enough to read it. It said, that by her father's influence, he had been sent on board of a vessel, which took him to the Havanna, where he was appointed to a regiment. He had petitioned in vain for leave to return to Spain, and even for his discharge from the service. Both had been refused. Unable to live without her, he had, at last, sacrificed everything, even his honor, to see her again. He had deserted, to find her on his arrival in Spain buried in a convent. He told her that it was impossible that God would accept of vows which force and fear alone had extorted from her-they could not be considered as binding. He conjured her, if she still loved him, to fly with him to a foreign land ; to repay the sacrifice he had made for her with a similar sacrifice ; and, then, they would pass the rest of their days in retirement, in peace, and happiness. "He promised happiness, when nothing could exceed the wretchedness of her existence-when she felt that even death itself would be unable to erase him from her heart. Was it possible that she could refuse ? "I assisted them in their flight, which was effected with the greater facility, as not the slightest suspicion was entertained of such an attempt being in contemplation. The anxiety of avoiding pursuit made them take to the mountains. Being unprovided with a guide, they lost their way, and wandered until the horse that bore them, fell exhausted. They proceeded on foot, and having at last met with a shepherd, they persuaded him to guide them. They pursued their weary journey, and after walking all day and night, their eyes were gladdened by the sight of the French frontier. A few minutes more, and they would be safe ! At this moment, they perceived with horror a detachment of troops, that had been despatched in their pursuit, upon the discovery of Amelia's escape being make known in the convent. They still strove to go on, straining every nerve ; but their wearied limbs tottered beneath them. The troops came up, overlook, and surrounded them. Amelia's lover, driven to madness by this disappointment, began to use his weapons furiously in her defence, but a bullet laid him dead at her feet. She then lost all recollection. Upon recovering her senses, Amelia found herself again in the convent. Before she could collect hər thoughts, and awaken from the confusion of what she imagined but a horrid and indistinct dream, she was summoned before the tribunal, assembled with conformity with the rules of the Order, to try and condemn her on a charge of sacrilegiously breaking her vows and profanating the sanctity ofthe convent." Fatigued by the exertion she had undergone, my narrator fell back upon her chair, and it was in a voice almost indistinct from its weakness, that she added, 66 You guess her doom ?" 61 Perhaps," suggested, I "the poor girl was confined to a comfortless cell ?"
A ghastly smile came over the features of the old lady ; a smile in which there was something horrible and painful to see. She again sat erect in her chair, placed her head on my shoulder, and approaching her face to my ear, she said, in a low, hissing whisper, which thrilled me to the heart, and made me shudder, "she was built up in the cavity of a wall, and left THERE to die."
TO A CHILD , DURING SICKNESS . SLEEP breathless at last from out thee, My little, patient boy ; And balmly rest about thee Smooths off the day's annoy. 1 sit me down, and think Of all thy winning ways ; Yet almost wish, with sudden shrink, That I had less to praise. Thy sidelong pillow'd meekness, Thy thanks to all that aid, Thy heart, in pain and weakness, Of fancied faults afraid ; The little trembling hand That wipes thy quiet tears, These, these are things that may demand Dread memories for years.
Sorrows I've had, severe ones I will not think of now ; And calmly ' midst my dear ones, Have wasted with dry brow : But when thy fingers press , And pat my stooping head, I cannot bear the gentleness.The tears are in their bed. Ah! firstborn of thy mother, When life and hope were new ; Kind playmate of thy brother, Thy sister, father, too : My light where'er I go, My bird when prison bound, -My hand in hand companion,-no, My prayers shall hold thee round. To say, "He has departed ," 66 His voice," his face,"-" is gone ;" To feel impatient-hearted, Yet feel we must bear on : Ah, I could not endure To whisper of such wo, Unless I felt this sleep insure That it will not be so.
Yes, still he's fix'd, and sleeping ! This silence too the whileIts very hush and creeping Seem whispering us a smile Something divine and dim Seems going by one's ear, Like parting wings of cherubim, Who say, 66 We've finished here." -L. HUNT.
