Past, and for ever o'er ?—

With all the bliss reunion seem'd awaiting,
And hopes, bright hopes, of fancy's own creating.

Shall we no more the circle join,

Of friends?—no more engage
In acts of love and mercy too ;—
Nor trace the classic page ?

No! all is past:-thy soul, above Death's rending,
With God resides ;-thy dust with dust is blending.

And could not youth or talent turn

The shaft of Death aside ?

Ah no! or HENRY still had liv'd,
Nor thus, thus early, died!

Friendship, nor friends had wept, his loss deploring,
Nor he liv'd now before the throne, adoring.

Yet wherefore now our murmuring tears?

Shall mortals dare arraign

Wisdom and love, or friends presume
To grieve at HENRY'S gain ?—

Oh no! 'tis flesh which groans 'neath grief's consuming, While meek-eyed grace gives thanks,-God's will approving.

He first has trod th' impyren way,-
First gain'd the world of light,
And lustrous robes, for shreds of clay

Exchang'd, and faith for sight;

Basks in the light from God's own presence beaming, And dwells in bliss from union with HIM streaming.

On fair MADEIRA's spicy shore,
Where odorous cedars wave,

From kindred far,—there HENRY sleeps:

But from his lonely grave,

When heaven shall will it,-angel bands surrounding, Will rise to life, at the last trumpet's sounding.

Farewell! a brief farewell, my

Still, still as brother dear:

friend!

Thy memory lives, and oft will be

Embalm'd by friendship's tear.

Thy griefs are past, and mine will soon be ended, Then we shall meet both friends,-and be befriended.

The two eldest sisters, I have been informed, languished awhile under the Malade d'amour, and then, resorting to the usual specific for such disease,-Matrimony, were united to two gentlemen, I hope worthy of them. They soon left the acquaintances of their youth, and the pleasures of "Star Cottage," with their lords, and at length became mothers: while Mrs. Jameson and her youngest daughter continued to occupy the beloved retreat, until feeling the growing loneliness of the once cheerful spot, they retired to that fascinating haunt, which the magic pen of Leigh Richmond has immortalized,-the Isle of Wight, and there took up their abode.

One of the gentlemen to whom I have referred, and with whom I had the pleasure frequently to meet at "Star Cottage," was a scholar, and a Christian. His manners were prepossessing in the extreme, while his family connexions were highly respectable. These things being known,

no great astonishment can exist, that he should have become a favourite with others as well as with myself; or that the attractions of his person, the good sense and piety which he displayed, the melody of his flute, and the music of his voice, should have produced some emotions before unknown, even in the bosom of a lady! If, however, surprise should be felt, it will not at least be by one of the "angels of life," whose sympathy, on such occasions, and heroic willingness to share in the feelings, and so strive to alleviate the pains of the opposite sex, is universally admitted. So it was in the present case. The keen eye of Annette discovered the state of Mr. Harmer's feelings: by what means such mystery was ascertained, I am not sufficiently learned in the occult science, positively to determine ;—whether by the plaintiveness of his voice, the melancholy of his flute, or the sadness of his person, or if she may not have read Shakspeare's unique description of one suffering under un ulcere amoureux, and traced the semblance in the case of Mr. Harmer, my information says not: some think she did so; and what she saw she understood, and out of mere good nature sympathised with him, and offeredthat is, consented, after being importuned, for the sake of appearances-to change her name,-for what is there in a name?-from Miss Annette Jameson, to plain Mrs. Harmer; and "for better for worse, for weal or for wo," linked herself, "till death should them part," with the man of her affections.

It was a happy day-as such days generally are, be they of long or short duration-when Mr. Harmer led his blushing bride from the altar; on which occasion, and on the same errand, they were accompanied by the smiling Marietta.

Circumstances alone can develop character: the changes of life frequently bring it out, and give it a prominency, such as challenges attention; and while the easy and unruffled course which some are allowed to run, causes, too generally, a sickly sentimental sort of profession only to be displayed, -the ruggedness of the way over which others have to pass, gives a healthy hardiness to their character and religion, which all may see, and allwho observe admire.

After a few weeks, spent in the recreations and visits which custom has pronounced indispensible, at the commencement of connubial felicity,-the last recreation which some are permitted to enjoy, after "I will" has gone forth,-Mr. Harmer, like a man of understanding, sat down to business. His prospects were, at this period, more than flattering; he indeed enjoyed bona fide, as much as his fondest hopes expected, of earthly good. He was blessed with a wife whose affections were all his own, and whose proudest wish was to make him happy. His property placed him in easy circumstances, and his heart felt thankful to the author of the whole; while in unison they responded the grateful language of David, "Blessed be

the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits; even the God of our salvation."

For a considerable period Mr. Harmer had been engaged in scholastic pursuits: his success had borne some proportion to his skill and assiduity, and he now determined to engage a handsome residence, in a favourable situation, and extend his respectable establishment to a much larger scale; the domestic concerns of which, he was aware, Mrs. Harmer would superintend to his own advantage, and to the comfort of his pupils. The determination which he had formed, was carried into execution, and still prosperity shone upon his path.

A sedentary life is not generally one of physical enjoyment, or of bodily health: many have proved the truth of Solomon's aphorism, "much study is a weariness of the flesh." After Mr. Harmer had been for some time happily fixed in his new abode, his health visibly declined; and that some more active engagement should be attended to by him, became every day more apparent. A train of circumstances led him to believe that such an opening was, in the arrangements of Providence, placed before him; and accordingly, after consulting with his friends, deliberating in his own mind, and seeking direction from above, he embarked his property in the concern, and launched at once upon the rough billows of commercial enterprise.

Experience is a beacon, which if regarded by mankind, would direct from the danger and ruin