WAYSIDE THOUGHTS.-No. II

BY THE LATE JAMES MACFARLAN.

THE death of the good and true, though it may cause a momentary sorrow, yet never fails to bestow an after joy. We sprinkle the new-made grave with tears, and after many days go back to find them flowers.

WHILE the mythology of Greece obtained in the world, it was reckoned that the poets received their immortality from the gods. The changes of time have now shown us that those gods owe their immortality to the poets.

THERE is a strong dash of the vagabond in human nature. Unless one gets over this nomadic predilection, he will go to sea, or turn out a strolling player. Life has its age of tents and continual shifting; but, when reflection begins, we become fixed down, and set about building

houses.

In the stillest night, when the great world lies asleep, ever in some lonely room the midnight oil is burning. In silence and in solitude there is the student awake and at work; and, though the feeble light of his lamp may pale

before the earliest beam, that other light born of his labours may stream far into the future, and help to illuminate the ages.

A MAN speaks many words in his life-time; and, could he recall the whole on his death-bed, he would derive most pleasure, not from the brilliant sayings and wit-flashes at great tables and in festive moments, but from those words spoken in quiet places-hope for the fallen, comfort to the distressed, and those real charitable sentiments of which we are unfortunately so sparing.

HOOD'S POEMS.-It is sometimes a hindrance to a man to have two distinct qualities; and this seems to have been eminently the case with Thomas Hood. While he lived, the world scarcely expected anything from him but puns and whimsicalities; while his own heart was strongly drawing him towards tears and subtle fancies. 'Hood's Own' and 'The Comic Annual' are full of strange fantastic things; but yet they suggest something more. It somehow seems like genius cutting grotesque shapes from the paper on which it had purported to write burning thoughts. There is an air of sadness, too, hanging about some of the jests, as when a death's head smiles.

THERE are ever false prophets in the world, and books and men highly pretentious. But somehow we still feel confident that the man will not outlast his laced coat, nor the book live longer than its elegant binding. The endless epics of Blackmore and of dead authors are consigned to the catacombs; while 'Paradise Lost' and the Seasons' stand mailed and marshalled in classic libraries; or turn up, ragged and dog-eared through veteran service, in city garrets and country cabins. A man may travel over Arcadia or Sahara, but we will learn the result of his journey by the flowers and fruits he has gathered on his way.

No production of Shakspere baffles the grasp of our intellect so much as the tragedy of Hamlet,' and this because it represents the entire perplexities of the human mind. He is not the delineation of one man but of many men. He exhibits in his five acts a thousand experiences; and hence, what are the many sides of human nature seem inconsistencies in the compass of a single character. Philosophy at one moment, and superstition at another. Pure faith now, and anon scepticism. Decorum, eccentricity, humour, tears, love, hatred, agony, on through all of these into the very maelstrom of madness. A terrible embo

diment of all that humanity thinks and feels, or has ever thought and felt. In the highest effort of one like Shakspere, we could scarcely expect it otherwise. He could only give us a condensation of his own universality.

THE true poet, it is said, will seldom be at a loss for materials, wherever he is. Shady groves, and winding rills, and rosy cheeks, are the stock-in-trade, the stage properties, of indifferent rhymesters. Take these from them, and you leave them nothing. A pale and emaciated seamstress sewing shirts in a miserable London garret, or a woman throwing herself madly over Waterloo Bridge at midnight, to the common eye had nothing at all poetic in them. Indeed, the ideal which is supposed to be the poet's dream-world was wholly wanting-all was stern reality. A newspaper paragraph would have seemed to most the only fitting record of such scenes; but the genius of Hood observed them, and henceforth they became im. the old coat of Beranger, are mean and common things; mortal. Goldsmith's flute, Burns' mouse and daisy, or yet they become exalted and beautiful by associationto us blazing constellations. as the goose, the lizard, the crab, and so forth, indicate

SCRAGGS wrote an epic, many years ago, which nobody cared to read. The other day I picked up a copy (at an old book-stall), ominously clean, and with uncut leaves. Poor fellow! like many others he died in the hope that posterity would do him justice. There is doubtless a good deal of consolation, and at the same time much delusion, in this dependence on posterity. The truth is, posterity has a great deal to do, and the work is continually growing on its hands. Has posterity looked after those hundred children of Lope de Vega? or does it still care for Sir Charles Grandison and Clarissa Harlowe? The authors of the day are filling libraries at the top of their bent, and these will all be left to the charge of posterity. What chance, therefore, remains for poor Scraggs? It is fortunate, however, that we can never know how posterity treats us. If we did, would it give Scraggs any consolation to see one of posterity's many members now sitting down to wade through his neglected epic?

EYLOMEL.

Up the morn the red was creeping,
Mists across the plain were sleeping,
Sedges dark and low were weeping
O'er the beauteous Eylomel
There she lay amid the shiver
Of the sedges on the river,
Gleaming white, but silent ever

Golden-tressed Eylomel,

Far away, where leaves were swaying. Tender hearts for her were prayingLittle lips their lesson saying:

'Bless, O God, our Eylomel'

Dark the waters o'er her streaming, Ghastly white the pale face gleaming, Silent all the sedges dreaming,

Side by side with Eylomel!

WILLIAM BLACK.

The right of translation reserved by the Authors. Contributions addressed to the Editor will receive attention; but, as a general rule, he cannot undertake to return MSS. considered unsuitable.

Edited, Printed, and Published by JAMES HEDDERWICK, 13 Red Lion Court, Fleet-Street, LONDON, E.C.; and 32 St. Enoch-Square, GLASGOW. Sold by all Booksellers.

look after ourselves, I tell you. We parted from the brigantine yesterday; it came on to blow again, and we lost sight of her in the night.'

'Then I will never see her again!'

There is more than her that neither you nor I will ever see again, I fear. If we ever see the face of a civilised Christian again, it's more than I expect;if, before many days, or hours either, we may not be where we wont even see the faces of the wretches among whom we are.'

'Why have they spared us so long?'

Because they want us. We did for their commodore and three of their lieutenants. I understand navigation; and they want me. The fellow who commands this craft has been down two or three times at me; but I wont listen to him, and I don't intend to. They lost a great many of their men in the brush with us. They have scurvy aboard, too, and a number of their hands laid up. They would have kept our fellows, but they fought to the last man-they were all either killed or wounded; so they ransacked the ship, and blew her up.'

'But how have they spared me?'

"They took it into their heads that you were surgeon to our ship. I suppose they thought, as we had passengers, that we had one; and they want some person to look after their sick and wounded. The fellow I told you of was asking me about you, and I let him believe that you were our surgeon. If you can keep up the character, you are safe; and I don't see why you should not-you used to manage well enough on board the Rosarie.' But youpropose?' said I.

-Will you avail yourself of what they

'Never!' said Telford. 'I will die first. But, Harper, do you see that lamp? Little would make me take it and blow up the bloody craft and her villanous crew.'

'Ha! Very good! Villanous crew! Here's one of the fraternity come to pay you a visit.'

A pannel, which I had not before observed, opened in one of the bulkheads, and a middle-sized, thickset man entered. He was indeed a villanous-looking wretch. He had but one eye, and it had a vile squint-its repulsive expression being heightened by a red beard, which stuck out short and stumpy round h's mouth. The place where his other eye had been was red and puckered, and passing over it and down the side of his face there was a broad scar, which in its course assumed three or four different hues. He wore a coarse gray frock-coat, a large slouched hat, and heavy sea-boots. His only visible weapon was a small stiletto, fastened in a leather belt which encircled his waist.

And so you thought of sending the old spectre to Davy Jones, did ye? We're very much obliged to you for your most charitable intentions; but, as it would hardly be quite consistent with our comfort to allow them to be carried into execution, we will be under the painful necessity of leaving you, during the time you are to tenant this cabin-of leaving you in the dark. Ay! and so you-what's your name?—

you've got better, have ye?-resuscitated, as we say in the learned professions! You had better look sharp, and get well as fast as you like: we want you-two of our fellows dead this morning. Your chaps, Captain, gave it us. I have taken many a craft; but, sink me! yours beat all creation. This chap here gave me a smash on the head;-I feel it fizzing yet. And that jade who shot the commodore——'

'Murdering villain!' I cried, speak not of her!' He turned slowly round, and glared savagely at m -a light seeming to flash from his eye. Gradually however, his face assumed its original expression, and he continued in his former tone-Ha! I see. Set the wind in that quarter? But that game's up Bloody Jack has her snug under hatches for on while. I wonder where he can have got to with tha brigantine! But, Captain, you must make up you mind to one thing or t'other, and that precious soo I want a mate, as I told you before. We ar short-handed! Skin me, if your chaps hadn't kicke up such a row, they might have been all snug aboar of us. But, as I told you, we have another litt craft-as tidy a little thing as ever hoisted a flagand I think Bloody Jack wouldn't mind giving h to you by-and-by. Have you thought on't?'

too.

As much as ever I intend to think of it,' answer Telford; I refuse it. Will I sell my soul to save n life? No!-not if it were to save the life of my litt daughter, if she be alive; or to bring her back to m if she be dead.'

thing is a chick of yours, is she? Then we have Ha!' said the pirate-then the little fair-hair handle; and what's more, we'll turn it. Perhaps t sight of her might help to bring you round a point two eh?'

"They have her then-my poor little Ally!' claimed Telford when the pirate had gone; but ev if they should- -but no; bad as they are, they sur firmly resolved to have nothing to do with the would not do that. But even if they should, I But, Harper, it would not be so bad in you; it wo not be so decidedly wrong as it would be in me. Y could, I think, do all they want of you with a cl conscience.'

I thought of Flora. It was my only chance of e seeing her again, or ever being able to assist her. might escape together. It was repugnant to all feelings to be among those wretches; but in view the death which I knew awaited me if I refusedable to resist. I was sufficiently acquainted w such a death!-I feared my resolution might not surgery to sustain the character which they belie I held; indeed, I had been acting partly in the ca city of surgeon on board the Rosarie; for, having b originally designed for the medical profession, I l attended a term at one of the London colleges, tho circumstances connected with the death of an el brother had caused me to abandon the intenti These few months of study probably saved my life

'Yes,' I said; 'I do not see that my duty wo call me to sacrifice myself. I might do some g among those miserable wretches; and, besides, ì you either should not give in. If you don't, t But I do not see v my only chance of everwill take your life to a certainty. You might sti late for the command of that vessel he spoke abou once; and then you could easily take her into s port, and escape.'

joined them, I would be true to them; and join tl
No, Harper! no. I never could do that. ]
I never will. But here comes little Ally!'
The child was lowered down through a hatch in

deck. Her little arm was in a sling-she, too, had been hurt. She gave a frightened look round; and, seeing her father, flew into his outstretched arms,

O father!' she said; where have you been? I thought I was never going to see you any more: they are such wild-looking men! they frighten me so! But is your head sore, father??

Not very sore, darling; but your arm, my child! What is the matter!'

'Oh, it isn't much, father! It was when they were taking Miss Ellis away. Oh, father, wasn't it dreadfalt I felt something sharp on my arm, and when I Looked it was all bleeding; but one of the black men ted it up, and I don't feel it much now at all. But was it not dreadful, when they were fighting and tting at each other yon way? Oh, father, will they

Lil you too?'

'I do not know, darling,' said Telford. 'Oh, what will become of my child! Harper, the sight of her most makes me waver.'

But I do not think they will harm you, father,' Sad Alice. They are bad men, I know, for they swear so fearfully; but I do not think they would art you, father.'

You do not know them, child! Harper, if they take my life, you will take care of her; and if you can ever make your escape, you will not leave her ehind. Promise me, Harper?'

I promised; and he seemed satisfied. "Well,' said the pirate, entering as he had formerly have you made up your mind?- the Jolly , or a morning promenade on the plank-one tuber? If you vote for the plank, why, then, well and the little one before you to clear the way; that doesn't help you to decide on what's reale, I don't know what should.'

You surely cannot mean what you say!' said Tel, raising himself in his berth. You would not e the life of a helpless child! It would do you no od, and it would not influence ine. I know my duty, and whatever may come of it, God helping me, I will do it.'

Eh! You think we wont do it? We've done ch things before, and we'll do them again; ours at the trade to get one's feelings refined. Why, we'd think no more of drowning a chit like that than we would of pitching a dead rat into the lee scuppers, Et we'll bring you to, or there isn't a flying-fish in the Gulf of Mexico. And now, you there-toothrawer! get up! We want you; another fellow dead our best gunner, too. So get up and come along, You're able enough, d--n you!? With the exception of the dizziness in my head, I comparatively well. The den in which I lay was close to suffocation. Glad of an opportunity escape from it, I rose and dressed myself, There was a stiffness in my left arm-it had been grazed by a ball-but I had little or no pain.

Now then, Lancet,' said the pirate, as I put on my coat, come along! Little one! you stay where you are.'

Here are some tools for you. The medicine chest is aft there; you will get lint and stuff in it. Begin with him.' He pointed to a hammock where lay a fine-looking young man of three or four and twenty. 'It's my sub. One of you shot him in the side. I'm afraid he's far gone; but do for him what you can. When you have done with him, go to the others; but him first-he is more to me than all the rest. Here, Danby!' he said, to a negro who stood by with a lantern in his hand, bear a hand!'

'You've come at last,' said the young man; 'I thought you were never going to come; you're too late now, However, I'll let you try it; it's only sending me out of the world an hour or two sooner. The bullet is just under my arm-there. Oh! the blockheads have been trying to take it out; but, curse them! they've sent it further in,'

His wound seemed to be of an extremely dangerous character; and from the weak and feverish state in which he apparently was, I feared there was but little prospect of saving his life. However, I succeeded, though with some difficulty, in extracting the bullet; but had hardly done so when he fainted, For some time he lay insensible. His life seemed to be ebbing fast away. But, with a quivering motion of the limbs, he gradually revived.

"I am going,' he murmured; 'I feel the blood ebbing from my heart--fast, fast! I feel myself sinkingsinking down to hell! Oh, my mother! had I but listened to you, this would never have been! What a life I have led! O God, when I look back!—() Lord, have mercy on me! Pray for me-pray-my soul— my soul-my lost soul!'

I felt an irresistible impulse rising within me; and I prayed. Whether, like that of the dying thief, my prayer was heard, I know not-he never spoke again. I would fain have waited beside him, to render such aid as was possible in the circumstances; but the others raised clamorous cries to have their wounds dressed. There were men of every nation thereEnglish, Spanish, French, and Portuguese-black men and white men; but all more or less fierce and brutal. They swore oaths which made my blood run cold, cursing me as I dressed their wounds.

When I had done, I was glad to seek relief from the stifling air of the place, and went on deck, Twilight was deepening into night; but the clouds in the west were still fringed with gold. The sea was boisterous from the recent gales-heaving in huge swelling waves, The schooner was only a few miles from the coast; she was beating out to sea, however, on the larboard tack, Dispersed along the deck was the pirate watch-one group seated in the waist mending a sail, singing a ribald song as they wrought; some standing round the capstan playing at cards; others lying asleep be tween the guns. The pirate captain lay stretched on the poop, smoking a short black pipe, and reading a newspaper which he had spread on the deck before him, He raised his eyes, saw me, and beckoned to me, I walked aft the men looking carelessly at me as I passed, but taking no further notice of me, Well, have you got them doctored? What's your name?'

'Harper.'

'Harper-ha! How's he-him I showed you, Bad -eh? You must save him-must, do you hear? I can't do without him. The rest of them, curse them! I can't talk to them. Is he very bad?' 'He is, I fear, beyond all human aid.'

What d'ye say?' He jumped up, and stamped his foot on the deck. It cannot be it must notit shall not be! Poor Ralph!' he added, in a softer tone. He was the only one I ever cared for-man, woman, or child. But if he goes, somebody's life

must pay for his. That skipper of yours-it was his cursed obstinacy in fighting his ship that did it; and he should pay for it. But,' he added, that cat wont jump. We want him too much for that. But if he doesn't give in, then, by! we'll have it out of him. Now, d- -n you! we'll go down to supper.' He led the way to the cabin of the vessel. It was a quaint, curiously furnished place. It was carpeted with a rich matting, apparently of Chinese workmanship. The seats were covered with skins of the seal, the buffalo, and the tiger; the bulkheads with elephants' tusks, backbones of sharks, and skulls of various animals. A large brass swivel stood on each side; pikes, muskets, and cutlasses were ranged along the beams.

'A bit of a snug place, eh? Kitten! bring that supper, and tell big Ben to come up.'

The boy, having placed some meat and biscuits and two or three bottles on the table, opened a hatch in the deck and shouted something down. Shortly afterwards, there was a strange subterranean noise; and a head, with large black beard and small bloodshot eyes, appeared in the opening of the hatch. The eyes lighted on me their owner stopped in the act of ascending.

'Who are you? and what the do you want?' he said, in a voice of thunder.

'Never mind him, Ben,' said the pirate. Come up and take your supper quietly. Ha! drunk again! Now this wont do-not by a long way.'

And who gave you the right to speak to me? How many days agone is it since you were little better nor I? And now that the commodore's gone on his long cruise, you think you'll have it all your own way; but I'm if you do. I'm a better and a bigger man nor you-ye ghost of a half-starved midge! one skylight blocked, and a squint in t'other!'

The pirate turned, and regarded his mate with that look which before had made me quail; and slowly putting his hand into his breast, he drew forth a heavy horse-pistol, cocked it, and presented it at the head of his mate.

'Hark ye!' he said, in a low deep voice which sent a creeping sensation through me- hark ye! another word, and your brains spatter on that bulkhead!'

The other was cowed; he turned away. Bring in | that supper,' he growled; and taking one of the bottles from the table, he dashed it at the head of the boy; but he avoiding it, in a manner which told that it was not the first time he had had occasion to practise the evasion of such missiles, it broke in pieces on one of the guns.

'Now, Ben, lock up!' said the pirate. We've had enough of this; grog isn't got for nothing. Kitten, gather up the bits, and swab up the liquor. And, Ben, sit in, and let's have no more of this sort of thing I wont have it!'

We ate in silence. The pirates drank large quantities of wine; and I began to fear that, as it took effect, it might occasion a renewal of their quarrel; for a succession of half-suppressed growls on the part of the mate seemed to indicate that the words of his superior still rankled in his mind. We were interrupted, however, by the entrance of the negro who had assisted me among the wounded. 'The young lieutenant had come to again,' he said; but he had not spoken-young massa was not long for this world.'

pulse-it was still; I raised him up-his head drooped upon his breast; I put my hand upon his heart-it did not beat; it had ceased for ever.

The pirate covered up the dead man's face, and, turning away with an oath, flew up the stair. Having given some directions to the negro, I stole away to my berth. I felt sick and weary; my arm was stiff, so that I could scarcely move it; my head was dizzy and painful. Telford had fallen asleep. Alice still sat by his bed; she, too, slept. Her hand was locked in her father's; her little wounded arm was round his neck. I gently disengaged them. Lifting her up, I placed her in my berth; and, covering myself up in a sail which I found in a corner, I laid myself down on the deck, and was soon fast asleep.

CHAPTER IV.

How long I lay I know not. When I awoke, daylight was streaming through the open hatch. The pain in my head was gone; I felt much refreshed and invigorated. I rose; 1 looked into the berths. They were both empty. A horrible suspicion crossed me. I thought of the pirate's threat. Oh! what if he had already done it!

I hastened on deck; and oh! never can I forget the sight-a narrow plank laid across the bulwarks. On the end of it, over the sea, was little Alice. She was on her knees, holding the plank with her hands; and as it dipped in the waves, as they came washing her naked feet and casting the spray over her, she gave a childish cry, and cast an imploring look towards her father. He stood between two of the pirates-his nostril quivering, his chest heaving. He drew back, as if struggling to restrain himself from rushing forward-conscious that any interference on his part might only serve to precipitate the fate of his child.

C • Mind, What do you say now?' said the pirate. you needn't think we wont do it. As I told you before, we'd think no more of letting her go than of shoving a rat through a scupper-hole. It's only to say the word, and down goes the plank. So, come along what do you say? the Jolly Roger, or

'I say what I have always said, and will say to the last,' answered Telford. 'I will not do it. You may take my life--you may take the life of my- ; but you will not-you cannot do that! Take my life; but as you have a soul to be saved, and as you hope for mercy, spare-oh spare my child! My child--will no one- -O my God!'

6

Stop your preaching,' said the pirate; 'soft sawdor wont do here. It lies with yourself whether we de it or not. What do I care? What is a chit like that dead or alive to me? But if you don't give in, I'll do it! Now, one or t'other-a berth in as tidy a little craft as ever ran into a Spanish galleon, and the little one along with you, remember; or both of you walk! Mind, we'll do it!'

Telford did not speak, but he trembled like a leafhis hands opening and closing in a convulsive motion. 'You're dumb,' said the pirate. Then, here goes. Now, men! ready-once, twice'

The plank moved the child swayed upon it. I rushed forward. Cowardly wretches!' I cried. Would you take the life of a helpless child?'

I followed him to where the wounded lay. The young man's eyes were closed; he lay quite motionless; he had relapsed into insensibility. I felt his

you to the deck! Do you think that because we wanted you and kept you when we blew up the rest of your lot, that we'll let you kick up a mutiny when ever you take it into your head? No. We'll serve you the same as the rest, if you don't take care. So,