bold and lofty daring, and for extreme fleetness in the chace, brought, when the labors his savage life imposed upon him were over, the speared kangaroo, or the slain parrot, for the food of his family, his wife and daughter. The wants of humanity in a state of nature are but few, and the original inhabitants of Van Diemen's Land had even fewer than Nature does usually require to be satisfied. Clothing, dwellings, (except the miserable bark worse than wigwam may be thus called) they had never seen and consequently never felt the need of, and the only occupation with which they were acquainted, and which of necessity they followed, was the pursuit of the various wild animals, so numerously scattered over the island. But Atawa was an exception to the almost general character of his countrymen, his hut was more capacious, its interior more cleanly kept than theirs, his daughter Matooi paying attention to its decoration, for which purpose skins, feathers, and flowers, were continually and tastefully selected. Many were the visitors to the hut of Atawa, and amongst the most frequent and the most favorite was Amboo. His tall person and finely proportioned limbs gave him a decided advantage over all the suitors of Matooi, and soon won the heart's affection of the simple and generous girl. But Matooi was bound by her love to her father, and the custom of her tribe, to take for her husband him who should be elected from among his competitors by her parent, and she dared exhibit no preference unti his consent was obtained to her choosing for herself. But when this difficulty was surmounted, another objection, and a very powerful one, presented itself; knowing that one of the claimants for her love was of a most malignant and revengeful temper, she feared the consequences of personally rejecting him; and so perplexed was she, that at length she resorted to an expedient common with those of her country who were situated like herself.

It was a usual occurrence with maidens thus embarrassed to proceed to the nearest stream, and flinging a flower into it, promise to wed him who should bring it to her the next morning, no one being allowed to seek for it until near sunrise. So having announced her intention to her lovers, she collected beneath the bright beams of a full moon a few of her loved wild flowers, and binding them together, threw them into the blue and sparkling waters of the Derwent, with a soul-felt expression of desire that Amboo might be the fortunate and happy restorer of the blossoms. Anxiously she watched the tops of the mountains, crimsoning with light above the mists which surrounded their base, proclaiming the approach of the day-god; still more anxiously, when one by one the others returned unsuccessful, but no trace of Amboo, nor of the flowers could be found. Supposing he had gained the prize and in sport had concealed himself, a violent storm happened that day, and would have obliterated every foot-mark. A year nearly elapsed, and poor Matooi died brokenhearted.

About eighteen months ago, my friends at Mount Nassau were

quarrying stone for the purpose of building; and on removing a large block, which to all appearance had given way from the upper part of the rock, they discovered a human skeleton, in the bony hand of which still remained the withered stem of a flower!

*K*

THE BLUE HANDKERCHIEF.

Last year, about the end of October, as I was returning on foot from Orleans to the chateau of Bardy, I beheld before me, on the high road, a regiment of Swiss guards. I hastened forward to hear the military music, of which I am extremely fond; but before I had overtaken the regiment the band had ceased playing, and the drum alone continued to mark the measured footsteps of the soldiers.

After marching for about half an hour, the regiment entered a small plain, surrounded by a wood of fir trees. I asked one of the captains if the regiment was going to perform evolutions.

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No, Sir," he replied, we are going to try, and probably to shoot, a soldier belonging to my company, for having robbed the citizen upon whom he was billeted."

What!" I exclaimed, "is he to be tried, condemned, and executed all in an instant?"

"Yes," the captain replied; "such are the terms of our capitulations."* This to him was an unanswerable reason: as if all things had been considered in the capitulations; the fault and its penalty -justice, and even humanity.

"If you have any curiosity to witness the proceedings," said the captain, politely, "I shall be able to get you a place. They will soon be over."

I never avoid such scenes; for I imagine that I learn, from the countenance of a dying man, what death is. I therefore followed the captain.

The regiment formed into a square. Behind the second rank, and on the borders of the wood, some of the soldiers began to dig a grave, under the command of a subaltern; for regimental duty is always performed with regularity, and a certain discipline maintained, even in the digging of a grave.

In the centre of the square, eight officers were seated upon drums; on their right, and a little more in front, a ninth was writing upon

By the capitulations, are to be understood, the treaties entered into between the Swiss Cantons, and the foreign Governments, under whom their soldiers served.

his knees, but with apparent negligence, and simply to prevent a man being put to death without some legal forms.

The accused was called forward. He was a fine well-grown young fellow, with mild, yet noble features. By his side stood a woman, who was the only witness against him. The moment the colonel began to examine this woman, the prisoner interrupted him :

It is useless, Colonel," he said; "I will confess every thing; I stole this woman's handkerchief."

The Colonel. You, Piter! why you passed for an honourable man, and a good soldier.

Piter. It is true Colonel, that I have always endeavoured to satisfy my officers. I did not steal it for myself: it was for Marie. The Colonel. And who is this Marie?

Piter. Why Marie who lives there in our own country near Arenberg where the great apple-tree is I shall,

then, see her no more.

The Colonel. I do not understand you, Piter; explain yourself. Piter. Well, Colonel, read this letter.

And he handed to the colonel a letter, every word of which is engraven on my memory.

"My dear friend Piter.-I seize the opportunity of sending you this letter by Arnold, a recruit who has enlisted in your regiment. I also send a silk purse, which I have made for you. I did not let my father see that I was making it, for he always scolds me for loving you so much, and says you will never return. But you surely will come back, won't you? But whether you come back, or not, I shall always love you. I first consented to become yours on the day you picked up my blue handkerchief at the Arenberg dance, and brought it to me. When shall I see you again? What pleases me is the information I have received, that the officers esteem you, and your comrades love you. But you have still two years to serve. Get through them as fast as you can, and then we will be married. Adieu, my good friend Piter. Your dear Marie.

P.S.-Try to send me something from France, not for fear I should forget you, but that I may always carry it about me. Kiss what you send, and I am sure I shall soon find out the place of your kiss.”

When the colonel had finished reading the letter, Piter resumed: "Arnold," he said, "delivered me this letter last night, when I received my billet. I could not sleep all night for thinking of Marie. In her letter she asks me for something from France. I had no money, I have mortgaged my pay for three months in order to help my brother and cousin, who set out on their return home a few days since. This morning, on rising, I opened my window. A blue handkerchief was drying upon a line, and it resembled the one belonging to Marie. The colour and the blue stripes were actually the same. I was base enough to take it and put it into my knapsack. I went out into the street; my conscience smote me, and I was returning to the house to restore it to its owner, when this woman came

up to me, with the guard, and the handkerchief was found in my possession. This is the whole truth. The capitulations require that I should be shot;-let me be shot instantly ;-but do not despise me."

The judges were unable to conceal their emotion; nevertheless they unanimously condemned Piter to death. He heard the sentence without emotion; then advancing towards his captain, requested the loan of four francs. The captain gave him the money. He then approached the old woman from whom he had taken the handkerchief, and I heard him utter these words:

66

Madam, here are four francs; I know not whether your handkerchief be worth more, but if it be, it costs me dear enough, and you may excuse me from paying the difference."

Then, taking the handkerchief he kissed it and gave it to the captain. Captain," said he, "in two years you will return to our mountains; if you go near Arenberg, do me the favour to ask for Marie, and give her this blue handkerchief; but do not tell her the price I paid for it." He then knelt, and after praying fervently for a few minutes, rose, and walked with a firm step to the place of execution.

I retired into the wood, that I might not witness the last scene of this tragedy. A few shots soon made known that it was over.

Having returned to the little plain an hour after, I found the regiment gone, and all quiet; but as I followed the border of the wood, in order to reach the high road, I perceived traces of blood, and a mound of freshly moved earth. Cutting a branch of fir, I made a rude cross, which I placed on the grave of one already forgotten by all save myself and Marie.

THE LONE MAN.

Why should the home be desolate,
Are there no young ones there
To brighten with a cheerful smile,
The old man's brow of care?
Where are the children of his love,
The blossoms of his spring,
And where the fragrant gifts of joy,
That they were wont to bring?

The house hath felt the shafts of death,
That aged man so lone

Once knew affection's charmed band,
Around his spirit thrown,

When laughing ones with gentle looks,

His footsteps would attend,

And ever in their prayers would bless
Their father and their friend.

One fell as heroes love to fall,

Amidst the bloody fight,

When banners streamed, and falchions flashed

And o'er him there his comrades raised
A trophy to his name,

"Twere fitting it should hold his corpse,
That witnessed his fame!

One ploughed the ocean's azure depths,
And o'er its crested tide,
His tall ship rode majestical,

Like beauty in her pride.

But from the skies the thunder rolled,
The light'ning flash was driven,
And he, that brave one, perished there,
Amid the storms of heaven!

Another yet remained to him,
She grew a thing of light,
That made the darkness of his lot,
Seem beautiful and bright:

But on her frame consumption prey'd,
She faded, faded fast,

And now beside her mother lies,

Within the tomb at last.

Yet often in his dreams they come,

That merry household band,

And fill his visions full of joy,

From the holy spirits' land.

And while he weeps, those dreams' untruth,

He feels this hope is given,

Tho' parted from the loved ones here,

They yet may meet in Heaven.

*K.*

To the Editor of the Hobart Town Magazine.
MR. EDITOR,

Having been requested to write a theatrical piece, introducing a few Colonial characters, I have hurriedly penned the Bushrangers; or, Norwood Vale, which you may, if you please, publish in your truly interesting Magazine.

THE BUSHRANGERS;

OR,

NORWOOD VALE.

M.

ACT I.

SCENE 1. A Settler's hut, interior.

MR. NORWOOD.-It pains me, Marian, to see you so much altered; before we came to these wild woods, your cheeks were as ruddy as