court-yard, with lashens of every thing, when the auld jintleman says to Rale, "Shavaun Rale, my bouhel braw, says he, you must turn this spit," says he, " an take care or 'twill be the death of you," says he, "that a blisther dosn't rise on the mate," says he. Shavaun took the spit as he was bid; an there was a fine blaze afore him, as if the whole bog was afire: but what was his wondher when he saw that twas his friend Shamus that he had on the spit! Ulla-gulla-gone !" says he," what will I ever do?" But Shamus didn't say a word, an so he was obleeged to go on turnen the spit. By-and-bye a great blisther rose on the side, an the minit Shavaun saw it, he clapt his finger down on it, to hindher the jintleman from percaiven it: but no sooner did he put a hand to it, than Shamus bawled out. "You murdheren villain, what do you mane? Shavaun Rale, you spalpeen, do you want to burn me alive?". -an he went on ballyraggin him in such a style, that the jintleman came up to enquire what had happened. As soon as he saw the blisther, he began curgen at Rale, an he swore that he'd put him on the spit, in place of Shamus. However, afther frightenen Shavaun out of his seven sinses he said he would'nt mind him this time; an tould him to come away wid him to the faist. You may be sure, widout much ado, he was glad enough to go, an a fine faist 'twas, praties an bacon in lashens, an whiskey galore! As soon as Shavaun sat down, a girl, with sandy hair an cheeks as red as a pink, came up an whispered into his ear. Shavaun, don't ait nor dhrink a dhrap of what they'll give you for your sowl, or if you do," says she, they'll have a fast hould of you," says she," an you'll nevar be able to laive 'em." Shavaun was mighty thankful for her advice, as well he ought; an when they were pressen him very hard to touch something, divil a morsel would he put inside his lips, though his teeth were watheren for a taste. Cheer up, Shavaun man," says one, an you'll be the betther for it." 666 Shavaun, magragal," says another," what's come over you, that you're going to die for a bit of nourish ment?" "Thank your honours," says Shavaun, "but a poor drawneen like me isn't fit to ait wid your honours," an all they could do wouldn't make Shavaun taste a morsel. When they found it all to no purpose, "Well Shavaun," says they, "we wish you a good night's rest," an widout another word left over the ditch, an galloped away, like mad. Shavaun was soon snoren, an when he woke in the mornen, the sun was shinen brightly, the little birds singen, an the place just as 'twas when he lay down the night before.' This finished the story, and I proceeded, with my companion, as fast as the state of our road would permit, to overtake the remainder of the party, who were much in advance. D. S. TO I thought that in thy keeping And dreaming I was blest; I trusted in thee ever, And thou, thou canst deceive. But oh! tho' all around thee The world may seem to smile, Once fled, thou'lt find that never M. H. J. SHOWING OFF. A large family of daughters is a most troublesome affair:It is a misfortune only to be fully comprehended by the parents of such a family, and the poor girls composing it. Sons may contrive to struggle through life by themselves, daughters are, by the law of their existence, dependent. Girls are weak, helpless, and exorbitantly expensive to support in any degree of fashion and elegance, and it is consentaneously understood that their case is hapless indeed if they fail to effect an union with the lords of the creation,' which shall legally entitle them to honourable support. The anxious query: What will become of my poor girls after my death,' will surely exonerate many a mother from the culpability attached to the charge of seeming a' managing' one yet, this natural, this proper feeling, may be over-urged, and the desire of settling' a daughter advantageously, become a kind of passion, not less apparent, than absurd and reprehensible. It is curious to observe the variety of ingenious methods, devised by matrons of this description, to secure the matrimonial interest of their daughters. From town, the fair creatures are hurried to sundry watering places:-now, are they prominent in small parties, and now just discernible in great ones:-now will they dance all night, to entrap the butterfly beau who is an admirer of agility and hilarity anon, they cannot step across the room, should they desire to captivate the sentimental inamo. rato of languor on a settee. Sometimes, but rarely, literature has been known to gain a husband, and sometimes, more rarely still, religion. In general, this important desideratum is attempted to be attained by the display of what are falsely termed accomplishments; i. e. heterogeneous, and superficial smatterings of Arts and Sciences, the study of one of which, in order perfectly to accomplish a girl in it, should occupy her life. Sometimes, a mother ventures to recommend her daughter, as an unsophisticated and domestic creature, for a wife, because, she has been entirely educated in a French convent abroad! Sometimes the fair candidate for a 'settlement,' is whirled over the southern climes of love, music, and poetry, of our European continent; and should all fail, there are states in the Asiatic, which offer a dernier resort. Thither, I apprehend, will my friend Mrs. Hopkins, (whose conduct a few evenings since elicited the foregoing remarks,) be obliged eventually to ship her large cargo of daughters. This lady is, a Managing Mother,' in the most extensive sense of the term, and the most disgusting; for she has not sufficient tact to throw the slightest veil, over her obtrusive design like the arms of the polypus they are spread in all directions to ensnare, but from their glaring palpability are with facility avoided; in fact she is too vulgar for delicacy, and too illiterately homely for finesse. She gives many and large parties: at the one to which I allude, having paid my devoirs to some few of my acquaintances, I joined mamma and her seven daughters, (who, for a miracle! were just then standing together,) at the burnished rose-wood table in the centre of the room. I quickly discerned this to be an altar for the offerings of the Misses Hopkins to Fame, whereon stood forth, asking the meed of universal eulogium, Miss Caroline's album, Eliza's painted and varnished boxes, Louisa's drawings, and Fanny and Maria's thousand and one little imperti nences pertaining to the class of elegant litters.' 6 My Janet,' said Mrs. Hopkins, and she spoke to a clever young Cantabhas nothing of this kind to show, but she is a great Reader, and has an uncommon deal of sense.' Indeed! but what do you call sense? because there is a wide difference between Fine Sense, and good, sober, Common Sense.' O, surely there is; but my daughter can answer for herself. Come here Janet! Janet my dear, Mr. Sapient wishes to speak to you.' Having effected this commencement of a tete-a-tete between the Reading Man and the Blue Stocking, which, being not utterly ignorant of the voluminous nature of a literary conversation, she hoped might engross their whole evening. I perceived, by an involuntary smirk on the countenance of Mrs. Hopkins, that she was well pleased. And,' said a mild, gentlemanly looking youth to Isabel, have you nothing to display ?' Nothing' replied she. Perhaps you read, or walk, or practise a great deal "' O dear no! not much; a little sometimes.' Then, how do you employ yourself, if I may presume.' 'Chiefly in plain work' innocently answered Isabel, when Fanny, giving her a pretty severe nudge with her elbow, whispered audibly, How can you be so vulgar and foolish! You might have said fancy. O, cried Mrs. Hopkins Isabel is a good girl, a very good girl indeed, Mr. Bankes, I assure you; without her, I know not how my housekeeping would go on I'm sure! In fact I-1-I do keep a Housekeeper (with an air of pomposity) but, Mr. Bankes, it is quite necessary to depend on some one better than a mere hireling: you young bachelors (in the most insinuating tone) never think of this, or you would not undervalue Domestic Women, as you do!' Bankes bowed, but did not seem to regard this palpable inuendo: poor Isabel blushed to the eyes, and turning from him, with delicate propriety, directed her conversation to some female friends. I believe you draw' exclaimed the indefatigable Mrs. Hopkins to Captain Longbow, a fashionable fastidieu, do look at these sketches of Louisa's; they are really exquisite, and as Mrs. Pope pronounces, "perfectly artistical;" nay, I can't put her to the blush by repeating all that.' 6 I am no judge,of these Madam,' said the gentleman stiffly, my style is landscape, to which nothing can be so diametrically opposed, as that of flowers and fruit' then, stepping out of that interesting domestic group, he joined two or three brother officers; from whose undisguised laughter I presently learnt, that Longbow had imparted to them this trivial circumstance with embellishments, for which he was famed. Nevertheless, nothing daunted, Mrs. Hopkins returned to the |