important delusions incite the mind to thought and investigation, leading us from the mere semblance of truth to truth itself, and when light and frivolous-the true character of them being known-they tend materially to our happiness, if indulged within the bounds of good sense and discretion. Society rails against, and at the same time encourages them, simply because it cannot do without them. They are used as incentives to the achievement of great deeds, to the acquisition of knowledge, to displays of perseverance and energy almost unwearied, and are, to a certain extent, amalgamated with everything both good and great, bad and mean, that appertains to human nature. They are to be found in creeds of all kinds, whether political, religious, or moral; we oftentimes rely upon them as the foundations of solid happiness, and commonly adopt them when desirous of forgetting the world and plunging into a state of felicity alike evanescent and unreal. Where are there greater, and, practically speaking, more self-evident delusions than those which the stage usually presents to us? many of them as unlike the realities of life as the most violent exaggerations can be; and yet we cannot help being delighted with them, because they give us what may be termed, the very poetry of matters of fact, and set before us nobler actions and principles than human nature, under the social corruptions of the present age, is capable of displaying. It would be very absurd and mischievous, nevertheless, to follow such examples; but everybody knows them to be mere delusions, and although they may have a strong, and, perhaps, rather an enduring influence upon youthful minds, yet such influence will rather tend to shield them against any contaminations to which they may be exposed from gross realities of a degrading and demoralizing character. THE EARTH AND THE MOON. A MATRIMONIAL SONG. The darkness of grief o'er my heart was fast stealing, A spirit of love 'tween the Earth and the Moon. Will menace disturbance affecting them sore; The com PAULINA; A STORY OF SIBERIA. THE brilliant light of the Aurora Borealis, was gradually paling before the approaching dawn, which was soon to call from their couches the inhabitants of Irkutsk. The pure air, the unclouded sky of a deep blue tint, contrasting with the dazzling fields of snow. fortable looking rows of houses, all painted of some light, but, pleasant colour-the regularity of the streets, and the appearance of the country people as they were hurrying to the town with provisions for the great market, all formed an exhilarating and grateful spectacle. There was no want of promise for future feasting. Loads of meat, game, and fish, were borne in a frozen state to the city, and it was evident from the low prices, that even the poor might here enjoy flesh diet during the season of re Human beings would lose much of their happiness, and much of their wisdom too; in fact, the felicity of the whole world would be greatly retarded, could we entirely shield ourselves against the charm of delusions. Hope and faith would be dispelled by doubt and distrust, and it might almost be said, that in a very little time we should scarcely have a spark of noble or generous feeling left. Prudence dictates to us the necessity of guarding against all delusions of a serious nature, and it may be regarded as a wise ordination of Providence that our caution and forethought should be thus called into action; but in matters of little or no moment, delusions, especially such as spring up in the minds of the young,joicing now approaching. may safely be left to an uninterrupted course. We It was the Christmas and New Year feast which they admit the danger of being dazzled and misled by mere were now to celebrate; and busy alike were the hands, appearances, but whatever may be the consequence of the tongues, and the thoughts of the young women of our error, it will tend to teach us greater caution, and Irkutsk. thus enable us to judge of the extent to which we may indulge in delusions without injury. No one would regret a delightful dream merely because it had ended in bitter disappointment; and the waking delusions we have been speaking of possess this solid advantage, that there is invariably much pleasure, and generally some practical wisdom, to be derived from them. In one of the comfortable wooden houses, belonging to a family of ancient settlers, there rose that day a young girl of the name of Olga. Her father was a merchant, a dealer in a variety of articles, trading alike with the Chinese, the Siberian, and the European; they were well off in the world, and much respected by their fellow townsmen. Olga rose from the cushion where she had passed the night, and glanced round the family bed-room. There lay her father, mother, two brothers, and one sister, a little younger than herself; and above, suspended from the wall, were three hammocks, or, cradles of different sizes, containing the younger children, Olga's own peculiar care. It was Christmas eve-but, as the inhabitants still adhere to the old style, the days had already begun perceptibly to lengthen. This, however, did not make much difference to those in the interior of the Siberian house, where the windows are found as few, and as small as possible; for they there prefer heat to light, and though the latitude is the same as that of London, the climate is so much more severe, as to render such precautions absolutely necessary. Oiga, as we have said, glanced round the room-then rising and adjusting such parts of her dress as had been displaced, she proceeded to awake the others, and attend to the wants of the children. The men soon disappeared from this apartment, and the women were left to their own occupations and chat. "Dearest Paulina," whispered Olga, whilst she dressed one of her young brothers, "I have had such lovely dreams; such wonderfully sweet dreams." "Ah, indeed, my dear," that is charming-tell them to me without fail." "Paulina," cried the mother, looking up from the stove which she was heating. "If you stand whispering there, who is to get the breakfast. Idle girls, make haste; you are thinking of your lovers without doubt." Olga blushed. Paulina laughed. "I don't know who mine is yet," cried she gaily; "dear Madam, I hope to find out this Christmas, if the blessed saints will but help me at the table songs,' or listening.' "I trust he will be a gallant youth, Paulina, one who drinks no brandy, takes no snuff, and utters no blasphemous oaths," said the mother. Olga meanwhile had led off the young children into another apartment, where kneeling, they repeated aloud their morning litanies, before the pictures of the saints which hung there. There were still some articles needful for the great feast of the morrow, and it was necessary that the mother should go out to market. Paulina was her companion. Carefully picking their way through the crowded marketplace, they succeeded in accomplishing their purchases, and were returning home, when some one pushing past in a hurry gave Paulina a blow, which startled the maiden, and her foot slipping, she was thrown backwards, and would have fallen to the ground, had she not been caught and supported by a good-looking young man, who was close behind her. He was a stranger, and apparently a Russian from his dress and complexion; but, his pleasant countenance, and the graceful zeal with which he assisted the pretty girl, whom fortune had thus thrown in his arms, made a lively impression in his favour, on the mind of the blushing girl; in her young bosom were already stirring those indefinable wishes, which will agitate with a desire to be loved, the female heart, whether under the clear cold skies of Siberia, or the glowing suns of the tropic. Admiration spoke forcibly in the blue eyes of the Russian, and Paulina was as quick as any girl at reading this natural language. During the minute that she leant upon him, the crushing crowd forced her mother from her; for she was unaware of the accident which had befallen her daughter, and did not miss her from her side, so much was she engrossed in considerations and calculations relative to her household affairs. It becaine therefore absolutely necessary that the agreeable young stranger should accompany Paulina to her father's house, more particularly as she fancied she had sprained or twisted her ancle slightly, and could not therefore walk without assistance. This was an adventure to fill her mind and her mouth for the rest of the day; the young unknown, his handsome face, his pleasant smile, and courteous words formed a seasoning to the culinary labours which now engrossed them all, fully as piquant and agreeable, as the spices and condiments they mingled for sauces or soups. Conjectures as to her chance of meeting him again, at mass, on the grand slide, or at any of their evening parties, during the Christmas feast, were whispered by the sisters, with the more energy, as there was no possibility of answering them. The frosts of Siberia do not repress the feelings, or congeal the vivacity of the young natives; perhaps their natures partake something of the warmth of orientals generally, and like the vegetation of their own country, only require encouragement to burst at once from the bud to the expanded blossom. tiful dinner in the room already mentioned, they continued there clustered round the stove, waiting and listening for the bell which was to summon them to early mass. This joyful sound broke upon their ears at midnight, and immediately were heard the clear sweet voices of young boys singing in the frosty air, chanting the carols appropriate to the joyous festival. Soon all was stir and bustle, preparatory to the assembly in the church to hear the early mass. Paulina had whispered her morning's adventure to her favourite brother; and as such stories are not likely to lose in telling, when the narrator is an enthusiastic girl; Yacobi was nearly as anxious as herself to meet the interesting hero of the adventure. It must be acknowledged that the fair Paulina's eyes more than once stole round the church in hopes of meeting with the young Russian, and she was soon rewarded for her search by seeing him, but she did not feel certain that she had caught his eyes; nor was she altogether assured that even if he did, he would regard this second interview with any degree of interest at all to be compared to hers. Once he seemed indeed to look their way, but again his eyes were turned in an opposite direction, and she felt doubtful if he would recognise her. Her visions of romance were melting away-the interesting stranger was apparently not destined to be her hero, and halfvexed, and half ashamed, she tried to fix her attention on the hymn they were just then chanting. As they were issuing from the building, a voice suddenly sounded in her ear. "I hope you are none the worse for your accident, fair maiden." Quick smiles and blushes played on her cheek, as she greeted the object of so much solicitude. With ready and grateful answers to his enquiries, she turned to direct her brother's attention to him; but, when she had succeeded in drawing Yacobi to her side, and was about to point the stranger out, she found he had vanished in the throng, and left her more than ever excited, and wondering on the subject of his name and character. It would no doubt have been extremely difficult for her to have given any rational account of her own sensations; she could not analyze them accurately, or ascertain how much of pique, interest, and admiration were mixed with the gratitude and curiosity to which she was quite willing to own. The family hurried home, and there being joined by some other branches, who, at this occasion all resorted to the paternal roof, they began in good earnest the festivities of the season, by partaking, immediately after daybreak of a most luxurious feast, well seasoned with the favourite national drink kvas. The banquet enjoyed to the uttermost, the next object was to repair to the grand slide, where the amusement of slipping down a steep and icy hill, in a light sledge, offered an increasing fund of enjoyment to the whole city. Paulina looked with something like envy on her sister Olga, who, being already betrothed, was attended by her lover, and she could not suppress a sort of idea that every time she upset upon the snow, the hero of the market ought to spring forth again to her rescue. He did not come however, and she made up her mind to think no more about him. Still it became a very important matter, since it appeared certain that he was not destined to be her lover, to ascertain at once who was; and for this end she determined to lose no opportunity afforded by this festive season for diving into futurity! It is always supposed that at the general evening meetings which occur about Christ, aas, the watchful observer inay obtain some prognostics of her future fate. It was therefore with a beating heart that Paulina repaired with her sister to a neighbouring house, to meet all the young people of her acquaintance. There seated on forms, The labours of the day were at length concluded, and round the wall of a dimly lighted apartment, the whole the whole family having assembled to partake of a plen-assembly waited in a sort of uneasy suspense for some thing to enable them to guess at future events. Each young woman occupied by her own private wishes, and listening only to what passed around, in the hopes of meeting with some hint which might coincide with her thoughts, was too much self-engrossed to join in conversation. The smallest trifle at such a moment is considered indicative of fate, if it can in any way be twisted into a prophecy relative to marriage; for to this point it is that their wishes tend. It may easily be supposed therefore, that the unexpected entrance of the secret object of her aspirations, the Russian hero of the market, was hailed by poor Paulina as a most auspicious omen. He came in company with one of the principal personages of the assembly, and she discovered that he was a young officer travelling on some mission connected with the government. His appearance created a great sensation in the room, every young woman being anxious to ascertain what was his object in coming there. Apparently it was with the simplest curiosity; and as Siberian etiquette forbade the young men mingling with the females on these occasions, there was of course no opportunity for distinguishing any individual amongst the company. Yet, Paulina went home that night with a happy heart, for her brother had made his acquaintance, and warmly pressed him to partake of the hospitality of her father's roof; an invitation to which he readily acceded. Now she was sure of their friendship continuing: he might join their sledging party of an afternoon, and they should see him likewise at dinner, and during the evening when the whole family assembled in the upstairs room; or he would accompany them of course to the soirées at their neighbours' houses. These were not always so dull as that where they had first encountered. Singing, dancing, and pantomimic representations, diversified their evenings, and helped to promote intimacy between the young people. Constantine, the young Russ, soon learnt to read in the animated eyes of Paulina, how much she admired him, and he was quite as ready to keep up the good impression, as any young man of the most polished society in Europe. It was with great regret that Paulina learnt that Constantine could not join their party at night. Early in the day he mounted a pretty sledge, and drove off, announcing that he should not return for several days. Paulina's spirits were much affected by his departure, yet she determined to attend the meeting, and learn her fate, if possible, although her young admirer was not there to profit by the knowledge. The ceremony consisted in placing in a covered dish, a ring from the finger of every maiden present. Then, whilst an old traditional song was chanted by the whole party, some one of the elder ladies drew forth from the depository ring by ring. Each strophe of the song carried with it a prophetic meaning, some good, some bad; and the divination was effected by the same order in which the rings were drawn forth, serving to appropriate to their owners, the particular stanza just repeated, With a beating heart and trembling hand, Paulina drew from her slender finger her most fortunate ring; one which from having been lost, and subsequently recovered, was therefore esteemed particularly lucky; and with ill-concealed agitation, she watched ring after ring drawn forth and claimed, amidst smiles, or melancholy glances, as the attendant predictions chanced to be favourable or the contrary. Her voice trembled and became inaudible when attempting to sing the threatening lines, and her cheek flushed with agitated hope when some peculiarly lucky predictions were repeated. Of all the young maidens there assembled, none so firmly believed in that mystic lottery as Paulina, and none had such occasion to triumph in her belief, for the most fortunate of all the couplets was the one which chance appropriated to her ring. National dances followed this amusement; and they were in the act of accompanying these dances with some appropriate songs, when they were suddenly interrupted by the entrance of a large masqued party. Some of these new comers wore the costume of China, some were disguised as Astiak or Buract peasants; and one of these latter soon singled out Paulina, and drew her aside. "Dearest Olga," whispered Paulina in confidence to her This was an old woman, bent almost double, and supsister, "I am so delighted with Constantine Matteo-porting herself on a crutch, with her head and face almost vitch; do you know, I think he must be fated to be my husband, I was thinking of him, just as he came in and you know how lucky that is. I think I shall listen to-night; what do you advise." "Oh, no don't dear Paulina," cried the timid Olga, "for fear you should hear something bad. Don't you remember how Anna Fedorovitch listened on Christmas Eve, and received a warning never to think of the youth she loved most-the brave, and handsome Michael; and how she gave him up, and never held her head up afterwards, though she married that old rich Alex Grodnowof, but pined away and died within a twelvemonth!" "Oh, but Olga darling, she was born to it; and if I were born to die of a broken heart, all the listening in the world would make no difference. But, if I am born to be loved by that handsome Constantine, only think how wonderfully sweet it would be to know it!" "Nevertheless I would not venture-" 66 Oh, you are so excessively timid, so wonderfully cautious, Olga," and Paulina determined to follow her own will. The listening in question was simply to lay her head against the wall near a window, and catch the first sentence she could overhear amongst the passers-by, which was to be looked on as prophetic of the fate of the listener. It was not, however, in her power immediately to carry this plan into execution, as household matters required her attention. The next day was the last of the old year, and a very grand soothsaying party was to be held at a neighbour's, where the young maidens of the meeting were to divine their fate by a diversion called Table-songs. Her entirely concealed by a large veil, only one corner of which she lifted to allow Paulina a momentary glimpse of the long dark locks which still shaded her sunburnt face, the bushy eyebrows, and the roughened skin. eyes were concealed by thin gauze guards, something the shape of spectacles, which are used in Siberia to protect the sight from the glare of the snow; and her voice, which was harsh and cracked, seemed yet to harmonize with her singularly unpleasant exterior. "Fair young maiden," whispered she to Paulina, "why is thine eye unsatisfied, why struggles thy young heart in thy bosom like a wounded bird wanting strength to fly away." Paulina sighed, blushed, hesitated, and trembled, but ventured not to answer. "Maiden of Siberia," continued the old sybil, in an imposing tone, "I need not words to tell me thy thoughts. The gay sledge, with the loud sounding bell, and prancing white horse, carries it not thine heart?" Paulina started; "Good mother, how shall I call you, I know not your name," said she. "Trouble not thyself for my name," pursued the prophetess, "it is naught, it is naught to thee! I am but a bubble, a spirit, a mystic being, a daughter of the wind and cloud, here to day, to-morrow invisible to mortal eyes. Ask not thou for my name, oh most beautiful Paulina, ask rather to know thy own fate from one who knows all except what concerns herself." Paulina gazed in trembling wonder, not unmixed with horror, at the mysterious stranger, but she dared not speak. certainty? Who bore forth thy heart this morning, for whose sake dost thou count the hours tedious, for whose return dost thou impatiently wait?" "Honoured mother," said Paulina, exerting herself to speak, "If you know my feelings so wonderfully, tell me also what are his !" "Well I know he thinks thee fair; well I know thine image alone has filled his mind since your first meeting in the market." Paulina's heart throbbed with pleasure, but with a mixture of awe and curiosity she eagerly inquired, what would be the result of their acquaintance. "Ask not of me, ask it of fate; seck thy destiny in the way appointed; thou knowest the means. Seek the bath-room alone at midnight, there shalt thou see the figure of thy future husband. Does Constantine, the Russ, appear to thee-venture not to address-seek not to detain him-dare not trifle with the mysterious shadow, lest the far-distant living man should be the sufferer." "And may I trust him, mother?" see, but was it not something more? His kiss still seemed to glow upon her forehead, and she very naturally was inclined to doubt whether shadows were capable of giving such very impressive kisses. She felt far more inclined to believe that the mystic goblin, the guardian of her father's roof, the equivalent for the household fairies of Western Europe, had either assumed her lover's shape on the occasion, or that by some incomprehensible and awful means Constantine in person had been compelled to appear. The idea that the visit was natural, aud not miraculous, never for a moment occurred to her; the belief in such mysterious omens and sights being firmly planted in the minds of Siberian damsels. All night she lay reflecting on this strange apparition, and each moment to her shaken nerves it seemed about to re-appear: the faint light and indistinct shadows cast by the feeble lamp, as the flame flickered in the socket, recalled his first appearance; a motion of one of the sleepers at her side made her start with apprehension; she gazed at the children's cradles hanging above her, till in the gloom they took to her eyes the form of Constan tine. A hundred such fancies possessed her mind, and kept her restless and feverish until it was time to rise. The busy bustle of the day dispelled these haunting ideas, but her mother noticing her unusual languor and sleepy eyes, questioned her so closely relative to her motions the And, mother, tell me once more, how will he ap-night before that she could not evade answering her, and pear?-what will he do?-I shall die with terror if he confessed the whole. approaches-will he see me?" "Trust him as thou wouldst thy father's love; but mistake me not, I say not, it is not given me to say, that he will certainly appear, the means are thine; use them with a steady heart and unflinching nerve, and all will go well." 66 "Silly maiden, why these fearful questions, suppose he should approach 'tis but a shadow, could it injure you? suppose he should touch thee, believe it is no reality, it springs but from fancy, even if thou thinkest thou shouldst grasp his form. Fear not-shrink not-speak not-and above all, name not to mortal ears thine intention, and all shall go well with thee; but now call thy sister here, I desire some conference with her." Paulina obeyed; but returning with Olga, found with surprise that the mysterious soothsayer had vanished, not only from the room but from the rooms. Intent on fulfilling her injunctions, Paulina anxiously desired to to return home in time to allow her to enter the bathroom before midnight. The event answered her wishes, and five minutes previous to the magic hour, she had concealed herself in a corner of this apartment, and with quite as much of terror as curiosity waited the result. Presently a pale light appeared opposite to her, which gradually becoming more distinct, the outline of a man's form became accurately defined against it. Paulina's breath came quick, her throat felt dry, and her heart beat almost audibly. It was not the remembrance of the mysterious Buract's injunctions that kept her silent, it was the total inability to speak. The sounds died upon her lips, as she made a feeble attempt to scream; for now the outline was clearly marked, and she recognised the figure of Constantine, whom she believed far away. Her dismay increased even to agony when she saw him glide forwards towards her; and when stooping over her shuddering form, as she crouched on the ground, he impressed a very palpable kiss upon her brow, her terror was so excessive as to deprive her of perception and reason. She closed her eyes in desperate fear, and when she opened them again all was dark and silent as the tomb. It was long before she acquired sufficient courage to move, but when she did, she stepped trembling and fearful back to the sleeping apartment, which she had quitted an hour before with such eager haste. The rest of her family were buried in profound repose, but there was no sleep for Paulina that weary night. She lay trembling on the cushions which served for their bed, hardly daring to think of what had passed, yet unable to direct her thoughts from the consideration of it. The words of the Buract woman still echoed in her ears, she had assured her that it would be but a shadow she would Her mother did not torment her with reproaches or useless remonstrances, but she was determined to find out who and what their Russian visitor really was, and to guard her daughter and compel her to caution, she took down from the wall in another room one of the figures of saints which they most reverenced, and sus pended it in the public apartment where alone she thought Paulina was likely to meet her lover. This precaution satisfied her motherly fears, as she well knew that there was no risk of her daughter's remaining an instant alone with Constantine in the sight, as it were, of this holy witness. That afternoon the young Russian very unexpectedly arrived at Irkutsk: he had met with some impediment which had delayed his journey, and he was forced to return from his excursion. The pleasure which flushed Paulina's cheek and sparkled in her eyes, was an agrecable welcome to the lively young officer; but consciousness of the past kept her silent; she glanced furtively at him, and fancied that there was an air of triumph in his look, as if he guessed and rejoiced in her affection. Was it possible that by any mysterious sympathy he had obtained cognizance of her efforts to dive into the future? This question she asked herself twenty times. Convinced as she was that he was fated to be her husband, she rejoiced in his evident partiality, and really by thinking of him so much, listening to his flattering words, and watching his captivating ways, her own affections had become fixed on him. It seemed no imprudence on her part to allow her heart to escape from her own keeping, because her divination had convinced her the passion would be fortunate; but for this, indeed, she would have blushed even to own to herself that she loved a man who had spoken no word of explanation, made no demand for her hand of her parents; but as this must certainly follow, she felt no uneasiness. Constantine had never yet been able to secure an interview without witnesses with the fair Paulina, but at length, in a propitious moment, he encountered her alone in the public room; and as the custom of the country allowed great license in their manners, he took the favourable opportunity for attempting to kiss her cheek; to his great surprise, no sooner did she perceive him than with a suppressed scream she attempted to evade his approach and quit the room. "What did you fear, Paulina," cried he, still advancing towards her, but keeping between her and the entrance so as to prevent her quitting him. She shrank back farther, and only answered by pointing to the wall. He saw there the picture which her mother had suspended, but unaware of the peculiar reverence in which it was held, he did not comprehend her fears. Snatching her hand, he entreated some explanation, and tried the most persuasive words to calm her fears. Still she glanced with evident fear at the picture. "I dare not," she whispered, "I dare not remain alone with you, whilst she gazes from the wall; let me go, lest some evil befall us." "Is that all," cried Constantine, gaily, "let us hang a screen before the blessed saint, and then she will occasion you no inconvenience." No sooner said than done; his cloak was suspended above the picture, and although Paulina still trembled a little, she consented to remain with him. She insisted, however, on the conversation being carried on in.whispers. lest the saint should hear; and Constantine was sufficiently reasonable to agree to this, though it is probable he thought there was far more danger of being heard, and interrupted by some living member of the family, and that it was the fear of this that induced him to lower his voice. Paulina soon gave herself up to the pleasure of seeing and conversing freely with the young Russ. They talked as all young lovers are apt to talk. Flattery and fine phrases on one side; a little coquetry, a little shyness, and a very great deal of satisfaction on the other; and a great many kisses between them, authorized by the warmth and openness of Siberian manners, to a far greater extent than amongst the more polished but colder manners of the regions we inhabit. frown; what else can you suggest? To quit you breaks my heart; to wed you ruins my fortune. What alternative remains for me, but what I propose?" "I should be sorry to break your heart, Sir," said she, with an energy still more surprising to him than his proposal had been to her," it would grieve me, indeed, to break your heart, and still more, to ruin your fortune. This, however, appears to me the worst and greatest danger of the two; let us, therefore, avoid that at all events, and trust to the strength of your mind for escaping the former. Yes, Constantine," and her eyes flashed with indignation, "let us part; for, since you deem it reasonable to avoid the degradation of a marriage, you cannot wonder if I am determined to shun still deeper degradation and infamy! The holy saints be our witness, how entirely you have deceived me; "—and tearing down the cloak which he had always carefully hung over the picture, she rushed out of the room. She had conquered; but the agitation, excitement, and disappointment cost her a serious fit of illness. She did not, however, die of a broken heart, but after much sorrow and suffering the evil was overcome, and she regained her contentment. A few years afterwards, when Constantine was passing through Irkutsk, on his way, as one of the unfortunates, to undergo hard labour at a manufactory for convicts in that neighbourhood, he saw Paulina in a sledge, driven by a handsome and happy-looking Siberian. She was plump, fair, and engaging as ever, and he had the satisfaction of learning, that she not only had survived his departure, but was now a happy wife and mother. He bit his lips in anger, as he reflected on their change of circumstances, and vainly wished that he had acted in a more honourable way. Then he wondered whether she ever thought of him, and whether she had discovered the trick he had put on her at the masque and in the bathroom. He never had the means of ascertaining; but we can Poor Paulina-from this time the whole of her little fluttering heart was engrossed by the handsome stranger; and every day she hoped he would make overtures to her parents for her hand; but day after day slipped by, and though, when alone, his manners became daily more im-assure our readers, that the simple-minded Paulina never passioned, they were gradually growing colder in public. Though he talked of love, he never spoke of marriage, and she being entangled by the clandestine interviews into which he had beguiled her, feared to mention the subject to her mother, or even to open her mind to her sister about it. Immediately; my parents summon me away, and were I to disobey that summons, who knows but that they might obtain an order to condemn me to remain for ever." "Blessed saints, but that would be delightful-we need not part." "But if I were banished to a distance. Siberia is wide. Kamtchatka is very distant; or the Mines-they are very dark and deep." 66 Ah, I would go with you, to lighten and cheer you." "Would you! nay come now; come with me to Ekathrinoslav." "As your wife! Oh, willingly-most willingly !— only demand me in form of my parents-they will not refuse." "Alas no, Paulina; I dare not now make you my wife; my parents, my whole family would object, were it known that I had wedded you,” "Then, what do you propose?" enquired she reddening. "You must fly in disguise, if you would fly with me." doubted the truth of the apparition, and used to mention it in after years, as a check to the credulity and curiosity of her daughters, when she detailed how nearly she had been induced, by her superstition, to throw herself into the power of a worthless and profligate young foreigner. THE DAYS GONE BY. Of laughing glee and wild wood flowers. P. C. |