father, who was living in Italian Switzerland, had been dangerously ill, and had sent to entreat his daughter to come to him. She very naturally wished to obey him without delay; but as her grandmother was determined not to stay behind, she would be obliged to make the journey by short and easy stages. Leonora, seeing everything on the gloomy side, feared. that she would only be in time to find her father dead!

These sorrowful presentiments happily did not come to pass. Leonora found her father so cheerful and so much better than she expected, that she could scarcely believe his past illness had been so dangerous. His physician had recommended exercise for the re-establishment of his health, and Leonora of course accompanied him on these little excursions. "You will scarcely believe," she wrote to me, from the Lake of Lugano, "how desirable life now appears to me. Everything in our vicinity is so fresh, so cheerful, so beautiful. Even grandmamma (who in her present happiness cannot see the symbol of death) enjoys the sun's warm beams, the fresh mountain air, and the rippling murmur of the lake, which beats softly on the walls of our villa. And how beautiful are the water, the air, and the country of this happy place! The language falls lightly and musically on our ear; and when pilgrims, singing, pass on their way before me, I can only fold my hands and entreat them to bear my sorrows to the altar of faith! I feel and know that the waves of the Lake of Lugano will wash my grave.' And Ulrich! Lately, when I have thought of him with longing desires, immediately it seemed as if the evening wind brought to me the sound of his beloved voice. Might it not be the distant perception of the soul, which is gradually freeing itself from the body? You would perhaps listen to me with an unbelieving smile, if you saw how much the mountain air has strengthened me. But do not trust my rosy checks and clear bright eyes-I feel that I am not long for this world!"

It had now become cold and gloomy in the mountains, but Leonora's father would hear nothing of departure; in spite of storm and rain, he went out walking with her every day for several hours. Three days more, and Ulrich's year would be over! He had written from Geneva, full of hope and joy. Three days more yet how much lay in those few hours! Leonora, as I afterwards learned, became more sorrowful and gloomy; she shuddered at every thought of Ulrich. If I should see the sign of death on his forehead!" she exclaimed.

66

Her friends tried to conquer this fancy; but it was easy to see that it still grew in her thoughts. The sky was clear, and the wind high; but the Baron and his daughter went forth to meet Ulrich. Leonora could scarcely follow her father's active, hasty footsteps. Through village and field, over the meadow, along the lake, and then up the wood, her father led the way. The withering foliage fell at Leonora's feet, the screaming magpie flew here and there, and the wind blew the heavy masses of clouds over the mountains. "Let us return home, father," pleaded the trembling girl; "I am ill."

But the Baron would not go back. "Over there by the church you can rest," he said, and went on farther.

Leonora followed with difficulty. The way led on through thicket and rock; already the cross and banner of the church were distinctly visible through the bare bushes; the Baron passed over the little wooden bridge, and, looking back, called out—

66

Courage, Leonora! onwards yet a hundred steps, and we shall be there!"

Leonora stepped on the bridge, which, leading from the point of one rock to the other, hung over the precipice. Unspeakable anguish oppressed her-everything appeared inimical and threatening. Under her feet the little bridge trembled-it was to her as if the white veil covered the whole face of nature. At this moment some one called out to her from below, "Leonora Leonora!" She and her father looked downwards, and saw a traveller riding in a carriage-it was Ulrich! He waved his hat and handkerchief to them. . . . but at that moment a cry of pain was heard! What terrible thing had happened? Leonora, at the threshold of the chapel, had fallen into the yawning abyss!

More than a year after this frightful occurrence, the delightful occasion of a wedding tour led me to that part of Italian Switzerland. The little villa on the borders of the Lake of Lugano appeared then as an Eldorado, whose walls were washed by that beautiful lake, whose rooms were perfumed with roses, and whose inhabitants greeted me in German accents. As we sat one evening under the cool covering of foliage, Ulrich and Leonora with me, and the Baron in the adjoining room, dozing near the cradle of his merry and blooming grandson, Leonora looked towards the village church on the hill, and said

"There lies buried the curse of our house! Death was easy and painless to my grand

mother, for she felt assured that the curse of our race was destroyed."

An explanation of Leonora's words soon followed. Ulrich continued

"Thorny bushes broke the force of Leonora's fall; she was taken up very much hurt, and senseless a dangerous fever soon followed. After many days of intense suffering, Leonora awoke to new life, and we had her again uninjured. Now we are happy!"

The rapidity with which Ulrich uttered these words astonished me, and I perceived that the fall into the abyss was no accident.

"Let these sad remembrances rest!" said Ulrich.

I remained with my husband several delightful days in the vicinity of the charming lake; we sailed on its blue waves, and enjoyed the beautiful mixture of Italian scenery and of the Swiss alpine world. We found Leonora truly happy and cheerful: she and Ulrich were rich enough to enjoy in their own manner all the beauties which life affords, and all sorrowful thoughts were banished. I soon felt that no allusion must be made to the "white veil." As I was one day riding in the Lombardian plains with my husband, who was a physician,

I asked him his opinion about these occurrences, which I had often previously related to him. He answered

"The existence of second sight and of the white veil will be disputed by no thoughtful physician. The capability of foretelling future events is indeed wonderful. In Scotland, as you are aware, this gift has become a local disease; but in Leonora of Werdenberg, the weak nature of the finite spirit obtained a victory over the demoniac influence of the many spirits of nature. If she feared by a union with her cousin to fall a victim to the traditions of her ancestors, and if she fell into the abyss intentionally, and with an attempt at suicide, which I do not venture to maintain, still this catastrophe was followed by such happy consequences that it may well be said, 'the free power of the will conquered the demoniac influence.' From the moment your friend feared to see the white veil, she saw it everywhere; but it was no longer the veil her ancestresses had scen."

I asked my noble husband for a lesson to be drawn from these events. He answered"Here is the lesson-- Reflect, and all the fears of a blind belief will disappear.""

TUNIS, the capital of the regency of the same name, is situated on the coast of Barbary, North Africa. Its climate is considered extremely salubrious, though the heat in summer is very oppressive. During the hottest months the thermometer generally stands at about 86 degrees in the shade; but the greatest difference in the temperature is caused by the prevalence of the south-east wind, called sirocco, which passes over the burning sands of the Sahara, or Great Desert, and is on that account so warm, as to appear almost like the breath of a furnace.

The country is exceedingly fertile, but is left almost without cultivation, owing to circumstances which I cannot here detail. In summer no rain falls, and on that account, as well as by reason of the great heat, the ground is completely parched and brown; but in spring and autumn, when the former and latter rains moisten the earth, and the scorching sun has less power, the country appears robed in green and smiling in verdure.

The Bey of Tunis is nominally subject to the Sublime Porte, and possesses despotic power in his own regency.

Tunis is famous as having been one of the strongholds of the corsairs, or pirates, of whose dark deeds and bold exploits so much has been written; but the place derives its principal interest from its close vicinity to the site of ancient Carthage, once the great rival of Rome, but of which scarcely a vestige now remains to witness to the reality of its former grandeur. In the second century Christianity flourished in Carthage, and shed its benign influence over the regions around; but, alas! the darkness of night prevails where once the Sun of righteousness shone resplendent. Mahommedanism, propagated and maintained by the sword, is now the religion of these once favoured districts.

The streets of Tunis are narrow, crooked, and dirty. It is impossible to form a correct estimate of the number of its Moorish inhabitants, as the Mahommedan religion forbids the numbering of the people. The town, however, is large and over-populated; and is said to contain, exclusively of the followers of the false prophet, about 30,000 Jews, 5000 Maltese, and a vast number of Europeans, principally French and Italian. There are nine European con

suls and one American, resident in the town; and the flags hoisted on the different consulates on the Sabbath, or on any particular occasion, present a very lively appearance as they wave in the breeze.

The Mahommedans and Jews know of no other Christianity than that exhibited to their view in the form of Catholicism, and the more idolatrous worship of the Greek church. They therefore imagine that all Christians observe the same ceremonials; and those among them who were brought into contact with ourselves or other Protestants, could with difficulty be persuaded that we did not worship idols, to which practice they have the greatest possible aversion. I well remember, some time after my school was established, the Jews, being anxious to know whether Christianity was taught in it, sent a person to ascertain the fact. The messenger walked into the schoolroom, looked round in search of a crucifix, and not seeing one, asked the children if we had any images for worship, and being told, No, went away perfectly satisfied that no Christianity was taught; whereas, at the same time, the girls were reading the New Testament daily, and learning with great interest those prophecies relating to the first advent of the Messiah.

The Jews of Tunis are Rabbinical, that is to say, they are of that class who teach for doctrine the tradition of men, and thereby make the Word of God of none effect. The study of the writings of their Rabbis is considered by them more meritorious than the reading of God's Holy Word. From the Talmud, and other standard works, they gather many absurd notions ;-one of which is, that females are not responsible beings, and also that it is a sin to instruct them. The care of their souls is left entirely to their husbands or fathers; and they themselves appear perfectly satisfied with an arrangement which removes from them all anxiety with regard to a future state.

The higher classes of Jewesses are kept in almost as much seclusion as their Mahomme

dan country women, from whom they borrow many customs, and not a few superstitions. They wear charms and amulets, to prevent the much-dreaded effects of the Evil-eye, &c.; and use the same methods of beautifying themselves as their Moorish neighbours-such as painting their eyebrows to meet, dyeing the hands and feet with henna, &c.; and as obesity is considered a mark of feminine beauty in Barbary, the Jewesses, by a system of cramming, often succeed in arriving almost at perfection with regard to it, and are frequently excessively stout.

The Jewesses are generally speaking darkcomplexioned, though there are many among them remarkably fair. Some are very handsome; and I remarked that like the generality of Easterns, their hands and feet are small and well-formed. They are fond of display, and therefore wear quantities of jewellery. On the occasion of a marriage, it is considered no disgrace for the bride to borrow jewels from her neighbours. The short, outward robe and drawers worn by them reach to the ankle, and are composed of thin silk. The dress is richly embroidered on the bosom; and the short, loose sleeves are of white net, or muslin, or sometimes gauze spotted with gold. The full drawers fit closely round the ankle, where they are thickly embroidered with gold, and are always of a different colour from that of the dress. Light brown and cherry-colour are favourite contrasts, or scarlet and green, purple and yellow, pink and straw-colour. The very poorest Jewesses wear common print dresses; but even they are always provided with one gay, silk dress for holiday occasions. When they walk abroad they are enveloped from head to foot in a sifsara,—which is a shawl or scarf of very large dimensions, composed of the finest white wool and silk, and is consequently a most expensive article of dress. The poor use sifsaras of white calico.

Moorish women, when they are permitted to leave their homes, wear a covering of black crape over the face, leaving only the eyes visible, but the Jewesses only cover the mouth.

The usual dress of the Moors of Tunis consists of a red or blue braided or embroidered jacket, with shash sleeves; a white, or sometimes coloured vest; full, white or dark blue drawers to the knee; a scarlet silk scarf encircling the waist, no stockings, and red or yellow slippers. The shashea, or scarlet cap of the East, completes the costume. This dress, when worn by the opulent, and therefore composed of rich materials, is very elegant. Peculiarly folded white turbans, and long, flowing robes are worn by professional men. The descendant of Mahommed may be known by his green turban, and sometimes robe of the same holy colour; while the hadge, or pilgrim, is distinguished by his red turban. The dress of the Jew is very similar to that of the Moors, except that he is obliged to wear black shoes and a black turban, by which he may easily be distinguished among them. If unmarried he is not allowed to wear a turban at all, but in its place a small black skull-cap, which just covers the crown of his shaven head, and is very unbecoming. On

each side of his temples a small square patch is visible, which has not been shaven, but clipped as closely as possible. The reason for this we read in Lev. xix., 27, "Ye shall not round the corners of your head." Shaving the head is a universal practice in Tunis, and is the means of promoting cleanliness among the people, who are generally speaking extremely dirty in their persons and habits. The Mahommedans leave one long lock on the crown of their heads, by which they believe they are to be drawn up to heaven by their prophet on the last day.

The Jews are active and industrious, and carry on various trades very briskly. Nearly all the business of European merchants is transacted by Jewish brokers, who are acquainted with the customs of the country, and the different languages required in their vocation. As they are clever workmen, they are often sent for to work balic for the Beythat is, they are compelled to work, with very little, or sometimes no renumeration; while their families, who depend on them for support, are left in a starving condition. Besides this they are oppressed in various ways, and made to feel themselves strangers in the land of their birth. Oppression has made them mean and cowardly, and deteriorated from

their character in several respects; yet they still possess many redeeming qualities.

Jewish parents are most indulgent to their children; they consider it wrong to correct a child, in any measure, until it has arrived at the age of six or seven years; when, of course, the work is much more difficult than if commenced from a proper period; and even when their system of training does begin, it is so defective as to be productive of very little improvement in the temper and disposition of their offspring;-so that whatever amiability may be found in them, is not to be attributed to the pains bestowed in their moral training.

The religion of the Tunisian Jews principally consists in the scrupulous observance of a series of fasts and feasts. In their fasts they do not taste food from sunrise to sunset; and they are considered the most religious Jews who provide the most sumptuous feasts at the Passover, and other festivals. Hence debts are often contracted by the poorer classes, who think it a duty to honour the festivals by living well while they last, so that after they are over the wretched prisons of Tunis are crowded with Jews. The frequent occurrence of these festivals caused great interruptions in our school occupations, as they are made complete holidays.

CHAPTER XLIV.

EATING WHITEBAIT.

agony) of brave, true-hearted men striving to rescue the helpless ones, and perishing in the exercise of their noble daring, must have afforded a suggestive theme for the crescendo and diminuendo of the tyrant's catgut, which may have been handed down to posterity, until the tradition may have furnished the thesis of that classic and artistic composition, the "Battle of Prague."

Everybody considers Nero a hateful tyrant, and everybody is in the main right; although good Dr. Goldsmith, in his interesting Roman history (which has been perpetually "abridged for the use of schools" ever since it was written, and is not half short enough yet), has probably applied too deep a coating of lamp-black even to Nero. But, though as manners and customs change the outward seeming of things varies with them, human nature, too bad ever to be all good, and too good to be all bad, remains much the same, despite the preaching of Paul and the watering-pot of Apollos.

Thus, while in the heart of mighty London vice filled model prisons with the recklessly depraved, or, far worse, the recklessly hypocritical-while hospital-wards teemed with those comparatively fortunate victims of disease and improvidence whom some good Samaritan had thus far rescued, when a frightful majority were dying untended in reeking alleys and other hot-beds of pestilence-while covetousness and hatred were scarcely restrained from breaking forth in rapine and murder by the strong arm of the law-my Lord Alfred Courtland, and the lecches who sought to prey upon his youth and inexperience, drove down to Blackwall to nibble a small fry of ridiculous little fishes, enveloped in batter, called whitebait, and esteemed, for some undiscovered reason, a delicacy. Exactly as the clock struck five, a dark, well-appointed drag, with three bays and a chesnut - all thorough-bred, or nearly so drew up at the entrance to the Pandemonium. Captain O'Brian, handing the reins to a dark-whiskered, good-looking young fellow, who was his companion on the box, descended, and entering the club, was introduced by D'Almayne to Lord Alfred Courtland and Jack Beaupeep; the first mentioned individual acknowledging his salutation by the slightest possible removal of the hat, together with an all but invisible motion of the head, the latter by a profound salaam, together with the diffident remark—“ Sir, you do me proud."

"Not at all, sir, not at all; on the contrary, it's proud I am to know you, and you a mimber of the government, too. Do ye know Smith O'Brien, now ?" Not waiting a reply, he continued "Oh, he's a great legislathur entirely; sure them that don't die first will live to see him prime-minister of this country, one of these fine mornings; and a prime minister he'll make, sure! Justice to Ireland' will be found engraved in copperplate on his heart, by any gentleman who may have the pleasure of attending the post-mortem examination of his remains, and long life to 'em!"

"Are we waiting for any one?" inquired Horace, fearful lest his Hibernian associate should disgust Lord Alfred by his offensive familiarity, at first starting. "Guillemard has, I see, already taken his seat. Have you any objection to pull up at the Guards' Club, O'Brian? There are three or four army men who have promised to come, and your drag will carry them easily."

The Captain agreeing to this-as indeed he appeared willing to agree to any and every thing suggested by D'Almayne-they

took their places, O'Brian insisting on Lord Alfred succeeding to the box-seat, vacated for that purpose by the dark-whiskered, hawkeyed youth, who was none other than Phil Tirrett, the horse-breeder's son, whom Horace d'Almayne had designated as a very promising young scoundrel-a style of character which he was so well able to recognise, and so thoroughly competent to form an opinion upon that we feel convinced he only did the young gentleman's merits justice.

By no means captivated by O'Brian's manners or address, Lord Alfred was at first haughty and monosyllabic; but perceiving that D'Almayne was as scrupulously polite to this son of Erin as to the most polished member of the fashionable world, it occurred to him that in his character of man-about-town the correct thing was to assume a general languid, citizen-of-the-worldship; and as a duty to his presumed imperturbability, to appear, not all things to all men, but the same thing to every man. Thus, rousing himself, he paid a dieaway and meaningless compliment to the work. manlike manner in which Captain O'Brian "Ar-put his team along, and-ar-the correct style of the whole affair."

This led to an equestrian and sporting rhapsody on the part of the Hon. Terence, interspersed with anecdotes-strange, if true-of the dams and the sires, and the own brothers and sisters, of the individual members of the team, and especially of the chesnut, which had been "The sweetest thing, sir, across a stiff country that ever man crossed; no day was too long and no burst too fast for him, bedad! and the bitterest moment ever Terence O'Brian knew (barring the loss of me grandmother, by spontaneous combustion, from fortuitously sitting down upon a lighted cinder, which had providentially popped out of the fire for that purpose) was when I staked him above the near hock at Melton last season; and he's never been fit to gallop since, or it isn't in harness ye'd see him now, and him costing me a cool £400, and worth all the money now, if he was but sound," &c. &c.

The witty author of Tristram Shandy, in introducing the reader to that most lovable of humourists, my Uncle Toby, has discoursed most eloquently on the various hobby-horses which take possession of, and enslave, the mind of man. Fortification, which was my Uncle Toby's mania, engrossed his thoughts, and influenced his conversation, until nothing but his simplicity and kindness of heart saved him from degenerating into a complete bore; but when a man's hobby-horse is the equine