THE manner in which a gift is bestowed often doubles its value; but to offer with grace is one of those advantages possessed only by a limited number of delicate minds. Few know this secret, and many neglect to acquire it.

64

The painter Furston was received with cordiality at the house of a rich London banker named Miles. One day at dinner the banker said to the painter, I have just purchased a tolerably large castle in Devonshire, but it is in such a ruinous state, that, like some faded old beauty, it requires a complete restoration at the hands of the Graces. I want your taste and your talents; set out to-morrow-the day after-or as early as you can; and take the direction of the necessary works. Arrange, restore, build up and pull down just as you please; whatever you do will be well done. You know I purpose quitting business in the course of two years; endeavour, then, so to manage that by this time I may be enabled to leave London with my night-cap in my pocket, and take up my abode, surrounded by my horses, my hounds, and my covers.

To this sudden request Furston as promptly replied, "Order a conveyance to be prepared for me and I will start at once. You shall see me again this day two years. Give directions to your steward and your workpeople to obey my orders strictly, and I promise you shall be satisfied with the result."

Furston accordingly set out upon his journey. He reached his destination, looked over Miles's estates, and found them in such a state of ruin and dilapidation, that none but himself would have undertaken their restoration. But if Love triples physical force, Friendship quadruples the moral energies. Furston gave proof of this; his zeal and activity enlisted in less than three days every species of workman throughout the county; masons, builders, blacksmiths, carpenters, plumbers, painters, decorators, gardeners, and labourers, poured in from all parts.

The

They set out for the castle, and it would be impossible to describe
the admiration and enthusiasm of the banker when he cast his
eves over the vast metamorphosis that had taken place over his
domains. He had bought a Caucasian desert, and he now
possessed gardens of Armida or of Medecis. Everywhere a
benevolent mind appeared to have encouraged agriculture, to
have promoted the arts, and to have secured plenty.
woods were no longer disfigured by decayed oaks and withered
elnis-the fields no longer grew spontaneous crops of the dock
and the thistle, the game no longer infested or ravaged the
enclosures of the poor, and the fish, sporting in their limpid ele-
ment, were no longer obstructed by weeds and osiers. In the
park, herds of deer browsed in the shadowy glades.
amining the castle, its Gothie towers and looped battlements
surprised at first, but one soon became reconciled to these vestiges
of a barbaric age, when one saw that they only served to conceal
the pomps and splendours of art and of science. An observatory
arose from the donjon-keep, the library was flanked by the
chapel, and the iron chains of the draw-bridge, when raised,
passed down to the culinary domain.

In ex

Then," said the banker to Furston, "you have sacrificed your time and your talents during two whole years; tell me what I can offer, not to your friendship, which never can be repaid, nor to your talent, which is beyond all price, but for the time you have lost, and which can never be replaced?"

Furston replied, "I am not one of those folks that are to be compensated by gold: if you are satisfied, if you are content, so am I."

The banker continued, "At least, then, you will remain with me as long as you live."

"That will I do," said Furston, lighting a pipe which he had taken from off the mantel piece of the billiard-room, after which he walked out into the grounds.

Furston, with palette and brush in hand, set vigorously to work. The laborious scenes which were constantly passing before his eyes, The banker knew that the artist had nothing to depend upon presented endless subjects on which to exert his skill, and the result for a living but his palette and brushes, and that his diffidence of so original an alliance of art, labour, and agriculture, was strik-required considerable tact to overcome it. At the death of the ingly successful. former, the latter would lose all. The banker had a large family, and was desirous of securing an independence for his friend; but how to secure this? Furston had, like all ordinary mortals, his weak point, and his consisted in a belief that he was an excellent marksman, whereas he was a most indifferent shot. The banker determined upon profiting by this failing.

Two years afterwards, to the very day, Furston waited upon the banker to acquaint him that his castle, now brilliantly restored, only awaited the arrival of its fortunate proprietor.

Miles had completely withdrawn himself from commercial pur suits; and when he saw Furston arrive, his joy was complete.

He instructed a friend, on whom he could rely, to purchase a commodious mansion and grounds, as though it were his intention to make it his permanent residence.

Soon afterwards, however, under pretext of being tired of this new acquisition, he one day proposed selling it to the banker, who had assembled at his castle a party of friends.

pen, ink, and parchment, awaited the successful shot, to witness the
The banker's head gamekeeper,
a deadly marksman, armed with an air gun, and placed in ambush,
conveyance of the property.
was ready to bring down the bird at the instant Furston discharged
should not even hit the column; Furston then advanced, took aim,
his piece. It was purposely arranged that the first competitors
witnessed the conveyance of the estate, and the company voci-
and fired, when down rolled the bird in the dust. The attorney
ferously applauded the new possessor.

"I advise you, neighbour," said the banker to the pretended proprietor, "to dispose of it by lottery. Let there be twice as The ingenious trick of the banker was smiled at by his guests, many tickets as there are gentlemen at the table. I will take half the number for myself and friends. Then affix the winning number to the neck of a fowl, which shall be placed on the top of the who strictly guarded the secret, for the happiness of a good and The best marks- talented man depended upon it; and the people, who often raise by marble column at the end of the lime-tree avenue. man is to gain the mansion, and you will have individually as proverbs and nicknames durable monuments to the wealthy and many shots as the whole of us. This advantage you deserve-to kings, persisted in calling "Capon Castle," the tribute paid by what say you, gentlemen, to my proposition?"

The pretended owner appeared vastly to relish this proposition, which was enthusiastically received by the guests, and without further delay the numbers were drawn out and distributed, the bird attached to the column, and the guns loaded.

The measures were well concerted. An attorney, armed with

the banker to the fine arts in the person of Furston. This was, perhaps, the first occasion on which Pluto executed a conveyance in favour of Apollo-an exception, and not a rule.

Our readers will probably be struck with the resemblance of the leading feature of this tale with the opening incident of the "Heart of Mid Lothian."