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TALE II.

THE Earl of S—, one of the richest Peers of Great Britain, had been in London, and on his return, intended to call on one of his tenants. He had no other attendants than a coachman and one servant. He had not travelled six miles from the metropolis, when he was obliged to pass through a wood, where his carriage was surrounded by six highwaymen. Two bound the coachman, two the serv nt, and two applied a pistol to the breast of the nobleman.

"Your pocket-book!" said one of the robbers, with a horrid countenance. Instead of which, the Earl pulled out a heavy purse, which he presented to him.

"Have the goodness, my lord, to produce your pocket-book," said the robber, who with his left hand weighed the purse, and with the right continued to present the pistól.

The Earl drew out his pocket-book, and delivered it up, which the robber examined. Whilst he was thus engaged, his countenance excited the attention of the former. His full eyes, curved nose, distorted cheeks, wide mouth, and projecting chin, presented an object more disgusting than he had ever before witnessed. The robber, after taking some papers out of the book, re. turned it to the gentleman.

"A prosperous journey, my Lord," he cried, and rodeoff with his companions towards London. The Earl, upon his return home, examined his book, which had contained two thousand five hundred pounds in notes, and to his great astonishment, found five hundred pounds remaining. He rejoiced at the discovery, and related the adventure to his friends, at the same time adding, that the countenance of the man was so extraordinary, that it would never be absent from his recollection. Two years had already elapsed since the affair had happened, and the particulars of it had passed from his mind, when one morning he received a penny post letter, while in London, the contents of which were as follow:

"My Lord, I am a poor German Jew. The Prince whose subject I was, oppressed my sect in so cruel a manner, as to oblige me, with five others, to seek an asylum in Great Britain. I fell ill during the voyage, and the bark which was to have conveyed us from the vessel to the shore, was overturned by the storm. A man, whose face I had never before seen, sprang into the set, and saved me, at the risk of his own life. "He carried me into his house, procured me a nurse and a physician. He was a clothier, and had twelve children alive. I recovered, and of

fered my host some recompence for his hospi tality, but he rejected every offer, and only requested me to visit hin sometimes. I went soon after, and found him extremely dejected. The disturbances had broken out in America, and he had sent to Boston goods to the amount of eight thousand pounds, which the merchants refused to pay. He confessed to me, that a bill would become due upon him in the course of a month, which he could not honour; that, consequently, his credit would be destroyed, and his ruin completed I would have willingly given him assistance, had it been in my power. I considered myself indebted to him for my life, which I ought not to regard as too great a sacrifice in serving my benefactor. I went to my com. panions, and represented to them the state of the case. They were all bound to me by the tenderest ties of friendship, and willing to aid me in the execution of any plan I should suggest. We agreed, therefore, to take the desperate and unwarrantable measures of highway robbery, to procure the necessary sum. Accident made us ac quainted with your intended rout, and the money which you had in your possession. We laid our plan accordingly, and succeeded in a manner already known to you. I enclosed the two thousand pounds which I took from your pocketbook, in a letter to my benefactor, saying, that I would suit the payment of it to his circumstances. The money was of temporary service to him, but as he lost all his American property, he died soon after, insolvent. Fortune, however, was more favourable to me; I obtained a prize of five thousand pounds in the lettery. I have, therefore, sent you the enclosed, which is the sum, with the interest, that I took from you. You will find another thousand pounds, which I should be obliged to you to send to the F— family in F. Upon the receipt of this letter, my companions and myself will be on our way to Germany, where we wish, if possible, to take up our residence. I protest to you, that none of our pistols were loaded when we assaulted you, and none of our hangers were unsheathed. What I have done and said, will shield me, I hope, from being considered so obnoxious a member of society as my conduct at first might lead you to suppose. Accept the good wishes of an individual whose intentions were pure, though his conduct might be criminal."

The Earl had no sooner read the letter than he made inquiries for the clothier's family, and gave them the two thousand pounds which the Jew had sent.

THE VICAR'S TALE.

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your service." After expressing the sense I entertained of his goodness, I joyfully accepted so desirable an offer. As we entered the hamlet, the sun was gilding with his departing beams the village spire, whilst a gentle breeze refreshed the weary hinds, who, seated beneath the venerable oaks that overshadowed their cottages, were reposing themselves after the labours of the day, and listening attentively to the tale of an old soldier, who, like myself, had wandered thus far, and was now distressed for a lodging. He had been in several actions, in one of which he had lost a leg; and was now, like many other brave fellows,

BEING on a tour to the north, I was one evening arrested in my progress at the entrance of a small hamle', by breaking the fore wheel of my phaeton. This accident rendering it impracticable for me to proceed to the next town, from which I was now sixteen miles distant, I directed my steps to a small cottage, at the door of which, in a woodbine arbor, sat a man of about sixty, who was solacing himself with a pipe. In the front of his house was affixed a small board, which I conceived to contain an intimation, that travellers might there be accommodated. dressing myself therefore to the old man, I quested his assistance, which he readily granted; but on my mentioning an intention of remain. ing at his house all night, he regretted that it was not in his power to receive me, and the more so as there was no inn in the village. It was not till now that I discovered my error concerning the board over the door, which contained a notification, that there was taught that useful art, of which, if we credit Mrs. Baddeley's Memoirs, a certain noble Lord was so grossly ignorant. In short, my friend proved to be the Schoolmaster, and probably secretary to the hamlet. Affairs were in this situation when the Vicar made his appearance. He was one of the most venerable figures I had ever seen; his time-silvered locks shaded his temples, whilst the lines of misfortune were, alas! but too visible in his countenance; time had softened but could not efface them. On seeing my broken equipage, he addressed me, and when he began to speak, his countenance was illumined by a smile.-"I presume, Sir," said he, "that the accident you have just experienced will render it impossible for you to proceed. Should that be the case, you will be much distressed for lodgings, the place affording no accommodations for travellers, as my parishioners are neither willing nor able to support an alehouse; and as we have few travellers, we have little need of one; but if you will accept the best accommodation my cottage affords, it is much at

"Doom'd to beg

"His bitter bread thro' realms his valor sav'd."

My kind host invited me to join the crowd, and listen to his tale. With this request I readily complied. No sooner did we make our appearance, than I attracted the attention of every one. The appearance of a stranger in a hamlet, two hundred miles from the capital, is generally productive of surprise; and every one examines the new comer with the most attentive observation. So wholly did my arrival engross the villagers, that the veteran was obliged to defer the continuation of his narrative till their curiosity should be gratified. Every one there took an opportunity of testifying the good will they bore my venerable host, by offering him a seat on the grass. The good man and myself were soon seated, and the brave veteran resumed his narrative in the following words :—“ After,” continued he, “I had been intoxicated, I was carried before a justice, who was intimate with the captain, at whose request he attested ine before I had sufficiently recovered my senses to see the danger I was encountering. In the morning, when I came to myself, I found I was in custody of three or four soldiers, who, after telling me what had happened, in spite of all I could say, carried me to the next town, without permitting me to take leave of one of my neighbours. When they reached the town it was market-day, and I saw several of the people from our village, who were all sorry to hear what had happened, and endeavoured to procure my release, but in vain. After taking an affecting leave of my neighbours, I was marched to Portsmouth, and there, together with an hundred more, embarked for the coast of Africa. During the voyage most of our number died, or became so enfeebled by sickness as to make them unfit for service. This was owing partly to the climate,

partly to the want of water, and to confinement in the ship. When we reached the coast of Africa, we were landed, and experienced every possible cruelty from our officers. At length, however, a man of war arrived, who had lost several mariners in a late action; and I, with some others, was sent on board to serve in that station. Soon after we put to sea we fell in with a French man of war. In the action I lost my leg, and was near being thrown overboard; but the humanity of the chaplain preserved my life, and on my return to England procured my discharge. I applied for the Chelsea bounty; but it was refused me because I lost my limb when acting as a marine; and as I was not a regular marine, I was not entitled to any protection from the Admiralty; therefore I am reduced to live on the good will of those who pity my misfortunes. To be sure, mine is a hard lot; but the king does not know it, or (God bless his Majesty!) he is too good to let those starve who have fought his battles."

The village clock now striking eight, the worthy Vicar rose, and, slipping something into the old man's hand, desired me to follow him. At our departure, the villagers promised to take care of the old man. We returned the farewell civilities of the rustics, and directed our steps to the vicarage. It was small, with a thatched roof; the front was entirely covered with woodbine and honeysuckle, which strongly scented the circumambient air. A grove of ancient oaks, that surrounded the house, cast a solemn shade over, and preserved the verdure of the adjacent lawn, through the midst of which ran a small brook that gently murmured as it flowed. This, together with the bleating of the sheep, the lowing of the herds, the village murmurs, and the distant barkings of the trusty curs, who were now entering on their office as guardians of the hamlet, formed a concert, at least equal to that in Tottenham-court-road. On entering the wicket we were met by a little girl of six years old. Her dress was simple, but elegant; and her appear. ance such as spoke her destined for a higher sphere. As soon as she had informed her grandfather that supper was ready, she dropped a courtesy and retired. I delayed not a moment to congratulate the good old man on possessing so great a treasure. He replied but with a sigh; and we entered the house, where every thing was distinguished by an air of elegant simplicity that surprised me. On our entrance, he introduced me to his wife; a woman turned of forty, who still possessed great remains of beauty, and had much the appearance of a woman of fashion. She received me with easy politeness, and regretted that she had it not in her power to entertain me better. I requested her not to distress

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me with unnecessary apologies, and we sat down to supper. The little angel who welcomed us at the door, now seating herself opposite to me, offered me an opportunity of contemplating one of the finest faces I had ever beheld. My worthy host, observing how much I was struck with her appearance, directed my attention to a picture which hung over the mantle. It was a striking likeness of my little neighbour, only on a larger scale. "That, Sir," said he, "is Harriet's mother; do you not think there is a vast resemblance?” To this I assented; when the old man put up a prayer to Heaven, that she might resemble her mother in every thing but her unhappy fate. He then started another topic of conver. sation, without gratifying the curiosity he had excited concerning the fate of Harriet's mother; for whom I already felt myself much interested,

Supper being removed, after chatting some time, my worthy host conducted me to my bed, chamber, which was on the ground floor, and lined with jasmine, that was conducted in at the windows. After wishing me good night, he retired, leaving me to rest. The beauty of the scenery, however, and my usual propensity to walk by moon-light, induced me to leave my fragrant cell. When I sallied forth, the moon was darting her temperated rays through the shade that surrounded the cottage, tipping the tops of the venerable oaks with silver. After taking a turn or two on the lawn, I wandered to the spot, "where the rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep." It was small, and for the most part surrounded with yew-trees of an antient date, beneath whose solemn shade many generations had mouldered into dust. No sooner did I enter than my attention was caught by a pillar of white marble, placed on the summit of a small eminence, the base of which was surrounded with honeysuckles and woodbines, whilst a large willow overshadowed the pillar. As I was with attention perusing the epitaph, I was not a little alarmed by the approach of a figure cloathed in a long robe. The apparition continued advancing towards me with a slow step, and its eyes fixed on the ground, which prevented it observing me till we were within reach of each other. Great was my wonder at recognizing my worthy host in this situation; nor was his astonishment less at finding bis guest thus courting the appearance of goblins and fairies. After each had expressed the surprize he felt, I proceeded to enquire whose dust was there enshrined. He replied, "There, Sir, sleeps Harriet's mother, an innocent, but unfortunate woman. Pardon me, Sir," said he, "if for a moment I indulge my sorrow, and bedew my Harriet's grave with tears, a tribute that I often pay her much-loved memory, when the rest of the world are lost in sleep." Here he paused,

and seemed much agitated. At length he requested my permission to defer the recital of Harriet's woes till the next day, as he found himself unequal to the task of proceeding in the painful detail. To this proposal I readily acceded, and we returned home. I retired to my room, but every attempt to procure sleep proved ineffectul. Harriet had so wholly occupied my thoughts, that no moment of the night was suffered to pass unnoticed. At length, "when soared the warbling lark on high," I left my couch, and rejoined my worthy landlord, who was busily employed in the arrangement of his garden. Though I declined mentioning the subject of our last night's adventure, yet he saw the marks of anxious expectation in my countenance, and proceeded to gratify the curiosity he had inspired.

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My income was too confined to admit of my Thus affording her a separate establishment. circumstanced, I determined to offer her my hand. You will no doubt say it was rather an imprudent step for a man who had seen his fortieth year to connect himself with youth and beauty; but as my brother was then living, it was impossible for me to render her the least assistance on any other plan. She received my proposal with grateful surprise, and accepted it without hesitation. In a few days we were mar ried, and have now lived together six and twenty years in a state, the felicity of which has never been interrupted by those discordant jars which are so frequently the concomitants of matimony; though, alas! our peace has received a mortal wound from one, the bare mention of whose name fills me with horror! But not to digress. Before the return of that day which saw me

received an important addition, by the birth of a daughter, who inherited all her mother's charms, It is superfluous to add, that she was equally the idol of both her parents; and as she was the only fruit of our marriage, she became every day a greater favourite. My wife had received such an education as rendered her fully capable of accomplishing her daughter in a manner far superior to any thing her situation required, or perhaps could justify. To this agreeable employment, however, she devoted her whole time; and when Harriet had reached her eighteenth year, she was in every respect a highly accom. plished woman. She was become what that picture represents her. With an amiable temper and gentle manners, she was the idol of the village. Hitherto she had experienced a state of felicity unknown in the more exalted stations of life-unconscious, alas! of the ills that awaited her future years.

"It will be necessary," said he, " before I proceed to relate the woes that befel my daughter, to give a short sketch of my own life. Twenty-blessed with the hand of Emily, my happiness six years ago, Mrs. came hither for the benefit of her health, the air being recommended as highly salubrious. On her arrival she gave out that she was the daughter of a clergyman who was lately dead, and had left her in narrow circumstances. I thought it my duty to visit her, and offer her any little attention in my power. She received me with politeness, and expressed à wish to cultivate my acquaintance. I continued to repeat my visits for some time without suspecting that there was any thing particular in her history, till one morning I found her in tears reading a letter she had just received. On my entrance she gave it to me: it contained a notification from Lord B's agent, that her usual remittances would no longer be continued. On opening this letter, I was led to suppose that her connection with Lord B was not of the most honourable nature. But all my suspicion vanished on her producing several letters from Lord B to her mother, with whom he had been long connected. From these letters I learnt that Mrs. was the daughter of Lord B-by Miss M, sister to a Scotch baronet, whom he had seduced and supported during the remainder of her life; but he had, it seems, determined to withdraw his protection from the fruit of their connection. Mrs. declared she knew not what step to take, as her finances were nearly exhausted. I endeavoured to comfort her, assuring her that she should command every assistance in my power. On hearing this she seemed a little satisfied, and became more composed. After sitting with her some time I returned home, to consider in what manner I might most easily afford protection to the young orphan,quested leave to repeat his visit on his return from whose whole dependence was on my support. If I took her home to live with me, as I was unmarried, it would give offence to my parishioners, No. XXIV, Vol. III,

"It is with reluctance I proceed in the melan choly narrative. One evening, as a young man, attended by a servant, was passing through the village, his horse startled and threw him. Happening to be on the spot at the time, I offered every assistance in my power, and conveying him to my cottage, dispatched his servant in quest of a surgeon, who declared our patient was not in any danger, but recommended it to him to delay his departure for a day or two. His health, however, or rather his love, did not admit of his travelling for near a fortnight; during which time he established his interest with Harriet by the most pleasing and unremitting attention to her slightest wishes-When about to depart he re

his intended tour, dropping at the same time some distant hints of his affection for Harriet, ta whom he was by no means indifferent,

I i

"Mr. H(for so our guest was named) in formed us, previous to his departure, that he had a small independent fortune; but that from a distant relation he had considerable expectation. After bidding an affectionate adieu to Harriet, he set out on his intended tour, which lasted for a month.

H.

be forced into measures that might in the end prove destructive of his future prospect, and induce him to regret the day he ever saw her. These arguments prevailed, and Mr. Hwas suffered to continue as a member of the family without any farther notice being taken of the subject. In this manner had three years elapsed "During the time of Mr. H's absence, undistinguished by any remarkable event, Mr. Harriet appeared pensive, and I observed with Hgenerally passing half the year with us, pain that he had made no slight impression on and the remainder in London, attending, as he her heart. At length Mr. H returned, and said, on his cousin; when one day, as he was Harriet's reception of him left us no room to sitting with us at dinner, a chaise and four drove doubt her attachment. During his second visit up to the house. The servants enquired for Mr. he was very assiduous to secure the favour of all H—, and on hearing he was there, opened the the family with Harriet he easily succeeded; || carriage door. A gentleman, dressed like an of nor were Mrs. Tor myself disposed to dis- ficer, jumped out, followed by a lady in a travel like him. His manners were elegant, and his wit ling dress; they rushed immediately into the lively. At length he obtained from Harriet the room. Their appearance amazed us; but Mr. promise of her hand, provided her parents should betrayed visible marks of consternation. nut object. Hitherto I had never been induced The lady appeared to be about thirty. She was to make any enquiries concerning his circuma woman by no means destitute of personal stances and character. Now, however, by his charms. The moment she entered the room she own direction, I applied to a Mr. E—ns, a seized upon Harriet, and, loading her with every clergyman of his acquaintance. This gentleman, horrible epithet, proceeded to indulge her pas now in an exalted station in the church, then sion by striking her innocent rival. On seeing chaplain to Lord C-, informed me that Mr. this, an old servant of mine seized the lady, and H- — was in every respect a desirable match for forcibly turned her out of the house, then fastened my daughter; and that whenever his cousin the door. It was not till now that we perceived should die, he would be enabled to maintain her the absence of Mr. H, who had, it seems, in affluence and splendour: he added that his retired with the lady's companion. Whilst we character was unexceptionable. Little suspect- were still lost in amazement at the transaction ing the villainous part Mr. Ens was acting, we had just witnessed, we were alarmed to the I readily assented to the proposed union, and per highest pitch by the report of a pistol. Harriet formed the ceremony myself. Mr. H re- instantly fainted. While Mrs. T was requested that their marriage might be kept a secret covering her, I flew to the spot from whence the till the birth of a son and heit. This proposal sound proceeded, and there found Mr. H– rather alarmed me, but it was too late to retreat; weltering in his blood, with a pistol lying by him, and knowing no one in the great world, it was I approached, and found him still sensible. Ha impossible for me, previous to the marriage, to informed me, that the lady's brother and he had procure any account of Mr. H fought, and that seeing him fall, they had both his friend communicated to me. Thus circum- escaped as fast as possible. I instantly procured stanced, I could only consent; and as Harriet assistance, and conveyed him to the house, where readily adopted every proposal that came from he was put to bed, and a surgeon was sent for. In one she so tenderly loved, the matter was finally the mean time Harriet had several fits, and we agreed on. After staying a few days, he set off for were very apprehensive that the hour of her fate London, but soon returned, and passed the whole was approaching. On the arrival of the surgeon, winter with us; and in the spring Harriet was he declared the wound Mr. H had received delivered of that litle girl you so much admire. would probably prove mortal, and recommended I now pressed him to acknowledg: my daughter the arrangement of his affairs. Mr. H— te as his wife. To this he answered, that had sheceived the news with great agony, and desired brought him a son, he would readily have complied with my request; but that his cousin was so great an oddity, that he could not bear the idca (to use his own expression)" of having his fortune lavished in a milliner's shop." 'But, added he, if you insist upon it, I will now risk tife loss of all his fortune, and introduce my Harriet to his presence.' Harriet, however, again interfered, and desired that Mr. H-- might not

but such as

that I might be left alone with him. No sooner was this request granted, than he addressed me in the following terms. In me, Sir, behold the most unfortunate, and, alas! the most guilty of men.

The lady whose ill timed visit has lost me my life, is tremble to pronounce the word, -my wife.' Seeing me pale with horror, he proceeded. 'No wonder, Sir, that you should behold with horror one who has repaid unbounded

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