FUTILITY OF FANCIED SECURITY. 241 



water, that no pen could do justice to them, 

 though I have seen a pencil that could. 



Each of these islands looked as if a fairy, 

 or, at least, a romantic tale, was connected 

 with it ; and each appeared as if it might, at 

 least, be the abode of happiness for those who 

 cared not for the world's passing show. But 

 how futile are even such fancied securities 

 from the strange vicissitudes of fate, the fol- 

 lowing little simple but, alas ! too true, tale 

 will shew. 



Passing by one of those islands, I pointed 

 out to the patron the appearance of ruins and 

 the remains of cultivation. He answered, 

 " Helas ! it is very true; and I often used 

 to carry the produce of that gentleman's 

 island to the Boca St. Juan, and bring him 

 back European goods and silver money ." 

 I knew too well, before, the romantic story ; 

 for it happened the year before, when I was 

 not far from that part of the lake's coast, but 

 wished to hear it as the boatmen repeated it. 

 I will give the story as it happened. 



Once upon a time, not long ago, a German 

 student fell in love with a German madchen; 

 but, as the course of true love never does run 

 smooth, so father, and mother, and relations 

 on both sides were against the union of two 



B 



