noise of this disaster caused Dame Yang to rush towards the spot, and finding the door secured, she forced it with a bar. As she was without light, in entering the chamber she entangled her feet in the dress of the Lady Ouang, and tumbled backwards. This mishap threw her headdress to a considerable distance, and the fright with which she was seized rendered her for several moments insensible. As soon as she had regained her consciousness, she raised herself, went in search of a light, and returned to the chamber, where she found the Lady Ouang still extended immovably on the ground.

At the instant, when she would have procured assistance, she heard some one strike softly on the door of the house. She doubted not that it was the merchant of Kiang-si, who was coming in search of the wife whom he had purchased. She wished to hasten to his reception, and introduce him into the chamber of her sister-in-law. Her eagerness, and the scruple which she had against shewing herself without a head-dress, caused her to pick up the mourning one of the Lady Ouang, which she found at hand.

It was truly the merchant of Kiang-si, who had come to carry off the lady promised him. He had brought a wedding-litter, decorated with silken streamers, with festoons of flowers, and innumerable beautiful lamps. It was surrounded by domestics bearing lighted torches, and a band of musicians with flutes and hautboys. All this retinue was drawn up in the street, without the instruments being played or noise being made. The merchant himself was detached from it, and had struck gently at the gate. But having found it ajar, he entered the house, with some of those who held the flambeaux to shew the way.

As soon as the Dame Yang appeared, the merchant noticed upon her the mourning head-dress, which was the token assigned him; and being, besides, charmed with her appearance, and some glimpses of her countenance, threw himself upon her, like a hungry gled upon a little bird. The people in his train hastened up, carried off

the lady, and enclosed her in the litter, which was all prepared for her reception. She made a good outcry that they deceived themselves, that it was not she whom they sought: the flourish of instruments was instantly heard, and drowned her voice, whilst the litter-bearers stepped out with the more good-will, in order to transport her to the bark.

During this time, the Lady Ouang had come to herself, and recovered her recollection. The great disturbance which she heard at the door of the house renewed her alarms, and caused her mortal uneasiness. But as she perceived that the sound of the instruments, and that confusion of voice and of music which had struck up all at once, wore further off every moment, she re-assured herself; and in a few minutes she regained courage, and went forth to see what was ado.

The Lady Ouang having called many times in vain for her sister-in-law, comprehended that the merchant had deceived himself, and that he had carried off her whom he did not seek; but she dreaded some troublesome vicissitude when Lin the Treasure should become aware of the mistake. She shut herself up in her chamber; gathered up the head-trimmings, the earrings, and the black head-dress, which lay upon the ground; and she thereupon dreamed of courting a brief repose; but it was impossible for her to close an eye all the night long.

At the break of day she arose, washed her face; and whilst she searched for her head-dress of mourning to put on, she heard a great noise at the house-door. Some one beat it rudely, and called: 'Open, now!'

It was Lin the Treasure, whose voice she recognised. Her part was speedily taken: she left him to knock there without response. He swore, he stamped, he roared enough to make himself hoarse. At length the Lady Ouang drew near to the door, and keeping behind without

* In Europe, mourning is generally black; in China and Japan it is, on the contrary, white, as amongst the ancient Spartan and Roman ladies,

opening it, 'Who is it that knocks,' said she, 'and makes such a noise?'

Lin the Treasure, who distinguished well enough the voice of his sister-in-law, was seized with extreme consternation. His confusion was unbounded, perceiving that she refused to open. He had recourse to an expedient, which succeeded with him. 'Sister-in-law,' said he, 'good and happy news! Lin the Pearl, my younger brother, is returned, and our elder brother enjoys perfect health. Open quickly!'

At this agreeable intelligence, the Lady Ouang, hastily assuming the black head-dress, which had been left by Dame Yang, opened with eagerness, expecting to find her good brother-in-law, Lin the Pearl; but in vain her eyes sought him-she perceived only Lin the Treasure. The latter proceeded to his apartment; but not finding his wife there, and remarking a black head-dress on the head of his sister-in-law, he then feared his misfortune. 'Ha! where, then, is your sister-in-law?' said he to Quảng.

"You should know better than I,' replied that lady, since it is you who have contrived this nice intrigue.' 'But,' replied Lin the Treasure, why wear you not the white head-dress? Have you laid aside your mourning?' The Lady Ouang had the condescension to relate to him what had occurred in his absence.

Scarcely had she finished, when Lin the Treasure beat his breast passionately, and worked himself up to despair. Regaining his temper, at length, by slow degrees, 'I have still one expedient in misfortune,' said he to himself; 'and that is, to sell my sister-in-law. With the money she will fetch me, I will buy another wife, and none shall know I have been unhappy enough to sell my own?' He had gambled all the preceding night, and lost the thirty taëls which he had received of the merchant of Kiang-si, who was already very far away with his new

spouse.

He was preparing to sally forth to go negotiating this new bargain, when he observed at the door four or five

individuals, who pressed for admission. These were his elder brother Lin the Diamond, his younger brother Lin the Pearl, his nephew Hieul, and two domestics who were bearing the luggage. Lin the Treasure, confounded at this sight, had not the face to endure their presence; he evaded them as quickly as he could by the back-door, and disappeared like lightning.

The Lady Quang, transported with joy, hastened to receive her dear husband. But how incredibly lively were her emotions when she perceived a son, whom she loved with exceeding tenderness, and had long given up as lost. She scarce could recognise him, he had grown so tall and handsome. Ah, by what good-fortune,' cried she, have you recovered this dear child, whom I had believed lost?'

Lin the Diamond gave his wife a recital of his whole adventures, and she, in turn, related to him at large all the indignities to which Lin the Treasure had subjected her, and the extremities to which he had reduced her. Lin the Diamond, on this occasion, accorded to his virtuous spouse the just praises which her fidelity merited. He exclaimed, in concluding: "If, by a blind passion for wealth, I had retained two hundred taëls which I found by chance, how should I have been able to retrace our dear son? If avarice had prevented me from devoting twenty taëls to succour those who had suffered shipwreck, my dear brother should have perished in the waves, and I have seen him no more. If, by an unexpected adventure, I had not encountered that excellent brother, how should I have timeously discovered the trouble and confusion which reigned in my house? Without that, my dear wife, we should never have seen ourselves reunited, our family should have been dismembered and plunged into affliction. This is all the effect of a particular providence of Heaven, which has brought about these several events. As for my other brother-a brother most unnatural-who unwittingly has sold his own wifo he has justly drawn on himself the evils that overwh the him. The mighty Tien treats men according toets.

deserts. They need not believe that they can escape his justice. We may hereby learn how profitable it is to practise virtue: it is this that renders, day by day, a house more prosperous.'

Some time thereafter, the young Hieul returned to Yangtcheu, to espouse the lovely daughter of Tchin. This marriage was celebrated with great tokens of rejoicing, and to the mutual satisfaction of both families. He conducted his wife to Vousi. Their nuptials were exceedingly happy; and Heaven blessed them with a numerous offspring. They beheld a crowd of little grandsons, many of whom ultimately advanced themselves in the path of letters, and arrived at posts of the highest trust. It is thus that this family became illustrious.

AN HOSPITAL SCENE IN PORTUGAL.

'I WISH to give you,' said a British officer, in a letter to a friend during the Peninsular war, 'some idea of a scene I witnessed at Miranda do Corvo, on the ninth day of our pursuit. Yet I fear that a sight so terrible cannot be shadowed out, except in the memory of him who beheld it. I entered the town about dusk. It had been a black, grim, and gloomy sort of a day; at one time fierce blasts of wind, and at another perfect stillness, with far-off thunder. Altogether, there was a wild adaptation of the weather and the day to the retreat of a great army. Huge masses of clouds lay motionless on the sky, and then they would break up suddenly as with a whirlwind, and roll off in the red and gloomy distance. I felt myself in a state of strange excitement. My imagination got the better of my other faculties, and I was like a man in a grand but terrific dream. Thus feeling, I passed the great cross in the principal street, and suddenly fell in with an old haggard-looking wretch-a woman, who