streets. It's astonishing to me that boys are suffered to go at large as they are." "Instead of shutting them up like any other wild animals," said Thornton. "That's just what I said to ma," said Miss Morsel, "that it ought to be,—and she said it never used to be in her time, that boys never were wild then nor girls neither. It was ma that was so scared last night, for she always thinks something is going to happen to her, though I tell her she's just as liable to live as I am. No, my dear -no more. It's really a shame to eat two breakfasts, though to be sure something depends upon how much a person took at the first. "Oh, have another cup!" said Thornton, "and you'll stand the bombardment better." "I don't know about that," said Miss Morsel, but handing her cup at the same time-"it seems too bad to enjoy oneself now-a-days. It's a good thing we're none of us married people, for separations in families are dreadful; and gentlemen are the property of the government now, I suppose, to have and to hold, as the saying is." It was hard to tell which was most discomposed by this speech-Tom or his master. "Are married people essential to your idea of a family?" said Rosalie, smiling. "Certainly," said the little woman gravely. "Now, for instance, I can't call myself a family, you know-it would be absurd." "Most true," said Thornton. "But here Rosalie and I have a family, Miss Morsell, and if either of us should get married it would break it up at once." 66 "Oh dear!" said Miss Morsel. "How could that be ?" Why, not to go any further," said Thornton, "Rosalie is so fond of having the upper hand, that she never would endure to see my wife manage me." "But your wife would be a very nice person, of course,' said Miss Morsel, "and-dear me! that is a great pity. I always thought you would all live together so delightfully. I declare it has quite spoiled my breakfast-though to be sure I had eaten all I could." "It must have been the bombardment," said Thornton, laughing. NEW YORK BLOCKADED. 51 "Well maybe," said Miss Morsel. "But now, Captain Thornton, what is the news, really ?" "Really, Miss Morsel, there isn't much. Bonaparte has blown up the Kremlin and left Moscow, and Lord Wellington has left Madrid-that's the last news from Europe. Out west here the Indians have been defeated and Tecumseh taken prisoner; and nearer home still, one of our harbours is blockaded by a gun brig, a 74, and two frigates." "What is a gun brig ?" said Miss Morsel,-" a brig loaded with guns ?" "Sounds enough like it," said Thornton. "What a dreadful thing it must be to be blockaded!" said Miss Morsel. "Which harbour is it ?" "Our own here-of New York." "New York harbour blockaded!" exclaimed Miss Morsel. "And has the Bay and Staten Island and Fort Hamilton, and all those beautiful places, come into possession of the British ?" "I wish they had," said Thornton. "Never mind, Miss Morsel, there are a good many guns between you and them yet. Tom, bring some more cakes." "What will they do there?" said Miss Morsel curiously. "Find out how little of our bread and butter comes that way, maybe," said Thornton. "Miss Morsel, you have not half fortified yourself for a siege." "Oh dear!" said poor Miss Morsel; "if I thought I was ever to be besieged and taken, I shouldn't eat another ounce from now till then. You don't really think there's any danger?" "Not a bit!" said Thornton laughing. "I should like to see anybody attempt it! I'll let you know a week beforehand, Miss Morsel, and you can put up your defences." 66 Thank you, I'm sure you're very kind,” said Miss Morsel; "but then you know we haven't got any. We never did have anything that could be called arms in our house. But I must go-it's so warm here and pleasant that I believe I forgot there was anybody out in the cold. Poor man!" said Miss Morsel, looking out at her driver, "I daresay he's been clapping his hands this whole time, and not for joy either. It was very extravagant in me to ride, but I wanted to know so much about things,and I can't always keep warm in the snow, and I'm afraid to take cold, you know, for ma's sake." "You have not learned much after all," said Thornton. "Oh, a great deal! You say Cumsetah's certainly taken ?" "Tecumseh ?" said Rosalie with a kind smile; "yes, I saw the account myself." "Thank you, my dear, and for telling me the man's real name again-I'm so apt to forget. But you're so good, and I do like to get things straight, though you wouldn't think it. Tecumseh-I shan't forget-you spoke it so distinctly for me. Do you know I always do understand what you say. Some people confuse me so, and then I get hold of the wrong ball of yarn and begin at the toe of my stocking. Tecumseh; but who took him ?" "One of Harrison's officers," said Thornton. "But mind you tell the story to-day, Miss Morsel, for he'll probably escape before to-morrow." Dreadful creature!" said Miss Morsel,-"I hope not. I hope they'll take good care of him though. Thank you, my dear, very much; your coffee was excellent." "I will try to have it just as good whenever you will come and breakfast with us," said Rosalie, as she shook hands with her poor little guest. "I wish you would come oftener." "and "I'm sure you do!" said Miss Morsel earnestly, there isn't much else in the world I am sure of. But you're like nobody else,-such Christmas presents and all, and I haven't said a word about them, because I couldn't. I don't know now, were they yours or your brother's ?" "Not mine," said Thornton,-"Rosalie does everything good that is done in this house. But mine shall come, Miss Morsel,—I shall remember it now as surely as you will Tecumseh." "Tecumseh-yes, I'll remember. But you are all so good, to let me come and talk, talk,-not a bit like rich people,-and it's such a comfort sometimes,-and smile BROADWAY IN THE SNOW. 53 at me just as sweetly when I come as when I go. Oh, there'll be one blessing upon your heads if words can call it down!" And she slid out of the room; while Thornton, having found out that he did not want to go and put her in the old coach-body, went, and made her perfectly happy thereby. "Not quite all the good that is done in this house," said his sister, meeting him when he came back with a look that was worth the purchase. "The sun has as much to do with the moon's light as with his own," said Thornton rather sadly. "I am dark enough when I am turned away from you, Alie. You never turn from me, like a blessed child as you are." CHAPTER IX. But, brother, let your reprehension But rather use the soft persuading way.-BEN JONSON. A FINE body of snow lay on the ground. White, whitecheerful and cold,-the trees rearing through the still air their part of the earth's burden; the sky in dazzling contrast to the bright roofs on which the sun poured down his full complement of rays,-in vain ;-the snow laughed at them. A very merry laugh if it was a cold one. The side-walks were cleared and dry; for in those unsophisticated days laws were not only made but enforced; and foot passengers went comfortably along in their sphere of action, while a host of sleighs swept by in theirs. Neither division of the public crowded into an undistinguishable throng as now,-both people and sleighs had a pretty setting of air and snow, then was it easy to see and to be seen. In this reign of fur and velvet, cloth boots and wadded cloaks, the merging is a less matter; but when the weaker sex protected themselves with white dresses and stockings to match, and shoes that matched anything but the season,-when high-coloured and fly-away little capes were the best defence that the Commander-in-chief of the feminine forces allowed during a winter campaign,— then elbow-room was a thing of some moment. It would have been intolerable to have one's own scarlet wings confounded with a neighbouring pair of blue, and so to present the general appearance of a two-headed butterfly somewhat diversified as to his pinions; or, worse still, to have no room for them to fly at all. But no such misfortune befell the ladies of 1813,-the field was clear, and spotted with butterflies as a field should be—each in its turn "the observed of all observers." Thornton's horses were shaking their heads and jingling their bells at his door; snorting, and pawing the snow, and putting their heads together with every symptom of readiness and impatience, the white foam frozen in a thick crust upon mouth and bit, the sun glancing from every metallic spot on the bright harness. On the steps stood Mr. Clyde himself, in much the same mood as his horses, the minute-hand of his watch seeming to mark the hours. One butterfly after another sailed down the street-or fluttered, as the case might be; now beating about in the cool wind, and then bearing down wing-andwing upon the enemy; and soon espying Mr. Clyde's position, gracefully inclined its pretty head that way, and glanced at the gay horses. And Mr. Clyde's arms being for the tenth time forced from their position to return such courtesies, enwrapped themselves thereafter more closely than ever; and when the closing of the hall door drew his attention, he turned sharply round. No butterfly stood there-and yet it might have been a creature with wings; but not such as are ever spread on earth except to fly away withal. "What wonder will come next?" she said smiling. "Thornton and his horses both here five minutes before the time!" "You are not going to wear that veil ?" was the abrupt reply. With your favour, yes." |