970 
obferved the effect of. alternate changes, 
from darknefs to light, when the moon, 
in a gloomy night, peeps out for an in- 
ftant, and then retreats beliind a cloud ? 
YT was more wretched than a traveller, in 
fuch a night, on the brink of a precipice, 
fuddenly deprived cf this friendly, fleeting- 
juminary. I blufhed, and endeavoured 
to bury my torments in fleep. 
But fleép and wearinefs had flown with 
my charmer. Nothing but difguietude 
remained. She had gained the empire of 
my heart, and chaced repofe far away. 
Tf I clofed my eye-lids, her image foon 
opened them again; her ingenuous mo- 
ceft air, the rcfesand lillies of her cheeks, 
were always before me ; I confidered every 
word fhe had faid, I weighed all her an- 
fwers, and endeavoured to dive into her 
very foul. 
AJas! how Jong the night appeared ! 
Hew tardy the morning came! I felt my 
fiomach opprefied, and took my night- 
gown. I liffened every moment for the 
hours—they had forgotten to ftrike. Im- 
patient, I arofe feveral times ; I will go, 
I faid, and find Annette; but a certain 
fomething whilpered me in the ear: Will 
it be prudent ? Will not thy temerity of- 
fend? 
‘The morning came, acceptable to me 
above all other beings. I had long liften- 
ed for the lark, and at laft heard him 
with irregular notes beginning his morning 
chant. The bed of my father cracked ; 
he bade, with a gay tone, Annette and 
the fervants get up, and drefs themfelves 
in their belt : «* This day,” fays he, ** we 
will go to church.’’ 
When he faw me in the morning, with 
my laced coat, and fhining boots, he 
thanked Heaven. ‘* You call to my 
mind, Thor,” faid he, ‘* the time when I 
ufed to jaunt you on my knees. I pre- 
dicted at that time you would become 
guard to the king, and would delight in 
ferving him. Tis well it has happened 
as I faid. Ah! witha fon like thee, one 
cannot complain of fortune. Happy is 
he who has a fon worthy to’ guard the 
king.”’—~“* More happy yet,”’ cried‘ I, 
“< the fon to whom God has given a father. 
Jike thee! Many families cou!d furnifh a 
guard for the king ; but who is there that 
can pride himlelf in fe good a father, or 
find a heart equal to thine ?”’ 
“¢ Could I fome day,’’ refumed my fa- 
ther, ** but fee the king! fee hin in his 
hours of retirement! or fee him there, in 
the prefence of all his fubje€ts! what a 
joy would it be! And if ever, from the 
lofty throne of Halfden tke Black, he 
2 
Norwegian Ballad, 
(Jan. 15 — 
fhould cry out, like Frederic the Fifth, 
© God blefs my country of the North’? Abt 
I am fure, the joy of that word would 
turn me diftraéted.”” 
Annette appeared, blooming as a bride; 
but how fhe differed from thole painted 
laffes, who, with their hair pinned up 
clofe, their fmart caps, and fhort petti- 
coats, imagine themfelves better than ail 
the Annettes in the world! How far fhe 
excelled the ladies of our Norwegian the- 
atres ! among whom I have feen many, in 
fhape, hike drums. If thefe had beheld 
Annette, they would have curfed them- 
felves, and not without reafon. 
The hue of health was on her cheeks, 
attended with gaiety, franknefs, and inno- 
cence. At the firft fight of me, fhe red- 
dened, and funk her eyes, as if afraid to 
meet mine. I was tempted to throw my- 
felf on my knees; but I had neither abi- 
lity nor courage: I could not even fpeak. 
Her fmile was that of a queea. Ah! 
how my heart was agitated ! 
The good man obdferved that fhe was 
drefied better than ordinary, and that her 
bofom {welled with a confcious fenfe of it, 
ag her filver ftudded buckles and pendant 
ornaments glittered around. He examined 
this circumftance on all fides, and faid to 
me, fmiling: <¢ Tis certainly for love of. 
thee, that my Annette is fo fine.” But 
that word, my, deftroyed my hopes, and 
cut me to the very heart. 
The arrow flies not to its aim with 
more fpeed, than chagrin, or rather jea- _ 
loufy, did to my heart at the mention of 
that word. ‘* If the is thine,’’ faid I, 
“¢ forever, forever muft I be deprived of 
my Annette. Ah! rather would I be in 
my grave, than fee her my mother-in- 
Jaw !? 
Scarcely were we returned from church. 
but the table was covered with excellent 
viands. Annette brought them, paffing 
and repaffing without a word. With 
what grace and good-humour did Annette 
wait upon us! 
I was all defre, but my fentiments were 
pure. I boldly addrefled my father: 
‘¢ Where did you find this charming An- 
nette ? How happy fhould I be to hecome 
the hufband of fo fine a girl! Is the de- 
ftined to be my wife? Tell me freely, 
would you make her my mother-in-law ?. 
You know well, that your will is mins. 
You cannot make a better choice.” 
My fon! Annette fhall marry whom 
fhe pleafes. I am not acquainted with . 
her fentiments; ail I know is, that I pray 
God to recompenfe her with that happi- 
ne{s which the diffules conftantly through 
our 
