entered. Our artist, Mr. Dallas, who took the sketch upon the spot before Longfellow had given the place celebrity, has caught the spirit of the scene with great faithfulness. We refresh the memory of our readers with a passage from Hiawatha, descriptive of the scene: "Only once his pace he slackened, Of the ancient arrow maker, In the land of the Dacotahs, Flash and gleam among the oak trees, "There the ancient arrow maker Arrow heads of flint and jasper, Smoothed and sharpened at the edges, Hard and polished, keen and costly. Wayward as the Minnehaha, "Was it here for heads of arrows, In the land of the Dacotahs? "Was it not to see the maiden, See the face of Laughing Water Peeping from behind the curtain, Hear the rustling of her garments, From behind the waving curtain, As we see the Minnehaha Gleaming, glancing through the branches, As one hears the Laughing Water From behind its screen of branches ?" "With him dwelt his dark eyed daughter, STAYS AND SLIPPERS: A TALE. they possessed of her favorite formality. These notions she had never mixed sufficiently with the world to correct, and thus she was on the death of her sister, intrusted with the management of General Phillip's family in a remote country-house. "SHOULDERS, Jemima!" said Miss Partington to her the higher the rank of individuals the greater share niece, who had been just admitted to the dessert with her two younger sisters. "Shoulders, miss!" repeated the ancient damsel, thrusting back her elbows, and drawing up her head for the young lady's especial imitation; "shoulders once more, and pray do not lean back in your chair! Really, General Phillips," she added, addressing her brother-in-law, "I must get you to speak to Miss Crampton about the slovenly carriage of your eldest daughter. I have addressed her so often on the subject, that I am tired of the office." The general turned himself in his chair, pettishly exclaiming: "I will, I will;" but the promise of a man who speaks in a half-doze can hardly be held binding. He attempted to resume his doze, but in vain. Miss Partington, as commander-in-chief of the general's household, had to consult him continually respecting an important event which was daily anticipated. The Earl of Laxington and family had promised a visit to Primley Hall on their way to the Highlands, and Miss Partington-overwhelmed as she was with preparations had scarcely slept since receiving the news of the intended honor, and she seemed determined that her brother should have no rest either. "I am most fearful," she continued, “lest anything should go wrong, and that his lorsdhip should leave with bad impressions respecting our management (Janet, my dear, I am shocked! Cut it, miss! How could you think of peeling an orange ?)--for of course, general, the high rank of his lordship insures the utmost precision and exactitude in his own establishment." This sentiment conveyed Miss Partington's confession of faith respecting virtue and dignity. A rigid adherence to forms and ceremonies constituted, according to her notions, the highest of human excellences. Possess ing a great veneration for nobility, she imagined that Exactly at a quarter to seven o'clock, Miss Crampton, the governess, entered the dining-room to lead the young ladies to the school-room, where they were to be entertained by learning their various tasks for the next morning; and from which they were never allowed to rise till the clock struck nine, when they retired to rest. On this occasion Miss Partington announced, that next morning, after lessons, it was her intention to speak to the ladies respecting the great event which was expected shortly to take place. The three Misses Phillips then rose from the table, and advancing in succession to the spot where their governess stood, placed their arms before them, made a polite courtesy to their father and aunt, and left the room in single file, headed by Miss Crampton. Shortly after, Miss Partington retired to the drawing-room, at the door of which the still-room maid awaited her orders. These having been given, were promptly obeyed; and soon afterwards, the footman was sent with "Miss Partington's compliments to General Phillips-and coffee;" whereupon the general arose and adjourned to the drawing-room with military promptitude. These events happened, with very few exceptions, exactly at the same points of time, in precisely the same manner, three hundred and sixty-five times in every year. The school-room at Primley Hall was a cold-looking apartment, without carpet or draperies. At one end was a long table, surrounded by several chairs, placed exactly equidistant by the correct eye of an esteemed house-maid. A perpendicular book-case stood between the windows, in each of which was placed a globe, care- | rebukes from Miss Crampton. General Phillips betook fully covered with brown Holland. An embroidery- himself to the dining-parlor, so as to be ready to receive frame and work-table adorned each side of the fire- Lord Laxington in the hall. The comely porter was at place. Back-boards, stocks, and other old-fashioned his post, and the servants lined the entry. It was not implements of physical education, were hung up in until she had satisfied herself that all these arrangevarious parts of the room; for calisthenic exercises ments were perfected, that Miss Partington retired to her were pronounced, both by Miss Partington and her ally allotted place and position: she at length perched, the governess, to be quite improper for young ladies in rather than sat, herself upon a chair in the drawingtheir station in life: they were vulgar and unfeminine. room-her countenance expressive of the calmest paA writing-desk, covered with green baize when out of tience, her mind without a care, her dress without a use, and a high-backed chair, placed at the head of the wrinkle. The dearest hopes of the last three weeks of the table, formed Miss Crampton's post of honor, and her life were soon to be realized-a peer of the realm completed the furniture of the Primley Hall seat of was about to witness the effects of her clock-work manlearning. agement-to behold the perfectitude of her rigid regularity. It was not, therefore, without feeling all that emotion which she ever allowed herself to give way to (and that was not much), that Miss Partington heard the carriage-wheels sound their gritty way along the avenue. Curiosity-that single feeling which the most severe discipline is not able to banish from the female breast-induced her to look out of the window to view the stately procession which would, she expected, pass before it. Conceive her disappointment, therefore, when, in its stead, she beheld a dusty travelling-carriage, occupied by the earl in a plain Macintosh, and his daughter in a very plain dress. A lady's-maid sat in the dickey, and a couple of road-begrimed grooms rode in the rumble. But where were the son and the cousin? This question was ocularly answered in a manner which increased the old lady's astonishment tenfold. While the general was receiving his guest in the hall, up galloped Miss Pelham upon a Shetland pony, in a state of high exultation at having beaten her cousin in a race. But a more extraordinary spectacle next presented itself to the aunt's wonderment; for Lord Augustus Montgomery soon after made his appearance upon neighbor Mactaggart's donkey. Next day, precisely at the appointed hour of twelve o'clock, and not above a minute after Miss Crampton had closed the geographical class-book with "That will do for this morning, ladies," Miss Partington entered the school-room. The governess abdicated her seat immediately, and the aunt, with stately step, advanced and took it, Miss Crampton standing reverentially by her side. There was for a time a dead silence, to render what was to follow the more impressive. In due time Miss Partington broke it, and commenced by informing her nieces that the Earl of Laxington, with his son, Lord Augustus Montgomery, his daughter, Lady Belinda | Montgomery, and his niece, the honorable Miss Pelham, were about to honor them and Primley Hall with a visit. She cautioned the Misses Phillips in regard to their carriage and conduct, that it should be rigidly correct in every particular: she anticipated they would find little difficulty in behaving with strict propriety; as, to do that, they would only have to copy the actions of their guests, who, from their high rank, were of course models of undeviating regularity and strict etiquette. She hoped her nieces would demean themselves with that gravity which was so estimable in ladies of their age; but addressed herself more especially to the youngest auditor, Georgina, who had occasionally betrayed symptoms of levity, which, considering her age (quite eight years), had surprised and sometimes shocked her. The pupils promised obedience and the most exemplary demeanor; Miss Partington patted each affectionately on the head in order of seniority, and left the room; while Miss Crampton, placing a puzzle-map of Asia upon the table, bade the young ladies "play" while she retired to put on a walking dress. About an hour after, all four were seen march-But in the very midst of these reflections, Miss Partinging with measured steps in the grounds, till the nursery dinner-bell should summon them to the house at five minutes to two o'clock. Miss Partington was petrified! How happy she was that the school-room window looked out upon the lawn instead of towards the avenue, and that the dangerous example of her noble visitors had been hidden from her innocent nieces' eyes. But could she believe her own? Was it possible that titled personages could be guilty of such extravagances? Surely there must be some mistake. That ill-dressed man in the dusty carriage could not be General Phillips's brother-officer, the earl, of whose high birth and breeding she had heard so much? ton was undeceived: the door opened, and her brother entered with his noble guest. The earl, a frank, but well-bred man, saluted his hostess in a manner which put everything out of Miss Partington's head except his rank and title. He soon made her forget the dusty carriage and the donkey; for, with the unerring tact of good-breeding, his lordship deported himself in a way which would, he knew, be most agreeable to the maiden aunt, and consequently appeared to her as a person, stately, after her own heart. On the following morning, a servant, belonging to the family with whom the noble guest was making a temporary sojourn, rode up the avenue with a letter announcing that the earl would arrive in an hour. So well had every plan been laid, that this somewhat short notice scarcely disconcerted the household in the least. Before the hour had elapsed, the young ladies were dressed in prim demi-toilet, awaiting the summons to appear for Meanwhile the occupants of the school-room had to introduction to their coming companions; but exhibited | endure the torments of impatience before the bell rang signs of impatience which drew forth several severe for them to be presented to the earl and his family. exercise. They had heard, poor creatures, all the bustle which the instructed in the proper behavior for dinner-had not, arrival had occasioned, without being able to participate in short, been put through their state-dinner-table in the general satisfaction of the establishment. They sat motionless upon their chairs, strictly watched by their grim governess. They did not dare to move for fear of tumbling their muslin frocks, or creasing their dove-colored waist-ribbons. After enduring this demure suspense for half an hour, the door suddenly opened, and in came a young gentleman in a round jacket, flourishing a stick, and inquiring for his sister Bel. Miss Crampton screamed; but the young ladies vented their surprise in a more prudent manner: they turned their eyes slowly towards each other, and then returned them upon their governess, with the slow motion of puppet Turks worked by machinery. "I trust I have not alarmed you-I beg pardon, are you Miss Phillips ?" inquired the intruder, stepping up to that young lady, and offering his hand. Jemina looked towards her governess to see if she might take it. An approving nod followed, the instant the juvenile gallant announced that he was Lord Montgomery, and the three girls held out their hands one after another, courtesied, and resumed their seats, with uniform exactitude, but without speaking; after this the young lord retired to continue his search for his sister, leaving Miss Crampton in a state of extreme perplexity. She knew that this accidental mode of introduction was not in Miss Partington's programme, and that it superseded the formal meeting which was to have taken place in the "blue parlor," and which she had frequently rehearsed with her pupils. It happened, therefore, that when the dressing-bell rang, Miss Partington-who had already made her own toilet-was employed administering to her nieces such weighty instruction as the urgent necessity of the case demanded. They were told what to eat, and how to eat it; their drink was prescribed after the manner of the faculty-one sip of sherry and water about every fifteen minutes. In fact, so minute and various were Miss Partington's directions, that, as she followed them to the dining-room, she congratulated herself on having left nothing whatever to her nieces' discretion. Fortunately, the early courses of the feast passed off to Miss Partington's satisfaction; for her beloved charges ate but little, by reason of an ample lunch they had made; it having been a part of their instructions to leave themselves, during dinner, as little to do as possible. Indeed, she secretly congratulated herself on the favorable contrast which their demeanor presented to that of the young guests. The latter actually ate as if dining were not a mere formal duty, but a necessity; her own young ladies, Miss Partington was glad to remark, betrayed not the smallest symptom of gratification at what they were doing, not even while the pastry was in course of mastication. The contrast, however, gave rise in Lord Laxington to far different reflections. He saw that the minds of the girls were tied and bound by rules and regulations: that they were constrained into an unnatural, and therefore unhappy mode of existence. He pitied them, and determined that, while he stayed at Primley Hall, they should enjoy as much relaxation as it was in his power to create. With this view, he proposed an excursion for the next day to a celebrated scene in the neighborhood. Miss Partington hesitated; Lady Belinda and her brother declared it was a delightful proposition; and at length it was decided that the excursion should take place. When, alas! it was too late, the bell rang, and the governess and her girls made their progress to the blue parlor. But on entering it, instead of finding their three young guests drawn up in a row to receive them, as their aunt had arranged-the room was empty! The fact was, the earl's daughter and niece were superintending the unpacking of their toys-without which they never travelled and when the Misses Phillips turned to the window, they beheld to their extreme astonishment the The period had now arrived when, according to the Honorable Miss Pelham on the lawn bowling a hoop! instructions given to the Misses Phillips, they were to Miss Crampton was only awakened from her wonder-rise from the table of their own accord, make one, two, ment by the entrance of the aunt and Lord Laxington. Miss Partington was much mortified on perceiving the young guests absent, and her careful arrangements utterly disregarded. The earl, however, adroitly patched up the disappointment, by complimenting the aunt on the personal appearance of her nieces, and congratu- | lating the nieces upon their being cared for by so accomplished an aunt. All this would have passed off satisfactorily, had not his lordship concluded his introduction to the Misses Phillips by an unlucky proposition. He begged that, by way of a treat, the young ladies and his own children may be allowed to dine with the family! So unheard-of a suggestion more than surprised the girls-it frightened them! and they cast a simultaneous look of terror upon their aunt. With her, however, the word of an earl was law, and she gave a bewildered consent. "Lunch for children!" she inwardly exclaimed. "Dangerous indulgence!" Besides, she reflected that they had never been three courtesies, in order of seniority, and to leave the room. But the thoughts of the promised excursion affrighted their minds. Miss Partington's patience was losing the even tenor of its way, when a diversion was effected by Lord Montgomery. That young nobleman having got tired of building houses with ratafias, and manufacturing pigs out of orange-peel-after-dinner arts, in which he was a great adept-proposed that they should change the scene for a romp on the lawn! Miss Partington turned pale! "A very good thought," added the Honorable Miss Pelham; "and as we have brought the sticks and strings, suppose we commence with a game at-Devil!" At the mention of that horrible word, Miss Partington sunk back in her chair, like to a person who had been suddenly wounded. Her head swam, and she had the utmost difficulty in preventing herself from further disarranging her own programme for the day, by fainting. When she returned to her ordinary state of sedate consciousness, the whole of the juveniles had departed; perhaps her own nieces wereagonising thought!-playing at that unmentionable game; and etiquette forbade her retiring to forbid them! The next morning there was a bustle in Primley Hall, such as had not occurred under its venerable roof since General Phillips retired from active service. The carriage stood at the door, together with Farmer Mactaggart's donkey, and one of the post-horses saddled, for the especial equestrianism of Lord Augustus Montgomery. The Misses Phillips stood in the hall dressed exactly alike in slate-color pelisses and poke-bonnets. Upon Miss Crampton's gaunt figure hung her outdoor apparel, a never-absent reticule swinging from her arm. When the whole party had assembled, they were called into the breakfast-room. "I am told," said Lord Laxington, "that although the waterfall you are going to visit can be seen without danger, yet the approach to the hermitage is extremely perilous. I must therefore request of you, young ladies," he continued, addressing himself to his daughter and niece only, "not to make any attempt to enter it. As for Augustus, being a boy, he may run into whatever dangerous adventures he chooses: if he get off with impunity, well; if not, he must abide the consequences." "But, papa," remarked Lady Belinda, "they tell us the hermitage is by far the most interesting thing of the whole." leading her, but without success. Miss Phillips, however, was free, the conductress not having three hands for all her three pupils, and Lady Belinda, taking her round the waist, half-enticed and half-forced her to the bottom of the hill, to the utter dismay of the governess and the trembling sisters. Lord Montgomery and his cousin followed, and all four diving into the woods, were soon out of sight. Indeed, by the time Miss Crampton reached the spot where they had disappeared, the truants were at least half a mile distant. "O how beautiful!" exclaimed Lady Belinda, when the first view of the waterfall burst upon them; "it is like fairy-land. One almost expects to see little elves peeping forth from between the rocks. You do not seem pleased, though, Miss Phillips ?" "Why-why," said that young lady with hesitation, "I've lost my governess, and aunt will be so angry!" "Oh, never mind your governess !" Lord Augustus replied; "she is far enough away-out of sight and hearing." "And a good thing, too," interrupted Miss Pelham. "I am sure her very look is enough to spoil one's pleasure. She is so stiff, and looks uncommonly cross." Miss Phillips had thought the same thing of Miss Crampton a thousand times, but had never dared to express it. She did not, therefore, contradict the opinion, but addressed herself more earnestly to inquiring “And I am an excellent climber," rejoined Miss whether it was perfectly certain that the governess was Pelham. "You really must promise what I ask," said the earl. The young ladies knew another word would be useless, and gave the required pledge. Miss Partington, who stood by, mentally congratulated herself that no such caution was necessary for the young ladies under her and Miss Crampton's care and pupilage. They, the well-behaved darlings, were never let out of her or their governess's sight. Hence, for any accident to befall them from their own heedlessness, was utterly impossible. The well-looked-after girls having severally courtesied, according to their age, entered the carriage with Lady Belinda, followed by Miss Crampton. The family vehicle rolled away in advance; the rear being brought up by Lord Montgomery on the post-hack, and the Honorable Miss Pelham on the borrowed donkey. The destination was not far distant, and the steady coachman-an old trooper in the corps of which General Phillips had been colonel-drove his precious charges deliberately and safely to the spot. The equestrians, however, made several excursions to view the beautiful scenery which presented itself in the neighborhood of their route. On joining the Misses Phillips, they spoke raptures of what they had seen, and wondered their young friends, natives of the place, were not equally charmed; but the governess explained that they were never allowed to go out without proper superintendence, and that it had never been convenient till now to spare sufficient time from their scholastic studies to visit the celebrated scenes of their native parish. Miss Pelham exclaimed: "How odd!" and tried to pull away Georgina from the firm grasp of her governess, who was quite too far away to hear or see what was going on. Having been conclusively satisfied on this point, Miss Phillips's manner changed with extraordinary celerity. The long-pent-up animal spirits of the pupil found full vent in the unrestrained delight of the girl. Living, speaking, and acting by rule being a perfectly unnatural condition for children, they are, whenever drilled into that mode of existence, studiously and effectually taught to become hypocrites. This was the case with Miss Phillips. Naturally, her disposition was lively, and her spirits so high, that all the rigid schooling she had been subjected to could not break them; consequently, when the barrier of restraint was removed, they completely overflowed, and to the amazement of her companions, she laughed, talked, and romped with much less reserve than either of the more volatile young ladies; so much so, that Belinda took occasion to remark to her cousin, that "she thought Miss Phillips sometimes went too far." "And oh, Bel,” was the reply, "if her aunt were to see her now! Poor old lady, the consequences would be really shocking!" Augustus was amazed, and apologized to Jemina for having so entirely mistaken her character. "Why," said he, "I thought you the primmest, most disagreeable, icy person I ever met with. Didn't you, Fanny?" "As for me," remarked Fanny Pelham, "I had an idea you all lived upon starch, and had been taught that to be dumb was an accomplishment." By this time the party rambled to the path which led to the forbidden hermitage, and they all wondered where the danger could possibly be. It was broad as far as they could see it, and, to all appearance, as easily tra versed as any other path. Augustus suggested, however, | rescuer was not embarrassed by that convulsive grasp that the point of danger might be where it turned of the drowning which so often proves fatal to both. abruptly upon the overhanging cliff. "At all events," He held her by the hair, keeping her head above water, he continued, "I can cross the stream a little above the and allowed the stream to carry him down to a safe fall, and see the whole thing." Accordingly, he soon landing-place. appeared on the other side, and reported he could see the mouth of the cave, and that the path seemed as safe as possible. "Then I wonder," said Miss Pelham, "why we were and her first view of the accident showed her beloved forbidden to go." "That is no affair of ours," replied Belinda; "we are not to visit this mysterious hermitage, and there is an end of the matter." "But cannot Augustus go? He was not restricted; and then he can describe it to us. I'll ask him." Miss Pelham called across, and her cousin replied that he would not go; for although his father did not expressly forbid the adventure, it was evident he did not wish it. "And so you see, cousin," said the sister, turning to Miss Pelham, we must give it up entirely." Miss Phillips wondered at all this hesitation, and at the coolness with which so desirable a project was abandoned. She had not been instructed either one way or the other. Governess could not see, and if her companions would promise not to tell, she would go and see the hermitage. Lady Belinda would give no such promise; "for," she said, "half the pleasure consists in telling papa all we have seen and done after we get home. Besides, I am quite sure I could not keep a secret." Miss Phillips, however, determined to venture, arguing that although it was likely her papa and aunt would be angry, yet they had not expressly forbidden the attempt; and, above all, governess was not there to interdict her. Nevertheless, she felt perfectly certain that Miss Crampton would do so were she present. "Hallo!" shouted Augustus from the other side, "are you going, Miss Phillips? But I would advise you to turn back; I'm sure they won't like it at home." He saw, however, that she was resolute, and advised her to take unusual care when she turned the corner, for the path sloped a little, and being bare rock, might be slippery. This part of the path was cut upon a rock which overhung the basin into which the water fell. Jemima felt not the smallest apprehension till she arrived at the projecting point where the path turned suddenly round towards the entrance of the cave. It was only at this point that the dizzy height above the water could be distinctly seen. At the sight of it, she turned giddy, her foot slipped over the edge of the sloping path, the unfortunate girl uttered a piercing scream, and the next audible sound was the splash of her body in the water below! Augustus being directly opposite, was the only person who saw the accident; and though terribly shocked, lost no time in useless reflection. He was an expert swimmer-he clambered over the rocks with the celerity of a chamois, and when sufficiently near the river for a safe plunge, dived into the water as near to the sinking object as possible. He soon seized it. Luckily, the shock had stunned the girl; hence the The cousins on hearing Jemima shriek, hastened, in an agony of dread, to an opening where they could see what had happened. Lady Belinda outstripped Fanny, brother striking out gallantly to a shelving part of the bank. She rushed down the hill with the speed of a fawn, and was soon at the water's edge. Meantime, Miss Crampton and her two pupils arrived in their search for their lost sister at the same spot, and were so completely overpowered at what they saw, as to be totally deprived of motion, and unable to render assistance; but their shrieks were prolonged and piercing. The other young ladies, on the contrary, uttered no sound, but employed themselves more usefully. Miss Pelham having taken hold of her cousin's hand as she had requested, Belinda walked far enough into the stream to catch Jemima's dress, as she and Augustus were sweeping past, borne rapidly along by the current. By this means they were dragged on shore. In a moment the senseless girl was laid on the bank, and stripped by her female friends. Augustus galloped as fast as possible to Primley Hall. Jemima having been properly dried by Lady Montgomery and Miss Pelham, was reclothed with the superfluous garments of the rest of the party. In all these proceedings Miss Crampton and the two young sisters were unable to afford the smallest assistance. They stood inactive, looking on and shrieking. All Miss Crampton did was in the way of expostulation on the indelicacy of her ladyship's operations. The cousins were, however, deaf to the governess, and on their way to the carriage, had the happiness to find their efforts rewarded by Miss Phillips's partial recovery. The old coachman was ordered to drive home considerably faster than he came. It is now necesssary for us to outstrip the carriage, to note what was going on at Primley Hall where these events were taking place. General Phillips, accompanied by his sister, was showing the noble guest over their grounds, and explaining the exact regularity of all their arrangements; when having sought rest in a mathematically-contrived summer-house, the earl exclaimed: "Well, general, of the kind, I must say yours is the most complete house and grounds I have seen; but to my own taste-which may be very bad—a little less formality in your domestic arrangements would be far more agreeable." "But where there are children, you know, Lord Laxington, it is positively necessary to keep up a system of order." "True, but even that may be overdone. I knew, to my cost, when cornet in your regiment, my dear general, that you were a strict martinet. Yet despite your severity, we subalterns were noted for being the wildest set of fellows in the whole army. Depend upon it, young people too rigidly brought up, turn out in the end |