the new order of things. His friend, an adherent to constitutional monarchy, looked forward to seeing it firmly established in France. Although some disputes had taken place between the friends, yet they had never gone any great lengths, till the twelfth day of 1790, when the two families met as usual to spend it together. Ernest La R Cecile de Vwere king and queen. and and All was mirth and harmony, when a few words dropped by La R— sharply taken up by De V-produced a violent quarrel between them, and despite of the intreaties of their wives and children, they parted with a declaration that their friendship was at an end. Ernest and Cecile were in consequence forbidden to see or correspond with each other. La P.- and his family soon after emigrated, and De V-retited to a very remote part of France, where he hoped to remain in quiet obscurity till better times. It so chanced, that the property to which he retired, adjoined one that had belonged to a cousin of La R- who was guillotined in the course of the revolution. On the morning of the twelfth day of ninety-three, De V— was walking in that direction, when he met a peasant whose features were familiar to him, though he could not at first recollect them. A second glance convinced him that it was La R—. That glance spoke volumes, there was no need of words to prove that each had forgotten every thing but their ancient friendship. A moment sufficed to bring to De V's mind the danger his friend was exposed to. He conducted him instantly to his own house, which he entered by a back way, and proceeded unobserved with La R- to his chamber. Here," said he, "with Heaven's blessing, we may be safe, if safety is to be found; there is a recess in this room, in which I trust you may remain concealed even from the strictest search, and now, dear La R, tell me why did you brave the danger of returning, and where is your wife and Ernest?" The first had fallen a victim to sorrow and hardship, the latter, after an unsuccessful attempt to serve the royal cause in the army of Condé, was then in Germany, where lingering illness had brought him to the brink of the grave, and reduced them both to the most extreme penury, for it was to the talents of Ernest that they owed a maintenance. This circumstance had decided the return of La R, he had received a letter which his deceased cousin left in charge with a friend to forward to him, describing a spot in which some money and jewels were buried, and the situation of his son determined him to hazard his life to recover it. The resolution of De V- was instantly taken. "Defer your plan till to-morrow night," said he, my wife has baked in secret the twelfth cake, which we are to eat 10-night with a few faithful friends. We dare no longer keep the festival openly, but you will not shrink from the danger which we must run to celebrate it in secret." La R readily agreed. The little party, who were all in the house, met in the bed-chamber of De V. and when they separated, Dr V- went himself to the spot which his frend had described, and was fortunate enough to return undiscovered with the treasure, with which La R reached Germany in safety. Five years afterwards he was enabled, by the unceasing exertions of De Vto France. The constancy of Ernest aud Cecile was rewarded, and they still live to celebrate happily and securely the jour des Rois. to return The masked balls have commenced by one at the Opera house. The salle was magnificently lighted, and decorated, but I am told, for we were not there, that the company was not the most select. There were, however, some elegant masks, particularly a groupe of Spaniards, who danced the Bolero in the first stile of excellence, and a quadrille, representing all the different modes that have appeared in France, since the days of Francis the First, up to the present time. Thirty-six persons made their entrée to the air of the polonaise in Gustavus the Third, and during a quarter of an hour formed groupes that afforded a piquant coup d'œil, by the singular union they presented of the costumes that have succeeded one another in France, for nearly four hundred years. We have had also two charity, balls. Papa took us to both. They were numerously attended, but, in truth, the distress is so great that the relief thus afforded can be but temporary. Adieu! Ma chére! Believe me, always yours, EMILY B. There was once a shoemaker who worked very hard, and was very honest; but still he could not earn enough to live upon, and at last all he had in the world was gone, except just leather enough to make one pair of shoes. Then he cut them all ready to make up the next day, meaning to get up early in the morning to work. His conscience was clear and his heart light amidst all his troubles; so he went peaceably to bed, left all his cares to heaven, and fell asleep. In the morning after he had said his prayers, he set himself down to his work, when to his great wonder, there stood the shoes, all ready made, upon the table. The good man knew not what to say or think of this strange event. He looked at the workmanship; there was not one false stitch in the whole job; and all was so neat and true that it was quite a masterpiece. That same day a customer came in, and the shoes suited him so well that he willingly paid a higher price than usual for them; and the poor shoemaker with the money bought leather enough to make two pair more. In the evening he cut out the work, and went to bed early that he might get up L. 34. 1. G early and begin betimes next day; but he was saved all the trouble, for when he got up in the morning the work was done ready to his hand. Soon in came buyers, who paid him handsomely for his goods, so that he bought leather enough for four more. He cut out the work again over night, and found it done in the morning as before; and so it went on for some time: what was got ready in the evening was always done by daybreak, and the good man soon became thriving and well off again. One evening about Christmas time, as he and his wife were sitting over the fire chatting together, he said to her, "I should like to sit up and watch to-night, that we may see who it is that comes and does my work for me." The wife liked the thought; so they left a light burning, and hid themselves in a corner of the room behind a curtain that was hung up there, and watched what should happen. As soon as it was midnight there came two little naked dwarfs; and they sat themselves upon the shoemaker's bench, took up all the work that was cut out, and began to ply with their little fingers, stitching and rapping and tapping away at such a rate that the shoemaker was all wonder, and could not take his eyes off for a moment. And on they went till the job was quite done, and the shoes stood ready for use upon the table. This was long before day-break; and then they bustled away as quick as lightning. The next day the wife said to the shoemaker, "These little wights have made us rich, and we ought to be thankful to them, and do them a good turn if we can. I am quite sorry to see them run about as they do they have nothing upon their backs to keep off the cold. I'll tell you what, I will make each of them a shirt, and a coat and waistcoat, and a pair of pantaloons into the bargain; do you make each of them a little pair of shoes." The thought pleased the good shoemaker very much; and one evening when the things were ready, they laid them on the table instead of the work that they used to cut out, and then went.and hid themselves to watch what the little elves would do. About midnight they came in, and were going to sit down to their work as usual; but when they saw the clothes lying for them, they laughed and chuckled and were greatly delighted. They then dressed themselves in the twinkling of an eye, and danced and capered and sprang about as merry as could be, till at last they danced out at the door over the green; and the shoemaker saw them no more: but every thing went well with him from that time forward as long as he lived.* METRICAL SKETCHES. BY M. L. B. No. 8.-THE SLIGHTED One. He never said he lov'd me, I surely thought he lov'd me, For he brought me roses bright With love's celestial light; He brought me bouquets fresh and fair, All flowers, he said,—had language,-- He never said he lov'd me, But he listen'd when I talk'd; For aught around him,-nay, indeed, For any one-but me!— For this amusing fiction we are indebted to German Popular Stories, a new edition of which has just appeared. It is decidedly one of the most popular books in the language, and deservedly so. The illustrations are amongst Mr. G. Cruikshank's very best productions, which is no little praise, when we consider that in this branch of the arts he stands alone, in this or any other country. |