have broken the chains of the people; Faith and Thought have freed the earth! And another said: We desired to divide mankind, and our oppression has united them against us!' And another: We have shed blood; and that blood has returned upon our heads!' And another: 'We have sowed corruption, and it has germinated in us and destroyed even our bones! And another: We thought to stifle LIBERTY; and its breath has withered our power, even to the roots!' Then the seventh shadow: CHRIST has conquered! Cursed be he!'

And all with one voice responded: CHRIST has conquered! Cursed be he!'

And I saw a hand stretch forth, which dipped its finger in the blackish water, whose drops in falling measured eternal duration, and mark the foreheads of the seven shadows: and that was forever!

R. H. B.

Where the young flowers in fresh, bright clusters springing,
Bloom undisturbed within their native bowers;
And fearless birds their upward flight are winging;
In this sweet solitude I'd pass my hours,

Unsought, unknown.

INVOCATION.

WHAT cheer, imperial mountain! Titan, hail!
Thy distant crest gleams in the morning light,
Like a small shallop's broad and snowy sail
Over still waters urging its swift flight.

What cheer, old thunder-scarred and wrinkled peak!
On which the elements in vain their fury wreak?

On thy wide shoulders rests the eternal snow,
Wherein broad rivers have their hidden springs :
Down thy rough sides impetuous torrents flow;
The cataract with sullen thunder rings,
And flashing fiercely round thine aged feet,
Against thy patient rocks the fretted waters beat.

Through the dark foam and fluctuating surge,
That ever dash thy rugged breast upon,
Thou dost in silent majesty emerge,

Lifting thy forehead proudly to the sun,
Like a great truth, simple and yet sublime,
Gleaming above the surge of error and of time.

There standest thou forever, day and night,
Like a great man, calm, self-possessed, severe,
Who, doing what he knoweth to be right,

Stands up, firm-rooted, earnest and sincere ;
Calmly the suffrage of the world contemns,

Seeks not its worthless praise, nor heeds if it condemns.

Above the northern Cordilleras, towers

Thy haughty crest, like some strong feudal king, Elect of principalities and powers,

To whom far isles unwilling tribute bring;

Who holds in pomp and majesty his court,

Amid the mail-clad Barons that his throne support.

Thou standest firm there, like an iron will,
Triumphant over Time and Circumstance,
Sternly resolved its duty to fulfil,

And ever toward its object to advance;
Careless of all the clamorous hounds that bay,
And over all impediments holds on its way.

How many ages is it since the snows

First on thy forehead and wide shoulders fell?
How many, since the wondering sun arose,
Wondering at thee, grim-visaged sentinel!
On the wide desert's western margin set,
To watch its solemn loneliness, as thou dost yet?

Wast thou an island, in the overflow

Of the great flood? Did any from afar Look wistfully to thy eternal snow,

Over new oceans gleaming like a star?

Or did the waves thee also overwhelm,

Last spot of earth on the wide waters' angry realm?

Howe'er it be, still thou art planted there,

As when the deluge round thee ceased to roar;
Thy snows the bright hues of young morning wear,
The crimson glories of spring sunrise pour
On thy white brow, that proudly fronts the sky,
Bidding a stern defiance to Day's burning eye.

It was the sweet month of June. I had finished all the little preparations necessary for my tour, which I had determined to make alone; not even accompanied by Thomas, a faithful servant, who had from my childhood been devotedly attached to me, and was always my companion and ready assistant in every adventure where I required his aid. So alone I was permitted to go. And I farther determined to take the mail-coach in preference to a more secluded though imposing means of conveyance. My mother dismissed me with gentle cautions as to my general conduct while away, entreating me to be careful of myself; not to forget my daily devotions, if I expected the protection of Providence, and to be sure to let her hear from me often.

My father gave me letters of introduction to various families of distinction in the different towns through which I might pass, and a wellfilled purse, with directions how I might replenish it if necessary. Aunt Alice had not spoken to me on the subject of my excursion; but on the morning of my departure she put in my hands a small parcel, and immediately turned away. I had not time then to examine it; so I placed it carefully in my portmanteau, intending to open it when more at leisure.

The Fly Dragon' royal mail coach passed through Warwick about ten o'clock. Proceeding thither in our own carriage, I had not waited ten minutes before it made its appearance. I chose an outside, and secured the seat of honor next to the whip.' Several other passengers got on at Warwick. There was the usual show of idle do-nothing fel

lows around the door, increased by a number of lazy grooms and lacqueys, to whom the arrival and departure of the royal mail were the principal events in their existence. The horses were prancing, impatient of delay. By each, stood a groom ready to lift the blanket that covered the animal, when the signal should be given. All right?' asked the coachman; All right!' responded the guard; All right!' echoed the groom; and away flew the horses, leaving the four attendants with arms outstretched, each having retained his blanket.

What glorious excitement filled my bosom, as we coursed along! The balmy breath of the morning; the sweet fragrance of the hedge and of the field; the bracing air, added to the newness of my situation, made me feel like a new creature. My identity was almost gone; hope, and the various emotions that hope gives birth to, swelled my bosom; I felt that a thousand new ideas were springing up within me. Just then I could have shouldered the universe, so strong did I feel, or 'put a gir dle round about the earth in forty minutes,' I felt so fleet. What can equal the energy of untried youth!

Among the passengers that took the stage-coach at Warwick was a young man, apparently about one-and-twenty years of age, who in several ways attracted my notice. He was rather tall and slender, of an Italian cast of features, with long dark hair, piercing black eyes, and beard trimmed after the peculiar style of the Prussians. There was nothing English in his appearance. Much to my surprise, however, he spoke that language without the slightest accent, and seemed perfectly familiar with the ordinary customs of the country, and also with the localities we passed. He conversed with considerable freedom with those who sat by him, though they were evidently acquaintances of the road. His servant, a sinister-looking fellow, of foreign appearance, occupied a back seat, and had charge of divers sporting implements, which betokened a relish for the chase in the master. Yet the Unknown was the last person to be suspected of such a propensity, or of belonging to such gentle craft. In spite of myself, I felt an instinctive antipathy to the stranger; and the more I tried to dispel my unfavorable suspicions, the stronger they became. The times were suspicious. The French revolution had begun: multitudes of the noblesse were hastening to England, glad, amid the awful horrors that prevailed, to save their lives at the expense of rank and fortune, throwing themselves entirely upon the charity of their hereditary enemies. But the dark-looking young man was not French. Of this I was certain. He had evidently been long abroad, and from the suspicious glances cast ever and anon around him, was evidently accustomed to scenes of danger, perhaps violence. Still there was nothing of the frank open bearing of the soldier in his manner, but more of the wily caution of the intriguer; and I wondered the more that one so young should so early bear such marks upon his brow.

At one of the stopping-places, the stranger alighted, and on regaining his seat, his body came almost in contact with mine; and as he bent over to pass me, my eyes glanced involuntarily into his bosom, where I beheld a stout leathern belt, in which were thrust a dagger and a brace of pistols, so disposed as ordinarily to be concealed from view by the

vest and the light mantle worn over it. At that moment the stranger's gaze met mine; and as if aware of the discovery I had made, he gave a scornful smile and took, his place. Half ashamed at seeing what I certainly could not help observing, and piqued at the assumption of the stranger, whom I had by this time put down for one no better than he should be, I settled into a moody silence, considerably unlike the buoyant feelings which signalized our starting.

I did not long maintain this feeling, but entered into conversation with Walter, the whip, a veteran roadster, now some fifty years old, whom I had known from childhood. He had for many years been in the service of a family who were on terms of intimacy with us, and had afterward left them for the more lucrative employment of the road. Of course I recognized him at once on mounting.

The young Master St. Leger travels alone, I see,' said Walter, in an inquiring tone; nothing amiss, I hope?'

'Nothing,' I replied; I am just going to shake hands with the world, and prefer an incog. to a formal introduction.'

And that's the way to make the most of the acquaintance, if you are wise, and the shortest route to send you to the devil if you are foolish,' answered Walter, somewhat confidently.

Remembering that my old acquaintance was somewhat of a moralist, I felt like giving him his bent, and asked: How is that, Walter ?'

Why,' replied he, if the young St. Leger should drive into the world with a load of introductions to all the high-born and honorable, the rich and the noble, he might be courted, and flattered, and fooled till he would become as great a fool as any. But if he would know where he stands, and the road he travels, let him take his first start without any help, just as you are going to do, I hope, and then he will find out what he is good for, and what his friends are good for; but, young man, if this is done only to throw off the restraint of the governor's presence, and the proper curb of experience and good advice, why then, as I said before, you will soon be scampering to the devil, and all the governors and friends in the world can't hold you up.'

I was struck with the homely soundness of Walter's speech, and told him that I fully agreed with him; but that the present excursion was to be only a short one, and that nearly all my time would be passed with my relatives.

So much the more need then of making the most of what time you have,' said he;' we shall be at Oxford presently, and there' The coachman leaves you, Sir,' said Walter, touching his hat, and mimicking the tone always used when the customary shilling is expected. Now take my advice; stay a day there, instead of hurrying on to London. Old Nancy, the housekeeper I suppose she is alive yet will only look one day longer for you, and that will harm nobody. You have been in Oxford a hundred times, no doubt. You have looked at all the fine buildings and the grand colleges and halls; so you need waste no more time about them; just stop at the 'Hen and Chickens' instead of going to the 'Angel,' where you will be recognized, and served accordingly. But at Mother Christy's all you have to do is to sit still and see the world. Depend upon it, 'tis the only way.'