Messrs. Titmouse and Gammon were walking arm-inarm down Oxford street, on their return from some livery stables, where they had been looking at a horse which Titmouse was thinking of purchasing, when an incident occurred which ruffled him not a little. He had been recognised and publicly accosted by a vulgar fellow, with a yard-measure in his hand, and a large parcel of drapery under his arm-in fact, by our old friend Mr. Huckaback. In vain did Mr. Titmouse affect, for some time, not to see his old acquaintance, and to be earnestly engaged in conversation with Mr. Gammon. "Ab, Titty !—Titmouse! Well, Mister Titmousehow are you?—Devilish long time since we met!" Titmouse directed a look at him that he wished could have blighted him, and quickened his pace without taking any farther notice of the presumptuous intruder. Huckaback's blood was up, however,-roused by this ungrateful and insolent treatment from one who had been under such great obligations to him; and quickening his pace, also, he kept alongside with Titmouse. the eccentric airs of his magnificent kinsman. Now, I sion to the earldom of Dreddlington and barony of Drewas it not a hard thing for the earl to bear-namely, the lincourt, with the large family estates annexed thereto. prospect there was that his barony and estates might de- We believe this is the oldest barony in the kingdom. It volve upon this same Aubrey, or his issue? for Lady must be a source of great gratification to the present earl Cecilia, alas! enjoyed but precarious health, and her to know that his probable successor professes the same chances of marrying seemed daily diminishing. This liberal and enlightened political opinions, of which his was a thorn in the poor earl's flesh; a source of constant lordship has, during his long and distinguished political worry to him, sleeping and waking: and proud as he life, been so able and consistent a supporter." was, and with such good reason, he would have gone The Earl of Dreddlington was slightly flustered on down on his knees and prayed to heaven to avert so dire-reading the above paragraph. He perused it several ful a calamity-to see his daughter married. times with increasing satisfaction. The time had at Such being the relative position of Mr. Aubrey and|length arrived for him to take decisive steps; nay, duty the Earl of Dreddlington at the time when this history to his newly-discovered kinsman required it. opens, it is easy for the reader to imagine the lively interest with which the earl first heard of the tidings that a stranger had set up a title to the whole of the Yatton estates; and the silent but profound anxiety with which he continued to regard the progress of the affair. He obtained, from time to time, by means of confidential enquiries instituted by his solicitor, a general notion of the nature of the new claimant's pretensions; but, with a due degree of delicacy towards his unfortunate kinsman, he studiously concealed the interest he felt in so important a family question as the succession to the Yatton property. The earl and his daughter were exceedingly anxious to see the claimant; and when he heard that that claimant was a gentleman of "decided whig principles"-the earl was very near setting it down as a sort of special interference of Providence in his favour; and one that, in the natural order of things, would lead to the accomplishment of the other wishes of the earl. Who knew but that, before a twelvemonth had passed over, the two branches of the family might not be in a fair way of being re-united-and thus, amongst other ineidents, invest the earl with the virtual patronage of the borough of Yatton, and, in the event of their return to power, strengthen his claim upon his party for his long coveted marquisate? Urgent business had carried him "Fellow!" at length exclaimed Titmouse indignantly, to the continent a few days before the trial of the eject-Pon my life I'll give you in charge if you go on so! ment at York; and he did not return till a day or two Be off, you low fellow!" "Dem vulgar brute!" he subafter the Court of King's Bench had solemnly declared joined in a lower tone, bursting into perspiration, for he the validity of the plaintiff's title to the Yatton property, had not forgotten the insolent pertinacity of Huckaback's and consequently established his right of succession to disposition. the barony of Drelincourt. Of this event a lengthened account was given in one of the Yorkshire papers which fell under the earl's eye the day after his arrival from abroad; and to the report of the decision of the question of law, was appended the following paragraph: "Will any one get a constable?" inquired Titmouse, "In consequence of the above decision, Mr. Aubrey, who had grown as white as death. The little crowd we are able to state on the best authority, has given for-that was collecting round them began to suspect, from mal notice of his intention to surrender the entire of the Yatton property without further litigation; thus making the promptest amends in his power to those whom he "Oh, go, get a constable! Nothing I should like bethas-we cannot doubt unwittingly-injured. He has Ah, very fine gentleman-what's the time of day, also accepted the Chiltern Hundreds, and has conse- when chaps like you are wound up so high?" quently retired from parliament; so that the borough of Gammon's interference was in vain. Huckaback got Yatton is now vacant. We sincerely hope that the new more abusive and noisy; no constable was at hand; so, proprietor of Yatton will either himself sit for the bo- to escape the intolerable interruption and nuisance, he rough, and announce immediately his intention of doing beckoned a coach off the stand, which was close by; so, or give his prompt and decisive support to some gen- and, Titmouse and he stepping into it, they were soon tleman of decided whig principles. We say prompt-out of sight and hearing of Mr. Huckaback. Having for the enemy is vigilant and crafty. Men of Yatton! to the rescue! ! !-Mr. Titmouse is now, we believe, in London. This fortunate gentleman is not only now in possession of the fine property at Yatton, with an unincumbered rent-roll of from twelve to fifteen thousand a year, and a vast accumulation of rents to be handed over by the late possessor, but is now next but one in sucees-down in the corner” : "Ah," continued Huckaback, "why do you cut me in this way, Titty? You aren't ashamed of me, surely? Many's the time you've tramped up and down Oxford street with your bundle and yard-measure" My eyes! Give me in charge? Come, I like that, rather-You vagabond! Pay me what you owe me ! You're a swindler! You owe me fifty pounds, you do! You sent a man to rob me!" Titmouse's agitated appearance, that there must be some foundation for the charges made against him. ter! taken a shilling drive, they alighted, and walked towards Covent Garden. As they approached the hotel, they observed a yellow chariot, at once elegant and somewhat old fashioned, rolling away from the door. "I wonder who that is," said Gammon; "it's an earl's coronet on the panel; and an old gentleman was sitting "Ah-it's no doubt a fine thing to be a lord, and all that but I'll answer for it, some of 'em's as poor as a church mouse," replied Titmouse as they entered the hotel. At that moment the waiter, with a most profound bow, presented him with a letter and a card, which had only the moment before been left for him. The card was THE EARL OF DREDDLINGTON'S, "Mr. Titmouse begs to present his compliments to the Earl of Dreddlington, and to express the high sense he entertains of the kind consideration evinced by his lordship in his call and note of to-day. "One of the most gratifying circumstances connected with Mr. Titmouse's recent success, is the distinguished alliance which his lordship has been so prompt and courteous in recognising. Mr. Titmouse will feel the greatest pleasure in availing himself of the Earl of Dred and there was written on it, in pencil, in rather a feeble dlington's invitation to dinner for Monday next. "My stars, Mr. Gammon!" exclaimed Titmouse excitedly, addressing Mr. Gammon, who also seemed greatly interested by the occurrence. They both repaired to a vacant table at the extremity of the room; and Titmouse, with not a little trepidation, hastily breaking a large seal which contained the earl's family arms, with their crowded quarterings and grim supporters-better appreciated by Gammon, however, than by Titmouse-opened the ample envelope, and, unfolding its thick gilt-edged enclosure, read as follows: "The Earl of Dreddlington has the honour of waiting upon Mr. Titmouse, in whom he is very happy to have, so unexpectedly, discovered so near a kinsman. On the event which has brought this to pass, the earl congratulates himself not less than Mr. Titmouse, and hopes for the earliest opportunity of a personal introduction. "The earl leaves town to-day, and will not return till Monday next, on which day he begs the favour of Mr. Titmouse's company to dinner. He may depend upon its being strictly a family re-union; the only person present, besides Mr. Titmouse and the earl, being the Lady Cecilia. "Grosvenor Square, 66 Thursday. "The Right Honble. the Earl of Dreddlington, &c. &c." Gammon, as the waiter brought him a lighted taper. "Have you a Peerage' here, waiter?" inquired Debrett was shortly laid before him; and, turning to the already laid before the reader. name of Dreddlington, he read over what has been Cecilia-here she is his daughter-I thought as "Humph- Lady much, I see!" This was what passed through his mind, as having left Titmouse, who set off to deposit a he made his way towards the delectable regions in which card and the above "Answer" at Lord Dreddlington'stheir office was situated-Saffron Hill.--" "Tis curious tinued Gammon to himself-amusing-interesting, to observe his progress"-con 66 Tag-rag-and his daughter, "Quirk-and his daughter, "The Earl of Dreddlington-and his daughter. How many more? Happy! happy! happy Titmouse!" The sun that was rising upon Titmouse was setting upon the Aubreys. Dear, delightful-now too dear, now too delightful-Yatton! the shades of evening are descending upon thee, and thy virtuous but afflicted occupants, who, early on the morrow, quit thee for ever. Approach silently yon conservatory. Behold in the midst of it the dark slight figure of a lady, solitary, motionless, in melancholy attitude-her hands clasped before her; it is Miss Aubrey. Her face is beautiful, but grief is in her eye; and her bosom heaves with sighs, which, gentle as they are, are yet the only sounds audible. Yes, that is the sweet and once joyous Kate Aubrey! As soon as Titmouse had read the above, still holding it in his hand, he gazed at Gammon with mute apprehension and delight. Of the existence, indeed, of the magnificent personage who had just introduced himself, Titmouse had certainly heard, from time to time, since the commencement of the proceedings which had just been so successfully terminated. He had seen it, to be "Twas she, indeed; and this was her last visit to her sure; but, as a sort of remote splendour, like that of conservatory. Many rare, delicate, and beautiful flowers a fixed star which gleamed brightly, but at too vast a were there; the air was laden with the fragrant odours distance to have any sensible influence, or even to arrest which they exhaled, as it were in sighs, on account of his attention. After a little while, Titmouse began to the dreaded departure of their lovely mistress. At length chatter very volubly; but Gammon, after reading over she stooped down, and in stooping, a tear fell right upon the note once or twice, seemed not much inclined for the small sprig of geranium which she gently detached conversation; and, had Titmouse been accustomed to from its stem, and placed in her bosom. "Sweet flowers," observation, he might have gathered, from the eye and thought she, "who will tend you as I have tended you, brow of Gammon, that that gentleman's mind was very when I am gone? Why do you look now more beautideeply occupied by some matter or other, probably sug-ful than ever you did before?" Her eye fell upon the gested by the incident which had just taken place. Tit- spot on which, till the day before, had stood her aviary. mouse, by and by, called for pens, ink, and paper-" the Poor Kate had sent it, as a present, to Lady De la Zouch, very best gilt-edged paper, mind,"-and prepared to re-and it was then at Fotheringham Castle. What a flutter ply to Lord Dreddlington's note. Gammon, however, there used to be among the beautiful little creatures when who knew the peculiarities of his friend's style of cor- they perceived Kate's approach! She turned her head respondence, suggested that he should draw up, and away. She felt oppressed, and attributed it to the closeTitmouse copy the following note. This was presently done; but when Gammon observed how thickly studded it was with capital letters, the numerous flourishes with which it was garnished, and its more than questionable orthography, he prevailed on Titmouse, after some little difficulty, to allow him to transcribe the note which was to be sent to Lord Dreddlington. Here it is. MUSEUM. SEPT. 1840. ness of the conservatory-the strength of the odours given out by the numerous flowers; but it was sorrow that oppressed her; and she was in a state at once of mental excitement and physical exhaustion. The last few weeks had been an interval of exquisite suffering. She could not be happy alone, and yet could not bear the company of her brother and her sister-in-law, nor 3 'Oh, maʼam, if you did but know how I love you! How I'd go on my knees to serve you all the rest of the days of my life." in her dressing table, and taking out a small volumeHere's the prayer-book I promised you; it is very prettily bound, and I have written your name in it, Har riet, as you desired. Take it, and keep it for my sake. Will you ?” that of their innocent children. Quitting the conservatory with a look of lingering fondness, she passed along into the house with a hurried step, and escaped, unobserved, to her chamber-the very chamber in which the reader obtained his first glimpse of her; and in which, now entering it silently and suddenly, the door being "Oh, ma'am," replied the girl bitterly, "I shall only closed, not shut, she observed her faithful little never bear to look at it, but I'll never part with it till I maid Harriet, sitting in tears before a melancholy heap die." of packages prepared for traveling on the morrow. She "Now leave me, Harriet, for a short time-I wish to rose as Miss Aubrey entered, and presently exclaimed be alone," said Miss Aubrey; and she was obeyed. passionately, bursting afresh into tears, Ma'am, I can't She presently rose and bolted the door; and then, secure leave you indeed I can't! I know all your ways; I from interruption, walked slowly to and fro for some.. won't go to any one else! I shall hate service! and I time; and a long and deep current of melancholy know they'll hate me too; for I shall cry myself to thoughts and feelings flowed through her mind and her death!" heart. She had, but a short time before, seen her sis"Come, come, Harriet, this is very foolish; nay, it is ter's sweet children put into their little beds for the last unkind to distress me in this manner at the last mo- time at Yatton; and, together with their mother, had ment." hung fondly over them, kissing and embracing themtheir little fellow-wanderers- till her feelings compelled her to leave them. One by one all the dear innumerable ties that had attached her to Yatton, and every thing connected with it, ever since her birth, had been severed and broken-ties, not only the strength, but very existence of which, she had scarce been aware of till then. She had bade-as had all of them-repeated and agonising farewells to dear and old friends. Her very beart "I know it, ma'am, I do, and that's why I can't bear within her trembled as she gazed at the objects familiar to leave you!" She sunk on her knees beside Miss to her eye, and pregnant with innumerable little softenAubrey. Oh, ma'am, if you would but let me stay ing associations, ever since her infancy. Nothing around with you! I've been trying, ever since you first told me, them now belonged to them-but to a stranger-to one to make up my mind to part with you; and, now it's who-she shuddered with disgust. She thought of the coming to the time, I can't ma'am-indeed, I can't! If fearful position in which her brother was placed-enyou did but know, ma'am, what my thoughts have been tirely at the mercy of, it might be, selfish and rapacious while I've been folding and packing up your dresses men-what indeed was to become of all of them? At here; to think that I sha'n't be with you to unpack length she threw herself into the large old easy chair them; it's very hard, ma'am, that madam's maid is to go which stood near the window, and with a fluttering with her, and I'm not to go with you." heart and hasty tremulous hand, drew an open letter "We must have made a choice, Harriet," said Miss from her bosom. She held it for some moments, as if Aubrey, with forced calmness. dreading again to peruse it but at length she unfolded it, and read "Don't talk in that way, Harriet; that's a good girl," said Miss Aubrey rather faintly, and, sinking into the chair, she buried her face in her handkerchief; "you know I've had a great deal to go through, Harriet, and am in very poor spirits." Yes, ma'am; but why did you not choose us both? Because we've both always done our best; and, as for me, you've never spoke an unkind word to me in your life" "Harriet, Harriet," said Miss Aubrey, tremulously, "I've several times explained to you that we cannot any longer afford each to have our own maid; and Mrs. Aubrey's maid is older than you, and knows how to manage children”. "What signifies affording, ma'am? Neither she nor I will ever take a shilling of wages; I'd really rather serve you for nothing, ma'am, than any other lady for a hundred pounds a-year! Oh, so happy as I've been in your service, ma'am !" she added bitterly. "Don't, Harriet-you would not, if you knew the pain you give me," said Miss Aubrey faintly. Harriet got up, poured out a glass of water, and forced her pale mistress to swallow a little, which presently revived her. "No, my own Kate! I neither can nor will forget you-nor shall you forget me. I care not about offending you in this point. Say what you like, do what you like, go whithersoever you choose-you shall never escape Geoffry Delamere. How should it be so? Why, my sweet Kate, you are become a part of my very being, and you know it; we both know it. Without my own darling Kate, the future is an utter blank to me; come, my own love, may I not hope that it is, in a measure, the same with you? Can you possibly think of or name a sacrifice I would not make for you? Kate, Kate, in the plain language of a fond and honest heart, let me tell you that I believe you love me." Here Miss Aubrey's hand dropped with the letter upon her lap, and she burst into a passionate flood of tears. After an interval of several minutes, she again took up the letter. "Because you know how I love you. And yet I sometimes doubt it-I sometimes tremble to think that Harriet," said she, "you have never once disobeyed possibly there may be other reasons than those which me, and now I am certain that you won't. I assure you you assign, for resisting not only my passionate entreathat we have made all our arrangements, and cannot ties, but those of my mother: the often-expressed and alter them. I have been very fortunate in obtaining for anxious wishes of my father, (as he himself over and you so kind a mistress as Lady Stratton. Remember, over again told your brother,) of all my family; of your Harriet, she was the oldest bosom friend of my"- family, and friends. Heavens, it alarms me to recapituMiss Aubrey's voice trembled, and she ceased speaking late in this way! Why, whom else is there, dear, dearest for a minute or two, during which she struggled against Kate, to consult? Yield, yield, to the impulse of your her feelings with momentary success. "Here's the own pure, and gentle, and generous heart, and throw to prayer-book," she presently resumed, opening a drawer the winds the absurd fancies-the doubts and fears with which you torment both yourself and me! How "Care not about their errand, love! You shall not be troubled-you shall not be persecuted." Miss Aubrey shook her head, and grasped Mrs. Aubrey's hand. They do not, they cannot persecute me. It is a cruel and harsh-and-consider how noble, how disinterested is their conduct; it is that which subdues me." Mrs. Aubrey threw her arms round her agitated sister-in-law, and tenderly kissed her forehead. "Oh, Agnes!" faltered Miss Aubrey, pressing her hand upon her heart, to relieve the intolerable oppression she suffered," would to Heaven that I had never seen— never thought of him." Don't fear that he will attempt to see you on so sad an occasion as this. Delamere is a man of the utmost delicacy and generosity." " "I know he is, I know he is," gasped Miss Aubrey. Stay, I'll tell you what to do; I'll go down and return with Lady De la Zouch: we can see her here, undisturbed and alone, for a few moments; and then, nothing painful can occur. Shall I bring her?" she inquired, rising. Miss Aubrey did not dissent; and within a very few minutes' time, Mrs. Aubrey returned accompanied by Lady De la Zouch, rather an elderly fied carriage, of an extremely mild disposition, and paswoman, her countenance still handsome; of very dignisionately fond of Miss Aubrey. Hastily drawing aside her veil as she entered the room, she stepped quickly up to Miss Aubrey, and for a few moments grasped her hands in silence. "This is very sad work, Miss Aubrey," said she at length, hurriedly glancing at the luggage lying piled up at the other end of the room. Miss Aubrey made no answer, but shook her head. "It was useless attempting it, we could not stay at home; we have risked being charged with cruel intrusion; forgive me, dearest, will you? They will not come near you!" Miss Aubrey trembled. "I feel as if I were parting with a daughter, Kate," said Lady De la Zouch with sudden emotion, "How your mamma and I loved one another!" Miss Aubrey, quite overcome by her feelings, hastily folded up the letter, replaced it whence she had taken it, and sobbed bitterly. Alas, what additional poignancy did this give to the agonies of her last evening at Yat- "For mercy's sake open the window; I feel suffoton! She had, however, become somewhat calmer by cated," faltered Miss Aubrey. Mrs. Aubrey threw up the time that she heard the door hastily, but gently tap- the window, and the cool refreshing breeze of evening ped at, and then attempted to be opened. Miss Aubrey quickly diffused itself through the apartment, and rerose and unbolted it, and Mrs. Aubrey entered, her beau-vived the drooping spirits of Miss Aubrey, who walked tiful countenance as pale and sad as that of her sister-gently to and fro about the room, supported by Lady De la in-law. She, however, was both wife and mother; and the various cares which these relations entailed upon her at a bitter moment like the present, served, in some measure, to occupy her thoughts, and prevent her from being absorbed by the heart-breaking circamstances which surrounded her. Suffering had, however, a little impaired her beauty; her cheek was very pale, and her eye and brow laden with trouble. "Kate, dear Kate," said she, rather quickly closing the door after her, "what is to be done? Did you hear carriage-wheels a few moments ago? Who do you think have arrived? As I fancied would be the case, the De la Zouches." Miss Aubrey trembled and turned pale. "You must sce-you must see-Lady De la Zouch, Kate-they have driven from Fotheringham on purpose to take a last farewell! 'Tis very painful, but what can be done? You know what dear good friends they are." "Is Lord De la Zouch come, also?" inquired Miss Aubrey, apprehensively. Zouch and Mrs. Aubrey, and soon recovered a tolerable The window in the northern tower of the castle commands a still more extensive view," said Lady De la Zouch. Miss Aubrey suddenly looked at her, and burst into tears. After standing gazing through the window for some time longer, they stepped down into the room, and were soon engaged in deep and earnest conversation. For the last three weeks Mr. Aubrey had addressed himself with calmness and energy to the painful duties which had devolved upon him, of setting his house in order. Immediately after quitting the dinner-table that day-a mere nominal meal to himself, his wife and sister-he had retired to the library, to complete the extensive and "I will not deceive you, dearest Kate, they are all important arrangements consequent upon his abandoncome; but she only is in the house: they are gone ment of Yatton; and after about an hour thus occupied, out to look for Charles, who is walking in the park." he walked out to take a solitary-a melancholy-a last Miss Aubrey gave a sudden shudder; and after evident-walk about the property. It was a moment that severely ly a violent struggle with her feelings, the colour having tried his fortitude; but that fortitude stood the trial. He entirely deserted her face, and left it of an ashy white-was a man of lively sensibilities, and appreciated, to its ness, "I cannot muster up resolution enough, Agnes," utmost extent, the melancholy and alarming change that she whispered. "I know their errand." had come over his fortunes. Surely even the bluntest and coargest feelings that ever tried to disguise and dig-gazed upon the lovely scenes familiar to him from his nify themselves under the name of STOICISM-to convert birth, and from which a few short hours were to separate into bravery and fortitude a stupid sullen insensibility-him for ever, "I do acknowledge Thy hand in what must have been not a little skaken by such scenes as Mr. hath befallen me, and Thy mercy which makes me to Aubrey had had to pass through during the last few bear it, as from Thee." The scene around him was tranweeks-scenes which I do not choose to distress the quil and beautiful-inexpressibly beautiful. He stood reader's feelings by dwelling upon in detail. Mr. Au- under the shadow of a mighty elm tree, the last of a long brey had no mean pretensions to real philosophy; but and noble avenue, which he had been pacing in deep he had still juster pretensions to an infinitely higher thought for upwards of an hour. The ground was concharacter-that of a CHRISTIAN. He had a firm unwa- siderably elevated above the level of the rest of the park. vering conviction that whatever befel him, either of No sound disturbed the serene repose of the approaching good or evil, was the ordination of the Almighty-in- evening, except the distant and gradually diminishing finitely wise, infinitely good;-and this was the source sounds issuing from an old rookery, and the faint low of his fortitude and resignation. He felt himself here bubbling of a clear streamlet that flowed not far from standing upon ground that was immovable. where he stood. Here and there, under the deepening To avert the misfortune which menaced him, he had shadows cast by the lofty trees, might be seen the glan neglected no rational and conscientious means. To re- cing forms of deer, the only live things visible. "Life," tain the advantages of fortune and station to which he said Aubrey with a sigh, as he leaned against the trunk had believed himself born, he had made the most stren- of the grand old tree under which he stood, and gazed uous exertions consistent with a rigid sense of honour. with a fond and anxious cye on the lovely scenes stretch. What, indeed, could he have done that he had not done? ing before him, to which the subdued radiance of the He had caused the claims of his opponent to be sub- departing sunlight communicated a tender pensive air; jected to as severe and skilful a scrutiny as the wit of life is, in truth, what the scriptures-what the voice of man could suggest; and they had stood the test. Those nature-represents it-a long journey, during which the claims, and his own, had been cach of them placed in traveller stops at many resting-places. Some of them the scales of justice; those scales had been held up and are more, others less beautiful; from some he parts with poised by the pure and firm hands to which the laws more, from others with less regret; but part he must, of God, and of the country, had committed the admin- and pursue his journey, though he may often turn back istration of justice: on what ground could a just and to gaze with lingering fondness and admiration at the reasonable man quarrel with or repine at the issue? scene he has last quitted. The next stage may be-as And supposing that a perverse and subtle ingenuity in all his journey might have been-bleak and desolate; his legal advisers could have devised means for delay- but through that he is only passing: he will not be coning his surrender of the property, to him who had been demned to stay in it, as he was not permitted to dwell in solemnly declared its true owner, what real and ulti-the other; he is still journeying on, along a route which nate advantage could he have obtained by such a dis- he cannot mistake, to the point of his destination, his honourable line of conduct? Could the spirit of the journey's end-the shores of the vast ocean of eternity Christian religion tolerate the bare idea of it? Could HIS HOME!'' such purposes or intentions consist for one instant with the consciousness that the awful eye of God was always upon every thought of his mind, every feeling of his And what, MEN OF THE WORLD, as-knowing not how heart, every purpose of his will? A thorough and live- significantly-you call yourselves-what would be your ly conviction of God's moral government of the world thoughts, what would you have done, if upon you had secured him a happy composure-a glorious and immova- suddenly descended the stroke which had fallen upon ble resolution; it enabled him to form a true estimate this CHRISTIAN GENTLEMAN-surely, at least, your equal in of things; it extracted the sting from grief and regret; it intellect, in accomplishment, in refinement, in personal dispelled the gloom that would otherwise have settled por- honour, in station, and in fortune? What would become tentously upon the future. Thus he had not forgotten of many of you, unable any longer to indulge, some in the exhortation which spoke unto him, as unto a child: the refined, others in the coarse profligacy, which hath My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor at last become essential to your characters and exist faint when thou art rebuked of Him. And if, indeed, relience? And of you, frivolous followers of fashion? gion had not done this for Mr. Aubrey, what could it have Glittering insects! struck to the carth out of your ardone, what would it have been worth? It would have tificial elevation, as the sudden shower beats down been that indeed which dull fools suppose it-a mere the butterfly-what can you, but lie there and be name, a melancholy delusion. What hopeless and la- crushed? How can you exist without-what can conmentable imbccility would it not have argued, to have sole or compensate you for the want of the clubs, acknowledged the reality and influence of religion in the the opera, the gaming-table, the betting-stand-your hour of prosperity-and to have doubted, distrusted, or French: cooks and mistresses, your gay dress and equi denied it in the hour of adversity? When a child be-page, the brilliant ball-room, the sparkling wines, the holds the sun obscured by the dark clouds, he may think, splendid dinner-table? Alas! these gone, what and in his simplicity. that it is gone for ever; but a MAN where are you? What is to become of you? knows that behind is the sun, glorious as ever, and the left you upon earth-emasculate both in mind and body? next moment, the clouds having rolled away, its glorious Are you fit for conflict with your gaunt and dismaying warmth and light are again upon the earth. Thus is it, opponent-ADVERSITY? Those of you who can think thought Aubrey with humble but cheerful confidence, and reflect, be it ever so little, what is there to console with the Almighty-who hath declared himself the Fa- you in the view of the past? Is it not steeped in sensuther of the spirits of all fleshality, disfigured with debauchery? And what have you to hope for from the future? Where are now your old friends and companions? Vain and presumptuous wretch, are you any longer in a condition to be recognised by them? Remember, you have had your day, and the night cometh! Behind a frowning Providence, He hides a smiling face! And scan his works in vain; God is his own interpreter, And He will make it plain!" Such were the thoughts passing through the mind of Aubrey. Not thus was it with Aubrey! What is "Therefore, O my God!" thought Aubrey, as hel The deepening shadows of evening warned him to re |