its four legs up in the air: she loved it as herself: see the collar that she worked for it with her own hands.' I bent to look at it. It was of red leather, ornamented with little bells, and she had embroidered on it in gold thread-Robin belongs to Amelia de Belmont; she loves him, and begs that he may be restored to her.' "What will she think of the barbarian who killed him in a fit of passion-the vice that she most detests? She is right; it has been fatal to her. Yet if he should be only stunned by the blow: Catherine! run, ask for some æther, or Eau de Vie, or hartshorn,-run, Catherine, run!' "Catherine set off; I tried to make it open its mouth; -my rose-bud was still between its hermetically-sealed teeth; perhaps the collar pressed it; in fact, the throat was swelled. I got it off with difficulty; something fell from it at my feet, which I mechanically took up and put into my pocket without looking at, so much was I absorbed in anxiety for the resuscitation. I rubbed him with all my strength; I grew more and more impatient for the return of Catherine. She came with a small phial in her hand, calling out in her usual manner, Here, sir, here's the medicine. I never opened my mouth about it to Mademoiselle Amelia; I pity her enough without that.' "What is all this, Catherine? where have you seen Mademoiselle Amelia? and what is her affliction, if she does not know of her favourite's death? O, sir, this is a terrible day for the poor young lady. She was at the end of the street searching for a ring which she had lost, and it was no trifle, but the ring that her dead father had got as a present from the emperor, and worth, they say, more ducats than I have hairs on my head. Her mother lent it to her to-day for the party; she has lost it, she knows neither how nor where, and never missed it till she drew off her glove at supper. And, poor soul! the glove was on again in a minute, for fear it should be seen that the ring was wanting, and she slipped out to search for it all along the street, but has found nothing.' "It struck me, that the substance that had fallen from the sheep's collar had the form of a ring-could it possibly be looked at it; and, judge of my joy!-it was Madame de Belmont's ring, and really very beautiful and costly. A secret presentiment whispered to me that this was a better means of presentation than the rosetree. I pressed the precious ring to my heart, and to my lips; assured myself that the sheep was really dead; and, leaving him stretched near the devastated rosetrees, I ran into the street, dismissed those who were seeking in vain, and stationed myself at my door to await the return of my neighbours. I saw from a distance the flambeau that preceded them, quickly distinguished their voices, and comprehended by them that Amelia had confessed her misfortune. The mother scolded bitterly; the daughter wept, and said, 'Perhaps it may be found.' "O yes, perhaps,'-replied the mother with irritation, it is too rich a prize to him who finds it; the emperor gave it to your deceased father on the field when he saved his life; he set more value on it than on all that he possessed besides, and now you have thus flung it away; but the fault is mine for having trusted you with it. For some time back you have seemed quite bewildered.' I heard all this as I followed at some paces behind them. They reached home; and I had the cruelty to prolong, for some moments more, Amelia's mortification. I intended that the treasure should procure me the entrée of their dwelling, and I waited till they had got up stairs. I then had myself announced as the bearer of good news; I was introduced, and respectfully presented the ring to Madame de Belmont; and how delighted seemed Amelia! and how beautifully she brightened in her joy, not alone that the ring was found, but that I was the finder! She cast herself on her mother's bosom, and turning on me her eyes, humid with tears, though beaming with pleasure, she clasped her hands, exclaiming, Ŏ, sir, what obligation, what gratitude do we not owe to you!' "Ah, Mademoiselle!' returned I, 'you know not to whom you address the term gratitude.' To one who has conferred on me a great pleasure,' said she. To one who has caused you a serious pain-to the killer of Robin.' "You, sir?—I cannot credit it. Why should you do so? you are not so cruel.' "No, but I am so unfortunate. It was in opening his collar, which I have also brought to you, that your ring fell on the ground. You promised a great recompense to him who should find it; I dare to solicit that recompense; grant me my pardon for Robin's death.' "And I, sir, I thank you for it,' exclaimed the mother. 'I never could endure that animal; it took up Amelia's entire time, and wearied me out of all patience with its bleating. If you had not killed it, heaven knows where it might have carried my diamond. But how did it get entangled in the collar? Amelia, pray explain all this.' "Amelia's heart was agitated; she was as much grieved that it was I who had killed Robin, as that he was dead. Poor Robin!' said she, drying a tear, he was rather too fond of running out; before leaving home I had put on his collar, that he might not be lost-he had always been brought back to me. The ring must have slipped under his collar. I hastily drew on my glove, and never missed it till I was at supper.' "What good luck it was that he went straight to this gentleman's!' observed the mother. "Yes-for you,' said Amelia; he was cruelly received. Was it such a crime, sir, to enter your door?' "It was night,' I replied; I could not distinguish the collar, and I learned, when too late, that the animal belonged to you.' "Thank heaven, then, you did not know it!' cried the mother, or where would have been my ring?' "It is necessary at least,' said Amelia, with emotion, that I should know how my favourite could have so cruelly chagrined you.' "O, Mademoiselle, he had devoured my hope, my happiness, a superb rose-tree about to blow, that I had been long watching, and intended to present-to-toa person on New Year's-day.' Amelia smiled, blushed, extended her lovely hand towards me, and murmured— All is pardoned. If it had eaten up a rose-tree about to blow,' cried out Madame de Belinont, it deserved a thousand deaths. I would give twenty sheep for a rose-tree in blow.' 'And I am much mistaken,' said Amelia, with the sweetest naïveté, if this very rose-tree was not intended for you.' For me! You have lost your senses, child; I have not the honour of knowing the gentleman.' 'But he knows your fondness for roses; I mentioned it one day before him, the only time I ever met him, at Madame de S.'s. Is it not true, sir, that my unfortunate favourite had eaten up my mother's rose-tree?' I acknowledged it, and related the course of education of my fifty rose-trees. "Madame de Belmont laughed heartily, and said, she owed me a double obligation.' 'Mademoiselle Amelia has given me my recompense for the diamond,' said I to her; I claim yours also, madame.' 'Ask, sir.-' " Permission to pay my respects sometimes to you !' Granted,' replied she, gaily. I kissed her hand respectfully, that of her daughter tenderly, and withdrew. But I returned the next day-and every day: I was received with a kindness that each visit increased: I was looked on as one of the family. It was I who now gave my arm to Madame de Belmont to conduct her to the evening parties; she presented me as her friend, and they were no longer dull to her daughter. New Year's day arrived. I had gone the evening before to a sheepfold in the vicinity to purchase a lamb similar to that I had killed. I collected from the different hothouses all the flowering_rose-trees I could find; the finest of them was for Madame de Belmont; and the roses of the others were wreathed in a garland round the fleecy neck of the lamb. In the evening I went to my neighbours with my presents. Robin and the rose-tree are restored to life,' said I, in offering my homage, which was received with sensibility and gratefulness. с I also should like to give you a New Year's gift,' said Madame de Belmont to me, if I but knew what you would best like.' 'What I best like! Ah, if 6 6 I only dared to tell you.' If it should chance now to be my daughter I fell at her feet, and so did Amelia. Well,' said the kind parent, there then is your New Year's gift ready found: Amelia gives you her heart, and I give you her hand.' She took the rose wreath from off the lamb, and twined it round our united hands. And my Amelia," continued the old professor, as he finished his anecdote, passing an arm round his companion as she sat beside him, "my Amelia is still to my eyes as beautiful, and to my heart as dear, as on the day when our hands were bound together with a chain of flowers." New Monthly Magazine. THE KITTEN. WANTON droll, whose harmless play And maid, whose cheek outblooms the rose, Come, show thy tricks and sportive graces, Now, wheeling round, with bootless skill, |