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might have been born with a silver spoon in his mouth, but not another with a wooden ladle. Tree by itself tree, "such tents the patriarchs loved !”—ipse nemus—“the brotherhood of trees,"—the grove, the coppice, the wood, the forest, the bush,-dearly, and after a different fashion, do we love ye all! And love ye all we shall, while our dim eyes can catch the glimmer, our dull ears the murmur of the leaves, or our imagination hear, at midnight, the far off swing of the old branches groaning in the tempest. But what has all this to do with our tale-not much, truly,-so, we will "let it pass," and revert, again, to The Boomer.

Leaning against the trunk of a tall gum-tree, and wiping the perspiration from his brow, the Boomer prepared for his morning's sport, and followed the movements of his two dogs, who ran— -"beating" about the bush, in all the wild joyousness of animal ecstasy— with a degree of interest, which seemed to absorb his every feeling. The dogs 300n opened on a quest, and followed it closely to the brushwood, which bounded the creek; and, in a few minutes out bounded a forrester kangaroo, which leaped along the dell, with great speed, till a ball from The Boomer's rifle, stretched it lifeless on the green sward. Advancing towards his prey, with a slow and measured step, The Boomer seemed now to have suddenly lost his excitement by the death of his victim, and taking a large knife from his pouch, he proceeded to skin the kangaroo, and to separate the fore quarters from the hind. This being done, he distributed all but the haunches amongst his canine companions, hanging the remainder on the branches of a wild cherry-tree, till he had obtained a light, and kindled a fire. On the glowing embers of this fire, he broiled some steaks from the newly-slain animal, and with some clear cold water from the rivulet, and some more damper, he made a hearty and a wholesome meal, for which, when he had eaten it, he returned his fervent and sincere thanks to the Almighty Ruler of the universe. This done, he slung his rifle across his shoulder, and, tearing a branch from the cherry-tree, called to his dogs, and struck deeper and higher into the Bush.

The individual, whom we have thus, as it were, cursorily introduced to the reader, was an extraordinary, as well as a very interesting personage. John Macdonald, for that was his name, emigrated to Van Diemen's Land, at an early period of its settlement; and he brought with him his young wife, and two children. He was a sound and practical agriculturalist, and was possessed of a capital of about one thousand pounds, which he expended in the cultivation of a Grant, that he had procured in the Upper Settlement at Pitt-water, at that period a favourite location with the agricultural Emigrant. Macdonald had received an education superior to the generality of individuals of his rank in life, while his wife, by being the daughter of a very respectable Presbyterian minister, was a young woman possessed of many practical and useful accomplishments. They had been long and dearly attached to each other, even

from their very childhood; and few young couples commenced their wedded life under brighter and happier auspices than John Macdonald and the gentle Amy Elliot. Settled on a farm, near the manse of Amy's father, the wife was not, as often happens, separated from the home of her youth, or the counsel and affection of her parents ; and when she witnessed the industrious exertions of her husband crowned with success, Amy fervently blessed God for the mercies he had bestowed upon her. In due time she became a mother, when new feelings and affections, as well as new cares and anxieties, filled her bosom; but gladness still predominated, and Macdonald and his wife experienced as much happiness, as man, in his mortal and erring state, can enjoy. But, where is the sunshine without its cloud-or the rose without its thorn? Three short years had scarcely rolled over them, before the first interruption occurred to mar their happiness. The good minister died, and, although he departed, as a Christian pastor should depart, at peace with all mankind, and trusting firmly, but meekly, on the mercies of the Redeemer, still his loss was severely felt by his affectionate child. Amy, however, bore her sorrows patiently, and, for her husband's and her children's sake, (for she was now the mother of two,) she bowed to the dispensation with a meek and a resigned spirit.

Not long after this, Macdonald's landlord died, and was succeeded by a stranger-a dissipated profligate, who had no further regard for his tenants, than as a mere means of gain. The old laird was a very different person: he esteemed his tenants, as beings as worthy of regard as himself, and was, in every sense of the term, a good landlord. Beloved and respected in life, his death was sincerely bewailed by his sorrowing tenantry, who testified their regard for their departed friend-for friend he was-by attending his funeral. Great, indeed, was the contrast between the two landlords. The first measure, which the new one adopted, was the indiscriminate raising of the rents —a measure, which, although not felt, in its full effect, at first, was eventually productive of extensive mischief. As regarded Macdonald, he was determined to struggle against it for a time, at least, in order to ascertain how far his own industry and resources could be made available against this act of injudicious and selfish oppression but he found that his most strenuous exertions availed him but little; as the landlord was a most rigid exactor, and took especial care to abstract from his toiling tenant every shilling he could legally claim. Still Macdonald persevered; for his spirit and energies seemed to increase with the difficulties, which were opposed to their exercise, and he proceeded in his course, undismayed, but heavy at heart-because he seemed to labour in vain, and, instead of gathering up a competency for his family, he was wasting his strength and talents for the benefit of a thankless taskmaster. Truly, the hope of reward is the sweetener of labour; and poor Macdonald, when he saw his hard-earned gains gathered into the coffers of another, his heart pined, and his spirit drooped, and lost its best and

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most stirring energies. To add to his grievances, a period of agricultural distress came on, and Macdonald, like a wise and prudent man, gave up his farm, and, selling off his stock and implements, he determined to emigrate to Van Diemen's Land with Amy and his boy and girl. He did so―and settled himself, as we have already stated, at Pitt-water.

The spirit of energetic industry, which characterized Macdonald in Scotland, accompanied him to the new country of his adoption; and the rude wilderness became, under his able management and control, a fertile field. Although the hearts of the emigrants would often fondly revert to the land of their birth, they were too strongminded to grieve deeply at their exile; but, adapting themselves to the circumstances of their new existence, they enjoyed, in each other's affectionate society, the calm and blessed bliss of domestic love and peace. And the children, too! What cherubs were they! The boy, now a bold and spirited little fellow of five years of age, was his father's darling, while the little girl, about a year younger, was the idol of her fond mother. And oh the joy-deep, silent, but so ecstatic-which filled the hearts of the fond parents, as they witnessed the unrepressed and gladsome gambols of their darlings, as they danced and played about the wilderness, by which their weather-boarded dwelling was encircled! Happy, indeed, were they in each other's affection, and in the beauty and happiness of their children.

Two years had glided by, and Macdonald's farm at Pist-water was a little earthly paradise. The second harvest was over, and had rewarded the industrious husbandman with an abundant crop, while his year's clip of wool was likely to afford him a tolerable sum, considering the little advancement which had been made in woolgrowing; and his dairy, which was Amy's own property, was under her diligent management in a very flourishing state. It was seldom that Macdonald left home, and never, indeed, excepting his presence was actually necessary abroad; for, although, he had a very active, honest, and clever overseer, who came with him from Scotland, he was so attached to his home, that he always left it with regret and reluctance. It was necessary, however, for him to go to Camp, as Hobart Town was then called, to dispose of his wool and corn, and the day appointed for his departure arrived. Tenderly kissing Amy and the children, he mounted his horse, and rode slowly along the paddock towards the road, which led to the Town. His course was arrested by his little boy, calling after him. "Don't forget, dear papa, to bring me the gun, I am to have, to shoot the ugly Natives with !"

I won't, Johnny," said the father; 'if you will be a good boy, and take care of your mother, and little Amy till I come back."

To be sure, I will," said the child; and if the Natives come, while you are away, I'll kill them with your great gun, that's in the bed-room."

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There's a brave boy-God bless you!"

God bless you, dear papa-good bye!" and the little fellow ran joyously back to the house."

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Macdonald, on the present occasion, felt more than usually melancholy at leaving home: there was a heaviness at his heart, for which he could not account; for he knew he should not be absent more than one night, at least, and Amy and the children, were well and happy. Still the heaviness continued, and even the conviction, that his anxiety for the present year was set at rest by his good harvest, and excellent clip" of wool, could not dissipate the gloom. Arriving at Kangaroo Point, he left his horse at the ferry-house, and crossed over immediately to Hobart Town, where, proceeding to our old acquaintance, Mr. Faddle, he soon concluded a bargain for the wool, and, ordering from that worthy merchant's "store," such necessary articles, as he required, went on to Mr. the miller, to whom he sold his corn, which was the best sample, that had yet reached the market. Most persons would have felt gratified and elated at so successful a result to their mission; but Macdonald was still melancholy, and his only wish was to return: but other business, which he had to settle, detained him till the following morning; then, however, he did return, but with a sorrowful and a desponding heart. This despondency increased, as he drew near his happy home. Presentiment! That was the feeling, which enchained his energies, and bowed down even his strong spirit to the dust. He came within sight of his once smiling dwelling, and what did he see? A pile of reeking ruins! There was not one board left to mark its scite ! He dashed up to the house, and gazed, with burning eye-balls, on the withering devastation. His heart sank within him, and, dismounting his horse, he searched more narrowly for his wife and children. He found them-but where ?-Burnt to black and crumbling ashes amidst the embers of his dwelling! His beloved Amy, his boy, his girl, oh God! all were blended in one dark mass of inanimate abomination! But who did the dark and daring deed? THE NATIVES! This he discovered; and from that dreadful moment did he dedicate his life to vengeance and to blood! This he had already satiated almost to repletion; but nothing could satisfy his revenge, or the full extent of his own sanguinary desires. He became, therefore, a wanderer, and an outcast, devoting all his powerful energies to the accomplishment of this one purpose, and reckless alike of comfort or safety in the pursuit of it. Already had he succeeded in destroying about twenty of the blacks, but his revengeful thirst for their blood was as keen as ever.

Such was The Boomer at the period of his introduction to our readers what he since became, or how he since distinguished himself, remains to be narrated.

LINES WRITTEN IN AN ALBUM.

Merrily, merrily dances the breeze,
Over the mountains and over the trees,
And merrily doth the butterfly sip
The dew from the flow'ret's opening lip.

And merrily gushes the brook along,
Ever murmuring soft her fairy's song;
While merrily up in the azure sky,
The sun sheds the smile of his golden eye.

So merrily, merrily, bounds the heart,
When the visions of youth their joys impart,
Little maid, may they sweetly visit thee,
And may it be long ere their bright forms flee!

C. H. P.

BACHELOR SAM.

We copy the following humourous tale, from that standard work of merit, "The Metropolitan Magazine." It is well related, and without further comment, we introduce it to the readers of this Miscellany :

Samuel Snodgrass, Esq. was a confirmed Bachelor, and hence his name. Sam was a gentleman of property, of excellent character, and possessing many good qualities, but Sam was afflicted with one failing. He firmly believed that the whole female sex had entered into a conspiracy against his liberty-in each woman he beheld a natural enemy. At the sight of a matron armed at all points for matrimonial war are, he felt a shudder of alarm, and at the approach of a beautiful girl he actually betook himself to flight. Nay, the poor man was so fearfully influenced by this hobby, that scarcely a day of his life passed in undisturbed tranquility.

Indeed, it must be confessed, that his alarm was not entirely without foundation. He knew that in his earlier days (Sam was now somewhat past forty) a matrimonial attempt had been made to cap、 ture him, and throw the chains of wedlock round his neck, but he had been fortunate enough to escape the aggression by the timely warning of a friend. Then, again, the mishaps of some of his acquaintance produced a strong impression on his mind. shirt collar shook with horror when he reflected on the fatal captivity of Tom Rambleton. He remembered the time when poor Tom was one of the most pleasant fellows about town. Young and gay,

VOL. III. NO, XVII.

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His very

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