38t 

 LIONEL LACKLAND, 



Tu us tixvroi ; 



OR THINGS CONCERNING MYSELF. 



SOAR THE FIRST. 



(Continued from page 237.) 



As I approached the tent, I was startled by the loud blustering 

 voice of Stratton, interrupted by violent bursts of laughter. I ad- 

 vanced cautiously towards the entrance ; Stratton was standings 

 close to the pystrior, while the more humble crowd had retired 

 farther from the prophetic altar, either out of respect for, or fear of 

 the lieutenant, not daring to gaze into the mystery of his fate. 

 While the pystrior was tracing his cabalistic figures on the large 

 slate-stone, Stratton taunted him with the coarsest insolence^ 

 looking round with his fierce eye upon the shrinking villagers, and 

 laughing at their superstitious fears ; in my curiosity to hear, if 

 possil)le, the result of the pystrior's (calculations, 1 advanced further 

 into the tent j Stratton no sooner beheld me than I became the 

 mark for his insolence — " Hallo ! thou juggler, prick me the 

 fortune of yonder springald, and if his neck be not made for a rope, 

 and his leg for the chain, I'll whip thee off the moor for a false 

 prophet." The pystrior cast a glance upon me, but without uttering 

 a syllable, instantly resumed his work j he alone seemed indifferent 

 to the insults of Stratton. I never was a coward, if bravery be a 

 moral virtue, and not, as some French physiologists would affirm, 

 dependent on the size and pulsations of the heart, then was I ever 

 a brave man, for I was insusceptible of that degrading fear which 

 magnifies danger until we fly from it j but I had by nature that 

 sensibility of nerve, that pride, which feared defeat, that I have 

 seldom anticipated any species of contention without feelings 

 amouniing to cowardice 3 to be publicly abused by a man whose 

 physical strength was overpowering, whose brutality paralysed my 

 mind. 1 could not descend to his level 5 I knew not how to reply 

 to his coarse and savage expressions j my mind was full of the 

 chastity of an unpolluted youth, cherishing high, and noble, and 

 delicate sentiments, the inspirations of a pure affection — my re- 

 taliation partook of the same spirit— but then, for once, I longed 

 for the grossness of the vulgar, that I might at least wound him 

 too — I was silent — I shrunk back involuntarily as he spoke, I 

 trembled violently^ — every eye was directed towards me j my face, 

 my brow, seemed burning ; 1 felt the iiisult} I dreaded the repeti- 

 tion of his ferocious insolence, and }et 1 was incapable of retalia- 

 tion ; I would have withdrawn, but no sooner did the uionster 

 perceive my intention, than springing forward, he seized me by 

 July, 1835. — VOL. 11. no. xii, 3 is 



