I have seen her. When that tremendous noise was heard at supper, as the door was supernaturally opened, I saw her. She fixed those dreadful eyes of her's upon me; she proceeded to the fire-place, and stood in the midst of the children, and there she remained till the servant came in."

,,My dearest husband," said Mrs. Harding, this is but a disorder of the imagination!"

,,Be what it may,“ said he, „I have seen her. Human or superhuman

natural or supernatural

there

she was. I shall not strive to argue upon a point where I am likely to meet with little credit: all I ask is, pray fervently, have faith, and we will hope the misfortune, whatever it is, may be averted."

He kissed his wife's cheek tenderly, and after a fitful feverish hour or two fell into a slumber.

From that slumber never woke he more. was found dead in his bed in the morning.

He

Whether the force of imagination, coupled with the unexpected noise, produced such an alarm as to rob him of life, I know not," said my communicant; ,,but he was dead."

The story was told me by my friend Ellis, in walking from the City to Harley-street late in the evening; and when we came to this part of the History were in Bedford-square, at the dark and dreary corner of it where Caroline-street joins it.

„And there!" said Ellis, pointing downwards, „is the street where the circumstance occurred!“

,,Come, come," said I,,,you tell the story well, but I suppose you do not expect it to be received as gospel."

,,Faith," said he,,,I know so much of it that I was one of the twelfth-night party, and heard the noise.“

,,But you did not see the spectre ?" cried I. ,,No," replied Ellis,,,I certainly did not."

,,Nor any body else," said I, I'll be sworn." A quick footstep was just then heard behind us. I turned half round to let the person pass, and saw a woman enveloped in a red cloak, whose sparkling black eyes, shone upon by the dim lustre of a lamp above her head, dazzled me. I was startled ,,Pray remember old MARTHA, THE GYPSY, said the hag. It was like a thunder - stroke. I instantly slipped my hand into my pocket, and hastily gave her therefrom a five-shilling piece.

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,,Thanks, my bonny one, said the woman, and setting up a shout of contemptuous laughter, she bounded down Caroline - street, towards Russel - street, singing, or rather yelling, a wild air.

Ellis did not speak during this scene he pressed my arm tightly, and we quickened our pace. We said nothing to each other till we turned into Bedfordstreet, and the lights and passengers of Tottenhamcourt-road re-assured us.

,,What do you think of that?" said Ellis to me. ,,SEEING IS BELIEVING," was my reply.

,,I have never passed that dark corner of Bedfordsquare in the evening since.

AS SLOW OUR SHIP.

BY THOMAS MOORE.

As slow our ship her foamy track
Against the wind was cleaving,
Her trembling pennant still looked back
To that dear isle 'twas leaving.
So loath we part from all we love,

From all the links that bind us;
So turn our hearts, where 'er we rove
To those we've left behind us!

When, round the bowl, of vanished years
We talk with joyous seeming, -
With smiles that might as well be tears
So faint so sad their beaming;
While memory brings us back again
Each early tie that twin'd us,
Oh, sweet's the cup that circles then
To those we 've left behind us!

And when in other climes, we meet
Some isle or vale enchanting,
Where all looks flowery, wild and sweet,
And nought but love is wanting;
We think how great had been our bliss,
If Heav'n had but assign'd us
To live and die in scenes like this,
With some we 've left behind us!

As trav❜llers oft look back, at eve,
When eastward darkly going,
To gaze upon that light they leave

Still faint behind them glowing,
So, when the close of pleasure's day
To gloom hath near consign'd us,
We turn to catch one fading ray
Of joy that's left behind us.

TOO HANDSOME FOR ANY THING.

BY E. L. BULWER.

Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy was one of those models of perfection of which a human father and mother can produce but a single example, Mr. Ferdinaud Fitzroy was therefore an only son. He was such an amazing favourite with both his parents that they resolved to ruin him; accordingly, he was exceedingly spoiled, never annoyed by the sight of a book, and had as much plumcake as he could eat. Happy would it have been for Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy could he always have eaten plum-cake, and remained a child.,, Never," says the Greek Tragedian,,, reckon a mortal happy till you have witnessed his end." A most beantiful creature was Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy! Such eyes - such hair such teeth such a figure such manners,

too, and such an irresistible way of tying his neckcloth! When he was about sixteen, a crabbed old uncle represented to his parents the propriety of teaching Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy to read and write. Though not without some difficulty, he convinced them, fór he was exceedingly rich, and riches in an uncle are wonderful arguments respecting the nurture of a nephew whose parents have nothing to leave him. So our hero was sent to school. He was naturally (I am not joking now) a very sharp, clever boy; and he came on surprisingly in his learning. The schoolmaster's wife liked handsome children. ,,What a genius will Master Ferdinand Fitzroy be, if you take pains with him!" said she to her husband.

Pooh, my dear, it is of no use to take pains with him."

And why, love?“

Because he is a great deal too handsome ever to be a scholar. “

And that's true enough my dear!" said the schoolmaster's wife.

So, because he was too handsome to be a scholar, Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy remained the lag of the fourth form!

They took our hero from school. fession shall he follow?" said his mother.

What pro

,, My first cousin is the Lord Chancellor," said his father,,, let him go to the bar."

The Lord Chancellor dined there that day: Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy was introduced to him; his Lordship was a little, rough-faced, beetle-browed, hardfeatured man, who thought, beauty and idleness the same thing and a parchment skin the legitimate complexion for a lawyer.

Send him to the bar!" said he, „no, no, that will never do! Send him into the army; he is

much too handsome to become a lawyer."

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And that's true enough, my Lord!" said the mother. So they bought Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy a

cornetcy in the Regiment of Dragoons.

Things are not learned by inspiration. Mr. Ferdinand Fitzroy had never ridden at school, except when he was hoisted; he was, therefore, a very indifferent horseman; they sent him to the riding-school, and every body laughed at him.

,, He is a d-d ass! said Cornet Horsephiz, who was very ugly; a horrid puppy!“ said Lieutenant