infidel savages from the darkness of Christianity, and make them thorough and absolute lunatics. In consequence of this benevolent bull, philosophic benefactors go to work with hearty zeal. They seize upon our fertile territories, scourge us from our rightful possessions, relieve us from our wives; and when we are unreasonable enough to complain, they will turn upon us and say, "Miserable barbarians! ungrateful wretches!have we not come thousands of miles to improve your worthless planet?-have we not fed you with moonshine?-have we not intoxicated you with nitrous oxyde?-does not our moon give you light every day?—and have you the baseness to murmur, when we claim a pitiful return for all these benefits?" But finding that we not only persist, in absolute contempt of their reasoning, and disbelief in their philosophy, but even go so far as daringly to defend our property, their patience shall be exhausted, and they shall resort to their superior powers of argument→ hunt us with hippogriffs, transfix us with concentrated sunbeams, demolish our cities with moonstones; until having, by main force, converted us to the true faith, they shall graciously permit us to exist in the torrid deserts of Arabia, or the frozen regions of Lapland, there to enjoy the blessings of civilization, and the charms of lunar philosophy-in much the same manner as the reformed and enlightened savages of this country are kindly suffered to inhabit the inhospitable forests of the north, or the impenetrable wilderness of South America. W. IRVING. A ZEALOUS DOMESTIC. THE roar of the sea had long announced their approach to the cliffs, on the summit of which, like the nest of some sea-eagle, the founder of the fortress had perched his eyry. The pale moon, which had hitherto been contending with flitting clouds, now shone out, and gave them a view of the solitary and naked tower, situated on a projecting cliff that beetled on the German Ocean. On three sides the rock was precipitous; on the fourth, which was that toward the land, it had been originally fenced by an artificial ditch and drawbridge; but the latter was broken down and ruinous, and the former had been in part filled up, so as to allow passage for a horseman into the narrow court-yard, encircled on two sides with low offices and stables, partly ruinous, and closed on the landward front by a low embattled wall, while the remaining side of the quadrangle was occupied by the tower itself, which, tall and narrow, and built of a grayish stone, stood glimmering in the moonlight like the sheeted spectre of some huge giant. A wilder or more disconsolate dwelling it was perhaps difficult to conceive. The sombrous and heavy sound of the billows, successively dashing against the rocky beach at a profound distance beneath, was to the ear what the landscape was to the eye-a symbol of unvaried and monotonous melancholy, not unmingled with horror. Although the night was not far advanced, there was no sign of living inhabitant about this for lorn abode, excepting that one, and only one, of the narrow and staunchelled windows, which appeared at irregular heights and distances in the walls of the building, showed a small glimmer of light. "There," said Ravenswood, "sits the only male domestic that remains to the house of Ravenswood; and it is well that he does remain there, since otherwise we had little hope to find either light or fire. But follow me cautiously; the road is narrow, and admits only one horse in front." In effect, the path led along a kind of isthmus, at the peninsular extremity of which the tower was situated, with that exclusive attention to strength and security, in preference to every circumstance of convenience, which dictated to the Scottish barons the choice of their situations, as well as their style of building. By adopting the cautious mode of approach, recommended by the proprietor of this wild hold, they entered the court-yard in safety. But it was long ere the efforts of Ravenswood, though loudly exerted by knocking at the low-browed entrance, and repeated shouts to Caleb to open the gate and admit them, received any answer. 66 "The old man must be departed," he began to say, or fallen into some fit; for the noise I have made would have waked the seven sleepers." At length a timid and hesitating voice replied, "Master-Master of Ravenswood, is it you?" "Yes, it is I, Caleb; open the door quickly." "But is it you in very blood and body? For I would sooner face fifty deevils as my maister's ghaist, or even his wraith,-wherefore aroint ye, if ye were ten times my master, unless ye come in bodily shape, lith, and limb." “It is I, you old fool," answered Ravenswood, "in bodily shape, and alive; save that I am half dead with cold." The light at the upper window disappeared, and glancing from loophole to loophole in slow succession, gave intimation that the bearer was in the act of descending, with great deliberation, a winding staircase, occupying one of the turrets which graced the angles of the old tower. The tardiness of his descent extracted some exclamations of impatience from Ravenswood, and several oaths from his less patient and more mercurial companion. Caleb again paused ere he unbolted the door, and once more asked, if they were men of mould that demanded entrance at this time of night? "Were I near you, you old fool," said Bucklaw, "I would give you sufficient proofs of my bodily condition." "Open the gate, Caleb," said his master in a more soothing tone, partly from his regard to the ancient and faithful seneschal, partly, perhaps, because he thought that angry words would be thrown away, so long as Caleb had a stout ironclenched oaken door betwixt his person and the speakers. At length Caleb, with a trembling hand, undid the bars, opened the heavy door, and stood before them, exhibiting his thin gray hairs, bald forehead, and sharp high features, illuminated by a quivering lamp which he held in one hand, while he shaded and protected its flame with the other. The timorous courteous glance which he threw around him-the effect of the partial light upon his white hair and illumined features, might have made a good painting; but our travellers were too impatient for security against the rising storm to permit them to indulge themselves in studying the picturesque. "Is it you, my dear master? is it you yourself, indeed?" exclaimed the old domestic. "I am wae ye suld hae stude waiting at your ain gate; but wha wad hae thought o' seeing ye sae sune, and a strange gentleman with a- (here he exclaimed apart as it were, and to some inmate of the tower, in a voice not meant to be heard in the court)-Mysie-Mysie woman, stir for dear life, and get the fire mended; take the auld three-legged stool, or ony thing that's readiest, that will make a lowe.-I doubt we are but puirly provided, no expecting ye this some months, when doubtless ye wad hae been received conform till your rank, as gude right is; but natheless" 66 "Natheless, Caleb," said the Master, we must have our horses put up, and ourselves too, the best way we can. I hope you are not sorry to see me sooner than you expected!" 66 Sorry, my lord!I am sure ye sall aye be my lord wi' honest folk, as your noble ancestors hae been these three hundred years, and never asked a whig's leave.-Sorry to see the lord of Ravenswood at ane of his ain castles!-(Then again apart to his unseen associate behind the screen)-Mysie, kill the brood-hen without thinking twice on it; let them care that come ahint. |