Fanshawe

s by natu

in the soil, and

share and tear

rance of them f

warm rains of spr

rankness smothe

it mayn't be

CH

ad been built by hands has gone to decay and been removed, and only the earth beneath and around it remains the same. The modern building, a house of two stories, after a lapse of twenty years, is yet unfinished. On this account, it has retained the appellation

r; for the frost never ventured within the sphere of its huge hearths; and it was protected from the heat of the sultry season by three large elms that swept the roof with their long branches, and seemed to create a breeze where there was not one. The device upon the sign,

le age. That these prophets of ill had been deceived was evident from the fact that the doomed man had now passed the fortieth year, and was in more prosperous circu

talents, which, whether natural or acquired, are a most dangerous possession; and, before his twelfth year, he was the welcome associate of all the idle and dissipated of his neighborhood, and especially of those who haunted the tavern of which he had now become the landlord

the only two of his multifarious accomplishments in which his excellence was generally conceded were both calculated to keep him poor rather than to make him rich. He was a musician and a poet. There are yet remaining in that portion of the country many ballads and songs,-set to their own peculiar tunes,-the authorship of which is attributed to him. In general, his productions were upon subjects of local and temporary interest, and would consequently require a bulk of explanatory notes to render them interesting or intelligible to the world at large. A considerable proportion of the remainder are Anacreontics; though, in their construction, Hugh Crombie imitated neither t

blance. During the cold months, a very desirable alteration for the better appeared in his outward man. His cheeks were plump and sanguine; his eyes bright and cheerful; and the tip of his nose glowed with a Bardolphian fire,-a flame, indeed, which Hugh was so far a vestal as to supply with its necessary fuel at all seasons

for an aged father, whose whole support was the broken reed,-his son. Notwithstanding his own necessities, Hugh contrived to provide food and raiment for the old man: how, it would be difficult to say, and

d, however; for Hugh had apparently determined, that, whatever might be his catastrophe, he would meet it among strangers, rather than at home. Shortly after his father's death, he disappeared altogether from the vicinity; and his name became, in the course of years, an unusual sound, where once the lack of other topi

was not of every-day occurrence, he was soon surrounded by a little crowd, who, when his eye was averted, seized the opportunity diligently to peruse his person. He was rather a thickset man, but with no superfluous flesh; his hair was of iron-gray; he had a few wrinkles; his face was so deeply sunburnt, that, excepting a half-smothered glow on the tip of his nose, a dusky yellow was the only apparent hue. As the people gazed, it was observed that the elderly men, and the men of substance, gat themselves silently to their steeds, and hied home

ith great moderation of the liquor for which he was to pay; he declined all their flattering entreaties for one of his old songs; and finally, being urged to engage in

symptoms, the old established prejudices against him began to waver; and as he seemed not to need, and to have no intention to ask, the assistance of any one, he was soon generally acknowledged by the rich as well as by the poor. His account of his past life, and of his int

nt to close observers, that a change was at work in the pious matron's sentiments respecting her old acquaintance. She was now careful to give him his morning dram from her own peculiar bottle, to fill his pipe from her private box of Virginia, and to mix for him the sleeping-cup in which her late husband had delighted. Of all these courtesies Hugh Crombie did partake with a wise and cautious moderation, that, while it proved them to be welcome, expressed his fear

. He was also sufficiently attentive to his wife; though it must be acknowledged that the religious zeal which had had a considerable influence in gaining her affections grew, by no moderate degrees, less fervent. It was whispered, too, that the new landlord could, when time, place, and company were to his mind, upraise a song as merrily, and drink a glass as jollil

mbie's favorite lounging-place, unless when his attentions were required by his guests. No demand had that day been made upon the hospitality of the Hand and Bottle; and the landlord was just then murmuring at the unfrequency of employment. The slenderness of his profits, indeed, were no part of his concern; for

ar at hand. The basis of the potation contained in this vessel was harsh old cider, from the widow's own orchard; but its coldness and acidity were rendered innocuous by a due proportion of yet old

t-ward, he discovered the approach of a horseman. He immediately replenished his pipe, took a long draught from the brown jug, summoned the ragged youth who

that his dark face had seen as hot a sun as mine. He has felt the burning breeze of the Indies, East and West, I warrant him. Ah, I see we shall send away the evening merrily! Not a penny shall come out of his purse,-that is, if his tongue runs glibly. Just the man I was pra

ible sign, except by the shorter and more frequent puffs with which he plied his pipe. Their eyes did not meet till just as the stranger was about to enter, when he started apparently with a surprise and

" said Hugh. "You will find th

eeping plants that clustered round them. Entering, and closing the door, the two ga

ord extended his hand as a practical reply to the question. The s

nd it otherwise. "And how happens this, friend Hugh? I little thought to meet you again in this

anger of your meeting me there

replied the traveller. "For which reaso

ade," said Hugh Crombie. "The world is wide enough f

h other,-to the pleasure of neither of us, if I may judge from your c

use of your coming, and the length

afraid, perhaps, that it will come to too speedy an end? Shall I have your good word, Hugh, to set me up in an honest way of life? Or will you make me a

en old friends should never be dry. But for the partnership, it is a matter in which you must excuse me. Heaven knows I find it hard enou

ebs, and your evil habits like five-inch cables," replied the t

your place of rest, Dame Crombie and I must look throug

or that Hugh had ordered. The wine of that period, owing to the comparative lowness of the duties, was o

gh to authorize an opinion. "You have most of the requisites for your present st

in your journey hither

en his resolution, he paused, and fixed his eye steadfastly on Hugh Crombie. "I could wish, my old acquaintance," he said, "that your lot had bee

of your plans, and whither they would lead me, too well to engage in them. To sa

airs myself, and to keep them to myself. It is a good rule; but it must sometimes be broken. And now, Hu

Hugh Crombie, staring at a question which seemed to ha

an of substance," continued the traveller; "at

rgain, instead of going before it. And for honesty,-I do not recol

host, I entirely approve of your doings, and, moreover,

f them have children, and few have houses and lands. But now to be serious,-and there has been something serious in your eye all this while,-what

know me now?" a

their traces. "No, you are not like the slender boy of fifteen, who stood on the hill by moonlight to take a last look at his father's cotta

together, as if even then tempted to give way to the weakness that he scorned. "And, for turning me back,

after those you left

om

seat, and pacing rapidly across the room. "My father, I know, is dead, and I have

as you rode hitherward," said Hugh

plied. "I closed my eyes,

one being in the world that loved me, or cared for me, I shou

was sufficiently ridiculous; and his companion, who had already over

as in you lies. You had always a foolish trick of repentance; but, as I remember, it was commonly of a morning

ne than that of his ordinary conversation,-"There is a young lady lately become a resident he

ncern with her? Do you mean Ellen Langton, daughter of the

forgotten," answered the traveller. "And this girl,-I kn

. "It is impossible in prose; but you shall have h

said the guest. "However, I am proud of your approbation, my old friend; f

hing in its expression that looked like a jest. It still retained the same hard, cold look, that,

over your application to the quart pot, and refresh your brain by a shor

said the guest. "The old man

upted the landlord, starting, and loo

ad, though my wrongs are on his. Now listen: he had no heir but this only daughter; and to her, and to the man she marries, all hi

prevent it, if need be

t interpose to frustr

ot be so soon won as asked. Fear not for that, mine host. I have a winning way with me, when

et this poor girl into your power, and then to

ssess the means of doing

Hugh, my enterprise ha

earnestly. "The girl is young, lovely, and as good as she is

tir in this matter, I advise you. Ruin, do you say? Does a girl call it ruin to be made an hon

more than poor Ellen is like to get," observed the land

mposedly. "Why, Hugh, what has come over you since we last met? Have we

ience has grown unreasonably tender within the last two years. This one small sin, if I

him to his will. In fact, his arguments were so effectual, that Hugh at length, though reluctantly, promised his cooperation. It was necessary that their mo

ross my path again. There have been more wicked thoughts in my head within

ade. "But fear not that we shall meet again. When I

me here," observed Hugh Crombie. "Our trade was unfavorable to length of da

an you think," answered the traveller; "for