race of giants, whose thoughts and deeds have gone through all the world, and in them the sun of England set, after no unworthy course, and soon destined to rise with new, though not equal, brilliancy.

OLD AGE AND BEAUTY.

BY GRACE GRAFTON.

ONCE upon a time, a very beautiful lady received a strange visitor. She was sitting alone in her dressing-room, stripped of all the fashionable ornaments that usually decked her person, and which were now strewed around her in every direction. Some were tossed over the backs of chairs; others she was arranging in her armoire; and the most costly glittered in an open casket on the toilette table. She had risen late, and was now rectifying the disorders of the preceding night; for she had cast off her finery in hasty negligence, after having, at a late hour, taken leave of a large circle of acquaintance, who had crowded her drawing-rooms, tasted her sweets, and basked in her smiles, for a few brief hours, and then left her to her own thoughts. These she soon buried in sleep; but the next morningah! how 'stale and unprofitable' it sometimes appears! the next morning, this lady felt strangely weary; late hours began to have an effect upon her, for which she was puzzled to account. She sank into an easy chair, when her labors were over, and it so chanced that the large mirror, swinging over the toilette, inclined a little, so as to reflect her whole person. She naturally enough fixed an anxious gaze on that much admired form; but alas! a few hours seemed to have wrought sad changes there. All her boasted charms appeared to have been thrown aside with the elegant apparel that had so lately adorned her.

'How unbecoming these loose robes are!' she exclaimed; and yet I used not to think so,' she added, with a sigh. And this bonnet de nuit - I never before thought it so frightful: pshaw! it makes an old woman of me!' So saying, she removed the offending cap, and throwing it from her, began to arrange her fine tresses into a more becoming head-dress; but the plain-spoken mirror before her told such home truths, in its own quiet, reflective manner, that she found her task an irksome one, and grew fretful with her fruitless endeavors to restore to her hair its glossy blackness, and to her face its dimpled charms.

'I thought something was wrong,' said she, as she looked up languidly at a side window, where the upper blinds had been left open; it is that odious light streaming in from above, so unbecomingly, that makes me look so haggard this morning; and then the fatigue of so large a party. How beautiful Euphrosyne looked!' continued she, musingly. She was a little child when I made my début on the stage of fashion, and now, behold her radiant in the proud loveliness of a youthful matron! Time was when I could have matched her charms, but now Well, well; I was never before so forcibly reminded of the alteration a few years can make. How changed I look! How very, very wretched and nervous I feel this morning! Again she turned her languid eyes upward, toward the intrusive, tell-tale beam; glanced them once more over

the mirror, and started with affright; for, reflected there, she perceived a dimly-defined but most unsightly form bending over her.

'I know thee, insidious intruder!' cried she, covering her face with her hands: 'I have had warnings of thy approach, and now thou art here; yet I defy thee!'

'Hush, hush!' said the calm, hollow voice of Old Age, for no other than he was the strange visitor, 'hush! do not defy me; I have not yet laid my hand upon thee, and on thyself it must depend whether my sure touch be that of a friend or an enemy; whether the dominion I shall surely exercise over thy fate, be that of a gentle master, or a stern tyrant.'

While these words were sounding ominously within her heart, the lady endeavored to turn a deaf ear to their import. She rose from the dressing-table, rang the bell, and ordered her maid to shut the blinds, and keep them better closed in future. She then gave some directions respecting her wardrobe, and throwing herself on a sofa, fell into a reverie, in which she laid vigorous plans for defeating the designs of Age. I will so disguise myself,' thought she, 'that the wretch will not know me. His presence here is a heavy burthen, and it would be mortifying past endurance, to be recognised by such an antediluvian monster, in the midst of society, from hence forward and for evermore to have my name coupled with his. So the next time she dressed for company, her own hair was gathered away out of sight, and some shining ringlets were substituted in its place; and, in addition to the becoming effect of a new and elegant head-dress, a slight tinge of rouge concealed the ravages time had made on her complexion: and thus, indeed, she might be said to defy Old Age; for though he frequently hovered about her, and whispered his melancholy forbodings in her ear, she had the satisfaction to perceive, that in company, at least, no one was aware of his presence but herself.

It was in the solitude of her own boudoir, that Old Age became her persecutor; when the excitement of admiration was over; the person disrobed of its gay attire, the countenance of its false ornaments, and forced smiles; ah! Age claimed her then, and grew familiar. She never seated herself at her toilette, but he placed himself at her side, and preached to her, and pried into her heart, and annoyed her so incessantly, that there was no resource for her, but to array herself with skill, and fly to company again for relief. It was a sad sight-her worn countenance, and faded form, beneath the frail disguises of fashion.

'Why so weary of me already?' said Age to her, one day, when he saw the advantage he was gaining; 'why so resolute to ward off my hand, and turn from me thy countenance? Let us be friends.' Friends!' cried the faded beauty, 'thou my friend! my destroyer; and as I once defied thee, so now I fear thee.'

thou art

Vain woman!' murmured her tormentor, 'yet again I warn thee, with thyself it rests whether I prove thy tyrant or thy friend. The time approaches when I must make myself visible to the whole world as thy inseparable companion. Why should we appear as enemies?' 'How,' said she indignantly, 'how canst thou have the hardihood to imagine that I will acknowledge companionship with one who has

worked me such evil? Shame on thee! for the mischief thou hast done to my once raven hair! Out upon thee! for a thief, who art robbing me one by one of my pearly teeth; who hast stolen away the sweetness of my voice, withered my lilies, and faded my roses!' Here, overcome with emotion, she pressed her handkerchief to her eyes, and turning into a secluded path, sought to hide her mortification in the solitude of nature, while Old Age shrugged his shoulders, and followed after, looking very grave and determined.

This short colloquy between Age and waning Beauty took place in some fine pleasure-grounds, to which a large party had resorted to spend the day, and dine in the open air. The cheerful light of a summer sun, flickering through the foliage of the groves, or glancing across the open, grassy slopes, shed lustre on many a fair form, and carried joy to many a youthful heart. Each lovely, laughing girl had her admirer, some companion young and gay as herself; and in merry groups they wandered along the paths, or seated themselves on the turf, beneath the shade of over-hanging boughs. This bright light of day found no corresponding ray within the bosom of the cidevant beauty. The uncomfortable thought possessed her, that it displayed to view her unseemly companion, and therefore had she turned aside, and reproached him so bitterly; and then retired, neglected and disconsolate, into an unfrequented path. Thither, as we have observed, Age followed her, and down they sat together on the first seat that presented itself. This was so placed as to command a view of surpassing beauty, in the contemplation of which, selfish griefs and unworthy complainings might well be forgotten. A sudden opening in the woods revealed the broad river below, with its waters rolling silently onward, like the ceaseless tide of time. Waving woods and yellow corn-fields graced its banks, and here and there some pleasant dwelling reared its white walls among the trees; and in the back-ground a huge bank of blue and misty mountains bounded the view.

Tranquillity stole into the poor lady's heart, as she gazed long and silently on the woods, and hills, and beaming river; and she saw, without repugnance, that Age was still beside her. 'I am here,' said he, with a smile, and drew closer toward her, and she answered mildly: Be silent now, Old Age, and let the sweet voices of my youth speak to me in these wild woods, and sparkling waters;' and Age prudently took the hint, and was still. When he spoke again, and said, 'Thou dost not hate me now, while we are alone with nature' she answered, in a subdued tone: 'Alas! I can resist thee no longer; but oh! thou hast done me cruel wrong!'

'Be wise,' continued he, and I will amply repay thee for all I have taken from thee; for know, proud woman, that the same hand which clothed thee with beauty, directed me here to rob thee of thy charms, and fashion thee for the grave.'

'Dost thou lead me to the grave!' said the beauty, with a slight shudder.

'Not yet,' replied he, soothingly; 'but even unto the grave will I reconcile thee, if thou wilt but listen, through me, to the voice of him who sent me.'

'Here I can listen to thee,' said she; 'thy voice chimes in, passing

If thou wouldst but leave me to myself, and hush thy mournful croaking in the gay circles of fashion."

well, with the sweet melodies of nature.

'I cannot leave thee for a moment,' said Age, ' for I tell thee I am sent by one far mightier than I, to fulfil thy destiny here, and prepare Look upon me, then, as thee for the mysteries of thy coming doom. a messenger of love, not of wrath, and thrice happy shall be our communion together.'

It was fortunate for this once beautiful woman, that she had sufficient sense and good feeling to understand every word that Old Age said to her; and had prudence enough, beside, to acknowledge him ever after as a friend; for he proved a sage counsellor, and guided her wisely through the last scenes of life; and during each trial of sickness and infirmity, endued her with resignation, and whispered heavenly consolation to her inmost soul.

He soon persuaded her to throw aside every vain trapping; and then, with his owu gentle hand, smoothed her gray hair across her brow, and blended benevolent smiles with the growing wrinkles. Thus, though she was no longer lovely to look upon, she became reconciled to herself, and ceasing to pine for the charms of which Age had divested her, she wrapped herself in a mantle of gray, and quietly descended with him into the vale of years.