in Liverpool. This is all I know of Mrs. | in the lid. Pressing her finger on the Adair." Here a pause ensued, which was broken by Mrs. Whitlow, with the inquiry-"What had I better do with the child, sir? it is a pity to put her in the poor-house, as she is very delicate." "What say you, Mrs. Thompson," said Mr. Thompson, "that we take the child?" "Do as you please, but be sure and have her bound in such a manner that no one can interfere." "Well, Mrs. Whitlow," replied Mr. Thompson, "you may send the child to us, and here is your money; be sure and send her here to-morrow, with all her effects." spring, there opened a little cavity which contained the key. She took the key, and immediately unlocked the box. What was her surprise at finding several fine miniatures, that she knew by their dress were Spanish nobles! There was also a roll of papers, written in the Spanish language, and in beautiful style,-several letters, a singular manuscript, and something that resembled an old will,— were tied together with a black ribbon. Not being able to read the Spanish language fluently, her unsatisfied curiosity was excited to its highest bounds. She determined, however, to conceal these from her husband until she could hear them read by some capable person, thinking that they were papers of importance and value. She determined, if such was the case, to appropriate them to herself, if possible; and putting the papers in a safe place, she left the box, with the min "Mrs. Whitlow left the mansion, well pleased with her success in obtaining the money for the child's maintenance, and for the prospect of freeing herself from the responsibilities of its care. Agreeable to promise, the child was sent to Mr. Thompson the following day. Mr. Thomp-iatures, for her husband's inspection. son not being at home, she was taken to Mrs. Thompson's room. As soon as she saw the child, when Jane led her by the hand towards her, her dislike to the child's mother made her harsh to the poor orphan. On Mr. Thompson's returning and entering the room, she showed him the box and the pictures; and he, seeing nothing very peculiar to his imagination, reclosed it and gave it back to his wife. Mrs. Thompson, glad that her husband's cu papers back again into the box, and put 'What is your name?" said Mrs. riosity was not easily excited, placed the Thompson. "Ella Adair," replied the affrightened it away for further investigation. child. A few months passed, and Mr. Thomp"Ella Adair!" said Mrs. Thompson, son was the happy father of a pair of "I was in hopes that I should never hear fine daughters: a splendid christening that hateful name again. Call one of the at the mansion, and the two little favorservants, Jane, to take her away, and ites were called Julia and Juliette. Time take care of her." wore on, and Mrs. Thompson had not yet "What things were brought with her, found any proper person to read the Jane? manuscripts, and her curiosity began "There lays the little bundle, at the somewhat to subside. Another year, door." 66 'Bring it here, and let me examine it. I don't think there is any thing in the whole bundle that is fit for any thing but the fire; yet, let me see: oh, yes, here is a curious ebony box. I wonder what there is in it!" She found the box was locked, and on examining it carefully, he accidentally discovered a little spring and a son was added to their family. Mr. Thompson's joy was unbounded at the prospect of his name being handed down to posterity. Another christening, and the young heir was honored with the name of James Frank. Although Mr. Thompson was quite satisfied with three christenings, yet again, in the space of four years more Mrs. Thompson favored him with two more children-Lawrence | to Mrs. Thompson's orders, Ella studied and Helen. all the time she could spare. The governess was pleased with her success and ever quick comprehension, and took especial pleasure in instructing Ella. Her clearness in understanding the mysteries of knowledge, induced the old governess to afford her every possible opportunity in her every study. How sweetly she sung! Her old friends were never tired of hearing her gentle voice, or looking at her sweet, intelligent face. Ella repaid her a thousand times for the interest she took in her. When the old governess was at her wits'-end to know how to quiet the turbulent dispositions of the young Thompsons, Ella, by her gentleness, would restore them to good nature and quietness. Poor Ella found constant employment in the nursery of the young Thompsons. Her gentle, loving heart found ample development in the care of these little ones. In all their troubles they found a sympathizing friend in Ella. Seven years of hard servitude Ella had now passed in the house of her bondage. No favor was shown her from either Mrs. Thompson or the servants. As for Mr. Thompson, he kept himself aloof from in-doors business, as domestic storms too often occurred after his first attempt to inquire into such matters. Ella was remarkable for her sweet temperament under the most trying circumstances. She was tall of her age, and remarkably handsome; her large, dark, but mild expressive eyes set off her beautiful complexion; naturally graceful in all her movements, her lady-like appearance was the cause of Mrs. Thompson drawing many comparisons between Ella and her own children, and she could not but observe the natural superiority of Ella, over her own; and this consciousness caused her to feel a deeper hatred towards the dependent orphan. No one feeling of sympathy did she know; but, determined upon a greater degree of severity, knowing that Ella had learned to read before she was bound to her, and that she improved every opportunity afforded her in reading all the books that she could find. That Ella constantly improved, Mrs. Thompson could not but observe; and it became necessary now for her to procure a governess for the other children. Lest Ella should be benefited by the instructions of the new governess, she gave her particular orders not to instruct Ella, under any circumstances whatever, alleging that it would unfit her for her position as a servant. The old governess, in spite of Mrs. Thompson's injunctions, could not but answer Ella's questions, when unable to solve the meaning herself. Ella's gentleness soon won upon the heart of the governess, and, contrary In an unlucky moment, Mrs. Thompson heard the old governess instructing Ella; and her chagrin can better be imagined than described. The old governess was immediately dismissed, for "such an unpardonable outrage; " but Mrs. Thompson could not now recall the instructions Ella had received for the two years past. (Continued.) A THOUGHT. Upon a mountain A. J. N. EVENINGS WITH THE POETS. PARADISE LOST. NO. VI. THE GENIUS OF MILTON. If we are not called upon as literary critics to trace in their several bearings the theological characteristics of the writings of the poets, except so far as their influence is directly moral or the reverse, there is another influence, very intimately blended with Milton's representation of Satan and Hell, which falls more appropriately within our province in that capacity: How happens it that Milton so successfully undermines those conservative notions of Hell which we have imbibed from our fathers as a part of our religion, and accepted as veritable truth from the traditions of a thousand years? We are not less surprised at the change in our opinions, than puzzled about the means by which the poet effects it; and, like the Philistines of old in regard to the champion of Gath, have a wonderful curiosity to ascertain "where his great strength lieth." Let us not forget that poets are the priests of Nature—baptized in her living streams, and sworn at her mountain altars, to interpret to the dull ear of common humanity as they come directly from her, and not from those ordinary sources which are accessible to other men. Imbued with perfect consciousness of the dignity of his office, and in possession of a more than double portion of his predecessors' spirit, which the mantle worn by a hundred bards (whom in rapt vision he could trace in their ascent to the skies) has conferred upon him, though Milton reveres the Christian Scriptures much, he equally reveres his divine gift. He is the priest of Nature, and as such can not serve God in a ritual which she disapproves. He feels for Satan; and what good man does not? "The devil is the father of curses and lies, said Doctor Slop, and is cursed and damned already. 'I am sorry for it,' said my uncle Toby." "I'm wae to think upo' your dea, Even for your sake," said poor Burns. "Dear, hearty, nobleminded Burns," says Leigh Hunt," how Uncle Toby would have loved him for it!" 66 The very devil," says Thomas Carlyle, he can not hate with right orthodoxy." Such too was Milton, but he does not He resolves to create a sympathy for Sawaste his powers in useless whinings. tan; not among those worthless reprobates, who, after indulging in all manner of debasing excesses, would lay the blame of their disgusting conduct on a nobleminded spirit who can only view them with contempt; but among the good, the tender-hearted, and the merciful — the best of our species, who look not to the tion. He goes cunningly to work. He cause of misery so much as to its condinot only brings the unhappy spirits belate their convictions of being injured fore us in proper form, making them rewith forcible distinctness, but between us and them he interposes the veil of his magic genius, on which is represented a series of dissolving views of wonderful them appear whatever he has a mind to interest, by which he manages to make do. He means to steal our hearts! How can we elude the craft of such an ingenious thief? As a first attempt, merely it would seem to show his power, he transformed Satan, lying at his length on the sulphurous waters of Hell, into "the sea-beast Leviathan slumbering on the Norway foam." From out one of the land-locked fiords of that country, at the head of which stands his little cottage, comes a venturous fisherman. We see him emerge from among the trees which surround its entrance to the ocean. The sun gradually descends, and shines horizontally on the golden-crested waves. He dips be low the waters, and the lingering twilight sobers down into night. The fisherman cares not to return. He concludes to remain till morning; and mistaking the monster for an island, "With fixed anchor in his scaly rind, Moors by his side under the lee, while night Invests the sea, and wished-for morn delays." We shudder to think of the poor deluded fisherman, but the mighty master only smiles. He has accomplished his object. To use a homely metaphor from the Book of Job, "he has placed his hook in our nose," and is aware that he can make us forget Satan when he pleases, and follow himself wherever he has a mind. Even when our eyes are fixed on the gulf of Hell, he can "soothe our soul to pleasures." He exhibits in panoramic view the thronged legions of Satan. As we gaze upon them, the scene changes; we are in Etrurian shades, and the devils are magically transformed into the autumnal leaves of Vallombrosa. We are carried away into the cool retreats of the forest. We see the giant limbs of the trees meeting over our heads, and shaping its labyrinths and natural avenues into the architectural aisles, as superb as the grandest conceptions of art in the most gorgeous cathedral. Now, we fancy we hear "The river rushing o'er its pebbly bed;" Now, it seems the " diapason full" of the organ in harmony with the cathedral choir. Alas! it is but the hum of those poor unfortunates, half in sorrow, half in contempt, (as they think of scenes as lovely as these from which they have been exiled, and their cruel imprisonment) in response to their daring chief, who, with bitter sarcasm, is impressing on their minds how despisable, in his estimation, is the conqueror who could punish them so severely. "No matter," says he, "The mind is its own place, and in itself Can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven." Who does not perceive how cunningly Milton has contrived to introduce, as if in perfect simplicity, this representation of sylvan seclusion, to make the contrast of Hell appear the more revolting? Nor is it common holiday sight-seers, or pleasure parties going a picnicing to the country, alone, whom he aspires to captivate. The learned naturalist does not escape his snares. When Satan leaves the infernal lake, and plants his feet on the solid brimstone, the circumjacent country seems "As when the force Of subterranean wind transports a hill and such men as Humboldt are something worth looking at. From amidst Sicilian groves, we observe the towering height of the snow-clad Etna; not only thundering from its crater flames, and smoke, and lava, but by means of accumulated gases tearing itself asunder, and presenting opportunities for scientific investigation, such as only learned men know how to appreciate. When he shows us the armor of Satan, he is equally learned, and equally seductive. He takes us to the top of Fesolé-one of Nature's own observatories —that we may look with Galileo through his newly-invented telescope. We are admitted to the rare privilege of observing the enormously-magnified disc of the full moon. Is the magic in the glass? or in the exhibitor? We take another look; and as the astonished Mirza, who saw the isles of the blessed, and the wondrous bridge of life stretching its broken arches into the tide of time, on looking up found his spirit-guide departed, and instead of such interesting scenery his native valley of Bagdat, and the sheep and cattle grazing on its sides-so we, at one touch of the poet's magic wand, find that what we have mistaken for the moon is the shield of Satan, who stands before us in the full magnitude of his immense proportions. But all men have not poetic tendencies, neither are they all natural philosophers. The history of former times, and the lessons which they convey, have more charms for many than descriptions of scenery however grand or beautiful, or appeals to the feelings however direct and pathetic; and this class is too numerous for Milton to neglect. He need not call on them to appreciate the sylvan | on a rock in the ocean. shades of Vallombrosa, "The path that leads them to the grove, The leafy grove that covers." Their minds are cast in a different mould. ferior to the attractions of a good coal fire * * "the pitchy cloud Of locusts warping on the eastern wind," which the liberator Moses brought on the frightened Egyptians; then into Goths and Vandals, Scythians and Scandinavians, throwing off the shackles of imperial Rome, and pouring from "the populous North" in irresistible numbers. Here again we have a display of the same insidious ingenuity to accomplish the same object. The Israelites, in whose behalf their supernaturally gifted leader performed his wonders, were exposed to the oppression of a superior who treated them as slaves. The soldier from the frozen North had learned the fate of his countrymen, "Butchered to grace a Roman holiday." He yielded unwillingly to a power which had only the plea of supremaey, by which to justify its violation of the principle of equal right which he could never eradicate from his bosom. In both cases, the subdued successfully resented the injuries of their oppressors, and were free. Satan too is oppressed, and subjected to an extremity of punishment such as the most heartless tyrant on earth never dreamed of. What verdict can a jury of adepts in historical knowledge return in the teeth of historical testimony having such a close bearing on the case before them? The world cries shame on Britain for having condemned the great Napoleon, "The last single captive to millions in war," to wear his chain, like another Andromeda, But Britain was afraid of him. The Omnipotent can not have subjected the vanquished Arch-angel to a harsher punishment for a similar reason. Milton so far carries the learned world, and hearts poetically tender, along with him; but none of the illustrations quoted are sufficiently comprehensive to include the great bulk of mankind. Let him try again. The impressions and associations of early life are indelible. They cling to us wherever we go. "The adventurous boy, who asks his little share, Bright is the prospect her future spreads, And noble the heart which her girlhood weds," as she crosses the threshold of her home (no longer), has tears in her eyes, when she takes a parting view of "The sunny spot where her childhood played." No matter whether learned or ignorant, the influence of such scenes and their memories find a chord in every bosom. "The days o' lang syne" outlive the excitement of yesterday. The tree, around which "In early life we sported," it would be sacrilege to cut down. Even " the old oaken bucket, which hung in the well," has twenty times the value of any new one by which it can be replaced. Milton knew all this right well, and he furnishes a domestic comparison which recalls our fondest memories and appeals to every heart. He makes Satan's associates convene as thick, "As bees In spring time, when the sun with Taurus rides, Crafty again; exceeding crafty! Satan |