the single glasses, and will be found very useful. Our most gracious Queen invariably wears a double eye-glass.

In all cases where the assistance of glasses are required for a short time only, I would recommend the use of the double eye-glasses, instead of the spectacles, with sides to fasten on the face.

WISHES OF YOUTH.

"Gaily and greenly let my seasons run;

And should the war-winds of the world uproot
The sanctities of life, and its sweet fruit
Cast forth as fuel for the fiery sun;
The dews be turned to ice-fair days begun
In peace wear out in pain, and sounds that suit
Despair and discord keep Hope's harpstring mute;
Still let me live as Love and Life were one:
Still let me turn on earth a childlike gaze,
And trust the whispered charities that bring
Tidings of human truth; with inward praise
Watch the weak motion of each common thing,
And find it glorious-still let me raise
On wintry wrecks an altar to the Spring."

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On the road from Thurles to Cashel the travaller will frequently see written by a variety of hands, on walls and posts, Poor Mary?' The epithet poor is considered by the Irish peasantry the most expressive word for sympathetic pity, and this testimony of regard for the sufferings of Mary becomes more conspicuous and more frequent as the traveller approaches the latter town. Should he feel any desire to know the cause, he cannot fail of receiving information from those he meets; for all know the history of 'Poor Mary?

The glebe of Rouleen consisted of twenty Irish acres, on which stood the warm thatched house, or rather cabin, of Jack Wilson. The annual whitewashing which it received every Christmas rendered it conspicuous from the road; and the four large trees which shaded the bawn, or yard, gave it an air of comfort which Irish dwellings, particularly of the poor, generally want. A closer view showed an approach to English neatness: a green paddock for a favourite horse or cow was on one side; and on the west, enjoying the shelter of the outhouses and trees, was a little garden for vegetables and flowers; whilst at the bottom of the slope, before the door, was an umbrageous thorn, protecting from the beams of summer's sun a holy well

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for all wells in Ireland are dedicated to some particular saint. It must be confessed, though the general appearance of Wilson's habitation conveyed ideas of industry, there yet remained too many proofs of culpable indolence. A cart, or, as it is called, truckle, was placed in a gap to perform the duties of a gate; and the exhalations of the dunghill rose to Heaven the tacit reprovers of Jack's attachment to smoking and talking. Still the little farm was yearly improving; limestones were collected round the kiln, the ditches showed traces of recent repairs, and fields, were ploughed that had lain fallow for ages, On the whole, the country people acknowledged that Jack was the most thriving man in the parish, for which he was indebted, they observed, to his good children, young Jack and Mary.

Old Wilson had been married twenty years to a woman who brought him two children, a son and a daughter. The greater part of his life he had spent in struggling with fortune, wearing tattered clothes and living on potatoes; but, as his children approached maturity, Mary, the daughter, was taken notice of by a family in the neighbourhood, who just stopped in the country long enough to make the people feel the loss of their absence. Mary, from collision with polished manners, caught some notion of refinement, which was not sufficiently powerful to create disgust with her situation, but still strong enough to show her the pleasure of improvement. Books were given her, which she carefully perused; and flower-seeds, which were sown. From these plants she derived no small pleasure they stimulated her industry; they were her own; she transplanted, tended, and cherished them; till they became identified with her happiness; for without them she could neither enjoy the commendations of her friends nor the satisfaction of knowing that her existence was not intended to be useless: but these did not occupy all her thoughts, nor engross all her time.

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