en.

The tall, gothic windows were draped with curtains of crimson damask, suspended by tasselled cords from the beaks of the gilded cagles, by which they were surmounted, and the rich, heavy folds, though looped up to the marble pilasters, drooped down till their deep fringes swept the floors. Divans, ottomans and couches, with coverings, broidered by Persia's dark-eyed girls, were ranged around the apartments, inviting to the enjoyment of voluptuous easc, upon their downy cushions. Large chandeliers, the light sparkling upon every point and part of their thousand cut-glass pendants, hung in globes of dazzling radiance from the vaulted roof, illuminating the spacious rooms with noon-day brightness, and revealing all their wealth and profusion of ornament, until the eye grew weary with magnificence, and vainly sought for something to relieve its monotony.

And I was there-the proud mistress of those splendid halls, and the happiest of the brilliant train that crowded them. Not that my happiness consisted in being their possessor-they, with their costly garniture, would have been valueless to me but for his sake who had so lavishly bestowed them; they were dear to me only as proofs of his regard, whose alone I sought to win. But that hope, that blissful hope, which, for weeks had filled my heart with heaven's happiness, was realized, and he, on whom I had bestowed my deepest and tenderest affections, was mine, for the nuptial vow was spoken, and God had made us one.

and art had seemed to have bestowed their choicest
gifts- -a being placed amid his fellow men, to show
them how high human nature may be exalted,
and how low debased.

CHAPTER II.

Two years passed by ; two little years of bliss as perfect, as complete as my brightest dreams had pictured, and then there was a change. My husband, though a lawyer by profession, had been connected largely with one of the most extensive mercantile houses in the city. In the immense dividends of the first few years he had more than realized his expectations, but the bubble burst, at length, and by the combined villany of ́his partners, in whom he had placed unbounded confidence, he became a loser to the amount of nearly half a million. The failure of a bank, in which he had invested several thousands, immediately followed, and thus at a blow his paternal heritage was swept entirely away, and he was cast penniless upon the world, with nothing but his profession for his support.

surely he was hastening to his ruin.

Ah! little thought I of the terrible future, in that bright hour of strange, intoxicating joy. A cup of unmingled happiness kind Providence held brimming to my lips, I sipped the delicious sweetness, nor dreamed of the unspeakable bitterness to which a few short years would change it. I knew not of the change which time would work in the noble being by my side. Now he was the idol of society, the object whom men delighted to honor and to set in their high places. Already he had mingled a fellow with the chosen law. givers of a commonwealth in the halls of legislation, and bold and self-confident must have been that opponent, who ventured there to engage him in the high debate, and hope for victory.- These repeated misfortunes preyed upon his mind, Already fame had wreathed his youthful brow and he loved to drown his bitter reflections in the with a budding garland, and the lofty height, to wine cup-I expostulated, I knelt at his feet and which his vaulting ambition aspired, seemed half held up his beautiful boy before him, and implored attained, and I deemed not that sensual indulgence him for his sake and for mine, to pause in his mad could clog the wings of the bold, free spirit, in career. He promised amendment, and a few feeble its upward flight, till it would sink from its proud efforts were made to cast off the power that was altitude, to a corresponding depth of degredation. dragging him down to the dust, only to be succeedNo cloud of doubt, no shadow of distrust dim-ed by wilder excesses than before. Slowly but med the radiant expanse of my being's sky; all now to me was brightness. Words may not tell the delicious ecstacy, which filled my heart in the cnosciousness that he was mine, that the admired Oh how my heart swelled as I marked the and courted Ashburton was mine-Oh! I could admiration, nay, almost homage, which he excited have knelt at his feet in my young heart's deep amid that gathered multitude. Wherever he idolatry, and rendered him worship, as to some moved, he was the object of attraction," the ob-heaven-descended deity, all robed in his god. served of all observers”—and well might they gaze like charms.—In the creature I forgot the Creator upon him and admire, for never cye had scen a -innumerable blessings were mine, but I forgot to nobler, or more perfect being, in form or feature.render thanks to their Bestower, and fearfully His forehead was full and high, and its marble was I punished. whiteness contrasted finely with the midnight I remember that during the evening, some one blackness of the silken curls which shaded it. led me to the piano and requested a song. And his eyes-how beautiful they were-so deeply, collected a little air which I had learned in childdarkly blue, one might have almost thought hood, a wild, sweet thing, so full of the spirit of them black, and they were capable of every ex- gladness, I had deemed it the effusion of some pression, from the flash of indignant anger, to the gifted being, just wakened from a dream of the soft, melting, dove-like look of a young maiden's, Elysian Land, but now it seemed but the senti. as she silently looks reply to the first tale of passionments of my own heart, breathed forth in the from the lips of him she loves. His cheek was burning language of poetry and I seated myself pale, perhaps too pale for healthful youth, with its beside the gorgeous instrument and swept the bright dreams, its high hopes, and lofty aspirations silver keys, while I poured forth the melting words but harmonizing well with the highly intellectual with a power and pathos, till then I had not expression of his countenance. There was a conknown that I possessed. The slight flutter, stant, half-formed smile upon his lips, and yet they which I at first experienced, wore off as I prowore a fixed and haughty curl, at once repelling ceeded; I forgot the presence of those around me the familiarity the former seemed to invite.- so deeply was I absorbed in giving utterance to The boldest effrontery stood abashed in his the rapturous emotions which filled my soul. I presence, self-conceit acknowledged its own felt what I was singing, and never before had littleness, and men approached him with that feel-such heavenly sounds responded to my touch, and ing of deference, half awe, half admiration, with which every one regards a high and gifted spirit, for such was his, and none could gaze upon his splendid lineaments, but must acknowledge it, so accurately did their combined expression portray

his character.

Tall and of faultless symmetry, his was a figure Canova might have chosen for his most perfect model, and there was a lofty, air, a princely dignity in every movement, coinporting well with the towering majesty of form, the curling lip and proudly beaming eye. He was a dazzling, glorious, gifted creature, the object on whom nature

I re

my voice was so sweet and flexible, that the liquid
melody seemed flowing from my lips without an
effort. Sweet, blissful tears came swelling up from
the fountains of my heart, my voice at last grew
low and slightly tremulous, and the last note died
away dimly and softly as a lute-strain by still
waters. My heart was oppressed with its ful-
ness of happiness, and I would, have given,
worlds to go away alone and weep, for tears
would have brought relief.

But why need I go on? Thousands have felt
as I felt then, but few, comparatively, I trust,
the exceeding misery which succeeded.

His constituants in politics refused at last to give him their support-why should they not—and his, term of office having expired, another was chosen in his place. This was the fatal, the decisive blow, it was more than his proud spirit could bear, he felt himself cast off and abandoned by his fellow men, and there was no motive now for selfdenial, and he sunk at once, a passive and unstruggling victim to the lowest depths of degredation. Charles Ashburton, the high-minded and gifted Charles Ashburton was a common drunkard, and his name a by-word and a scorn upon lips, which had once reverently pronounced it in connection with every thing which is noble and exalted in the character of man.

His former associates forsook him, and if they recognised their old companion in the miserable object which sometimes crossed their path, they passed him with a curled lip and cold, averted eye, or it might be with a look of pity more galling to his nature than their scorn. For me, when the last faint hope had departed, which had sustained me through privations to which I had never been accustomed, and I deemed him lost forever, I yielded to the repeated solicitations of my friends and returned to my early home, but not till with tcars and entreaties, I had prevailed upon my stern, old father to allow my wretched husband to follow. I had left him a few, short years before, a gay, light-hearted girl, with my mind filled with the brightest dreams and images of future happiness ; I returned, a care-worn sad-eyed creature, with my fond hopes crushed and blighted and my heart filled with the darkest despair. In my husband, my father saw only the agent that had effected this change, he could look upon him only as the des. troyer of his child, his only one, the darling idol of his old age, and the respect and love with which he once regarded him, were changed to scorn and loathing adhorrence, and but for my sake, the mis. erable object of his hatred would have been cast forth like a brute, as he considerrd him, to perish in the street. It was in vain that he attempted to

"I'm sorry I made you cry mamma," faltered Charley, approaching and gazing up into my face with his own sad eyes suffused with tears, "I will not say so any more if you will love ne again."-sion he has given me a shelter beneath his roof,ble at the thought of death, that dread agent which

རྒྱག ན ཀབ ང ངའ ང

that I remembered what he had been-the degra-
ded sot of the present seemed entirely a separate
being from the high-souled, glorious creature of
former days, to whom my vows of love were plight-
ed. Then he moved an equal with the noblest and
proudest in the land-now he was the companion
of the vilest scuni of an uncultivated society, as
debased, as despicable as they, and my heart re-
volted at my efforts to constrain it to yield to him
its former love.

came; and minutes passed by-minutes that seemed like ages in duration, and still no coming footstep broke the deathful silence.

"O, Charley! my sweet Charley!" I exclaimed clasping him wildly to my bosoin, " is it thus that we must part?-say, will you not speak to me, my child, and kiss me once before you die?”

Wretched man? dearly was he paying the penalty of sin. It was in vain that I attempted by reason and argument to convince him of the absurdity of his views, and to encourage him to new O, the agonizing pang that pierced my heart, as and stronger efforts, by reminding him of those I met his appealing gaze, fixed on me for the aspromises which God has graciously given to those sistance which it was not mine to give-who shall who sincerely repent and go to him for assistance. tell it? I bent down and kissed his pallid brow, By the past he judged of the future, and neither whercon cold dews were gathering, and tears, hot my tears nor entreatics could extract from him tears, such a mother only can shed, fell fast and even a promise of one single further attempt to thick above him. Still that gaze was not removed wards amendment. Sutisfied at last that he had His last penny had been long since expended, it was on me wherever I passed-I could bear it given up all hopes of a reformation himself, and and it was my labors alone that supplied us with no longer, and turned away, to hide from my eyes that of course not the slightest restraint, not even our daily bread. Then I could estimate the full the distressing sight. I knelt down and called on that of poverty, which had in some measure hitherto value of what I had renounced for his sake, and God, in frantic agony, to spare his life—in vain restrained them, would be laid upon his actions, memories of the past came mingled with the bit in vain-ever then the last dread moment had ar. I trembled at the thought of the wild excesscs terest regrets. I, who had moved an idol in prince-rived, and when I turned to look upon him again, into which his new possessions would enable him ly halls, at whose slirine every luxury which wealth I knew that he was dying. to plunge. I knew that the forbearance of my could purchase was offered up, and where the father had well nigh reached its limits, and that at proudest rendered homage, was now "that lowly the slightest increase in the measure of my hus-thing-a drunkard's wife,"—the habitant of an band's offences not even my influence could induce him longer to extend to him his protection, and that he would be cast forth to find a home in the midst of strangers, who, when his last penny was spent, and he was no longer able to give them recompense, in turn would cast him forth, either to die in the street or to find a refuge in that house, which the public have assigned for the miserable objects of its charity. My pride revolted at such a thought-but in vain. The first letter remained unan—he was already sufficiently degraded in the eyes swered, and the second was returned unopened, of his acquaintances, and I chose if all this was to and I knew that further efforts would be useless, be, it should be in the midst of strangers, who would and passively resigned myself to the thought, that not know the height from which he had fallen and I must drag out my future existence in wretcheddraw comparisons between the past and present, ness and want, with a being whom I scorned, ay and I therefore rather encouraged him than other.-merciful God! Shall I confess it? Whom I had wise, in his purpose of removing to the West. But learned to hate! not for a moment did the thought enter my mind of allowing him to depart alone-I knew that privation and toils and cares awaited me, but they were preferable to the luxury and case of my father's halls, which I could not share with him, and notwithstanding his efforts to dissuade me from my purpose, I determined to be the companion of his exile. I knew that by so doing, I should be acting in direct opposition to my father's will, and I knew also that it was no trivial thing to incur his resentment, but I did not anticipate the full extent of the dreadful punition which awaited

A twelve month passed away, and on the velvet banks of the Ohio, away in a western wilderness we had found a home. And was I happy in my self-imposed exile? Oh! no. From the moment I left my father's house with his curse upon me, a strange feeling had gradually been stealing over my heart, till now I had learned to loathe the companionship of him, for whose sake, in the deep devotedness of my affections, I had abandoned a home of affluence, and forfeited a father's love. It was a sick, remorseful bitterness, with which I first awoke to the consciousness that I no longer loved him, and earnest prayers went up, for the awakening to life of my dead affections. It was in vain

abode, my father's meanest servant would have
scorned. By one mad act, I had reduced myself He turned his glazing eyes for a moment upen
and my child to the most abject poverty, from me, and his lips moved as if essaying to address
which there was not the remotest probability we nie, but no sound escaped them. At last the fringed
should ever rise. Twice I had written to my fath-lids drooped heavily above those rayless orbs, a
er, and told him of my repentance, and, in the slight quiver ran through his frame, and when I
most moving language which I could command, bent down to listen for his breath, it was still he
implored his permission to return to my early home
was dead-merciful Heaven-little Charley was
dead!

My gaze was fascinated upon his lifeless form,
until a deathly sickness came over me, and I sank
insensible beside him, blessed awhile with forget-
fulness of my misery. Minutes passed by, and
again I was restored to consciousness-again made
sensible to the dreadful reality that my child was
dead. There lay my idol, pale and inanimate,
In the wide world, there was but one whom I before me; his little limbs composed, and stiffen-
could love--but one for whose sake I could wishing in death-struck down by the hand of Him
to live-my beautiful, my peerless boy, and on him
was lavished my heart's wealth of affection. He
was a precocious child, the subject on which for
Art to exert her powers in surety of the proudest
success, and there was bitterness in the thought
that poverty must cramp and limit the splendid
powers, with which he was gifted, when the foster.
ing which wealth might purchase, would perhaps
raise him to the loftiest place among his fellow men.
Alas! alas! why took I thought for him, whose
destiny was so soon to be fulfilled? O, Providence,
how inscrutable are thy ways!-was such a being
by nature fitter for the widest usefulness to man,
but born-to die?

It was night, and its deep stillness was around me, unbroken by aught but save the wild dashings of the Ohio, as it rushed past the door of my lowly home. I sat alone, watching in alternate hope and despair, the restless turnings of my suffering child. O! what a change a few short hours had wrought-that morn had seen him in the full beauty and vigor of health, and now pale and almost helpless, he lay stretched before ine in the last stage of a fatal disease.

At the first symptom of illness, his father had departed in quest of medical assistance, and hours long hours had passed since then, and still he came not, and death, I knew, with rapid strides, was approaching; and was there no effort to be made to arrest its progress? Again for the hundredth time, perhaps, I passed to the window, and peered out into the surrounding darkness, in the vain hope of discovering approaching forms-none

whose place he had usurped in my heart. The golden curls still clusterså in glossy richness upon his brow, and the agonized expression his coun. tenance had worn in his last hours, was gone, and a smile was stamped upon his hueless lips, so beautiful, so life-like, that, but for its fixedness, one might have deemed the spirit still was there.— The outline of his shapely form was revealed through the linen drapery that shrouded it, and I gazed, entranced, upon his angelic loveliness, as he lay so still and pale before me, like a fair statue, wrought by some master hand, from cold, white marble.— So beautiful, so fair, my last, my only loved-how could I yield him up ?-how could I lay him in his little grave? I turned away at the thought, and wept in my desolate agony, as if my heart would break.

The Bible, with its eternal truths and promises, lay before me. I drew it towards me, and bent over its sacred pages, eager to receive the consolation it should offer. "Come unto me," it told me, "all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”—and I knelt down and tried to pray tried to say, "Father, thy will be done," but my heart rebelled against it, and I turned away, for I could not profane the ears of my Maker with such unholy mockery In vain I essayed to control my emotions, and to fix my mind on holy things-one overwhelming, killing thought was present only in my mind-" my child is dead, my child is dead,” and choking sobs broke audibly from my lips, and scalding tear-drops fell like rain.

Time passed-and when the first wild outbreak