about the head and collar with flowers and bells, was driven by a boy into the centre of the throng. In the cart was a cask ornamented with garlands and coloured worsteds, and by the side of it walked, with a triumphant air, Karl Berény, accompanied by his kinsman, a fat little countryman, well known to all the miners by the name of Peter Patak. When the cart stopped, the crowd assembled around it, and Berény said, 'Harangue them, Peter.' Peter Patak thereupon stepped on the cart, and waving his potlid of a hat to obtain silence, screamed out, Neighbours, do you know what is in this cask -No: then I do. It is choke-full of wine of the Banat. Karl Berény has gained his cause in the court, and he brings you this barrel to drink his health, and success to all true miners.'

This was answered by a joyous shout. A gimlet was instantly bored in the cask and a peg inserted in the orifice, every man produced his drinking-cup (many of them of silver), and Karl Berény's health was pledged as fast and as long as the generous wine would or could run,-Peter Patak, who was tapster, ever and anon tasting a cup, to see that it was in proper order, until he found it in such excellent condition that he saw double; and a mighty clattering of drinking-vessels and chattering of tongues ensued.

In the meantime Karl Berény had proceeded to the spot where the young fellows were hurling the bar, and arrived at the moment that Martin Varasok was preparing to throw it; but Martin, suddenly perceiving Berény, and irritated by the loss of the cause, and the presence of his rival, lost his customary nerve, and threw inefficiently. His rough companions raised a laugh of derision; when Berény, taking up a weighty bar, pitched it beyond the usual bounds, amidst the shouts and huzzas of the assembled miners. Martin Varasok again essayed, threw, but once more threw short. Berény then triumphantly grasped the bar, and, strengthened by the excitement of several cups of his sparkling wine, hurled it in firstrate style beyond the mark, and was proclaimed winner of the prize, a small silver goblet. Overpowered with vexation, his rival walked away. His father, who had watched the whole affair with some chagrin, followed Martin with hasty strides, and thus endeavoured to console him:-'Come, cheer up, my boy. I don't care for the loss of my cause, nor mind you the defeat in your game. These are the ups and downs in life, the buckets that go to the bottom of the shaft come up again filled. But something else is on your mind, Martin.'

I will not complain,' replied young Varasok, though my heart is ready to burst!'

What is it, boy?' said Johan.-Martin sighed, and uttered 'Marie !'

'Well,' rejoined his father, Marie Schönborn is a good girl, and I always wished that, if you were rich enough to marry

·

'Marie,' exclaimed Martin, will never be my wife.'

'Why, I should like to know?' inquired Varasok.

'Karl Berény!' replied Martin.

'The devil's dumps!' shouted Johan, 'Karl Berény again! What! has he insinuated himself there, too?'

'Yes,' said Martin. Her mother told me last night that Marie was to be Karl's wedded wife.'

'Her mother is an old woman: what does the girl say herself, Martin?'

Ah! father,' sighed young Varasok, I had hoped-I had fancied that I had perceived a tender joy sparkling in her eye when I have addressed her. My want of confidence, the infirmity of my temper, is the cause of my misery.'

Johan paused, and muttered, Marie Schönborn a jilt! I am an old miner, and have lived half my life under ground-but woman is woman. Compare Karl Berény with my Martin Varasok!-Beelzebub's buttons!'

At this moment the shouts and laughter were borne across the plain on the gale. Hark!' said Johan, 'the wine has got into their heads, and I am just in the humour to break a pate or two, and -Satan's sleeves! if I once begin, I'll-But as I am sober, and they are not, poor beasts! I'll prudently put myself out of mischief." Hereupon the father and son walked toward their own home. Although the young men and women were dancing and frisking about merrily, and tuned up to concert-pitch with Karl Berény's liberal supply, a knot of elderly persons were still gathered round the cart, and several had lighted their pipes, listening to Peter Patak's jokes and stories. Amongst them, with her ears wide open, was the wife of Varasok, a comely, healthy-looking dame, but pre-eminently possessed with a foible of her sex, curiosity. Peter Patak had been informing his auditors of a rumour that one of the shafts of the mine was haunted; and, on being asked what business a ghost had in an iron mine, Peter said that he was not the person to meddle with a spectre's business, but that he hoped that he might be picked to pieces with pick-axes if he hadn't seen the ghost himself.

Tush, Peter!' remarked the dame, 'you saw your own light figure reflected in one of the pools!'

Light figure!' replied Patak, placing his hands on his protuberant stomach. Oh, no! I never reflect.'

Have any of the other miners seen this goblin?' inquired the dame.

'Johan Varasok, your lawful husband, has seen it; but he isn't a bit afraid of it.'

'My husband, bless his heart! does not fear the devil himself though I say it.' Peter gave a gulp, and muttered, ' He was a bold man when he married you, old lady.'

The group now separated; the highly-complimented wife of Johan Varasok wended her way home to prepare her husband's food before he started for his customary occupation in the mine. When she entered their well-ordered little cottage, she saw her good Johan sitting by the light of a flickering lamp, which danced the shadow of his sober head against the whitened wall.

'Well, Theresa,' said Johan, glancing kindly at her, I must be stirring it is my turn to relieve the other gang of workmen. My basket-I hope there is plenty in it. Put three loaves of milletbread in.'

'Why, Johan,' said the dame, tartly, 'you can't eat all the victuals I put in your basket.'

How do you know I don't? replied Varasok. 'I am in pretty good condition round-about; I work hard, and require food and drink in proportion.'

That may be, Johan,' responded his wife; 'but why do you re

quire a double portion of candles in your basket when you go to the mine? You don't eat them, I suppose?'

'No,' said Johan, 'they consume themselves. One day, my old wife, I will explain-I will astonish you with a strange story.'

Varasok kissed his better half with affection, and started off to his employ, and as he walked on he muttered, 'She is an admirable wife, has a thousand excellent qualities, and only one natural drawback,she has a tongue!'

Meanwhile Karl Berény, exulting in his success, made his way to the door of the cottage of the Schönborns. The mother was seated in a high-backed wicker-chair, her countenance pale and emaciated.

Ah! my dear, dear Marie!' exclaimed Karl, I regard you better than anything in the world!'

Marie replied, But you must not regard me better than anything in the world.'

'P'shaw! Marie,' continued Berény. I'll tell you a secret. Your mother consented last night to all my wishes. She said, Marie, that as I had been kind to her, I might come and court you. In short, she said that I might marry you.'

'Indeed!' remarked the girl. But there is another consent to be obtained.'

Whose, I should like to know?' eagerly inquired Karl.
That of Marie herself.'

The mother raised herself up, and in an expressive tone said, 'Marie, before your parent sinks in endless slumber, promise that you will become the wife of Karl Berény.'

'Exact not the promise at this moment, dear mother.'

Karl was somewhat abashed, but he uttered, I will endeavour to deserve your esteem, Marie. See the prize I have won to-day. This little cup will grace your chimney-piece.' And he placed it in the

mother's hands.

'Ah me!' tremulously articulated the old lady, 'once I had good store of silver baubles, but now—'

At this moment a face gleamed through the window at the back, apparently watching anxiously. Marie's mother took her daughter's hand, and with gentle force and an imploring smile placed it in that of Berény. A loud curse was heard outside the window at the same moment. Marie turned more pale than ever, and Karl ran and opened the door to see who was the intruder; but the only person that appeared was one Issachar, a Jew nondescript. Why, doctor, is it you?' said Berény.

The being thus addressed was a shabby-looking, sallow-faced son of Cain, who in a short wandering career had attempted half-a-dozen professions and trades, without settling or prospering in any. Baffled in his commercial enterprises, Issachar turned his attention towards operations on dogs, cats, and other animals; and this occupation leading him naturally and gradually to the noble science of anatomy, he branched off, without a diploma, into the whole duties of a medical professor, and from cat-skinning took to the obstetric art, tooth-drawing, and phlebotomizing. Doctor Issachar had come to the cottage of Marie's mother, with some cabbage-leaf nostrum for her rheumatism. 'Well, what brought you hither?' inquired Marie, who detested the dirty Jew.

Issachar muttered to himself, 'She wants to get rid of me; but I'll

stir up some mischief,-throw in a double dose of bitters. Why, I declare, what a swearing noise Martin Varasok made at the window just now!'

'Martin Varasok!' exclaimed the old woman and Karl.

'Yes,' grinned the Jew; he peeped through the casement, looking as yellow as saffron.'

not.'

Martin is a gloomy-tempered youth,' said the dame. I like him

No more do I,' interrupted Issachar. Then assuming a knowing look, he whispered to Berény, Martin is in sad want of a wife. Take care of your Marie. Good-b'ye, dame; I'll call and leave your cough-drops, and the poison for the rats. Mind, don't take the wrong!' Soon after the departure of the Jew, Karl Berény took his leave. He was going to the same branch of the mine where old Johan Varasok superintended his workmen, and he expected Johan to be very sore about the loss of the law-suit.

As the Hebrew cow-doctor proceeded on his way, he reflected that part of his business was effected, so far as startling the jealousy of Berény went. He now sought an opportunity to get a private talk with Martin Varasok, and thus, by setting the rivals by the ears, get rid of them both, and then make the bone of contention 'bone of his bone,'-flesh' he could not add, for there was not a sufficient quantity on his carcase. But Issachar wanted a wife to scrawl his pharmacy bills, and cut out his new shirts, whenever he had any.

Martin Varasok, through the window had seen the prize-cup given by Berény, and the hand of Marie placed by her mother in the hand of his rival. He was overcome with vexation and jealousy; and he bit his lips till they bled, muttering, 'I will never see her more! Yet I fancied I perceived that Marie wept. If I could only hope!'

While musing in this manner, some one brushed at his elbow; it was Issachar.

'Bless my heart!' cried the Jew, I don't wonder at your being in such a rage, considering what you must have witnessed at old Mother Schönborn's cottage. Karl Berény to be sure is a goodlooking fellow; rich too: but he should take care, with a handsome girl right before the window, and no window-blind; and unless one was blind one's-self-but I say nothing. Issachar saw the effect he had produced, so he thought he would make Martin a little more comfortable. 'Do you intend to be at Karl Berény's wedding?' said he, carelessly. Ha! ha! old women will talk. I heard Marie's mother abusing you charmingly! She said you were the most untoward, ill-tempered, fidgety, cross-grained animal that ever walked on two legs.'

Martin merely asked, And did her daughter assent to this?"

The Jew replied, Why, I say nothing: but this I will say, she did-if silence gives consent. Marie might have said a little more; but I, of course, never rip up old grievances; it is my business to heal wounds, not to inflame them-so I say nothing. Good-night!' and Issachar walked away chuckling with the notion that he had made Martin as happy as a bird with both his feet in bird-lime!'

The distant bell of Presburg cathedral tolled the hour: and the clocks of the other steeples kept up a striking chorus, as Martin hastened to join his father in his duties at the iron mine. As they walked together, Johan Varasok guessed what was uppermost in

Martin's thoughts; so he sought to divert them to another channel. Has your mother been talking to you again about the spectre of the mine, Martin?' said he. Devil's darning-needles! but she pants to discover the mystery !'

I could tell her no more,' replied the son, 'than the other miners have told her, and that I was startled one day last week by the tall, unearthly, haggard form which flitted by me with a lantern.

Oh! my boy,' said Johan, you must not believe in such things! Did you ever hear of a miner called Michael of Filleck?'

I recollect hearing of such a person before I left Presburg,' answered Martin.

This Michael,' continued Johan Varasok, 'was a wild fellow, and had been banished from Filleck for some serious offence; but when he came among us he appeared penitent and reformed. I held a helping hand to him: he appeared grateful, and worked with the strength of a lion. We contrived that he should marry, and he wedded a good girl, who taught her to love him tenderly, and a little smiling, curly-headed urchin blessed him with the name of father. For a time Michael appeared happy, till a fatal disorder sent his poor wife to her last home. Deprived of her bland influence, his wild and dissolute habits again broke out. Providence ordained a heavy calamity to the poor wretch. One day, by the carelessness of the woman who undertook to nurse Michael's child, the little fellow wandered to the mouth of one of the pits. He was playing about unconsciously, when his foot slipped, and he fell headlong! I need not describe its fate.'

Where was the father?' asked Martin.

Below, at work in the mine, and the first person that discovered the lifeless and mangled form of his beloved child! From that moment his reason fled, and he never returned to the world. I watched him gloomily seize his spade and mattock, and in a remote corner of the mine he buried his poor infant.'

But how has he contrived to exist?' inquired Martin.

'I have supplied him with food and light ever since. I have made many efforts to induce him to return above-ground: once I used force, but the powerful strength of the wily maniac repelled me.'

Father,' said Martin, I have always had a strong suspicion that the tall fellow with which I struggled on the night that Dame Schönborn's cottage was broken open, was that same Michael of Filleck !'

Ah! well, if it should prove so,' replied Johan, it would be of no use breaking an incurable madman on the wheel! But I see, Martin, you are still brooding on that girl! Come, come; I have a better opinion of Marie; she has not the want of feeling which you attribute to her! Hark ye! your rival, Karl Berény has gone on to the mine. Go you back to Marie's cottage: pop the question at once. Cerberus's cat's-meat! you can't be in a worse plight should she decisively reject you. Pooh! you should have seen how I carried off your respectable mother-triumphantly, in a wheelbarrow, in sight of her hostile relations-one, two, three and away! Go, boy,-go!'

Here the hearty old miner pushed his son from him, Johan descending the ladders of the shaft with practised vigour, while Martin, with a beating heart, took the direction towards the cottage.

Let us now accompany old Johan down into the bowels of the earth,