THE MURDERER. 129 her!"-"Hush! hush! love," said his young wife. The doctor turned sadly round, saying, "Watch him well, or he will not see two days more!" The doctor was correct; for he found means to destroy himself; and she, soon afterwards, drowned herself! Judith, on leaving the house, got her father to tell her the sad tale of this man. "This should be an example, my child," said he, "never to allow passion to preponderate over reason; virtue will always forsake us when we give ourselves up to any inordinate desire, and then we become objects of disgust and misery." CHAPTER XIII. MISCELLANEOUS TALES. Come happier hours of sweet unanxious rest, "THIS man was married to a female, who, in every sense of the word, was a good and worthy woman. They kept this small inn; and out of compassion, she took her niece, the young girl who wept this morning, to assist in her domestic affairs. Well, Judith, after a time, the young woman began to increase in size; the neighbours became suspicious; and reports of a very disreputable nature were circulated. One morning, the neighbours were surprised to hear that Mrs. Brown was ill; the next, that she was no more. Then followed a very private funeral; and in less than a month, the niece became the widower's wife. I was called, one night, and, in a very mysterious manner, brought to the inn, to visit the landlord. He was sitting in the old arm THE PROGRESS OF VICE. 131 chair; and at my entrance, he turned a ghastly smile upon me. I instantly saw that there was more in this man's madness than was suspected. So calling his wife out of the room, by dint of remonstrances, persuasions, and promises never to divulge the secret, I wrung from her sufficient to let me know that he had poisoned his late wife, on purpose to marry her, and save her the shame of becoming a mother illegitimately. His wife had not been dead three months, when he fancied that, when he went to bed, she stood by his side, and forced him to empty the cup of poison; for it was in the dead of night that he had compelled her to swallow the deadly potion, whilst his present wife assisted in holding her down. "Now he almost incessantly raves; and says, his murdered victim is under his chair, holding his legs; and his brain is filled with every horrid thought that madness, induced by a recollection of his crime, can suggest." "The "What can his wretched wife think?" Lord alone, my child, knows her thoughts: He can search the secrets of the heart! But mark me, Judith, neither he nor his wife will die a natural death: murder will be avenged! "You are sad, my child," continued the doctor, "so, as we have rather a long and lonely walk, I will tell you a Jewish story, as we return home." "Thank you, dear father," said Judith. "But will you oblige me, by relating how it happened that you should leave Yarmouth handcuffed?""Yes, my dear, I will relate both. "Soon after I came to England, I was at Yarmouth, and my landlady's child swallowed a halfpenny, which stuck in her throat. I performed an operation, and extracted it; which caused a great talk in the neighbourhood. A Methodist preacher, who called on me, to inquire as to the truth of the report, was so much astonished at the cure, that he shewed the piece of money to his congregation; and I, in consequence, became very popular. Indeed, I had so much business, that I was obliged to hire men to keep the attending patients in order. This exciting the jealousy of the other doctors, they gave information that a foreigner was residing in a sea-port town; which, in time of war, is contrary to law; and the constables came one morning, and, putting on handcuffs, carried me off to London, whence I was safely conveyed out of England. And it was in consequence of this banishment, that I went to Ireland. "I must not omit to tell you," continued the doctor, "what a sly rogue Adolphus was, when PIETY AND ROAST GOOSE. 133 I was at Yarmouth. After I became popular, many dissenting preachers used to call on me, and they were always welcome at my table; because I thought, if I were liked by the Shepherds, the flock would like me also. But, Adolphus used often to say, 'Father, the parsons do not come to see you; but they come to eat your roast goose!' Well, one day, when I had occasion to go into the country, Adolphus, who was to accompany me, came in just as we had dined; and I said to him, My son, you can have your dinner when we return, as I cannot now wait whilst you take it.'-' Very well,' was his reply. ‘But, gentlemen,' said he to the preachers, who had dined with me, I hope you will give us a prayer, before we set off.' The parsons, much pleased at this display of piety, as they termed it, said, By all means! And may the Holy Spirit fill your minds with divine comfort!' Well, we all went on our knees, and the pious Adolphus, who was near the table, taking the dish, with the remains of the roast goose, placed it on the chair before which he knelt; and, whilst the others were praying, he made a hearty meal, not omitting to ejaculate Amen! Amen!' when he had finished. He then rose up, saying, 'Come, father, I have done. Good afternoon, gentlemen. I am much obliged to you for your kindness,' 6 |