CHAPTER VIII.

"Madam, he 's married to Octavia."-Shakspeare.

greater advantage. Her beauty was not of the blonde description, but her skin was finely transparent, and the glow of health deepened her cheeks The term of its limitation having drawn to a and lips. close, "The Winter Night's Club" ceased to "I live so much to myself," said Braithwaite, exist. Without strictly adhering to the nominal attempting to apologise, that I am quite unpol-division of the year, it had been continued through ished-and," continued he, "this morning, I have the first months of the succeeding season, and the been indulging in ideal dreams among the fine paint-last meeting, held at Miss Broadhorn's, went off ings and statues of Italy,-so that when you en- with an eclat that shed a radiance over its last motered-"

"You are framing an apology of more ingenuity than sincerity," she said, interrupting him, and again laughing.

"Do not be so unmerciful," said Braithwaite, at the same time drawing from his pocket the bracelet, and presenting it to her.

"Thank you, I sent this morning to Miss Willis to inquire for it, and I lost something besides this ornament-not of so much value, I allow. I suspect Miss Ward of having committed the theft, and I am unwilling she should retain what she has taken."

ments. Dr. Enfield, early apprised of the rejec-
|tion of his suit, had been absent from many of the
preceding ones, having sought in solitude a balm
for his wounded spirit, but a new beauty appearing
on the hemisphere of fashion, whom the doctor
caught a glimpse of, from behind the green curtain
of his shop window, he had again resumed his sta-
tion and smiles in society, finding it impossible to
exist without the exciting stimulus of a love affair—
and, on the occasion of "The Last Night," as it
was emphatically called, descanted with his usual
learning on a professional theme. The President,
on the cessation of her power, addressed the audi-
ence in a valedictory, combining much wit and ele-

“Do you mean your essay?" he asked, smiling. If so, you charge her unjustly. It was I who pur-gance. Mr. Braithwaite's genius flashed like a loined it."

"You?" said Miss Hurst, slightly coloring. "Yes, and I hope from my candor to be allowed to keep what I have stolen."

"You do it more honor than it deserves," said Hortensia, and instantly changed the subject.

In conversation Miss Hurst was eminently gifted. Braithwaite found it difficult to tear himself away after a prolonged visit. "Who knows," thought he-reflecting as he returned home on the pleasure he had experienced in her society-" but this is the Aspasia at whose feet I shall improve in eloquence." Braithwaite might now be said to experience what Goethe happily describes-" That, it is a most agreeable sensation when a new attachment begins to rise within us, before the old has entirely subsided—even, as it is an agreeable sight to behold the moon rising on the opposite side of the horizon to the setting sun, and we rejoice at the double illumination afforded by the two luminaries of heaven." But how to propitiate this last bright planet? that was the question; for he had grown diffident from the reception his attentions had met with from Nancy. To find a way to the heart of Hortensia Hurst would be difficult, and this way, even when found, might be like the bridge which is said to conduct to Mahomet's paradise-" sharp as a two edged sword and narrow as a hair." Braithwaite, however, was mistaken. Miss Hurst perceived the impression her beauty and talents had made, and was not insensible to it. Thus the infatuated Nancy, lulled into security, by believing her power over Braithwaite could never be diminished, suffered another to usurp her place in the heart where she thought to have been enshrined for life.

sky-rocket, and Miss Hurst, as Letitia remarked, "came down, as usual, like the Edinburgh Reviewers, hot and heavy upon them." The levity and coquetry of Nancy were more than ever apparent, and Mr. Timberlake, the happy Mr. Timberlake, arrived at the summit of his hopes in having gained, as he imagined, the affections of that young lady, was led by the blissful anticipations that glowed at his heart, into the most exuberant liveliness. Though the Club had been an ample field for the exercise of envy and malice, yet it had drawn many together in a social compact, which, however marred by such baneful feelings, was still one, in which many pleasurable moments had winged their way, and there were few who did not regret its close.

"Do let us get up something of the kind, to amuse us during the tedious summer," said Nancy, as, not many days after, she was sitting with her friends, the Wards.

Agreed," answered they.
66
," said Harriet,
I suppose,"
same gentlemen to attend ?"

66

we can get the

Yes, I think we may safely depend upon Mr. Braithwaite," said Nancy.

At this moment, an acquaintance was announced. "I have news," she began, "that will surprise you all."

“Then do let us hear it," they exclaimed, in a breath.

"Why, a death and a wedding at the same time-Miss Hurst has lost her grandmother and found a husband."

"I always thought she would manoeuvre herself into a match," said Letitia-"pray tell us, who is the happy man,"

"Mr. Braithwaite."

"Mr. Braithwaite ?" repeated the Wards. "Mr. Braithwaite ?" alas! faintly, very faintly, articulated Nancy.

first feelings of disgust, she had banished him from her presence, and that interesting youth left the place, chagrined and disappointed.

"How has Nancy decided among her beaux ?" asked the old lady, drawing a pinch of snuff furiously up her nose-" Every one says, the handsome young parson will get her, and I sincerely hope it may be so, for he is a rousing preacher, ma'am, and may do the captain a great deal of good."

In process of time, Letitia Ward, whose ambi'Yes, they are not exactly married, but they tion for luxury and show swallowed up every more will soon be, I am told-She is now without a pro-worthy feeling, became the darling of an old man, tector, or at least without any one to protect, so whose solitary attraction was his wealth; and Harthat as soon as every thing is ready for the depar-riet, much to the displeasure of her mother, united ture of Mr. Braithwaite, who intends trying his herself to a young naval officer, without fortune. talents in a wider sphere, they are to be united." Dr. Enfield-but we will draw a friendly veil The head of Nancy Broadhorn pressed a sleep- over his numerous love scrapes and cruel disapless pillow that night. The treasure with which pointments. Nancy was too pretty-too rich-and she had wantonly sported, now rose to her mind in by nature, too gay, to die of grief, but she long reall its intrinsic value. She left the Wards in a state membered her first love. She had many admirers, of agitation, which she could ill disguise from her none of whom received sufficient encouragement friends, and when alone, in the bitterness of her to urge his suit, while yet her mind retained a vivid own solitary reflections, she looked back upon her recollection of the past. Nor are we sure that past conduct, with shame and regret. "But it she ever married. From a conversation, which may not be too late," thought she, rising distract- took place between Mrs. Mustin and Mrs. Mackedly from her restless couch-" he loved me, fondly, lervie, as the latter sat, comfortably tucked up at faithfully-My wealth, which to one more sordid, Capt. Broadhorn's, the matter is involved in much would have been my chief attraction, alone deter- speculation. red him from declaring himself. It may not be too late-the report may be false," and buoying herself up with this frail hope, she hastened to the glass to arrange her dress, and while thus employed, regarded for the first time, with indifference, the lovely, but mournful face the mirror reflected. Descending to the breakfast room, and hastily despatching, or rather pretending to despatch, the unwelcome meal, she retired to concert measures to recall her wandering lover. But Timberlake! how should she act towards him! She had given him Here the dinner bell sounded, and this being too every reason to believe, he would be an accepted important a summons to be lightly treated by the suitor. There was no time, however, amid such two old ladies arrived at that time of life, when agitation, to dwell upon the thought-Besides, she the breakfast, dinner, and supper hours, form the cared not what would be his feelings, or what might three grand eras in the daily monotony of their become of him-his very name had become abhor-existence, they abruptly arose and rustled off in rent to her; for the delusion, created by her vanity, their snuff-colored silks, to partake of the cheer of being at once, and entirely dispelled, urged her, the Captain's well-plenished board, leaving the conregardless of every consideration, to seek to be versation in this mutilated condition. reinstated in the affections she had too lightly esti- Florence, Georgia. mated. To obtain an interview with Braithwaite, that she might win him back with her smiles, as she had often done before, was the point she aimed at; for strange as it may appear, it was only now that she became sensible that his visits to her had ceased. Remembering that he sometimes borrowed newspapers, and as one was just then thrown in, she determined to make it the ostensible reason of penning him a note. As she raised it from the floor, a paragraph caught her eye-she read-it was the marriage of Reginald Braithwaite and Hortensia Hurst! The paper fell from her hand.

The Wards and Nancy Broadhorn, from the closest friends, became the most inveterate enemies. She never forgot the arts they had used to detach her from Braithwaite, and they never forgave her coquetry with their cousin Alfred; for, true to her

"I do not know," answered Mrs. Mustin, taking a seat nearer her friend," but I will tell you what my opinion is-I once thought Nancy was quite struck with him, but—”

THE WHITE AND THE RED MAN.

BY J. K. PAULDING.

The white man toils from day to day,
And sweats his weary life away,
To leave his children great estates,
Or pamper wants that wealth creates,
Which, when supplied, engender more,
Just as one leech begets a score.

The Red man roves the forest wide,
Where all his wants are cheap suppli'd,
And in cool shades, sunshine, or breeze,
Dozes away a life of ease,

Unburthen'd by dull care or sorrow,
And reckless of the coming morrow.

We will now attempt to show what Mr. Dickens does not appear to have discovered: that this general courtesy is one of the prominent and necessary results of our political organization.

and rank, we have not thought, that in compensation for our illustration. In opposition to these national offences, and hospitality he was bound to go through the country, eulogiz-against the curiosity of the boys, desirous of seeing the ing and bepraising every thing he saw; we should have re-creator of their familiar friend Nicholas Nickleby, Smike, garded him as offering an insult to our self-respect had he and little Nell, we place the unequivocal testimony he gives done so. We can allow for those of another country and us, that his own countrymen are the most rude, disgusting familiar with other institutions, if they find it difficult to and impertinent of fellow-travellers; that, despite the false violate the instinct of human nature, the force of education assertions of preceding writers, we eat at our public tables and the promptings of that happy prejudice which inclines with more leisure and courtesy, than he experienced under us to prefer the defects of home to the perfections of other similar circumstances at home; but above all, that, remarkplaces, and cannot at once exalt the unaccustomed manners able politeness and urbanity pervades our republic, renderof our country, once the familiar ones of their own. We ing even custom-house officers civil and gentlemanly. know that men, accustomed to the use of bad wine, learn to prefer its flavor to the most delicate bouquet of good, and hence we can, very good naturedly allow Mr. Dickens, to pity us because New York does not afford idle population and vagabonds enough to encourage a “ Punch and Judy," Harlequin and "hand organ" in every thoroughfare, according to the established usage of the good city of London. Finally, we are not one of those who care what Dickens, or any other foreigner "thinks of us;” nor do we suppose that his opinion will have aught to do with our national destinies. With such feelings, and from having had some observation in England ourselves, we enter upon a consideration of his American notes: premising, that upon this subject of slavery, we shall say nothing; because, upon this question, we should both draw the sword and throw away the scabbard, without any beneficial result. It is a subject respecting which, he knows nothing, and we cannot receive his fancies for facts; moreover, he is not, individually, responsible for his sentiments, they belong to every Englishman, from the chained naked wretches of the coal mines, and work-worn, white factory slaves, to the sovereign, who, not personally, but whose pageantry, crushes down the whole nation.

In England, where men, by fixed institutions, are paled into distinct classes, one class is foreign, if not hostile to the other, and they have no sympathies in common. When, by any chance they come to be promiscuously thrown together, any one who belongs to the elevated, privileged orders, so far from feeling it a duty to render himself agreeable to his fellows, dreads the contamination of familiarity with those, who, perchance, may be beneath him, and wraps himself in haughty, if not surly reserve. Coldness and even brusquerie of manner may thus mark the intercourse of equals brought into accidental association, one being ig norant of the claims of the other. Those who are conscious of inferiority, when they feel their position to be unknown, attempt to assert a temporary importance by a disgusting affectation, and overacting of arrogance and impertinence. The claims of the female sex have no soothing influence upon this social state of porcupine irritation, as we think it may justly be termed; for whatever the gentleman by birth may yield to the lady known as such, he does not acknowledge as the general right of woman. From these powerful influences, the promiscuous association of men in English conveyances, is marked by any thing else than the courtesy which is every where to be found in our republican omnibus cars, and dirty, ricketty stage coaches. We will now endeavor to assign the reasons for our greater national polite

In this work, we see a young and ardent Englishman, with a sensitive and benevolent heart, and a fancy, which, with balloon-like expansibility, inflates itself by vaporizing the smallest fact, and gives itself to the wildest and most rapid wanderings. We see him with honest intentions, endeavoring to discover all the good he possibly can, through a thick obscuration of national prejudice, to write with the decorum due to his new friends; to condemn his own coun-ness. try no farther than it condemns itself, and by some harmless The highest rank known in our social relations, being and caricature exaggerations of minor points, to mingle that of gentlemen, and this being defined by no law, nor mirth and humor with his shreds of truth, sentiment and limited to any occupation, every individual in the republic philosophy, and thus produce as honest a book as would be feels that he has some claim to the character, and aspires, consistent with marketable qualities. Dickens' great talent in some degree, to the manners by which it is distinguished. consisted in his powers of individual description,-of emo- His circumstances and position may prevent him from actions-persons or localities, and its charm arises from the quiring all the arbitrary rules of conventional etiquette, but many harmonious and consistent circumstances, or judi- that courtesy which all know to be essential to the characciously contracted incongruities by which he surrounds and ter of the gentleman, spontaneously prompts a corresponddevelopes the smallest nucleus of truth, and forces it upon ing manner; and hence, an American mechanic or laborer, our interests and sympathies. In the proof of this, we re- astonishes the English gentleman, by relinquishing a choice fer to his descriptions in the present work; they are pre-seat in a stage coach to any casual female passenger. The cisely similar to those of his previous fictions and possess American citizen does not fear a descent from his station all their interest. His description of the ship and of the horrors of sea-sickness, in the second chapter, almost made the chair reel under us, and quite made remembered miseries a present reality. See also his description of the reflections and sensations of a prisoner in solitary confinemeat in chapter seventh; but to make it really true, you must suppose Charles Dickens, with all his sensibility and talents, the prisoner.

It is impossible that such a writer can be really truthful, however great his determination to be so; truth may be his purpose, but imagination involuntarily touches the point of his pen.

by social converse with his casual fellow-passenger, and none have reason to conceal their true position by an assumption of arrogant and rude superiority. A polite and courteous manner, not one of forms and ceremonies, thus becomes a national characteristic; it is one of the glorious results of our republican institutions, and should teach us to regard the instructions of those institutions, rather than the lessons of every foreigner who assumes to correct and improve our manners.

Mr. Dickens reiterates the ridicule of preceding English writers respecting our disposition to inquire concerning the business, dwelling place, and destination of our fellow In common with all other English travellers, he discovers travellers, and to be equally communicative respecting saliva and tobacco to be the great abominations of our land. our own affairs. Although it be sometimes annoying, it We have no disposition to deny or to defend these peculiari- may be well before we determine upon correcting this cha ties, but we are inclined to think that the feathery shower racteristic, to inquire, whether the national peculiarities in of saliva flowing from the car-windows, was merely a " Boz" which it originates, can be advantageously changed for those