THE STORY CUT SHORT.

nature-it will kill the humane, and touch the heart of Cruelty herself with pity.—

The notary was inflamed with a desire to begin, and put his pen a third time into his inkhorn-and the old gentleman turning a little more towards the notary, began to dictate his story in these words

-And where is the rest of it, La Fleur? said I, as he just then entered the room.

THE FRAGMENT,

AND THE BOUQUET.+

PARIS.

WHEN La Fleur came up close to the table, and was made to comprehend what I wanted, he told me there were only two other sheets of it, which he had wrapt round the stalks of a bouquet, to keep it together, which he had presented to the demoiselle upon the Boulevards.--Then pr'ythee, La Fleur, said 1, step back to her to the Count de B****'s hotel, and see if you can get it

+ Nosegay.

PARIS.

There is no doubt of it, said La Fleurand laway he flew.ue pret

yabInwvery Ketle time, the poor fellow came bback quite out of breath, with deeper marks of disappointment in his looks, than could arise from the simple irreparability of the fragmentJuste ciel! in less than two minutes that the poor fellow had taken his last farewell of her * his faithless mistress had given his gage d'amour to one of the Count's footmen—the footman to a young sempstress and the sempstress to a fiddler, with my fragment at the end of itOur misfortunes were involved together I gave a mant sigh and La Fleur echoed it back again ain to my

ear.

my

5d390 ai são vos cổ How perfidious! cried La Fleur How unlucky! said I. $ oli supime0 $7990 900, TO I should not have been mortified, Monsieur, quoth La Fleur, if she had lost it-Nor I, La Fleur, said I, had I found it. 509 TA

a

2. Whether I did or no, will be seen hereafter.

THE man who either disdains or fears to walk up

a dark entry, may be an excellent good man, and

THE DARK PASSAGE.

fit for a hundred things; but he will not do to make a good sentimental traveller. I count little of the many things I see pass at broad noon-day, in large and open streets. Nature is shy, and hates to act before spectators; but in such an unobserved corner, you sometimes see a single short scene of her's worth all the sentiments of a dozen French plays compounded together and yet they are absolutely fine-and whenever I more brilliant affair upon my hands than common, as they suit a preacher just as well as a hero, I generally make up my sermon out of them and for the text-" Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphilia,"-is as good as any one in the Bible.

75

There is a long dark passage issuing out from the Opera Comique into a narrow street; 'tis trod by a few who humbly wait for a fiacre,+ or wish to get off quietly on foot when the opera is donc. At the end of it, towards the theatre, 'tis lighted by a small candle, the light of which is almost lost before you get half way down, but near the door-'tis more for ornament than use -you see it as a fixed star of the least magnitude; it burns but does Tittle goo good to the

world that we know of.

In returning along this passage, I discerned, as I approached within five os six paces of the door.

+ Hackney coach.

PARIS.

two ladies standing arm in arm, with their backs against the wall, waiting, as I imagined, for a fiacre-as they were next the door, I thought they had a prior right; so edged myself up within a yard or little more of them, and quietly took my stand-I was in black, and scarce seen.

The lady next me was a tall lean figure of a woman about thirty-six; the other of the same size and make, of about forty;-there was no mark of wife or widow in any one part of either of them-they seemed to be two upright vestal sisters, unsapped by caresses, unbroke in upon by tender salutations! I could have wished to have made them happy-their happiness was destined, that night, to come from another quarter.

A low voice, with a good turn of expression, and sweet cadence at the end of it, begged for a twelve-sous piece betwixt them, for the love of heaven. I thought it singular, that a beggar shonld fix the quota of an alms-and that the sum should be twelve times as much as what is usually given in the dark. They both seemed astonished at it as much as myself—Twelve sous! said one—a twelve-sous piece! said the otherand made no reply.

في

The poor man said, he knew not how to ask less of ladies of their rank; and bowed down his head to the ground.

Poh! said they-we have no money.

EFFECTS OF FLATTERY.

The beggar remained silent for a moment or two, and renewed his application.

Do not, my fair young ladies, said he, stop your good ears against me-Upon my word, honest man, said the younger, we have no change-Then God bless you said the poor man, and multiply those joys which you can give to others without change!-I observed the elder sister put her hand into her pocket--I will see, said she, if I have a sous- A sous! give twelve, said the suppliant; Nature has been bountiful to you, be bountiful to a poor man.

I would, friend, with all my heart, said the younger, if I had it.

My fair charitable! said he, addressing him. self to the elder-What is it but your goodness and humanity which makes your bright eyes so sweet, that they outshine the morning even in this dark passage? and what was it which made the Marquis de Santerre and his brother say so much of you both as they just passed by?

The two ladies seemed much affected; and impulsively at the same time, they both put their hands into their pocket, and each took out a twelve-sous piece.

The contest between them and the poor supplicant was no more-it was continued betwixt themselves, which of the two should give the twelve-sous piece in charity-and to end the