474 PORTRAIT-GALLERY OF OLD BACHELORS. 



patriotism, I look upon his conduct to the two unhappy women 

 as an eternal stain upon his moral character ; and for woman's 

 beauty 



' All the stars of Heaven, 

 The deep blue noon of night, lit by an orb 

 Which looks a spirit, or a spirit's world, 

 The hues of twilight, the sun's gorgeous coming, 

 His setting indescribable, which fills 

 The eyes with pleasant tears, as we behold 

 Him sink, and feel the heart float softly with him 

 Along the western paradise of clouds, 

 The forest shade, the green bough, the bird's voice, 

 The vesper bird, which seems to sing of love, 

 All these are nothing to the eye and heart 

 Like woman's face.' " 



" Good Lord ! good Lord ! rant, sheer rant; why, you are an ass, 

 and 1 pity you." 



" I am much obliged, and here, as an illustration of my opinion, 

 comes, with fairy steps and laughing eyes, your niece Jane May- 

 flower ; kiss her, man, or at least let me kiss her for you." 



" What the devil has brought you here, Jane ? how often have 

 I told you to keep away ? " 



" My mamma, uncle, sent her respects, and to inquire how your 

 rheumatism is." 



" Oh ! your mother. Well, make my compliments, and tell her 

 my rheumatism is just so, so. There 's a guinea to buy a new doll, 

 and tell your mother to send you to boarding-school again." 



" Thank you, dear uncle : but I finished my education last 

 quarter." 



*' Oh ! you have, have you ? Well, at all events go home." 



" Good bye, Sir, and I wish your rheumatism better." 



" That's a sweet girl, Mr. Context, with a most amiable and 

 cultivated understanding and an excellent heart." 



" She 's no such thing : a woman's mind is a nettle-bed, and the 

 faster you mow its weeds down, the faster they grow. Amiable ! 

 said you ? Humph ! you know nothing about it." 



" A woman's mind, Mr. Context, is a storehouse of every sweet 

 and holy thing that can give life a charm ; and I would rather 

 entrust my happiness here and hereafter to the keeping of so 

 * pure a minister, than to all the dogmas of the wisest philoso- 

 phers." 



" You would, would you ? why, you are a greater fool than I 

 thought you. A storehouse ! didn't you say? yes, yes, a storehouse ; 

 but what does it contain ? I '11 tell you : 



' Opinion they have none : 

 To-day they 're nice to-morrow not so free ; 

 Now smile, now frown, now sorrowful, now glad, 

 Now pleased, now not, and all they know not why.' 



