LORD ERWALD'S LAST RIDE. THE misty morn in festoons hung Across a gray and golden sky, Ere sweetly had the bugles rung In all the vales of Aberthney. Oh, how the fogs on Acworth Hill BY PAUL PASTNOR. Rolled upward, winged with clarion sound, While, at the breezes' varying will, Came bay on bay of throated hound, In rapturous volume, deep and clear- Lord Erwald from his courser cried. His courser would redeem his gold. From stone to stone of that steep pass,As sun-sprites leap from spire to spire, And hear a million priests at mass! Then in the distance died away The rapid footbeats of the steed.My Lord of Erwald chased the day, And trod its vestment, as it fled. Athwart the ridge they saw him climb,A spectral rider in the air; While faintly fell the rapid chime Of footfalls on a granite stair. He raised his bugle-and they heard Its silvery cadence when it fell! (As when the wondering ear is stirred After the swinging of the bell.) He rode like fire; he swept like snow Along those heights so grand and still, Steadfastly gazing up, as though The gates of heaven were on the hill! He vanishes; the spell is o'er. Faint grow his bugle's dying strains. Lord Erwald met the rising sun And neither monarch had his will! He wound the wavering horn again- Rose from a dark and cavern'd cleft. As the warm embers' rosy gold Flooded his heart with aught but fear. Bedim the autumn air with gold, Yet steadily as sunshine weaves Their fluttering shadows on the mold, A torch upon their bosoms burned, The spectres groaned and stretched their hands; While down the almost midnight dell Long vistas swarmed with ghostly bands. The hounds were still: the hunt seemed o'er. In dens the fleeing deer were laid; And yet a weirder chase swept sore A-down that strange and silent glade. Lord Erwald's breast was white with foam From the wild courser's panting hip, But still he drove his steel spurs home In the good steed's blood-spattered hip. With the wail of its unearthly guests. But the saddle slippery still with gore, His corded limbs were cold and hard. Within the hushed and dark courtyard! Before the tempest's swaying form, While in the gloomy hills afar Retreat the footsteps of the storm. They scoured the dells of Acworth Hill; Nay! nay! be still, CHAPTER VI. TWO PORTRAITS. BY MRS. A. L. BASSETT. III. THE breath of June roses again filled earth and air with their intoxicating fragrance, until both. seemed to have fallen asleep in the stillness of the sultry sunshine. There was no fluttering of leaves nor song of birds to break the silence, and flowers and weeds alike droo ed their heads wearily, as if tired of their struggling existence. The day had been oppressively warm, and Hattie Allerton, sitting in the moonlight on the broad piazza of her husband's stately home, comes to the conclusion that it is no wonder every one beneath a Southern sky loses the vigorous energy brought from a cooler climate and more bracing atmosphere. She had felt greatly debilitated from the long-continued hot spell of weather which had set in earlier than usual, and still showed no signs of departing, even for a season, and had unrea sonably blamed herself for an inertness it was impossible to overcome, though so contrary to her nature; but now she begins to make excuses for herself, and to look with a smile rather than a frown at her maidens when she finds them dozing over their work. Her duties as a Southern matron are far more onerous than she had expected, and in her zeal to perform them faithfully she soon discovered she had less time than formerly for the cultivation of her literary and musical tastes. An extract from a letter just written to her mother, who had been for some months absent on a visit to her Northern relatives, will give some idea of her experience in her new home. "I am as full of care as the superintendent of an orphanage. You cannot imagine how ignorant and helpless our servants are, and, worst of all, how persistently they refuse to learn how to take care of themselves. They come to me for everything, having perfect faith in my skill as doctor, nurse, dressmaker, milliner, cook, etc.; but when I suggest the possibility of their learning from constantly watching me they laugh merrily, declaring they could never do anything half so well as I, and content themselves with praising my skill in their usual amusing and extravagant style. "You remember how Harvey laughed at my zeal in trying to teach them to read and write, informing me that all of his lady friends and relatives had made the same vain attempt, and that they would have to be forced to study, and punished if they refused, if I succeeded even with the more intelligent ones among them. Well, I believed him prejudiced, and felt confident of my ability to interest the fifteen young men and women who eagerly entered my class. I was really vexed when Harvey continued to tease me about my missionary labors,' and offered me fifty dollars for each pupil I could bribe to persevere until he or she could read and write with ease. You can imagine my mortification when my scholars began to dose over their books, and then, one by one, sneak off, until out of sight and hearing, whenever the study hour came. I have only one who has continued faithful for the whole eight months-my maid Dolly-and she makes slow progress. All of my scholars could memorize quickly, and repeat, like parrots, the verses of hymns and holy scripture taught them; but the words seemed to convey no meaning to their minds; they were unable to comprehend them, except in the most childish manner possible. And, mother, is it not terrible! I cannot trust the best of them! They would not touch my purse, nor our silver, nor my jewelry, for any consideration; they have too much respect for themselves,' they often tell me, when I thank them for returning the notes half-washed to pieces they find in Harvey's summer vest pockets, or pick up on his bureau where he leaves them when changing his dress; and yet I have to lock up the flour, coffee, sugar, candles, everything that belongs in the pantry, or they would be stolen by wholesale. Harvey's mammy carried the key-basket as long as she lived; when she died we found our expenses suddenly doubled, for I could not get used to locking up such things; but I soon found it a tokened speedy forgetfulness of all philosophical inquiries in profound slumber. "Come, Dolly, I see I am getting too deep in the mysteries of Nature for your poor tired brain. Let's go to my room, and you can be off to bed as soon as you finish with me." Hattie had found it pleasant to submit to Dolly's earnest entreaties to be allowed to wait upon her "like all de ladies' maids," and had become quite used to having the faithful, loving creature dress or undress her, "just as you used to do when I was a little child, mother," she had said, when first indulging in such "laziness."' "Don't be scared, missis; 'tis nobody but Dolly. I knowed you was lonesome, 'cause massa was away to-night, and so I thought I would come and keep you company till you was ready for me The sun rose fair and cloudless the next mornto undress you. La! I don't wonder you's lone-ing, and at an early hour Hattie ordered the car some; de house always does seem lost when massa riage, announcing her intention to spend the day is away." with Edith, as Harvey would not return until late in the afternoon. The sable coachman took his time, as usual, in getting ready for the drive, and Hattie's patience was severely tested before he appeared at the door, looking as smiling and good-natured as if he had not kept his mistress waiting an hour with her bonnet on. Hattie laughed merrily, and admitted it was rather lonely without her beloved husband, who was always so merry and full of life, then said pleasantly, "Sit down on the steps there, Dolly; it was kind in you to think of me, and I must soon retire, for it is growing late, so I wont keep you long." Dolly sat down and stared silently for some time at the full moon shining brightly down on her dark face, then inquired wonderingly if there were any people living in the moon. "No, Dolly, it is believed to be without inhabitants; people like ourselves could not live there, we are told." "Uncle Jim, how can you take so long to groom your horses and get the carriage? I began to think you were never coming." "La, missis, you don't know how bothersome dese horses is! Dey always lays down in de dirt after I'se cleaned dem if you is going anywhar; it looks like dey jest tried to see how contrary dey could be! Den I has to dress myself. I'se bound to put on my Sunday clothes 'fore I kin drive my young missis. 'Cause, didn't I hear old Massa "Why did you think so?" asked Hattie, amused Tom Ashby say you was de prettiest bride he "Ah, I thought so. I knowed it, for I told mammy so t'other day." at her earnestness. "Why, missis, you see sometimes the moon is little-no bigger than my little finger-den it swells out till 'tis big like a round ball, and den it begins to mash in till dere ain't nothing left of it but dat little ring agin. So I knowed dere couldn't be any people dere, or dey would git smashed to pieces when de moon was drawing up." Hattie laughed heartily at Dolly's original idea of the rubber qualities of the moon, then carefully tried to explain the matter to her in simple words fitted to her very limited understanding. Dolly listened attentively for some time; but when her mistress began to tell her something of the motion of the earth she was overcome, and gave a drowsy reply and suspicious nod of the head, which be ebber seed, and he wished massa hadn't got afore him; for he'd had you, sure.” Once Hattie had resented such speeches from the colored people, deeming them impertinent; but when she found with what childlike simplicity they were made (her own servants only repeating the gossip of those on the adjoining plantations, and how sincere was their love and admiration for Harvey and herself, she became accustomed to them, and treated such remarks as the inevita ble consequence of a good-natured rebuke. "Never mind about compliments this morning. Uncle Jim; it is very warm; let us get to Wave land as quickly as possible." "Sartinly, missis, sartinly; I'll have you dar in time. Gee-up, Bill! get-up, Betsy!" A flourish of the whip, and a vigorous crackin of the lash, which, however, did not touch the fat, sleek sides of the horses, and Bill and Betsy trotted briskly off over the rocky road that led to the turnpike. Mr. Randolph himself opened the door for Hattie upon her arrival at Waveland, and with the liberty of a near relative (such he considered himself since her marriage), gave her a cordial embrace and a kiss, as he welcomed her to his his home with many warm expressions of affection. trouble. But what is this melted lard for? Not for your light bread I hope?" Edith meekly replied she thought she must melt it to mix it in; then pushing the cause of her disturbance to the farther end of the table, she exclaimed: "Let's go and get cool; I don't think I like bread-making." "Give me an apron, and I'll make it for you in fifteen minutes, and then you will know how to manage the next time you feel like attempting it," said Hattie. "I don't know what Edith is about, Hattie; she has been shut up in the storeroom ever since breakfast, busy about something. Let's go and surprise her. I'm sure she does not know you are here, and she'll be so delighted to see you." Mr. Randolph led the way to the basement dining-room into which opened the large storeroom, where Edith was so busily engaged that for a moment she did not notice their approach. Hattie was both amused and puzzled by the ex"Because I've never been taught," she replied; pression of annoyance upon Edith's face as she" and with two cooks in the kitchen there has stood with flushed face looking at her hands never been any necessity for my doing such work. thickly covered with flour dough. But I ought to know how to do it, if there should "What are you about, Edie darling?" asked be any such necessity, and I mean to learn. Now, her father. Edith at first refused to consent to this proposition; but when Hattie insisted, she yielded, and looked on with interest and admiration at the ease with which the task was accomplished. Mr. Randolph was also an amused spectator, and at the conclusion of the scene slapped his daughter playfully on the shoulder, asking why she could not do it as well. Edith looked up in evident confusion, and seeing Hattie standing close by, she blushed deeply. In a moment she recovered her self-possession, and laughingly held up her hands, as she exclaimed: "You have come in good time, Hattie ! I am in perfect despair! I can't get this stuff from my hands, though I have nearly cut my fingers off in my vain attempt to scrape it away with a knife." Then seeing Hattie's puzzled face, she explained the cause of her discomfort, again blushing at the confession of her ignorance and inexperience. "Our cook has been giving us miserable bread, and I could not endure it any longer. Now, I knew what beautiful bread you made when your cook was sick, and I never heard you say it was any trouble, so I determined to make some without saying anything to mammy or Patsey about it; but I can't do it; it sticks so to my hand! How am I to get it off?" "Ah! I see what is the matter," said Hattie, trying not to show her amusement. "In the first place, your dough is too wet; and as to your hands, just take a little dry flour and rub them together, and you will soon be relieved of that Hattie, come up stairs, and when you have rested I'll get you to show me how to dress my new bonnet, and alter my dress that Millie has nearly ruined for me. You see, I would not pay three or four dollars to have my bonnet dressed by the milliner in town when I saw how pretty yours was, and heard Cousin Harvey say you had made it yourself; and neither would I take my dress to the mantua-maker. Millie generally does my plain dresses very well; but her efforts to copy that last suit of yours resulted fatally for my pretty silk. Perhaps you can show me how to remedy the evil, and save me the expense of buying another. "Why, Hattie seems to know how to do everything," said Mr. Randolph, admiringly. "I believe she does," replied Edith, "and it is what we all ought to know. We Southern girls will have to take lessons from her until we are better educated in this respect. We can learn, and we will the moment we feel the need of such knowledge. But it has always seemed to me as if there was so much else to be done." "Ah! it is just that, dear Edith; I never understood it before, and did you great injustice because of my ignorance; but now I know you have care enough in looking after and thinking for so many servants. They are so ignorant, and, alas! require such watching it takes up all of one's time. Why, we could never get along as comfortably as we do at the North with one servant, if that one required the assistance and looking after they need here. My good Dolly takes the whole morning to put my room in order, because I invariably have to send her back to sweep and dust after she has pronounced it clean.” The girls now went up to Edith's pretty shaded chamber, and chatted gayly over their work until the three o'clock dinner was announced, after which they spent the warm afternoon in deshabille, first dozing awhile, then reading aloud from a favorite author, until the setting sun made Hattie bid farewell to her friends, and hasten home to meet her husband, who seemed daily nearer and dearer to her fond, loving heart. CHAPTER VII. JUNE roses breathe out their perfume on the moonlit night, and the mocking-bird trills its sweetest notes on the honeysuckle that sways backward and forward near the cottage walls; while within Harvey Allerton and his bride receive the congratulations of their friends. Edith, as first bridesmaid, has had many duties to perform for both bride and groom; and no one could guess that her heart is not as merry as her smile as she flits here and there, the life of the company, the "observed of all observers;" the white jessamine that twines around her short curls is not sweeter or fairer than she. "Edie, darling cousin, I owe my wife to you, and I would thank you for her; but for your insisting upon fording the Potomac we would never have met. I loved her from the moment that she followed her womanly instinct and came to your assistance; but never until that night when you so nobly saved her life, did I dream I should win her. Do you know she heard us call her 'nobody' and could not quite forgive it; she treated me coldly a long time to show me that she did not care for my attentions. Do you remember our ride and our talk about brown eyes?" he asked, laughingly. "Yes; I remember," Edith answered, looking for a moment intently into Harvey's face, then smiled as if satisfied with her investigation, and pointed to Hattie-"Your wife is calling you." "He does not suspect me," she murmured softly to herself. No, Harvey had never had cause to suspect that she cared for him from the day that they forded the river; and being free from manly vanity he had often said to himself after meeting Hattie, "I'm glad I was mistaken; she's only fond of me as she is of her other cousins; dear, warm-hearted child." Edith has stolen from the noisy parlor and sits beneath the shadow of the vines on a side porch, with her head leaning on her hand. Servants are coming and going across the farther end of the porch, to look in for a moment through the parlor windows at the bridal party; and she does not notice steps coming closer to her, until a hand is laid gently upon her bowed head. "Child, what troubles you?" She looked up and smiled; she liked Edgar; she liked the brotherly manner in which this young man, fifteen years older than herself, had learned to treat her during the weary weeks of her convalescence; and had been well pleased to meet him again. "Nothing troubles me; I was only thinking." "Thinking of what?" "Of a dream I had long ago, a queer dream. Shall I tell you of it?" Yes, little girl, tell me your dream and let me interpret it for you." "It seems to me as if it had already partially come true. You've heard about my attempt at fording the river? Well, that night I dreamed that I was again in the midst of that rushing, roaring stream; and that again my head reeled; my limbs gave way beneath me, and for a moment the waves rushed madly over me. It seemed to me that as I went down, deeper and deeper, I felt a change coming over me; I felt my own spirit leaving me, and another, calm and passionless, taking its place. You can't imagine what a strange sensation it was; how I tried to cling to that which had been my own, and turned with absolute loathing from what would take possession of me. I don't think I've ever been so wild and childish since then. It was a queer dream." "There is an hour, or a day perhaps, in every life when such a change as you describe comes over each of us-when the existence without thought ceases, and the graver, sadder life of manhood or womanhood begins. Sometimes it comes with a great shock or sudden grief; again it is scarcely perceptible, and only remembered |