THE SNOW-DROP. 9 



what has been often said and sung concerning it, 

 but proceed to that of which it is a characteristic 

 memento. Merely premising that in this, and 

 every subsequent sketch, I shall adhere most 

 strictly to simple, unadorned truth. The char- 

 acters will be real, every incident a fact ; and 

 nothing but the names withheld. 



It was in dear Ireland, some years ago, that a 

 pious clergyman, in reading a letter from a military 

 correspondent, pronounced a name familiar to me 

 — it was that of one who had been a beloved play- 

 mate in my earliest years, of whom I have long 

 lost all trace, and who was there represented as 

 having died rejoicing in the Lord. A few ques- 

 tions elicited the fact of his having entered the 

 army ; that he had been stationed in Ireland ; 

 had married an engaging young lady, and taken 

 her to India ; and now, had died in the faith. 

 I soon after learnt that the youthful widow was 

 expected, with her mother, to settle in that very town, 

 where they had no connexions, nor could any one 

 assign a reason for their choice. 



Months passed away, and I' could not ascertain 

 that they were arrived; but one Sunday, Long after- 

 wards on taking my accustomed place at church, 

 I found a stranger beside me in the pew, whose 

 deep weeds, pallid countenance, and bending figure, 

 with the addition of a most distressing cough, 

 increased the interest excited by the lowly humility 



