those long-silent names. Her husband glanced at her with a restless doubt-some men will be so jealous over the lightest thought of one they love. But Jean put her arm in his, with a look so serene, so clear, that he stooped down and kissed her yet scarce-faded cheek. poor miniature. I love it, I tell you-and you memories of her youth came over her on hearing love it too. Ah! there." And she held me playfully to my maker's lips (which now I touched not for the first time, as he knew well). "When we grow rich, it shall be set in gold and garnets, and I will wear it every time my husband ceases to remember the days when he first taught me to love him, and in loving him, to love all that was noble in man." And then Norman.-But I do not see that I have any business to reveal further. "Go, my own wife-go and tell our daughter all." Jean Bethune and her child went out together When they returned, there was a proud glow on Anne's cheek-she looked so like her mother, or I did attain to the honor of gold and garnets, rather so like me! She walked down the studio; and, formed into a bracelet, I figured many a it was a large room, where hung pictures that time on the fair arm of Jean Bethune, who, when might well make me fear to claim brotherhood people jested with her for the eccentricity of wear-with them, though the same hand created them ing her own likeness, only laughed, and said that and me. Anne turned her radiant eyes from one she did indeed love the self that her husband to the other, then went up to the artist and emloved, for his sake. So years went by, until fair-braced him. er things than bracelets adorned the arms of the "Father, I had rather be our daughter, than painter's wife, and she came to see her own like-share the honors of all the Douglasses." ness in dearer types than my poor ivory. So her Anne Bethune wore me, year after year, until ornaments-myself among the rest-were slowly the fashion of me went by, till her young daughput by; and at last I used to lie for months un-ters, in their turn, began to laugh at my ancient touched, save by tiny baby-fingers, which now setting, and-always aside-to mock at the rude and then poked into the casket to see "mamma's picture." Art of "grandmamma's" days. But this was never in grandmamma's presence, where still I found myself at times; and my pale eyes beheld the face of which my own had once been a mere shadow-but of which the shadow was now left as the only memorial. "And was this indeed you, grandmamma? many an eager voice would ask, when my poor self was called into question. "Were you ever this young girl; and did you really wear these beautiful pearls, and live in a castle, and hear yourself called the Lady Jean?'" Mrs. Bethune could refuse nothing to her eldest daughter-her hope-her comfort-her sisterlike And grandmamma would lay down her speecompanion. So, with many an anxious charge tacles, and look pensively out with her calm, concerning me, I was despatched to the jewel-beautiful eyes. Oh! how doubly beautiful they ler's. I hate to be touched by strangers, and du- seemed in age, when all other loveliness had ring the whole time of my sojourn at the jewel- gone. Then she would gather her little flock lers, I shut up my powers of observation in a dormouse-like doze, from which I was only awakened by the eager fingers of Miss Anne Bethune, who had rushed with me into the painting-room, calling on papa and mamma to admire an old friend in a new face. "Is that the dear old miniature?" said the artist. The husband and wife looked at me, then at one another, and smiled. Though both now glided into middle age, yet in that affectionate smile I saw revive the faces of Norman Bethune and the Lady Jean. round her, and tell, for the hundredth time, the story of herself and Norman Bethune-leaning gently, as with her parent-feelings she had now learnt to do, on the wrongs received from her own father, and lingering with ineffable tenderness on the noble nature of him who had won her heart, more through that than even by the fascination of his genius. She dwelt oftener on this, when, in her closing years, he was taken before her to his rest; and while the memory of the great painter was honored on earth, she knew that the pure soul of the virtuous man awaited her, his beloved, in heaven. "And yet, grandmamma," once said the most inquisitive of the little winsome elves whom the old lady loved, who, with me in her hand, had lured Mrs. Bethune to a full hour's converse about olden days - "Grandmamma, looking back on your long, long life, tell me, do you not feel proud of your ancient lineage? and would you not like to have it said of you that you were "I do believe there is something talismanic in the portrait," said young Anne, their daughter. "To-day, at the jeweller's, I was stopped by a disagreeable old gentleman, who stared at me, and then at the miniature, and finally questioned me about my name and my parents, until I was fairly wearied of his impertinence. A contempt ible, malicious-eyed creature he looked; but the jeweller paid him all attention, sincé, as I after-an Earl's daughter?" ward learnt, he was Sir Anthony A, who "No!" she answered. "Say, rather that I was succeeded to all the estates of his cousin, the Earl Norman Bethune's wife." of." Mrs. Bethune put me down on the table, and I waked, and found myself gazing on the blank leaned her head on her hand; perhaps some white curtains, from whence the fantasmal image LOVE AND CHANGE.-ALICE. of the Lady Jean had all melted away. But still," Peace! Though all other means have failed through the mystic stillness of dawn, I seemed to perhaps thy description going out into the world have a melancholy ringing in my ears-a sort of of letters may procure thy identification. Hah! lost lost!"-I have it-I will write thy autobiography." echo of Gylbyn's cry-"Lost Surely it was the unquiet ghost of the miniature, thus beseeching restitution to its original owners. "Rest thee, perturbed spirit!" said I, addressing the ornament that now lay harmlessly on my dressing-table—a brooch, and nothing more. LOVE AND CHANGE. LOVE stood before me in my youth's fresh prime; Love's truth triumphant over Death and Time." And dark, behind him, lower'd the Shadow, That sterner voice was Truth's, for now I know II-THE "Silver Lining." "Poor Child!" Truth murmured-" Thou dost Love thus companioned; on thine ear doth ring Are just as stable-yet some grace must be III.-GRIEF. I could not lift that pall-my heart was full. grow A shadowy semblance and a mocking show; O Love! I cried-O Love, the beautiful! O Love, the joy o' the heart, the light o' the Thou hast undone me with thy witcheries, O Death, unbar thy door! my soul doth pine Reader, it is done. I have only to add that the miniature was found in Edinburgh, in August, 1849, and will be gladly restored to the right owner, lest the unfortunate author should be again visited by the phantom of Lady Jean. True Love, uplift me, where the sweet heavens IV.-RESIGNATION. The river flowed in music to the sea, A calm sank on my soul. This misery ALICE. I. THERE sat a lady in an ancient room, Beneath the branches cool, II. IV. "I am the spirit of Summer, maiden tender," institution—the Lady being made a wife, and the Miss being only made a lady? We, of course, know the facts - but we know them in spite of the report: we are aware that Mr. H. is not about to lead Miss L. to the hymeneal altar. We know that there is no hymeneal altar in London. We Into this goblet look, and fathom Time's dark are sure, moreover, that if there were; it would be river." Crossed the fair lymph; and a weird form Crowned with a coronet the THE COBURG FAMILY.-The Coburgs are an extraordinary family: you cannot trace them forty years back as prominent historical personages; yet, in 1853, they are the most powerful to the English throne; and, when she died, anfamily in Europe. A Coburg married the heiress other Coburg married the actual English queen. A Coburg married the queen of Portugal; a Coburg narrowly missed (Louis Philippe was a very clever man) the Spanish queen; a Coburg was the other day ready for that throne of Greece, Pale with an unknown woe, the maiden there which a Coburg once declined, if the Bavarian beheld. VII. "The Spirit of Winter!" cried the youthful And from the lady's vision did he fade. Saw not the sunset shine, had disappeared; a Coburg has the throne of Belgium, and, as king of Belgium, has had great power in England and France: in England, because he was the uncle of the queen; in France, because he was the son-in-law of the king; a Coburg, the son of King Leopold, has just married an Austrian archduchess. France being lost, King Leopold seeks German alliances. It is a Coburg plan that the future queen of Prussia Nor watched the fallow deer wind slowly down shall be a princess-royal of England; and it is as the glen. Dublin Univ. Mag. MORTIMER COLLINS. certain as things human can be, the daughters of Prince Albert will be sovereign ladies, in great abundance, on German thrones, great and small. Hence a family "solidarity," great now, increasing with every year, and an obvious dynastic policy. At any rate, obvious fulness of knowledge on the part of Prince Albert of all the courtmovements of Europe, obvious extensive sympathies, obvious breadth of view; and the value of Prince Albert as a directing statesman in Great Britain, is, consequently, incalculable. -Political Portraits, by Edward M. Whitty. THE HYMENEAL ALTAR.-Why are people, about to marry, always represented as going to lead or be led to the hymeneal altar? Are we in a Christian land? Here is a paragraph from a fashionable contemporary:- "Lady E. E., daughter of the earl and countess of E., is about to be married to the Hon. G. B., M. P." Now this reads like a bit of reasonable current history. Antiquarians, who may come from New Zealand to dig up mounds on the Thames, A MISERLY CHIEF JUSTICE.-Jekyl said that finding such a statement, will conclude that La- Kenyon died of eating apple-pie crust at breakdy E. E. and Mr. G. B. lived in Christian times, fast, to save the expense of muffins; and that and were members of a Christian church. But Lord Ellenborough, who succeeded to the Chief what will they make of the announcement, in the Justiceship in consequence, always bowed with same paper: "Mr. H. will lead to the hyme-great reverence to apple pie; "which," said neal altar the youthful and beautiful Miss E. L.?" Jekyl, "we used to call apple pie-ty." The Will they infer that Mr. H. and Miss L. followed Princesses also told of how "the King used to the Pagan rite? or will they assume that it was customary for ladies to be wedded at the communion-table, and misses at some other sort of shrine, known as the altar of Hymen? or will they suppose that marriage was a purely patrician play tricks on Kenyon, sending the Despatch Box to him at a quarter past seven, when he knew Kenyon was snug in bed; being accustomed to go to bed at that hour to save candle-light.— Moore's Diary. From the Economist, 29 July. MINISTERS AND THEIR CRITICS. Administration, and with the loss of confidence the Administration loses power. Thus placed between two fires-between opponents THE Ministers who conduct the affairs of a at home and enemies abroad-between the free country in time of war are often placed, danger of saying too little and the danger of by the very necessities of our Constitution, in saying too much-what wonder if Ministers a position of singular embarrassment. En- are embarrassed and perplexed-if a cautious gaged in a task which, above all things, re- Minister exceeds on the side of secrecy, and quires secrecy for its success, they are obliged a frank and popular one on the side of opento sit night after night in a circle of querulousness, though, in point of fact, their views, questioners, whose pertinacious curiosity ren- purposes, and feelings may be identically ders secrecy almost impossible. They owe similar? the country, as it were, two irreconcilable If we bear duly in mind these inevitable duties. In the first place, they are bound to difficulties arising out of the very nature of a serve that country in the most effective way: popular Government like ours, we shall see and that most effective way generally is to be reason to be satisfied and even delighted in obstinately silent both as to what they are the amplest degree by the information elicited doing and what they are intending to do. and volunteered in the debates of Monday On the other hand, they are the servants of and Tuesday nights. The session of Parlia the people; our system of institutions oblige ment was drawing to a close, and a vote of them to pay implicit deference to the wishes credit had to be asked for; it was therefore of the House of Commons, and the House of fitting that the country should be assured that Commons is the Representative of the people. the views of its rulers coincided with its own It often seems, therefore, not only disrespect--that during the recess its affairs would be in ful to withhold information asked by the dele- the hands of men competent to conduct them, gates of the nation, but scarcely fair to re- and disposed to conduct them as itself would fuse to tell that nation their purposes and ob- wish. On the other hand, it was important jects, their hopes and desires; in what way not to be so explicit as to expose our game to they are going to employ the money Parlia- our adversary, or to commit ourselves to what ment has voted; in what mode they intend to might prove impossible. We think Lord carry out, and actually are carrying out the Clarendon, Lord John Russell, and Mr. Siddesigns that Parliament has at heart. All ney Herbert solved the difficulty with great litigants want to know how their lawsuit is straightforwardness-and therefore with great going on; and counsel and attorneys would feel it rather churlish to be always answering: "Soyez tranquille: you will know in time, and all is right." skill. Whatever they said, they were sure to be blamed by their antagonists for saying. If Lord John had refused to give his ideas as to the terms of peace which alone could afford a Then, again, it is often of considerable im- satisfactory termination of the war, he would portance to success in war that false informa- have been inveighed against by Mr. Disraeli tion should-not perhaps be wilfully spread for having withheld what the country was enbut if circulated should be suffered to remain titled to hear, and for having wrapped himuncontradicted; that our enemies should be- self in needless and supercilious obscurity. It lieve all the stories published by our news- was a matter of course that, having spoken papers as to the badness of our commissariat, frankly and told the country what it had a the unpreparedness of our troops, the languor right to know, he should be reproached by or division prevailing in our councils; that the same gentleman for having shown his they should be allowed to suppose that we are hand and announced to the foe our proposed going to do nothing, or to do some excessively enterprises with a culpable and foolish indisfoolish thing that this admiral is lukewarm cretion. or that general incapable. It is often well, The nation at large, however, is not rein a word, that our enemies should credit presented by the opposition, and will judge every false and foolish charge made against the conduct and language of Ministers by a our ministers and our commanders. Yet the different standard and with a juster and forms of a free country and the habits of a wiser charity. The manly statements of the popular Government render it impossible for Foreign Secretary in one House, and the those entrusted with the conduct of affairs to President of the Council in the other, will submit in silence to these charges, or allow set our minds at rest. We know now that, them to obtain uncontradicted currency. If though if Turkey had been willing at the outthe country is told day after day that things set to agree to the demands of Russia, the are in bad hands, that ships are ill-found, that Western Powers would have been content to troops are ill-fed, and the falseness of the state-postpone sine die a struggle which all dreaded ments is never exposed, the country gets but all knew must come, yet being now enalarmed and angry, it loses confidence in the gaged in, they will not leave it without thorough, and if possible a final, settlement; | Stuart's motion, that the House of Commons that they feel as strongly as we do that hollow thought so too. Nevertheless it is a relief to truces and a patched up peace would be un- find that the shuffling proceedings of Prussia worthy alike of the dignity and the good sense are appreciated according to their deserts, of England; that we may rely upon no paltry and that we shall expect nothing from her, evasions, no shallow compromises, no illusory and yield nothing to her;-that, while our negotiations, will be entered into or tolerated Ministers deplore the tardiness of Austria in either by this country or by France. We declaring for the good cause, they can make know now that our Ministers are resolved that allowances for her difficulties and her danthe peculiar and exclusive relation between gers, and are confident that shortly, when Russia and Turkey, so long insisted upon by these dangers and difficulties are removed, the Czar, shall not again be renewed; that she will show herself a sincere and hearty Russia shall no longer be left in a position to ally; that what she does not do they are preoverawe and menace her weaker neighbor; pared to do themselves; that, in a word, they that the Danube shall be open; that the understand the magnitude of the task before Black Sea shall be free; and that the Princi- them, and are determined to show themselves palities shall no longer be subjected to a Pro equal to the emergency. The speech of our tectorate so insidiously established and so Secretary at War was not the least satisfac scandalously abused. We are fully satisfied tory. He assured the House of the falsehood now, on the only point which has ever cost us of the statements that had been put in circuany real anxiety-namely-that an earnest lation as to the defective equipments and com desire to terminate the war will not hurry us missariat of our army, and he might have into a premature unprofitable peace-that, having been compelled to fight, we shall not be contented without getting what we are fighting for. said much more on this head. And we trust that his authoritative exposure of these mischievous representations will-not indeed prevent their repetition or the concoction of similar ones but will induce the public to withhold their credence, and wait for and With our minds at ease on this fundamental point, we may well leave all secondary matters in the hands of Government; and we judge by the result. were glad to see by the result of Lord Dudley FRENCH ENTERPRISE. The following narra- the bet had been claimed and paid to another tive of French enterprise is given by the South-party. Before the Marlborough-Street Police ampton correspondent of the Daily News:- Court he attempted to disprove his identity, alOne of the richest men in France, and who asso- leging that he had been mistaken for his brother. ciated in that country with those distinguished The magistrates sentenced him to pay £50, half for rank and fashion, left Parisian gaiety a few the maximum penalty allowed under the Act; years since, and took to farming. He had his and, in default, three months' hard labor. estates in Normandy farmed after the English fashion, bought a steamer, and established a comSunny Memories of Foreign Lands. By Mrs. munication between Carenton and Southampton, Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of Uncle Tom's to convey horned cattle, sheep, poultry, and all Cabin, etc. Illustrated from Designs by Hamkinds of farm and dairy produce, from France to matt Billings. In 2 vols. Phillips, Sampson, & England. The captain and crew are all Eng Co.: Boston. [This work has not only the interlish. The steamer makes one or two trips a-ests of its subject and of its lively style, but as it week, and realizes an immense profit. A large will be read by many thousands, in England as establishment, French and English, is kept em- well as at home, we are concerned to see what is ployed by the farming operations and the steam- thus laid before them by our most successful autraffic. Carenton is a small town, where Norman thor. The readers of the Living Age will have manners exist in perfection. It has a church good opportunities of hearing what our kinsmen nearly a thousand years old. Amongst native over the water say of the work.] farmers in the neighborhood, agriculture is carried on with primitive simplicity their horses are harnessed with coarse ropes and heavy chains, as in the days of William the Conqueror. Alone. By Marion Harland, author of "Robert Remer's Letters," "Kate Harper," "Marrying through Prudential Motives," etc. Thro' long, long years to seek, to strive, to yearn For human love, and never quench that thirst, The Keeper of a Coffee-SHOP in Panton To pour the soul out, winning no return — street, Haymarket, a man named Frederick Har-O'er fragile idols, by delusion nursed,— ding, was charged with violating the Betting Act. On things that fail us, reed by reed, to lean, Mr. Rayner, the actor, had staked 10s. with him To mourn the changed, the far-away, the dead, to win £3, if the Knight of St. George ran first To send our troubled spirits through the unseen, at one of the Worcestershire races. The horse Intensely questioning for treasures fled. won, but Harding refused to pay, declaring that Third Edition. A Morris: Richmond. |