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GRIMM'S GHOST.

LETTER VI.

GEORGE CULPEPPER'S ambition has been at length gratified. He has become acquainted with a Captain of Dragoons. Captain Augustus Thackeray and he happened to go in the same steam-vessel, the Majestic, to Margate, on a certain Saturday; they, moreover, returned together on the Monday following. While sojourning at that populous watering-place, they dined in the same coffee-room. Mutual ennui pro

duced mutual acquaintance. They discussed the weather and the price of mackarel; the Upper and the Lower Pier; the Light-house, and the North Foreland; the forward state of the harvest, and the scarcity of fine women at the last night's assembly at Howe's. It has even been rumoured, that, on their return by the Eclipse, they danced upon deck with two young ladies from Cranbourne-passage. This, however, they both resolutely deny; and I own that the rumour lacks confirmation. George, on his return to Savage-gardens, talked much of his new acquaintance, and dropped a hint about inviting him to dinner. The elder Culpepper discountenanced the idea. For his part, he observed, he had not much opinion of the army. Whenever he walked up St. James's-street, which, he thanked his stars, was only twice a year, to receive the rent of a house in Great Ryder-street, he observed three officers in uniform, arm in arm, lounging up and down upon the foot-path, and thrusting the women and children either through the shop-windows, or into the gutter. This, he continued, might be good manners at Boodle's, but it would be voted vulgar at Tom's or John's. Nay, he had a much weightier objection to a red coat. A young puppy in scarlet, one ensign Tibbs, had run up a bill with him, some eighteen years ago, of thirty-six pounds, for slops, and the devil a shilling of the money had he been able to touch from that time to this. George, Clara, and Mamma, pronounced this to be illiberal: they had known many officers who paid their way, and behaved very much like gentlemen, and they had no doubt that Captain Thackeray was one of the number. "Well, well!" ejaculated the old gentleman, "do as you please: if any thing turns out contrary-ways, I wash my hands of it." Captain Thackeray was invited to dinner on the following Wednesday.

On the morning of the last-mentioned day, a consultation took place upon the subject of wine. George and his sister said that no decent people ever sat down to dinner without two long-necked black bottles in the centre of the table, charged with hock and champaign. Old Culpepper offered to produce the key of his cellar-door, and told his son that he was at liberty to drink all the hock and champaign it contained. "It may be bought," said the son. "Then buy it," said the father. This did not suit; so a bottle of gooseberry and another of perry were settled as the substitutes. Five precisely was the time written upon the card. The clock struck five-no Captain; it chimed a quarter-still no Captain. Culpepper senior now began to wax fidgety. He looked at his watch-wondered what people could mean by keeping people fasting. People should consider,

that, though some people have no appetite, other people have. "La Papa, don't be fussy," was the consolation administered by Clara, as the clock chimed half after five. "I'll not wait another moment," roared the vender of slops; and was in the act of applying his grasp to the bell-rope, when eleven raps in quick time and seven in slow, proceeding from the ponderous street-door knocker, announced the arrival of the military visitor. The tremendous din echoed to the most distant recesses of Crutched Friars: Miss Patterson, the neighbouring old maid, started from her half-sipped Bohea, and craned her long neck through the casement, to ascertain the phenomenon. Even old Andrew Dixon drew the pipe from his mouth, and "spread his broad nostrils to the wind" like the stag in "Marmion." Jack, the foot-boy, rushed up breathless from the kitchen to "answer the door ;" and finding that the officer carried at his left side a tremendous iron-shod sword, the end of which clattered on the floor; and finding also that a countless quantity of strap, buckle, belt, leather, and chain, commonly called a sabre-tash, hung down intermingled with the weapon, obligingly lent all his strength to aid the sufferer, in bearing a load under which Baron Trenck himself might have fainted; and as the visitor entered the parlour, could not avoid exclaiming, in a pitiful tone, "Lord! Lord! Captain, what have they tied you to?"

The appearance of Captain Augustus Thackeray might indeed have appalled a stouter heart than that which beat in the bosom of Jack the foot-boy. His age appeared to be about twenty-three; that is, judging from his figure:-for his face was so enveloped in whisker, mustachio, and chin-tuft, that he might have been sixty-three for any thing which that denoted to the contrary. On his head he balanced a mass of fur, like a Patagonian lady's muff, from the apex of which hung a large piece of scarlet cloth edged with gold lace. From his shoulder hung negligently, behind, a blue jacket in the half-on and half-off fashion, decorated with countless loops and buttons of gold, laced with the same material, and edged with sable. Every rib of his body was coated by an external rib of golden filigree, insomuch that he bore the appearance of Harlequin Skeleton turned trooper. His pantaloons of white elastic silk were embroidered by a deep broad seam of scarlet, edged with lace. The above-mentioned sword banged the calf of either leg as he marched toward the fire-place, and might, in time, have bruised those parts of his body, had not each of them been protected by a hussar boot of yellow leather, topped with scarlet, heeled with the same colour, and ornamented in front with a tassel of gold. George Culpepper rose a foot taller from the consciousness of such an acquaintance; Mrs. Culpepper took out her sal volatile; her spouse could scarcely ejaculate, "Glad to see you, Sir;" and Clara was actually thunderstruck with delight. The conversation of the illustrious stranger was as enigmatical as his aspect. That, however, I reserve for another Epistle.

THE YOUNGER BROTHER.

In the gay radiance of this lofty room,
Roses, just hired, expand their summer bloom;
The rich camelia shines, a glowing white,
Beneath the lamp's resplendent orb of light;
And glossy leaves reflect an emerald ray,
Where glancing crystals tremulously play.

"Tis a warm night, but you can feel the air
Blow on your fresh'ning cheek from Grosvenor-square;
Above, like stars, what brilliant lustres shine,
Sparkling and quivering in an airy line;
Or like celestial fountains, hung on high,
That reach not us, but glitter through the sky.
Below, in snowy chalk, foredoom'd to fade
Long ere the night withdraws her sullen shade,
(Like fated victims on this troublous earth,
Crush'd by the careless step of lordly mirth,)
Are quaint devices drawn upon the floor,
Sphynx, Cupids, Arabesques, and twenty fancies more.
But where is Lady Mary's matron grace?
Where the soft charm of Adelina's face?

The gentle Lady Mary scolds her maid,
For Beaumont has her curls so long delay'd,
She must, unwillingly, at last resign

Hopes in those ringlets on this night to shine.
And Adelina feels a satin shoe

Her little foot so very closely woo,

That pinch'd with pain, detesting in her heart
Taylor's soft simper and persuasive art,
Exclaims at last the long-enduring she-
"Oh! had some coarser artist work'd for me,
No power had he possess'd that could persuade
This was the easiest shoe he ever made."

"

Inferior ringlets are at last arranged:
The fair descend-the guilty shoe is changed;
"Come, Adelina, I must see your dress,'
Says dear Mamma, " and let your looks express
A mind all gentleness, serenely gay;
You saw the Duke of Nimini to-day:
He's silent, wary, cold, and hard to please,
Yet you, methinks, might manage him with ease.
I should think all my trouble well bestow'd,
You saw him in the Park-'twas he who rode
The chesnut pony you admired to-day.
Nay recollect, my love-his coat light grey—
Whiskers jet black—a very handsome man.
No more-It long has been my favourite plan-
My dear, you must not dance till he arrive."

"Not dance, Mamma ?"—" Not, if you wait till five!"
The knocker now its pealing thunder rolls-

A skilful hand the echoing brass controuls:-
“The Ladies Evergreen"- -Tiresome old souls,
Who of a thousand always come the first,
Though of a thousand they 're the very worst.-
Dear Lady Evergreen! you're always kind,
To early hours you know how I'm inclined!
And, really, every body comes so late!"

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The room shines out, with gay progressive state
Thickens the busy crowd, and noise, and prate-
The careless question-the unheard reply-
The smile, at variance with an envious eye-
Allurements whisper-pleasures airy glance,
And the sweet labours of the sultry dance;
Semblance of happiness in all awake,
As if some dear attainment were at stake,
All struggle to be
From
gay.
country
The dame escaped, who visits Portman-square,
For one short vernal month, is most alert,
Most lively, active, debonnaire, and pert.
Afraid to look like one whom none can know,
If you address her, she 'll not let you go-
At least, detains you till her watchful eye
Detects some new acquaintance stealing by.

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But here and there, with sweet Madonna grace
And sandal'd foot, we see a pensive face:
These are the Sylphs have not been ask'd to dance,
Who give to languor the disgrace of chance;
With downcast eyes, and sadly pleasing voice,
Feigning this rapture of repose their choice!

Alas! how vain those glances at the door,
Fair Adelina, look that way no more-
No crowded room shall hear his placid vows
Reserved for Kensington's innumerous boughs.
Muffle the knocker-drop the muslin blind-
For poor Mamma, by a sad cold confined,
Thrown on a sofa in the thickest shade,
By curtains, draperies, and flounces made,
Blows her fair nose in broidery of France,
Where on white cambric nymphs and cupids dance ;*
Sips eau sucrée, and lends her willing hand
To the seductive touch of Dr. Bland;

In softer tones his mild prescription flows,-
"Indulge yourself, dear Madam, and repose-
Eat whatsoe'er your fancy may require,
If ice of pine-apple, once pass'd through fire
You daily add-of this a pint you'll take :
Remember it, dear Madam, for my sake."

He then displays his trinkets, rich and rare,
Gifts of the great, the witty, and the fair,
And gilds the various topics of the day,

With grace wins those who hear, to wish his stay;
Till, recollecting that this very now

Ten patients wait, he makes an hasty bow.

Almack's fair Adelina loses, and French plays,
But in green Kensington contented strays;
And while her graceful lover smiles and talks
Wonders how fashion can desert these walks;
And secretly applauds the tedious hours
That led her, half-unwilling, to those bowers,
In close attendance on a country friend,

She wish'd to hide, and yet not quite offend.

* "Les principaux traits de l'histoire Grecque et Romaine sont brodés dans mes mouchoirs, pour l'instruction de ma fille," said a scientific Parisian belle.

Mamma recovers-Can disease withstand Retirement-darkness-ice-and Doctor Bland? Attack'd with vigour thus, her cold gives way; To see the Duke at last she names a day; And deigns that morn her drawing-room to grace, Envelop'd in light folds of Brussels lace; Beneath her dimpled chin is part confined, The rest falls lightsomely-a veil behind.

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'Tis two o'clock-he cannot yet arrive!—
No, Ma! he never visits till past five."
"Then give my notes-now to my daily task-
This perfumed seal is Cupid in a mask,

I fear 'tis some petition for Almack's;
The strangest people make such bold attacks ?"
She reads-she trembles-and she looks aghast,
Like some unhappy merchant, when a blast
Has wreck'd the stately ship before his eyes,
Where all his hope of earthly treasure lies.
No Duke of Nimini, alas! has won
Fair Adelina-but a younger son,
Detested name! comprising all the faults
That can offend a mother's tender thoughts-
His Grace's brother-ay, and four between-
Abominable-odious-unforeseen.

After some nonsense about love and truth,
Resistless charms, and unresisting youth,
Thus closed the flippant Dandy's foolish note,
One more unwelcome never lordling wrote:-
"You see I but deserve a mild rebuke,
I never, never said I was the Duke:
When first you met me riding, after dark,
Your La-ship then mistook me, in the Park;
And feeling that my name, for conquest known,
Might fright an infant Cupid from his throne,
I mask'd the glories I have fairly won
In Love's campaigns. As on a rising sun
Shaded by mists, those eyes securely gaze,
That might be dazzled by his cloudless rays,
I wore my brother's title as a shade;
But now Love's blossoms fully are display'd,
Disguise, as useless, may be laid aside.
To-day I come-to claim my beauteous bride."

The guilty paper, in a thousand scraps,

Lies torn and trembling in the ladies' laps.

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Mamma, my dear Mamma! what can be done?" "Ah, what indeed, my Love!-a younger son !" From pique, shame, anger Lady Mary wept : Contagious softness on her daughter crept: With noiseless step, amid this shower of tears, Gay, confident, and bright-Lord John appears : The truth he could not doubt, nor they deny, While drops were glistening in each fair one's eye. He made his farewell bow, with easy grace; She dried her tears, lest they might spoil her face; Short were her sorrows-for she still was free, And still might wed the Duke of Nimini.

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