vious to the commencement of my tale. He had heaven rushed in tumultuous triumph on their gone on a hunting excursion amongst the moun-headlong career of havoc and desolation. tains, and had, it was feared, perished in the snow, for he had never returned. In vain did his numerous vassals spend days, weeks, and months in exploring every cavern and cleft where aught could have been concealed-the body of Count Albert was nowhere to be found. This was a dread blow to Blanche, who, amid all her unearthly reveries, most tenderly loved her father. Having lost the only tie which bound her spirit to earth, she became the more attached to her aerial friends, and spent the greater portion of her time in solitary wandering through those romantic regions. She considered herself as already more than half detached from this world, and sighed for the time when she might roam at will through immea-ye mysterious powers, whither come ye, and whence surable space, with the spirits she so much loved.

Such was Blanche of Ostenberg; and was it then strange that, with such a temperament, she should feel the greatest interest in the unknown? His was a character exactly suited to her own wild nature, and she longed, with all her impetuous heart, to see this man of wonder. She had, indeed, been told that he was ugly as the master whom he was so faithfully supposed to serve-that, to the form of a giant, he added the most revolting countenance ever formed by nature in her angry mood. Yet, though Blanche regretted this deformity in one whom she was fully prepared to set up as a hero of romance, she felt no abatement in her wish to encounter this singular being-this terrible incognito.

One day Blanche had protracted her rambles to a later hour than usual, and the evening closed in, dark and threatening. The sun had gone down behind the western mountains, and his place was usurped by a crimson cloud, which, ascending higher and higher in the grey dome of heaven, tinged with its own sanguinary hue the dark and lowering body of clouds, which, becoming gradually more condensed, hung over the prostrate earth, foreboding the approach of the fearful storm. An unnatural and sultry closeness pervaded the atmosphere, seeming to the fanciful mind of Blanche as the burning breath of the advancing "monarch of flame." Suddenly a loud rushing sound was heard rapidly approaching, and she exclaimed in awe, "he comes-oh he comes-the terrible spirit of the storm!"

The faint gleam of twilight which had till now shed a dusky light over the veiled landscape, vanished in the storm, leaving the earth involved in almost Cimmerian darkness. Blanche sought the shelter of a neighbouring cavern, where she stood admiring the scene of wild warfare. In truth it was one than which nothing earthly could be more awfully sublime; the tempest swept over the earth in all its horrid majesty; even those stupendous and mighty Alps groaned and quivered beneath his tremendous footstep; earth-skyall was one vast, undistinguishable mass of black shadow, ever and anon lit up with a momentary glare of lurid flame by the almost incessant lightning. A peal of loud thunder, preceded by a flash of blue lightning, would roll heavily through the air, dying away amongst the far-off-hills in a low rumbling sound, while the loud winds of

Blanche gazed with a strange feeling of delight on the terrific scene, and she involuntarily exclaimed, (while a glare of lightning discovered to her view those hoary pines, which had withstood the storms of ages, bending their stalwart arms to the breeze, while some were actually torn up by the roots)," All hail! ye dread spirits, permitted by the Almighty Fashioner of all, to rule this nether world-hail to thee thou terrible storm-kingand to thee thou still more dreadful fire-king! thou who throughout many a land art worshipped by thy faithful Magi!-thou the God of Zoroaster, and of many a wondrous sage of the olden time, and the glorious East!-and ye! ye mighty winds!

go ye?-over which of the various kingdoms of earth have ye swept the latest? Powers of heaven! ye have rushed over the world for hundreds of centuries ere I was in existence, and shall riot on for many ages after this frail atom of clay which contains my spirit shall have mouldered into its native dust. Oh! when will the time arrive, when disencumbered of these trammels I may roam on your boundless wings with those who have, long ages since, passed through the everlasting portals of eternity-when I may seek out those master spirits who gave the tone to the respective periods in which they lived, and with them rove abroad through those infinite regions of ether where worlds unnumbered roll on in their changeless orbitswhen, with those mighty shades of other days, I shall view, far, far below, the events of ages yet to come!"

As she spoke a flash of vivid light illuminated the surrounding scene, and discovered to Blanche the form of a man leaning against the rocky side of the cave. He appeared so suddenly, and so silently, his beauty was so surpassing, so superhuman, the lightning playing around him, all conspired to impress the fair enthusiast with the idea that she beheld a supernatural being, and she exclaimed, turning towards him with clasped hands, "Dreadful being! hast thou at length heard my earnest prayers, and deigned to visit thy adoring maiden in this awful hour when thy power felt o'er the labouring earth? Beautiful spirit of fells and cataracts! knowest thou aught of my father-Albert of Ostenberg?"

is

"Blanche of Ostenberg, though shalt ere long time elapse behold thy father; he is yet numbered amongst the living-more I am not permitted to reveal; but, maiden, why art thou abroad in such a time? If thou wilt permit me I shall conduct thee in safety to the castle-thy servants will be doubtless alarmed for thy safety."

This was spoken in a voice whose thrilling melody sank deep into the heart of Blanche, who imagined (for the unknown addressed her in the German language) that he was none other than his capricious spriteship Number Nip, who had come all the way from his own Hartz to visit the spirit of the Alps. However that might be, the fearless maiden accepted his offer of escorting her home, and as they proceeded on their way she thanked him for his information (vague as it was) concerning her father.

majesty of his figure, and could not help wishing that his face possessed some of the beauty of that matchless form. Yet she felt that his most uppleasing features had not been able to overbalance the effect of his strange character, and that she loved him notwithstanding. The stranger seeing her hesitation, mistook its source, and said proudly, "And think not, Lady, that he who now sues to thee is one whose name will disgrace thy high lineage; all worshipped as thou art, thy name and birth are not more noble than mine own! Though I now inhabit an Alpine chalet, my name is honourably known in the land of my fathers-the land of my birth !"

She

A few days subsequent to this terrible storm, as Blanche stood lost in thought on the border of a rivulet, she became suddenly aware of the presence of a person, who, standing on the opposite side of This address roused the lady from her cogitathe stream, regarded her with fixed attention. She tions, and she said, while a slight blush crimhad no doubt of the identity of this individual-soned her usually pale features, rendering her his ill-favoured countenance and athletic form could pure intellectual countenance more lovelynot be mistaken-it was the recluse of the glen. "Whoever, or whatever thou art, thou hast gained "Thou art Blanche of Ostenberg!" exclaimed the heart of Blanche of Ostenberg! I have loved the hunter, and his voice startled the fair visionary thee, although unknown, when I heard recounted -it seemed so like that she had heard in the ca- thy wild deeds and strange character." vern-resembling in its sweet deep tones the voices ceased-the stranger started from the ground, and of the water-spirits she had so often heard in while with one hand clasping to his bosom the dreams. The face, too, resembled the transformed beautiful and high-souled maiden, with the other features of her strange acquaintance, and she be- he tore off a mask which concealed his face, and gan to suspect that her supposed spiritual guide revealed to the wondering Blanche the features through the storm stood before her, in the hunts- which, seen by the blue lightning in the cave, had man of the glen; her mind divested of the enthu- sunk deep into the heart of the maiden-so comsiasm of that dreadful night, she judged that the manding, so peculiar was their haughty yet finished uncommon beauty he had at first worn, was merely outline. His dark eye beamed with rapturous the effect of the lightning playing around his per- delight, as he strained to his heart in a first emson, and her own diseased imagination. brace the lovely maid of Ostenberg.

"I am," replied the maiden, proudly. wouldst thou with me?"

66

"What

"Blanche! my idolized, my much-loved Blanche! this moment repays me for years of Then, Lady Blanche, in me you behold, as blighted hope, aye, and torturing misery! I am I dare say you have already suspected, the wizard German by birth, and was born to move in the (so called) of the Haunted Dell, at whose name | highest circles of society; being the second son of even the sterdiest peasant trembles-the stranger the Landgrave of Glucktenstadt. I was always a who escorted you on the night of the storm, and worshipper of female beauty; yet, to gain my whom you dignified with the title of the Storm-wandering heart, something more than personal King. Blanche, I have loved thee long and well! | Often have I witnessed thy wanderings, and, perched on the top of an over-hanging rock, have drunk in all the intoxication of impassioned love from the sight of thy majestic beauty. Thou hast lived so long amongst the beings of air, that thou hast (it would seem) received some of their unearthly loveliness; and this it is that has obtained for thee the devotion of a wild, ungoverned heart! But few moments have elapsed since I heard thee apostrophize the dreaded hermit of the glen, in accents of deep feeling. I know that I address a being of no common mould; and that thou despisest the petty concealments, and coquettish prudery, (so widely different from true modesty) by which thy sex is too often distinguished. Í therefore ask thee, Lady Blanche, canst thou love a being considered by thy countrymen as a demidemon,-one not even blessed with any of those attractions which captivate the heart-one who can only offer a heart entirely thine own, and who worships thee as a superior being! Speak, my fair goddess of the mountains !—canst thou, wilt thou love me?"

beauty was requisite: I could not rest satisfied with the cautiously-measured feelings of my fair countrywomen. I loved-and was abandoned by the object of my passion for one more wealthy, though less nobly born. Disgusted with society, I fled to the lonely bosom of the stupendous Alps, and, oh, happiness! here have I found one beautiful and unsophisticated, who generously and nobly bestowed on me her inestimable heart, though she saw me almost revolting to look uponpoor and unknown. Idol of my love! let me once more hear that soft voice repeat those blessed words which have rendered me so happy. Blanche had been gazing on his altered face with wonder and delight, and when he ceased, her head sank fondly on his shoulder, while she said, with much sweetness" I am thine, devotedly, unchangeably. Alas! I envy not her feelings who could give up thy love for mercenary advantage."

The young German pressed her the more closely to his heart, as he replied-" Never, never did I know real love, till I saw thine own fair form!"

"But, my Lord!" suddenly exclaimed Blanche, "saidst thou not, on that night when I mistook

As he concluded, he knelt before her in an atti-thee for the Genius of the Hartz, that my father is tude so gracefully beseeching, that Blanche was yet amongst the living-knowest thou, in truth, instantly struck by the uncommon symmetry and aught of his fate?"

"Before answering thy question, I shall pro- | who on his part loved her with all the devotion pose one for thee," rejoined Gustavus Walchenburg (for such was his name). "If I, in my assumed character of the mischievous yet sometimes generous Number Nip, can restore to thee thy father, may I hope that my reward will be the hand of Blanche?"

of his impassioned heart. One day the Count invited his daughter and Gustavus to accompany him in a walk; they complied, and Albert conducted their steps towards the haunted glen, which, by the way, both her father and husband had lately dissuaded Blanche from visiting. The lady had marvelled much at their mysterious dislike to the place where both had so long resided. But all this was now satisfactorily ex

"If thou couldst, indeed, restore to me my father, and thereby render both a service, it is not in the nature of Count Albert to be ungrateful; on his gratitude thou mayest rely, and if he con-plained, for she entered the dell, not by the sents to our union, I have told thee that the heart of Blanche is thine!"

rugged and somewhat dangerous descent of former days, but by a road as smooth as could possibly be made in such a place. But this was not all; for where the so-much-dreaded chalet of Gustavus had stood, she beheld an elegant rustic temple, on one side of which stood in a niche cut in the rock a statute of the Madonna; on the other, one of St. Hubert. (In those good all times, ere yet the modernizing spirit of Calvin had entered the Cantons-while the Saints were yet deemed mediums of communication with the Most High, St. Hubert was regarded with peculiar veneration amongst the Alps, where hunters of course abounded).

Blanche viewed the change with the most grateful feelings; she knew that the two whom she most loved, they whose chief happiness she formed, had thus improved this wild place to gratify her, and had, while so doing, contrived to keep her at a distance, in order that surprise might enhance the pleasure. The glen (as may well be believed) became, henceforward, her favourite resort-that

"Enough, enough!" exclaimed Gustavus, "I shall now then proceed to explain to thee how I obtained an influence over the fate of Count Albert." Having placed Blanche on a projecting fragment of rock, he took his station by her side, and commenced his recital. He informed her that in wandering over the mountains with that rapidity which had so alarmed the simple peasantry, he overheard a powerful Baron, who possessed a castle at the foot of the Alps, and who bore an acknowledged enmity to Albert of Ostenberg, plotting with some of his vassals the assassination of that nobleman. He immediately sought the Count, and having informed him of his danger, they had both agreed that Ostenberg Castle was no longer a safe abode for its noble owner, as the vengeful Baron de Vallancey would, doubtless, attack him even there; and he accordingly repaired to the haunted glen, where in the lonely hut of the recluse (rendered sacred by the super-spot so long the lonely dwelling of the beloved stitious legends of the simple mountaineers, which the young German used every means of confirm ing, by adopting a dress and manners so uncouth, and also by illuminating his hut every night during the concealment of the Count), he had remained in security, while his malignant foe believed him to have fallen a prey to the wild beasts of the mountains. Meantime an express was dispatched to the Court of Vienna (the hardy sons of Helvetia being at that time fiefs of the house of Austria-the heroic and patriotic Tell, the pride of Switzerland, not having yet appeared amongst them), and De Vallancey was now on his way to that city, under the escort of a troop of Hungarian cavalry, sent by the Grand Duke to conduct the base noble to his presence.

The young man concluded his narrative by calling on Count Albert (who, concealed by a jutting rock, had been a highly-interested listener) to come forward. An instant, and Blanche was once more clasped in the paternal arms of him whom she had so long mourned as dead. The sequel may be told in few words :-At the request of Gustavus, the Count wrote a letter of inquiry concerning him to a German nobleman of his acquaintance, and having found his statement correct, (the young man himself having at the same time written to and obtained the consent of the Landgrave, his father) rewarded his noble deliverer with the hand of Blanche of Ostenberg.

After her marriage, Blanche gave up her aerial acquaintances; she had found a mortal possessing all the lofty and perfect attributes she had been wont to ascribe to those beings, and her worship of them was transferred to her noble Gustavus,

German; and thither did the happy pair, with their venerable father, full often retire when wearied with the splendour of the chateau. The dell was no longer the dread of the Alpine peasant; it had now become the tranquil retreat of reverend age, wedded love, and innocent and happy childhood. Often, in the calm twilight hour, were the full rich tones of Gustavus blended with the soft, harmonious voice of the Lady Blanche, and the sweet lisping accents of their lovely children heard rising on the still air in grateful praise to Him who lives and reigns for ever; while tears of joy and thanksgiving trembled in the eyes of the patriarchal Albert, who lived to a good old age, and departed in the fulness of years, blessing with his latest breath the offspring by whom he was surrounded. As to Gustavus and Blanche, I cannot better describe their happiness than by quoting the words of Florian, speaking of the connubial love of Numa for Egeria:

Epoux, toujours amant de la belle Egeria." Cootehill. MARIANNE M.

CHARADE.

EY MRS. LEIGH CLIFFE.

In the summer my first, when the shadows of eve
Their beautiful traces display in the sky,
As the sun, in his crimson-hued mantle, takes leave
Of the world that he lighted, to slumber on high
Will be found; but my second is lowly, and finds

A home under earth,-'tis a mischievous thing-
As o'er flowers, fruit and herbs, it insidiously winds
Its thin form, it destruction is certain to bring:
It preys on the peasant, and pinches the peer,
But my third in a luminous light will appear.

THE YOUNG PRISONER.

By the Author of "Parables from the German," &c. &c. “Hurra for the fifth of November, the season of gunpowder treason and plot!" shouted a fine, handsome lad of sixteen, as tossing his cap in the air, he sallied forth from the old halls of Westminster School, closely followed by a younger brother of fourteen, to enjoy that delight of schoolboys, the sport of letting off fire-works.

ment; he enquired not who were the parents of the youths, or where they dwelt. It mattered not to him that it was an accident-the consequence of boyish imprudence that the actors were scarcely more than children-that their parents were many hundred miles distant. No: he thought not of, he cared for nothing of this. Dedearest hopes blasted-robbed of his wealth-of ceived by one who was called a Christian-his his only child-that child the pride of his age-cast purity sullied, its sweetness flown. What did he back upon him but to die, or withered flower, its now live for?-revenge, dark, deadly revenge against that sect, from one of whom he had suffered such wrong; for that he now lived, and for that alone.

After looking about a few minutes for a spot best adapted for their exhibition, they selected a wide open space, in front of the old, sombrelooking dwelling of the usurer and jew, Ben Haded. Of a morose, crafty, and almost savage disposition, this descendant of Abraham was well known amongst the youths of Westminster, The following day he entered an action in the for the bitter rancorous animosity which he appeared Court of King's Bench, and laid the damages at to cherish against the members of Christianity one hundred pounds, the value he asserted of the generally, and their body more particularly. From old tapestry destroyed. Writs were accordingly whatever cause this feeling had originally arisen served upon the two Macdonalds. Young and and busy rumour with her thousand tongues had inexperienced-ignorant of the tricks of the law, whispered that a sufficient one was not wanting of its petty quibbles, its frequent injustice-the certain it is, that our young and thoughtless school-boys laughed at the whole affair, as rather a good boys were not likely to allow the flame that joke of the old Jew's; and, depositing the parchwithered up the better feelings of the old man, to ments in their pockets, with the full determination expire for lack of fuel; and old Shylock, the name of committing them, at a convenient period, to the by which he was generally known in the purlieus the matter. The day of the trial arrived, the flames, gave themselves no further concern about of Westminster, had often to endure the tormenting and mischievous devices to which the plaintiff alone appeared in court, the action went restless teeming brain of boyhood is continually undefended, and with the ensuing term judgment giving birth. Brightly blazed the missiles, up sped was allowed to go by default. the squibs, round whirled the fairy wheels, and hissing fled the fiery serpents: device succeeded device, and the boys forgot in their delight the existence of the Jew, or their proximity to his old worm-eaten a bode.

"Take care, Harry!" exclaimed the elder Macdonald, as a squib rattled against the window of the Jew's drawing-room. The warning was echoed by the bursting of a pane of glass, and the squib, passing into the room, lodged in the oldfashioned tapestry which hung before the window, and set it into a blaze. Terrified, the boys hastily retreated, but not before Ben Haded had ascertained that the disturbers of his nocturnal vigil were the young Macdonalds.

From what apparent trifles frequently arise the most serious and distressing circumstances! The dark countenance of the Israelite grew yet darker, as deep low-muttered curses escaped his pale trembling lips; and it required no great discernment to understand how fearful and blasting were the wild passions which worked within his soul.

"Cursed Nazarine!" he gasped, as though almost choaked by the violence of his hatred, "will ye not leave me in peace? Have I still aught that ye can desire? Have ye not robbed me of my wealth-of my only earthly treasure-my Rachael-my beautiful child! Ah! where are you know?-gone-all gone!" And overwhelmed with the bitterness of his recollections, the wretched old man covered his face with his lean withered hands, and fled into an inner chamber, leaving to his servants the care of extinguishing the burning and smoking curtains.

The Jew sought not redress from a magistrate; he laid not his case before the masters of the establish

Ben Haded, exulting in the success of his malignant device, lost no time in issuing his execution, which was immediately carried into effect. The eldest Macdonald was arrested, dragged from his bed, hurried into a hackney-coach, conveyed to a sponging-house, and from thence passed directly to the King's Bench. On entering the coffee-room of the prison, the youth burst into He was a mere boy, thrown suddenly and for the first time into a strange place, and that place a prison! Far from his own Highland home, his parents at a long, long distance, they not dreaming of his situation, and himelf oppressed with the lonely desolateness of unassisted uncommiserated misfortune and disgrace.

tears.

"Poor boy!" observed a pale, thoughtfullooking old man, who had witnessed the arrival of the young prisoner ; "what a sad situation for one so young!"

"Sad, indeed," replied the gentleman addressed, regarding the boy with pitying interest. It is from having suffered ourselves that we learn to appreciate the misfortunes of others, and become interested in, and desirous of, relieving them; for the heart, it has been truly said, is like some fragrant herbs, which require to be bruised ere they diffuse their perfume. Circumstances over which he had no control, had brought Mr. Lesly into the Rules of the King's Bench. Himself a father, he could not behold the situation of the young Macdonald without commiseration, surrounded as he was by men, many of whom were reckless gamesters, and the most dissolute characters. Approaching the youth, he accosted him in the words of kindness, and invited him to accompany himself and friend to their apartment. Du

Bright, bright are the orbs in the blue arch of night, Shall store up precious things, to last while strife When their myriad flickering rays