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"different from his feelings for Maggy, to sully his boyish purity of character, and give "that mixed one, which leaves its possessor open to great danger for the remainder of "his existence. Wrangling with the mean tenants, made him, in some degree, mean "also,—at least he felt it did; putting off the creditors, taught him to speak things that "were not true; the necessity of countenancing the sheriff's sons, and even the lower "law officers, further involved the necessity of drinking more, and oftener, than he had "ever done before; and still, though he studied to avoid his unfortunate cousin, he "allowed his passion for her to boil in his heart, and her burning kisses to taint his lips; "and, altogether he knew himself to be in such a state as made him dread and loathe a "visit to the knee of his austere reverend friend.

"But certain circumstances, if they did not cure his passion for the girl, placed him "beyond the danger of injuring her and himself in consequence of it.

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"Some weeks after the affair of the prayer-book, Mrs. Carey one day entered his room, sat down very leisurely, and after a few preliminary words, said---' You have "a likin for poor Maggy, I hear, Masther John?'

"John started, blushed, stared, and mumbled.

"An' if so, maybe ye couldn't do betther together,' continued Mrs. Carey---'I "know Aby Nowlan intends to give her a purty penny, and you the same, John; an' "'ye have my blessin', between ye.'

"John, shocked and disgusted, expressed himself very strongly against the con"clusion that he was in love with his cousin; or, even if he were, against the enormity "of thinking of her! Mrs. Carey mentioned how all that could be got over by a trip to "England, or somewhere; he grew indignant, and added his objections to degrade "himself by marrying such a girl, even if she were not his cousin: and Mrs. Carey "bounced out of the room, scolding and threatening as loud as she could.

"For a long time after, John and Maggy did not, of course, speak to each other; "and all the better for John, as, his eyes now opened, he had time to think of the "dangerous folly and the dangerous people he had so long allowed to lure him towards "destruction. But, upon a night, after all the family had retired to bed, when there "was an alarm of bailiffs or robbers breaking into the house, a loud knocking sounded at his door, and Mrs. Carey's voice, begging for his protection, was heard in the lobby. Hastily dressing himself, he opened the door, and the mother and daughter, hand in "hand, entered the room.

"Let us stay with you, Masther John, let us stay with you,' said Mrs. Carey,--"we have no where else to stay.'

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"By the light of the moon, he procured them seats. After some pause, Mrs. Carey, hoping it was a false alarm, said she would go out to ask poor Aby Nowlan' "about it; and John and Maggy were left alone.

"In the imperfect light the moon afforded, she appeared but half attired; her feet "thrust into slippers, and some large piece of drapery bundled round her. After her "mother retired, she glanced round the room, and 'Oh, dear John Nowlan,' she "whispered, 'I'm frightened to death---just feel how my heart bates---did you ever see "the like?" He perceived, indeed, that she trembled from head to foot; whether from "fear exclusively, or with another feeling as strong, though different, he did not think "of determining.

"Och! what's the matther at all---an' what's come over my mother to lave us ""here by ourselves, an' you as much frightened as I am, for you're all in a thremble "too, John---whisht! an' look! who's at the dour ?---oh John! John! won't you put "your two hands round me?'

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"He did so, assuring her there was nothing to fear. She pressed, as if in alarm, "close to him. Upon this night John had retired to his room heated, though not to excess, with whisky-punch. He was off his guard. He caressed Maggy long after the "necessity for quieting her fears had passed away. She did not repulse him: she did "more: she encouraged him. Her advances exceeded his; he saw they did, and was "first disgusted, then startled, then master of himself. He flung from her arms; mut"tered words, which, along with his repulse, the wretched girl, and her more wretched mother, never forgot nor forgave; led her to her chamber door; hurried back to his "own; and again went to bed, assuring himself, and perhaps not uncharitably, that he "had escaped a plan laid for his downfall.

"About six months after this, Aby Nowlan was a pauper in his brother Daniel's "house, and John Nowlan a pauper with him. Maggy and her mother lived near at

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"hand in the miserable cabin of a miserable old woman, who got the scanty meal of po"tatoes on which she barely existed, by wandering through the country with a bag on "her back to beg them, while her two or three pounds of yearly rent were paid by the "yearly sale of a slip of a pig.' How Mrs. Carey and her daughter settled for their board " and lodging with this respectable person, remained no mystery. John often met Maggy "in his solitary and discontented rambles about the fields, but they never spoke: the poor cast away, flaunting in a wretched display of finery and dirt, always passed him "with a brow of settled anger, and, as she tried to evince it, disdain. Strange to say, " he now felt more than ever an unholy passion for his cousin; the sluggish idleness in "which, for the first time, he lived, promoting no doubt the tendency to every thing " wrong and bad in its nature. Often did he lurk about her path, determined to address "her, and, with an impulse to sin, endeavour to make up their late difference. But two

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or three events checked, once again, his career to ruin.

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Upon a moonlight night, when, hiding in the shadow of a thick hedge, he had "been watching her, she passed him, accompanied by a young. man of about his own age, but whose dress and air seemed far above John Nowlan's situation in life. The "stranger's arm was round Maggy's waist; and his face so turned to her that John could "not see a feature of it. The girl sobbed and wept, and addressed her companion in a tone, half of entreaty, half of reproach; and ere they had passed out of hearing, John "had no doubt of the cause of her tears and remonstrance. In a few weeks, it was well "known that Maggy was about to become an unwedded mother, and that all efforts of "her friends to ascertain the name of her seducer proved vain: she would never answer "a question on the subject. This, joined to his chance observation of the young man he "had seen in her company, appeared very stange to John. While his breast boiled "with rage and jealousy, he took every measure, consistent with the secresy and caution "due to his own situation, to discover his successful rival. He resumed, day and night, "his stealthful watches of Maggy; but she did not appear again, even aloue, in her usual "haunts. He thought over the names of all the young men in the neighbourhood, and " ventured all the enquiries he durst; still without becoming satisfied.

"To a young mind, the first contemplation of mortality, particularly if it be sudden, " or unusually circumstanced, is appalling. John Nowlan felt shocked and troubled, at "the bottom of his soul, upon the death of his uncle. The convulsed face, the staring, "glassy eyes, the distorted limb, haunted his thoughts, day and night, for months. He "slept little; and nothing else found place in his reflections. Maggy was forgotten. "No fiery passions could riot in the awed stupor of soul he now experienced. Time "rolled on; and his mere physical sensations changed into a new horror, at a review of "the unprepared state in which the poor sinner had been called to his last account. "From this review of another, his eye turned upon himself, and he started, shuddered, "and groaned. Religion still had full influence over him; but it was rather the influence " of terror than of persuasion; he heard its awakened voice in the thunders of reproof, "not in the whispers of peace; and therefore he groaned and trembled. All that he had "fallen from; the depth he still feared---almost wished to fall; the erring past; the "obstinate and tempting present; aspirations of one kind; throbbings and wishes of "another kind: every thing made him most miserable.

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"He shunned the faces of his father, mother, and brother, and used to spend whole "days, on pretence of being engaged in study, cut in the most lonesome places. "would stretch himself on the grass, and now shed tears of penitence, now tears of "passion; now pray to God, now turn to the Tempter, in his solitude. Features and "forms of ecstatic influence subdued, at one moment, his whole heart and soul; at "another, the mental horizon was blank and dismal, or else alive with very different objects. At last, a time of real trial came: a time, first full of confusion, but next of "calm and sweetest repose.

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"One morning that "a station" of confession was appointed to be held in his father's "house, he sought, in avoidance of it, at an earlier hour than usual, one of his lonely "haunts. He could not stand before the brow of his old guide, who was to preside on "the occasion. In the country parts of Ireland, where chapels are far asunder, and the "peasantry negligent of religious duties, it is the custom for the priest to name certain "houses in his parish, to which he alternately repairs to hear the confessions of those in "the immediate neighbourhood, thus making up for the want of more chapels, and, at "the same time, leaving no excuse to the slumbering zeal of his sometimes refractory "flock; and the meetings growing out of such arrangements are called "stations.”

“As John sat in his solitary hiding-place, he heard the people troop by him from "different paths, to comply with the summons of their pastor to meet him in Daniel "Nowlan's house. Young and old of each sex, passed him unseen; men so aged as to "be scarce able to creep along; children, who, as they spoke of the duty they were about "to discharge, lisped their comments to each other.

"Had he been a murderer skulking from justice, and these the officers of justice "looking for him, and speaking of him as they went by, he could not feel more dis"turbed; his self-respect could not be more shaken; his spirit more crouching. At last, "all had repaired to the house, and a dead silence surrounded him. Little relieved he "sat motionless; yet, in the pause, his soul filled with riotous thoughts. A light step approached him. He raised his head, and saw Maggy Nowlan.

She came up without any appearance of her former anger, and her beautiful "large eyes rested on his. He knew that she had for some time been recovered from "the sufferings of a mother; and now, in renovated health, more rounded proportions, " and with a bright blush mantling her cheek, John thought she had never looked so "handsome. He started up; she extended her hand; he took it eagerly.

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"Let us forget an' forgive, John,' she said; we war both to blame; and I have "the heaviest sorrowin'.---You know all that has happened, but you don't know what 'I'm goin' to tell you. I am in want, John; my babby an' me, an' my poor mother, "too:' she wept real tears ;---' you loved me once; if you love me still, give us a little "help, John;' her eye, voice and manner, told the rest.

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Touched, fired, surprised, and maddened in a breath, he clasped her in his arms, " and pressed his lips to hers. Then, catching her round the waist, they were walking away, when--- Stop, Sir!' cried a loud, stern voice: Maggy looked in the direction "whence it came, and fled precipitately. John muttered a savage curse, that died upon "his tongue as his eye settled on the upright, though aged figure of the old priest, his "relative and former guide and pastor.

"After a glance, his first impulse was to avoid an interview; but a dogged resent"ment urged him to confront the person who had given the interruption.

"Stop, Sir, and hear a word from me!' continued the clergyman, coming close. "I stop for you, Sir, to hear whatever you have to say---and to ask you, in turn, "why I am thus intruded upon.'---He advanced.

"Do you dare me, wretched boy! detected as you are in the very commission of **• sin ?'

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"I am not detected in the commission of any sin---and I do dare you---you or any man who will thus insult me.' Again he advanced, clenching his fingers so desperately that the nails pierced the palms of his hands.

The priest fixed upon him a glance, such as the maniac is tamed by, and after a pause, thundered out--- Come into the house, Sir!'

"No,' answered John, still sullenly, yet conscience-struck and confused by the ** command--- I do not intend to stir from where I am ---why should I go into the "house?'

"Will you pretend to say you did not know of my business within the house this "morning? Answer me, Sir!---are you prepared to attend to your duty?'

"John dropt his head, and was silent, but not softened.

"You shall come in, John Nowlan !' resumed the priest, seizing his hand--"I command you to attend me; refuse---struggle with me.' John did struggle--"'fling me down, if you like,---I will quit you but with a struggle. Who was the crea"ture that left us? your poor partner in crime?'

"I tell you, Sir'---shaking off the priest's grasp--- you wrong and slander me--"you accuse me of sin I have not committed :---if I have erred

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"Was it, then, but the sin of the mind, John ?'---interrupted the clergyman--can you make me sure of that ?'---his voice grew kinder. Oh, Sir'---something "wrought upon---' I was guilty in thought---very guilty---but no more.'

"Thank God, a-vich, thank God! my heart gladdens at the word ;---thank God, "my poor, erring child; you are left pure for your great work yet. Give me your "hands in mine, John; you were always my son; I always loved you; I will love you "as dearly as ever; for you will again be the John Nowlan I was fond of: this moment "you will turn again into your good courses: under your father's roof, and in the presence of your family and the poor people to whom you are one day to be a guide,

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you will kneel at your priest's knee, and make your peace with Heaven, and give a "good example; you will come into the house, John; you will my child, you will!' The old man held both his hands; his voice quivered; tears ran down his "cheeks; tears of zeal, duty, and affection. John Nowlan grasped convulsively the "hands that grasped his; answering tears rushed from his eyes; he wept and sobbed "like an infant. And in a few minutes he followed the old clergyman like a lamb; "redeeming the promise made for him, entered humbly into his father's house: knelt "down among the simple crowd there collected; and gave indeed the example that was expected from him.

"Two days after, he was living in the house of his reverend friend, his literary "studies renewed, with the sincerest view towards that course of life to which he had "been once destined: his sins repented of, and his heart purer and lighter than, since "childhood, he had felt it."

The other tale, "Peter of the Castle," is not quite so interesting, but shows equal talent, and the same graces of style and descriptive beauties.

Whims and Oddities, in Prose and Verse; with forty original designs by Thomas Hood, one of the Authors of Odes and Addresses to Great People, and Designer of the Progress of Cant. London: Lupton Relfe, 13, Cornhill. 1826. pp. 146.

This is a very amusing, and very original, volume. For that species of wit which promotes downright laughter, it is not surpassed by any book within our memory. It consists of a series of humorous writings, interspersed with original etchings, of which it is high praise to say, that many of them are equal in broad fun to the writing. Both the one and the other might perhaps not be considered as coming within the strict rules of art, but we are of that class of critics, who, if we are pleased, do not examine very scrupulously why we are so. The artist might see nothing to admire in the plates, and the abhorrer of puns would infallibly be "disgusted" with the matter, but we have laughed at both, and recommend the book most heartily to our readers, who may wish to unwrinkle their faces with a smile, and . are not afraid of being guilty of still more visible, and audible, breach of Lord Chesterfield's regulations for politeness.

We have one objection to make to the author, for attempting to derive humor from subjects, which no wit can possibly make laughable. There is one grievous offence of this kind, in both the tale and the plate of "The Spoiled Child." "The Last Man" is one of the same class which we dislike, although not so sickening as that just mentioned. Sally Brown and Ben the Carpenter, Walton Redivivus, Moral Reflections on the Cross of St. Pauls, Faithless Nelly Gray, appear to us the best, but as these had already either previously appeared, or have been very lately extracted, we shall present our reader with "The Mermaid of Margate."

"On Margate beach, where the sick one roams,
"And the sentimental reads;

"Where the maiden flirts, and the widow comes---
"Like the ocean---to cast her weeds ;-~~

REVIEW.

"Where urchins wander to pick up shells,
"And the Cit to spy at the ships,---
"Like the water gala at Sadler's Wells ;---
"And the Chandler for watery dips !---

"There's a maiden sits by the ocean brim,
"As lovely and fair as Sin!

"But woe, deep water, and woe to him,
"That she snareth like Peter Fin!

"Her head is crown'd with pretty sea wares,
"And her locks are golden and loose:
"And seek to her feet, like other folks' heirs,
"To stand, of course, in her shoes!

And, all day long, she combeth them well,
"With a sea-shark's prickly jaw ;---
"And her mouth is just like a rose-lipp'd shell,
"The fairest that man e'er saw!

"And the Fishmonger, humble as love may be,
"Hath planted his seat by her side ;---
"Good even, fair maid! Is thy lover at sea,
"To make thee so watch the tide ?'

"She turn'd about with her pearly brows,
"And clasp'd him by the hand :---
"Come love, with me: I've a bonny house
"On the golden Goodwin Sand.'

"And then she gave him a siren kiss,---
"No honeycomb e'er was sweeter:

"Poor wretch! how little he dreamt for this "That Peter should be salt-Peter!

"And away with her prize to the wave she leapt, "Not walking, as damsels do,--

"With toe and heel, as she ought to have stept--"But she hopt like a Kangaroo !

"One plunge, and then the victim was blind,
"Whilst they gallop'd across the tide;
"At last, on the bank, he waked in his mind,
"And the Beauty was by his side.

"One half on the sand, and half in the sea,
"But his hair all began to stiffen ;---
"For when he look'd where her feet should be,
"She had no more feet than Miss Biffen!

"But a scaly tail, of a dolphin's growth,
"In the dabbling brine did soak :
"At last, she open'd her pearly mouth,
"Like an oyster, and thus she spoke :

"You crimpt my father, who was a skate ;
And my sister, you sold---a maid ;---

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"So here remain for a fish'ry fate, "For lost you are, and betray'd!'

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