and was accompanied by an elderly lady to whom he bore a strong personal resemblance. The Widow of the City of Nain flashed on my mind the moment I beheld her. And the young man, too,-the object of so much care and attention, surely the words of Scripture described him also," He was the only son of his mother, and she was a widow." No sooner was the invalid seated, the drapery wrapped carefully round him, and the servant dispatched to the carriage for an ottoman for his feet, than in reply to some question of the lady, the word "better" reached my ears. Oh! it was dreadful to look upon that attenuate form, and listen to that mockery of comfort; and yet it did comfort the heart to which it was addressed. She took his burning hand in hers,-it was pale and delicate as a woman's, save where the blue veins too visibly wandered, she gazed on the countenance on which the fever spot was burning, and she smiled, for hope whispered her, that he should not surely die! and both spoke cheerfully, and an affectionate contest ensued, in which I could gather that the invalid entreated his companion to leave him awhile and take some needful exercise beneath the shade of the trees. The affectionate request was long withstood, and at length complied with as it appeared, rather in deference to the wishes of the speaker, than in accordance with her own. At length she departed, and the smile faded from the face of the sufferer, as he watched her receding form. A slight expression of anguish succeeded-the result as it seemed of the shadowing forth in his own mind of the picture of that desolation of lot which must be hers when he should have departed hence to be no more seen. The cloud, however, soon passed away; and after drawing from his pocket a small purple bound volume, the invalid essayed to read. But no! it would not do, he closed the book, and looked out on the cloudless heavens, on the waving trees, and upon the green earth, as though he were taking his last leave of them all. There was no appearance in his countenance of sorrow, neither of joy; but a profound expression of inward peace—his eyes, fearfully bright and dazzling, were fixed upon the sky, as though he would pierce its unknown depths, and drag to light their mysteries-now and then his lips slightly moved, as if in unison with some mental aspiration. Was I correct in thus interpreting it?" When I go down to the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for THY rod and thy staff they comfort me." Yes! that these words, or words of a similar import, were his soul's stay at that moment, I have the most steadfast beliefheart swelled with gratitude, as I called to mind the sure promises of Him "with whom there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." and my In a short time the lady returned from her solitary walk. I arose to depart, for I could not bear to witness the meeting of those whom it seemed but too probable were in this world about to be separated for ever. Other parties presented themselves, but I had no longer eye or ear for the common-places of life. In a few minutes the carriage appeared, and I sought in change of scene, relief from the weight of depression that affected me :- Upon the shews of life, Pleasure and care and strife, Mine eyes seemed gazing but could nought behold, Where through the still sad gloom A face seemed shining that must soon be cold. This is the brief record of a few hours passed in Kensington Gardens, at a period when an oracle of the 'Town' has assured his readers, that nothing was to be seen there, save "nursery maids, and bread-and-butter misses!" To a fitter hand I leave the more popular task of representing its appearance on a fashionable day during the full season! TIMOUR'S DEATH-BED. BY WILLIAM KENNEDY. TIMOUR BEG (Lord Timour), or Timour Lenk (Lame Timour whence the corruption of Tamerlane), was born in the Tartar province of Mawur u Nuhur, the ancient Transoxiana, in 1336. Defeated by the Uzbeks, he fled from his country, with his wife and seven companions. He was detained two months in captivity by a pretended friend, and on being liberated led a vagrant life. Encouraged by a vision, he returned to his native soil; expelled the Uzbeks, and put to death a treacherous brotherin-law. In 1370, the voice of the Tartar Diet seated him on the throne of Zagatai, and he established his government in Samarcand. After this period, he proceeded in the career of conquest with astonishing rapidity. He reunited Karizme and Kaundahaur to Zagatai-subdued Persia-exacted tribute from Ormuz-and proceeded as a conqueror along the whole course of the Tigris and Euphrates. The pursuit of a Mogul prince led him into the tributary provinces of Russia, where he captured a duke of the reigning family on the ruins of his capital. He burnt Serai, Azoph, and Astrachan; then marched with 100,000 horse against Mahmood the Indian emperor, whom he overthrew; and having taken Delhi, abandoned it to pillage and massacre. Returning to Samarcand, he proclaimed a seven years' expedition into Western Asia. In 1400, he reduced Goorgistaun (Georgia), and invading Syria took Haleb (Aleppo); where, while the streets were flowing with blood, and his soldiers collecting human heads to build a triumphal pyramid, Timour held a conference with the doctors of law, protesting that he was not a man of blood, but an enemy to unbelievers, and all who practised iniquity! Damascus, defended by the sultan of Egypt, fell before him and became the scene of great slaughter. After a siege of forty days, Bagdad surrendered to his arms, he razed all the buildings of the city except those devoted to religion and charity, and erected a pyramid of 90,000 skulls to record his victory. Armenia and Anatolia next submitted to him, and he routed the celebrated Turkish sultan Bajazet, surnamed Yeldûrrùm (the Thunderbolt), on the plains of Angora, at the head of an army of 400,000 men. His sway extended from the Irtisch and Volga to the Persian Gulf, from the Ganges to the Archipelago,-and the want of shipping alone barred his entrance into Europe. At the head of 200,000 veterans, he set out in winter on an expedition to China; but falling sick on the route, died at the camp of Otrar, on the 1st of April, 1405, leaving his vast dominions to his son Mohammed Jehaungeer, to whom he exacted an oath of obedience from his Ameers (military chiefs). The Institutes of Timour remain a monument of his political sagacity and skill in war. I. "UNGIRD the saddle from his back, And set my war-steed free No more to slaughter, or the sack, Shall he be urged by me! Quick comes a long release The Prophet calls his faithful son, Cathay may rest in peace!" Thus spake in his tent, midst his mighty ones lying, Timour Beg, the world's master, whose great soul was flying. |