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ate encouragement, and all the delicate and grateful emotions of her heart are drawn out to bud and blossom in that congenial clime;-every individual of her family and friends, fondly or courteously contributing to her happiness or pleasure. Will not the desire to repay kindness with kindness, love with love, blessing with blessing, be the responsive impulse of her young heart? She finds by every day's experience, that the tenderest approbation, the warmest encomiums, the fondest caresses, reward her endeavours after the attainment of useful information, and elegant accomplishment, and that blessings more expressively silent, the eloquent blessings of the eye,) beam unutterable things on her performance of higher duties; that a powerful stimulus to persevere in the paths of well-doing, to strive to be all she is thought capable of being!

Her natural failings and youthful errors are most mildly and tenderly rebuked; her motives most charitably interpreted—what incentives to conquer those failings! to avoid those errors! to realize hopes so fondly sanguine! Happiness is far less selfish than sorrow. Its natural tendency is to communicate, to infuse itself, as it were, into every surrounding object; and certainly nothing inspires us with such good will and charity towards our fellow-creatures, as the sweet consciousness that they are benevolently disposed towards us. If all the discourteous, ill-natured, uncharitable things that are said and done, were traced back to their real source, it would be found that every other one at least resulted, not from resentment for the infliction of serious injury, but from some wounded feeling, some smarting sense of neglect, unkindness, or, it may be, of conscious insignificance, a consciousness, (by the way) widely differing from Christian humility, and operating far otherwise on the heart and temper.

Allowing these to be fancied, or at least fancifully exaggerated injuries, their influence on the character is not therefore less pernicious, and the question is, Would these corroding, crushing thoughts, have sprung up in the cheering sunshine of favour and indulgence? Have they not been generat

ed and fostered in a cold, ungenial shade, where "flowers that love the light" could never blossom?

But "vanity! vanity!" saith the Preacher. What sevenfold shield can fence the heart of woman, against vanity and its satanic legion? The only shield, I reply, capable of fencing any human heart against the perpetual, insidious, and ever-varying assaults of the tempter-sound moral principles, founded on religious knowledge, and a firm and humble faith in the truths of revelation. When these have not been early and sedulously inculcated, the Beauty is exposed, indeed, to great and peculiar dangers. But, is the ugly woman, on her part, more secure from those temptations, to which also she is peculiarly liable? Is vanity solely confined to the consciousness of personal attractions? Is there no such thing as conceit of sense, of talent, of taste, of goodness-nay, even of humility? There is conceit active, and conceit passive. That which plume; itself on being superior in such and such points, is, to my taste, less odious than the pharisaical cant, "Well! thank God, I am not so and so."

Now, verily, I am inclined to believe, that of all modifications of this infirmity-this vice, if you will have it so,--that is most harmless which plumes itself on outward advantages, (I speak with exclusive reference to female beauties,) and in point of fact, have we not often occasion to remark, that a pretty, vain, giddy girl, one of the most apparently inconsiderate character, will settle down for life with a companion who deserves and possesses her respect and affection, into a domestic, prudent wife, a careful and tender mother, an exemplary mistress of a family, while some grave, demure-looking maiden, guarded at all points in the armour of ugliness, bristling all over with decorum, and pinched into the very pattern of primness and propriety, will (if occasion offer) launch out into such extravagances and indiscretions, as defy all calculations on probability and liability, and utterly confound the wise theories of all declaimers against the dangerous endowment of beauty.

But, to sum up all-are there, in the

class of beauties, fewer good wives, good mothers, good women, and good Christians, than amongst those of the sex, to whom nature has been more niggardly of outward endowments? An impartial observer will acknowledge, that such characters are found, in pretty equal proportions, amongst the love ly and unlovely; but, reverting to minor considerations, from that higher ground of observation, I will venture to assert, that there is less vanity,-or, perhaps, more properly speaking, less solicitude about personal appearance, in pretty than in plain women. The cause is obvious-the one is perpetually striving to make herself, what nature has made the other. Its frequent result is more perplexing. The exuberant self-complacency with which an ugly woman, in the full pomp and panoply of dress and decoration, seems, as it were, to inflate and expand her whole person; and if some solitary charm of form or feature, has been grudgingly bestowed pon her, what sedulous anxiety to exhibit it to the best advantage! How the malady concentrates itself, in a manner, in that peculiar part! Betrays itself, by an unnatural and perpetual distention of the mouth, if a set of white and even teeth is the seat of the disorder;-is characterized by a delicate curve of the fingers, or graceful action of the hand, if that happens to be the part affected; or by a frequent protrusion of the foot, should the disease have possessed itself of the lower extremities.

Good Heavens! in what thing, in what place, under what circumstances, will not vanity take root, and thrive? Stick it, like house-leek, on a bare wall, its fibres will insert themselves into the crevices, and the plant will prosper somehow. Strew it like mustard and cress over a few woollen threads in an earthen platter, and you may pick salsad to-morrow. Hang it up like the air plant, it will bud and blossom without other than ethereal nutriment. They are inexperienced naturalists, who af firm, that it flourishes only, or peculiarly, in soil or climate of such and such nature and temperature.

But to all who persist in the belief that beauty is the forcing bed of this idle flaunting weed-to all parents who

are really sincere in deprecating for their offspring, what they term so fatal an endowment-I would compassionately suggest one simple expedient, calculated to strike at the very root of the evil. Let the pride of civilization, for once, condescend to adopt the practice of those who (for very opposite purposes, it is true) flatten the noses, depress the skulls, and slit the lips and ears of their new-born females. The most obstinate charms, the most inveterate beauty,-must infallibly yield to this early discipline; to which, for further security, may be added, a general tattooing of the whole person, so that no separate part or portion may become a strong hold for that subtle demon, who can entrench himself in the hem of an ear, or the tip of a little finger. But whither, in its compassionate zeal for the relief of parental anxiety,—whither tends this speculative genius? What might be the probable result of the measures I suggest? If adopted by a few leaders of rank and fashion, the universal rage for novelty and imitation would soon make the practice general, and then, indeed, a great and decisive conquest over beauty, might be confidently anticipated. But, with its utter extinction in the land, might not our present conception of its component parts, and general combinations, fade away to dim recollections? Those also, in progress of time, could hardly fail to be wholly obliterated; and in their stead, would arise a new standard of perfection, not less the object of a dangerous worship, for being the very reverse of a former idol. With the custom of a savage nation, we may adopt its tastes also; and thenceforward, a celebrated beauty of the British Court, may be constituted such, by perfections similar to those that qualify a Hottentot Venus,-an Esquimaux pètite Maitresse, or a reigning toast of the Sandwich Islands; and the first view of a squat nose, and flattened pericranium, in his new-born babe, may strike into the heart of an anxious parent, the same pious horror, with which he now contemplates the Grecian outline and delicate proportion of the infant beauty, who smiles in his face, with such innocent unconsciousness of the fatal charms with which nature has endowed her.

(Lon. Mag.)

TRANSLATIONS FROM THE SPANISH ROMANCES.

THE passion of love, in Spain, was always associated with dangers and mysteries-and the spirit of chivalry deemed that a lover could hardly be aceep able until he had made his title good by deeds of heroism-by long and weary watching—or by acts of extravagant devotion. The prize seemed worthless that was won without toil and difficulty. In the southern provinces, even to the time of Charles III. a youth was not admitted to the common privileges of his standing, until he had watched over his arms, and had been, solemnly invested with the right to bear them. He was compelled to pass the night in the vigil of prayer-in a solitary chapel-his unconsecrated weapons hanging near. When the day dawned, they received the sacerdotal blessing, and, from that moment, he was allowed to take his nightly rounds (rondar), and to watch over and protect the dwelling of his beloved.

SHEPHERDESS OF EARLY SPRING-TIDE.

Shepherdess of early spring-tide,
With thy look of innocence;
God be with thee, gentle maiden !
For I wend me far from hence.

With my flocks I quit for ever
These sweet vales, fair maid! Alas
Thou wilt see me slumbering never
'Midst the flow'rs, and on the grass.
Time from all these joys shall sever
Which made time so gayly pass.
Music's charm and song's endeavour
Cease-sighs break where gladness was.
On the snow-o'ermantled mountain
Shall my bed of silence be;

By the beach-tree, near the fountain,
I will dwell and think of thee.
'Neath the cypress, dark and shady,
Long my mournful vigils keep,
Never through the night-tides, Lady!
Shall these eyelids cease to weep.

When the crippling frost is stalking
O'er the palsied earth-I'll go
With the moon unsocial walking:
Sending thoughts to thee, and woe.
Waking dreams of vanish'd sweetness,
Watching in thy solitude;

Nought but heaven to be my witness,
And the birdlets of the wood.

Of the species of Romances with which the fair were serenaded, a thousand specimens exist, and they are as varied as they are original. Among a people overflowing with poetic genius, and harassed by an oppressive and tormenting government, which allowed only a bounded flight to the Muse, it may well be fancied how the imagination would revel among the subjects which were not interdicted, such as chivalry and love. These are treated with an infinite variety of form and language, and though often degenerating into excess, their general character is lively and poetical, and they are seldom tainted with any thing like grossness or indelicacy.

WHO'LL BUY A HEART? WHO'LL BUY? WHO'LL BUY?

Poor heart of mine! tormenting heart!
Long hast thou teaz'd me-thou and I
May just as well agree to part.

Who'll buy a heart? who'll buy? who'll buy?
They offer three testoons-but, no!
A faithful heart is cheap at more :
Tis not of those that wandering go,
Like mendicants from door to door.
Here's prompt possession-I might tell
A thousand merits; come and try.
I have a heart-a heart to sell :

How oft beneath its folds lay hid
The gnawing viper's tooth of woe-
Will no one buy? will no one bid ?
"Tis going now. Yes! it must go!
So little offer'd-it were well
To keep it yet-but, no! not I.
I have a heart-a heart to sell:
Who'll buy a heart? who'll buy? who'll buy?

I would 'twere gone! for I confess
I'm tired-and longing to be freed;
Come, bid, fair maiden! more or less-

Who'll buy a heart? who'll buy? who'll buy? So good-and very cheap indeed.

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It has been before mentioned, that festal songs always accompany the relig ious holidays of Spain; here is one on the Carnival (Antruejo.) These festivals have always been more joyous than devout; and so, the old proverb sagely says, A las romerias de cerca mucha vino y poca cera.

COME LET US EAT AND DRINK TO-DAY.

COME, let us eat and drink to-day, And sing and laugh and banish sorrow, For we must part to-morrow.

In Antruejo's honour-fill
The laughing cup with wine and glee,
And feast and dance with eager will,
And crowd the hours with revelry,
For that is wisdom's counsel still-

To-day be gay, and banish sorrow,
For we must part to-morrow.

Honour the saint-the morning ray
Will introduce the monster death-
There's breathing space for joy to-day,
To-morrow ye shall gasp for breath ;
So now be frolicksome and gay,
And tread joy's round, and banish sorrow,
For we must part to-morrow.

TE

(Lon. Mag.)

THE CURSE OF COLDENGAME.

"Remove not the old landmarks; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless."

Proverbs xxii. 10.

HERE is a part of Suffolk known It is of the division over which Mamby the name of the "dairy dis- mon was then waving his banner that trict," which, to the curious in the pas- our story must speak; and as it must toral branch of domestic economy, speak with a tongue some sixty years presents all that is interesting in the old, we may suppose ourselves wafted care and pasturage of cows, and the back to that period, and that we are production of the richest cheese and looking for the first time over the imbutter. When you pass from the land mense patriarchal establishment of of the reap-hook and plough-share into herds, and hinds, and bond women. In the region of natural grass and perpet- other lands the cows roamed at large, ual pasturage, you cannot be insensible feeding in groupes by the brook-banks; that a corresponding change has taken but here they stood fastened to rough place in the manners and bearing of wooden mangers, in rank succeeding the people. It is true you will find no rank, with cut grass before them, and vacant shepherds piping in the dale, a moveable fence of rods or reeds to nor meet with flocks which seem fond protect them from the wind. Many of any other melody save that of the men and maidens attended to the filling running brooks, where the grass is a- or clearing of the mangers-or moved bundant and the wild yellow clover green the fences, as the wind shifted, or and savoury. The herds of cows-the knelt-or, to borrow a northern word, ring-straked, the speckled, and the spot-"hunkered" and filled their innumerted, seem a most laborious grass-devour- ble pails with milk. Others at home, ing race,bearing no resemblance to those on the cool tiled floors of the dairies, more favoured animals which browze transformed, in many a reeking pan, the with such delicacy of taste, and low so new milked-milk into curds, pressed melodiously, over the bloomy fields of out the whey with their hands, and fillsome of our pastoral bards. If they ed the cheese-moulds, and placed them are not of a strict pastoral kind, and under the cheese-presses. Another decannot claim descent from those flocks partment presented some dozens of to which Apollo piped and Daphnis busy hands extracting, with many a sang, they are nevertheless a fair and a plunge and pull, the butter from the stately breed-of the colour of the rich- cream-washing it in cold spring waest cream-with an appetite which ter, and dressing it out in all its attracseems uncloyed with the balmiest mor- tions for market. Over the whole, one sels of the fields, and with udders ample or two old, considerate, calculating feand distended, nearly touching the male spirits presided, and seemed, by ground, and seeming ready to shed at their smooth shining looks, and round. every step the fragrant treasures they plump forms, something like suitable personifications of those savoury commodities-butter and cheese.

contain.

When you advance into the country, and the sharp edge of curiosity is somewhat blunted, you will find leisure to observe that each subdivision of the district has a system of management peculiar to itself. In one place a scrupulous observance of old pastoral rules prevails; in another, the indiscreet goddess, Chance, seems to have acquired the mastery; while the thirst of gain predominates on a third division.

9 ATHENEUM VOL. 1. 2d series.

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The house, or rather hall, to which all those herds and hinds belonged, merits some notice. It had been in other times a dwelling of note. It was built chiefly with beams of framed oak, richly carved in a deep sharp old Saxon style, with high peak ends and latticed windows, and with many marks of original grandeur and antique beauty about it. Those who are anxious after

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