1832.] The Procrastmalor. \K 



long withered arms round " her darling's neck/' mingled tears and 

 smiles of affection and imbecility together. 



" I ha' naething to gie ye'r bonny bride/' she exclaimed, looking at 

 the young and fair creature, who, surrounded by so wild-looking a 

 group, shewed more surpassing in her loveliness ; ' ' naething but these 

 wild flowers, that I pu'd in the night dew. See, here is 



' A buddin' rose, when Phoebus peeps in view, 



For it's like a baumy kiss o' her sweet bonnie mou.' " 



The bride took the gift, but her eyes were fixed on the donor. 



" The lily it is pure, and the lily it is fair, 



And in her lovely bosom I'll place the lily there." 



Again she accepted the flower, without looking at it. 



" The woodbine I will pu' when the e'ening star is near, 

 And the diamond draps o' dew, shall be her een sae clear." 



Her small white hand was extended for the third time, when she shrieked, 

 and the leaves quivered in her fingers. 



ef Roses lilies woodbines, Milly," exclaimed Mount Doyne, an- 

 grily ; " why here is nought but wormwood, rue, and nettles." 



" Heck, Sirs !" replied the nurse, " if the Lord has turned my win- 

 some flo'res into sic like, his will be done." She folded her arms on 

 her breast, and noiselessly withdrew. 



******* 



if And that odd, wild woman was really your nurse, Charles/' said 

 Mrs. Mount Doyne the next morning ; " I trust, my love, you are not 

 infected by her madness ; I hope you will not give me the rue and nettles 

 instead of the happiness you so often promised." 



te By Heaven \" exclaimed the lover-husband ; and then he swore 

 after the most approved fashion, and truly with real sincerity of purpose, 

 to devote his existence his fortune his time, to promote her happiness ; 

 and she believed him ! 



******* 



Six months passed as rapidly as if only six weeks had elapsed, and 

 though Caroline loved her husband as much as ever, she had discovered 

 his besetting sin. " My love/' said the lady, " there is no possibility 

 of crossing the court-yard, the weeds are so rampant, and the stones, 

 that tumble from the castle parapet, so numerous, that I cannot now 

 pick my steps to the little flower-garden, which your only effective 

 servant, Old Morty Mac Murragh, keeps in such nice order for my 

 gratification." 



" Well, faith, it is too bad, and I will, indeed, send to the workmen 

 who are engaged clamping turf, to clear the rubbish away." 



" And as you have masons in this part of the world, let them be 

 employed to take down or secure those battlements they are positively 

 dangerous in their present state." 



" Certainly, my love." 



" Yes, you say ' certainly' but of any thing being done there is no 

 certainty." 



" I declare that I will see to it." 



" Now ?" 



" How can I attend to it now don't you see I'm not shaved." 



"But you ought to be let me ring for Morty, and he will heed 



