But tis said to be heaven's hue; H. H. A A VALENTINE. Since still with plaintive strains to soothe theirwoe Mild, tender, pensive, whose sweet smiles excite Still in that heav'nly face, each charm we find Urge me to love, yet whisper love is vain. If they could paint love best, who feel it most, O could my prayers my fav'rite maid incline Whether Whether with sunshine blest, or cloud e'ercast, Н. Н А. EPIGRARM. On a Gentleman named Crabb, who at the age of 70 Virginis intacta zonam si solvere nescis -who A Relation of the late Sam. Fe, having married a second Wife, by whom he was grievously tormented, Mr. F was celebrated for his wit, sent him the following lines. Friend, thou art yoak'd and can'st not help the Thou seest what power there's circled in a ring, Sometimes inform her that she shames her sex, No * The Gentleman was an excellent performer on the Violoncello. No better way to calm a woman's ire ❖❖❖**************************** SECTION V. THE DINNER TABLE. As the Montacute family were new arrivals, they oc cupied in compliance with ancient custom the last seats at the bottom of the table in the Dining room. Mrs. Montacute and the two young ladies sat, as etiquette required, on the female side of the table next the wall; nevertheless a Gentleman of great corpulency had stationed himself there in defiance of all rule. He sat undisturbed amidst the confusion of tongues and of feet; his right hand grasping a knife, and his eyes eagerly directed to a dish of harico, which stood before him, as if he was waiting till the proper disposition of the company should give some appearance of decency to the attack he meditated. This man had placed himself so precisely in the middle of the vacant space, that there was no room either above or below him for three ladies to sit together. As he did not seem a person anxious, or indeed made for active accommodation, Mrs. Montacute and her daughter seated themselves above him. Miss Osborne placed herself at his right hand, and the vacant seat below her was immediately occupied by a young quakeress. Opposite sat three more friends, her Father, Mother and Sister, with Miss Montacute. Two seats, yet remaining, were soon after filled up by two Gentleman, the first of whom, a young man of dashing appearance, and well essenced, sat down immediately opposite to Miss Montacute, whom he began to survey with the utmost selfpossession. In the other, Mr. Montacute recognized a friend, whom he had not lately seen, and with whom, after the first salutation, he entered into close conversation. During 233 During dinner, discourse was as usual confined by the calls of appetite within its usual limits. The fat Gentleman opened his lips only to engulph his food. Nothing drew his eyes from his own plate and the neighbouring dishes, until he had satisfied the calls of appetite. After dinner was removed, he hemmed loudly, wiped his mouth and chin with his handkerchief, and cast his eyes deliberately upon each of the company within their reach The greatest difficulty that occurred in the general inspection was to see those who sat next him. To obviate this, he turned himself by gradual motions half round, and having contemplated alternately the countenances of Miss Montacute and Miss Osborne, resumed his former posture with a grunt, that seemed to indicate there were no more to look at. He then called for a bottle of claret, and taking some goosberries on his plate, began again to exercise his insatiable laws. Miss Osborne was greatly amused by this specimen of man she had never seen before, and sometimes interchanged a smile with her friend, and even with the young quakeresses, who seemed highly disposed to mirth by his curious manner and appearance. Mr. Montacute and his friend, whose name was Gardner, had been engaged in talking over various events and matters in which they were individually interested, when the corpu. lent stranger took advantage of an interval in their conversation to ask if they chose to taste the clarét. They both answered in the negative; Mr. Gardner observing that he seldom found claret at public places worth drinking. "Damme Sir, said the Gentleman who had ac companied Mr. Gardner into the room, if you want any body to take claret, I'm your man. Come, you and I'll go halves in all the claret and goosberries in the house, buck?" The other answered only by pushing the bottle to his side of the if you like what say you, my o table. Quaker's table. "Dumb! ha ha! quite mute! egad, if we drink three bottles a-piece, my old boy, I think your tongue will begin to move, that is, if you an't done up.' "I should imagine you would be done up to by that time” said Mr. Montacute. "Me done up! no Sir, it is not three bottles that will do Captain Slanter, trust me. Walk as well with three bottles in me, as ever I did in my life. Not one in all the East Lincoln can match me." "Couldst thou walk better with that quantity of wine than thou didst in the boat? said the Quaker. The Captain seemed somewhat chagrined by this remark, while the Quaker's daughter's fell a-laughing very heartily. "I did not design to remind thee of thy misfortunes, said the Quaker; only when thou tookest upon thee to joke thy opposite neighbour upon his claret and goosberries without provocation, I thought it high time to put thee in mind of thy error, lest the levity of thy manners should do thee an injury in the opinion of the company. I beg thee to take it in good part, friend Slanter, for he who gives ought also to receive a joke.' A smile pervaded the features of all within hearing of this conversation, accompanied with a desire to know what it was that had so suddenly damped the Captain's hilarity. "Ask my daughter Martha, said the Quaker, she can best tell the story." Martha was a girl below the middle stature, lightly and actively made, with a fair clear complexion and a keen and sprightly eye. To an attentive observer she seemed to wear the costume of her society rather by compulsion than choice, and had a forward and masculine air with her, that little accorded with the feminine delicacy of her form, or suited the sober grey habit in which she was dressed. In compliance with her Father's commands, Martha unhesitatingly said; "My sister and myself, after having perambulated for some time |