244 THE LAST OF A RACE. Giver of mind-meekly kneeling at the cross of the ever blessed Redeemer, the only medium of communication between the finite and the Infinite, and strive and "Toil for other worlds than this." All thanks to Him who, amidst a scene of moral desolation, cast athwart the midnight gloom, hues of living light, brilliant and unchanging! "Heaven and earth may pass away," but the word of the changeless Jehovah abideth for ever. And what does he teach us? Although sin has scattered blighting and mildew through all the paths of life, and we are doomed to experience its sad results, by suffering and a consignment to the companionship of worms, yet upon that within us, which thinks and feels, and wills and reasons, he has stamped the signet of his own immortality. It is the noble prerogative of a mind immortal, to cling with all the fervor of its best affections to that which endureth-comprehended in the unchanging glories of a "temple not made with hands"-the ultimate portion of the righteous. Thrice blessed are we, if thus we make provision for a day of need. Then, as we stand at the sepulchre of time, and witness the passing away of the visible heavens, with its immensity of suns and worlds, "through Him that hath loved us,” we shall be permitted to "join in the high response of cherubim and seraphim," and live and triumph as though such orbs had never rolled; and the "fashion and glory of that world shall not pass away." DRESS AND SIGHT. An excess of gilding, or indeed, of any shining or white articles, in rooms, ought to be carefully avoided. Dress, also, it cannot be doubted, exercises much influence on the visual organs; and many naturally good eyes have been permanently injured in its ceaseless endeavors to adjust itself to the vail's vibration. I have known not a few young ladies who have brought on great visual debility by this means alone. Again, tight clothing is manifestly hurtful to the sight; for it needs not to be demonstrated that the effective state of the eyes, as well as that of every part of the body, cannot be maintained without a free circulation of blood, which is obstructed when the body is too straitly laced or buttoned.—Curtis on the Preservation of the Sight. A BEAUTIFUL METAPHOR. FOR So I have known a luxuriant vine to swell into irregular twigs and bold excrescences, and spend itself in leaves and little rings, and afford but trifling clusters to the wine-press, and a faint return to his heart which longed to be refreshed with a full vintage; but when the Lord of the vineyard had caused the dressers to cut the wilder-plant and make it bleed, it grew temperate in its vain expense of useless leaves, and knotted into fair and juicy branches, and made account of that loss of blood by the return of fruit.-Jeremy Taylor. Original. THE LAST OF A RACE. "Who is there to mourn for Logan? Not one." Whoever will cast his eye from any portion of this fair city to the high grounds on the north will see, on the right hand summit which overlooks "Vine-street extended," a solitary tree, not standing erect, like vigorous youth, but bending earthward, like old age. It inclines so boldly to the southwest that the observer, at a mile distant, perceives it stands not on its centre of gravity, but holds its position by the circumference of radicalism. The miner seems to have invaded its foundations, and probably before another season, it will be uprooted and exiled from its long cherished home. My window looks out upon this relic of the past. Morning and evening I have been wont to gaze upon it; in autumn witnessing the waning hues of its foliage, in winter its native majesty as it bends and which it chooses for the season. May be, for the last time it braces itself to the storm, and in spring the livelier charms has decked itself in the greenness of its summer garb. And there thou stand'st, like some old veteran, I love to see thee there: like faith thy form How many years have rolled across thy brow For thou hast lived to see A RIVER TRIP. Long, long has fled, and no one seeks thee now. Ah! thus it is with those who lean on earth, Old tree, farewell! Yet no, I'll hold communion with thee still, GERTRUDE. "THERE is a rock whose craggy brow Original. A RIVER TRIP; OR, FACTS AND FEELINGS AS THEY ARE. 245 "Tis now ten o'clock. Myself, wife and niece are safe aboard, waiting with exemplary patience for the boat to get off. By the way, patience, though a meek, lovely virtue, is difficult to cultivate. It requires good soil and careful "tending." It has a host of enemies. Reckoning all the assaults it suffers from great and small, sharp and dull witted, it is a wonder that it survives. I will guard my own by overhauling my fellow passengers. Here they are, groups by groups, assorting themselves in messes of northerners, southerners and westerners, till they get better acquainted, when they will feel other influences of attraction and repulsion. I will begin with the southerners. I often find interesting traits in them. I can tell them at a glance. That old lady in black, so pale and delicate, sitting at her ease, turning with so much sang froid this way and that, and with so much of the charm of good nature and polish of gentility replying to various queries from those around her, how charming she is! I could wish she were my mother. The young lady at her side is probably her daughter. copy of the original, except in the fresher hues and more vigorous movements of youth. My wife says they are French. I presume they are Creoles, by which I used to understand mixed white and Indian bloods. But I find it means native born Louisianians. I am charmed with yonder Scotch looking gentleOn his face are the lines of deep and sober thought. If I mistake not, he deals in divinity. He may be on his way to the General Assembly. I will know before I land. If he were a liberal-minded Calvinist, willing, as the lawyer says, "to live and let live," I would venture to lay my small head beside his huge capital, and compare notes. The lady on his arm is doubtless his wife-rather young-say forty to his sixty. Too great a disparity. If I were thus married, I would request my dear wife to bathe each morning in cologne; then she would be able to overtake me in my rapid descent into the vale of life. man. She is an exact There, I suspect, is a widow in her freshest weeds. Sorrow-O how it hangs upon her eyelids, and bows her down to the dust! She is young-scarcely eighteen-yet how is she crushed by the blow! But I trust she is not alone in her grief. I know a beautiful woman, who loved her husband too much, and is as pure as nature ever formed one of her sex. She would sooner suffer martyrdom than utter an untruth, or do a mean thing. I doubt not but many real Christians are her inferiors in every day morality. Her husband died three years since, and died a Christian. We all thought his amiable widow would turn from the grave to the cross, and become a humble follower of the Lamb. But there she is, irreligious, undevout, seeking the pleasures of neither this world nor the next, sick of the former, and by the strong constitutional tendencies of her nature, repelled from the latter. Alas! total depravity is a true doctrine, if an invincible disrelish for God in all his persons, and for religion in all its duties || mean in his person. He feeds well, too, and hence the constitutes total depravity. A young man with a book in his hand. If I can see his book, I can better estimate his character. One of Bulwer's; and he devours it as a loafer does his oysters. Shame! savory dishes which I just saw preparing in the pantry. No doubt we shall have a fine dinner. Two o'clock, P. M. Dinner just over, and not fit for a Jacobin. I am disappointed. Another demand on my patience. But I enjoyed a relief which others There is a family group-father, mother, and they never thought of. I gnawed alternately at crust and would say, "a little cherub." I like their motions. bone, and continued my observations upon my fellow His, I trow, is a generous heart, and much would he passengers. These southern ladies must be "first do and suffer to make that circle blest. She recipro- chop." They are now quite chatty with all who show cates his sentiments. And how do both pour the full, a talking temper. The amiable matron has honored mingling tide of love and devotion upon their little me with a long tete a tete. How much more attractive one. Well, well, the fairest human virtues, aside from are amiable tempers and genteel manners, than the outthe fruit of sanctifying power, spring up in the soil of ward form and flush of beauty. I almost love this wedlock. I cannot tolerate an old bachelor. He mer-pious old lady. But my wife don't like her. She its ostracism from the pale of rational companionship.thinks her virtues superficial, and I must confess she is Adam could not live a spinster, with all the joys of oftener right than wrong. paradise, and with angelic purity in his own person to help him out. Even the daily visits of his Maker would not answer him instead of a wife. With all these provided behests and fellowships, the Lord counted him alone until Eve became his consort. An old bachelor! Tut, tut! in the light of the lovely scene before me he would turn into a ten tailed monster. Upon my word, there comes an old bachelor. I know him by his restless eye. He is jogging here and there to the table, to the bar, to the clerk's office, to the right and left, and all points of the compass, trying to get away from being "alone," and cannot. He is a dodger general. First he spent thirty years in dodging matrimony, and all the rest of his life he will spend in dodging himself. But he will never fly from solitude. This would not matter if, like the philosopher, he could| love solitude. But his appetite for that and every thing else is morbid. Indeed, he will have company. I knew one old bachelor who tenderly cherished a cat for twelve long years, till puss became superannuated, and then the old gentleman turned nurse and doctor, and kept the bed-ridden brute alive eighteen months longer. How much more dignified to have taken care of a wife. But how I wander. Five o'clock, P. M. I have made a discovery. My "first chop" southrons prove to be of the genus dramatique. I admire their effrontery less than I do my own simplicity. To tell the truth, I am easily imposed on. If not very honest myself, I suppose others are so; and as in this instance of the female comedians, I generally take all people for just what they profess to be. It is charitable, but has its embarrassments. In two instances my first impressions on this boat have proved incorrect. But not so in regard to the happy trio of which I spoke. Never did I see conjugal and parental tenderness more beautifully exemplified. They are the world to each other. She watches her husband's movements with the most intense interest, and he strives to cherish the grateful affection which she bears him. Happy pair! Seven o'clock, P. M. Shall land in a few minutes. The couple with the babe are, as I learn, from C. They are opulent and reputable. I wish all the croaking bachelors of Christendom could see them. I say Christendom; for pagans and Jews may be old bachelors. Matrimony and Christianity should go together. If it were not for the latter, I should wish there were no women in the world. Without the cross and the sepulchre, woman were a curse; and without their blessings applied she is a curse. The boat is coming to. I am better pleased with that young couple than ever. It is whispered that Mr. Twelve o'clock, M. Is it possible! Hereafter I'll obey the injunction, "Judge no man." Here we are, just getting under way, and one of my sage conclusions is quashed already. The old bachelor is the young widow's husband. She is mourning for her tried to court the young wife. He was a man grand-mother, and looks at her husband as though he of splendid talents, with professional fame and public were her only living trouble; aye, and speaks to him honors. But he was a heartless rake, and the splendor in the same bitter spirit. After all, marriage cannot of his mind and prospects had no charms for Miss G. make every body happy. I believe this man were on The day is past, and I have made up a budget of the whole as well off if his wife had taken the dropsy speculations for future use. If they do not help my instead of the old lady. But, thank Providence, there | philosophy, they have served to patch out my patience. is one happy husband aboard beside myself. How I While I speculate I should not overlook my own treaslove to gaze on the three which I just now described. ures. I have a wife. Do you ask, "what sort?" I think the Scotch looking gentleman is ill. His lips They say she is about the best doing lady of the neighare very pale-he sits still and says nothing. Now borhood. I believe them. My niece is full of humor; and then he looks with solicitude upon his youthful and nature has richly endowed her. But here they partner. I believe these southern ladies are aristocratic. come, crowned with heaven born innocence; and now They appear affable to each other, but dip into nobody's we will hasten to embrace our friends. A lovely group business. Our captain is a fac simile of Falstaff-I wait to receive us. Original. LADY JANE GREY. LADY JANE GREY. BY J. FITCH. 247 the time nothing while I am with him. And when I am called from him, I fall on weeping, because whatsoever I do else but learning, is full of grief, trouble, fear, and whole misliking unto me. And thus my book hath been so much pleasure, and bringeth daily to me more pleasure, and more, that in respect of it, all other pleasures in very deed be but trifles and troubles to me."" This was a thrilling narrative. It shows a feeling heart, and a mind disposed to overcome, and turn to THIS illustrious lady was born in the latter part of the year 1535, or the beginning of 1536. She was of noble ancestry; the daughter of Henry Grey, Marquis of Dorset, and Lady Frances Brandon, daughter of Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk. From early life she gave evidence of great vigor of mind, which sub-good effect the injudicious conduct of those who should sequently displayed its energies in grasping an amount have dealt more kindly with such a generous and noble of knowledge, seldom attained by any of the other sex. daughter. The father of Lady Jane was created Duke Her father, having himself a taste for learning, em- of Suffolk, in October, 1551, and in conjunction with ployed two chaplains, Harding and Aylmer, men of the Duke of Northumberland, endeavored to contrive extensive erudition, as tutors to his daughter. And his against a reverse of fortune, which they feared would care in this respect was amply rewarded, for she made happen on the death of Edward VI., whose health was extraordinary advancement. We are informed, that in now declining. To be successful in this attempt, they addition to intimate acquaintance with her own lan- aimed at a change in the succession to the crown, by guage, she added the thorough knowledge of the Latin, availing themselves of the reputation, and many amiaFrench, Italian and Greek; and that while yet young, ble qualities of the Lady Jane. Indeed, it is said that had become versed in Hebrew, Chaldee, and Arabic. this was the design of her marriage to Lord Guilford The severity of her parents was truly afflictive to a Dudley, son of the Duke of Northumberland, but withfeeling heart, though perhaps it resulted to her good.out any intimation of it to her. Many efforts were made That we may see this, and the effect it had upon her to bring the young monarch into their scheme, both by mind, we will introduce the observations of Roger As-raising objection to his sisters, Mary and Elizabeth, and cham, made while paying her a visit: "Before I went into Germany," says he, "I came to Broadgate in Leicestershire, to take my leave of that noble lady, Jane Grey, to whom I was exceeding much beholden. Her parents, the Duke and Duchess, with all the household gentlemen and gentlewomen, were hunting in the park. I found her in her chamber, reading Phæd Platonis in Greek, and that with as much delight as some gentlemen would read a merry tale in Boccace. After salutation, and duty done, with some other talk, I asked her why she should lose such pastime in the park? Smiling, she said, 'I wist all their sport in the park is but a shadow, to that pleasure that I find in Plato. Alas! good folk, they never felt what true pleasure meant.' And how came you, madam,' quoth I, to this deep knowledge of pleasure? And what did chiefly allure you unto it, seeing not many women, and but very few men have attained thereunto?' 'I will tell you,' quoth she, and tell you a truth which perchance ye will marvel at. One of the greatest benefits God ever gave me, is that he sent me so sharp and severe parents, and so gentle a school-master; for when I am in the presence of either father or mother, whether I speak, keep silence, sit, stand or go, eat, drink, be merry or sad, be sewing, playing, dancing, or doing any thing else, I must do it, as it were, in such weight, measure, and number, even as perfectly as God made the world; or else I am so sharply taunted, so cruelly threatened, yea, presented sometimes with pinches, nips, and bobs, and other ways, which I will not name for the honor I bear them, so without measure misordered, that I think myself in hell till time come that I must go to Mr. Aylmer, who teacheth me so gently, so pleasantly, with such fair allurements to learning, that I think all by pleading the royal line, and excellent qualities of Lady Jane. His majesty was finally brought to accede to their proposals, and on July 6, 1553, expired. To carry these measures into execution, the two dukes endeavored to conceal the king's death, to gain the city of London, and the consent of Lady Jane, who was left in ignorance of their designs. In the meantime the king's sister, Mary, informed of their movements, asserted her right to the throne, and that if they would acknowledge this by proclaiming her queen, she would forgive their past offenses. But instead of yielding to this, they asserted their attachment to Lady Jane, and her right to the throne. On Monday, July 10, the above mentioned dukes repaired to the Lady Jane's residence, to open to her their proceedings. Her father informed her that the letters patent of the king, the voice of the privy council, and the magistrates and citizens of London, conferred upon her the right to the crown; and then, himself and Northumberland, paid their homage to her as Queen of England. Greatly astonished at this discourse, without yielding to their arguments, she replied as follows: "That the laws of the kingdom, and natural right standing for the king's sisters, she would beware of burdening her weak conscience with a yoke which did belong to them; that she understood the infamy of those who had permitted the violation of right to gain a sceptre; that it were to mock God and deride justice, to scruple at the stealing of a shilling, and not at the usurpation of a crown." She concluded her reply, which throughout was marked with modesty, candor, and good sense, in the following manner: "And if you love me sincerely, you will rather wish me a secure and quiet fortune, good father, I have opened to you the state in which I presently stand, whose death at hand, although to you seems right woful, to me there is nothing that can be more welcome, than from this vale of misery, to aspire to that heavenly throne of all joy and pleasure of Christ our Savior; in whose steadfast faith, it may be right for the daughter to write to the father. The Lord that hitherto hath strengthened you, so continue you, that at last we may meet in heaven, with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost." though mean, than an exalted station exposed to the || and doubtless was much afflicted at his and her calamiwind, and followed by some dismal fall." ties, and that she was resigned to the issue, and imNotwithstanding this request, she was at length pre-plored God's mercy, she thus concludes: "And thus, vailed upon by the entreaties of her father, her mother, the Duke of Northumberland, and even her husband, to assent to what was to be done; and accordingly, with reluctant feelings, was conveyed to the Tower, in queenly state, and was solemnly proclaimed queen. But her reign was brief, lasting only about nine days; for, on the 19th of the same month, the Princess Mary was proclaimed queen. Her father hearing this, went into his daughter's apartments in the Tower, and gently informed her that she must lay aside her queenly state, and return to her former condition. To this she cheer- The night before her death she wrote a letter to her fully replied, "Sir, I better brook this message than sister Catharine, in the end of her Greek Testament, that of my advancement to royalty. Out of obedience in which she says, "I have here sent you, good sister to you and to my mother I have grievously sinned, and Catharine, a book, which, although it be not outwardly done violence to myself; I now willingly, and as obey-trimmed with gold, yet inwardly is more worth than ing the motions of my soul, relinquish the crown, and precious jewels. It is the book, dear sister, of the law endeavor to salve those faults committed by others, if at of the Lord. It is his testament and last will, which least so great a fault can be salved, by a willing relin-he bequeathed unto us wretches, which shall lead you quishment, and ingenuous acknowledgment of them." to the path of eternal joy; and if you with a good With the close of her reign began the severest afflic-mind read it, and with an earnest mind do purpose to tions; for in a little time, she, the father of her husband, follow it, it shall bring you to an everlasting life. It with all his family, many nobility and gentry, and at shall teach you to live, and learn you to die.” length her own father, were imprisoned in the Tower. On the 3d of November, 1553, herself and husband were condemned to death on a charge of high treason.mences, "O Lord, thou God and Father of my life, This solemn decision made little impression on her mind, for she had long expected death, and he was robbed of his terrors. In her trouble, she drew up a very devotional prayer, which is too lengthy to be introduced here. It com hear me, poor and desolate woman, which flieth unto thee only in all troubles and miseries." The following is the character of this lady as drawn by Bishop BurThis last remark reveals the most amiable part of her nett: "She read the Scriptures much, and had attaincharacter, namely, her piety. She was early instructed ed great knowledge in divinity. But, with all these in the reformed religion, the principles of which were advantages of birth, and parts, she was so humble, so deeply engraven on her mind, and gave her a stability gentle and pious, that all people both admired and loved of religious character, unmoved by the arts, machina- her. She had a mind wonderfully raised above the tions, and terrors of Popery. Her intimate acquain-world; and at the age when others are but imbibing tance with the truths of our religion might be shown the notions of philosophy, she had attained to the pracin her conversation with Mr. Feckenham, who was sent tice of the highest principles of it. She was neither to her two days before her death, that he might endeavor lifted up with the hope of a crown, nor cast down when to gain her to the Church of Rome; but it cannot be she saw afterwards her palace made her prison; but introduced here. In the conclusion of their interview | carried herself with an equal temper of mind in those Mr. Feckenham remarked, "That he was sorry for her; for I am sure," said he, "we two shall never meet." "True it is," says Lady Jane, "that we shall never meet, except God turn your heart; for I am assured unless you repent, and turn to God, you are in an evil case. And I pray God, in the bowels of his mercy, to send you his Holy Spirit; for he hath given you this great gift of utterance, if it pleased him also to open the eyes of your heart." Her attachment and zeal for true religion, in opposition to error, is most strikingly shown in a letter written by her to Mr. Harding, one of her tutors; who, it appears, had turned from an opposer to an advocate of Popery. In this letter, though she uses severe language, she appears to desire his return to truth and safety. During the time of her imprisonment, she wrote a very affecting letter to her father, in which, after remarking that he had been instrumental in hastening her death, great inequalities of fortune, that so suddenly exalted and depressed her. All the passion she expressed in it was, that which is of the noblest sort, and is the indication of tender and generous natures, being much affected with the troubles into which her husband and father fell on her account." The day appointed for her and her husband, Lord Dudley's, execution, was February 12, 1554; which having arrived, her husband requested an interview with her, but she tenderly declined, assuring him that this would open afresh the fountain of feeling, and unsettle their minds from that stability with which they had hitherto contemplated death. With moving tenderness she referred to their interview beyond this vale of tears. When he was passing out to execution, she bade him farewell from the Tower, which was her last sight of him till she saw his headless body carried back. At this sight she retained her serenity of countenance, |