irksome; when they long to be of the world, and yet have no part in its jarring feelings, -when the man of riches would fain recall the sunny hours of boyhood before he had toiled or plodded,-when the disappointed man would recall the young days when, careless of the morrow, the acquisition of gold never crossed his mind. Sometimes men experience this feeling after bodily indisposition, sometimes it may be the result of disappointment; but, oh! how infinitely greater is the pang when, rushing from the chamber of death the world and its busy occupations present themselves before man's eyes.

The grave has opened to receive a fellowman, who can tell for whom it next will crave; as each night we retire to rest, are we more secure than the weak, the old, the ailing? We are never too young to die, yet we are never old enough to be sufficiently wise.

The message was no doubt of importance, since the baron lost no time in obeying whatever summons he had received, and the evening was far advanced when the broad river was before him.

It was a calm night, scarce a ripple disturbed the quiet waters; there was a peculiar freshness in the breeze around; calm and serene was the slumbering scenery; subdued and mild the moon's pale rays. The baron raised a glass to his eyes, and at a short distance from the shore on which he stood he observed a large ship at anchor, and he remained some time contemplating her.

I believe there is something peculiarly inviting to reverie in the view of a ship at anchor in a harbour. Now she lies quietly within the sight and succour of men, the sea-tossed mariners have a respite from their labours, and the angry waves for a time.

are not feared. How little time is required to send her forth again amidst the perils of the ocean, to unfurl the sails, then away, away, where the mad eddies roar, over the deep blue waters; away from the gaze of anxious friends-away, afar; there is but one hope then-the hope of the God who rules both the sea and land.

It was very seldom that the baron ru minated, indeed it was a mode of flitting away time, he seldom, very seldom indulged in; his boyish days had been marked by much unhappiness, and he tried to bury that period in total oblivion; his days of first dawning manhood had been chequered with distress; living in Spain, in that unhappilydivided country, he had witnessed scenes of appalling misery, and had grown gradually hardened to such sights.

Many contending passions, many disappointed tales of the heart had vexed his

mature years, he knew not where to turn for that bright period which sometimes marks one time of man's career; densely sown together had been the noxious weeds, which prevented the garden luxuriating in flowered growth, and without one safe hue of true virtue whereby to steer the path, the baron, amidst all his wealth, was far from being a happy man. The latest passion which had caused his heart to throb was his love for his adopted daughter. He had struggled with his feelings until the weary combat had overcome him; and still stricken in soul he felt no nearer to bliss. Forebodings of the future mixed in all his imaginings, he felt too care-worn to make the young and the beautiful happy; he had moments of fierce temper, from which the young and the gentle recoil; he was the weary man who had passed through much strife; the bride he coveted had not yet suffered one

blow of disappointment, the searing hand of affliction had not yet fanned her brow.

Then in those passing moments of reflection, moments which the baron could not always repel, the man of the world consoled himself as other men do, not by wisely continuing a course of self-examination, but by taking the conduct of others as a pattern for himself.

The baron had known so many elderly gentlemen who had married very young girls, why should not he?

Reflection might have told the baron that very few human positions bear comparing together; that some men are possessed of so many virtues that others have not, that in the bosoms of domesticated men there exists sometimes that sweet chord of universal goodness, that whether the wife of their choice be young or old, the same kindred bond of affinity of soul exists between them.