The cunning young shaver Has brass in his favour! I tried, verbum sat. To illuminate Pat, Full thrice did I lecture before him; But Pat, who loves whiskey, Is rarely in this key, And cried, "Blood and 'Ouns!" not to bore him. So I walk'd off my buff, An American ship, To civilize Jonathan-Vale! * TOM SHUTTLE kept in Spital-fields a ready-furnish'd room there; The bards of Greece and Rome, and-Brougham! illum'd him at his loom there * This tragical story bears a remarkable resemblance to the following catastrophe that occurred on the continent a short time since: "Dr. H-S-, custos of the Royal Library at Berlin, distinguished as a scholar and a poet, married an accomplished and amiable young lady, Miss W-, of Leipzig. They lived happily together, but had no family. Her whole time and attentions therefore were devoted to him: his success, his fame, his happiness, engrossed all her thoughts. They travelled together through Russia, and returned to Berlin delighted with the scenes they had passed through, and full of enthusiasm and new literary projects. But soon after the husband was taken ill. His disorder was peculiar, and the physicians expressed their He read the Penny Magazine, and talk'd of Thames and Tiber; Of the Mechanics' Institute a regular subscriber! He to the march of intellect, quick marching, bade defiance; A merry cull-a miracle of poetry and science. Miss Wilhelmina Snooks, the daughter of a stout and tall bum Bailiff in the bottom floor, presented Tom her Album, To draw a head, or write a tale as tragical as Werter, Something pretty-natural, on purpose to divert her! fears that his mind would be ultimately affected. They visited together the Baths of Rissingen, but he did not derive from them the benefit anticipated. A friend had often spoken to them of the beautiful environs of Jena, and they resolved to spend the next summer there. This was especially her plan; and in arranging for, and talking over, the contemplated change, the time passed until the 29th of December, 1834, when the Doctor went to a public concert. He expressed his intention of leaving it before a symphony of Beethoven's should be performed, fearing that it would be too much for him, and try his weak nerves too severely. His wife persuaded him to the contrary: he remained, was gratified and cheered by it, and returned home full of his plans for the next summer. When he entered his lodgings Tom ow'd her one, and wrote an ode, brimful of love and sentiment; 'Twas so sublime you couldn't tell, no, what one word in twenty meant. Miss Snooks made caps, and furbelows, and frills for Mister Harvey, And carried them to Ludgate Hill, safe band-box'd in a jarvey; Now, over head and ears in love, she rants like poor Queen Dido, And ev'ry stitch she lays aside, for one that's in her side, O! he found all in confusion. During his absence, she, having previously dressed herself all in white, had killed herself; she had pointed a dagger to her heart, and with a resolved spirit struck a sure blow, and expired instantly! The following letter, written with a firm hand, lay upon the table: 66 6 More unhappy than thou hast been, thou canst not be, my most beloved; happier thou mayst become with real misfortune. There is often a wonderful blessing in misfortune-you will surely find it so. We suffered together one sorrow: thou knowest how I suffered in silence: no reproach ever came from you-much, much hast thou loved me. It will be better for thee-much better. Why? I feel, but have not words to express what I feel. We She calls for Portia's red-hot coal, the dagger of Lucretia, And bawls for Rosamonda's bowl of rhubarb and magnesia! Tom felt a sympathetic twinge, and try'd a gentle lenitive; 66 "Your bumps, queer file, O," quoth Deville, are call'd philo-progenitive! To conquer this amativeness dewelop'd on your cranium, With Wilhelmina go succeed, for she's your succedaneum." shall meet hereafter free and unfettered. But thou wilt live out thy time upon earth. Fulfil then thy destiny, and act with energy. Salute all whom I loved, and who loved me in return. Till, in all eternity we meet, thy CHARLOTTE.' "This heroic lady felt that nothing but a real and lasting sorrow could give another direction to her husband's thoughts, and save him from madness, and she offered herself a willing sacrifice to his happiness! The novel experiment has been crowned with success ! Since her death he has quite recovered; he feels himself able and willing to fulfil her last declared wishes, and has written some verses addressed to her friends, in which he explains her motives and conduct, and its influences on himself!" |