Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

by the father of the Magiveragins, I'll make a corpse of you!-Just at that instant Mick and Molly heard a tremendous roar, as though the sea in a storm had been behind them; they both turned their heads back, and saw a great wave like a mountain, just ready to break upon them. So they thought only of flight, and let go the Cluricaune. But no wave came near them; it was a shadow raised by the little man, who by this time had recovered from his fright in falling into Molly's paws, that were not more tender to him than pussy's would be to a fat

mouse.

"Go home, and good luck to you,' said the Cluricaune ; you deserve what you have got; you will never want a shilling for life; but I shall take care never to be caught by you, Molly Magiveragin, you devil you, again. You have nipped my sides to pieces, and left the marks of your nails in my back. Leave a little goose-grease for me on the black stone; it will cure me; I wish you no harm, Mick Magiveragin, and Molly Magiveragin, for what you have done to me; the

[graphic]

brave deserve to be rewarded. Good night, Molly;

Good night, Mick.'

"Good night, and a merry night, and a joyful night go with you, whoever you are,' said Mick, drawing his breath, and wiping the sweat off his face. And what have we got by all this, Molly?' demanded Mick, I do not see any thing he has left.' 'Here it is in my breast, jewel,' answered Molly, and there,' added she, is a shilling, and another, and another, and another, and another. You are a made man, Mick. I tell alive, you are a made man-my own Mick Magiveragin.'

[ocr errors]

you, man

"Home they returned, left the goose-grease on the black stone to be sure; and, as the story goes, always found a shilling in the Sprè na Skillenagh. I need not tell you how Mick bought land, and built houses; how Kitty Magiveragin, and Juddy Magiveragin, and Shelah Magiveragin, made great matches, and got a large portion of shillings ; and how the sons of Mick and Molly became great linen merchants."

"Thank you! thank you!" said Malony: "that

is a good story, and it has a useful moral. From it we may learn, that when man and wife bravely struggle together, and help each other, they not only deserve to be, but are generally successful.

No. XII.

MY PARLOUR.

More fuel-frost is in the air,
I feel its nipping influence here;
And close the shutters too-the snow
Looks cheerless on the fields below,
And cheerlessly the leafless trees
Toss their dark branches in the breeze.

O happy, on a night like this
The man who knows domestic bliss!

Good humour there, and gay good will,
And each still pleased in pleasing still;
And dimpled cheek and swimming eye
That speaks of soft and sober joy.

NEELE.

IN the bustle of the world a man experiences constant irritation. The elegant Cowper, therefore, naturally and beautifully apostrophizes domestic happiness as the only bliss of paradise that has survived the Fall: it is impossible, indeed, in the existing state of general society, ever to feel

[ocr errors]

the pure delight which pervades his bosom, whom

smiles of love welcome home. There are moments, however, when this obvious truth flashes with peculiar force on the understanding; for it is our nature to look with indifference on what we possess, while nothing rouses apprehension or awakens sensibility. To my memory, the dearest hours of life are those which I have spent in my own parlour, surrounded by my family, when the snow drift has pattered against the windows. Thought would then expatiate upon the comforts of my happy lot, and the pictures which fancy drew of sufferings, but mentally felt, stamped the real value upon every thing tangible. The bright fire, clean hearth, neatly-arranged utensils, carpeted floor, curtained shutters, well-secured door, cheerful candles, shining furniture, were pronounced admirable gifts of invention. According to Dr. Smith, no individual exists in a civilized state, who does not depend upon thousands of his fellow creatures for the comforts he enjoys. I would at such times reflect on the co-operation it required in distant parts to surround me with so many advantages, and every extension of view had a tendency to

« AnteriorContinuar »