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left a country, I long to see again-a wife, and two lovely babes, whom, rather than be absent from, I could die :-show me, therefore, how that longing can be gratified-that absence shortenedand I will be grateful."

"Will you take sheep for my purchases ?" "Yes!" May a friend of mine, on my account, supply you at market price, with beef, for your establishment ?" Yes: I see no objection.' "Well, a bargain's struck-tip me your daddle-good night! On the evening of Monday next, all that I've had from you" (for by this time the rum and brandy casks had been filled, and, together with the tobacco box, sugar, and tea, deposited in a Clarence Plains curricle,"-" all that there property shall be paid for-good night my covey!" So saying, the customer untethered a baldfaced brood mare, from a gum stump, around which she had browsed, so far as a bullock-hide rope had permitted her, and carolling a line or two of

""Tis my delight, on a moonlight night,
At the season of the year,"

he cantered away, to overtake his cart.

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Mr. S immediately after threw himself on a stringy-bark sofa, covered with an ordinary wool mattrass, which was simply enveloped by a kangaroo rug. He strove to repose, but could not. He had indulged, by chance, in an extra glass, and the excessive stimulation thereby indured, accompanied by the peculiar discourse of the evening, had "murdered sleep." He knew not that he was criminal, but he, at intervals, felt a most unwelcome sensation, of having been acting imprudently; and day-light lingeringly dawned upon his closeless eyes, without administering solace, for the by-gone conversational inadvertence.

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I have made," said the unfortunate man, a pledge, to do what my heart forbodes, has some fatal mystery connected with it. I know not why, but, strange, and indefinable apprehensions disturb me. Can they be the horrors, produced by drinking?-yes, yes, they must be so, and they will form, throughout life, an appalling monitor against intoxication." But, alas, the victim settler's inference was erroneous-what he felt was prophecy, soon, too soon, with shrieking agony, to be fulfilled!

On the following Sunday morning, beneath the deep and graceful foliage of a superb cherry tree, in a small ravine, near the Large Lagoon, sometimes the scene of at least, plunder, and suspected to have more than once afforded shelter to a murderer, just as darkness rolled away from the rising sun, and the bronze-winged wood pigeon began its matin offering of gratitude, to the God of nature, sat, or rather crouched, three men, in the wild costume of kangaroo hunters, while, around them, basking before the remains of a considerable fire, were five or six dogs, partaking of the mastiff, and the greyhound. "I tell you what my mind is," said one of the

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men to his companions, Iwe all owe that dd new chum, S- —, a b———y sight of blunt, and he threatens to sue me for payment of mine-now what hinders us from

"Putting him aside! you mean," exclaimed a gruff-voiced, surly looking fellow; whilst a wreathe of blue smoke rapidly ascended from the embers, as if unwilling to remain in the precincts of such horrible depravity. "I'll help," cried the third fellow, "for if Abbott should decide against me, I should be completely cleaned out-and the old woman, and her kids, be homeless! I say, again, I'll help!" so saying, he pulled from his large furred knapsack a large clasp knife, and swearing on its gleaming blade, “to never split!" he passed it to his confederates, who performed the same prophanation of solemnity.

(To be concluded in our next.)

T.

YOUNG AND OLD MAIDENS.

No young lady can retain her lovers long, if she uses them well; she who would have her adorer's as faithful as a dog, must beat them like one. But when middle-aged ladies have exceeded forty, and middle-aged gentlemen have travelled beyond fifty, the case assumes a different complexion; the softer sex is then allowed, and indeed, necessitated, to throw off a little of that cruelty which is so decidedly killing at eighteen: accordingly, it may be observed, that women make their advances, as Time makes his. At twenty, when a swain approaches to pay his devoirs, they exclaim with an air of languid indifference, "Who is he?"-At thirty, with a prudent look toward the ways and means, the question is, "What is he?" -At forty, much anxiety manifests itself into-"Which is he?"— But at the ultima thule of fifty, the expecting fair proposes to spring upon any prey, and exclaims-" Where is he?"

S.

THE REAL HISTORY OF JEANIE DEANS.

It is no longer doubted or denied, that Helen Walker, of the parish of Irongray, in the neighbourhood of Dumfries, was the pro

totype of the heroine who, under the fictitious name of Jeanie Deans, figures so conspicuously in the Heart of Mid-Lothian.' Her history, however humble, was, in some respects, eventful, and when stripped of all adventitious ornament, may be given very briefly, though few readers require to be informed that it has been expanded into an interesting and somewhat bulky novel, by the fertile genius of Sir Walter Scott. From whence her parents came is not known, but it is generally believed that they were what are called "incomers" into the parish of Irongray, and were in no way connected with the Walkers, of Clouden, a race, alike distinguished for respectability and longevity, and who have flourished, time out of mind, upon the fertile and pleasant banks of the Cairn. Her father appears to have been a labouring man; and at his death, his widow, who was then well stricken in years, became dependent for support on the industry of her daughters, Nelly and Tibby Walker. But this,the former was far from viewing in the light of a hardship-she who was so rich in sisterly, could not be deficient in filial affection; and I have been informed by Elizabeth Grierson, housekeeper to Mr. Stott, optician, of Dumfries, who, when a "lassie," knew Helen well, that though sometimes constrained to dine on dry bread and water, rather than pinch her poor old mother, she consoled herself with the idea, that a blessing flowed from her virtuous abstinence, and that "she was as clear in the complexion, and looked as like her meat and work, as the best of them." The respectable female just named, who has herself passed the boundary line of three-scoreand-ten, resided in her youth at a place called Dalwhairn, in Irongray, where her father cultivated a small farm. Helen Walker, at this time, that is at least "sixty years since," was much as the phrase goes, about her father's house; nursed her mother during her confinement, and even acted as the leading gossip at all the christenings; was respected as a conscientious auxiliary in harvest, and uniformly invited to share the good things of rural life, when the mart happened to be killed, or a melder of corn was brought from the mill. Her conversational powers were of a high order, considering her humble situation in life; her language most correct, ornate, and pointed; her deportment sedate, and dignified in the extreme. Many of the neighbours regarded her as "a little pensy body," that is, conceited, or proud: but, at the same time, they bore willing testimony to her exemplary conduct, and unwearied attendance on the duties of religion. Wet or dry she appeared regularly at the parish church, and even when at home,delighted in searching the Scriptures daily. On a small round table the "big ha Bible" usually lay open, and though "household affairs would often call her hence," it was observed by her visitors, that when she lacked leisure to read continuously, she sometimes glanced at a single verse, and then appeared to ponder the subject deeply. A thunder-storm, which appals most females, had on her quite an opposite effect. While the elemental war continued, it was her custom to repair to the door of her cottage, the knitting-gear in her

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hand, and well-coned Bible open before her; and when questioned on the subject by her wondering neighbours, she replied, “ That she was not afraid of thunder; and that the Almighty, if such were his divine pleasure, could smite in the city as well as in the field.” When out-door labour could not be procured, she supported herself by footing stockings-an operation, which bears the same relation to the hosier's craft that the cobler's does to the shoemaker's. It has been reported, too, that she sometimes taught children to read; but as no one about Clouden remembers this fact, I am inclined to regard it as somewhat apocryphal. Helen, though a woman of small stature, had been rather well-favoured in her youth. On one occasion she told Elizabeth Grierson, that she should not do as she had done, but "winnow the corn when the wind blew in the barndoor." By this, she meant, that she should not hold her head too high, by rejecting the offer of a husband, when it came in her way; and when joked on the subject of matrimony herself, she confessed, though reluctantly, that she once had a sweetheart-a youth she esteemed, and by whom she imagined she was respected in turn; that her lover, at a fair time, overtook her on horseback, and that when she asked if he would take her up, answered gaily “That I will, Helen, if ye can ride an inch behind the tail." The levity of this answer offended her greatly, and from that moment she cast the recreant from her heart, and never, as she confessed, loved again. I regret that I am unable to fix the exact date of the principal incident in Helen Walker's life. I believe, however, that it occurred a few years previous to the more lenient law anent child murder, which was passed in 1736. At this time her sister Tibby, who was considerably younger, and a comely girl, resided in the same cottage; and it is not improbable that their father, a worthy man, was also alive. Isabella was courted by a youth of the name of Waugh, who had the character of being rather wild, fell a victim to his snares, and became enceinte, though she obstinately denied the fact to the last. The neighbours, however, suspected that a child had been born, and repeatedly urged her to confess her fault. But she was deaf to their entreaties, and denied all knowledge of a dead infant, which was found shortly after in the Cairn, at Clouden. The cir cumstance was soon bruited abroad, and by the directions of the Rev. Mr. Guthrie, of Irongray, the suspected person, and corpus delicti, were carried before the authorities for examination. The unnatural mother was committed to prison, and confined in what was called the “ thief's hole,” in the old jail of Dumfries—a grated room on the ground floor, whither her seducer sometimes repaired, and conversed with her through the grating. When the day of trial arrived, Helen was told that "a single word of her mouth would save her sister, and that she would have time to repent afterwards ;" but, trying as was the ordeal, harrassing the alternative, nothing could shake her noble fortitude, her endearing and virtuous resolution. Sleep for nights fled from her pillow; most fervently she prayed for help and succour in the time of need; often she wept,

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till the tears refused to flow, and her heart seemed too large for her body; but still, no argument, however subtle-no entreaties, however agonizing-could induce her to offend her Maker, by swerving from the truth. Her sister was tried, condemned, and sentenced to be executed at the termination of the usual period of six weeks. The result is well known, and is truly, as well as powerfully, set forth in the novel. Immediately after the conviction, Helen Walker borrowed a sum of money, procured one or more letters of recommendation, and without any other guide than the public road, began to wend her way to the city of London-a journey, which was then considered more formidable than a voyage to America is at the present day. Over her best attire she threw a plaid and hood, walked barefooted the whole way, and completed the distance in fourteen days. Though her feet were sorely blistered," her whole frame exhausted, and her spirits sadly jaded, she found it impossible to rest until she had inquired her way to the residence of John, Duke of Argyle. As she arrived at the door, his grace was just about to step into his carriage; and, as the moment was too critical to be lost, the heroic pilgrim presented her petition, fell upon her knees, and urged its prayer with a degree of earnestness, and natural eloquence, that more than realised the well-known saying of "snatching a grace beyond the reach of art." Here, again, the result is well known; a pardon was procured, and despatched to Scotland; and the pilgrim, after her purse had been replenished, returned home, gladdened and supported by the consoling thought that she had done her duty without violating her conscience. Touching this great chapter in her history, she was always remarkably shy and reserved; but there is one person still alive, who has heard her say, that it was through the Almighty's strength," that she was enabled to meet the duke at the most critical moment-a moment, which, if lost, never might have been recalled in time to save her sister's life. Tibby Walker, from the stain cast on her good name, retired to England, and afterwards became united to the man that had wronged her, and with whom, as is believed, she lived happily for the greater part of half a century. Her sister resumed her quiet rural employments, and, after a life of unsullied integrity, died in November or December, 1791, at the age of nearly fourscore. My respectable friend, Mr. Walker, found her residing as a cottier on the farm at Clouden, when he entered it, upwards of forty years ago, was exceedingly kind to her when she became frail, and even laid her head in the grave. Up to the period of her last illness, she corresponded regularly with her sister, and received every year from her a cheese and 66 a pepper cake," portions of which she took great pleasure in presenting to her friends and neighbours. The exact spot in which she was interred, was lately pointed out in Irongray churchyard, a romantic cemetry on the banks of the Cairn; and though, as a country-woman said, there was nothing to distinguish it "but a stane ta'en aff the dyke," Sir Walter Scott has since erected a suitable monument to her memory, which, in connexion with the

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