THOUGH there is a certain pride in human nature, which inclines each individual to entertain too high an opinion of himself, yet of all the creatures into whom the great Creator has poured the animating spirit of existence, man is the most helpless and dependent. Though in the prime of youth, or the vigour of manhood, he may say, my mountain stands too strong to be removed, yet let sickness or misfortune, even then, overwhelm him, and he will painfully feel his help-partment. lessness and dependence.

Amidst the various circumstances which proclaim the wisdom and beneficence of the Almighty, the mutual support we require from each other,

fortune, he set no boundaries to his gratifications, or to his expenses. Happily for him, he had formed an indelible attachment to an amiable young woman, who was distantly related to him, and in whose person was united every species of female excellence. The thoughtless extravagance of Charles Colebrook was an insurmountable objection with her parents, and, in compliance with their wishes, she positively rejected him; yet with this heart-sustaining consolation, that she would never bestow her hand upon any other, until he was married. Sustained by this promise, and convinced that his own imprudence had occasioned the disapprobation of her parents, he resolved to make a total alteration in his domestic expenses. His hunters were sold, his fox-hounds transferred to a neighbouring gentleman, and his domestic establishment diminished.

try which hitherto he had not seen, and extending his excursion into Scotland, Ireland, and Wales.

His first intention was not even to be attended by a single domestic, but the fears and entreaties of an old butler at length prevailed, and he reluctantly consented to be accompanied by the attached creature's only offspring, a promising lad about nineteen. To keep his expenses within the boundaries of three hundred a year, he determined; and, to prevent any of his connexions from tracing his movements, substituted his christian name, having first sworn his solitary domestic to secrecy, and circulated a report that he was going to America.

Myself, and another friend, were privy to his movements; from us he received frequent accounts of the lovely being, who, he still indulged the hope, would, at the end of his probation, become his wife. Eighteen months had already elapsed in view

Little, however, was he aware of the state of his finances; he had regularly obtained money of his stew-ing every part of England and Scotard whenever he required it, without even suspecting that these enormous sums had been procured by mortgages. That his steward had played the part of a villain, he entertained little doubt; yet still more severely did he condemn himself for having suffered five years to elapse from the death of his excellent father, without ever having looked into the state of his affairs.

land, and at the period to which I am alluding, he had been about six weeks in Wales. He had, as I before observed, merely retained his christian name of Gordon; and at every place where he halted, if he intended remaining there any time, he anxiously avoided those houses of entertainment where he was likely to meet any of his former associates; and instead of seeking accommodation in splendid hotels, or expensive taverns, he confined himself to comfort, by selecting a spot recommended merely by neatness. At a house of this description, a few miles from Bangor Ferry, he had slept the preceding night; and reached the ferry at the very moment the boat was going to sail. The wind appeared at once fair and favourable, although extremely high.

The Colebrooks were not only nearly allied to some of the first families in England, but had for several centuries borne a name which was universally respected; and when poor Charles discovered himself to be in debt, his greatest affliction arose from the idea that disgrace would be attached to it. Ardent in his pursuits, and decided in his resolutions, he instantly resolved to let the manor house, furnished, and retire into some cheap country, Though he perceived two or three until he paid off all his debts. An females amongst the party assembled, advertisement in the Morning Herald yet, as he had a particular dread of attracted the attention of a noble-being recognized, he seated himself in man's widow, whose eldest daughter a distant part of the vessel, without was in a delicate state of health, and adopting the usual forms of courtesy. to whom the mild air of Devonshire Scarcely had the little bark cleared had been recommended. An agree- the land, when the wind became boisment was soon formed between Lady terous, and, according to a seaman's F, and Colebrook; my penitent phrase, actually blew in their teeth. friend resolving to pass the period he Every creature on board was seized had allotted for his probation, in with apprehension, and it was soon visiting every part of his native coun- evident that the master of the vessel No. 62.-VOL. VI.

M

ings.

entertained fears for his freight. | a victim to the humanity of his feel-Though an immense bonnet had concealed the countenance of one of the females, Gordon started, as if he had felt an electric shock, at the sound of her voice, as in an agony of fear she expressed her apprehensions to a gentleman, who was stooping down, and speaking to her at the same time. A gust of wind, and an involving wave, broke over him whilst in that attitude, and, unprepared to resist its force, he was washed over in the twinkling of a moment! A shriek of horror burst from the lips of the lady, as she, in frantic accents, implored some one to preserve her loved father's life!

In this agony of mental distress, the bonnet had fallen backward-and | Gordon beheld those features, which were so indelibly impressed upon his mind." I will save him, or perish!" he exclaimed, casting a glance of tenderness upon her, throwing off his coat, and plunging into the dangerous element at the same time.

Every attempt to renovate the body of the half-distracted Emeline's father for the space of an hour, appeared unavailing; at length, however, they had the happiness of perceiving the vital spark had only been suspended! The moment reason was sufficiently restored to admit of recollection, he requested to behold the preserver of his existence, " And when he comes, my Emeline," he faintly added, “do your endeavour to paint your father's feelings towards him; for, alas, my child, I find myself too much exhausted to be able to say one half of what I wish."

When the amiable Gordon, who looked as pale as death from exhaustion, approached the sofa on which the renovated Mr. L. was reclining, he started upon his elbow, suddenly exclaiming, "Great God, what a striking likeness!" but upon hearing his voice, he added, in a tone of rapture, "It is it is! it must be he!" The scene which followed may easily be conjectured. It was impossible for L. to refuse the hand of his daughter to the man who had preserved his own existence, had he not even given the most decided proof of relinquishing his habits of expense and extravagance. When that affectionate father, however, discovered, that, from a principle of rectitude and honour, the amiable young man had voluntarily resigned all the luxuries of affluence, for the sole purpose of strictly discharging all his thoughtlessly contracted debts, he seized his hand, and pressed it to his bosom, exclaiming, "The man, who in the

"Oh, it is madness! worse than madness!" vociferated those who beheld the heroic action; "hoth must perish! both must perish!" Horror for several moments was depicted in every countenance, for neither Gordon nor the object of their solicitude was to be seen; the latter had sunk with the wave which had engulfed him; and the former, not perceiving his body, had heroically plunged after him, resolving either to perish, or preserve his life! At length, a hand was distinctly seen rising above the element; ropes were instantly thrown out, and in a few seconds the head appeared; when, with a grasp which | seemed to say, "Save me, or I perish,' ,"heyday of youthful passions, could, the rope became tightened in the hand by which it was sustained! Every eye was fixed upon the spot, every nerve was in agitation, when that great Power, who alone can still the raging of the sea, elevated a wave in the most favourable direction, and enabled those on board the vessel to fulfil the first duties of humanity. The weight of the apparently lifeless Mr. L. had been too great for the exhausted strength of the philanthropic Gordon, and it dragged him towards the bottom at the instant he grasped the rope in his hand; and had not the agitated waves elevated him at the moment, he must have fallen

from the principles of honour and integrity, voluntarily renounce the enjoyments of affluence, is alone, in my opinion, deserving of my incomparable girl. Take her then, my dear Gordon, as by that name you have chosen to designate yourself; and let me tell you, she will prove a much richer bargain than she would have been, when I advised her to refuse you her hand."

The reply which my friend made to the preceding observation, may naturally be imagined; and though a fortune with Emeline was a secondary consideration, yet it is not to be supposed, that her intended husband felt

any mortification at hearing a distant | quisite, yet every Monday morning relation had bequeathed her an estate, that exemplary young woman makes worth at least a thousand per annum, a point of examining, and casting-up, in one of the most picturesque parts all her bills; and if any one article of Ireland. To take possession of strikes her as exorbitant, unhesitatthat estate, and make some necessary ingly blames that confidential servant, arrangements, was the motive which for having permitted it. induced Emeline, and her respected father, to visit Ireland, where, after the expiration of about six weeks, the attached cousins were indissolubly united.

As more than twelve months were unexpired of the term fixed upon between Lady F. and my friend Colebrook, the new-married pair resolved to make a tour through the whole island, and at the close of it, pass the intervening period at a house left to Emeline by her relation, in one of the best streets of Dublin.

In vain did the attached Emeline entreat her disinterested husband to allow part of her unexpected fortune, to pay off his thoughtlessly contracted mortgages; but aware that, at the termination of three years, the savings from his own income would be allsufficient, no persuasion could induce him to comply with her request.

Christmas Day, in that mansion, may most aptly be termed a pious jubilee; as every poor family in the neighbourhood was lately invited; and men, women, and children, to the amount of eighty-nine persons, were regaled with roast and boiled beef and plum-puddings. Numerous as was the assemblage, the decorum which prevailed was striking; every countenance appeared illumined with a mixture of gratitude and cheerfulness; and a scene so truly gratifying, I confess I had never before witnessed. During the whole of the preceding day, I had scarcely seen the mistress of the family; and upon inquiring the reason of it, learned she was distributing her accustomed gifts, and inviting her humble neighbours to the ensuing day's hospitable entertainment. Of what all these gifts actually consisted, I cannot positively inform my readers; but for several days preceding, I had observed a variety of packages, and as I discovered a kind of livery, or rather same

On the day that the period of Colebrook's probation terminated, and almost to the very hour, he repossessed himself of his ancestorial inheritance, with sensations, as he himself in-ness, in the stuff gowns and mantles of formed me, too exquisitely refined for the guests invited, I conclude they description. "Every tree and every were the benevolent entertainer's shrub (said he) had acquired new beau- presents. ties, and seemed to greet me with the cordiality of an invaluable friend; and so endeared did I become to the spot of my nativity, that from that period to the present moment, I have only quitted it to make occasional visits amongst my acquaintance."

This local attachment has been productive of the most beneficial consequences; for all the peasantry, who surround his domain, seem to regard him with a mixture of respect and tenderness; his farms are in better order than those of the surrounding gentry, from having no interested steward to dictate or recommend; as from the moment he discovered the impositions which had been practised upon him, he resolved to take the sole management of his extensive property upon himself. The amiable Emeline is no less active in the domestic department; for though in the style they live, a housekeeper is re

No one was permitted to partake of the hospitable board, who had not previously testified his or her gratitude to an all-gracious Providence, by offering up a mixture of praise and thanksgiving for the manifestation of his beloved Son; and when the humble part of the congregation had received the parting blessing from the pastor of the parish in the greatest regularity, they proceeded to the manor house.

That Colebrook, and the amiable partner of his affections, received the most refined gratification from witnessing the happiness of their humble guests, might easily be discovered in the animating glow of pleasure which illumed their countenance; and when I reflected upon the comparatively small sum which was expended upon this philanthropic entertainment, could not avoid drawing a comparison between the conduct of this ex

emplary couple, and the general habits | tue or honour, have received an addi

of luxury which pervade the higher orders in our dissipated metropolis. That eighty-nine hungry persons might be regaled, and their hearts animated with grateful sentiments, for one-fourth part of what is lavish-monuments of fanaticism and proflied upon one evening's expense, admits not of a doubt, if we reflect upon the high price of those articles with which the tables of those who move in the fashionable circles are regularly furnished.