' REUBEN and RACHEL ; 
 
 O R, 
 
 TALES of OLD TIMES. 
 
 A NOVEL. 
 
 ..«>...«>....<>.•■.<► * ^><^^>^+ .<►...«>••■■<>■ -<>■■ 
 By Mrs. ROWS ON, 
 
 AUTHOR OF CHARLOTTE, TRIALS OF THE HEART, 
 riLLE DE CHAMBRE, &C. &C. 
 
 -<>....<>•••.<>■ +<^<^>^>^<t- <><>•••«■• 
 
 When oft, bv pain nr g r ' cf opprek'd, 
 
 Sweet Poely, enchanting fair, 
 Has breath'd fome heav'nly dulcet air, 
 
 And footh'd my foul to rtit. 
 But when ber magic harp (he ftnwg, 
 And foftly pl.ivM .uid Iwcctly fung ; 
 Bi<iJi:ig the tc anted Kancy fly 
 
 •i eans vn(t from (bore to fhorc ; 
 Raiting bright vilions to the mental eye, 
 
 Of ages long fince palt, and days of yore ; 
 Llft'ning enrlptur*d to the Itrain', 
 Nor ficknefs, furrow, care, 01 pain, 
 
 Was e'er remember'd more. 
 
 puWitficfc accoroirur to 28 of Sonjjrcfe. 
 
 'BOSTON: 
 
 Printed by Manning' fcf Loring, 
 
 For DAVID WEST, at Book-Store, No.^CoruM/. 
 Sold by him, and by the Author, in Whiter-Street ; 
 alfo by Ebenezer S. Thomas, CharleJion y South- 
 CarQlina, and by Solomon Cotton £3° Co. Baltimore. 
 
 I 79 8. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 PREFACES in general are elleemed of fo little confequence, 
 that few perfons take the trouble to read them. It is there- 
 fore an irkfome talk to be obliged to write, what will neither 
 call up the attention, nor intereft the feelings of thofe who may 
 perufe the book ; and yet, irkfome as the talk is, I 6nd myfekf 
 neceflitatcd to perform it. 
 
 I am confeious that fome apology ought to be made to the 
 public, for the length of time that has intervened lince I firft 
 awakened their curiofity by announcing my intention of publifh- 
 ing the prefent work. In excufc for this tardinefs, I mull allege 
 feveral months of ill health, during which time I was incapable 
 of purfuing my favourite amufement of writing ; and uncc my 
 health lias been re-eftablifhed, an avocation of a more ferious na- 
 ture has employed every hour, and alnioft abforbed every faculty 
 cf my mind. 
 
 When I firft ftarted the idea of writing " Tales of Old Times" 
 it was with a fervent wifii to awaken in the minds cf my young, 
 readers, a curiofity that might lead them 'o the attentive pcrufal 
 of hiftory in general, but more efpecially the hiftory of their na- 
 tive country. It has ever been my opinion, that when inftruc- 
 tion is blended with amufement, the youthful mind receives and 
 retains it almoft involuntarily. 
 
 The firft volume of the prefent work was written before I had 
 entered on the arduous (though inexprefubly delightful) talk 
 of cultivating the minus and -expanding the ideas of the female 
 part of the rifing generation. If I was before careful to avoid 
 every expreflion or fentiment that might miflead the judgment, 
 or corrupt the heart, what was then inclination became now an 
 indifpenfable duty. And though none of my cbara&ers are fo 
 very faultlefs as to occafion the young reader to neglect imitat- 
 ing them at all, becaufe they defpair of attaining the fame degree 
 •f perfection, yet they difcover fuch an innate love of virtue, fuch 
 
 a thorough 
 
a thorough contempt of vice, that the uncontaminated mind will 
 contemplate with pleafare the heauty of the one, and fhrink with 
 abhorrence from the deformity of the other. 
 
 As a novelilt, I think it is more than probable that I have 
 made my laft effay. Flattered and encouraged as I am in my 
 prefent undertaking, in having the education of fo many young 
 ladies entrufted to my care by their refpectable parents, it fhall 
 henceforward be my fludy confeientioufly to difcharge the truft 
 repofed in nu; and whilft I endeavour to cultivate their tafte, 
 and improve their underftandings, implant, with the utmoft fo- 
 licitude, in their innocent minds, a love for piety and virtue. 
 
 To this end, 1 fhall devote my leifure hours to preparing a fct' 
 of progreffive leflbns in reading, for the youth of my own fex, 
 from five years old to ten or twelve ; after which period, there 
 are a multiplicity of books, better calculated to forward the great 
 defign of education than any my pen could produce. 
 
 It is obfervable, that the generality of books intended for 
 children are written for boys: even Mrs. Barbauld's Leffons, 
 which are the bed productions of the kind I ever met with, 
 are addreffed to a boy. And as for the generality of little books 
 which children are permitted to read, they are fuch a jumble 
 of inconfiftencies, that though they may affift the child to learn 
 to read with propriety, they do not convey one idea to the head 
 that is worth retaining. Mrs. ■Trimmer, and fome few others, 
 are exceptions to this remark, having laboured to correct this 
 falfe idea, that it was neceffary to excite the young mind to the 
 purfuit of learning by tales wonderful and indeed impoffible, and 
 have difplayed to their view the real wonders and beauties of 
 nature. 
 
 For my own fex oniy I prefume to write ; and if hereafter one 
 woman fhould think herfelf happier or wifcr from the fruits of 
 my endeavouri, I fJiall be overpaid for the time or pains bellow- 
 ed in writing and arranging them. 
 
REUBEN and RACHEL; 
 
 O R, 
 
 TALES of OLD TIMES. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 An old fajbhned Widow. 
 
 IT was about the middle of the fifteenth century 
 that the lovely and amiable Ifabclle found herfelf a 
 widow, reduced from eafe and affluence to a very con- 
 fined income. Though her circumftances were altered ; 
 her mind elevated, her fpirit noble and independent, 
 was ftill the fame, lfabelle was a native of Spain, of 
 noble parentage, expanded heart, fupcrior fenfe, and 
 highly finifhed education. The beauty and elegance 
 of her perfon, though ftriking, were but fecondary ob- 
 ject:; of the citeem and admiration fhe was fure to ex- 
 cite wherever (he was feen or known. 
 
 In the prime of life, having fcarcely reached her 
 35th year, fuddenly deprived of a valuable and be- 
 loved hulband, lhe retired from a court of which Jhc 
 had been a principal ornament, to a caftle romanti- 
 cally fituated on the borders of Wales. Amongft her 
 hufband's vaft poffeflions, this only had efcaped the 
 rapacious hand of his enemies. It was an antique 
 cattle which formerly had been defigned for defence, 
 as well as a habitation ; but the fortrefs had been for 
 many years totally neglected, and the caftle itfelf, in 
 many places, was fallen to decay. The ground be- 
 longing to it confided of but a few acres, and thofc 
 few were uncultivated and rude ; a few clumps of old 
 oaks were here and there fcattered on the fides of the 
 hill, on the lummit of which the caftle ftood ; and im- 
 mediately furrounding it, was a fmall patch which once 
 B hud 
 
2 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 had been ufed as a kitchen garden. The very trifling 
 value annexed to this final! dcmelhe and its retired foli- 
 tary fituation, made it no objecl to the enemies of 
 Arundel ; and thither Ifabelle, with her only child 
 Columbia, retired. 
 
 An old female fervant, a native of South-America, 
 whofe name was Cora, and Matthias, a veteran foldier 
 who had grown old in the fervice of her hufband's 
 father, with a lively little girl particularly attached to 
 Columbia, compriied the whole of her houlehold. 
 
 Mina was the daughter of a peafant in the neigh- 
 bourhood of London. The little Columbia, when 
 quite a child, walking with her maid on the banks of 
 the Thames, few Mina gathering fome dry flicks, which 
 fiie carefully tied in a bundle, and, dropping a curtefy 
 as Columbia parted, cried, " Blefs you, fweet little 
 lady." Mina was juft nine years of age, her complex- 
 ion clear olive, a promfion of jetty hair waved in glof- 
 iy ringlets over her neck, and partly lhaded her cxpref- 
 five countenance ; her full black eyes beamed unuttera- 
 ble foftnefs, as taking up her bundle of flicks lhe ga/cd 
 after Columbia, and cried, " Blefs you, my fweet little 
 lady !" And " blefs you, my pretty girl," faid Colurn- 
 bia ; '" why do you carry that heavy bundle ?" " 'Tis 
 wood to make a fire fo.r mammy who is fick." " "Where 
 does your mammy, live ?" " There, in that little cot- 
 tage by the rpa-d fide." Columbia, though not eight 
 years old, porterted"-a heart glowing with the llrongeft 
 feeling-, cf humanity ; [he darte*d forward, and in a mo- 
 ' merit, was at the dooi-of Miiia's cottage. " You mull 
 not go in, Mii's,'* fa?d the fervant ; " if the woman ihould 
 be fick of any contagions diforder, and you Ihould catch 
 it, what wpuld my lady fay ?" " What would lhe fay 
 (replied the child) if I parted by the houfe without 
 inquiring what ailed the poor woman ? I will go in, 
 and then I can tell my mother, who will, I am lure, 
 give me feme money to bring to her to-morrow." Op- 
 pofition was ufelefs ; the benevolent child entered the 
 cottage, and beheld a fcene of mifcry, which, though 
 ihe did not fully comprehend, fiie on her return heme 
 fufhciently explained to her mother, to obtain immedi- 
 ate 
 
TALES of OLD TIM: 3 
 
 ate relief for the poor cottager ; and Mina was taken in- 
 to the family and promoted to the honour oi waiting 
 entirely on her little benefactrefs. 
 
 When the lady Ifabelle retired to Auitenbury 
 Caftle, Columbia was eleven years old. It was her 
 mother's chief amufement to cultivate an under Handing 
 naturally good, but where fometimes the ihoots of fe- 
 male vanity impeded the progrefs of thofe virtues, which 
 nature with a liberal hand had implanted in her lieart* 
 Remarkably lovely in her perfon, ihe would frequently 
 decorate her hair with field Rowers, at the fame tune 
 placing gai lands of them infantaftic drapery about her 
 drefs ; and then, having admired herfelf in the natural 
 bafon, which ornamented their little garden, fly to ].er 
 mother, and exclaim with tranipon, " OrJv fee how 
 beautiful!" When Mina,who thought her you 
 almoil a divinity, would rapturouily cry, " iWt ihe, 
 my kidy, look like an angel f" 
 
 Vabc'lie, though delighted to obfervc the unbounded 
 %ivacity of her daughter, and tiu grat< OO erf 
 
 her little dependant, was fully feftfibk of the aeceffity 
 there was for checking thofe 'ebullitions of v, 
 which, if fuffered to pais unnoticed, would 
 throw a ihade over the really valuable- qualities of gcod 
 fmfe, good nature, and benevolence, with v/hAn the 
 foul of her daughter was amply ftored. Her rerjec-' 
 tionsonthis fubjecT: were' .often •painful in the extreme. 
 Secluded from the world, fee".hacf no 'friend with whom 
 fhe could advife. Severity (ihe would fay within her- 
 felf) will but teach my child to cdnfider me as a frigid 
 monitrefs, her heart will" contract and hide its thoughts 
 from an eye that beams only witli reproach ! No ; I 
 muil watch the favourable moment, and effectually 
 eradicate this error, by convincing h. banding 
 
 of its folly. I would be the guardian of my child's 
 morals ; I would be her friend, and direct her in the 
 way moft likely to fecure her prefent and future hap- 
 pinefs ; but for the univerfe I would not forfeit the 
 exquiiite pleafure.of participating every thought, every 
 vriih of her innocent heart. — No; let me not, by ill tinned 
 lianhaefs, drive ner guilelcfs and uufulpeciing nature 
 
 to 
 
4 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 to mean fubterfuge and artifice ; had Hie a thoufand 
 errors, (he is ftill my child, and though it is my duty 
 to correct, it is alfo my duty to conceal and palliate 
 faults, which reflexion tells me, are but the offspring 
 of human nature. 
 
 It was ever the care of Ifabelle to imprefs on the 
 mind of her daughter a proper fenfe of a wife, benig- 
 nant, overruling Power; to whom (he was indebted 
 for her being, and to whom fhe was accountable for 
 her words and actions; but this was done more by ex- 
 ample than precept. Calumny was a ftranger to her 
 lips ; to perform every good work of peace and mercy 
 was the delight of her heart. She worfhipped her 
 Creator with fincerity and fervor ; no appointed hour, 
 no let form of prayer ; every blefilng was received 
 with thankfulnefs, every corredion fubmitted to with 
 patience. Amongft the mod heinous offences (he rec- 
 koned the mifufe or neglecl of time, and the total ahufe 
 or pcrverfion of God's good gifts. Every hour of her 
 life was ufefully employed, and fhe dealt by every hu- 
 man being, as (he wiihed them to deal "by her. 
 
 It was a fine evening in the middle of September, 
 when Columbia afked her mother to partake of fome 
 fruit' in a. neat arbo.ur Matthias had drelTed by the fide 
 of "the pond: " You forget, my dear mother, (faid (he) 
 
 vful- 
 
 poor 
 lome to 
 
 live with me ; a*ntl.ihc has been ;fo affectionate, fo grate- 
 ful, that to-day L'anYdeter-mineXl (he lhall be queen of 
 the fcaft. You do no): know how charming it will be ! 
 Matthias has got us'fbrrie jjesclies, and Cora has pro- 
 vided cream, with baled -apple's and wheat cakes ; and 
 whilil you refreih yourfelf, Mina .and I will fmg and 
 dance to divert you." Ifabelle clafped the interesting 
 child in her arms, and repaired to the appointed fcene 
 of infantile feftivity. 
 
 After the collation was over, at which Mina was 
 made to prefule, Columbia told her mother, that (lie 
 could never repay the pleafure her firfl: acquaintance 
 with that little girl had given her ; « For," faid ihc, 
 
 «< before 
 
TALES or OLD TIMES. $ 
 
 "before I faw her diftrefs, and you, my beloved moth- 
 er, gave me the means to relieve it, I had no idea of 
 happinefs beyond myfelf ; but that bleii'ed day I 
 me, that to confer happinefs on another, gave the 
 mihd ienfations a thoufand times more exquilite than 
 any other enjoyment the world affords." She then, 
 with the fwiftnefs and light bound of an antelope, 
 fprang from her mother's embrace, and ran t 
 the eaftle ; but foon returned with Mina, decora- 
 all the finery they could put together. The jett 
 of Mina hung loofe and unadorned about her neck and 
 moulders, whilli her little White jacket and petticoat 
 were richly ornamented with orange lilies, poppies and 
 blue iris. 
 
 The fine auburn tre.Tcs of Columbia were bound up 
 with a garland of corn flowers, and autumnal daifies, 
 whofe glowing tints vieJ widi the colour, whild the 
 confeioufnefs of their becoming effect gave an addi- 
 tional brilliancy to her eyes. Her drefs, which was 
 compo&d of light grey latin, (he had lightly and ele- 
 gantiy ornamq&ted with fedoons of oak leaves, \ 
 dark native green was at this period of the yeai 
 cned by the bright yellow, and glowing fcatlet hu , 
 they had caught from the chilly breath of autumn- 
 Light as the gou~amer they, boend over the .turf, danc- 
 ing to the notes of their own. harmonious, voices." The 
 lg was ferene ; the flowing 1-un j oA 'touched with 
 his broad difk tlie weftern oc^an, whiUl as- he funk be- 
 the (hades of nightf ti'e moron, emerging from 
 h.r w.tcry bed, reflected his^cUo ill ing beams, and 
 tinged *h-: cold erUicrn/fky with iarfron hue, whild here 
 and there k (catter&L cloud, dart la itfelfi caught her 
 j) lie rays, and brightened by degrees to high-wrought 
 iilver. 
 
 Katigiled with the exercife of dancing, Columliia 
 pa, Lied upon the margin of the ftream ; its furface was 
 fmooth and even as the polilhed mirror ; — her elegant 
 form, becoming drefs,- and angel countenance were re- 
 flected in the water. She Hopped and gazed. A beam 
 of exultation fhot from her eyes. It was the moment 
 Ifabelle had fo long wilhed for. 
 
 B 2 « And 
 
6 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 " And what does my child fo intently gaze at V* 
 (laid fhc, approaching her daughter.) 
 
 Mina Hood at a little diftance ; her own beauty was 
 to herfelf unknown, her whole foul was wrapt in ad- 
 miring the beauty of her young lady. When the lady 
 Ifabellc ipoke, flic drew near and liilened with atten- 
 tion. ^ She loved her with grateful affection, and in- 
 llruction from her lips funk directly to her heart. 
 
 "And what does my child fo intently gaze at?'' 
 faid Ifabelle, " is it the lovely form with which na- 
 ture has bountifully endowed her ; and which the un- 
 ruffled furface of the watei*fo beautifully reflects to her 
 admiring eyes ? Alas, my child, if that is the object of 
 your admiration, how fragile is the plcafure you re- 
 ceive ! What is it you contemplate ? A fhadow ; nay, 
 lefs than a ihadow ; for beauty itfclf is but a fhadow, 
 fcarce feen before it is gone ; and that fair femblar.ee 
 you there behold is but the fhadow of a fliade. Be- 
 hold, my child," continued fhe, throwing fomething 
 into the water, " fee that beauteous figure, how de- 
 formed, how difgufling ; every trait of lcvclinefs is 
 gone." Columbia turned from the ftream with an in- 
 voluntary fhudder. Ifabellc continued — " Or fee, my 
 love, thefc flowers, with which but a few hours fincc 
 you decorated your hair ; they were then frefh-blocm- 
 ing and beautiful beyond defcription ; behold them 
 now ! their fweets are. all exhaled, their vivid tints are 
 flown, and no longer Valuable, you would throw them 
 from yen with neglect and abhorrence. Even fo, my 
 dear Columbia, is it with the frail beauty which ycu 
 io ardently admire; .One breath from the creative 
 Power that gave you being, might level you with the 
 duft. Sicknefs, misfortune, poverty, might deprive 
 your eyes cf their luftre, your' fkin of its glofTy hue, 
 and ftcal the luxuriant trcllcs frcm your head. Nay, 
 even at this moment, the cold hand of death might 
 fink you into nothing ; and thofe who to-day looked at 
 you with admiration, would to-morrow turn from you 
 with difguit and tenor. Like thefe poor flowers you 
 would be thrown upon the earth, be trod under foot 
 and forgotten," 
 
 Mina, 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 7 
 
 Mlna, dropping her garland on the ground, felted 
 her young lady by the arm, as though lhe would favc 
 her from fo disgraceful an end. Columbia looked at 
 her with affection, gently freed herfelf from her grafp, 
 and, looking at the faded flowers with eyes dreaming 
 with tears aiked her mother, " Am T, then, of no more 
 confequence than thefe Rowers, and may I be as cafdy 
 deftroyed > Shall I be as foon reduced to nothing •" 
 " No, my beloved girl, (laid Ifabelle) you are of a 
 thoufand times more value than the faireft flower that 
 ever bloomed, or tlie richeft gem that ever decked the 
 brow of royalty. Look round, my love, behold tins 
 vaft, this glorious univerfe ; what beauty, what order ! 
 How does the mind expand with wonder and delight 
 as we contemplate the fields of ripened grain, the load- 
 ed fruit trees, verdant plains and majeftic mountains, 
 whofe fummits feem to kifs the face of heaven. Ob- 
 fcrve how grand, how ftrikingly fublime, appears the 
 orb of day, juft linking in the weftern (ky, which flames 
 with crimlbn, burnilhed gold and purple ; .and fee, as 
 he retires, the placid moon aluimes her lilent reign, 
 whilft millions of liars compole her fplendid train, and 
 glitter in the vaft expanfe of ether. Stupendous, great 
 and wonderful as thefe appear, believe me, my child, 
 one pure, virtuous human foul is ot more value in the 
 light of the Creator, than all tjtat you behold. They 
 lhall fade away, lhall vanilh as a dream, .and be no 
 more remembered ; but tile foul, tfudious- to perform 
 its duty, beneficent to its fellow creatures, and glowing 
 •*with grateful, humble aftedionto-the great Firft Caulc ' 
 of all, (hall ftand fecure amid the general ruin, and rife 
 triumphant from a linking world.'' 
 
 Thus did Ifabelle endeavour to infpire her daughter 
 with a thorough contempt for all frivolous purfuits, and 
 to give her a juft fenfe of the value of mental acquire- 
 ments. From this time flic fully comprehended of 
 how much more confequence was the embellillnng of 
 the mind, than the trifling decorations of the per- 
 . foru • Belides, having been informed of the immortal- 
 ity of the foul, flic was anxious in inquiry for the means 
 by which fo invaluable a bleffing might be pjefcrved ; 
 
 and 
 
8 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 and to hint to her the dang it a 
 
 privilege, w;is alwa;-- fuiHcient her from ■ 
 
 thing that was wron£. 
 
 It cannot be imagined that a worn. 
 could p ift at once from the court to the cottage, 
 he faffered i > glide unnoticed into obfeurity. Amonj 
 the fHend • aad intimates or her days of fplendor, v. 
 fome, tenderly attached to her from principle, and otb- 
 ers, v. hom the united beau iejs of her mind and p* 
 had infpired with a wi'i, to lead her again to the attar 
 of Hymen. But Ifabelle had drank toe deeply of the 
 bitter cup of ailhcricn to fuffer love ever again to enter 
 her bofom. Faithful to tlie memory of her regretted 
 lord, her heart could receive no iecond impreffion. 
 " Our love/' {he would fay, " was unfortunate, but he 
 has left me an inestimable pledge behind ; (hall I give 
 the daughter of my adored Arundel another father, or 
 by extending my family duties have lefs time to bcitow 
 in rendering my child worthy of the name fhe bears ? 
 No ; the fincereft proof I can give of my affeftion to 
 her father, is to live a widow for her fake." 
 
 This refolve of Ifabelle being once known, and me 
 llill perfifting in feclnding hcdelf from the world, Hie 
 was foon t\\\ gotten, almoft as much as if ihe had been 
 dead ; for love cannot long exift without hope, and 
 the gay ancT"*thoueh'tlels icon forget thofe on v horn 
 the ran of profrJerity. no longer 'dunes. She was left 
 in. peace to enjoy her retirement, and to cultivate un- 
 mo.lefted the mind of her. lovely daughter* 4 
 
 C H A P. II. 
 The Dangers of Great nefs. 
 
 AS Columbia increafed in years, her alTefrion for 
 her mother daily ftrengthened. It was an affec- 
 tion actuated by the enthufiaftic fervor of youth, yet 
 fweeily tempered by a friendfiiip which might have be- 
 come maturcr years. Ifabelle was to her daughter, 
 
 mother, 
 
TALES o» OLD TIMES. 9 
 
 mother, filler, friend ; every tender connexion combined 
 in one. Never did child more love or fear :i parent ; yet 
 her fear did not proceed from the apprehenfion of pun- 
 iihmcnt or fevere correction. But to fee her mother 
 frown, to be told ihc had offended her, and to be 
 fpoken to with coldnefs, gave her fuch inexpreiTible an- 
 guifh, that the thought at any time was fufficient to 
 rill her eyes with tears. 
 
 As Hie advanced towards womanhood, ftw could not 
 but obferve the 'extreme penfivenefs of her mother's 
 difpofition ; the purfuits and pleafures of childhood 
 gradually loft their charms, flie more frequently fought 
 the fociety of Ifabellc, and when fometimes fiie furprif- 
 ed her in tears, l'he would fink on her knees before her, 
 and, folding her arms round her w.tilr, cry, " Why, my 
 beloved mother, will yon confine your forrows to your 
 own breaft, why not repofe them in the bofom of your 
 child ? Let me fharc them, my mother, and in fiiai ing 
 ibothc them." Ifabelle would faintly fsitle at thele 
 effufions of her daughter's tcndernels, and as liie killed 
 the affectionate girl tell her, it was too early in life tor 
 fyer to be acquainted with forrow, though lhc could 
 feel it only from the tendernefs of her nature, leading 
 her to compailionatc the fufferings. of others. • ' ; 
 
 " I am not fo happy as I formerly -was* my dear 
 Mina," faid Columbia to her al-Rndafifonc.evcniug as 
 they were walking in the garden ; " f.fee my mother 
 daily finking under the weight of .afiE&icms 1 can nei- 
 ther comprehend or alleviate. Ye'fterday I tremblingly 
 aiked her, if I was the cau'e of her forrow ; lhc pre Tied 
 me to her hea' l and ifeid, in fome meafure 1 was. 
 Alarmed, I inquired what I had done to offend her. 
 Nothing, lhc replied ; you arc'my only comfort, my 
 
 grcatelt bleflmg, and I cannot but lament Her tears 
 
 at that moment impeded her words, and when ifie re- 
 covered her voice, flic bade me leave her. I obeyed ; 
 but ftill I have a weight upon my heart, an anxious, 
 reitlels wilh to know, how without offending 1 can 
 caufe her fo much atlliclion." 
 
 Mina could not fatisfy her young lady's curiofity ; 
 flic could only kits her hands, and in a voice rendered 
 
 exquifitely 
 
ro REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 exquisitely foft by grateful affe&ion, declare it was im- 
 pollibie her dear little benefaetrefs could ofFend any 
 
 one ! 
 
 But though Mina was ignorant of the caufe of Ifa- 
 bclle's tear$, Cora, the Indian fervant, was not equally 
 in. She law Columbia partook of her mother's depref- 
 hon, without un^erflanding the caufe ; and the loquaci- 
 ty naturally prevalent in perfons of an advanced age, 
 made her eagerly watch for an opportunity to inform 
 the inHocent girl o{ all me knew. The moment long 
 fought at length »i - -ived. Columbia had frequently cb- 
 jcrvtd her mother weeping over papers which fhe took 
 from a private drawer in an efcritoire which flood in 
 her bed- chamber, and which in no other pnrt was lock- 
 ed, except thai: which ihe mo ft wilhcd to explore. One 
 day coming fudderdy into the room, fhe faw her gazing 
 lich fhe-i i \< :v lips, railing her 
 
 eyes toward heaven with a fort of revef.-ent.ial awe. 
 " May I not, ray dear mother/' fajd fhe, " behold the 
 object that ieems at once to excite both grief and exulta- 
 tion. " Jiabelle turned the portrait towards her ; it was 
 an Indian maid habited in the manner of her country ; 
 but in habiliments that befpjQJkfe her of elevated rank. 
 Her jetty hair, which flowed in profusion round her 
 face and over her neck, was ornamented with a coronet 
 of pearl and gold ; her thin white robe was clafped at 
 the bofomvirh ft alls 'of the fame valuable materials, 
 and her arms, which were naked to the fhoulders, were 
 in feveral places bound with bands of filver and coral. 
 " This," faid Ifabelle, as fhe prefented it to her daugh- 
 ter, " is the portrait of your grandmother ; by birth a 
 c •;.'.•':'».', the only child o,f a. monarch whofe wealth had 
 no bounds, and who, far- from the haunts of thofe who 
 ires civilized people, reigned unmolefted, till 
 the adventurous fpirit of you* great anceftor Columbus 
 prompted him to feek in diftant feas for unknown worlds. 
 Oh. ml dime and too during Cpii it," fhe continued, whilft 
 her rajfed eyes gliftened SWth the tear of extorted re- 
 membrance, " why wort tuou endowed with qualities, 
 which ferved but to ftir up in the breads of thine enemies 
 &C rmdjgnant fiend Envy. Why ! whilft thou wert la* 
 
 bouring 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. lit 
 
 bouring to benefit and enlighten pofteiity, wert thou 
 fealing thy own ruin !" 
 
 The portrait dropped from her hand, and her head 
 Tefled on the Ihoulder of her child. " Oh ! my daugh- 
 ter," cried fhe enthufiaftically, as her tears fubfided, 
 " whilit I glory in the qualities with which it has pleaied 
 Heaven to endow your mind and perfon, I cannot but 
 tremble for your future fate ; for to poflefs fuperiof 
 beauty, (enk or genius, is but to excite the wonder of 
 the ignorant, and the envy of little minds, whilft thofe 
 who are wife, or great in their own conceit, will wound 
 your feelings with contempt or ridicule, which your 
 own good nature and fenfibility will not permit you to 
 retaliate. I cannot proceed, my child ; my powers 
 are not at prefent adequate to the talk, of recounting the 
 misfortunes of your family." Ifabelle paufed lor a mo- 
 ment, then tenderly kilfed Columbia, and leaving the 
 portrait in the hands of her child, palled from the apart- 
 ment. 
 
 Sinking upon the feat her mother had left unoccupi- 
 ed, one hand fupporting her head as her elbow retted on 
 the efcritoire, the other which held the portrait fell on 
 her knees, her eyes immoveably fixed on thofe of the 
 inanimate face ihe contemplated, Columbia' fat im- 
 moveable as a ftatue, till roufed by. the voice of Cora. 
 " Look there," faid Ihe, putting the. miniature towards 
 the aged fervant ; " fee ! my .mother fays it is the pic- 
 ture of my grandmother.""*" It is, it i<y' cried Cora, 
 dropping on her knees and Jufiing the picture with rap- 
 ture ; " it is the figure of my queen, my miftrefs, in the 
 drefs five wore on the day fiie was efp on fed by Don 
 Ferdinando. Oh fatal day ! unhappy hour ! by that 
 union ihe fealed her own wretchedness, the ruin of her 
 father, the (lavery of his people, and brought deitruc- 
 tion on the heads of her adored hufband and his refpect- 
 ed parent! Ah! my fweet ycung miftrefs, I can no 
 longer forbear ; I mull; tell you the fatal rlory of your 
 father's wrongs." 
 
 " Do fo," laid Ifabelle, who at that moment returned 
 to her apartment ; " do fo, my goodCora ; and let it be a 
 warning to my child how Ihe quits the quiet paths of 
 
 retirement 
 
12 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 retirement to enter on the gay or bufy fcenes of life. 
 Here, take this key ; what your memory cannot furnilh 
 toward the recital, the papers you will rind in that 
 drawer will affift. Liften with attention, my dear child, 
 and learn that content builds her dwelling in folitude, 
 and peace fpreads her pinions over the cottage of the 
 humble; whilft the paths of ambition are ftrewed with 
 thorns, and the dwellings of the great are the habita- 
 tions of mifery." 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 An Old IVomari's Tale interrupted. 
 
 " TT is many years ago," faid Cora, feating herfelf 
 X in an eafy chair, her right hand fpread out, as 
 commanding attention, and every feature of her aged 
 countenance beaming with the fatisfadtion which the 
 liberty of repeating talcs of old times gave her; " it 
 is a great many years ago, I was then fcarccly eight 
 years old, when your great-grandfather Columbus ar- 
 rived in our country ; I never lliall forget it : for I can 
 remember tilings which happened when I was a child 
 much better than- thofe which pafs now daily. Time 
 Heals away our memory, but thofe things which cither 
 frightened, or furprifed us when we were young, are 
 
 the lull which we forget. " So as I was faying" 
 
 " Stay,mygoodCora," faid Columbia, "let us exam- 
 ine the papers ; there may be letters which may ferve to 
 elucidate your relation, and explain events which hap- 
 pened antecedent to the time of your remembrance." — 
 " I do not think you will find any worth reading," faid 
 Cora, impatiently. " We will fee," replied Columbia, 
 mildly, as ihe opened the drawer. " You may look," 
 cried Cora fomewhat pettifiily, " but I am i'ure there is 
 nothing worth attending to, till the time of Don Ferdi- 
 nando's arrival in Peru and becoming enamoured ol my 
 royal miftrefsOrrabclla." u Hufh,huJh,my kindfriend," 
 faid Columbia. " Here is a letter fxgned Columbus ; 
 
 there 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 13 
 
 there are feveral in the fame hand writing ; they muft 
 contain facts necelfary for me to know, or they would 
 not be thus carefully preferred. Be filent, and I will 
 read them to you. Cora fat herfelf back in the cafy 
 chair, and fhtttting her eyes in token of attention, re- 
 mained filent. Columbia opened the letter. 
 
 Columbus to Beatina. 
 
 O&obcr, 1490. 
 
 1 AM parted from you, my adored Beatina ; but 
 painful as the parting is, 1 feel it is for our future advan- 
 tage. I am convinced, my beloved wife, that there are 
 worlds beyond the narrow bounds which our natural 
 philofophers at prefent prefcribc. I have ftudicd much, 
 my lovely friend, and am alxnoft certain, that were 1 
 fupplied with veflels, men, provilions, and every thing 
 neceftary, 1 ihould make difcoveries that would Occa- 
 lion my name to be revered in alter ages; and ihofe 
 who blamed my lovely Beatina for giving herfelf to her 
 Columbus, ftiall fay, " You did right, Beatina j Co- 
 lumbus has an enterpriiing fpirit that will carve out a 
 fortune, even from a barren wafte. For is not the 
 ocean a barren wafte ? and yet even from that do I, 
 mean to carve out for my foul's idol an empire, where 
 inz fhall reign queen over all, as lhe does over my 
 heart. . ' • 
 
 Why, why, my beft beloved, are you not endowed 
 with ftrcngth of frame, that your.friendfhip might in- 
 creafe my fortitude in danger, and fhare the glorious 
 triumph of unexpected fuccefs ? Yet why mould I wiih 
 you to lofe the fweet feminine foftnefs which firft; 
 won, and ftill holds captive my heart ? I know not 
 what I wifh, Beatina. You fo entirely pofTefs my 
 thoughts, that whilft I fearch this vaft globe for un- 
 known worlds, to lay them at your feet when found, T 
 would have the fame, the glory of the difcovery all 
 your own. And will it not be yours ? Yes ! farely 
 yes; for you infpired the thought, prompted the 
 fearch, and are the magic charm that actuates all my 
 endeavours. 
 
 C Tell 
 
14 REUBEN and RACHEL; ok, 
 
 Tell our dear Fcrdinando, that though I have by 
 my marriage with his mother deprived him of his 
 birthright as the only heir of an ancient and wealthy 
 marquis, I will toil to recompenfc to him the facrifice 
 his dear mother made to me. Sweet Beatina, do not 
 grieve at this our long reparation ; when I return, I 
 will return worthy of your love ; I will make my 
 charmer worfliipped by thofe who now hold her in 
 contempt. I am about to lay before the king ot 
 Portugal a plan for making thofe difcoveries, you have 
 to frequently heard me mention as more than proba- 
 ble. If he liftens to me, my fortune is certain; if he 
 treats my propofals as chimerical, the offspring of a 
 difordered imagination, I will apply to feme other 
 power. Dearell, have courage ; the perfevering fpirit 
 rnuft in time conquer. Believe I but exift, whilft ab- 
 fent from you, and think that exigence fcarcely worth 
 preferving but for your fake. Heaven blefs my Bea- 
 tina. C. COLUMBUS. 
 
 " That letter was written before my remembrance," 
 faid Cora. ** Very likely," replied Columbia, fcarce- 
 ly noticing the date, in her eagernefs to open another. 
 
 Columbus to Beatina. 
 
 January, 1 491. 
 
 I HAVE been difappointed, my fweet friend, but 
 be not you disheartened.; Thanks be to Heaven, I left 
 you and my darling boy in a fafe retreat, where, 
 though not enjoying all the advantages your rank in 
 life might demand, you have at leaft all the comforts 
 neceffary to the real pleafurcs of life. 
 
 But think not, my beloved, my efteemed friend, I 
 W( old wander forth in fearch cf adventures, ami leave 
 the wife cf my choice and the offspring cf her aiiciftion 
 to languilh out many years, ray, perhaps their uholc 
 lives, in obfeurity. No ! no ! Columbus labours not 
 for his own ad-vantage, but for the advantage cf thofe 
 fa nearly, U> dearly connected with him. I will leave 
 you, my love, whenever I quit my native land, in a 
 •Irate of honour and opulence, cr my fchemc flmll be 
 totally abandoned. If ; 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. i> 
 
 It I fail, if in this (gen-rally thought) romantic 
 plan I lofc my life, your father will no doubt be rec- 
 onciled to you, nor flight the offspring of an only 
 child, on account of his affinity to an unfortunate man, 
 who, had he been monarch of the globe, would have 
 laid his crown at Beatina's feet. 
 
 I leave my native land to-morrow, in order to folicit 
 Ferdinand of Spain to grant me the vclfeh. and fupplics 
 necefTary for proiecuting my intended voyage. 1 am 
 told the court of Spain is more enlightened than any 
 other court in Europe. 
 
 I had, previous to my quitting you, found means to 
 lay my plans before the Britiih throne ; but I fear they 
 wcre treated as the project of a vifionary ; for though 
 my brother undertook the charge, I have received no 
 aafwer. Alas ! Beatina, how hard it is to combat 
 any received prejudice. The wife and learned men 
 of pad ages have held it impoflible for mariners to find 
 a palfage, or proceed, without incurring immediate 
 death, beyond certain boundaries which their confined 
 knowledge has marked out. But I will not be with- 
 held from the experiment. If I fucceed, after ages 
 will revere my name ; if I fail, it will fink quietly into 
 oblivion; or perhaps i'ome iuture genius, enterpriling 
 and fanguine as myielf, fliall drop a tear to my mem- 
 ory, and as he laments my fate, tremble for his own. 
 Adieu, my friend, my lovely Comforter. 1 am more 
 yours than my own. ' '• C. COLUM 
 
 After this, feveral letters wore perufed by Columbia, 
 which contained little more than a repetition of his at- 
 tachment to Beatina, and accounts of his unfuccefsful 
 applications to Ferdinand, the then reigning king of 
 Spain. At length the following called up all her 
 attention. 
 
 Columbus to Beatina. 
 
 May, 14?;. 
 
 CONGRATULATE me, my lovely friend ; I am 
 
 at length fuccefkml ! How have I counted the tedious 
 
 months that kept me from my foul's idol ; and how 
 
 often have I feared that my perfeverancc would be cf 
 
 no 
 
if> REUBEN and RACHEL; • *, 
 
 no avail, and that I had facriliccd ages of real happi- 
 nefs (for hours are ages to the heart that loves as mine 
 does) to the vifionary hopes of future greatnefs. But 
 I am fuccefsful. I ftia.ll explore thofe diftant fcas, with 
 which my Ihidies have fo well acquainted me, and in 
 lame unknown world feel: out a kingdom of which my 
 Beatina flia.ll be queen. Yes, you ihall be queen ; for 
 whatfoever world I mid, be it the faireft, greatcft, or the 
 bed the fun ever fhone on, no man mould ever claim a 
 right to govern it. For it is to a woman I owe the 
 means of making the great attempt. I am fo overjoy- 
 ed I cannot p.oceed methodically ; yet I know you 
 languifh to learn every particular that concerns your 
 Columbus. 
 
 I have in former letters informed you of my hitherto 
 fraillefs felicitations. Wearied by attendance on min- 
 iiters and creatures, who hung about the king like bees 
 upon the fweet fcabious, draining it of its vital moifture 
 till its very root decayed, when they returned to their 
 hives laden with the precious ftore, regardlefs of the dy- 
 ing ftate of the flower from which they had extracted 
 both life and health ; difguiled with their unmeaning 
 prcfeffions, their hypocrify and ftupidity, I had nearly 
 relinquifhcd the undertaking, when I one morning re- 
 ceived an order to attend the queen's private drawing- 
 room. You may fuppofe I did not hefitate to obey the 
 fummons. The royal Ifabelle received me with affa- 
 bility and encouraging fweetnefs ; fhe condefcended to 
 confer with me on my intended voyage, and on the 
 ftudies which led me to hope for fuccefs. She lit 
 tened with attention to my reafons, and bade me attend 
 the levee next morning. I went. My royal patronefs 
 urged my fuit to the king with all the earneftnefs of 
 periuafive eloquence. He lillened ; but it was with 
 cold, almoft contemptuous filence. Yet was fhe not 
 difmayed ; her fine features glowed with enthufiafm, as 
 fhe expreffed a prophetic affurance of fuccefs. Her in- 
 terceffions were finilhed with this heroic declaration : — 
 " If your majefty," faid fhe, " conceives the plan too 
 wild, too eccentric to be countenanced, by ordering this 
 cnterpriiing man the ncceflary fupplies from the public 
 
 trcafury ; 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 17 
 
 trcafury ; and if your own private purfe will not at 
 prefent allow of fo large a dilburfement, fuffer me to 
 raife the money on my own perfonal jewels. I befeech 
 your majefty do not fay me nay. I want no ornaments 
 to render me pleafmg to my fovereign, and will cheer- 
 fully part with them, to benefit his fixbje&s, or add to 
 his territories." 
 
 Struck with the magnanimity of the propofal, Ferdi- 
 nand could no longer refufc ; he gave immediate or- 
 der, for the equipment of a fleet, in which I am to pro- 
 ceed on my intended difcovery ; and a fum of money 
 is to be paid to me from the treaiury, to provide cvery 
 nccefTary for the voyage. 
 
 I fell at the feet of the royal Ifabelle, and kifled, with 
 grateful tranfports, the hem of her garment. She 
 gracioufly raifed me, and with a fmile of heavenly be- 
 nignity aifured mc, that you, my Beatina, and our dar- 
 ling l'erdinando, fliould be taken under her immediate 
 protection. H aften then, my dearelt, on the receipt of 
 this ; haften to Spain, and let me introduce you to our 
 auguft queen. I know you will partake my joy ; and 
 if a tear does ft irt at the thought oi' parting, I alio 
 know you will wipe it off unfeen, left it Ihould unman 
 the heart of your adoring COLUMBUb. 
 
 " Undaunted fpirit of my ar.ccftor," cried Colum- 
 bia, as ihe clofed the If ttcr, " may you ever inhabit the 
 bofoms of his defcenjints." " But what is the next 
 letter ?" faid Cora. She opened it, but it was only a 
 farewcl to Beatina, when he was ready to fail from 
 Cadiz ; and by it Columbia difovered that ladv ami 
 her lbn were retained in the Spanifh court under the im- 
 mediate protection of Ifabelle. The next was a large 
 (jacket, and of fuch a nature as could not be haftily or 
 Sightly pa!ied over. 
 
 Laeelle, queen of Spain, to Beatina, ivife to 
 Columbus. 
 
 L*j'oruary, 149.1, 
 THOU bofom friend of the braveft man that ever 
 lived, thy queen now claims thee as her friend and fil- 
 ter. Ifabelle is in affliction, and calls on Beatina to 
 C 2 comfort 
 
18 REUBEN akd RACHEL; or, 
 
 comfort her. Yet how can I afk comfort from you> 
 when I have none to offer in return ? I cannot fee 
 you, lelt you curfe the hand that fupplied the means 
 for this ill-Marred voyage. Our Columbus, the man 
 whole name (hall be revered while time endures, is no 
 more ! He fleeps in the vaft ocean ; but his memory 
 ih.il! live forever. 
 
 Did I fay I had no comfort to offer ? Alas ! my 
 regrets for his lofs were fo great, I forgot that he tri- 
 umphed ere he died. He found the wondrous un- 
 known world he fought ; but his own words will belt 
 tell his fuccefs. The inclofed was brought to our 
 court this morning by a fea captain, who, whilft yet 
 far from the Spaniih coaft, faw fomething floating on 
 the waves ; and feeling an awakened curiofity prompt 
 him, went a little out of his courfe to take it up. It 
 was a cafk painted white. On opening it, they 
 found this fad teftimony of our fatal lofs, inclof- 
 ed in a cake of wax, and furrounded by a quantity of 
 cork, in order, as is imagined, to facilitate its fwim- 
 ming. I am inadequate to the tafk of adding more ; 
 only to fay, when you can fee me without dalrefs to 
 yourfelf, come to me, and let us mingle our tears to- 
 gether. Bring Ferdinando with you ; henceforth he 
 is my fon. Farewel. ISABELLE. 
 
 Inclofed in the foregoing. 
 
 Columbus to his royal Mistress. 
 
 At fea, December, 149a. 
 Royal and revered Lady, 
 THE molt humble and grateful of your fervants 
 addreffes you at a moment, when he much fears he 
 ihall never again behold you. I am, with my little 
 convoy, in a boifterous and almoft unknown fea, at a 
 lcafon of the year when ftovms prevail, and the in- 
 clemency of the weather renders our fafety extremely 
 precarious. The clouds hang low ; the atmofphere is 
 thick; the hollow murmuring fea, and bleak wind 
 that whiftles through the Tigging, portends an ap- 
 proaching ftevm. fl ^ l 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 19 
 
 I (Kail not fulfil my duty to the mod gracious of 
 fovereigns, if I do not try feme method to inform her, 
 whatever may be my fate, her withes arc fulfilled. 
 The new, the hitherto unexplored world, of which I 
 fondly dreamed lb many anxious years, is at length 
 difcovered ! I (hall annex to this the courfeby which 
 1 fleered, the foundings as v;c approached the land, 
 and every requiiite direction for mariners to find the 
 place where I have left a little colony of forty men. 
 
 Our voyage from Spain was tedious in the extreme, 
 and tliofe who had not the fame internal aflurances, 
 which my inteni'e ftudy had given me, of our being in 
 a right courfe, were almoft tempted to mutiny, to 
 confine me, and, taking command of the fleet, return 
 to Spain ; but to my inexprefiible joy, when even my 
 own fpirits began to fail, nor could I longer have li- 
 lenced the fears of the mariners, on the morning of 
 the 1 2th of October, I difcovered land. We made 
 for the more, and on the 15th landed and took poficf- 
 fion of a beautiful fertile ifland, in the name c( your 
 auguft eonfort Ferdinand. I kified the ground as I 
 landed, and called it St. Salvadcra, in honour of my 
 gracious patronefs ; for her bounty relieved me when 
 I was in utter defpair of ever making the attempt of 
 a difcovcry, and the fight of this if (erred me 
 
 from the vengeance of a difappointed, terrified fet of 
 feamen, who thought I had fooliihly dragged th.m 
 from their friends and country to perifh on the ocean. 
 I found the inhabitants humane, focial, and tractable ; 
 and left our little colony in a ftatc of greater comfort 
 than could have been expected. But the impclfibiiity 
 of obtaining proper provisions for the long voyage be- 
 fore us, and the very fragile ftate of our barques to 
 combat feas unufualiy tempeduous :t this fcafon, ren- 
 ders me fearful I ihall never . Spain, or kneel 
 at the feet of my royal milcrefs. 
 
 The ifland I have difcovered yields plenty of gold 
 duft ; pearls are found in the rivers ; and from what I 
 could obferve, diamonds and ether precious (tones are 
 eafily procured. For the natives not only wear them 
 in their hair and about their necks, but decorate their 
 
 ten 
 
a c RE U C E N a n d R A C H E ( . 
 
 temples with them, intermixed with gold and fitaer. 
 Thefe temples are in general dedicated to the 
 which i; their chit -. The I 
 
 are performed !>;. priJteffes who tow eternal 
 
 virginity. Their men are tall and well proportioned ; 
 the women beautiful in the extreme. 
 
 Thus ha* tly tonchedoa the many charms- 
 
 to entice ray fovereign to make this territory her own* 
 Oh may die wealth its mines contain, enrich her 
 above all her cotemp.oraries ; may the colony ihe 
 plants increafc and fiouviih ; there may (lie found a 
 ne'e, a glorious world, that after ages fhall at ence ad- 
 mire and fear.. 
 
 And now that life perhaps is near its clofe, will my 
 benignant queen permit her fervant to recommend 
 once more to her protection, my wife and child ? Fcr- 
 riinando is now fifteen. When he attains the age of 
 manhood, let him purfue the path I have marked out, 
 and finifh what his father but begun ; and fhould hi:; 
 fearches meet with the fuccefs my lpirit prophefies, let 
 the new world be called Columbia. It will unite the 
 name of Beatina with Columbus, perpetuating her lov- 
 ed name with mine. 
 
 I would have wrote- to my beloved' wife, but what 
 could I fay ? My heart bleeds for what fhe will fuffer. 
 You, my gracious miftrefs, will not ibrfake her. Com- 
 fort her, confole her ; tell her that Beatina will be the 
 lad found that trembles on my lips. Pardon me, fov- 
 creign lady, my ftyle grows familiar ; but the grave 
 levels all diftincYrons, and I am now (banding on its 
 brirA. A few more hours, and I plunge into a vaft 
 eternity ! If the ftorm increafes, my vefiel cannot much 
 longer brave its fury ; if mine cannot, what will be- 
 come of the poo little caravels that accompany me? 
 Their fate is certain ! Royal Ifabelle, farewel. While 
 life lingers in this frail tenement, gratitude for thy 
 munifkence can never be extinct in the heart of thy 
 fervant, COLUMBUS. 
 
 " Noble, brave commander," cried Columbia, giving 
 way to a flood of tears ; " and was this thy untimely 
 
 end?" 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. n 
 
 end :'" " No, no," faid Cora interrupting her; "he made 
 feveral voyages after that, or eli'c how ihould he carry 
 Don Ferdinando to Peru ? He did not die till after the 
 birth of Chriftopher and a after of your mother, who was 
 chriftened Ifabelle, after the queen of Spain. He lived 
 to a good old age, and was hearty and well till mif- 
 fortune overtook him ; then lie moped and pined ; nay, 
 I have feen him weep like a b.iby, and he died at lalt 
 broken hearted." w More ihame for thofe who could 
 wound a heart fo noble," faid Columbia, vviiilic refent- 
 ment, as it crimfoned her cheek, dried up her tears ; and 
 fhe proceeded to the next letter. It contained an ac- 
 count of Columbus's fife return. After having encoun- 
 tered innumerable perils, he landed at Palos, in Spain, 
 on the 15th of March, 1493. Alter which, feveral 
 other letters announce ano rf-r voyage, in which he. was 
 more fuccefsful than the fini, returning laden with in- 
 gots of gold, with pearls, with diamonds, and immenfc 
 plates of filver. 
 
 But his fuccefs and the homage the populace feemed 
 inclined to pay him, awakened a fpirit of envy in thofe 
 who had at finl oppofed, or Created as the chimeras of 
 a difordered fancy, his plans for the difcovery of a dis- 
 tant continent. They had not time to bring their 
 to ripen, before he again embarked for America, 
 * ith a large company of volunteers, gentlemen of the 
 firft rank ia Spain ; amongit which was his own fon,. 
 Don Ferdinando. A farewel letter from this young 
 gentleman to his mother, was the lull that awakened 
 Cora's attention. It was dated in June, 1498. "That 
 Was the time," laid fhc, "that was the very voyage, which 
 I lb well remember." " Were you eight years old then, 
 Cora ?" faid Columbia. "Yes, I was indeed," replied 
 Cora, " but 1 remember every circumltance, as well as 
 if it had parted but ycfterday !" " Then do tell me, dear 
 Cora," faid Columbia, " tell me all ; for in liftening 
 to the recital of a perfon who was prefent whilft the 
 events they relate happened, it feems as if you were 
 transported to the very fcene, and witnefs to the inci- 
 dents recited." 
 
 CHAP. 
 
22 REUBEN and RACHEL;- ok, 
 
 CHAP. TV.- 
 New Scstifs, new Mai, tie-iv Manners- 
 
 "TT was on the firtl of Auguft," faid Cora, draW- 
 JL ing herfclf forward, whiUt memory feemed upon 
 the llretch to rccal events lb long pail; "it was, as near as 
 T can recollect, about the beginning of Angulc, when my 
 mother, who was chief attendant about the royal chil- 
 dren of OrrozoHlbo, king of Peru, was ordered to at- 
 tend the queen and her children to a palace newly built 
 en the fea-coall,a great diftancc from the capital. I (hall 
 Sever forget it ; it was as fine a morning as ever I 
 The princefs Orrabella was the eldeft of in e daughters ; 
 for my royal mailer nevei k id a ion, and Ihc was look- 
 ed upon as our future queen. I was then, as I told 
 you, but eight years old, quits delighted with cur new- 
 habitation. I followed the princefs, with whom I was 
 a great favourite, from one apartment to another, till 
 we reached the top. There, as we flood looking to- 
 ward the (eft] we faw a monftrous fifh or bird, for it 
 Was impoflible to tell which it was ; its-body was black, 
 ■vs wings white ; it was coming quick toward the fhore. 
 The princefs (hrieked. The king and queen had, :rom 
 a lower apartment, obferved the fame moniler hafiily 
 approaching ; ana ordering forth the guards, bade them 
 draw up on the beach,- and as it drew near difchurge 
 their arrows at it. • But, Oh terrible, if I was to live a 
 thoufand years, I never (hall forget how frightened ev- 
 ery creature was, when the huge monfter, drawing quite 
 near, (lopped on a hidden, and dropping all its wings, 
 a Irurft of fire and fmoke iflued from its fide, with tre- 
 mendous noife. Many fell tc the earth with terror, as 
 this dreadful phenomena was repeated three times. 
 When our fears were in fome meafure abated, we 
 plainly faw living creatures move upon it,- and foon 
 a fmaller fifh ol~ the fame kind, only without wings, 
 came from its fide, and feveral men were borne by it 
 quite to the fhore. The guards affrighted, dared not 
 diichargc their arrows, but let their bows fall] .-and gaz- 
 ed in filenl vender. The king, the queen, and all the 
 
 rota! 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 23 
 
 royal children were {landing on the fhore. The prin- 
 cei's Orrabella was ever brave and undaunted ; flie Hood 
 leaning on my mother's arm, the foremoft of them all. 
 I had hid my face m he:- robe : but though afraid to look 
 long on the terrifying objecr, I now and then drew it 
 ^ifide to peep at a creature fo wonderful. 
 
 " But, my good Cora," cried Columbia, rather im- 
 patient at the old woman's prolixity, " if you are thus 
 particular, you will never get to the end of your ftory. 
 This monitor, as you c.eicribe it, I fuppofe was the fnip 
 tliat bore the great Columbus to the Peruvian coaft ; 
 and the little filh vou mention was the boat in whicli he 
 landed." 
 
 " Well, I know that," replied Cora, angrily ; " bur 
 I like to tell a ftory my own way. If I am not allow- 
 ed to tell all the particulars, I ihall never be able to 
 tell it at all." Columbia fmiled and was filent. 
 
 Cora again began, but lhe io often interrupted herfelf 
 telling the fame incidents feveral times over, and dwell- 
 ing on each with a tirefome minutenefs, that Columbia. 
 though anxious, could fcarcely command her atten- 
 tion to the end of the ftory. From it ihc gathered the 
 following circumltances. 
 
 Columbus, though he had made two voyages before* 
 one when he difcovered St. Salvadora, and another with 
 relief and fupplies for the colony he had left there, had 
 not difcovered the part of the American continent of 
 which Cora was a native, till his third voyage ; when 
 many noblemen and cavaliers from the court of Spain 
 accompanied him in his expedition, in hopes of fharing 
 at once the glory and emolument the discoveries were 
 likely to produce. Amongft the gallant group of gen- 
 tlemen was Fcrdinando, only fon of Columbus. He 
 landed with his father, both richly habited and followed 
 by a train of cavaliers equally gay. With white Hags 
 waving, and their drawn fv.ords pointed towards the 
 earth, they advanced to the party defcribed by Cora to 
 be alfembled on the lhorc. Orrabella, ftruck with the 
 majeftic yet conciliating mien of Columbus, perhaps 
 more with thcperlbn.il beauty and elegant deportment 
 ol Fcrdinando, who advanced at his right hana\preffed 
 
 foi ward 
 
2+ REUBEN akd RACHEL; or, 
 
 forward to meet them ; rind with a countenance at once 
 exprefiive of wonder, admiration and timidity, her 
 right arm extended feemcd a barrier to prevent their 
 approaching her parents and fiJlers, whilft laying 
 her left hand on her bread Ihe knelt to the ground, 
 railing her fine eyes in token of fupplication. Ferdi- 
 nftndo raffed her, laid his fword at her feet, and throw- 
 ftring of heads about her neck, told her, in the 
 language of nature, which is alike imderftood in all 
 nations, that lhe had nothing to "fear. 
 
 Orrozombo, aflured ot' their friendly intentions, re- 
 ceived them cordially, and ihewed them every mark of 
 hofpitality. They reftded on die continent many 
 months, collecting ingots of pure gold, bars of iilver, 
 with pearls, diamonds and coral, forming the mod 
 Wealthy cargo ever borne into a Spaniih port. 
 
 During the time Columbus and his followers tarried at 
 the Peruvian court, Ferdinando had numberlefs oppor- 
 tunities of improving the favourable impreflion his firil 
 appearance made on the lovely Orrabella. He foon in- 
 (triivfbed her in the Spaniih tongue ;- and with equal 
 facility, became himfelf a proficient in her native lan- 
 guage. He found her pofTeifed of ftrong powers of 
 mind, quick perception, ready wit; in fliort, an under- 
 ftanding capable of the higheft improvement. The 
 mutual paifion that fubfifted between them was early 
 discovered, and encouraged by their parents. Colum- 
 bus looked forward to the union as a mean of infuring 
 wealth and power to his pofterity, and Orrozombo im- 
 agined, by reiigning his daughter to this young flranger, 
 he fecured to himfelf a powerful friend and ally in Co- 
 lumbus. For the Spaniards had taught his fubjects 
 many of the ufeful arts ; and Science, by their means, 
 began to unfold her beauties to the delighted monarch 
 and his court. 
 
 Upon their maTriage, Orrozombo gave up part of his 
 territories to Columbus, as a portion for his daughter ; 
 and a colony was begun, where every thirg was regu- 
 lated according to the Spanifh form of government. 
 
 This being lettled to the fatisfa<5tion of all parties, 
 the adventurers prepared to rcviiit their native land; 
 
 and 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 25 
 
 and the royal bride of Ferdinando determined to go 
 with her hufband. Several of her attendants were ap- 
 pointed to accompany her ; amongft whom was the 
 mother of Cora, who at the princefs's requeft took her 
 daughter with her. With many tears did Orrabella 
 quit her parents and filters ; tears which feemed to 
 forebode they would never meet again. Alas! Avarice 
 had difcovered this new world was an inexhauftibla 
 mine of wealth ; and, not content to (hare its bleflings 
 in common with the natives, came with rapine, war and 
 devastation in her train : And as ihe tore open the 
 bowels of the earth to gratify her iniatiate thirit fox 
 gold, her fteps were marked with blood. 
 
 ..<.*..<..<. <,^*>.f.£$»- ► •>■ ►• ►■• 
 
 CHAP. V, 
 
 Ingratitude and Perfidy. 
 
 THE (hip in which Ferdinando and his bride en.- 
 barked was deftincd to proceed immediately to 
 Spain ; but Columbus himfelf, in a final] caravel, deter- 
 mined to crofs over to Hifpaniola, and vilit a colony 
 which now began to wear a very Mounding appearance. 
 Many families had emigrated from Spain, fome of con- 
 fiderable diftinclion ; and Columbus had, previous to 
 f.is embarkation, folicited the government of this colo- 
 ny for an indigent friend, hoping he might in the new 
 world retrieve his ruined fortunes. It was partly a 
 wiih to fee how his intention fuccceded, that prompted 
 him to vilit Hifpaniola at this time. The reception he 
 met with, and the manner of his return to Spain, Co- 
 lumbia found in the following letter. 
 
 Columbus to his Sen Ferdinando. 
 
 Cadiz Harbour, 1499. 
 
 THY father is returned, my dear fon, returned to his 
 
 native land. 13ut how ? Not as an enterprifing fpirit 
 
 whole plans had proved fuccefsful, mould return ; 
 
 but as a traitor to his king, loaded with ignomin- 
 
 D ious 
 
^6 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 ious chains. Oh ! my brave boy, I fee thy noble 
 fpirit fire at the intelligence. But beware ; conceal 
 the workings of thy honeft foul. To profper in this 
 ungrateful world, you mull wear the raafk of hypoc- 
 rify ; wear the femblance oi humility, henefty, 
 patriotism, till you have obtained fome favourite point, 
 then throw them allele as ufelefs, and glory in the fuc- 
 cefs of your ftratagems. 
 
 Pardon me, my fori, I write from the impulfe of a 
 broken heart. 1 know you would lcorn inch advice if 
 ferioufly given, even from a father ; but I have fuller- 
 ed fo much from ingratitude and duplicity, and have 
 feen thofe who praclifc diem moft, fecm to fucceed the 
 bell, that I would willingly ihut my eyes on the light 
 of day, and fmk into eternal relt. My dear Ferdinan- 
 do, your father has received a wound no time can heal. 
 Surely we mull hope, that in the bleil abodes of immor- 
 tality, the foul retains no remembrance of what palled 
 •i ii is fublunary ftate ; elfe certain I am, that the de- 
 Hjghts oi'paradife itfelfwould.be alloyed by the retrof- 
 pect of the ignominy I have endured, and the chains I 
 have worn. 
 
 And what will that treafure of my foul, thy adored 
 mother, fay ? How will my Beatina bear the degrada- 
 tion of her Columbus ? AVill net her father, (but lately 
 reconciled to his child) again fpurn her from him ? 
 And will not her haughty brothers and fillers pour 
 their infolent reproaches on the wife of a djfgraced, a 
 ruined favourite ? Your lovely Orrabclla too ! Alas ! 
 I greatly fear, whilft wc were hofpitably entertained at 
 her father's court, we were ungratefully paving the 
 way for the introduction of war, rapine and deftruc- 
 tion. Yet witnefs, ye immortal Powers, I am inno- 
 cent. I fought sot new worlds for c< 
 power; I felt, forcibly felt, the bleflings of Chriilian- 
 
 , the comforts refulting from a commercial 
 courfe with other nations. 1 vainly thoughtthofe ble£ 
 fings through my means might be extended, and ear- 
 ucilly wilhed them participated by the whple 
 But 1 am venting the forrows of my agonize J foul, 
 and forget you are a 11 nu irliat has caul'cd 
 
TALES ok OLD TIMES. 27 
 
 them. Oh ! ever, ever, may you remain a ftranger 
 to fuch anguifli. iMay my fon never experience how 
 far beyond all other miferies which malice can inflict, 
 or human nature fuiFer, is the torture occalior. 
 the poifoncd fting of ingratitude. But to my fad 
 
 Light pleafant gales, and a fmooth fea quickly bore 
 the caravel in which I embarked to Hifpaniola. 
 certain emblem of the vicitfitudes ot human life ; for 
 how often does the fun of profperity gild the horizon, 
 and its delightful airs play around and fafcinate the 
 fenfes, whilit the llorms of adverfity hang unob;. 
 ready to burlt on our devoted heads. 
 
 Roldan (whom you muft remember was appointed 
 through my interceilion to die government of this colo- 
 ony) received me with the greatcft marks of u 
 and a profufion of compliments. I ought to have 
 been upon my guard and fufpecled his excefiivc adula- 
 tion. His prefeffions of gratitude and attachment 
 pained me ; but as I knew the preient affluent ftate of 
 himielf and family originated from my friendfhip, I 
 attributed all to the nobleft motives, nor once fufpecled, 
 that as I held him to my boibm I was enfolding a fcr- 
 pent that waited but an opportunity to fting me to the 
 heart. 
 
 The morning after my arrival the natives thronged 
 in crowds to fee me, and in the moil tumultuous, man- 
 ner exprefied their joy at my return. Roldan, with an 
 inlidious fmile, warned me to beware of giving them 
 too much encouragement. " They are," faid he, " an 
 encroaching fct of wretches, and will torment you 
 with complaints, which, as they exift only in their 
 own imaginations, it is not in your power to redrefs. 
 You had better fpeak to them a little ftemly, and dif- 
 mifs them to their homes." 
 
 " How ?" faid I, rather furprifed, ! » I do not rightly 
 underftand you. What privilege can thefe people fo- 
 licit from you or me, which they have net a ri?;ht to 
 demand ? Is not this continent theirs by right of na- 
 ture ? and is not the privilege of living here unmolcft- 
 ed enjoyed by us through their unfufpeaing good na- 
 ture, and the confidence they place in our honeft in- 
 tentions ? 
 
28 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 teations? and (hall we abufe this confidence, repay 
 hofuitality by infringing their natural rights ? 
 Heaven forbid ! If they have complaints to make, it 
 is our duty to hear, and to the utmoft of our power 
 redrefs them." 
 
 As I tpoke with fervor, I obferved the countenance 
 of Roldan change. A livid palcncfs overfpread his 
 face ; his eyes gleamed, his lips trembled, and every 
 feature cxprefled a rage which he in vain attempted to 
 conceal by a haggard fmilc. 
 
 " All is not as it fhould be," faid I mentally ; " I 
 will inquire into the nature of the complaints ha 
 feems io anxious to evade. If Roldan has made an 
 I v.fe of his power, it is not our pall friend/hip 
 ih. ill fereen him from my reproach, or lead me to con- 
 tinue hhnin a Ration .he appears inadequate to fill." 
 
 Full of thefe thoughts, I immediately fet an inquiry 
 on foot concerning the general conduct of Roldan and 
 his officers. I found they had grofsly abufed the pow- 
 er intruded to them ; that they had diftreffed and 
 treated the natives in many cafes with the utmoft bar- 
 barity ! and that this arbitrary governor had fupported 
 the Spaniards in every act of injuftice or enormity they 
 chofe to commit. 
 
 Having traced thefe grievances to their fource, I 
 requefted a council might be called ; and then, in the 
 Uioft forcible language I could think of, yet with tern- 
 per and mildnefs, I reprefented to them all the iniquity 
 of their proceedings, conjured them to redrefs the in- 
 juries they had committed, and to reform the govern- 
 ment. Some few icomed pleaied with my remon- 
 ftrance, but the greater part heard me in fuller, filcnce. 
 
 Roldan thanked me with a farcaftic fmile for my 
 advice ; but at the fame time told me he held his of- 
 fice by a commiTion from the royal Ferdinand, and 
 to him only was accountable for his actions. I was 
 ihuaderftruck by his fpeech and manner, and left the 
 council room in a perturbation of mind not ealily de- 
 scribed. 
 
 .Amongft the officers under the command of Rol- 
 dan in this fettlemcnt, was a young man of diffa- 
 
 lute 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 2; 
 
 lute manners, named Diego. He was younger fon to 
 a noble family ; but having difhpated a considerable 
 fortune, and from being at firft only weak and toolilli, 
 having become vicious, his friends thought proper t •> 
 folicit employment for him in the new fettlcment, and 
 he was accordingly appointed third in command. 
 This man I found the bofom confidant and privy 
 counfellor of Roidan. His rapacity knew no bounds; 
 his paflions were his only malter ; and hurried 
 them to dreadful exceifes, he committed crimes at 
 which humanity at once blufhed and trembled. 
 Though the very little knowledge I had of Diego had 
 by no means prejudiced me in his favour, I could not 
 have fuppofed lie would have perpetrated crime 
 the blackelt die without compunction, or that Roidan 
 would have openly dared to fanelion his licentioufnefs ; 
 but I Was at length fatally convinced, that when vice 
 ami folly are leagued together, there is no wickednefs, 
 however horrible, at which they will hciilatc. 
 
 Bnina was the only child of a venerable Indian, 
 whole poffeilions were extenfive and valuable. I had 
 cultivated a friendfhip with the father of Bruna, when 
 firfl: the fettlement was formed ; and both myfclf and 
 followers experienced from him the kindnefs and at- 
 tention which nature, when unadulterated by art, is ever 
 ready to offer to the friendlefs, or the ilranger. His 
 dwelling Was at our fervice ; he fupplied us plentifully 
 with goat's milk, the flefhofdecr, dried maize, and 
 other comforts of life, which, to men who had expe- 
 rienced a tedious and wearifome voyage, were real 
 luxuries. 
 
 Bruna at this time was a lovely child of about 
 twelve years old ; flic was wild and untutored ; but 
 there Was fomething fo engaging in her manner, (fo 
 iafcinating in her vivacity, that I could not fee her 
 daily without becoming inlcniibly attached to her. 
 Her cttridfity was unbounded ; and the l'ureil way to 
 become a favorite with her, was by gratifying a pro- 
 penlity which in general was directed to laudable ob- 
 jects. 1 was charmed with her aitlets third for knowl- 
 edge, and employed my lcifure moments in intruding 
 D 2 her! 
 
30 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 her. But Chough eager to learn, that very eagernefs 
 counteracted her willies. She was too haity and im- 
 petuous to allow herfelf fuiheient time to become a 
 proficient in any thing ; therefore all my attention 
 could do, was to give her a trifling knowledge of the 
 Spanifti language, For when I fpoke to Ler of the 
 cufloms and manners of the European world, ihe 
 would laugh, and declare her own country manners 
 were beA ; for lhe could not poflibly think any duty 
 obliged us to conceal, our thoughts,, or that any cuf- 
 tom whatever could make, it laudable to fpeak one 
 rhing and think another. I give yoti this flight (ketch 
 qf her character, that you might not be furprifed at 
 what I have to relate concerning this Indian heroine,. 
 It was about ten days after my arrival, as I wag 
 walking a few miles from the plantation, and remarkv 
 ing the improvement agriculture had made on the face 
 of this beautiful fertile continent, when in. a low-built 
 hovel I faw an ancient Indian feated on the ground ; 
 Iiis elbows relied on his knees, his hands clafped his . 
 forehead, as his head reclined upon them. I Aoppcd 
 for a moment to contemplate a figure fo finking ; and 
 as I paufed, the fighs that broke from his agitated 
 bofom, went to my very heart. The noife I undefign- 
 ..dly made as I moved nearer the hovel, cccafioued. 
 him to raife his head. I was amazed ; it was the 
 lather of Bruna ! He gazed for a moment eagerly upou 
 me; then fpringir.g forward, fell on his knee:., kiiltd 
 my hands, my feet,, the very hem of my garments. 
 In vain I attempted to raife him ; he prufirated him- 
 felf on the earth, and laid my hand upon his head, in 
 token of owning me for his mafier. 
 
 Bray life, my worthy friend,, faid I,., and tell me 
 what is the meaning of this humiliation ? who has 
 cauied the thai. go I perceive to have taken place in 
 .your circiimfiances ? 
 
 " Chriftiuns ! ChriAians !" replied he with vehe- 
 mence, gnafhing Ids teeth as he fpoke, " they have 
 plundered me of my wealth, torn my child from my 
 •irms ; but yo • are come, and I fhall be revenged."' 
 
 The 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. $i 
 
 The confidence this poor Indian feemed to have in my 
 integrity, filled my eyes with tear;., 
 
 " Yes," laid I, " tell me who has treated yea thus- 
 barbaroufly ; and if I have the power, you lhall have 
 ample reftitution." " Alas !" cried the old man, " of 
 what avail will be the rellitution o{ my wealth, unleirv 
 you can reltore my child, my darling to my arms 
 pure and unfpotted ?" 
 
 He then informed me that foon after aie arrival of 
 Roldan at the fettlcment, an entire change took place 
 in the government; vice was tolerated, private proper- 
 ty not in the leail regarded, but every thing fubjec'ted 
 to the lawlcfs power of the new governor and his 
 favourite 
 
 Diego faw Bruna ; her beauty kindled in his bofom 
 an unholy flame; he folicited her love and was rejected, 
 lie dared attempt her chaflity, and was repulf.d with 
 fconi. That moment fealed the ruin of her lather. 
 Diego complained to Roldan, that the father of Bruna 
 refuted to lubmit to the Spanilli laws, and had even 
 treated him with contempt and derilion, who had en- 
 deavoured to enforce them. Roldan, glad of an oppor- 
 tunity to gratify his ruling paflion, whi«h was avarice. 
 gave ear to the complaint of his favourite ; and driv- 
 ing the unoffending Indian from a home he had in- 
 herited from his ancelfors, fetzed on all his valuable 
 property, ofleniibly in the name of the Spanish King, 
 but in leality to enrich his own private qoffi 
 
 Bruna, unknowing to what danger fhe expofed her- 
 felf, and thinking this piece of injuitice was entirely the 
 act of Diego, flew to the governoi for redreis. Her tears, 
 her innocent Amplications, had no effect on the obdu- 
 rate heart of. Roldan! he inhumanly rejected her fuit, 
 detained her perfon, and gave her into the power of 
 Diego. This horrid fcene was acted but the day be- 
 fore my arrival. 
 
 " You (hall have juftice, old man," feid I ; " come 
 with mc." He followed me to the-haufe of the gov- 
 ernor. At fight of him, Roldan llarted and turned pale ; 
 hut foon recovering himfelf, he aflced him, in a ilern 
 voice, what he did there. " He comes for juflice," 
 
 faid 
 
32 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 faid I, " he comes to demand reftitution of his prop- 
 erly, of which he has been robbed, and his daughter, 
 who is unjuftly detained from him/' " The artful 
 wretch has impofed on you," faid Roldan fiercely, 
 * but go, flave," turning to the Indian, get from my 
 fight, and be thankful your infolencc does not coll you 
 your life. I was preparing to reply in a proper 
 manner to this inhuman tyrant, when Bruna rufhed 
 into the apartment, her hair dilhevelled her garments 
 disordered, and her eyes wild with terror. She threw 
 herfclf into her father's arms, and gave way to a vio- 
 lent gufli of tears ; but the tendernefs that feemed to 
 overcome her was but momentary. She recovered 
 herfelf, and raifing her head, looked round with a 
 kind of fullen dignity. Her eyes met mine. Per- 
 ceiving (he knew me, I offered her my hand, and was 
 proceeding to comfort her ; but with a rejecting mo- 
 tion, fhe put back my proffered hand, and covering 
 her face with both her own, turned from me. 1 in- 
 ilantly comprehended the extent of the injury fhe had 
 fuilained, and my foul fhuddered within me. 
 
 Roldan's agitation was too great to efcapc notice ; 
 he attempted twice to fpeak, but words were denied 
 him. His pale countenance betrayed his guilty heart. 
 
 At length he hefitatingly told Bruna, if that was 
 her father, and fhe had forcibly been detained from 
 him, fhe was now at liberty to return home. The 
 poor girl flood for a moment the image of mute def- 
 pair ; then raifing her hands and eyes to heaven, cried, 
 *' Home ! No ! never \ Bruna is the daughter of the 
 chafle Lilah, and was inflrudted by the wife precepts 
 of her father, to prize her honour above her life. r l 'heir 
 manfionwas the dwelling of innocence, piety, and vir- 
 tue; and never will their wretched daughter cany pollu- 
 tion thither." Then turning toward her father, ihc 
 made as though fhe would have embraced him ; but 
 with, a kind of involuntary ihudder, ihrunk again from 
 him, and drawing a dagger fhe had concealed in her 
 bofom, plunged it in her heart. 
 
 This Hidden, unexpected event threw the governor 
 and all his attendants into the iitnioll eonfttfien'. 
 The fen-ants, terrified, opened the doors ; and a 
 
 coiu . 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 33 
 
 concourfe of people, Spaniards as well as natives, 
 ruihed in. The bleeding form of the lovely Bruna, the 
 agonizing fofrow of her father, acted like a talifman 
 on the minds of the people ; and in .1 few hours the 
 whole fettlement was in a Hate of inlurre«5Hon. Juf- 
 tice J judice ! was the cry : Deliver up Diego to our 
 power, or we will extirpate the race of Chriltians horn 
 among!! us. Roldan in this exigence applied to me 
 to quiet the enraged multitude. I fpoke to them : I 
 promifed they ihouid have ample iuttice ! I foothed them 
 by {peaking of the virtues of Bruna, and execrating 
 the author of her ruin, and consequent death ; and at 
 length pevfuaded them to depart quietly to their homes; 
 alluring them that Diego was in confinement, and 
 ihouid be made to fuffer, to the extent of the law, the 
 punifhment due to his crimes. 
 
 After a day of fuch unufual agitation, I retired to 
 my apartment. Fatigued in body, and diftre/Ted in 
 mind, fleep was a ftranger tc my c yes, and I was rumi- 
 nating en the beft means to a^peafe the irritated na: ivei, 
 when a band of Roldan's guards entered my cham- 
 ber, and arretted me as a traitor to ray king, accufed 
 me cf being difaffected to his government, and inflam- 
 ing the minds of his fubjects :n Hifpaniola to rebel- 
 lion. Refiftance or remonftrance was vain; they wore 
 the tools of arbitrary power, and I fubmitted infilence. 
 They manacled my hands and feet, and putting a 
 gag in my mouth, conveyed me on board a veflel ly- 
 ing in the harbour. Yes, Ferdinando, your i. 
 Was chained, and fent to his native country as a traitor. 
 
 As foon as I was on board, and the guard departed, 
 I found, by the motion ot the veffel, we were under 
 way; the wind was fair, and ihe left the lhores cf 
 Hifpaniola with rapidity. 
 
 About two hours after daylight, the captain entered 
 the cabin where I was, and entreated my pardon for 
 having been obliged to acl contrary to his inclinations. 
 '* I am but a fervarit," laid he, " and mult obey thole 
 whom the king has fet over me. I am ordered to 
 keep you a dole prifoner till our arrival in Spain ; 
 but lure I ihull dare to tranfgreis my orders fa fur as 
 
 to 
 
j4 REUBEN and RACHEL; o R , 
 
 to releafe you from your chains." He then advanced 
 to take off the infulting badges of my dilgrace, but I 
 forbid him. " No, Don Sancho," laid I, " if I am 
 guilty, I will fuffer the fentence my fovcreign may 
 think proper to pais on me with refutation. If I 
 have been unjuftly accuied, to him do I look for re- 
 drefs ; into his preience will I go, loaded with theie 
 ignominious bonds, and when my innocence is proved, 
 from his hands only will I accept of liberty.'' 
 
 Hailen then, my dear fon, on the immediate receipt 
 of this, to my royal miilrcfs and patronefs ; deliver 
 to her own hand the inclofed few lines ; and ihould 
 fhe condefcendto requelt it, lay the contents of this 
 letter befo*e her. Comfort and confole your angel 
 mother ere you leave her. Embrace your charming 
 wife for me. Whilft 1 live, you fhare my heart amongit 
 you. The ftrong fenfe I have of my prefent injuries, 
 is only for your lakes ? for of what confequence would 
 the fmiles or frowns of princes be to me, were not my 
 wife and children to be involved in my difgrace, or ex- 
 alted by my fuccefs and honour. Haften, my fon, af- 
 ter you have fulfilled this commiffion, to the arms of 
 your father ; come, my brave boy, and by a filial tear 
 heal the anguifh, which at prefent corrodes the heart of 
 
 COLUMBUS. 
 
 ..«..<.<..< .«^e*,.j.£ji>..> >. •>■ >.. 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 Rctrlhutioii. 
 
 COLUMBIA could only paufe for a moment to 
 wipe off the tears which, ipitc of her endeavours 
 to fupprefs them, would rufli to her eyes. She then 
 proceeded to the next letter. 
 
 Ferdinando to his Mother. 
 
 HAD I a conveyance, fwift as my own impatience, 
 to forward to my revered mother the joyful tidings of 
 my father's triumph over his enemies, the wings of 
 
 the 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 35 
 
 the wind would be too tardy to bear this to your hands. 
 Yes, my dear mother, Columbus, the great, the enter- 
 prizing Columbus, is reftored to all his former dignity, 
 and even frefh honours are heaped upon him. But I 
 know you wifh me to be particular ; and how can I 
 be more pleafingly employed than in recounting the 
 noble conduct of a father, and obeying the commands 
 of the belt of mothers ? 
 
 When in obedience to my father's mandate I re- 
 paired to court, and requefled an audience with the 
 royal Iilabelle, I was, within a few hours after the re- 
 requeii was made, admitted. An unufual gloom, al- 
 approaching to leverity, was call over a counte- 
 . which heretofore had only on me beamed fmiles 
 of benevolence. It chilled me to the heart. I ap- 
 proached with extreme agitation; and, bending one knee 
 to the ground, prefented the fealed paper which was 
 inclofed in my father's letter. The queen paufed for a 
 moment, fcemingly irrefolute whether or not to break 
 the fcal. My agitation increafed, my knees trembled, 
 my heart beat violently. My . diforder did not pais 
 unnoticed. " Calm your fears, Ferdinando," faid If- 
 fabclle,.as flic at length opened the letter ; " your fath- 
 er has, it is true, powerful enemies ; but if his inno- 
 cence is apparent, he will ever find in me a Heady, 
 powerful friend." 1 bowed in grateful acknowledge- 
 ment oi' her goodnefs, and Hie in filence perufed the 
 letter. A crimfon glow overfpread her face as (he 1 ead ; 
 it iccmed the glow c f refentment, as folding the paper 
 ilic unlocked a fmall cabinet, .and depofited it amongit 
 fume other writings. 
 
 ** You have a letter from Columbus," faid .fhe, 
 " permit me to fee it." I prefented it. " Go,'' faid 
 Hie, taking it from me, " retire in peace ; the fuccefs of 
 .my hero has awakened the envy oi thole who had not 
 courage to follow his example, he has been tlfc< 
 to the king ; but Ifabclie wii r a man, whofe 
 
 merit lhe eiieems and whofe caufe flic eip-.-uies, to be 
 injured with impunity." 
 
 Charmed by thefecondefcendhg cyprefHors, I bow- 
 ed and retired. In about two hour*, 1 received a man- 
 date 
 
36 REUBEN an j RACHEL; or, 
 
 date figned by the queen's hand, ordering me to repair 
 immediately to the port, and conduct my injured fath- 
 er to her prefence. "Take off his chains," were the 
 words, " and let him come to his fovereign, attended 
 with all the refpect and honour a man deferves, who, 
 whilft he was adding new territories to our crown, 
 whilft he had it in his power to heap up mines of wealth 
 for his own coffers, forgot not the caufe of humanity, 
 and rather than countenance one act of tyranny, haz- 
 arded the difpleafure of his king, the lofs of his fortune, 
 nay even life itfelf. But his fovereign ihall reward him." 
 
 Her majefty's own Servants and mules attended my 
 commands ; and quick as it was pofiiblc, I purfu'ed my 
 journey, and flew to the arms of my father. Our 
 meeting was beyond defcription. The agitation of his 
 mind had affected his health ; his countenance was pale 
 and dejected ; his perfon neglected. 1 offered to take off 
 his fetters, fhewed him the queen's mandate, but in 
 vain. " I will go to my royal miflrefs," faid he, " but 
 I will go as I am." When he law the fervants that at- 
 tended to conduct him — " Poor pageantry, "faid he, 
 " pitiful recompenfe for the injuries I have received ! 
 No ! no ! I will have no attendants. I am a difgraced 
 man, and will enter the metropolis with as little noife 
 as poflible ; obfeurity and lilencc fuits bed with dii- 
 honour. But mark me, my fon, as my difgrace has 
 been public, fo lhall be my juftification." There was 
 fuch majelty in his manner, inch fixed rcfolution in his 
 looks, I dared not oppofe him. I difmiffed the retinue 
 that attended ; and with only my own fervant, accom- 
 panied my father, by the moil: unfrequented roads, to 
 the court of Ferdinand and Iiabelle. 
 
 It was about twelve o'clock when we arrived, and 
 orders were given for our immediate admiilion. Never 
 fhall I forget the countenance of the royal Iiabelle, 
 when fhe beheld her hero enter thus encumbered with 
 the tcllimonies of his difgrace. The king and queen were 
 fe:itcd at the upper end of the prefence chamber, at- 
 tended by many noblemen and cavaliers, tried friends 
 of my father, and feme" whem I knew to be his ene- 
 mies. Columbus entered the door a few ftcps, then 
 
 making 
 
TALES or OLD TIMES. 37 
 
 making a full ftop, bent his knee to the ground, and 
 railing his manacled hands, attempted to fpeak ; but 
 pride, refentment, wounded honour, fwclled his brave 
 heart nearly to burfting ; and, fpite of his endeavours 
 to fupprefs them, the fcalding tears rolled down his 
 pale face. It was a reproach more poignant than 
 words could have conveyed. 
 
 Ifabelle rofe from her feat, her own eyes gliftening 
 with the dew of fenfibility ; and advancing to my 
 father, railed him. " Rife, my brave admiral," faid 
 fhe, " and let thy queen take off thefe fetters, of which 
 fhe has more caufe to be afhamed than you have." 
 Then leading him to the king, " Royal Sir," faid lhe, 
 " how (lia.ll we recompenfe this worthy man for the 
 undcferved humiliation he has received ?" " Colum- 
 bus," faid Ferdinand, " I bluih for the indignities of- 
 fered you in the perfon of my reprefentative ; but 
 you fuall .have ample revenge. Go to your wife and 
 friends, indulge awhile in eafe, -and recruit your 
 ftrength and fpirits ; in the mean time, I will give or- 
 ders for the preparation of a fleet fuperior to any you 
 have yet commanded ; in it you fhall return to our new 
 colonies, of thewhole of which I from this moment create 
 you viceroy, giving you unlimited power to create or 
 displace officers, and diftribute rewards and punifti- 
 ments at pleafure. I know it is a power you will not 
 abufe. Go, valiant chief, and reign over a people, 
 whom you have conquered by praftifing humanity, 
 not die arts of war. But take thofe fetters from my 
 fight," continued he ; " that Columbus ever wore 
 them, will caft a lafiing fhade on my memory; and 
 ages yet unborn, when they (hall hear the tale rela- 
 ted, will accufe Ferdinand of ingratitude." 
 
 " Pardon me, gracious fire," faid my father, pla- 
 cing his foot on the chains as one of the guards at- 
 tempted to remove them ; "thefe fetters are mine. I 
 purchafed them with fatigue and danger, went through 
 many perils by fea and land to obtain them, nor will I 
 lightly part with them. Wherever I go, they mall 
 go with me ; I will contemplate them every dav, left 
 profoerity mould make me forget, on what a frail ten- 
 E lire 
 
38 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 ure I hold my happinefs. I will look at them ; and 
 whilll I recoiled the anguifh I felt when they were im- 
 pofed on me, learn to be cautious how I attempt to in- 
 Hict the fame mifery on a fellow creature. When I 
 am unhappy, I will cheer my heart by the remem- 
 brance, that. the moment when my royal miflrefs took 
 thefc fetters off my hands, was the mod tranfporting mo- 
 ment of my life ; for it reinitated me in the good opin- 
 ion of my fovcreigrt, gave my friends caufe for exul- 
 tation, and covered my enemies with confuiion." 
 
 Ferdinand was filent. Ifabeilc i'miled ; it was a 
 fmile of triumph. " You mult do as you pleafe," laid 
 :he. Then turning to the guard, " convey them to 
 wherever Columbus orders ; his intrepid fpirit can 
 convert even fetters into badges of di {Unction." 
 
 Their majeftics then left the chamber followed by 
 ♦ he court, and in a moment I was locked m the arms 
 ' f my father, and mingled with him feme of the moll 
 delicious tears I ever flicd. Tell my lovely Orrabcjla, 
 in a few hours after ihe receives this, I fhall be at her 
 feet. Yes, my revered mother, I iliall behold once 
 more all the deareft objects of my affections united in 
 one family circle. I uiall fee your dear countenance 
 beam with heartfelt fatisfaction ; fee my father happy 
 in the bofom of his family ; and in the fmiles of my 
 Orrabella and her fweet infant, enjoy every felicity of 
 which human nature is capable. Farewcl till we 
 meet. FERDINANDO. 
 
 The next paper Columbia opened had the appear- 
 ance more of a manufcript than a letter. It confided 
 offeveral fhects oi' paper wrote on all fides; it was 
 from the wife of Columbus, addrcflfed to her grand- 
 daughter Ifabclle. 
 
 Beatina to Isabella. 
 
 Valladolid, 1 5 20. 
 AS the pcrufal of the inclofed letters and papers 
 will no doubt awaken in the bofom of my dear Ifabeilc, 
 a curiofity to learn the events that followed this tri- 
 umph of Columbus over his enemies : and as I think 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 39 
 
 it- neceflary to inform her, not only of her defccnt from 
 die native kings of Peru, but alio of the fate ( f her 
 parents, who now, alas ! are no more, I have taken 
 up my peri to trace every circumftance that may tend 
 to prove your right to the fovereignty of Quito, ami 
 the fin-rounding territories, if hereafter you ftiould think 
 it worth contending for. But as I leave you, my dc:.r 
 child, in the protection of my own family ; and am ful- 
 ly feniiblethat my nephew, the marquis Gftidova, will 
 take fuch care of your fortune, (now ample) that by 
 the time you arc of age to perufe thefc papers, you 
 will be one of the rtcheft heireffesln Spain; I fondly 
 hope you will not fuffer the vain ambition of bearing 
 the empty title ox queen to influence your conduct, or 
 tempt you to throw away the real bleflings of liie h> 
 purfuit of fhadows and toys. 
 
 I am oldj my dear Ifabelle, and have lived to bury 
 all my deareft affections in the filent grave, except the 
 kindly lambent flame that warms my languid heart 
 when I behold your innocent fmiles, and liftcn to your 
 lively prattle. You are now fcarcely fire years old ; 
 I cannot therefore expect to live to fee you enter en the 
 bufy ft age of life. Let me entreat you then (and think, 
 as you" perufe this, your grandmother fpeaks to you 
 from the grave) let me entreat you to pay the ftiicleit 
 attention to the advice of your uncle and his amiable 
 wife. Certain I am, they will never impofc harih com- 
 mands ; and to them I leave the full power oi controll- 
 ing and directing you during the dangerous period of 
 youth. 
 
 One thing T think it proper you fhould know, in the 
 choice of a partner for life, (though I would wiih you 
 to confult thofe dear friends,) you are entirely your 
 own miftrefs. At the age of 2 1, your fortune will be 
 put in your own power ; but, Ifabelle, remember the 
 royal race from whence you fprang,and do not difgrace 
 it by an ignoble alliance. It is not wealth, it is not ti- 
 tles, I would have you feek ! no, my child ; feck cour- 
 age, honour, good fenfe, and poliihed manners. Thefe 
 conftitute true nobility j it was thefe fo eminently 
 
 diftinguilhed 
 
«o REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 dirtinguifhcd the great Columbus; made him the tle- 
 light of oar fex, the envy of his own. 
 
 I liiy you are your own miftrcfs ; in every point but 
 one y.m are fo. > charge you, Ilabelle, as you value 
 your eternal peace, unite not your fate with that of ;t 
 heretic. Should you unhappily feel a growing inclina- 
 tion for one of thofe impious innovators on the rights 
 and ceremonies of our holy mother church, repel it 
 with your utmolt power ; for in that cafe your guar- 
 dian has my authority peremptorily to refufe his func- 
 tion to your union. And flioutd you form fuch a con- 
 nexion in defiance of his abfolute commands, •your 
 fortune, on the i;i(tan'c of your marriage, becomes for- 
 feit, and will go to the marquis's eldeff fon. 
 v.iihes to fee you not only temporally but eternally 
 happy, have led me to make this point indifputable ; 
 but I truit it is a needlefs caution, fmce you will be 
 brought up in the true religion, in the religion of your 
 anceftors ; and will feel a juft abhorrence for thofe 
 licentious wretches, who arrogantly ftyie themfelvcs 
 reformers. Of all the European courts, none are fo 
 infefted with this feet as the Englifh. Beware, then ; 
 and when you behold a gay, accomplilhed Englifh- 
 man, and many fuch vifit the court of Spain, before 
 you venture too nearly to contemplate his feeming 
 virtues and graces, fay within, yourfelf, May not this 
 man be tinctured with the principles I am cautioned 
 to avoid ? Think thus, avoid him, and be happy. 
 
 ..< .< .< <«^j-}.^>»- >••>•>••>•■ 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 
 Return to the r.eiv Wottd. 
 
 LAS," faid Columbia, laying down the paper, 
 ** I now fee the fource from whence fprang all 
 my dear mother's forrow. She was bred in the Cath- 
 olic perfuaiion, and my father tempted her to difobey 
 the rigid commands of her guardian, forfeit her for- 
 tune, embrace his faith, and, leaving all her connex- 
 ions 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 41 
 
 ions in Spain, follow him to England. Poor, bigot-. 
 eJ Beatina, little did you think, when making your 
 will, that you figned the mandate for your grandchild's 
 mifery. For what might not avarice tempt the ion 
 of the marquis Guidova to do ? Might not he wink 
 at a marriage that was to invcft him with all the vail 
 wealth of the unfortunate Ifabelle ? But perhaps I 
 injure him j he may be innocent of fuch an intention ; 
 my mifguided parents thcmfelves may be alone to 
 blame. Vet knowing and adoring them as I do, how 
 can I believe that poflible ?" Thus was Columbia 
 bewildered with conjecture. At length, thinking the 
 manufcript might fatisfy her curiotity, and remove 
 her doubts, flic again addrefled berfelf to the perufal 
 of it. 
 
 " It was the beginning of the year ijoo,- 
 that the great Columbus embarked on board 
 the .^eet which Ferdinand had ordered to be equipped 
 for his fervicc, (with all the attendance, ceremonies,. 
 fee. cuftomary on inch occafions,) as viceroy of the 
 new-difcovered continent. Ferdinando was appointed 
 governor of the fettlements in Peru. Myfelf, the 
 princefs Orrabella, and her fon Chriftopher, embarked 
 with them. Thj king, queen, and all the court at- 
 tended us to the water fide ; a vaft concourfe of peo- 
 ple crowded the fhore, wearying Heaven with prayers 
 for our happinefs whilft abfent, and our fafe return. 
 At parting from his auguft patronefs, Columbus knelt 
 to kits her linnd. She railed him, and throwing a 
 gold chain over his neck, by which her own portrait 
 was fufpended, " Go, my invincible hero," faid 
 fiic, " go, and enjoy the reward of your labours. 
 And if we never meet again on this fide eternity, let 
 my memory ever be dear to you : for whilft you live, 
 Columbus, you wii] never find a truer friend than you 
 have found in Labcllc." As ihe riniihed fpeaking, 
 ihe inclined her head towards him ; he refpe&fully 
 fainted, her cheek, "Heaven ever blefs and defend 
 my royal millrefs and her augufl confort," faid Co- 
 lumbus. "And proteftl my h;ro," added the queen*, 
 Then turning hadily to hide her tears, ihe rufhed into 
 
 E 2 t'.C 
 
42 REUBEN amd RACHEL; or, 
 
 the midtt of her attendants, and retired. Yes, my 
 child, the good, the noble-hearted, royal Ifabelle re- 
 tired ; and we law her no more. Before we returned, 
 ihe llept in peace ; but her name fhall be revered to 
 after ages. The brave and worthy will remember it 
 with gratitude ; and the pious tears of millions yet 
 unborn, fhall fanclily her memory to all eternity. 
 
 " It was determined at our departure, that the 
 whole fleet fliould accompany Ferdinando and Orra- 
 bella to her native coaft ; and having feen him fafely 
 fettled in his government, proceed to Hifpaniola, and 
 fend Roldan and his licentious affociates home in die 
 fame difgraceful circumitances in which he had before 
 ungratefully involved Columbus. A fine fcafon fa- 
 voured our voyage ; and in lefs than two months from 
 our embarkation, we law the fertile fliores of Peru rife 
 upon our fight. The joy of Orrabella as lhe beheld 
 her native land was beyond all bounds. " I ihall fee my 
 father and mother," laid lhe, " and embrace my dear 
 fillers ; I fhall fit befide them for hours, and relate to 
 them the wonders I have feen in your world ; and on- 
 ly that they know my lips abhor falfehood, they would 
 think fome of the ftrange things I have to relate were 
 nothing more than ficlions. Then careffing her child, 
 lhe >-ould talk of the joy of her father's fubjecls when 
 they fhould behold her offspring, whom lhe fully be- 
 lieved was born to fway the fceptre of Peru. 
 
 " It was on the fecond day after we had difcovered 
 land, that we reached the defired harbour. But as we 
 drew near no fhouts of joy welcomed our approach ; 
 no king, no guards, no exulting fubjects appeared to 
 greet us. Ail was lilcnt, all Avas defolate. Our hearts 
 funk within us. " They are at Quito," laid Orrabel- 
 la ; but her pallid countenance and tremulous voice 
 betrayed that lhe hardly dared hope what lhe afferted. 
 " We will land, however," laid Columbus; accordingly 
 the boat was hoifted out, and we proceeded to the lhore. 
 When within" a few yards of the beach, a party of arm- 
 ed men appeared. Their drefs, their arms, befpoke 
 them Spaniards. Our fleet bore the itandard of Spain, 
 •we could not fear our countrymen as foes. Columbus 
 
 addreffed 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 45 
 
 addrefTed them from the boat in terms of amity ; they 
 returned a haughty anfwer. However, they permitted 
 us to land. But Oh ! Ifabelle, what were our feelings, 
 Avhen we difcbrered this beautiful continent had been 
 invaded by a party of freebooters; \m hofpitable 
 inhabitants rifled of all their treafurcs, many of 
 them maifacred, and the remainder driven in- 
 to the interior parts of the country. The palace 
 of Orroaombo was converted into a den for thefe: 
 robbers, where riot and intemperance reigned 
 without control. The fettlcrs left by Columbus, ad- 
 
 ; to the intered o{ the king and riati 
 driven with them to leek an afvlura in the woods and 
 mountains. 
 
 The chief of thefe banditti was named Garcias, 
 fierce, cruel and vindictive. Ke received Columbus 
 with a gloomy haughtinefs of demeanor, and when 
 queltioned as to his right in thefe dominions, he fcorn- 
 fully replied, " By the right of conquerc ; not by a 
 > ridiculous family compact with a favage." Orra 
 was prefent when Garcias thus infuited her family. 
 " Inlblent Spaniard," laid ihc, her eyes darting light- 
 ning, her fine face and perfon uncommonly animated 
 by the fire of refentment ; " inlblent Spaniard, the 
 king my father, though you term him a favage, was 
 your fupcrior in every virtue ! What though ur.polifh- 
 ed, he had but nature for his guide ? that nature t 
 him humanity, honour, patience, fortitude, and Orro- 
 zombo would have died rather than deceive a friend, 
 or inful t a fallen foe. Oh my father! my father!" 
 continued fhe, buriling into an agony of tears, "wheie 
 are you now ? Where is my revered mother, my poor 
 defencelefs lifters? Tell me, barbarian, have you entirely 
 extirpated the race of the children of the fun, or do you 
 hold the lawful king of this territory in bondage, whilft 
 you ufurp his rights, and riot in the fpoils of his de- 
 voted fubjecls ? If fo, Oh lead me to the dungeon where 
 you have confined him, that I may weep in his arms, 
 and die with grief to fee my king, my father, a Have 
 to the nation he had vainly hoped to have held in 
 eternal bonds of ii iendiliip, and gave his child as a 
 
 Jioilage 
 
4+ REUBEN asd RACHEL; or, 
 
 hoftage of his faith towards them. Alas ! what hoftage- 
 did he require to infure their faith to him ? None ; his 
 noble heart harboured not deceit, uor could fufpect it in 
 another." 
 
 From thefc pathetic rcrnonftrances and lamentations 
 of Orrabella, we perceived fhe iufpedted Columbus 
 and Ferdinando were knowing to the voyage and con- 
 fequent invafion of Garcias and his lawlefs band ' r 
 but in this flic whs fooii undeceived. For Columbus, ir- 
 ritated by the infolence of Garcias, threatened him with 
 fpeedy vengeance unlefs- he informed him where Orro- 
 zombo and the royal family were. Garcias laughed at 
 his menaces, but on being informed that Columbus was 
 deputed viceroy of all the new-difcovered lands on that 
 fide the globe, and being requcfted to do homage to him 
 as the reprefentative of his royal mailer Ferdinand,, 
 or expect the punifhment due to a. pirate, a traitor 
 and a robber, he became more humble, and many 
 of his followers, understanding the dangerous predica- 
 ment in which they ftood, declared themfelves ready 
 to fupport the new viceroy in the difchargc of his duty 
 as the king's delegate, and as fuch fwore allegiance to 
 him. 
 
 It was then we learnt that Garcias Du Ponty, a Caf- 
 tilian by birth, young, ditfblute and ambitious, having, 
 heard of the fuccefs of Columbus, and the vaft tre;iiures 
 himfelf and followers had brought from the new world,, 
 vefolved to make an experiment himfelf ; and having,by 
 promifes of large future reward, and fome rich piei- 
 cnts artfully beftowed, won over an experienced mar- 
 iner (who had been the laft voyage with your grand- 
 father, and returned in the fhip with Orrabella) to 
 undertake to navigate his veflel, and give directions to 
 the pilots of the reft of the fleet how to follow him j. 
 Garcias prevailed on a number cf young Caitilian 
 noblemen and gentlemen to embark on the expedition. 
 They applied for no letters of leave from Ferdinand ; 
 for had they, it is moft probable they would have been 
 prevented purfuing this (in the end) ruinous voyage. 
 
 A large fleet collected from the different ports of 
 .Spain, met in the Mediterranean fea many ether mar- 
 iners 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 45. 
 
 iilers who wilhed to purfuc their good fortune, and, 
 not being content to wait till another fleet fliould be 
 fent out by the king's orders, were ezgcr to embark 
 with thefe licentious noblemen, and direct their comic 
 to the land where they imagined they were to become 
 petty princes, and revel in ail the luxuries which na- 
 ture could afford, or unbounded wealth fupply. 
 
 This fleet was on the ocean at the time Columbus 
 returned from HiJpaniola. They had a more fpeedy 
 voyage than their inhuman deligns defcrved ; but 
 HeaVen often permits the wicked For a while to prof- 
 per, that the fuccefs of their lawlefs plans may be- 
 come their puniihment, and the reverie of fortune 
 coming unexpected, may fail the heavier on diem. 
 And thus it proved with Gurcias Du Fonty and his 
 followers. 
 
 On their arrival on the coaft of Peru, they found 
 the king with his family, as was their cuflom, {pend- 
 ing the fummer at their palace on the banks of a river 
 that mingles its waters with the ocean. Garcias and 
 his party landed. Orrozombo, and indeed the Span- 
 ifh fetllers, believed them to be a party jfeiit by Co- 
 lumbus to bring fupplics to the colony, and received 
 them with open arms and every mark of affection. 
 But alas, they were too fatally undeceived, when thefe 
 invaders of the rights of nature and the law of nations 
 affumed die authority of mailers, exacting enormous 
 fums as tribute from the king, and forcing hisfubjects 
 to labour in the mines, often rewarding thofe labours 
 (when the produce of them was not equal to die in- 
 ordinate avarice of their defiles) with death. 
 
 Orrozombo, wearied by their repeated infolencc, 
 and terrified by their rapacity, entreated them to have 
 the continent, offering them immenfe trcalures. But 
 they were not thus to be fatisfied. They proceeded 
 from one ftep to another, till neither age nor 11 
 came a fafeguard from their cruelties. The, 
 wife and the pure virgin were violated in the prefcr.ee 
 of their parents and protectors, who, confined by thefe 
 inhuman moniters, had not the power to relcue or 
 avenge them. 
 
 Human 
 
46 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 Hunan nature, however patient, could not tamely 
 mdure fuch enormities. The natives and the Span- 
 iards united their forces to endeavour to expel the in- 
 vaders ; but it was too late. They had fent apart 
 of their company to fearch the interior country for 
 mines. Thef'e returned, boafting of the ravages they 
 had committed, and diiplaying the fpoils they had 
 gleaned. They had plundered every village through 
 which they pafled, and then fet fire to it. Thoufands 
 ofiunocent families, thus deprived of their homes and all 
 means of fupport, fled into the mountains, where many 
 perilhed through famine, and the reft dragged on a 
 wretched life, living on wild fruit, and what gams 
 their bows and arrows produced, fleecing in caves or 
 recedes of the recks, and too often their miserable ex- 
 igence was terminated by the fangs of the tyger or the 
 lion. Flufhsd with fuccefs,the Caft'ilia'ns meditated on- 
 ly how to make an entire conqueft of the country. 
 
 Undifciplined in the arls of -war, and though experi- 
 encing its effeel every hour, ftill unfufpecting of treach- 
 ery, — the Peruvians were at this time, by the art of 
 the Spaniards, induced to throw afide their arms, ;<,nd 
 agree to terms of peace with Garcias, who a/Turned a 
 graver demeanor, and made feme flight conccflions to 
 Orrozombo for the mifconduct of his companions, who 
 by a few weeks of quiet regular behaviour lulled him 
 into fecurity ; then, when in full confidence of the faith 
 of their enemies, the Peruvians, who had been celebra- 
 ting the annual feait of the fun at which thefe ftrangers 
 had been admitted to participate ; then, when parting 
 from them in amity they tranquilly funk to reft ; then 
 did the blood -thirfty Garcias and his detefted crewrulh 
 rn the defencelefs victims, and mafTacre them without 
 mercy and without remorfe. 
 
 Oh thou Power eternal, whofe name Is a tower of 
 ftrcngth, and whofe mercy is as infinite as thy wifdom ! 
 what ihall we fay, that thefe barbarians fhould call 
 themfelves thy fervants, and bear the glorious appella- 
 tion of Chriftians ? Alas, mi.laken men, the God you 
 fervc delightcth not in blood ; his precept and example 
 fraught peace, mercy and good will to all mankind. 
 
 But 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. .47 
 
 But the Peruvians were idolaters ! cries the mifguided 
 .enthuhaft ; and fo was Garcias and his followers ; their 
 idols were avarice, ambition, luxury, and lawlcl's paf- 
 fion ; to them they bent the knee, and on their altars did 
 
 they facrifice millions of innocent people. But I 
 
 digrefs. 
 
 Du Ponty, though the wretch his aelions proclaim 
 him, was handlbmc in his perfon, gay, lively and gal- 
 lant ; his fair outfide attracted die notice of Al/iia, 
 thcyoungeft fifW of Orrabella. Alaira was equally 
 lovely as her filler, but (he poffeffed not that greatness 
 of foul, that intrepid firmnefs which characterized your 
 mother. By nature foft, gentle and complying, when 
 the fubtle Caftilian, who read her paffion in her admir- 
 ing eyes, fuedferfome token of her favour, ihe heiita- 
 ted not to own her love, and confefs, could her father 
 be brought to approve it, to be the wifevf Du Ponty 
 would conftitutc her chief felicity. 
 
 But Garcias had not an idea of an honourable union ; 
 he meant to conquer her father's kingdom ; and bad 
 it in contemplation to degrade the fair Al/ira to the 
 ftation of a Have, for the amufement of his loofer hours. 
 On the night of the horrid maii'acrc, Garcias was 
 purpofely in the apartment of the princefs, where he 
 was frequently privately admitted after her parents 
 were retired to reft. Al/ira, who was.liflcnirg to the 
 adulating voice of her lover, did not at firft attend to 
 the confufed murmur that ran through the palace on 
 the entrance of the Spaniards ; but a fudden ihiiek, 
 that feemed to come from the apartment of her mother, 
 roufed her dormant ler.ies. She ftartcd,and would have 
 run to the afhftance of her parents, whom fhe imagined 
 were fuddcnly taken ill, but reiterated (hrieks which now 
 iffued from every room in the palace, made her paufc, 
 and fhc became a motionless ftatue of .horror. 
 
 " The palace is befet," cnicd Garcias, " let me bear 
 you, lovely Al/ira, to a place «of fafcty ; I will then re- 
 turn to the affiitance of your father." " Oh no! now, 
 now refcue him, or let me die with him," was all flic 
 could fay, before Du Ponty bore her in his arms, out of 
 the chamber, and down the lUirs. At the foot of thefe 
 
 ftajue* 
 
45 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 flairs flie faw (by the light of torches which were every 
 where flaming round) her father dragged by the hair 
 of his head; whilil an inhuman wretch, regardlefs of 
 
 his grey hairs and defencelefs flate, plunged a poniard 
 in his bofom. Al/ira, driven almoft to madnefs at the 
 fight, fprang from the arms cf Garcias, and threw her- 
 ftlf into thofe of the dying monarch. He knew his 
 child, pre/fed her to his boibm,faintly articulated a bleff- 
 ing on her, and expired. 
 
 Alzira's fenfes forfobk her. In that ftate fhe was 
 borne to the tent of her betrayer. The fcene that fol- 
 lowed is too horrid for repetition ! Morning dawned, 
 and the ill-fated princefs awoketo a perfect fenfe of all the 
 miferies of her fituation. She wilhed for death, but all 
 means of accelerating that period was removed from 
 her. She once conceived the thought of refufing all food, 
 but had not reiblution to perfift. Garcias was atten- 
 tive and kind ; pretended to mourn with her the fate 
 of her parents : She, not fully acquainted with his 
 treachery, liAened to his foothings, was confoled, and 
 endured life for his fake. But uninterrupted pofleflion 
 brought on fatiety, and at length indifference and dif- 
 guft. Du Ponty neglected and treated her harfhly. 
 She felt her fituation, but fhe was now a mother, and 
 more than ever attached to the father of her child ; fhe 
 dragged on a wretched exigence, without joy, with- 
 out hope, without even a dawn of comfort. 
 
 The natives of Peru who had efcaped the fwords of 
 the Caftilians on that memorable night, failed not to 
 attribute their misfortunes to their unhappy fovereign 
 Orrozombo ; he had been flack in the obfervance of 
 fome of the ceremonious devotions directed to be paid to 
 their deity, the Sun ; he had even doubted whether 
 their religion was the true religion ; he had refufed to 
 dedicate one of his daughters to the fervice of their 
 god ; he had married the heirefs of his crown and 
 kingdom to a ftranger, who abfolutely denied the di- 
 vinity of the power they worfln'pped, and called their 
 rites and ceremonies, absurdities and fuperftitions ; 
 and had fuffered this ftranger to carry her with him 
 to a diflant land. Theie, ia the eyes of the unenlight- 
 ened 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 49 
 
 •ned Peruvians, were heinous offences, and had drawn 
 down the wrath of their deity upon them ; and thus, 
 for the crimes of an individual, did they fooliihly im- 
 agine a whole nation was puniihed. 
 
 It was at this period our fleet arrived, hut the name 
 of Spaniard and of Chriltian had become hateful to the 
 ears of the natives ; not one therefore appeared to ei- 
 poufe the caufe of Columbus, imagining no doubt that 
 they fhould but expel one tyrant to make room for 
 another. Some few ventured by ftcalth to come and 
 fee their princefs ; but their fpirits were depreffed, and 
 their expreflions of love and duty consequently cold 
 and languid. When fhe prefented her fon to them as 
 their rightful king, they would (bake their heads, and 
 cry emphatically, " He is a Chriftian and a Spaniard." 
 
 Whilfl Columbus was ardently labouring to reduce 
 the Spaniards to fonie degree offubjedtion and order, at 
 the fame time driving to draw the natives back to the 
 duty and allegiance they owed the princefs, the treach- 
 erous Du Ponty, who had for fome time worn the 
 mafic of friendship in combination with feme of the 
 leaders of the banditti, had laid an infernal plot to burn 
 our fleet, and then, having the few that might at the 
 time be on fllore entirely in their power, oblige them 
 to fubmit to whatever terms they pleafed to offer. 
 
 But this plot was providentially discovered by a 
 young Peruvian maid, who, detained in the palace by 
 Garcias to attend on Al/.ira, though too young to 
 become a prey to any of his officers or affociates, was 
 yet old enough to deteft their actions, weep over the 
 ruin of her native country, and pray for fome propitious 
 hour to arrive, when its enemies might be puniihed. 
 She had overheard Du Ponty difcourfing with one of 
 his comrades on their intended plan, on t!<c very night 
 before it was to be put in execution ; and, waiting 
 till all was wrapt in filence, flic Hole from her 
 tpartment, and came to our tent. Having difcloild 
 w ha« j flic had obtained of their defgns, O 
 
 rabella told her Vne fhould flay with us andJxcr rr 
 one of her attendants; but fhe laid her hand on her 
 heart ajid cried, " No ! I cannot ;" then looking ear- 
 F nealy 
 
 r- 
 me 
 
50 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 neftly in the face of the princefs, fhe cried, " Poor Al- 
 zira ! (he is alive ; Ihe is miferable ! I will live or 
 die with her." " Alive ! my fifter alive !" faid Orra- 
 bella, darting from her feat ; lead me to her ; I will 
 deliver her, or ihare her fate." 
 
 The impatience of the princefs was only to be flayed 
 by the remonftrance of her hufband and his father* 
 " Your precipitancy, my love," cried FerdinandOj 
 " may ruin all. Our enemies are now v. i apt in '!eep ; 
 the time is favourable ; we mull repay treachery with 
 treachery ; fall upon them whilft they are unprepared, 
 and make them prifoners." 
 
 This refolution taken, Ferdinando took a fmall 
 boat, and, going to the fhips, ordered from them a 
 number of men, who were landed at different times, 
 in feveral boats. The officers were informed of Gar- 
 cias's intended treachery ; the private foldiers and 
 failors were not told of it, lell the fpirit of revenge 
 might be more powerful than the refpect they bore 
 their commander, and tempt them in the firft moment 
 of paffion to commit outrages at which they would 
 have caufe to bluih hereafter. Columbus dilpatched 
 parties to the dwellings of the principal officers ; thefe 
 parties he took the command of himfelf. Ferdinando 
 was appointed with a ftrong guard to invell the pal- 
 ace, which Du Ponty had made his own refidence 
 ever fince the night, when he put its unoffending in- 
 mates to the fword. Ferdinando knew every apart- 
 ment, every fecret room in it ; and the private entrance 
 by which the ill-fated Alzira ufed to admit her lover, 
 was pointed out by the Indian girl. 
 
 No perfuafions, however urgent, could prevail on 
 Orrabclla not to accompany her hufband, who, anx- 
 ious for her fafety, and more fo on account of her 
 iituation, (for lhe almoft daily expected to prefent 
 him with another pledge of muoial affe&ion) earnelHy 
 entreated her not to go, promifing to conducl her fil- 
 ter in fafety to her — but in vain. Orrabclla was not 
 eafily to "be perfuaded from doing what fhe conceived 
 a duty. As I found her determined to go, I refolv- 
 
 ed to accompany her. ," * 
 
 Through 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 51 
 
 Through a fmall gate, at the utmoft extent of the 
 garden, we were all admitted, and about twenty yards 
 from the houfe entered a door that appeared to be fix- 
 ed in the fide of a green Hoping bank ; this opened in- 
 to an arched pafTage, which led to the cellars of the 
 palace, which we traverfed with no little perturbation ; 
 and, afcending a flight of ftairs, found ourfelves in a 
 fpacio.us hall ; when the young Indian, taking hold 
 of Orrabella's hand, led her to the- left, placing her 
 finger on her mouth, in token of filence. i followed ; 
 and, entering a room in the midft of which glimmered 
 a pale lamp, perceived by its feeble beams, an elegant 
 female habited in the Peruvian drefs, kneeling on the 
 floor befidc a bed, on which lay a flceping infant. 
 Her long hair hung negligently over her neck and 
 ihoulders ; her arms were eroded on the bed, and her 
 head relied between them. At the moment we en- 
 tered, her forrows were lulled into forgetfulnefs. At 
 the nciie we made, (though it would have been 
 fcarcely perceptible to another ear, yet mifery is wake- 
 ful, and Marts at every found) lhe raifed her languid 
 head, gazed carneftly at Orrabella, who funk on her 
 knees beiide her. "Sifter! lifter!" faid lhe; and, 
 throwing herfelf into her arms, fainted on her bofem. 
 
 Whilft we were bulled with Al/.ira, Ferdinando and 
 his followers made good ufe of their time. The in- 
 habitants of the caftle were in a deep deep, partly the 
 effecls of intemperance ; lb profound were their (lum- 
 bers, that many of them felt the chains on their hands 
 and feet, before they could recover fenfc fufticient to 
 know who had put them on. Some few made a faint 
 reliftance ; but thefe were foon intimidated into fi- 
 lence ; and in filch quijt did every party proceed, 
 that before the dawn of day all the leaders, and a 
 great number of their followers, were in confinement, 
 and at the mercy of Columbus. 
 
 In the morning, the incidents of the night fpread 
 terror and confternation through all the Caftilian par- 
 ty ; and thole who were ftill at liberty, readily vowed 
 fubmilfion to the viceroy, in hopes by fo doing to fe- 
 cure their lives and fortunes, as they imagined Du 
 
 Ponty 
 
52 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 Ponty and his officers would be immediately execut- 
 ed, and their treasures feized on as public property. 
 in this they were miftaken ; Columbus wiflied to 
 fecure Ids own and followers lives and properties, but 
 ! not arrogate to himfelfthe right of plunging 
 w mnltitude of human beings into eternity, becaufe 
 they oppofed his plans, or had been blindly led by »n 
 unprincipled commander to perpetrate actions their 
 better reafon would have flmddercd at. 
 
 During the remainder of this eventful night* Alzira 
 informed her lifter of the circumftances I have already 
 related to you. Orrabella's foul was in a flame at the 
 thought of her fitter's diflionour. She finifhed her 
 melancholy recital in ihefe words ; " When I heard c{~ 
 j our arri /al, my dear filler, a gleam of joy fhot through 
 my bofom ; but reflection told me I had little reafon 
 to rejoice, for 1 was difhonoured, ftained ! and could 
 1 hope to be prefled to the chafte bofom ofOrrabella ? 
 Oh no ! I knew I had forfeited all right to your .•.necticn, 
 and I refolved fcduloufly to feclude myfelf from your 
 fight, fufFering you to believe I had been facrificed on 
 the fame night with my parents and filters." " Would 
 to Heaven you had," faid Orrabella, fervently ; "for 
 it is a thousand times more afflicting to my heart to fee 
 you thus, dragging on a miferable life, with public, 
 lois of honour, than to fee you covered with wounds, 
 and breathing out your foul in agony. Oh! my poor 
 ruined Alzira, where was the fpirit that was wont to 
 animate the children of the fun when the wretch firft 
 difclofed his impious propofal ? Why had not my filler 
 raifed her arm, and ftruck the monfter dead ?" 
 " Alas !" replied the weeping princefs, " I loved him 
 with fuch enthufiaftic fervour, that I would have given 
 my own life to preferve his. And pity me, Orrabella ; 
 for cruel as he has been to me and mine, I ftill do love 
 him almoft o madnefs. I ftruggle with my paffion, I 
 ftrive to teach my heart obedience to the dictates of 
 reafon ; but in vain." " Weak, unhappy girl," cried 
 Orrabella, with a ftern look, " if your heart is fo re- 
 fractory, enforce its obedience with this ;" prefenting 
 her with a dagger, which flic always wore in her girdle. 
 
 "Ralh 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 
 
 53 
 
 " Rafh woman," faid I, matching the dagger from 
 her, juft as the trembling Alzira had extended her hand 
 to receive it ; " rafh woman, what is it you do ? Have 
 you forgot that the precepts of the Chriftian religion 
 forbid felf-deltru(5lion ?" " So, (me replied haughtily) 
 does it forbid murder, rapine, fraud, perjury, and op- 
 preffion. Du Ponty, I think, profess C'hriilianity. 
 Oh! madam ! madam! the profeflbrs of youf religion 
 muit: practiie iJiemfelves what they would teach others, 
 before you can hope to make fincere converts." The 
 argument was unanswerable, and I remained filent. 
 
 Tranquillity was now in a great mcafure reltored ; it 
 was refolved the leaders of this lawlefs expedition fhould 
 be fent immediately home to Spain. Thofe of their fol- 
 lowers, who chofc to lubmit to the laws put in force 
 by the viceroy and governor, were to be peimitted to 
 ftay ; and when all was eltablifhed with fome degree 
 of permanency, your grandfather was to depart for 
 Hifpaniola. 13ut whUft we were laying theft plans, it 
 pleaied Heaven, by an awful and unexpected viola- 
 tion, to break our mealures, and haften our departure 
 from a coafr, where, from our firit landing, we had 
 been furrounded only by terror, vexation and disap- 
 pointment. 
 
 iiit ntjt^ti > i * i 
 
 CHAP. VIII. 
 Beatina's Narrative continued. 
 
 'HILST preparations were making for two of 
 the fleet to return to Europe, that Garcias 
 and his followers might, from the juftice of a regu- 
 lar court of judicature, receive their ientence, your 
 mother prefented Ferdiriando with a daughter, who 
 (by promife given to the queen of Spain on our leav- 
 ing that kingdom) was chriftened Uabelle. It re- 
 ceived the baptifmal benediction when but fovv . 
 old ; lor the diitrefs of mind under which your mo:lv_r 
 F 2 ■ had 
 
54 REUBEN and RACHEL; ok, 
 
 had laboured, had affe&ed the health of the infant, 
 and its life was very doubtful. 
 
 It was nearly a fortnight from the birth of this 
 daughter, when as Alzira, your father, and myfelf, 
 were fitting in the apartment of Orrabella, an unufual 
 drowfinefs deemed to affect us all. The atmofphere 
 had been for fome days heavy and oppreffive, which 
 at this time had increafed to fuch a degree as to occa- 
 sion fomcthing like a fenfe of fuffocation ; the heat too 
 was intenfe, though in general the climate is temperate 
 and pleafant. A torpor feized our fenfes, and we fat 
 gazing at each other, without power to (peak, and 
 with lcarce the faculty of thinking. From this flupor 
 we were aroufed by a tremendous noifc, like the howl- 
 ing of a mighty wind, the ruining of waters, and the 
 craih of thunder. In a moment the palace fhook I i 
 its- foundation, and in lefs than ten minutes all wa« 
 again profound fder.ee. '• One fhock is pail,'' cried 
 Alzira, in breathlefs agony ; " another, and all is hit. 
 Oh Garcias ! beloved Garcias ! let me five you 
 whilft I can." She caught up her child, who was 
 playing on the floor, and ruined toward of 
 
 the palace where Du Pcnty was confined. Ferdinan- 
 do, who had learnt from his wife the nature of thefe 
 convuifions of the earth, caught her in his arms ; and 
 bidding me hafte and follow him, bore her with pre- 
 cipitation from the palace. The two children, Chrifi 
 tophcr and Ifabelle, were in an adjoining 
 with their attendants. 1 ran to the door in hopes to 
 match them fr< m impending death, when the h. 
 again began to totter. I law the apartment fill that 
 held the precious bares, and heard their cries as they 
 were crufhed beneath the ruins. At that momenc, 
 my Ion, who had borne his wife to an open held, re- 
 turned, and carried me through the falling fabric, 
 which nodded horror on every fide, to the fane place 
 of comparative fafety* 
 
 Two hours of fuch tremendous threatenings from 
 gleaming meteors, burfts of thunder, and contortions 
 of the .earth, as could hardly be Supported by human 
 nature, we pafTed fitting on the ground, expe&ing ev- 
 ery 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 55 
 
 ery moment it would open ana fwallow us, v.'hen at 
 length nature became more compofed ; the dark mills 
 which had obfeured the face i f heaven began to diCl- 
 pate, and the fetting fun darted his watery beams aerofs 
 the harbour. What then were our fenfations, when, 
 added to our terror at feeing the-wholc face of the 
 country a univerlal wreck, we beheld the harbour 
 empty, not < ne v effel to be lccn ? Columbus had gone 
 rd tliat afternoon, to give Come ord its ; repai'a- 
 
 oiu* departure for Hiij ani . imagined 
 lie hurricane* .attendant on 1 t, had 
 
 1 him and his companions in the waves. We 
 caft our eyes towards die pi ce wl J the 
 tents and dwel i i< nds and • ; nor 
 tent nor dwelling appeared j all w;is filence, all was 
 defolation. A valt cavit; • 1 where on< 
 dwellings were, through which h hed a 
 
 •rrent ; which, as it roared along, h< 
 its furfa.ee tree.-, fbrubs, r: his, and bodies ei wild 
 beads wliich had periihed in the temped. 
 
 Oh! what a night of agony we paft. Yet this rude 
 {hock had not affected oniverfal nature. The dews 
 fell as kindly, the zephyrs blowed us refrefbing, and the 
 Tun arofe with as much fplendor, ;is though the night 
 had pa^ed in its ufual tranquillity. And why not ? 
 The whole world is but an atom Boating in ii 
 fpace, and we who crawl on i but as en 
 
 thousands of which might be accidentally crufhed 
 beneath the foot of the paflenger, without deranging, 
 in the lead, the beauty, order and fymmetry of 
 the univerfal whole. 
 
 When we beheld the defolation which fpread far 
 and wide on every fide, defpair had i ed our 
 
 minds ; but as the morning advanced, we defcried 
 four of our veffels coming with a get. tie breeze into 
 the harbour. Columbus landed, and our meeting was 
 fpeechlefs ecftacy. 
 
 From the devaftation rf the night, about forty fouls 
 had efcaped, and thefe entreated to be allowed to em- 
 bark and quit the coalt immediately. Columbus 
 having affented to their requell, and had us conveyed 
 on board Lis own fhip, put immediately to ila. He 
 
 then 
 
56 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 then informed ns, that hearing the hurricane roar be- 
 fore it came upon him, he cut the cables of his (hip* 
 and ordering the fails to be loofed, prepared to put 
 before it, whichever way it ihould drive, as the only 
 hope of laving his veflel. Several others followed his 
 example ; and providentially the temped bore dire«5Hy 
 out of the harbour. Thofe who caught the firft mo- 
 ment to put to lea, were faved ; three ftiips remained 
 in port, and were (wallowed in the general ruin. 
 
 Garcias and his whole party were in this dreadful 
 night hurried out of time into eternity. Of all the 
 princefs Orrabella's attendants, only Cora and her 
 mother were faved. Poor Alzira, with the virtuous 
 Peruvian maid who faved us from the vile fchemes 
 of the Caftilians, were buried in the ruins of the palace. 
 
 On our arrival in Hifpaniola, Columbus lhewed his 
 commiilion and authority to displace Roldan and his 
 officers, and to take upon himfelf the reins of govern- 
 ment. The natives, and indeed the inhabitants in 
 general, received him with acclamations of joy, and 
 followed the degraded Roldan to the water fide when 
 he embarked, with curfes, lliouts and hifTes. 
 
 Two years from this period palled on in the utmoft 
 tranquillity. The only alloy to our happinefs at this 
 period, was the ill health of your mother, whole deli- 
 cate frame had received a fhock almoft beyond her 
 ftrcngth to fupport. But time by degrees weakened 
 the remembrance of her fevere loffes ; and as her 
 fpirits began to regain their wonted tone, health faint- 
 ly tinged her cheeks, and enlivened her grief-fwolll 
 eyes. 
 
 It was at the clofe of the year 1504, that we receiv- 
 ed the afflicting intelligence of the death of Uabclle of 
 Spain. When Columbus was informed of an event 
 fo diftrefling to us all, but to him in particular, he 
 prelfed her portrait (which he ever wore about his 
 neck) to his lips ; " Oh ! my royal miltrefs," faid he, 
 ** in the grave, with thy virtues, lies buried the fame, the 
 honour,the ha; ipinefs of Columbus." He fpoke prophet- 
 ically ; for within fix months from the death of the queen, 
 your grandfather was recalled ; and Davilla, a crea- 
 ture 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 57 
 
 ture of the king's, and an intimate cf Roldan 's, was 
 appointed to ilicceed him as viceroy. Your father, 
 offended at the indignity offered his parent, religned 
 all his Cilices, and we returned to Spain together. 
 Columbus never vifited the" court ; but immediately 
 on landing retired to an eftate hep< ffeffed in Vallado- 
 lid. Ferdinando attended the levee of the king feve- 
 ral times, but he was either entirely overlooked, or ad- 
 dreffed in fueh terms of chilling coldnefs, that his high 
 i'pirit could not brook it, and he followed his fa 
 into retirement. 
 
 Perhaps your inexperienced mind will wonder how 
 Roldan, but a few years fince poor, and dependent on 
 the friendihip and bounty of Columbus, could have 
 xntereft Sufficient to difplace that valiant commander, 
 and place a favorite of his own in his office. But, my 
 dear girl, the neglected Roldan was poor, the return- 
 ing governor was rich. And they who in the former 
 Situation treated him with contemptuous neglect, or at 
 bell withcold,fupercilious civility, now received him with 
 open arms, applauded every word he fpoke, and, like 
 fummer flies round a veffel which contains honey, 
 fwarmed with a food, officious, greedy hum, in hopes 
 to lhare the fweets that it contains. 
 
 Roldan was a man of the world ; he heard them, 
 received their careifes, fimiled internally at their duplic- 
 ity, made them fubfervient to his purpofes, and then 
 retaliated 1 :i them the contumely and fcorn which he 
 well remembered once to have received. Added to 
 this, Ifabelle was dead ; arid Ferdinand, who 1 
 cordially loved Columbus eagerly caught at a.v op- 
 portunity, however frivolous, to difgrace a man 
 unexpected fuccelTes'werc a canftant reproach to him. 
 
 Pofle/Ied of a princely fortune, beloved by his friends, 
 and (even fallen as he was from power) Mill feared by 
 his enemies, furrounded by a loving and beloved fami- 
 ly, Columbus might have been expected to enjoy many 
 years of uninterrupted tranquillity. But, alas ! his 
 noble heart was wounded paft cure. It was not pow- 
 er he had coveted from the iiri' ; wealth he defj 
 titles were ben a.h his notice ; it was honour, untar- 
 
 ■ 
 
58 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 niftied and unfullied fame, he fought. The one had 
 been twice involved in fuipicion, and the other was 
 threatened to be wreftcd from him ; for many of the 
 creatures that infefted the court of Ferdinand, pre- 
 tended that die difcovery of the vaft continent now- 
 called America, was nothing extraordinary ; and that 
 many had rpoken oi" it as a thing more than poffible 
 long before Columbus attempted it. Befides this, a 
 report was fpread that the continent had been former- 
 ly difcovered by fome mariners who were ihipwrecked 
 on its coaft, and providentially returned to their native 
 country ; that the chief of diefe mariners, being en- 
 tertained at the houfe of Columbus's father whilft he 
 was yet a boy, he had liftened attentively to the de- 
 fcriptions he gave of its fituation, latitude, and com- 
 puted diftance from Europe ; that he had trcafured 
 this in his memory, and the old mariner dying foon 
 after, Columbus had impofed the difcovery on the 
 world as his own, the fruit of indefatigable applica- 
 tion, and invenfe ftudy. 
 
 Thcfe reports, which were malicioufly circulated by 
 his enemies, preyed on his fpirits. His health daily 
 declined ; his appetite fprfook him, and reft was a ftran- 
 £er to his pillow. He Ihunned the fociety even of his 
 neareft connexions ; he would fpend whole days in his 
 clofet, where he had carefully preferved his chains, and 
 I have often furprifed him weeping over them like an 
 infant. Life became a burthen to him, grievous to 
 fupport, and it pleafed Heaven to releafe him from it 
 on the 20th of May, 1506. 
 
 What my furFerings were, thus deprived oi" my firft 
 and deareft friend and companion, it is impofi.ole to 
 give you any idea of. For many months, I Unit my- 
 ielf from the fight of all ; even the prefence of your 
 father and mother were painful to me. Their afflic- 
 tion was fcarcely lefs poignant than mine, and the moil 
 luxurious moments any of us knew, were when we were 
 recounting the virtues, and weeping over the memory 
 of our departed hero. But from thefe tender indul- 
 gences we were aroufed by a furious war breaking 
 out between Spain and the Ottoman Empire. Num- 
 bers 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 59 
 
 bers of volunteers, gentlemen of the firft rank, prepar- 
 ed to repel thefe invading Moors. 
 
 Ferdinando inherited the fpirit of his father ; his 
 country required his aid, and unafked, he offered it. 
 During a war of feven years, your mother and myfelf 
 (who remained retired in Valladolid) law him but 
 three times. His viiits were always fliort, and our 
 fears for his fafety were fo great and multiplied, that 
 the pain of parting more than counterbalanced the 
 pleasures of meeting. His lait recefs from arms was 
 four months, during the winter of 15 14. At parting, 
 he tenderly embraced me. On taking leave of his 
 wife, who after fo many years again gave him hopes 
 of becoming a father, he entreated her, lhould he not 
 return before the birth of his child, and it lhould prove 
 a girl, that fne would have it chriftened Ifabellc. " It 
 was the wifh of our late royal Jniftrfefs," faid he, " that 
 one of our children lhould bear her name. She is 
 now no more ; but the imalleft wiih of the patronefs 
 of my departed father will ever be a command to me.'* 
 " And to me," laid Orrabella ; " if my child is a fe- 
 male, Ifabellc (hall be her name." Your father again 
 embraced us, ble/fed us, and departed. 
 
 The war continued with unabated fury on both 
 fides. Ferdinando was in conftant and dangerous 
 fervice. Six months palTed, and no hopes of his re- 
 turn ; at the expiration of that period, you, my dear 
 child, were bom ; and in ten days after, j oil were bap- 
 tized by the name of Ifabelle. 
 
 Your mother had not left her apartment, when one 
 day as we were fitting by the window, we perceived a 
 courier riding full- {peed up the avenue that led to the 
 houfe. I left the room to take the exprefs, my heart 
 foreboding fatal tidings, and wiihing to conceal 
 them as long as poflible from your mother. But as 
 I went down the front (lairs, a fervant, who had re- 
 ceived the packet from the mefTenger, ran up the 
 back way, and delivered it into the hands of the un- 
 fortunate Orrabella. She opened it, fhs read. Fer- 
 dinando was no more, and I returned to the apart- 
 ment julf time enough to fave her from falling to the 
 
 floor. 
 
Co REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 floor. Violent convulAons Succeeded each other ; and 
 before morning, my poor little Ifabelle was an orphan. 
 I fupportod myfelf through fuch accumulated 
 miferv, Heaven (who no doubt ailifted me) alone can 
 tell. 
 
 It was many days before I could fummon refo- 
 lution to examine the fatal packet particularly. When 
 I did, I found my brave fon had fallen glorioufly in 
 fingle combat with the heir to the Ottoman fceptre ; 
 that he few his antagoniA iall, and died triumphing in 
 the excellency of his own religion, and exhorting all 
 around him to perfevere to the end. I wept at the 
 i f my child, but I gloried in his faith, valour and 
 conftancy in the Chriftian caufe. 
 
 From that time, my life has been a continued blank. 
 I have fcen but little company. My nephew, the 
 marquis Guidova, fon to a brother of mine, the off- 
 spring of a marriage daat my father contracted after 
 my union with your grandfather, with two aiSiable 
 young women his fitters, and a charming creature 
 whom he had made his wife, were the only lbciety 
 that afforded me any Satisfaction. I endure ceremo- 
 nious vifits, it is true ; but I always feel them infup- 
 portably tedious, and impatiently look for the moment 
 when the departure of my gueils would releafe me, 
 and 1 might either unbend my mind in obferving your 
 innocent fports, or in deep folitnde, by reflection and 
 hope, be again united to thole departed objccls of my 
 affections, Columbus, Ferdinando and Orrabella. 
 
 In lei's than a twelvemonth after the death of your 
 parents, I made my will. For the contents and mean- 
 ing of that nuill, I refer you to the beginning of this 
 long cpiftle, which, at hours when my ftrength and 
 fphrits would permit the employment, I have been 
 nearly three months in writing. And now, my dear 
 Ifabelle, I bid you adieu. May yen poflefs all the 
 virtr.es of your father and grandfather, all the beauty 
 and fortitude of your mother, and he ever exempt 
 from the forrows that have lacerated the heart of 
 
 BEATINA. 
 
 . ' Your 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 6t 
 
 Your chief attendant was your mother's favour- 
 ite Indian fervant, Cora. Should (he live till you 
 reach the years of maturity, be to her a firm friend ; 
 her attachment to your parents, and affection for 
 yourfelf, has been unbounded ; let your gratitude be 
 the fame. 
 
 Columbia had read, and paufed, and wept, and 
 read again, till, in her anxiety for the fate of Orra- 
 bella, me had forgot what me fo earneftly had wilhed 
 to know, concerning the marriage of her mother. 
 The conclufion of the manufcript, however, brought it 
 freih to her memory. She turned the paper on all 
 fides ; no farther intelligence was to be gleaned from 
 that. But Cora, Cora had been particularly mention- 
 ed, as flrongly attached to the lady Ifabelle. No 
 doubt Hie could inform her of all fhe wiflicd to know. 
 She had no fooner conceived the idea, than, folding' 
 the papers which Ihe replaced in the efcritoire, flic 
 locked the drawer, and haftily fought the apartment 
 of her aged fervant. 
 
 ••< •<•<■■< <«^J4*-J3°> ••> ■•» ■■>■ > • 
 
 CHAP. IX. 
 
 Supplication, Rejection, Compliance. 
 
 " T HAVE read all the papers," faid Columbia, feat- 
 1_ ing herfelf befide Cora, who was taking her even- 
 ing's repaft ; " I have read them all, but they do not 
 give me any account of my father, or how he became 
 acquainted with the lady Ifabelle." " I did not fup- 
 pofe they would," replied Cora, fipping with affecled 
 unconcern fome milk which flood before her, and then 
 breaking into it the remainder of a flice of brown 
 bread, which lay befide it. 
 
 " Well, but dear Cora," faid Columbia, laving her 
 
 right arm over her old fervant's flioulder, and' looking 
 
 with finding eameftnefs in her face ; " but dear Cora, 
 
 I dare fay you could tell mc all about it.'* « Oh • 
 
 G- not 
 
Cn REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 not I," flic replied, putting from her with a reje&ing 
 i the lovely arm that encircled her neck ; " not 
 I, indeed. I tell a ftory fo badly, and make fo many 
 Repetitions, and am Jo tedious and minute, you would 
 have uo patience to liiten ; fo you and Mina may go 
 and walk, and I'll go to bed, and then, you know, we 
 mall both be fatisfied." 
 
 " Nay but, dear, dear Cora, now don't be angry. 
 Pray forgive me if I was a naughty girl, and impa- 
 tiently would not give you leave to tell the ftory your 
 own way. Only infirm me how my mother became 
 acquainted with, and afterwards married to, an En- 
 gliloman, and a Proteftant, and I will promife not to 
 interrupt you from the beginning of your ftory to the 
 end." 
 
 " Aye, to be fure," laid Cora, "we are mighty con- 
 defcending now. O my confeience, there is nothing 
 like curiofity to make a young lady gentle and com- 
 plying. This morning it was, Be quiet, Cora, and 
 pray hold your tongue. Hold my tongue indeed j, 
 why I warrant I could have told you every thing 
 that happened, as well as thofe letters. But you 
 liked reading the letters beft then, and fo mayhap 
 you may find fome more to-morrow that will tell you 
 every thing you wifti to know." 
 
 " 'Tis well," faid Columbia, fomewhat haughtily, 
 " I will go to my mother. She referred me to you ; 
 but Jince you do n^t choofc to comply with her defires, 
 1 will from her mouth requcft a recital of events, 
 which, however the recollection of them may make 
 her own heart bleed afrefli, fhe will, I am Jure, re- 
 count, to gratify the laudable curioJity of her child. 
 You, Cora, may go to bed and reft ; your lady, the 
 daughter of the prmcefs Orrabella, and her unfortu- 
 nate offspring, will pads the night in forrow. She in 
 tears of bitter remembrance, and I in lamenting af- 
 flictions I cannot but feel, though I have not the pow- 
 er to alleviate." 
 
 This was attacking Cora in the moft vulnerable 
 part. " Stay," faid fhe, catching hold of Columbia's 
 re-be, " flay, my dear young l.a/Jy, but" a few mo- 
 ments, 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. tfj 
 
 rrients, and I will tell you all." " That's my good 
 Cora," faid ihe, kifllng her cheek with affeclion ; <l I 
 will now go and take leave of my mother for the 
 night. You ihall go to bed, Mina, and I will come 
 and fit beiide you. We will put out the candle. For 
 you know the moon Alines lull into your chamber, 
 and I always think a ftory doubly interceding when it 
 is told by moonlight. 
 
 This arrangement made, Columbia went to the 
 apartment of her mother, and partook or a High! 
 repair. But little converfation paffed between them. 
 Ii'abelle was buried in reflection, and the mind of h-. r 
 daughter fully occupied by the events ilie had been fo 
 lately made acquainted with, mixed with a reitlels im- 
 patience to repair to the chamber of Cora. Supper 
 finilhed, Ihe requeued leave to retire ; and Mina, being 
 diimuled from her attendance on the 1 • Jy Ilabelle, 
 they feated themfelves on the lide of Cora's bed, who 
 eagerly began the promifed recital. 
 
 •" The old lady Beatina died when your mother was 
 not feven years old, and fo the Marquis Guidova 
 thought it licit only to leave a few people juft to take- 
 care of the houfe and plcalure grounds in Valladolid ;• 
 and difcharging the reft of the fcrvants, take my yoifng 
 lady \\i;h him to Madrid, where he for the molt part 
 lived. He was a good gentleman, and his lady, Hea- 
 ven blefs her, was as kind a gentlewoman as ever 
 breathed. They were as fond of your mother as 
 though (he had been their own child ; but who could 
 help loving her ? She was, fo condefcending, fo benevo- 
 lent, fo good-natured, and more than that, fo beauti- 
 ful. So there was matters hired to teach her every 
 thing, that ladies of quality generally learn, and they 
 ufed to fay they had no trouble in teaching her ; for 
 ihe underilood every thing they told her in a minute, 
 and never forgot what Ihe had once learnt. 
 
 " Many cavaliers and gentlemen fought her for 
 their bride before Ihe was fifteen. Not a family in 
 the Court of Spain but would have thought it a high 
 honour to have had her for a daughter-in-law. The 
 young King of Spain ufed to caH her a ftax of the firft 
 
 magnitude ; 
 
$4 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 magnitude ; a gem fit for the crown of a prince, and 
 many other fuch pretty names. But lhe, fwect 
 lady, was never made proud or conceited by thefe 
 praifes, but was always lhe Tame humble, affable crea- 
 ture as ever. Then (he was fo pious ! Ah, when lhall 
 | fee ? i [er behaviour was an example, ad- 
 
 mired by al], but 1 am afraid followed by very few. 
 
 " Well, as I was faying, many noble gentlemen 
 fought to win her love, but fhe was indifferent to them 
 all ; and at the age (;f eighteen, was flill unmarried. 
 At that time, Sir Thomas Arundel arrived at the 
 Spanilh Court. He was travelling to finifh his educa- 
 tion, and came with a defign of parting a few months 
 in Madrid, Ah ! he was a brave gentleman." 
 
 "Yes," faid Cplumbia cxukingly, "my father was 
 a. brave man, a worthy man, an honour to human 
 nature." 
 
 " Aye, but," replied Cora, " he was much hand- 
 fomer then, fo tall and graceful, fuch fine blue eyes, 
 and fuch a complexion, fo fair and ruddy, and his 
 beautiful dark brown hair fell in fuch becoming ring- 
 lets round his face and lhouldei-s, that he looked like 
 fomething more than mortal." 
 
 ** Why, Cora," faid Mina, laughing, " you defcribe 
 his perfon with fuch rapture, that I do believe you 
 fell in love with him yourfelf." " Heaven help me I" 
 cried the old woman, " that would have been a fine 
 flory truly ! No, no, I knew my ftation better. Be- 
 fides, I was old enough to be his mother. I could; 
 not fhut my eyes, you know, and I hope there was no 
 harm in admiring what 1 faw." 
 
 44 No, to be fure," faid Columbia, "and I dare fay 
 my dear mother admired him as much as you did." 
 
 " Indeed fhe did," replied Cora ; " he was intro- 
 duced to the Marcmis by the Duke dc Medina, and in^ 
 vited by him to a lplendid entertainment which he 
 gave to all the foreigners of diftincYion at that time 
 refident at the Court of Spain. Oh ! how beautiful 
 did my dear lady Ifabelle look on that day ; her drefs 
 was always plain, but it was always becoming, and 
 more than ufually fo at that time. N© wonder the 
 
 young 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 6$ 
 
 young Eng iihm.m was captivated at firft fight. I 
 could have gazed at her for the whole day without 
 being tired ; what then muft he feel, who had never 
 before feen a woman fo charming ? For to excel her, 
 I am fare would be impofli ill was given in 
 
 the evening; Arundel' danced with your mother. 
 Every eye was turned upon them as Lhey gracefully' 
 and lightly followed the muiic. Every tongue mur- 
 mured their pr.iiie. 
 
 " When the lady Ifabelle retired for the night, me 
 afked me if I had feen the accomplilhcd cavalier 
 Arundel, and whether I did not think him very hand- 
 fome. " I have been deaf to all my loves as yet," laid 
 fhe, fmiling ; " but I believe, Cora, if Arundel ihojdd 
 aik my hand, I lliould not long withhold it." The 
 next morning, as lhe was riling, the whole of her dif- 
 courie was on the gallant Englilhrnan ; and lhe 
 not help wifhing to lee him again, and wondering 
 whether he thought of her as much as lhe did of him. 
 Whilft lhe was prattling on in her lively innocent 
 manner, the Marchionefs Guidova entered the ::part- 
 ment. 
 
 " Ifabelle, my love," (aid (he, u I have fome papers 
 in my polfellion, which I blame myfelf for not having 
 earlier entrufted to your perufal. Here are fome con- 
 fidential letters which palled between your fathei 
 his parents ; and here is a packet addrened to you, my 
 love. It was written by yoUr grandmother d 
 the lall years of her life. It will inform you of 
 particulars in her will, which it is neceflary for you 
 to know. You are then llriclly forbid to unite yourfelf 
 to a man who profefies the reformed religion. 
 
 " The Marquis and myfelf could not but obferve lall 
 night the pointed attentions, and undifguifed admira- 
 tion, with which Sir Thomas Arundel addrened 
 and I think it is not unlikely but lie may requeft you in 
 marriage. Now, my dear Ifabelle, Arundel is a i'trict 
 Protellant. This, you arc fcnlible, will place an in- 
 furmountable barrier between you. And fearful rh.it 
 my dear girl might let her heart be allured !.. ;ui 
 agreeable perfon and inl'muating addrefs before the 
 G 2 kn n 
 
66 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 knew the fatal confequences that muft refult from 
 fuch an indulgence, I would no longer delay requcft- 
 ing you to give a few hours ferious attention to the 
 pap ers I here leave with you, particularly that writ- 
 ten by your grandmother." 
 
 " When the Marchionefs had thus fpoke, (he em- 
 braced the lady Ilabellc, who had not once attempted 
 an anfwer } and laying the papers on the table, left 
 the apartment. 
 
 " While the Marchionefs was fpeaking, I had retir- 
 ed, out of refpect, to a window at the moft diftant 
 part of the room ; but I now approached my young 
 lady, and found her pale, trembling, and her eyes 
 brimfull of tears. "My fate, I fear, is fixe3, Cora,** 
 faid lhe. " My heart has hitherto been infenfible to 
 the admiration and love I heard numbers daily pro- 
 fefs for rrte ; but though fo lately acquainted with 
 him, I had, almoft unknown to myfelf, fuffercd a wiih 
 to rife, that Arundel might be the man defigned to be 
 my huuSand. It is true, I never law him till yefter- 
 day ; but to his chara^ffer I am no ftranger. Fame 
 fpeaks highly of his honour, integrity and wildom. 
 But I am told our fates can never be united. If fo, 
 a convent fhall be my choice, and I will Unit myfclf 
 from a world that will, I greatly fear, contain no 
 charms for me, when deprived of the hope of fharing 
 the fate of Arundel." 
 
 " She then hailily finiflied dre fling, and difmifled me ; 
 nor did I lee the dear lady again, till noon. Oh ! how 
 her fweet countenance was altered fince the morning. 
 She was bathing her eyes in water, in hopes to take 
 off the rednefs ; but it was in vain. The traces of 
 her tears ftill remained upon her cheeks, and her eyes 
 were funk and heavy. The papers lay open on the 
 table before her ; lhe fpoke but little to me ; and 
 though when lhe did fpeak, fhe forced a fmile, I 
 could fee her poor heart was almoft breaking. 
 
 " The Marquis had rightly judged, that Arundel 
 was enamoured of my lady ; for on the very next 
 day, he took an opportunity to call, when he knew 
 the Marquis was at the levee, and going into the gar- 
 den, 
 
TALES or OLD TIMES. 67 
 
 den, as he faid to amufe himfelf till die Marquis's re- 
 turn, he fent one of the fervants to defire I would 
 grant him a few minutes' converfation. I went, you 
 may be fure ; for I gueffed his errand, and thought 
 it no harm to pity him, and hear what he had to lay 
 on the fubjecl. So as I was faying, I went, and he 
 alked me a thoufand queftions about die lady Ilkbelle ; 
 as whether flie was engaged, whether Jhe had ever 
 mentioned him, and whether it was with diilike or 
 approbation. Oh ! Mils Columbia, he was a fine 
 fyoken man ; it would have done your heart good t<j 
 have heard him. 
 
 "Your lady is an angel, Cora, "faid he; "and I ftiould 
 think my felf but too happy to be permitted to weaf 
 out my life in her fervicc. I mean to aflc her of her 
 guardian ; but as I would firll be alTured, that by lb 
 doing I offer no violence to her heart, I have written 
 to her. Take this letter, then, my good Cora, and 
 deliver it into the hands of your divine miftrefs. To- 
 morrow I will expect an anfwer, and my future con- 
 duel mail be regulated by her commands. Be not 
 alarmed, (for I drew back as he offered me the letter) 
 be not alarmed ; I fwear to you, I have nothing but 
 honour in my thoughts." He then forced the letter 
 into my hand, and with it his purfe, containing about 
 twenty ducats ; and at that moment hearing the Mar- 
 quis's voice in the garden inquiring for Arundel, I 
 could neither return his prefent, nor tell him of how 
 little effect his letter would be ; iince my lady was 
 restricted from marrying a Proteltant. But the exact 
 terms of the reftriction I did not then know. So, as 
 I faid, hearing the Marquis coming, I was glad to 
 avoid meeting him ; fo turned into another walk, and 
 made the belt of my way to the houfe. 
 
 " When I gave your dear mother the letter, flie chid 
 me for bringing it, me helitated for fome time ; but 
 when I told her he promifed to be guided by her com- 
 mands, flie opened and read it. Then bidding me 
 bring her pen and ink, flie wrote an anfwer, frequently 
 flopping to wipe off the tears that guflied into her 
 eyes. 
 
 " From 
 
68 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 " From this time for above a fortnight, letters pafi*-- 
 ed between them every day. My poor lady grew 
 penlive, languid, and .avoided company ; fpent great 
 part of every night in writing ; and in the day time, 
 every moment when flic thought nobody obferved 
 her, (he would read over the letters of Arundel. 
 
 " At length (he told me one evening, that ihe had 
 promifcd to give him an interview. " He laps here 
 to-night," did (he, "and after Hipper will retire to the 
 alcove on the call fide of the garden, and thither I 
 have promifed to go to meet him ; and you, Cora, 
 mull; go v ith me." 
 
 " I felt as though it would be right to perfuade her 
 not to go, but did not know how to begin ; nor could 
 I rightly comprehend how (as they both worshipped, 
 the fame God) 'the differing in a few trifling forms 
 and ceremonies could make it fuch a crime for 
 them to marry,. I thought perhaps the Marquis and 
 his- lady might be angry at firft, but that they loved 
 her fo well they would foon be. reconciled. After 
 this interview, the whole of which I did not hear, and 
 what I did hear I did not fully underftand, only this 
 I know, that Sir Thomas Arundel fpoke lb finely, that 
 he made me cry more than once ; the lady Ifabclle 
 told him, that by marrying a Protectant (he ihould for- 
 feit her whole fortune. " And what of that, my love* 
 ly. Ifabelle," laid lie, "I have fortune encugh for us 
 both, it is your invaluable fell" I. adore ; yen Hatter 
 me ; I am not indifferent to your generous heart ; 
 why then does my charmer iiefitate ? Let me call, 
 this dear hand mine ; and my wealth, which is more 
 than enough for all the comforts, nay, even the ele- 
 gancies of life, will be happily employed, if it can pro- 
 cure a moment's .fatisfadtion for the idol ( t my foul.',' 
 
 " Take me not thus by furprife," replied your moth- 
 er ;.• " give me a few days to reflect ferionlly, and your 
 generous propofal iliail have an ingenuous and candid 
 anfwer. Believe rr.e, Arundel, I will examine my 
 heart with the minuted fcrutiny ; and if 1 find its at- 
 tachment to you unconquerable, I will not infult the 
 majefty of Heaven by making prof effions with my lips 
 
 which 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 6 9 
 
 which my foul would refufe to ratify. I will then 
 openly, in the face of the" world, avow my choice ; and 
 if I do fo, we will not have different intevchs in i'o le- 
 rious a concern as our evcrlafting peace in futurity.. 
 No, Arundel, if I become your wile, I embrace your 
 religion. Your faith lhall be my faith, your God my 
 God." 
 
 " She then fuffered him to kifs her hand, and lean- 
 ing on my arm, returned to her apartment. 
 
 " I fay, after this interview, my lady became more 
 compofed ; in fome meaiure regained her wonted 
 cheerfulncfs, and the Marquis was pleafed to perceive 
 a fadneis wearing off, the fource of which he had been 
 afraid to inquire into. 
 
 " It was about ten days from this time, that my lady 
 afked me if I would <^o mth her to England. " For 
 I am refolved, Cora," faid ihe, M to lhare the fate of 
 Arundel. This day I mean to avow my defigns to 
 my guardian, and relinquifh my eftates to my coulin. 
 Will you, then, follow the ruined fortunes of your 
 poor miftrefs I" 
 
 ** Will I r" faid I, throwing my arms round her ; 
 " can any tiling but death ever feparate me from you ?" 
 
 M It was towards the evening of this day, that the 
 lady Ifabelle fent me to requeli; the Marquis, his lady, 
 and their eldeft, fon, would grant her half an hour's 
 coiwerfation. They returned for anfver, t'nat they 
 were perfectly at liberty, and awaited her prcience in 
 the faloon. She then bade me go into the garden, where 
 lhe knew Arundel was waiting, and bid him come to 
 her. He obeyed the fummons, and they entered the 
 faloon together. It was then your noble mother de- 
 clared to her guardian and his family the rcfolution 
 fhc had taken. " Had you entrufted me," laid ihe, 
 v earlier with the contents of my grandmother's will, I 
 might have been upon my guard ; but my heart was ir- 
 revocably gone before I knew it was a crime to lpve a 
 Proteftant. Having made my election, I do not fcru 
 pie to confefs, that, deprived of Arundel, I would nev- 
 er unite with any other man. Secluiion from th * 
 wgrid would have been my next choice ; but rcaibn 
 
 ■and 
 
70 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 and religion told me, that a heart throbbing with all 
 the anxieties of a disappointed pallion, is not a fit la- 
 crifice to be offered to a Being of infinite purity. My 
 fortune I refign to my couiin, and wiih him as much 
 happinefs in the enjoyment of it as I feel in rclinquifh- 
 ing it. My pcrfonal ornaments I imagine are my 
 »wn. To-morrow I ihall btftow them and myfelf on 
 Arundel ; and in becoming his wife, I embrace the 
 Proteftant perfuafion." 
 
 " When my lady had finifhed {peaking, fhe gave 
 her hand to your father, who fpoke fomething very 
 handibme, though I can't remember what. But I 
 know the old Marquis raved, hisfon looked quite hap- 
 py, the Marchionefs cried. One moment embracing 
 lady Ifabelle, and entreating her to remember her 
 grandmother's laft injunctions, and not forfeit her eter- 
 nal peace by quitting the bofom of the holy mother 
 church ;. then fhe would entreat her ion not to enforce 
 the will to its full extent, but to' be content to divide 
 the fortune with his couiin. Oh ! dearee me, it was 
 a terrible night ; for what with the rage of the on* 
 and the tears of the other, my poor lady was almolt 
 di (traded.. 
 
 " Well, fure enough the ne-xt morning fhe was mar- 
 ried, and in a few days they let off for England. On 
 our arrival in London, fhe public kly abjured the Ro- 
 mifh religion, and would have had me do the fame ; 
 but I thought changing my religion once in my life 
 was enough. I was taught by the good lady Beatina, 
 to worfhip one God, and to look for eternal falvatioa 
 through the merits of a Redeemer ; to be humane 
 and charitable to all mankind ; and to the extent of 
 my weak power, I have endeavoured to practife what 
 fhe taught. And I hope I lhall, when I die, go to 
 heaven as well as if I had changed my religion twen- 
 ty times." 
 
 " You cannot change for the better, my good Coi 
 ra," laid Columbia ; " yet you muit not blame my 
 mother." 
 
 " Blame," cried Cora, haftily ; " no indeed ; the 
 lady Ifabelle never did any thing that deferved blame. 
 
 She 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 71 
 
 She had fenfe and education to underhand what fne 
 was doing ; but I was weak and ignorant, and feared 
 by renouncing one error, I might perhaps fall into a 
 greater." 
 
 " Well but, Cora, what was the caufe of my father's 
 ruin ? He was a man of family and fortune, and though 
 I perfectly remember him, and recollect that I had 
 not feen him for fomc months before, I loft him forever. 
 I (hall never forget the day on which I was told he 
 died. My dear mother, who had been abfent fome 
 days, was brought home in a ftate almoft bordering 
 On diftraction. She embraced me, called me her dear 
 orphan girl, wept, wrung her hands, and then damping 
 them, cried, Oh ! my Arundel, you are loft to me, 
 but I truft you are reaping the heavenly reward of 
 your faith, conftancy and fidelity. She then fent me 
 from her, and a few weeks after we came to this old 
 Caftle. I did not half like it, Cora, nor am I quite 
 leconciled to it now. Thoie old ruins at the well 
 ( nd, the long gallery that leads to it, the great arched 
 gate-way thai li<>ks ready to fall down, and the nafty 
 moat full of green water, fill me with terror and dif- 
 guft ; and if it was not for the little garden that Mat- 
 thias has done up fo cleverly, and the pond where we 
 £0 to fiili, I Ibould be ready to die with nv.hir.ilu.lv. '' 
 
 "And fo fhould I," faid Mina, "and with fear too; 
 for they people about here." 
 
 " Now do be quiet, Mina," faid Columbia, " for it 
 trows late, and I want Cora to rinilh telling about my 
 j.ulvr." 
 
 Mina was filent, and Cora continued. " Ah I my 
 dear Mils, thole were fad times indeed ; it was then 
 your dear mother was plunged into poverty ; for y u 
 know, your lather was a Proteftant. Well, lie was a 
 favourite with our young Xing Edward the Vlth. and 
 greatly beloved by the Protector Duke of Somerfet. 
 They favoured the reformers very much. And there 
 was that wicked Biftiop Gardiner, who was for burn- 
 tag and hanging every body that did not fay their 
 prayers juft as he did. He hated your father ; and 
 f > he, and fcvcral others as wicked as himfclf, laid a 
 
 plan 
 
72 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 plan to take away the life of the good Duke of Som- 
 crfet. They laid he bod laid a plan to murder the 
 young King, and accufed my worthy mailer, Sir 
 Thomas Arundel, of being an accomplice ; and they 
 threw them into prifon, and a great many more good 
 men were confined. And then Gardiner, and the 
 Duke of Northumberland, and others of his enemies, 
 pretended to have a regular trial. But what fort of 
 a trial was that, when the men that accufed them were 
 the judges ? So they condemned them all to fuffer 
 death, and all their fubftance was forfeit to the crown, 
 as they called it ; but I warrant thefe righteous judges 
 had pretty pickings out of them. So your dear father 
 was beheaded on Tower Hill, and all his eftates feized 
 on by thefe robbers. For I am fure they deferve no 
 better name ; for Northumberland only took away 
 the life of the good Duke of Somerfet, that he might 
 iupply his place about the perfon of the King, and lay 
 a plan for his own advantage. For he pcrfuaded the 
 King to make a will, and appoint the lady Jane Grey, 
 daughter to the Marchioneis of Dorlet, his fucceffor ; 
 and this he pretended to do out of love to the re- 
 formed religion ; but it was only becaufe ihe was mar- 
 ried to his fon, the Lord Guilford Dudley. But 
 Heaven puniihed him for his wickednefs, in the ruin 
 and death of thofe beloved and charming children. 
 
 "Oh! what a heavenly creature lady Jane was; 
 your mother loved her dearly. She, iweet foul, did 
 ; >t wilh to be a queen ; and when, on the death of 
 King Edward, they offered her the crown, " I pray 
 you pardon me, my friends," faid lhe, " and fuffer me 
 to decline this honour ; it is too much for me, frail 
 mortal that I am. I would feek an eternal, not a tem- 
 poral crown ; and much I fear the cares and anxieties 
 attendant on the one, will prove a hindrance to my do- 
 ino- my duty neceffary for the obtaining of the other ;" 
 and when urged to comply, lhe bowed her head in to- 
 ken of affent. She faid to thofe who knelt to do her 
 homap^e, " Pray rife, my friends, this is mockery. You 
 think I am afcending a throne ; but I fee clearer, and 
 perceive it is a fcaffold. Heaven pardon me this 
 
 ufurpation, 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 73 
 
 ufurpation, for I fee! I have ho right to the i 
 
 and (hall be ready, when called upon, to refign them 
 
 to my rightful queen." 
 
 When Northumberland told her it was for the good 
 cf the Proteflant caufe that fhe fhould aifume tl e 
 reins of government, flic replied, " The God of the 
 Proteftants is all-fufncient for their protection ; he v. ill 
 not fuffer them to be punifhed or perfecuted, unlefs Li 
 1>e for his own v. lie purpofes, to prove their faith, and 
 bring home more to die fold, hie needs not die af- 
 fiftance of my feeble arm. However) ihy good lord 
 Duke, if you think you arc in the way of your duty in 
 heaping thefe unrequired honours upon me, I fubmit ; 
 and Heaven forgive us both." 
 
 "I have heard Matthias, who was in London at 
 the time, repeat her w( rds fo often, that 1 cannot be 
 miftaken in repeating them again. So the fwcet, good 
 lady was proclaimed queen, and nine days after, 111* 
 was feized, with her hufband and her father-in-law, 
 and lent to the tower, and foon after they were alJ be- 
 headed. And fo 1 have no doubt but the wicked Duke 
 repented, before he died, of his malice to the c,ood 
 lord Protector and your dear father ; and -when lie 
 came to lay his own head upon the block, I dare fay 
 lie wiflied he never had been the means of bringing fo 
 many innocent people there. The lady Jane left one 
 ion by lord Dudley ; he was chriftened Hcnrv ; but 
 be bears neither the title, nor inherits the fortune of 
 his lather, more (tame for them that have wronged 
 him of it." 
 
 Here Cora ceafed (peaking : but Columbia was un- 
 able to thank her, or articulate a Angle word. The 
 unmerited aecufation and ignominious death cf he* 
 fathcr, the untimely fate of the lovely and pious lady 
 Jane, had fo opprefled her heart, that it was or.lv by 
 the indulgence of tears flic could fftve herfclf from 
 fainting. At length lhe recovered ft me degree of 
 COmpOJure, killed Cora, bade her good night, afl 
 king Mina's hand, retired to her own apartment. 
 
 H CHAP, 
 
7+ REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 C H A P. X. 
 An Adventure. 
 
 IT was now near midnight. The moon, which had 
 ihonc fo bright on the beginning of the evening, . 
 was now enveloped in black clouds. The wind whitt- 
 led hollow through the branches of the half-naked 
 trees, and the turrets of the old Caftle echoed its mel- 
 ancholy notes. A cold rain beat againft the cafe- 
 meuts, that foook, in their frames from the violence of 
 the rifing tempeft, and every thing wore a dreary, 
 fi n bi e appearance. 
 
 .,"" faid Columbia, flmdderjng, " my fpir- 
 ed, and the apai'tment looks fo gloo- 
 i I had not pet out the candle." 
 e fo do I," laid Mina, " for I can't 
 id, that the people, who 
 Id Caftle ; for I do affure 
 you th , live in it, and often afk 
 
 s never he any thing." 
 
 "What flapuld we hear or fee." faid Columbia, 
 "more than cur own family:" But the fhuddered 
 involuntarily, and drew nearer to Mina, calling a fear- 
 ful glance round the room. 
 
 " Nay, I don't know," replied Mina, " I never give 
 much ear to fuch {lories ; but they do fay the Caftle is 
 haunted ; and that a great Baron, who owned it a 
 good many years ago, killed his brother here, that, he 
 might win the love of his lady, whom he afterwards 
 feduced, and then fent her beyond fea, where (he was 
 never more heard of. And they fay the young Bar- 
 on's ghoft often is feen about the weftern ruins ; and 
 that he walks round the garden, and even fometimes 
 through the long gallery and up the winding ftair- 
 cafe that leads to the turret that joins this range of 
 apartments." 
 
 " I dare fay it !s all fancy," faid Columbia, getting 
 into bed, and covering her face with the bcd-clodies." 
 
 « Very 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 75 
 
 " Very likely," faid Mina ; " for you know we nev- 
 er fiiw or heard any thing." 
 
 M No, nor, I will anfwer for it, never fhall," replied 
 her young lady, " fo good night, Mina, for I'm 
 fleepy." 
 
 Mina began to fay, " Good night ;" but (topping 
 fhort, was feized with a univcrfal ihivering ; her heart 
 beat violently, and Ihe trembled fo that the bed fhook 
 under her. 
 
 " Oh heavens," faid Columbia, " what's the mat- 
 ter ?" 
 
 " Hufh," replied Mina, " liften." In trembling fi- 
 lence they both raifed their heads from the pillow, and 
 diftinctly heard human Iteps afcend the ftairs, which 
 led to the turret, and which winded on the fide of 
 their apartment immediately against the head of the 
 bed. . 
 
 " Perhaps Matthias is not gone to be: 1 ," faid Co- 
 lumbia. " Oh ! but I'm fure he is," replied Mina, 
 " I faw him take the candle and go into his own room. 
 Beiides, what fhould he do up in the old turret at 
 this hour, on fuch a difmal ftormy night :" 
 
 " Well, I do believe," faid Columbia, " it was only 
 imagination." Juft as flie fpoke, they heard the fame 
 noiie repeated, but it was the found of a perfon de- 
 fending ; and prefently a man's voice was heard, but 
 not loud enough to diftinguifh what he faid. 
 
 At the fame inftant they both fprang out of bed, 
 and ruflicd into Cora's apartment ; there, as they flood 
 trembling and trying to awake her, they difcerned 
 through a window, that looked towards the entrance 
 that led to the long gallery, two figures come from 
 the door ; and by the pale glimmer of the moon per- 
 ceived that one, by his beaver which appeared orna- 
 mented with feathers, was a gentleman of rank, the 
 other feemed habited like a fervant. 
 
 " There, there." faid Mina, " do you fee ?" " Yes," 
 faid Columbia ; " but there are two figures." " Aye, 
 to be fure," replied Mina ; " I dare fay that was his 
 faithful fervant, who ifcas killed endeavouring to pre- 
 fervc his mailer." 
 
 Columbia, 
 
?ff REUBEN and RACHEL; en, 
 
 Columbia, terrified as flic was, could fcarcely help 
 fmiling at the rcadincfs of her young attendant in 
 thus explaining every thing according to her own fancy. 
 They followed the two figures with their eyes, till they 
 feemed to vaitth amengft the weftern ruins ; and then 
 waking the old fervant,and creeping into her bed, one on 
 one fide and one cm the other, related the wonderful ap- 
 pearance they had feen, and the founds they had heard. 
 
 Cora was (trongly tinctured with the fuperftition fo 
 prevalent at that period in almoft ever)- rank. She 
 fully believed that they had feen fupernatural beings, 
 jlv.\] related, as (he lay trembling between them, fo many 
 horrible (lories, that the terrified girls were afraid to 
 open their eyes, left fome ghaftly fpeclre fhould meet 
 their \ tew. 
 
 At length the clock in the <reathall chimed three ; 
 and Cora, believing that at that hour fpirits of every 
 kfnd returned to their graves, compofed herfelf to fleep, 
 as did 2ier young companions. 
 
 But the (pints of Columbia had been fo haraued, 
 that Iter deep was difiurbed by frightful viiior.s, and 
 (he awoke before the fun had cheered the face of day. 
 Chid to behold returning light, fiie arofc, dejected and 
 mil efreflred ; and throwing a mantle over her fhoulders, 
 ed into the garden, in hopes the morning air 
 would revive her, and take off the appearance of lan- 
 guor which the want of reft had given her, and which 
 (he was fare would alarm her mother. There, as flic 
 wandered through a walk of filbert trees which had 
 been planted by Matthias near the margin of the pond, 
 (he endeavoured to perfuade herfelf, that the terrors 
 they had experienced in the night, were merely the 
 effects of an imagination previoufly weakened by mel- 
 ancholy recitals, and tinctured by the gloomincfs of 
 the weather. The ftorm was now paft ; the fun was 
 above the horizon; the fhy was fcrene ; the air juft 
 Sharp enough to brace tire nerves, and give elaflicity 
 to the fpirits. Columbia, enlivened by its^ vivifying 
 power, had nearly afiumed her ufual chcerfulnefs and 
 fcrenily, when turning out of the walk towards the 
 houfe, from an arch-way in the ruins (lie few, advanc- 
 ing 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 
 
 / i 
 
 ing towards her, the fame figures fue had faintly per- 
 ceived crofs the court yard in the night. She Ihrieked, 
 drew her mantle over her face, and fell fainting to the 
 eardi. 
 
 When (lie recovered, fhe found herfelf fupported in 
 her m< :nher ' •> arm;, the itranger {landing befide her. 
 The aLirmmg myftery was hom flblved. This 
 
 phantom, who had in alarmed Columbia and her at- 
 tendant, was a material , Sir Egbert Gor- 
 iame ; who, with his ili-vant, flying from the 
 of Mary (that cruel oppteiFor and tyrant 
 < i lie.- Proteftant fubjects) to the coaft of Wales, in 
 hopes to feek in fome foreign land that liberty of con- 
 fcience denied him ir. his own, was benighted, and had 
 lbft his way. 
 
 Sir Egbert, thus weary and ite, wandering 
 
 over the dreary heath, drenched, by the form, fatigued, 
 cold and hungry, made up to Auftentrory Ca 
 which he perceived at a fmall diftance. The ruinous 
 appearance of the wefrern wing, which, being next 
 the path he had taken, he firft entered, gave him little 
 hope to find inhabitants in it. lie made his \ 
 through the mouldering apartmeni he. court 
 
 yard, which he crofled ; and in the hope of fin di 
 fome room more habitable than any through which 
 he had palled, he . die flairs which lead to the 
 
 turret. But di (appointed in his wlfhes, he i.iid to I 
 fervant as lie caiuedown^ " This is cercai ' la- 
 
 ted ruin, and we had better return to the mod com- 
 fortable place wc can n:\J. on the other fide the c< i 
 yard. For tliis ''3d turret is mere oafmal and flatter- 
 ed than any tiling we have yet icon." Thefe were 
 the fbotfteps and voices that had lb alarmed Columbia. 
 &ad according to this refolution, they were rcturnii 
 to the wetcrn win -,, wh( a the terrified lady and her 
 lervant faw them from the window. 
 
 Sir Egbert, and his man Rawlins, having led their 
 horfes into a place of comparative Ihelter, fought for a 
 room that might be bed calculated to guard themfelves 
 irom the damp nocturnal air. Finding cue lefs matter- 
 ed by the hand of time than the rc:l ; they ftretched 
 ^ 2 themielves 
 
&EUEE.N axp RACHEL; oa, 
 
 themfelvcs on the floor, and reding their heads on 
 their faddles, compofed themfelves to reft. Hard as 
 the bed was, Sir Egbert, worn out with fatigue and 
 anxiety, foon dropped into a profound (lumber ; nor 
 was Rawlins long in following his mailer's example. 
 From this ftate ci' infenfibility they -did not awake till 
 clay light flared them in the fice, and the all-cheering 
 fun darted his beams through the high-arched \\in- 
 dov?. 
 
 Having feen that their horfes were fafa, they were 
 preparing to colore the whole of the Caftle, which 
 they now perceived contained fame apartments which 
 wore a face of comfort, and Jecmcd as though lately 
 repaired ; when as they came from the ruin, the fine 
 object that met their eyes was Columbia. Su^prife 
 riveted them to thc'fpct. But her terror on beholding 
 them, htr iliriek, and confequent fall, made them hur- 
 ry to her afliftance ; when juft as they had railed her 
 from the ground, Matthias appeared at the farther 
 end of the garden.. He haftcned towards them, help- 
 ed to fupport his dear young lady, and by his loud 
 cries focn alarmed Mina and Cora. The fainting 
 Columbia was borne into the hall, and the lady Ifa- 
 bcllc, hurrying to her affiftance, had juft taken her in 
 her maternal arms, when Hie recovered fenfe and re- 
 collection. The cenfufion of this fcene had been tco 
 great to allow of any explanations on one fide, ©r 
 tiueftfoh's en the other ; btfw Sir Egbert feeing the 
 young lady now free from alarm, related, in as con- 
 t:fc a manner as poffible, the foregoing circumflances, 
 entreating leave to reft lor a few days in the Caftle, 
 .yhilft he fent Rawlins to the neareft fea-port to inquire 
 for a vcflei bound for Holland or Germany. 
 
 To this Ifabelle aflented ; and in the courfe of the 
 day Columbia, half afliamed of her tenors, related to 
 her mother and her gucil the adventures of the night. 
 Cheerful and unrestrained converfation begets confi- 
 dence ; and before the hour of reft arrived, Sir Egbert 
 had informed his fair hoftefs of the real caufe of his 
 Jvifty ftght from London, and his refolntion to quit the 
 kinnd.rm. Ifabelle tf&s aftonifhed at the account he 
 47 gave 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 7* 
 
 gave of the dreadful perfecutions under which the 
 i'rctcflants i'ufFered, from the bigotry and cruelty of 
 Mary, and thole tools of her power, Gardiner and 
 Bonner. Secluded as fee was from the world* though 
 file knew they had great difficulties to ftruggle with, 
 yet fhe had no idea to what height they carried then 
 barbarity, and that burning, ftarving, hanging,, and 
 fometinKi drawing the victims of their mifguided zeal 
 in quarters, was the rfiethod taken to bring back the 
 heretics (as tkey were called) to the ceremonies and 
 fuperftitions of the church of Rome; 
 
 "Ah ! my dear child," laid (he to Columbia, "'how 
 much gratitude ought we to feci toward the divine 
 Difpofer of all events, that it has pleafed him, with a 
 correcting hand, to lead us into this happy obfeuriry, 
 where we can enjoy that liberty of conference Which 
 calms and fortifies the foul, and fits it for all event*-.. 
 Alas ! Columbia:, had your dear lather lived to this 
 day, we might all have fullered at the Itake together. 
 Then let us be humble and fubmifiivc to the judg- 
 ments of our Creator, fince followed by the invaluable 
 bleffitjgs of peace, life, and the liberty of werfbipping 
 him in fecurity, according to the dictates of oar con- 
 feiences." 
 
 Sir Egbert was eharmed with the polifhed manners 
 and unaffected piety of the lady Ilabelle. But the 
 youth, beauty, innocence and vivacity of Columbia 
 had fafcinated.his fenfes. The harmonious trio parted 
 for the night, mutually pleafed with each other.; 
 Ilabelle reflecting, in pious gratitude, on her prefent 
 happy feclufion from a court which feemed a fcene of 
 murder, and where, perhaps, the morals and principles 
 of her darling child might have been tainted by the 
 bigotry and fuperftition of tlic times, Sir Egbert to ru- 
 minate on the intereiting figure, and fwect fimplicity 
 oi manner that characterized Columbia, and Columbia 
 hcr&lf to ehat with Mina about the handfeme Sir 
 Egbert Gc 
 
 CHAP. 
 
00 REUBEN and RACHEL;.©*, 
 
 C H A P. XT. 
 
 •.••/ Advice^ Departure if a Lovtr. 
 
 P ypu not think our yi handfome :" 
 
 f.i. " Yes, indeed 1 do," faid 
 I-!:i i ; " and ' er kind of !,. 
 
 " An.; you Kna :" 
 
 " No, not very handfome ; inn he has i leal to 
 
 I fays he rnuft have travelled, for ho 
 knows all abftut her country as well as .i been 
 
 there." " But that may be from reading, Mina ; for 
 
 o 
 
 my mother told me to-day, th.it her father, Ferdi- 
 nando Columbus, wrote a full account of her grand* 
 father's voyages, dicing the t\*p years they lived re- 
 tired at Vailadulid. And that at the time my father's 
 pJiper/5 were feized by his enemies, the manufcript was 
 found, and it has fince been printed." 
 
 " And fo, madam, this fine ftranger, this Sir Egbert, 
 it going away to live amongll the Dutch people, P.aw- 
 inis teljLs me. I'm fure, if I was as him, 1 would ihiy 
 v. here I was." " But that would be improper, Mina ; 
 my mother could net poflibly entertain a Itrange knight 
 here aboyp a day or two, as ihe has neither hufband 
 or fon t;; bear him company." 
 
 " Well, if tiie has no fon or hufbandj ihc has a 
 daughter ; and I warrant Sir Egbert would excufe the 
 deficiency of the cue for the fake of the other." 
 " How wildly you talk, Mina ; I (hall be angry with 
 you prefently." " What, madam, for fup poling the 
 hanuiome young knight is pleafed with you ; nay, now, 
 
 1 dont think you would be very much out of humour 
 if a ftprm was to detain him at the Caltie a week or 
 fo ; foi then you know there would be fomcexcufe 
 for his Haying." " Pho ! you talk like a fimplcton, 
 Jvlina ; I wifli you would go to fleep." 
 
 " Well, I wonder how ibmr folks can.be fo infenfible ; 
 for my part, as foon as I faw him this morning, and 
 found he was real flefh and blood, I laid to myfelf, 
 Well, he is a charming cavalier, and if he would but 
 
 fall 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. Si 
 
 fall in love with my lady Columbia, and flie with 
 him, we lhould have a wedding, and there is always 
 rare doings at a wedding ; and then we iliould go away 
 from this old Caftle. And now, if you won't be angry, 
 I'll tell you the truth. I never do fay my prayers, 
 but what I pray that we may foon go away from this 
 f hoc king old place. Why the arch, at the entrance 
 of the great gate, looks as if it would fall whenever 
 the gate is opened ; but to be lure that a'nt very 
 often, we are not much troubled with horfemen, ex- 
 cept when Matthias comes from market, with the old 
 blind crippled creature that brings home our provi- 
 fions. And then one never fees a young man. I 
 declare, I bleifed my eye-fight when I faw Mr. Raw- 
 lins : for what with Matthias's (lories about the wars, 
 and Cora's earthquakes, and Ihipwrecks, and florms, 
 and fo forth, I am heart uck." 
 
 " And I'm fure, fo am I, Mina, to hear you talk 
 fuch a parcel of nonfenfe. However, if you are tired 
 of (laying in the Caille, you arc at liberty to leave it 
 whenever you pleafe," 
 
 "Me leave it, madam? No indeed, madam ; if it 
 was ten times more frightful than it is, I would not 
 leave it without you, and my dear lady your mother, 
 for the whole world. No ; I meant that if you were 
 married to this bandfome Sir Egbert, we lhould go 
 to London again, and have fine dreffing and balls and 
 feafting." 
 
 " You don't know what you wifh for, Mina. Lon- 
 don is no place for Protectants. London is now the 
 feat ot every enormity which is practiced under the 
 malk of religion. Queen Mary is determined that 
 every one of her fubjecis ihall think as fnc thinks, and 
 thofe who hefitate to obey her, are burnt at the Hake." 
 
 " And pray, madam, why don't the people burn 
 her? She is but one, and (he has multitudes of fub- 
 jecis." 
 
 " She is their queen, Mina, and they dare not life 
 the hand againll her." 
 
 " Queen indeed ! Well, 1 am but an ignorant girl, 
 to be fure ; but I can't fee why a queen lhould com- 
 mit 
 
ft REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 mit murder without being punifhed for it, any more 
 than other people." 
 
 M But it is. not called murder, when a pcrfon is 
 executed for ailing contrary to a queen's commands." ' 
 
 " They may call it what they pleafe ; but if a per- 
 fon is innocent oi any real crime, and is only accufed 
 of not thinking as the queen does, or perhaps they 
 don't preach and pray juft as flic would have them ; 
 I do fay, and will Hand to it, if ihe orders them to 
 be hanged or burnt, it is murder. Aye, and I fancy 
 her cruel queenihip will find that out," when ihe dies." 
 
 " You are a Orange girl, Minn, and are now talk- 
 ing on a fubjeel we neither of us are competent to 
 fpeak upon ; therefore let me beg you to fay no more. 
 Let us fay our prayers, and be thankful we are, by 
 our feclufion from focietjr, and our diftancc from the 
 metropolis, fecure from any fear of her power. And 
 fo, Mina, good night." 
 
 Columbia fooke this in fo referved a tone, that Mina 
 did not dare to proceed, though Ihe never felt lefs in- 
 clined to fleep. Yet Ihe endeavoured to obey her 
 young lady, faid her prayers, and addreifed herfelf to 
 i:eep. 
 
 The next morning, Rawlins was difpatched to the 
 neareft fea-port, to inquire for a veJfel, and from fome 
 unforefeen accidents, he was detained nearly a week. 
 
 During this interval, the daily, nay, almolt hourly 
 opportunities Sir Egbert had of converfmg with Co- 
 lumbia, and cbferving her mildnefs, modefty, and 
 underftandinu;, which had been highly cultivated by 
 the tender and careful hand of maternal affection, in- 
 fpired him with a paffion ardent as it was fincere ; 
 and he could not repel the rifing wifhes of his heart, 
 that this lovely creature might be ordained his part- 
 ner, to fmooth the rugged path cf life. 
 
 Columbia had not been infenfibleto the many vir- 
 tues and graces of Sir Egbert ; but ihe had not learnt 
 to difguife her thought? from her bed and only friend. 
 She confidered it no crime to love a worthy and ac- 
 compliihea man, and her mother became the confi- 
 dant 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 83 
 
 dant of her paffion almoft as foon as fhe difcovered it 
 herfelf. 
 
 " I Gannot blame you, my child," (aid this indulgent 
 parent, " for the admiration and eitecm you feel fqr .Sir 
 Egbert Gorges ; but I would wifh my dear Columbia 
 bad feen a little more W the world, before flic felec^ed 
 a partner for life. You are yet fcareely eighteen* and 
 Sir Egbert is almoft the firft man you have feen above 
 the rank of a clown. It is to be hoped, my love, we 
 fhall not always be fecluded in this folitary Caitle. I 
 underftand from Sir Egbert, that queen Mary's health 
 is in a declining ftate. Should ihe die without blue, 
 her lifter Elizabeth is next heir to the throne. Eliza- 
 beth is hcrfelf a Proteftant, and will no doubt encour- 
 age all the profeffors of that religion. I lhall in that 
 cafe, for your fake, my child, repair to court, and pe- 
 tition for a reftitution of your fathers lands. I have 
 alio another duty to fulfil. A dear friend of mine, 
 who fuffered death a few fears after your father, in 
 her laft moments recommended her infant ion to my 
 care. Should fo fortunate an event take place as «the 
 princefs Elizabeth's acceftion Co the throne, I fhall to 
 her protecting care recommend this laft branch of an 
 unfortunate family, the innocent part of which have 
 been the fuffercrs for the guilty ambition of the reft." 
 
 " I apprehend madam," faid Columbia, " that 
 mean the offspring of the Lord Guilford Dudlc 
 lady Jane. Cora informed me of their unfortunate 
 exaltation and confequent death ; and I have no doubt 
 but the royal Elizabeth will, fhould ihe ever have the 
 power, reftore to him his rank and the fortunes of 
 his anceftors." 
 
 " Heaven grant that I may fee the day," faid 
 Ifabelle. " And now, my dear child, though I would 
 not put any reftraint on your inclinations, I could wiih 
 you to decline a union with Sir Egbert Gorges, till 
 quieter and more profperous times. Enter into no 
 ferious engagements with him, which hereafter may 
 caufe you much uneafinefs. Mix firft with the world. 
 The heart is apt to be deceived in its rirft emotions, 
 when little knowledge of the world, and feclufiGn from 
 
 fociety, 
 
84 REUBEN and RACHEL;, or, 
 
 fociety, prevents a free election ; and the ohjeel who, 
 when the only one, appeared to have every attraction, 
 to poflefs every virtue, when compared with others of 
 more finning talents, lofes the charm that had at firft 
 engaged the affections. The difappointment then be- 
 comes intolerable, and the unfortunate victim of inex- 
 perience paffes a life of unceafing regret and fruitlefs 
 repining. I will confefs to you, that Sir Egbert hr.s 
 fpoken to me on thib fubject, and 1 then advifed hinu 
 as I now advife yen ; and I hope my dear child will 
 not find a difficulty in following advice, that can 
 have no other end in view than her happinefs." 
 
 " I cannot hefitate a moment, my dear mother,*' 
 faid Columbia, "to prcmific that your wiflies, which 
 to me are commands, will ever be ohferved as laws. 
 Think not, beloved parent, that your child was io wea- 
 ry of your fociety, as to renounce it for that of a 
 ilrangcr, whom Hie had fcarcely known a week. Oh 
 no! however partial my heart maybe, I could wifli 
 to be better a flu red of the merits of the object, before 
 I gave my future happinefs into his keeping. Let Sir 
 Egbert purfue his intended voyage ; if at lomc future 
 period he fiiould return dill conftant to mc, I think 
 I can anfwer for the (lability of my affections." 
 
 "Make no rafh promifes, my dear child," faid Ifabclle. 
 Columbia bowed her head aifentingly, and remained 
 filent. 
 
 Rawlins now returned, with intelligence that a vef- 
 fel for Amflerdam would be ready to fail in the courfe 
 of three days. On the morning of the fecond day, 
 therefore, Sir Egbert, and his faithful Rawlins, de- 
 parted ; the former having, with many thanks for her 
 hofpitality, taken leave nf his fair hoftefs, and entreat- 
 ed her permifiion for Columbia to accept a fmall dia« 
 mond rim* in remembrance of him ; which, as it was 
 of trifling value, Ihc allowed, at the fame time pre- 
 fenting him with a plain gold one from her own fin- 
 ger, faying, " I know you will condefcend to accept 
 this in token of amity, for trifles become valuable w hen 
 we efteem the giver." 
 
 Mir.a 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 85 
 
 Mina had, at parting from Rawlins, received from 
 him a imall lilver coin, on which with his knife he 
 had marked the initials of his name, and over the let- 
 ters were two hearts. A puncture was made near the 
 extremity, and a firing being palled through it, Mina 
 fuipended this pledge of affection round her neck. 
 
 But Mina, though ihe fancied herfclf in love pad 
 cure, and that (he fhould be conltant through long 
 abfence and trials of every kind, was a ftranger to her 
 own heart. She was by nature a coquette, fond of 
 admiration, and jdcafed with thofe who gave it. She 
 loved Rawlins, becaufe he had profefled to love her. 
 But, alas ! poor Mina, when (he ufed daily pathetical- 
 ly to lament the abfence of her lover, had ihe but 
 fearched her heart thoroughly, ihe would have difcov- 
 ered that it was the flattery ihe milled ; and that food 
 of female vanity, artfully adminillercd by any other 
 pcrfon, would foon have effectually banilaed the re- 
 membrance of Rawlins, and dried up her tears for his 
 departure. 
 
 Far differently affected was the heart of Columbia. 
 Her partiality to Sir Egbert was lanctior.cd by the 
 voice of reafon. She felt that, was ihe his wife, flic 
 could brave every hardlhip with him without repin- 
 ing. For his fake ihe would then have faced perfecu- 
 tion, poverty, famine, nay, death itielf. But at the 
 fame time ihe forcibly felt, that to defcend in the 
 fmalleft degree from the reipect flic owed herfclf, from 
 that nccciiary pride and dignity oi manner which is 
 the fafeguard of female honour, would be no longer 
 to defcrvc him. When engaged in itudies that enrich- 
 ed her mind and expanded her undcrftanding, ihe 
 thought fuch employment would render her a more 
 pleaiing companion to Sir Egbert. He was feldom 
 from her thoughts in her waking hours, and frequent- 
 ly vifited her dreams ; and in her daily devotlOOS 
 were mingled conftant prayers for his fafcty. 
 
 Yet Columbia was not totally diverted of that vani- 
 ty, which in her childifh years had formed fo ftriking 
 a trait in her character ; but it had been {o judicioui- 
 I7 repelled md corrected by her mother, that no 
 I more 
 
86 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 more of it remained than ferved as a foil to her virtues. 
 She knew flic was handfome, and flic ihidied to fet off 
 tli.it beauty by humility, benevolence, fimplicity and 
 
 candour. 
 
 < < < < «<^.4»Jj>» >■ >..>. > 
 
 CHAP. XII. 
 
 Cofifufio;:, Diflrefs) uncxpefted Journey. 
 
 ABOVE eighteen months after the departure of 
 Sir Egbert pallid in the ufunl.way', in which 
 time Rawlins had twice been to Au/lcnbury Caftle 
 with letters from his mafter. But the enemies of Gor- 
 ges, encouraged by Mary, purfucd.him with fuch un- 
 relenting fur} , that he dared not himfelf venture to 
 England. 
 
 It was in the fummer of 1558, that an event tool: 
 flace which had nearly put a period to the life of 
 lady Iiabelle, and involved her daughter in accumu- 
 lated niil'eiy. A. report had been circulated, that the 
 child of lady Jane and lord Guilford Dudley was in 
 cxillcnce, and in the protection of a Proteflant family. 
 'The furious zeal of Mary infpircd her with the 
 idea, that by getting this infant into her power, and 
 having him educated in the Catholic religion, (lie 
 ihould render Heaven an acceptable piece, Oifen ice, and 
 entirely atone to the child for the death of his parents, 
 the figning.of whbfe death-warrant fometimeslay hea- 
 vy on her confeience ; and in thofc fits of gloomy re- 
 morfe, flic always had recourfe to her ghoftly confei- 
 for for fpiritual advice and comfort, who upon theic 
 occafions did not fail to iniiame her mind, and Tender 
 her bigotry more pbftinatc. 
 
 This man, wlio \'-'H'i in 1hec0Rfider.ee of Gardiner, 
 bifliop of Winchcfter, qncpuraged the queen in her de- 
 l'nc to get young Dudley into her power.; and accord* 
 inglv, dihgcnt inquiry was made after the place of 
 Ids ieclufiou. At length, accident difcovered what 
 i:r of. Sir James Howard, a 
 vouneer 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 87 
 
 younger branch of the houfe of Norfolk, (a. family re- 
 nowned for their attachment to the Catholic perfua- 
 fion,) a man in high favour with the queen, and in 
 habits of ftric"t jntimacy with Gardiner, Bonner, and 
 the reft of the perfecuting party, having received an 
 invitation to fpend the decline of the fummcr in Wales 
 at the feat of Sir Owen Langwylling, and partake ol 
 the diverfions of hunting and lhooting, in the begin- 
 ning of Auguft, repaired to the antique manlion of 
 his friend. 
 
 Sir Owen was young, gay, and fond of difllpation 
 and expenfive pleafures, which the fmallncfs of his pa- 
 ternal inheritance would not permit him to enjoy to 
 the extent he wiilied. Howard was rich in mane] , a£ 
 well as in court favour ; and Sir Owen invited him 
 into Wales, in hopes the youth and beauty of his only 
 fifter, Winifreda, might catch Ins affe&ions, and at 
 once fecure an honourable alliance for hcrfclC and a 
 powerful friend for him. 
 
 It was during this vifit, that Howard, tired one 
 evening with the rude and turbulent mirth of his hoft 
 and his Welfh aflbciates, left them to fir.ifh their ui'ual 
 libations to Bacchus ; and mounting his horfe, on 
 whofe neck he fulFered the reins to reft, giving a loofe 
 to reflection, and intending only to efcape from dif- 
 gufting fociety, and enjoy the pleafures of retirement 
 and contemplation, he permitted the animal to take 
 what courie he pleafed. Nor was his attention arouf- 
 ed as to the time he had been abfent, till, coming fud- 
 dcnly out of a wood into a wide-extended heath, be 
 perceived the fun was drawing near the weftern hori- 
 zon ; and turning his horfe with a deiign to meafure 
 back the path he had trod, on the fummit of a hill, he 
 law Auftenbury Cattle. The parting beams of the 
 fun fhone full on the venerable ruin, and his ravs gavfl 
 an uncommon richnefs to the furrounding profpect, 
 Curiofity urged him on, and once more turning his 
 fteed, he proceeded at a good pace up the hill. 
 
 It has been observed, that the moft ruinous part of 
 this Cattle was that which fronted the heath ; and 
 Howard, having led his horfe over a broken draw- 
 bridge, 
 
»* REUBEN and RACHEL; er., 
 
 , which appeared as though it had not becnraif- 
 c.d for more than a century paft, fattened his bridle to 
 a ring which had formerly lupported a fwing gate, or 
 private entrance to the i'ortiricd part of, the Caitlc, and 
 proceeded through an aperture in the wall immediately 
 into the garden, the neatneffi and cultivation of which 
 convinced him there were inhabitants in the Cattle. 
 ile went forward, and at the extremity of the garden, 
 in the arbour before mentioned as the fcene of Colum- 
 bia's chikliih (ports and feftivity, he faw ;i female, ty- 
 ing up a bunch of reeds in the form of a wheat iheaf, 
 and a boy Handing befide her, apparently about five 
 years of age. As he approached nearer, the beauty of 
 Mina (truck bim with furprhe. For it was (lie who 
 bad been walking with young Dudley, who was now 
 breome an inmate at the Cattle, and who wanted to 
 go into the water after the reeds, that he might play 
 at reaping. She had gathered a few to divert him, 
 and was employed in binding them up, when How- 
 ard approached them. He fpoke before fhe faw him. 
 She darted from her feat, and the blood mounted to 
 her cheeks. But Howard was young, handfome, and 
 addreifed her with fuch an air of gallantry, that (he 
 foon recovered herfelf, and felt more inclined to be 
 pleafed than alarmed at his intrufion. 
 
 Night was now rapidly approaching, and our knight 
 was chagrined at it. He wiihed to have entertained 
 the pretty, bluihing Mina with exprefllons of his ad- 
 miration and wonder, to fee fo much lovelinefs thus 
 buried in folitude ; but time would not permit. He 
 a(ked, however, a few trifling queflions, ventured to 
 take her hand and kifs it, carefled the child, and pre- 
 fenting Mina with a jewel which he took from his 
 beaver, and which he "had obferved lhe eyed with at- 
 tention, requeued her to meet him there again early 
 the next morning. 
 
 " But be fure, pretty creature," faid he, " you do 
 not mention having feen me to your father and moth- 
 er." ? I have no father and mother, Sir," faid Mina. 
 
 " Well, then, to your uncle, or aunt, or grandmoth- 
 er." " La ! Sir," faid Mina, with Ample earnelmefs, 
 
 « I have 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 89 
 
 «■ I have no relations ; I am only poor Mina, and live 
 here in the old Caftle with my lady." « And who is 
 your lady ?" " The lady Ifabelle Arundel." 
 
 " Well, you need not tell her, or any body, that you 
 have feeri me ; I have a particular reafon for it. I 
 will be here by fix o'clock to-morrow morning." 
 
 Mina promifed filence, and dropping a cttrtefy, Wifls* 
 ed him a good night. 
 
 The thoughts of this fimple girl were r.gitated and 
 confufed, as ihe proceeded towards the houfe. She 
 was.relblved not to mention the (hunger ; but then 
 Henry, he might tell the lady Kibclle. But to prevent 
 this, immediately on her entering the Caftle, lhe put 
 the child to bed, and then repairing to her lady, gave 
 as a reafon for having done fo, that Le was tired with 
 his walk. 
 
 The ufual avoca'.ions of the evening fo entirely oc- 
 cupied Mina, that (he had no time to thin!;, till the 
 hour of retirement. No fooner was fhe in her own 
 apartment, than, drawing the jewel from her pocket, 
 fhe compared it with the fdver token of Rawlins" hon- 
 eft love. " It is much finer," faid (he, delighted with 
 its luftre ; "but then what will poor Rawlins fay, if 1 
 mould prove fane -hearted ?" A deep figh, as ti 
 flection palfcd through her mind, feuned to tell her, 
 the afiiignation (he had made with the gallant ftrangcr 
 was improper. But Mina polfeffed that unfortunate 
 flexibility of difpofuion, that unfits its poflliror for <p- 
 polition of any kind. Her inclination to keep her 
 appointment was (Irong, and the courtly m inner, 
 handfome perfon r and rich prefent of Howard, had 
 fuch an effect "upon her deluded fenf. s, as to lead her 
 to imagine ihe had never loved Rawlins half fo well, 
 as (he found fho was inclined to love him. 
 
 Had the lady Columbia been prefent, (he would no 
 doubt, notwithstanding he." promife to the contrary, 
 have confided to her the intrunon of the ftran^er, and 
 her promife to fee him again in the morning. Indeed, 
 fixll of her own praiics which (he had heard fion. 
 lips, and occupied entirely in reflecting on h. 
 pcrfon and rich drefs, (he wiihed for nothing more ar- 
 I z 
 
9 o REUBEN and RACHEL; oa, 
 
 dently than an opportunity to repeat it all to her young 
 lady. But Columbia now llept in an apartment by 
 herfelf, and the young Dudley partook of Mina's bed ; 
 fo the fecret was of neceffity confined to her own bo- 
 fom. Its importance in her ideas, was fufficient to 
 banilh fleep from her eyes ; and me impatiently count- 
 ed the clock till it ftrr.ck four. " Well, two hours 
 will be foon part," laid ihe, and immediately began to 
 drefs herfelf. But quick as her impatient wifhes led 
 her to imagine they might pafs, when ihe was anxiouf- 
 ly counting every minute, Ihe thought the period aa 
 eternity. 
 
 Having drefTed herfelf, fhe defcended to the great 
 hall, and thought to be fure it mud be near five ; but 
 poor Mina was deceived in her calculation, and found 
 it but a quarter paft four. She liftened, fhe watched 
 the hand, ihe could fcarcely perceive it move ; it had 
 certainly flopped ; her lady would be up, fhe fhould 
 be prevented meeting the flranger. Impelled by this 
 idea, fhe had walked more than a dozen times from 
 the hall to the arbour and back again, and ftiil it was 
 fcarcely half-paft five. 
 
 At length the long expected flranger was feen ap- 
 proaching ; for he had been impelled by a curiofity, 
 as refllefs as the new born paffion of Mina, to repair 
 •early to the place of affignation. 
 
 As he had leifurely walked his horfe homeward the 
 -evening before, he had reflected on the name of Mina's 
 lady. Arundel ! 1 1 was furely the widow of Sir Thom- 
 as Arundel ; if fo, the intimate friend of lady Jane 
 .Grey. Might not that boy be the long-fought ( ff- 
 fpring of Dudley ? If fo, how would it elevate him in 
 the queen's favour, to inform her where the boy might 
 be found ! Let no one blame Howard ; he thought 
 it right to endeavour to fnatch the child from the 
 .dangers of what he termed an heretical education ; he 
 acted from principle. ; and it were well for every one, 
 who courts the favour of the great, if they could lay 
 their hands en their hearts, and with truth aifert the 
 
 fame 
 
 In 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 91 
 
 la his converfation with the artlefs and infatuated 
 Mina, he drew from her every c i re um (lance he wilhed 
 to know. Her inexperienced heart, fafcinated with 
 bis flattery, and thinking him all that was amiable on 
 earth, could riot imagine him a Catholic. She thought 
 he profelFed the fame religion with her lady and her- 
 felf. He perceived her eiror, and fufFered it to con- 
 tinue, till he made himfelf acquainted with every par- 
 ticular within the knowledge of Mina ; and in the end 
 triumphed in the fpoils of her innocence. 
 
 For three weeks, an illicit intercourfe was carried on 
 between them ; during which period Howard had 
 fent intelligence to his friend Gardiner, that the object 
 of their hitherto fruitlefs fearch was now within their 
 reach. At the name of Arundel, Gardiner felt all 
 his hatred revive towards the widow and child of his 
 departed enemy ; and, glad of an opportunity to wreak 
 on them the vengeance which the blood of the hufband 
 and father had not fated, eagerly flew to the queen, 
 and obtained from her an order to oblige the lady Ifa- 
 belle, and her daughter Columbia, with their young 
 charge Henry Dudley, to repair immediately to Lon- 
 don ; and in cafe of hcfitation and reluctance, to bring 
 them away by force. 
 
 It was morning j breakup had been removed ; Ifa- 
 ielle and Columbia were employed at their needles. 
 •Mina was reading (as was the cuftom of that lady to 
 make either her daughter or her attendant do every 
 morning) fome extracts from a book of devotion. A 
 violent knocking at the gate alarmed them. Matthi- 
 as, with all the haile his advanced age would permit, 
 went to open it. In a moment the court was tilled 
 with horiemen, foldiers and friars, and at their head 
 was Sir James Howard, who was appointed to com- 
 mand the party, and conduct the prii'oners to London. 
 Mina's heart leaped within her. She thought her lov- 
 er was come with this noble train, to claim her as his 
 bride, (as he had frequently promifed he would) and 
 take her with him to London. Lady Ifabelle turned 
 pale. Loft ! ruined ! undone I were all the words fhe 
 
 eould 
 
f,z REUBEN and RACHEL; oa, 
 
 could articulate, and fhe funk almoft lifelcfs on the 
 ncareit feat 
 
 The little Dudley was playing in the hall, when 
 Howard and Sir Owen entered. Unufed to danger, 
 unacquainted with fear, he ran to the hrave gen- 
 tlemen, as he called them, admired their waving 
 plumes and laced douhlets ; and hanging on the hilt 
 of* Howard's fword, told him he remembered when he 
 came through the broken wall into the garden. This 
 cireumftance, which a variety of other childiih amufe- 
 ments had contributed to efface, had lain dormant in 
 his youthful mind, till- the appearance of Howard; 
 who happening to wear the fame drtrfs then, as when- 
 the child mil law him, brought it frefh to his memory. 
 
 Howard took the child in his arms ; and, followed 
 by Sir Chven and a number of' other gentlemen, enter- 
 ed the apartment of lady Ifabelle. Though nearly 
 overcome by her fears, the widow- of Arundel had (till 
 a dignity of manner, a chafte feverity of countenance,- 
 that awed even the moft ferocious. Sir Owen Lang- 
 wylling, a man neither celebrated for his politenefs or 
 ienfibility, was a proof of this. He met the glances 
 of her penetrating eyes, and funk abalhed behind How- 
 ard, mingling in the thickefl of the crowd, his beaver 
 off, and his eyes bent to the eaith. 
 
 Ifabelle arofe from her feat at their entrance, and: 
 bewing gracefully, requefted to be informed of the 
 caufe ot' their vifit. Howard was confufed ; he heii- 
 tated as he attempted to fpeak, and at that moment 
 catching the eye of Mina, who Mood tremblingbchindCo-- 
 lumbia, he bowed low, to conceal the agitation that pre- 
 vented his articulating a (ingle fontence. At length 
 recovering, and obllinately fixing his eyes in fuch a 
 manner as not to be able to eatch a glimpl'e of Mina, 
 he thus addreffed the lady Ifabelle.- 
 
 " Our angu(l fovereign Mary, queen of England, 
 hearing that Henry Dudley, fon and heir to the lord 
 Guilford Dudley, (who fuffered with his unfortunate 
 lady for their attempt upon the lhitiih crown) is un- 
 der your ladylhip's protection, and wifhing to cempen- 
 fate to the child for the enforced vigour with which the 
 
 way 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 93 
 
 was obliged to treat; his parents, has cconmiffioned me, 
 James Howard, in conjunction with thefe noblemen 
 and ecclefiafHcs, to bring the boy to her court, that 
 (he may reitore to him the title and eflates of htsfath- 
 cr, and have him educated m the principles cf that 
 holy religion, which alone leads to falvation." 
 
 The full eotfvi&ion of the imprudence ihe had been 
 guilty of, and the duplicity Howard hud practiled, 
 now ftafhed on the mind of Midi. She gave a taint 
 icre mi, and funk lifelefs to the floor. 
 
 Com, whom the general confuiion had brought to 
 the apartment, aflifted to raife her, and (he was borne 
 into the open air. It was not till ihe was quite out of 
 the room, that the lovely form of Columbia attracted 
 the notice of Howard. He beheld her following, with 
 looks of the tendereft fenfibility, the apparently lUelels 
 form of her fervant, and in a moment every other ob- 
 ject was obliterated from his mind. He fecrned at- 
 tentive to the lady Ifabelle as ihe fpoke, but his ears 
 drank not one word of what ihe uttered ; nor was he 
 awakened from his trance of admiration, till ihe ceaf- 
 ed fpeaking, and prepared to lead her daughter from 
 the room. He then endeavoured to recollect hlmielf, 
 and alkcd, " If ihe would not accompany her young 
 charge to London ?" 
 
 " I thought I had expreffed my intention fo to do,'* 
 replied Ifabelle, with a look of furprife ; " if you, Sir 
 James, did not underftand me, I here repeat that 1 
 will go with him. Not to refign my precious chargs 
 to the queen, but to afl'crt my prior ria;ht, the right 
 of friendfhip, fealcd by a moil folemn vow, that Hen- 
 ry Dudley ihould be educated in the religion of his pa- 
 rents. I know you will tell me there are tortures to en- 
 force obedience to the queen's will ; but I have learnt 
 to defpiie them. Happinefs and I have long been fep- 
 arated, nor do I hope ever to tafte. it more, till, in the 
 realms of blifs, I am again united to my martyred 
 friends and hufband. Think not, then, the threats of 
 death can terrify me. Death is the only period I can 
 look forward to with caralnefs, hone and comfort." 
 
 She 
 
j+ REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 She then flightly bowed her head, and taking 
 young Dudley in her right hand, and leaning on 
 her daughter with her left, fhe parted into an inner 
 apartment. 
 
 In half an hour's time, fne fent a meffage, intimat- 
 ing that fhe would be ready to attend their orders by 
 four o'clock the enfuing morning. In the mean time, 
 /he requefted they would make thtmfelves welcome to 
 whatever her poor habitation afforded. 
 
 It was late in the day before Mina was fufEcicntly 
 recovered to be able to quit her apartment. The 
 weather had been fultry, the anxiety of her mind had 
 contributed to enervate her frame ; and as fhe at- 
 tempted to walk, the univerfal debility and weaknefs 
 which fhe experienced alarmed her. She thought the 
 air might refrefh her. Paffing from her chamber 
 through the hall into the garden, the firft object that 
 met her view as fhe defcended the fteps, was Rawlins. 
 She trembled, fhe gafped for breath ; but fhe recalled 
 her fleeting fenfes, and haflily gliding down the fteps, 
 catching his hand, in filence hurried him to an obfeure 
 part of the garden. There, as foon as the tumultu- 
 ous throbbings of her heart would permit her to fpeak, 
 in a few words fhe unfolded to him the unhappy fitu- 
 ation of her lady and family ; but fhanie prevented 
 her revealing the unfortunate part ftie had uninten- 
 tionally had in their ruin. 
 
 " If you have any letters," faid (he, " give them 
 me quick, and then fly and conceal yourfelf in the 
 weftern ruins till I can bring you anfwers, which you 
 mull with all fpeed convey to your matter." 
 
 Rawlins gave her the letters, and would have em- 
 braced her ; but confeious guilt made her fhrink from 
 him, and covering her face with her hand, fhe waved 
 him toward the place of concealment, and returned lo 
 the houic. She palled unoblerved to v the apartment 
 ol her lad}-, and delivered the packet to the hands of 
 Columbia. 
 
 Fortunately Rawlins had not been feen by any of 
 Howard's party ; and Ifabelle, having allured herfelf 
 of this, determined bv his means to fend Henry Dud- 
 
 ley 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 95 
 
 ley into Holland, to Sir Egbert Gorges. She even 
 urged Columbia to fly with the child from the perfe- 
 cution diat awaited them. But that heroic girl refus- 
 ed to dcfert her mother in the hour of diitreis. " Be- 
 tides," faid flie, " the fafety of Henry will be more 
 certain, when Rawlins has no woman with him, with 
 her fears and her weaknefs, to impede his journey." 
 
 Ifabelle, anxious to put her plan in execution, at 
 night-fall fent a meflage to Howard and his followers, 
 . craving their excufe, that the preparations for the 
 morning's journey would not permit her to fee them 
 again that night ; but that fne hoped they would not 
 fpare her poor proviflons, and as early in the morning 
 as they pleafed, flie would commence her journey. 
 
 Mina, who delivered this meffagc to them as they 
 were taking their rcpaft in the great hal], led young 
 Dudley by the hand round to bid them all good-night : ; 
 then through an apartment, which by a private d< or 
 communicated with the weftcrn wing, hie conveyed 
 hum immediately to Rawlins, ,who waited till mid- 
 night ; and then mounting his horfe, with the child 
 before him, proceeded with all polhble /'peed to the 
 nearefl. lea-port, where the bark lie had ci me o\cr in 
 laying ready, he went immediately on board, and pre- 
 vailed on the maller : by promifes of a large reward, to 
 put directly to fea. 
 
 The fortitude Mina had been obliged to * xcrt in 
 the execution of this plan was almoft too much for her 
 frame to fupport. The facing the perjured Howard, 
 and delivering to him a menage from her lady, the 
 taking what lhe firmly believed to be a laft farewel ct 
 Rawlins, were excruciating trials. But fie thought 
 the fevereit (offerings .were too little to atone for the 
 miJchicf (he had brought on the houfe of Arundel ; 
 and the confolatory reflection that flie had been the 
 means of faving one innocent victim from the power 
 of Mary, having fhed a temporary calm over her foul, 
 ..flic enjoyed a few hours repefe, which in fome degree 
 .enabled her to fupport the cordufiop of the enfuing 
 jlay. 
 
96 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 T>y three o'clock, Howard and his followers were 
 in motion. Ifabelle heard them, and awaking Colum- 
 bia and Mina, who that night both flcpt in her chamber, 
 they equipped thcmf'elves for their journey. Their 
 clothes had been previoully packed the night before, 
 and lent down flairs. 
 
 As the clock ftruck four, the widow of Arundel, 
 with her daughter and attendant, defcended the great 
 flair-cafe into the hall. Howard received them at the 
 foot of the flairs ; but not perceiving the child, eagcr- 
 lv inquired for him. " He is gone," faid Ifabellc, 
 v irh a dignified compofure ; " but that he has efcaped 
 is not your fault. - I have fent him out of the reach of 
 bigotry and cruelty, and am now ready to go and an- 
 f.MT to the queen for my crime. It is I, I only, that 
 am guilty, if guilt it can be termed. And I do en- 
 treat you, Sir James Howard, and you, holy fathers, 
 whole profdTion is peace and mercy, fuffer not thefe 
 children,to be infulted or punifhed for my faults. To 
 \(,\\, Sir James, I folemnly commit the fafety of my 
 daughter ; that young woman is her attendant. At- 
 tached to her from almoil infancy, I do befcech you 
 let them not be feparated. Your family is noble, you 
 wear the badge of a foldier ; I mould hope you would 
 neither difgrace the one or the other by injuring un- 
 protected women, whom ill fortune only has throwq 
 into your power. Now I am ready to fet forward, 
 and Heaven be my fupport." 
 
 The niaJL-rty of her manner as fhe fpoke, awed them 
 into filencc. Sir James Howard, confounded by the 
 pointed rebuke fhe had innocently given him, when 
 fhe recommended her daughter to his protection, had 
 not power to anfwer ; nor was it till they had pro- 
 ceeded a confidcrable way on their journey, that they 
 began to confidcr the very foolifh appearance they 
 fliould make at the court of Mary without Henry 
 Dudley, who had been the chief object of their ex- 
 c-urfion. 
 
 During the journey, which the badnefs oi" the roads 
 and the heat of the weather rendered fatiguing and 
 tedious in the extreme, Howard let no opportunity- 
 pa is 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 97 
 
 pafs in which he thought he could effectually pay his 
 court to Columbia. But the confeflion of Mina (who 
 on the firtt night after their departure from Au {ten- 
 bury Cattle, had on her knees to her attonithed ladies 
 revealed the whole of her imprudence, and Howard's 
 fcductive arts) would have effectually fteeled her heart 
 againft him, had there been no other motive for her 
 rejection. But with fuch a woman as Columbia, the 
 levity and unmeaning gallantry of Sir James Howard 
 could make no impreffion on her heart ; efpecially 
 when it is remembered the had been previously awa- 
 kened to fenlibility by the intrinfic merit of Sir Egbert 
 Gorges. 
 
 Ilabelle and her daughter bore the journey better 
 than could have been expected, and on the tenth day 
 from the commencement of it, they arrived in Lon- 
 don. Mina had drooped from the beginning, and was 
 on their arrival fo ill, from fatigue and grief, that 
 there teemed but little hopes of her recovery. 
 
 The old fervants, Cora and Matthias, were left in 
 the Cattle, heart-broken for the departure of their kind 
 and beloved miflrefs. Their iblitary days were paff- 
 cd in enumerating her virtues, and in offering up prav. 
 •ers for her fate and fpeedy return. 
 
 ■•<■< < < HPy -$■>)»'> >■>•■>- 
 
 CHAP. XIII. 
 
 Rev Jut ion — Tranquillity rrjlored. 
 
 ON the arrival cf Ilabelle and her daughter in 
 London, they were committed to clofc confine- 
 ment ; though by the care c( Howard, whofe power 
 kept the ecclefiaftics at a diftance, they were treated 
 wirli refpect. 
 
 The enfumg morning Ifabclle was ordered to attend 
 the queen. With a molt threatening afpect did Mary 
 interrogate her on the fobject of Henry Dudley's ef- 
 Cape, and demanded to know where (he had tent him. 
 The widow of Arundel was inflexible. She only re- 
 K piied.. 
 
)S REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 plied, that ihe ha J ftnt him to a place of fafety; that 
 in fo doing ihe only conceived flie had performed her 
 duty, fince, heing herfelf convinced of the errors of 
 the Catholic perfuaiion, ihe had given by letter a fol- 
 emn promiie to his dying mother, that whillt Ihe lived, 
 Henry fhould be carefully inftructed in the tenets of 
 the reformed religion. 
 
 Irritated beyond expreflion by the noble firmnef.% 
 which ihe termed obftinacy, of the lady Ifabelle, Mary 
 commanded her from her prefence ; at the fame time 
 giving orders for her to be put to the torture, to force 
 a confeffipn from her. But Gardiner, who was pref- 
 tnt, and conceived this would be an impolitic memiirc 
 of the queen's, humbly entreated a few days might be 
 allowed for reflection. " Perhaps, moll gracious fove- 
 reign," faid the dciigning prelate, " your royal clem- 
 ency may have a more powerful effect on the gen- 
 erous mind of lady Arundcd, than rigour ; and the 
 power of gratitude may draw from her a fecret, 
 which the mod cruel tortures might not effect. 
 
 Ifabelle was preparing to fpeak again, but How- 
 ard, who feared fhc might too far irritate the queen, 
 and trembling for the fate of Columbia, hurried her 
 out of the prefence. Having committed her to the 
 guards, who waited to reconduct her to prifon, 
 he returned to the queen, and informed her of hi$ 
 paflion for die daughter of the haughty Ifabelle. 
 " She is young, royal madam," faid he, " and if I can 
 judge of her difpoiition by her countenance, might be 
 eaiily converted to the true religion ; for ihe appears 
 all compliance, affability nnd gentlenefs. Permit 
 me to try to bring her over to our party. When 
 qnce convinced of the errors of the faith ihe now pro. 
 feifes, it will become a point of conference with her 
 to retrieve young Dudley fom his prefent loft lfite." 
 " I fnppofe this girl is handf nie I" faid Mar). 
 u I fhould x:\\\ her fuperlatively fo, had I never fcen 
 your majefty," replied Howard, bowing profoundly, 
 Mary, though at this period pall her fortieth year, 
 naturally plain in her pcrfon, and now more than ever 
 em the ravages of a difeafe which daily gained 
 
 "round 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 99 
 
 ground and began to give fome very alarming fymp- 
 toms, was (till open to the voice of flattery. The 
 compliment of Howard had an inftantaneous elTect on 
 her temper. She fmiled, and told him (he would lee 
 this paragon. " I will converfe with her myfelf,*' 
 faid (he, " and endeavour to draw her by perfuafive 
 arguments to the true faith. But if I fail, let her and 
 her proud mother beware. Her beauty (hall not fave 
 1 hem ; they fhall fubmit to the punilhment appointed 
 for obftinate heretics." 
 
 Columbia had differed almofl a martyrdom in the 
 abfence of her mother ; a thoufand fears had didracl- 
 cd her. Sometimes lhe imagined ill c lhould never fee" 
 her again ; that the furious queen, provoked by her 
 fefufal to difcover the retreat of Henry D' 
 would doom her immediately to the flake ; then 
 would flic wring her hands, and utter the molt 1 i< 
 lamentation, in which ihe was joined by Mina, whole 
 dillrcfs was the more poignant, as it was mingled with 
 felf-accufation. At length lhe beheld her return, aiul 
 her joy was for a few moments as wild as had been 
 her for row. 
 
 Ifabelle was convinced within her oval mind, that 
 the hour drew near in which flie would be called upc n 
 to feal her faith with her blood, and endeavoured to 
 arm herieli with patience and fortitude for the ex- 
 peeled trial. Every hafty ftep (he heard, every unu- 
 iual noiie that UTuedfrom the ftfeet, flie imagined was 
 ihe meffengcr of her fate. But (he carefully concealed 
 thefe thoughts from her daughter, thinking to fave 
 her the mifery of hourly expecting an event that 
 would leave her an unprotected orphan, and which, 
 however (he might lament, (he had no power cither 
 to prevent or retard; 
 
 They partook but fparingly of a rcpafl that was 
 brought them, when Ifabcile endeavoured to divert 
 her own and Columbia's melancholy" by convcrfation ; 
 at the fame time (electing th'ofc fubjects which might 
 tend to ftrcngthen and fortify their minds againit im- 
 pending misfortune. 
 
 . The 
 
too REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 The afternoon was not more than half worn, when 
 Howard arrived with the queen's mandate for Colum- 
 bia to repair forthwith to the palace. It was then the 
 tender mother had need cf all her fortitude. In vain 
 flie pleaded to be permitted to go with her child ; it 
 was contrary to the commands of Mary. 
 
 Finding entreaty fruitlcfs, fhe embraced her with 
 tendernefs, and faid, " Remember, my child, thy moth- 
 er's happinefs depends on thee. Oh beware ! Suffer no 
 temptation, however great, to draw thee from thy du- 
 ty to thy Creator. No, Columbia, not even to fave 
 t lie life of thy mother, let thy faith be fliaken. If I 
 mull fuffer, let me at leaf! have the confolation of re- 
 fledting, in my laft hours, that my child preferred mil- 
 cry to apoftacy.* 
 
 *' Fear me not, beloved parent," replied Columbia, re- 
 turning her embrace, f* 1 can never forget the noble 
 '■. samples of firmnefs and refcluiion fet me by my an- 
 cestors ; and if the remembrance of thofe fhould fail to 
 animate me, I will think that my failure in fo impor- 
 tant a point would call a bluih into the face of my 
 mother ; and that would give me ftrength to with- 
 stand all temptation, however alluring, and defy all 
 threats, all tortures, however terrible to human nature. 
 Pray for me, my mother, pray for your poor child." She 
 fell on her mother's neck, and fobbed aloud. How- 
 ard re-allured them, by pledging his folemn word, that 
 no evil was intended ; and taking her reluctant hand, 
 led her from her mother into the prcfence of the 
 queen. 
 
 Columbia, though endowed with all the rigid vir- 
 tues that fo eminently adorned her mother, yet had 
 an appearance of more foftnefs j and the awe a young 
 perfon, totally unacquainted with the forms of courts, 
 as well as of the world in general, might be fuppofed. 
 to feel on finding herfelf in the prefence of her i'ovc-. 
 reign, and that Sovereign inccni'ed againft her, gave 
 her an air of timidity and humility highly gratifying 
 to the pride of Mary. 
 
 The queen queftioned her concerning the departure 
 of young Dudley. « He went away with a fervant 
 
 belonging 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 101 
 
 belonging to a particular friend of my mother's," laid 
 the, " who wifhed me to have gone too, but my love 
 for the bell of parents, and my confcience, which told 
 me I ihould be wanting in filial duty, prevented my 
 embracing the propofal." 
 
 " Confcience ?" faid Mary, fiercely, " the confcience 
 of a heretic cannot be fuppofed very tender j tell me, 
 are you not a heretic ?" 
 
 " I do not unueritand the meaning of the appella- 
 tion," replied Columbia mildly. 
 
 " I will endeavour to explain it to you," faid the 
 queen ; " come, jhild, be not alarmed. I will talk 
 with you a little on religious matters. Your igno- 
 rance is really pitiable, but it is more your misfortune 
 than your fault." 
 
 " I humbly pray your majefty to pardon mc," re- 
 plied Columbia ; " I am a weak girl, and totally in- 
 adequate to the tafk of fpcaking on lb reverend a fub- 
 ject, elpceially before a perfon of your majelly's fupe- 
 rior underftanding and extenlive erndition. I have 
 hitherto lived a peaceful, happy life, unknowing and 
 Unknown ; where, to the extent of my abilities, 1 have 
 endeavoured, llrengtheUed as I was by the example 
 of a refpeetable mother, to difcharge my duty both to 
 my Creator and my fellow creatures. I befeech your 
 majefty, furTer me to return to that cairn retirement, 
 where the remainder of my days may glide on. in pb- 
 fcurity, and my name pal's quietly into oblivion." 
 
 " 1 fear," laid Mary, " you entertain erroneous ideas 
 of your duties, both moral and religioui. Your faith 
 and mine are different." Columbia was filent. " I 
 will appoint fome holy men to viiit your mother in 
 her retirement," continued the queen, " and they ihall 
 alfo inftruel: you in the tenets of cur holy church. 
 Are you willing to be inftrucled and converted r" 
 
 " I am willing to be inftrucled by wife and good 
 pcrfons," replied Columbia ; "I will liften to them 
 with patience ; and if my reafon is convinced " 
 
 " It muft, it will be convinced," faid the queen, 
 
 eagerly, " unlcfs you wilfully Ihut your eyes and cars." 
 
 K 2 " And 
 
ioj REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 ** And that I hope I never (hall do," faid Colum- 
 bia, fervently, " againft the light of truth." 
 
 Mary was fatisfied, and diimiffed lier, and ihe was 
 conveyed by the guards to the arms of her impatient 
 and anxious mother. 
 
 Both Howard and the queen from this interview en- 
 tertained fanguine hopes of converting Columbia. 
 They did not perceive that all her anfwers were am- 
 biguous, and might have been explained in a very dif- 
 ferent fenfe than the one they took them in. 
 
 Howard feized the favourable moment of the 
 queen's good humour, to requeil tjje charge of the 
 prilbners might devolve on him. " I have a houfe, 
 moft gracious fovereign," faid he, " not far from Lon- 
 don ; forne of the apartments have heretofore been 
 ufed as a ftate prifon. Suffer me to convey the widow 
 of Arundel and her daughter thither ; I will anfwei 
 for their being kept in fafe cuftody, with my life. In 
 the mean time, my confeifor, with whatever other ec- 
 cleiiaftic your majefty may pleafc to appoint, can viiit 
 them every day." 
 
 " I fee," faid the queen with a half fmile, " you wilh 
 to have an opportunity of profecuting your fuit to the 
 fair daughter of Arundel without interruption. Well, 
 be it as you deilre ; into your charge I commit them, 
 and at the hazard of your head," continued flie, ftern- 
 ly, " be they forth coming whenever I demand them. 
 For by the crown of my anceftors I fwear, they lhall 
 not efcape my vengeance, unlefs they renounce their 
 heretical opinions, and give up young Dudley to my 
 power." 
 
 Howard, pleafed tlr.it by this manoeuvre he had got 
 the perfon cf Columbia entirely in his power, thanked 
 the queen for her condefcenfion, reiterated prcmifei of 
 not permitting them to efcape, and haftened to the 
 place of their confinement, where he informed the lady 
 Ifabelle and her daughter, that he had prevailed on 
 the queen to let him remove them to a martfion of his 
 own, not far from London. " You will there," faid 
 he, "have the benefit of the air, and the indulgence of 
 fomctimes exerciSng ; ourfclf in the garden. But I 
 
 have 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. i:j 
 
 have obtained this favour at the hazard of your dif- 
 pleafure ; for I have premised the queen tint you will 
 daily converfe with ecclefiaftics ot the Catholic perfua- 
 lion. Your patience one moment, dear lady," feeing 
 Ilabelle was about to reply, "it is what you mult 
 fabimt to ir" you remain here- Let me on my knees 
 entreat you, then, to fuftVr me to convey you, and 
 this angel your daughter, out of the reach of the ty- 
 ranny of Mary. Whikl you remain (ecluded in her 
 .ee, the inftrumeuts of her power may, in the dead 
 of night, ruili in and facrince you to her vengeance ; 
 but under my roof you will at leaft be fecure from 
 fudden ioluk and furprife, and Ihould (he menace your 
 precious lives, I will preferve them at the hazard of 
 my ov.-n," 
 
 " Howard," faid Ilabelle, "I would fain believe 
 
 your profeflions are fincere ; but ■when I remember who 
 
 ayed us into the power of the queen, how can 1 :" 
 
 Tins was the firft moment Howard had furpected 
 that Mina had difcovcrcJ his frequent viJits at Auf- 
 tenbury Cafllc He had Urovc ieveval times, during 
 their journey, to draw her apart from her ladies, but 
 in vain. She had always carefully avoided him. But 
 tin's he thought proceeded from her fears of awakening, 
 fufpicion ; nor did he once imagine fhe would confide 
 an intcrcourfe, that would appear fo much to her dis- 
 advantage, to the ear of a woman fo rigidly virtuous 
 as Ifabelle. It is true, Ifabelle was rigid :':> her own 
 practice ; but flie always made a juft diilinction be- 
 tween the errors incident to human nature, and pre- 
 meditated guilt. For the folly of Mina, (he found an 
 excufe in her (implicit)', and ignorance of the world ; 
 bat tor the art and ("eduction practiced by Howard, 
 Hie felt only contempt and horror. 
 
 " What reliance," continued (lie, (tedfafily fixing 
 her eyes on his face, " what reliance can I place on 
 the word of a man, who by flattering promifes drew 
 an artlefs, innocent girl to her ruin,whil(t from the open- 
 nefs of her unfufpecting nature, he learnt fecrets, the 
 divulging of which has plunged her only friends and 
 benefactors in unavoidable delhuction r" 
 
 The 
 
t 
 
 04 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 \ The check of Howard glowed with the crimfon tint 
 of Ihame. The penetrating eye, the forcible voice of 
 Ifabelle, funk to his heart. 
 
 1 " I have been to blame," faid he, in accents fcarce- 
 Wj audible, " but do not too hailily condemn me. 
 Allow fomcthing to the impetuofity of youthful paf- 
 iion ; and if, betrayed by an enthufiailic partiality to 
 the religion in which I was educated, 1 battened to in- 
 form my fovereign where me might find the offspring 
 of Dudley and lady Jane, let it be fome expiation cf 
 my error, that I am feverely puniJhed in having unin- 
 tentionally involved two ladies in misfortune, who, to 
 every grace that can excite admiration, unite every 
 virtue that mould command elleem. Let not, I be- 
 icech you, the difcovery of my errors blind you to 
 what is abfolutely neceflary to your own intereft and 
 fafety, nor, by obftinately refufing the afylum I offer, 
 heap frclh guilt upon me, by making mc in a manner 
 afcelfory to your death, and that of your lovely 
 daughter. The beauty and innocence of the fair Co- 
 lumbia have already awakened in the breaft of Mary 
 a malignant mint, which fhe will be glad to gratify 
 by facrificing her to her pretended zeal ; ior your 
 daughter has already exprelfed her attachment to the 
 reformed religion, in terms too pointed to be over- 
 looked. Another interview with the queen, and flie 
 will be loft beyond recovery." 
 
 Howard paufed for an anfwer. The mind of Ifa- 
 belle was in a (late of agony. Her own life would; 
 have been nothing ; (he would have defpifed the pro- 
 tection of Howard, and undauntedly braved the pow- 
 er of the queen ; but her child, her thirling Columbia, 
 her fate, perhaps, hung on her anfwer. She was with- 
 in the reach of the bigottcd queen, Howard might pro- 
 tect, might lave her. What mother, in inch a cafe, 
 could hefitate i 
 
 Ifabelle bowed her head, and, in a voice tremulous 
 through fear and ftifled indignation, affented to his 
 propofal. A fhort time fixfjRced for preparation, and 
 that very night they flept in the houfe cf Howard, 
 atHamftead, iffleep it could be called, when to their 
 
 other 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. ice. 
 
 other anxiety was added the difappearance of Mina. 
 She came with them to the boufe, retired after they 
 had taken fome refrcihment, and when the hour of relt 
 arrived, was not to be found. Howard was fufpected 
 by Ifabelle, but Howard had departed with the letting, 
 fun, and could not be queltioned. 
 
 At the firft appearance of day, Columbia arofe ; 
 and for the firft time, eagerly counted the hours that 
 would moft probably intervene before (lie couid hope to 
 fee Howard. The morning wore heavily away ; Ifabelle 
 was dejected and uncafy ; her daughter endeavoured 
 to hide her own painful fenfations, that flie might di- 
 vert the anxiety of her rccthcr. 
 
 About noon, their attention was aroufed by the en- 
 trance of two eccleiiaftics, who were appointed by 
 the queen to vifit, exhort, and endeavour to convert 
 the two prifoners. Ifabelle heard them in iilcncc. 
 Columbia was feveral times on the point of replying ; 
 but a reproving look from her mother reprelled her 
 thoughts before her lips could give them utterance. 
 
 At the conclufion of the conference, the widow of 
 Arundel ventured to inquire of thefe religious men 
 if they had any knowledge of the fate of Mina ; but 
 fhe received from them a ftcrn reproof, .and was bid 
 to think more of eternal and lefs of temporal things 
 as her deftiny was us yet undetermined, and it remain- 
 ed folely with herfclf whether a few days would 
 ftate her in her late hufband's forfeited eftatv 
 property, or fign the mandate for her death. 
 
 When the priefts left her, the fortitude'* 
 feemed entirely to forfake her. She I arms 
 
 round the neck of her daughter, and gave \ 
 involuntary gufli of tears, 1 snl 1a, ... tecicd, 
 dependent on the bounty, and li. !; to be enmared by 
 the artifice of Howard, was pi:', red to her im:>. 
 tion in colours fo ftrong, that {he :oald not fuj 
 the idea. 
 
 Thus miferably did day after day wear on, diverfi- 
 ficd only by the tedious exhortations of the monks, 
 and the agoni.-.hig feelings of fulpenfe and apprehc;\- 
 fion. A fortnight was now paft, and they ha J not 
 
 once 
 
io6 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 once feen Howard. They were attended with rc- 
 fpcctful affiduity ; they had hut to name a wWh, and it 
 was inftantly complied with. And only that they 
 were not permitted to pals the boundaries of the gar- 
 den wall, their lituation might have been thought en- 
 viable. 
 
 The charms of autumn were now beginning to fade, 
 and winter was rapidly approaching, when one even- 
 ing, after a chilly walk to the extremity of the ave- 
 nue of ancient elms that fronted the houfe, as Ifabelle 
 and her daughter were fitting down to their repair, 
 experiencing fome fmall degree of comfort, in the 
 neatnefs of their apartment, and the cheerful blaze of 
 a wood fire that glowed on the hearth, they were 
 ilartlcd by a loud knocking at the gate, and in left 
 than two minutes Howard flood before them. Spite 
 of the reafons they had for dilliking him, yet their 
 long feclufton from all fociety, (except the perfect- 
 ing zealots who daily vilited and tormented them) the 
 many comforts they had through his means enjoyed, 
 and the earned: wiih they had to inquire after die fate 
 of Mina, gave to their countenances an air of plcafure 
 that was not altogether foreign to their hearts. I fa- 
 belle arofe from her feat as he entered ; Columbia ad- 
 vanced two or three fteps towards him, and half ex- 
 tended her hand to welcome him. Thefe tokens of 
 joy at his appearance, thrilled to the enraptured heart 
 of Howard. He eagerly fprang forward, caught the 
 half-reluctant hand, and, dropping on one knee, im- 
 printed on it a fervent kifs. The action recalled their 
 momentarily forgotten dignity ; the features of Ifabelle 
 aflumed their ufual frigidity. Columbia blufhed fear- 
 let deep, and putting him from her with a rejecting 
 motion, " Rife, Sir," faid the, '* nor, by uifeded hu- 
 mility, infult your prifoners." 
 
 Howard now haltened to inform them, that, anx- 
 ious only for their fafety, he had been afliduous in his 
 court to the queen, and, bribing the priefts to conceal 
 the ill fuccefs of their endeavours, he had perfuaded 
 Mary that there was more than probable hopes cf 
 their convcrlion. " But I fear," continued he, " I 
 
 fhall 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 107 
 
 {hall not long be able to elude her fufpicious vigilance. 
 She this afternoon hinted fomething of recalling you 
 to London, examining you herielf, and accordingly 
 as (he found you inclined, either receive you into the 
 boibm ef the church, or give orders for your immedi- 
 ate execution." 
 
 " Then our fate is inevitable," faid Ifabelle, with as 
 much firmneis as (he could aflume. Columbia caft a 
 look of unutterable tendernefs at her mother, and, 
 gafping to fupprefs the anguifli of her heart, cried, 
 "Yes, my mother, we will die together." 
 
 " Not fo," laid Howard, ftruck with the magna- 
 nimity of the two charming women ; M not fo. My 
 employment at court, which places me almofl imme- 
 diately about the perfon of the queen, gives me an 
 opportunity of knowing her deligns almoft as foon as 
 lhe conceives them. I will attentively watch her ; 
 not a command lhall be itfued forth of which I will 
 not learn the motive and intent ; and mould 1 rind 
 her aim at the lives of my lovely, my eftccmed prifon- 
 crs, I will deliver- them from her power, or die in their 
 defence." 
 
 Ifabelle ejaculated an exprefhon of gratitude, and 
 Columbia, in tremulous accents, ventured to inquire 
 after Mina. But Howard, wit) a look of furprifc, 
 protefted his entire ignorance of her abfence in terrrs 
 ib polkive, that it appeared impouible any longer to 
 doubt his veracity. 
 
 The rema ; >:dcr of the evening was fpent in 
 converfe. He inquired if they had all the accommo- 
 dations they wiflied, and if their commands had been 
 readily obeyed by their attendants ? On taking leave, 
 he reqnefted them to be conllantly read;- fur a remov- 
 al, as he 'iild take care to give them early notice ( f 
 impending ianger, and provide them with horfes and 
 attendants to facilitate their efcape. 
 
 After this vilit, their time was pafied in the ufual 
 way, till the morning of the feventh of November ; 
 when, juft before day, Howard arrived, attended by a 
 numerous retinue, and, hurrying Ifabelle and Colum- 
 bia from their beds tcld them the moment fo loag 
 
 dre 
 
io8 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 ■dreaded was at hand, and nothing but immediate 
 flight could fave them. They arofe with precipita- 
 tion, and mounting the horfes that flood ready for 
 them, proceeded, With all the expedition their ftrength 
 -would permit, to the borders of the kingdom next the 
 Tea on the coatt of Suffolk, where, in a mutilated for- 
 trefs, (a very fmall part of which was habitable) How- 
 ard requefted them to rcpofe, till, as he faid, a veffel 
 fhould arrive, the mailer of which had orders to meet 
 .them there, to convey them in fafety to Holland, Ger- 
 many, or fome place of fecuiity. 
 
 Fatigued, difpirite'd, and ill, Ifabclle attended but 
 little to the defolate appearance of their habitation, or 
 the few accommodations; they were likely tomcetv.ith 
 in thir, lblitary place. A numerous alfemblage of 
 male domeftics had attended them on their journey ; 
 but they faw only one female throughout the whole 
 dreary manfion, and Pie was almott infcufible through 
 age and infirmity, being quite deaf and nearly blind. 
 However, fiie performed the mott menial offices, and 
 Ifabelle was too intent on the miferiesof her fituation, 
 and the danger to which Columbia would be expofed, 
 Should they be difcovcred and forced back to the court 
 of Mary, to feel any of thofe inconveniencies, which 
 .in her more profperous days would have appeared in- 
 tolerable. 
 
 All hope of a departure from England during the 
 winter feafon {©on vanifhed ; the weather became un- 
 commonly tempettuous, the fnow fell in great quan- 
 tities, and the frofi; was intenfe. Howard was the 
 ■conttant inmate of their gloomy manfion ; for, under 
 pretence that his life was in danger on account of his 
 •having aided their efcape, he fecluded himfelf with 
 them, and declared his intention to accompany them, 
 whenever die weather would permit them to depart. 
 
 During the dreary months of December and Janua- 
 ry, he endeavoured, by amufing converfation, and a 
 dilplay of the various accomplifhmer.ts of which he 
 was matter, at once to divevf the melancholy of the 
 lady Ifabelle, and awaken the attention of Columbia. 
 •But he prefently perceived his endeavours were inet- 
 
 fcclual ; 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 109 
 
 effectual ; the defpondency of the mother daily in- 
 creafed, till it almoft bordered on defpair, and every 
 tender emotion of the daughter's heart was excited by 
 hope, fear, and conftant anxiety for the fate of the ab- 
 fent Sir Egbert Gorges. 
 
 This dil'covery once made, it became the bnfinefs cf 
 Howard to undermine a paffion, which militated fo 
 powerfully againft his fuccefs. To this end, he fre- 
 quently pretended to receive private news from Lon- 
 don, and among!! other incidents, related one day, in 
 a fecmingly carelefs manner, that a number of heretics 
 had been executed, naming feveral, and at laft Sir 
 Egbert. 
 
 Columbia was prefent ; he eyed her attentively. 
 She did not fliriek, flic did not faint ; but the blood 
 forfook her lips and cheeks, her heart beat violently, 
 flic raifed her fweet eyes mournfully to his face, and 
 attempted to afk a 1 , m :.f the fatal tidings. 
 
 But the words died upon her tongue ; fiie struggled in 
 vain to give them utterance ; her voice was inarticu- 
 late. She claiped her /-.andi, leaned her head on her 
 mother's moulder, and large tears rolled in flow and 
 filent fucceffion down her cold checks. Such mute 
 grief, men figns of real anguiih, moved the heart cf 
 Howard, He attempted to comfort her ; but Ifabelle 
 waved him from the apartment ; when taking her 
 daughter tenderly in her arms, llic footbed, confoled, 
 and lympathized with her, till her tears flowed more 
 free-y,'and by degrees fhe became compofed. 
 
 Howard hud always been open in his declaration of 
 love for Columbia 5 it was therefore not furpriflng that 
 he continued his fait, or th it, being thus conftantly in 
 her fociety, he mould plead his paffion with more than 
 comm< n fervour. She in general heard him in <i- 
 lence ; but if prefTed to : • ply %vas always 
 
 thai her heart was dead j 
 
 lie applied to rfabelle : : e urged the d;fu;rencf cf 
 the.r religions, even was Columbia inclined to favour 
 him. Hepromifed fhe Pnould never be djfturl 
 the free exercife of her religious duties, acrord : -r < , 
 what fhe thought right ; and fcTabelle, v.crn 
 L 
 
;o REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 ftant anxiety, feeling her health daily decline, 
 
 :ly believing Sir Egbert Gorges dead, and wiihing 
 
 to fecure for her child a noble and pc vcrful protector, 
 
 at length feemed inclined to liften to him, and to plead 
 
 his e a life with Columbia. 
 
 The advice and reafonings of her mother ever had 
 due weight with this amiable girl ; and though when- 
 ever her parent mentioned, that in all human proba- 
 bility, a few months would put a period to her exig- 
 ence, (lie would mentally offer up a prayer, that her 
 own life might terminate in the very fame moment 
 with that of her maternal friend. Yet as fhe faw her 
 mother fecretly wiilied to fee her united to Howard, 
 fhe endeavoured to difpofe her mind for fuch a union, 
 tacitly confented to liften to his fuit, and at die com- 
 mencement of the enfuing fummer, to give him her 
 hand. 
 
 With flow and tardy ftcps winter receded ; and 
 fpring began to ftiow her fmiling face, and wreath her 
 modeft brows with fnow-drops, crocufes, and prim- 
 rofes. All nature feemed to wear a cheerful afpccT } 
 but the heart of Columbia partook not of the hilarity 
 the vernal fealhn was ever wont to infpire. If at any 
 time die feemed to enjoy a gleam of fatisfaclion, it 
 was 'When ihe was wandering through the woods, re- 
 irking the daily increafc of the foliage, or feated on 
 a rock by the fea-fhore, liftening to the fatten murmur 
 of the waves, Or watching them as they conftantly 
 fucceeded each other, darning againft the rude crags 
 tint luing frowning over their fource. 
 
 It was about. tile middle of May ; the lady Ifabelle 
 had declined walking, though the evening was re- 
 markably line. Howard had been abfent from the 
 Caftle two days; his abfence was a relief to the dc- 
 ' jetted fpirits .of Columbia. She took her rolitary 
 'ramble "through the wood. The fragrance of the 
 r air, the ferenity of the ft.y, the melody of the 
 , thered race who were chanting their vefper fong of 
 thankfulnefs, awakened in her boforo fomething like 
 ftrayed to her ufaal feat by the lea 
 ftde, and indulged in the plefafulable fenfations the fa?> 
 
 roundirg 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. lit 
 
 rounding profpect infpired. Pleafure had long been a 
 Granger to her heart, and lhe welcomed her return, 
 though in lb flight a degree, with an emanation of 
 gratitude to the benignant Power, who had ordained 
 that time fhould weaken and meliorate the fevereft 
 affliction. 
 
 Entirely occupied by her own refactions, fhe did 
 not obiervc any perfon near her till a young woman 
 addrefled her, and inquired the way to the Caille. " I 
 want to fee our matter," faid fhe, " for the young lady 
 he put to live Wjith mother be very lick, and mother 
 fays fhe do think the will die." 
 
 " I am going to the Calllc," faid Columbia, rif.ng, 
 "and will iliew you the way." 
 
 " Where does your mother live ?" continued fhe ; 
 " and how does it happen, that as you call Sir , 
 Howard your mailer, you do not know the way to his 
 dwelling :" 
 
 " Why daify me," replied the young woman, " no. 
 body never lived in that there old place lince I call 
 u-member, till manor cum'd here latt winter ; and to 
 be lure, mother faid, feeing as how Sir James . 
 Ilngie man, and wildiih orfo, it was belt; lor brother to 
 go when the lady wanted to lend ft r him ; hue brother 
 never went only into the hitching, and fo never I 
 ed whether there was any ladies there; but mayhap 
 you be cum'd here lately." 
 
 " How far from the Caftle do von live, my dear :'' 
 faid Columbia, planning i-i her mind a vim to the lick 
 
 14 About two miles," replied ' 
 in a valley near the fe i j it be but . 
 
 . and nobody lives there but fi . But 
 
 father was afear'd to ftay in town, cai L as how i 
 Mary had ordered all the heretics to 1 .'and 
 
 father and mother be both heretics, and fo we c 
 and lived here ; and we had like t< 
 ble there. For Sir James be one of M l 
 that's no matter now, feeing that (he be dea '. 
 hope (be repented ot all her crueltj before fhe d 
 
 
ii2 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 " Before who died r" faid Columbia ; " who are 
 ■ Calking about, my good girl ?" 
 
 " Why about queen - : try, madam." 
 
 " Is queen Mary dead ?" 
 
 44 Laws daily, yes ; ilie died laft November ; and 
 then we mould have gone heme, only father was took 
 fick and died, an fo mother " 
 
 The girl might have run on for an hour. Colum- 
 bia would not have interrupted her. Mary dead — 
 jfcad fo long, and Howard ftill detaining her mother 
 and felf in that folitary place, gave her an idea that 
 his defigns were not laudable or honourable ; and then 
 ft ray of hope darted into h<-r mind, that he had de- 
 ceived her in reporting the death of Gorges. She 
 quickened her fteps ; fhe longed to cheer her mother 
 with this new-born h:pe. Betides, if Mary was dead, 
 no doubt her Gfter Elisabeth rilled the throne. She 
 aHced the queftion, and was anfwered in the affirma- 
 tive. Her heart bounded at the tidings ; fhe fcarcely 
 touched the ground, fo light and fwiftly did fhe pais 
 over it. She left her young companion below with 
 the old fcrvant, and flying to her mother, imparted to 
 her all fhe had heard/ all fhe fufpe&ed, and all fhe 
 fondly hoped. 
 
 ••< < •< < <<*t?j t"^»- >• > •■►• >- 
 
 CHAP. XIV. 
 
 Change of Scen: x Weddings* Burials, and Chr{fteningt» 
 
 SABELLE joined her daughter in feverely cen- 
 furing the conduct of Howard, by comparing the 
 time of their departure from Hamflead with that of 
 the late queen's death. They found they were re- 
 moved on the morning following the night fhe died. 
 
 "We are, I fear, m the power of a villain," fatd 
 Ifabelle, "but we mart exert ourfelves to (hake off 
 this bondage in which he, contrary to the laws of his 
 country, detains us. I will feck the protection of my 
 fovereien, nor longer perfuade my child to give her 
 & hand 
 
TALKS of OLD TIMES. 113 
 
 hand oppofed againft her heart. Howard is ft ill ab- 
 feirt, nor do I think he will return to-night. We will 
 leave his dreary prifon, and, conducted by the young 
 woman you mention, feek an afylum among .1 the 
 poor filhermen ; they may perhaps procure us a con- 
 veyance to fome neighbouring town from whence we 
 may get to London." 
 
 " Alas ! my dear mother," faid Columbia, " you 
 forget that we have no money." 
 
 4< < 1 have a trifle, my child," fhe replied, " and we 
 muft fummon all our fortitude to brave even hard- 
 flrip and danger without fhrinking. We are women, 
 it is true, and ought never to forget the delic 
 our fex ; but real delicacy con lilts in purity 1 
 and chaftity of words and actions ; not in fliudd 
 at an accidental blalt of wind, or incrtafing t 1 : 
 voidable evils of life by afie&ed weaknefs and t 
 ty. How many of our fex are obliged by har 
 daily labour, to procure for thcmfelves and children 
 the bare means of exiitence ! How many bnr\ 
 fccriiies of the mod inclement feafons, with hardly 
 covering fufficient to keep them from periihing ! I 
 allow that you and I, my beloved child, have been" 
 accustomed to tenderer ufagc ; but we are particular- 
 ly called upon at tins time, to exert the llrength and 
 faculties of both mind and body, with which nature 
 has bountifully endowed us.' 1 
 
 " Oh ! my adored mother," faid Columbia, " taught 
 ur bright precept and example, I feel 11 yielf 
 equal to almoft any trial. But ill as you are, to un- 
 dertake fo long, fo fatiguing a journey, without f -he 
 means oi~ procuring either comforts or conveniences, 
 ir" you mould fink under ir, who then would a 
 conJ'ole and direct your orphan Colombia :" 
 
 " Courage, my love," replied Ifabelle ; " I am not 
 fo ill as y< anxiety leads you to think I am. 
 
 Believe me, the agitation of the mind weakens and 
 enervates the whole fyftem. The heart, eafed of 
 a I .. 1 of anguilh, heats lighter, gives a freer play to 
 lb: lungs, and a fwifter circulation to the blood. 
 mducive to health than change of air 
 L 2 and 
 
ii4 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 and esercife ? Bcfides, I have now feme object in 
 view, which will give conftant employment to my 
 thoughts. Employment naturally begets cheerful- 
 
 nefs. Nothing is more pernicious to die health of 
 mind or body, than indolence and inaction. The {'ac- 
 uities become torpid ; even die chords of fenfibility 
 
 loie their fine tone, and the heart itfelf grows cold and 
 inanimate as marble. Keep the hands employed, and 
 the mind occupied in feme laudable purlin t, and a 
 fweet ferenity will dtffufe itfelf over the fcul. The 
 day pa(fes without our noticing the hours, the night 
 brings peaceful and refrefhing (lumbers, and by throw* 
 ing the golden chain of induftry over the wings of 
 pleafure, we take the little fleeting phantom priioncr, 
 and make it our own forever." 
 
 Columbia felt the full force of her mother's argu- 
 ment ; for, being bufied in putting a few neceiraiics 
 together for their journey, (he was ib wholly occupied 
 by the pleafures of anticipation, that every obftacle 
 feemed to vanifh. " Heaven in its mercy guard and 
 fupport my dear mother," laid the mentally, " and 
 for myfelf I have no fears." 
 
 The young woman, whofe name was Cicely, un- 
 dertook to conduct them to the cottage of her mother. 
 For the lady Ifabelle faid, as Sir James was not at 
 home, (lie would herfclf vi lit the lick lady, and admin* 
 jfter fuch confolation as (he might find needful. The 
 lall^ints of day were lading in the we ft em Iky, and 
 the moon, in full majeftic fplendour, tipped with her 
 (liver beams the lofty and antique trees that furround- 
 ed the manfion of Howard, when thefe two interefting 
 women, accompanied by Cicely, entered the wood 
 through whibb they were obliged to pals in their way 
 to her motherS habitation. 
 
 In filence they purfued their way. Columbia and 
 her mother could cenverfe but on one fubjeCt, and on 
 that one. prudence fc rbade th< m to fpeak in the prefence 
 of a third perfon ; and Cicely, though fo communica- 
 tive to the daughter, was awed by the prefence of the 
 
 mother. 
 
 At 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. nj 
 
 At length they reacted the cottage ; it was fmall 
 a ad mainly furnilhcd, but withal fo clean and neat, 
 that it Teemed the habitation of comfort and content. 
 A middle aged woman, decently clad in home-fpun 
 ftiiff, met them at the door, and looking at the ftran- 
 gcrs with an ait of furprife, eagerly afted for Sir James. 
 Il'ibelle did not give her little guide tine to reply, 
 bat anfwered lor hi r, that Sir Janus being from home, 
 a d (he being hi-; particular friend and gueil, had 
 cumc to vh't the lick lady, and lee if an; thing could 
 be d< ne to help her. 
 
 " Alack a day, my lady," laid the w< man, " I be- 
 lieve Ihe be pad help ; I did not think fhe would have 
 }'-\\ 1 till now ; but walk into the next room, 1 believe 
 fhe is quite fcnfible yet, and feems to have fomethittg 
 on her mind. I do think the poor Tom 1 , would 
 die eafier, if the could tell fomc-body her tr« ubles." 
 
 As the loquacious landlady finiihed fpeaking, fhe 
 opened the door of the adjoining apartment, and Co- 
 lumbia, with trembling impatience, approached the 
 bed, and foftly put back the curtain. The light, 
 which llood on tiie table by the beflde, fhed its rays 
 full on. the face of the invalid, and dtttovered the fea- 
 tures of Mina. A momentary (lumber had lulled her 
 in forgetfulnefs. Beiide her lay an infant, to all ap- 
 pearance but a few hours old. 
 
 " My heart foreboded this," faid Ifabelle. Colum- 
 bia's eyes dreamed as flic hung over the pale form oi~ 
 her beloved Mina ; fhe fobbed aloud, but was unable 
 to fpeak. The dying fufferer uneloled her eyes, fnc 
 f ;w, a-.id inftantly recollected her lady and dear bene* 
 faclrefs. 
 
 " Then my prayers arc heard," faid (he, faintly ; 
 "I (hall leave my child, the wretched offspring of 
 fliamc and folly, to the care of an angel." 
 
 " Oh ! my poor Mina," cried Columbia, finking on 
 her knees by the bedfide, and endeavouring to Rifle 
 her grief. " Unfortunate creature," faid the lady Ifa- 
 belle, taking the cold, damp hand of her fervant ; 
 " feverely hail thou fuffered tor thy deviation from the 
 path of rectitude ; but do not defpond, my child. 
 
 Your 
 
u6 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 Your prefent weak Rate, and the depreffion naturally- 
 attendant on your fituauon, makes you think yourielf 
 near your end ; but we wiM hope " 
 
 " Hope!" faid Mina, raiting her languid eyes ; " yes, 
 I do hope that my fufFerings are nearly at an end, and 
 that they have in part made atonement for my errors. 
 I did not, believe me. I did not leave your protection 
 voluntarily. I was forced away and brought to this 
 place ; I was taught to believe that you had left En- 
 gland. I have fometimes, ilnce my feclu/ion litre, 
 ieen the author of my ruin ; but could not learn from 
 him, that he know aught concerning you. I was par- 
 ticularly anxious to fee him to-night; for fure I am, 
 my dear lady, I fhall never again -\ Lw the light of 
 day. And I wifhed to have with my own hands com- 
 mitted hi* child to his care ; but I can with more, con- 
 fidence leave it to your protection." 
 
 Here a hidden faintnefs made her paufe. A few 
 drops admlnikered, fome what revived her, and ihe 
 proceeded : — " A few ftruggles more, and I fhall be 
 at peace. My heart, my heart is broken. Yet truft 
 rae, it is not my own fufTerings, the flights of the man 
 for whom I facrificed all,, or the fcorn of a contemn- 
 ing world under which I have funk. No ! it was the 
 confeioufnefs of 16ft innocence ; it was the reflection 
 that my lapfe from virtue had involved my kindeft, 
 beft friends in ruin, which penetrated deep into my 
 foul. Sleeping or waking, y r ou were prefent to my 
 thoughts, and I have died a thoufand deaths, in daily 
 anticipating yours." 
 
 The lady Ifabelle endeavoured to foothe and com- 
 pofe the affectionate, penitent Mina ; aflured her that 
 what was in her power fhe would cheerfully promife 
 to perform ; that fhe would look on her child as an 
 infant given to her protection by the immediate agen- 
 cy of Heaven ; and though fhe mould think it a duty 
 to endeavour to awaken in the breafl of Howard the 
 feelings of a father towards the hclplefs innocent, yet 
 it would be her care to fee that his health and morals 
 were in no ways neglected. 
 
 " Yes, 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. nj 
 
 u Yes, my dear Mina," faid Columbia, "he (hall-be 
 my charge. Come, compofe yourfclf ; endeavour to 
 red. When you are better, we will nurfe the little 
 rogue together, and I warrant I fhall prove the better 
 nurfe." 
 
 " Bleffed — bleffed — " faid Mina, grafping the hand 
 of Columbia (which from her firlt. awaking, lhe had 
 held in her's). Her eyes were ardently turned up- 
 ward ; they gradually clofed ; her fingers relaxed 
 their hold, and her head funk upon the pillow. 
 
 " She is dropped afleep," laid Columbia, " I hope 
 it will refrefh her." " It will," replied her mother, 
 drawing her from the bed-lide ; lhe will awake relieved 
 from all her pain." 
 
 " Do you think l~o indeed ! my dear mother." 
 
 " Yes, my child, molt almredly ; for in this world 
 lhe will awake-no more." 
 
 The feelings of fuch a heart as Columbia's, on fuch 
 an occafion, cannot be delcribed. The foul alive to 
 fenfibility, can eafily conceive them ; and to the un- 
 feeling, a repetition of her complaints and forrow.s 
 would be tedious and unintercitiug. She took the 
 poor motherlefs infant in her arms, and fitting down 
 in one corner of the room, baptized it with her tears. 
 
 The fcene became too painful for the lady Ilabelle ; 
 and whilft the landlady and hei daughter, aflifted by 
 a fervant, prepared the body of the departed Mina for 
 her laft re. ling place, lhe walked in a little garden be- 
 fore the door, leeking, fr< m the COol evening air, a relief 
 from that oppvefiion on the heart, which the recent 
 leene had eccalioncd. 
 
 The air in a flight degree had the defired effect. 
 She returned to the houfe, and approached tin 
 that led to the apartment of death. The lifelefs body 
 was now rtrctched upon the bed, on the fide of which 
 fat Columbia (till weeping, and clafping the infant to 
 her bofom. Her forrow was too facredj the lcilon 
 was too important, for her mother to interrupt her. 
 The found gf footlteps called the attention of [fitbelle 
 frcm her daughter, bhc turned to»fe* from whence 
 
 thfi 
 
nS REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 the found proceeded, and beheld juft entering the 
 houfc, Howard. 
 
 " The lady Ifabelle," faid he, with a lopk of afton- 
 i.hment, " by what miracle do I ice you here : ami 
 where is my charming Columbia •" 
 
 " .She is here alio," replied Ifabelle,, villi a folcrur. 
 voice. " Follow nae ; I will lead you to her." 
 
 They entered the apartment together. Columbia 
 railed not her eyes, The heart of lb .ward be.it v 
 as, leading him toward the bed, Ifabelle drew the 
 ering from the death-ban;} red face of Mina, and | 
 fig to her, laid emphatically, " Behold the works ct" 
 thy hands, Howard ! Here contemplate the fruits of 
 feduclion!" 
 
 At tlie name of Howard, Columbia darted ; lhe 
 read the emotions of his ioul in his exprcflive c( 
 nance. Riling from her feat, (he prefented die infant 
 to him, and laying her right hand on his aim, catted 
 h : s audition iiom the pale corfe of her lamented fer- 
 rant. "Gc.-e not there, Howard," laid ihe ; •' the 
 injuries of the rnqther are pail rcdrefs ; but behold 
 your child, m.:' o rep traiion here !" 
 
 Howard,. the diouglulefs, diffipated How- 
 
 ard was llrttck to the heart. He faw the once lovely, 
 blooming, cheerful Mina, an inanimate mafs. Thofe 
 fparkling eyes, that firft awakened the licentious pai- 
 lion, were clofcd in death ; that heart, that had but 
 too much fallibility, too much iir.ccrity lor its own 
 peace, was cold and full. His feduclive powers had; 
 hurried an amiable creature out of the woild, and in- 
 troduced into it a helplefs being, win , fhould he live, 
 through life would bhdh for the frailty of his mother, 
 and execrate the licentioui'neis of his father. He took 
 fant from the arms oi : Columbia, preffed the 
 hand which fhe had laid on his arm, attempted to 
 fpeak, but his \oice died away in inarticulate founds. 
 The bitter tears or felf-acoufation ruflied down his 
 cheeks ; he returned the child to her ; and throwing 
 himleif beli.ie the lifeiefs Mina, gave a k ofe to the an- 
 guilh of his heait. 
 
 Ifabell* 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 119 
 
 rfabellc led her daughter from the room ; but du- 
 ring the whole night Howard never left it for a mo- 
 ment, and fmall was the portion of repofe which any 
 of the inhabitants ot the cottage tafted. 
 
 By the dawn of day, lfabelle wiftied to begin her 
 journey towards London. She lent in a requeft to 
 Howard, that he would grant her a few moments au- 
 dience. He complied. When he entered the apart- 
 ment, (he thus addrefled him. " I fent for you not, 
 Sir James, to irritate your fenfibility by unfeafonablc 
 reproaches, nor to inquire what injury I had ever done 
 you, that you have thus wantonly heaped mifery on 
 me and mine. I wiih but to tell you, that I am fully 
 fenfible how unjuilly and on what falfe pretences 
 you have detained me here ; and that, knowing my- 
 ielf perfectly free, and fafe in the protection of my 
 qxieen, and the laws of my country, I may travel 
 without moleMation whitherfoever I pleafe. I (hall 
 immediately proceed towards London. I alfo w'(h 
 to inform you, that the poor departed victim, in her 
 dying moments, recommended her infant to my care, 
 and died in the full confidence of my protection ar.d 
 tendernels being extended towards it during its yeais 
 ,of helplels infancy. 1 am fenfihk- of your prior right ; 
 the right of nature is incontrovertible ; and I have 
 (till ib good an opinion of your heart ( 'when left to 
 the dictates of reafon and religion) as to think you 
 will difcharge the duty of a parent wi,h confck 
 ftrictnefs. "But I have to requeft, you wiil fufl 
 (to be informed where the child may be placed, ( 
 cafe of indifpofition, I may have it in my power io 
 vift and fee that !v is properly nuried and attended." 
 
 Howard was for a moment filerit. His proud fpin't 
 was humbled to the dull. But Howard, when con- 
 vinced df an error, knew how to make atonement with- 
 out defcending from the dignity of man. 
 
 "Noble lady," faid he, "1 have been highly culpa- 
 ble. My heart tells me at this moment, I In- 
 feited all right to the protecting power of an Olftnipd- 
 unt, by abufing his good gifts, and dehafmg the 110- 
 blefi work of his hands. But I am not fo far loft *.o 
 
 virtue-. 
 
120 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 .•virtue, as Co perfift in error again ft die conviction of 
 reafon. I have injured you, lady Arundel, I have 
 wounded the heart of your lovely daughter, by a falie 
 tale of the death of her lover ; but, thank Heaven, re- 
 paration here is not beyond my power. My fervants 
 J hall attend you ; my horfes are at your command ; 
 depart when you pleaie. You lhall have fafe conduct 
 .to the court of the royal Elizabeth, where you will 
 meet Sir Egbert Gorges, rich in every virtue as well 
 as in the favour of his iovercign. Your requeft in re- 
 gard to the haplefs offspring of indiicretion, lhall glad- 
 ly be complied with ; his infant wants I will take care 
 lhall be amply fuppiied ; I will endeavour, by tendcr- 
 nefis toward him, to atone for the injuries 1 have douc 
 Jiis mother. But your friendfhip and attention, in di- 
 recting my cares to a proper channel, will be a valua- 
 ble acquilition to him, and an act of condcfcenftoi) to- 
 war 1 rhe.. I will fee the loft Mina repofe on. her laft 
 bed, and then conduct my child and his nurfe to Lon- 
 don, where, making ample provision for his fupport 
 through life, 1 will leave him to your protection, and 
 feek, in the claih of arms and the purfuit ( f glory, to 
 lofe the remembrance of circumftances which tend at 
 .once to my diihonour and diiquiet.*' 
 
 Early in the day, Iiabelle and her daughter ccm- 
 menced their journey toward the metropolis. Though 
 the fpirits of Columbia had received a fevere Ihock 
 from the death of her favourite Mina, yet the bright 
 p#bfpects that opened to her, in her recovered liberty 
 and the certainty of Sir Egbert's life and fafety, contrib- 
 uted in a great degree to difhpate her melancholy ; and 
 •as they drew near the conclusion of their journey, her 
 heart vibrated with the moft pleafurablc fenfations. 
 ' A fudden thunder mower, which obliged them to 
 .ftop when within ft few hours ride of London, imped- 
 ed their journey, and they were ncceffitated -unwilling- 
 ly to fleep another night on the read. After an early 
 ,rcpa!l, they retired to their apartment, when juft as 
 Columbia was going into bed, (he milled her ring from 
 off her finger. " Oh ! madam," faid fhe, " 1 have 
 loftjny ring ; and yet I am fare I law it on my fin- 
 ger 
 
TALES «f OLD TIMES. 121 
 
 ger juft before we went to fupper." Every part of 
 the bed-chamber was now fearcheJ, every article of 
 her attire carefully lhaken, her pockets turned infide 
 out, but all in vain. 
 
 " Perhaps," faid Ifabelle, " you may have dropped 
 it in the room below." The hoftefs was fummoned, 
 and requefted to look for it, whilft Columbia, too 
 anxious to think of refting, had (almoft unknown to 
 herfelf) again put on her clothes. The hoftefs return- 
 ed. " I have been very fortunate," laid fhe ; " a gen- 
 tleman who has been feeking game in the neighbour- 
 ing fore ft, being overtaken by night fooner than he 
 expecled, entered the houfe juft as you came up ftair.% 
 and being (hewn into the apartment you had left, has 
 found the ring, and here it is." 
 
 Columbia eagerly extended her hand to receive it ; 
 but overcome with joy and aftonifhment, Ihc gave a 
 fudden exclamation of pleafure, and fpringing toward 
 the door, was infb.ntly folded in the arms of Sir Eg- 
 bert Gorges. 
 
 It was he, who with Rawlins had been in purfiut of 
 game in the adjacent woods. Entering the apart- 
 ment Columbia had juft left, he faw fbmething glitter 
 on the floor, and (looping, picked up the identical 
 ring which he had placed on her finger at parting. 
 His furprife was execftive ; he had heard that the lady 
 Ifabelle and her daughter had been in the power of 
 Mary, and it was univerfally believed they had, 
 through Howard's means, efcaped ; that they were 
 at that moment under the fame roof with him, he had 
 ' not the moil diftant idea ; but the perfon who dropped 
 the ring might probably give him fome information 
 concerning her. He was gazing at it, loft in conjec- 
 ture, his bofbm throbbing with anxiety to learn her 
 fate, when the hoftefs entered the room. 
 
 '« I beg pardon," faid fhe, " but 1 come to took for 
 a ring which a lady thinks (lie has dropped here ; I 
 hope if you have fcen it, gentlemen, you will reftorc 
 it ; lor indeed the poor young lady feems in a fad ta- 
 king about it." 
 
 "A young lady ?" faid Sir Egbert. 
 
 M « Aye, 
 
in REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 " Aye, a young lady," replied our loquacious hoft- 
 efs ; " and as fweet a young lady as eye ever looked 
 oiu I warrant it is fome love token. Oh ! if you 
 had hut fecn her earneflnefs, when fhe entreated me 
 to come and look for it." 
 
 " I have found the ring," faid Sir Egbert, his heart 
 throbbing fo violently as to render refpiration diffi- 
 cult ; " here, take it to the young lady, and as you 
 give it her, fuffer me to fee her ; leave the door partly 
 open as you go in." A golden argument, with which 
 Sir Egbert enforced his requeft, prevented objections, 
 and taking the plain gold ring from his own finger, 
 he fent it to Columbia. 
 
 It may eafily be fuppofed, that fo happy, fo unex- 
 pected a meeting, baniJhed llcep effectually from the 
 eyes of all. Ifabelle and her daughter returned to the 
 parlour, where inquiry, recital, and unreferved confi- 
 dence on both fides, occupied the remainder of the 
 night. They learnt that young Dudley was fafe in 
 the protection of Elizabeth, who had reftored to him 
 the title and eltates of his father, and promifed to be 
 his friend and patronefs. 
 
 Nor was Mina forgot ; Rawlins fei/cd the firft paufe 
 in tl^eir interefting convcrfation to inquire after the ob- 
 ject of his fincere affection. 
 
 Ifabelle hefitated ; fhe read his tendernefs in the 
 emotions of his countenance. At length the fata] 
 truth was difclofed, and the piece of filyer which Co- 
 lumbia had taken from around her neck after her de- 
 ceafe, was reflored to him. 
 
 He took it ; he gazed on it in filence. His manly 
 features were tinged with the pale hue of death. He 
 raifed his eyes to the face of Columbia. The iook 
 was expretfive ; it feemed to fay, " You loved her la- 
 dy ; do you not lament her !" Columbia breathed 
 a figh of commiferation. His heartflrings, which 
 were drawn almoft to breaking, were foftened by its 
 balmy influence. He palled his hand acrofs hi* eyes 
 to diffipate the tear, the mournful cataflrophe of" his 
 beloved Mina had extorted, and putting the piece of 
 filver into his hoibm, liaftily left the apartment. 
 
 The 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 123 
 
 The ruddy morn peeped through the eaftern gates, 
 before this happy trio thought of ieparating. Ifabelle 
 and Columbia at length retired to their chamber ; but 
 Morpheus was flown beyond recall. Unfeeling deity ! 
 he makes his longeft vilits to the ignorant and infenfi- 
 ble. The peafant, whillt he labours amongft the corn 
 he fows, (trews the fomnific poppy ; and in return, the 
 leaden-winged power collects its fweets, and iheds them 
 on his pillow. From the couch bedewed with tears 
 he takes his flight, and when ecftatic joy has Itrung 
 each nerve, and the exhilarated fpirits mount toward 
 heaven, he (lands aloof and (hakes his heavy v 
 nor for one moment will impede the tide o( blifs, 
 though coiirted ea.neftly by weary nature, who lan- 
 giiiflies for red from each extreme, whether of grief or 
 pleafure. 
 
 Pieleutcd at tiie court of Elizabeth., Columbia 
 Ihone conspicuous. Her beauty (truck the 
 eye ; her affability, good fenfe and virtue capt vated 
 the heart. Her delighted, happy mother bel 
 her hand on Sir Egbert Gorges with uni'cigrjcd fatif- 
 facihm 5 and remaining in the capital till Colu 
 was mother to a ion chriltencd Ferdinando, and ' ! 
 J Elizabeth, (he retired to Auftenbury 
 Calfle. 
 
 Her old fervant Cora was no more. Matthias 
 in his fecond childhood ; but he experienced all the 
 pleafure of which human nature in its laft ilagc is ca- 
 pable, in the return of his revered lady. The autumn 
 following, he flept in peace ; and before the enfuing 
 fpring had called forth the primroi'c, or decked the 
 almond tiee in blufhing l'weets, the lady ftabelle, the 
 defcenda . of the great Columbus, the daughter of the 
 Peruvian princeis Orrabeila, gently declined into the 
 vale of years, and refted in the houic appointed for 
 all H\ 
 
 Columbia en this occaiion vifited the fcene of her 
 juvenile pleafuies. Her feelings on the departure of 
 her mother were indcicribable. Her tears again con- 
 ed 'he memory of the unfortunate Mina ; and 
 having given orders that the court yard", the liibert 
 walk r the tower and eaftern wing of the Caftle flic uld 
 
 be 
 
i2 4 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 be kept in conftant repair, flic returned to London, 
 ■ fhe c( ntinued foi many years to mine eminently 
 m tii. chara wife, mother, and miftrefs of a 
 
 ily. » 
 She died in I '• year of her age, afier hav- 
 
 ing given birth to five children ; Ferdinando, heir to 
 his father's title and eihite ; Elizabeth, who was mar- 
 ried to lord 1 ' Vialcy ; Jane, who died in her 
 Edward, who, embracing die fervicc of his 
 country in :. nautical profeffion, and in the year 1 5S 5 
 embarking with the brave and enterprizing Sir Fran- 
 cis Prake, periihed in the attack againft St. Domingo ; 
 •wnd Beatina, who married into the ancient and re- 
 fpectabie family of the Penns. 
 
 Sir Egbert Gorges himfelf lived to a good old age j 
 and dying, bequeathed his title and eftates to a Jon, 
 who thought hereditary honour of Ifctle value to die 
 pcflcfTor, unlefs fiipported by humanity, juflice and 
 mercy. 
 
 Sir Ferdinando Gorges regarded the honour of an- 
 f eftry in no other light than as a ftimulus to praife- 
 worthy actions. "My father," faid he, " was belov- 
 c:i and citeemed for his virtue, honour and integrity ; 
 I will not fully the name I bear, by any action derog- 
 atory to the character of a MAN and a CHRIS- 
 TIAN." 
 
 Sir Ferdmando Gorges was a gentleman cf the old 
 world ; mould the character appear unnatural to any 
 of the prefent time, let them remember that they are 
 reading a " talc of old times," and exculpate the au- 
 thor from the charge of romance and improbability. 
 A certain modern author, a noble author too, (if 
 inheriting a title continues nobility) has been at infi- 
 nite trouble to explain the requiiites neceflary to form 
 the character of a fine gentleman ; unfortunately, he 
 forgot humanity, truth and religion. Sir Ferdinando 
 Crorges imagined, that to love and worfhip his Crea- 
 tor, to fcorn to aiTert a falfehood, and to do as he 
 would be done by in the mod. minute particular, was 
 to deferve the dntinguiihed rank he inherited from 
 
 his 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 125 
 
 his anceftors ; and it is a moral certainty, that Sir 
 Ferdinando was perfectly right in his ideas of the cha- 
 racter of a real gefttleman. 
 
 .■<..«■.<■•« «^-Y^f> > ■> > > 
 
 CHAP. XV. 
 A Century nuhen f>jjr is rut as a 'Moment. 
 
 SIR Ferdinando Gorges toojc but a fni.il! (hare ; :i 
 the active fccn.es of li 1 the unfortunate E;trl 
 
 ofEflox, favourite to Eli; beth, incurred the confure 
 of his fovereign by neglecting her < Is, and hur- 
 
 ried by the impetuoiity of 1 J the 
 
 populace (e :r for novelty) to arm in his fup- 
 
 port and defence, which called forth the aid o{ the lo) al 
 lubjeel in b le Queen's d r. It was 
 
 then Sir i . lo darted into notice; he., 
 
 the prcrogativ oi royalty, -ced the ccm- 
 
 mands of his l'< Deign, not as the will of 
 tyrant, bul of a well-regulated | ■■ 
 
 meat, neccflar) to be in; ir the peace, in 
 
 and fecurity oi millions who lived under their pro- 
 tection. 
 
 He was a man remarkable I 
 the main 
 
 wifh of his he; rt, e\ .■; undertaking in whicl < 
 
 "te the g ncral v 
 
 About the ; :ar . 
 f< rm d th m elves into a company f r plai 
 fettling a col< sw England, 1 
 
 Sir Ferdinando was appointed 
 of the directors, and expended 
 nal inheritance in promoting the deli jn. 1 
 of his great and enterprising anceftoi teemed to revive 
 in hint, and notliing but his advai ced age prevented 
 him from croffing the Atlantic himTclf, in fean 
 difcoveries that might enrich or enlighten the 1 
 generation. 
 
 M 2 Si* 
 
126 REUBEN and RACHEL; ok, 
 
 / 
 Sir Ferdtrtando had married, at an early age, a 
 lid>- of family and fortune ; but (he lived only to give 
 birth to a daughter ; and fcir Ferdinando was lb firmly 
 attached to her whillt living, and (0 Gncejely regretted 
 her untimely departure, that he thought no other 
 woman could fupply her place. His filter Elizabeth 
 was nearly at the lame period left a widow, with only 
 cue child, a boy about five years old. To whom 
 could Sir Ferdinando apply to take the charge of his 
 infant daughter, fo well as to lady Dudley ? And where 
 could the young, the lovely widow find berfelffo fafe, 
 fo fecure from reproach, as in the family and undez 
 the protection of her brother ? 
 
 As the children grew up, Henry regarded his little 
 coufin Ifabelle with more than fraternal affection ; but 
 the tenets of the reformed religion forbidding a union 
 between two perfons fo nearly related by the tics of 
 blood, neither Sir Ferdinando nor lady Dudley en- 
 couraged an affection, which in their ideas was a crime ; 
 and with a defign to prevent its progrefs, at the age 
 of nineteen, Henry was fent to travel, ami finifh his 
 education by gaining a competent knowledge ol fo- 
 reign courts and manners. 
 
 Though Ifabelle Gorges, at the departure of her 
 coufin for the continent, was fcarcely fourteen years 
 old, vet Henry was fully Unable of the nature of the 
 
 lotions he felt in her favour ; whilft the, the ] 
 child of fimplicity, had no idea but that (he might 
 love him beyond all i ther tcrreftrial being*, and c( n- 
 fefs it with impunity. She hung upon his neck at 
 taking leave, befought him not to f< rget her, and 
 (pent the whole day in tear. Every eniuing day 
 feemed itiil to make his ahlencc more intolerable. 
 She thought of him incefiantly, fpoke of him often, 
 | when a letter arrived, would hang ever her fath- 
 er's (boulder with delighted attention whilft he read 
 th. conti 
 
 Henry Dudley was a man exactly calculated to do 
 
 honour to the noble race from whence he fprang ; die 
 
 letters of his governor to his mother were filled with 
 
 i : praifes. To a brave, undaunted fpirit he united a 
 
 * foal 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 127 
 
 foul alive to all the finer feelings of humanity. With 
 an ardent third for knowledge, he pollened an under- 
 Handing that directed his lhtdics and refearches to the 
 mod ufeful, Laudable objects ; from the gentleneis of 
 his nature liable to error, but open to conviction, and 
 ever ready to make atonement. 
 
 " He has but one fault," faid his governor in one of 
 his letters, " and that is an impetuoiity of difpontion 
 in purfuit of any favourite obje*5> ; his infections 
 a-e ardent in ihc extreme, add bis paffipos, or rather 
 his excefliv-3 ien'ibi ky, hurry hba often beyond the 
 bounds of reafon and difcretion. .Cut this error is like 
 a ipot on the ft:.', which may be discernible whilft 
 his beams aye weakened by the mi. Is ot" the morning, 
 but when he fhines in full meridian fplendouf will 
 become imperceptible." 
 
 " Dear, beloved Henry !*' exclaimed Ifabelle, as fhe 
 li.lcn.d to her .. I fhe read the paflage. " Oh! 
 
 way is hei r I I am fure though, it he 
 
 wore m ■', I could not love him better than I 
 
 Jo now 5 md you, my cl • inuedj 
 
 throwing her arms round the neck of lady Dudley, 
 " 1 think 1 could not love you more than I do now, 
 but yet I ib\:\! like to call you mother. 'I never 
 knew my own have amply fiipplied her 
 
 place. Letm< her,dear! dear! mother. 
 
 Oh ! there is fbmething ;htful in die word, 
 
 that my heart - Lranfports as I 
 
 utter it. Wha! a happy girl 1 Ihould be if 1 could 
 fay, My father, my m I tr Henry." 
 
 The lad J that the intu 
 
 Ifabelle was equal to her tendernefs, ; .. i that in wiih- 
 ing to call her mother, flie meant no m< re, than that 
 by her being i"o, Henry won" brother. 
 
 Henry continued his travels till he had readied his 
 twenty-third year ; it was then thought neceflary to 
 call him home ; and as in his letters he had n 
 mentioned Ifabelle only as a relation, bir Ferdinando 
 hoped abfence, and a variety of fcenes, had totally 
 eradicated the youthful predilection he had cone 
 
 in 
 
i23- REUBEN an-d RACHEL; or, 
 
 in her favour. But in this he was niillaken ; the paf- 
 which began in childhood had increafed with his 
 years; and though during his travels various other 
 purfuits had contributed to keep it dormant, it Hill re- 
 mained in his heart, and waited only for a re-union 
 with Ifabclle, to blaze anew with more than its former 
 ardency. 
 
 During Ms refidence at the court of France, Henry 
 Dudley formed an acquaintance- with Howard Fit/.- 
 Howard, grandfon to thd unfortunate Mina. 
 
 •Sir James Howard had confeicniioufly performed 
 his prom'ie, in providing fplendidly for the educatii l 
 of his fon, whom he had chriftened James Fitz-How. 
 ard ; but aa he left him in charge with an ccclcilaltic 
 of the Romifli religion, in order to his Icing brought 
 up in that faith, the lady Arundel could dv) no more 
 than fometimes vilit him during his infancy. His 
 father died abroad befoi fifteen. Leaving 
 
 him a very large (hare of his eftates, foon after this 
 evearit his governor removed him to Paris ; and from 
 that period, the family of Sir Egbert Gorges were to- 
 tally unacquainted with his welfare 01 purliiits. 
 
 The prieft to vhofe care he had been entrufted, 
 was a man of Uriel probit) : he paid the utmoft attention 
 to his education, and, uniting the friend and compan- 
 ion with the inuructor, made him love virtue for its 
 own fake ; for, beholding its effects in the convcrfa- 
 tion and manners of his rcfpe&ed tutor, he grew em- 
 ulous to cepv what appeared fo amiable. His father 
 had been well-known to fome of the moll noble iami- 
 lies in France, and Fitz-Howard, at an early age, 
 found himfelf in a very elevated circle, carefled and 
 esteemed by all. He married the daughter of a rich 
 farmer- general, and Howard Fitz-Howard was. the 
 only furviving fruit of the union. 
 
 This young man was a character compofed of con- 
 trarieties, at once verfatile as the wind, and boiileroua 
 as the waves. With fcarcely a trait of his father's 
 virtues, he inherited the vices of his grandfather, with 
 rdl that imbecility of mind, that hcedlefs credulity, 
 which had been the cauil of the ruin of his grand- 
 mother. 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 129 
 
 mother. Eager in the purfuit of pleasure* a pailion- 
 ate admirer of female beauty, and m uler of an afflu- 
 ent fortune, uncontrolled by any, he lavifhed it with a 
 'prof tile hand on tliofe who fl itteved his follies, carelefs 
 whether they were deferving favour or contempt. 
 
 It may be thought ftrange, that a young man Vke 
 Henry Dudley could form an intimacy with Inch a 
 character, i ■• uth is ever irhfufpe&ing, and the 
 generous natnre of Dudley could no: imagine the 
 gaiety and vivacity of Fitz- Howard was almoft the 
 only recommendation he polTe 
 
 At the time Henry was recalled home, Fitz-How- 
 ard expreffed a wifh to accompany him to England. 
 Madame Fitz-Howard had never, from his infancy, 
 ventured to contradict any wifh of her darling ; and, 
 unwilling as (lie was to part with him, fiie at kngth 
 confented to his going, on condition that the vifit was 
 limited to fix months. Accordingly the two friends, 
 attended by their refpective governors, arrived in En- 
 gland about the middle of November, and. with all 
 the fpecd. the mode of travelling then in ufe would 
 allow, proceeded immediately to London. The lad 
 rays cf daylight glimmered in the weft as they crofled 
 the Thames, and before they reached the manfion of 
 Sir Ferdihando Gorges, the family were quietly fettled 
 to the employments of the evening. 
 
 Sir Ferdinando was reading to his wife and daugh- 
 ter, who were employed in embroidering a drefs, in 
 v. hich Ifabelle was to be prefented at the Court of 
 James the Firft, who now filled the throne of the de- 
 ccaied Elizabeth; uniting, by his accellion to the 
 Britifh. crown, the two kingdoms of England and Scot- 
 laud in one. (This monarch was ion to the unfortu- 
 nate Mary, queen of Scots, who was beheaded at 
 Fotheringay Caltle during the reign of Elizabeth, 
 after having been detained stprifoner there upwards cf 
 fifteen years.) 
 
 Ifabelle Gorges was now eighteen. Her features 
 were regular, bat not at firfl view Itrikinglyhandfome. 
 The radiance of her mild blue eyes did not dart at 
 once upon the heart, taking the aftonifried fenfes 
 
 tb'e :. 
 
.i;n REUBEN and RACHEL; oft, 
 
 tive; but through the foftening fnade of long, dark, 
 filken lalhcs, fti le imperceptibly on the foul, and made 
 it all her own. Her (lature was above the middle 
 fi/e, yet not io tall as to render her perfon mafculine. 
 Her limb? wen round, and finely proportioned. A 
 chall. dignity, tempered by the moil winning foftnefs, 
 informed her manners, and rendered her irrelillibly 
 ch; ming. 
 
 It mult be remembered, that Dudley had not feen 
 her tor above four years. Imagine, then, what mult 
 be his feelings, when he faw the lively, affectionate 
 girl, transformed into the elegant, dignified woman ! 
 
 Ifabelle had been hourly expecting her coufin, and 
 was too much occupied in anticipating the pleafures 
 of their meeting, to be very attentive to her father's 
 reading ; nay, even the work in which fhe was en- 
 gaged, though it continued to employ her fingers, did 
 not for a moment occupy her thoughts. Every uoifc 
 in the court yard, every quick itep attending the Hairs, 
 made her heart beat quick, and her eyes would glance 
 eagerly toward the door. 
 
 A confufed murmur in the great hall had made Sir 
 Fcrdinando paufc. " He is come," laid Ilabellc*,. drop- 
 ping her work and Halting from her feutv The door 
 opened, and Dudley was in a moment at the feet of 
 his mother. Releafed from the maternal embrace, 
 he turned toward his lovely coufin, and received a 
 welcome, which filled the breafl of Fit/.-Howard with 
 envy. Recovered from the momentary delirium that 
 ever pervades the toe fenfiblc fyftem upon a re-union 
 with beloved friends. Dudley prcfented his new friend, 
 who was received with cordiality, and immediately 
 invited to take an apartment in the houie of Sir Fcr- 
 dinando, during his reiidence in London. 
 
 A very few days ferved to convince the father of 
 L'abeile, that ihe abiencc Henry had been obliged to 
 fubmit to, from his coufin, had acted in the fame man- 
 ner as a mull quantity of water docs when thrown 
 on a fierce t; v, gave a momentary damp to its pro- 
 gress, only that it might burlt forth with double vio- 
 lence, 
 
TALES <sv OLD TIMES, * 3 i 
 
 lence, deitroying every object that attempted to oppofe 
 its fury. 
 
 Ifabelle, modeft, timid, and tremblingly alive to 
 feel the fmallefl: infringement on the delicacy of her 
 lex, was yet fufceptible of a pure., ardent paflion for 
 her coufm. Fitz-Howard, an inmate in their family, 
 read the workings in the minds of all ; for each ftrove 
 to hide from the other their real fentimcnts. The lady 
 Dudley, and her brother Sir Fcrdinando, faw widi 
 concern the paflion which con fumed their children ; 
 but they endeavoured to conceal that knowledge even 
 from each other, ftill labouring, by various (themes, 
 to divert the attention of Ifabelle and Henry different 
 ways. 
 
 Henry, when converting with Fitz-Howard, would 
 fpeak with rapturous eloquence in praii'e oi his couiin ; 
 but if his friend at any Vme accufcd him of being too 
 partial, he would fay, ** Is it not natural for brothers 
 to be partial to their fitters ?" " Surely," replied 
 Fitz Howard, " but do you love Ifabelle Gorges no 
 more than you would love a filler :" " No more, on 
 my honour," Dudley would reply, and immediately 
 change the converfation. 
 
 Lady Dudley, thinking to fathom the fentiments of 
 Ifabelle in regard to her ftm, would fpeak of him in 
 her prefence. At the fmallefl: encomium bellowed on 
 Henry by his mother, the eyes of Ifabelle would beam 
 with pleafure ; a brighter glow would ornament her 
 cheeks ; and her coral lips, half unclofcd by the 
 fmile of innate fatisfaction, difplaying her pearly teeth, 
 would give that chafte animation to her whole counte- 
 nance, as rendered it fcarcely a degree below angelic, 
 When on the contrary, ihould ihe hear a fyllable of 
 difapprobation efcape her aunt, her lips would trem- 
 ble, her cheek lofe its carnation hue : and her eyes 
 half filled with tears, her brow contracted by the op- 
 prcflion of her heart, would feem to fay, " Do not 
 (peak harfhly of him, I am certain he does not deferve 
 it." And when lady Dudley has remarked that Hen- 
 ry was an uncommon favourite, Ihe would reply, " Cer- 
 tainly he is, and can you blame me ? Is he not you» 
 
 fen ? 
 
t 3 2 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 > 
 for ? Surely I may love him for your fake, and you 
 will not contemn me.'' 
 
 Thus every perfon that compofed the family of Sir 
 Ferdinando, endeavoured to conceal their real reelings ; 
 •but Fitz-Howard read them all. Firm his firll in- 
 troduction, he had felt his heart ftrongly drawn to- 
 ward Ifabelle. At firft, he imagined an infnperable 
 objection would arife from the paffion of Dudley ; but 
 when from various circumftances he learnt that the 
 parents of neither party approved that paffion, he con- 
 ceived the idea of ingratiating himfelf with lady Dud- 
 ley, and leading her, by imperceptible degrees, to ap- 
 prove his own pretentions. He Forefaw that the dif- 
 ference of religion would prove an almoft insurmount- 
 able obftacle ; but Fitz-Howard had not been educa- 
 ted in a manner, that would lead him to think either 
 religion or morality was of any very great conse- 
 quence, when oppofed again ft his own inclinations. 
 
 In order to acconvpliih this defired end, he in turn 
 made himfelf the friend and confidant of all. He iif- 
 tened attentively to Sir Ferdinando's account of new 
 difcoverics, and approved all the plans he had form- 
 ed for the extending of the bleffings of navigation and 
 commerce over the whole habitable globe. With 
 Dudley, he joined in extolling the beauty, virtue and 
 accomplishments of Ifabelle, and without pretending 
 to perceive the extent of his attachment, encouraged 
 the affection he feemed to disapprove. 
 
 To the lady Ifabelle he was another character ; 
 talked of the different opinions that were adopted by 
 the people of England in regard to religious matters ; 
 mentioned his own faith, not as oppofing it to the 
 faith of the pious, enthufiaftic lady Elizabeth ; but ap- 
 pealing to with inftruction in the right way, as defir- 
 ing to have his own errors corrected. Nor was this 
 conduct entirely the refiilt of art; it was chiefly the 
 effect of nature. For Fitz-Howard could never main- 
 tain his own opinion againft ftrong argument. In- 
 deed, he could hardly be faid to have an opinicn of 
 hi^ own ; ' 1 had he converfed four fuccefiive days 
 ■ * perfons .of four different religions, he would, at 
 
 the 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 13 y 
 
 the end of that period, have been perfuaded that he 
 with whom he converted laft, was certainly moil; right. 
 Thus verfatile by nature, it cannot be wondered at, 
 that, finding this verfatility likely to forward his moft 
 favourite views, he took no pains to correct it, but 
 gave free indulgence to a difpofition, which, whilft it 
 rendered him agreeable to every feparate branch of 
 the family, promifed him ample gratification in the 
 favour of the aunt of Ifabelle. 
 
 To Ifabelle herfelf he was tender, afliduous ; in 
 ftiort, all that love could infpire, or friendihip wifh. 
 She rode, flie walked, fhe danced and chatted with 
 Fitz-Howard without reftraint ; though at the fame 
 time fhe would h;ve preferred the a mpany of* 
 Dudley. But if his company gave her mofl pleafure, 
 it was a pleafure fo mixed with anxicr fuch fear of 
 offending, fuch trembling apprehenfion and embarraff- 
 ment, that it became no longer defirablc, and fhe 
 evidently avoided giving him any opportunities of 
 entertaining her, except in the prefence of her father 
 and lady Dudley. 
 
 Fitz-Howard pnffeffed but little penetration, but a 
 very competent fhare of vanity fuppiied its place. He 
 imagined that the apparent preference Ifabelle (hewed 
 him, was the effect of real liking, and that Ihe was 
 captivated by his pcrfon, manners and fortune. Buoy* 
 ed up by thefe ideas, he made propofals to her father, 
 offered to become a profelyte to the reformed religion, 
 and in every other refpecT: his alliance was unexcep- 
 tionable. 
 
 Sir Ferdinando, flattering. himfelf that Ifabelle was 
 not altogether ayerfe to the union, referred Fit/.-How- 
 ard to his After for a final anfwer ; and lady Dudley, 
 prepollclled in His favour by his fpecicus manners, ea- 
 ger to confirm him a convert to the Protellant caufe, 
 and wilhing to put in end at once to the hopes of her 
 ion, approved Ins fuit ; and that very evening, as they 
 were fitting converting together in an unconltrainej, 
 ponfidential manner, declared to her niece the appro- 
 bation fiie had given to the propofals of Fitz-Howard, 
 andadvifed her ferioufly to think of him as the man 
 deftined to become her hulband. 
 
 N Aftoniihmcnt 
 
i3+ REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 Aftoniflvment for fome moments kept her filcnt ; at 
 length flie told her aunt, that lhe was by no means 
 partial to the man fhe fo warmly recommended, nor 
 did Ihe wilh to alter her (tate ; fhe was perfectly con- 
 tented with her prefent condition. Happy in the af- 
 fection of her father and lady Dudley, ilie wiihed not 
 to quit their protection for that of a ftrangcr, and 
 begged leave to decline the propofed union. 
 
 " 1 am much afraid, Ifabelle," faid that lady, " that 
 you nouiiih improper, nay, criminal wifhes. I fear 
 you indulge chimerical hopes of a future union with 
 Henry Dudley. But do not deceive yourfelf, my 
 child ; whilft I live, thofe hopes can never be realized, 
 without incurring the feverell malediction of an of- 
 fended parent." 
 
 " If I kno-v my own heart, madam," faid fiabcllc, 
 fomewhat piqued by her aunt's peremptory prohibi- 
 tion, " it never yet has indulged improper hopes or 
 criminal wifhes. It's every emotion has been regu- 
 lated by your precepts, and I truft it will never dil- 
 honour its noble inftructrefs. But if to leve and pre- 
 fer your fon above all other human beings conftitutcs 
 o;uilt, I am in fome meafure guilty. I am fcnfible of 
 the barrier cuftom, and perhaps you will fay, religion, has 
 placed between us ; I hvvc no wifh to' break through 
 that barrier ; but whilft I am fatisfied with lo\ ing 
 him only as a brother, I fee no reafon why I lhould 
 be compelled to become the wife of another." 
 
 " Nor (hall you be compelled, my dcarcft coufin,"' 
 faid Dudley, wlio being in the adjoining apartment 
 (the door if which had been accidentally left ajar) 
 had overheard the whole converiation ; " no divine 
 ordinance forbids our union ; then why ihould fupcr- 
 ltition impofefuch (hackles on us ? Have we not rea- 
 fon to direct ttS ? Why then ihould we fubmit blindly 
 and implicitly to the opinions of others ? Madam, 
 look not thus angry on me," continued he, turning 
 toward his mother. " You have heard from her own 
 lips the preference with which my chaiming coufin 
 honours me ; then give her to me freely, ar.d with 
 her beftow your maternal benediction. For here, in 
 
 the 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 155 
 
 the fight of Heaven, I vow folemnly to have no vile 
 but her, to live but for her fake, and may that mo- 
 ment put a period to my exigence, in which (he is 
 feparated from me." 
 
 It was in vain lady Dudley attempted to interrupt 
 him before the folemn vow had pafTed his lips ; in vain 
 flic entreated him to recal it. He repeated it with a ve- 
 hemence that made her tremble ; and turning from 
 him in difpleafure, flic took the hand of the affrighted 
 Ifabclle, and led her from the apartment. Dilguit'e 
 had now become ufelefs to all parties. Ifabelle, daily 
 tormented by the afliduities of Fitz-Howard, admon- 
 iflied by her aunt and threatened by her father, felt 
 c\illence a burthen. The time lhe was obliged to 
 pafs in company flic laboured under the moft cruel 
 constraint, and her hours of retirement were fpent in 
 fighsj tears, and unavailing complaints. 
 
 Dudley no longer made one of the family. Hi had 
 removed to a houi'e of his own, where he had folicited 
 his mother to prefide ; but her affection for her brother 
 had prompted her at firfl to decline the propofal, and 
 the reafon may eafily be conceived, why Henry now 
 ceafed to urge his requcft. Fitz-Howard too had 
 quitted the houfe of Sir Ferdinando, for apartments 
 where, being himfelf mafter, his actions were not fo 
 flriclly fcrutinized as they were liable to be in the 
 family of a man virtuous from principle, and fmcerely 
 pious, without being either a bigot or an enthufiaft. 
 
 Though Dudley was no longer an inmate in the 
 family, he was a daily viiitant at the houfe of his un- 
 cle, and found fufficient opportunities to forward his 
 fuit with Ifabelle ; perfecutcd on one iide, and ear- 
 neflly folu-ited on the other, where is the wonder that 
 fhe fliould liften to the fyren voice of honourable love, 
 and, beftowing her hand on him who had long pof- 
 felfed her heart, become the wife of Dudley ? Secretly, 
 and by his ov,i chaplain, was the ceremony perform- 
 ed. They waited a favourable moment to fupplicate 
 a paternal bkiiing, and, fearful of a premature difcov- 
 ery, became more circumfpedr. in their behaviour to- 
 wards c.uh ether j their in L.eryjews were condv.ctvj 
 
 with 
 
136 REUBEN and RACHEL; o*, 
 
 v.'iih the utmcfl caution, and fufpteion was again 
 lulled afleep. But Fitx-Howard Hill perilled in his 
 tfaqpgh treated with the moil contempt 
 efs by the object of his adoration* 
 
 The Spring was now rapidly advancing, and the la- 
 dy Dudley reSSroVed ivith her niece to an elegant feat 
 fTefled-near Windfor. .Sir Ferdinmdo, fully oc- 
 cupied in the laudable de/ign Of extending the bloF- 
 I iwrfelf enjoyed, to diftant, uneuligihtened nations, 
 felddm quitted the capital, except for an hcur or two, 
 the Jic.Ii air, and enjoy the pleafure of be- 
 holding his beloved child. 
 
 In this retirement, Dudley often vifited his wife ; 
 and anfortunacely, Eit/.-Howard, who had taken up 
 hii furmner refidettce at Windfor, few him come from 
 : den of lady Dudley one morning at four o'clock. 
 That a fon fliould be feen coming from the dwelling 
 of his mother, was in itfelf nothing furprifmg ; but 
 Fit/-IIoward knew there was a coolnefs between 
 them, and iurewdly fufpeclcd to whom thefe early vif- 
 its were p.iid. His chief knowledge of the fex being 
 formed from his acquaintance among the mod un- 
 worthy part, he had always affirmed that every wom- 
 an may be won, however feemingly virtuous. Im- 
 preffed with this idea, he imagined Ifabelle had forgot 
 the refpecl: due to henelf, and, whilft his bread fwelled 
 with envy at the fuppofed good fortune of Dudley, he 
 refolved to (hare her favours with him. 
 
 To this end he became mor. arduous in his vifits ;. 
 and one evening having followed her into the garden,. 
 Informing her mil with his k:,> of Henry's vif- 
 
 its, he addreifed her the challe f< nl 
 
 of Ifabelle congeal to an icicle. Swelling refentmerit 
 for a moment kept her iilent, and when her woids 
 found vent, that laudable reientment added keenneft 
 to her reproof. Her pointed rebukes, which ihould 
 have effectually repuiied his pafllon, lerved but to in- 
 flame it; he caught her in his arms ; fhe Uirieked ; 
 her voice caught the jar of her hufband, who had juit 
 entered the garden by a ] rivate door, to keep an appoint- 
 ment he had made with her the preceding day.- 1 
 
 lk 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 137 
 
 Ihe (hrieked ; he redoubled his fpeed, and entering the 
 arbour, ftruck the alfailer of his honour to the earth, 
 before his ftep had been heard approaching. 
 
 Ifabelle was a woman poffefTed of ftrong fortitude ; 
 but terror, joy, apprehenfion at once availed her, and 
 (he funk fainting upon the earth. Her hufband ftoop- 
 ed to raife her, and the cowardly Fitz-Howard, med- 
 itating only revenge, recovered from the blow which 
 had for a moment ftunned his faculties, fnatched a fti- 
 letto from his fide, where he constantly wore it, and 
 plunged it into the bofom of Dudley. 
 
 The cries of Ifabelle had reached the ear of her 
 aunt, and (he had lent out fcrvants in quefl; of her. 
 They approached the arbour with torches, at the very 
 moment this bloody deed was perpetrated, and in the 
 confufion that eni'ued, Fitz-Howard efcaped. The 
 apparently lifelefs bodies were railed, and borne into 
 the houfe. Ifabelle in a few moments recovered, but 
 the foul of Dudley was fled forever. 
 
 The defpair of his mother was great, yet was it not 
 to be compared with the anguilh of heart under which 
 the unfortunate Ifabelle fu fie red ; for to the lofs of the 
 being lhe prized moft on earth, was added the re- 
 proaches of her aunt, and the refentment of her father. 
 In the fir ft moments of her forrow (he difclofed the 
 fecret of their marriage, and lady Dudley, far from 
 blaming heffelf as the author of the fatal cataftrophe, 
 told the heart broken Ifabelle, it was a juft puniihment 
 (no doubt lent from Heaven) for her difobediencc and 
 unl iwful love. 
 
 Sir Ferdinando forbade her his prefence, and (lie 
 was driven from the houfe of her aunt by repeated 
 taunts and opbraidings. As the widow of Dudley, 
 (he was in affluent circumftances ; but of what value 
 is wealth to the pollcffor, 
 
 " When each fond afTcftion is fled, 
 
 " And each fenfe of pkafure lies cold." 
 
 She could not be faid to live ; it was barely exig- 
 ence ; exigence not worth preferving, yet obliged to 
 be endured. 
 
 Na At 
 
i 3 3 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 At length ihe became a mother, and the tendernefc, 
 the cares and pleafures naturally attendant on the ma- 
 ternal character, awakened her dormant ieniibility. 
 Her feelings were not dead, only benumbed ; as the 
 limpid ftream, arreted in its cou'rie by the chilly hand 
 of winter, becomes flagrant, nay, almoft an impene- 
 trable mafs, till the infant fpring, with genial waimth, 
 gradually diffolves the frigid fpell ; when it again 
 proceeds in its ufual meanders, beautifying and fer- 
 tilizing every meadow through which it paffes. So 
 the mind of Ifabelle, awakened from its torpid Hate 
 by her infant fon, expanded to receive the new-born 
 pleafure of rearing and infhucting him. Every fond 
 affection of her foul centered in him, and if ihe (ludi- 
 ed to improve her mind, it was ever with the delight- 
 ful hope of transmitting that improvement to the miud 
 of her child. 
 
 From the day of Henry's death, the lady Dudley 
 had declined, and lhc died without forgiving I&bd 
 
 Sir Ferdinando's reientment had been powcrfu 1 , 
 but his affecVion towards his daughter was greater ; 
 .and when there was no longer any one to keep the 
 former awake, it gradually died away, and the latter 
 revived with all its primitive fervor. He fent for his 
 daughter, was reconciled to her, and breaking up his 
 own houfehold, became an inmate in her manfion. His 
 grandicn amufed his Jblitary hours, and made the 
 chords of feniibility vibrate in delicious harmo: 
 v.hiht Ifabelle, with cheerful, unaffected, filial pi-.t , 
 foftened the pillow of declining age, and ftrewed : 
 .path that Lads but to the grave, with flowers fo lweet, 
 jts rude defcent vasfcarce perceptible ; nor did i 
 thorn qr briar Appear, to impede the journey or 
 wound jthf it mull per force pais over it. 
 
 Young Dudley was chriitened Edward ; " F< r 
 alas!" laid his mother " Henry was an unfortun... c 
 name. Careifed, alrnpft idolized by his grandfatl. >, 
 and educated immediately under his own eye, Edward 
 almoit imperceptibly imbibed the enterprising fpirit 
 that had characterized his anceltors. 
 
 He 
 
TALES o-f OLD TIMES. r 3 gi 
 
 He delighted in converting with Otooa, a native 
 of North-America, who was a fervant to Sir Ferdi- 
 nando. His little heart would bound with transport 
 at the description of vail oceans, irnme;ifurable conti- 
 nents, and climes as yet unexplored by Europeans; 
 and, feized with an irrefutable defire to vifit the new 
 world in America, in the year 1632, embarked for 
 New-England. His inquiring nature found ample 
 irr.uWV. • ■ wing in this novel fcene, the va- 
 
 lowers, plan:-, fniubs, in; eels, birds and animals, 
 to wlv uropean world were llrangers. Simple 
 
 in his lxumnen, rational in his 1 } ii.ions, and truly fin- 
 pete in hisproil piety, Edward Dudley became 
 a favourite in the colony. And v. hen the do 
 his grandfather called him home, he was parted with 
 unwillingly, and with Gncere regret. 
 
 He married in the year 1644 tne k^y Arabella 
 Rutlrjii ; and the troubles in England loon after in- 
 ereafimg, on account of the perfecutkm of dii.entcr-s, 
 whole religious tenets Dudley favoured, he fold his 
 bftates • and, parbbafing a vdiel, which he loaded 
 with ; roviiions, farming utenlds, ar.d form 
 dize, hivnfclf and lady, (who from that time was ir-1- 
 e 1 da 1 e Arrabella.) with an extenfivc houichold, em- 
 
 I for New-Hamp&rre, and landeJ, afi 
 big v, i \ in October, 1645, m tolerable heard . 
 moit excellent i\ irks. 
 
 CHAP. XVI. 
 
 BitftfTng tfic tranced fancy fly 
 O'er oceans vuft from fliorc to f,<. ■ . 
 
 UDLEY and his fair companion having trans- 
 ported over, in the veilel with themfelvcs, the 
 trame,. and every material ncediary to form a com- 
 plete, habitation, immediately cu landing, employed 
 workmen to fet it up ; but the cold coming on 1 
 rapidly than they expected, but little progrefs could 
 
 be 
 
140 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 be made that winter, and Arrabella fuffered much in- 
 convenience from the want of thofe indulgencies to 
 which, from her birth, fhe had been accultomed. But 
 fhe was not a woman to complain for trifles, or, having 
 once embarked in a cauie, eafily to be frighted from 
 purfuing it. 
 
 The inclemency of the winter was accordingly parted 
 over with patience*, and as foon as the enlivening fun re- 
 laxed the fprings and called the tender herbage forth, 
 two apartments in their new houfe being rendered hab- 
 itable, (lie exerted her utmoft endeavours to add a de- 
 gree of neatnefs and elegance to what was abiblutely 
 necefiary for comfort. All the accomplifhments ihe 
 poifelfed, were at her leifure hours exerted to embel- 
 lifh and render their dwelling pleafant. It was (itu- 
 ated above ten miles from the fea. 
 
 Dudley had, on his lirfl arrival, purchafed a large 
 tract of uncultivated land. Having got a fmall por- 
 tion of it clear, immediately furrounding his habita- 
 tion, Arrabella, both by her tafte, and knowledge in 
 agriculture, arfifted in rendering it at once pleafant 
 and ferviceable. Part of it was converted into a 
 kitchen garden, to the cultivation of which Arrabella 
 was particularly attentive. With her own hands 
 would (lie weed, water, or tranfplant the young vege- 
 tables ; and having fown a few flower feeds which lhe 
 had brought with her from Europe, the watching a 
 plant as it advanced in growth, or a bud as it gradu- 
 ally difclofed the opening flower, aiforded her the 
 mod innocent fatisfaclion ; and from this conltant at- 
 tention to her garden, lhe gleaned at ence employ- 
 ment, health and amufement. 
 
 But Arrabella did not neglect her needle ; and 
 when the enfuing year produced them a fmall quanti- 
 ty of flax from their own land, with what exulting 
 pride did fhe purchafe a wheel, and fet about manu- 
 facturing it into linen for her family tife ! 
 
 Delightful age of primitive fimplicity, when the 
 mother of a numerous family did not blufh (though 
 furrotmded by affluence) to fet the example of induf- 
 try to her daughters} whenihe would prefide amongft 
 
 them, 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 141 
 
 then, whilft they were converting the produce oi 
 their father's flocks and fields into clothing tor die 
 family. And with what a laudable pride did me look 
 roiuul on her hulband, her children and iervants, and 
 fay, "That cloth, that linen, thofc gowns, are all of 
 our own manufacturing." 
 
 1 iv; : .r wants were few, and thofe few were amply 
 fupplied ; plenty preiidtd at their hoard, and che< 
 nefs was a conltant inmate in their dwellings, iiu'c 
 indolence introduced luxury with her innumerable 
 train ot~ artificial wants. Though at firit repulfcd, 
 ftill would the foree'refs return, varying her lhape to 
 gain her favourite point ; to pride, lhe took the iorm 
 of neceflity; to the voluptuous, ihe wore the femblancc 
 of indulgence ; to each fhe appeared in fame feductivt 
 form, and none but the truly induitrious hand and 
 contented heart could bid defiance to her arts. Alas ! 
 the number was but fmall that efcaped the contagion 
 lhe fpread through aU ranks of people, till at length 
 the fafcirtatkta became univciTal. By her magic pow- 
 er lhe threw a miit over the decerning optics ot 
 the moil rational ; they law not the deformity ihe 
 concealed under her gorgeous robe, but blind, , v.vr- 
 ■lhipped, whilft ihe led them to the very brink of ruin. 
 
 A few years rendered the habitation of Dudley and 
 Arrabella extremely delightful, and, added to other 
 KWnaerotts comforts and bleffings which they enjoyed, 
 was a riling family of beautiful children. How did 
 this family at once incrcafe the pleafures and the cares 
 ot' their reipc-crahle mother ! AnxiOus not only i< r their 
 prelent hue future happinefo, fhe laboured to cultivate 
 fteir uAiderftandirtgs, and point out to them limn 
 
 tl pleafure, thai w< uid delightfully fill up every 
 moment when employment pauied. 
 
 The morning walk, the evening ramble, ftill atTord- 
 ed fomething to ini'truel and improve, is the 
 
 winter evening iteri'.e or uriprorit ible. Edifying con- 
 venation, books and needle-work, charmingly diverfi* 
 fed the Icene, blending the uleful wich the agreeable' 
 
 It was in the ftimmer of 1661, the eldcu" child oi." 
 Dudley, a foa named William, who wa» about fi 
 
 \ ears 
 
j 4 2 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 years old, and his youngeft, :i daughter ciilca Rachel, 
 fcarcely two, when fomc difagreernents having fallen- 
 out between the native Indians and the Englilh fettkrs, 
 the former frequently made inroads on the latter, plun- 
 dering and burning their habitations, and either 
 facreing the inhabitants, or taking them prifoners and 
 carrying them up the country, where they often ex'cr- 
 cifed on them the moil wanton barbarity ; fcalping, 
 maiming and disfiguring them, if at hilt 'they fathered 
 them to efcape with life. But what could be expect- 
 ed from the untaught favage, whole territories had 
 been invaded by llrangers, and who perhaps had fuf- 
 fered, from the cruelty of the invaders, in the perfon 
 of a father,, brother, fon, or fome near connexion. 
 Revenge is a principle inherent in human nature, and 
 it is only the fublime and heavenly doctrine of Chrif- 
 tianity that teaches us to repel the impulfe, and return 
 good for evil. 
 
 The morning was fine. Cheerful had Arrabella 
 arofe, and, furrounded by her little family, joined with 
 their father in their morning adorations to the Giver 
 of all good. This indifpenfable duty performed,- Dud- 
 ley went to fuperintend his mowers ; and his wife, 
 calling her girls, to the number of five, together,. began 
 the ulual tafk of inftruction. But the little Rachel 
 was not inclined to be quiet ; fhe was more inclined 
 for play than fitting (till. She climbed up in her 
 mother's lap, laired her, and in childifh fport threw 
 the book on the floor. 
 
 "It is impoffible to attend ferioufly to any thing," 
 faid her mother, " whilft this little mad-cap is here. 
 Do, William, take her into the garden. William 
 obeyed, and from the garden ftrayed into an adjoining 
 wood, where, intent on a book which his father had 
 d. fired him to perufe with attention, he fuffered the 
 little prattler to play round, pluck flowers, and catch 
 grafshopj 
 
 Arrabella was purfuing her employment, with all 
 the delight a fond mother can feel, who marks the 
 daily improvement of her children, and fees them ea- 
 gerly driving who (hculd forcmoil reach the goal of 
 
 perfection, 
 
TALES gf OLD TIMES. 143 
 
 perfection, when an old fervant, the only male then 
 about the houfe, rufiied into die apartment, exclaim- 
 ing, with looks of horror, " The natives ! the natives !" 
 Starting from her feat with precipitation, lhe turned 
 towards the window, and law a band of lavages erod- 
 ing through a field of corn, not very far from the 
 houfe. " Fly ! fly ! my children," lhe cried, taking 
 the two youngeft by the hand ; and followed by the 
 eldert, they rulhed out of a door that led a contrary 
 way to the road the favages were coming. 
 
 There was in the very wood where William had 
 •Wandered with his infant filler, a cavern formed by 
 the cunning hand of nature, the recedes of which Ar- 
 rabella had in days of happinefs frequently explored. 
 •Her prefence of mind in this terrifying exigence did 
 not forfake her. With halty, yet trembling Hep-, flie 
 led her children thither; nor was it till retting en the 
 ground in its remoteft winding, Avh.cn lhe lelt her five 
 children hanging about her, that lhe recollected Will- 
 iam and Rachel. 
 
 " Oh ! my children ! my children !" exclaimed flie, 
 fiuldcnly ftarting up. " We are all here, mother," 
 they anfwered with united voices. 
 
 " But where ! Oh where !" cried fiic franticly, 
 " is your 1 rother William, and your filler Rachel?'' 
 " Oil ! my poor brother, my dear, fweet little filler," 
 fiaid the children fieverally ; "let us go back, mother, 
 let us go back and look for them." 
 
 " No, my darlings, no !" lhe replied, finking again 
 on the ground, and drawing them clofer towards her ; 
 " that would indeed be to fufrer you to run into the 
 very claws of the defiroycr. The great God of heav- 
 en and earth infpired me with the thought of bring- 
 ing von here for fafety ; he will, I truft, protect us; 
 and his power to protect and lave, even from the jaws 
 of death, is equal throughout this wide-extended uni- 
 Verfc. He can guard all your brothers, your filler, 
 and your father too. Let us kneel, my children, and 
 implore his mercy." 
 
 At the mention of their father, and the recollection 
 of their brothers, Charles, James and Chrillopher, who 
 
 were 
 
144 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 were in the field with ]iim, the girls wept aloud. Ar- 
 abella poured forth her find in fervent prayer, and 
 the kneeling innocents, in broken accents, fobbed . 
 
 The female fervants, terrified at the approach of 
 the favages, in their eagernefs to elude them ran di- 
 rectly into their power, and infiantly became victims, 
 to their fury. They dtfpatched them with their toma- 
 hawks, and, dripping off their fcalps, kept them as 
 proofs of their endeavours to extirpate the Engliih 
 from amongft them. The man who had alarmed his 
 mifirefs ran out of the houfe by the fame way Hie had 
 taken : but thinking it would be right to alarm his 
 mafter, inftcad of following her, made the belt of his 
 wav to the field where the mowers were at work. 
 
 The favages having lirled the houfe of provifions, 
 wearing apparel, and every thing which they conceiv- 
 ed would be any ways ferviccable to themfelves, let 
 fire to it, and then departed, with horrid yells of ex- 
 ultation at having done all the mifchief in their | 
 to an Engliih family. William was, at the m< ment 
 the flames burft forth, juft: returning with his little 
 fitter. His father's houfe on fire, and a band of In- 
 dians in frantic rage battening towards them, was 
 a fight that filled with the molt horrid prefages the 
 breafi of William. He faw there would be no way 
 to efcape them ; fo, clafping the infant Rachel in his 
 arms, he knelt on the ground, fear almolt fufpending 
 every faculty. 
 
 One of the forcmofi of the favage troop_had railed 
 his tomahawk to difpatch the boy ; but the child, with 
 one arm clinging to her brother's neck, extended the 
 other little innocent hand as if to ward off the blow, 
 and fcreaming, cried, " Don'tee, don'tec." At that 
 moment a fquaw, who held a papoufe at her brcaft, 
 threw herfelf before the fuppliant children, and faid in 
 their own language, " You (hall not kill the infant." 
 
 The attempt fcemed to have been the impulfe of the 
 moment, for it required but little perfuafion to turn 
 the Indian from his purpofe ; he dropped the infiru- 
 ment of death ; William ftarted from the ground, ran 
 to the kind hearted woman, killed her hands, bathed 
 
 them 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 145 
 
 them with his tears, and pointing to the fky, gave her 
 to underftand, that the Power who dwelt above that 
 azure firmament would reward her. Her own infant be- 
 ing returned to her back, (the mode in which the In- 
 dian women in general carry their children) fhe took 
 Rachel in her arms ; and William being made to 
 affilt in carrying their plunder, they proceeded on 
 their march ; a weary march it was to the poor little 
 captives. 
 
 Otawee, for that was the name of their proteclrefs, 
 did all fhe could to make little Rachel eafy, but lhe 
 continued at intervals to cry for her mother ; and 
 William, his feet lacerated by the fharp flints and 
 thorns he encountered in the rugged paths through 
 irhich he was obliged to pals, his heart bleeding for 
 what he thought mull have been the fate of his belov- 
 ed parents, brothers and fillers, proceeded as well as 
 he could till towards the evening of the fecond day, 
 when, overcome with fatigue, grief and long falling, 
 (for he could not eat the food they offered him) he fell 
 minting to the earth. * Fortunately they were now 
 near the end of their march, or it is more than proba- 
 ble the unfortunate boy would have been left to periih 
 in the woods. As it was, two young Indians bore 
 him between them to the water-fide, put him in a ca- 
 noe, and Otawee fitting down befide him, threw wa- 
 ter on his face, raifed his head on her knee, and forc- 
 ing him to fwallow a little fpirits, he by degrees re- 
 covered. 
 
 This party of plunderers were natives of Narha- 
 ganfet. Two or three unprincipled and licentious 
 Europeans having made incurfions amongft them, 
 plundering their little icttlcments, burning their wig- 
 wams, and practifing other enormities, as mud cer- 
 tainly awaken a fpirit of revenge in the bofom of per- 
 fons better regulated than thole of untutored favages ; 
 fcvcral families who had becd particularly injured, 
 formed themfelves into a party, and embarking in their 
 canoes, proceeded up Connecticut river, landing wher- 
 ever they thought there was no fear of oppofition, 
 O and 
 
(46 REUBEN and RACHEL; »r, 
 
 y.nd wreaking their vengeance on the unguarded and 
 innocent inhabitants. 
 
 Dudley had, from his firft fettlement, been a man 
 of ' peace i happy in his family, fully employed in cul- 
 tivating and improving his little domain, he ftepped 
 not out of his own domeRic concerns, except it was to 
 affift a neighbour, (for any European family, fettled 
 within twenty miles, was at that early period termed 
 a neighbour) or to inftrucl a new fettler in the beft 
 mode of clearing his lands ; to which inftruclions he 
 ever readily added any help his fervants, horfcs, oxen, 
 or even himfelf could give. 
 
 Such a man could hardly be fuppofed an object of 
 enmity to any ; but his habitation had been marked 
 by an Indian who had ftrayed from his companions. 
 Its lonely fituation, its flourifhing appearance, which 
 proniiied plenty of plunder without fear of Opposition, 
 determined them to attack it ; but when they had 
 committed this outrage on a quiet, inoffenfive family, 
 they well knew it would not be long before they were 
 purfucd. They accordingly made all the hafte they 
 could to the place where they had left their canoes, 
 and embarking with the plunder they had obtained, 
 proceeded immediately home. On their way thither, 
 meeting with a party who came from the more eaftern 
 parts ; and, fearful that the young captives they had, 
 might, if fecn, betray them to the Englilh, they fold 
 them, and William and Rachel were carried to a 
 greater diltance than it could hardly be believed poili- 
 ble for the Indians to proceed in their little birch ca- 
 noes. When being landed on a very wild and totally 
 uncultivated place, they were marched three days 
 journey from the fea-(hore, and prcfented to the fquavr 
 pf their fachem for iervants. 
 
 Otooganoo was a man naturally gentle, fond of 
 peace, and eager in his endeavours to promote the 
 welfare of his people. He had ever recommended to 
 them to treat the Grangers who were come to fettle 
 amongft them with hoipitality ; but it was not i' 1 his 
 power to reftrain the impetuofity of youth, o: to uirb 
 die licentious ha.nd of the rapacious. When the 
 
 fOOBiJ 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 147 
 
 .young captives were brought to his wigwam, he re- 
 buked thofe who brought them, and bade William to 
 banifh all his fears ; for he would be a father to him, 
 and, if ever opportunity offered, reftore him to his 
 natural parent. His wife was particularly pleaied 
 with little Rachel, and the kindnefs of thefe two good 
 Indians rendered the lives of the brother and fifter 
 as comfortable as the nature of their ikuation would 
 admit of. 
 
 ..<■■<•< .< «45*>-f *^>>-> •->■ > ••> 
 
 CHAP. XVII. 
 Real Affliaiom. 
 
 AT the alarm given by the fervant mentioned m 
 the preceding chapter, Mr. Dudley, accompa- 
 nied by his labourers and little ions, made all pofiible 
 hafte to the houle ; but who can defcribe his feelings, 
 when he beheld the manfion where he had taken his 
 morning's repaft in all the iecurity of conic Lous inno- 
 cence of heart, and in which he had left tho& 
 of his foul, his wife and leven children, a heap < f . 
 ing ruins 2 When he beheld, ftretched on the earth, 
 .the mangled bodies oi' his female fervajjts, the forti- 
 tude cf the man was loit in the anguiih of the hufband 
 and father. He raifed his hands and eyes in agony 
 towards heaven, his heart was too much opprefled to 
 allow even the relief oi tears, and he fell lifclefs to the 
 ground. His three fons endeavoured to raife him, 
 they called repeatedly on his name, and finding he re- 
 mained totally infenfible, v. rung their hands, and wept 
 with convulfive violence. 
 
 At length nature, which had been i ed by 
 
 the fuddennefs and greatnefs of the affliction, in fozae 
 meafure revived. He raifed his eyes, h m on 
 
 his weeping boy-, and as if, at the light of them, re- 
 colle&ing that it was a fignal mercy that they were 
 faved from the general wreck, he endeavoured to re- 
 pel the feniibility that had overpowered him, and fum- 
 mon reiblution to fcarch round the garden, fields and 
 
 out ho ufc s, 
 
148 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 out-hcufes, feme of which had efcaped the fury of the 
 Indians. 
 
 But in vain he fought, in vain he repeatedly called 
 on Arrabella and her children ; not a veflige of them 
 could he find. That they efcaped out of the houfe 
 before the favages entered, the ftrvant had informed 
 him ; but their Weaknefs from age and fex, he imag- 
 ined, would prevent their going far. They might be 
 overtaken in their flight. They might be carried in- 
 to captivity. A thoufand conjectures prefented them- 
 felves to his diftrafted thoughts, but none of them 
 glanced towards the right. At length, weary and 
 heart broken, he was perfuaded by his fervants to go,, 
 with the remains of his family, to the neareft Europe- 
 an fettlement. Accordingly, they put the children 
 in a cart, and Mr. Dudley mounting a horfe, the la- 
 bourers followed in the beft manner they were able, 
 and late at night they arrived at Plymouth ; where 
 the relation of the fad events of the day filled the 
 whole fettlement with alarm. Every one was ready 
 mpathize with the reflected Dudley, and their 
 fympathy was doubly cordial, as in pitying him, each 
 father of a family felt it might have been his own. 
 cafe. 
 
 But to return to the afflicted mother and her daugh- 
 ters. Never was a day and a night paffed in more 
 agony, never did day and night appear fo tedious ; 
 the mother, trembling for the fate of her children, and 
 in her own mind certain that her hufband and their 
 father had fallen victims to their favage foe, fhudder.- 
 ed at every blaft of wind that howled through the 
 dreary cavern, thinking it was the yell of the Indians* 
 And if, during the long, long night, weary nature pauf- 
 ed in momentary forgetfulnefs, ihe would ftart with, 
 redoubled terror, and call on her children feverally, 
 fearing, whilft fhe had ceafed to watch, they might 
 have been matched from her. 
 
 Several times did ihe venture almoft to the moiuh. 
 of the recefs ; but the ruftling of the trees, the found 
 of animals' feet, which fhe miftook for human, would 
 maks her run back ; and nothing but the mo ft preffing 
 
 calls. 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 149 
 
 calls of hunger, which her children began to exprefe 
 by loud and impatient cries, could have driven her at 
 laft from her retreat. 
 
 She ventured at laft entirely to quit it, and with fee- 
 ble fteps led her almoft famifhed little group towards 
 the place Avhere their manfion had flood ; but alas ! 
 110 manfion was there. Faint and diipirited, five fat 
 down on a rock, and gave free vent to die agony of 
 her foul. 
 
 " Do not cry fo, mother," fvJd the eldeft girl, her 
 own voice almoft choked with fobs. " I am very 
 hungry," laid a younger one. 
 
 " Oh ! my children ! my children !" cried the dif- 
 tradted mother, " we muft all perifh together. Your 
 father is no more ; your mother has neither bread to 
 give you, or whuv to flicker you from the inclemency 
 of the weather, unlefs we return to the cavern, and I 
 fear we are too much exhaufted to reach even that afy- 
 lum aqain to-nigh;:. 
 
 " There is the corn-barn, mother," feid one of them, 
 " let us go there." Arrabella confented ; they enter- 
 ed it, and fome few grains of Indian coin being flut- 
 tered here and there, the children gathered them up, 
 and ate them with avidity. But it was a kind of 
 food, however faint and cxhaufted, their mother could 
 not fwallow. From the ruins of the houfe they 
 brought part of an earthen pan ; this they took to the 
 fpring, waftied it clean, and took ir full of water to 
 her. She drank, and was in fome fmall degiee re- 
 freshed. 
 
 Arrabella had it in contemplation to go to Plyra- 
 ciith ; but her own" increafing weaknefs, and the ex- 
 treme youth o? two of her' girls, made t the 
 idea as impracticable; added to which, in the : 
 noon was a heavy tempeft of dumder, lightning, rait 
 and wind, which would have made fuch a journey 
 almoft impoffible, even in the beft circumftances. 
 
 During the whole night, the tempeft continued \ 
 aid in the moTnii g this unfortunate toother Was fo re- 
 duced by anguifh of heart and continued raftin^, ; ] ud 
 to the damj looron which flic lay, which had 
 
 O 2 give.0 
 
i 5 o REUBEN axd RACHEL; or, 
 
 given her a violent cold and ftiffened all her limbs, as 
 to find herfelf totally unable to rile. She firmly be- 
 lieved her laft hour was ;it hand, and recommending 
 her children to the protection of the Almighty, ilie 
 lay in lilent and uncomplaining expectation or" termi- 
 nating a lite, in which the had enjoyed a very large 
 (hare of happinefs, and which, deprived of its chief 
 comfort in the chofen friend and partner of her heart, 
 had now no longer any charms for her. 
 
 The elder girls, by fearching abroad, had procured 
 fome little fuftenance from the fields and hedges ; 
 and this they would have gladly fiiared with their fil- 
 ters ; but alas ! poor innocents, they were too far ex- 
 haufted to be revived by the participation. They lay 
 on the floor befide their mother, and a faint moan, 
 expreffive of their fufferings, was the only fign they 
 gave of exiftence. 
 
 The third morning dawned from the time of the 
 enemy's invafion, and Mill no hope of relief prefented 
 itfelf tc» the mind of Arrabella ; and indeed to fuch a 
 ftate was fhe reduced, that hope, fear, every lively fen- 
 timent was extinct, and a torpid defpair had taken en- 
 tire poifeflion of her foul. 
 
 Dudley, from exceflive anxiety, was fo very ill as 
 to be unable to leave his bed. The three boys were 
 ftationary in his chamber ; they hung over him, they 
 adminiftered every nourifiiment or medicine the doc- 
 tor prefcribed. Whiift he flept, they waited in trem- 
 bling filence, and when he awoke, eagerly ftrove who 
 fhould receive his firft requeft, and fly to comply 
 " with it. 
 
 But the old fervant and one of the labourers, after 
 talking the matter over one evening, refolved upon 
 vifiting the fcene of defolation the enfuing morning, to 
 fee if any thing worth prefervation could be found 
 amongft the ruins. It need hardly be mentioned, 
 that in thofe early days, fuperftition, (the natural at- 
 tendant on ignorant minds and contracted educations) 
 pervaded the underitandings of almoft every clafs of 
 people. 
 
 During 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 151 
 
 During the walk of old Philip and his companion, 
 from Plymouth to the domain of Dudley, their con- 
 verfaticn had turned chiefly 011 fpirits, haunted houfes, 
 and fupeniatural appearances of ever) kind. Thilip 
 affirmed, that it was his belief, innocent blood was 
 never fpilt, but that the i'piiit of the departed, nightly 
 vifited the ipot where it hid been driven from its earthly 
 tabernacle, and called for vengeance on the murderer ;. 
 nor would it be at peace till that vengeance was exe- 
 cuted. " And for my part," continued he with great 
 earneftnefs, his allonlihed auditor (who not knowing 
 how to read and write his own name, looked upon 
 Philip, who could, as a wonder of learning) liftening. 
 with aflonifhment, "for my part, I would no more go 
 to thefe ruins after funfet, than 1 would put my hand 
 into a burning fire ; for I have no doubt but my poor 
 miftrefs and her dear little ones — " And here he 
 paufed to uive went to a gulh of tears, and then, as if 
 thinking fucli weaknefs in a man required an excufe, 
 he added, " She was a good millrefs ; we all loved her 
 like a mother-" 
 
 " Yes, that we did," replied his companion ; " I fhall 
 never fee the likes pf her." 
 
 " Don't fay that," replied Philip ; " I hope there be- 
 many as good ; but I am morally certain it be an un- 
 poilibility to find a. better. But as I was faying, I 
 dares to jay, (lie do walk over the ruins every night, 
 and wit!) her dear little girls. Oh ! mercy on me, 
 what's that : Only that it be noon-day, or I ihould. 
 
 think " 
 
 " As I am a fmncr," faid the other, " I do fee fum- 
 mat as like little Eliza." 
 
 They Hepped, they ga7ed upon what at the mo- 
 ment they believed a viiion ; it was the eldeft daugh- 
 ter of Dudley, who, having itrayed toward the load 
 in the hope of feeing fome human being, of whom lhe 
 might folicit help for her dying mother and fillers, 
 fhe faw Philip approaching, and inftamly knew him. 
 The excefs of her joy had nearly proved fatal to her, 
 and ihe funk down amongft feme bulhes, which in- 
 
 ftantaneoufly 
 
i 5 2 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 ftantanconfly concealing her, the Ample clowns imag- 
 ineJ foe had vanifned. 
 
 "Well, could not you have fworn you faw her :" 
 {kid Philip. 
 
 " Yes, indeed," replied the other, " I would take 
 to/ bible oath of it.'' 
 
 They had now got nearly oppofite the flirubs which 
 concealed her. The poor child had not entirely faint- 
 ed ; bvt her languid frame, overcome by the hidden 
 flood of tranfport that ruilied on her heart at the fight 
 of a human creature, and one fhe knew, had oceafion- 
 ed a momentary fufpenfion of her faculties. She heard 
 their Heps as they approached nearer, and railing her- 
 i elf on her knees, cried, " Philip, dear, good Philip !" 
 at the fame time extending her hand towards him. 
 
 Philip trembled, hood aghaft, and ftruggled for 
 breath. His companion covered his face with his hat, 
 and fell on his knees. But Eliza foon diflipated their 
 fears, by coming feebly towards them, again repeat- 
 ing, " Philip, dear Philip !" Then earneftly clafping 
 her hands, lhe added, " Come, come, and fu\ c my 
 mother." 
 
 Fearful conjecture was now loft in joyful certainty. 
 "•* It is Eliza herielf," cried Philip, catching her up in 
 his arms. " She is alive ! Oh ! thank God ! thank 
 God ! And my miftrefs too. Plow did you efeape 
 •the Indians ? Oh ! this will cure my mailer ; this 
 will make him forget his other loifes ; they are noth- 
 ing. A man may build another houfe, but where 
 could he find another wife like my worthy madam Dud- 
 ley :" 
 
 They now, directed by Eli"?., had reached the | 
 where, fcarcely exifting, lay the despairing Arrabclla. 
 One child lay on her left arm, its head relling on her 
 bofom ; another lay at her feet, to all appearance in- 
 animate ; a third was feated at a little diitance, Sup- 
 porting in her feeble arms a younger filler. 
 
 " O'b merciful !" faid Philip ; ""good Father, what's 
 here ? My miftrefs and my fweet little ladies all d\ing. 
 Go run," turning to lit- labourer, " run back to town, 
 tell th;;n to fend a cart, to fend victuals and drink, 
 
 and 
 
TALES or OLD TIMES. 153 
 
 and a nurfe and' a doctor, with bed and a bedftead, 
 and every thing. Good Sirs, what fhall I do ? Why 
 don't you run ? What do you Hand for ?" 
 
 In this manner did Philip exclaim, walking back- 
 ward and forward in wild diforder ; one moment flop- 
 ping to gaze at the pale and almoft inanimate form 
 of Arrabella, and the next running from one child to 
 the other, fometimes weeping, ibmetimes bidding 
 them to be hearty, and frequently fearching his pock- 
 ets, as though he could in them find lbmething to fat- 
 ls£y their hunger. 
 
 Extreme fcnfibility is often not only painful to the 
 poffefTor, but prejudicial to thofe whom we may wifh 
 to ferve. Philip, with a foul exquifitely formed to 
 dictate all the foft offices of humanity, was not fo ca- 
 pable of rendering a real fervice to his dillrelfed mif- 
 trefs, as was the labourer, who, Amply comprehend- 
 ing the neceffily of immediate relief being obtained, 
 exerted his utmoft fpecd to return to Plymouth, where, 
 explaining the nature and urgency of his errand, a 
 fiiort time only elapfed before, with an eafy convey- 
 ance, reftorative cordials, and feveral women, he again 
 reached die defolated manfion of Dudley. 
 
 The meeting between Arrabella, her hufband and 
 children, was too pathetic to admit of description. 
 The joy fuch an unexpected meeting occafioned, would 
 have been too exquifite for human nature to fuppOrt, 
 had it not been allayed by die certainty that William 
 and Rachel were loft beyond hope of recovery. With 
 hearts overflowing with tranfport, tliey bleffed God 
 that eight of their children were living; and though 
 they acutely felt the lofs of two, yet gratitude tem- 
 pered affliction, and prevented their opining at the 
 decrees of Him, whole judgments ever go hand in-. 
 hand with his mercies. 
 
 When Dudley's health was in fome meafure reftor- 
 ed, he began to think of preparing another habitation 
 before the approach of winter; but no perfhafion 
 coidd prevail on him to fuffer another home to be 
 erected on the fpot where tic had formerly lived, I . > 
 byen took a diflikc to the whole colony of Ncw-K «mp- 
 
 (hirei. 
 
154 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 (hire, and felling his lands, lie joined a number of perr 
 ions, at that time about to m.ike a fettlemcnt at Cat- 
 co-Bay. 
 
 It was in vain Arrabella reprefented to him the dif- 
 ficulty of clearing and cultivating a new ipot ; his 
 mind had never regained its rirmnefs after the iliock 
 it had received, and he periifted in removing, from 
 the bofom of his friends, to an uncultivated wildernef?.. 
 But Arrabella was no longer in her prime. The 
 brilliant genius and indufhious hands which had con- 
 tributed to improve and emhelliih their former dwell- 
 ing, debilitated by ficknefs and ibrrow, had funk into 
 inanity. 
 
 For fifteen years, Dudley and his wife fuffcred al- 
 mofl every fpecies of affliction which human nature 
 can endure and live. The throat-diftemper raged, 
 and in ten days fwept off all their children; the cold 
 Arrabella had contracted in the cavern, and fleeping 
 on the damp floor of the corn-barn, had given her a 
 rheumatic complaint, which often confined her eight 
 months out of the twelve. Dudley fought, in the fo- 
 piety of his neighbours, a relief from reflection ; 
 his intellectual faculties were fo weakened, that he 
 becangte the dupe of the artful or avaricious, 
 and his fiftieth birth-day beheld him poor in purfc, 
 deprelfed in fpirit, and devoid of health. 
 
 "And if virtue, piety and integrity axe thus over- 
 whelmed with mifery," (aiks the man who proi 
 infidelity) " who can believe in an over-ruling P« 
 wlio puniihes the evil doer, and rewards the good ac- 
 cording to their works ?" 
 
 " All muit, all do, who do not wilfully harden their 
 hearts, and fiiut their eyes againft the light of Heav- 
 en," replies the humbly hoping Chriftian ; " for as 
 the manfionofan earthly king is adorned by goldfev- 
 en times tried, filver purified by fire, and precious 
 ftoncs, which, ere they attain a proper brilliancy, 
 mull fubmit to the knife, the faw, or duffel of the ar- 
 U'.l ; in mull thoic i' ined to fiiine in the ever- 
 
 lalting manfion of the King of kings, pals through the 
 
 fieri 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 155 
 
 fiery ordeal of affliction, be purified, and polifhed by 
 the correcting finger of the great Source and Firll 
 Caufe of all fymmetry and beauty." 
 
 •■< •<■<•< «4^4*^^^' ■■> ■•> ■>■ > ■■ 
 
 CHAP. XVIII. 
 
 William and Rachel. 
 
 N the year 1674, the war between the native Amer- 
 icans and the European fettlers raged with un- 
 common fury. William Dudley, who had, with his 
 little filter, been carried into captivity in 1661, had 
 now become a perfonage of great confequence amongft 
 them. Otooganoo, the fachem to whom he had been 
 prefented, poifefling talents naturally good, and thirft- 
 ing for knowledge, yet unable to attain it, foon learnt, 
 from his converfations with William, that he could in 
 fome meafure gratify this very laudable do fire to be 
 inftrudted. William, though young, had, by atten- 
 tion to the documents of his father and the milder in- 
 ftructions of his mother, obtained a very decent knowl- 
 edge of reading, writing, arithmetic, geography and 
 hiilory. 
 
 Otooganoo no fooner made this difcovery, than 
 William became to him the mod valuable thing he 
 poilcfTed. " I will certainly reftorc him to his Euro- 
 pean friends," laid he, " but he (hall fii ft teach me all 
 he knows. In the mean time, 1 will be kind to him, 
 nor fhall his little filler ever want a friend or protec- 
 tor ; as foon as he has imparted to me his ftock of 
 knowledge, I will certainly fend him to his friends." 
 
 Thus argued Otooganoo. But, alas ! human na- 
 ture will be human nature ; and when the period ar- 
 rived that he had gleaned all the knowledge poor 
 William had to impart, his heart was fq attached to 
 him, his fociety had afforded him fo many days, 
 months, years of real felicity, that he made to his own 
 confeience daily frefh excufes for not fending him from 
 him, 
 
 William 
 
t 5 6 REUBEN anb RACHELj or, 
 
 William himfelf, though he frequently fpoke of 
 them, and exploited a wiih to fee his parents, no lcn- 
 ger felt that ardent delire to return to them, which he 
 experienced in the early days of his captivity. He 
 had become infenfibly attached to Otooganoo ; and 
 as, from the effecls of his inftruclions, his protector had 
 made rapid advances towards civilization, had entirely 
 loft his natural ferocity, and attained fuch a degree of 
 rational information as made him a .pleafant compan- 
 ion, William felt that attachment daily increafe. 
 
 Otooganoo had a daughter. Oberea was full five 
 years younger than William ; fhe was tall, ftraight, 
 and finely formed. She was, at the time of his ar- 
 rival amongft them, a lively girl of ten years old, 
 wihl as the rein-deer, that with fleet rteps bounds 
 over the frozen plains of Lapland, and untutored as 
 it is pofliblc for a human being to be. Her looks, her 
 words, her actions, were the genuine impulfcs of na- 
 ture. 
 
 As the little Rachel increafed "in years, it was the 
 employment of her brother's leifure hours, to inftruct 
 her in the Englifh language in the beft manner pofli- 
 ble. The book he had with "him, on the morning of 
 his capture, was of infinite afliftance to him, as by 
 looking at that, he was enabled to form a very tolerable 
 alphabet upon bark, tiling f<me of their ftrong dye in- 
 ftead of ink ; and this alphabet ferved. alike, Otooga- 
 noo, Rachel and Oberea, who delighted in partaking 
 their leffons, and profited daily by his inftruclions. 
 
 Educated under the immediate eye of a woman like 
 Arrabella, it may naturally be fuppofed, William, 
 though young, hud imbibed very ftrong and juft ideas 
 of female delicacy and decorum, and thefe ideas he 
 laboured inceflantly to imprefs on the mind of his 
 filler. Oberea liftcned attentively, and trca'ured every 
 ■ientence he uttered in her heart. She had heard him 
 tell his filter, that his country-women were the moft 
 charming women in the world, and Oberea eaily foim- 
 «d the wiih of being thought charming in the eyes of 
 William. This wiih was a powerful talifman to cor- 
 ied the bad cifc&s of habit, and at the age of feven- 
 
 tcen, 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 157 
 
 teen, Hie was fo much fuperior in manner to her un- 
 civilized affociates, that William, without being aware 
 of it, adored the lovely ftatue his art had animated. 
 
 He was not fenfible of the excefs of his tendernefs 
 for the charming Indian, till an accident, by nearly 
 depriving him of her, convinced him at once how ne- 
 cellary fhe was to his happinefs. Some Indians, who 
 dwelt in the town with them, having by traffic with 
 the Europeans, who inhabited the fea-coafts, procur- 
 ed two or three mufquets, one was brought and pre- 
 fented to Otooganoo, who being mightily pleafed with 
 the prcfent, loaded it, with a defign of going out in 
 •purfuit of game ; but not putting his defign in imme- 
 diate execution, it was left (landing in one corner of 
 the wigwam. A young lavage, particularly attached 
 to Oberea, took it up to examine it, and not under- 
 ltanding how to handle it properly, touched the trig- 
 ger. It went off, and the contents were lodged in 
 the right fide of Oberea. 
 
 William heard the report, and the inftant cries of 
 his lifter ; he flew to them, and entering, faw both his 
 lifter and her he now found he loved equal with her, 
 lying on the ground, which was covered with blood. 
 The young man, frantic at what had happened, told 
 what he had done, and that lie flared he had killed 
 both the girls ; but Rachel's fill was the effect of-fad- 
 den furprife, and it was fooh difcovered fhe was not 
 in the leaft hurt. But Oberea wounded, to all ap- 
 pearance dying, was an object diftracting to William. 
 He railed her in his arms, called aloud for help, and 
 having afliftcd his fifter and an old fquaw, to ftaunch 
 the blood, and bind up the wounds, which were chief- 
 ly in the flefhy part bf the arm, and having feen her 
 open her eyes, and figh to him that fhe knew him, he 
 walked backwards and forwards, watching her as fhe 
 dozed, icmetimes applying a feather to her mouth to 
 he fatistied Ihe ftill breathed, and often kneeling down 
 to kifs her hand, which lay motionlefs on the outfide 
 of the bed. 
 
 Otooganoo, during the time fhe was thought in 
 
 danger, obferved the extreme folicitude of William, 
 
 1* ani 
 
i 5 8 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 and when ilic was perfectly recovered, thus addrefTed 
 mm. " You have been to rae, young Englishman, a 
 irienJ, a companion, an inftructor, now above eight 
 years. I love you with iincerity, and I believe you 
 love me." 
 
 " Do you doubt ?" allced William eagerly. 
 
 "No, I do not for a moment doubt your fincerity, 
 Lut I have alio difcovered that you love my daugh. 
 ter. Your couniels and inftructions have rendered iicr 
 unfit to match with any of her own countrymen ; you 
 are now almofl become one of as ; take her, then, to 
 wife ; and when age, infirmity or death ihall occafion 
 me to ceafe from the cares of life, {"apply my place, 
 govern my people, direct them by your wifdom, teach 
 them the real value of well-conftructed laws, encour- 
 age them in ftudying the arts of war ; yet lead them, 
 by your example and forbearance, to cultivate a focial 
 and commercial intercourfe, and to preferve -peace 
 with your countrymen, who are become their neigh- 
 bours, as long as they can preferve it with honour." 
 
 ■William, weaned from his natural friends, tenderly 
 attached to Oberea, perhaps not altogether infenfible 
 to the charms of power, and harbouring a fond hope, 
 that by this union with the family of a fachem, he 
 Blight promote the interefts of his countrymen in gen- 
 eral, and be the cement to bind them in bonds of Tail- 
 ing amity, lillened with delighted attention, plighted 
 his vows of love and conftancy to Otooganoo, and in 
 a few days ratified thoi'e vows, by binding himfelf, by 
 the molt Vacred of all ties, to protect and love through 
 life his charming Oberea. 
 
 Otooganoo lived to fee his (bn-hvlaw equally belov- 
 ed and refpected with himfelf, to embrace a grandfon 
 whom William called Reuben : « For," faid he, " I 
 have been a bondman and a fervant unto my wife's 
 father, and this my fir ft born lhall pay my ranfom." 
 As the old fachem felt his hour approaching, he 
 called his chiefs, and the olden men of his tribe, about 
 him; and taking the little Reuben in bis arms, win ill 
 Oberea, William and Rich*! ftocd 00 his light hand, 
 
 rim., addrefled them ; 
 
 " Warriors 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 159 
 
 i* Warriors and Chiefs, Natives and undoubted 
 Lords of this vail country, Men to your departing 
 father. I have ruled over you now above forty years ; 
 I have ever found you obedient to my commands, and 
 affectionate to my family. But the great Spirit whole 
 throne is on the loftieft mountain, and whofe breath 
 patting over the great lake, can make it rage even as 
 the wild tyger, when, fuddenly fpringing from his fe- 
 cret hiding-place, he tears and mangles his dcfer.cclefs 
 prey ; or foftly moving over' its broad furiacr, ren- 
 ders it fmooth, beautiful and enticing as is the tyren, 
 who charms but to deftroy ; this wondrous, mcom- 
 prchenfible Spirit, who gave me life and motion, re- 
 cals the precious gift, and in a inert time I lhall be 
 dull." 
 
 Otooganoo paufed ; his whole foul was filled with 
 Che fublimity of the BEING of whom he had been 
 fpeaking, and a moment was given to feelitl 
 fcxprdlion cxmiifite. Recovering the urmi.efs oi his 
 voice, he thus proceeded : 
 
 " Ericnds, Countrymen, CWldren, had I a ion, I 
 well know your unanimous confent would nominate 
 him my fucceilbr. I>ehold. rliet^ £j ^.- ,.;' 1VJ 
 clioice, the friend of my foul, the hufband of my 
 daughter. He is brave, he is wife, he is humane ! 
 alike competent to profecutc war with vigour, or pre- 
 ferve peace with honour. He is, you will fay, a 
 fon of our invaders, of our common enemy. But 
 confider them as enemies no longer. "C-ary the war- 
 hatchet twenty feet under ground, and ffnoke the 
 great pipe of peace, whole fragrance n.«iy afcend even 
 to the heaven of heavens. Hail thefc Europeans as 
 brethren, and follow henceforth their precept of doing 
 as you would be done by." 
 
 " We will ! we will !" they all exclaimed ; when 
 Otooganoo thus continued : 
 
 " Chiefs, Elders and brother Warriors, in recom- 
 mending to your choice this young man, I mean not 
 to relinquilh the affection you have ever Ihown my 
 family. No. Behold this child, the fon of my daugh- 
 ter j la ham you fee your rightful fachem. But I am 
 
 palling 
 
i6q REUBEN and RACHEL; or,. 
 
 parting from this world to the land of fpirits, and' tin', 
 infant is incompetent to fupply my place. Who then 
 fo able, who fo worthy as his father, to govern and di- 
 •nd Inftrucl the young fachem how to guard 
 liberties, and prcferve your love inviolate." 
 OtoOgano ccafed, and an old warrior thus replied : 
 " The offspring of Otoogahoo. the fon of Oherea, will 
 '-■ ;r be honoured and refpectad. We arc content to 
 receive, during his childhood, the. Engliihman Will- 
 iam, and to adopt the new faidi thou hail lately taught 
 and pniclifci. As '.ho Europeans deal by us, fo deal 
 we by them, and the great Spirit judge us both." 
 Otooganoo furvived this conference but a few days ; 
 ifled (to ufe his own expreffion) to the land of 
 fpirits, ; ad William Dudley was chofen fachem in his 
 ftea :, bj the unanimous voice i 1 the whole tribe. 
 
 '• As the ai fo deal we by them, 
 
 .. ' . le great Spirit judge us Loth." This was the 
 oath they took, and molt religioufly did they keep it. 
 But if the profeflbrs of Chriilianity practife not them- 
 felves what they would teach to others, who can blame 
 the lavage, who (in feeking his own gratification, or 
 promoting his own interefl, regards not the happinefs 
 or interefl of a fellow creature) follows but the cxan> 
 pie fet him ? 
 
 The new fettlers made daily encroachments on the 
 native inhabitants, drove them from their lands, rob- 
 bed them of their wives, and made their children pris- 
 oners. Was it in human nature to bear thefe injuries 
 tamely ? No ; they relented them. And even Will- 
 iam h'mfelf, »hough his heart bled at what mud be 
 the confequence, could not attempt to repel the fpirit of" 
 juft vengeance that actuated the minds of all. War 
 was declared on both fides, and purfued with unre- 
 mitting fury. 
 
 Amongit the young warriors that lived under "the 
 government of William, was Yankoo. He was intrep- 
 id, bold, and daring. He hated the Europeans ; yet,, 
 fpite of that hate which feemed inherent in his nature, 
 his heart was fufceptible of tendernefs for one of the 
 race. The beauty of Rachel had penetrated his foul. 
 
 H& 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. r6i 
 
 He loved, revealed his love, and found it was re- 
 turned. 
 
 The war continuing to rage, it became nece.Tary 
 for the fachem in perlbn to quit his home, and head his 
 warriors. The undaunted Oberea would follow her 
 hufband to the field, and Rachel, though naturally 
 more timid, yet having her nerves ncw-fbung by af- 
 fection, accompanied her. They encamped near the 
 fea-fnore. By the morning's dawn they expected the 
 enemy. 
 
 Yankoo pa/Ted a few hours the preceding evening 
 in the wigwam of Oberea. " Oh ! my friend," faid 
 Rachel, as fhe was parting from him, " be careful of 
 your own life for my fake ; and if at any time your 
 tomahawk ihouid be raised againftan ancient English- 
 man, paufe for .t moment, and think, perhaps it may 
 be the father of Rachel, and let the idea dilarm your 
 rage." 
 
 " It would do fo," replied Yankoo, " did T r 
 ,the fame time rememfc'r, that every Englishman U 
 the enemy of my country." 
 
 " Would you not fpare my father tlien f* {aid Ra- 
 chel. 
 
 " No ! not even my own father in fnch a canfe," an- 
 fwered the warrior, and her embrace. 
 
 Rachel retired to her bed, | in 
 
 tear:;. 
 
 C H A P. XIX. 
 ifer xvu at hj— Reuben and R, 
 
 THE Gtuation or feelings of William Dudley were 
 at this period by no means enviable. 'Ruler 
 over a nation of favages, who by their attaci 
 and fidelity had conciliated his affectiofi, his principles 
 would by no means iufFer him to defert their caufe in 
 the hour of danger ; yet remembering that his n 
 parents were Europeans, and the tendetnefs he r nee 
 ™ l experienced 
 
16a REUBEN and RACHEL; ok, 
 
 experienced for them not being extinct in his bofc ill 
 he felt his heart divided between two feparate intercfts ' r 
 and if at any time a fkirmiih took place, he would 
 think that, perhaps, amongft the killed or wounded of 
 the enemy, he might have to lament a father or a 
 brother. And whilst; he was publickly obliged to ap- 
 pear rejoiced at the fuccefs of the Indians, he would 
 privately lament the defeat of his own countrymen. 
 
 The foul of Rachel was equally agitated. Alas ! 
 who can defcribe the feelings of a heart thus divided i 
 She dared not pray, for to which party could fhe wilh 
 fuccefs ? " Oh ! fave, protect and fupportmy father," 
 Ihe would cry ; then in a moment recollecting, (he 
 would wring her hands and cry, " Oh ! poor Yan- 
 koo/ r It is anguilh only to be felt, it is impoffiblc to 
 convey the fmalleft idea of its excruciating tortures, 
 to any who have not experienced the agonising effects 
 of divided affection. 
 
 The Engliih had been driven to the very borders of 
 the fea ; the Indians had purfued them with unremit- 
 ting fury, ravaging the habitations, and, giving the 
 Unoffending inmates a quick paffport to eternal reft: 
 with their tomahawks, nor command nor entreaty 
 could reftrain their impetuofity. 
 
 William had followed a party led by Yankoo, to a 
 houfe fituated in a deep wood. As they approached, 
 a cry of terror iffued from the dwelling. The heart 
 of William throbbed with anxiety; he quickened his 
 fteps, and arrived at the door jure as Yankco had 
 dragged forth by his venerable locks, a man, whom 
 he no fooner beheld than he recognized the features of 
 his father. The arm was railed that was meant to de- 
 lcroyhim. 
 
 "Hold, moniter ! barbarian f" exclaimed William, 
 and throwing himfelf on the body of his father, receiv- 
 ed the falling weapon on his own fhoulder. It fell 
 heavy, it funk deep, and the blood iflued in a torrent 
 from the wound. 
 
 Yankoo recoiled with horror ; he beheld his ruler, 
 his friend, and more than thofe, the brother of Rachel, 
 weltering in gore, wounded even unto death, and by 
 
 his 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 163 
 
 his hand. He knelt upon the ground, he took his 
 hand. " Oh 1 brave warrior," (aid he, "why did 
 you throw yourfelf in my way V" William raifedhim- 
 felf, and pointing to eld Mr. Dudley, cried, "To fave 
 a father." 
 
 The old gentleman, in f< me mcafurc relieved from 
 his fright, endeavoured to rile from the earth ; but 
 hearing the etpreflion of father from the lips of one 
 whom he fappofed an Indian chief, the truth began 
 to dawn upon his mind. He knelt beiide the dying 
 fachem, and taking his hand, looked, earneftly in his 
 face, and cried, " Is it indeed poifible ? are you my 
 fon ?" 
 
 " Your own fon William," replied the bleeding 
 warrior. 
 
 " But alas!" laid the old man, "you arc, I fear, 
 mortally wounded." 
 
 " And if I am," replied die heroic William, " it is 
 a glorious wound ; for I give my life to prefervc the 
 life of him from whom I received it." 
 
 As he hnifhed thefe words, he fell back and his eyes 
 clofed. The whole party were now aifembled round 
 their wounded chief ; they railed him from the earth, 
 and bore him into his fathers cottage, where, confin- 
 ed by infirmity, was the unfortunate patient Arrabella. 
 She had heard the exclamations of her hufband ; hei 
 heart had not yet become callous to mi ("cry. The be- 
 holding her long-loft fon, was double agony, fmce fhe 
 but beheld his elefmg fcene. He recovered a rti( ment 
 after they had laid him on the bed, gazed on the coun- 
 tenance of his mother, faintly articulated her name, 
 and his laft breath pa/Ted in imploring a hleffing on 
 her. 
 
 The news of their fachem's death, and by whom, 
 foon reached the tribe William had governed, and 
 they repaired to the place of his deceafe, vowing re- 
 venge on his murderer ; for in that light they looked 
 upon Yankoo. But when they ruined furioufly into 
 the houfe, intending to wreak their vengeance en I 'm, 
 the mute forrow depicted on his lace, as with his arms 
 folded on his bofoni he ftood contemplating the man- 
 
 gled 
 
i5i REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 gled f( rrri of his departed friend, foi" a moment dif- 
 armed their rage. He raw them enter, and advan- 
 cing intrepidly towards them, 
 
 " Friends, Countrymen, and hrother Warriors,"' 
 laid he, with a firm voice, " that I have incurred ycm* 
 hatred, that your rage is juftly excited, is a truth I 
 pretend not to evade or deny. I have deferved death 
 at your hands, and bclvud, here I (land prepared to 
 meet it. Strike ; I will not flinch ; or lead me forth, 
 and let me experience the mofr. cruel tortures, I will 
 not complain ; nor f:gh nor groan fliall efcape my lips. 
 Alas ! if torture could wring them from me, how 
 loud would my lamentations now be ! The chief 
 whom we all loved, the man we all revered, is gone 
 to the land of fpirits; is gone to that Father, that 
 great Fir!}. Cklife, of whom we have fo often heard 
 him {peak. He is pafled from us, and my hand gave 
 the paflport, fgning it with his blood." 
 
 He paufed, and his untamed fpirit {"welled even to 
 his eyes ; but he repelled the tokens of his fenfibility,, 
 that were almeft burfting from the gliitening orbits, 
 and ftrdggling for a moment to recover the firmnefs. 
 of his voice, proceeded : 
 
 '* Thou art gone, brave chief ! (turning as he fpoke 
 towards the body of his friend) thou art gone ; and 
 Adhere fhall thy eo t ual be found to fupply thy place ? 
 Then wert bold and daring as the young lion, and like 
 him, generous and ncble, exerted not thy power againll 
 the feeble and defenceless. Firm and unfliaken in af- 
 ferting the rights cf innocence, as the mountain whofe 
 foundation is in the centre of the earth, and whofe top 
 reacheth unto the clouds \ yet gentle as the fouth-welk 
 breeze en an. evening in the bloffom leafon, and com- 
 plying as the willow, that inclines its head as the 
 breeze palfes. Thy voice was the voice of wifdom. 
 Thy words taught lclfons, which thy example enforced. 
 But thou art gone \ and where (hall thy equal be 
 found to fupply thy place ? Thou wert glorious as 
 the fun at his uprifing, mild and beautiful as the beams 
 of the moon, when it dances on the bofom of the lake 
 which the wind gently agitates. In the chafe, fleet 
 
 as 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 165 
 
 as tlie young ftag, and the arrow from thy bow never 
 miffed its aim. Thou didft fpeak, and none could re- 
 O believe ; thou didft command, and none bat 
 were eager to obey. The bad loved, whilft they rear- 
 ed thee ; the good adored, and endeavoured to imitate 
 thee. Under thy wife government we refted in peace, 
 on m.itts made of ofiers ; our wigwams were improv- 
 ed, our bows better ftrung, our corn was multiplied 
 an hundred fold, and our (kins dried with more care. 
 In peace thou wert as the dew of the evening, rditfli- 
 ing and invigorating all who lived beneath thy influ- 
 ence ; and in war terrible as the tempeft that breaks 
 the tali pine, roots up the ftubborn oak, and mates the 
 foreft tremble, as it mints with tremendous fury through 
 it. Thy enemies beheld thee, and fear (hook their 
 fouls ; thou wert the father of thy people, Oh ! val- 
 iant fachem. l>ut thou art gone — by my hand ; 
 and where llu.ll thy equal be found to fur ply thy 
 place ?" 
 
 The numerous affecting images he had called to- 
 gether, whilft 1 the eulogium of the deeeafed, 
 had now awakened feelings too powerful to be repreff- 
 ed. The afflictions of his heart burft forth in loud 
 lamentations. The rage of his countrymen was to- 
 tally fubdued. They dropped their tomahawks, and 
 joined him in piercing cries and groans, repeating at 
 intervals, " Our chief, our warrior, our friend is gone, 
 and who can fupply his place ?'* 
 
 Arrabella had not lived fo n.any years in the very 
 bofom of America, at different times obliged to have 
 fame kind of intercourfe with the natives, without at- 
 taining a confiderable knowledge of their language". 
 She liitened whilft Yankoo was {peaking, and a-> lie enu- 
 merated the virtues of her fon, the felt that, amongfl the 
 tears of regret that fell for his death, were feme of 
 exultation that he had deferved fuch an eulogium, and 
 her heart was cbnfoled. 
 
 But who can paint the anguilh, the diftrefs cC Ra- 
 chel, or the difiraftion of Oberea? When they heard 
 the fatal tidings, they fought the body 6f their liluf- 
 bwid, Brother,, Chief. Bttt here hot \teart,' • nor cries 
 
 declared 
 
166 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 declared their forrow. When the foul is too full, lan- 
 is oT little ui'e. There are no words capable of 
 expreffing real affliction. 
 
 Oberea led her fon Reuben (now nearly fix years 
 old) to the bed on which lay the corfc of his father, 
 and pointing to the body, pronounced in a tone deeply 
 mournful, " Behold !" ' 
 
 " My father !" laid the boy, audi terrified at his 
 ghaftly appearance, clafped his arms round his moth- 
 er, and hid his face in her bofom.- She feated her- 
 fisll on the fide of the bed, folded her arms round her 
 child, and rcfting her head on his ihoulder, appeared' 
 the mute image of defpair. 
 
 The feelings of Rachel would have been equally 
 poignant, had they not been directed to another chan-' 
 nel. She had, as lhe entered the apartment, faintly 
 articulated the word brother.- Arrabella caught the 
 found, and calling her daughter by name, Rachel was 
 lolded in a moment to her bofom, and in the embrace 
 of a new found mother, felt a relief from her forrows. 
 Dudley killed his daughter with tendernefs, but the 
 lively affection he had once experienced towards his 
 children was now almoft extinct. It had indeed for a^ 
 moment revived when he heard the voice of William, 
 but the icy ringer ofdeath had filenced that voice for- 
 ever, and the heart of Dudley could no more vibrate 
 with the exquifite delights fpringing from paternal 
 love. 
 
 By the united effor-s of Rachel and Arrabella, Obe- 
 rea was at lafl aroufed from that ftate of apparent' 
 jnfenfibility into which (he had fallen, Rachel rcleaf- 
 itd' h!er arms from the neck of her child, and drew 
 hu- gentlj towards her mother, who foothed, carciied, 
 and called her her dear daughter, the relic of her be- 
 lov.J William. 
 
 At the name of William, fiie ftarted. Arrabella 
 perceived ilie had awakened her attention, and from 
 her own fon, made a quick transition to the fon of 
 Oberea. .She begged her to call forth her fortitude, 
 to Cjtcrt '-h-. faculties of her mind, and as the loved 
 
 hci 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 167 
 
 her hufband, for his fake, live, to protett and inftruot 
 his fon. 
 
 " I am his mother," faid (he ; " have I not reafon 
 to lament the lofs of a fon 10 vorthy ? But that he 
 avas worthy is my comfort.. Had he not a thonfond 
 Viftu.es ? and will you not ftrive to live, to teach his 
 fon to emulate his father, to be as good, as great, as 
 vile as he was ?" 
 
 Oberca cad her eyes on her child, then fuddenly 
 .covering her face with part of her garments, ihe wept 
 aloud. The deftred end was now attained. Acute 
 fdnfibility being relieved by the effuficm, Arrabclla was 
 iilent, and leaving nature to its courie, waited till the 
 firft rude mock was pail before fhe attempted, by rca- 
 foning, to convince her of the inutility of gri.. 
 Alas ! it was a lefibn (hard as it was) which An a 
 had long (''nee learnt ', but it -is what the children 1 
 row all learn. Repeated disappointment rlril bhu 
 keennefs of our feclingvs ; corroding forrow, from < >vex> 
 draining, weakens \ht chords of fenfbility, and at 
 length age and infirmity, creeping by chilling 
 moll imperceptible degrees through the whole fyllern, 
 -totally relaxes every iibrc, whim the heart becomes 
 cold and impenetrable as the ice on the highell i'um- 
 mit of the Andes. 
 
 The Indians mourned with fmccrity for their de- 
 parted fachem. The cliicfs and elders affembled, de- 
 clared that Reuben, when of u proper age, Ehotild fil 
 tlie feat of government, till when they entreated Dud- 
 ley to take the charge of his education, hi the mean 
 time, they prepared to inter the remains of their chid, 
 >\ith every mark of refpeet a«d Xonour. But on the 
 very day when the folenmity wav to be performed, 
 the Europeans made an uncTpccVd fully on them, 
 routed the main body, killed man}-, and took the re- 
 mainder prifoners. Amcrigft diofe vsjjo fill *rasYgn* 
 koo. He fought, defending the houi'e where lav the 
 body of William, and dijd o.horting lvis companions 
 to conquer or die. 
 
 Dudley, his wife and daughter, with Oberea and 
 Reuben, were conduced to an Englifti Settlement, 
 
 where 
 
1 68 REUBEN ani> RACHEL; or, 
 
 where the former funk into .1 ftate of debility nearly 
 approaching fecond childhood, and in a few months 
 relic J from all his forrows. When this event took place, 
 Arrabella determined to return to England, partly 
 from the hope of her native air acting as a reftorative to 
 hei heahh, and partly in the wilh of iccuring to Reu- 
 ben the eftatcs of his great-grandfather, Sir Ferdinan- 
 do Gorges ; befidcs which, flic knew that in Europe 
 ihe could procure him to be properly educated, which 
 the very imperfect (tate of literature in America, at 
 that early period, would not allow her to hope, ihould 
 Ihe continue there. Rachel of confequence accompa- 
 nied her mother;- and Obcrea, attached to them by 
 every tender tie, would not be left behind. " The 
 mother and the fon of my William," faid lhe, " I will 
 follow to the furthermoft part of the earth." 
 
 It was early in the fpring of 1 680, when the widow 
 Arrabella Dudley, her daughter, daughter-in-law and 
 grandfon arrived in England, from which lhe had been 
 abfent about thirty-four years. Internal feuds and 
 difcontents had driven herfelf and hufband at firft from 
 their native land, and thefe feuds in fome meafure 
 ftill continued. 
 
 Arrabella found it would be in vain to folicit for 
 any part of the property of Sir Ferdinando. Himfelf 
 and family in general had been attached to the royal 
 party, and dunrig the years Dudley had been abfent 
 from England, the eftates had palled through lb many 
 different hands, that it \ras almoft impoilible to trace 
 them ; or could flic have done fo, flie would have found 
 it difficult to make Reuben be received as the heir. 
 His dark complexion, the nature of his father's mar- 
 riage with Oberea, which in law would have been 
 termed illegal, all militated againfl fuccefs, Ihould any 
 filit be commenced againft the prefent polfeifors ; and 
 Arrabella wifely determined to confider them as inev- 
 itably loft. 
 
 She herfelf inherited, from the bequeft of an aunt, 
 a fmall eftate in Lancafliire, and thither ihe retired, 
 where, devoting one half of its produce to the educa- 
 tion of Reuben, flic made the other half fcrve all the 
 
 purpoics 
 
 
 1 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 169 
 
 purpofes of life ; and tins' eftate was worth but three 
 hundred pounds per annum. Yet Arrabella was con- 
 tented, and enjoyed not only the necefiaries, but the 
 # comforts of life. Her own appearance and that of her 
 daugliters was always neat, always refpeclable ; and 
 their countenances ever ferene, if not cheerful. But 
 their hands were conftantly employed, and indolence 
 and luxury were alike ftrangers in their dwelling. 
 
 A return to her native climate, added to the tran- 
 quillity fhe enjoyed, in a great meafure reftored the 
 health of the widow Arrabella. 
 
 Rachel, true to the firft impulie of her heart, rc- 
 fufed to marry, though her beauty and fweetnefs had 
 attracted many fuitors. "I may," ihe would fay, 
 " find men more accomplilhed, who will talk with 
 more eloquence, are more polifhed in their manners ; 
 but where fhall I find the equal to Yankoo for fin- 
 cerity ?" Rachel preferred a ftate of " fingle blcffed- 
 nefs." 
 
 Oberea lived to fee her fon attain his twenty-third 
 year, to fee him beloved and refpetfed by all who knew 
 him ; ihc then fell a victim to an autumnal fever. She 
 had lived beloved, and died universally lamented. 
 
 About eighteen months after the deceafe of his 
 mother, Reuben became acquainted with Cafllah Penn. 
 Caffiah was tall, well fhaped, not Jo fair as to be pale, 
 nor dark enough to be termed brown ; it was a beau- 
 tiful mixture of the white rofe and carnation that glow- 
 ed on her forehead, tinted her checks, and gave ani- 
 mation to her dark hazel eyes. Her face, which was 
 elegantly linking, without being regularly beautiful, 
 received much improvement from a tew curls of bright 
 chefnut hair, which efcaped, here and there, from the 
 confinement of a pinched cap (for Cafllah was a Qua- 
 ker.) Reuben faVv and loved the fair maiden. An 
 intimacy had taken place between their parents, and 
 by converfition it was difcovered, that the father of 
 Caffiah was a defendant from Beatina Gorges, the 
 youngcfl daughter of Sir Egbert and Columbia. It 
 was a kind of rclationihip that fao&ified friendfhip in 
 Q_ the 
 
j 7 o REUBEN and RACHEL, &c 
 
 the elder branches of the family, and encouraged die 
 affection of the younger. 
 
 Reuben wooed, and was fuccefsful. He threw afide 
 the habit of vanity, and affirmed the drefs and faith of 
 his beloved. Their hands were joined in the face of 
 the church, and Arrabella, about three months after 
 this event which gave her much pleafure, went to the 
 manfions of the bleft. 
 
 Cafliah was young. Reuben wiflied his aunt Ra- 
 chel to flay in the family and manage his houfehold. 
 It was the very thing her heart wiflied for. " My 
 lifter," raid Hie, fmiling, " will have enough to do to 
 nurfe and educate her children." But, awelladay ! 
 aunt Rachel was wrong in her predictions; for Reu- 
 ben A\as married above ten years before he had the 
 leaft profpect of a young family. 
 
 At length his beloved Cafliah bid fair to malce him 
 a father. Univerfal joy pervaded the whole family ; 
 but, alas ! how tranlient ! The eagerly wiflied for, 
 the long expected hour at length arrived. Cafliah 
 gave birth to two infants, a boy and a girl. She 
 heard file was a mother, bleffed her children, and re- 
 commended them ftrongly to the protection of their 
 jather, and the care of aunt Rachel. 
 
 " Will you name them, my love r" laid her hufband, 
 bending over the bed with affection. 
 
 " They fiiall be called after the two beings I love 
 moft," faid fhe, extending a hand to her aunt and 
 hufband. " Call them Reuben and Rachel." A hid- 
 den faintnefs feized her as fiie fpoke. Gently, and 
 without pain, her pure fpiiit palled from its earthly to 
 its eternal manlion. 
 
 END OF THIS FIRST VOLUME. 
 
 , 
 
Reuben and Rachel ; 
 
 O R, 
 
 Tales of Old 'Times. 
 
 VOLUME SECOND. 
 
I 
 
 
REUBEN and RACHEL; 
 
 O R, 
 
 TALES of OLD TIMES. 
 
 VOLUME SECOND. 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 Tales by Comparijln modern y by ike fame Rule ancient i 
 or, Talcs of Old Times continued. 
 
 TO lofe the partner of the heart, and not feel 
 acutely, would be juftly termed ftupidity. To 
 attempt to delineate thofe feelings, might with equal 
 juftice be called prcfumption. The firft year of our 
 hero and heroine's exiftencc muft therefore be pafled 
 over in fdence. At the end of that period we behold 
 their father combating, by the efforts of rcafon and 
 oonftant employment, the barbed (hafts of affliction. 
 The very attempt to repel them weakened their force j 
 by repeated refinance they became entirely ha^mlefs, 
 and fell, totally bereaved of point or power, to the 
 ground. 
 
 Reuben Dudley regained his fereniry ; his affections* 
 his hopes, his fondeft wifhes were now centred in his 
 children. Regret for the mother was fwalloved up 
 in expectation of the children's future virtues and hap- 
 piness. Aunt Rachel prefided over the houfehold, 
 and fuperintended the nurfery. 
 
 Reuben and Rachel were by no means fuperior to 
 the generality of children of their .go and condition. 
 Rachel was a lively brown girl, and both (he and her 
 brother very foon difcovered, that by crying vocife- 
 roufly they could obtain almoft any thing. Aunt 
 0^2 ' RaJ.d 
 
i; 4 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 Rachel would not fuffer the dear creatures to be crofl£ 
 ed, and papa thought them, without exception, the 
 fweeteft, molt charming children in the univerfe. Alas! 
 cries affected wifdom, how foolilli the l'uppofition ; 
 but reafon, unbiaifed by prejudice, declares it is only 
 nature, pure, undiiguiled nature. 
 
 Nature ! dear goddefs ! how beautiful thou art, 
 when, chafte and unadonicd, thou appeared in the 
 veftments of fimplicity ; v/hen the uudeviating fea- 
 tures portray but the feelings of the heart ; when the 
 tongue, uncontaminated by vice, unverfed in the prac- 
 tice of deception, gives utterance only to what thofe. 
 feelings dictate ; then, who can refift thy eloquence ? 
 then, who can liften to thy voice, or behold thy beau- 
 ties unmoved ? The philofopher gazes at thee with 
 rapture ; the ftoic cannot inveitigatc thy charms and 
 retain his apathy ; forgetting his affected infeniibility, 
 he beholds with wonder, admiration and love, thy in- 
 obtrufive excellence, and joins involuntarily in the ex- 
 clamation of the enthulialt, Oh Nature ! dear god- 
 defs ! how beautiful thou art. 
 
 The children were neither ftrikingly beauti r ul, or 
 remarkably brilliant. Health, cheerfulnefs, and dis- 
 positions naturally good, rendered them engaging ; ' 
 but their minds, like the minds of mod infants, were 
 perfect blanks, on which the hand of education might 
 jmprefs whatever characters the in'lructor pleaied. 
 As they were educated in the ftrictefl principles of 
 Quakerifm, neither trouble nor expenie was beftowed 
 on the ornamental parts, though every thing ufeful 
 was attended to with the utmoit care. 
 
 As they advanced in years, their characters natural- 
 ly developed thcmfelvcs. Reuben was open, gener- 
 ous, unfufpedihg, and poffeiTcd a firmnefs of temper, 
 almoft approaching to obtii'nacy. Enthuliaftic in hi*; 
 attachment to his "filler, from earlic-ft infancy his ac- 
 tions had declared, that to fee her contented and hap- 
 py, mad: him fo. 
 
 Rachel Avas modeft, ur.ailuming, meek, timid and 
 affectionate. Pofleiled of a good underftanding, 
 quick and clear perception, and a ftrong memory, the 
 
 taP' 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 175- 
 
 taSk of imlruiting her was moft delightful. Daily, 
 nay, almoft hourly did her mind unfold fome new, 
 fome unexpected beauty. Her love of literature, and 
 the rapid progrefs lhe made in every ftudy in which 
 fhe engaged, at once charmed and aRoniihed her aunt 
 and father. But her extreme diffidence prevented her 
 excellencies from being univerfally known, and it was 
 only by a long and intimate acquaintance her intrin- 
 sic worth could bo difcovered. Yet Rachel was not 
 faultlefs. The mceknefs of her temper was fucb, that 
 refentment was a ftranger to her bofem. An injury 
 was no more remembered than as it had given pain to 
 her heart, and that heart, moulded by the hand of 
 pure innocence, was credulous in the extreme. Her 
 exceflive anxiety to fee others happy, made her in- 
 attentive to the means of promoting or preferring her 
 own happinefs ; and if any one profeffed to love her, 
 though but a moment before they had held a dagger 
 to her bread:, fhe would have forgot the intended in- 
 Jury, and never doubting their llncerity, admitted them 
 to her confidence and friendfhip. Her affection for her 
 brother was equal to his for her. To feparate them, 
 though but for an hour, was to give them the (evereft 
 unealinefs. They were parted with tears, and met 
 again with Superlative Satisfaction. 
 
 Such were Reuben and Rachel at ten years of age. 
 Their father doted on them with the tendered affec- 
 tion, and aunt Rachel thought they were the moll Su- 
 perior beings in the whole univerfe. She would femc- 
 times talk to them about America, defcribe the vail 
 woods, boundlefs plains, majeftic rivers, and extenSive 
 lakes of that great continent. Reuben would li Ren 
 with rapture, and fay, " When I am a man, aunt, I 
 will go there." " I Should like to go too," Rachel 
 would fay, " but I am furc I fliould be afraid to ^0 to 
 lea." 
 
 It was on a winter's evening, as their father was 
 overlooking fome papers, old deeds, &c. that had lain 
 mouldy in an old trunk for many years, (intending to 
 deitroy thofe that were ufelefs) that Reuben ef] 
 Scarlet plume, or rather coronet cf feathers, which had 
 
 been 
 
i7« REUBEN aki RACHEL;**, 
 
 been thrown with fome other rubbifli in a heap, in or- 
 der to be burned. He feized it, examined it with at- 
 tention, and at length, conceiving the purpofe for 
 which it had been made, tied it round his head, and 
 marching up to his father, cried, " Look at me, Sir." 
 
 " Upon my word, Sir," replied his father, fmiling, 
 " why you look like a fachem indeed now." 
 
 ** Why, father, did the fachems of the Indians wear 
 fuch things on their heads ?" afked Reuben. 
 
 " Yes," replied his father, " that was your grand- 
 father's coronet." 
 
 " My grandfather, Sir !" 
 
 " Yes, child ; ,he became a fachem by marrying the 
 daughter of an Indian chief; but I thought your aunt 
 had told you that long ago." 
 
 " No indeed, Sir ; will you tell us all about it, how 
 ir came to happen, now ?" 
 
 «' No ; it is a long ftory, and I am bufy." 
 
 Curiofity is perhaps the ftrongeft impulfe of the hu- 
 man mind. In extreme youth its power is irrefiftible. 
 The children felt theirs awakened, and foftly opening 
 the door of their father's ftudy, they flipped out, and 
 ran into the parlour to aunt Rachel. Aunt Rachel 
 was, it is true, an old maid. 
 
 Full fifty winters, as they pafs'd, had fned 
 Their filver honours on her rev'rend head ; 
 But ftill her heart its priftine warmth retain'd ; 
 The days were part, but mem'ry ftill remain'd. 
 Still the lov'd form of the lamented youth, 
 His faith, his love, his conftancy, his truth, 
 Were treafur'd there. 
 
 The coronet that bound the brows of Reuben, re- 
 called a thoufand tender recollections. Her dear broth- 
 er William fcemed to Hand in miniature before her. 
 The form of Yankoo arofe to her remembrance. Obe- 
 Tea too feemed prefent ; and when the boy aiked her ir'fhe 
 knew whofe crown that was, her feelings were fo pow- 
 erful as for a moment to fufpend her anfwer. 
 
 " It was my brother's," laid (he in a mournful tone, 
 taking it from the child's head and laying it on her 
 own knee ; " I have teen him wear it often." 
 
 He 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 177 
 
 " He was a great man in America, aunt," faid 
 Reuben. 
 
 " He was more than great) my love, he was good." 
 
 " Pray, aunt," faid Rachel, " do you remember my 
 grandmother ?" 
 
 " Perfectly." 
 
 " Was Ihe' an Indian V* 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " What, quite a wild favage :" 
 
 " No, my dear, flie was what is in general errone- 
 oufly termed lb ; but her heart was as gentle, as com- 
 panionate, as full of" virtue and piety, as that ot the 
 moll: enlightened Chriftian." 
 
 " Was lhe black, aunt :" 
 
 "No; dark brown, or rather copper. But the 
 complexion ot' her face was like that of her mind- 
 Its charms and imperfections were difcoverable. at one 
 glance, and it was ever beautiful, becaufe invariable." 
 
 " But was my grandfather a fachem ?" 
 
 " He was." 
 
 " What is a fachem ?" 
 
 " It is a title given to a chief amongfl the Indians, 
 and is the fame as governor with us." 
 
 " How came he to be a chief of the favages, aunt r" 
 
 " I will tell you," replied aunt Rachel. 
 
 It was a fubjeft on which ihe delighted to expatiate. 
 She ftirred up the fire, folded up her work, and placing 
 the attentive children on each fide of her, began. — 
 But my readers already know the whole (lory, and 
 repetitions are ever tedious and uninterciting. Aunt 
 Rachel was minute in her recital. At the account of 
 her capture, Rachel wept ; but Reuben ftarted from 
 his feat, his countenance glowing with refentment, 
 and cried, " I wiih I had been there." 
 
 " And what could you have done, my love I" faid 
 his aunt. 
 
 " Have refcued you, or died," replied our hero. 
 
 "Charming, undaunted fpirit," exclaimed his aunt, 
 and then continued her narrative. 
 
 When flie recounted the death of Otooganoo, and 
 the folemn manner in which he recommended tlieir 
 
 father 
 
i 7 8 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 father ('lien an infant) to the care of the chiefs, " Good 
 old man," laid Rachel, in the mod expreflive accent 
 of affection, " what a pity he Ihould die." 
 
 "Then my father is a fachem," laid Reuben ; and 
 the feeds of ambition which nature had implanted, 
 but which till that moment had lain dormant in his 
 bofom, flartcd into life. At the account of their 
 grandfather's death, the children both fobbed audibly. 
 
 " I will ! 1 am determined I will ! go to Ameri- 
 ca," faid Reuben, firft fuppreffing his emotions. 
 
 " What, without me, brother l" afked Rachel, in a 
 mournful voice. 
 
 " No, no," he replied, " not without you, but when 
 I am a man we will go together ; we will find out our 
 grandfather's government, and difcover ourfelves to 
 his people ; I dare fay they would be glad to fee us, 
 fince they loved him fo well." 
 
 " But what Ihould we go there for, brother ? I am 
 fore we are very happy here, and papa would not be 
 willing to part with us, and aunt Rachel too would 
 mil's us." 
 
 M Well, then, I will go, and leave you with them, 
 and when I have fettled myfelf in my government, I 
 will fend for you all. Oh ! what a fine houfe I will 
 have, and then what a number of fervants, and horfesj 
 and coaches." 
 
 Aunt Rachel fmiled, to hear how eagerly die fancy 
 of youth catches at the hope of future greatnefs, and 
 how readily they connecT die ideas of grandeur, affli 
 ence, and numerous attendants, to the poflefllon of a 
 title. She gazed for a moment with pleafure on his 
 intelligent countenance, which the emotions of his lit- 
 tle fwelling heart had lighted up with uncommon ani- 
 mation ; and paufed, unwilling to throw a damp on 
 thofe delightful fenlations he appeared to enjoy. At 
 length, " What would you fay," cried fhe, " if I were 
 to tell you that your grandfather had no attendants 
 except a few warriors, who, from voluntary attach- 
 ment to his perfon, followed to protect him from dan- 
 ger ; that he had neither horfe nor carriage ; that his 
 palace was chiefly compofed of the bark of trees ; that 
 
 his 
 
• TALES of OLD TIMES. 17$ 
 
 his bed was the fkins of wild beafts, and his feat of 
 ftate the trunk of an old tree, hewn into ibmething re- 
 fembling a chair, covered with beaver and other (kins, 
 ;\nd its ornaments the teeth of tygers, poliihed ihells 
 and fifli bones ?" 
 
 " But he was good," faid Rachel, " and confequent- 
 ly happy." 
 
 " And he was brave and wife," faid Reuben exult- 
 ingly, " and every body loved him." 
 
 " Sweet children," faid aunt Rachel, " thofe are 
 confequences which ought ever to follow goodnefs, 
 bravery and wifdom. But, alas ! they are not always 
 certain. 
 
 " What, then, are not all good perfons happy ?" 
 
 " Not always in their outward circumstances ; but 
 they enjoy internal peace." 
 
 " And ave not the brave and the wife always ef- 
 teemed ?" 
 
 " By thofe who have fenfe and difcernment they in 
 general are ; but unfortunately, great and lliining 
 qualifications, of either mind or pcribn, excite in gen- 
 eral more envy than love." 
 
 "What is envy, aunt?" 
 
 "A pafiion, my dear Rachel, to which I hope you 
 will ever remain a llranger." With this v. iiii the qood 
 old lady kiifed the children, and diliniifed them to 
 bed. 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 Education may polifl) the Manners, but Human Katuri 
 will be Jlill the fame. 
 
 THOUGH the father of our hero and heroine 
 was a man moderate in his willies, and of that 
 reafonable caft of mind that preferred mediocrity to 
 affluence ; yet he conceived it an indifpeniable duty to 
 endeavour to improve his fortune for the fake of his 
 children. He had retained fome faint idea of the beau- 
 ty and fertility of the American continent ; he alfo 
 
 felt 
 
i3o REUBEN anb RACHEL; •*, 
 
 felt an irrcfiltible impulfe to vi (it once more the place 
 of his nativity ; and a number of families, of his own 
 perfualion, about this period emigrating to the colony 
 of Pennfylvania, amongft whom were fome of his/ 
 wife's neareft relations, he collected together all the 
 ready money he was mailer of, and turning it into 
 fuch merchandize as was moll likely to be productive 
 of emolument, embarked with a defign of purchafing 
 land, building a houfe, and putting the whole in fuch 
 a ftatc of cultivation, as might render it at once a 
 pleafant and profitable habitation for his children, 
 when arrived to the age of maturity. , 
 
 How naturally do we expect our children, or thofe 
 in whofe welfare we are interested, to adopt the fenti- 
 ments moft congenial to our own feelings, without 
 confidering that nature is as various in the formation 
 of the minds of men, as of their fiiccs ; and thofe pur- 
 fuits and acquirements, which to one will give the 
 moft fuperlative delight, to another would bring only 
 mifery. Thus the father of Rachel and Reuben, be- 
 ing himfelf a man of peace, fond of retirement and the 
 ftudy of agriculture, thought he could not render 
 them a more acceptable fervice, than to prepare them 
 a habitation, where they might enjoy uninterrupted 
 quiet ; where plenty would prefide at the board, and 
 the ftudy of nature, in all her varieties and beauties, 
 enliven folitude. 
 
 He placed his fon at a public fchool to finilh his 
 education, and making proper arrangements for the 
 fupport of his family during his abfence (which he 
 imagined would be about two years) lie entrufted Ra- 
 chel to the care of her aunt, with inftructions, that in 
 cafe of death Ihe fhould remove to the houfe, and i'ub- 
 mit to the direction of iicr maternal uncle, Hezekiah 
 Penn. 
 
 Reuben and Rachel were in their thirteenth year 
 when this feparati >n took .place.-- Their tears fell at 
 the idea of being parted from their father ; but when 
 the brother and fifter were informed that, during a 
 period of two years, they mu'l not expect to meet on- 
 
 i 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 181 
 
 ly at each returning Chriftmas, their grief was beyond 
 expreffion. 
 
 When the carriage came to the door that was to 
 .convey Reuben from her, Rachel burft into an agony 
 of tears. " My brother ! my dear, dear brother !" 
 ihe cried, hanging round his neck. 
 
 " God blcfs you, my charming fifter ! my dear, 
 amiable fifter!" cried he. 
 
 Aunt Rachel drew her niece from the door, from 
 the parting embrace of her brother (who was led to 
 the carriage by his father) and by degrees compofed 
 and confoled her. 
 
 It cannot be fnppofed that their father was an un- 
 moved fpeclator of this affecting fecne. No ! he felt 
 and compaftionatcd their fuffenngs ; but he knew that 
 a maiden aunt and fequeftercd manfion, would in no 
 wife prepare his fon for the active fcenes of life in which 
 (however contrary to his own wifhes) he would mod 
 likely hereafter engage. 
 
 His family concerns being now fettled to his fatif- 
 faiftion, he embarked for Pennfylvania. His commer- 
 cial plans were executed with great fuccefs, his intend- 
 ed purchafe made on very advantageous terms, and 
 at the clofe of the third year from his fir ft arrival, he 
 prepared again to vifit England. Mr. Dudley had 
 taken from Europe with him a diftant relation of his 
 wife's, a young man, of whom, as he will make a con- 
 fiderable figure in the enfuing pages, it may not be 
 thought an unneceflary digreffion to give fome account. 
 
 The mother of Jacob Holmes was niece to the fath- 
 er of Cafllah Penn. She had been left an orphan m 
 early infancy ; but the lofs of parents was amply fup- 
 plied by her benevolent uncle and aunt. She was 
 nearly of the fame age with their own daughter, and, 
 brought up with her, received the fame benefit cf ed- 
 ucation. When Caftiah married the father of our he- 
 ro and heroine, Mary Holmes continued with her 
 aunt, and by tender ;;ftiduity endeavoured to prevent 
 her feeling too acutely the privation of her daughter's 
 fociety. Mary was naturally fincerc and artlcfs ; but 
 Mary was handlbmc, and loved to be told of her bcau- 
 R tv. 
 
i&2 REUBEN asi> RACHEL; or, 
 
 ty. She pofTerTed what is in general termed one of 
 the belt diipofitions in the world, becaufe Hie feldom 
 took the trouble to contradict any one. Her ealinefs 
 might, without much exaggeration, have been termed 
 indolence ; and her extreme good- nature, folly and 
 want of feeling. To praife her beauty, was to win 
 her heart ; and being often extolled for her iwectnefs 
 and cvennefs of temper, fhe conceived, that to be \ er- 
 fectly pafllvc was to be perfectly amiable ; and Mary. 
 with a face extremely lovely, and a form captivating, 
 potfelTed neither expreflion of countenance, nor feriu- 
 bility of heart ; but like fome kinds of tropical fruits, 
 which, when ripe, are fo fweet as to be iniipid, and, 
 though beautiful to the eye, have neither poignancy 
 or flavour to delight the tafte. She had loved her 
 $oufin Cafliah with as much tendernefs as her nature 
 Was capable of; flic thought her the moft perfect of 
 human beings ; and whillt Cafliah was her conftant. 
 companion, Mary was free from error. 
 
 In the neighbourhood of the dwelling of Obadiah, 
 Penn, was the ancient feat of the family of the Fitz- 
 geralds. Arthur Fitzgerald was an only child ; his 
 iathcr had been dead many years; his mother's in- 
 dulgence had been unbounded ; and at the age of 
 twenty-five, Arthur had fcarcely ever known what it was 
 to be contradicted. Heir at once to the eilates of his 
 father and the hereditary honours of his mother ; a 
 defcendant cf the houfe of Aumerle, of which he was 
 the laft male branch, Arthur thought the chief end of 
 his exiftence was pleaiure ; and though pollened of a 
 good underftanding, and a not naturally corrupt 
 heart, he often performed actions which did honour to 
 humanity ; yet unlimited indulgence and unclouded 
 profperity, by degrees rendered thofe divine impulfes 
 (if nature, compaifion and benevolence, weaker and 
 weaker, till at length his heart cealed to be influenced 
 by either. 
 
 His mother, lady Allida, chiefly refided at the Pine- 
 ry, the name the feat had taken from its being fur- 
 rounded by a deep wood of pine trees. Mrs. Pinup 
 was lady Allida's chief attendant, and fupcrintendant 
 
 cf 
 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 183 
 
 tf her houfehold in general. Though it might be 
 fuppofed, that the vaft diftance pride places between 
 the family of a woman of quality in actual polfeflion 
 of eight thoufand pounds a year, and expectant of 
 twice the fum, and that of a fimple country gentle- 
 man, whofe whole annual income did not exceed eight 
 hundred, did not allow of any intercourfe between la- 
 dy Allida Fitzgerald, and the wife of Obadiah Penn ; 
 but the fervants of thole families fometimes met, and 
 Mrs. Pinup, in the extreme condefcenfion of her heart, 
 and likewife having her mind fixed on fome excellent 
 raipberry brandy (which the old lady kept as a whole- 
 fome ftomachic) fometimes paid a vifit to dame Prue, 
 Tipper fervant in Mr. Penn's family. 
 
 In fome of thefe vifits, Mrs. Pinup had often fecn 
 both Cafllah and Mary ; but there was always a mod- 
 el! dignity in the manner of the former, that repelled 
 any approach to familiarity from perfbns whole edu- 
 cation, manners and ftation rendered them unj I c< m- 
 panions ; yet it was a dignity no ways ttaftfi 
 haughtinefs. She was eve; gentle and affable, fe 
 much fo as to be a univerfal favourite, fiom the highlit 
 to the lowed. 
 
 But Mary would laugh with the maids ; and though 
 refped for her as their matters niece, kipt the men- 
 i'crvants in fome awe, fhe endured from them familiar 
 praifes of her beauty, not only without refentment, but 
 even with fuch an apparent degree of fatisia<ftion as 
 encouraged, rather than repelled their freedom. 
 Sometimes, when Mrs. Pinup was there, fhe would go 
 down flairs purpofely to chat with her, aft a thoufand 
 queftions about lady Allida, the houfe, the pleafurc- 
 grounds, and other more infignificant fubjecls, fuch as 
 her drefs, the faihion of it ; for Mary Holmes was no 
 Quaker in her heart, and would often pull off herclofe 
 mob, and let her hair, which was very fine, fail loofely 
 over her moulders. But if the more fedate Cafhah 
 ever beheld any cf thefe figns of vanity, fhe would 
 mildly reprove them, and as Mary feared to offend 
 her, ihc would ever retrain them in her prefence. 
 
 Mrs. 
 
184 REUBEN and RACHEL? or, 
 
 Mrs. Pinup, ever communicative, and wonderfully 
 eloquent in the praife of lady Allida, would expatiate 
 for hours on her grandeur, heT rich clothes, her houfe, 
 her plate, and jewels ; nay, lhe often afked dame Prue 
 to come and bring the young ladies to fee all theft 
 fine things. Calliah uniformly refilled theft invitations, 
 but Mary, though fubmillive to the fuperior wifdem 
 of her coufin, fecretly wifhed to accept them. 
 
 On the marriage of Calliah, her mother accompa- 
 nied her home, and remained with her as a vilitor near- 
 ly a month. During this time, the heediefs Mary, 
 unable to combat her inclinations, though lhe knew 
 they were wrong, yielded to the felicitations of dame 
 Prue, and accompanied her to the Pinery. Lady Al- 
 lida was abfent for the day. Mrs. Pinup led her 
 guefls through the antique and fuperbly furnifhed 
 ■apartments. The rich velvet canopies, the ftately 
 beds, die ma/Ty filver cups, large marble tables with 
 burniihed fupporters, China vafes, large looking-glalf- 
 es, and beautiful tapcllry, were gazed on by Mary 
 with wonder and delight. Plenty, unreftrained by par- 
 iimony, prelided over every department of the houfe- 
 hoid economy of Obadiah Penn. His furniture was 
 excellent in its kind, but it was plain. 
 
 The wardrobe was next difplayed. The rich tilTue, 
 brocaded or velvet fuits were in turns the object of 
 her admiration and defire. The fine lace pinners, the 
 diamond earings, necklace, and other ornaments — Oh ! 
 how fine ! how beautiful ! how elegant ! was repeat- 
 ed a hundred times. 
 
 " Well," faid Mary, " I wonder how I mould lock, 
 dreifed in fome of this finery ?" 
 
 "Look ! why like an angel, I'm fure," faid Mr,s. 
 Pinup. " Oh ! there is nothing like drefs, to let off a 
 pretty face ; and if you look lb handfome in that 
 brown padufuoy gown and plain mullin cap, how do 
 you think you would look in a full drefs fait ?" 
 
 Mary was holding a rich blue lilk robe in her hand 
 at the moment ; lhe held it up againlt her fide. The 
 delicacy of the colour was exactly fuited to her com- 
 plexion ; the effect it had gave an additional flulh tQi 
 
 her 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 185 
 
 her cheek. It was a loofe robe, made with open 
 fleeves, and fattened at the bofom with a diamond 
 clafp. The ground was blue, but it was fuperbly em- 
 broidered with filver, and round the neck and fleeves 
 was a net of filver thread. 
 
 " Put it on," faid Mrs. Pinup. 
 
 The falhion of the drefs was fuch as partly to ex- 
 pofe the neck. The neck of Mary was covered with 
 a fine cambrick handkerchief. Mrs. Pinup took it 
 off ; and then, flipping the robe over her other clothes, 
 faftened it at the bofom, releafed her luxurious flaxen 
 hair from the confinement of the cap, and turning her 
 to the glafs, faid, " What do you think of yourfelf 
 now ?'» 
 
 Dame Prue fat by, a filent fpeftatrefs of this fcene. 
 She was too good-natured to condemn, and loo wife 
 wholly to approve. Mary gazed and fmiled, walked 
 alonp- the room to admire herfelf at full length in the 
 glafs, and laid, in a tone expreffive of mortification, 
 " Well, I (hall never like myfelf in my Quaker drefs 
 again." 
 
 " With this expveffion, Die turned with a defign of 
 throwing oil" her borrowed plumes, when fhe beheld a 
 young man, whofe drefs befpoke him of confequence, 
 entering the apartment. He ftopped for a moment ; he 
 looked unutterable admiration ; then exclaimed, in an 
 accent of Wonder, " Angel ! gocklefs! bright divinity!" 
 Covered with confufion, Mary would have efiaped 
 through the oppofite door ; but he faw her defign* 
 and feizing her hand, befought her not to be alanned. 
 " Compofc yourfelf, lovely creature," faid he, " I 
 meant not to frighten you." 
 
 " I did not know you were in the houfe, Sir," faid 
 Pinup, in evident confufion. 
 
 " I have not been in ten minutes," faid he. " I in- 
 tended to drefs and join my mother at lord Aumerle's, 
 but while Le Beau was fettling my peruke, he inform- 
 ed me, if I would come up into my mother's dreffmg- 
 voom, I fhould fee one of the prettied Quakers in the 
 world. But I fee a celeftial being. A Quaker ! what ! 
 ftiall thofe lovely treffes be concealed, that enchanting 
 R 2 form 
 
186 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 form be disfigured by their puritanical, formal drefs ? 
 Forbid it, all ye loves and graces." 
 
 Mary had neither fenlihility nor difcemment fufti- 
 cient to comprehend the infult to which ihe had e*- 
 pofed herfelf, in thus aflbciating with the fervants of a 
 family, who, if her fuperior in point of fortune, was 
 not of a more elevated defecnt. But the feelings of 
 Mary were never very troublefome to her, and the 
 Lethean draught of flattery her ears had drank, intox- 
 icated her femes and perverted her undcrftanding. In- 
 ftead of relenting the freedom of Fitzgerald's addrefs, 
 fhe was filcnt, and her heart fecretly exulted at having 
 excited his admiration. Inftead of infilling on going 
 immediately home, ihe threw aiide her fumptuous and 
 imprudently a/fumed ornaments, and in her own fimple 
 attire deicended to the housekeeper's apartment, where; 
 refreshments were ferved, of which Arthur partook. 
 
 The evening approached. Dame Prue arofc to tie- 
 part. " I will fee you fafe through the Pinery," fa id- 
 Arthur. The moon was riling in full, unclouded ma- 
 jefty. The evening was calm, mild and inviting. 
 
 " My lady will not return till late," faid Pinup ; " I 
 think I will go a little way with them myfelf, and not 
 trouble you, Sir." 
 
 " I thought you knew, Pinup," faid Arthur, " that 
 I never do any thing that I conceive a trouble. Yoit 
 fhall accompany the old gentlewoman, and I will of- 
 fer my arm to the young divinity." 
 
 " How filvcr-fwcct found lovers' tongues by night,' 
 fays our immortal Shakefpeare ; and who fo well un- 
 derftood human nature, its wcaknefs, its virtues, its 
 paflions ; who fo veil delineate?" 
 
 The extent of th<: Pinery was a mile and a half; 
 vet the meadow, the ft ream that watered it, and the 
 hill on the fide of which ftood the manGon of Obadi- 
 ah, appeared to view before they thought they had 
 walked half way. For Arthur Fitzgerald talked of 
 love, and Mary Holmes, though incapable of feeling a 
 real paffion, liftencd in delighted filence to the voice 
 ©f adulation. 
 
 Dame 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 187 
 
 Dame Prue was confident Mrs. Dudley would not 
 greatly approve her own vifit to the Pinery, much 
 more, that fiie mould have taken her niece with her. 
 She therefore defired Mary to be Client on the fubject. 
 Mary was not inclined to fpeak upon it to any one. Had 
 Arthur taken no methods to fee this weak girl again, 
 in all probability, the traniient liking (he had conceiv- 
 ed for him would have died away ; but Arthur, un- 
 accuftomed to put any reftraint on his paiTions, and 
 being greatly charmed with the beauty of the fair 
 Quaker, without once conlidering the confequence p£ 
 (educing fo young, fo lovely a creature from the paths 
 of rectitude, wrote to her in a flyle of fubmiffive ado- 
 ration, and implored her, if (he willicd to fave him 
 from deipair, to meet him at the margin of the brook 
 ' in the meadow. Mary complied ; repeated inter- 
 views enfucd, and fhe fell a victim, not to fenfibility 
 or paffion — No ; Mary Holmes was the victim of van- 
 ity and too great pliability of temper. Confcious of 
 her deviation from virtue, the pretence of her -\ irtuous 
 aunt became painful to her ; yet did lhe not experience 
 the laudable kind of uneaitneis which leads to repent- 
 ance and amendment. 
 
 Indifference is the lethargy of the foul ; it is the 
 grave of virtue and excellence. Indifference acts upon 
 the mental faculties, as indolence docs on the body ; 
 for as the man who indulges in inactivity can neVfltr 
 expect to rife into notice, fecure or amend his fortune, 
 fo the fowl incrufted in indifference is incapable of in- 
 citing one great or glorious action. It conceives not 
 the beauty of virtue, nor the real deformity of vice. 
 Its affections are cold j its pleafures fo languid, they 
 fcarcc deferve the name. Its pains are few indeed. 
 But then what fatisfaction does the pofleflbr lofe ! The 
 beauties of creation are unfolded to him in vain ; in vain 
 the gorgeous canopy of heaven difplays ten thousand 
 thoufand moving worlds, that, as they roll in the ex- 
 panic of ether, contribute to embellifh, cheer and warm 
 the globe which we inhabit ; in vain the teeming earth 
 - brings forth her fruit ; nor field of ripened grain, nor 
 opening flower, nor flock, nor herd, afford one joy for 
 
 him. 
 
188 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 him. He gazes at them all with ftupid vacuity of 
 thought, and wonders at the grateful tear that fprings 
 to the eye from the heart of ienfibility. 
 
 The hiflory of poor Mary is foon finiflied. She left 
 the protection of her uncle, and accompanied Fitz- 
 gerald to London. DifEpation of every kind was 
 rufhed into with avidity. Her purfe was liberally fup- 
 plied by her feducer ; her houfe was elegant ; her 
 equipage gay ; her drefs always fplendid, and not fel- 
 dom capricioufly extravagant. But though beauty 
 may fafcinate the fenles, prudence, virtue, and a good 
 underftanding, are necefiary to make the charm pow- 
 erful and lafting. Fitzgerald grew weary of her folly 
 and profufion ; he forfook her ; yet not ungeneroufly. 
 He fettled fufficient on her to procure all the comforts 
 and fome of the elegancies of life. But, alas ! Mary 
 was ftill young, ftill lovely, and ftill indifferent. The 
 opinion of the world was of little confequence to her ; 
 nor fcarcely one individual in it was more regarded 
 than another. Adulation fhe fought, and it was 
 poured in upon her from every quarter. She regretted 
 not the defertion of Fitzgerald ; another and another 
 fpoiler came ; and Mary Holmes funk into the loweft 
 abyfs of guilt and lhame- 
 
 ..«..«..«..< <<^>-$»^>> > > > ►-• 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 " We all know what we are, but we know not what nue 
 may he." 
 
 THAT mifery is ever the certain concomitant of 
 guilt, is univerfally allowed an incontrovertible 
 fact. Mary Holmes, with as little reflection or feeling 
 as it is poffible for a rational being to polTels, was a 
 proof of the truth of this affertion. Diflipation, whilft 
 it had the charms of novelty, intoxicated her fenfes, 
 and kept her mind in fuch continued employment, that 
 her generous uncle Obadiah, her affectionate coufin 
 Cafliah, home, the brook, the meadow, and the Pinery, 
 
 were 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 18$ 
 
 were all forgotten in the conftant vortex of felly. But the 
 fame fcene, however fafcinating at firft,by continual rep- 
 etition lofes its charms, and becomes infipid and dif fitt- 
 ing. So Mary, often m the midft of noify mirth and 
 tumultuous plealure, would caft a wiJhful, though tran- 
 fient thought, towards her uncle's quiet parlour, and the 
 tranquil happmefs that was ever her companion there. 
 
 Seven, years had paired, and Mary was no longer 
 followed, courted and admired. She had loll her mod 
 powerful charm. Her cheek was no longer fuifuied 
 with the crimfon of timidity, nor her manners attract- 
 ive from that feminine baihfulnefs, which renders even 
 a plain woman agreeable ; and a beautiful woman on 
 whofe brow fits modeil bailifulnefs, enthroned in native 
 purity, ever is, ever will be, irrefiltible. But, alas ! 
 when virtue has forfaken the heart, the Vermillion of 
 chaftity ceafes to vifit the cheek, and beauty without 
 it, however exquifite, can catch even the eye but for a 
 moment. Charmed with the moil finilhed workman- 
 ihip of nature, we look for the foul that fiiould inform 
 it. But we End it blotted ! difgraced ! loft ! Admi- 
 ration ceafes ; pity fucceeds ; and whilil we wi£h to 
 reform, we cannot but defpife. 
 
 Mary had arrived at this lail ftage. Forfaken by 
 the men, her vanity was no longer gratified ; and to 
 enliven her home, where could ihe find, amongll the 
 unhappy females with whom ihe had been acculiomed 
 to affociate, <>ne whofe convcrfation could either amufe 
 or infuufl her. Unaccullomed, even in her happieft 
 days, to feck amufement within hei felf, it cannot be fup- 
 pofed, when " (in and ihame had laid all wafte, M ihe 
 could find pleafure in reflection. 
 
 The life of Mary was a continued blank ; unloving, 
 unloved. Jo)iefs palled her days; nor wifh, nor 
 hope, nor fear dtverfified it ; all wis inanimation. 
 
 At this period lhc found herfelf in the moft ratereft- 
 ing iituation a female can experience. She was about 
 to become a mother. If Mary ever was fenlible of 
 any thing like remorfe, it was on this occafion. She wifli- 
 cd (lie had not fwervc I from the path of rectitude ; ihe 
 wilLed her child had not been the offspring of fliame. 
 
 It 
 
f9o REUBEN and RACHEL? or, 
 
 It was about the middh of April. The meadow 
 began to afl'ume a cheerful appearance ; the fruit tree 
 rich in blufhing fweets, icented the air with perfumi 
 more grateful to the fenfe than the molt coitly cc 1 
 pound °f art. Mary's health had been impaired, bj 
 midnight vigils, riot and intemperance. She fought 
 irom the frefhnefs of the country air, a reinitatement 
 of it, and a relief from that lalntuJe ;md inanity which 
 weighed upon her fpirits ; a neat cottage but a few 
 miles from London became her refidenee. 
 
 Late one evening, as fhe was preparing to retire to 
 reft, the found of a carriage driving haftily by, attract- 
 ed her attention. In a moment the noife of the wheels 
 ceafed j a fudden fliriek was heard, and then all was 
 filent. 
 
 " Why, as fure as can be, ma'am," faid the fcrvant 
 who was helping her to undrefs, " the carriage is either 
 broke down or overJet." 
 
 " I hope not, Dolly," fhe replied, going to the win- 
 dow to lii'ten. Before Die had time to unbar the (but- 
 ters and raife the falh, a loud ring at the gate an- 
 nounced an unevnecled viiitor. It was the perfon 
 who drove the carriage ; it had been overturned ; a 
 lady in it was hurt, and her huiband had fent him to 
 requeft they might be permitted to repofe for the 
 night irr her houfe, as the carriage had been fo dam- 
 aged as to render it impofiible for them to proceed on 
 their journey. 
 
 Mary was not deficient in the knowledge* nor back- 
 ward in the performance of the rites of hofpitality. 
 
 " The ftrangers (hall be welcome, " faid fnc, " to 
 every accommodation my humble manfion affords." 
 
 The lady had fainted ; for her arm was diflocated, 
 and the pain had overcome her natural fortitude. 
 A gentleman, aflilled by his fervant, bore her into the 
 houfe ; their drefs ltruck on the heart of Mary. She 
 went to the fofa on which the fair infenfible was laid, 
 with a defign of administering volatiles and a reftora- 
 tive cordial. She raifed her head, which was reclined 
 on her hufoand's fhoulder, and beheld the features of 
 Caffiah. Her hands trembled, her check turned pale. 
 
 "My 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 191 
 
 ♦« My coufin I" faid ihe. Mr. Dudley looked at her 
 . with attention, and, though decorated in the habili- 
 ments of vanity, recognised the conntenance of Mary 
 Holmes. 
 
 But little now remains to be told. The hurt Caf- 
 fiah had received, confined her above a week, during 
 which time Mary was delivered of a fon. The advice 
 and admonitions of her friends determined her to ab- 
 jure a way of life, into which (lie had been firll fedu» 
 ced by want of resolution, and in which, want of refo- 
 \ lution alone could have induced her to continue. 
 
 Bufinefs of importance had brought Dudley from 
 
 the country ; and, prompted at once by afFeftion for 
 
 , her hufband, and a wifti to fee the capital, Cafiiah was 
 
 induced to accompany him. The defned ends fully 
 
 accomplished, they prepared to return. 
 
 "Come, Mary," faid Cafiiah, "throw offthefc trap- 
 pings of vanity ; they become not the penitent.. Ai- 
 iume the drefs of fimplicity and purity, in which thou 
 wert wont to appear. Return with a noble firmnefs, 
 to the man who feduced thee, the wages of thy guilt, the 
 price of thy difhonour. I pray thee, Mary Holmes, 
 return to the bofom of thy friends, to the paths of in- 
 nocence and virtue. Albeit thy good uncle Obadtah 
 is no more, yet I and my brother Hc/.ekiah arc his 
 rcpiefcntatives. Had he been living, and thou hadll 
 returned repentant, he would have exceedingly rejoic- 
 ed ; would have killed the fatted calf, and have bid his 
 friends and neighbours to come and welcome thee. 
 And fiiall not we perform the will of our deceased 
 father ? Yea, verily will we, fincc in fo doing we lhall 
 alio perform the will of our Father who rs in heaven. 
 Dear Mary, turn not a deaf ear to my prayer ; for 
 the ways of truth are the ways of p'eafantnefs, and 
 where innocence dwells, dwell: aLo peace forever- 
 more. 
 
 Mary mud have been infenfible indeed to have re- 
 jected the earnelt foKcitations of her amiable relation. 
 Every feeling of the force and beauty of virtue was 
 now powerfully awakened and called into action. She 
 returned the fettlement lhe had received from Fitzger- 
 ald, 
 
192 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 aid, and accompanied Dudley and Cafliah into Lan- 
 cashire, where a few years put a period to her exig- 
 ence. Mr. Dudley had from his birth adopted her 
 ion Jacob Holmes ; and when he embarked for Amer- 
 ica, Jacob accompanied him, was witnefs to every 
 tranfaction on that fide the Atlantic, enjoyed his un- 
 limited confidence, and when he propofed returning to 
 Europe, Jacob was entrufted with a copy of his will, 
 the title-deeds of the newly purchakd eiiate, and left 
 in poifefllon of it, with directions to fpare neither colt 
 .nor pains to improve, cultivate and beautify it. 
 
 ■■< ■<■■< < <«^ <$• ^-> ►->>•►- 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 Things as they were, as they are, and as they ever iviil be. 
 
 REUBEN and Rachel had, during the abfence of 
 their father, increafed in Mature, and improved 
 in mental acquirements. Their perlons were much 
 altered for the better. Rachel was now approaching 
 womanhood ; tall, uraight, and well-proportioned. 
 An intelligent animation lighted up her countenance, 
 which prepofielfed the beholder, at firlt fight, in her 
 favour. It was that kind of honeft countenance in 
 which you might read every emotion of the heart, and 
 feemed to fay, " I cannot deceive you, if I would." 
 Reuben almoft idolized his filter, and when the h 
 I j days permitted his annual vifit, never were three h 
 man beings more fupcrlatively happy, than the brothe 
 fitter, and aunt RacheL It was in one of thefe vilits, 
 as they were focially feated round their fire, their fam- 
 ily party enlivened by the company of a Mil's Oliver, 
 who was palling the winter with her grandmother, in 
 the r ighbourhood, when a letter was brought. " Ii 
 is from your father," find aunt Rachel ; " take i 
 Reuben, and read it." Reuben broke the feal, an 
 read as follows. 
 
 « I r 
 
 nd 
 m- 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 193 
 
 u IT is with fatisfaction of the pureft kind, that I 
 take up my pen to inform my dear aunt Rachel and my 
 beloved children, that the bufmels which brought me to 
 this place is at length finifhed, and the completion of 
 it is equal to my mod fanguine expectations. 
 
 " The purchafe of the land, (which is delightfully 
 fituated on the banks of the Schuylkill, within a pleaf- 
 ant ride of Philadelphia) the building of the houfe, 
 barn, ftable, &c. in fuch a ftyle as might unite a de- 
 gree of fimple elegance with convenience, the flock- 
 ing the farm, and other contingencies, have led mc 
 rather to exceed the fum I firft fat out with, though 
 that was greatly augmented by trade ; and I have 
 b^en necefhtated to give bills oil England for five hun- 
 dred pounds ; but they are at fuch a date as will ena- 
 ble me to reach home before they become due, or 
 fliould I not, I have given my agent, Mr. Atkins, in- 
 11 ructions to fell part of the Lancashire eftate, if he has 
 not in his hands money fufficient to pay the bills With- 
 out. Ymi will, therefore, without hefitation, acqui- 
 efce in whatever arrangements he may make for that 
 purpofe. 
 
 " I intend embarking for England about the end of 
 October, and hope to lee you all before the new year 
 commences. 
 
 " I iuppofe my darlings, Reuben and Rachel, arc 
 aim oil grown out of knowledge. I would have 
 ani'were.l their letters, but time prefi'es. I am pleafei 
 with their evident improvement in writing and orthog- 
 raphy. Tell Reuben here will be an ample field rbr 
 his afpiring and inquifitive genius. Tell him, at the 
 fame time, I wiih him ever to afpire to be eminently 
 good ; for that only can render him eminently great. 
 Tell my deareft Rachel, that if fhe emulates the vir- 
 tues and perfections of her fainted mother, ilie will be 
 every thing that is amiahle. Fare thee well. May 
 the Creator and Preferver of the Univcrfe guard, pro- 
 tect, and keep you all. R DIJDLEY> 
 
 " P. S.- I fh ill leave Jacob Holmes in care of my 
 
 eftato here. I (hall alfo leave hjna a trifle to put him 
 
 S in 
 
194 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 in a little way of bufinefs, that by prudence and in- 
 duftry he may render himfclf independent. The man 
 who depends for the neceifuries of life on a patron, 
 can never a(fert that freedom of fpirit which is the 
 natural prerogative of every human being. Jacob is 
 ferious, afiiduous, and fcrupulouily confeicntious in all 
 his dealings. I have placed an unlimited confidence 
 in him, and am firm in the belief that he will never 
 abufe it. Once more, God bid's you." 
 
 " So then," faid Reuben, his fine eyes beaming with 
 pleafure, " lb then, my father intends that we lhall all 
 go to America. Well, I always carneiUy wiihed to 
 go, and I find I fliall be gratified." 
 
 " Bttt brother," faid Rachel, " look at the date of 
 my father's letter, and remember what he laid about 
 failing in October: vhy, my dear brother, he will be 
 home very foon." 
 
 " He may arrive in a few days," faid aunt Rachel. 
 
 " A few days !" cried Reuben eagerly, " why he 
 may arrive this very night." 
 
 " Oh dear ! dear Reuben, do you think fo :" 
 
 "Yes; and perhaps in fix weeks or two months 
 time we may be all on the Atlantic ocean. Blefs me ! 
 Mifs Oliver, are you not well r" 
 
 This quefiion and exclamation, which Reuben ad- 
 drefied to their fair vifivor, was extorted by hidden fur- 
 pVife. He had carnally glanced his eye towards her 
 as he was fpeaking, and beheld her interefting counte- 
 nance pale as allies. 
 
 " What is the matter, Jelly Oliver ?" faid Rachel, 
 whofc attention was awakened by her brother's qud- 
 tion ; " is the room too warm ?" 
 
 " No ! no ! my dear," faid Jcfiy in tremulous ac- 
 cents ; " only ! only ! indeed I don't know what ails 
 me ; but I was fei/.ed 
 
 " With a hidden ficknefs at the mention of the At- 
 lantic ocean," faid Hezekiah Penn, who had been 
 Imoking his pipe in one corner of the room. 
 
 The dry manner in which he fpoke, the look he raft 
 towards her, recalled the rofes to die cheeks of Jeffy. 
 
 * She 
 
TALES or OLD TIMES. 195 
 
 She affecled to laugh at the idea ; but it was not the 
 laugh of nature. Her heart was full, and her eyes 
 had"" nearly betrayed its feelings. Reuben was at firft 
 furprifed ; but he looked on the confulcd fair one, 
 and an idea crofTed his mind which gave birth to a 
 fentiment which could not be extinguifhed but widi 
 
 life. 
 
 JefTy Oliver was two years older than onr hero and 
 heroine ; extremely lovely in her perfon, accomplifhed 
 in her manners, and endowed with an underftanding 
 far fuperior to the generality of her fee She was fe- 
 date beyond her years j but that fedatcnefs was the 
 offspring of forrow, occafioned by the lofs of her moth- 
 er when fhe was about twelve years old ; foon after 
 which, her father unthinkingly united himfelf with a 
 young, volatile woman of quality, who, though fhe 
 brought him a very ample fortune, yet by her ex* 
 truvagancc, threatened him with ruin, and by be* lcv- 
 t\ , with dilhonour. 
 
 fciiy had a brother, one year younger than hei 
 Archibald Oliver was clafTmate witli Reuben, as 
 twice invited him to his father's country-home, - 
 was in 0\fo}\l{hi;c, to pajfc a few Jays in ;he jni( 
 mer vacation. This frYendfhjp between the 3 
 men naturally led to an intimacy with the fifter ; 
 JefTy, without a -bought which fhe would bluih tc 
 was tenderly attached to Reuben. 
 
 Her lituation at home became difagreeable in the 
 extreme. Fond of reading, drawing, needle-work, 
 and every elegant domeftic employment ; without al- 
 legation ; delicate in her manners and converiation, 
 and fmcerely pious ; it cannot be imagined that Jeff: 
 could find pleafure in the fociety of a woman, igno- 
 rant, difhpatcd and irreligious. 
 
 To her maternal grandmother fhe wrote, in confi- 
 dence, the mifcries of her fituation, and received from 
 her an invitation to pafs the winter with her in Lan- 
 cashire. Perhaps the vifit was not anticipated with 
 lei's fatisfaction becaufe in the neighbourhood of the 
 family of Reuben Dudley. Not that JefTy was con- 
 fcious of being too partial to him ; but that fhe ex- 
 pected 
 
196 REUBEN and RACHEL; e*, 
 
 peeled much pleafure from the focicty of his filter and 
 .iunt, of whom ihe had often heard him fpeak with cn- 
 thufiafm. 
 
 She was charmed with the unaffected na'wette of 
 Rachel, und the more (lie knew of her the more Ihe 
 loved her ; and though unperceived by herfelf, the 
 friendship flie conceived for the filter ftrengthened her 
 partiality for the brother. Their perfons were alike, 
 as much fo as it was pollible for a face truly feminine, 
 ilrikingly to refcmble one whole features are mere 
 marked, more manly, more expreflive of character. 
 
 JelTy looked at Rachel with admiration. "How much 
 you are like your brother," Hie would fay. Alas ! 
 poor Jelly ; flie was unconfeious, that it was that rc- 
 fc.ublance which chiefly drew her heart, with irrclifti- 
 bie power, towards her new friend. The mind of Jef- 
 fy was as pure as the chafte dew which glitters in an 
 April morn upon the bofom of a half-blown fnow- 
 clrop ; and when with undilfenibled joy (lie flew to 
 meet him on his arrival in Lancafhire, and prefented 
 her hand and finding mouth to greet him, it was with 
 the" fenfations of a feraph who welcomes a kindred 
 fiii it to the manfions of the bleft. 
 
 Oh why ! why ! is this pure, this unimpallioned in- 
 tercourfe between the fexes, fo rare, as to be almoll in- 
 credible ? Alas ! it is- a humiliating truth to own ; 
 but human nature is fo weak, fo liable to error, that 
 its pureil emotions may be conftrued into guilt, and, 
 confeious of our own imbecility, we tremble for the 
 firmnefs of another. Befides, wherever beauty, fenfe,. 
 or merit dwells, there envy hovers round, with hag- 
 gard eye, and pale, diftorted brow ; the poifon falling 
 from her baleful tongue difcolours every object, and 
 calls on even innocence itfelf a fallow, doubtful hue. 
 Oh ! how happy, how fuperlatively happy, is the 
 youthful, inexperienced, yet fufccptible bofom ! 
 
 Cbarm'd with each object that it meets, 
 
 Blythe as the vernal morn, 
 It from the rofe inhales the fwects, 
 
 Nor feels nor dreads the thorn ; 
 When hope, unfetter'd, yure as light, 
 
 Tree as the palling wind, 
 
 Bour.us 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 197 
 
 Bounds forward dill with chafte delight, 
 Nor fet-s the ftorm, nor heeds the night, 
 That threatens dole behind. 
 
 Thus pure, thus fufceptible, thus fearlefs of evil, 
 were the hearts of Reuben, Rachel, and their fair friend 
 Jclf/ Oliver'; when on the evening juft mentioned, the 
 reception of the letter, the eagernefs Reuben exprefled 
 to embark for America, and the remark uncle Heze- 
 kiah made on the fudden ficknefs of Jelly, awakened 
 new ideas in the breads of all. 
 
 Reuben had folded up his father's letter, returned it 
 to his aunt, and fcated himfelf befide Jelly, took her 
 pafiive hand, and feemed for a moment bulled in 
 counting over and over again, the beautifully while 
 and finely tapering fingers. Rachel feated herfelf on 
 the other lide, and allied, with innocent earneftneis, 
 " if (he was not better now." 
 
 " Yes," replied Jelly, almofl unconfeious that flic 
 fpoke at all. 
 
 " I thought you were," faid Rachel, with the great- 
 eft (implicity ; " for the colour is returned to year lips 
 and cheeks." 
 
 The remark did not make her paler. And when 
 uncle Hezekiah, adjulling his broad-brimmed beaver, 
 and putting on his great coat, bade Reuben talk no 
 more of the Atlantic ocean, America, and fuch fright- 
 ful things, the lily was entirely exchanged for the car- 
 nation. 
 
 lIe:'c.klah.v-c-.-,t to the door, with a defign to go 
 
 home ; his horie had been preVjiouily brought out. 
 
 "But he Opened the door, and ordering the poor bcalt 
 
 back to the (table, returned to the parlour, and pro- 
 
 d that it (tormed tremendoufly. 
 
 " Does the wind blow very hard uncle •" faid 
 Rachel. 
 
 "Yes," replied Hezekiah, deliberately leating him- 
 felf, and fill .her pipe. 
 
 "And does i: hlowon (Lore . ? " flud aunt Rachel, 
 
 who, having experienced the dangers of the fca hcr- 
 
 i.Il more fenfibly the perils to which her nephew 
 
 S 2 ( might 
 
198 REUBEN and RACHEL; a*, 
 
 might be expofed, fhould he be coming near the land 
 on fuch a flormy night. 
 
 " It blows itrongly from the fea," faid Hezekiah, 
 drawing in a vaft quantity of fmoke, and then fuffer- 
 ing it gradually to evaporate, as it efcaped in fmall 
 curling clouds from his mouth. 
 
 As he fpoke, a fudden gulf rufhed impetuoufly by 
 the houfe, and fhook the apartment in which they were 
 fitting. 
 
 " Does it fnow or rain, brother ?" faid Rachel. 
 " It mows," faid Hezekiah, not giving Reuben 
 time to reply ; " it fnows, and is very dark indeed." 
 At that moment, the difcharge of a dflrant cannon 
 was heard ; and Hezekiah, dafhing his pipe on the 
 hearth, ftarted from his feat, and exclaimed, " There 
 is fome fhip in diltrefs." Before any one could reply, 
 another and another gun was heard, and the fervant and 
 carriage arriving for Mifs Oliver, they were informed 
 that a ihip had been feen in the ofEng, before dark, as 
 it was fuppofed, endeavouring to make the port of 
 Liverpool ; but that fhe appeared much difabled in 
 her mafts, yards and rigging, and it was imagined fhe 
 was now on fhore, or in imminent danger. 
 
 It was not the remonftrances or entreaties of his 
 friends, that could now reftrain the impetuofity of 
 Reuben. He was prepofferfed with the idea that his 
 father was in the vert'el* and he would fet off immedi- 
 ately for Liverpool. He might be enabled to fend re- 
 lief to the diftreired mariners. 
 
 "Oh! my dear brother, it is impoffible," faid Ra- 
 chel ; " only hear how the wind roars." 
 
 " I do hear it," he replied mournfully, " and every 
 blaft feems to fay, Reuben, thy father is periihing." 
 
 A momentary filence now enfued, when Hezekiah 
 propofed going with his nephew. " I do not think," 
 faid he, " that we tan render them any fcrvice; but fuf- 
 penfe is painful, and we may at leaft learn earlier in- 
 telligence of the fate of the vcffel and her unfortunate 
 crew ; difcover from whence fhe came, and what paf- 
 ftnecrs were on board." 
 
 5 •' Then 
 
 t ■? - «*-» 
 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 199 
 
 " Then promife you will not attempt to go off in 
 a boat, my dear Reuben," faid Rachel. 
 
 " Oh heavens ! he will not furely think of fuch a 
 thing," exclaimed Mifs Oliver. 
 
 " Silly children," faid He/.ekiah, " do not raiic im- 
 aginary miieries to afflict yourfclves with. If he was 
 fo mad as to wilh to do fo, he would not find any one 
 mad enough to carry him." 
 
 The hori'es were now at the door. Reuben handed 
 Mifs Oliver to her carriage, and then, accompanied by 
 Hezekiah, made all pcflible fpecd to Liverpool ; whilll 
 aunt Rachel and her niece paffed the night in traven- 
 ing the apartment, liftening to the ftorm, and ejacu- 
 lating fervent prayers for the preservation of the un- 
 happy iailors, whofe perils (they were aiTured by the 
 repeated difcharge of guns) tl ill continued. Neither 
 of them attempted to reft ; they fpoke but little, but 
 each in lilence indulged her own melanchol) thoughts. 
 Aunt Rachel had, added to die anxiety (he felt for 
 her nephew's fafety, a prcfentiment that, ihould any 
 thing happen to him, his children would be involved 
 in very difagreeable circumftances. Mr. Dudley had 
 not entrufted her with the exact fituation of his affairs 
 previous to his leaving England. He had told her 
 ihe might draw on his agent, Atkins, for two hundred 
 pounds each year, and that Atkins had alio orders to 
 pay for Reuben's education, and defray all his ex- 
 penfes ; but (he knew that the bill; half year of Reu- 
 ben's board remained unpaid, and lhe had hcrftlf re- 
 ceived a letter, recommending prudence to her, and 
 hinting, Ihould Mr. Dudley extend his ftay abroad 
 another fix months, he, Atkins, ihould not be able to 
 fivpply the money ncceifary for houfe-keeping. 
 
 This had previoufly given birth to many uneafy re- 
 jections ; and now that fhe found he had drawn for fo 
 large a funi, and given Atkins unlimited power to fell 
 or mortgage part of the Lancaihire eftate, lhe fear- 
 ed, Ihould any fatal accident prevent his reaching 
 England, Reuben and Rachel might be fevere fuffer- 
 ers, in more ways than the lofs cf a father. 
 
 For 
 
2oo REUBEN and RACHEL; op, 
 
 For hcrfelf, ihe had no fears ; and though the hal 
 of that eftate conftituted the whole of her worldly pot 
 ieffions, yet fuch was the native philanthropy of her 
 mind, fo little was felf regarded, and with fuch en- 
 thufiafm did flie regard the offspring of her lamented 
 brother William, that to fupply the fmalleft of their 
 wants, (he would have cheerfully diverted hcrfclf of 
 even the common neceffaries of life. 
 
 •Aunt Rachel was now nearly approaching her fix- 
 ty-fiflh year ; 'out temperance, cheerfulnefs, and a do- 
 cent competence, joi.icd to a constitution him by na- 
 ture, had given even to this advanced period, ftrength 
 of mtelleci, hilarity of ipirits, and uncommon perfonal 
 vigour. 
 
 In reflections like thofe juft mentioned oh her part, 
 and earneft prayers for her father's fafety and her 
 •brother's-return on the part of Rachel, was the weari- 
 fome night patted. Towards morning the ftorm aba- 
 ted, and the fun arofe in a clear, unclouded horizon ; 
 but the ravages of the temped were to be feen ; lev- ' 
 end trees were lying on the ground, torn from their 
 roots by the violence of the wind. A barn had been 
 unroofed during the night, and the chimney of a neigh- 
 •bouring cottage blown down, 
 
 "I wonder my brother don't return," faid Rachel. 
 
 " I wifh he may bring us good news when he does 
 come," replied her aunt. 
 
 From the rtfirig of the fur., till it pa/fed the meridi- 
 an, Rachel fcarcely for a moment quitted the window 
 that looked towards the road. At length, about three 
 o'clock, lac few her brother flowlv winding down the 
 hill. 
 
 " Ah ! my dear aunt, here comes Reuben," cried 
 ■fhe. 
 
 " But he comes not like the meflenger cf joy," re- 
 plied aunt Rachel. 
 
 " He is weary, aunt." The affectionate filler ran 
 to open the door, and receive her brother. 
 
 " What news, my dear Reuben :" faid Ihc eagerly, 
 as he led her into the parlour. 
 
 "The veflbl is loft !" he replied. 
 
 " And 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 201 
 
 " And the crew ?" 
 
 " All perifhed." 
 
 " Did you learn where fhe is fuppofed to be from ?" 
 faid aunt Rachel. 
 
 " A pilot boat, that palled her yefterday morning, 
 brought intelligence ihe was from America, but not 
 what particular port." 
 
 " Had they no pilot on board :" 
 
 " Yes, and he lias perifhed with them." 
 
 The tears darted into Reuben's eyes as he fpoke ; 
 Rachel wept audibly. Their sumt took a hand from 
 eacli. 
 
 " Weep not, my children," laid fhe, " but truft in 
 God. It it has pleafed him to deprive you of your 
 father, he is able to fupply his place. Look up to 
 him, my children ; worihip him, ferve him, obey him, 
 in fmcerity of heart. Pic may of his infinite wifdom 
 arflicfl ; but remember, and let it fill your fouls with 
 humble hope and comfort, that his chailifemeiits are 
 but temporal ; but his rewards to thofe who love him, 
 eternal." 
 
 " Then you think wc are orphans ?" faid Rachel. 
 
 " I think," replied her aunt, " that it is more than 
 probable your father was in the (hip which was laft: 
 night loft." 
 
 Two days from this pafled, and no certain intelli- 
 gence could be procured. Sometimes they encour- 
 aged a dawn of hope, and then again rclapfed into 
 defpair. Rachel was the earliell rifer in the family ; 
 ihe had been up above an hour when the newfpaper 
 was brought, as it was cuftomary twice a week from 
 Liverpool. She took it from the fervant, and as ihe 
 held it to the fire to dry, the following paragraph met 
 
 her eyes. ""U'e are at length certain, th;tt the 
 
 large ihip which was loft on Monday night laft, en- 
 deavouring to get into this harbour, was the Aurora, 
 of London, from Philadelphia. Two men, who prov- 
 identially cfcaped, brought the melancholy intelli- 
 gence of the captain, mate, ten hand* and fourteen 
 paffengers haying periihed j amongft the Jattei 
 Mr. Reuben Dudley." 
 
 Rachel 
 
202 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 Rachel read no more. The paper fell from her 
 hands, and fenfe, feeling, almoft life itfeif, was for a 
 while fuipended. She funk on the flow, her head 
 refted on the elbow of lier aunt's eafy chair, her eyes 
 were open, but ihe was as devoid of fpecch and mo- 
 tion as a (latue. In this fituation her brother found 
 her. "My filler! my dear Rachel!'' lie exclaimed, 
 eagerly railing her. His voice recalled her fleeting 
 feflfes. She threw her arms round his neck, faintly 
 -iiliculated, " Out father ! our beloved father!'' and 
 nature relieved her bu.ril.ing heart by a violent gulh 
 of tears. 
 
 Aunt Rachel was prepared for the intelligence ; 
 her heart had prefaged it from the firft. She bore it 
 with die fortitude of a Chrillian, though ihe felt it as 
 acutely as her niece. But ihe had learnt to reprefs 
 her feelings, and to bow with rengnation to tbe will 
 of an aJJUwife Providence- 
 
 C H A P. V. 
 
 " Sfift as the filver clews thar reft 
 
 On flow'rs that fcent the morning air ; 
 
 So fyf-t, fo'fwcct, to foiTow's Ircair, 
 Is FneiuUhip's fiaaile and Pity's tear." 
 
 T may naturally be fuppofed, that when the heavy 
 misfortune Reuben and Rachel had fuftained was 
 univcrfally known, condolements of form and fafhiofl 
 poured in upon them, and fome few offered confola- 
 lion with fincerity, and participated in their afflictions 
 with feelings truly philanthropic. Amongft the lat- 
 ter dais was Mils Oliver. She was lb fenfibly : 
 ed by the lofs they had experienced in the death of 
 their father, that nearly a week elapfed before fhc could 
 fummon fortitude fufficient to enable her to pay them a 
 vifit. At length, her with to adminifter comfort tri- 
 umphed over the fear fhe had entertained of the an- 
 guiih ihe mud ncceiTarily encounter in the interview. 
 
 She 
 
TALES o? OLD TIMES. 205 
 
 She arofe with a rcfolution of patting the day with 
 Rachel, took an early breakfaft, and by nine o'clock 
 was at her habitation. 
 
 Anguiih of heart had lb enervated the mental facul- 
 ties of our heroine, that Ihe no longer aroie with the 
 lark, fought employment with avidity, or purfucd it 
 with alacrity. " Why fhould I work ?" ihe would 
 fay ; " I have no expedition now to cheer me ; no 
 fond hope of a returning father's fmilcs and npproba- 
 tion rewarding my labours." Her mind occupied by 
 reflections fuch as thefe, Rachel gave more hours to 
 her pillow than was her ufual cttflorh ; not that fhc 
 found there the 1 it ihe fought f ut there fhe could 
 weep unrellrained, there foe could uninterruptedly in- 
 dulge in contemplation. Aral if liaply ileep for a few 
 hours deeped hei fenfes in forgetiulncfs, flic blefled the 
 fweet oblivion, I cOUrtied ; ts lurn. She was feat- 
 cd at the breakiuit tabic wh< ' ivcr entered. 
 
 " Jeffy!" faid ihe mournfi: I and half rifmg to pre* 
 fent her hand ; but overcome by the ferdhtibhs which 
 iiifhed on her foul, (lie funk ag.no oil her feat. 
 
 Mils Oliver took the proffered hand, prcilcd it ten- 
 derly, feated herfelf befide her, but was filcnt. Yet 
 her ipeaking eye met the glance of Rachel's ; its cx- 
 prcfiion conveyed hlore than was in the power of 
 words ; it faid, in the rnoit Intelligent language, Dear 
 Rachel, I feel, I participate your forrows. 
 
 It was the confolalion turd congenial to the foul it 
 meant to addreft, Rachel felt its fmcerity, its ener- 
 gy, and was relieved. Oh ! laid ihe mentally, hew 
 far preferable is this to the profufion of words, with 
 which the unfeeling attempt to confole me. She re- 
 turned the preHuie of Jcffy's hand ; a few tears efcap- 
 ed from her eyes ; Reuben killed them oil, and fear- 
 ing himfelf oppolite the two charming young women, 
 qpntemplated them till his own eyes were fulfilled ; 
 and the fuffufiou did honour to his heart, to nature, 
 to veafon, to manhood ! 
 
 How long this filence might have continued, is un- 
 certain ; but it was abruptly interrupted by aunt Ra- 
 chel, who entered the apartment, followed by a di- 
 minutive 
 
2Q4 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 minutive figure habited in a grey coat, black watfU 
 coat and breeches, an immenfe and not very fafhiona- 
 ble peruke, high boots, a very deep pair of ruffles, and 
 a long neckcloth twilled through the fourth button- 
 hole of his waiftcoat. 
 
 This extraordinary perfonage appeared to be about 
 fifty years old. His black eyes, which were not the 
 lefs penetrating for being extremely fmall, darted their 
 glances at the three interefting figures that prefented 
 themfelves in the perfons of Reuben, Rachel, and Mifs 
 Oliver. 
 
 He bowed profoundly on entering. Rachel rofe 
 from her feat. Her forrows fecmed to retire within 
 her heart, and a dignified compofure took poffeffion of 
 her features, as ihe received and returned his compli- 
 ment 1 ;. 
 
 " This gentleman comes from Mr. Atkins," faid 
 aunt Rachel, as pointing to the fofa on which Reuben 
 had fat, fhe motioned for him to be feated. " His 
 name, I underfhmd, is " 
 
 " Aliibi, at your fervice," faid he, bowing again, 
 and recovering himfelf with an air of cenfequence ; as 
 if he had faid, I believe I am pretty univerfally known. 
 " Mr. Dudley, I prefume," turning toward Reuben, 
 " and Mifs Dudley, his charming lifter, (bowing to 
 Rachel) if I may judge from your mourning habits. 
 Give me leave to condole with you on the unfortu- 
 nate cataftrophe of our mutual friend. But man is 
 '. orn to die ; Co regret is ufelefs. Permit me, there- 
 fore, to congratulate you on your acceflion to his for- 
 tune." 
 
 The mention of her father had called forth the 
 {mothered fallibility of Rachel ; but the conclufion 
 repelled it by routing her indignation. 
 
 " Congratulate ?" faid fhc, in a voice fcarcely ar- 
 ticulate. 
 
 " Congratulate I"' echoed Reuben, and his fine 
 countenance glowed, his eyes darted refentment. " Sir, 
 we are the children of Mr. Dudley, his natural off* 
 fpring, reared by his care, nurtured, by his love, and 
 
 taught 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 205 
 
 taught by his wifdom. Who then fhall dare infult 
 us r" And he role frc m his feat, laid one hand 
 on his brcaft, and with the other motioned as though 
 •brandiihing a weapon. " Who (hall dare infult us by 
 congratulation for his death ? Oh ! my father !" 
 
 "My dear, loft father'!" repeated Rachel. 
 
 " My afflitfed friends," faid MHs Oliver, foftly. 
 
 It was a {<:snc lb new, the manners and fentimenu 
 of the young trio were fo elevated, as to be almoft un- 
 intelligible to Allibi. He figetted on his feat, hem- 
 med at lcaft hah' a dozen times, and at length he be- 
 gan with hefitatjon — 
 
 " I btg pardon. I prott ft I did not mean — that 
 is, I did not know. But as 1 was faying, young Mr. 
 Reuben Dudley, and his fifter Mil's Rachel Dudley, 
 .being twin brother and fifter, and in the eye of the 
 law joint heirs of the poflcOions and eftates, cf what 
 kind foevcr, that is to fay, of money, plate, jewels, 
 landed property, houfes, merchandize, < r what not, 
 belonging or appertaining to their late father, Reuben 
 Dudley, deceafed " 
 
 "Oh heavens!" faid Rachel, folding her hand, 
 acrofs her brealr, as if to accelerate her breathing, 
 which was evidently laboured. 
 
 •' My dear creature !" faid Mifs Oliver, in the ac- 
 cent of commifcration. 
 
 "Good Sir, be expeditious in explaining the nature 
 •of your bui'mefs," faid Reuben ; and he walked to the 
 other end of the room to conceal his own emotions. 
 
 Allibi with the fame fung froid proceeded. — "You 
 being, as I have before faid, co-heirs, do thereby ftand 
 anfwerable for all debts contracted by, or owing from 
 the faid Reuben Dudley, deceafed." 
 
 "Granted," laid Reuben, haftily. "Pray come t« 
 your ronc'lution. 
 
 "The conclafion is," f.dd ATIibi, deliberately draw* 
 ing forth his pocket book, " that you muft of confe- 
 <r ien.ee pay t'his bill of five hundred pound;, which 
 your lather drew previous to Ids leaving America, on 
 my client Andrew Atkins. Nov.- he, Andrew Atkins, 
 having no property whatever hi hts hands wherewith 
 T •• 
 
2o6 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 to difcharge this demand* and being empowered by 
 your fatlier before the bite fatal cataftrophe to fell, 
 mortgage, or otberwife difpofe of die Lanqaihire cl- 
 tate, in order to liquidate this and other debts be bad 
 contracted, 1 am feat by him, my client, the faid 
 drew Atkins, to inquire \ will be convenient 
 
 for you to difcharge th< hiii ; or in cafe cf non-ability 
 on your part, i am : | wered l .. poffeffion of 
 the faici ftal :s i i the part of my client, the faid An- 
 drew Atkins, in i rder that he may mortgage, fell, or 
 Otherwife diipofe of it, to enable him to nfwer this 
 • ther demands which ma 
 " 1 fuppofe," faid aunt Rachel, t: ; ou know that 
 half the eftate is mine." 
 
 " Pardon me, madam," faid the man of law, " I 
 know r.o fuch thing. The late Mr. Reuben Dudley 
 icd from liis 'grandmother, the lady Arabella 
 Rutlwen, wife to Edward I >udlej , v. ho wont to Amer- 
 ica in the year 1645 ; arid as the faid Reuben wa 
 only male descendant of the faid Arxahella, and lbe 
 
 dying inteftate " 
 
 " Sir," faid Reuben haftily, "■ the eftate is half my 
 aunt's ; we wiih not to conteft it. It is, it mull be 
 her's, by all the rules of juitice." 
 
 " I know nothing of juitice," faid Allibi ; " the 
 law, the law, Sir, is my profeffion." 
 
 I thought, Sir, law and equity were fynonimous 
 terms." 
 
 " You are a very young man, Mr. Dudley, very 
 young, very inexperienced ; when you are older, you 
 will be wifer." 
 
 Reuben could not anfwer ; a look of pointed con- 
 tempt fully expreifed his fentiments.- Allibi continued : 
 "And lb, Sir, yourfelf and lifter being minors, it ig 
 neceliary to throw the cftate into Chancery, when, af- 
 ter your father's debts are difcharged, the refidue will 
 be paid to you when of age." 
 
 • " And in the mean time how are we to live," faid 
 Rachel. 
 
 " Oh ! my dear young lady, you have friends, 
 yrcaltby relations. You have alio youth, beauty 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 207- 
 
 may command a home in twenty different families, and 
 in fo doing confer a favour. Well, Mr. Dudley, I 
 prefume from your filence that you caanot pay theft 
 five hundred pounds ?" 
 
 Reuben bowed his head. 
 
 " I imagined it would be fo, and have brought down 
 people to ""take poircflion of the houlc, plate, flock, 
 farming utenfils, &c. and mull beg yon will fcm< re 
 as foon as may be convenient. With )onr leave, 
 (rifing and putting on his hat) I will take an inv. 
 ry of the family plate which 1 law in the beaufet in 
 the next room." 
 
 He drew forth his pen, ink, and folded paper, and 
 without waiting for the leave he had requeued, walk- 
 ed into the adjoining apartment. 
 
 "Alas! alas!" cried Rachel, " whither fhall we 
 <r0 ? Who will receive us ? Where fhall we find either 
 home or fupport r" 
 
 " Had I a home I could call my own," faid JefTr 
 Oliver, " you mould not have occafion to repeat the 
 quellion." 
 
 " And poor aunt Rachel too, what will become of 
 her:" laid Rachel, tenderly taking her hand, which 
 hung padlvcly over the arm of her chair, as loft in 
 painful thought fhe leaned her head againTt the fide 
 of it. 
 
 "What will become of her?" faid Reuben with 
 energy, " why I will labour to fupport you both. 
 Yes," continued he, fervently clafping his hands, and 
 dropping on his knees befove them ; " yes, here in the 
 fight of Heaven, I vow to dedicate my life to her and 
 you. I will cheerfully work to procure you fuftenance. 
 Induftry fhall fupply our wants, innocence and con- 
 tent make our dwelling, however humble, the abode 
 of pleafure ; and I will protect you from the fcorn and 
 infults of the world at the hazard of my life." 
 
 As Reuben arofe and folded his filler in his arms, 
 Hczekiah Penn entered the room. He was foon in- 
 formed of their difagreeable fituation. But Hezekiah 
 knew fo very little of the world and its concerns, that 
 
 he 
 
208 REUEEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 he could r.ot ofTer advice ; all he could do was to bid 
 them cheer up, and hope lor better times. 
 
 " In truth, my dear kinfman, (aid he, ' : I do com- 
 miferatc your fufferlngs much ; but 1 knew not h< w, 
 young as you art, ;ui can extricate yourfelves from 
 your prefent difficulty. Come, then, home to my 
 houfe : abide there till we can fix on feme feafible 
 plan I : wcll-cjoing. .1 am not overcharg- 
 
 ed with the good things of this world ; but con:e and 
 partake of fuch as I have, and lake with t a 
 hearty welcome. I pray thee, Rachel Dudley, fee net 
 hearted, but come to my maniion ; bring thefe 
 children with thee, and He who feedeth the young ra- 
 vens will provide the means of fubuflcncc." 
 
 trt of Hezekiah overflowed with the "milk 
 of human kindnefi ;" he meant all he faid, and felt 
 more, much more, than he could find words to cx- 
 prefs. Kis friendly offers, and the endearing kind- 
 iver, healed the bleeding hearts of Reu- 
 ben and Rachel, and even aunt Rachel was revived by 
 iheir influence. That very night they removed from 
 own habitation to that ci' the benevolent Re/.e- 
 Hah, and left the loquacious Mr. Allibi in full pofl'ef- ■ 
 fion of the premifes, in behalf of his client Mr. An-. 
 -;. . A tltins. 
 
 C H A P. VI. 
 
 Death of en eld Friend — Acqtufition cf a Loicr — For- 
 mality perfvniftt J. 
 
 QOON after this arrangement took place, Mift 
 k3 Oliver was recalled home. With many tears fLe 
 took leave of our heroine, told her, if ever fortune 
 fhould put it in her power to offer her an afylum, fhe 
 might freely command her purfe, her houfe, her un- 
 bounded friendihip in every particular. When fhe 
 had again embraced Rachel, fhe turned towards Reu- 
 ben. 
 
TALES or OLD TIMES. *ogr 
 
 " Mr. Dudley," faid (lie, " the friendfhip of a girl 
 l;!vC me is an offering of fo trifling a nature, I hardly 
 know whether you will think it worth accepting. You 
 are adviied by your friends to vifit America, to look 
 after and fecure the property your father polfeffed 
 there. It will probably be many years before we meet 
 again ; and what changes may take place during this 
 feparalion, it is impotfible now to determine. Accept 
 my moll ardent wilhes for your proiperity. I know 
 you will often write to my brother ; in thofe letters 
 perhaps you will fometimes remember me." 
 
 " Oh ! doubt it not, charming Mils Oliver," faid 
 he, prcflinp- her hand to his lips ; while lhe, fearful 
 that lhe had faid more than the exact line of propri- 
 ety flie had prefcribed to herfelf rendered allowable, 
 hurried to her carriage, to hide emotions lhe found 
 it impolhble to ftifle. 
 
 Atkins having new t;Jcen the manacement of the 
 eftate eutirely into his own hands, pretended to ad- 
 vance money himfelf for the liquidation of Mr. Dud- 
 ley's debts, and at the end of three months laid before 
 Hezekiah Penn, Reuben and aunt Rachel, a llatement 
 of accounts, which, to the minds of thefe, three inexpe- 
 rienced, honcil children of Simplicity, made it appear 
 as fo involved, that it would be a long term of years 
 before it could even clear itfelf. In the mean time, 
 how were the orphans and their venerable relation to 
 be fup.ported ? 
 
 Letters were written to Jacob Holmes, a proper 
 time alloweJ, and no anfwer being returned, Hezeki- 
 ah perfuaded R.euben, who was now nearly eighteen, 
 to vilit that continent and make inquiry himfelf con- • 
 coming his father's effei . 
 
 " Your fifter," faid Hezekiah, " (hall ftay with me 
 till you return. t : he (hall not want a home nor a fa- 
 ther whilll I live." 
 
 A voyage to the weftern continent had ever been 
 the primary wiih of Reuben's heart ; he hoped he 
 knew net v. hit, but that hope led him on; and even. 
 to part with Ins filler was thought of with more com- 
 poiurc, fince, if ho amended his own fortune, (he was 
 
 T2 10, 
 
2io REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 to be the partaker of it. Jefly Oliver too wasforemoft 
 in the happy group his fanguine imagination portray- 
 ed as eagerly flying to welcome his return to England. 
 Nay, fancy would lb powerfully take pofletTion of his 
 mind, that lhe would femctimes carry him a f:cor.d 
 time acrofs the Atlantic ocean, and place him tran- 
 quilly in the habitation his father had defcribec', fur- 
 round him with a blooming offspring, and give them 
 Jefly Oliver for a mother, his lifter too heightening 
 by partaking their felicity ; and even provide a mug 
 corner and eafy chair for aunt Rachel. 
 
 " Uncle Hezekiah," he would fay, " will not be per- 
 fuaded to quit Old England, or elfe what a charming 
 family party we mould make." 
 
 Oh ! how delightful are thofe day-dreams of youth ; 
 like the fhadows of a magic lantern, that pafs before 
 the admiring "eye in quick fucceffion, each one as it 
 comes forward more plcafing than the laft. Rut for- 
 row, disappointment, poverty, throw a damp upon the 
 fire of youth, which had given brightnefs to the pic- 
 ture ; the brilliant tints grow pale ; the figures are 
 fcarcely perceptible ; they pafs before us almoft un- 
 noticed ; when age entirely extinguifhes the flame, 
 and all is davknefs, undiilinguifliable chaos. 
 
 Spurred en by the native impulfe cf his mind, which 
 'incited him to activity, and infpired him with the moft 
 fanguine prefentiments of future profperity, Reuben 
 look leave of his friends in Lancafliire, and embarked 
 for Philadelphia. 
 
 Previous to his departure, he had thrown off both the 
 habit and manners of a Quaker. Hezekiah remon- 
 ftrated, but Reuben would reply, "Nay, uncle, can 
 you believe it is of any confequencc to our eternal 
 welfare, whether we wear a plain drab coat or a fear- 
 let one ? or do you not think I fliould commit more 
 fin in continuing the habit, when I cannot fubmit to 
 the tenets of the Friendly fyftem ? I admire their 
 primitive manners, and the fimplicity of their lan- 
 guage ; but I am a young man, uncle, and have to 
 make my way through the world. Befides, I feel that 
 within me that tells me, fliould my king cr country re- 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 211 
 
 quire my affiftaflce, I fhould readily draw a fword in 
 their defence. What, my dear uncle, if we were all 
 men of peace, who would protect us from the en- 
 croachments of our enemies ? No ; you fhall pray icr 
 peace, and if the haughty foe is not inclined to grant 
 it, I will affift. my brave countrymen to force them 
 to it." 
 
 Perhaps Hezekiah did not fay Co much as he might 
 have done, had he not recollected that Re\iben*s father 
 had only become one of the fed in compliance with 
 the wffh of his wife ; and Hezekiah had charity en 
 to think that a man might be a very good Chriftian, 
 though he wore a button to his hat, and ruffles to his 
 ftiirt. 
 
 From the time of Mr. Dudley's unfortunate death, 
 aunt RachePs.fpirits flagged. She was no longer the liit 
 of every fociety in which fhe mixed. The lofs of her 
 little independence, the being obliged to the hand of 
 charity for her daily bread, dcprel'ed her generous 
 mind. The deftitute htuation too of her darlings, 
 Reuben and Rachel, was a heavy affliction. Reft and 
 appetite forfook her. Reuben's departure for Amer- 
 ica was the rimming blow. The anxiety ihe fuffered 
 for his fafety brought on a flow nervous fever, and 
 gradually undermined her conftitution. Rachel watch- 
 ed over her with unremitting tendernefs and atten- 
 tion ; adminillcrcd every medicine ; read to he", pray- 
 ed by her ; endeavoured to cheer her by affcc~ted fe- 
 renity when fhe was awake, and wept over her with 
 agony when (he flept. 
 
 But care, affection, prayers and tears were alike in- 
 effectual. Aunt Rachel departed this life, and our 
 heroine felt, as the laft breath lingered on the lips cf 
 her maternal friend, that in lofing her fhe fhould be- 
 come foflorn, unconnected, and be left to ftruggle 
 through a world with which fhe was totally unac- 
 quainted) without a comforter, advifcr, or protector. 
 Reuben ftill lived, to be fure, but Reuben was far, 
 very far from her ; and fhould fhe ftand in need of 
 advice or protection, lhe might be loft, and Reuben 
 
 not 
 
t\i RL T JB~>T and RACHEL; or,. 
 
 not even hearbf her diflrefs till ilie was pad the reach 
 of relict' or affiftan 
 
 Occupied by reflections fuch a:, thefc, Rachel would 
 cf:cn flxay into the rural church-yard, where, reding 
 on the "lap of earth," lay the rem. -.ins of her mother 
 and her lamented atirit. 
 
 It was mklfummer. The days were extremely 
 long, aud at half-pall eight o'clock in the evening, juil 
 enough? of the twilight remained, as threw over the 
 face o£ nature that mode!', dufky veil, io congenial 
 to the contemplative mind. Rachel feated herfelf on 
 the fragment of a broken tomb-Hone, and calling hei 
 eyes upon a' new-made grave, where that very after- 
 noon a youth had been interred, the only /'on of a. 
 farmer in the neighbourhood, ihe, almod unknown to 
 herfelf, audibly repeated the following Manias. . 
 
 Reft, gentle youth, here reft in peace, 
 
 Secure from vanity and troife; 
 For here thy earthly- ibrfows ceafe, 
 
 From hence commence thy heavenly joys- 
 Short was thy fpan ; 'tis paft ! 'tis gone ! 
 
 Early thou'ft rcach'd the appointed goal ; • 
 Freed from its clog, and upwards flown, 
 
 Angels receiv'd thy fpotlefs foul. 
 
 TLrc in thy quiet manfion reft, 
 
 Safe frr>m all anguifli, pain or care ; 
 Light fit the turf upon thy breaft, 
 
 Nor weed nor briar hVarifii there. 
 
 And when the chilling arms of death 
 
 Shall fold thii fragile frame of mine, 
 May my luft Cgh of parting breath 
 
 Pafs tranquil and rtfign'd as thine. 
 
 " My lovely moralift," faid a voice, as Rachel 
 ilhed the laft fentence, " if you fit here much longer, 
 you will ftand a chance of foon being as tranquil as 
 that poor youth. His difordcr was a cold, and ycu 
 are taking the right method to catch one." 
 
 Rachel role, turned her head, and beheld the apoth- 
 ecary of the village. Dr. Lenient was a man nearly 
 
 fifty 
 
TALES or OLD TIMES. 213 
 
 fifty years old, very humane, very learned, very fkil- 
 ful in his profeflion ; but with regret it mult be added, 
 not very rich. For if he attended a family whow 
 wants were great and means fmall, when the journey- 
 man inquired if he lhould make out the bill, as was 
 cuftomary, at Chriftmas, he would fay, Pho, pho, tear 
 out the account and burn it : if I fend it in, they can't 
 pay it. Jt is only ray own time loft; and the lew 
 drugs — what did they coft me ? : talk- 
 
 ing of. Oh! bum it ! burn it ! If the. poor man has 
 got a trifle beforehand, why he wants it, in this feafon 
 of hilarity, to provide a good large plumb-pudding 
 for his little ones." 
 
 With fentiments fuefi as tlieie, chough the Doctor's 
 practice daily increafed, yet it did not greatly augment 
 his revenue. However, he fuppoited his family with 
 comfort and fomething mere than decency. 
 
 Our heroine was a great favourite with the good 
 man. Studious from her infancy, cf an inquiring.; 
 genius, eager ia the purfuit of knowledge, and atten- 
 tive to the convcifation of thofe who had the power 
 to impart it, Rachel at the age of twelve had prcfer- 
 ed a cenverfation with th< to a ride era ramble 
 
 with her j irraed.by her ardent 
 
 thirft for inflruclicn, the old gentleman would anfwer 
 her queftions, corredl her errors, direct her lludics, 
 and labour to give her an unaffected turn for litera- 
 ture an lite arts. 
 
 When Rachel painted or worked flowerr, the Doctor 
 would aflift her in arranging her fhades with proprie- 
 lefcribing, as he fat beiidc her while (he worked,. 
 the natures, properties and ufe.of every plant, fhrirb 
 or flower.. If. (he read, he con pronuncial 
 
 and taught her how to convey the fall fenfe of ' 
 ihe read to her auditors, by a pleafing modulati 
 voice. If ihe wrote, he would point l>ut the errors in 
 her ftylej and often has been h'cai ( 
 great pity ilie could not fpeafc and read Latin. 
 
 '* Come, my good girl," faid he, " you (hall [ r o heme 
 with inc. You are too melancholy fi late, and in- 
 dulge too much in folitary walks and gloomy contem- 
 plations. 
 
*t4 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 
 plations. And let me tell you, my young friend, yon 
 are mfenfibly falling into an error, which, if indulged, 
 increafe and grow upon you, till, it becomes 
 guilt." 
 
 Rachel Parted. "What mean you, Sir?" faid Hie. 
 
 " I mean/' replied the Doctor, " that you are fink- 
 ing into torix ■:• and inactivity : yc-u are fuftering the 
 of your foul to be entirely locked up by 
 grief, and you arc tEftrufting the power of a Divine. 
 Providence, i:i giving way tn immoderate affliction.*' 
 
 "Alas! my ; dear Sir," faid Rachel, "have I not 
 Caufe to be afflicted:" am I not a mdft unhappy crea- 
 ture ? My parents dead, my brother at an immenfc 
 diliance from me, my good uncle Hezekifth in a verv 
 inarm ftate, and the only foufce from whence I could 
 look for fupport entangled in the. law !" 
 
 " All this is true, I muft allow," faid the Doctor 
 gravely, "but yet, Mils Dudley, you have a firm, un- 
 alterable friend, who has faid, (ami his word is truth 
 itfelf) " Though thy father and thy mother forfakc 
 thee, yet Avill not I forfake thee." And this friend, 
 my dear, has endowed you with wonderful qualifica- 
 tions of both mind and perfen ; he has given you 
 good fenfe, genius, and the benefit of improving thofe 
 qualities by education ; and all he requires of you is, 
 not ungratefully to bury the talent entrufted to your 
 keeping, but exert yourfelf to improve it to the ut- 
 raoft, depending on him to fecond your endeavours, 
 and he will amply reward your faith, patience and 
 induftxy." 
 
 Cheered and comforted by eonverfatvon fuch as this, 
 the melancholy cloud began to difperfe from the brow 
 of Rachel. Her features afFumed a fweet, an intereft- 
 ,jng compofure ; and, arrived at the dwelling of the 
 good Doctor, flie contented to go in and partake of his 
 fopper. For the houfe of Hc/.ekiah Penn was within 
 five minute's walk of the Doctor's, and a lad was dif- 
 patched to inform him that Rachel was fafe, but would" 
 flip out. 
 
 This little neccfTary bufinefs was fettled in the gar- 
 den that fronted the houfe, where the lad was bulled 
 
TALES of OLD T I M.E S. 215. 
 
 in watering fome pots of curious flowers ; and the 
 Doctor then led his fair companion through the fiiop 
 into <i back parlour, where they ufually fat. 
 
 " I have brought you a welcome vifitor, After," 
 laid he, as he opened the door- Mrs. Auberry role 
 from her feat, and taking the hand of Rachel, cried, 
 ** Welcome indeed." Xhen turning to an elegant 
 ] oung man in military uniform, fhc continued, " My 
 dear Hamden, give mc leave to p relent you to Mil's 
 Dudley. This, Mil's Dudley, is m\ fon Hamden Au- 
 berry, of whom you have often heard me fpeak." 
 The majeclk figure, the lift, melancholy counts* 
 of Rachel, rendered more (hiking by her deep 
 mourning habit, (for Rachel was not ()uakcr enough 
 to neglect that outward token of refpeel to the memory 
 of departed iriends) made her appear in the eyes of 
 the young foldier almoft divine. .She bowed her head, 
 ;ind presented her hand with a grace peculiar to her- 
 j'elf. There was fomething in the action t/ouvefft, and 
 irrefiftibly charming in the eyes of Hamden. He took 
 die fnowy pledge of ar.iii; , and bowed low upon it ; 
 and if his lingers did coni racl clofer than the frigid 
 rules of politenels render aunMiT.hle, furprife and ;id- 
 miration mult plead his excule. R u heJ Was fc;,iiblc 
 of the preifure, and life's warm flui< rufliing irnpctu- 
 oidly to her heart, from thence {prang to her checks, 
 and gave uncommon animation to her expreflhte coun- 
 tenance. 
 
 Dr. Lenient was an old bachelor. Himfelf and 
 fifter were nearly of an age. cihe had,' in her 
 youth, united hcrfclf to a young man, who, being a 
 younger fon though of the united families of Hamden 
 and Auberry, had nothing but a commiflion and the 
 
 -ll qf his father to depend on. Joanna Lenient 
 was poor in every thine.-, lave perfona] beauty and a 
 .good heart. Young Auberry faw her, loved her, and 
 
 ing defiance to ever) fuggeftion of prudence, in 
 
 ' oppofition to the will of his father*, married her. 
 His lather renounced him, and h> never role above the 
 
 of captain. He fought preferment in the field of 
 y under the gallant Marlborough, 
 
 and 
 
ftiti REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 and fell in the memorable battle on the plains of Blcin- 
 hem. 
 
 His wife had never been acknowledged by his fami- 
 ly, rind after his death fie retired, "with her infant fon, 
 then only fifteen months eld, to the village where her 
 brother reftded. He had jmt- entered upon the bufy 
 fjenes of life, had a plcafant houfe, a confiderablc de- 
 gree of employment ; but no focial companion to ren- 
 der the fireiide cheerful, or prefide at the temperate 
 meal. He invited his filter to come and increase his 
 comforts by fharing them. She complied, and his 
 home from that hoar became her's. Her pcnlion war. 
 devoted to the education of young Kamden, and the 
 fupply of her own pocket expenfes ; and The Doctor 
 found himfelf fo happy in her fifterly affection, her 
 economy in managing his family, her good humour, 
 fincerity, and ftudy to pleafe, that every other woman 
 of his acquaintance loft fomething in his opinion, when 
 compared with his filer Aubcrry. 
 
 It happened that when Hamden was about feven 
 years old, the maid-fervant of Dr. Lenient re'juefted 
 leave to go to a neighbouring fair, and take little maf- 
 ter with her. Hamden joined his felicitations with 
 Sufan's, and was permitted to go. The brother of 
 Sudan was the head-waiter of an inn, in the town to 
 which they went, and thither the girl (after having 
 paraded through the fair with fome of her companions, 
 and purchaled for Matter Auberry a gun and a drum) 
 repaired, in order to procure fome retrefhment. Ham- 
 den, filiated with cakes, fruit and fugar-plumbs, left 
 her to take her re pa ft in quiet, whilft, taking Ins little 
 mu/ket on his fhouldcr, and flinging his drum before 
 him, he paraded in the court before the front of the 
 houfe, fupporting his gun with his left ham', and bait- 
 ing the drum with his right. 
 
 Hamden was a remarkably handlome boy ; h's 
 complexion at once fair and florid, his eyes large and 
 expreffive, of the fincft fapphire hue, and his forehead 
 iliadcd by innumerable ringlets of beautiful il.ixcn 
 hair ; tail of his age, and fumcicntly robult'to prevent 
 an appearance of effeminacy* Such a boy fo employ- 
 ed, 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 217 
 
 *d, could not fail to attract notice. A lad", who in 
 .pafling to her country-feat had flopped to take dinner 
 in this place, had obferved his martial air and ftep, as 
 he marched before the windows, and throwing up the 
 ialh, called him to her. 
 
 " So you have been to the fair, I fee, my pretty 
 ■boy," faid fhc. 
 
 " Yes, ma'am, and Sufan gave me this gun ; a'ftt it 
 a pretty one ? and the drum too ; only hear how loud 
 I can beat it- She wanted to give me a fiddle and a 
 coach, but I choie the gun, and next fair I will have 
 a fword." 
 
 " You (hall have a fword now, my fwcet boy ; here 
 is a fhilling to buy one." 
 
 " No, thank you, ma'am," faid Hamdcn ; " mamma 
 gave me money enough, and ihe would be angry if I 
 took any from (hangers." 
 
 " You are a charming fellow ; will you go with 
 me I** 
 
 " If mamma pleafcs, and you will promife to make 
 me a foldier." 
 
 " Why do you wifh to be a foldier V* 
 ** Becaufe -papa was a foldier. He was killed at the 
 battle of Bleinhem, and I (hould like to know how to 
 fight, that I might kill the man that killed my father." 
 The lady felt her eyes fill with Hears ; the undaunt- 
 ed fpirit of the boy delighted her. 
 
 " What is your name, my love r" faid fhc. 
 " Hamdcn Auberry," he replied ; " 'tis a great 
 name, my mamma fays, and for the fake of my father's 
 relations I muft be careful not to difgracc it, though 
 they never owned me, nor noticed J$e." 
 
 At the name of Auberry, the lady had funk agi- 
 tated on the window-feat. " Cdrae into the room, my 
 dear," faid flic. Hamdcn obeyed, and was inftantl/ 
 folded in her arms, while her teai - s bedewed his face, 
 as (he tenderly fainted him. 
 
 It was lady Anne Auberry, the elded filter of Ham- 
 den's fuher. Struck by the innocent reproach his 
 natural and fpirited replies had given, not' only to her- 
 fclf, but all the family, for their wilful neglect of fo 
 U promifing 
 
= iS REUBEN and RACHEL; bit, 
 
 promifmg a branch of it, flic made inquiries concern- 
 ing the fitnation of his mpther, ordered her carriage, 
 
 took the cliild home, and from that moment adopted 
 him as her own fon. At that period fhe was verging 
 upon forty, was (lill unmarried, and remained I 
 tile time Hamden, returned from a tour lie had been 
 making on the continent, was introduced to our he- 
 roine. 
 
 Lady Anne had (pared no coft in completing his 
 education. She never forgot the promife lac had in- 
 nocently extorted from her at die moment flic firifc 
 converfed with him, and before he was fix teen pur- 
 chafed for him an enfigncy in a regiment upon the 
 home eftabliiliment. Lie was now only twenty-two, 
 but what cannot intereft and money procure : Ham- 
 den Auberry, without once having been in actual fer- 
 vice, "Was advanced to the rank of Major. 
 
 When lady Anne thus lavifhly poured upon her 
 nephew every advantage which wealth could bellow, 
 fhe in her mind purpofed making him her heir ; in- 
 deed, fhe looked upon him as the heir of the family. 
 Her eldeft brother's children were all puny beings, 
 and her fecond brother had never married. She 
 therefore looked forward with the hope of one day 
 feeing Hamden or^e of the fir ft men in the kingdom. 
 One of the preliminaries Ihe had fettled for his ad- 
 vancement was a marriage with fome woman of fplen- 
 did rank and fortune. Perhaps lady Anne was not 
 quite fo anxious about beauty, grace, good fenfe, and 
 good humour, as Hamden himfclf thought was abfo- 
 lutely neceffary ; for fhe had pointed out three feveral 
 women of quality, who, fhe allured him, would be 
 happy to receive his devoirs, and whofe alliance would 
 do him infinite honour. But unfortunately one was 
 upwards of forty years old, another had a hump on 
 her back, coarfe, unmeaning features, and a difpofi- 
 tion that was the very counterpart of her form ; and 
 the third, though formed by the tendereft care of 
 young love, yet fo vacant, fo totally devoid of men- 
 ,j! endowments, 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 219 
 
 And -when the beauteous idiot fpoke, 
 
 Forth from her coral lips fuch nonfeufe broke, 
 
 That Hamden, though an enthufiaft in his admira- 
 ' tion of female beauty, could fcarcely command pa- 
 tience- iufficient to linen with an appearance of com- 
 mon civility. 
 
 His heart had remained untouched, and it wai 
 Our heroine alone to call its tender icntimcnts into ac- 
 tion. The artlels, unaffected manner of Rachel, al- 
 forded him the moft delicate pleafufe, whilft bdu'U- 
 ing and convening with her ; fbi it was fo apparent 
 in every word, look, fnriile of hers, that fhe Was un- 
 confeious of her own charms, that thole charms be- 
 came the more (hiking, the more fafcinating. About 
 half pad ten, he Waited on Rachel to the door of her 
 uncle's manfion, and then returned to tell his mother 
 fhe was the only woman he had ever feen, who in the 
 lead appeared to him in every particular what a wom- 
 an ought to be. 
 
 Hezekiah had been married very early in life, but 
 his wife lived only a few years ; and from the time 
 of her deceafe, his houfehold concerns had been fuper- 
 intended by a diltant relation of his mother's, whole- 
 tall, thin figure, and aullere vifage, attired in the clofe 
 mob black hood, and other plain habiliments ufualiy 
 worn by the i'e&, looked, as much as it is poihble to 
 conceive any thing to look, like formality perfonificcl. 
 Nor was her drefs and perfon more ItifF and forbid 
 ding than was her manners. Ignorant in the highci); 
 degree, fhe valued herfelf on that ignorance ; fhc un- 
 deritood nothing of polite literature ; and whenever 
 me faw our heroine engaged in any book, whether of 
 inftruclion or amufement it mattered not, by her they 
 were all termed vanity and vexation of fpirit. The 
 product-ions of the here poets were called blafphemy. 
 Hiftory was of no ufe ; for of what confequence was 
 it to her what was done in the world before fhe was 
 born ? And works of fancy, however excellent in 
 their kinj, were all a pack of nonfenfe, and ferved on- 
 ly to fill young people's heads with proclamations. 
 
 To 
 
220 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 To be feen with a book on any day except Sunday, 
 was highly againfl her creed. For in her opinion 
 needle-woik, l'pinning, and attending to the culinary 
 concerns of the family, were fuffieient to occupy every 
 hour of the day. Her pickles and preferVes were ex- 
 cellent in their kind, and for good fubltautial ruaft 
 and boiled diihes, with (olid plumb-puddings, and lari^e 
 family mince-pics, Tabitha would not give place to 
 any woman in England. Hezekiah thought, with all 
 her oddities, fhe had his intcrefl fmcercly at heart, and 
 therefore continued paflive, and fuffered Tabilha to 
 rale the family as lhe pleafed. But the maidens of 
 the household unanimoufly declared, that fhe ruled 
 wkh a rod of iron. 
 
 ■•<■<■< -<-<^.-}-^»- >■>>•>- 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 
 Journey to London, 
 
 HEN Hamden Auberry had feen Rachel t 
 her uncle's door and rapped at it, politenei 
 obliged him to wait till it was opened, which it wa 
 by Tabitha herfelf. She glanced her eye at the fear- 
 let coat and the lace which decorated it, nor did fiie 
 entirely overlook the handibme form and face of him 
 who wore it. But when, without noticing Tabitha, 
 Hamden bowed to our heroine, and kiffing her hai.d 
 with an air of gallantry, wifhed her a good night, fh 
 became troubled in fpirit that Rachel Ihould have fub- 
 mitted to fuch an abomination quietly. 
 
 With upright head, her long, fcraggy neck ftretch 
 ing to its utmoft extent, from a conicioufnefs of he 
 own purity, in lilcnt folemnity Tabitha flalked into the 
 parlour, where fat Hezekiah almoft dozing in his eaiy 
 chair. She depofited the candle on the table, and 
 feated herfelf on his right hand. Rachel fat s down on 
 the other fide, and affectionately bending over the 
 chair, afked her uncle how he was. 
 
 "Why 
 
 
 1 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. nx 
 
 " Why tired almoft to death, thou mayeft be fare," 
 &id Tabitha, not giving Hc/.ekiah time to reply. 
 
 " Then it was a pjty my uncle did not go to bed," 
 (aid Rachel innocently. 
 
 " Thou art both an unthinking and an unfeeling 
 girl, Rachel Dudley, el& wouldeft thou know that 
 anxiety for. thy fafety kept him up. But he has had 
 fo many of thofe uneafy hours fince thou haft been in 
 his dwelling, that I can forefee ic will hurry him to 
 his grave. Oh ! Rachel ! Rachel ! thou art turned 
 to vanity, to folly, to abomination. Thou art wilful- 
 ly running into the fnares of the wicked one. Thou 
 doft love to confort with the children of di '/obedience ; 
 thou delighted: to behold their veftments, fhining with 
 gold, and red in the blood of Jezebel." 
 
 11 l'dcfs me," faid Rachel, " what can you mean ? 
 Uncle, pray (peak to me. 1 hope 1 have not given 
 you any caufe for uneafinds. I font word that 1 lliouht 
 fup at Dr. Lenicnt's ; had you fent by the boy for OK 
 to come home, 1 fliould have returned inftantly." 
 
 Hezekiah had taken her ham!, which in her e'atf- 
 neftnefs Jhe had laid en his knee, give it a gentle 
 prefuire, and was beginning to /peak ; but Tabitha in- 
 terrupted him, and he knew it wouLJ be in vain to at- 
 tempt being heard, when (lie was inclined to talk. 
 So. he rclin.-iuilhed his intention, leaned back in his 
 chair, ihut his eyes, and inwardly willicd lie could 
 lhut his cars alio. 
 
 " Thou didft fend word, it is true," faid the perfe- 
 cuting Tabitha, " but thou didft not fend word that a 
 ftranger would walk with thee ; that thou wouldeft 
 lean on his arm, and fuller him to kifs thy hand, in' a 
 manner net becoming a maiden who wiiheth to pre- 
 ferre her reputation. And this ftranger was clothed 
 in fcarlet and gold, and eats the bread that is pur- 
 chafed by murdering his fellow-creatnres. Verily, I 
 fay, my .fp'uit wa-xeth wroth when I think the daugh- 
 ter of Cafliah Penri turneth from the worfhip of her 
 father's houft, and runneth after ftfangc gods, and 
 delighteth to dwell in the tents of idolaters." 
 
 U 2 "I beg 
 
222 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 " I beg your pardon," fai d Rachel tartly ; " rhf 
 father defpifed both formality and hypocrily." 
 
 ° Oh thou offspring of a generation of vipers," cried 
 Tabitha, " doft thou call our pure and undehled faith 
 hypoenfy ?" 
 
 " No ! Heaven forbid I fliould," replied our hero- 
 ine mildly ; " it la only the uncharitable and infen- 
 fate wretch, who, having neither heart to conceive*. 
 nor understanding to enjoy,, the innocent pleafures 
 with which a bountiful Creator has enriched the world, 
 proudly arrogate to themfelves the right to judge 
 and contemn their fellow-creatures ; and furely it is 
 the height of hypocrify to pretend to deferve the di- 
 vine appellation of Chriftian, and yet harbour in thcr 
 bofom envy, hatred and malice." 
 
 " Rachel . l Rachel ! child of folly, daughter of dif- 
 obedience," exclaimed Tabitha vociferoully, her mca>- 
 gre features flaming with rage, as though the fire 
 within flione through her fltinny cheeks and hollow 
 eyes ; " child of darknefs, hear me ; thou art going 
 blindfold into the pit ; thou art walking barefoot ovei 
 burning ploughfhares ; but the foles of thy feet, like 
 thine eternal foul, is callous and infenfible to the dan- 
 ger that furrounds thee. Had thy mother lived unto 
 
 this day " 
 
 "Oh! would to Heaven flie had!" v.;ied Rachel*,, 
 her fpiiits no longer able to fupport her againil the 
 abfurd accufations of Tabitha. " Oh that flic were 
 alive at this moment ; flie would not fuffer her inno- 
 cent child to be thus grofsly infulted." 
 
 Here flie gave way to an involuntary gufh of tears 
 but fupprefling them as quick as flie could, (he kiffed 
 her uncle with affection, " Good-night ! God' blefs 
 you, my dear Sir," laid flie ; " the unhappy Rachel 
 v. ill not long be a trouble to you." 
 
 " God blefs you, my love," faid Hezekiah, " am 
 grant us both patience according to the burthens il 
 may pk-afe him to lay upon us." 
 
 « Amen," laid Rachel fervently, darting an indig- 
 nant look at Tabitha ; then riling and taking the ca 
 die from the table, flic went towards the door ; but 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES.. zz$ 
 
 the natural philanthropy of her mind would not faffer 
 her to part in enmity with' any one.. She turned to- 
 wards Tabitha, " Good-night," laid fhc in a foftened 
 accent, "and Heaven forgive us- both as we forgive each 
 other."' Tabitha was fuilenly filent, and Rachel retir- 
 ed' to her ibhtary apartment, wept a few moments,- 
 knelt* and commended herfelf to the protection o£ 
 Heaven ;. was compofed and comforted by the auion, 
 retired to bed> and funk into the arms of repofe. 
 
 Sweet, heavenly fweet r are the ilumbcrs of die in- 
 nocent. Rachel's heart was uncontaminated ; envy, 
 hatred, jealoufy, were equal ftrangers to it. Her flccp- 
 was undiftiubed and refreihing ; her dreams the vis- 
 itation of miniftering angels. 
 
 When Rachel left the parlour, Tabitha began fpeak- 
 ing to Hczekiah, but he arofe from his feat. ** My 
 head aches," faid he, " I can fit up no longer." Then 
 taking his own candle, which Rood ready on the ta- 
 ble, he bade Tabby good-night and. retired to his 
 apartment. 
 
 " I will alter my will to-morrow," faid Hezekiuh,. 
 as he laid. his head on the pillow; (for, feme years- 
 previous to the death of Mr. Dudley, this will had 
 been made highly in Tabitha's favour) "I will alter 
 my will," faid he, " it will not be right to leave my 
 fair and good kinfwoman Rachel, dependent on a per- 
 fon whole undcrllanding is weak, and whofe heart is- 
 contracled." 
 
 In the morning he arofe with the fame determina- 
 tion, and difpatched a perfon for the moft eminent 
 attorney of the neighbouring market town. He walk- 
 ed himfelf to Dr. Lenient's, wilhing to confult with 
 him, and to have him a. witnefs to his new will. But 
 unfortunately the attorney was gone to London on 
 prjrticular bufmefs, and Dr. Lenient had been called to 
 Liverpool to vifit a patient, who, having found benefit 
 from his prefcriptions whilft on a vifit in the country, 
 wilhed to have thofe prefcriptions continued. 
 
 At dinner, Hezekiah ate lefs than ufual, complain- 
 ed of an acute pain acrofs his temples, and a coldnefs 
 down the fpine of his back. 
 
 "Why 
 
t*4 REUBEN and RACHEL; of, 
 
 " Why doft tho-; t boiled U 
 
 faid Tabiiha j " the fhrimp fauce is good, I can ali'urs 
 tlico, tor I made it myfelf." 
 
 "•-I have flo appetite for filh," he replied, pufking 
 die plate gently from him. 
 
 " Let me change your plate, dear uncle," laid -Ra- 
 chel, removing the one before him and Jltting one in 
 its place on which ihe had prcviouf.y laid the wing of 
 a ehicktn. 
 
 Hezekiah drew the plate towards him, cut a mouth- 
 ful and railed it to his lips. But the effort was vain.; 
 hi~ countenance changed ; he funk back. It was a 
 kind of paralytic afl'eclion. He llruggled to ipeak, 
 but-could not articulate. By the order of Tahitha. 
 he was put into a warm bed, and Dr. Lenient being 
 j-uft returned, attended on the fir ft fummons. He or- 
 dered the ui'ual applications, and waited to o! 
 their effects. All the night he continued fpcechlcfs ; 
 but towards morning, by a violent exertion, he ipokc # 
 lb as to be understood. Defiring to be railed in tin; 
 bed, he in faltering accents thus began : 
 
 " I called on you, my good friend, this morning,, 
 to afk your advice and opinion." 
 
 " I wiih I had been at home," faid the Doctor, 
 " we might perhaps have prevented this fevejc attack." 
 
 "That is not my meaning," faid Hc/.ekiah. "My 
 ■time is come, and, fkilfitl as you are, my good Dec- 
 tor, I do not think you can ward off the llroke of 
 death." 
 
 " I do not think I could," fad the Doctor gravely. 
 
 " Tabiiha," faid the fick man, reaching out his hand 
 towards her, " I am much indebted to you for the un- 
 wearied attention you have for many years {hewn me, 
 and the care you have taken of my temporal intereit. 
 It has grieved me to fee ths little difleafions -which 
 have of late taken place between you and my niece 
 Rachel, who, though younger, livelier, more free from 
 prejudice than yourfelf, is nevefthelefs one of th 
 and moll unoffending creatures in the world. Let 
 rac fee you friends," continued he, taking Rachel's 
 hand and joining it with Tab'tha's. 
 
 b Rachel 
 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 225 
 
 Rachel could not fpcak, Tabitha would not, and 
 Htzekiah continued : 
 
 " You will find on the opening of my will, Dr. 
 Lenient, that I have not forgot the fcrvices I have re- 
 ceived from my ancient kiniwoman ; but I am forry — 
 I meant to alter — I wilh her to give — " His voice 
 again faultered — "to give her — " faid he with ex- 
 treme difficulty. 
 
 " Fifty or ll:Uy guineas," cried Tabitha, interrupt- 
 ing him. 
 
 " No," exclaimed the dying man ; then ftruggling 
 violently, he at length articulated, ** Give- her half." 
 They were his but words. In a few moments he funk 
 again into uifenfibility, and before evening expired. 
 
 Now the good-hearted Doctor fully comprehended 
 what Kezckiah meant when he faid, " Give her half." 
 But Tabitha wilfully miiconllrued the expreilion ; and 
 when the will was read, which gave the houfe, land, 
 cattle, plate, furniture, Sec. to Tabitha Holdfalt, in 
 confidcration of her more than fifterly kindnelV Df« 
 Lenient intimating, that he expected fhe would make a 
 fair and equitable diviilen of the whole with Rachel, in 
 compliance with what he uuderitood to be the intention 
 of the teftator from his laft words, ihe calmly replied ; 
 
 44 Friend Lenient, I am not accountable for what 
 thou mayeft have undcrilood. 1 am certain our dear 
 departed brother Hezekiah — " And here the hand- 
 kerchief viiited her eyes ; but it returned 
 
 Dry as the chaff,, which, flitting in the wind, 
 Too light to he depreiVd by trifling fhowcrs, 
 Defie* the blaft, and flutteis o'er the heath ; 
 Or, like tiie downy plumage of the l\van, 
 White and uufullied. 
 
 '• I am certain,"' fhe continued, 4 'he meant not the par- 
 ticipation thou wouldeit inllnuate ; for when (ever ea- 
 ger to interpret and prevent his wiihes) I mentioned 
 giving her fifty or fixty guineas, he faid, " Give her 
 half;" and bv his dving words I fhali moft furely 
 abidc." 
 
 • 4 He 
 
■226 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 " He meant to fay," ciicJ the Doctor vehemently, 
 " that you fliould give her half of all he died poucH'ed 
 of." 
 
 " It may be to thy advantage, friend, (laid ihe fncer- 
 } to h&ve his laft will l'o underftood. The An- 
 gular attentions of one of thy relatives to Rachel lias 
 not palFed unnoticed ; and 1 think thy family is re- 
 iBle for promoting its own intereft at the cxpenfe 
 of otk s 
 
 It was a reproach too pointed to be mifunderftood ; 
 but it fprung from a mind fo debafed, that it was be- 
 neath notice. The Doctor tpek his hat, and viihed 
 Tabitha a good night. Rachel arofe to light him to 
 the dcor. 
 
 " My good, dear girl," faid he, " I would fain have 
 procured from this woman a fmall independence for 
 you ; but it is in vain to flatter you with the idea. But 
 this give me leave to fay, Should you not hear from 
 your brother, and your reiidence with dame Tabitha 
 becomes painful, I have a home. My lifter and my- 
 felf both po/Tefs hearts, which I thank God are not 
 yet quite petrified." Saying which, he fhook her 
 hand and left her. 
 
 Rachel foon perceived the full extent of her unhap- 
 py fituation. The morning after the interment of her 
 ancle, Tabitha paid her thirty guineas, and from that 
 moment ihe found that flie was looked upon as an in- 
 truder in the family. 
 
 Rachel was not of a fpirit to brook the cold hauteur 
 of Tabitha. Nor could fhe think of awaiting herfelf of 
 the kind offer of Dr. Lenient. For, befides that fhe 
 ihi unk from the weight of obligation, (he alfo felt there 
 would be an impropriety in her fecking an afylum in 
 the family of Hamden Auberry. She was not infen- 
 fible to his merit, nor had Ihe hftened unmoved to the 
 cxprellions of attachment that had fomctimes acci- 
 dentally efcaped his lips. For Hamden knew he fhoukl 
 have many obftacles to encounter, fliould he give way 
 to a paffion for a woman in the ftate o{ life in which 
 fortune had placed Rachel. Lady' Anne would never 
 
 b; 
 
TALES or OLD TIMES. 227 
 
 be brought to approve of his allying himfelf to a perfon, 
 who had neither rank or wealth to recommend her. 
 
 Rachel law the druggie of his mind, and, attributing 
 that Lo pride which was only the effect of caution, re- 
 folved never to intrude herfelf into a family which would 
 look upon her connexion as degrading to its principal 
 branch. 
 
 Having therefore formed a plan for her future con- 
 duct, Rachel took an affectionate leave of the worthy 
 Doctor and his filler, and a very cool one of Tabitha, 
 land departed in the ihiqe-coach for London, rcfolving 
 to coniult and advhc with her friend }-J',\ Oliver, in 
 regard to her executing the fcherhe lhe had thought of 
 for her fubfiftence till ihe fhould hear from Reuben. 
 Mrs. Auberry gave her a letter to a reputable family, 
 ^with whom lhe propofed to board. Hamden was 
 abfent at the time of Rachel's departure on a hilling 
 party, and on his return, his mother merely informed 
 him that Mils Dudley was gone to London ; but willi- 
 ing to put a flop to any further intimacy between 
 them, (he did not mention with whom ihe would rcfide, 
 or how long her ftay might probably be in the metrop- 
 olis ; and as he was engaged to pall' the autumn with 
 lady Anne in Scotland, he was not lb inquifitive as he 
 might otherwifc have been. 
 
 Rachel got fafe to the end of her journey without 
 meeting with any adventure on the road. But unac- 
 .cuftomed to travelling, (lie was greatly fatigued ; and 
 when (lie entered the bufy ftreets of London, the noife, 
 confufum and hurry made her head giddy ; the diia- 
 greeable effluvia too, which affailed her olfactory nerves 
 as (he alighted from the coach in a very clofe lane in 
 the city, turned her extremely fick, and ihe would 
 have fallen, had not a fpruce young man, who was 
 waiting for another coach to arrive, caught her by the 
 arm, and led her into thchoufe, where a few drops and 
 water revived her, and lhe began to inquire for a con- 
 veyaiice in which lhe might proceed to her lodginrs. 
 A hackney-coach was lent for, and while flie waited 
 for it, the young man re-entered the parlour where lhe 
 
 V ... 
 
228 REUBEN and RACHEL; «*, 
 
 was fitting, introducing a middle-aged woman, dreiT- 
 ed to the extremity of the falhion. 
 
 " Walk in and fit down, Mifs La Varonc," faid he, 
 "I will order the negus immediately-/' Then turn- 
 ing to our heroine, he continued, " And how do you 
 find yourfclf now, ma'am ?" 
 
 M Much better, Sir, I thank you," faid Rachel. 
 
 *' Have you been fick, ma'am I" fakl Mifs La 
 Varone. 
 
 " I am not ufed to travelling, and was rather faint 
 when I firft alighted ; but it was only fatigue, and the 
 air of London is not quite fo pure as that 1 have been 
 accuflomed to from my infancy.' 5 
 
 " Oil dear me ! I don't wonder, ma'am, if you nev- 
 er were in London before, that it made you lick. 
 Then this lane is fo clofe ; and I proteft it made me 
 as fick as could be. But pray, ma'am, to what part 
 of the town are you going? Pei haps one coach will 
 ferve us both." 
 
 Rachel looked at the direction in her memorandum 
 book, and Mifs La Varone exclaimed, "Well, as i' 
 alive, we arc both going to the fame place. M: 
 Spriggins, this young lady is going to your aunt's. 
 
 Rachel knew but little of the world in general, ani 
 lefs of London than almoft any other place ; yet then 
 was a fomething within her, a kind of native rectitude, 
 that told her not to be too eafy in agreeing to the pro- 
 pofa'l of the ftrangcrs who faid they would all go to Sirs. 
 Webfter's together. Yet her politenefs and good-na- 
 ture was fuch, as would not fuller her to repulfe them 
 rudely. Befides, there was fomething in the appear- 
 ance of La Varone, however familiar her addrefs had 
 been, that prepolfefled her in her favour. She was a 
 fmall, delicate woman ; her pale countenance, the 
 features of which were extremely regular, was orna- 
 mented by an animated pair of black eyes, and lnn;r, 
 dark eye-la (lies. Herdrefs, it is true, was in Rachel's 
 opinion rather too gay ; but fhe was totally unac- 
 quainted with the ftyle of drefs that might be fafhiona- 
 ble in London, and therefore pafled this circumftance 
 the more eafily over. 
 
 Finding 
 
 m 
 •re" 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 229 
 
 "Finding it Impoflible to fcparate herfelf from her 
 new acquaintances, flie contented herfelf with giving 
 the hackney-coachman particular initructions where 
 to carry her, and in lefs than half an hour found her- 
 felf at Mrs. Webfter's, in Dartmouth-ftreet, Weftmin- 
 Djbt. Mr. Spriggins, (who was ihopman to a fills mer- 
 cer in the vicinity of St. James's Park) boarded with 
 his aunt, and Mifs La Varone occupied the feconl 
 floor of the houfe. 
 
 Rachel begged an early cup of tea, and then retired 
 to the apartment prepared for her ; where wearied na- 
 ture was refrefhed by fevenil hours of profound flcep. 
 But the fatigue which bad accelerated her repofe, 
 gradually giving way to its effects, her {lumbers be- 
 came lighter, and about three o'clock, Ihc became fen- 
 iibleofthe (to her) unufual noifes that furrouuded 
 her. The hollow voices of die watchmen, the rat- 
 tling of coaches and carts, the riotous mirth cf intem- 
 perate wretches of both fexes, who, under the black 
 veil of night, prowled through the ftrects in fearch cf 
 prey ; all together ftruck on the alloniihed cars of our 
 heroine, who, not immediately recollecting where flic 
 was, fprang out of bed, exclaiming, " Heavens ! what 
 is the mutter ?" However, as Rachel was not 
 troubled with weak nerves, and had in general great 
 prel'cnce of mind, (he preftntly grew collected, remem- 
 bered ihe was in London, returned to her bed, and en- 
 deavoured to obtain another vifit from the leaden- 
 winged god. He liilened, and was propitious to her 
 entreaties, and at eight o'clock the following morning 
 the continued if ill locked in his embraces. 
 
 C H A P. VIII. 
 
 Vifds—C'.ivrjltks. 
 
 THE fcene of life into which Rachel had now en- 
 tered was every way new to her. Her inten- 
 tions in avoiding the family of Dr. Lenient on account 
 W P • of 
 
2 3 o REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 of young Aubcrry were laudable ; but her open and 
 ingenuous nature, fearlefs of guile, becaufe intending 
 
 none, was not competent to the talk ihe had underta- 
 ken. Humane, generous, and credulous in the ex- 
 treme, lhc felt that every human being had a claim 
 upon her affection ; and willingly allowing that claim 
 to others, ihe readily believed every profeffion of friend- 
 ihip made to herfelf. 
 
 . Mrs. Wcbfter was a woman of moderate un- 
 derftanding, devoid of knowledge, and with a very 
 Jmall fhare of curiofity, and being a widow with 
 three girls, the eldeft of which was but fixtcen, ihe 
 had to work extremely .hard at her bufinefs, which 
 was that of a hoop-petticoat maker, to fupport hej 
 family. From fuch a woman, Rachel had nothing 
 cither to hope or apprehend. She enjoyed from the 
 effects of her care a very neat apartment, and regular 
 decent meals ; but as to any idea of a companion, it 
 was entirely out of the queftion. The daughters were 
 young, and their minds totally uninformed; they 
 were of confequence unfit fociety for her. To whom 
 therefore could ihe look to enliven her folitude by 
 cheerful convcrfation ? Mifs La Varone had read a 
 great deal, though not in moft inftruflive authors. 
 She had a confiderable degree of fuperficial knowl- 
 edge, was chatty, good-humoured, and fhidious to ren- 
 der herfelf agreeable. She became the conftant com- 
 panion of Rachel, and was unfortunately the moll im- 
 proper companion Ihe could have chofen. 
 
 Mils La Varone was the daughter of a Swifs valet, 
 who, having faved a confiderable fum of money in the 
 fervice of a nobleman, and received a legacy at his 
 death, married the lady's maid, and opened a per- 
 fumery and toy-mop, in which he fuccecded extremely 
 well ; efpecially when his daughter grew old enough 
 to attend the cuftomers, her pretty face and lively 
 manner acting as a taiiiman to draw young men of 
 fathion thither. 
 
 But human happinefs is futile ! A fire broke out 
 in the neighbourhood, and their houfc was confumed 
 ambngft a number of others, and as their property 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 231 
 
 was not infurcd, a few hours reduced them from a 
 Mate of competence to abfolute beggary. The old 
 man received a hurt, in endeavouring to fave part ot 
 his flock, which he did not long furvive. The moth- 
 er again went to fervice, and procured employment 
 for her daughter in the fame family. The cldefl fon 
 of this family was plcafed with her ; offered her' a fet- 
 tlement ; and at the age of eighteen, La Varone quit- 
 ted the protection of her mother, to accept that of a 
 libertine. Her mother had perhaps a higher fenfe of 
 virtue than pcrfons in her fituation are in general fup- 
 pbfed to poifefs. She remonilratcd, entreated, en- 
 deavoured by every poflible means to reclaim her ; 
 but finding all equally ineffectual, renounced her. 
 And though fhe had, without murmuring, returned 
 to her 'original way of life, and fubmitted patiently to 
 the privation of thofe comforts fhe had many years en- 
 joyed, and which had been the fruits of her own in- 
 dullry, yet fhe could not meet fhamc without repin- 
 ing. Her child's difhonour funk deep into her heart, 
 and in a very fliort time put a period to her exiftence. 
 • La Varone continued with her admirer till he mar- 
 ried ; fhe then removed from all her former connex- 
 ions, into the houfe where our heroine was now be- 
 come an inmate. She had been an eafy conqueil ; her 
 fettlement was confequently not large. However, fhe 
 kept up a genteel appearance, and frequently received 
 vilits from an elderly gentleman, a coufin, who was a 
 member of parliament. She faw but little company 
 befides ; but fhe would expatiate for an hour on the 
 charms of retirement ; fo her living fo reclufe was not 
 furprifmg. Her favourite amufement was a play, and 
 fometimes little excurfions in the country, where lhe 
 would flay four or five days at a time. 
 
 The day after Rachel's arrival in London was de- 
 voted to reft. Mils La Varone was extremely atten- 
 tive, invited her to take tea in her apartment, where 
 Mr. Spriggins alfo attended, and the elder Mifs Web- 
 flcr. Here- they talked of the many curiofities to be 
 feen in London. Wellminfler Abbey, St. Paul's Cathe- 
 dral, the Monument, the Tower, the Palace ; all 
 
 which 
 
232 REUBEN am) RACHEL; ox, 
 
 which Mifs La Varone faid they muft pofitively vifit, 
 and the gentleman i ffcred very politely to be their 
 gaHant. 
 
 Rachel was not devoid of curiofity. She had ccme 
 up to the metropolis with the beft rcfolutions in the 
 woild, and Mrs. Aubcrry, when lhe recommended 
 her to Mrs. Webfter'a to board, thought ftie had ren- 
 dered hex young mend a very acceptable piece < f fer- 
 \ ice. But ihe r.cver reflected, that twenty-five years 
 make a moil amazing difference in the manners and 
 
 o g ... 
 
 difpofition of a perfon, especially ii in that period they 
 have fullered much affliction, and from narrow cir- 
 cuimlances being unavoidably thrown into the fociety 
 of people, whole educations having been circumfcrib- 
 edj are ofien the Oaves of contracted, low ideas and il- 
 liberal prejudices; and it frequently happens, that 
 tliofc who are obliged to work incelTantly for the iup- 
 pcirt of their families, being wholly occupied in the 
 hope of bettering their fortune, become inattentive to 
 appearances, and overlook actions, which earlier in 
 life would have (truck them with horror. This was 
 laterally the cafe with Mrs. Webfter. The Mrs. Wtb- 
 ftcr whom Mrs. Auberry knew fo many years fmce, 
 and lhe to whole care fhe now recommended her 
 young friend, were as oppofite in perfon, manner, and 
 way of thinking, as if it had not been the fame, but 
 two diltinel people. 
 
 The fecond morning, Rachel took a hackney-coach, 
 and drove to the houi'e of Mr. Oliver, in the vicinity 
 of St. James's. She was f till in mourning ; a grey 
 tabby night-gown, with black cuffs and robins a plain 
 lawn cap, apron, handkerchief, and ruffles, was the 
 drefs in which fhe prepared to vifit her friend Jcil'y. 
 But a woman thus habited and in a hackney-coach 
 was not likely to challenge much attention from the 
 gay lackers whe waited in the hail of Mr. Oliver. 
 
 " Is Mils Oliver at home, friend :" faid fhe to the 
 
 footman who came to the door. A furly No ! was 
 
 all the anfwer fhe received, and the man was again 
 
 Ihutting the door. 
 
 "Is 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 233 
 
 " Is (he expected home foon :" faid flie, putting her 
 han J out to prevent it from doling. 
 
 " I know nothing about it," faid the fellow. 
 
 Rachel had defcended from the carriage before the 
 coachman had knocked for admittance, and was (land- 
 ing on the upper ftep ot a flight of ftone ftairs which 
 led up on each fide from the flxeet. Her figure had 
 attracted the eyes of Archibald, who was at home at 
 this time, and feated in a front parlour window, killing 
 time with a political pamphlet. Hearing her voice at 
 the door, and understanding from the tune of the fer- 
 v.'.ni's voice that he was not anfwering in a very civil 
 manner, he opened the parlour door jult as lhe was 
 turning to defcend the Reps. 
 
 " You were inquiring for Mils Oliver, madam," 
 faiJ lie ; " fhe is at preient out of town, but 1 expect 
 to fee her to-morrow. Who (hall I tell her did her 
 the honour to call :" 
 
 y name is Dudley," laid Rachel. 
 •udley ! is it poflible ; the filler of my friend Reu- 
 ben ?" 
 
 "The fame !" 
 
 " How happy I am, Mil's Dudley !' Give mc leave 
 to wait on you to your place of relidence. I wifli to 
 alk after your brother ; I have alfo fome intereiting 
 intelligence to communicate to you concerning my 
 filler." He faid this as he handed her to the coach. 
 Then calling for his hat, before Rachel could collect 
 herfclf fufficiently to refufe or accept his propofal, he 
 was feated in the carriage bcfi.de her, and inquired 
 where he lhould order it to be driven. 
 
 " Perhaps, my dear Mifs," {aid young Oliver as the 
 coach drove off, "you may think it particular that I 
 did not prefs you to enter my father's houfe. But to 
 confiefs a mortifying truth, neither Jelfy nor rayfelf arc 
 allowed to take any more liberties there than we lhould 
 be in the houfe of an entire llrangcr. My poor father 
 is ruled entirely by Mrs. Oliver, and his children have 
 but a fecondary place in his afleclions." 
 
 " Pray make no apologies, Mr. Oliver," faid Ra- 
 chel, having a little recovered from the flatter into 
 W 2 which 
 
234 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 which his apparently odd conduct had thrown hei 
 " apologies arc quite nceJleil. 1 had no wiili to enter 
 the home e*cc^pt my dear Jefly had been an inmate o£ 
 it. But you laid you had ibme intercfling intelli- 
 gence." 
 
 " True, but before I enter on it, tell me, when did 
 you hear from your brother ?" 
 
 " 1 have not received the lead: intelligence from him 
 
 fmce he Left England ; and ibmetimes I fear " 
 
 Rachel's eyes tilled ; her bofom heaved. 
 
 " Oh do not fear," faid Oliver, refpeclfully taking 
 her hand : " Letters may miicarry ; you will no doubt 
 hear ibon. But apropos of Jefly ; has me not written 
 to you lately ? I underftood you correfponded." 
 
 " We did ; but I have not received a letter from her 
 for nearly two months part;." 
 
 " Poor Jefly, fhe had nothing pleafant to employ 
 her pen, and fhe always had an averfion to endeavour- 
 ing to lighten her own forrows by impofmg a recital of 
 them on the attention of others." 
 
 He then proceeded to inform her, that his filter had 
 unfortunately (as it proved) been Gngled out by a no- 
 bleman of elevated rank and fplendid fortune, as the 
 perfon with whom he wiihed to ihare thofe advan- 
 tages. He folicited her hand, was encouraged by both 
 Mr. and Mrs. Oliver, but refolutely rejected by Jefly 
 herfelf. 
 
 " My father," continued he, " who (as I mentioned 
 before) has no will but his wife's, has lent the poor 
 girl into the country, debarring her of all fociety, and 
 declaring flic fliall ftay there till flic accepts his Lcrd- 
 fhip ; and I, who know her difpofition, think that fen- 
 tence is tantamount to faying lhe fliall ftay there as 
 long as ihe lives." 
 
 " She is right to perfevere in reje&ing him," faid 
 Rachel, " if lhe does not feel her heart iufficiently at- 
 tached to him to incline her to lhare his pains and 
 plea lures through life. For of all the miferies that can 
 be endured by a human being, fine none can be fo fe- 
 vere as being obliged to fubmit to the whims and ca- 
 prices 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 235 
 
 prices (for we all have them) of a perfon to whom wb 
 are perfectly indifferent.*' 
 
 Oliver gazed at her, as fae thus, with unaftecr.ed 
 freedom, delivered her Sentiments en a fubjeft, which 
 the generality of thole young women with whom he 
 was acquainted would have blufhed only to have heard 
 mentioned. But Rachel was entirely free from af- 
 fectation of every kind ; fhe had no ide;:, but that a 
 woman might fpeak on the Subjects of love and mar- 
 riage, without limpcring, bluihing, and fifty other lit- 
 tle foclilh prettincifes. Nor did (lie feel the leaft cm- 
 barra.Ted in converting with a perfon of the Oppofitc 
 fex ; for it had never entered her head, that every 
 man who faw her mult fall in love with her, cr that 
 they could not pafs an hour in her company without 
 entertaining her with praifes of her wit and beauty, and 
 complaints of their ownJiopelcfs paflion. 
 
 When the coach therWore (lopped, and Rachel afk- 
 ed him to walk in, he eagerly availed himfelf of the 
 invitation ; and after fitting with her till fhe was fum- 
 moned to dinner, left her, impre fled with fo high an 
 opinion of her understanding, that he thought her the 
 mole fuperior woman he had ever known. She had 
 promifed to entruft him with a letter to her friend Jel- 
 ly, and he was determined to call for it himfelf, that 
 he might enjoy another half hour of her fociety. But 
 in this he was disappointed ; for immediately after 
 dinner, Rachel wrote her letter, and leaving it with 
 Mrs. Webfter in cafe it fhould be fent for before her 
 return, me took one of the little girls with her, and 
 walked to the houfe of Mr. Andrew Atkins, in Lin- 
 corn's-lnn, hoping to hear lime tidings of Reuben, 
 and a'.lb to inquire how long it would be before fire 
 might expect to receive any money on account of the 
 eState in Lancashire. 
 
 Being (hewn into a parlour, and -having fent up her 
 name, the was deSired to wait till Mr. Atkins had din- 
 ed, when he would wait on her immediately. In about 
 an hour, he appeared, accompanied by the identical 
 
 Mr. 
 
236 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 Mr. Allili who had vlfited herfelf and brother in the 
 
 countr)'. 
 
 Rachel rofe from her feat. 
 
 " Servant, ML':-," faid . ightly bowing; 
 
 and ."without afking her to refume her feat. "Pray 
 what may be your commands with me :" 
 
 " I wifh to know whether you have had any intelli- 
 gence fxom my brother fince his departure from En- 
 gland."' 
 
 u Intelligence ? No indeed ! I wonder you ihoul J 
 think of my hearing from him ; his going to America 
 v. s a wild-goofe ichemc. What does lie expert to 
 ret there •:'' 
 
 " He expects to take pofleflTon of his father's eftatc, 
 which he purcdiafed in Pennfylvania." 
 
 "Pfhaw.1 plhaw ! Dudley made no purchafe there 
 worth inquiring afte\ An .. ed tract of land, 
 
 v.\:\\ a paltry houfe upon rr, which my very good 
 friend and correfpondent, Mr. Jacob Holmes, has in- 
 formed me is entirely fallen down." 
 
 "Jacob Holmes, did you fay ?" cried Rachel in 
 breathlefs agitation, " "Why that is the very man my 
 father mentions in his letter to have left in charge of 
 his create. He was brought up in my father's houfe. 
 Can he advance fuch an untruth, when he muft be con- 
 feious :" 
 
 " Come, come, Mils Dudley, don't fpeak againft Mr. 
 Holmes ; he is a very worthy, honeft man.. Your 
 father lived in a very expensive ftvle in Philadelphia, 
 fpent a great deal of money, more a great deal than 
 he ought. Even the trifling purchafe he did make of 
 land was not half paid for." 
 
 " Sir ! Sir !" cried Rachel, waving her hand witfi 
 dignity, " 1 muft not hear the memory of my father 
 treated with difrefpeft. You may have been taught 
 to believe what you now affert ; or. perhaps, (darting 
 an indignant look at him) your profdlion accuftoms 
 you confident] j to ■ licit what you do not believe to be 
 true. Be that as it may, I fee my brother and myfelf 
 are two unprotected orphans." Here her cheeks af- 
 fumed a pallid hue, her lips trembled, and ilie was un- 
 able 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 237 
 
 Bible to proceed ; and though the unfeeling Atkins had 
 kept her (landing while he fpoke to her., her agitation 
 Was now fo great, that fhc was obliged to fit down, cv 
 the would have fallen. 
 
 44 As 1 would wifh to fave you the unnecetfary trou- 
 ble of ck&ing On rne again, 1 have brought Mr. Allibi, 
 wlio fortunately was dining with :ne, to give you any 
 information you way require concerning the Lanca- 
 shire bufmefs." 
 
 " I am forry, my fair h-.dy," laid Allibi, " that it is 
 not in my power to give you fuel; information as you 
 may perhaps exptct ; but fo many unexpected de- 
 mands have beefi made, that 1 hardly think the eflate 
 will ever be able to recover itfelf. 1 have here (draw- 
 ing a memorandum book from his pocket) fome few 
 memorandums of the Hate of the affairs at prefent. 
 Y, benever you lhall rccpihe it, Mifs Dudley, I will lay 
 a regular itatcment of the accounts before yon, and 
 fubmlt the whole of our proceedings to your invciti- 
 gation." 
 
 Rachel felt that this fceming integrity was an infult 
 to her imderdanding. Affuming, therefore, an appear- 
 ance of fortitude that Hie was fal from feelimi, the ex- 
 creed herfelf to rife from her feat. 
 
 " Good Mr. Allibi," faid file, conveying as much 
 acrimony into her looks and manner, as it was poffible 
 for her voice and features to exprefs, " of what fer- 
 Vice will it be for mc to examine or inveftigate thoie 
 accounts ? Did you, or your refpettable client, Mr. 
 An hew Atkins imagine me competent to the talk, 
 you wpuld never have 10 readily offered it. but I am 
 a woman — an orphan ; young, inexpe.ic.iced, unpro- 
 tected ; and even fuppofing 1 could difcover errors, 
 who is there to fupport my auertions ? 1 am poor, 
 and I can plainly perceive, you have inclination as 
 Avell as reaions for keeping me fo. Oh that my injur- 
 ed brother were but here !" 
 
 " You fpeak pointedly, Mifs Dudley," faid Atkins. 
 
 M I fpeak as 1 feci," replied Rachel. 
 
 M But you are too warm, my fair lady," faid Allibi. 
 
 " Par, Ion 
 
2 3 3 REUBEN and RACHEL; ok, 
 
 " Pardon me," cried Rachel, " I do not think I am " 
 warm enough. Oli ! that i could find words ade- 
 quate to the indignation of my foul ! Do not mifun- 
 derftand me ; for myfelf I ani but little concerned ' 
 I have an innocent mind that can be humble vficn re- 
 quired, and hand; that are not ufelefs. But toy broth-' 
 er is in a ftrange land ; for him I feel a rhoufand fears. " 
 My father's memory has been traduced ; on that fub- 
 jecr, my feelings are too powerful for utterance. If 
 my raft judgment wrong-! you, gentlemen, Heaven 
 pardon the error. Fcr 1 leave you in the full perlua- 
 fion, that on whichever fide the wrong is, the great 
 Redreuer of injuries, the righteous Father of the op- 
 pre/led, will impartially judge between us. By his 
 fentence we mult abid'V and to him in humble conri- 1 
 dence 1 fubmit my caufe." , . 
 
 As flic £«rtfied fpeaking, fhe hurried out of the 
 hoii.'e, to prevent their being witnefs to emotions which 
 fhe was unable longer to fupprefs ; and fhe found her- 
 ffelf in the fquare oppofite Newcafilehoufe, before fhe 
 was fufficicntly collected to remember to what part of ' 
 the town fhe was going. Polly Webfter, who had 
 ihewri her the Way to Atkins's, had left her at the 
 door, as dig had fome errands to execute for her moth- 
 er in the Strand. Our heroine had imagined fhe ihould 
 eafily find her way home again ; but when fhe found 
 herfelf in a place with which fhe was wholly unac- 
 quainted, and endeavoured in vain to recover recollec- 
 tion furficient to guide her to the right road, fhe began 
 to be uneafy. She wilhed for a coach, but there was 
 not one came near her but what was previoufly occu- 
 pied. She walked ftraight forward through, a narrow 
 paflage, which fhe imagined fhe had parted through 
 b.f re ; it took her into High-Holbcrn. The throng 
 of people, the multitude of carriages, and appearance 
 of the (hops, led her to think fhe was in the Strand ; 
 and turning to the right hand, fhe purfued her way, 
 expecting every moment to reach Charing-Crofs. But 
 as (he proceeded, fhe began to perceive the difference 
 pf the (unrounding objects, and became ferioufly alarm- 
 ed. A heavy ihower appeared threatening in the air, 
 
 and 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 239 
 
 and even at Holborn-Bafs, Rachel could not procure 
 a coach. The lightning had for fome time gleamed 
 in the horizon ; the thunder which had rolled diftant- 
 ly now came nearer, and an univerfal war of elements 
 feemed approaching. Rachel looked round with in- 
 , creafmg appreheniion. The tempeft now burft forth 
 at once ; wind, thunder, hail, and lheets of liquid fire, 
 rendered the icene tremendous. To avoid the fury of 
 the ftorm, Rachel ran up an entry which led to a large 
 old-fafhioncd manfion, and though not eafily terrified, 
 the late incidents had lb opprefled hfr fpirits, that fhe 
 fat down on the iteps, and burft into an hyfterical flood 
 . of tears. 
 
 " What is the matter, woman :" faid a man who 
 was coming from the houfe. 
 
 The brutal tone of this addrefs, the ferocious appear- 
 ance of the fellow that uttered it, was an additional 
 caufc of terror. She rofe, endeavoured to fpeak, but 
 could not ; and when the attempted to walk, her limbs 
 failed her, and fhe funk again upon the ftcp. 
 
 " Why, miltrcfr, you JiaVe taken a little too much 
 cordial to-day," laid the fame man ; " but come, I'll 
 lead you down the paiiage, and then you mult go on 
 as well as you can ; for you can't ftay here." 
 
 Rachel, though overcome with terror, was perfectly 
 fenfible. She heard the remark made on her apparent 
 helplefmefs, endeavoxired to repel the violence of her 
 emotions, and exert that fortitude of which (lie was 
 poilefled. 
 
 " I merely came here for fheltcr from the ftorm," 
 faid fhe ; " and if I could procure a coach " 
 
 " Well, miilrefs," faid a dirty, ragged boy, " if you 
 will give me a (hilling, I will call you one." 
 
 Rachel readily agreed to the propofal, and was put- 
 ting lier hand to herpocket, when there was a cry in 
 the crowd that was now gathered, that a pick-pocket 
 was amongft them. A young naval officer faid he 
 
 );had loft his watcli and purfc. ' *vecp all in, keep all 
 in,' was the cry, and the throng ruflied up the paffage, 
 fo that Rachel found herfelf in an inilantfurrounded by 
 )tley group of people, the chief part of which but 
 
 t» 
 
2 + o REUBEN and RACHEL; ok, 
 
 to have been obliged to fpcakto, would have filled her 
 at once with terror And difguft. But what were her fenfa- 
 tions when, putting herhand again to her pocket, (he 
 found a ftrange purfe lunging partly out, and felt a 
 watch actually within it. Before (he could (peak, a wom- 
 an feized her arm, and holding her hand fo that lhecruld 
 not withdraw it, ihe cried that ilie had found the thief. 
 Rachel's ftrength and (pints now at once forfook her ; 
 (he fetched a deep figh, and fell fenfieiefs into the arms 
 qf the perfon who had been robbed. 
 
 " The poor ere. 'aire is ill," laid he; "(land away, 
 ruffians, and let her hare air." Then carrying her to 
 the entrance of the paflage, he pulhed hack her hat, 
 and untied her cloak. Her extreme youth, her beauty, 
 the neatnefs of her apparel, all confpired to prepofiefs 
 h!rn in her favour. 
 
 " Had you not better fend for a crnflable :" faiJ 
 the wretch who had pretended to detect her. 
 
 "No," fa 'd tli e officer; " I do not think Ihe can be 
 guilty ; or if (he is, extreme neceflity alone could have 
 driven her to fuch an expedient. How are you, 
 ma'am ?" feeing Rachel begin to revive. 
 
 She looked wildly round her, put hcv hand to her 
 head as though endeavouring to recollect why or how 
 flte came there. At length the circnmilances recur- 
 ring to her memory, Ihe looked ftedfiaftly on the offi- 
 cer, and then on her accufer. 
 
 "Yon have been robbed, Sir," faid (he, " and your 
 properly found in my potfeffion. How it camefhfcrtj 
 Heaven knows ; but as I ftand in the fight of Him 
 who rules the heavens, I do prated I am innocent." 
 
 The folemnitv of the appeal, the conlcious innocence 
 of her heart, which beamed from her eyes and infoim- 
 ed every feature- of her face, rendered the truth of her 
 afTbrtion indiiputablc. 
 
 " I do believe you," faid the officer ; "but even had 
 I thought you guilty, what is the infignincant valueol 
 
 trifles, when p.tt in competition with the lij 
 fellow-creature, whom difcrefs urges to actions from 
 which the foul recoils." 
 
 The 
 
LES or OLD TIMES. 241 
 
 The ftorm was by this time much abated, and Ra- 
 chel having fent agaija to procure a coach, the officer 
 fail he would not leave her till he delivered her in 
 fafety to her friends. He was (landing at the entrance 
 of the pafTage, holding the hand of our heroine, when 
 a poll chariot, that was driving haltily through Hol- 
 •bom, being for a moment impeded by a number of 
 carts and carriages, flopped directly oppofits where 
 they Hood. The glafs was let down, and Rachel law 
 distinctly Haraden AubeiTj, feated beftde an elderly 
 She alio was certain, that he both law and re- 
 cognized her. The blood f< r a moment forfook h.er 
 cheeks, and then returned with impetuofity, dying 
 them of the deepefl. crimibn. .Scarcely was there time 
 to exchange the glance of recognition, before the 
 chariot moved forward again, and a hackney-coach 
 drawing up to the door, fhe Hepped into it, and, ac- 
 companied by her protector, drove towards Dart- 
 mouth-ltreet. 
 
 On their arrival at Mrs. Webfters, Rachel found the 
 family in great confternation at her long abfence (for 
 Polly having returned without her, had been difpatch- 
 ed again by her mother, who feared Rachel might 
 lofe her way ; and learning that (he had been gone 
 font': time from Atkins's, had returned as quick as fhe 
 could, in the hope of rinding her fafe at home). 
 
 Mils La Varene welcomed her with tears of joy, 
 and Mrs. Wcbltcr faid the was glad to fee her fafe. 
 Courtney, (the name of the young officer) without 
 particularly mentioning the circumftances, faid fhe 
 had been difagrceably lituated, and he had been for- 
 tunate enough to be of fcrvice to her. But Rachel 
 would explain the whole ; her new friend, Mifs La 
 Varone, fympathized with her, trembled with terror, 
 glowed with indignation, or melted with gratitude, 
 as the recital proceeded ; and in the end, faid fo many 
 obliging things to Lieutenant Courtney, that he began 
 to think her more than agreeable ; and overlooking 
 the charms of our heroine, which had nothing but na- 
 ture and fimplicity to recommend them, he was povr- 
 X erfully 
 
242 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 erfully attracted by the artful lures thrown out by I^i 
 Varone. 
 
 The fituation o( Rachel, in regard to reputation, 
 was now as dangerous as it was poffible ; for CfeUlt- 
 ncv claimed the privilege of vifiting her; and Ar- 
 chibald Oliver, when he returned from the country, 
 and his fitter, called to deliver the anfwer to the let- 
 ter he had taken, and one vifit led to another, tiil 
 fcarcely a day elapfed without his palling fome hours 
 in her company. 
 
 Rachel's intentions, when -flic firft came to London, 
 were to apprentice herlelf to fome perfon who 
 could ir.ftruct her in feme laudable employment, 
 whereby fhe might render hcrfelr" independent. For 
 in her opinion, the perfon who by the exertion of 
 any talent, or the exercife of induftry, could fupport 
 thcmfelves, was in every fenfe of the word as independ- 
 ent as they who inherited wealth or titles from their 
 anceftors. But thefe praifeworthy rcfojutions were 
 from time to time put off, and her attention diverted 
 to other objects, till fhe began to perceive the fmall 
 fum of money flie brought with her to London was 
 very viiibly diminifhed, and yet no plan put in execu- 
 tion, by which it could be repleniflicd. ' 1 muft do 
 fbmething to-morrow,' faid Rachel every night as fhe 
 laid her head on her pillow. But to-morrow came, 
 and La Varone had ever fome new fchemc of plcafure 
 to propofe. Juvenile indifcretion united .with curi- 
 oiity, and a love of amufement, natural to youth, led 
 her on from one day to another, till the laft ten pound 
 note was broken in upon. 
 
 Forbear, ye rigid, ye experienced matrons, to blame 
 our heroine ; it is the particular bleffingof youth to 
 be enabled to enjoy the prefent moment, forgetful of 
 the pafr, nor fearing the future. Then cenfure not 
 :ljofe who eagerly gather the rofes, unmindful oi' the 
 briars that furround them, or who, delighted with 
 their beauty and fragrance, forget, in the enjoyment 
 of their fweets,the pain they fuffered in gathering them. 
 
 JelTy Oliver had written to her, had endeavoured 
 ts advifc and comfort her; but Jcily flood in need of 
 
 advice 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 243 
 
 advice and comfort herfclf; and oar heroine, though 
 confcious that ihe Was not acting exactly right, could 
 not fummon refolution fufhxient to combat inclina- 
 tion ; but one party of pleafure fucceeded another, 
 till lhi almoft loit the defire of employment, or the 
 ■■villi for independence. 
 
 ..< :«..«..<-.<^J.if>'!^i»..>">- > >•• 
 
 Ch a P. IX. 
 Vaiitty — Court/hip — Elopement — Letter). 
 
 WHEN Hamden Auberry firft faw Rachel at 
 the entrance of the parage in Holborn, he 
 hardly could truft his fenfes ; bat on letting down the 
 glafs and looking intently, he perceived it was no illu- 
 iion, but in reality the woman whom he had thought 
 the mod faultlefs, the mod perfect of her lex. His 
 hearf lhuddered ; he dared not ltop the chariot i:i 
 which was his aunt, cr he would have immediately 
 jumped out, and learnt from her own lips the reafon 
 of her being in fuch a place ; but before he could form 
 any plaufible pretext for quitting the carriage, it mov- 
 ed forward again with rapidity, and looking out of 
 the open window, he faw her go into the hackney. 
 coach, accompanied by Courtney. 
 
 If he at firll had imagined Rachel had voluntarily 
 deviated from the path of rectitude, a moment's feri- 
 ous reflection made him reject the idea ; and he began 
 to be apprehensive that her innocence and inexperi- 
 ence might have betrayed her into ibcicty and placet^ 
 not altogether proper for a woman of character. 
 
 But how could he fatisfy himfelf? Or ihould lhe 
 be furrounded with danger, how could he difcover 
 her ? how advife, or, if neceffity required, protect her ? 
 Had he known where to find her, he would have ven- 
 tured even to entreat his aunt to take her under her 
 protection ; but he had not the lead; clue by which to 
 trace her place of refidence. He thought of writing 
 to his mother, for information j but lady Anne pur- 
 
 pofed 
 
244 REUBEN asd RACHEL; or, 
 
 pofed flaying in London bur two days, and it was im- 
 poilible to obtain an anfv.cr in that time. Hov. < 
 he did write, mentioning what lie had Teen, and requeu- 
 ing to be informed under whole protection Mils Dud- 
 ley was, hinting thai he feared it was not what it 
 ought to be, or flic could never have been in the fitu- 
 ation in which he faw her. 
 
 On the day appointed, he accompanied his aunt into 
 Scotland ; where, lituatcd on the fertile banks of the 
 Clyde, was an antique family manfion of lord Mont- 
 morill, her elder brother. Whilft there, he received a 
 letter fromhis mothcr,whieh {lightly mentioned that our' 1 
 heroine was well, and that the circumitance he had ob- 
 fcrvj.l. proceeded from her Handing up to avoid afhower. 
 She hurried over the fubjcc"i as lightly as poflible j 
 for fhe faw the growing pailion of Hamden, and 
 knowing from experience the implacable tempers of 
 the family, wilhed to difeourage hopes which fhe faw 
 he entertained., though againft his own better reafon. 
 Rachel hcrfelf was far from bei^g eafy when flie 
 thought of the incident, on the firfl: night after feeing 
 Hamden ; (for fhe feldom was allowed a moment for 
 thought, except in the hours devoted to refl) (lie felt 
 a pleafure in reflecting he was in town. " I can fee 
 him now," laid fhe, " without incurring the illiberal 
 reproofs of Tabitha." 
 
 The heart of Rachel harboured not a wifli or thought 
 but what might have b-.en made public to the tfRole 
 world ; and while fhe was confeious of its rectitude, Hie 
 felt proudly fuperior to the little prejudices of vulgar 
 minds. She could not underlland why fhe might not 
 converfe with or entertain a friendfliip for perfons cf 
 an oppofite fex, as well as with thofe cf her own. She 
 therefore indulged the hope, that Hamden would vifvt 
 her during his Hay in London ; but when day after 
 day paffed on, and he did not appear, flie again thought 
 pride had prompted the neglect, and calling all her 
 own felf-confequence to her aid, flie endeavoured to- 
 think as little of him as he apparently thought of her. 
 Young Courtney, the officer who under fuch fa- 
 vourable circumftanccs was introduced to the reader 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 245 
 
 in the preceding chapter, was die only fon of his moth- 
 er, and (lie was a widow. He had two lifters alio, 
 lovely, innocent and helplefs ; their father had been a 
 veteran faiior, commander of a firft-rate man of war, 
 in defending which from the enemy he loft his life. 
 The pcnlion of a captain's widow at that period was 
 very precarious, and at the beft but trifling, to main- 
 tain three women who had been accuftomed to eafe 
 and elegance. 
 
 Courtney gave them all the afliftancc in his power, 
 and had often thought he would never marry until 
 his filters were fettled in the world ; and then if ho 
 could meet with a woman who could and would fup- 
 ply their place in attention to his mother. But un- 
 fortunately, a few days acquaintance with Mifs La 
 Varonc, made him waver in his resolutions. She 
 could aiuime any character ihc pleafed. She difcovercd 
 that her perianal charms had attracted the inexperienc- 
 ed faiior. She wiihed to marry, that ihe might with 
 impunity launch into extravagancies, which at prefent 
 the fear of a jail alone debarred her from. 
 
 La Varone, with a heart extremely depraved, po£ 
 f-ffed one virtue in an eminent degree. She was what 
 the world in general calls extremely prudent % careful. 
 to preferve appearances, and where her own perfonal 
 fofety or intercft was concerned, cautious not to incur 
 the fmallcft degree of danger. By nature fond of 
 luxury, iliow, and cxpenlive pleafures, Ihe had the art 
 to feem frugal, retired, and lludious. She was fenfible 
 that at thirty years old, the feai'on for conqucft was 
 paft, and though lhe did not own to more than five 
 and twenty, and by particular attention to her com- 
 plexion and drefs, was not fufpetfed to be more ; yet 
 ihe thought if lhe could fecure a permanent cftablilh- 
 xnent for herfelf before old age and neglect evcrteo.k 
 her, it would be the wifeft ftep flie could poffibly take. 
 
 The name of Courtney was honourable, his perfon 
 handfome, his manners agreeable, and his family un- 
 exceptionable. It was a conqucft worth feme pains. 
 La Varone artfully drew forth his fentirrients in re- 
 gard to the woman he might prefer for a wife, and 
 X 2 appeared 
 
246 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 appeared the very character his warm imagination 
 and unadulterated heart had conceived as mod charm- 
 ing. She fpoke of his mother with refpectful affec- 
 tion, of his lifters with all the fervour of enthufiallic 
 friendship ; but if he mentioned her vifiting them pre- 
 vious to their marriage, (he contrived to evade his fo- 
 licitations ; yet with fuch modefty, alleging fuch deli- 
 cate motives for her refufal, that whilft it oppofed hit 
 wilhes increafed his love. 
 
 Our heroine was equally with Courtney the dupe 
 of La Varone, and rejoiced in the affection thut fubfift- 
 cd between them ; looking forward to their union, as 
 a period that would at once infure their felicity, and 
 fecure to herfelf two fincere friends, in whofe protec- 
 tion fhe fhould feel herfelf perfectly fafe till die ar- 
 rival of her brother. 
 
 During this interval of time, Rachel was frequently 
 vifited by Archibald Oliver. He had at riril beheld 
 her with admiration, liftened to her with delight, and 
 every enfuing interview had heightened thole fenfa- 
 tions to a degree which almoft might be termed ado- 
 ration. But Archibald poflefied not a doit independ- 
 ent of his father, and that father he knew was, by his.- 
 wife's extravagance, nearly ruined. 
 
 Though volatile in his temper, eccentric in his ideas, 
 and violent in his paffiens, young Oliver was fcrupu- 
 loully honourable ; and he would have deemed it the 
 height of cruelty to engage the affections of a woman 
 he could not with prudence marry, or to marry her 
 when he could neither provide for her fuppcrt, or for 
 thofe helplefs innocents of which he might become the 
 father. And fearing to forfeit the highly valued pi iv- 
 ilege of vifiting her, lie confined his feelings within his 
 own bofom. " She loves me now," he would fay, 
 ^ like a brother ; mall I then, by claiming more, lofe 
 even the affection I poffefs ? No ; I will adore her in 
 filencc, and pray that her felicity may be complete, 
 though at the expenfe of my own." 
 
 One "morning he entered the parlour (where La 
 Varone and our heroine ufually fat at work) and Seat- 
 ing himJUf-befide the latter, told her he came to make 
 
 her 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 247 
 
 her a partaker of his o\vn uneafmefs. " Our dear 
 Jeffy," continued he, " has left her father's prelection, 
 nor have we any idea whither the beloved fugitive is 
 fled. Here is a note (lie left for me ; incloSed is a let- 
 ter for you, Mils Dudley. The persecutions the Sweet 
 girl has lately undergone, I have concealed from you, 
 becaufe, as you could not alleviate them, J wiihed net 
 to make you participate. But difguife muft now be 
 at an end. This was to have been her wedding day ; 
 but early in the morning it was difcovered ihc was not 
 in her apartment. The confufion this difcovery occa- 
 iioned, reached me as I was preparing, with a deipond- 
 ing heart, to accompany the devoted victim to the al- 
 tar ; and as I was milling out to inquire the cauSe (for 
 my mind foreboded ibmcthing fatal) the girl who r.iu- 
 ully attended on Jefly, came into my dreffing-room, 
 and in agitated filence put theie papers into my hand, 
 retiring the inflant ihe delivered them. I haltily tore 
 my letter open ; but it contained, as yOu will fee, noth- 
 ing Satisfactory. 1 learnt that a note had been deliv- 
 ered to my father, and wtlhing equally to avoid him, 
 Mrs. Oliver, and the disappointed bridegroom, 1 took 
 a coach and drove direclly here." The letter to Ar- 
 chibald was as follows. 
 
 To ARCHIBALD OLIVER, Eft. 
 
 WHEN the altar is decorated, the priefts at hand, 
 and the knife is railed, that will terminate exigence, 
 who can blame the poor viftim devoted to Sacrifice, ii 
 it break the chain by which it is held, afferts the privi- 
 lege of nature, and, bounding over the plain, Jesuits 
 at once both life and liberty ? Brother, beloved broth- 
 er, they have prepared the altar, but the dellined vic- 
 tim will cfcape their fnares. 
 
 Deliver the inclofed to the friend of my foul, Rachel 
 Dudley ; if ihe contemn me, 1 will return a voluntary 
 Sacrifice. For ib pure is her mind, fo unprep; 
 her opinions, Snaring So far above the common herd, 
 that I would abide by her dcciilon even in a caufe ot 
 life and death. 
 
 Deareft 
 
2+3 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 Dc:ircft Archibald, though I am driven to the 
 dreadful alternative of marrying ihe man I defpife, or 
 quitting the paternal roof, do not yon forfake onr fath- 
 er. 1 lolicit, I conjure you, my brother, in the name 
 of oar tainted mother, foriake not our only remaining 
 p irent. I fear he will foon, very loon, iland in need, 
 of u comforter. 1 will he conflant in my inquiries 
 concerning his welfares and whenever 1 find my pref- 
 cr.ee ncceilary to his peace or comfort, I will appear. 
 Any thing hut truth I would have facrificed for hi i 
 fake. Could you lee my heart at this moment, you 
 would pity the anguiih 1 feel in bidding you adieu, 
 perhaps forever, i JESSY OLIVER. 
 
 Rachel wiped off the tear this letter had extorted* 
 and proceeded to pcrufc the one addre/Ted to htrfelf. 
 
 To Mifi DUDLEY. 
 
 WILL my dear friend pardon me that I intrude 
 myfelf upon her, and by explaining my forrows, make 
 her a party in my concerns ? I ' ave fuffered much 
 perfecution, dear Rachel, fmce we parted ; and to 
 avoid rufhing at once into guilt and mifery, I have 
 taken a itcp for which the world will cenfure me. But 
 what is the world to me ? Had I voluntarily a/Tirmed 
 the lplendid ihacklcs prepared for me, had 1 become a 
 titled wretch, and promiied faith and truth to one 
 man, whilft every wilh, every tender thought of my 
 heart was devoted to another, would the approving 
 fmiles of that misjudging world, the adulation it is ever 
 ready to pay to fplcndor and nobility, have cempen- 
 fatcd for the facri'nee I Ihould have made of internal- 
 peace, of confeious integrity ? No — Admired, court- 
 ed, envied, I mould Hill have been miferable.. The- 
 bafenefs of my conduct would be my daily reproach ; 
 I Ihould have fought to banilh reflection by ditlipation, 
 and who can tell where the career of guilt and folly 
 might have flopped ? 
 
 I have endured both ftern commands ar.d feft cn- 
 treatie:; ; I have been foothed and threatened alter- 
 nately. That I might with more fecurity follow the 
 
 plan 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 24^ 
 
 plan ] had previoufly adopted for my future conduct, 
 I pretended (Heaven pardon the deceit) to accept die 
 hu/band my diffolute and ambitious mother-in-law had 
 provided for me, and to-morrow morning 1 am ex- 
 pected to put on the Hymeneal yoke, and become a. 
 conntefs. But before the appointed hour arrives, I 
 lliall be far, far out of the reach of thefc tyranny. Let 
 not my ftveet friend, whofe bofom is the facred temple 
 of purity, fear that I ihall forget what is due to my. 
 fell. That I am itrongly attached to a worthy J outh, 
 I fcniple not to confess ; but he is a ftranger to my 
 paffion, and in all human probability will ever remain 
 lb ; for never will Jeffy Oliver offer herfelf unfolicitcd 
 to the acceptance of any man. My affeftiens arc pure 
 as they are ardent; but tiie name of the object or' them 
 fhall never pafs my lips, or efcape my pen. I fly from 
 pruTered wealth and- grandeur, to o'uicurity ; even 
 from you, my dear kachel, I will feerode myfelf. 
 Were 1 hippy or afHucnt, you mould be my ehofen 
 companion, the partner of my heart. But 1 am the 
 reverie, and will laffcr alone. If you will condctcend 
 to receive and anfwer the letters of a fugitive, I have 
 formed a plan by which we may regularly correlpond ; 
 but do not flatter yojirfelf that by that means you can 
 truce me ; nor do not, I entreat you, fuller my brother 
 to know the means by which my letters are conveyed. 
 And now, my deareit Rachel, adieu ! Fear not for 
 me. I will never dishonour the name of my father, 
 or forget the virtue of my fainted mother. Perhaps 
 ■(my heart links at the idea, but perhaps) I (hail never 
 fee \ou again. If fo, may II -ver its choicest 
 
 blefiings on you, and intpire net with patience and for- 
 titude to fubmit, without repining, to an affliction 
 which would lacerate the heart of 
 
 JE3SY OLIVER. 
 
 When Rachel had finifhed this letter, (he imparted 
 to Archibald as much* of the contents as Ihe thought 
 neceffary ; but to all his catreatUs-of being permitted 
 to pcrufe it (he continued inexorable. She admired 
 the resolution of JeflV, and had fo good an opinion of 
 
 h<r 
 
2$o REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 Jicr heart and undcrfianding, that fhc felt confident of ■ 
 her ilriel adherence to truth and rectitude: 
 
 In all their pad hours of friendly confidence; MiiV 
 Oliver had never fuffcred a -fy liable to efcape her lips' 
 by which Rachel could guefs at licr partiality to Reu- 
 ben ; and at the time when they were molt together, 
 our heroine was tot) inexperienced to discover the paf- 
 1'ion of her friend by looks and geilures. Perhaps, ' 
 had /he ceivrerfcd much with Jelly after her own ac- 
 quaintance with llamden Auberry, fhe might have 
 been more clear-f:;>,!r,cd. 
 
 Soon after this tircumltancc, young- Oliver, weary 
 of home, di&ttisfisd with himfelf, and mors than ever 
 in love with Rachel, felt there was a nccedity for tear- 
 ing himfelf from her fociety. Befides, he hoped, in 
 travelling through the northern counties of England, 
 to be enabled to learn feme tidings of his fifter. A 
 dlftant relation of his mother's refided in the beautiful 
 little town of Alnwick, in Northumberland ; thither' 
 he repaired on a vifit. Its romantic fituation pleafed 
 him ; the fociety of feverai agreeable families in its ' 
 vicinity delighted him ; and if we add that a lovely 
 and intercliing woman, whofc fortune "was large and 
 independent, beheld him with affection, and ■fullered 
 that affection to become manifell, it is to be hoped the 
 fair reader will not blame him, if he lengthened his 
 flay at Alnwick, and every day thought lefs and lefs 
 of Rachel. 
 
 After the marriage of Lieutenant Courtney with 
 Mils La Varone, our heroine felt fomewhat difap- 
 pointed that fiie had not been prcfled to accompany 
 the new Mrs. Courtney into the country. The Lieu- 
 tenant had, to be fure, folicited her company ; but the 
 bride did not, even by a iingle monofyllablc, fecond 
 thofe felicitations ; i'o Rachel faw them depart, fer- 
 vently wilhed them hourly increafe of felicity, and 
 then fat down to reflect on her own fituation in Lon- 
 don, without friends, without employment, and with 
 only eight; guineas in her pocket. 
 
 « I have 
 
•TALES of OLD TIMES. 251 
 
 .«I have done wrong, (('aid ftie mentally) very 
 wrong. I mud take more care, mull endeavour to 
 .be more prudent for the future." 
 
 As (he ruminated on the part, felt.no fatisfiaction in 
 the prefent, and looked with fear and defpondency to- 
 ward the future, the heard a ronfution in the adjoining 
 apartment, and the voice ci Folly Web iter, who was 
 her favourite, entreating a woman to have patience, 
 .who by her exprefuons and manner fecmed a total 
 ftranger to that virtue. She opened the door, and 
 learnt that Mrs. Wcbiter was indebted to this woman 
 for tea, fugar, &c. (for lhe kept a chandler's lhrp in 
 the neighbourhood) nearly five pounds. 
 
 Now rive pounds, to a pcrfon in abject cireumftan- 
 ces, is a debt of as much confequence as five thoufand 
 would be to one who keeps high company, a carriage, 
 horfes, fcrvants, drcfies gay, and, as it is generally 
 termed, lives in ilyle ; nay, perhaps, ten times more. 
 For the poor bcin~, who for the abfolutc neceflarics 
 of life has Incurred a fmall debt, may be dragged by 
 a rcmorfelcfs creditor to die in a priibn, unknown, un- 
 pitied ; while he who, to indulge in luxury and fuper- 
 fluity, had deceived the expectations of honeft induf- 
 try, deprived the laborious mechanic of Ins due, r,r 
 duped the unwary tradefman, is fuffercd to proceed 
 with impunity. Nay, even thofe who criminate his 
 conduct, will flatter his vices, cat at his table, take 
 him by the hand, and (mile in his fjicc, whilft in their 
 hearts they laugh at his abfurdity, pity his weaknefs, 
 or condemn his depravity. Not but there arc thofe, 
 who, difcriminating between the embarraliments of 
 ncceility, and thofij of wilful extravagance, pitr the 
 one and defpi.e and execrate the other. Yes, there arc in 
 this world hearts to commiierate misfortune, whilft they 
 dictate to the tongue comfort, and to the hands relief 
 to the fufferer. And thole chofen, thofe fuperlatively 
 happy few, mult furely be the favourites of Heaven. 
 
 For the blcfling they delight to confer on others, will 
 .return a thoufand-fold into their own boforhs. 
 
 But I digrefs. To return to Mrs. Wcbiter : She 
 
 could not pay the demand, and was threatened with 
 
 the 
 
252 REUBEN and RACHEL; oa, 
 
 the law. Rachel had but eight guineas ; but (lie 
 could pay this demand and have three left. She (ray- 
 ed not to inquire what was prudent; the felt what 
 would be humane. She followed the heavenly pre- 
 cept of " doing as fhe would be done by ; M fhe paid 
 the money. 
 
 The heart of Mrs. Wehfter dilated with gratitude ; 
 and ihc pain Rachel had endured from the departure 
 and coldnefsof Mrs. Courtney, was forgot in the trans- 
 port of th J prefent moment; fo true is it, that real 
 happincis muft be the refult of the knowledge and 
 practice of virtue. 
 
 Mr. Spriggins, the nephew of Mrs. Wcbiter, though 
 awed by her fuperior fenfe and the dignity of her man- 
 ner, was an ardent admirer of our heroine ; but he had 
 never yet breached a word that could lead her to iul- 
 pect his pafTion. La Varone, young Oliver, and Lieu- 
 tenant Courtney, had contributed to impoie hlence on 
 him, and keep him at a diftance. But now they were 
 gone, he could oifer any civility to her without the 
 fear o£ haying hia endeavours to pleafe entirely frus- 
 trated, by omcioulhefs or rivalry. 
 
 The fecoud day after their departure, he came, and 
 requested the Mils Webfters and Rachel would ac- 
 company him to the play. He foreiaw that the young 
 ladies would not be permitted to go without Mils Dud- 
 ley, and alio that her good-nature would not Suffer 
 her to decline his invitation, as by fo doing ihe would 
 deprive die juvenile party of a rational and (to them) 
 rare amufement. His expectations were realized ; 
 and at an early hour they were all at the pit door of 
 Drury-Lane Theatre. The performance was a trage- 
 dy and pantomime, both excellent in their kind. 
 
 Rachel, whole fenuhility often ufurped dominion 
 over her rational iaculticsjbanilhing the milder reign of 
 rcafon, w:;s, durwg the tragedy, lb entirely abforbed 
 by the Sufferings of the hero and heroine, that the fplen- 
 did circle that Unrounded her in the boxes was totally 
 unnoticed. But between the play and entertainment, 
 (he looked round on the glittering throng ; and in the 
 {(age-box, converting with attentive carneilnefs with 
 
 an 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 253 
 
 an elegant and very young lady* Pne fnv Hamden 
 A uherry. 
 
 Tlie ladv laid her band on his fhoulder. Rachel 
 difcovered that her feat was uncomfortable. liam- 
 den, as he converfcd, twilled a curl of her luxuriant 
 auburn trelfcs round his lingers. 
 
 " I declare I am out of patience," cried Rachel. 
 
 " At what, ma'am ?' : cried the officious Mr. 'Sprig- 
 gin-;. 
 
 " At the pi .ver-," faid flie : " they are fo Bedu us.'' 
 
 "Yes, ma'am," replied Sprigging* "they are to b; 
 fare a long while." 
 
 At that moment Hamden had taken the hand of 
 his fair companion and prcflld it to his lips. 
 
 " I cannot endure it any longer," cried Rachel, 
 " the pit is fo crowded, and it is fo hot." Rachel 
 was not eaftly overcome ; but her heart was more at- 
 tached to Hamden Auberry than (he was aware of. 
 '• It is fo opprcflive, 1 * repeated Ihe, unwilling to ac- 
 ] nowledge even to herfelf the cattfe of her uneafy fen- 
 fations. " I mail really quit the houfe," faid fhe, 
 ng for breath. And then, before any effort could 
 be made to get her through the crowd, a hidden null 
 came over her eyes, and ihe fainted. 
 
 The young Webfters were frightened, and Spriggins- 
 was entirely occupied in fupporting her, fo that no 
 method was taken to recover her. But an elderly 
 '■•man, who fat near them, obicrved if they could 
 I'll her up, fo that Ihe might be above the crowd, it 
 would accelerate her return to life. Accordingly, he 
 humanely flopped up on the feat, and railed her in his 
 arms. A fmclling bottle was now applied, and fome 
 lavender rubbed on her temples. 
 
 The buftle this incident had occafioncd in the pit, 
 
 attracted the notice of the comply in the boxes; and 
 
 as the old gentleman raifed the declining head of Ra- 
 
 rhat (he might receive the more benefit from the 
 
 air of fevcral fans, Auberry i'.iv: and knew her. Like 
 
 li'-'htnhv he fpran«r over the front of the box, and rufh- 
 
 1 -ongh th-: rt mpi. iv, was by the fide CI our he- 
 
 t lire began to animate her lips 
 
 Y and 
 
»54 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 an J checks ; ami when (he opened her eyes, Auherrv 
 was tlic firft object that met them. The tender folic- 
 rtude of his looks and manner, whiift lie inquired into 
 the caufe of her difordcr, contributed to rettore he* 
 entirely ; and having thanked the old gentleman for 
 his care, and made room for Aubervy to lit between 
 herfelf and Polly Wcbfter, as lie held her hand, and 
 /yoke to her of his mother, Dr. Lenient, and the reft 
 of their acquaintance in Lancafhire, ihc entirely for- 
 got both her indifpofition and its caufe. 
 
 Though the impulfe of the moment had urged 
 Hamden Auberty^ in direct oppofition to every rule 
 of politenefs or even propriety, to quit his company 
 and (bring into the pit, when lie beheld the lifelefs 
 form of Rachel, yet when lie now faw her perfectly 
 recovered, he remembered the necefiity of immediately 
 returning to them, and apologizing for the abrupt- 
 nefs of his conduct. 
 
 " 1 do not feel altogether fatisfied, my charming 
 Mifs Dudley," faid he in a low voice, " that the foci- 
 cty in which, perhaps, you are obliged to mix, is prop- 
 er or congenial to your feelings. Who arc thefe young 
 women, and the young man who attends them :" 
 
 " I am not indeed," faid Rachel, " Utuated exactly 
 as I could wifh ; but I know not how to better mv- 
 felf." 
 
 "Where (hall I call on you," faid ILimdcn ; "I 
 cannot now Hay to fay all 1 think. I milii return to 
 my couiin, lady Lucy." 
 
 w Is that your couiin :" faid Rachel, glancing her 
 eye upon the young lady in the box. 
 
 " Yes ; I came to town by my aunt's defire merely 
 to accompany her ; (he is come upon a vifit to a friend 
 of her mother's, and is going with her to make a (hot 
 tour on the continent." 
 
 "And do you accompany her r" faid Rachel; bu< 
 fiie dared not raife her eyes to his face as ihc mad 
 the interrogation; for flic felt that her own was Cut- 
 fufed with a blu(h. 
 
 " No ; I (hall only r;o with them as far us Dover. 
 
 forward till Saturday, J (hall 
 
 hone 
 
 I 
 
TALES ok OLD TIMES. 2J5 
 
 hope to pafs a few delightful hours in your fociety 
 previous to my journey. At what time will you be 
 at leilure to-morrow morning ?" 
 
 " I am always at leilure to fee my friends," replied 
 Rachel, with a fafcinating fmile. 
 
 Hamden's countenance exprefTedhis gratitude, and 
 the pleafure her franknefs gave him, and prefSng her 
 hand, he wifhed her a good night, returned to the 
 bos, and a few moments afterwards, the whole party 
 in which he was engaged left the theatre. 
 
 The remainder of the performance Was entirely lofl 
 upon our heroine. Her perfon was prefect, and fhe 
 law the figures that pafied and repaffed before her; 
 but her mind was totally abfent, and fhe might as well 
 have ga/.ed upon vacancy. She was diffatisned 
 Uerfelf; ihe had difcovcred that ihe was too much in- 
 terfiled in whatever concerned Hamdcn Auberrj ; 
 lhe feared too that he had difcovered her weaknefs. 
 Thee reflections entirely employed her thoughts. 
 
 When the performance was ended, fhe mechanically 
 followed her party out of the houfe. When freed 
 from the hurry of coaches chair?, orange-women, 
 link-boys, and the crowd that had jult immerged from 
 the play-houfe, lhe took hold of Polly's arm, and in 
 fdence purfued her walk home. When lhe entered 
 the parlour fhe afked for a candle, and would have 
 retired to her chamber ; but Mrs. Webftcr had pre- 
 pared fome little delicacy for her fupper, and ihe had 
 too much good-nature and politenefs to rcfufe fitting 
 up to partake of it. 
 
 The curiofity of Spiiggins and the two elder Web- 
 fters was excited by the behaviour of Hamden Auber- 
 ry. They had talked it over as they walked home to- 
 gether, and all agreed that he was certainly a lover. 
 The company he was with declared he was of a fupe- 
 rior rank in life ; but they had not been quite pleafcd 
 that our heroine had neglected to introduce them. 
 
 " He is a monftrous handfome man," faid Belle, the 
 fecond daughter. 
 
 "He is well enough," faid the eldeft, "but he 
 feems Co proud and felf-conccitcd." 
 
 « We'll 
 
-5<5 REUBEN and RACHEL; »a, 
 
 We'll joke Mifs Rachel a little about him at {upper 
 t!ffi ,'' (aid Sp i iggins, 
 
 • : i v.v ndcr w 1 - i ma le her faint," faid Belle. 
 
 " Why lawk, Belle !" replied the fifter, "you know 
 fhe has always lived in the country, and fe I fuppofe 
 the lights, atid the noife, and the heat " 
 
 Julfc then they arrived at home, and in a few min- 
 hey were all feated round 'die flipper table, 
 is Dudley has been vjr ill at the pla-, mam- 
 ma," faid Polly. 
 
 " Y£ , in :. :," crbd the rideft, ** (he fainted quite 
 , and there was fuch a rine gentleman jumped 
 « lit of the bo< and came to her, I believe he is an old 
 ■.intar.ee." 
 
 " I beiifve fo too," faid Belle, laughing ; u for he 
 feemed rhonftrOtts anxious, and looked fo happy when 
 ihe began to recover." 
 
 "Hei-innoLl accpu intanee," faid Rachel, at once 
 chftrefled and flattered by the manner in whieh his 
 anxiety and affiduity was mentioned; "it was Major 
 Aubercy, madam, w a ! lr< fifing herfelf to Mrs. Web- 
 fkr ; " the fon of oar ref] rcl : J fi ';. nd." 
 
 " Indeed ! Well, I have not icon him fince he was 
 an h f< . ; and befides, if he even remembered me, 1 e 
 is fo much amongft it folks, it would be be- 
 
 neath him to notice me, or any of my family, though 
 his mother and J, when girls, were juit like inters." 
 
 "Ye?, yes," cried Spriggins, whole leli conleiiucnce 
 had been lowered by his being entirely overlooked by 
 the Major; "yes! when folks get up in the world, 
 they generally forget their poor friends.' 1 
 
 " But I dare affirm Major Auberry is not one of 
 thofe kind 6f people," laid Rachel ; " he intends calling 
 on me tomorrow, and I have no doubt but he will re- 
 joice in being introduced to Mrs. Webfter and herfamily." 
 
 " Well, we (hall fee !" cried Spriggins ; " but I am 
 fure he is not overburthened with good manners, or ha 
 would have faid good-night, or your fervant, or fome 
 fiich like, to me, when he went away ; for though 
 mayhap I am not fo grand, nor fo line, nor io learned, 
 1 thinks I underftands good-breeding as well as any 
 
 body. 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 257 
 
 body. And for the mutter of that, a man is but a 
 man, and I don't fee why wearing a heed coat, or be- 
 ing called Sir, or My Lord, or Your Grace, makes 
 one man a bit better than another." 
 
 Rachel found that it would be in vain to attempt 
 defending Hamden againft the complaints and preju- 
 dices of Spriggins, whofe contracted mind and very 
 fmall portion of underftanding, would not fuffer him 
 to comprehend thofe nice dillinctions which, allowing 
 for the natural equality of man, ftill preferves that re- 
 fpecl, that ncceifary fubordination, due from inferiors 
 to perfons of Alining abilities, liberal education, and 
 fuperior underftanding ; and the ignorant, felf opin- 
 ionated being who prates of equality, never once con- 
 ceives the caufe of the diftiniftion, which education 
 (more than any other caufe) makes between man and 
 man. Perfons of large fortunes are enabled to enjoy 
 the benefits of inrtruclion in its mod extended fenfe ; 
 and they who have cultivated their minds with care, 
 whofe taftes and manners are highly poliihed, feel 
 as great a repugnancj to the fociety of the vulgar 
 ignorant, in whom mean pride, obftinacy and vanity 
 in general, combine, as the pure and uncontaminated 
 mind would feel in being forced into an intercourle 
 with the vicious. But Rachel knew thefe arguments, 
 if advanced, would have no effect on Spriggins; flie 
 therefore liftcned in filence to the end of his harangue, 
 then wiihing them all a good night, re'.ired to her 
 apartment. 
 
 ■•< ■< < < 'idfM^ii 1 1 1 1 
 
 CHAP. X. 
 
 Matters of Confcqtience* 
 
 THE next morning by ten o'clock, Hamden Au- 
 b :rry was in Dartmouth-ftreet. He was intro- 
 duced to Mrs. Webfter and her daughters ; to the for- 
 mer, as the friend of his mother, he was uncommonly 
 relpeclful, and he fpoke to the girls with fuch free- 
 dom, politcnefs and affability, that when they vent 
 Y 2 into 
 
35S REUBEN and RACHEL 
 
 into the adjoining room, Belle declared he was a molt 
 captivating man. 
 
 Polly laid the hoped, it" he was going to many dear 
 Mil's Dudley, that he was as good as he was hand- 
 tome. For if he was a king, he could not be too good 
 lor her. 
 
 «• Marry," faid the eldeft, putting up her lip, " I 
 dare lay he would be frightened to hear you lay luch 
 a tiling. No ! no ! yo.:ng men of his rank and faih- 
 ion don't often marry poor girls ; if they did, I 
 don't fee why fbme folks might net ft and as geed a 
 chance as others." And fhe cart a fly glance at the 
 looking-glafs, which hung directly oppofitc to where. 
 fhe was lining. 
 
 Hamden, in this interview with our heroine, fell his 
 admiration increafe. Every circumltancc that had 
 taken place during her refider.ee in London, the re- 
 capitulated to him, with an ingenuous freedom that 
 captivated his heart, vhilit his reafen applauded the 
 involuntary tribute of admiration and reipcel, her 
 manners and fentiments exacted. 
 
 When fhe had finiihed her artlefs recital, (which 
 was drawn forth by his inquiries, not voluntarily ob- 
 truded on his attention) " You are, I fear, improperly,, 
 as well as uncomfortably lituated," faid he v. ith en- 
 ergy. 
 
 " I acknowledge it," replied Rachel, " but I muft 
 bear it with patience ; there is no remedy." 
 
 M What do you mean, my dear Mil's Dudley ? You 
 furely have friends." 
 
 " I dare fay I have, Sir, many friends ; but I fliould 
 be forry to trefpafs on their goodnefs." 
 
 " Is it pofhble Mils Dudley can imagine " He 
 
 was proceeding, but the flopped him. 
 
 " Do not mifunderMand me, Major Auberry ; i do 
 net think meanly of my friends, but I am confeiousof 
 my own defects ; I am too proud to live in a Hate of 
 i'crvile dependence." 
 
 " Good heavens ! what do you mean •" 
 "Nothing very extraordinary. My brother is ab- 
 fent } my late dear father's agent, I greatly fear, is dif- 
 
 hened j 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 259 
 
 honed ; and perhaps I (hall find it ncccllary to be in- 
 duftrious, in order to continue in fomc degree reXpecV- 
 able." 
 
 She faid this without embarrafTment, and with a. 
 cheerful i'mile. She felt no degradation in the idea of 
 exerting her talents to procure fupport. 
 
 Hamden was filent ; a certain fomc thing {truck cold 
 upon his heart. No wonder ; it was the cold, hard 
 drop that turns whatever it falls upon to Hone. Pov- 
 erty has a mod unaccountable petrifying quality ; 
 many a heart has it rendered impenetrable as adamant ; 
 many a bofom has it incafed in marble, or enveloped 
 in ice, fo firmly congealed, that only the fun of pros- 
 perity, riding in full meridian, could foften or relax 
 it. Kamden felt the cold chill run trembling through 
 every nerve ; but his heart defied its frigid power, and 
 glowed with more fervour. He faid but little alter 
 this explanation, and foon took his leave. 
 
 On his return to his lodgings, he thus inquired of 
 himfelf. Do I love RachcLDudley ? Mod aliuredly, 
 beyond all other women. Does Ihe return my paffion ? 
 That is a quedion yet to be determined. If I might 
 judge from the intelligence of her eyes — But hope 
 may be prefumpticn. Would I many her ? Yes, with 
 delight and tranfport, if llic would accept me. What I 
 in defiance of my aunt's wiihes and injunctions ? 
 
 Here was a moment's paufe. At length he pro- 
 ceeded in his queilions. Would I be willing to relin- 
 quish all hope of future affluence, honour, title, and 
 devote my life to obfeurity and Rachel Dudley ? I 
 fear not. 1 fhould repine at the advantages I had re- 
 linquifhed, and embitter her life by my own fruitless 
 regret. Then is it honourable, by indirect attentions, 
 to lead her to fuppofe flic has an cxclufive preference 
 in my bofom, or to awaken expectations, which will 
 end only in difappointment ? Certainly no. 
 
 After thus clolely interrogating his own heart, Ham- 
 den determined to avoid viliting Rachel again ; but 
 on the morning following, he received a letter from his 
 mother ; it would be but kind to call and let Mifs Dudley 
 know her friend Dr. Lenient was well, and that Tabitha 
 
 Hoi 
 
2So REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 Holdfafl bad taken to herfelf a help-mat* of one of 
 the faithful. 
 
 He accordingly vent ; one vifit produced another. 
 Prudence on one fide, and pride en the o;her, were for 
 a while forgotten. Hamden talked of love, and Ra- 
 chel liftcned with complacency. 
 
 It was on a fine evening in the beginning c.f Septem- 
 ber, as wandering en the banks of the Thames, when 
 a row of young willows drooped their pendent branch* 
 cs over the foftly gliding ftream, that Hamden (on 
 whofc arm Rachel reclined with the confidence of ira- 
 ternal affeftion) fpoke of the happy intercourfe of con- 
 genial minds. 
 
 "Dear, charming Rachel !" faid he, "it feems as 
 though out fouls were formed at die fame moment, 
 and partake (if congenial particles." 
 
 " Our fentiments are certainly much alike in moft 
 things," faid Rachel. 
 
 " And why not in every thing," cried Hamden ea- 
 gerly. " Why, my lovely friend, loving as we love 
 each other, (for you do not deny though you hefitate 
 to avow your affection) why do we not fanclify that 
 a Tcction by the moft folemn vows ?" 
 
 " You have an aunt, Hamden Auberry," faid Ra- 
 chel with firmnefs, " and on her depends your future 
 fortune. She will not approve of the untitled, unpor- 
 tloned Rachel for your wife." 
 
 " Do not name her. I will renounce her favour. 
 T will henceforth live but for you." 
 
 " Hamden," faid Rachel, and her features afTumed 
 a fcrene folemnity that was almoft celeftial, " Ham- 
 den, 1 have not exprelfed the feelings of my foul, be- 
 caufe ! was fenfible of the impoffibility of our ever be- 
 ing united with the confent of your aunt ; and know, 
 though you were dearer to me than life itfelf, I will 
 never intrude myfelf into a family, who would think 
 themfelves degraded by the alliance. That I am an 
 unconnected being, is certain ; no one has a right to 
 fay, Rachel, why doft thou fo ? But I have a heart 
 that tells me when I err. To the reproaches of this 
 trufty, filent mcr.itor, 1 will never fubject myfelf; to 
 
 the 
 
TA 
 
 LE3 of OLD TI^ES. 261 
 
 the contumely and cenfures of the world I .im umil* 
 nerable ; they too often misjudge and condezn 
 innocent unheard." 
 
 M Sweet, charming moralift, whither wouldil thou 
 lead me:'" laid Hamdea. 
 
 "To happinefs, 1 hope," faid Rachel fmil 
 '* That i feel my heart glow with adeem- to 
 continued ihc; " is a truth I.vrhu not CO den 5 
 that silsem is pure ; no. reft, nor hopi ot 
 
 future aggrandizement, w .i-. me; Von \x(k 
 
 rne for 1 wife ; here is my htiud ; let us , 
 loves in die hice ot" Heaven. 1 , ble me to fatisfy 
 my dear Reuben, when he reran not dif- 
 
 hououred the name of Dudley ; ai d fi>r the mdifcrim- 
 inating, curious, idle multi hem think as they 
 
 may* Happy in yonr affection, their fmile or their, 
 frown v. hi be alike income.; 
 
 The gratitude <t Hamden was manifefted in wild, 
 eathuAaftic exprerlkmaof everiafth ~. Eut Ham- 
 
 den's pride flill predominated, and he accepted the 
 title of huuSand to an amiable woman, whole virtue 
 and underftanding would hare done honour to a dia- 
 dem ; yet, fearing to forfeit the paltry dhtinclions of 
 wealth arid tkle, he fuffered her to bear the ignominy 
 of lUfpicion, and the bitternefs of reproach, from thoic 
 who neither comprehended or could enimate her merit. 
 
 They were married in St. John's Church, Weftmin- 
 fter; and Rachel removed to a lodging provided for 
 h.-r by her huihand in the neighbourhood of Mary-le- 
 bo:;e. 
 
 When ftadhel propofed removing fr< m Mrs, Web- 
 fter's, ihe round no imail difficulty in fatisfying her in- 
 quiries refpecling the caufe of her removal. She had 
 imprudently acquainted Mrs. W/ebfterwith the dimin- 
 Ifhed (hate of her finances; when therefove on 
 morning of her marriage, which took place a little 
 after eight o'clock ; for Rachel, though ilie had now 
 been foir.e months in London, continued the health- 
 giving cuftom of early riling, and frequently v. 
 before breakfaft, fo that it was nothing extraordinary 
 lor her to be abroad fo early ; when, in confequencc 
 
 4>f 
 
REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 of this union, foe prepared to quit her lodging, and" 
 .'■Irs. \Y*ebftcr a bank bill for forty pounds, re- 
 queuing her to get it changed, the old lady looked at 
 her .with a fcrutmizing eye ; and though not apt to 
 make remarks, could not avoid (peaking to our hero- 
 ine in the following words :< 
 
 " It is no buiiaefs of" mine, to be fure, Mifs Dudley ;' 
 but I am afraid you are going to do a very impru- 
 dent thing. To your family and connexions I am a 
 total ftranger ; but for the fake of my friend, Mrs. 
 Auberry, 1 could wifh you had conducted yourlelf with- 
 in ore c ire urn/peel ion." 
 
 " h\ what, madam ?" faid Rachel indignantly, 
 "have I tranigreifed the laws of prudence V 
 
 " You have received the vifits of fcveral young men. 
 Mr. Oliver, I concluded, was your lover for fume 
 time ; but after viiiting, taking you on parties of pleaf- 
 ure, and being as attentive as man could be, whiik he 
 gees off into the country, and there's an end cf die 
 matter." 
 
 Rachel could not help fowling as flic replied — " Mr. 
 Oliver, I believe, madam, never thought of me in any 
 other light than as a friend. I am lo happy as to be 
 efleeined by his fider, and for her fake he (hewed me, 
 whillt he flayed in town, more than common refpect." 
 
 " Well, it may befo ; but it had a very odd appear- 
 ance though. Then came Mr. Courtney. 1 made 
 quite certain that he would be the happy man, when, 
 behold ! initcad of you, he marries Mil's La Varone. 
 To be certain, fhe was a clever fort of a body ; but 
 then one would have thought a young man would 
 not be at a lofs to choofe between you and her." 
 
 " Well, you find he was not at a lofs," anfwered' 
 Rachel rather petulantly. 
 
 " And now," continued Mrs. • Webfler, not noticing 
 her reply, " now here has been Major Auberry, danc- 
 ing attendance above a month pall. lam afraid he 
 means no good; he is, as. one may fay, one of the 
 quality folks ; and his aunt, lady Anne, would no- 
 more agree to his marrj ing a poor girl, than Ihc would: 
 to his going to Jerufalem, What then docs he defign I 
 
 Take 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 263 
 
 Take care, Mifs Dudley, do not let him make you his 
 dupe. You are going from me ; for what purpofe, 
 or into whole protection, you have not thought proper 
 to tell me ; however, that is neither here nor there. 
 As I laid before, it is no buiinefs of mine. But when 
 ■I think, that not a fortnight Mnce you ihewed me the 
 contents of your puric, which were very trifling, and 
 .declared it was all you polfelFed in the world, and that 
 ■I now fee you in pofleilion of forty pounds, I cannot 
 :help thinking all is not as it fhould be.'' 
 
 " I thank you, madam, for your care and anxiety 
 ■ cn my account," faid Rachel, who perceived, in Mrs. 
 Webfter's manner, more of curiofity than real folici- 
 tude for her welfare, " but to quiet your apprehenfionr, 
 permit me to allure you, I lhall be careful never to 
 offend againit virtue and morality. My conduct may 
 incur cenfure, but fha.ll never be criminal. Whilft 
 my dear brother is from England, I. hold myfelf ac- 
 countable to no one for my actions; and whilft my 
 own heart acquits me of any breach of my duties 
 either moral or religious, I am perfectly indifferent as 
 to what opinion the world in general may form con- 
 cerning me." 
 
 Thus argued Rachel ; but her ideas were erroneou.<:, 
 and flic found, when too late, it is not only neceiTary 
 to be virtuous, but to appear ib. Alas ! pity it is, but 
 the femblance is often more reipcclcd than the reality. 
 
 " I fuppofe we lhall ire you fometimes, Mifs Dud- 
 ley ?" faid Mrs. Webfter with a fneer, as lhe took leave 
 of her. 
 
 Rachel (lightly anfwered in the aiiirmailvc, fhook 
 hands with her and Belle, kilted the affectionate little 
 Polly (who flood fobbing by the window) and put a 
 guinea into her hand ; then ordering her trunk to be 
 placed in a hackney-coach that waited at the door, ilie 
 ftepped in, drew up the glafs, and a few moments con- 
 veyed her to her new lodgings, where her husband 
 was ready to receive hc:\ 
 
 The attachment of our heroine to Major Aubcrry 
 
 was pure as it was ardent. Accuftomed for, 1 , infancy 
 
 •.vine her affections within a narrow circle, (lie 
 
 would 
 
2 64 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 Id have felt no repugnance to fecludc herfelf from 
 
 ber foctety, could llic have been certain by fo 
 
 doing to infiire his eternal love and fidelity. She had 
 
 ; leave of Hamden to inform Jelly Oliver, with 
 whom il:c regularly correfpanded, of the change in her 
 circumftanccs ; but he forbade her. She acquiefced in 
 ."Ic.iec. 
 
 It had never entered her mind, that an unknown In- 
 dividual like herielf, could e v cite the curiofity of her 
 ours. .She Was the leafl inquifitive of any hu- 
 man being. " Of what confequerice," (he would oft- 
 en fa}', " is the bufinefs, plcafures or puriuits of oth- 
 ers to me. I rnfrbour no ill will towards any ; and 
 have I a right to forutini/c their actions ? No." 
 
 Hamdctt Auberry, Mill the nave of pride, and fear- 
 ing to forfeit the favour of lady Anne, fu fie red his 
 wife to go by the affumed name of Dacres. Our he- 
 roine too was equally the Have of the fame pafiion, but 
 it was of a more laudable kind. He facrificed the 
 reputation of a virtuous woman, rather than rclinquiih 
 the infgniih attt diftrn&ion wealth and power could 
 give: and Hie nobly (though romantically) braved 
 the cenfures of the world, to evince her thorough con- 
 tempt of both. 
 
 . < .< .< .< n^Ti|' j^n i i i i 
 
 C H A P. XL 
 Acrofs the Atlantic, 
 
 A S Variety is faid to be the fafcinating charm that 
 jl\ intrances the fenfes, awakens atteq^on, and, dif- 
 playing her many- coloured wings in atb^uTand differ- 
 ent lights, obfeures from our view the fcythe and 
 glafs of Time, and fufFers him to p.ifs unheeded by ; 
 at her fhrine I kneel, her aid 1 invoke. Come, en- 
 chanting phantom, who, as thou paflefl: momentarily, 
 afl'umert fome new, fomc charming form. Whether 
 as pleafure, tripping lightly forward, thy temples 
 wreathed with rofes, and thy hands (hiking withfport- 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 265 
 
 ive lay the dulcet lyre ; or whether, in the robe of for- 
 row clad, with pale, cold cheek, and uplift, tearful 
 eye ; or cheerful induftry, with placid fmile, with bof- 
 om tranquil, and with moderate fcrip, ftored with 
 life's comforts, not its ,~'iperfluitics ; or as meek pa- 
 tience, bowing with fubmiflion before the keen blaft of 
 undeferved calamity ; whatever ihapc thou doft af- 
 fume, to me thou art welcome. Haften then, for 
 with thee ever comes the Mule. Her veftments white 
 clafped by a golden zone, her bulkined leg half bare, 
 her auburn treftes floating in the wind ; her veil, 
 which part conceals hei beauteous face, and part play* 
 loofely in the breeze, wrought with devices ftrange 
 and rare ; Hiftory, Poetry, Fiction and Truth, 
 blended fo foft as to relieve each other ; ethereal 
 vifion, come ; 1 wait thee here. For many is the 
 painful hour thou haft foothed ; many the heart- 
 ache thou haft lightened. Wcarinefs has fled at thy 
 approach, and the ftill hour of night has been as cheer- 
 ful as the full blaze of day. 
 
 * But, madam, if you pleafc, we would prefer a lit- 
 tle lefs of the figurative, and a little more plain matter 
 
 of fea.' 
 
 Pardon me, gentle reader. I forgot I was writing 
 the hiftory of Reuben and Rachel, and was giving you 
 the hiftory of my own feelings. 
 
 A pod# fubltitutc. ^you lay. I acknowledge the 
 truth of the obfiawtSn, and therefore return to my hero. 
 
 After a pimagc of thirty days, Reuben Dudley ar- 
 rived life in the Delaware, and on the thirty-fecond 
 day after his departure from Liverpool, landed in the 
 city of Phi ladel phia. He had with him feveral letters of, 
 what is calMtf, recommendation from merchants in 
 Liverpool? liv'thcir tranf-atlantic correspondents ; but 
 they contained nothing more than a general mentioa 
 of his family, and that his character and morals had 
 been hitherto unimpcached. 
 
 " I will not inquire out the gentlemen to whom 
 
 thefe letters arc directed, till 1 ];ave feen my good 
 
 friend Jacob Holmes" laid Reuben to himfelf, as he 
 
 walked up the main ftreet. " He will, without doubt, 
 
 Z accompaay 
 
z66 REUBEN ans RACHEL; or, 
 
 accompany me, when I wifli to viilt them. How glaJ 
 will he he to fee me," continued he mentally. " His 
 natural love to my lifter and (elf, his gratitude to my 
 father " 
 
 At the remembrance of his father, Reuben's heart 
 became full ; and when he feated himfelf in the tavern 
 to which he had been recommended, and began to re- 
 flect ferioufly upon where he was, and that it was more 
 than probable his father might have been in that very 
 houfe, in that very room, nay, he might have reded on 
 the identical chair he was now feated on, the fulnefs 
 of his heart overflowed at his eyes, and he indulged in 
 the effufion without reftraint. 
 
 He had ordered fome fupper. As the matter of 
 the houfe came in with it, Reuben afked him if he had 
 ever known one Mr. Dudley, who had refided in Phil- 
 adelphia between two and three years. 
 
 The landlord had, previous to the queftion being 
 Hiked, drawd a chair to the oppolitc f:de of the table 
 to that where our hero was feated, and when he heard 
 the interrogation, anfwered it by another. 
 
 " I expect he is ionic relative of yours, by your being 
 fo inquifitive about him." 
 
 " He was," faid Reuben mournMly, " a very near 
 and dear relative." 
 
 " So I expect," replied the landlord. " fray where 
 is he now ?" flfcP* 
 
 " In heaven," faid Reuben, railing his ^^s, whilft 
 every puliation vibrated in exulting confidence of his 
 father's worth. 
 
 " You muit net be too fure of that," faid the land- 
 lord. 
 
 " Had you known him, Sir," faid Reuben with a 
 firm and camel! manner, " you would have no more 
 doubt of his prcfent happinefs than I have." 
 
 " I did know hint," replied the hoft. 
 
 " Then you knew one of the beft men that ever liv- 
 ed." 
 
 "Ye.:, he was good in the worldly acceptation of 
 tiie word ; he did alms, told no lies, hated no one, 
 I a J every man, yea, iv.cre than his due ; but all this 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 
 
 is vanity, filthy rags, unclean veftments. H« was riot 
 one of" the chofen ; he was in a loll ftatc." 
 
 Here a difpute enfued, in which Reuben evidently 
 loft ground with his antagonift ; lor Reuben argued 
 with coolnefs, and took reafon for his monitor : where- 
 as his opponent was wild, enthufialtic, and extremely 
 ignorant. He ha-d adopted fome eccentric ideas in 
 regard to religion, and he ailcrtcd that his opinions 
 were right, " becaufe they were," and that all who 
 did not think exactly as he did, were in the high load 
 to deftruclion, for the lame uhanfwefable rcakn, "be- 
 caufe they were." 
 
 Before Reuben had finifhed his (upper, the landlord 
 left him, to impart to his fpoufe all he had learnt con- 
 cerning the ftranger. The curiofity of Jael was not 
 i'atisfied with this intelligence of her helpmate's. 
 
 " Thou haft learned nothing, Zekell," faid ihe ; " ) 
 will go and queftion the young man myfelf." 
 
 Jael entered the parlour. 
 
 " You are juft arrived," faid llie, fitting down in the 
 place her huloand had juft left. 
 
 "Yes, juft landed." 
 
 " From EngltaAi'V 
 
 M Yes." ^' 
 
 "What part ?" 
 
 " Liverj^ol." 
 
 " Liverpool ?" 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " I expect you have got fome kinsfolks in the city." 
 
 u Not that I know of." 
 
 " No friends, no acquaintances ?" 
 
 ** Oli yes ! Do you know Jacob Holmes :"" 
 
 " Yes, to be i'ure I do. Mailer has reafon to know 
 him ; he is a dire hard man to deal with." 
 
 " What bufmefs does he follow ?" 
 
 " Bufmefs ! Well, I expect you don't know much 
 about him, to afk that queftion. Why Jacob Holmes 
 is cne of our grandeft men, for all he be a Quaker. 
 And then he mflrricd fuch a grand woman ; why I 
 expect lhc had a matter of five hundred pounds to her 
 fort in." 
 
 " Mr. 
 
-a<58 REUBEN and RACHEL; ©r, 
 
 " Mr. Holmes is married then ?" 
 
 " What, did not you know that ? Well, I thought 
 you were a bonding fort of fellow, pretending to know 
 folks who you never faw'd." 
 
 " How long has he been married ?" faid Reuben. 
 
 " Why I expect it is about a year and a half ago." 
 
 " So Ion- >" 
 
 O 
 
 " Yes, i'o long ; and madam Holmes has got a iwect 
 little baby, about three months old." 
 
 Reuben panfed a moment, and then without reflex- 
 tion exclaimed, " Why he mud have married imme- 
 diately after my father's departure for England." 
 
 " And pray what may be your name ?" faid Jael, 
 placing both her elbows on the table, and reding her 
 chin on her hands, whild her large blue glafs eyes 
 were fixed on the face of our hero with a mod un- 
 meaning dare. 
 
 " My name is Dudley," replied Reuben. 
 
 " So I expected," faid fhe, and fomething like low 
 cunning informed her broad and inexpredive features. 
 " And lb you are cum'd to look ater the fortin firuirc 
 Dudley left ?" 
 
 " Even fo," replied Reuben, pufning from him the 
 plate that contained his almod untaded iurper. " How 
 far frcm Philadelphia docs the late Mr. Dudley's cf- 
 tate lay, and which is my neareft road to itJ" 
 
 "Ah, young man !*' faid Jael, "I expect you be 
 cum'd on a fool's eriant. It matters not to you where 
 it lies ; he never paid for it ; and cording to counts 
 that we have heard, the fquire owed a pretty deal be- 
 fore he cum'd from home." 
 
 Reuben darted. " Of whom are you fpcaking ?" 
 faid he. 
 
 "Of fquire Dudley." 
 
 " What Dudley ? what was his Chridian name ?" 
 
 "Name! name! I can't juit now fay ; but I expect 
 it was a bible name." 
 
 " Was it Reuben :" afked our hero eagerly. 
 
 " I do expect it was," faid the woAan, rifing with- 
 out the lead emotion, and beginning to remove the 
 fupper frcm die table. 
 
 « Oh ! 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 269 
 
 *' Oh ! my dear father !" exclaimed Reuhen, and 
 his rcfpiration became fo difficult that he was obliged 
 to walk to the window and throw up the fafh, 
 
 Jael replaced the dilh upon the tabic, avid with a 
 look and manner to which no defcriptitra can do juf- 
 tice, thus addreffed him : — 
 
 " If fquire Dudley was your father, I wender how 
 you got fafe over fea. Nobody was furprifed when they 
 heard he was call away and drownded ; for he was as 
 great a reprobate as ever lived." 
 
 " Reprobate !" repeated Reuben with vehemence, 
 and his eyes Halhed refentment, whilft his heart fwell- 
 cd almoft to burfting. 
 
 " Yes, reprobate," repeated Jael, " and I expect you 
 will find a pretty many folks in Philidelphy that will 
 tell you as how here he corned over fea, and pretend- 
 ed to be a vaft rich man." 
 
 " 'Tis falfe !" cried Reuben ; " I would flake my 
 exigence upon his probity. My father would have 
 "fcorned to pretend to any thing more than he could 
 Bake appear reality." 
 
 " But I fay he did though," faid Jael ; " giving 
 away his interefi as a body may fay, felling his goods 
 at half-price, that, as he faid, the poor might buy as 
 well as the rich. Then if he faw a man that wanted, 
 he never inquired whether he was a Chriftian or a Pa- 
 pilh, But lent or gav'd him what he axed." 
 
 "And a jufl and beneficent God will reward him 
 for it," faid Reuben, railing his eyes fervently. " He 
 is now, I truft, reaping the reward ci' his philanthro- 
 py." 
 
 " It mought a been all very well," continued Jael, 
 not noticing the ejaculation of our hero, " had he only 
 given away his own ; but to deal fo hardly as he did 
 by»diat pious young man, Jacob Holmes — Oh ! it was 
 a wicked thing." 
 
 Reuben approached" a few Preps towards his hoftefs, 
 and then flopped, fixed in curioiity and amazement ; 
 amazed at the malignity with which this ignorant 
 woman endeavoured to afperie the memory of his 
 father, (whilll every fentence till the laft, mult appear 
 Z 2. in> 
 
2-0 REUBEN and RACHEL; ok, 
 
 in the eye of pure religion and candour as his high eft" 
 eulogium) and curious to know from what fourcc this 
 malignity proceeded ; whilft Jael, leaning over the 
 hack of the chair from which ftie had aril'en, her fea- 
 tures rt ill fixed and without expreflion, in the fame 
 monotonous tone of voice proceeded : — 
 
 " It is a fcrious thing, young man, a very ferious 
 thing, for one to be left gardeen to a wealthy child. 
 Oh ! it is a trying matter, a grand fnare, laid by Sa- 
 tan, the mighty tempter, the great deceiver. Money 
 is the root and fpring of all evil ; it is the bait the 
 wicked one makes ufe of to draw the children of vani- 
 ty aftray, as he did thy father. Oh ! it was an abom- 
 ination for him to keep Jacob Holmes as he did, with- 
 out even pocket money, whilft he was throwing away 
 his intereft by handfuls." 
 
 " I do not u^derftand you," faid Reuben ; " Jacob 
 Holmes was an orphan child, adopted, brought up 
 and educated by the charity of my father." 
 
 "Ah ! that was the ftory fquire Dudley told, when 
 he firft corned here ; but we knows better things now. 
 It was the money of the good Jacob Holmes on which 
 he was living ; for 1 expeft if it had been his own he 
 would a been more careful of it. But thy father, 
 young man, has wronged the orphan of his right, and 
 made himfelf rich at the cxpenfe of the Ion of the 
 widow, and the curfes of the widow and the orphan 
 will reft upon him and his children." 
 
 " So be it," cried Reuben ; " I fear no judgment 
 for my father's adlions. Oh that I may be enabled to 
 emulate his virtues, to tread his footfteps — But I feel 
 I am to blame in liftening to one, whofe aim is to ca- 
 lumniate the memory of him who gave me being. 
 What could he have dene to defcrve thy hatred, that 
 even his facred duft cannot reft in peace ? Did he -ever 
 wrong thee or thy family ?" 
 
 " No, not he ; I expect he was the means of my 
 getting a matter a twenty pounds or fo, that I fhould 
 a loft ; but then, though it did me a kindnefs, it did 
 not tell much to hb credit, though (as matter faid) 
 
 we 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 271 
 
 we got our money, and what matter was it to us who 
 paid it ?" 
 
 " True," cried Reuben, " that could be of but lit- 
 tle confequence indeed ; but pray tell me, how came 
 my father to render you this fervice ?" 
 
 " Why I expect it is fo long a ftory, you will be 
 tired." 
 
 " Tell it as concifely as poffible," faid Reuben ; " I 
 will anfwer for my patience ; and even fhould it be 
 more lengthy than I expect, when a father's good 
 deeds are the theme, what fon could be weary or feel 
 his attention Mag ?" 
 
 Jacl looked at him, with mouth and eyes extended. 
 She comprehended nothing more than that he defired 
 to hear how his father happened to pay her twenty 
 pounds ; fo, ftill leaning over the back of the chair, 
 ihe began : — 
 
 " I expect it's a matter a three years agone, a wom- 
 an corned over in a ihip from London, an fhe faid as 
 how me corned ater her hufband. She was as pretty 
 a body, 1 expect, as one mought fee in a hundred. 
 Maftcr and I was juft married, and got into this here 
 houfe. So (he corned an wanted to board with us, 
 an ihc had a baby with her about fix months old. So 
 fhe had plenty of money, an a golden watch, an a 
 power of fine clothes ; fo we let her have our beft 
 room, an hired a girl to wait on her." 
 
 " Plenty of money, a gold watch, and fine clothes," 
 faid Reuben mentally, and he turned from the felnih 
 narrator to hide his indignation and contempt. 
 
 " Well, ater a while," lhe continued, " we found as 
 how the parfon fhe cum'd ater was not her hufband ; 
 he had kept her company, and I expect, promifed to 
 marry her ; but he would neither own her nor her 
 child when he faw'd her here. So fhe did nothing but 
 cry, and cry, and kifsher little girl ; fhe was too proud 
 to work, and fo, when her money was fpent, and her 
 golden watch fold, fhe faid fhe wifhed to die." 
 
 " Poor, unfortunate girl," faid Reuben in a tone of 
 commifcration, "how I pity her !" 
 
 « Pity 
 
^2 REUBEM and RACHEL; or, 
 
 " Pity her indeed," faid Jael, " a creeter ! When I 
 
 told her fhe mought get a good living by going out to 
 farvice, flie faid lhe knew not how to labour lor bread ; 
 them w;xs her very words, an fo lhe would net cat nor 
 drink, an ufed to go night ater night with her clothes 
 on, fitting on the floor, and reding her head on a chair 
 or the window-feat. She at lall grew fo weak, that 
 i!i: was not able to walk ; fo I went and axed her 
 what (he meant by going on fo ; for fhe know'd as 
 how flic owtd me above twelve pound ; fo fhe only 
 aruVered mc, ' fhe meant and wifhed to die, and at 
 once releafe me and herfelf.' But then fhe would 
 hug her baby, and cry, • Poor little wretch ! what 
 will become of you ? It were better we both died to- 
 gether." 
 
 Reuben's eyes gliflened with the dew cf fenfibility, 
 but he was filent. 
 
 " So at laft fiie fell into a confumption ; I expect it 
 was all owing to her pride that was fo humbled and 
 mortified. So feeing as how flie was like to become a 
 trouble to maftcr, I told her how flie mud go about 
 her bufmefs ; for I wanted my room to let to feme- 
 body elfe." 
 
 " Did you tell the poor dying creature fo ?" faid 
 Reuben, in a tone expreffive at once of anger and ccm- 
 miferation ; " did you tell her fo V 
 
 "Yes, I did," faid Jael ; "for you knows felf pref- 
 ervation is the firft. law in nature, and 'tis but right 
 one lliould chriften their own child firft. So madam 
 got up, and with her child in her hand crawled down 
 Sail's ; and when flie got into the kitchen, fhe fainted 
 away. So fquire Dudley was in the next room, and 
 he heard the buftle in the kitchen, and came out to 
 axe what was the matter ; fo when I told him, he 
 threw me the money fhe owed me ; but he called me 
 a very bad name. Then he got two men to carry the 
 fick body to his own lodging in an arm chair, an there 
 he had her tended and doctored ; but that did no good, 
 for flie died. An there he took the child, and had it 
 put out to nurfe, though every body faid he ought to 
 
 be 
 
TALES or OLD TIMES. 273 
 
 be afhamed of himfelf for doing any thing for fuch a 
 fort of woman." 
 
 "Oh my father! my father!" exclaimed Reuben, 
 "'ought not thy ion to exult that thy character was 
 fuch, that even the afpcrfions of thy enemies arc thy 
 
 higheft praife ? And where is the poor child ?" ad- 
 
 dreifing himielf to the woman. 
 
 " Dead ;. for ater the fquire went away, Jacob 
 Holmes would not pay for its being nurfed ; and who 
 can blame him ? There had been enough of his inter- 
 eft wafted already." 
 
 " I tell thee, woman," faid Reuben, " Jacob Holmes 
 never had any property whatever but what he enjoyed 
 from the beneficence of my father." 
 
 " I expert that ftory won't do you much good 
 here," faid Jael ; " birt howfoever, you axed about the 
 child, an fo as I was faying, it went to the poor -houfe, 
 and there it died." 
 
 As Jael finifhed this hiftory, me took the diih and 
 plate from the table, and left the room, and Reuben 
 fhortly after retired to bed, but not to reft. To find 
 his father's memory traduced, to find Jacob Holmes 
 in actual polleilion of his eftate, and believed univer- 
 fally the lawful owner of it, was a ihock he had never 
 dreamed of receiving, and knew not how to fupport. 
 
 As he had imagined he ihould, without the leaft diffi- 
 culty, take immediate poifeffion of the effects his father 
 had left in Holmes's care, and as he knew there mud 
 be confiderable money in his hands, ariiing from the 
 pie of merchandize with which he had been entrufted, 
 our hero had taken but a very fmall fum of money 
 with him from England. Indeed his finances in gen- 
 eral were in fo confined a ftate, that he could not com- 
 mand a fum of any confequence. It was therefore no 
 fmall addition to his uneafy fenfations, that he was in 
 a ft range land, with very little money, and without a 
 fingle friend. However, he determined the next morn- 
 ing to vifit Jacob Holmes ; for, ft 111 unwilling to be- 
 lieve human nature could be guilty of fuch depravity, 
 or that a man, adding diihonefty to ingratitude, would 
 return the benevolence of the father by wronging the 
 
 fen, 
 
74 REUBEN and RACHEL; ok, 
 
 ion, he indulged a feeble hope, that his reception would 
 he better than from what he had heard he had a right 
 
 e (ped. 
 
 After a reftlefs and pcrturbated night, he arofe with 
 tlie carlicft dawn, and having inquired for a horfe, was 
 preparing to viiit Jacob, when, as he went to the door 
 with the delign of mounting, he law the identical per- 
 i'on he was going in feareh of juft alighting. Spite of 
 the intelligence he had received from Jael, Reuben's 
 heart warmed with affection, when he beheld a perfon 
 who had been fo dear to his father, and who had borne 
 himiclf and lifter in his arms a fhoui'and times. He 
 darted forward, and took his hand " Jacob," faid 
 he, in a tone of fraternal tendernefs, " Jacob, how are 
 you ?" 
 
 " Well, I thank thee, young man," replied Jacob, 
 coldly withdrawing his hand, and ftalking with up- 
 right formality into the houfe. 
 
 Though chilled by his frigid manner, Reuben felt 
 his heart contract, yet he followed him into the parlour, 
 and laying his hand upon his lhouldcr, cried, " Don't 
 you know me, Jacob ?" 
 
 " No, really, young man, thou haft greatly the ad- 
 vantage of me ; I do not recollect ever to have feen 
 thee before." 
 
 Nearly fix years had elapfed fince Jacob had left 
 England, and a period of that length might naturally 
 be fuppofed to make a material alteration in the per- 
 fon of a youth, whom it had transformed, as it part, 
 from a cheerful, blooming boy, to the graceful, well- 
 informed man. But Rill there was fufficient in his 
 manner, voice and features, to inform Jacob Holmes, 
 at one glance, who it was addreffed him. But Jacob 
 had found a Ihort memory very ufeful on many occa- 
 fions, and was determined to try its efficacy on this ; 
 and therefore boldly averted he had never, to his re- 
 collection, feen Reuben before. 
 
 " Look at rrie again, friend Jacob," faid our hero, 
 "yon furclf cannot totally forget the face of Reu- 
 ben Dudley, the fon of vour friend, Mr. Dudley, of 
 Laaeaihur." 
 
 "I da 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 275 
 
 " I do remember tliee now," faid Jacob ; " but how- 
 is it, young man, that I fee thee in the garb of the chil- 
 dren of vanity ? thy father worn it not." 
 
 Reuben whs now itruck by obferving the very for- 
 mal and primitive appearance of Jacob. " I hope I 
 am not the lefs pious," faid Reuben with a fmile, " bc- 
 caufe my coat is not cut in the fame faihion as thine, 
 or my hat quite fo large. I am come to inquire after 
 my father's efFeds, and to rcleafe you from the trou- 
 ble you have fo long had, of attending to concerns 
 which may interfere with vour own buiinefs and pur- 
 fuits." 
 
 " Thou art welcome to Philadelphia, friend Reu- 
 ben," faid Jacob, a/fuming feme fmall degree of cor- 
 diality ; " I ihall be ready to give an account of my 
 ftewardlhip whenever thou ihalt demand it. In the 
 mean time, go home with me, and fojourn till thou 
 canll fuit thyfelf better. I am going acrols the river 
 on fome little matter of bufinefs ; when I return, we 
 will go together to my houfe." 
 
 " Ah !" faid Reuben, after Jacob had left him, " I 
 fear this man has a dilhonelt heart ; but I will noi 
 judge too haftily." 
 
 Towards evening, Jacob returned, and with our 
 hero proceeded to the houfe of Mr. Dudley, which 
 he now claimed as his own. It was iituated on the 
 declivity c £ a hill, that, riling gradually behind it, 
 Iheltered it from the wintry blails, and whole fides 
 were covered with a variegated wood ; the Spreading 
 pine, the cedar, the wild walnut, the hiccory, the birch, 
 the oak, were intermingled, and beautifully diversified 
 the foliage, vhilft here and there the parfmon tree 
 difplayed its tempting but deceitful fruit, which, like 
 the frivolous plcniures of the world, are lovely to the 
 eye when viewed at a diliance ; but when tailed, dif- 
 appoint the expectation, and its harih acidity is reject- 
 ed with difguft. Here too, in native beauty, bloonied 
 the laurellinus, and here ir.numerable wild flowerins; 
 ffmibs, gave richnefs nnd fafcination to the fcene, 
 whillt the mild fouth-weft brce/.e wafted their delicious 
 odours to the fenfes, refrefhing and invigorating n*- 
 
 tttre. 
 
276 REUBEN ahd RACHEL; or, 
 
 ture. From the front of the manfion, the green banks 
 Hoped gently to the margin of the Schaylkill, and dis- 
 played the advantages of * cultivation. Here were 
 fields of ripened grain ; here were paftures, where the 
 fheep and cattle rcpofed infafety, and feafted on lux- 
 uriant verdure. To a mind fo pure, lb every way 
 formed to conceive and enjoy the beauties cf nature 
 as was that of our rhcro, the fcene was enchanting ; 
 he rode on, wrapt in contemplation and delight. At 
 length perceiving the houfe, which jull peeped from 
 between the furrounding trees, lie aiked, " Is that my 
 father's houfe ?" 
 
 " That is my houfe,*' faid Jacob. 
 "And how far from hence is- my father's place ?" 
 " This is the place he defigncd to purchafe." 
 " Defigncd ?" 
 
 " Yes, but he went away before he concluded the 
 bargain, and I have fmee made it mine." 
 
 They had now reached the houfe, entered a large 
 gate and difmountcd, when Jacob, with affected io- 
 lemnity and humility, welcomed Reuben to his home- 
 ly dwelling, and prefentcd him to his wife Dinah, a 
 pretty Ouaker, whofe heart was naturally good, but 
 whofe underftanding was ifcarcely above mediocrity, 
 and had been cramped by prejudice, and whole knowl- 
 edge of the world extended not be) ond her own im- 
 mediate family concerns. She loved Jacob finccrcly ; 
 he was in her eyes the fir ft ef human beings ; and 
 when fhe prefentcd hcrhand to welcome Reuben, it 
 was with an air of friendly cordiality ; for he was the 
 friend of her hufband fhe thought, and as fuch, claimed 
 the firft place in her cfteem, and was entitled to every 
 mark of refpeel and attention. She was more than 
 commonly careful that her fuppcr fliould be good in 
 its kind, and ferved with neatnefs. A chamber was 
 prepared for him by her orders, and thither he retired 
 at an early hour, to reflect on his own uncomfortable 
 fituation, and lament the ingratitude and difhoncfty of 
 Jacob Holmes. 
 
 CHA1 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 277 
 
 CHAP. XII. 
 Settlement of Accounts — A Campaign. 
 
 THE next morning after breakfaft, Reuben re- 
 quefted to fee a ltatcment of his accounts, that 
 he might be a judge of what he ought to do ; but Ja- 
 cob told him he expected his wife's father the enfuing 
 day, and as he had been confidentially entrufted with 
 the mutual concerns between Mr. Dudley and himfelf, 
 he thought he would be a proper perfon to be prefent 
 at the final adjuflment of their accounts. 
 
 To this delay Reuben with reluctance confented, 
 and the day pafled on heavily enough ; for notwith- 
 standing the novelty, beauty and variety of the fur- 
 rounding objects, his mind was too much occupied in 
 reflections on his own forlorn fituation, and from 
 thence reverted to the inconveniencies and misfortunes 
 to which his beloved fifter might be fubjeel, fhould he 
 be detained from England, and by the fraud of Jacob 
 Holmes rendered incapable of remitting her any pe- 
 cuniary afllftancc. 
 
 On the following morning, Jacob's father-in-law ar- 
 rived, and he, with great formality bringing out a 
 heap of papers, began to read over to our hero long 
 accounts of money paid. 
 
 " And pray," (aid Reuben, " where is the account 
 of die falesof the merchandize from whence this mon- 
 ey arofe ? My father left very confiderable property 
 in VM'ir hands, and I have every rea&n to imagine the 
 eftatc he purchafed here was entirely paid for, as he 
 drew large fums from his agent in England for that 
 pnrpofe." 
 
 " Thou canft UOt prove what thou dofl: afiert," faid 
 Jacob, with a took of. malignant fatisfaction ; " and I 
 believe thou wilt find it difficult to difpoffefs me of an 
 eft ate, the title deeds or' which are all made out in my 
 name ; and to prove my right thereto, I have the re- 
 ceipts given to me for various fums of money, paid 
 by me at different times, till the whole was paid for." 
 A a « But 
 
2 7 8 REUBEN and RACHEL: or, 
 
 " But tell me," faid Reuben, " whofe property 
 the money with which yea made thefe payments ? 
 
 Was it not my father's." 
 
 Reuben lis.ed his penetrating eyes on the face i 
 rob, .is he made this interrogation, whofe e\c fell be- 
 neath die fcrutinizing glance ; he dared not meet the 
 itoneit look ; his cheek turned pale, liis lips trembled, 
 :'.nd his tongue faltered, as Hooping, with a pretence 
 of replacing ionic papers in a box, but in reality to 
 hide emotions he could not fupprefs, lie replied, that 
 the money was his own. 
 
 "Oh Jacob !" faid Reuben, " how canft thou affert 
 fuch a falfehood ? Does not thy heart fmite thee whilft 
 thou art thus deliberately planning to rob the orphans 
 of their jaft due:" His heart fwelled ; he could not 
 proceed. 
 
 Friend Simcox, the father-in-law cf Jacob, took up- 
 on him to anfwer : 
 
 " It was thy father, young man, who endeavoured 
 to wrong the orphan of his juft. due ; it is thou haft 
 occafion to bluih for his evil deeds. This worthy 
 young man has improved the trifle of property Reu- 
 ben Dudley left behind him, and all demands againft. 
 him difcharged, there remains a fum amounting to 
 about fifty or fixty guineas, which Jacob is ready to 
 pay whenever thou malt demand it ; and I would ad- 
 vife thee to return home in die firft Ihip that goes." 
 
 A converfation now enfued, which convinced our 
 hero diat he had little hope of ever obtaining his right ; 
 for was he even to apply to the law, money would be 
 wanting to profecute his fuit, or to prove his right to 
 the eftate, which was called Mount Pleafant. Mr. 
 Dudley had with him, at the time lie was loft, all the 
 original papers neceftary to b£ produced, the dupli- 
 cates of which were in the hands of Jacob. That all 
 the papers were irrecoverably loft, Reuben had inform- 
 ed this unworthy Reward of by letter, immediately af- 
 ter the fatal cataftrophe. 
 
 There was another circumftance, which militated 
 much againlt him, and with which he was not inform* 
 ei till that hour. Mr. Dudley had ever placed an un- 
 bounded 
 
TALES of OLD TIM *79 
 
 bounded confidence in Jacob Holmes ; he was a. man 
 of eafy diipoiition, fond of agriculture, and fu,ch pur- 
 iiiits as might ultimately tend to benefit the country 
 of which he was about to become an inhabitant, and 
 to render his new purchafe at once beautiful and ben- 
 efici.il. He had therefore, after having fu.rveyed the 
 land, and had one conyerfation with the perfon < 
 whom he was about to purchafe it, entruftcd the whole 
 management of the bufinefs to Jacob. The whole (i 
 the payment not having been made before he left 
 jidelphia, he had never had the deeds properly c 
 led, and the news of his being drowned arriving b 
 they were completed, Jacob conceived the ideaoi hav- 
 ing them filled up in his own name. lie bad, 
 their firit arrival in Philadelphia, been artfully in 
 mining tire reputation of his benefactor, by rep; 
 iug himfelf as a youth of fortune cnlrufied to hia 
 dianfhip ; and whenever he made a payment, 1 
 ways gave the perfon to underftand that it was Ins 
 own money that he was advancing to ferve his I 
 Dudley. This idea having been artfully propagated, 
 and univcrfally credited, and Mr. Dudley and himfelf 
 being equally flrangers in the place, Jacob found no 
 dilficulty in procuring the ellate to be lectured to him- 
 felf. lie found it much more difficult to f.lcncc the 
 admonitions of his confidence. But die heart natural- 
 ly ungrateful, by eafy gradations may be habituated 
 to admit, and even approve, every other vice. Grat- 
 itude is the foundation and fource of all the moral vir- 
 tues. For if we receive the many great and good 
 gifts of our beneficent Creator without a grateful fien- 
 libility, we no longer love him ; and whom we do 
 not love, we become indiiFerent, whether we obey or 
 ferve. 
 
 Jacob flirled the remonftrances of ccnfcier.ee ; and 
 even when he law our hero, could lie have done it 
 without fear of the law, would fcarcely have hefitated 
 to give him a quick paffport from this to a better 
 world. 
 
 The accounts adjufled according to the plan Jacob 
 had concerted, and which old friend Simcos neve: 
 
 feminized, 
 
i»o REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 ferutinized, becaufe he wifhed not to be undeceived, 
 the paltry fum of fifty-fevert guineas was offered to 
 our hero, for which he was requefted to give a gen- 
 eral acquittal of all demands whatever, on the perfon 
 ©r property of Jacob Holmes. 
 
 When this money and this curious acquittal were 
 prefented to Reuben, the one for his acceptance, the 
 other for his fignature, his indignation arofe beyond the 
 bounds within which he had endeavoured to confine 
 it. He rofe from his feat, pufliing, with an indignant 
 motion, the proffered .money from him. 
 
 " Add not infult to injury," faid he, "Jacob Holmes { 
 I would recapitulate who and what you are ; but there 
 are feveral forcible reafons that oblige me to filcnce. 
 A.nd firft — You, Jacob, are not anfwerable for the 
 faults of thofe, whofe memories the grave has confign- 
 ed to eternal oblivion ; nor dare I fpeak of obliga- 
 tions ; for Well I know he who conferred them, ever 
 made it a rule to fix the feal of filence on his own 
 good deeds, and the faults of his fellow-creatures. As 
 to taking the money you offer and ilgning this acquit- 
 tal, they are alike repugnant to my feelings. I have 
 no demand on your property, Jacob ; I afk but for my 
 own ; the property cf my late dear lather is mine and 
 my filter's. For myfelf, I value it not. I am young, 
 unencumbered, have hands to labour, or an arm to 
 fight, i cannot want bread. But my lifter, lovely, 
 mneccnt, unacquainted with the world, mull lhc be 
 dependent ? Mull flic court the fmiles of that world ? 
 Mull flic fubmit to the contumely of the haughty, the 
 flights of the unfeeling, or the more humiliating pity 
 ui affected fenfibility, and in return procure the fcaivty 
 means of bare ex.ifl.ence ? No ! I cannot tamely give 
 up her right, however I might relinquifli my own. 
 I do affert, Jacob Holmes, and you, friend Simcox, bear 
 witnefs to the affertion, that this eftate, this houfe, this 
 land, the flock and all appertaining to it, is the j<m it 
 property of myfelf and After Rachel, inherited from 
 our father, Reuben Dudley ; nor will 1 relinquifli the 
 claim whilfl 1 have exiftence." 
 
 He 
 
. TALES of OLD TIMES. 281 
 
 He took his hat, and walked towards the door ; 
 then turning, he added — 
 
 " Jacob, poor as thou haft, by thy difhonedy, made 
 me, I pity thee. Yes, Jacob Holmes, I pity thee. 
 Thou hail reduced me to poverty, and thyfclf to mil- 
 ery." 
 
 Dinah, Jacob's wile, had overheard the conversa- 
 tion ; not at fiilt intentionally, but paffing through the 
 parlour that adjoined the room in which they were, and 
 catching a word that awakened her curiofity, ftopped. 
 Curiolity, when once awakened, is hard to be repelled, 
 at lead in women, lay the oppofite fel. Whether we 
 are more troubled with the inipulle than l UT Gathers, 
 brothers, or hulbands, I will rat a< w diipute ; it is a 
 certainty Dinah rlopped to liden to a COnverfation 
 which had powerful"! y excited her's. ■ 
 
 It has been remarked, that Dinah's unUerflanding 
 was not of the moil brilliant kind; but flie pOflcfled 
 that plains natural fenfe which enabled her to have a 
 full and clear perception of right and wrong. Hei 
 willies were moderate, her wauls few. She was equal- 
 ly a ftranger. to avarice, luxury and ambition. She 
 liltencd to the acculaticn of Reuben, and all that ihe 
 polfelfed of fcnlibility was awakened; not that Ike 
 reared to be deprived of part of the comforts and con- 
 veniencies ihe at prefent enjoyed ; but the man whom 
 ihe thought the fird and bed of all Cod's creatures 
 had been accufed of fraud ; it innocently, her indig- 
 nation would fall on his accufer ; if judly, then Jacob 
 Holmes -was no longer the perfect being ihe had ever 
 believed him ; and if guilty of difhoneity, Dinah felt 
 (he could.no longer refpect him. Yet Ihe was unwil- 
 ling to believe aught to his prejudice ; ihe therefore 
 approached our hero as he left the apartment. 
 
 " Thou mud not leave us in anger, Reuben Dud- 
 ley," faid Ihe, laying her hand on his arm as lie at- 
 tempted to pals her ; " if Jacob has done thee wrong, 
 I dare affirm it w..s not wilfully ; and if thou canft 
 make it appear, he will make thee ample rcditution." 
 " Do not detain me, madam," faid he, gently free- 
 ing himfelf from her hold ; " I aminhaiU to depart ; 
 A a z but 
 
282 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 hut I part not in difpleafurc with you. God . 
 you, and make you as happy as you are innocent." 
 Then killing the child, which ilie held in her arms, 1 : 
 went haftily to the (table, fuddled his horfe, and with- 
 out any oppofition, mounted and proceeded to Phila- 
 delphia! 
 
 Dinah entered the room where her father and huf- 
 band were fitting. " Good Jacob," faid ilie, " let not 
 the young man leave us in anger. 1 do remember 
 his father ; I have heard him fpeak of thee with affec- 
 tion, as though thou hadft heen his own child. I veri- 
 ly believe he did love thee, Jacob ; for his fake, let 
 me call back the young man." 
 
 " No," cried Jacob, with a ftern look, " ftay where 
 you are (for fhe was about to quit the room) ; the 
 youth has behaved unfeemly, refufes the money whicli 
 I have tendered him, and lays claim to mv whole ci- 
 tate." 
 
 " And art thou fure, quite fure, Jacob Holmes," 
 faid fhe, and her countenance expreffed fear and doubt, 
 " art thou quite fure that he has no lawful claim upon 
 thy property ? In good truth, I thought he fpeke as 
 though he were affurcd of his right." 
 
 " Dinah," faid Jacob, "thou art a good woman ; 
 thou doft underftand thy houfehold concerns ; they 
 are fufficient for the extent of thy capacity. I pray 
 thee, Dinah, trouble not thyfelf with what is beyond 
 thy comprehenfion. Thou art a ftranger to the 
 world, totally unacquainted with the arts and decep- 
 tions with Which it abounds." 
 
 " Verily thou fayeft right," fhe replied mildly, " but 
 as I could not a'ffert a falfehood without hefitating, 
 nor claim what was the right of another, without blufh- 
 ing, I judged by the firm voice and unembarrallcd 
 manner of the young man." 
 
 u If thou didft judge of him by thyfelf, Dinah," 
 faid her father, " thou didft wrong." 
 
 " Perhaps fo, father ; I am fimple, and uninftruct- 
 ed. But 1 hope I am not equally wrong in judging 
 of my huiband's heart by my own ; for I think, Ja- 
 cob," continued fhe, and file laid her hand affection- 
 ately 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 283 
 
 ately on his arm, " I think I would rather be poor and 
 Iioneft, than rich at the coll of another ; wouldft not 
 thou, Jacob :" 
 
 Jacob could not reply, nor even lift his eyes to the 
 face of his wife ; he rather unkindly fhook off the hand 
 f he had laid on his . arm, and the child juft then be- 
 ginning to cry, he bade her take away the noily boy, 
 for it diflurbed him. Dinah obeyed in filen.ee, re- 
 paired to a diftant apartment, and as the infant drew 
 from her bofom life's nouriihing fluid, ihe hung fond- 
 ly over him and wept. 
 
 Our hero in the mean time returned to Philadel- 
 phia. His mind was haraffed, his fpirits deprefled ; 
 he endeavoured to compole himfclf, and to form fomc 
 plan for his future conduct ; but, inexperienced as he 
 w.is, he wanted a friend to advile and direct him. 
 "To-morrow," faid he, "I will deliver the letters 1 
 brought with me." 
 
 Reuben was elegant in his appearance, though per- 
 fectly plain in his drei's ; but there was an air of fupc- 
 i id: ivy, not pride or felf-confcquence ; it was that na- 
 tive dignity Of manner, which is ever infpired by ccr.- 
 fcious rectitude of heart and unimpeached integrity. 
 His peribn was finking, and what would in general be 
 termed handfome. It will naturally be fuppoied he 
 was therefore received with politenefs, and would have 
 prepo {felled almoft every one in his favour, but that 
 almoft all whom he converfed with were prejudiced 
 pcrfons, who conceived that Jacob Holmes's intereil 
 had been much injured by die extravagance and folly 
 of his father. 
 
 From feveral to whom he delivered letters, (which 
 letters were nothing more than a Ample annunciation 
 of his name and family) he received invitations to 
 their houfes ; but when his circumftances began to be 
 fufpee~tcd, and indeed the opennefs of his difpofition 
 led him rather to cxpofe than endeavour to conceal 
 them ; when it was difeovcred he wanted friends who 
 would be farther icrviceable than merely giving him 
 a dinner, or a bed for a few nights ; he found, by 
 their diftant, frigid manner, that he was no longer 
 
 weh ' 
 
284 REUBEN axd RACHEL; erf; 
 
 he was thought an inlruder. His in- 
 dependent fpirit took ii:x-; he do longer vifited, he 
 Unit himfelf in his apartment, lived fparingly, and -re- 
 rent plans by which he hoped 
 to immcrge from obfcurity, and re:v.::e from oblivion 
 :l.e name of Dudley. He had applied to fevcral pro- 
 i of lha law i » give him advice and uiniluncc for 
 jcovcry of his right ; but his poverty was kr.own 
 to bo certain, his claims were fuppofed very doubtful ; 
 no one would undertake the cauie. 
 
 Can any fituatiou be mure dillreffing, than that of 
 a young man, of brilliant understanding, afpiring ge- 
 nius, laudable ambition and uncorrupted heart, thus 
 J prived of every means of improving his fortune, 
 or exerting hi-> talents, in foch a manner as might at 
 once l>o advantageous to himfelf and fociety in-gener- 
 al ? In a huge and nouriiiiing town, without a friend, 
 without even an ailbciate towards whom he felt the 
 fmaUeft degree of affection, how forlorn, how totally de- 
 void of comfort were his days ! A folitary indi\ idual, 
 who looked on the unrounding multitude, whom buu- 
 nefs or pleafure had drawn together, and law not one 
 with whom the feelings of his foul could claim kin- 
 dred, not one who conceived or commifcrated hisfuf- 
 ferings, or, fhould ficknefs overtake him, would feel 
 interefted for his recovery, or drop a tear of regret 
 over his bier, Should it pleafe Heaven to put a period 
 to his exigence. 
 
 Deprelfed by his own fituation, and tortured by re- 
 neclions on what might poihbly be the diflreues of his 
 ii ter, Reuben had not courage even to write to her. 
 " Why ihould I torment her," he would fay, "by an 
 account of my ill fuccefs ? Why write, when I have 
 not one comfortable idea to tranfmit ? No, I will 
 fnifer her to fuppoie I am no more ; my filence will 
 lead her to imagine 1 have paid the debt of nature. 
 She will grieve, but time will fcothe and lejQ'en her 
 affliction, which even at the ririt will not be half fo 
 poignant, as the knowledge of my exifting in a Rate 
 of obfeurity, without money, without credit, without 
 friends would occafion." 
 
 Jcfly 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 28; 
 
 Jeffy Oliver to?), would fometimes intrude on his 
 thoughts ; but he endeavoured to banifn hopes, which, 
 fpite of reafon, would often arife. " She is loft to 
 me," he would fay ; '• I ihall never fee her more, or 
 fhould I, will my ruined fortune entitle me to the hand 
 of a woman of her rank ? But Mils Oliver is above 
 valuing a man for the paltry diftinctions of wealth. 
 Then ought I not to repel, with the utmoft force of 
 honour, every felfifh palfion that would infpire a wifh 
 to degrade her by a union with my humble dctliny ?" 
 
 Thefe were the hourly reflections of our hero. 
 Night came, and he, cheerless fought the pillow ei 
 repofe, courting oblivion in the arms o{ flecp. But 
 the fomnific power was deaf to his felicitations ; or if, 
 perchance, he paid a tranfient vifit, fealing his weary 
 eyes for a few hours, Memory, ftill wakeful, would 
 reprefeilt pad fcenes, or fondly paint illuiive prei'cnt 
 joys. 
 
 Rachel and Jetty were the objects of his dreams. 
 Sometimes he faW his filter on the brink of a preci- 
 pice, from the edge of which a horrid fpectre ftrove to 
 precipitate her, when, as ftie fell, Jefly appeared with 
 arms extended to catch and lave her from plunging 
 into the dreadial abyl's that fawned beneath. Some- 
 times his fancy reprefented his fifter and Mifs Oliver 
 embarked in a frn.dl and iil-accommodated veifel, on a 
 tempeftnous ocean ; thj iky lowered, the w. 
 cd> and glaring meteors fhot along the horizon ; the 
 waves rtfe tremendous, brObs on the little barque, 
 and tfie difappeared. Then in a moment he law the 
 fair form of Jeify leading his fainting lifter up the 
 beach, when, as they ftrove to avoid the encroaching 
 tide, their feet would flip, and fucceeding waves again 
 immerfe them in die foaming food ; and then again 
 an inftantancous change (for the virions cf Qtt 
 wild and un:or,ne<5red) would roprtKefit thofe dear ob- 
 jects of his fondeit folicitudc leated in an arbour of 
 etergreei.s-, twined round with myrtle flowers and 
 rofes. He faw them, talked to thtm ; fwect tim 
 infants fecnu-d to play around them. Archibald Oh- 
 wr too was there, and a ftranger of noble mien. But 
 
 fuddenly 
 
2«g Reuben and racheljok, 
 
 faddenly fomc n«w terror would arffe ; lie ftarted, 
 awoke, and all die fafcinating vificn iiu'. Sleep 
 agitated and diftnrbed afforded nut little refrdliment, 
 and in a few weeks our hero was but the (had 
 his former felf. 
 
 About this period the natives, who had been driven 
 back into the Allegany Mountain*, and who had pitch- 
 ed their habitation, in different tribes, upon the fur* 
 thermoil bar,! 3 of die Sufquehannah, Allegany and 
 Mohawk rivers, made frequent deicents into tlic ntv. 
 fettled pans of live country, plundering, burning and 
 deftrbyihg with impunity every European iettlemcnt 
 witliin their re 
 
 In confequence of the treachery and rapacity of 
 thefe lavages, it became neeefiary to fend a military 
 force to repel them, and guard the lives and proper- 
 ties of the inofFenlive fettlers ; and Patrick Gordon, 
 Efq. who at that time governed the colony, prcpofed 
 raifing a volunteer company for this fervice. Proper 
 officers were accordingly appointed, and the company 
 increafed daily. 
 
 The noife this occafioned in the city awakened Res- 
 ben from his lethargy of defpondency. The native 
 fpark of ambition, which had fo long lain dormant, 
 was fanned to a flame, and with the fanguine ardour 
 everinfeparable from youth, vainly imagining todtilrve 
 was to infure preferment, he offered himieif to the 
 Governor, and was accepted. 
 
 His candour in fpeaking of himfelf and circum- 
 ftances ; his youth, his manners, his open, uncmbar- 
 ralied air, and intelligent, manly countenance, fpoke 
 volumes in his favour, and procured him the honour- 
 able appointment of itandard bcaser. 
 
 Early in the fpring, they began their plan of ope- 
 rations, and marched towards the margin of the Suf- 
 quehannah. During the fpring and fummer months, 
 they had feveral rencounters with the Indians, and be- 
 ing in general victorious, they had driven and purfued 
 them a farther di fiance into the country than they 
 imagined, and the weather began to grow cold before 
 they thought of returning. At length the officers 
 
 having 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 2S7 
 
 having unanimouily agreed that it would be hazard- 
 otis, as veil as of little life, to purine their retreating 
 foe any farther, preparations were made for their gain- 
 ing good quarters before the inclement feafon fhould 
 i>e too far advanced. Th.e main body had began their 
 march, and our hero, (who was now promoted to the 
 rank of lieutenant) with a fmall party, was left to fol- 
 low the next morning with the baggage. 
 
 Amongtf the party of which Reuben was fecond in 
 command, was an Iriih youth, who particularly attach- 
 ed himfelf to our hero. O'Neil was ignorant, but hon- 
 efl. Like an luipoUilied diamond) his rut ward appear- 
 ance was uncouth and rough ; but within was a jewel 
 of incitimablc price. Simplicity, integrity and hu- 
 manity were the character: (lies < i his foul. This young 
 man was fo pointed in his attentions to our hero, that 
 it could not pals unnoticed. One day, when he had 
 been voluntarily performing feme little menial office, 
 Reuben thus addrefled him : 
 
 " By what good fortune, O'Neil, is it, that I am fo 
 particularly favoured with your kind offices r" 
 
 "Arrah, my fwate mailer," (aid O'Neil, " by no 
 great matter of good fortune, only that your Honour 
 happened to have a father." 
 
 " Did you know my father, O'Neil f" 
 
 " Oeh ! and did you think I did not know him ? 
 Many is the time I havent fcrved him, to be fure ; and 
 while Pat O'Neil lives, he will ferve any that wears 
 the name of Dudley, for his fake ; aye, by night or by 
 day, fair weather or foul, all's one for that. And did 
 you think now I could ever forget how he paid the 
 money for that fwate crater, Madam Juliana, and how 
 he had her nuifed, and " 
 
 It now ftruck Reuben that he might, through 
 O'Neil, learn fome further intelligence concerning a 
 circumtlancc, which he had often thought of fincc the 
 information he leceived from Jael, on the firft day of 
 his arrival ; for he naturally fuppoled that the Juliana 
 he talked of was the unfortunate woman, whofe for- 
 his father had alleviated. lie put feveral quef- 
 to his humble friend, and gleaned from him a 
 
 talc 
 
288 REUBEN and RACHEL; cr, ' 
 
 t:ilc which cannot be better related than in his own 
 limple language. 
 
 M It was in dear Ireland," faid he, " about fifteen 
 miles from Dublin's fwate city, that my honoured 
 matter had a houfe ; I would tell you his name, but 
 that I can't, becaufe, you fee, 1 promifed Madam 
 Juliana never to breathe a fyllable of the matter. She 
 was all the child he had ; and he thought ihe was too 
 good for the fun to fhine on, and fo ihe was ; but ihe 
 was not quite fo good neither, that is to fay, ihe might 
 a done better than to liften to a fpallpeen ot a lord thnt 
 was an Engliihman, only that he was born in Dublin. 
 So he law her one day when ihe was riding out, and 
 he fpoke to her, and rode home with her ; and when 
 my mailer law who he was, he turned him out of the 
 houfe, and never aiked him into it ; and I heard him 
 tell Madam Juliana at fupper-time, that he was no bet- 
 ter than he Ihould be, an if he had faid not half fo 
 good, he would have faid more in his favour than hp 
 deferred. I was a boy, pleafe your Honour, then, 
 and half a guinea tempted me to take a letter and give 
 it to her. Och ! the remembrance of that makes my 
 heart ache very often ; for if' I had not been io eafily 
 perfuaded, my good mafter and my fwate lady might 
 a been alive and happy together now. So flie did not 
 mind what her father laid, but wrote to him, and met 
 liiin ; and one evening he brought a chaile and four 
 horfes. It was after iiinfet, and the new moon gave 
 but little light ; fo ihe liiid, " Patrick, will you walk 
 with me as far as the Mill-Bridge V* 
 
 " Now it was October, and the wind was (harp. So 
 (ays I, ' It is cold, my lady,' lays I." 
 
 " A little cr fo," faid ih^, and her vr ice feemed to 
 tremble. " It is a little cold, Patrick, but here is {Some- 
 thing to keep you warm ;" fo ihe put a crown piece 
 into my hand. So we went out together, and as I 
 opened the gale, ihe turned and looked up at the win- 
 dows of her father's ftudy ; for there was a big row of 
 trces*from the houfe to the gate, and his ftudy win- 
 dows were right oppofite. So ihe locked at them, 
 
 and 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 2S9 
 
 and lifted up her hands and wrung them, and I heard 
 her fob." 
 
 " You had better go back, Mifs," faid I ; but fhe 
 made me no anfwer, only walked very faft forward ; 
 and when I faw the lord and the chaife, my mind mif- 
 gave mc, and I faid, " Och ! Mils July, what are you 
 going to be after doing r" 
 
 " Do not be frightened, my good lad," faid fhe, 
 "but go back and tike this letter to my father." 
 
 "Go back:" faid I, "no! no! Pat ONcil does 
 no fuch thing ; I could not bear to fee my poor old 
 mafter die of the heart-break, or go crazy for your 
 lofs." 
 
 " But you mufl: go back," faid the lord. 
 
 " But I won't," faid I ; "1 will follow my rm.trefs 
 to the end o{ the world, and farther too if needs 
 mult." 
 
 " Och ! your Honour, I cannot tell how I felt when 
 I thought they were going away without me. He 
 had lifted my poor lady in, who leaned almoil dying ; 
 fe I caught hold of her gown, and hung upon the 
 ftep of the chaife, and fwore never to quit my hold till 
 my hands were cut off." 
 
 " Let him go with us, poor fellow," faid my lady. 
 
 " He will betray us," faid the lord. 
 
 "No, I will not," faid I; "let me go with my 
 miftrefs, and I will not {peak a word to nobody ; but 
 I will protect her, fight for her, die for her." 
 
 " Get up behind," faid he. 
 
 " I fprung up in a giffey, and away we went. Well, 
 that night we went aboard a packet, and failed away 
 to England, and there a Roman Catholic prieft mar- 
 ried them ; but the falfe-hearted lord never meant the 
 thing that was right all this while ; for in a week or 
 two he grew cool, and at laft told her he was no Cath- 
 olic, and therefore not her hu'fband, and that to pro- 
 vide for her during her life, he had got her a hufband, 
 and when ihe was married, Ihe might go b.ick to her 
 father. So a captain ufed to come with him, and I 
 don't know how tiicy managed ; bat Madam Juliana 
 was married to him, and I thought the next day Ihe 
 B b would 
 
= 9 o REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 would have gone diftraifted. She tore her beautifal 
 flaxen li:iir, and wrung her hands, and cried and fob- 
 bed. So then, in a little while kcrhulbar.d went aw a v 
 over fen, and then after Madam lay in, flic followed 
 him, and when flje came to Philadelphia, he would not 
 own her, and Ihe pined and pined, tiil at laft " 
 
 Here th e voice of poor O'Neil failed. His honed 
 heart burft forth at his eyes. 
 
 " Spare youriclf, Patrick," faid Reuben, " for I think 
 I know the reft." 
 
 " Not quite all, your Honour," faid Patrick ; " for 
 on the day before fhe died, your good father, Heaven 
 blefs bim for it, let me fee her. She was almoftgone, 
 und fpoke fo low, I could fcarcc hear her." 
 
 " Patrick," faid Hie, " I want to thank you for your 
 Heady attachment* to me. 1 would fain leave you 
 forhetjhing as a remembrance ; but I have nothing 
 Eft of any value." 
 
 "My dear ? fwate» angel lady," faid J, " you will 
 leave me the remembrance of your precious felt. I 
 never ! no, never ! lhail forget you." 
 
 " T lent for you," faid ihe, " to tell you, Patrick, 
 that, fhould you ever fee my father, he may know from 
 you that I have been puniihed, juftly, I own, though 
 very feverely, for my difobedience to the belt of parents. 
 I leave my child an orphan, in a ftrange land ; but 
 my bcnefaclor has promifed to take care of it. You, 
 I know, will, to the utmoft of your power, protect it." 
 
 She fainted before lhe had imifhed ; they took me 
 out of the room, and I never faw her again. Och ! 
 your Honour, fhe is furely in heaven ; for to die heart- 
 broken, and in poverty, in a ftrange land, without any 
 
 fi lends Do you not think fhe is in heaven ? do you 
 
 not think her fins were pardoned ?" 
 
 " We will hope fo," laid Reuben ; " but difobedi- 
 ence to parents is certainly a deep offence againft the 
 commandments of our Creator." 
 
 " But ihe was very penitent," faid O'Neil. Reuben 
 was blent. 
 
 After this converfation, there feemed a kind of fo- 
 cial bond foimed between Reuben and the young Iriih- 
 
 man ; 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 291 
 
 man ; the latter performing all the officer, of a fervarit, 
 the 'Other. practicing all the km&nefs and benevolence 
 
 of the beft of matters. The autumn nights were cold ; 
 O'Neil would watch till ho faw our hero in a {lumber. 
 then, adding his own blanket to the flight covering of 
 Reuben's bed, he would wrap himfelf as well as ha 
 could in his great coat, and lie down on the ground 
 he'ide him. 
 
 The baggage being placed in order ready for an 
 early march, the foldieis and officers were retired to 
 rcil. O'Neil had, as uiual, thrown his blanket over 
 his mafter (as he delighted to call him) and the air 
 being more than ufually iharp, he found it impoflible 
 to fleep. He arofe, and raking together the dying em- 
 bers of a fire by which they had drelied their fuppei, 
 began to re-kindle it. As he was thus employed, he 
 thought he heard a milling amongft the trees ; and 
 turning half round, perceived, by the faint 1'ght the 
 fire cail around, the faces of two Indians peeping hi z:i 
 behind a large tree. He gave aloud cry; the In- 
 dians uttered the war whoop ; a fcene of confufion and 
 hoiTor enfued, and in a few moments part of the little 
 corps weie ilain, the reft wounded and mack prii 
 Among d the latter was our hero, and . 
 adherent, Patrick O'Neil. 
 
 ■ t < « ■< «^''{"^» > ••>■ > >-• 
 
 C H A P. XIII. 
 Another J~ijit to favagc Habitations. 
 
 THERE had, fome little time previous to this 
 event, been feveral of the Indian chiefs taken 
 prifoners by the Europeans, and it was to this circum- 
 llance thofe, who were taken prifoners by the native :, 
 owed the prefervation of their lives, as the lavages en- 
 tertained hopes that by means of thefe they might 
 procure the liberty of their captured brethren. 
 
 Their route lay acrofs the country, and before they 
 had reached their place of deflination, a very heavy 
 
 fall 
 
2?2 REUBEN and RACHEL; e*, 
 
 fall of fnow rendered the woods almoft impenetrable ; 
 but the Indians, inured frem their infancy to cold, 
 hunger, every fuecies of hardfliip, felt little or no in- 
 convenience from the f;. verity of the feafon, whillt tlic 
 Europeans funk under their accumulated fufferings ; 
 and of twelve who were taken prifoners, (even died by 
 the way, 
 
 Reuben had been Qightly wounded, and O'Ncil had 
 received a fcratch, as he called it, in endeavouring to 
 prefcrve his mafter, from the tomahawk of an Indiar. 
 But Reuben Mas by nature intrepid, and O'Ncil was 
 callous to every calamity that affected only himfelf. 
 They mutually comforted and fupported each oilier, 
 and were amongft the few who furvived at the end ot 
 their wcariibmc, pedeftrian journey. 
 
 The morning after their arrival at the Indian fettle- 
 ment, the rive furviving captives were prefented to the 
 fachem, Wampoogohoon. His wigwam was larger 
 anil more commodious than thole of his fubjecls. It 
 was well lined with fkins of various wild beafts, and 
 oh a kind of throne, covered with the fame materials, 
 fat the fachem. At his left hand fat a woman, whole 
 Complexion fpoke her of European defcent, and behind 
 them ftood a young female, in appearance about fev- 
 cnteen years old. Her i"kin was a fhade darker than 
 that of the woman's; her eyes were of that kind ii 
 dark grey, which may almoft be termed blue, and yet, 
 from the fhade of long black eyelafhes, may fometimes 
 be miltaken for black. Their expreffion was at once 
 foft and animated, and her dark auburn hair, which 
 diil not really curl, but hung in waves down her back 
 and over her fhoulders, was ornamented with a few 
 glafs beads, and a tuft of fcarlet feathers, fancifully 
 arranged, and not entirely devoid of tafce. The reft 
 of her drefs, though greatly fimilar to the other wom- 
 en, had a (bmething of delicacy, in its formation anil 
 method of being put on, that was particularly pleafmg 
 to Europeans. Her figure was above the middle 
 fize, yet not robuft enough to be thought mafculine, 
 though every feature glowed with ruddy health, every 
 Jimb difplayed the tfrength and firmnefs of her frame. 
 
 She 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 293 
 
 She ftood with her right hand leaning on the fachem's 
 moulder, in her left ihe held an unbraced bow, and a 
 quiver full of arrows was flung acrofs her back. 
 
 Wampoogohoon received the captives with a kind 
 of fallen dignity. He fpoke to them in very bad En- 
 glilli, but they, understood fufficient to comprehend 
 that he mean to detain them till the captured Indians 
 were returned in faiety. 
 
 During the time lie was fpeaking, Reuben looked 
 attentively at the two women, who Irom their places, 
 and the univerfal refpect paid them, lie concluded 
 were the wife and daughter of the chief. The penfivc 
 nefs manifeil in the countenance of the elder, the beau- 
 ty and majeity of the younger, awakened in his bofom 
 a wifh to be acquainted with their ftory ; for he was 
 certain they wer«. of European extraction, though of 
 what nation he could not determine, as they had neither 
 of them fpoke. 
 
 At length, when the conference was ended, and the 
 fachem waved his hand for them to depart, his wife 
 aroie, and fpoke to him in the Mohawk tongue, Reu- 
 ben perceived, irom the fait tone of her voice and her 
 earneit manner, that it was a (application. He an- 
 fwered, but not with the gentlell accent ; ihe laid her 
 hand on his arm, and repeated her requeft, in which 
 ihe was joined by Eumea, his daughter. He looked 
 irrefolute for a moment, then feeming to acquiefce in 
 their demands, aroie from his feat, and taking his bow 
 and arrows, was followed by his attendants out of the 
 wigwam. 
 
 The two interefting females now came forward, 
 and the eldelt, whole name was Victoire,.kddrtuedeur 
 hero in very tolerable French : 
 
 " Stranger, I am forry for your captivity, though 
 my fituation among!! theft Indians makes me appear 
 your enemy. Yourftlf and companions are no doubt 
 lurpriied, to fee a perion of my complexion fo inti- 
 mately connected with one of theirs; my ftory may 
 be told in a few words. My mother, a native of 
 trance, being of a protectant family, and apprehend- 
 ing perlecution, emigrated to this new-found world, 
 h b 2 in 
 
29+ REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 in company with her hufband, a man of drift piety 
 and principles. Their portion of worldly goods was 
 not large ; they purchaled a wild, uncultivated fpot 
 upon the borders of the Allegany, and by five years 
 of indefatigable labour, rendered their little hut and 
 furrounding garden, together with one field, tolerably 
 comfortable ; but j uft when they began to talte fome 
 fmall degree of happinefs, which would fcarcely have 
 deferved the name, but by being contrafted with the 
 excefs of hardlhip they had endured in clearing and 
 rendering their little demefne fit for cultivation ; then, 
 at the moment when they hoped to reap the reward of 
 their labours, a party of Mohawks came down upon 
 them, rifled and deftroyed their dwelling, murdered 
 my father and two little brothers, and carried my 
 wretched mother and myfelf, then only a year old, in- 
 to captivity." 
 
 Victoire paufed ; fhe feemed affected ; a tear glif- 
 tened in the expreffive eyes of Eumea. At length the 
 former proceeded : — 
 
 " My mother was a convincing proof of the excefs 
 of mifery the human mind can fuffer ; ilie furvived 
 the lofs of a hufband tenderly beloved, and two chil- 
 dren. I was her comfort, her ftay, which held her to 
 this world ; for my fake fhe bore captivity without 
 murmuring, for my fake ihe wiflied and ft rove to pre- 
 ferve her exiftence ; fhe lived till 1 was fourteen years 
 old, and gave me every inftruction which memory fur- 
 nilhed, for fhe had no afliftance from books. She in- 
 ftilled into my young mind a knowledge and love of 
 a fiipreme, benignant Being, and taught me to place my 
 whole dependence on him, whofe goodnefs was equal 
 to his power. 
 
 " Wampoogchoon was the youngeft fon of the fa- 
 chem, who at that time governed this tribe ; he offer- 
 ed mc his protection. My mother, in a dying ftate, 
 rather than leave me expofed to infult, advifed me to 
 accede to his propofal, and I became his wife. His 
 father and brothers are fince dead, and you behold 
 him a chief of the Mohawks. He is not unkind to 
 me, and as the father of my children, I feel an affec- 
 tion 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 295 
 
 tion for him. Eumea is the only furviving child I 
 have or' fix ; for her fake, I wilh for fome intercourfc 
 with the Europeans, that her mind, which is not a bar- 
 ren foil, may receive the culture of education. To 
 this end, I have requefted my hufband to permit you 
 to have a wigwam to yourfelves, where you may dwell 
 in quiet, till we hear of the fafety of thofe Indians who 
 have been detained by your party. In return, 1 only 
 requeft you to exert your abilities to inllruct, in your 
 language, cuftoms, manners and religion, my child 
 Eumea." 
 
 Saying this, fhe prefented the Indian maid to Reu- 
 ben, who. allured Victoire he would do all in his pow- 
 er to return the obligation fhe had conferred. 
 
 He was then, with his companions, fhewn to a hab- 
 itation that wore a trifling appearance of comfort ; in 
 it were three or four bear fkins, a quantity of clean 
 dry ftraw, fome dried fifh, venifon and maize, and 
 without was plenty of fuel. 
 
 Here our hero indulged himfelf in reflection ; anil 
 often would his thoughts revert to his grandfather, 
 William Dudley, who was for many years in a fitua- 
 tion fomewhat limilar. But Reuben had lecn too much 
 of favage men and manners to have a wilh to remain 
 amonglt them, even though he might have been ele- 
 vated to the highefl feat of dignity. 
 
 It was at once a comfort and amufement to Reu- 
 ben, that he was obliged, for feveral hours every day, 
 to employ his mind, in order to cultivate that of his 
 pupil Eumea. He contrived, by boiling the fhumak 
 berries, to make a liquid with which he could write on 
 white birch bark. In this manner, he made an alpha- 
 bet, which fhe prefently learnt ; and feeming to de- 
 light in attending to his inftruclions, he experienced a 
 double fatisfaftion in endeavouring to expand and in- 
 form her underftanding. She was foon able to read 
 ihort fentences, which he compofed for her ; his hand 
 being generally employed, and his mind often totally 
 occupied in flriving to recoiled what might be of the 
 mod fervice to his lovely fcholar, he had little time for 
 reflection. 
 
 O'Neil 
 
*90 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 O'Noil laboured inceflantly to keep then- dwelling 
 warn and tight ; and fomctimes lie went out with his 
 gun, and brought home fbtae kind of game which 
 ierved to divetliiyi their fcanty repafts ; and often Vic- 
 toiie would accompany her daughter, to their wigwam, 
 and on thofe occafions generally carried fomething 
 v. inch they drought a delicacy, fuch as noa-cake, 
 omatarny, or fuccatafii, \iar.ds compofedof maize and 
 dried beans ; and thus wore away a- very long and in- 
 ly ievere winter. Reuben had been, a prifoner 
 above fix months, and yet no news had arrived that 
 could raife his hopes of fpecdy liberation ; and wc 
 mull leave him amonglt thefe children of nature, and' 
 return to our heroine, whom we left married to Ham- 
 den Aubciry, but "living in the vicinity of Mary-le,r 
 bone under the anumedname of Dacres. 
 
 ■<<•<< «$?.;'&§&'>■ >>->••>- 
 
 CHAP, XIV.. 
 Scandal — Separation — Jeahufy. 
 
 I' T has been already remarked, that Rachel had as 
 little curiofity in her compofition as any woman 
 exifting : fhe was alfo by nature of a retired, quiet 
 turn of mind, though eafily led into fcenes of diffipa- 
 tion, in which, as Hie generally mixed to gratify oth- 
 ers, 'fhe took but little fatisfaflion.. She therefore 
 fpent the chief of her time at home, either employed 
 at her needle, or reading. Hamden was fond of mu- 
 fic ; he had procured her afpinnet and a matter. She 
 had a confiderable tafte for drawing ; Hamden was 
 a proficient in the art ; he directed and improved her 
 judgment; pointed out proper fubjects for thecxerciie 
 of her genius, and with her bock, her pencil, her nee- 
 dle, mufic, and fome few domeftic concerns, fhe fo 
 fweetly diverfified her time, that not one moment 
 hung heavy on her hands. Indeed, Rachel had, from 
 her childhood, been taught that moll ufeful, and to 
 thofe who praclife it, that moll pleafant of all Li ions, 
 
 conllant 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 297 
 
 con (hint employment ; that it is better to be engaged 
 in trifling purfuits (if innocent) than fufEer the mind 
 to (ink into inanity for want of exercife. 
 
 Hamden remained in London about a month or fix 
 Weeks after their marriage. He then left her to return 
 to his aunt, who was (till in Scotland ; and at the 
 time h'e bade his dear Rachel adieu, he purpofed re- 
 turning toiler within the (pace of two months. 
 
 After the departure of her hufband, our heroine 
 
 continued the fame regular courfe of life. But Calum- 
 et 
 
 ny, who has a hundred ears, a thoufand eyes, and ten 
 thoufand tongues, not one of which is ever fuffered to 
 • flumbcr for an inftanl, could not permit her to enjoy 
 her favourite and inofFenfive employment unmolclled. 
 Though Rachel had imagined that the uniform ten- 
 or of her conduct was fuch, as might defy even the 
 prying eyes oi' malice and envy, yet (he felt there 
 was fomething wrong in her appearance; She went 
 by an all'umed name ; yet, confident that ihc was in 
 reality the wife of Auberry, (he alio felt that though 
 (he had tranfgrefled the bounds ot prudence, (he had 
 ftrictly adhered to the rales of virtue and morality ; 
 and this internal aflurance gave her great comfort. 
 And when retiring for the night, (he would reflect 
 that her heart was in univerfal charity with all her 
 fellow-creatures, that her purfuits were altogether 
 harmlefs, and in fomc degree laudable ; a fweet fe- 
 rer.ity would diifufe itfelf through her bofom, and of- 
 fering up her prayers for the fafety of her beloved 
 Reuben, and her almoft adored hufband, (he would 
 fink into a (lumber, as compofed and refrefhing as her 
 own mind was pure and uncontaminated. 
 
 The heart that is itfelf a (Iranger to guilt fufpects 
 it not in another. Such was the heart of Rachel ; 
 without enthutiafm pious, witJiout oilentadon charita- 
 ble, and innately virtuous, without an idea that there 
 was any particular merit in being fo ; fince, without 
 being inieniible to the inevitable miiery that mult and 
 ever will follow the forfeiture of that incfiimable jewel, 
 chaftity, (he wondered how fo many Jheadlefs ' women 
 fel| into an error fo repugnant to her own feelings- 
 
 As 
 
:..3 REUBEN and RACHEL; 
 
 As Major Auberry was certain he could not remnifr 
 long with his wife, when he feci; red her a handfome and 
 convenient place of i e!idence,he was not forgetful of the 
 pleafure thatiwould naturally reiult from a companion 
 of her own lex being under the fume roof with her. Inhia 
 fearch after lodgings or a ready furniliied hemfe, chance 
 directed him to Mrs. Varnice, the widow of an attorney, 
 whole pride would not filler her to leave the hou!: 
 her hulhand had engaged but a fhort time before his 
 «!c lili, and who would, to fupport that pride, (the real 
 origin of which was meamiefs, not real dignity oi foul) 
 fubmit to any thing but labour. 
 
 At the time Major Auberry applied for the upper 
 part of her houfc, fhe knew him, and that his name 
 was not Dacres. " But he will pay me well," faid 
 flie mentally ; fo fhe concealed her knowledge, and 
 agreed to our heroine's becoming the miftrefs of the 
 apartments. 
 
 When Rachel was firfl introduced to her, fhe ob- 
 ferved her lovely, majeflic form, and fweetly intereft- 
 ing countenance. Mrs. Varnice was fhort, rather too 
 much c??i Ion point, dark complexioned, and on the. 
 wrong lide of forty ; but her eyes, which were of jetty 
 hue, and whofe brilliancy ihe endeavoured to increate 
 by an artful tinge of rouge on her high cheek-bones, 
 were animated and expreffivc, and (he was not with- 
 out hope that fome future conqueft might fecure to her 
 a fecond matrimonial eftablifliment. To fuch a wom- 
 an, the fir ft appearance of our heroine was by no 
 means prepoffdbng. 
 
 " She is certainly handfome (faid fhe, on the day 
 Rachel took poifeffion of her new lodgings) fhe is 
 handfome, I mull own ; but your pretty women have 
 feldorn much -to recommend them befides their beau- 
 ty." This remark was made to a poor relation, who 
 was dependent on Mrs. Varnice for bread ; an unfor- 
 tunate being, who, from want o{ education, and ex- 
 treme poverty, polfelled a mind as abject as her cir- 
 cumftances. 
 
 Education, fpirit of light, being of the firft order, 
 who in thy right hand doit hold a magic minor, dif- 
 
 playing 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 299 
 
 playing to the aftoniflicd fenfe of youth the wondrous, 
 iafcinating charms of nature-; who, fiill receding as 
 we purine, yet ftill displaying fomething Grange and 
 charming, inviteft the admiring pupil ilill to follow ; 
 ■whole left hand holds a tablet, on which is written all 
 that was learnt from thy inilruclive mirror ; who as 
 thou paired, giving place to age, who hangs his head 
 ■and droops that thou canft charm no more, prefenteft. 
 the tablets, whence fond memory gUans Something to 
 cheer the faft cold eve of life, and being tranfmitted 
 to the rifing age, .Incite them I thy c:irliclt call, 
 
 follow thee through thy moil intricate labyrinths, that, 
 as thou -.'oil aicend the hill of I liug before 
 
 them ilill the mftr.i is, each] riling age may 
 
 take a higlter ilep, till ftail humanity Hands on thy 
 fcmrnit : — Education* thou fnif, belt gift that mortals 
 can receive : thofe who know thee not, conceiving not 
 . thy intrinfic value, flight thee, condemn ihee, treat thee 
 with contempt; but they \ bo feet thy, influence, be- 
 nignant power, will revere .... worship thee, and 
 thy fmiles, humbly entreating that- the riling 
 might fully comprehend and taite thy beauties. 
 Rachel had received ag< od, 'h- ugh not a brilliant 
 education ; her mind was therefore tree from preju- 
 dice. Mrs. Varnice and her couiia Lettuce were to- 
 tally uncultivated, and fuperftitiott and prejudice were 
 e;iiil) admitted and encouraged* The former of thcio 
 women, therefore, concluded OUT heroine to be a de- 
 luded victim to inexperience and affection, She 
 thought the infatuation (as ihe called it) of Hamdeu 
 would not laft long, and wifely imagined, by paying 
 the moil marked attention to him, by giving up her 
 Own opinion whenever it was in oppolition to his, and 
 in a hundred diiferent forms, which fhe conceived to 
 be the height of complaifance, but which to Auberry 
 himfelf appeared to have partook more of abject fer- 
 vility, to fupplant her in his good opinion ; how- 
 ever, as he imagined her, in the main, a good- 
 natured, inoffenfive woman, he encouraged her ad- 
 vances to an intimacy with Rachel. He knew die 
 ■ j of our heroine's mind, and native good fenfe 
 
 would 
 
3oo REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 ■would prevent her receiving any ill impreffions, or con- 
 tracting any low ideas from convcrfing with a woman 
 every way fo infinitely her inferior, and at the fame 
 time thought her knowledge oi the world might guard 
 the inexperienced Rachel from impofitions. 
 
 If the firft fight of our heroine awakened in the bof- 
 •>m of Mrs. Varnice the malignant fiend envy, her 
 manners and convcrfation affilted to heighten it, and 
 in left than a fortnight Mrs. Varnice pronounced her 
 to be proud, conceited, foolifli, in fhort, every tiling 
 that was the direct oppofite to her real difpofition. 
 Yet fhe concealed her opinion, and would take oppor- 
 tunities to admire her understanding, praife her fhape, 
 her complexion, even the tone of her voice. Rachel 
 was not greedy of flattery ; but where is the human 
 being that can at all times turn a deaf ear to its adu- 
 lating voice, or iteel their hearts to its infinualing 
 finalities ? 
 
 When Auberry left his wife to go to his aunt in 
 Scotland, Mrs. Varnice had not an idea that he meant 
 to return, and felt fomevhat mortified that all her arts 
 to attract his notice had proved ineffectual ; but as ilie 
 found it would be to no ufe to repine, fhe turned her 
 thoughts to what advantage might be made of our 
 heroine. 
 
 The parting between Major Auberry and his lady 
 had been extremely painful on both fides. Rachel's 
 heart funk within her, and as the chaife drove from 
 the door, her emotions became fo violent, that Mrs. 
 Varnice was obliged to lead her into her own parlour, 
 and give her a glafs of drops and water. 
 
 " Come, come, my dear Madam," laid fhe, as Ra- 
 chel endeavoured to fupprefs her tears, " you mull 
 not give way to this immoderate forrow ; Mr. Dacres, 
 I dare fay, will foon come back again ; I fuppofe he 
 is not gone very far." 
 
 " Four hundred miles," faid P achelj " appears to 
 me an immenfe diftance ; and I know not how to ac- 
 count for it, but 1 feel inch an oppreffion at my hiar.t, 
 it fecms as though I had beheld him for the laft time, 
 and yet I know he will return as early as poflible." 
 
 " O ! to 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 301 
 
 " O ! to be fure he will ; he promifed to come back 
 foort, did not he ?" 
 
 " He will come as foon as he can, I know ; but the 
 length of his ftay docs not depend entirely on himfelr. 
 However, he lias promifed 1 ihould hear from him 
 very often, and I fhall count the moments with impa- 
 tience till I can hope to receive a letter. I have been 
 very troublefome to you, Madam," continued fhc, 
 riling to quit the parlour ; " pray pardon my childifh 
 behaviour ; I will retire and endeavour to attain for- 
 titude to bear this rirft (and I hope in Heaven it will 
 be the laft) feparation." 
 
 Her eyes filled again as fhc fpokc, and courtefying 
 haftily, fhe repaired to her own apartment ; and hav- 
 ing dihSurthened her heart by giving a free courfe to 
 her tears, flie compofed her fpirits ; and affcrting that 
 unJcrltanding which was ever ready at her call, fhc 
 began to employ herfelf on a piece of embroidery, the 
 pattern for which was drawn by Hamden ; from that 
 fiie went to her fpinnet, and played as well as fhe could 
 a trifling air which he had taught her. Thefe em- 
 ployments amufed and foothed her. She became com- 
 pofed, and determined, during this enforced and pain- 
 ful abfence, to occupy herfelf in acquiring thofe ac- 
 •complifhments which fhe knew would be mod agreea- 
 ble to her hufbanil. Every trace of the primitive pu- 
 ritan was r.n\v entirely aboliihed, except that fhc was 
 extremely neat in her drefs, and fimple in her mari- 
 ners. She followed fa fliion as far as fhe thought it 
 comment with propriety, nut no farther; and though 
 ltnnigcrs would pronounce her perfectly elegant at 
 the firil glance, were they to fcrutinire the feveral ar- 
 ticles that compofed her apparel, th.y would be at a 
 lofsto fay what particularly conhituted that elegance. 
 In (hart, Rachel was the kind of woman who e.ivc* 
 tide and faflrion to every thing flic wears, however 
 plain its formation, however common the materials of 
 which it is made. 
 
 The ftate of her mind after the departure of her 
 
 huftand was fuch, as precluded every idea of feeking 
 
 fbciety during the day. She attempted, but the at- 
 
 C c tempt 
 
302 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 tempt was vain, to partake of a meal which the care 
 of Lettuce had provided (for Lettuce had performed 
 the office of attendant oil the perfon of our heroine 
 from the firft. day of her refidence in the houfe of Mrs. 
 V'arnicc) ; but towards evening ihe began to reflect, 
 that the folicitudc ar.d attention of her hoftefs de- 
 manded fomc return ; flie therefore requcfted flic would 
 come and take tea in her apartment. 
 
 It was now the middle of October, and the twilight 
 at that period foon clofes ; it was fix o'clock, when 
 the tea things were placed on the table ; a cheerful 
 fire illumined the hearth, two wax candles lent their 
 rays to enliven the fcene, the windows were doled, 
 the curtains let down, and perfect filence reigned in 
 the apartments. The houfe was as retired as though 
 twenty miles from London, and not a found intcrupt- 
 cd the tranquillity of the furrounding fcene, fave now 
 and then the rattle of a folitary carriage palling to and 
 from the environs of the city. 
 
 If there is a moment in which the human mind is 
 more inclined to unbend, and place an unlimited con- 
 fidence in thole who profefs a friendship, it is, when 
 fully comprehending ihe charms of folitude, we find 
 that folitude may be enlivened by being participated 
 by one who enters into all our feelings, and fmilcs ov 
 weeps as the colour of our fate or expreffion of our 
 f ntiments excites the oppofite emotions. Such was 
 the moment we have juft defcribed, nor was our hero- 
 ine infenfible to its influence. 
 
 " I am glad to fee you fo much recovered," faid 
 Mrs. Varnice, feating herfelf at the tea-table, and 
 drawing the tea-board towards her, which Lettuce 
 had juiH) rough t in j «« fhall I fave you the trouble and 
 make the tea •"' 
 
 Rachel acknowledged her goodnefs, and acquiefced 
 in the propofal. 
 
 " I fuppofe Mr. Dacres," faid flic with a figh, " is 
 now many miles diftant from me ; and fuppofe he 
 writes at the firft. poll town, when may I expect to 
 hear from him ?" 
 
 " That I cannot tell," faid the artful Mrs. Varnice, 
 « unlefs I knew what road h: took." " The 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 303 
 
 * The High North-road." 
 
 " Well, you may hear from him fooner, but I do not 
 imagine he will write till he gets to York. He is a 
 beautiful man," taking a miniature in her hand that 
 hung by a ribbon round Rachel's neck, "a very hand- 
 fome man indeed ; and I think there is Something in 
 your countenances very much alike, veiy much in- 
 deed, juft about the eyes and the mouth ; that pretty 
 dimple, juit at the left corner. Well, you were cer- 
 tainly relations." 
 
 " No indeed, we were not, I never few him till 
 within eight months of our union." 
 
 " Indeed ! Well, I could have fworn you had beea 
 coufins. Where were you married, in London :" 
 
 « In Weftminftcr." 
 
 " In Weftminftcr ? what at the Abbey > H 
 
 " No." 
 
 " At St. James's Church ?" 
 
 "No." 
 
 "Oh ! you were married at St. Margaret's ?" 
 
 " No, I was not." 
 
 *' Blefs me, then what church was it :" 
 
 " Pardon me, I am not at liberty to fey." 
 
 Mrs. Varnice fmiled. " Ah ! I uiideriLind nour ; 
 it was a ftolen match ?" ^ 
 
 " Not entirely fo." 
 
 " What, I fuppofe your friends knew it ?" 
 
 " I have no friends in England." 
 
 " None ?" 
 
 " No, not one. I have a brother, a dear, refpeflu- 
 ble, worthy brother ; but he is in America." 
 
 " In America ? Dear me ; what all amongft the 
 blacks and the wild Indians ?" 
 
 Rachel could not fupprefs an inclination to fmile, 
 whilft fhe anfwered, " No, Madam, amongft the Euro- 
 pean fettlcrs, who have, within the laft century, emi- 
 grated into the new world, which I understand is a 
 fertile continent extending from north to fouth, and 
 conllituting one cniire quarter of the habitable globe." 
 
 " And fo, your brother is gone over fea to thofe 
 ftrange parts. And what could tempt him to leave 
 dear little England ?" " To 
 
30 4 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 " To inquire after property my father left thcrs."' 
 
 " Dear well, how odd ! And i'o your father died 
 abroad." 
 
 " No, he was loft on his paflage home, even when 
 in fight of his native mores. M 
 
 " Oh dear ! hew unfortunate ! So you have no 
 friends in London ?" 
 
 " In London ? No, nor in England, except my huf- 
 band." 
 
 " Dear me I Well, I hope he will prove a faithful, 
 good Em/band to you." 
 
 " I have no doubt of his failh or tendernefs." 
 
 " Oh dear no ! I dare fay not ; though men are 
 ftrange, inconftant beings, will profefs much without 
 meaning any thing, marry women under a/fumed 
 names, and never care for them after a little while." 
 
 ** There may have been fuch things," faid Rachel ; 
 •'but for the honour of human nature, I could wiih 
 not to believe them pofilblc till my fenfes convince 
 me." 
 
 *' Sweet innocent ! I wiih you may never be con- 
 vinced," faid Mrs. Varnice pointedly. 
 
 This exclamation awakened fomething in the befom 
 of Rachel, that could not rightly be termed either jeal- 
 oafy or curiofity, but it was a mixture of both ; and 
 the artful Varnice led her on, till /he had gleaned from 
 Rachel (only that names were concealed) every eir- 
 cumilance relating to herfelf, her brother and her 
 huft>and. 
 
 After a day or two paft in that kind of uncomfort- 
 able, unconnected manner, which every perfon of fen- 
 fibility muil h^ve experienced when icparated from the 
 chofen friend cf their hearts, Pvachel began again to 
 lefume her ufual avocations. Her needle employed 
 the earlieft hours of morning, after which flic drcfled, 
 and walked into the fields for air and exercile. Her 
 dinner paft, me employed the intermediate hours be- 
 tween that and evening with a book, her pencil, or a 
 leilon on her ipinnet ; and the evenings were ufually 
 paired in reading to, converfmg and working, cr play- 
 ing picquet with. Mrs. Varnice, 
 
 " But 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 305 
 
 But during this period, it mull not be imagined 
 that Jhe was entirely forgotten by her quondam friends, 
 the Webiters. They had been indetatigab<e in their 
 inquiries, till they found out her lodgings, and hearing 
 thai: ihe went by the name of Dacres, they were per- 
 fuaded that Ihe had forgot the refpecl due to herlelf, 
 and become the miftrefs of Hamden Aubcrry. 
 
 Mr. Spriggins, though at fir ft mortified and difap- 
 pointed by her fudden departure from his aunt's houfe, 
 foon found confolation, by transferring his devoirs to 
 his eldeft coufln, by whom they were very favourably 
 received ; and an old uncle having left him a decent 
 houfe, (hop and ftock in trade, in a market town in 
 Northumberland, he foon obtained the a/Tent of Mrs. 
 Wcbfter, and took her fair daughter, to mine forth in 
 all the airs and finery of a London bride, and to fet 
 the fafhions fo* three months to come, to all the tradef- 
 rnen's wives and daughters in a little country town. 
 His ihop too was newly painted and decorated in the 
 London, ftyle,. and Mr. Spriggins himfelf was fo po- 
 lite, fa obliging, that he foon attracted a large num- 
 ber of cuftomers. 
 
 Beginning the world thus, net only without cmbar- 
 ralTments, but with a fmall fum of ready money in 
 hand, this young couple found, in a very ihort time, 
 that they were in a fair way to accumulate a fortune. 
 The wire,. though proud, vain, and fond of finery, was 
 meanly pariimonious, and would flint her family in 
 neceffaries, in order to buy a finer gown, or give a 
 more expenfive treat than her neighbours. Belle 
 Wcbfter was fent for to be her companion, and fet 
 her rap at fome of the fmart young men, in hopes of 
 an eftablifhment tor life ; while little Polly was left to 
 afllft and confole her mother for the lofs of her two 
 ikied daughters. 
 
 When Hamden Auberry reached his uncle's feat, 
 he was received with fuch affectionate tokens of joy 
 by lady Anne, that he was almofl tempted, in that 
 moment of tendernefs, to throw himfelf on her mercv, 
 and confefs his marriage. Happy had it been, both 
 for himfelf and onr heroine, had he followed the im- 
 Ccz pulfe ; 
 
3 o6 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 pulfc ; but he rook time to confidcr, and that fcdfe 
 pride, which was his only foible, reprefenteJ to him, 
 that he was fecurc of the perfon and heart of Rachel, 
 bound to her by the moft irrevocable vows ; ho haz- 
 arded nothing, therefore, by longer concealment. But 
 to avow his engagements with a woman in refpeft to 
 rank and fortune fo diametrically oppoiite to what la- 
 dy Anne deiired, might forfeit her regard forever ; 
 nay, this very pride nattered him that it was for the 
 fake of his wife he ilill wiihed to conceal their union, 
 and that the wealth and confequence in lady Anne's 
 power to bellow were only valued by him, as, by pof- 
 1 effing them, he could elevate the woman of his choice 
 to a rank ihc was born te adorn. Alas ! this was 
 falfe reafening ; it was in reality an unwillingnefs to 
 give up the refpeel, the parade, the cafe and conve- 
 niencies, wealth is ever certain to infure. 
 
 Two days after his arrival in Scotland, the family 
 were furpvifed by the fudden and unexpected appear- 
 ance of lady Lucy. The tour to the continent had 
 been {hortencd by an untoward incident, and lhe hav- 
 ing, on her return, landed at Harwich, flie proceeded 
 immediately north, without going to London. Lady 
 Anne was not difpleafed by the return of her niece ; 
 ihc looked upon Hamden as the certain fucceflbr to 
 the title and eitatcs of his late grandfather, but the 
 thought a union with lady Lucy might by no means 
 retard the completion of her wiihes, which were to fee 
 him at the head of her family. 
 
 It was the evening after the arrival of this lady, 
 that,fittmg in a family way with only her aunt and couf- 
 in, and diverting them with her vivacity and innocent 
 prattle, when, turning fuddenly to Hamden, fhe cried, 
 " Ch ! by the bye, Coz, how does your pretty Quaker 
 
 girl do ?" 
 
 J Hamden's face was but a trifle paler than his coat. 
 He hcfitated, attempted to aniwer - y but finding him- 
 felf at a lofs for words, affecled a laugh. 
 
 « You may laugh," cried lhe, "bvt I declare I 
 thought, her very pretty." 
 
 «« Who 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 307 
 
 " Who are you fpeaking of ?" faid> lady Anne, 
 fixing her eyes on the glowing face of Hamden. 
 
 " Oh ! he knows," continued the thoughtlefs girl, 
 •'and now 1 have the fcene full in my mind, I'll tell 
 you, aunt. You muft know we went to the play. — " 
 
 " Nay, dear Lucy," laid Hamden, gaily catching 
 her hand, " how can you remember fuch ridiculous 
 trifles V 
 
 " Your fervant, coufm Hamden ; it was no t: i;lo 
 at the time. Now, aunt, I'll tell you how it was. 
 Between the play and farce, I had obftrved a very 
 pretty, interesting Quaker, who fat in the pit looking 
 very earnestly at Mr. Hamden. I fuppoie fhe had 
 fecn him before. Eh, coufm ? — Well, dear aunt, the 
 houfe was very fall, and the pretty Quaker fainted ; 
 when behold ye, my gentleman here takes a leap over 
 the front of the box, and milling through the crpwd, 
 flew to her affiftance. But if you had ieen when ihe 
 recovered " 
 
 " A little moderation, if you pleafe, lady Lucy," 
 cried Hamden, eagerly interrupting her ; " you paint 
 the fcene in fuch lively colours, that my aunt will fup- 
 pofe the bagatelle of confequence." 
 
 " And your manner, Hamden, does not contradict 
 the fuppofition," faid lady Anne pointedly. »' Pray 
 who was this fainting damfel ?" 
 
 " It was a Mifs Dudley," faid Hamden, in a hur- 
 ried accent ; " I was introduced to her when I laft vif- 
 ited my mother." 
 
 " Indeed !" faid lady Anne, farcaflically. 
 
 "Yes, fhe was a great favourite of my mother's ; 
 but I underltand fhe is lately married to an old crony 
 of mine, one Dacres. I am fure, aunt, you muft re- 
 member what friends Tom Dacres and I were when 
 boys." 
 
 " And are you friends now ?" faid Lucy with a 
 half fmile and a fly glance at her aunt. 
 
 Lady Anne was ihuck with the evident embarrafT- 
 ment of Hamden ; ihe therefore put an end to the 
 converfation by riling and defiring him to attend her 
 to her clofet. Here a converfation enfued, which con- 
 vinced 
 
3 c8 REUBEN and RACHEL; o*, 
 
 vinced Auberry, that the moment his aunt fhould he 
 allured of his havtag formed a family connexion with 
 our heroine, would be the laft of her favour. 
 
 " I muit diflemble longer," laid he. Alas ! diffimr 
 illation is feldom nccdlary, can never ho. laudable*, 
 and was in this cafe defpicable.- 15ut we will. re- 
 turn to our heroine. 
 
 The firlt fix weeks of her hufband's abfence flie bors 
 with tolerable patience ; when a month more palled 
 over, and no hope of his return, flie murmured at the 
 delay ; but when, at laft, week after week glided en, 
 and Auberry did not appear, lhe began to defpond. 
 
 Mrs Varirice was not furprifed ; it was what lhe had 
 expecled. She by How anil almolt imperceptible de- 
 grees endeavoured to undermine the principles of our 
 heroine ; but Rachel, though not quick i:t difcerning 
 evil (becaufe almoft a ftranger to its baneful qualities) 
 at laic ddcovered her aim, and repulfed her with the 
 f<.orn lhe merited. 
 
 But innocence is ever inadequate to oppofe, with any 
 degree of fuccefs, the united powers of envy and cun- 
 ning. In revenge for the contempt with which lhe 
 had been treated, Mrs. Varnice fupprelfed the next 
 letter with which Lettuce was entrufted to carry to 
 the port, opened, read it, and committed it to the fire. 
 By the tenor of this letter, lhe comprehended that Ra- 
 i he! fully believed herfelf the wife of Auberry ; but this 
 flie knew before, and inwardly laughed at what lhe 
 fnppofed to be the credulity of .a fond, unfufpc&ing 
 girl. 
 
 Having once began to interrupt the correspondence, 
 flie did not hetitate the next poll-night to make Let- 
 tuce keep watch at the (treet door, and prevent the 
 rap of the poll-man, which would have immediately 
 called our heroine down ftairs. The ftratagem fuc- 
 ceeded ; (lie took the expecled letter from the polt- 
 man's hand, paid the poltage, and retired to her own 
 apartment to read it. 
 
 It has often been faid, that envy is its own p.uni flier, 
 and in this cafe the adage was completely verified ; for 
 when from this letter me discovered that Hamden re- 
 ally 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 309 
 
 ylly was, and freely acknowledged himfelf, the huf- 
 bandofour heroine, her heart overflowed with ran- 
 cour, and ihe determined to hefitate at nothing which 
 might be likely to poifon the happinefs of one me at 
 once envied and hated. 
 
 One act of guilt leads but to the commiffion of an- 
 other ; it is in vain the human heart may think only 
 '.his one little deviation, and I will flop. As the ball 
 precipitated from the fummit of a hill panics not, but 
 rulhcs with amazing velocity till it reaches the very 
 loweft part of the vale beneath, fo the human foul, 
 giving way to temptation, finks from error into guilt, 
 nor paufes till plunged in the loweft abyfs of depravity. 
 
 Another and another letter from Hamden was open- 
 ed by Mrs. Varnice, whilft thofe from Rachel (whofe 
 he«rt now began to throb with fear, doubt, and a 
 thouiand anxieties, which none but thofe who are 
 united to, and fuffering an early reparation from, the 
 man of their choice can conceive) fuffered the fame 
 fate. At length one arrived incloling a bank bill for 
 a hundred pounds. At the fight of it, Mrs. Varnice 
 turned pale ; fear was the firll emotion of her bofom. 
 But not even Lettuce was privy to the receipt of this 
 letter. Mrs. Varnice was net very economical ; a 
 hundred pounds would relieve her from tome lew em- 
 barrailmenta. She looked at it, paufed for a moment, 
 at length, committing the letter to the fire, fhe depof- 
 itcd the note in her pocket-book, and on the enfuing 
 morning exchanged it at a /ilk meicer's where Ihe pur- 
 chafed a gown of rofe-coloured tabby. 
 
 This note would have been very acceptable to Ra- 
 chel ; for fhe began to be fenfible" of the decreafe of 
 her finances, and to experience the folicitude and plcal-. 
 ing cares of maternal tenderncls ; and to prepare for 
 the reception of a Hi tie lb-anger, fhe had nearly ex- 
 haufted the whole of the money Hamden had given 
 her at parting. 
 
 It cannot be fuppofed that the mind of Hamden 
 was in a much eaiier ftatc than that of our heroine ; 
 but as he was now on a party cf pleaiiire with his un- 
 cle, lady Anne and lady Lucy, making excurfiona 
 
 from 
 
3ic RETTEEN and RACHEL; o% 
 
 from one part of Scotland to another, and flaying but 
 a few days in each place, he reconciled himfelf to not 
 hearing from his wife, under the idea that her letters 
 might not follow him as he directed, and that he mould- 
 get them all together when he returned to Glafgow. 
 JL'>ut when he returned, and found not a finglc letter 
 waiting for him, he felt the utmoft impatience, and 
 ■would have fet off immediately for London, but that 
 his aunt was attacked with an alarming fever, and to 
 leave her at forch a period, would be the height of in- 
 gratitude. She lingered long, and even when pro- 
 nounced out of danger, (till hovered as it were on the 
 brink of the grave for many weeks, and at length, 
 change of climate was ordered as the only chance cf 
 perfect restoration. 
 
 Hamden, whofc mind was now tortured almoft be- 
 yond fuflerance, finding that lie fliculd be obliged to 
 attend his aunt to Liibon, whilfl preparations were 
 making for the voyage, difpatched his confidential fer- 
 vant to London, to make inquiries for and bear remit- 
 tances to our heroine. Though this man may juftly 
 be termed confidential, yet fo fearful had Hamden - 
 been of having his marriage known, that even he was 
 not entrufted with the iecret, and Rachel was humil- 
 iated even in the eyes of her hufband's fervant. But 
 her manners were luch as had ever fecured refpect from. 
 James, and the hone ft fellow, often when he thought 
 of her fituation, pitied her, and blamed his mafter. 
 
 Nearly feven months had now elapfed fince the mar- 
 riage of cur heroine, above five o{ which fhe had been 
 Separated from her hulband, and half of that period 
 had patted in the continual diftrefs of alternate expect- 
 ation and disappointment. 
 
 " I have been deceived," fhe would fay, whilft tears 
 of anguifh fiole down her cheeks ; " Hamden no long- 
 er loves, no longer thinks of me, and, forfaken of him„ 
 who is there in this vaft univerle, (for Heaven alone 
 .can tell whether my dear brother is in exi(tence) who 
 then is there th.it cares for the unhappy Rachel ? And 
 forlorn, Forfaken, wretched as I am, I ihall give life to 
 
 a helplefs, 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 311 
 
 A helplefs innocent, -whofe father will perhaps blufh to 
 .own him." 
 
 Rachel's days were joylefs, and the tear of anguifh 
 fell nightly on her pillow. The rofe no longer bloom- 
 ed on her cheeks, nor did the animated beam of health 
 and internal peace dance in her expreffive eyes ; pales 
 languid, heart-broken, fhe fuffered in lilence ; for to 
 whom could lbe complain ? 
 
 Mrs. Varnice had expofe-d to her, her true charac- 
 ter, and Rachel would not hold communication with 
 a woman ihe defpifbd. She nurfed her grief in foli- 
 tudc. If fhe endeavoured to amulc die heavy hour, 
 by her pencil or muiic, every flower flie drew was 
 moiftened by her tears, and the chords of the inftru- 
 anent reverberated but the (trains of melancholy. 
 
 It was a fine morning in the beginning of March, 
 •that, ftill confidering it a duty to ui'e every method to 
 jtrcferve health, (though life was no longer valuable) 
 Rachel walked to the green park. It was an early 
 hour ; flic did not fear being met by any one who 
 hnew her ; there were but few bv whom flic would 
 be recognized, and thofe few feldom vifitcd the park 
 except on a Sunday evening, to fee and be fcen. As 
 with flow ftep (he paced along the margin of Rofa- 
 mond's Pond, fhe was fcartled by a voice which fud- 
 denly exclaimed, " Heavens and earth ! Mils Dud- 
 ley !" She railed her eyes, and beheld Archibald 
 Oliver. A fudden emotion, fomething like ihamc, 
 ruflied upon her heart ; flie jufl: articulated his name, 
 extended her hand towards him, and, tottering to a 
 .feat that was near, flic funk on it almofl: fainting. 
 
 " Good God ! my dear Mifs Dudley, to what am I 
 to attribute thefe emotions ?" 
 
 "My name is Dacres, Sir," faid Rachel ; but her 
 voicc faltered, and the carnation viflted her cheeks a* 
 ilic remembered her very apparent fituation. 
 " You arc married then ?" 
 " Yes." 
 
 " May you be happy, happy as you deferve. But 
 nvhy thus alone ? it is not furely proper. Where is 
 Mr. Dacres >" 
 
 The 
 
3 i2 REUBEN and RACHEL; or. 
 
 The former intimacy that had fubfifted between Ol- 
 iver and our heroine could alone have excufed thefc 
 abrupt interrogations ; but Rachel had ever con fider- 
 ed him as a brother, and new ties, new affeclions, hud 
 made him behold her now only in the endearing light 
 of a filter. 
 
 " My hufband is in Scotland," faid Rachel, " whith- 
 er he was called by bufniefs of cOnfequence ; but 
 come (continued fhe, forcing a fmile) if you are difen- 
 gaged, walk home with me, and I will tell you all you 
 wifh to know, and in return be very inquifitive con- 
 cerning your happinefs." 
 
 Then, with that innocent freedom that gave a charm 
 to all her actions, fhe patted her hand through his arm, 
 and they purfued their way to her lodgings, engaged 
 in fuch intercfting chat, that they had reached the door 
 before either imagined they were half way. 
 
 During their walk, Rachel told as much of her own 
 ftory as could be done without infringing the vow fhc 
 had voluntarily made to Aubcrry never to divulge his 
 real name and family till authorized by him ; and in 
 return, fhe learnt that Oliver had experienced a very 
 tolerable ihare of happinefs in his matrimonial con- 
 nexions, that his wife was then in town, and had juft 
 made him a father. Of Jefly he could give her no 
 information, and fince our heroine's marriage, that 
 young lady had declined the correfpondenceof Rachel, 
 alleging, as the no longer (bared her confidence, Ihe 
 would not intrude her letters where fhe muft fuppofc 
 them unwelcome. This had at the time given Rachel 
 much pain ; but as Hamden would not allow her to 
 explain her fituation to her friend, Ihe was forced to 
 relinquifh a correfpondence ib dear to her heart, and 
 with it all intercourse with the only woman ihe had 
 ever known whom Ihe thought really deierved the name 
 of friend. ' 
 
 Oliver could not on that morning fet above half an 
 hour with our heroine ; but on the eniuing day he call- 
 ed, and drank tea with her. After this, fcarce a day 
 paifed but he inquired after her health. He faw there 
 Was fonu-thing of myftery enveloped her; he law ihe 
 
 was 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 313 
 
 ■*w.is not happy ; and though his knowledge of her 
 heart, undcrfianding and principles made him reject 
 the idea whenever it intruded itfelf, he femetlmes ai- 
 moft feared il;e had been impruden:. 
 
 To the afflicted heart, the voice of friendfhip is a 
 Sbothrng cordial. Rachel had not heard its adulat- 
 ing found for fe vend months previous to her meeting 
 with Driver. She dreamt not of improprictv, and, 
 unaonfeious of evil, dreaded not cenfure. His vifits 
 were always welcome, and the day palled drearily in 
 which Hie faw him not. 
 
 It has been already remarked, that the grcateft and 
 almoft only fault of our heroine was a too great open- 
 nefs of diipofition, in regard to her own circumfhmco^ 
 or hufmefs ; fhe never thought of concealment, and 
 nothing but the mo£ unbounded affection for Auberry 
 could have prompted her to enter into engagements 
 which would involve her conduct in apparent myllcry, 
 attd Oblige her to wear for s while the veil of conceal- 
 ment. To Oliver, therefore, only concealing his real 
 name and family, die was explicit in regard to her 
 fears for the health and life of her hufband ; ihe alfo, 
 without hesitation, mentioned the embarraffed flate of 
 her finances. Oliver offered her money ; but, though 
 fiic fought confrdation from the £>othings of friend- 
 ship, her fpirit role above pecuniary obligation. SlM 
 was grateful for the crier, but firm in her refufal to 
 arcail herfeif of it. 
 
 On the evening wh:n this explanation took place, 
 Oliver had flipped with Rachel, and the hoarfe voice 
 of the watchmen proclaiming hall" paft eleven o'clock-, 
 •.vis the full tiling that reminded them it was time to 
 break off their intercding conversation. They had 
 :aihed of Reuben, of jc?hv, and the doubtful late of 
 thofe dear relatives had drawn toare from boih their 
 ey< . 
 
 '« I mult leave you, Mrs. Dacres," faid he, rifing 
 and taking his hat. 
 
 Rachel rang the bell ; but no one anfwering, flie 
 took tine of the candles from the tabic, and defcended 
 the ftairs to light him cut. 
 
 D d « Good 
 
31+ REUBEN and RACHEL; ©r, 
 
 " Good night, my dear Madam," faid he ; " do not 
 ccmc to the door, you will take cold."' 
 
 " Good night, Mr. Oliver," faid Rachel ; and as 
 he pulled the door after him, (he turned the key, put 
 the chain acrofs, and turned to re-afcend the (lairs, 
 when, to her furprife, the parlour door opened, and 
 Mrs. Varnice appeared. 
 
 " Blefs me," laid Rachel, " I thought vcu were all 
 in bed." 
 
 " Oh ! T dare fay you did, and hoped it too." 
 
 " Hoped, Madam ! I neither hoped, nor cared ; on- 
 ly I rang the hell for Lettuce to light Mr. Oliver out, 
 and as (he did not anfwer it " 
 
 " 1 would not let her anfwer it ; and let me tell 
 you, Mrs. Dacres, (if that is your name) I think your 
 conduct very unwarrantable ; and if you mull have 
 gentlemen viiiting you in your huftand's abfence, and 
 Haying till twelve or one o'clock, you mull get an- 
 other lodging ; for I will have no fuch goings on in 
 my houfe. Mr. Dacres, (as you call him) if he is 
 your hufoand, will have no great reafon to be pleafed 
 with your conduct ; and if he is not, why, my houfe 
 is a houfe of good repute, and the focner you quit it 
 the better." 
 
 Fetrified with aftoniihment, Rachel could not an- 
 fwer for the fpace of a minute ; at length, rcfentment 
 conquering her fenfibility, fhe replied : 
 
 " Had I fuppofed you entertained fuch humiliating 
 ideas of me, Madam, I would not fo long have re- 
 mained an inmate in your habitation ; but, painful as 
 it is to me, I (hall be neceffitated to flay fome little 
 time longer till I can difchargc my account with you. 
 I lhall not leave a houfe whilfl 1 am indebted to the 
 miftrefs of it." 
 
 " No, I'll take care of that," faid Mrs. Varnice, with 
 a malicious grin ; " I lhall hardly let you go in my 
 debt when 1 can detain any valuable property to the 
 amount. But I (hall fay no more to-night, to-mor- 
 row you mud look out for another place, and pay mc 
 how yon can ; for paid I will be, or you mull take 
 the confcquencc, and fo good-night." 
 
 Rachel 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. jif 
 
 Rachel would have faid good-night, but the words 
 ftuck in her throat ; fhe {lightly inclined her head, and 
 paffing haftily up flairs, funk almoft fainting on the 
 nearcft feat. Lettuce, who had been tutored by Mrs. 
 Varnice, followed her up, pretended to blame h:r 
 coufin, and take the part of our heroine. 
 
 " I will not flay in the houfc," laid Rachel, " but 
 how to raife money to pay her." •> 
 
 * Dear ! that would be no difficult matter," friiu 
 Lettuce, " fo many pretty trinkets as you hare ! Thcfe 
 bracelets now " 
 
 Rachel looked on them and fighed. 
 
 M I cannot part with them," faid file, ** they were 
 the firfl prefent I received from my hufbar.d." 
 
 Well, but you have fuch a vaft number of pretty 
 things, your watch and your etwee ! — " 
 
 This convcrfation let our heroine into a fecret with 
 which fhe was before entirely unacquainted — that fhe 
 could raife a fum of money on thefe baubles without 
 entirely parting with them ; and fhe went to bed with 
 a full determination to quit the manfton where fhe 
 had been fo much infulted, the enfuing morning. It 
 may well be fuppofed fhe flept but little ; fhort mo- 
 ments of forgetfulnefs, and thofe interrupted by hor- 
 rid vifions, were all fhe could obtain. 
 
 At the dawn fhe arofe, and fo earneflly did fhe fet 
 about a removal, that by twelve o'clock, fhe had paid 
 the exorbitant demands of Mrs. Varnice, and was 
 feated in her new lodgings ; though to accomplifh 
 this point fhe had difpofed of almoft every thing of val- 
 ue fhe poffeffed, not excepting the bracclcts F 4i^ vv hich 
 (lie had cxprefled fo much regard. 
 
 Two days after this removal, James arrived, com- 
 miflioned by his mailer to make inquiry after our he- 
 roine. The tale told by the arch-fiend, Mrs. Varnice*, 
 filled his honeft heart with horror. 
 
 " Receive the vifits of gentlemen, obliged to leave 
 the lodgings in which his mafter had placed her, and 
 go into others, on account of keeping bad hours, and 
 other diforderly behaviour. Good Sirs," faid James, 
 I can hardly believe it ; fhe was fo good, fo modeft, 
 
 fo 
 
316 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 fo mild. It made one's heart glad to look at her : ana 
 to hear her talk, would a made an old man young again. 
 Body o' me ! there muft a been feme witchcraft uicd 
 to make her change fo all of a iudden." 
 
 But to all James's inquiries of where flie was re- 
 moved to, i hey pleaded ignorance ; and he being rellricl- 
 ed in the time allowed him to make the journey, could 
 not ftajr fo long as he wilted to make inquiries in the 
 i—'i'dibomhood. With a heavy heart, he iet forward 
 on :ils return to his mailer; bat near Berwick, (he 
 carriage v&is bveriet in which he was travelling, and" 
 his right arm broken. 
 
 ILinul.n, agonised aim oft to diilraetion by his long 
 abfence, the caufe of whicli he was not acquainted 
 with, (as a fever nr.d delirium, which immediately 
 fucceeded the accident, prevented James iiom taking 
 any method to let his mailer know his lituaticn) was 
 obliged to embark with his aunt, without receiving 
 the leail intelligence of the fate of Rachel. 
 
 '.She has forgotten me, ihe repents Ler union with 
 me,' he would lay, • and feeks for an opportunity to 
 break thofe engagements which T have heiitatcd to 
 announce to the world.' 
 
 In thefe moments ho would be ready to reveal all 
 to his aunt ; but the fear that Rachel no longer loved 
 him, or perho] s was no longer worthy of Ids affection 
 for her, always withheld him ; and the voyage to Lif- 
 bon, though in itfelf extremely pleafant, feemed to 
 the unhappy Hamdento teem only with vexation, and 
 when landed, and the fir ft buftle of feeking a lodging, 
 &c. was over, he walked through the ftreets like a dii- 
 contented fhade ; indeed, it was but the lhadow c f 
 Kamuen Aubcrry, for his better part was flown to the 
 mores of Albion, where it hovered round the manfion- 
 in which he imagined flill dwelt the obje& of his dear- 
 eft affection. 
 
 CHA?. 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 317 
 
 CHAP. XV. 
 
 Sorrows of the Heart. 
 
 N the mean time, the afflictions of our heroine dai- 
 ly increafed. Oliver had loft London ; (he was 
 without friends and without money, and to incrcafe 
 the forrows of her heart, (he became the mother of a 
 line boy about the middle of June. Before her con- 
 finement, (he cntrufted her hodefs with the real Hate 
 of her finances, and to retrench her cxpenfes, had ta- 
 ken a room on the fecond (lory, where (he differed in 
 filence all the miferies of difappointed love, added to 
 the poignant ding of poverty. Once Hie wrote to 
 Mrs. Auberry ; had ihe addreffed the letter to Dr. 
 Lenient, ihe had done right. But Mrs. Auberry had 
 received a letter from Mrs. Webfter, which h id prej- 
 udiced her ag.iiiut Rachel ; (he therefore did not men- 
 tion to her brother that iiie had heard from her, and 
 threw the letter into a draw, without deigning to give 
 our diftrefffcd heroine the comfort of one line in anfwer. 
 
 During her confinement, Ihe was told by the wom- 
 an who attended her, that a a ery line lady had 
 taken the range of apartments on the firft floor, which 
 confided- of a dining-room, drawing-room, and bed- 
 chamber ; that Ihe had taken them only for a few 
 weeks, whilft her own houfe was finilhed and properly 
 ■urniihed. " She is a charming lady," faid the talk- 
 alive old woman, "and keeps her chariot, her own 
 maid and footman." 
 
 All this intelligence appeared of (b little confe- 
 rence o our heroins, that Ihe fcarcely heard a f) lia- 
 ble of the whole harangue ; but the next day, as (he 
 was paffing from the bed to the fpfa at the otlier cr.d 
 of the room, (he call her eyes cafually out of the win- 
 dow ; an elegant chariot drew up to the door, and to 
 her utter aftonilhment die faw Mrs. Courtney defcend 
 from it. 
 
 Lod in amazement, fhe fat down ; that her eyes 
 
 had not deceived her, (he was certain. To what could 
 
 Dd2 ihe 
 
318 REUBEN a*d RACHEL; or, 
 
 fhe attribute this fudden elevation cf fortune ? "i 
 was a riddle fhc had not power to unravel ; but what- 
 ever was the caufe, fhe rejoiced at the eiTecl, and, for- 
 getting the coldnefs ihe hud experienced from La Ya- 
 rone immediately after her marriage with Lieutenant 
 Courtney, conftious only of a ploafurable fenfation, 
 to rind a peril >n with whom Hie had formerly lived in 
 habits of intimacy fo near her, the wrote with a pen- 
 cil on a flip of paper, 
 
 " Dear Mrs. Courtney, your friend Rachel is again 
 an iamate of the modioli you inhabit, and flatters her- 
 felf you will give her the plcafure of your company 
 for half an hour." 
 
 This billet (he fent by the nurfe, and in a few mo- 
 ments Mrs. Courtney entered the apartment. The 
 attendant withdrawn, and a few common-place inqui- 
 ries part, 
 
 " Yoti cannot think, my dear Madam," faid our 
 heroine, " what real plcafure it gives me to find Mr. 
 Courtney's profpecls fo much amended, iiuce your 
 marriage." 
 
 " Yes, he is made a Captain ; btfides, a particular 
 friend of mine, whom i had not {e<:n for many years-, 
 has fettled on me a very handfome income, which 
 makes me quite independent." 
 
 " How fortunate !'' iiiid Rachel in the f mpJictty of 
 her heart. " And where is Captain Couitney i" 
 « Cone to India." 
 
 " Is either of ycur fifters, or your mother-in-law in 
 tf wn with you :" 
 « Oh dear no." 
 t* They are well, I hope ?" 
 
 M Yes, quite well ; that is, I believe fo, for I have 
 heard nothing to the contrary, but I have not fecn. 
 them lately." 
 «« No ?" 
 
 ** No, not for thefe three months paft. But come, 
 tell me, my demure friend, what changes have taken 
 place in your fate fince we parted." 
 
 With a look of mingled confufion and candour, in 
 t&£ (iPW^ language of truth did Rachel explain to 
 
 Mrs. 
 
TALES 9F OLD TIMES. 319 
 
 Mrs. Courtney every circumftance of her marriage 
 and confequent uneafmeis, ftill concealing the real 
 name of her huiLand. 
 
 She fpoke to a woman whofe heart was impure, 
 and who fcrupled not to judge of others by herfelfi 
 Befidea, Mrs. Courtney had been to viiit Mrs. Web* 
 fter, and had learnt from her the manner of our hero- 
 ine's departure from her houfe, and with whom it was 
 fuppofed lhe refided. She laughed at the affliction 
 Rachel appeared to evperience frcm her hufband's 
 neglect, called her agony of heart ideal miiery, told 
 her the honey moon could not lafl: forever, bid her 
 keep up her lpirits, and, promiiing to fee her again in 
 the evening, left her. Accordingly, in the evening 
 (he again vihted her. 
 
 11 1 have been thinking, Mrs. Dacrcs," faid flie with 
 a h ilf fmile, and looking fidelong from under her d.u k 
 «yelalhcs, "that change of fcene and air would be of 
 fervice to you. I am going into Northumberland, to 
 vifit our old acquaintance, Mrs. Spriggins ; what lay 
 you to a jaunt ? You will travel at your eaie with me 
 in the chariot, Pelham will help take care of the child, 
 and I dare lay the journey will not be the lefs agreea- 
 ble bccaule it will take you near the borders of Scot- 
 land." 
 
 A tinge of carnation palled over the languid cheek 
 V)f Rachel, as lhe faid lhe Ihould like Inch an e:-:cur« 
 fion, but it was not in her power to take it. 
 
 " What, for want of money, I luppole ? Pdraw ! 
 nonfenie ! you cannot be wholly deftitute ; a trifle will 
 ierve, and you furely wifh to be nearer the Major than 
 you are at prefent." 
 
 Rachel's heart beat quick, as lhe attempted to re- 
 ply. Mrs. Courtney put her Hand before her mouth, 
 '• Come, don't deny it ; I have found out your fc- 
 cret, but I won't betray yea. Perhaps, when you are 
 within a day's journey, he may be able to viiit you. 
 London is at a vaft diitance from the banks of die 
 Clyde." 
 
 There is nothing more difficult to a perfon of nat- 
 ural veracity than to be under the neceffity of alfcrt- 
 
 inc 
 
520 REUBEN /.nd RACHEL; or, 
 
 ing a wifehood. Rachel felt the impoffibility of do- 
 ing it, and remained Glent. In fhort, her innocence, 
 
 her credulity, her ardent v. ifh to be near her hulband 
 prevailed) and the contented to accompany Mrs. Court- 
 ney into Northumberland. But, however liable to err 
 from the fcanknefs and candour oilier temper, Rachel 
 liad lliil that pride of foul which could not condescend 
 to veil' Mrs. Courtney that three guinea-, and a few 
 clothes, coaflituted tJie whole of her worldly poiTeffions. 
 Part of thofe clothes, with feme Aery fine laces, were 
 fed of to pay the nurfe and other contingent cx- 
 penfes ; and with a mere trifle in her purfe, our hero- 
 ine departed with her unworthy affociate from London. 
 
 I Irs. Courtney was deceived when fhe invited Ra- 
 chel to take this journey with her ; but it was the de- 
 pravity of her own heart had deceived her, and before 
 ihe reached Northumberland, ihe difcovered that the 
 mind of our heroine was ftill uncontarninated, Itill 
 pure, and fhrunk from vice v.'ith difgufi, turned, from. 
 immorality with abhorrence. 
 
 On their arrival at Mr. Spriggins's, Mrs. Courtney 
 was received v. ith a profufion of compliments, whiiit 
 Rachel was fcarcely noticed, the was ihown to an 
 upper apartment, and, weary as fiie was with the jour- 
 ney, fufTered to undrefs the child herfelf, and put him 
 to bed. She laid him on the pillow of lcpofe, and, 
 kneeling befide the bed, poured forth her afflicted foul 
 to her Maker- Her cheek relied on the fame pillow 
 villi that of her infant, and her tears flowed without 
 re drain t. She felt that the pretended friendfhip of 
 Mis. Courtney was only orientation ; flie feared Ihe 
 hid more to fufFer than Ihe fnould be able to fupport. 
 She prayed for resignation to the will of Heaven, and 
 her tears continued to flow, not from impatience, they 
 were the effufions of an afflicted fpirit. 
 
 After a few weeks refidence in the family of Mrs. 
 Spriggins, Rachel peiceivcd that not even a lhadow of 
 ieipcct and attention towards herfelf remained in the 
 manners of the whole family. At meals, fhe was fuf- 
 fered to take tiie loweft feat at the table, where ihe was 
 ibnienm:s fo totallv overlooked, as >.ot to be helped 
 
 till 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. $11 
 
 till every one elfe had begun their dinner ; and then 
 (he was infuked by an affectation of friendly familiar-' 
 ky, fuch as, " Blefs me, Mrs. Dacies, I had forgot 
 you ; but why don't you fpeak ? yo.i ,uc at home you 
 know." 
 
 At thefe moments, Rachel's heart would fwell to 
 her eyes, and in ftruggling to fuppvcfs her tear . 
 food ilu attempted to f wallow fsejared alrfcoft to choak 
 her. 
 
 •;. Courtney d. : i d her 
 
 woman, and the next <.\.iy re, 1 heroine to rife 
 
 from her feat, anil fetch her work from the other end 
 of the room. Had Rachel been independent, ihe 
 would without hefitaticn have complied with the re- 
 quell ; but Rachel was poor, and Ihc felt the request 
 an infult. 
 
 " I am not qualified to fupply the place of your 
 fcrvant. Madam," faid ihe haughtily. 
 
 " Why I do not fuppofe you are," faid Mrs* Court - 
 ney, yawning indolently ; "hut indeed, child, e'trcum- 
 itanced as you are, I do not know what you could do 
 better than endeavour to get a place } though to 
 be fure your child is an objeetiofu" 
 
 The expreffive eyes of our heroine P.afhrd indigna- 
 tion, at the infolent manner and propofal of her oiten- 
 tatiuus friend ; but ihe difdained to aniwer. • I am 
 not yet fallen quite fo low a* that,' thought fhc, and 
 rofe to quit the apartment. 
 
 " I really am forry for you, child," continued Mrs. 
 Courtney, detaining her, " but painful as it is for a 
 perfon who is i'o much interceded for your welfare as i 
 am to fpeaS dt&greeablc truths^ T really mud tell you, 
 that (he haughty airs you gjwe yrurillf are very un- 
 becoming ; you muft learn humility." 
 
 " I hope 1 ihall in time," (aid Rachel indignantly, 
 " if I do not, I iliall profit but little by your endeav- 
 ours." 
 
 " Come, com;, you miiunderfland me ; if y< 
 not incline to do fofficthhlg for a livelihood, I I 
 think it would be advheable for yon to go on to Scot- 
 land to your hufoand. I expect a friend of rain 
 
 in 
 
322 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 in a few days, with whom I am going to make a tour 
 through the northern counties ; if you choofe to go 
 with me in quality of a companion, and take the care 
 of my clothes, afflft me to dreis and undrefs, I will 
 pay you twenty guineas a year ; but then you mud 
 leave your child here at nurfe." 
 
 " No, Mrs. Courtney," faid Rachel, " if I am obliged 
 to eat the the bread of fervitude, 1 will earn it of ftran- 
 gcrs, not of one who once thought herfelf honoured 
 in being called the friend of Rachel Dudley.' I will 
 be the humble companion (or rather a flave on which 
 ill humour may be laviihed with impunity) to no one. 
 1 would gladly embrace youi firft propofal of ieeking 
 }ny huiband, but you know I have not the means of 
 profecuting the journey, even by the cheaped convey- 
 ance." 
 
 "Heavens and earth!" replied Mrs. Courtney, 
 with a look of well-affecled furprife, " is it poflible you 
 can have come into this ltrange place without any 
 money ? And what do you mean to do, child ?" 
 
 " To be no longer troublelcme to you, Madam," 
 faid Rachel. " I thank you, Madam," continued lhe, 
 " for the ihelter your roof has fo long afforded me," 
 turning to Mrs. Spriggins, who had fat a filent and 
 infenfible fpectatrefs or the fcen-% " but will no longer 
 intrude ; but this very night remove to a habitation 
 better fuited to my prcftnt humble condition." 
 
 She then haftily left the room. On the flairs flic 
 met Belle Wonder. 
 
 " What is the matter, Mrs. Dacrcs ?" faid die ; for 
 the tears, which a laudable pride had reftrained whild 
 ihe was in the prefence of her infolent hodefs and her 
 companion, wounded fenfibility forced in a torrent 
 frem her eyes the moment flie had ihut the door. 
 " What is the matter ?" faid Belle. 
 
 " Nothing," replied our heroine, " only I have flayed 
 here too long." 
 
 " Dear ! I'm afraid fifter has been vexing you ; 
 well, don't mind her, you know lhe never was veiy 
 good natured." 
 
 -"I do 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 323 
 
 ** I do not mind' cither her or, her aflbciate," faid 
 Rachel ; " but I wiih to releafe them from an unwel- 
 come intruder, and ihall leave the houle immediately. 
 Do me the favour, Mifs Webfter, to requeft one of the 
 fervants may take my trunk to the inn." 
 
 " Dearec me ! I hope you are not in earned ?" 
 
 " In very eameft, I allure you." 
 
 " Well, now I'm quite ferry." 
 
 " I thank you, Mifs Wcbiter. Will you art; the 
 favour I rcqueft ?" 
 
 " Oil 1 to be lure I will ; but you won't go before 
 tea ?" 
 
 " Before another hour," faid Rachel firmly. 
 
 Belle was not ovcrburthened with underflanding ; 
 foe did not perfectly comprehend the delicacy of our 
 heroine's feelings, nor did (he give herfclf the trouble 
 to think much about it ; fo wilhing her health, fhe de- 
 feended the flairs, and fent up a boy to take her trunk. 
 It was between four and five o'clock in the afternoon, 
 when Rachel, taking her dear boy in her arms, and 
 followed by the lad with her parcels, left the houfc of 
 Mr. Spriggins, and went to leek a lodging in a town, 
 to almoft every inhabitant oi which ihe was a perfect 
 itranger. She knew that the public inns afforded 
 lodgings to travellers, and to one of the mnft reputable 
 of thefe fhe directed her lteps. Her purfe was but flen- 
 derly provided, but flic augmented her little ftorc by 
 the fale of a gold locket, the Lift thing of value which 
 fhe portefred, and from which fhe took a lock of plaited 
 hair ; for it was the hair of Hamden Auberry, and to 
 her a thoufand times more precious than the metal 
 in which it had been enfhrined. 
 
 On the following morning, fhe inquired after a pri- 
 vate lodging, and was recommended by the woman 
 who kept the inn, to a meant apartment in one of the 
 moll unfrequented ftreets in the town. To this hum- 
 ble afylum fhe retired, and felt a degree of melan- 
 choly pleafure that fhe could indulge her tears with- 
 out reftraint. 
 
 It may occafion fome degree of furprife, that Sprig- 
 gins, who had formerly been an admirer of our hero- 
 ine, 
 
334 REUBEN and RACHEL; or., 
 
 inc, would fuffer her to leave his houfe without either 
 friends or money ; but the heart by nature contracted, 
 and whofe chief object has been felt", is fenilbly aflect- 
 ed by an agpcaramre of flight ; ir can never either for- 
 get or. forgive it ; and fuel) a lieart languidly .moved 
 in the bofom of' Spriggins. 
 
 But thole viftfors, who had feen Rachel in the fam- 
 ily, and now miffed her, felt an awakened cnriofity to 
 know what was become oi' her. To theft interroga- 
 tories had the Mefdames Spriggins and Courtney (im- 
 ply anfwered,that flie was gone home ; cnriofity would 
 have died, but they felt they had done wrong in driv- 
 ing her, poor and unprotected as (he was, from their 
 houfe ; and in palliation of fo inhuman an action, 
 lhrew afperlions .on her character. Not content with 
 depriving hei of the protection of their own roof, they 
 prevented her obtaining that protection from any oth- 
 er, whofe inmates were in the fmalleft degree resect- 
 able. 
 
 That the human heart is liable to error, and 
 on the eternal record our crimes and follies arc cn- 
 ', and will one day appear in dreadful judgment 
 againft us, is a folemn truth, which no perfon oi ccrtl- 
 unfc will attempt to deny ; yet wc are led to 
 hope, that the tear of unfeigned penitence will blot 
 rhofe offences out. But the crime of flander rs of fo 
 foul a die, its fable hue fiains the facred page, and on- 
 ly mercy infinite can purify it. Oh thou Giver of life, 
 guard, I befeech thee, my heart from ingratitude, 
 and my lips from (lander : and for the reft, thy will 
 be done. 
 
 During the period of thefe vicrfiitudes, Rachel had 
 never omitted writing every week to her hufoand, on- 
 ly at the time when the birth of her fori prevented her. 
 Thefe letters, written after (lie left the houfe of Mrs. 
 V.irnice, all lay at the ptace where he had defired 
 them to be addreffed ; and when James was fufTicient- 
 ly recovered to follow his mafter, he made them into 
 a parcel, and took them with him. 
 
 Bat words arc inadequate to defcribe the feelings 
 of Harnden, when lie by turns liftened to the account 
 
 which 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 325 
 
 ■which James gave him, and read the pathetic letters 
 of his wife ; lomctimes love, fometime* refentment 
 predominated. But when he read that he was a fath- 
 er, and that his once loved Rachel, in that feafon of 
 ficknefs, was without the means to purchafc the nccef- 
 fary accommodations and comforts to render the fitu- 
 ation in fome meafure fupportable, he determined to 
 hazard every thing, own his marriage, and rly to her 
 relief and comfort. 
 
 Hamden was ever impetuous ; lie rclblved one mo- 
 ment, and the next put the refolvc in execution. La- 
 dy Anne heard him with mere calmnefs than he had 
 expected ; but that apparent calm was deceitful ; 
 when he had iinifhed, fhe upbraided him with his du- 
 plicity, imprecated mifcry on both himfclf and his wife, 
 s:m\ with a determined air renotinced him forever. 
 In vain was every endeavour to foftcn her refentment, 
 and Hamden embarked for England, without the 
 Imallefl hope of being reinftated in her affection, or of 
 ever being the better for her fortune. 
 
 Mortified pride, love and jealoufy corroded in his 
 bofom during his lhort voyage; and on his arrival in 
 London, he repaired immediately to the houfeof Mrs. 
 Varnice ; ft r though Rachel had mentioned her re- 
 moval, yet lhe had forgot to mention the name of the 
 itreet to which flic had removed ; and though ilie was 
 difpleafed with Mrs. Varnice, yet, as (he did not know 
 the extent of that woman's vilenefs, lhe (poke of her 
 no farther than to fay lhe had reafon to think both 
 Hamden and herfeif had been miftaken in her char- 
 acter. TJiis was not fuflicient to deter Hamden frcm 
 going to her honfe, clpeeially as lie conceived it the 
 only probable means of finding Rachel. But this 
 vifit did not ferve to conciliate his affection, or awaken 
 returning tendernels. Mrs. Varnice told her own tale. 
 Our poor heroine was reprcfented as imprudent, if not 
 guilty, in regard to Oliver ; extravagant and thought- 
 lei's, in her cspeiUe-. 
 
 "Why indeed," fiid Aubcny, "I thought I left 
 
 her lufTnfcnt to defray evby expenfe till my return ; 
 
 E e and 
 
jj6 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 and when I found my ftay protracted beyond mr ex- 
 pectations, I forwarded her a hundred pounds." 
 
 " Well, who could have thought it ?" faid Mr?. 
 Varnice ; " before flic left me, ihc, to my certain 
 knowledge, raifed money on her watch, rings, brace- 
 lets." 
 
 «! Bracelets ?" faid Hamden. 
 
 " Oh yes ! Lettuce pledged them for her." 
 
 " Cruel, unkind Rachel !" 
 
 M Dear ! don't let it diftrefs you fo ; I fuppofe her 
 young friend Oliver helped her off with fome of the 
 money." 
 
 "Damn him!" faid Hamden. "Oh! Rachel, 
 Rachel, why have you ufed me thus ? Oh ! Mrs. 
 Varnice, if you knew how I loved her, how I adored 
 her ! how at this moment her fafcinating image twines 
 around every chord, every fibre of my heart ! you 
 would wonder how Ihc could be fo ungrateful, fo vile, 
 fo barbarous." 
 
 Alas ! weak, credulous Auherry, had you inflcad 
 of liftening to this woman's infamous afperfions, treat- 
 ed them with fcorn, and boldly aiferted the innocence 
 of your wife, and your full confidence in her truth and 
 honour, her accufer, confeious of her own guilt and 
 duplicity, would have retired intimidated within 
 hcrfelf, and flirunk from a fcrutiny, from whence ihc 
 mud have been allured her own f alfehood would ftand 
 detected. But who will efpoufe the caufe of an in- 
 jured wife, when he who has folemnly fworn to pro- 
 tect her from all evil, liftens with avidity to the voice 
 that defames her, and joins with her worft enemies to 
 precipitate her into the abyfs of ignominy. 
 
 From the houfe of Mrs. Varnice, Hamden went to 
 the lodging fhe had laft occupied, and there, from a 
 converfttion with the woman of the houfe, learnt the 
 route Rachel had taken, and with whom ; but un- 
 fortunately, he alfo learnt that flie had been vifited 
 almoft daily by Oliver, during the period of his ftay 
 in London. Tortured almoft to madnefs, he rcfolved 
 to follow her, upbraid her with her perfidy arrd cruelty, 
 
 oblige 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 327 
 
 oblige her to relinqnifh the care of the child to him, 
 and take an everlailing leave of her. 
 
 In the mean time, our heroine was drinking very 
 deeply of the cup of affliction ; poverty was her con- 
 Aant companion. The trifle fhe poflefied, at the time 
 ihe left the houfe of Spriggins, was loon expended, 
 and by degrees the remains of her wardrobe dwindled 
 away, till two cotton gowns, with a change of linen, 
 were the whole of her earthly poflcflions. She had 
 inquired for work, bju| could get none. The dearth 
 of amufement in a country-town makes every trifle, 
 if wearing the appearance of novelty, become of con- 
 fequence ; and what fprcads falter than a tale ot lean 
 dal ? The circumflancc of our heroine's coming from 
 London to Mr. Spriggins, and quitting the houfe i'o 
 abruptly, had been talked over in almolt every family 
 in the place, told a hundred different ways, and each 
 narrator adding or altering fomc circumilance, poor 
 Rachel was looked upon, even by the woman of whom 
 Ihe rented her fmall apartment, as a fufpicious char- 
 acter ; and had fhe been inclined to partake the pleaf- 
 ures of fociety, fhe would have found the doors of al- 
 moft every clafs of people fhut againft her. But fhe 
 had frill the confolation of an innocent heart, and a 
 firm faith and reliance on an omnifcient Deity, who 
 would not fuffer her eventually to periih. She lub- 
 mitted to her afflictions as to the wile difpenfations cf 
 his providence, and prayed daily for a more humble, 
 more unrcpining fpirit. She was entirely ignorant 
 alio, that any itigma had been thrown on her repu- 
 tation, and confeious of not deferving, fhe feared not 
 the cenfures of a world, which, though fhe would not 
 wilfully offend, ihe was but little folicitous to pleafe. 
 
 The neglect of Auberry funk the deepeft into her 
 heart, when her thoughts reverted to the few happy- 
 weeks pad in hij fociety immediately after their mar- 
 riage. The tear of bitter remembrance would gulh 
 from her eyes, and as fhe pre fled her infant to her 
 heart, it bled at every vein, that he, as well as her- 
 fclf, fhould be fo totally abandoned by his father. 
 
 It 
 
.U8 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 It was one evening in Auguft, when Rachel, hav- 
 ing lulled her darling to fleep, the twilight rtill giving 
 fufficient light, took her tablets from her pocket, and, 
 as ihc leaned over a window lhe had juit opened lo 
 gaze at the fercnity of an evening, that lccmcd to give 
 pleafure to the whole creation but her forlorn, unhap- 
 py fclf, wrote with her pencil the following lines : 
 
 When the frame to the earth is bent low, 
 
 By ficknefs or forrow oppreft ; 
 Whin the moments drag penfive and flow, 
 
 And the heart it lies cold in the breail ; 
 
 When each focial comfort is fled, 
 
 Nor friend nor companion is near ; 
 When reft has forfakcr. the bed. 
 
 And the pillow is ftain'd with a tear : 
 
 Ah ! then, what avails each gay feene 
 
 Which Nature unfolds to our light ? 
 In vain Phebus rifes ftrene, 
 
 Or Cynthia enlivens the night ! 
 
 In vain is yon canopy fpread 
 Thus gorgeous, with fapphire ani gold, 
 
 When each fenfe of pleafure is fled. 
 And each fond affection lies Sold ! 
 
 Hafte, Apathy, hafte thee, and bring, 
 
 With poppies infufed in the bowl, 
 A drnngtt from the Lethean fpring 
 
 To ftcep in oblivion my foul. 
 
 Thy f.ible ftole pafs 'fore mine eyes, 
 
 That when pale afHi&icn I view. 
 "No fljades cf paft pleasures may rife 
 
 To fharpen her arrows anew. 
 
 But come, with thy fenfe-nur,ibi;»g power, 
 
 Aflat me thofe arrows to brave ; 
 Nor leave me till that happy hour, 
 
 When I fink to repofe in the grave ! 
 
 When fhc had finilhed, the full fenfe of her own de- 
 plorable fituation rufhed upon her mind ; flic refted 
 her head upon her hand, and, unable to weep, a kind 
 of ftupor pervaded all her lenfes ; and fo entirely ab- 
 
 foibcJ 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 329 
 
 forbed was fhe in her own agonizing reflexions, that 
 ihe was as perfectly loft to every furrounding object 
 as if fhe had been no longer in exiftence. From this 
 reverie (he was aroufed by the cry of her child, and in 
 her hafte to let down the window, (he dropped her 
 tablets. It was an awkward circumftance ; for the 
 window looked into a garden belonging to a genteel 
 houfe that was in another ftreet. It was therefore 
 impoffible to regain them that night ; but lhe refolved 
 to go early the enfuing morning to inquire for them ; 
 for they had formerly belonged to her mother, and 
 were on that account highly valued by Rachel. 
 
 Accordingly, the next morning, as foon as (he im- 
 agined ihe could'gain admittance, ihe took her child 
 in her arms, and walked round to the front of the 
 houfe. The door was- opened by a decent young 
 woman, and Rachel was beginning to fpeak, when, 
 turning her eyes toward a parlour, the door of winch 
 flood partly open, fhe faw Archibald Oliver, drefled 
 in deep mourning, fitting at a breakfaft table, and 
 holding the identical tablets fhe came to inquire for, 
 in his hand. She was furprifed — fhe was filent. 
 
 " Did you wifh to fee my miftrefs, Ma'am I" faid 
 the young woman. 
 
 u Yes \" faid Rachel, hardly confeious that fhe had 
 anfwercd at all. 
 
 There was fomething in the air and manner of our 
 heroine, that, had lhe been clothed in the meaneft ap- 
 parel, would ft ill have commanded rcfpecl. The young 
 woman paired before her, and courtelying as ihe puih- 
 ed open the parlour door, deiired her to walk in, and" 
 fhe would call her miftrefs immediately. At the found 
 ot approaching fteps, Oliver raifed his eyes. 
 
 " Good God ! Mrs. Dacres !" exclaimed he. 
 
 Rachel was fluttered ; fhe could -not fpeak. A lan- 
 guid fmile illumined her pallid countenance a« flie ex- 
 tended her hand towards him. But the expreflive 
 tear that burft from its gliftening orbit, contradicted 
 the appearance of tranquillity the fmile was meant to 
 convey. 
 
 E e 2 " How 
 
REUfcSN and RACHEL; o* u 
 
 «' How is it, Mr. OHver," faid ihe, when (he could 
 command her voice, " that 1 fee you here :" 
 
 " A very unhappy circumftance brought me and 
 ftill detains me here," he replied. Rachel glanced 
 
 her eye over his fable drefs, Jefly darted into her 
 mind. 
 
 « Your filler f laid The eagerl) . 
 
 " Is well," interrupted he, at once comprehending 
 her tears, at leall I have no reafon to think to the 
 contrary ; but Mrs. Oliver is no more." 
 
 His voice faltered ; Rachel was filent ; fhe knew 
 the folly and impertinence of common-place confola- 
 tion. Oliver recovered himfelf, and having learnt 
 from our heroine every occurrence that had taken 
 place iince he faw her in London, he in return in- 
 formed her, that friendlhip for a very particular ac- 
 quaintance of her's had brought him to that place — 
 
 " An acquaintance of mine ?" faid Rachel. 
 
 " Yes, Lieutenant Courtney." 
 
 "Courtney ! You aftoniih me; I thought he was 
 t^one to India." 
 
 " He had an appointment of that kind, which was 
 
 procured him by lord M ; but fome difcovcrics 
 
 which he made after he had even joined his fhip, and 
 had received failing orders, compelled him to quit his 
 appointment, throw up his commilhon, and follow his- 
 unprincipled wife to this place. Lord M. has a feat 
 at Alnwick, which is only a fhort ride from hence, 
 and Courtney having obtained fufficient teltimony of 
 her depravity and his own difhonour, came to me, 
 and afked my advice in what manner he fhould pro- 
 ceed. See your wife, faid I, and remonftrate with 
 her. I will go with you. He feemed inclined to fol- 
 low my advice, and we rode together toward this 
 place. When we had proceeded a few miles, we faw 
 & chariot and four driving furioufly along ; the live- 
 ries befpoke it the equipage of lord M. Courtney no 
 fooner faw it, than, clapping fpurs to his horfr, he gal- 
 lopped front me, and before I could get up with him, 
 had popped the carnig*: in whkh was Mrs. Court- 
 ney 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 331 
 
 oey and his Lordftiip. The irritated, impetuous hul- 
 band had dragged the Ignoble peer from the carriage, 
 and, drawing a cafe of piftols, prefented him one, 
 whilft with the Other he prepared to defend himlelf, 
 when (,ne of the footmen itiuek him acrofs the head 
 with the end of a whip, and he fell lifelefs to the 
 ground. Lord M. fprang into his carriage again and 
 drove off, leaving me With my fervant to take what 
 care we could of poor Courtney. V/e were nearer 
 this place than we were to Alnwick, and placing him 
 on the horfe before John, with great difficulty we got 
 him here. This houfe is kept by a woman who nurf- 
 ed my wife ; and as I thought he would be quieter 
 and better attended here than in a public inn, I had 
 him. brought hither. The wound on his head is deep, 
 but the furgeon does not think him in fo much dan- 
 ger from the efFecl cf that as from the violent pertur- 
 bation of his mind. 
 
 Rachel liltened with aftonifliment to this detail, and 
 was fo entirely abforbed in reflection on the ftrange 
 incidents Oliver related, that when the midrefs of the 
 houfe entered, and requefled to know what her com- 
 mands were, ihe had totally forgotten the circum- 
 stance that had brought her to the houfe. She hefi- 
 tated, blufhed ; at length, calling her eyes on the 
 breakfall table, lhe faw the object of her inquiry ; but 
 the confciculhe's of her embarrafled, awkward appear- 
 ance, fo increased her confulion, that the inquiries lhe 
 made for her tablets had more the appearance of fub- 
 terfuge than truth. However, the maid having men- 
 tioned that Mr. Oliver had picked them up in the gar- 
 den, they were delivered to our heroine, who, having 
 exprefled a defire to fee Courtney, and promifed to re- 
 turn in the afternoon for that purpofe, took her leave. 
 Now, though Rachel did not know five pcrfons in 
 the neighbourhood where (he dwelt, even by fight, yet 
 fhc was herfelf known by every individual in it ; and 
 her embarrafled and helitating manner, added to a 
 knowledge o£ the evil reports which were circulated 
 concerning her, led the woman where Oliver lodged, 
 
 to 
 
332 REUBEN and RACHEL; or., 
 
 to imagine fhe came to vilk him, or C . as fhe 
 
 feemed lo perfectly .tcqnuinted with both. 
 
 In the afternoon, Rachel determined to f^e Court- 
 She had no idea that impropriety could he an- 
 nexed to a vilit which Ihe conceived to be an act of 
 duty ; and when ihe found him i'o extremely ill as to 
 need the molt conilant and tender attention ; when 
 fhe discovered that it was in her power to i'oothe his. 
 afflicted heart, and fmooth the bed of pain, by an ex- 
 ertion of friendly afhduity : forgetting every thing but 
 that Ihe had once been under obligations to him, (he 
 refolved herfelf to be his attendant till he fhould re- 
 cover flrength fufficient to enable him to return to his- 
 mother and filters. Thus every morning Hie repair- 
 ed to the chamber of the lick man, nurfirig him with- 
 the affection of a lifter, and administering to him the 
 confolation of a friend. 
 
 Mrs. Spriggins and her unprincipled guelt were 
 mean enough to employ their fervants to inquire in 
 the neighbourhood after our heroine, and be conftant 
 fpies upon her actions. That fhe v.;>s often, nay, al- 
 moft continually at the houfe where Oliver was, and 
 where Courtney lay lick, they were allured of; and 
 though they knew that fhe conftantly returned to her 
 folitary apartment to her meals, which were fcanty 
 enough, and that fhe was always at home at an early 
 hour in^he evening, yet they failed r.ot to attribute to 
 motives the mofl degrading to the fox, a conduct which 
 was the refidt of pure benevolence, and did honour to 
 her heart, however it proved, that her head was not too 
 much (cored with worldly prudence and knowledge. . 
 
 Things were exactly in this fituation, when Ham- 
 den Auberry arrived in ft arch of a woman, whom, . 
 one moment, he was ready to kneel and worfhip, and 
 the next, to call down everlafting wrath upon her. 
 
 It may eafily be imagined, that the itory told by 
 Mrs. Spriggins, Mrs. Courtney and family did not 
 tend to foften his heart towards her ; fo far from it, 
 he poured forth a torrent cf execrations, and vowed 
 never to fee her more. But when he had returned to 
 his inn, and mufed a few moments, he thought he 
 
 would 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 33J 
 
 would fee her once more, u^ her, and bid her an 
 
 everlasting farewel ; he had lefirnt in what quarter ot 
 the ^own ine lodged, and at the dufk of the evening 
 went to the houfe and inquired for her. She was not 
 at home. At eight o'clock he called again ; it ill fhe 
 was not returned. Having obtained a direction to 
 the houfe where lie was told file fpent evert day, and 
 having allured himfelf that was the refidcnce of Oliver, 
 he determined to keep watch before the door, and 
 be himfelf an eye-witnefs o{ her leaving it, and at 
 what hour. Long and wearifome was the night, and 
 horrible were the feelings of Aubciry. About twelve 
 o'clock, he determined to leave her to her fate, and 
 return with all fpeed to London ; but before he had 
 reached the inn, defire of revenge impelled him to re- 
 turn. * 1 will tear her from the anus of Oliver,' faid 
 lie, ' and wreak my vengeance on both her and her 
 paramour ;' but then the memory of his child eroded 
 his imagination, and with it the fond recollection ot 
 what the mother was when he fifft knew her ; a flood ot 
 tendcrnefsrufhedover his foul, and he wept like an infant. ' 
 
 In this diftracted manner did Aubcrry pafs the night, 
 and the dawn of day found him fitting on the fteps of a 
 dooroppofite to the lodgings of Oliver. He roll' from 
 the cold, damp feat, and with a heavy heart was giv- 
 ing a la It look at the houfe, when the door opened 
 gently, and Rachel herfelf, with her child in her arms, 
 came out. 
 
 Though during the whole night Hamden had fup- 
 pofed his wife was there, yet fomcthing like hope had 
 fometimes led him to think he might have been deceiv- 
 ed, and fhe might iliil be innocent ; but this ocular 
 proof was beyond all doubt. Re reeled againft a poll, 
 daggered and fell. 
 
 Rachel faw him ; but, wrapped in a coarle great 
 coat which he had borrowed at the inn, with his hat 
 flapped, it was impofiible, by the faint glimmer of the 
 twilight, fhe ihould know him ; ihc imagined it to be 
 an inebriated perfon, juft endeavouring to return 
 home ; and fearful, fhould fhe be obferved by him at 
 that early hour, that he might in fbmc rcfpecl or other 
 
 bo 
 
334 REUBEN and RACHEL.; or, 
 
 be rude to her, flic .1 her fteps, and before 
 
 Auberry was fuflicicntly recovered to i'peak or rife 
 from the ground, (he was out of fight, and in a few 
 moments reached her own habitation. A little girl, 
 who was up on fiome particular occahon, kt her in, 
 and fhe threw, herfeif on in, hopes to obtain 
 
 fome repofe, while Auberry returned to the inn, pen- 
 ned a hafty letter to her, which he left, with orders that 
 it fhould be fent by eight o'clock in the morning. He 
 then ordered a chail'e and four, and proceeded with 
 all the rapidity of fuch a conveyance to London, fel- 
 dom flopping even for reirefhrnent,. as though he 
 thought, by the velocity oi the movement, to leave 
 his cares behind, or leil- the remembrance of- them? by 
 attending to the various objects that palled in cpukk 
 fucceffion before him. 
 
 In the mean time, Rachel had enjoyed about two- 
 hours fleep, and felt herfeif greatly refreshed ; for the 
 fatigue and anxiety of the night had exhaufted both 
 her fpirits and ftrength. She had attended as ufual 
 the day before at the bedfide of Courtney ; towards 
 noon he had arilen, and was removed for the benefit 
 of the air into an adjoining apartment, and placed in 
 an eafy chair near the window. The noife of horfes 
 drew his attention towards the fireet. He looked out, 
 and faw his wife, accompanied by lord M. on horfe- 
 back, attended by two fervants in rich liveries. She 
 railed her eyes, faw the emaciated figure of her hul- 
 band, pointed him out to her diffolute companion, 
 and both bur ft into a loud laugh. Courtney was 
 unequal to the fhock ; he attempted to fpeak, but his 
 voice failed him ; he gafped, groaned, and fell to the 
 floor. Alarming faintings fucceeded each other, and 
 he was reduced to fuch a ftate of weaknefs, that the 
 medical gentleman who attended him imagined it al- 
 moft impoffible that he fhould live through the night. 
 Was id poffible for Rachel in fuch a fituation to leave 
 him ? No ! She had not been treated with fufficient 
 refpeel by the miftrefs of the houfe where fhe lodged, 
 to make her think it neceffary to fend any meflage to 
 her concerning he.r ftaying out, or her reafons for fp, 
 duil g. Towards 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 335 
 
 Towards morning, Courtney fell into a quiet fleep, 
 and Oliver entreated Rachel to retire, and endeavour 
 to take fome repofc. Acting from motives the moft 
 pure and even commendable, without a thought or 
 wilh in the fmalleft tittle derogatoiy to virtue, Rachel 
 had no appreheniion of incurring cenfure from any. 
 How furprifed was ihe then, on awaking in the morn- 
 ing, to read the following note, which was brought 
 to her by the little girl who had let her in. 
 
 " Mifstrefs Dakirs, ater the adventer of Iaft nitc, you 
 cant lUppos I will fuller you to flay any longer in my 
 oufe, wich is a oneft oufc ; and furdcrmore, I docs 
 not expect you to go without paying me every fardin 
 of what you oes me. You mull go meditly, as I doe-; 
 not want women of your fort in my oufe no longer." 
 
 Rachel was really fo totally unconfeious of evil, 
 that flic was at a lofs to think what the woman meant 
 by " the adventure of laft night ;" but going to her to 
 inquire, was fo overwhelmed with abuie, that, weeping, 
 trembling, almoft fainting, flic retreated from the 
 houfe leaving every thing behind her to fatisfy the ra- 
 pacity of her inhuman landlady. 
 
 As (he was going out of the door, flic met the porter 
 with her hufband's letter. She took it, broke the 
 feal, and read that he had been there, that he had fecn 
 her, that he believed her loft to \irtue, and that he 
 abandoned her forever. Overcome by i'enfationr, the 
 moft agonizing, (he fat down on the fteps of the door. 
 The letter remained open in her hand ; her eyes were 
 riveted to it, and only that flic breathed, flic might 
 have been taken for a ftatue of fixed and mute defpair. 
 How long flie would have remained in this fituation 
 is uncertain, or whether, finking into infenfibility, flic 
 would not have loft all confeioufnefs of her mifery» 
 had not the woman with the diabolical malice of a fiend 
 opened the door, and bade her begone from the itep. 
 Aroufed from her lethargy of grief, flic arofe, folded 
 her child to her bofom, and bowing her head in meek 
 refignation, the for rows of her heart found vent at her 
 eyes, and lhc obeyed in iilence. 
 
 And 
 
336 REUBEN and RACHEL; on, 
 
 And what was there, in this moment of anguifh,' to 
 fupport the finking fpirits of our affli-ftcd heroine ? 
 Confctous innocence ! And whilft humbled to the 
 very duft, fhe could look up with hope and confidence 
 to Him who is a rock of defence to the injured, a fure 
 help to thole Who truft in him. 
 
 Wounded pride would have firfl impelled her to 
 hide herfelf from Oliver, as fhe difcovcrcd, from the 
 unconnected fcrawl left by Aubcrry, that it was of 
 him he was jealous, and had it been only for herfelf 
 that Hie was intereiled, ihc would mod likely havefuf- 
 fered every degree of mifery before me would have 
 afked relief of any one ; but her child, the Ion of Au- 
 bcrry, the lawful heir to large pofTeffions, for his fake 
 ilie was refolved to ftifle her feelings, and endeavour 
 to convince his cruel father that he had injured her in 
 the moil unwarrantable manner. 
 
 She therefore went immediately to his lodgings, 
 and calming her perturbed fpirits as much as ihc 
 poifibly could, thus addreli'ed him : — " Mr. Oliver, I 
 am neceffitated to requefl the loan of a few guineas, 
 at the fame time that I tell you i: is more than prob- 
 able I may never be able to repay yon. Something 
 has taken place this morning, which obliges me in fu- 
 ture to forbear feeing yon, or giving any farther at- 
 tendance on our unfortunate friend." 
 
 " Good heavens !" faid Oliver, itruck with her pale 
 countenance, fwollen eyes and evident agitation ; 
 "what can be the matter? Wherever you are going, 
 do not refVe me the fatisfaction or' knowing, that [ 
 may be able to aillil, protect, comfort, be a brother to 
 you." 
 
 " It is impoffible," faid fhe, " the world will not 
 fuffer it." 
 
 He comprehended the meaning of her words, nnd 
 without reply tendered her his purfe. She took five 
 guineas from it, and then requeuing to iee Courtney, 
 of whom ihe took a lilent leave, fhe departed, leaving 
 Oliver aftonilhed and affected at her conduct. He 
 muled a few moments, and then thinking 1 , however 
 ligid propriety might forbid her to vifit the houfe be 
 
 inhabited, 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 337 
 
 •inhabited, or receive vifits from him, yet it did not for- 
 bid him following and difcovering her retreat, where 
 he might fupply her with all the necefTaries and com- 
 forts of life. He matched his hat, and rufhed into the 
 ftreet ; but he was too late ; Rachel was no longer in 
 fight, nor could he difcover which way ihc had gore. 
 
 Our heroine walked to a poor cottage about a mil 
 from the town, inhabited only by an old woman and 
 her daughter. Here (lie agreed to board at a very 
 low rate for a few days, and then fat down to write 
 to her hufband. She endeavoured to explain circum- 
 Jlances that appeared fuipicious ; but to think that 
 Auberry fufpe&ed her honour, gave her fuch inex- 
 prellible angniili, that flie was frequently obliged to 
 lay down her pen and weep. At length lhe huifned, 
 earnefily conjuring, if not for her own, yet for his 
 child's fake, he would fend her fome relief, nor fufrer 
 them to expire with want, or langnifh out their lives 
 in poverty and obfeurity. 
 
 This letter lhe dircclcd to a eoffee-houfe in London, 
 which lhe knew he frequented, and requeuing an an- 
 fwer to be directed to the pod-office at Newark, lb* 
 left her infant in the charge of her old hoftefs, went 
 herfelf and put her own letter in, inquiring at the fame: 
 time when lhc might expect an anfwer. 
 
 When lhc returned to her humble home, fatigue, an- 
 guilh of heart, and the violent emotions flie had ex- 
 perienced during the day, had fo far overcome her, 
 that lhe went to bed much indiipofed, and after a. 
 night of reftlefs agitation, lhe awoke from a morn 
 (lumber fo ill, as to be unable to rife. 
 
 From that time, a period of three weeks was a to- 
 tal blank to Rachel. A fever, accompanied by a de- 
 lirium, brought her to the verge of the grave; but the 
 tenderriefs of her good old hoftefs and her daughter, 
 co-operating with a naturally good confutation, and 
 the attendance of a fkilful man of medicine, at length 
 triumphed over the diforder, and fhe returned to life 
 and a renewed fenfe (flier forrovs. 
 
 The firft tiling lhc thought of was her expelled 
 
 letter. .She difpatched the voting cottager to New- 
 
 F f ark 
 
53$ REUBEN akd RACHEL; or, 
 
 ark to inquire for it ; fhe returned empty handed ; 
 there was no letter there. Thus day after day parted 
 on. The five guineas Rachel had borrowed of Oli- 
 ver were totally expended during her illncfs, and no 
 letter arriving from her hufband, fhe was once more 
 pennylefs, but not totally fricndlefs. The poor inhab- 
 itants of the cottage were Cbrijiiam. Had fhe been 
 ftained with a thoufand errors, they would not have 
 thought it right to remember them when lhc was bow- 
 ed to the earth by affliction. Their whole poffeffions 
 were, the cottage, a fmall garden, a cow and two fpin- 
 riing wheels ; but they dried the tear from her eyes by 
 the voice of kindnefs, and told her fhe ihould be wel- 
 come to fhare their humble fare till returning health 
 enabled her to join their labours for fubfiftence, if 
 nothing better offered. During her illncfs, the old 
 cottager had found Auberry's letter, and wifhing to 
 gain fome intelligence concerning her family, had pe- 
 rufed it. 
 
 " She may be guilty," faid fhe, " but I have no 
 right to judge her. She i^ iick and afflicted ; it is 
 therefore my duty to nurfe and comfort her." She 
 then returned the letter to the pocket from whence fhe 
 took it, nor even after Rachel's recovery did fhe fuffer 
 her to imagine, by any word, look or hint, that fhe had 
 feen it. 
 
 As foon as Rachel had gathered flrength fufficient 
 to enable her to attempt it, with flow and uneven fteps 
 fhe proceeded to Newark, determined to make inqui- 
 ry herfelf concerning a letter ; for fhe thought it im- 
 poilible for Auberry to abandon her and his child to 
 abfolute want. 
 
 She went to the office, and was told no fuch letter 
 vvas there. " Are you certain, Sir ?" faid fhe ; " it 
 inuft have been here fome time, if it is here at all. 
 Pray look amongft the letters that lay in the office ; 
 it is of more confequence to me than you can imag- 
 ine. It is di reeled to Mrs. Dacres, to be left here till 
 called for." 
 
 A young man hearing her repeat the name of Da- 
 urned over a parcel of letters-, and prefentcd to 
 
 the 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 339 
 
 the trembling hands of our heroine the long-expected 
 cpiftle from her hufband. 
 
 Rachel opened it ; a hundred pound bank note 
 dropped from it ! She attempted to read it, but a 
 mill came over her eyes ; ihe reeled, and would have 
 fallen, but the young man caught her. He called 
 for water, and an interior door opening, a young 
 woman, very plainly habited, rufhed out, fupported 
 and prefFed to her befom the lifeleis, inanimate form, 
 calling on her to revive by the tender name of friend, 
 he* dear, unhappy Rachel. Life foon revilited her 
 lips and cheeks ; ihe opened her eyes, and found hcr- 
 i'df in the arms of Jeffy Oliver. 
 
 Leaning on the arm of this dear friend, and hardly 
 daring to truft her fenfes left it lhould prove an illu- 
 fion, Rachel retired into a fmall, neat parlour, where 
 ihe foon regained fufficient compofure to perufe her 
 letter. It was fhort, and the conclufion of it almolt 
 annihilated her. It was as follows. — 
 
 My adored Radii, 
 
 THERE is fuch an appearance of candmir and 
 fmcerity throughout your whole letter, that I cannot 
 but believe you innocent ; prove yourfclf io, and on 
 the receipt of this come immediately to London, and 
 prepare to follow my fortunes to foreign climes. Our 
 marriage is no longer a fecret ; my aunt has difcard- 
 ed me. I have fold my commiffion, and in the def- 
 pafr I felt at your perfidy, have taken paffage on board 
 a veflel bound for Philadelphia. If you love me as 
 you fay, and as I would fain think you do, you will 
 not hefitate to leave England forever, fince it is for 
 my peace of mind that I fhould do fo. I cannot fub- 
 mit to live in it below the rank I have been accuftom- 
 ed to fill. If your affection leads you to be the com- 
 panion of my voyage, the fharer and foother of all my 
 cares, I fhall regret neither fortune nor country. If 
 not, if fome ftronger attachment binds you to this fpot, 
 Oh Rachel ! I cannot bear the thought ; but fhould 
 it be k>, why the farther we are divided the better. 
 
 " lnclofed 
 
34,o REUBEN and RACHEL; m, 
 
 " Inclofcd I imagine is a Arm fufficient to difchi 
 any debts you may have contracted, and bring you to 
 London. If you come, 1 ftiall expect to ice you in 
 ten days from the date of this letter. If not, fareweJ 
 forever ; we meet no more on this fide eternity, and 
 [ will ftrive if poffible to forgpt you. 
 
 HA'MDEN AUBERRY." 
 
 Rachel referred to the date of the letter ; it had been 
 written near a month. " Then he is gone ! left mc 
 forever ! and thinks mc the moil depraved of women," 
 faid ihe ; and her emotions became ib violent, that in 
 her prefent debilitated ftate, Mils Oliver feared fhs 
 would have fallen into fits ; at any rate, fhe thought 
 it necefiary to take her home, and procuring a car- 
 riage, (lie herfelf accompanied her to her lowly hab- 
 itation. By the way (he talked her into fomething 
 like compomre ; fhe learnt every circumftance that 
 had taken place fince their ieparation. 
 
 Convinced of the purity of our heroine's heart, that 
 her motives had been always right, though her con- 
 duct had been Ibmetimes directly contrary to the rigid 
 rules cY prudence, fhe felt all her affection for her re- 
 vive ; and taking her hand when fhe had finifhed her 
 detail, fhe cried, "Well, Mrs. Auberry, (as we ihall 
 henceforth call Rachel) in return for the confidence 
 you have repofed in rnc, I will tell you my ftory. It 
 is a verv Ample one, without one romantic or extra- 
 ordinary incident. 
 
 " When I left London, I recollected an old fchool 
 fellow 1 had at this place, of whofe fenfe and discre- 
 tion I had a very high opinion ; to her I repaired, and 
 through her means fettled the method of correfpond- 
 ing with you and Archibald, alfo the means of receiv- 
 ing a fmall yearly income, which I poifciled inde- 
 pendent of my father. I then threw afide the fine 
 lady entirely, aflumed the plain attire you fee me now 
 wear, and with it a fimplicity of manners that might 
 be likely not to betray my real rank in life. I then 
 procured an apartment at a farm-houfe, that is Atu- 
 atcd in a moil delightful though very folitary valley, 
 
 about 
 
TALES or OLD TIMES. 341 
 
 about three miles from hence. I purchafeel a few 
 books, with materials for needle-work, and diverfified 
 my tirhe with reading, working, and taking necefiary 
 exerciie. The productions of my needle, through my 
 friend were fent to London and fold, increafmg my 
 little income in fuch a manner as to afford me all the 
 comforts of life. I heard of my brother's marriage, 
 and of his refidence fo near me. I longed to fee him ; 
 but was too proud to think of throwing myfelf on the 
 liberality of his wife, for I knew that Archibald him- 
 felf was as poor as I was. I therefore continued my 
 retirement and avocations. I have frequently thought 
 of you, and from fome accounts which accidentally 
 met my ears, was led fometimes to blame but oftencr 
 to pity you. 
 
 " But fliould I ever return to the gay world, my 
 young aiTociates will, I have no doubt, be furprifed 
 that I mould have ch-.ped from my father's houfc, 
 changed my name, and iecluded myJblf above a year 
 and a half in a cottage, yet never have met with a 
 lingle adventure, or made one conqucft ; nay, if you 
 will believe me, the impenetrable rultics have entirely 
 overlooked my beauty and accomplishments ; and 
 though I have appeared regularly every Sunday, when 
 the weather permitted, at the paruh church, the Squire 
 has not once noticed me, and 1 have remained entirely 
 unmolcRed. 
 
 " But I am weary of this dull famenefs of fceue, 
 and you and I will now fet out together in fearch of 
 adventures. Tin's mad brained, harum-fcarum huf- 
 band of yours, though I think he little deferves fuch 
 attention from us, yet we will e'en go after him. For 
 if we fhould not find him, we may perhaps find fome- 
 body elfe that will be glad to fee us." 
 
 Rachel comprehending that Jelly meant Reuben, 
 replied with additional penfivenefs, " Alas ! mv dear 
 girl, I have never heard from my brother fince lie left 
 England." 
 
 " So I understand," fa'id' Jefly, ftill forcing a fmile, 
 
 while her eyes were brimfull of tears ; " but I cannot 
 
 repveis a fond hope, which almoft amounts to a belief, 
 
 F f 2 that 
 
5 + 2 REtfBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 that be is ftill in exiftence, and that we (hall one day 
 meet again. As to Archibald, it will not be proper 
 to let him knew of our defign till it is too late for him 
 to overtake and accompany us; for that would over- 
 throw my whole plan of reconcilement between you 
 and Auberry. And Jhould the worft come to the 
 worlt, there is it ill my little annuity ; we will live to- 
 gether, my dear Rachel, in humble, but contented in- 
 dependence. What our income will not procure, in- 
 duftry (hall fupply. Wc will ftudy to fulfil the duties 
 of our lowly Ration, and, enjoying the fweet coniola- 
 tion of an approving confeience, hold the trifling mul- 
 titude, that is in general termed the nvor/.f, in fo little 
 dtimution, a.s neither to court its (miles or fear its cen- 
 fures." 
 
 This was a plan too agreeable to the feelings of Ra- 
 chel not to be immediately doled with. This re-com- 
 mencement of friendfhip, with a perfon fo dear to her 
 heart as JciFy Oliver, feemed to eafe her bofom of half 
 its load. A very lhort time fufBccd for the feulement 
 of every concern, either of Mifs Oliver or our hero- 
 ine, and on the fecond morning after their meeting 
 they were on their road to London. Rachel left am- 
 ple teftimony with her aged hoftefs at the cottage* 
 that whatever her other errors might have been, ilie 
 was not guilty of the fin of ingratitude. Arrived in 
 London, they made every inquiry after Auberry, and 
 learnt that he had been departed above a fortnight, 
 and it was- uuiverfally believed to America. 
 
 It was late in the feafon for vefiels to crofs the boif- 
 terous Atlantic ocean ; the two fair friends could hear 
 of none likely to fail to the port they wifhed, under a, 
 month or fix weeks. This appeared to the anxious 
 and impatient Rachel an eternity ; and being inform- 
 ed that a fhip would go from Liverpool in the courfe 
 ©f ten days, they purlued their journey for that place, 
 and arrived juft in time to fecure a palfage, as the vef- 
 fcl was to fail the following morning. 
 
 Reduced as our heroine was by illnefs, this long 
 journey was almoft too much for her Strength ; but 
 Jcffy Oliver had fiac fpirits, and a constitution which, 
 
 thnurh 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 343 
 
 though not robufc, could fupport great fatigue with* 
 out finking under it. They alighted at the inn, and 
 reiblved to indulge in a few hours reft before their em- 
 barkation, where we will leave them and make fome 
 little inquiry after Auberry. 
 
 When lie had difpatched his letter with the money 
 to Rachel, he waited with the urmoft impatience the 
 arrival of the time in which he might expe-ft her. He 
 had in the iirft hurry of jealouJy, rage and difappoint- 
 ment fold his commiflion, and taken a palf.-.ge on 
 board a fhip bound to Philadelphia, determined ' evei 
 more to vilk his native country, where every bright 
 profpect of his youth had been untimely blafted. The 
 reception of his wife's letter awakened all his tender- 
 nefs for her. Rachel in want, deprciled, fick. broken- 
 hearted, was ever before his eyes. ' She may yet be 
 innocent,' cried he ; the very fuppoiition feemed to 
 give him comfort; 'yet the proofs of her depravity 
 
 were fo incontestable ' here his heart glowed with 
 
 refentment ; ' 1 will at lead fend her the means of 
 coming immediately to me. If me comes, I will re- 
 ceive her with affection, if not, I will endeavour to for- 
 get that I ever knew her.' In this frame of mind he 
 wrote the letter which conveyed the money to cur he- 
 roine. 
 
 But when day after day parTed, and no tidings rx 
 her neither by letter or any other means, he conclud- 
 ed Hie was totally abandoned, and in defpair of ever 
 knowing peace again, lie embarked on his intended 
 voyage. But tempcihious weather enfuing, and the 
 brig in which he embarked being rather ancient, 
 fprung a leak, and they put into Liverpool to relit ; 
 where Auberry, giving way to the defpair that prey- 
 ed upon his mind, funk into a /late of inanity. Both 
 mind and body became debilitated ; a hectic fever 
 flowly undermined his conftitution ; and when the vef- 
 fel was ready to depart, he was too ill to make the 
 voyage, and fuffered her to go without him. He 
 had gone to his mother immediately on his arrival in 
 Liverpool, where he explained to her all his caufe for 
 forrow, and felt every wound bleed afrefh a? he 
 
3-H REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 ed fome letters from BeP.e Webfter, which tended 
 highly to criminate his wife. Doctor Lenient was all- 
 ien t at the time of his arrival ; a fmall ellatc had been 
 left him in Ireland, and he had crofled the channel in 
 order to take poilefiion and fettle fome very material 
 bnfmefs. 
 
 When Hamden had been with his mother about 
 three weeks> the Doctor returnee', furpriicd to fee his 
 nephew, and more furprifed at his very rueful appear- 
 ance. He inquired what he had been doing to alter 
 hirnfelf fo. " I have been ruining myfelf," laid Au- 
 berry. 
 
 " Odfo ! I hope not," replied the good-hearted Doc- 
 tor. " What, have you been gambling ?" 
 
 " Yes, in the lottery of life, and have drawn a blank.. 
 In fhovt, my dear uncle, I have married a woman with- 
 out either family i r fortune, and am difcarded by my 
 aunt ; but that I could have borne, had my wife been, 
 faithful." 
 
 "Odds my life!" faid the Doctor, "matrimony 
 feems no improver of iiappinefs ; for this is the fecend 
 tale of mifery I have heard to-day. What think you,, 
 lifter ? juft as I landed from the packet, I faw two 
 women (landing on the fhore, ready to ftep into a boat 
 that war, waiting. One countenance I knew inftantly ; 
 for though pale and greatly emaciated, there was Mill 
 that character of fenfibility and virtue impreffed upon 
 it for which I ufed to admire it. It was cur unfortu- 
 nate young friend Rachel Dudley." 
 
 Hamden gafped for breath, but he fufFered the Doc- 
 tor to proceed without interruption. " She had a fine 
 boy in her arms," continued the Doctor, " apparently 
 about four months old, and fpite of all we have heard, 
 I felt myfelf impelled to fpeak to her. Her compan- 
 ion was Mifs Oliver, whom we heard had eloped from 
 her father's houfe, and who has not been heard of by 
 her family for abovca twelvemonth." 
 • • " Well* Sir," cried Auberry impatiently, " but 
 what of Rachel." 
 
 « Why I'll tell you," faid the Doctor, taking off 
 his wig arid deliberately putting on his crimfon velvet 
 
 cap, 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 34$ 
 
 «ap, and wi\hout noticing the emotions of Hamden ; 
 "when I werte up to her, and atked her how ihe did, 
 Jhe laid her han-1 on her bolbm, and with a look I 
 ihall never forget, nnnvercd, " Neither well nor happy, 
 Doctor." 
 
 " I am forry, my pnor girl," faid I, " for fome cir- 
 cumilances that I underftand have taken place, and 
 knowing your extreme fcnfibility, cannot be furprifed 
 that they have injured bot>. your health and peace of 
 mind. But where are you gang now r" 
 
 " To America," faid ihe, "Va purfuit of my hul- 
 band." 
 
 " You are married, then," laid I. 
 
 " Yes," ihe replied, and fixing her eyes on my face, 
 11 did you not know it ?" 
 
 " No, how fhould I ? I have been in Ireland thefc 
 two months pail. Juft then the failors called to her 
 to get into the boat. She tendered me her hand." 
 
 " God bleis you, my good Doctor," faid ihe. I 
 fiiook her hand, helped her in, and " 
 
 " And ihe is really gone, then," cried Hamden 
 frantickly. 
 
 The Dodlor raifed his eyes ; the agitated counte- 
 nance of his nephew alarmed him. " Yes, I believe 
 fo," faid he in a doubtful tone ; " but why docs it af- 
 fect you thus ?" 
 
 " Why does it affect me ? 01) ! Sir, I am the hut 
 band of Rachel ! It is me fhe is gone in purfuit of. 
 I have deferted, abandoned, forfaken her ; i thought 
 Iter depraved ; I was told " 
 
 " Yes, and fo have I been told," faid the Doctor 
 with vehemence, Unking his hand on the elbow of his 
 chair; "but after beholding her meek, cxprellive 
 countenance, where candour and purity are (lamped <m 
 every feature; after feeing her emaciated frame, and 
 hearing her tremulous, plaintive accents, I would not 
 believe the fmalleft tittle to her diiadvar.tage, though 
 millions joined to affirm it ! Young man, you have 
 been hafty, and blinded by paflion ; have thrown away 
 a pearl of ineftimable price." 
 
 Hamden's 
 
!4* REUBEN akd RACHEL; ot, 
 
 Hamdcn's feelings were now too grear tor utterance. 
 His mother foothed him ; but Dr. LcKcnt, who hated 
 family pride, blamed the whole of Ais conduct ; and 
 though before he went to bed he jvefcribed fomething 
 to compofe the agitated fpirits of Auherry, yet when 
 retired, his thoughts were whol'y occupied by Rachel, 
 wandering without a proper protector, in fearch of a 
 man who had wantonly foerifieed her happinefs and 
 reputation on the altar of ambition and intereft. 
 
 CHAPTER LAST. 
 
 Where heaven-born Freedom holds her court 
 
 Let me erect my humble fhed ; 
 Where all the arts with joy refort, 
 
 And Science rears her lauttll'd head'. 
 
 E left Reuben in captivity, employing every 
 leifure moment in expanding the mind and 
 cultivating the talents of Eumea. In this manner fix 
 weary months palfed on, and flill no hope of emanci- 
 pation. At the end of this period, tidings arrived 
 that the Indian chiefs had been guilty of a breach of 
 the European laws, and in confequence had fufferctl 
 death. The fachem called a council of his ciders and 
 chieftains, and it was determined that Reuben and his 
 nnhappy companions mould on the enfuing morning 
 be bound to the flake, and fuffer thofe inhuman tor- 
 tures which none but lavages could inflict, and none 
 but favages fubmit to, without an endeavour to be 
 avenged of thofe who inflict them. 
 
 Eumea was in the wigwam at the time this horrid 
 fentence was paifed ; her heart funk ; there were but 
 a few hours to intervene before it was to be put in ex- 
 ecution. In the dead of night, lhe entered the wig- 
 wam of our hero; 
 
 iC Englishmen," faid me, "awake, get up ; danger 
 and death are at hand ; hafte, quit this place, flee into 
 the woods that flyrt the mountains, and the God of 
 
 the 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 347 
 
 the Chriftians go with you." In a few words fhe ex- 
 plained to them the neceffity of their immediate flight, 
 and directing their fteps to a cavern in a hollow glen, 
 (lie threw her arms round the neck of Reuben, bathed 
 his cheek with her tears, preffed her cold trembling 
 lips to his, and fobbing, Adieu ! returned to her refo- 
 lds bed to weep and pray for his fafety. 
 
 Innumerable were the hardfhips endured by Reu- 
 ben and his companions, fkulking in caves, or deep 
 woods, feeding on wild fruit, and even glad to maker 
 a meal of acorns ; terrified by the ruffling of the 
 leaves, or the fteps of wild though inoffenfive animals, 
 natives of the uncultivated tracts through which they 
 were obliged to pais. 
 
 After three weeks wearifome journey, they at length 
 arrived at a European fettlement ; but fo reduced 
 through famine and fatigue, that it feemed as though 
 they were only arrived at a place of fafety that drey 
 might reft from all their cares in death. Even the 
 ftrenglh and fpirits of O'Neil began to flag, and he 
 bitterly regretted that he wus no longer able to cheer, 
 attend and comfort his dear niafter. 
 
 But what was die furprife of Reuben, when, the day 
 after his arrival at this place, he faw Eumea enter the 
 apartment where he was. He railed himfelf from the 
 bed on which he was reclining, and in a voice that cx- 
 preired at once furprife and pleafurc, exclaimed, " Eu- 
 mea here ! what ftrange incident !" She flopped him, 
 took hold of his hand, and looking earncfoly in his 
 face — 
 
 "Is it ftrange that I fhould follow you ; (laid fhe) 
 were not you my inftructor, my more than father, my 
 friend, and was it pofiiblc Eumea could Ray behind 
 you and live ? Do not look angry ; 1 know I have 
 done wrong ; for you taught me to love, reflect, and 
 never forfake my father and mother. I tried to re- 
 member your precepts, I tried to obey your injunc- 
 tions ; but, alas ! the blent night was v.itnefs to my 
 anguifh, and the rifing fun could not dry the dew from 
 my ej^lids. If I fiept, I faw you, liftened to you, 
 and was happy. Fleeting joy ! that but cmuittcred 
 
 the 
 
3f+8 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 the moment of awaking ! The flowers yon had gath- 
 ered for me the day before you left me, I bound upon 
 my bread next my heart ; I have worn them there 
 ever fince ; they withered and dried, but every day I 
 refrefh them with my tears. One morning, .juft as 
 the day appeared, 1 arofe, took my bow and an 
 and reiol.ved to follow you. My mother was dill 
 aileep ; I looked at her, 1 knelt befide her ; but I dar- 
 ed not kifs her left Hie fhould awake. I would 
 prayed, but you had told me that an undutiful child 
 could never be a favourite of our heavenly Father ; fo 
 I prefTed my hands on my heart, which throbbed fte 
 loud, it teemed to fay, Oh ! God of the Chriftians, 
 blefs my mother ! God knows every thought of the 
 heart, and though I dared not pronounce his facred 
 name with my lips, perhaps its iilent petition may be 
 read and anfwered." 
 
 Eumea paufed ; Reuben would have aniwered, but 
 he was at a lofs what to fay. O'Neil, weak and ill 
 as he was, had moved towards her, and fitting at her 
 feet, leaning one hand on her knees, his head refted 
 on it, and his languid eyes were fixed on her face, as 
 he liftened to her with profound attention. 
 
 " It is my belief," faid he, " that God Almighty 
 never turns away from the prayers of an innocent 
 heart ; ami then to be fure he knows all we want, 
 when we can't fpeak to afk for even a morfel of bread. 
 Oh ! if we were only to have what we deferred, we 
 mould find but poor accommodations, in our journey 
 through this world ; but you ice he was fo good as to 
 fend people before us to make every thing comforta- 
 ble ; and all he requires is, that we ihall in return 
 make things pleafant and agreeable for them that 
 come after us." 
 
 Reuben could not help fmiling at O'Neil's moral- 
 ity. Eumea feemed loft in thought, and fcarcely to 
 have attended to what he faid ; but when fhe found 
 he was iilent, ihe again addreffed cur hero. 
 
 " So you fee here I am ; but what have I gained 
 by following you ? Nothing ! for now all thatgf fuf- 
 fered before for your abfence, I now feel on account 
 
 of 
 
TAL'ES of OLD TIMES. 
 
 01 my mother. But I will not return. No ; I could 
 not iupport my father's unkindnefe, and my mother's 
 
 reproaches, which would be the more painful becaafe 
 mingled with affection. I will follow ycu, my dear 
 inflruclor, I will be your handmaid, and love and 
 ferve you to the laft hour of mv lite." 
 
 " And fo will I," laid O'Nt'il, " and I'll well ferve 
 you too, my beautiful Indian lady, every day and all 
 the day, and by night too, if fo be (there be nccefiity." 
 
 " And how did you know that you mould find fflc 
 here ?'' faid Reuben. 
 
 " I knew," (he replied, " that this was the nearer, 
 fettlement, and had I not found you here, I mould 
 have travelled onward to Philadelphia ; and had yon 
 not been there, I fhould have thought you had died 
 by the way, and would have fought you in a better 
 world, the world of fpirits." 
 
 '- You would not, 1 hope, Eumca, have dared to 
 rulh unbidden into eternity :"' faid Reuben. 
 
 " I fear I mould," fhe replied ; " for wiiy fhould wc 
 endure life, when the nights are paft in anguifli, and 
 every day is a day of forrow ^ When the wintry blafts 
 howl,whcn the mow i alls, and the froil binds up the lakes ; 
 then, when confined to the wigwam, there is no comfort 
 within, but the tempeft of the pafiions rages more furious 
 than the gale that bows the tall cedars, and ihakes to the 
 roots the (lately oak ; why ihould we not deep with 
 the infecT: or the reptile tribes, that pais the dreary^ 
 feafon in infenfibility ? And when the warm fouthern 
 breeze difiolves the ice, and bids the trees be green, 
 the bloflom come ; when the blackbird whiftles mer- 
 rily, and the robin begins to drefs his plumes ; if then 
 nor fragrant bloffom, nor cheerful bird, nor flower- 
 freckled field delight the fenfe, or foothe the tortured 
 foul, were it not better r.) feek repofe in other climes, 
 more fuited to our feelings? Or when the deer fceks 
 the deep woods, and pants though lying on the riv- 
 :r's brink, when the fcorching fun dries the grafs and 
 • parches up the ground, where is the harm if, pin: 
 in the wave, we quench the fever that coniumes 
 or from our veins let out the blood, that rufiics with 
 G g fooh 
 
3 $o REUBEN Asn RACHEL; or, 
 
 fuch fury through our frame, fwelling the heart tUl 
 it is near to buriting ? Or even when the feafon of 
 torn arrives ; when clufters of wild grapes hang cm 
 the bending vines; when the berries, blackened by the 
 fun, peep through the half-faded leaver, ; when the 
 cool, foft breeze of evening, and the fwect air of the 
 morning, affords refreflnng ilumbcrs to the eyelids, or 
 unclolcs them to plcafing profpects, that, being fur- 
 vcyed, makes the heart .dance with joy — Ah ! then, 
 if the eyes are dimmed with tears and the heart op- 
 preflcd with forrow ; is it a fin to feek that happy 
 place where we can neither weep nor fuffer more ?" 
 
 " You have profited but little by my inftrmftions, 
 Eumea," faid Reuben, " if you can argue thus." 
 
 " I will follow you, then," faid (he emphatically, 
 " and endeavour to improve." 
 
 In about a fortnight, our hero and his companion', 
 were enough recovered to continue their journey. It 
 was in vain he entreated Eumea to return to he- 
 mother, flie perlifted in following him. It was with- 
 out effeift that he reprcfented to her, that in accompa- 
 nying him flic would be looked upon with dilfcipecl 
 by the European women; her refolution was taken 
 and was not to be fhaken. 
 
 The appearance of Reuben and his followers was 
 jmifcrublc in the extreme when they entered Philadel- 
 phia; and what added to their mifery was, that amongft 
 I them all they had not a finglc copper, nor any friends 
 'to whom they could apply for aiTiftance. The for- 
 lorn group had crolfed the Schuylkill, and with weary 
 ftcps were approaching the city, when a venerable 
 r»ari of the fociety of Friends, riding out for exercifc 
 and air, furvcyed them with an eye of companion, 
 and Hopping his horfe — " Friend," faid he, addrefling 
 Reuben, "both thou and thy companions fcem fa- 
 tigued, and appear to have taken a long journey ; 
 from whence doft thou come •" 
 
 " From captivity," faid Reuben. 
 " Yes," cried 6'Neil, who, having recovered his 
 nfu-.i! fpirits, puflied forward to fpeak for himfelt ; 
 tve been obliged to pay a pretty l<u;g vifu 
 
 to 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 
 
 tc^ the copper-coloured gentlefolks, and if we ha 
 come away as we did, they would have fcalped us and 
 roalled us, and then a pretty figure we Humid have 
 cut! But this dear creature, who, though fhe is a li;- 
 tle darkifh or fo, has a heart as beautiful as an a 
 fo fhe told us what they were about going to de.. 
 Said fhe, Get up, my lads, and run away whilft you 
 can ; for to-morrow you will have no legs to run with. 
 So away we came, and a fine trampoofe we have h. > 
 And now we have got here, I don't know that We are 
 much better off; for if they had roafted us, we fiiould 
 not a lived to be ftarved to death ; for a devil a : 
 have we got to buy bread." 
 
 " Nevcrthelcfs,'' faid the benevolent friend, " thou 
 ihalt not flarve. I am not rich ; but Heaven fcrbid 
 that I mould fuffer a fellow-creature to want while I 
 have a morfel to give him, or a blanket to fpare to 
 flicker him from the inclemencies of the weather. I 
 have a houfe on the banks of the Delaware, but a ver> 
 fhort diftance from the city, and its doors were never 
 fluit againft the unfortunate ; come home with me, 
 then, and bring the good Indian maiden with thee. 
 It matters not to what nation, kindred or people they 
 belong who are in affliction ; I feel they arc my breth- 
 ren, and as fuch, I will gladly fhare my own comforts 
 with them." 
 
 They heard with delight the genuine effuf.or.-; ri 
 mercy and benevolence flow from the lips of the ir.a*. 
 of peace, and being directed by him, purfued their way 
 to the habitation of hofpitality. 
 
 " A fmall manfion, built by frugality and furnifhed 
 by fimplicity, fituatcd on the banks of the Delaware, 
 and furrounded by a large and well-cultivated garden, 
 was the dwelling of Stediafl Trueman. Elizabeth his 
 wife was not handfome, but there was fomething in 
 her look, voice and manner, more charming than 
 beauty. Her houfe, her children, herfelf, were pure- 
 emblems of neatnefs, innocence and induftry. She 
 heard that fome poor guefls were arrived, directed to 
 their friendly roof by her hufband, came into the 
 kitchen to bid them welcome, and with her own hand ; 
 
 i 
 
352 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 ailift ed to fet forth rcfrcnimcnt. The children curie -• 
 round them, feme eagerly curious and inquititive, and • 
 others timidly Handing aloof, to obicrve the ftrange 
 drefs and appearance of I Hers: 
 
 In this afylum, Reuben and his companions foon 
 recruited both health and fpiritsi Their benevolent 
 friend fupplied them with fome coarfe clothing, the 
 joint product of his farm and his wife's induilry. In 
 the courfe of conversation our hero mentioned his fath- 
 er's name. 
 
 " Dudley," faid friend Trueman ; " I knew him 
 well ; a more worthy, honeft man never exiftcd. 
 If thou art his fon, thou haft, I fear, been greatly 
 wronged by the man Jacob Holmes. I ) ;.ve reafon to 
 believe thy father was a man of Uriel integrity, and 
 that he would not prcmeditatedly affect a faiithood. 
 He did declare to me in confidence every particular 
 of his paft life, and though he did not boaft of his 
 good deeds, yet I gathered enough to believe that Ja- 
 cob was the child of his bounty. But the- man has 
 fince fo boldly and fblerrmly contradicted that belief, 
 that I dare not judge too raihly ; and Heaven forbid 
 that I mould condemn him ; for, juft or.unjuft, he is 
 gone to <dve an account of his ftewardfnip before 
 Him, who, requiring but humility, juilice and mercy 
 from his fervants toward their fellow-creatures, will in 
 no wife excufe thofe who flight his counfcls, :>r break 
 » his commandments." 
 
 Reuben was furprifed. "Is Jacob Holmes then 
 dead :" faid he. 
 
 "Vciilyhe lleepeth with his fathers," faid True- 
 man. "He was greatly hurt about three months 
 fince, by a fall from his horle ; the bruife was inter- 
 nal, brought on a fpitting of blood, which baffled all 
 medical aid, and he went off fuddenly, when he fup- 
 pbfed himlelf mending. Indeed, I was told he nevei 
 believed himfelf in danger. More is the pity ; the rod 
 of affliction, that warns us of approaching diifolution, 
 is a falutary and neccftary judgment, that as we bow- 
 under the correcting hand, we may implore that mer- 
 cv which is never withheld from the penitent firmer." 
 
 "And 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 353 
 
 *' And who inherits his eftate ?" faid Reuben. 
 
 " His infant fon, who with his mother, ftill refide^ 
 in the houfe." 
 
 " Mrs. Holmes is a worthy woman," faid Reuben, 
 *< and poffeffes an honeft fimplicity of heart extremely 
 interefting. Oh bounteous Difpofer of events," con- 
 tinued he, and his foul expanded as he fpoke, "vifit 
 not, I humbly befeech thee, the fins of the father upon 
 the child ; but may he live to be a comfort to his 
 mother, a friend to the worthy, and thy faithful fer- 
 vant to -a good old age." 
 
 " Thy pious prayers, good young man," faid True- 
 man, "return tenfold on thy own head." 
 
 The unfortunate participators of Reuben's captivity 
 being recruited, departed in fearch of employment ; 
 but himfelf, O'Neil and Eumea were detained in the 
 habitation of friend Trueman, who wifhed to place our 
 hero in fome reputable employ, mca:it to detain O'Neil 
 in his ownfervice, and thought the food and raiment ue- 
 ce/fary to render the Indian maid comfortable, would 
 never be miffed by his own family. The inquiries he 
 fet on foot for employment for our hero made it uni- 
 verfally known that he was returned to Philadelphia. 
 
 One morning, as he fat converfing with Trueman, 
 he was furprifed by the entrance of Mrs. Holmes. She 
 advanced to him with a firm but eager ftep, and pre- 
 fenting her hand, " I am glad to fee thee, friend Reu- 
 ben," faid flie ; " I did not hear of thy return till yef- 
 ter even, or I mould have come to vifit thee before." 
 
 Our hero cordially fhook her proffered hand, led 
 her to a feat, and told her he was happy in an oppor- 
 tunity to renew their acquaintance. 
 
 " 1 expedl thou doft know already that Jacob Holmes 
 is gone home," faid ihe, her hofom heaving and her 
 eyes fwimming in tears. Reuben bowed affent. 
 
 " Thou haft no right to regret his departure," con- 
 tinued fhe, " but he was the chofen friend v£ my heart, 
 the father of my child, the fupport of his family ; his 
 lofs to me is irreparable." She paufed a foment. " 1 
 have, fince his departure," fhe continued, recovering 
 her voice, " difcovefed amongft feme old papers, which- 
 Gg2. . I do 
 
354 REUBEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 I Jo dope and believe he had never infpecled, the at- 
 tefted copy of a will, and other accounts of cci.: 
 quence to thee. Here they are; thou wilt find by 
 them that thou art the real poncHor of Mount Pleai- 
 ant. I am fure I could not be happy to detain it 
 from the lawful owner, and I here relinquilh all claim 
 to it, and throw both myfclf and child upon your be- 
 nevolence." She then untied a handkerchief, and de- 
 livered the papers into the hands of Reuben, whole 
 feelings on the occaiion cannot eafdy be defcribed. 
 
 Our hero, thus railed almoft inftantaneoufly from 
 extreme poverty to a Hate of cafe, and indeed (what 
 in thofe days of moderation was termed) affluence, 
 made it his firft care to place Mrs. Holmes and her 
 fon in a comfortable habitation, and to fettle upon 
 them one third of all his father died poiTelTed of. He 
 placed Eumca with her, who aftiduoufly endeavoured 
 to conform to the European drefs, cuftoms and man- 
 ners ; but ihe pined at being feparated from Reuben, 
 and if more than two days elapfed without her feeing 
 him, flic would give way to the molt violent affliction. 
 Our hero had, previous to his campaign againft the 
 Indians, frequently written to his lifter ; but thcle let- 
 ters being directed to the care cf Mr. Andrew Atkins,, 
 ■were never forwarded to our heroine ; indeed, after 
 the firft, he might have pleaded in excufe that he did 
 not know where to find her. 
 
 Reuben made every inquiry at the poft-ofiice, and 
 of the mafters of veffels then arriving from England, 
 for letters, but could hear of none addrefTed to him- 
 felf ; and he meditated a voyage to his native place, 
 in order to bring his lifter over, andfometimes indulg- 
 ing the fond hope, that Jelly Oliver might accompany 
 her. But as he had much to fettle previous to tak- 
 ing fo long a voyage, he deferred it till the enfuing 
 fpring. 
 
 His friend, Stedfaft l\ueman, had made a purchafe 
 of fome land fituated in New-Jerfey, near the mouth 
 of the Delaware; he thought it neceifary to vi£t its 
 this autumn, and plan out the improvements he meant 
 fhould take place iu, tfie. faring. He invited R^ube^ 
 
 to 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 355 
 
 to accompany him on tins excursion, and he, wifliing 
 to fee a little of that part of die country, affeitfcd. 
 Their journey was extremely pleaiant ; but on the 
 d;iy preceding that they had fettled for their return to 
 Philadelphia, a cold dorm, fuch as often precedes or 
 accompanies the fun's autumnal paflagc acrols the 
 equinox, commenced, and they refblved to tarry till 
 its fury was abated. On the evening of the fee pud 
 day, it wus inereafed to a tremendous degree, nm ' 
 blowing fteadily, but in gulls, that threw the ocean into 
 horrible convulsions, heaping up vaft mountainous 
 waves that feemed to threaten heaven, and leaving 
 hollow chafms, in which the veifels (which they could 
 plainly defcry from the windows of the houfe they 
 were in) feemed often to he loft, though in a moment 
 after they appeared again on the fum.mit of the high- 
 tit wave. 
 
 Friend Trueman and our hero were greatly affect- 
 ed at the evident diflrefs in which feveral fmall barks 
 appeared ; they flood anxiouily watching them, till 
 the curtain of night iluit them from their view. The 
 houfe they were in was lituated at the entrance of Great 
 Egg-Harbour ; and as the ftorm abated in fome tri- 
 fling degree towards morning, Reuben and his friend 
 arofe with the earlieft dawn, to fee it any figns of 
 wrecks were apparent, or if they could be of any fer- 
 vice to the fuffering mariners, who might, if luckily 
 they cicaped fuch a catafhophe, be in want of friends 
 and ailiuancc. They wrapped themfelvcs in their 
 greatcoats, and walked towards the fca, where they 
 prcfently defcried a fhip dreadfully fhattered, endeav- 
 ouring to make the harbour. Her foremaft and main- 
 topmait were gone ; fome of her fails, torn in atoms, 
 Were fluttering in the wind, and the few lhe could ex- 
 pand were fearccly manageable. 
 
 Long they laboured, lor fome hours oppofed both 
 by wind and tide ; at length the latter turned in her 
 favour, and lhe fetched in, but not without making re- 
 peated fignals of diirrefs ; and it was very evident, as 
 i}ie approached the fhore, that (he laboured heavily in 
 the water, and all the fpee'eators concluded lhe was in 
 
 danger 
 
356 REUBEN axd RACHEL; or, 
 
 danger of finking. The fea ran fo high, no boat 
 could, without imminent rifle, go to the affiftance of 
 the wretched crew. At length a fifning boat ventur- 
 ed off. The people on board had thrown out an an- 
 chor, but fhc dragged it, and the wind letting acrofs 
 the harbour, fhc was making (tern foremoit to the 
 fliore. Juft as the boat reached her, fhe ft ruck, and 
 the cries of the affrighted failors and pa.Tengers reach- 
 ed the ears of thofe who flood on the fhore, waiting 
 in fufpenfe and horror to behold the fate of fo fine a 
 lhip and her unfortunate company. Several women 
 were feen on the deck, and the fpeclators fecmed as 
 though they could have given their own lives to pre- 
 fcrve the lives of the fuffcrers. 
 
 When the boat reached the (hip, the people rufiied 
 over the fides into her ; the women were helped in, 
 and in a few moments their fituation was as perilous 
 from having overloaded the boat, as it had been be- 
 fore in the vefl'el. However, they put off, and made 
 towards the fhore ; the wind favoured them, and the 
 fpectators exultingly cried, In five minutes they will 
 be all fafe ; but in a much lefs time, a, fudden flaw 
 took the fails ; from the number cf pcrfons on board, 
 the fifhermen could not flack the fheets in time, and 
 fhe cverfct. 
 
 All the aim of thofe on fhore was now to five, if 
 poffible, the lives of fome, who, borne by the foaming 
 furge, feemed almoft to reach the land, when the re- 
 ceding wave would dafh them back into the dread 
 abyfs of waters. Spars faftened by ropes were thrown 
 into the fea, while a number of men on fhore flood 
 ready to drag them to land, ftiould any defpairing 
 wretch feize them as the means of deliverance. Reu- 
 ben was bufied in this humane endeavour, when he 
 heard a ftiout of exultation from a group of men em- 
 ployed in the fame manner at a little diflance. They 
 waved alfo for more help. He therefore quitted his 
 own party, which was more numerous, and ran to 
 their affiftance, when he perceived that two women 
 had been already fnatched from a watery grave, and 
 
 fcveral 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES, 
 
 federal men were, by the help of the fpar*, near the 
 more. 
 
 '• Here," -fait! the matter of the houfe at v.hich thcr 
 lodged, "here, lake this poor infant, and carry it ic 
 the houfe, bid my dame make up a large fire hi every 
 room, and get all the beds ready. You mull fleep ( Q 
 the floor to-night, Sir." 
 
 Reuben clafped the poor little drtppii -1 t to 
 
 his naked breaft, wrapped his coat round it, and 
 delighted to find, by a faint moaning noife it made, 
 that in all probability it would recover. Hfe I 
 the houfe, gavo the child into the care of a kind-start- 
 ed Negro wench, and then returned to help the two 
 women. One was entirely fenfelefs, for ihe had drop- 
 ped on the very moment file readied the fhore ; the 
 other was unable to walk or fptak, 'out yet could make 
 iigns that her fen!?s were perfect. Reuben affined to 
 carry them in, gave them in charge to the women oi 
 the houfe, and then returned to the fea fide ; but foon 
 perceiving nothing more was to be done, he came 
 back to inquire after the little traveller. 
 
 " The women are both recovered," laid a man, as he 
 entered the houfe. 
 
 " I am glad of it," faid Retiben ; " might I be ad- 
 mitted to fpeak to them ; they are no doubt E 
 women, and will rejoice to find a countryman {o near 
 them, who is willing and leady to render them any 
 fervice." 
 
 This meflage was cairied to the ladies, and in a mo- 
 ment he was admitted. They were in feparate beds 
 in the fame room. Reuben drew near that which Was 
 next the door ; the perfon who occupied it railed her- 
 felf partly, and exclaiming; " It is 1 it is my broth- 
 er !" threw herfelf into his arms, which, linking on the 
 bed befiie her. he had extended to receive her ; tor the 
 moment he beheld her face, he recognized his fitter, 
 and the' exclamation of ' Dear Reuben !' ' beloved Ra- 
 chel!' mutually efcaped their lips as they burft into a 
 Hood oi tears. 
 
 And what were the feelings of JciTy Oliver at this 
 moment I they were indefcribable. She folded her 
 
 hands 
 
35& REUBEN and RACHEL; t>tj 
 
 hands over her face, and the filent tears tiickled 
 through licr lingers. Rachel recovered articulation 
 firft. " Reuben,* 4 faid (he, " there is a dcs.r friend of" 
 both yours and mine ; 'tis Jelly Oliver, who has been 
 riend, my fupporter, my more than fitter.'*' 
 
 Reuben left his filler, and dropping on his knees by 
 the bedlide of Jeffy, drew her hands from her lace, 
 and feeling more at that moment for her kindnefs to 
 liis filter, than from any other motive, preued them to 
 his heart, and cried, " May Heaven forever blefs you." 
 The enfuing feene may be conceived, but cannot be 
 defcribed. Reuben difcovered, from tht lamentations 
 of his filler, that it was her infant lie had brought to 
 the houfe (lhe had dropped it at the moment oi land- 
 ing when her fenfes failed her, and imagined it drown- 
 ed) and he. had the exquifite pleafure of reftoring it to 
 her arms. 
 
 A few days reinstated their health and fpirits, and 
 our hero, with his friend Stedfaft Trueman, efcorted 
 the happy Rachel and Jeffy to Philadelphia. The for- 
 mer explained every circurnftar.ee of her marriage, 
 and its fubfequent confequences- ; and the latter when 
 folicited to become miitrefs of Mount Pleafant, did' 
 not frown or threaten to be obdurate. They arrived 
 at friend Trueman's houfe about midday, and after 
 taking a flight refrefhment, Reuben, with his fifter and 
 her charming friend, proceeded to Mount Pleafant. 
 They were met at the gate by O'Neil. 
 
 " Och ! my dare matter," laid he, "I'm mighty 
 glad you are come back, for here has been a ftrange 
 ibrt of a gentleman here, and for the matter of that 
 he is here now, in our houfe, but he is fick ; fo as he 
 feeme'd to love your honour, and talk kindly of my 
 good lady your filter that I have heard your honour 
 ipeiik of, I put him into the bell chamber, and fent for 
 a doctor, and I hope your honour won't be angry, be- 
 cause you fee I did as if I had been in your honour's 
 place.'? 
 
 O'Neil would have gone on, had he not feen a chaife 
 approach, (for Reuben was on horfeback). "And 
 be thsfe viiitors :" faid lie. 
 
 « Yes," 
 
TALES op OLD TIMES. 3,39 
 
 "Yes,'' replied our hero, " and the very fitter 
 fpoke of, and a charming lady, who I hope will foon 
 •become your miftrefs, O'Neil." 
 
 The honeft, affectionate O'Neil flayed not to reply ; 
 he d:irted forward, and feemed as it' he would have 
 helped the horfe uiat drew the filter ot his beloved 
 mailer. When the carriage Moppet 4 , he waited not 
 for ceremony ; but as Jcily flood on the fide ot the 
 chaife ready to alight, he feized her in his arms, and 
 bore her into the houfe ; then running back, took the 
 child from Rachel, (whom Reuben had helped out ot* 
 the chaife) almoft devoured it with kifles, and leaping, 
 dancing and capering, cried, " Yes ! yes ! he will be 
 happy after all, I knew he would, I was always furc 
 he would. O that my dear Millrefs Juliana was but. 
 alive new \" 
 
 Perhaps the reader has before this furmifed., that die 
 Arrange, inquilitive, lick gentleman was no other than 
 Hamden Auberry, who had embarked for Philadel- 
 phia immediately after his knowledge of our heroine's 
 leekuig him in that place ; but the iliip in which he 
 embarked being a fad lailcr, and (leering a different 
 • eourfe to that purfued by the one in which was his 
 will-, arrived fafe in the port of Philadelphia the very 
 night before the commencement of the llorm in which 
 poor Rachel fuffered Co much, and fo nearly ek.u sd 
 with life. His fir ft inquiries were for Reuben, and he 
 was directed to Mount Pleafant*; on his arrival there, 
 he learnt that Rachel was not arrived, and that Reu- 
 ben was abfent from home. Change of climate, the 
 fatigues of a long voyage, and the anguiih of mind he 
 had endured for fix months paft, had fa enervated 
 his Frame and ihook his conftitution, that when he at- 
 tempted to remount the boric that brought him, he 
 turned fo faint as to be obliged to return to the houfe, 
 where he grew fo much worfe, that O'Neil (as he 
 had told his mailer) advifed him to go to bed, and 
 lent for a do. 
 
 The meeting between our heroine and her hufband 
 was all that real affection and fenfibility can imagine. 
 ■Racli i:n! regretted the pain lite had uninten- 
 
 tionally. 
 
360 REUfcEN and RACHEL; or, 
 
 tionally given him, whilft he implored her pardon for 
 that falfe pride, which had riril expofed her to die fuf- 
 picions and infults of thofe who, envying her fuperior 
 merit, rejoiced in an opportunity to level her with their 
 own contaminated ideas. 
 
 About fix weeks after this happy meeting, Reuben 
 received the hand of Jeffy Oliver. It was a day of 
 feftivity. The gates of Mount Plcaiant were thrown 
 open, and every viftor made welcome. To add to 
 their mirth, a dance in the evening was to fin'fh the 
 entertainment. 
 
 A fecial meal, difpenfed with chcerfulncfs, and par- 
 taken with a true fpirit of hilarity, had been jufl v; 
 moved, when the parlour door haftily opened, and Eu- 
 Hiea entered. Her hair hung loofe about her fhoul- 
 dcrs ; her eyes were wild, aud her- voice broken. She 
 rulhed toward Reuben and Jeffy, and taking a hand 
 from each,. joined them ; then preffing them to her 
 bofom, raifed her eye; to heaven — 
 
 " God of the Chriftians," faid fhe fervently, " mr,ke 
 them forever happy. Wife of Reuben, thou art a hap- 
 py woman, for thy hufband is a man of honour. He 
 iaw the weaknefs of a poor, unprotected Indian maid, 
 he pitied her folly, but took no advantage of it." 
 
 Jeffy was affected by the fim'ple yet fervent addrefs. 
 Reuben took the hand of Eumea, and would have 
 nmdc her lit down, but fhe redded. 
 
 "No! no!" laid fhe, " Eumea will reft no more, 
 know peace no more. I had raifed a deity of my own, 
 built an altar in my bofom, and daily offered the fa- 
 crilicc of a fond, an affectionate heart ; but the days 
 are paft, I can worfhip no longer without a crime. 
 Farewel," faid fhe, enthufiaftically clafping her hand--, 
 ** do not quite forget the poor, poor Eumea !" 
 
 She then left the houfe, and Reuben lent a pcrfon 
 to follow and fee that lhc came to no ill. She went 
 home, but continued not long there ; a young woman, 
 who from her wild looks and incoherent language 
 imagined her mind to be difofdered, endeavoured to 
 detain her, but in vain. About the duih. of the even- 
 ing fhe went out, and all inquiry for her was feuitlafe 
 
 • till 
 \ 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 361 
 
 till three days after, when as Reuben was giving fome 
 orders to O'Neil, in that part of his ground mat lay 
 on the verge of the Schuylkill, they difcovered feme- 
 thing floating on the water ; the garments befpoke it 
 a woman. Reuben's heart fhuddered ; they dragged 
 it to the ihore ; it was the corpfe of poor Eumea. Reu- 
 ben fighed, raifed his eyes to heaven, but was fileiit. 
 Not fo O'Neil. He fell on his knees befide the pale 
 corfe, and his honed heart burft in a torrent from his 
 eyes. 
 
 " Och ! my flower of the foreft," faid he, "and art 
 thou gone, and was it love that made thee leave us ? 
 Beautiful, good, fweeteft cf favages — O ! thy pocr 
 O'Neil can pity thee. And what fnail lie do now thqu 
 haft clofed thine eyes ? Thou haft murdered thy fweet 
 feif, and what is there now in the world that he 
 for ?" 
 
 Reuben was ftrucl; with the fervency and hut) 
 that was at once expre/Ted by O'Neil ; for it fp< 
 plain as words could {peak, ' I loved her, but I never 
 dared 10 tell my love, left it fhould offend her.' 
 
 Our hero by degrees drew him from the contempla- 
 tion of tiie melancholy object, and proper forms being 
 gone through in regard to the body, it was buried in 
 a field near the margin of the riv?r. O'Neil banked 
 up the grave, twifted olier twigs and fenced it round ; 
 at the head he planted a weeping willow, and at the 
 foot a wild role tie:. Of a night when his labour was 
 fmiflied, he would vilit the fpot, iing old ditties, and 
 weep whilft he fung ; and though he Kvcd to good old 
 . O'Neil never knew another love. 
 
 After this period, our 1 r many years e.. 
 
 ed an unmterrupti Auberry, en- 
 
 occupied by the cares of a mercantile li: v - 
 which lie had fuccefsfully entered, and giving t 
 leifure moment to the aflifting of Rachel in the ednc 
 of a beautiful riling family, was entirely cut 
 oufy and ambition, and wondered he could have ever 
 doubted the faith of his wife, cr h.. d lof- 
 
 ' a treafirre forever, rather I 
 the hope of being rich and great, 
 H h 
 
362 REUBEN and RACHEL, &c. 
 
 Reuben and JeSTy were patterns of conjugal felicity, 
 and that felicity was increafed in the courfe of a few 
 years, by the arrival of old Mr. Oliver, Archibald and 
 Courtney. The former had faved a -trifle from the 
 wreck of his fortune, which had been almoft diSfipated 
 by a worthlefs woman. Archibald brought with him 
 an amiable bride in the perfon of Courtney's filler. 
 The abandoned Mrs. Courtney had met the fate her 
 vicious courfe of life merited, and died abroad, ne- 
 glected by all her pretended lovers, a vidtim to difeafe, 
 poverty and remorfe. 
 
 It was in the feventh year of our hero and heroine's 
 happy fettlement in Philadelphia, that the latter was 
 told one morning that a gentleman from England dc- 
 fired to fee her. She went into the parlour, and be- 
 held, to her infinite furprife, Mr. Allibi. 
 
 " Mrs. Auberry, I prefume," faid he, bowing pro- 
 foundly. " I am happy, Madam, to be the firlt to wifli 
 you joy on a very great and unexpected acceSfion of 
 fortune. Your huSband's relation, lady Anne, is dead ; 
 alfo her brother the Earl, and 1 may now falute you 
 Countefs of Montmorill. Moreover," continued he, not 
 giving her leave to Speak, " I am to inform you, by 
 order of Mr. Andrew Atkins, that yourfelf and broth- 
 er, Mr. Reuben Dudley, being the only defendants 
 of the lady Arrabella Ruthven, who married about 
 the year 1644-5, with Edward Dudley, fon of Henry 
 Dudley, defcendant of the unfortunate lady Jane Grey, 
 and who relinquishing her title, embarked with him 
 for America; as I fay, yourfelf and brother being the 
 only legitimate descendants of that marriage, you are 
 acknowledged joint heirs to the titles and immenfe ef- 
 tates of the houie of Ruthven. And I am commif- 
 fioned by my very good friend, Mr. Andrew Atkins, 
 to receive your orders in what manner he (hall proceed 
 in regard to faid ellates, and to inform you, your Lan- 
 cashire eftate is now, through his care, entirely free 
 from incumbrances." 
 
 Rachel, overwhelmed by the rapidity with which 
 Allibi related all this good news, and Scarcely credit- 
 ing what flic heard, yet understanding fufScicnt, per- 
 fectly 
 
TALES of OLD TIMES. 363 
 
 feSily to comprehend the mean fineflTe of Allibi and his 
 dirty employer, in thus informing her of her accefiion 
 of fortune, and making a merit of relinquishing the 
 Lancashire eftate, in hopes of b ing mack agent and 
 fteward to thofe of much greater value, could fcarcely 
 command her temper, whilft fhe interrogated him con- 
 cerning the extraordinary intelligence he conveyed. 
 However, being afcertained of the truth of his ali'er- 
 tions, and received from him fume papers cf confe- 
 quence, with a long, fulfome, congratulatory letter 
 from Mr. Andrew Atkins, ihe appointed him to call 
 the enfuing morning, when her brother and hufband 
 would be hire to meet him. 
 
 On the following morning, therefore, at a little paft 
 eight o'clock, Mr. Allibi entered the breakfaft parlour, 
 where he found Reuben, Rachel, Mr. Auberry and 
 Mrs. Dudley aJTembled to breakfaft. After partaking 
 a focial meal, and delivering and attefting to every 
 neccfTary paper, both in regard to their new acquisi- 
 tions and the Lancaihire eftate, be was fomewhat 
 aftonilhed to hear Reuben addrefs him in the follow- 
 ing words : — 
 
 " You may think, Mr. Allibi, that by bringing us 
 this intelligence you have greatly heightened our felic- 
 ity ; and in one refpecl: you have, as it extends our 
 power of Serving our fellow-creatures. As to titles, 
 both my brother Auberry and his wife Rachel, join 
 with me to renounce them ; they arc distinctions noth- 
 ing worth, and fhould by no means be introduced into 
 a young country, where the only distinction between 
 man and man fhould be made by virtue, genius and 
 education. Our fons are true-born Americans, and 
 while they Strive to make that title rcSpcctable, we wiih 
 them to poflefs no other. Let the titles then go, and 
 fuch of the eStates as are annexed to them, to more 
 diftant branches of our fevcral families, or in cafe of 
 default of heirs, let them fmk into oblivion. Of the 
 immenfe property of which we are become poifeirors, 
 we Shall retain no more than will fet our fons forward 
 in bufinefs, and give our daughters moderate portions ; 
 
 the 
 
364 REUBEN and RACHEL, &c. 
 
 the refldue fhall be equally divided amongfl the indi- 
 gent relatives of both families." 
 
 Allibi brightened at thefe words, thinking he fliould 
 be conftituted agent in this buiinefs ; but Reuben con- 
 tinued : — 
 
 " I am obliged to you for the trouble you have ta- 
 ken on my account, and hold myfelf your debtor for 
 the expenfes of your voyage and other contingencies, 
 which, whenever you pleafe, I fhall be ready to dii- 
 charge ; and when you return, I will trouble you with 
 a letter to Mr. Andrew Atkins, informing him he will 
 be no farther troubled with my affairs, but will pleafe 
 to fettle all accounts with Mr. Courtney, a gentleman 
 who has kindly undertaken to go to England for that 
 purpofe." 
 
 The poor, drfappomted Allibi could fcarcely breathe- 
 at the conclufion of this fpeech ; he ihuffled on his feat, 
 attempted to recommend himfelf by reprobating the 
 conduct of Atkins, but a look of marked contempt 
 from Reuben filenced him ; and, mortified beyond en- 
 durance, he rofe haftily and took his leave. 
 
 In a ihort time, Courtney embarked for England, 
 fettled every thing according to the directions of Reu- 
 ben and Auberry, made many an orphan glad, and 
 many a difconfolate heart leap for jgy. He liberated 
 the poor debtor, afforded relief to Mc'freiTed merit, and 
 wiped away the tear from the eye of fufferihg virtue. 
 The incenfe of gratitude afc ended towards heaven, 
 and was return: J. in bleffinga on the heads of Reuben* 
 Rachel, and their poilerity. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 ERRATA. 
 
 Vol. I. page 129, 14th. line from the bottom, for wife reiAJjfier. 
 page 170, nth. line from the top, iorji/ler read a 
 


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