I arrived in this section of the country, a few remarks he opened his valise, and took from it days ago, I made—and I hope you will pardon a bag of silver money, and deliberately proceedme the liberty I took with your private affairs-ed to draw out and count from it, till he had I made some inquiries about you and the situation of your family; when learning, to my deep regret, that your late husband, in consequence of his long-continued absence from his home and business, while in the service of his country, and his subsequent shattered health, resulting from the hardships of war, left you laboring under pecuniary embarrassments, I was prompted to come and see you.' "I had little dreamed of such an honor and such a kindness, General,' she responded, nearly overpowered by her emotions and the imposing presence of her august visitor. a "There is a mortgage,' he rejoined, without responding in any way to her last remarks, rather heavy mortgage on your homestead.' reached the sum of nine hundred and some odd dollars, which afterward proved to be precisely the sum demanded, in principal, interest, and fees, for the discharge of the mortgage on our place. He then, after returning the money to the bag and setting it aside for the purpose he had designated, and taking the hand of my mother, who seemed inclined to remonstrate, but could not force the words for it from her quivering lips, tenderly but with an air that seemed to forbid any attempt at refusal, said to her: "Accept it, don't hesitate to accept it-take it and get the mortgage discharged at once; and then all your immediately pressing anxieties will be relieved, and soon you will find those brighter days the God of the widow has kept in store for "I am sorry,' she replied, sadly, very sor-you. And now, as my time is quite limited, it ry to be compelled to say there is, General-a | only remains for me to say, as I do most sinmuch heavier one than I can ever pay.' cerely and kindly, Heaven bless you, dear madam, Heaven bless you. Farewell!' "So I had ascertained,' he proceeded; and I have also, before coming here, been at the pains of ascertaining the exact amount now due, and required to cancel this, to you, doubtless, ruinous incumbrance, and I propose now to leave with you the sum of money you will need for effecting that desirable object.' "Does the money come from Government, Sir?' she asked, doubtfully, and with a look that seemed to say, 'If it does, then all right.' "I was present during the whole of this interview between General Washington and my mother, heard every word they both said, and saw all the money counted down on the table, and feel very confident that I have neither taken from nor added to any thing that there took place. "On leaving the house, Washington immediately mounted his horse and rode away, leaving us quite unable for a while to realize this unexpected visit, and the still more unexpected benefaction of the illustrious visitor." As Mr. Warner was ascertained to have been a man of integrity, and of an unbroken memory, there need be but little doubt respecting the truth and authenticity of the above related incident, which, while it involves testimony highly honorable to the heroic leader of the Green Mountain Boys, furnishes a new and beautiful illustration of the elevated and benevolent char "Without waiting for any rejoinder to these acter of Washington. YORKSHIRE.-SHEFFIELD. O'm t' rooaz a' Sharon, an' t' lillia a' t' valliz. O mo duv, thah 'rt i' t' clefts a' t' rock, ' t' secret places a' t' stairs. NORFOLK. The rose o' Sharon I em, and the lily o' the walleys. LINCOLNSHIRE-PARTS ABOUT FOLKINGHAM. THE QUEEN'S ENGLISH. IVERY one who has traveled in England, or who has had occasion to mingle with English emigrants to America, has noticed the multiplicity of dialects spoken among the common people. To say nothing of the misplace- places o' the stars. ment of the aspirate, universal among the cockneys of London, it may be safely affirmed that within a space of fifty miles in almost any part of England may be found more marked dialectic variations, from good usage not only in pronunciation but in words, than can be found among native Americans from Maine to Arkansas. Indeed the negroes on a Southern plantation speak better English than the majority of the Yorkshire, Northumberland, and Lancashire peasants. Dr. Latham, in his claborate work on "The English Language," translates into a score or two of these dialects the first and a part of the fourteenth verse of the second chapter of the Song of Solomon, which in our common version read thus: I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, and in the secret places of the stairs. From these versions we select the following, which the reader may compare with Tennyson's poem, "The Northern Farmer," in this Magazine for October: NORTII NORTHUMBERLAND. Aw's the rose o' Sharon, an' the lily o' the valleys. O maw duve, that's a' the holes o' the rock, the hidin'pleaces the steps. NORTHUMBERLAND.-NEWCASTLE. Aw's the rose o' Sharon, an' the lily o' the valleys. O maw duv, that is the clefs o' the rock, the secret pl'yeces o' the stairs. DURHAM. A' as t' rose uv Sharon an' t lilley ud valleys. O me dove, 'ats id cleft ud rock, ad secret plaases ud stairs. DURHAM.-SHIELDS. Aw's the rose o' Sharon, an' the ly o' the valleys. O maw duv, that is the clefs o' the rock, a' the secret ply'eces o' the stairs. NORTH CUMBERLAND. I am the rwose o' Sharon, an' the lillie o' the vallies. O my duve, that art in the cliffs o' the rock, in the seeret pleaces o' the stairs. CENTRAL CUMBERLAND. Ise t' rwose o' Sharon, an' t lily o'' valleys. O my pigeon, 'at's in t' nicks o' t' rock, in t' bye pleaces o' t' crags. WESTMORLAND. I'st' rooaz o' Sharon, an lily o'' valleys. SOMERSETSHIRE. SUSSEX. I be de roiz of Sharon, and de lily of de valleys. O my dove, dat 's in de clifts of de rock, in de sacret plaüces of de stairs. Mr Peacock, in a recent volume of the "Transactions of the Philological Society," thus renders the whole chapter into the dialect of Northern Lancashire: 1. I's 't rooz a Sharon' èn 't lily a 't valleys. 2. Amang 't lasses, my luvv 's like a lily amang 't wickwoods. 3. Amang 't lads, my beluyvd's like an apple amang 't common trees. I sat mah down under his shadda wi girt plezzer, en his friwt was sweet ta m? tepast. 4. He brout ma ta 't feeästin'-house, èn his culler ouer ma was luvv. 5. Gimma a sooäp a summat ta sup, ta cumfert mah, en I sud like sum apples ta itt: for I 's decid seek a luvv. 6. His left hand 's under my heeod, on his reight hand cuddles mah. 7. En mind ye this, ye Jerewzlem lasses, bi 't valli a o' 't ky èn sheep i 't fields, èz ya don't stir up, ner wakken mi luvv, t'l a likes. S. 'T voice a mi beluvv'd! Lukk ya he cums loupin' ouer 't fells, skelpin' a toppa 't hows. 9. My beluvv'd's like a roe èr a yung buck: Lukk ya, he's standin' behint our woh, he 's gloorin' out a 't winda, O my cashat, 'at's it' grikes o' t' crags, it' darkin' èn shewin' his-sel through 't lat-wark. YORKSHIRE. CRAVEN. I is 't rooaz o' Sharun, an' ' lilly o't' gills. 10. My beluvv'd spak, èn said tumma, Now, hunny, git up, that's a bonny lass, èn cu' the ways. 11. Fèr, duzta see, 't winter's past, 't rain 's ouer èn geyan. 12. T flowers is beginnin' ta blã; 't parrin' time a 't birds is cum, èn yan ma hear 't stockduvv cooin' i 't woods. 13. 'T berry trees is i blossom, èn 't sweet-breeär's heginnin' ta send out a reight nice smell, Du git up with, joy, cu' the ways I say, èn let mah lukk at the conny feyace. 14. O mi joy, ez is i 't nicks a 't crag, i 't lorkin'-hooäls a 't stairs, cum out wi that sweet feyace a thì aan, let mah. hear thi lile clapper gang; fer thi voice is music itsel, en O mah duv, at is 't hoiles o' 't scarr, 't saycrit thou's reet gud lukkin. ARMADALE. BY WILKIE COLLINS, AUTHOR OF "NO NAME," "THE WOMAN IN WHITE," ETC. BOOK THE FIRST. CHAPTER I. His excellency of the eight letters writes to me (by his servant) in French; his excellency of the four letters writes to me in German. The rooms of both are ready. I know no more." Perhaps," suggested the mayor's wife," Mr. [T was the opening of the season of eighteen Doctor has heard from one or both of these il THE TRAVELERS. WILDBAD. The evening shadows were beginning to gather over the quiet little German town, and the diligence was expected every minute. Before the door of the principal inn, waiting the arrival of the first visitors of the year, were assembled the three notable personages of Wildbad, accompanied by their wives-the mayor, representing the inhabitants; the doctor, representing the waters; the landlord, representing his own establishment. Beyond this select circle, grouped snugly about the trim little square in front of the inn, appeared the towns-people in general, mixed here and there with the country-people in their quaint German costume, placidly expectant of the diligence-the men in short black jackets, tight black breeches, and threecornered beaver hats; the women with their long light hair hanging in one thickly-plaited tail behind them, and the waists of their short woolen gowns inserted modestly in the region of their shoulder-blades. Round the outer edge of the assemblage thus formed, flying detachments of plump white-headed children careered in perpetual motion; while, mysteriously apart from the rest of the inhabitants, the musicians of the Baths stood collected in one lost corner, waiting the appearance of the first visitors to play the first tune of the season in the form of a serenade. The light of a May evening was still bright on the tops of the great wooded hills, watching high over the town on the right hand and the left; and the cool breeze that comes before sunset came keenly fragrant here with the balsamic odor of the firs of the Black Forest. "Mr. Landlord," said the mayor's wife (giving the landlord his title), "have you any foreign guests coming on this first day of the season ?" "Madam Mayoress," replied the landlord (returning the compliment), "I have two. They have written the one by the hand of his servant, the other by his own hand apparently-to order their rooms; and they are from England both, as I think by their names. If you ask me to pronounce those names my tongue hesitates; if you ask me to spell them, here they are letter by letter, first and second in their order as they come. First, a high-born stranger (by title Mister), who introduces himself in eight lettersA, r, m, a, d, a, 1, e-and comes ill in his own carriage. Second, a high-born stranger (by title Mister also), who introduces himself in four letters-N, e, a, 1—and comes ill in the diligence. "From one only, Madam Mayoress; but not, strictly speaking, from the person himself. I have received a medical report of his excellency of the eight letters, and his case seems a bad one. God help him!" "The diligence!" cried a child from the outskirts of the crowd. The musicians seized their instruments, and silence fell on the whole community. From far away in the windings of the forest gorge the ring of horses' bells came faintly clear through the evening stillness. Which carriage was approaching-the private carriage with Mr. Armadale, or the public carriage with Mr. Neal? "Play, my friends!" cried the mayor to the musicians. "Public or private, here are the first sick people of the season. Let them find us cheerful.” The band played a lively dance tune, and the children in the square footed it merrily to the music. At the same moment their elders near the inn door drew aside, and disclosed the first shadow of gloom that fell over the gayety and beauty of the scene. Through the opening made on either hand a little procession of stout country girls advanced, each drawing after her an empty chair on wheels; each in waiting (and knitting while she waited) for the paralyzed wretches who came helpless by hundreds then who come helpless by thousands now-to the waters of Wildbad for relief. While the band played, while the children danced, while the buzz of many talkers deepened, while the strong young nurses of the coming cripples knitted imperturbably, a woman's insatiable curiosity about other women asserted itself in the mayor's wife. She drew the landlady aside, and whispered a question to her on the spot. "A word more, ma'am," said the mayor's wife, "about the two strangers from England. Are their letters explicit? Have they got any ladies with them?" "The one by the diligence—no,” replied the landlady. "But the one by the private carriage-yes. He comes with a child; he comes with a nurse; and," concluded the landlady, skillfully keeping the main point of interest till the last, "he comes with a Wife." The mayoress brightened; the doctoress (assisting at the conference) brightened; the landlady nodded significantly. In the minds of all three the same thought started into life at the same moment-" We shall see the Fashions!" In a minute more there was a sudden move- | me a kindness to exert it. ment in the crowd; and a chorus of voices proclaimed that the travelers were at hand. By this time the coming vehicle was in sight, and all further doubt was at an end. It was the diligence that now approached by the long street leading into the square-the diligence (in a dazzling new coat of yellow paint) that delivered the first visitors of the season at the inn door. Of the ten travelers released from the middle compartment and the back compartment of the carriage—all from various parts of Germany-three were lifted out helpless, and were placed in the chairs on wheels to be drawn to their lodgings in the town. The front compartment contained two passengers only-Mr. Neal and his traveling servant. With an arm on either side to assist him, the stranger (whose malady appeared to be locally confined to a lameness in one of his feet) succeeded in descending the steps of the carriage easily enough. While he steadied himself on the pavement by the help of his stick-looking not over-patiently toward the musicians who were serenading him with the waltz in Der Freischutz-his personal appearance rather damped the enthusiasm of the friendly little circle assembled to welcome him. He was a lean, tall, serious, middle-aged man, with a cold gray eye and a long upper lip; with overhanging eyebrows and high cheekbones; a man who looked what he was-every inch a Scotchman. "Where is the proprietor of this hotel?" he asked, speaking in the German language, with a fluent readiness of expression, and an icy coldness of manner. "Fetch the doctor," he continued, when the landlord had presented himself, "I want to see him immediately." "I am here already, Sir," said the doctor, advancing from the circle of friends, "and my services are entirely at your disposal." "Thank you," said Mr. Neal, looking at the doctor as the rest of us look at a dog when we have whistled and the dog has come. "I shall be glad to consult you to-morrow morning, at ten o'clock, about my own case. I only want to trouble you now with a message which I have undertaken to deliver. We overtook a traveling carriage on the road here, with a gentleman in it-an Englishman, I believe-who appeared to be seriously ill. A lady who was with him begged me to see you immediately on my arrival, and to secure your professional assistance in removing the patient from the carriage. Their courier has met with an accident, and has been left behind on the road-and they are obliged to travel very slowly. If you are here in an hour you will be here in time to receive them. That is the message. Who is this gentleman who appears to be anxious to speak to me? The mayor? If you wish to see my passport, Sir, my servant will show it to you. No. You wish to welcome me to the place, and to offer your services? I am infinitely flattered. If you have any authority to shorten the performances of your town band, you would be doing My nerves are irríWhere is the landmy rooms I don't table, and I dislike music. Both mayor and doctor looked after the Scotchman as he limped up stairs, and shook their heads together in mute disapproval of him. The ladies, as usual, went a step farther, and expressed their opinions openly in the plainest words. The case under consideration (so far as they were concerned) was the scandalous case of a man who had passed them over entirely without notice. Mrs. Mayor could only attribute such an outrage to the native ferocity of a Sav. age. Mrs. Doctor took a stronger view still, and considered it as proceeding from the inbred brutality of a Hog. The hour of waiting for the traveling carriage wore on, and the creeping night stole up the hillsides softly. One by one the stars appeared, and the first lights twinkled in the windows of the inn. As the darkness came the last idlers deserted the square; as the darkness came the mighty silence of the Forest above flowed in on the valley, and strangely and suddenly hushed the lonely little town. The hour of waiting wore out, and the figure of the doctor, walking backward and forward anxiously, was still the only living figure left in the square. Five minutes, ten minutes, twenty minutes, were counted out by the doctor's watch before the first sound came through the night silence to warn him of the approaching carriage. Slowly it emerged into the square, at the walking pace of the horses, and drew up, as a hearse might have drawn up, at the door of the inn. "Is the doctor here?" asked a woman's voice, speaking out of the darkness of the carriage in the French language. "I am here, madam," replied the doctor, taking a light from the landlord's hand and opening the carriage door. The first face that the light fell on was the face of the lady who had just spoken-a young, darkly-beautiful woman, with the tears standing thick and bright in her eager black eyes. The second face revealed was the face of a shriveled old negress, sitting opposite the lady on the back seat. The third was the face of a little sleeping child, in the negress's lap. With a quick gesture of impatience the lady signed to the nurse to leave the carriage first with the child. "Pray take them out of the way," she said to the landlady; "pray take them to their room." She got out herself when her request had been complied with. Then the light fell clear for the first time on the farther side of the carriage, and the fourth traveler was disclosed to view. He lay helpless on a mattress supported by a stretcher; his hair long and disordered under a black skull-cap; his eyes wide open, rolling to and fro ceaselessly anxious; the rest of his face |