THE FISHERS OF STOTFIELD. 329 



broke on his ear with a withering power to which no description can 

 do justice. The person whose remains had just been deposited in the 

 grave, and whose coffin was not yet covered vyith the earth, was none 

 other than his father. For upwards of twenty years the stranger had 

 been in the army, performing many laborious and perilous services for 

 his king and his country. He had met with many "' moving accidents 

 by flood and field," and had made many hair-breadth escapes wilh 

 his life, both when in and out of battle. The last scene of his services 

 had been in India, from which he relumed, bearing about with him 

 palpable proofs of the scars and wounds he had received in the course 

 of his engagements with the enemy. He had procured his discharge ; 

 and, as a partial remuneration for the valorous exploits he had 

 achieved in the course of his military career, government had settled 

 on him a handsome pension. He had returned home with a joyful 

 heart, fondly hoping that his father would be still alive (he had heard 

 of his mother's demise some years before), to share with him, in 

 his old age, that liberal pension with which his king and country 

 had been pleased to reward his services to both. But in one fell 

 moment all his fond hopes were blasted, and all his kindly wishes 

 proved impracticable. He proceeded to Stotfield with the persons 

 who had accompanied the funeral of his father; and the depopula- 

 tion and sorrow he there witnessed only served to augment his own 

 grief. He staid only a few days in his native village — longer he 

 could not remain in a place which, so far from possessing any charm 

 to him, presented nothing either to his eyes or his ears but the ebulli- 

 tions of that sorrow which still pressed heavily on every heart. He 

 left the village with the intention of going to reside, at least for a time, 

 in a small town in the north of England,in which hn had been stationed 

 for some time during the earlier part of his military service ; but 

 his departure he was heard of no more. 



J. G. 



From a Chinese Worlc, entitled Pih-mei, " Himdred beautiful Ladies." 



By Lady Fung-seang-lin. 



AccF,PT the thanks for every gentle token. 

 From one yet mindful of a former fire ; 



Seek'st thou to know if this sad heart be broken ? 

 Oh ! look for answer on this broken lyre. 



By Lady Mei-fe. 

 The tears are dropping down like rain. 



All unadorned my hair and eyes ; 

 Since stilly I seek thy love in vain. 



Think not that I thy pearls will prize ! s. p. t- 



