SUPPLEMENT TO THE AUCKLAND EVENING STAR.

COUNTESS AND SERF.

(TRANSLAT D FROM THS GERMAN.) ~~-%as in the year of 1741. Elizabeth, * -V-ighter of Peter the Great, who inherit from her father only his weak ness and barbarousness, by an unparal leled palace revolution had conquered the Russian throne, and began in her half-civilized, fantastic way, to reign as a thorough despot. "Very naturally, those cruel, lawless excesses in which Russian court history if so rich, were very frequent under the Government. One of the most remarkable cases of this kind, and one which gives us a very good idea of the unbridled licence of the Russian court one hundred years ago, is the subject of the following narrative :—

The Empress, conscious of being the handsomest women in the empire, sur rounded herself with a bevy of the prettiest women she could find among the Russian nobility, who served only as a worthy background for the bril liancy of her majestic charms

Among the young ladies who graced the imperial palace, there were two who vied with each other for the palm of beauty —the Princess Gagarin and Mademoiselle d'Olsufierd. It was not easy to decide between them, for two women more unlike in personal appear ance could hardly be imagined. The Princess Katina Gagarin was a tall, willow-like blonde, with a complexion that might be likened to moonlight tinted with the odour of roses. Na deschda d'Olsufierd, on the contrary, was a brunette, with a pair of fiery black eyes, and had a luxurious figure, rather below the medium height.

For a long time each one seemed to have about an equal number of parti sans ; but finally, the Princess suc ceeded in becoming a special favourite of the Empress, while, at about the same time, the handsomest, most ele gant, and most lionized cavalier at court, Count Dimitri Strogonofi, offered her his hand.

The rivalry of the two young ladies had long since begotten in the breasts of both a sort of hatred for each other, which, now that the Princess seemed to be the victor, became more apparent; especially was this true on the day that Count Strogonoff and Katinka were presented at Court as acknowledged lovers. Mademoiselle d'Olsufierd on that day appeared in a rose-coloured atlas dress, trimmed with white lace, and, concealing herchragrin behind a cheer ful, indifferent mem, she suddenly touched her rival on the shoulder and asked : " How do you like my dress?" " I like your dress very much," re plied the Princess, " but not on you—it does not become you, my clear Nades chda." " And why not, if I may ask ?" cries the little brunette, crimson with in dignation. " Because the delicate rose colour does not harmonise with your Moorish complexion and your high-coloured cheeks," said the Princess. -'When one is as beautiful as the Empress, it is not necessary to be particular about cut or colour, but we who are only pretty cannot afford to disregard such things." " So, in your eyes I am as black as a Moor, and* like a peasant girl, have cheeks as red as a beet, ch1?" stam mered Mademoiselle d'Olsufierd, with trembling lips. " Why, Nadeschda, how can you speak so V returned the Princess mildly. "It was far from my thoughts to say anything disagreeable !" " Oh, how kind you are !" replied the fiery brunette, turning away half suffo cated with rage. The by-standers laughed, while the Empress, who had overheard the com pliment the Princess paid her, nodded satisfaction.

Nadeschda, meanwhile, left the as sembly, and returned to her own apart ments. Here she tore the rich atlas robe, which had been the means of her self-love being so deeply wounded, into pieces, and then threw herself weeping, on an ottoman. After a while she dried her eyes, and began to mutter maledic tions, and then to reflect. Suddenly she became perfectly calm, and then absolutely radiant. She had evidently come to some determination, or formed some plan with which she was greatly pleased. She immediately ordered a saddle-horse, dressed herself and rode out.

The following clay Nadeschda reap peared at the Empress' levee and seemed as cheerful as usual, except that she appeared to be somewhat pre occupied, and to be looking for gome one. Nor did she appear to find the object of her search until Count Stro gonoff entered ; from this moment the offended beauty had no eyes but for him. This, his vanity was no slow to observe, and he was weak enough to be attracted by her coquetry. Thus en couraged, Nadeschda lost no opportu nity to draw the fiance of her rival toward her, and so unmindful of ap pearances did she soon become in evin cing a partiality for the Count's society that it was but a few days before her apparent infatuation was the subject of frequent remark. The part played by the Count flattered him not a little. He did not suspect that he was simply allowing himself to be caught in the net of a revengeful woman. At first he felt somewhat akin to pity for her, then his pity became interest, and finally, his interest became infatuation; lie .was blftyj&fGi/ therefore, when he

received the assurance that his love was returned.

Whither this double relation to the lovely rivals would lead, Strogonoff" had scarcely paused to ask himself. The Princess, not suspecting the faithless ness of her betrothed, was desirous, although her parents were dead, of celebrating her nuptials on her estates, and to have the ceremony performed in the little church of the neighboring village. To this end she repaired thither, accompanied by the best wishes of the Empress and her court, leaving the Count in the capital, where his official duties and other private matters detained him,

The wedding day came, and the Princess stood before her dressing bureau in her bridal robe, where her old nurse encircled her handsome brow with the usual myrtle wreath, when, instead of the bridegroom, one of his servants arrived with a letter, which the Princess glanced at hastily, and then fell lifeless to the floor.

Two weeks later the Princess re ceived news of Strogonoff's marriage with Mademoiselle d'Olsufierd, and at the same time a letter from her victori ous rival containing the simple words, "La revanche dune femme !" (The revenge of a woman.)

Five years had passed since this sad day for "the Princess. The unfortunate girl had passed them far from the court and the gay world at her chateau near Perusow. She lived in strict seclusion, so occupied in perfecting her know ledge of the popular studies of her generation that she acquired the so briquet of the " philosopher." While thus employed, she was one clay sur prised by the news of the death of Count Strogonoff. Soon afterwards she reappeared at the capital, where she was heartily welcomed by her imperial mistress and her court. She seemed to have buried her mel ancholy and misanthropy in the grave of the man she had once loved, for she appeared as gay, as sunny, and as amiable as formerly, and the Empress found it easy to retain her at court. Nadeschda, the widow of Count Stro gonoff, spent the first year of her widowhood in travelling through Ger many, France and Italy, after which she also returned to the capital. Every one was naturally very curious to see how the former rivals would meet, but all were destined to be disappointed. The Princess seemed to have fully forgiven the perfidy of which she had been the victim—yes, even to have forgotten it, for when she met the widowed countess she hastened to clasp her in her arms, as she would a dear old friend, and kissed her affectionately. The Countess, although surprised at the princess's manner, strove to be not less cordial than she ; the consequence was that within a few weeks the two women, who had been supposed to be the bitterest enemies, became intimate friends Indeed, their love for each other's society went so far that they decided to spend the hot summer months together at the princess's chateau. The big travelling coach of the Princess, therefore, brought the two ladies to Perusow.

It was late in the evening when they arrived. The two friends took their tea together, and then each retired to her respective apartments, which were in opposite wings of the chateau. When the Princess felt certain that the Countess had retired, she sent for a young man to come to her, and with him had a long inter view. Upon leaving her they tarried a moment at the door.

"Be sure now that you remember all my injunctions," said the Princass, " and do not forget, Sergius, that it is to me you owe every thing—your education and the enviable position you occupy, and further, do not forget that I can richly reward you if you are obedient ; severely punish you, trample on you like a worm, if you dare to act contrary to my instructions.

He bowed low and left her

The following morning, after the ladies had finished their breakfast, Sergius modestly entered the room. " Allow me to present to yon a dis tant relation," said the Princess to Nadeschda — "Sergius Iwanowitsch Pauloff, a young man whose amiability is only equalled by his modesty." Terg!us would have attracted the Countess attention had the Princess not taken the trouble to give a recom mendation. He was so handsome, his manners were so polished and his ac complishments so varied, that there were few cavaliers of his time to whom he would not have proved a formidable rival.

The proposition of the Princess to ricle out was readily seconded by Nadeschda. When the horses were brought, Sergiws hastened to assist the Countess into the saddle ; and, as she placed her fool on his hand, a close ob server would have noticed that a mo mentary blush suffused her cheeks.

When the ladies returned to the chateau, the susceptible heart of the Countess had warmed sensibly toward their gallant cavalier, a circumstance which she made no effort to conceal from the Princess. Indeed she used every means, resorted to all the arts of coquetry to captivate the young man and she succeeded. That very night Sergius stood under her window with his guitar and sang, after the fashion of the Spanish knights of old, a "song full of love and rapture ; and the Countess appeared at the window, resplendent in the soft light of the rising moon, and

nodded her satisfaction to the ardent swain below.

The following day the Princess left the lovers a great deal alone together. The morning she pretended to devote to her correspondence, and in the after noon she visited some distant portion of her estates, accompained by her steward. Toward evening Sergius and the Countess strolled together through the park adjoining the chateau. Arriv ing at a Chine.se pavilion that crowned a little hill, they entered. Before they left it Sergius declared his leve.

" Sergius," murmured the Countess, as he knelt at her feet, " I will not keep you in suspense. My heart and my hand are free —they are both yours, if you would have it so

" How can I venture to aspire so high ?" replied Sergius, still on his knees ; " yes, can I think of ever call ing one of your birth and wealth mine 1 My poverty and low birth make it almost a crime to raise my eyes to one so far above me.''

" But when I tell you, Sergius," re plied the countess, smiling, " that I have no mind to marry a money-bag, or a coat-of-arms ; that I am content with you as you are, without either title or fortune—?"

"Are you in earnest —truly in earnest Nadeschda ?"

" Incredulous man ! How can I prove to you my sincerity T '• But the Princess —she will never consent to aur unian 1"

" Is she not my friend ?•" replied the Countess.

" Oh, I know her—she will be im raoveable," replied Sergius. " And if she is, then we will dispense with her consent.,' "That is impossible." " How—are you so dependent upon her f* " She is my benefactress." "Well, let us see what she says," concluded the Countess. That evening Nadeschda. told her friend thas she loved Sergius and would marry him. " impossible !" replied the Princess " Impossible ? and why f " Never could I, as your friend, con sent to a union so far beneath you — never;" replied the Princess, in a tone so imperative that the Countess thought it best, for the present at least, to drop the subject. When, however, she missed Sergius the next morning at breakfast, she ceuld not refrain from asking after him. '• Believe me, Nadeserhda, the sooner you forgot him the better," replied the Princess. " Because he is poor, I suppose " " Yes, and then he has no title. Let us say no more about him." *;Bufc Avhere is he?" asked the Countess. " I have sent him away." « Where V "To an estate I have some distance from here ; he will forget you, and you him," replied the Princess. " Never !" cried the Countess. " We shall see," replied the Princess, with an almost triumphant smile.

For the next few days the Countess pretended to be content, but she never ceased to do all in her power to dis cover the whereabouts of the exiled Sergius. Finally she succeeded in bribing one of the princess's maids, and to possess herself of the secret. She now gave out that certain important matters rendered her presence in the city necessary ; and the Princess, under whose instructions the maid had played the traitress, made no opposition to her friend's departure. The Countess really went first to the city.. There she sent the Princess's coach back home, and then set about making preparations to free her lover from his bondage. Senrius was strolling along the edgje of a field, in the outskirts of the village to which the Princess had sent him, gathering poppies and corn-flowers, and winding them into a. fantastic wreath, when the Countess suddenly stood before him but not so unexpected as she supposed. "Nadeshda!" he cried, and was about to throw herself at her feet, when she clasped him in her arms. " Ho do you come here V stammered

Sergius. "No matter, since I am here," whispered the Countess. " Wby I have come is of more importance. Yonder, just behind that clump of trees, stands my coach, ready to take us to the city, where in the chapel of mv palace, the priest awaits us. It is usual for the cavalier to steal away his larly-love ! we, however, will reverse the order —to-day, the lady-love steals away the cavalier." "What, you have come.—?" "To carry you off, laughed the Countess. '• Come, don't take too long to inflect—let us be gone before we are discoverer]," and she took his arm and led him towards her coach. " Now you are mine," said the Countess, when they were seated, and on the road they jested and chatted until the coach drove through the portal of the Countess' palace and drew up at its erreat marble landing, Serfs in rich liveries hastened forward to assist their mistress to alight. She, however, scarcely heeded them ; nor did she wait to change her dress; but, covered with dust as she was, she hastened to the chapel with her lover, and seemed then only calm and confi dent when the priest had made them husband and wife. Strange! As they left the altar,

while the Countess was flushed with evcitement and radiant with delight. Sergius looked unutterably sad, and was pale to the very lips.

" What is the matter—what ails you, my love?" asked Nadeschda, tenderly. " Nothing, nothing," replied Sergius, and he made an effort to be cheerful.

After a hasty repast, the newly-mar ried pair again entered their coach and immediately left the city.

The sudden marriage of the rich and beautiful young Countess very naturally created an immense sensation. The Empress was incensed that the marriage should have taken place without her knowledge and consent, while the indig nation of the Countess's family knew no bounds. There was one person only who was pleased with the Countess's choice—the Princess Katinka Gagarin ; and she was more than pleased, she was delighted.

And why '? We shall see,

The Countess and her new husband remained away two months. With the approach of winter they turned toward home. Immediately after their return clouds began to threaten for the young wife; her relations and friends kept aloof from her ; and, when she sought to throw herself at the feet of the em press and implore her forgiveness, she was not received.

The Princess Gargarin, despite the j inclemency of the weather, stil remained j in the country. To her Nadeschda now hastened and begged her to intercede ' with the Czarina, who continued to j manifest displeasure caused by Nade- I solida's marriage. !

The Princess promised to intercede, and a magnificent entertainment at her chateau, where Nadeschada and her husband remained, was'decided on at which a reconciliation was to be effected.

The day arrived, and the chateau was thronged with many distinguished guests. Last of all came the beautiful Czarina, enveloped in rich furs, de scended from her coach, and raised the Princess who knelt to receive her august guest, and kissed her affectionately.

After the Empress had changed her dress, the noble company repaired to the grand banquet-hall of the chateau. Elizabeth, who wore a violet-blue velvet robe, trimmed with ermine, never looked more beautiful, or seemed to be iv better spirits.

She had been seated but a few mo ments when the Princess approached, leading the penitent Nadeschda, At sight of her, Elizabeth frowned visibly ; but, when the Countess threw herself weeping at her feet, she reached out her .hand and said, while a strange ironic smile encircled her lips : " You are forgiven, Nadeschda—but where is your husband ? I would see him."

There was in the mien of the Czarina, much as she endeavored to conceal it, something which showed clearly that she had deliberately undertaken the part which she played in the scene that was about to be enacted.

"He shall immediately appear in answer to your Majesty's command," said the Princes", at the same time giving Nadeschda a place beside her self at the table.

At that moment Sergius entered the hall with the Princesses servants, but not in court costume—no, in a servant's costume, his hair cut like that of a serf, unbidden he approached the Empress. a bottle of Burgundy in his hand—a wine of which she was very fond.

'Sergius!—the meaning of this?" cried Nadeschda.

"The meaning of this," replied the Princess, rising and speaking-so that all could hear, " that the time has come for which I have so long and so patiently waited—the time when I can punish a perfidious woman. That man their Sergius Pauloff, the husband of the Countess Strongonoff, is my serf, my slave."

7he Empress laughed, seemingly greatly amused by the scens, while the Countess uttered a cry of horror and despair, and sank into her seat; but she quickly arose again, and sprang to ward Sergius. "It cannot be," she cried ; "it is impossible ! — Speak Sergius !"

"It is as my mistress says," repbed Sergius, looking down with shame.

" iVretch !" exclaimed the Countess, and turned away, utterly crushed.

" Do as I bid you," said the Princess

Sergius approached the Empress to fill her glass, but his hand was unsteady, and he poured some of the Burgundy on her robe.

"How awkward," exclaimed Eliza beth, and at the same moment the Princess dealt him two blows with the palm of hand on the cheek. " Miserable slave !" she Ci'ied, " you shall pay dearly for that. Take him and give him a hundred lashes." J The servants seized Sergius, who made no effort to resist, and dragged him away. " Mercy!" cried the Countess. " Mercy for ray husband." " No, my beautiful Countess, never'! The word mercy does not exist in out: vo cabulary," replied the Countess, exul tantly. 'La revanche dune femrne,' you know is cruel." j " Oh, mercy, mercy, Katinka ?" cried the Countess, throwing herself at her rival's feet. . The Princess' only reply was a de risive laugh. Nadescha sought to rise, in order to hasten after Sergius, but she sank fainting to the floor, and was car ried away insensible to her apartments. " Now I ask that Sergius may be pardoned," whispered Elizabeth to her hostess. ■ : ] "It is far from my intention ;to

really have him whipped," replied the Princess, " but she must think that her husband writhes under the knout."

The guests have all left the chateau ; the Princess sits in her boudoir on an ottoman ; before her kneels Sergius.

" You have played your part well," says the Princess. " You have done al! honor fco my training, and you shall be rewarded with the hand of my little Kascha, whom you so long loved and wanted to many."

Se'rgius bows humbly, and kisses his mistress's hand to express his gra titude.

The Countess vainly offered enormous sums to free her husband from the power of her enemy. When she saw that entreaties, threats, and offers were alike fruitless, that the Princess was absolutely relentless, she retired with a broken heart to a convent, where she died within the year.

The day on which the Princess learned that Nadeschda was dead she gave Sergius his freedom, and soon afterward she presented him with a moderate competence that enabled him to marry the woman of his choice.

A SWEET INNOCENT.

Letter from Miss Letty Forbisher, of Saint John's Wood, to her

Bosom Friend and Confident,

Miss Jesste Howard, of hep herd's Bush, London. — Ex tracted from the " Hannafor dean Museum" : —

My Darling Jessie, How many a time and oft have I poured my cares and sorrows into your confiding bosom. How oft when sunny joys have mantled round my heart I've yearned for spirit power to waft them unto thee. When slum Iters god had closed the portals of my soul, and Tacita enjoined a murmurless silence to reign around my head-pressed pillow and dreams like meteors flit through my busy brain, whether arrayed in bright effulgence or draped in cerements of WO e—to thee dear Jessie I've unfolded all!

Oh, love ! I've received a letter from Charles (you know my cousin Charles, of course you do\ well the clay after " Hark Forward" lost the race and poor Charles' lost his money, without staying to say good-bye, he sailed to the Levant. I. know that was the place, for papa in his odd way said, Charles had levanted and called him sad names for so doing. Why, I can not tell; for Uncle Willliam made a fortune there, and I am sure papa welcomed him most heartily when he came back to England. Dear Charles howeverdid not stay long in the Levant, for his letter is dated from Auckland, New Zealand ; from its tenor he does not seem to be making much headway in improving his position—how can he dear fellow ! Why Jessie, would you believe it, they have got a river called the Thames, like ours, and the steam boat people had the audacity to charge him 5s for a trip to the lower part (for it appears there is an Upper and a Lower Thames), is it not a shame 1 Why papa oftentimes goes from London Bridge to Chelsea for 2d on business. Charles met with quite an adventure a few days after he landed. He met accidentally (Charles writes it Occidentally), my old flame, Robert Stedman, in the Lane of Yulcaus (that is mv dear where all the blacksmiths and vulgar people of that description reside), so I suppose Robert shoes horses and repairs iron ploughs. He must be making a deal of money, though I know for a certainty he has sent his widowed mother more than £300, aud.Aunt Ruth says he pays for his brother and sister being at boarding school. Charlas does not seem to like Robert, and has cut him dead, and I really cannot wonder at it, for it would not be pleasant you know to take the hand of a grimy smith into your own, especially if your gloves were white or straw colour. Charles however met his old friend Fred Gooseman (him who the cruel bank people dismissed merely . because ,he went through a Court, wasn't that shameful!) why I've walked through many a court and papa never scolded me for so doing, which I am sure he would have done had it been wrong. Well Charles and . Fred were so delighted at having encountered each other, and got so intoxicated with joy, that lor two days they were in a perfect Eden. Fred must be a geologist, (or he and Charles during that time amused themselves chipping stones at a mountain. I sincerely hope he may strike gold, make a fortune, and return to us, like Uncle William.

What a singular place Auckland must be. Charles says that although there is rarely a fall of snow, ice is al ways to be found at the Gled Hills. -What lovely skating they must have. How I should like to join them, and show off those pretty bootees I skated in on the Serpentine. Charles resides at Brighton ; very much like ours, only lovelier. There is no- chain pier ; but they have a magnificent wooden one, called Wynyard Pier; the principal promenade of the elite of Auckland. What strange names they have for places in foreign parts. Charles has obtained a title to some land of Goose man's at "Yankee grab." Did you ever hear of such vulgar name, dearest % Well, Charles went to see it, and got out of the track, and for two days was walking about the forests like a demented thing. He says he actually made, a meal off the Maori green

(which love in English means the Emerald Sward). Good heavens, how my heart bled for him, poor boy ! when I read that portion of his letter; compelled to dine like the beasts'of the field, when, perhaps, I was sitting down to four courses. .His mind must nave been somewhat unsettled, even when he wrote, or he would not have penned so horrid a fib, as to say that to satisfy his hunger he climbed a tree, and cut off a cabbage from the top. Now, this, my dear, we know cannot be true. We have the evidence of our own eyes to the contrary. Charles says that it is only at certain times ladies and gentlemen can bathe at Brighton on account of sharks ; but at intervals troops of guard-fish seek the shores, from whose presence the horrid monsters of the deep fly out to sea; then the Auckland " upper ten." take their briny dip. It appears the beauti- M guard-fish are quite harmless to the i human race, only formidable to the j " Tigers of the Ocean." How beautiful i are nature's laws, are they not, dear j Jessie 1 Sometimes long intervals j intervene between their visits, and men j are stationed to watch their approach, j which if it happens in the still hours of the night, they immediately give notice of by violently clanging certain bells, hung at convenient distances, when troops of ■ Auckland's fairest denizens rise from j their downy couches, and hasten to j their longed-for bath. There are certain j other points in Charles' letter, which are too sacred to come even under your eyes, darling (be still thou throbbing heart!) The time may come when his j fondest wishes may be realized. I will j give you extracts from his next Auck land epistle. In the meantime I remain, as ever, your's most lovingly, Letty Forbisher.

TINIRAU AND KAE : A MAORI LEGEND.

"Within less than a hundred miles of the site whereon now stands the city of Auckland, dwelt many years ago, a chief of a powerful tribe who was named Tiriirau. Two of his possessions he valued more than anything else in the world, viz., his wife Hine-i-te-ieiere and his taniwha, Kohutunui. This taniwha was a tame fish, somewhat re sembling a whale, who fed from his

hand, and who,' when the weather was bad, used to tow Tinirau's canoe at a prodigious pace, being guided by a stroke on the right or left side from a long sapling held by his master. Hine Tinirau's wife was "a most lovely speci men of Maori womanhood, and excelled all others in the songs and dances of he?. 1 race. Whilst Hine was absent on a visit to a neighbouring village, the chief of a tribe, who lived on an island some distance to the north of Tinirau's settlement, named Kae, paid Tinirau a visit, but was detained by adverse winds from returning to a great feast at which his presence was indispensable. In this dilemma he asked Tinirau to lend him the taniwha, so that he might arrive at the island in time to preside at the feast. With many misgivings Tinirau at last consented. Now Kae, though a seeming friend, cherished a secret grudge against his late host, and. upon liia arrival at his own place caused the poor taniwha to be put to death. Tinirau, after waiting a reasonable time for the return of his beloved Ko hutunui, at last concluded that Kae had killed him, and. communicated his sus picious to his wife, who had. returned home some clays after the departure of Kae Hine, on hearing of her hus band's loss, determined to find out the truth, and questioned her husband as to Kae's appearance. Tinirau informed her that she would know Kae by his having very long eye teeth, Hine then, taking three of the most beautiful women of her tribe as her companions, and cautioning them not to betray her, went' in a canoes to Kae's settlement, and discovered near it the lifeless body of , the unfortunate taniwha. Arrived in j safety, she arid her friends were re- I ceived most hospitably, and having par taken of refreshments and rested them selves, began to amuse their enter- I tamer's with various songs and darices. So much did their grotesque gestures and comical words tickle the company, that all Jaughed heartily save one man, who sat apart and gloomily surveyed the scene. Suspecting that this must be Kae, Hine herself advanced to him, and by a gesture more extraordinarily grotesque, than he had ever seen, suc ceeded in making him laugh, and at orice recognised him as Kae by the long eye teeth spoken of by her husband. Carefully concealing the newly ac quired knowledge from him, she used her most bewitching arts, and at length suffered Kae to lead her to his house, aking his head in her lap,she sung him to sleep with a plaintive love song; and, quick as thought, stunned him with a blow from a short club, which lay close at hand. Binding and gagging him, she left him, and summoning her com panions, ";"carried him to the canoe. Paddling noiselessly,1 yet, swiftly, while the inmates of the village were buried in slumber, they soon put a good dis taiice between them and their late quarters; and then redoubling their efforts, arrived safely at Ainirau's settlement early the next morning, when Kae was duly tried, executed, and eateu. Mata Kite;

Affectionate little girls do not bury their do1 Is, nowadays. They cremate them, and keep the ashes in a toy sugar bowl. I:;. ' !™.',:Z?C h ','i I ■

BROWN AND GREEN.—A REMINI SCENCE.

By Johst Blackmax.

Our village.was a pl.asant. place. With its long, straggling graas-growtf street ; • Where strange old customs you might tiace r And strange queer people daily meet. Hard by the church and two grim yews, 0 er looking tiel<ls of ripeuii.g C'-rn ; Lived Brown, the man who made my shoes,. In that quaint house where he was born. Outsirte the neighbouring market town, A fair ws held, a motley s-cme (me auvuinn, when the hills wtre brotojiy And oak-trees dounecf their second green, There Mary Green first met James Broten, Who smiled on her and sweet words said ; She wore her best, her Miuday gown. As through the laden stills they strayed. The old blind fiddler played a tune, While they jigged round the big elm tree ; They kept it up uutiltne moon' Shone brightly o'tr the daisied lea. " See," said the beauless, envying girls, And looked upon the pair with s»orn. " See, Mary Green," and shook 'heir curls— As dewdrops tremble on tbe thorn. " See, how she capers with James Brown, And tries to wheedle round his heart; But 'twill not do, he'll leave the town — And Brown and Green will surely part." Still on they travelled, side by side, And arm in-arm across the green. He whispered, "wilt thon be my bride? Will Mary be my cottage queen 1" Such earnest words so truly meant, A poor girl's heart could scarce refuse j She deeply blushed, she looked consent,. And pleased the man who made her shoes*. He called on her next Sabbath day. And Mary thought'twould be no sio, As he had walked a lonp, long way, And wanted rest to ask him in. Her kindness none could surely'blame, But sharp of eye and quick of ear, Her mistress to the kitchen came— So still her steps, they did not hear. She stormed at Mary, with a frown, As Mary sat beside a screen j " I've caught you, have I, here with Brown 1 don't allow it, Mary Green. "Why, madam, why so harsh with me ? You had a sweetheart once yourself ; .., Then, why should you desire to see, Your servant, Ms-ry, on the shelf ?" Broivn rose, and would have stolen away, But Mary, starting from the screen, Said, Jemmy dear, don't go, I pray, And le»ve me here for ever Green. " Whatever, ma'am, may be your plan, Though you his visits may refuse, I tell you that I love the man, Who makes and mends the peoples shoes." " He shan't come here," the lady cried, "Orif he does, my name's not White," ' And in the rash, of passion's- tide, She screamed out, "You shall leave to night." "I go," said Mary, " from this scene, To one where smiles my toils shall crown,* For he who now loves Mary Green, Will yet be'true to Mary Brown. She left, and soon the old church bells, Proclaimed their marriage o'ei the town ; And neighbour still to neighbour tells, How Green was changed to sober Broww.

PERSEVERANCE REWARDED,

How Sardanapalus Coffin Committed- Suicide. [Max Adder in It anbury News.] This is not, in the highest sense of the word, a free country. Sardanapalus" Coffin down our way, was rejected some months ago by a young woman whom lie loved, Sarah ■Walsingharn, I think, her name was ; and he determined to commit suicide. So one evening he bought a pound of strychnine and swallowed it. It was hardly inside of him when some of his relations came along with a stomach-pump and bailed, liim out,. He was depressed about it, but he was determined to succeed, and on the following morning; he 'drank a pint of laudanum. At the moment when the last drop was gurgling in his throat, his relations kicked in the' panel of the door, manned the stomach-pump, and up came the poison. Any other man would have been disheartened, but Coffin, getting a tin-cupful of Croton oil r locked himself in the garret, arid drained the beaker dry. He was just about to arrange!bis last words, when heard a noise on the roof, and upon looking up he perceived the.trapdoor open, and in a. moment those assiduous relatives were scuttling-down the steps and carrying that familiar old stomach-pump. It had a new sucker in it, and it was used ■with such earnestness that Coffin felt his toes draw in. The situation then was ab solutely pathetic, and a less conscientious man would have abandoned the under taking and come back cheerfuly to life, and hope, and happiness, and beef, and potatoes. But Coffin having purchased a shovelful of paris green, clothed him self in submarine armor and dove down, to the bottom of the river about two miles from the shore. When he 'felt himself safe he swallowed the deadly stuff and again l>egan to think lip some thing good to say as he expired. Just as he had decided on some suitable lan guage, he glanced at one side where were those unfortunate relations of his coming down at him in a diving bell, with that disgraceful stomach-pump all ready for action. They c: piored" the interior ofihim and emptied him as usual. As they came to the 'surface and swam ashore, Coffin said'this was too much— they had gone too fcu\ He inquired if it wasn't his stomach; and he asked, if such was the case, if the Constitution of the United States and the laws of De laware authorised by any man to pump the stomach perpetually when he didn't want it pumped ? He felt that the ; heroes of the revolution died in vain, if a man's relations had a right to go and plunge a; diabolical machine into hi* . insides without permission. That night Coffin stuffed the pump with fuluiina