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THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
ANECDOTES 
 
 it 
 
 FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 -, : y of Cor 
 
 /£ LONDON:^ 
 ORR AND SMITH, PATERNOSTER-ROW. 
 
 MDCCCXXXVI. 
 

 WILLIAM TYLER, 
 
 PRINTER, 
 BOLT COURT, FLEET STREET. 
 
•Ti<? 
 
 (.( 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 THE ORIGIN OF FAMILIES. 
 
 Page 
 
 Section I. — Courtship 1 
 
 II. —Marriage 33 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 FAMILY INTERCOURSE. 
 
 Section I. — Husbands and Wives 55 
 
 II. — Parents and Children 106 
 
 III. — Relatives and Friends 135 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 DUTIES AND EMPLOYMENTS OF FAMILIES. 
 
 Section I. — Employers and Servants 142 
 
 II. — Domestic Employments 159 
 
VI CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 FAMILY CUSTOMS. 
 
 Page 
 
 Section I. — Courtship and Marriage 175 
 
 II. — Social Customs 223 
 
 III.— Death and Burial 229 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 FAMILY BREACHES. 
 
 Section I. — Dissentions 232 
 
 II.— Calamities 238 
 
 III.— Death , 241 
 
THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 CHAPTER L 
 
 THE ORIGIN OF FAMILIES. 
 
 Section I. — Courtship. 
 
 THE CHOICE OF A WIFE. 
 
 In Lord Karnes's work, entitled, " Loose Hints upon 
 Education, chiefly concerning the Culture of the 
 Heart," the following advice is given to those who 
 have the charge of young men : — " Now is the pre- 
 cious time for lecturing your male pupil on the choice 
 of a companion for life : no other branch of educa- 
 tion is of deeper concern. Instil into his heart, that 
 happiness in the marriage state depends not on riches 
 nor on beauty, but on good sense and sweetness of 
 temper. Let him also keep in view, that in a mar- 
 ried woman the management of domestic affairs, and 
 the education of children, are indispensable duties. 
 He will never tire of such conversation ; and if he 
 have any degree of sensibility, it will make such an 
 impression as to guard him against a hasty choice. 
 If not well guarded, he will probably fall a prey to 
 beauty, or other external qualification of little import- 
 
2 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 ance in the matrimonial state. He sets his heart on 
 a pretty face, or a sprightly air ; he is captivated by 
 a good singer, or a nimble dancer; and his heated 
 imagination bestows on the admired object every 
 perfection. A young man who has profited by the 
 instructions given him, is not so easily captivated. 
 The picture of a good wife is fixed in his mind, and 
 he compares with it every young woman he sees. 
 ' She is pretty, but has she good sense ? She has 
 sense, but is she well tempered ? She dances ele- 
 gantly, or sings with expression ; but is she not vain 
 of such trifles ?' Judgment and sagacity will produce 
 a deliberate choice ; love will come with marriage, 
 and in that state it makes an illustrious figure. After 
 proper instruction, let the young man be at full li- 
 berty to choose for himself. In looking about where 
 to apply, he cannot be better directed than to a 
 family where the parents and children live in perfect 
 harmony, and are fond of one another. A young 
 woman of such a family seldom fails to make a good 
 wife." 
 
 Addison truly remarks, that the pleasantest part of 
 a man's life is, generally, that which passes in court- 
 ship, provided his passion be sincere, and the party 
 beloved, kind with discretion. Love, desire, hope, all 
 the pleasing motions of the soul, rise in the pursuit. 
 
 Equally sagacious is the statement of Simonides, 
 that a man cannot possess any thing that is better 
 than a good woman, nor any thing that is worse than 
 a bad one. 
 
 The following letter is so much in the Poor Rich- 
 
THE ORIGIN OF FAMILIES. 3 
 
 ard style, that it shows itself at once to have been 
 written by the celebrated Dr. Franklin. 
 
 " Dear Cousin, — I received your kind letter of 
 November 8th, and rejoice to hear of the continued 
 welfare of you, and your good wife, and four daugh- 
 ters. I hope they will all get good husbands. I 
 dare say they will be educated so as to deserve them. 
 I knew a wise old man who used to advise his young 
 friends to choose wives out of a bunch ; for where 
 there were many daughters, he said, they improved 
 each other, and from emulation acquired more ac- 
 complishments, knew more, could do more, and were 
 not spoiled by parental fondness as single children 
 often are. Yours have my best wishes, and blessing, 
 if that can be of any value," 
 
 DR. YOUNG. 
 
 One day, as Dr. Young was walking in his garden, 
 at Welwyn, in company with two ladies, one of 
 whom he afterwards married, the servant came to 
 say that a gentleman wished to speak with him. 
 " Tell him," said the Doctor, " I am too happily en- 
 gaged to change my situation !" The ladies insisted 
 upon it he should go, as his visitor was a man of 
 rank, his patron, and his friend ; and, as persuasion 
 had no effect, one took him by the right arm, the 
 other by the left, and led him to the garden gate ; 
 when, finding resistance vain, he bowed, laid his 
 hand upon his heart, and in an impressive manner 
 spoke impromptu the following lines : — 
 
 Thus Adam look'd, when from the garden driv'n, 
 And thus disputed orders sent from heav'n : 
 Like him I go, but yet to go am loath, 
 Like him I go, for angels drove us both : 
 Hard was his fate, but mine's still more unkind ; — 
 His Eve went with him, but mine stays behind, 
 B 2 
 
4 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 BALDINI. 
 
 A female writer relates the following story, from 
 the statement of a friend in Italy : — 
 
 I resided, said he, near the rotunda, when Baldini, 
 a young Roman of promising abilities, was engaged 
 in the study of the law. He conceived a passion for 
 a young female, who also lived near the pantheon, but 
 from whom he met with no return. This attachment 
 revived his extraordinary talent for music, which had 
 yielded to graver studies, and every evening the place 
 of the pantheon was enlivened with Baldini's songs, 
 both the words and music of which were his own 
 composition. His enchanting voice, accompanied by 
 his masterly guitar, drew the whole neighbourhood 
 to the windows, and many even from their beds, to 
 listen to his strains. By degrees, these sweet strains 
 became less frequent, and more melancholy ; till at 
 length, one evening, he sung a particularly doleful 
 farewell song, called — The cruel maiden to the grave 
 of her miserable lover, — in tones so moving and pathe- 
 tic that all the hearers burst into tears. Baldini was 
 seen no more at Rome, and his obdurate charmer soon 
 gave her hand to another. 
 
 Some years afterwards, continued my friend, I was 
 present in a church at Rome, during a procession of 
 priests, who passed me singing. A voice, the sweet- 
 ness of which awakened certain indistinct recollec- 
 tions, attracted my notice. I listened, and looked 
 more attentively — it was Baldini. His pale, emaci- 
 ated face, illuminated by the soft light of the taper ; 
 he glided past me like a shadow, with downcast eyes ; 
 or rather rose, as if from the grave, before me. I 
 hastened to him, and found him calmly resigned. He 
 returned by degrees into the world, visiting in a few 
 select circles, especially where he met with music. 
 
THE ORIGIN OF FAMILIES. D 
 
 A SAVOYARD. 
 
 Two grenadiers stood sentinel at midnight before 
 the house of Count Rutowsky, at Dresden. The 
 moon shone brightly ; and a man came up to them, 
 who complained that the house where he lodged was 
 shut, and he could not get any one up. After some 
 conversation, he produced a bottle of brandy, gave 
 the sentinels a part ; and at length began to disclose 
 his design, and to negotiate with them about it. He 
 showed them a stone of the pavement, which was in- 
 deed in the walk of the sentinels, but more remote 
 from the centre, and covered by the corner of the 
 house. He pretended to want this stone for a che- 
 mical experiment, and offered each of the grena- 
 diers a louis-d'or if they would assist him, and dig up 
 the stone with their bayonets. They took him for a 
 fool, accepted the money, and he obtained what he 
 wanted. He had paid the louis-d'or in silver coin : 
 the grenadiers disagreed about the division of it, and 
 quarrelled in the guard-room. The whole story 
 came out, was reported by the officer on duty to the 
 government, and made a great noise ; the grenadiers 
 were immediately arrested, &c. It was believed at 
 that time that the robber of the stone was an Italian 
 in disguise, who had carried off an invaluable jewel. 
 He was looked for in every house ; a description of 
 his person, with a reward for his apprehension, was 
 distributed all over the country ; and I have no doubt 
 but that the old grandmothers in Dresden still relate 
 this story to their grandchildren with expressions of 
 wonder : for it is generally believed in Saxony that 
 the Italian dealers in minerals disguise themselves as 
 sellers of mouse-traps, and the like, merely to carry off 
 undiscovered pieces of gold and silver ore that lie 
 
THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 exposed in the Erzegeburge and the Fichtelberg. 
 Who would believe, says Bretschneider, that two- 
 and-twenty years after I heard this story chance 
 should give me the most complete explanation of it? 
 I was at Vienna in 1774, and agreed with a good 
 friend, who belonged to our embassy, to meet him at 
 a tea-garden. I arrived sooner than my friend, who 
 was detained by the coming of a courier, drank a 
 glass of wine in an arbour, and waited for him till 
 dusk. Meantime a company of gay, cheerful persons 
 seated themselves in the same arbour, and covered 
 the table at which I sat with various dishes, which 
 looked very tempting. I was invited to partake with 
 them, and found that I was in the company of officers 
 of the household of great families in Vienna, as 
 Lobkowitz, Swarzenburg, &c. Among them was an 
 old man, who guessed my country by my language, 
 and told me that in his youth he had been at Dresden, 
 as valet-de-chambre to a gentleman. Among many 
 other anecdotes, he told me that his master had 
 fallen in love with a young countess, who was most 
 strictly watched by a cross old father. The lovers 
 were perfectly agreed, but it was almost impossible 
 for them to have a tete-a-tete. A window, belonging 
 to the countess, had indeed been quite conveniently 
 arranged by the chambermaid to get in by, but the 
 sentinels of Count Rutowsky, close by, who had this 
 window before them, had rendered this way impass- 
 able. At length his master, a cunning Savoyard, 
 had thought of a good expedient. He, the valet- 
 de-chambre, was ordered to disguise himself, to steal 
 by night to the sentinels, and, by the trick with the 
 stone, to draw them quite aside, while his master 
 slipped through the window so quickly that the 
 grenadiers, whose attention was engrossed by the 
 
THE ORIGIN OF FAMILIES. 
 
 stone, did not perceive it. His master remained 
 concealed in the house two days, and was let out on 
 the third, disguised in a female dress, by the lady's- 
 maid, 
 
 REV. W. TENNENT. 
 The late Rev. W. Tennent, of America, was set- 
 tled as a minister several years before he married. 
 Totally ignorant of the way in which he should 
 manage his temporal concerns, he was soon embar- 
 rassed with debt. In this emergency a friend from 
 New York told him, the only remedy against a recur- 
 rence of the evil was to get a wife. " I do not know 
 how to go about it," was the answer. " Then I will 
 undertake the business," said his friend ; " I have a 
 sister-in-law in the city, a prudent and pious widow." 
 The next evening found Mr. T. in New York, and 
 the following day he was introduced to Mrs. Noble. 
 Pleased with her appearance, he abruptly told her 
 that he supposed she knew his errand, that neither 
 his time nor inclination would allow him to use 
 much ceremony, and that, if she pleased, he would 
 return from his charge on the following Monday, and 
 be married. With some hesitation the lady con- 
 sented, and she proved a most excellent wife. 
 
 QUINTIN MESINS. 
 Quintin Mesins was a farrier at Antwerp. When 
 in his twentieth year he became enamoured of a 
 young woman of his own condition in life, who was 
 at the same time sought in marriage by a painter of 
 some repute. The damsel confessed to Quintin that 
 she had a greater inclination to him than the painter, 
 
8 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 but that she had an unconquerable aversion to his 
 trade of a farrier. Quintin, who from his childhood 
 had evinced a strong taste for designing, instantly 
 resolved to be on equal terms with his rival, and to 
 abandon the hammer for the brush. He applied to 
 his new art with so much assiduity, that in a short 
 time, he produced pictures which gave a promise of 
 the highest excellence. He gained for his reward 
 the fair hand for which he sighed ; and continuing 
 after his marriage to exercise the art in which he had 
 made so noble an essay, he rose to a high rank in his 
 profession. 
 
 MR. COBBETT. 
 
 The late Mr. Cobbett wrote a little volume, entitled 
 " Advice to Young Men and Women," in which there 
 is a great deal of good sense, and sound reasoning. 
 In that part of it which gives directions to a lover, 
 he introduces the history of his courtship, which is 
 given in his own words. 
 
 When I first saw my wife she was thirteen years 
 old, and I was within about a month of twenty-one. 
 She was the daughter of a sergeant of artillery, and I 
 was the sergeant-major of a regiment of foot, both 
 stationed in forts near the city of St. John, in the pro- 
 vince of New Brunswick. I sat in the same room 
 with her for about an hour, in company with others, 
 and I made up my mind that she was the very girl 
 for me. That I thought her beautiful is certain, 
 for that I had always said should be an indispensable 
 qualification ; but I saw in her what I deemed marks 
 of that sobriety of conduct of which I have said so 
 much, and which has been by far the greatest bless- 
 ings of my life. It was now dead of winter, and, of 
 
THE ORIGIN OF FAMILIES. V 
 
 course, the snow several feet deep on the ground, 
 and the weather piercing cold. It was my habit, 
 when I had done my morning's writing, to go out at 
 break of day to take a walk on a hill, at the foot of 
 which our barracks lay. In about three mornings 
 after I had first seen her, I had, by an invitation to 
 breakfast with me, got up two young men to join me 
 in my walk ; and our road lay by the house of her 
 father and mother. It was hardly light, but she was 
 out on the snow, scrubbing out a washing-tub ; 
 " That's the girl for me," said I, when we had got 
 out of her hearing. One of these young men came 
 to England soon afterwards ; and he, who keeps an 
 inn in Yorkshire, came over to Preston, at the time 
 of the election, to verify whether I were the same 
 man. When he found that I was, he appeared sur- 
 prised ; but what was his surprise when I told him 
 that those tall young men, whom he saw around me, 
 were the sons of that pretty little girl that he and I 
 saw scrubbing out the washing-tub on the snow, in 
 New Brunswick, at day-break in the morning ! 
 
 From the day that I first spoke to her I never had 
 a thought of her ever becoming the wife of any 
 other man, more than I had a thought of her being 
 transformed into a chest of drawers ; and I formed 
 my resolution at once, to marry her as soon as we 
 could get permission, and to get out of the army as 
 soon as I could. So ' that this matter was at once 
 settled firmly. At the end of about six months my 
 regiment, and I along with it, were removed to Fre- 
 derickton, a distance of a hundred miles, up the river 
 of St. John ; and, which was worse, the artillery were 
 expected to go off to England a year or two before 
 our regiment ! The artillery went, and she along 
 with them ; and now it was that I acted a part be- 
 
10 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 coming a real and sensible lover. I was aware that 
 when she got to that gay place, Woolwich, the 
 house of her father and mother, necessarily visited 
 by numerous persons not the most select, might 
 become unpleasant to her, and I also did not like 
 besides that she should continue to work hard. I 
 had saved a hundred and fifty guineas, the earnings 
 of my early hours in writing for the paymaster, the 
 quarter-master, and others, in addition to the savings 
 of my own pay. I sent her all my money before she 
 sailed ; and wrote to her to beg of her, if she found 
 her home uncomfortable, to hire a lodging with 
 respectable people ; and, at any rate, not to spare 
 the money by any means, but to buy herself good 
 clothes, and to live without hard work, until I arrived 
 in England ; and I, in order to induce her to lay out 
 the money, told her that I should get plenty more 
 before I came home. 
 
 We were kept abroad two years longer than our 
 time, Mr. Pitt having knocked up a dust with Spain 
 about Nootka Sound. At the end of four years, 
 however, home I came ; and landed at Portsmouth, 
 and got my discharge from the army by the great 
 kindness of poor Lord Edward Fitzgerald, who was 
 then the major of my regiment. I found my little 
 girl a servant of all work, (and hard work it was,) at 
 live pounds a year, in the house of a Captain Brisac ; 
 and, without hardly saying a word about the matter, 
 she put into my hands the whole of my hundred and 
 fifty guineas unbroken ! 
 
 A JOCOSE COUPLE. 
 An accepted suitor one day walking with the 
 object of his affections hanging upon his arm, and 
 
THE OEIGIN OF FAMILIES. 1 1 
 
 describing the ardency of his affection, said, " How 
 transported I am to have you hanging on my arm !" 
 " Upon my word," said the lady, " you make us out 
 to be a very respectable couple, when one is trans- 
 ported, and the other hanging /" 
 
 CATHERINE II. 
 
 Ladies are sometimes very resolute in their choice. 
 Catherine II., Empress of Poland, resolved to marry 
 Poniatoffsky ; and a courtier, who was fully aware of 
 his unpopularity, ventured to hint the fact to her 
 majesty. " No man," said he, " is less fit to fill the 
 throne of Poland ; his grandfather having been in- 
 tendant of a little estate belonging to Lubominsky." 
 " Though he had been intendant himself," replied 
 Catherine, haughtily, " I will have him to be king, 
 and king he shall be." 
 
 A LAWYER. 
 
 A young lawyer being very assiduous in his atten- 
 tions to a lady, a wit observed that he never heard of 
 people making love by attorney, " Very true," re- 
 plied the other, " but you should remember that all 
 Cupid's votaries are solicitors." 
 
 A PERSIAN. 
 
 The determination of men to acquire wives who 
 should confer honour upon them, has often been 
 strikingly illustrated, but never more forcibly than in 
 an instance designed, according to tradition, to be 
 commemorated by a pillar in the neighbourhood of 
 Ispahan. A king of Persia promised his daughter 
 
12 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 in marriage to any one who should run before his 
 horse all the way from Shiraz to Ispahan. One of 
 his shatirs had so nearly accomplished the task as to 
 gain the height on which the tower stands, when the 
 monarch, alarmed lest he should be forced to fulfil 
 the agreement, dropped his whip. The shatir, aware 
 that, owing to the ligatures these people tied round 
 their bodies to enable them to perform such feats, it 
 would be death to stoop, contrived to pick it up with 
 his foot. The trick having thus failed, the royal 
 rider dropped his ring : the shatir then saw that his 
 fate was decided, and exclaiming, " O king, you have 
 broken your word, but I am true to the last !" he 
 stooped, picked up the ring, and expired. 
 
 RAYBURN. 
 One day a young lady presented herself at Ray- 
 burn's studio, and desired to sit for her portrait : he 
 instantly remembered having seen her in some of his 
 excursions, when, with his sketch-book in his hand, 
 he was noting down fine sketches of scenery ; and 
 as the appearance of any thing living and lovely 
 gives an additional charm to a landscape, the painter, 
 like Gainsborough in similar circumstances, had ad- 
 mitted her readily into his drawing. This circum- 
 stance, it is said, had had its influence ; on further 
 acquaintance, he found that, besides personal charms, 
 she had sensibility and wit : his respect for her did 
 not affect his skill of hand, but rather inspired him, 
 and he succeeded in making a fine portrait. The 
 lady, Ann Edgar, the daughter of Peter Edgar, Esq., 
 of Bridgelands, was much pleased with the skill and 
 manners of the artist ; and within a month or little 
 more after the adventures of the studio, she gave 
 
THE ORIGIN OF FAMILIES. 13 
 
 him her hand in marriage ; bestowing at once a most 
 affectionate wife, and a handsome fortune. This was 
 in the twenty-second year of his age. 
 
 A YOUNG NOBLEMAN. 
 
 Postlethwayte, in the introduction to his " Dic- 
 tionary of Trade and Commerce," relates the following 
 very curious anecdote, which he says was told by 
 George the First of Great Britain, as having come 
 under his own knowledge : — 
 
 About the year 1615, there was a nobleman in 
 Germany, whose daughter was courted by a young 
 lord. When he had made such progress in this affair 
 as is usual, by the interposition of friends, the old 
 lord had a conference with him, asking him how he 
 intended, if he married his daughter, to maintain her. 
 He replied, " Equal to her quality." To which the 
 father replied, that was no answer to his question ; 
 he desired to know what he had to maintain her 
 with. To which the young lord answered, he hoped 
 that was no question ; for his inheritance was as 
 public as his name. The old lord owned his pos- 
 sessions to be great ; but still asked if he had no- 
 thing more secure than land, wherewith to maintain 
 his daughter. The question was strange, but ended 
 in this, that the father of the young lady stated his 
 positive resolution never to many his daughter, 
 though his heiress, and would have two great estates, 
 but to a man that had a manual trade, by which he 
 might subsist if driven from his country. The young 
 lord was master of none at present ; but, rather than 
 lose his lady, he requested only a year's time, in 
 which he promised to acquire one : in order to 
 which he got a basket-maker, the most ingenious he 
 
14 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 could meet with, and in six months became master 
 of his trade of basket-making, with far greater skill 
 than even his teacher himself ; and as a proof of his 
 ingenuity and extraordinary proficiency in so short a 
 time, he brought to his young lady a piece of work- 
 manship of his own performance, being a white twig 
 basket, which for many years after became a general 
 fashion among the ladies by the name of dressing- 
 baskets, which were brought to England from Ger- 
 many and Holland. 
 
 To complete the singularity of this relation, it 
 happened, some years after this nobleman's marriage, 
 that he and his father-in-law, sharing in the misfor- 
 tunes of the wars of the Palatinate, were driven 
 destitute from their estates ; and in Holland, for some 
 years, did this young lord maintain both his father- 
 in-law and his own family, by making baskets of 
 white twigs, to such an unparalleled excellency as 
 none could attain ; and it is from this young German 
 lord the Hollanders derive those curiosities, which 
 are still made in the United Provinces, of twig-work. 
 
 A YOUNG FRENCHMAN. 
 Charlotte Cordey was an heroine of the French 
 revolution. As she passed through the streets to 
 suffer death on the scaffold, for the assassination of 
 Marat ; a young Frenchman, struck with her beauty, 
 and the dignity of her aspect, conceived for her an 
 enthusiastic passion ; and, running wildly through 
 the city, proclaimed his determination of sharing the 
 fate of the object of his admiration, and mingling 
 his blood with hers. He was taken at his word by 
 the satellites of the tyrant demagogues, and hurried 
 to the guillotine. 
 
THE ORIGIN OF FAMILIES. 15 
 
 DR. JOHNSON. 
 
 When Dr. Johnson offered his hand to Mrs. Por- 
 ter, he told her he was without money, and had an 
 uncle hung : she replied, that she had no more 
 money than he had ; and though she could not 
 boast of ever having a relation hung, she had fifty 
 who deserved hanging. 
 
 REV. W. GURNALL. 
 
 It is related that the celebrated Gurnall, author 
 of " The Christian in Complete Armour," after being 
 for many years a bachelor, was prevailed on to take 
 to himself a wife, and had two sisters recommended 
 to him, either of whom, it was thought, would make 
 him happy. He paid them a visit, when the elder 
 one refused, and the other accepted his offer. He 
 went to the surrogate to obtain a license for the 
 celebration of his marriage, during which time, the 
 younger sister told the elder one the fact of her 
 having been engaged to him. The good man first 
 discovered before the surrogate that he was ignorant 
 of the Christian name of his intended bride, and that 
 gentleman kindly left the blank for him to fill up, 
 when he had obtained the information. On his 
 return to the house where they lived, he found the 
 elder sister waiting for him at the door : she told 
 him she had changed her mind, and meant to have 
 him. Her name was introduced into the license, 
 and they were married almost before her sister dis- 
 covered the affecting fact that she had lost her 
 intended husband. 
 
1 6 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 LOUISE BELLETZ. 
 
 One day, said Massena, being at Buezenghen, 
 I perceived a young soldier belonging to the light 
 artillery, whose horse had just been wounded by a 
 lance. The young man, who appeared quite a 
 child, defended himself desperately, as several bo- 
 dies of the enemy lying around him could testify. I 
 immediately despatched an officer with some men to 
 his assistance, but they arrived too late. Although 
 this action had taken place on the borders of the 
 wood, and in front of the bridge, this artilleryman 
 had alone withstood the attack of the small troop 
 of Cossacks and Bavarians ; whom the officer and 
 men I had despatched put to flight. His body was 
 covered with wounds, inflicted by shots, lances, 
 and swords : there were at least thirty. " And do 
 you know, Madam, what this young man was ?" 
 said Massena, turning to the Duchess of Abrantes : 
 " A woman ! yes, a woman, and a handsome woman 
 too ; although she was so covered with blood that 
 it was difficult to judge of her beauty. She had 
 followed her lover to the army. The latter was a 
 captain of artillery : she never left him, and, when 
 he was killed, defended, like a lioness, the remains 
 of him she loved. She was a native of Paris ; her 
 name was Louise Belletz, and she was the daughter 
 of a fringe-maker in the Rue du Petit Lion." 
 
 A SCOTCH GIRL. 
 
 A respectable farmer in the parish of Cumnock, 
 
 being a widower, paid his addresses to a young lady, 
 
 the daughter of a neighbouring farmer in the parish 
 
 of Auchimleck. The farmer was no great orator, but 
 
THE ORIGIN OF FAMILIES. 17 
 
 he was young, had a good person, and was in afflu- 
 ent circumstances : he addressed his fair one rather 
 bluntly, and proposed marriage without much cere- 
 mony. The lady replied, in the same frank and 
 open way, " Deed, Jamie, I'll tak' ye ; but ye maun 
 gi'e me my dues o' court-in' for a' that." The wed- 
 ding took place accordingly. 
 
 AN AMERICAN. 
 A young man, residing near Bangor, in Maine, 
 was returning from a visit to his lady love : his path 
 lay through woodland, from which, except a few 
 straggling pines, the trees had been cut down, and 
 were lying on the ground. He skipped over the 
 logs and stumps with light foot and lighter heart ; 
 his fair mistress had received him kindly. Suddenly, 
 on leaping over a fallen tree, he found himself 
 within a few feet of a ravenous bear. He sprang to 
 the nearest pine, and climbed up, the bear clamber- 
 ing after him. Making good use of his feet, he 
 dashed his antagonist to the ground. The bear re- 
 turned, and was again repulsed, carrying with him 
 one of our hero's boots. Bruin ascended a third 
 time, with more caution. The young man, hoping 
 to escape, ascended the tree about fifty feet, and, as 
 the bear approached him, attempted to shake him 
 off, but in vain, as his foot was held by the paws of 
 the infuriated animal, who had lost his hold of the 
 tree, and hung suspended by the poor lover's leg. 
 The young man's strength becoming exhausted, he 
 let go his hold on the tree, and down they went 
 with a tremendous concussion to the ground. Our 
 hero struck on the bear, and rebounded some feet 
 distant. Scarcely knowing whether he was dead o? 
 
18 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 alive, he raised himself on his arm, and discovered 
 Bruin gazing wildly at him, evidently dumb-founded 
 by such lofty tumbling. 
 
 The affrighted pair sat eyeing each other for some 
 time ; and when the bear, who was the more se- 
 verely bruised of the two, showed no signs of fight, 
 the young man rose and fled, leaving his hat and the 
 boot behind him ; his friend of the shaggy coat casting 
 at him an expressive look, accompanied by a growl, and 
 a shake of the head, which convinced our hero that, 
 had it been possible, it would have been a shake of 
 the paw. The young lover soon recovered from his 
 bruises, and the fair damsel, who had been the indi- 
 rect cause of the adventure which had placed his 
 life in such immediate peril, poured balsam on his 
 w r ounds, and made his heart whole, by naming " an 
 early day." 
 
 A YOUNG LADY. 
 
 Sir William Temple relates the following anec- 
 dote of Dr. Rujean, the most celebrated man of the 
 medical profession in his time. A certain great 
 lady came to him in much distress about her daughter, 
 and the physician began the investigation of the case 
 by asking, " Why, what ails her ?" " Alas ! Doctor," 
 replied the mother, " I cannot tell ; but she has lost 
 her humour, her looks, her stomach ; her strength 
 consumes every day, so as we fear she cannot live." 
 " Why do you not marry her ?" " Alas ! Doctor, 
 that we would fain do, and have offered her as good 
 a match as ever she could expect." " Is there no 
 other that you think she would be content to 
 marry ?" " Ah, Doctor, that is it that troubles us ; 
 for there is a young gentleman we doubt she loves, 
 
THE ORIGIN OF FAMILIES. 19 
 
 that her father and I can never consent to." " Why, 
 look you, Madam," replied the Doctor gravely, being 
 among all his books in his closet, " then the case is 
 this : your daughter would marry one man, and you 
 would have her marry another. In all my books I 
 find no remedy for such a disease as this." 
 
 A GENTLEMAN. 
 
 Miss M , a young heiress of considerable per- 
 sonal attractions, chanced to be seated, at a dinner 
 party, next to a gentleman remarkable in the fashion- 
 able circles for the brilliancy of his wit, and who had 
 long made one in the train of her admirers. The 
 conversation turning on the uncertainty of life, " I 
 mean to insure mine," said the young lady archly, 
 " in the Hope" " In the hope of what f said her 
 admirer ; "a single life is hardly worth insuring ; I 
 propose we should insure our lives together ; and, if 
 you have no objections, I should prefer the Alliance." 
 
 A LADY. 
 
 May is considered by the superstitious as an un- 
 lucky month to marry in, or, as the Scotch say, " un- 
 cannie." A lady, who was courted in April, being 
 solicited by her lover to name the day in the following 
 month for the wedding, replied, May was an unfortu- 
 nate month ; and, being asked to name it in June, 
 asked, if April would not suit just as well ! 
 
 AFRICAN LOVERS. 
 
 Among the unfortunate victims of the frightful 
 traffic in slaves, brought to Tripoli, in 1788, were a 
 c 2 
 
20 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 beautiful black female, about sixteen years of age, 
 and a young man of good appearance. They had 
 been purchased by a M'oorish family of distinction. 
 They were obliged to be watched night and day, and 
 all instruments kept out. of their reach, as they were 
 continually endeavouring to destroy themselves, and 
 sometimes each other. * Their story will prove that 
 friendship and fidelity are not strangers to the negro 
 race. This female, who had been the admiration of 
 her own country, had bestowed her heart on the man 
 who was then with her. Their nuptials were going 
 to be celebrated, when her friends one morning 
 missing her, traced her steps to the corner of an ad- 
 jacent wood, immediately apprehending that she had 
 been pursued, and that she had flown to the thicket 
 for shelter, which is the common and best resource 
 of escape from those who scour the country for 
 slaves. 
 
 The parents went directly to her lover, and told 
 him of their distress. He, without losing time to 
 search for her in the thicket, hastened to the sea 
 side, where his foreboding heart told him he should 
 find her in some vessel anchored there, for carrying 
 off slaves. He was just easy enough in his circum- 
 stances not to be afraid of being bought or stolen 
 himself, as it is in general only the unprotected that 
 are carried off by these hunters of the human race. 
 His conjectures were just — he saw his betrothed wife 
 in the hands of those who had stolen her. He knelt 
 to the robbers who had now the disposal of her, to 
 know the price they demanded for her. A hundred 
 mahboobs (nearly a hundred pounds) was fixed ; but, 
 alas ! all that he was worth did not make him rich 
 enough for the purchase. He did not hesitate a 
 moment to sell his little flock of sheep, and the small 
 
THE ORIGIN -OF FAMILIES. 21 
 
 piece of ground he possessed ; and, lastly, he dis- 
 posed of himself to those ^ho had taken his com- 
 panion. Happy that they would do him this last 
 favour, he cheerfully accompanied her, and threw 
 himself into slavery for her sake. This faithful pair, 
 on their arrival at Tripoli, were sold to a merchant, 
 who determined on sending off the female with the 
 rest of the slaves, to be sold again, she having, from 
 her beauty, cost too much money to be kept as a 
 servant. The merchant intended to keep the man 
 as a domestic in his own family. 
 
 The distressed pair, on hearing they were to be 
 separated, became frantic. They threw themselves 
 on the ground before some of the ladies of the family, 
 whom they saw passing by ; and finding that one of 
 them was the daughter of their master, they clung 
 around her, and implored her assistance ; nor could 
 their grief be moderated, until the humane lady as- 
 sured them that she would intercede with her father 
 not to part them. 
 
 The black fell at the merchant's feet, and entreated 
 him not to separate them, declaring that if he did, 
 he would lose all the money he had paid for them 
 both ; for that although knives and poison were kept 
 out of their way, no one could force them to eat ; 
 and that no human means could make them break 
 the oath they had already taken in the presence of 
 the god they worshipped, never to live asunder. 
 
 Tears and entreaties prevailed so far with the 
 merchant, as to suffer them to remain together, and 
 they were sold to the owner of a merchant vessel, 
 who took them, with several others, to Constanti- 
 nople. 
 
22 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 WIDOW OF BURNS. 
 
 An English gentleman visiting the widow of 
 Robert Burns, the Scottish poet, at Dumfries, was 
 exceedingly anxious to obtain some relic of the bard, 
 as he called it ; that is, some scrap of his hand- 
 writing, or any other little object which could be 
 considered a memorial of the deceased. Mrs. Burns 
 replied to all his entreaties, that she had already 
 given away every thing of that kind that was re- 
 markable, or which she could think of parting with ; 
 that, indeed, she had no relic to give him. Still the 
 visitant insisted, and still Mrs. Burns declared her 
 inability to satisfy him ; at length, pushed by his 
 good-humoured entreaties to very extremity, she as 
 good-humouredly said, " Well, Sir, unless you take 
 myself, I really can think of no other relic (relict) of 
 him that it is in my power to give, or yours to 
 receive." Of course, this closed the argument. 
 
 HERO OF THE BASTILE. 
 
 In the year 1785, a person of rank and fashion in 
 Paris became enamoured of a beautiful young girl, 
 the daughter of a respectable tradesman ; who, re- 
 fusing to encourage the nobleman's passion, was soon 
 after thrown into the Bastile. The lover of the girl, 
 the son of a wealthy citizen, and who was to have 
 been married to her in a few days, dreading the like 
 fate, made his escape to Constantinople, to serve as 
 a volunteer under the Grand Seignior, leaving his in- 
 tended bride secreted with a female friend. On the 
 revolution breaking out, the young man returned to 
 Paris, and, equally stimulated by love and liberty, 
 was the very grenadier who first mounted the breach 
 
THE ORIGIN OF FAMILIES. 23 
 
 made in the Bastile, from the dungeons of which he 
 had the happiness of rescuing the father of his future 
 bride. 
 
 EGIRVARD. 
 
 A very curious story is told by several ancient 
 writers respecting Egirvard, a secretary to Charle- 
 magne, and a daughter of that emperor. The secre- 
 tary fell in love with the princess, who at length 
 allowed him to visit her. One winter's night he staid 
 with her very late, and in the mean time a deep 
 snow had fallen. If he left, his footmarks would be 
 observed, and yet to stay would expose him to 
 danger. At length the princess resolved to carry 
 him on her back to a neighbouring house, which she 
 did. It happened, however, that from the window 
 of his bed-room the emperor saw the whole affair. 
 In an assembly of his lords, on the following day, 
 when Egirvard and his daughter were present, he 
 asked what ought to be done to the man who com- 
 pelled a king's daughter to carry him on her shoulders, 
 through frost and snow, in the middle of a winter's 
 night ? They answered that he was worthy of death. 
 The lovers were alarmed, but the Emperor, addressing 
 Egirvard, said, " Hadst thou loved my daughter, thou 
 shouldst have come to me ; thou art worthy of death, 
 but I give thee two lives. Take thy fair Porter in 
 marriage ; fear God, and love one another." 
 
 AN IRISH GIRL. 
 A young man, who was paying his addresses to an 
 Irish girl, had gained so far on her affections that she 
 had consented to attend him to the temple of Hymen, 
 
24 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 when some economical fears arose in his breast, 
 which cooled the flame Cupid had kindled ; he 
 therefore waited on his destined bride, talked of hard 
 times, household expenses, &c, till, her patience be- 
 ing exhausted, she very politely turned him out of 
 the house. Her mistress, hearing the noise, called 
 to know what it was. " Nothing, Madam," replied 
 she, " but kicking the cares of the world out of 
 doors." 
 
 AUTHOR OF " BARON MUNCHAUSEN." 
 
 During the reign of terror there was, among the 
 British subjects imprisoned in Paris, a man of a pe- 
 culiar cast of character, who, under the most un- 
 couth and neglected exterior, concealed a kind heart. 
 His person was at that time meagre and spare, and, 
 overshadowed as it generally was by a hat of an im- 
 mense military cock, formed no unapt representation 
 of Shakspeare's Pistol. The gentleman we allude to 
 
 was Mr. , better known among his friends by 
 
 the appellation of the Baron, from his having given to 
 the world the wonderful exploits and adventures of 
 Baron Munchausen. After many vicissitudes of for- 
 tune in England, Mr. M. proceeded to France, in 
 order to offer his services to the republican govern- 
 ment, and soon after was presented with a lieute- 
 nancy in the regiment commanded by another Eng- 
 lishman of unfortunate memory, Colonel Oswald. 
 Although attached, in the first instance, to the cause 
 of the revolution, Mr. M. by no means approved of 
 its latter stages ; nor would his principles permit him 
 to continue in the service after the death of the 
 king, and the declaration of war against his own 
 country. His resignation provoked the jealousy of 
 
THE OKIGIN OF FAMILIES. '25 
 
 the ruling party ; he was arrested and thrown into 
 prison. While confined here, he became an object 
 of very tender solicitude to a young French woman, 
 who, though she moved only in the humble ca- 
 pacity of a servant, had conceived a strong attach- 
 ment to the Baron's person. Whatever money she 
 was able to earn by her labour, she remitted to him ; 
 and as often as her weekly holiday permitted, she 
 was a regular visitor at his prison. The privilege of 
 receiving the visits of their friends was, after some 
 time, however, denied to the prisoners, and the Baron 
 was obliged to forego the company of his beloved 
 Marie, consoling himself with the idea, that, though 
 out of sight, she might still be constant to him : nor 
 did he do Marie any more than justice ; the faithful 
 girl continued to send him daily supplies of every 
 thing, even to a little luxury, which it was in her 
 power to procure ; and though no man in the prison 
 was poorer than Mr. M., few of them could boast of 
 more personal comforts. The sequel of this anec- 
 dote it gives us great pleasure to relate : he found 
 means of getting her over to England, and the hum- 
 ble Marie became Mrs. M. 
 
 SENZANO. 
 
 Senzano, during many years of peculiar trials and 
 crosses, was wont to number them by dropping black 
 stones into an urn. He kept, however, one white 
 stone uppermost, because, said he, " There will come 
 one white day, my wedding day, that will make 
 amends for all my black days." 
 
26 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 MISS NOYES. 
 
 A gentleman feeling a strong partiality for a 
 young lady whose name was Noyes, was desirous, 
 without the ceremony of a formal courtship, to as- 
 certain her sentiments. For this purpose he said to 
 her one day, with that kind of air and manner which 
 means either jest or earnest, as you choose to take it, 
 " If I were to ask you whether you are under ma- 
 trimonial engagements to any one, what part of your 
 name (No — yes) might I take for an answer ?" " The 
 first," said she in the same tone. " And were I to 
 ask if you were inclined to form such an engage- 
 ment, should a person offer who loved you, and was 
 not indifferent to yourself, what part of your name 
 might he then take as an answer ?" " The last." 
 " And if I tell you that I love you, and ask you 
 to form such an engagement with me, then what 
 part of your name may I take ?" " Oh, then," re- 
 plied the blushing girl, " take the whole name, as, 
 in such a case, I would cheerfully resign it for 
 yours." It is almost needless to add that they were 
 soon afterwards married. 
 
 ABERNETHY. 
 
 The report of the courtship and marriage of the late 
 celebrated Abemethy, the distinguished surgeon, was 
 characteristic of his eccentricities. It is said, that, 
 while attending a lady for several weeks, he observed 
 those admirable qualifications in her daughter which 
 he truly esteemed to be calculated to render the 
 married state happy. Accordingly, one Saturday, 
 when taking leave of his patient, he addressed her 
 
THE OEIGIN OF FAMILIES. 27 
 
 to the following purport : — " You are now so well 
 that I need not see you after Monday next, when I 
 shall come to pay you my farewell visit. But, in the 
 mean time, I wish you and your daughter seriously 
 to consider the proposal I am now about to make. 
 It is abrupt and unceremonious, I am aware, but the 
 excessive occupation of my time, by my professional 
 duties, affords me no leisure to accomplish what I 
 desire by the more ordinary course of attention and 
 
 solicitation. My annual receipts amount to £ , 
 
 and I can settle £ on my wife : my character 
 
 is generally known to the public, so that you may 
 readily ascertain what it is : I have seen in your 
 daughter a tender and affectionate child, an assidu- 
 ous and careful nurse, and a gentle and lady-like 
 member of a family : such a person must be all that 
 a husband could covet, and I offer my hand and 
 fortune for her acceptance. On Monday, when I 
 call, I shall expect your determination ; for I really 
 have not time for the routine of courtship." In this 
 humour the lady was wooed and won ; and we be- 
 lieve we may add, the union was felicitous in every 
 respect. 
 
 A MAN IN LANCASHIRE. 
 The governor of a workhouse, in a town not a 
 dozen miles out of the road between Manchester 
 and Liverpool, had the misfortune to lose his spouse 
 by death. As he had no daughter old enough to 
 take the duties his wife had discharged in the estab- 
 lishment, it was intimated to him by his principals 
 that they should be under the necessity of intro- 
 ducing a matron. Anxious to avert this contin- 
 
28 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 gency, the governor determined to get married, and 
 forthwith despatched an epistle to one of the over- 
 seers of a very populous town in the neighbourhood, 
 intimating his wish " to change his condition," and 
 requesting his correspondent to look out for a lady, 
 from forty to fifty years of age, who might suit his 
 purpose. The letter, of course, created a good deal 
 of mirth amongst the churchwardens and sidesmen 
 of the very populous town alluded to ; and one of 
 the former handing it to an overseer of the poor, 
 desired him to select a wife for the applicant. The 
 overseer happened to call in at the shop of an ac- 
 quaintance, mentioned the commission with which 
 he was intrusted, when the shopkeeper straightway 
 
 exclaimed, " Why, my aunt will be just the 
 
 thing for him." The lady's disposition was sounded, 
 and she was found not indisposed for the negotia- 
 tion ; accordingly, the tender swain was informed, 
 by a letter written on the Saturday evening, that his 
 agent had procured a help-meet for him. This gen- 
 tleman, on coming to his office on the Monday 
 morning, was surprised to find his correspondent 
 already waiting his arrival, and impatient to be in- 
 troduced without delay to his future wife. Suffice 
 it to observe, that the introduction took place, 
 the preliminaries were speedily arranged, and the 
 parties, in the course of a fortnight, united in the 
 holy bonds of matrimony. 
 
 KING OF SPAIN. 
 
 The Duke de Grammont was distinguished by the 
 brevity, energy, and point of his speeches. He was 
 commissioned to ask of the king of Spain the In- 
 
THE ORIGIN OF FAMILIES. 29 
 
 fanta, his daughter, in marriage for the king of 
 France. " Sire," said he to the king of Spain, " my 
 master gives you peace ;" and then turning to the 
 Infanta, he continued, " and to you, Madam, he 
 gives his heart and his crown." 
 
 COLONEL BRETT. 
 
 Colonel Brett was a particularly handsome man. 
 The Countess of Rivers, looking out of her window 
 on & great disturbance in the street, saw the Colonel 
 assaulted by some bailiffs, who were going to arrest 
 him. She paid his debt, released him from their 
 pursuit, and soon after married him. When she 
 died, she left him more than he expected ; with 
 which he bought an estate in the country, built a 
 very handsome house upon it, and furnished it in 
 the highest taste ; went down to see the finishing of 
 it ; returned to London in hot weather, and in too 
 much hurry ; got a fever by it, and died. 
 
 EDWARD OSBORNE. 
 In the year 1539, when London bridge was 
 covered with houses, overhanging the pent-up tur- 
 bulent stream, as if the ordinary dangers of life were 
 not sufficient, that men should, out of their ingenuity, 
 invent new ones, desert terra firma, and, like so 
 many beavers, perch their dwellings on a crazy 
 bridge, — Sir William Hewitt, citizen of London, and 
 cloth-worker, inhabited one of those houses* His 
 only child, a pretty little girl, was playing with a 
 servant at a window over the water, and fell into the 
 rapids, through which, even now-a-days, it is counted 
 a feat to shoot. Many beheld the fearful sight, in 
 
30 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 the helplessness of terror, without dreaming of ven- 
 turing into the stream. But there was one, to whom 
 the life of the perishing child was dearer than his 
 own, and that was the appprentice of Sir William 
 Hewitt. He leaped into the water after his youth- 
 ful mistress, and by the aid of a bold heart, and a 
 strong arm, bore her in safety to the shore : and he 
 had his reward. Years rolled on, and each succeed- 
 ing one brought wealth to the father, and grace and 
 loveliness to the noble-minded daughter. Such was 
 the fame of her beauty, that even in that aristocra- 
 tical age, the gallant and far descended chivalry of 
 the land, were rival suitors for the hand of the mer- 
 chant-queen of hearts. But fairer, in her eyes, was 
 the 'prentice-cap of the daring youth, who had 
 snatched her from the whirling waters, than the 
 coronet of the peer ; and with the single-minded 
 disinterestedness of a genuine woman, she gave to 
 her untitled preserver, Edward Osborne, the hand 
 and heart which the Earl of Shrewsbury, the heir of 
 the house of Talbot, had sighed for in vain. Well 
 did her lover vindicate her choice ! Edward Osborne 
 was a nobleman born of God's creation, not man's. 
 He rose by successful industry to the highest hon- 
 ours of that city, whose merchants are the pay-mas- 
 ters of the rulers of the earth. And from the city 
 beauty, — to whom faith and love were dearer than 
 titles and wealth, and the merchant-prentice, who 
 periled his life as frankly in the cause of the help- 
 less, and for the sake of humanity, as ever did high 
 born youth for fame and glory, and golden spurs, — 
 descended by a lineage more noble, than if they had 
 sprung from the most heroic stock of crowned rob- 
 bers that ever troubled the world with their achieve- 
 ments, the successive Dukes of Leeds. 
 
THE ORIGIN OF FAMILIES. 31 
 
 WYCHERLEY. 
 
 Spence. in his anecdotes, tells us of a marriage 
 made in a booksellers shop at Bath, or Tunbridge, 
 where Wycherley, the dramatic writer, happened to 
 be, when Lady Drogheda came in, and inquired for 
 The Plain Dealer. A friend of Wycherley. the 
 author of that play, who stood by him, pushed him 
 towards the Dowager, and said, " There's the Plain 
 Dealer, Madam, if you want him !"' Wycherley 
 made his excuses, but Lady Drogheda said that she 
 loved Plain Dealing best. He afterwards visited, 
 and shortly married the Countess. 
 
 HON. MISS GOWRIE. 
 
 The top of one of the towers of Ruthven House, 
 Scotland, once the seat of the unfortunate Gowries, 
 is called the Maiden's Leap, receiving its name on 
 the following occasion : — A daughter of the first 
 Earl of Gowrie was addressed by a young gentleman, 
 of inferior rank, in the neighbourhood, a frequent 
 visitor of the family, who never would give the least 
 countenance to his passion. His lodging was in the 
 tower, separate from his mistress ; the lady, before 
 the doors were shut, conveyed herself into her lover's 
 apartment ; but some prying duenna acquainted the 
 Countess with it, who, cutting off all, as she thought, 
 possibility of retreat, hastened to surprise them. The 
 young lady's ears were quick, she heard the footsteps 
 of the old Countess, ran to the top of the leads, and 
 took the desperate leap of nine feet four inches over 
 a chasm of sixty feet ; and, luckily falling on the 
 battlements of the other tower, crept into her own 
 bed, where her astonished mother found her, and of 
 
32 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 course apologized for the unjust suspicion. The 
 fair daughter did not choose to repeat the leap : but 
 the next night eloped, and married. 
 
 MISS FARQUHAR. 
 
 Sir Walter Farquhar calling one day on Mr. Pitt, 
 the Premier, observed him to be unusually ruffled, 
 and inquired what was the matter. " Why, to tell 
 you the truth," replied Sir Walter, " I am extremely 
 angry with my daughter. She has permitted herself 
 to form an attachment to a young gentleman, by no 
 means qualified in point of rank or fortune to be my 
 son-in-law." " Now let me say one word in the 
 young lady's behalf," returned the minister : " Is the 
 young man you mention, of a respectable family ?" 
 " He is." " Is he respectable in himself?" "He is." 
 " Has he the manners and education of a gentle- 
 man ?" " He has." " Has he an estimable charac- 
 ter ?" " He has." " Why, then, my dear Sir Wal- 
 ter, hesitate no longer. You and I are well ac- 
 quainted with the delusions of life. Let your 
 daughter follow her own inclinations, since they ap- 
 pear to be virtuous. You have had more opportu- 
 nities than I have, of knowing the value of affection, 
 and ought to respect it. Let the union take place, 
 and I will not be unmindful that I had the pleasure 
 of recommending it." The physician consented, the 
 lovers were united, and the patronage of the minister 
 soon gave old Sir Walter no cause to regret the 
 event. 
 
THE ORIGIN OF FAMILIES. 33 
 
 Section II. — MaPvRiage. 
 
 There is no combination of letters in the English 
 language which excites more pleasing and interest- 
 ing associations in the mind of man, than the word 
 wife. There is a magic in this little word. It pre- 
 sents to the mind's eye a cheerful companion, a dis- 
 interested adviser, a nurse in sickness, a comforter 
 in misfortune, and a faithful and ever affectionate 
 friend. It conjures up the image of a lovely, con- 
 fiding woman, who cheerfully undertakes to con- 
 tribute to your happiness, to partake with you the 
 cup, whether of weal or woe, which destiny may 
 offer. The word wife is synonymous with the 
 greatest earthly blessing ; and we pity the unfortu- 
 nate wight, who is condemned to trudge along 
 through life's dull pilgrimage without one. 
 
 THE ANCIENTS. 
 
 Celibacy was at all times, among the ancients, 
 considered less respectable than marriage ; and 
 among many nations it was attended with very great 
 inconveniences. 
 
 The Romans would not administer an oath to any 
 but married persons ; nor would they receive others 
 as witnesses. 
 
 Cesar only bestowed his favours on the fathers of 
 families. 
 
 Augustus inflicted punishments on those that were 
 unmarried. 
 
 Lycurgus humbled, and otherwise punished single 
 men. 
 
34 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 DUKE OF SUFFOLK. 
 
 Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, in the reign of 
 Henry the Eighth, married Mary, Queen of France, 
 widow of Louis the Twelfth. The following was 
 his motto at a tournament, upon his marriage with 
 the queen, (the trappings of his horse being half 
 cloth of gold ; and the other half frieze :) 
 
 Cloth of gold ! do not despise, 
 
 Though, thou art match'd with cloth of frieze. 
 
 Cloth of frieze ! be not too bold, 
 
 Though thou art match'd with cloth of gold. 
 
 LADY CLARENDON. 
 
 During the troubles in the reign of King Charles 
 I., a country girl came up to London in search of a 
 place as a servant maid ; but not succeeding, she 
 applied herself to carrying out beer from a brew- 
 house, and was one of those then called tub-women. 
 The brewer observing a well-looking girl in this low 
 occupation, took her into his family as a servant ; 
 and after a while, as she behaved herself with much 
 prudence and propriety, he married her ; but he 
 died when she was yet a young woman, and left her 
 a large fortune. The business of the brewery was 
 dropped, and the young woman was recommended 
 to Mr. Hyde as a gentleman of skill in the law, to 
 settle her affairs. Hyde (who was afterwards the 
 great Earl of Clarendon), finding the widow's fortune 
 very considerable, married her. Of this marriage 
 there was no other issue than a daughter, who was 
 afterwards the wife of James II. and mother of Mary 
 and Anne, queens of England. 
 
THE ORIGIN OF FAMILIES. 35 
 
 AN IRISHMAN. 
 
 A gay Irishman arrived at the Hotel de Suede, in 
 the Rue de Richelieu, Paris, and having a quantity 
 of dirty linen, sent for a washerwoman, and told her 
 to pick it up from the floor. Shortly afterwards the 
 washerwoman returned, and to the traveller's great 
 surprise put into his hands a number of bank notes 
 which had been negligently left among the linen. 
 The Irishman was very grateful, and strongly urged 
 the young woman to accept a reward for her 
 honesty ; but she resolutely refused to do so, and 
 seemed quite grieved at the offer. Some days after- 
 wards a marriage was celebrated at the church of 
 St. Thomas d ? Aquin, which attracted a vast number 
 of persons. It was easy to perceive from the dress 
 and manner of the bridegroom, that he was a 
 foreigner ; and from the timid and embarrassed de- 
 portment of the bride, that she did not belong to 
 the same class as her intended, and that it was 
 decidedly a marriage of inclination. The above 
 anecdote got into circulation among the crowd — in 
 a word, the bride was no other than the young 
 washerwoman, whom the Irishman had thought 
 worthy of sharing his fortune and destiny. 
 
 SANDY WOOD 
 
 The eccentric and well-remembered Sandy Wood, 
 an eminent surgeon in Edinburgh, at the outset of 
 his professional career, married Miss Veronica Chal- 
 mers, second daughter of George Chalmers, writer 
 for the Signet, a highly respectable man, and to 
 whose honesty and integrity his fellow-citizens bore 
 the most ample testimony, by giving him the popular 
 d 2 
 
36 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 title of " Honest George Chalmers." This marriage 
 turned out very fortunate for both parties, though 
 before it took place there was a danger of it being 
 impeded by the poverty of the intended husband. It 
 is related of Mr. Wood, on obtaining the consent of 
 the lady, proposed himself to Mr. Chalmers as his 
 son-in-law, when that gentleman addressed him 
 thus : " Sandy, I have not the smallest objection to 
 you ; but I myself am not rich, and should, there- 
 fore, like to know how you are to support a wife and 
 family." Mr. Wood, putting his hand in his pocket, and 
 taking out his lancet-case with a scarlet garter rolled 
 round it, presenting it to him, said, " I have nothing 
 but this, Sir, and a determination to use my best 
 endeavours to succeed in my profession." Mr. Chal- 
 mers was so struck with this straight-forward and 
 honest reply, that he immediately exclaimed, " Ve- 
 ronica is yours." 
 
 A MERCHANT. 
 
 A merchant, originally from Liverpool, having ac- 
 quired a large fortune in one of the West India 
 islands, concluded that he could not be happy in 
 the enjoyment of it, unless he shared it with a 
 woman of merit ; and knowing none to his fancy, he 
 resolved to write to a worthy correspondent in 
 Liverpool. He knew no other style than that which 
 he used in his trade ; therefore, treating of affairs of 
 love as he did of business, after giving his friend in 
 a letter several commissions, and reserving this for 
 the last, he went on thus : 
 
 " Item — Seeing that I have taken a resolution 
 to marry, and that I do not find a suitable match 
 for me here, do not fail to send, by next ship 
 
THE ORIGIN OF FAMILIES. 37 
 
 bound hither, a young woman of the qualifications 
 and form following : — As for a portion, I demand 
 none. Let her be of an honest family, between 
 twenty and twenty-five years of age, of a middle 
 stature and well proportioned, her face agreeable, 
 her temper mild, her character blameless, her health 
 good, and her constitution strong enough to bear 
 the change of the climate, that there may be no 
 occasion to look out for a second through lack of 
 the first, soon after she comes to hand, which must 
 be provided against as much as possible, considering 
 the great distance, and the dangers of the sea. If 
 she arrives here, conditioned as above said, with the 
 present letter indorsed by you, or at least, an at- 
 tested copy thereof, that there may be no mistake or 
 imposition, I hereby oblige and engage myself to 
 satisfy the said letter, by marrying the bearer at 
 fifteen days' sight. In witness whereof I subscribe 
 this, &c." 
 
 The correspondent read over and over this odd 
 article, which put the future spouse on the same 
 footing with the bales of goods he was to send to 
 his friend ; and, after admiring the prudent exact- 
 ness of the West Indian, and his laconic style in 
 enumerating the qualifications which he insisted 
 on, he endeavoured to serve him to his mind ; and, 
 after many inquiries, he judged he had found a lady 
 fit for his purpose, in a young person of reputable 
 family, but no fortune, of good humour and a polite 
 education, well-shaped and more than tolerably hand- 
 some. He made the proposal to her as his friend 
 had directed ; and the young gentlewoman, who 
 had no subsistence but from a cross old aunt, who 
 gave her a great deal of uneasiness, accepted it. 
 A ship bound for the island was then fitting at 
 
38 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 Liverpool, the gentlewoman went on board the 
 same, together with the bales of goods, being well 
 provided with all necessaries, and particularly with a 
 certificate in due form, and indorsed by the corres- 
 pondent. She was also included in the invoice, the 
 last article of which run thus : 
 
 " Item. — A young gentlewoman of twenty-five 
 years of age, of the quality and shape, and condi- 
 tioned as per order, as appears by the affidavits and 
 certificates she has to produce." 
 
 The writings which were thought necessary for so 
 exact a man as her future husband, were, an extract 
 of the parish register ; a certificate of her character, 
 signed by the curate ; an attestation of her neigh- 
 bours, setting forth that she had for the space of 
 three years lived with an old aunt who was intole- 
 rably peevish, and had not, during all that time, 
 given her said aunt the least occasion of complaint ; 
 and, lastly, the goodness of her constitution was 
 certified, after the consultation, by four physicians. 
 Before the gentlewoman's departure, the correspon- 
 dent sent several letters of advice by other ships to 
 his friend, whereby he informed him that, per such a 
 ship, he should send a young woman, of such an 
 age, character, and condition, &c. ; in a word, such 
 as he desired to marry. — The letters of advice, the 
 bales, and the gentlewoman, came safe to port ; and 
 the West Indian, who happened to be one of the 
 foremost on the pier, at the lady's landing, was 
 charmed to see a handsome person, who, having 
 heard him called by his name, told him, " Sir, I 
 have a bill of exchange upon you, and you know 
 that it is not usual for people to carry a great 
 deal of money about them in such a long voyage 
 as I have now made. I beg the favour you will 
 
THE ORIGIN OF FAMILIES. 39 
 
 be pleased to pay it." At the same time shewing 
 him his correspondent's letter ; on the back of 
 which was written, " The bearer of this is the 
 spouse you ordered me to send you." " Ah, Madam! " 
 said the West Indian, " I never yet suffered my 
 bills to be protested ; and I assure you this shall 
 not be the first. I shall reckon myself the most 
 fortunate of all men, if you allow me to discharge 
 it." " Yes, Sir," replied she, " and the more will- 
 ingly, since I am apprised of your character. We 
 had several persons of honour on board, who knew 
 you very well, and who, during my passage, answered 
 all the questions I asked them concerning you in so 
 advantageous a manner, that it has raised in me a 
 perfect esteem for you." — The first interview was in 
 a few days after followed by the nuptials, which 
 were very magnificent, and the new-married couple 
 were very well satisfied with their happy union made 
 by a bill of exchange. 
 
 CLOVIS. 
 
 Erchionalde, mayor of the palace in the reign of 
 Clovis II., bought from some pirates a girl of exqui- 
 site beauty, named Bandour, or Baltide, whom he 
 afterwards presented to his sovereign. The monarch 
 was so transported with her charms, that he thought 
 he could not better grace his throne than by raising 
 her to share it along with him. History does the 
 fortunate fair one the justice to inform us, that while 
 on the throne, she never forgot having been a slave ; 
 and that after the death of Clovis, having taken the 
 veil, her mind became wholly purified from any pas- 
 sion for grandeur, and she appeared almost to forget 
 that she had once been a queen. 
 
40 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 A BLIND COUPLE. 
 
 A young man, quite blind, was married some time 
 ago in Cheltenham parish church, to a very pretty 
 young woman. The bridemaid was as blind, as the 
 bridegroom, and a little girl who accompanied the 
 happy trio seemed defective also in her sight. The 
 bride, with the blind bridegroom on one arm, and the 
 blind bridemaid on the other, pilotted the voyage to 
 conjugal felicity. 
 
 " The bride, love-blind, for her blind bridegroom sighs, 
 And a blind bridemaid gives the bridegroom eyes." 
 
 SIR WALTER SCOTT. 
 
 When the Marquis of Downshire, about fifty years 
 ago, was about to proceed upon his travels, he begged 
 some letters of introduction, amongst others, from 
 the Reverend Mr. Burd, Dean of Carlisle, who had 
 been his early friend. This gentleman communicated 
 to his lordship one letter, recommending him to the 
 favourable notice of almost his only continental ac- 
 quaintance, Monsieur Carpentier of Paris, an indi- 
 vidual who held the lucrative office of provider of 
 post-horses to the royal family of France. The un- 
 happy result of this new association was the elope- 
 ment of Madame Carpentier, a very beautiful woman, 
 in company with his lordship. The only step taken 
 by the husband in this case w r as to transmit his two 
 children, a boy and girl, to his frail wife, with a de- 
 sire, signified or implied, that she would undertake 
 the duty of bringing them up. The children, accord- 
 ingly, lived for some years with their mother, under 
 the general protection of Lord Downshire, till at 
 length the lady died, and the young nobleman found 
 
THE ORIGIN OF FAMILIES. 41 
 
 himself burdened with a responsibility which he pro- 
 bably had not calculated upon at the time of his 
 quitting Paris. However, he placed the girl in a 
 French convent for her education, and soon after, by 
 an exertion of patronage, had the boy sent out on a 
 lucrative appointment to India, his name having been 
 previously changed, on his naturalization as a British 
 subject, to Carpenter. It was a stipulation before 
 the young man received his appointment, that two 
 hundred pounds of his annual salary should fall re- 
 gularly every year to his sister, of whose support 
 Lord Downshire was thus cleared, though he con- 
 tinued to consider himself as her guardian. Miss 
 Carpenter in time returned to London, and was 
 placed under the charge of a governess named Miss 
 Nicholson, who, however, could not prevent her from 
 forming an attachment to a youthful admirer, whose 
 addresses were not agreeable to the marquis. His 
 lordship, having learned that a change of scene was 
 necessary, wrote hastily to Mr. Burd, requesting him 
 to seek for a cottage in his own neighbourhood 
 among the Cumberland lakes, fit for the reception of 
 two young ladies who could spend two hundred a- 
 year. Mr. Burd, having made the desired inquiries, 
 wrote to inform his lordship that there was such a 
 place near his own house, but that it would require 
 a certain time to put it into repair. He heard no 
 more of the matter, till, a few days after, as he and 
 Mrs. Burd were on the point of setting out for Gils- 
 land Wells, on account of the delicate health of the 
 latter individual, they were surprised by the arrival 
 of two young ladies at their door in a post-chaise, 
 being the persons alluded to by the marquis. His 
 lordship had found it convenient to send them off to 
 the care of Mr. Burd, even at the hazard of the house 
 
42 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 not being ready for their reception. This was at the 
 end of the month of August, or beginning of Septem- 
 ber, 1797. The dilemma occasioned by the unex- 
 pected arrival of the young ladies was of a very dis- 
 tressing kind, and Mrs. Burd was afraid that it would, 
 for one thing, put a stop to her intended expedition 
 to Gilsland. Her husband, however, finally deter- 
 mined that their journey thither should still hold 
 good, and that, to place his guests above inconveni- 
 ence, they should join the party proceeding to the 
 Spa. 
 
 Having duly arrived at Gilsland, which is situated 
 near the borders of Scotland, they took up their re- 
 sidence at the inn, where, according to the custom 
 of such places, they were placed, as the latest guests, 
 at the bottom of the table. It chanced that a young 
 Scotch gentleman had arrived the same afternoon, 
 though only as a passing traveller, and he, being 
 also placed at the bottom of the table, came into 
 close contact with the party of Mr. Burd. Enough 
 of conversation took place during dinner to let the 
 latter individuals understand that the gentleman was 
 a Scotchman, and this was in itself the cause of the 
 acquaintance being protracted. Mrs. Burd was in- 
 timate with a Scotch military gentleman, a Major 
 Riddell, whose regiment was then in Scotland ; and 
 as there had been a collision between the military 
 and the people at Tranent, on account of the militia 
 act, she was anxious to know if her friend had been 
 among those present, or if he had received any hurt. 
 After dinner, therefore, as they were rising from 
 table, Mrs. Burd requested her husband to ask the 
 Scotch gentleman if he knew any thing of the late 
 riots, and particularly if a Major Riddell had been 
 concerned in suppressing them. On these questions 
 
THE ORIGIN OF FAMILIES. 43 
 
 being put, it was found that the stranger knew Major 
 Riddell intimately, and he was able to assure them, 
 in very courteous terms, that his friend was quite 
 well. From a desire to prolong the conversation on 
 this point, the Buvds invited their informant to drink 
 tea with them in their own room, to which he very 
 readily consented, notwithstanding that he had pre- 
 viously ordered his horse to be brought to the door 
 in order to proceed upon his journey. At tea, their 
 common acquaintance with Major Riddell furnished 
 much pleasant conversation, and the parties became 
 so agreeable to each other, that, in a subsequent 
 walk to the Wells, the stranger still accompanied 
 Mr. Burd's party. He had now ordered his horse 
 back to the stable, and talked no more of continuing 
 his journey. It may be easily imagined that a de- 
 sire of discussing the major was not now the sole 
 bond of union between the parties. Mr. Scott, for 
 so he gave his name, had been impressed during the 
 earlier part of the evening, with the elegant and fas- 
 cinating appearance of Miss Carpenter, and it was 
 on her account that he was lingering at Gilsland. 
 Of this young lady, it will be observed, he could have 
 previously known nothing : she was hardly known 
 even to the respectable persons under whose protec- 
 tion she appeared to be living. She was simply a 
 lovely woman, and a young poet was struck with her 
 charms. 
 
 Next day Mr. Scott was still found at the Wells 
 — and the next — and the next — in short, every day 
 for a fortnight. He was as much in the company 
 of Mr. Burd and his family as the equivocal founda- 
 tion of their acquaintance would allow ; and by af- 
 fecting an intention of speedily visiting the lakes, he 
 even contrived to obtain an invitation to the dean's 
 
44 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 country house in that part of England. In the 
 course of this fortnight, the impression made upon 
 his heart by the young Frenchwoman was gradually 
 deepened ; and it is not improbable, notwithstanding 
 the girlish love affair in which Miss Carpenter had 
 been recently engaged, that the effect was already 
 in some degree reciprocal. He only tore himself 
 away, in consequence of a call to attend certain im- 
 perative matters of business at Edinburgh. 
 
 It was not long ere he made his appearance at Mr. 
 Burd's house, where, though the dean had only con- 
 templated a passing visit, as from a tourist, he con- 
 trived to enjoy another fortnight of Miss Carpenter's 
 society. In order to give a plausible appearance to 
 his intercourse with the young lady, he was perpe- 
 tually talking to her in French, for the ostensible 
 purpose of perfecting his pronunciation of that lan- 
 guage under the instructions of one to whom it was 
 vernacular. Though delighted with the lively con- 
 versation of the young Scotchman, Mr. and Mrs. 
 Burd could not now help feeling uneasy about his 
 proceedings, being apprehensive as to the construc- 
 tion which Lord Downshire would put upon them, as 
 well as upon their own conduct in admitting a per- 
 son of whom they knew so little to the acquaintance 
 of his ward. Miss Nicholson's sentiments were, if 
 possible, of a still more painful kind, as, indeed, her 
 responsibility was more onerous and delicate. In 
 this dilemma, it was resolved by Mrs. Burd to write 
 to a friend in Edinburgh, in order to learn something 
 of the character and status of their guest. The an- 
 swer returned was to the effect, that Mr. Scott was 
 a respectable young man, and rising at the bar. It 
 chanced at the same time that one of Mr. Scott's 
 female friends, who did not, however, entertain this 
 
THE ORIGIN OF FAMILIES. 45 
 
 respectful notion of him, hearing of some love ad- 
 venture in which he had been entangled at Gilsland, 
 wrote to this very Mrs. Burd, with whom she was ac- 
 quainted, inquiring if she had heard of such a thing, 
 and " what kind of a young lady was it, who was go- 
 ing to take Watty Scott?" The poet soon after 
 found means to conciliate Lord Downshire to his 
 views in reference to Miss Carpenter, and the mar- 
 riage took place at Carlisle within four months of the 
 first acquaintance of the parties. 
 
 The match, made up under such extraordinary cir- 
 cumstances, was a happy one ; a kind and gentle 
 nature resided in the bosoms of both parties, and 
 they lived accordingly in the utmost peace and 
 amity. The bounteous but unostentatious beneficence 
 of Lady Scott will long be remembered in the rural 
 circle where she presided ; and though her foreign 
 education gave a tinge of oddity to her manners, she 
 formed an excellent mistress to the household of her 
 illustrious husband, and an equally excellent mother 
 to his children. One of the last acts of Sir Walter 
 Scott, before the illness which carried her to the 
 tomb, was to discharge an attached and valued ser- 
 vant who had forgotten himself one day so far as to 
 speak disrespectfully to his mistress. He lamented 
 the necessity of parting with such a servant, and one 
 who had been so long with him ; but he could not 
 overlook an insult to one whom he held so dear. 
 
 A BEGGAR. 
 
 Dean Swift being in the country on a visit to 
 his friend Dr. Sheridan, they were informed that a 
 beggar's wedding was about to be celebrated. She- 
 ridan played well upon the violin ; Swift, therefore, 
 
4b THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 proposed that he should go to the place where the 
 ceremony was to be performed disguised as a blind 
 tiddler, while he attended him as his man. Thus 
 accoutred they set out, and were received by the 
 jovial crew with great acclamation. They had plenty 
 of good cheer, and never was a more joyous wedding 
 seen : all was mirth and frolic ; the beggars told 
 stories, played tricks, cracked jokes, sung and danced 
 in a manner which afforded high amusement to the 
 fiddler and his man, who were well rewarded when 
 they departed, which was not till late in the evening. 
 The next day the Dean and Sheridan walked out in 
 their usual dress, and found many of their late com- 
 panions hopping about upon crutches, or pretending 
 to be blind, pouring forth melancholy complaints and 
 supplications for charity. Sheridan distributed among 
 them the money he had received ; but the Dean, who 
 hated all mendicants, fell into a violent passion, tell- 
 ing them of his adventure of the preceding day, and 
 threatening to send every one of them to prison. 
 This had such an effect, that the blind opened their 
 eyes, and the lame threw away their crutches, run- 
 ning away as fast as their legs could carry them. 
 
 A YOUNG MAN IN INDIA. 
 
 When the celebrated Warren Hastings was gover- 
 nor-general of India, a young gentleman of the name 
 of Montgomery was engaged to a lady whom he could 
 not marry on account of the total want of fortune 
 between the parties. The story was mentioned to 
 Mr. Hastings, with many encomiums on the deserving 
 qualities of the subject of it. On this he sent for Mr. 
 Mongomery, and asked him if want of a competence 
 was the only obstacle to his wishes. On being told 
 
THE ORIGIN OF FAMILIES. 47 
 
 it was, he presented him with a paper which at once 
 left Mr. Montgomery without further complaints 
 against fortune, and in astonishment at the generous 
 use which Mr. Hastings made of it. 
 
 JAMES I. 
 
 The following extract will, on several accounts, be 
 read with interest. " We must not omit to mention, 
 in 1664, so important and so extraordinary a passage 
 in the Duke's life as was his first marriage with the 
 Lord Chancellor's daughter, — extraordinary indeed, 
 both in itself and in the consequences, both good and 
 bad, which in process of time followed from it. When 
 the Princess of Orange came to Paris to see the 
 Queen, her mother, the Duke being there at the 
 time, as has been before mentioned, Mrs. Ann Hide 
 was one of her maids of honour who there attended 
 her : it happened that, after some conversation toge- 
 ther, the Duke fell in love with her, she having witt 
 and other qualitys capable of surprising a heart less 
 inclinable to thee sexe than was that of his royal 
 highness in the first warmth of his youth. She in- 
 deed shew'd both her witt and her vertue in manag- 
 ing the affaire so dexterously that the Duke, over- 
 master^ by his passion, at last gave her a promise of 
 marriage, some time before the Restoration ; not 
 long after which, the Lord Chancellor, her father, 
 being then uppermost in the King's favour, the Duke 
 chose that time to beg his Majesty's leave to per- 
 form what he had promised ; which, at first, his Ma- 
 jesty positively refused, and used many arguments 
 to dissuade the Duke from the resolution ; and not 
 only his Majesty, but many of the Duke's friends, 
 and most especially some of his meniall servants, 
 
48 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 with a violent zeal opposed the match. However, 
 the Duke still continuing constant in his resolution 
 to be true in his word, and chusing rather to undergo 
 the censure of being fraile in promising, then of be- 
 ing unjust in breaking his promise,) the King at last 
 after much importunity, consented to the marriage ; 
 and it may well be supposed that my Lord Chan- 
 cellor did his part, but with great caution and cir- 
 cumspection, to soften the King in that matter, 
 which in every respect seem'd so much for his own 
 advantage. The King's leave being thus obtain'd, 
 the Duke, without loss of time, privately married the 
 young lady, and soon after own'd the marriage. It 
 must be confessed that what she wanted in birth 
 was so well made up in other endowments, that her 
 carriage afterwards did not misbecome her acquired 
 dignity." 
 
 M. DE MIRAVIN. 
 
 Monsieur de Miravin, a young gentleman of 
 Paris, possessed, in addition to a great deal of wit 
 and vivacity, the amazing faculties of a ventriloquist. 
 On his father's death, finding himself possessed of 
 little more than the advantages of education, he re- 
 solved to make this talent subservient to some pur- 
 pose of utility. He accordingly, by assuming a garb 
 of piety and reserve, introduced himself into the fa- 
 mily of a rich citizen, who had an only daughter, 
 the heiress of an immense fortune. One day, as they 
 were conversing on religious subjects, the citizen 
 heard a voice solemnly whispering in his ear, " If 
 thou dost not give thy daughter in marriage to this 
 young man within three days, thou shalt die." The 
 old man started with horror, and, casting his eyes on 
 
THE ORIGIN OF FAMILIES. 49 
 
 M. de Miravin, saw that his lips were unmoved, and 
 that his countenance expressed nothing but amaze- 
 ment. The mother of the young lady, who was 
 present, strongly recommended an immediate con- 
 clusion of the match, that her husband might escape 
 his impending fate. He, more suspicious, adjourned 
 to the church of Notre Dame, there to seek for com- 
 fort and information. He had not been many mi- 
 nutes on his knees, when he heard, from behind the 
 altar, the word "Obey!" repeated thrice in the same 
 solemn accent as the former warning. He returned 
 home, and the next day made M. de Miravin his 
 son-in-law, and one of the richest men in Paris. 
 
 A PRUSSIAN COUPLE. 
 
 The late King of Prussia used to dress in so plain 
 a manner, that when he travelled about his states, 
 such of his subjects as did not know him, treated him 
 with no other respect than they would an ordinary 
 man. Once, as he was riding about Berlin, without 
 attendance, and very plainly clad, he perceived a 
 young woman digging in a field, of a gigantic stature, 
 being near seven feet high. It is well known that 
 the King had a particular predeliction for tall men ; 
 and he spared no expense to procure them from all 
 parts of Europe, for fomring, as he did, his regiments 
 of giants and grenadiers out of them. At the sight 
 of this tall woman, he imagined that a*couple of this 
 kind must produce very large children. He dismount- 
 ed, and coming up to the peasant, entered into con- 
 versation with her, and was overjoyed to hear that 
 she was but nineteen years old, unmarried, and that 
 her father was a shoemaker. Hereupon he sat down, 
 and wrote the following note to the colonel of his 
 guards : — 
 
50 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 " You are to marry the bearer of this note with 
 the tallest of my grenadiers. Take care that the 
 ceremony be performed immediately, and in your 
 presence. You must be responsible to me for the 
 execution of this order. 'Tis absolute, and the least 
 delay will make you criminal in my sight." 
 
 The King gave this letter to the young woman, 
 without informing her of its contents, and ordered 
 her to deliver it punctually according to the direc- 
 tions, and not to fail, as it was on an affair of great 
 consequence ; he afterwards made her a handsome 
 present, and continued his route. 
 
 The young woman, who had not the least imagin- 
 ation that it was the King who spoke to her, believing 
 it was indifferent whether the letter was delivered by 
 another, so that it came safe to hand, made a bargain 
 with an old woman, whom she charged with the 
 commission, laying an express injunction on her to 
 say that she had it from a man of such a garb and 
 mien. The old woman faithfully executed her mes- 
 sage. The colonel, surprised at the contents of the 
 letter, could not reconcile them with the age and 
 figure of the bearer ; yet the order being peremptory, 
 he thought he could not without danger recede from 
 obeying, and fancied that his master wanted to 
 punish the soldier for some misdemeanour, by match- 
 ing him in so disagreeable a manner. In short, the 
 marriage was celebrated before him, to the great re- 
 gret of the grenadier, whilst the old woman, exulting 
 with joy, assumed an air of the highest satisfaction. 
 Some time after, the King, on his return to Berlin, 
 was eager to see the couple he had ordered to be 
 married. When they were presented to him he fell 
 into a passion. The colonel in vain endeavoured to 
 j ustify himself, and the King was implacable till the 
 
THE ORIGIN OF FAMILIES. 5 1 
 
 old woman confessed the truth, finishing her tale by 
 raising her eyes to heaven, and thanking providence 
 for conferring on her a benefit, the more signal and 
 acceptable to her because unexpected. 
 
 MARRIAGE GEM. 
 
 In the Duke of Marlborough's collection of antique 
 gems, is a group of emblematical figures, representing 
 the marriage of Cupid and Psyche ; a description of 
 which will not be unacceptabe. They are of exquisite 
 beauty, highly descriptive of the Marriage Union, 
 finely engraved upon an onyx, by Tryphon, an an- 
 cient Greek artist. 
 
 1st. Both are represented as winged, to show the 
 alacrity with which the husband and wife should 
 help, comfort, and support each other ; preventing 
 as much as possible the intimation of a wish or 
 want on either side by fulfilling it before it can be 
 expressed. 
 
 2nd. Both are veiled, to show that modesty is an 
 inseparable attendant on pure matrimonial enjoyment. 
 
 3rd. Hymen, or Marriage, goes before them with a 
 lighted torch, leading them by a chain, of which each 
 has hold, to show that they are united together, and 
 are bound to each other, and that they are led to 
 this by the pure flame of love, which at the same 
 instant both enlightens and warms them. 
 
 4th. This chain is not iron or brass, to intimate 
 that the marriage union is a state of thraldom or 
 slavery, but is a chain of pearls, to show that the 
 union is precious, delightful, and beautiful. 
 
 5th. They hold a dove, the emblem of conjugal 
 fidelity, which they appear to embrace affectionately, 
 to show that they are faithful to each other, not 
 e 2 
 
52 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 merely through duty, but by affection, and that this 
 fidelity contributes to the happiness of their lives. 
 
 6th. A winged Cupid, or Love, is represented as 
 having gone before them preparing the nuptial feast ; 
 to intimate that active affections, warm and cordial 
 love, are to them a continual source of comfort and 
 enjoyment, and that this is the entertainment they 
 are to meet with at every step of their lives. 
 
 7th. Another Cupid, or genius of love, comes 
 behind, and places on their heads a basket of ripe 
 fruits, to intimate that a matrimonial union of this 
 kind will generally be blest with children, who shall 
 be as pleasing to all their senses, as ripe and delicious 
 fruits are to the smell and taste. 
 
 8th. The genius of love that follows them, has his 
 wings shrivelled up, or the feathers all curled, so as to 
 render them utterly unfit for flight, to intimate that 
 love is to abide with them, that there is to be no 
 separation in affliction : but that they are to continue 
 to love one another with pure and fervent affection ; 
 thus love begins and continues this sacred union, 
 which death alone can dissolve, for God has yoked 
 them together. 
 
 Miss Diadema Thorn was married in America, 
 and the following lines were written on the event : 
 
 Lovers, ye well may envy them, 
 
 Whom such fair joys adorn ; 
 His hand receives a Diadem, 
 
 And she has lost a Thorn. 
 
 MATRIMONIAL STATISTICS. 
 
 The following state of matrimony is copied from a 
 magazine for 1763. 
 
THE ORIGIN OF FAMILIES. 53 
 
 Wives eloped from their husbands, 1,362 ; married 
 pairs in a state of separation, 4,420 ; husbands left 
 their wives, 2,361 ; married pairs living in a state of 
 open war, 191,013 ; married pairs living in a state 
 of inward hatred, 162,320 ; married pairs being in a 
 state of coldness and indifference, 510,132 ; married 
 pairs reputed happy in the esteem of the world, 1, 1 02 ; 
 married pairs comparatively happy, 135 ; married pairs 
 absolutely and entirely happy, 9. 
 
 The following curious statement by Dr. Granville 
 
 is drawn up from the registered cases of 876 married 
 
 women. It is the first ever constructed to exhibit 
 
 to ladies their chances of marriage at various ages. 
 
 Of the 876 females there were married — 
 
 No. Age. 
 
 3 at 13 
 
 11 — 14 
 
 16 — 15 
 
 43—16 ' 
 
 45— 17 
 
 77 — 18 
 
 115— 19 
 
 118 — 20 
 
 86 — 21 
 
 8 — 22 
 
 From this curious statistical table, our fair readers 
 
 may form a pretty correct judgment of the chances 
 
 which they have of entering into the holy state of 
 
 matrimony, and of enjoying the sweets of wedded 
 
 love. They will observe that the chances are most 
 
 in their favour at the ages of 19 and 20, after which 
 
 the chances turn against them. So far this is all very 
 
 well for the ages of 1 9 and 20. It would be erroneous, 
 
 No. Age. 
 59 at 23 
 
 No. Age. 
 
 5 at 32 
 
 53 — 24 
 
 7 — 33 
 
 36 — 25 
 
 5 — 34 
 
 24 — 26 
 
 2 — 35 
 
 28 — 27 
 
 — 36 
 
 22 — 28 
 
 2 — 37 
 
 17 — 29 
 
 — 38 
 
 9 — 30 
 
 1 —39 
 
 7 — 31 
 
 — 40 
 
54 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 however, to infer that women never marry at 40 
 because Dr. Granville's table says so. 36, 38, and 
 40, are their blank ages ; but that is an accident : and 
 there are various ways of accounting for it. Without 
 offence to our fair readers or Dr. Granville, we must 
 state that we distrust all sorts of statistical reports, 
 where the ages of women are concerned ; no marriage- 
 able woman ever reaches the age of 40, by her own 
 confession ; it is impolite to say so ; and it is plain 
 the Doctor did not consult the register. 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 FAMILY INTERCOURSE. 
 
 Section I. — Husbands and Wives. 
 
 MARQUIS AND COUNTESS OF EXETER, 
 
 The late Marquis of Exeter was divorced from his 
 first wife in 1791 ; he retired into the country under 
 the name of Cecil, and lived a private life. His 
 residence was a village in Shropshire, where he first 
 lodged at the rural inn. As he had plenty of 
 money, and was very liberal, he was suspected as an 
 Indian nabob, and his company shunned. As he 
 passed along, he often heard the rustics exclaim, 
 " There goes the London gentleman." Taking a 
 dislike to his situation at the inn, he sought out a 
 farm-house, where he might board and lodge ; seve- 
 ral families had refused to take him in because he 
 was " too fine a gentleman, and they could not un- 
 derstand how he came by his money." At length 
 he found a situation which answered his purpose ; 
 and, in consideration of his liberal offers, and the 
 knowledge of his possessing money, a farmer fitted 
 up a room for him. Here he continued to reside 
 for about two years, going to London twice in the 
 year, and returning with such money as he had 
 occasion for. When he departed, the country peo- 
 
56 THE FAMILY CIECLE. 
 
 pie thought he was gone to gather in his rents, and 
 became more assured of this from his always return- 
 ing with plenty of cash. 
 
 Time hanging heavy on his hands, he purchased 
 some land, on which he intended to build a house ; 
 but, for the reasons mentioned, neither stone-mason 
 nor carpenter would undertake the job. He did not 
 condescend to contradict the reports of the villagers ; 
 but, offering to pay so much money beforehand, 
 the tradesmen, after some grave consultation toge- 
 ther, agreed to finish his work ; this was done ac- 
 cordingly, and every person was paid to the full 
 extent of his demands. 
 
 The farmer, at whose cottage his lordship resided, 
 had a daughter, about seventeen years of age, whose 
 rustic beauties threw at an infinite distance all 
 that his lordship had ever beheld in the circle of 
 fashion. 
 
 Although this charming girl was placed in a 
 humble lot of life, his lordship perceived that her 
 beauty would adorn, and her virtues shed a lustre on, 
 the most elevated situation. One day, when the 
 farmer returned from his plough, Mr. Cecil frankly 
 told him and his wife that he liked their daughter 
 Sarah, and would marry her, if they would give their 
 consent. " Marry our daughter ! " exclaimed Mrs. 
 Hoggins, " what, to a fine gentleman ! no, indeed !" 
 " Yes, marry her," said the husband ; " he shall marry 
 her, for she likes him. Has he not house and land 
 too, and plenty of money to keep her ? " In fine, 
 the matter was arranged, and Mr. Cecil married this 
 charming rustic. Masters of every kind were now 
 procured ; and, in twelve months, Mrs. Cecil became 
 an accomplished woman, to the envy of the country 
 girls around, and to the astonishment of the villagers, 
 
FAMILY INTERCOURSE. 57 
 
 who now began to be reconciled to the supposed 
 too-fine a gentleman. 
 
 It was not long before news arrived of his uncle's 
 death, in Dec. 1793, when he found it necessary to 
 repair to town. He accordingly set out, taking his 
 wife with him, as on a tour of pleasure ; and, on his 
 journey, called at the seats of several noblemen, 
 where, to the utter astonishment of his wife, he was 
 welcomed in the most friendly manner. At last they 
 arrived at Burleigh, in Lincolnshire, the beautiful 
 patrimonial seat of his lordship ; and on approaching 
 the house, he asked, with an air of unconcern, whe- 
 ther she would like to be at home there : on which 
 she exclaimed, " that it exceeded all she had seen, 
 and was the only similar place on which she could 
 desire to reside." " Then," said he, " it is yours, 
 and you are the Countess of Exeter ;" and on making 
 his appearance in front of the house, he was instantly 
 recognised, and received with acclamations of joy by 
 the family and domestics. As soon as he had settled 
 his affairs he returned into Shropshire, discovered his 
 rank to his wife's father and mother, put them into 
 the house he had built there, and settled on them an 
 income of 700/. per annum. He afterwards took 
 the countess with him to London, and introduced her 
 to the fashionable world, where she was respected 
 and admired till her death in January 1797, aged 
 only twenty-four. She left two sons and a daughter, 
 heirs to the family honours. 
 
 SADI AND HIS WIFE. & 
 
 Sadi was an eminent poet, who became early en- 
 amoured of a wandering life, and was, consequently, 
 taken by the crusaders, and compelled to labour as 
 
58 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 a slave at the fortifications of Tripoli. From this 
 state he was relieved by a merchant of Aleppo, who 
 not only paid ten golden crowns for his ransom, but 
 gave him his daughter, with a dowry of a hundred. 
 The lady, however, proved extremely violent in her 
 temper ; and Sadi shows, in several of his works, 
 that he was excessively chagrined with his marriage. 
 Among other insults, she is said to have mentioned 
 as a reproach, that her father had bought him from 
 the Christians for ten crowns : " Yes," replied the 
 unhappy poet, with a sigh," and sold me to you for 
 a hundred." 
 
 QUEEN ELEANOR. 
 
 This queen, who saved the life of her royal hus- 
 band at the risk of her own, was the daughter of 
 Ferdinand III., king of Castile. Edward I., when in 
 the Holy Land, was stabbed by a Saracen ; and on 
 having immediate recourse to the advice of his me- 
 dical attendants, was informed that no human means 
 would avail in averting the mortal consequence of 
 the wound. Eleanor immediately ventured her own 
 existence in sucking from the wound the poison. It 
 has been recorded by several historians ; and there 
 can be no doubt of this romantic instance of love 
 and affection being authentic. " So sovereign a re- 
 medy is a woman's tongue, anointed with the virtue 
 of loving affection," says Fuller in his " Holy 
 Warre." 
 
 REV. MR. SHELLY. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Shelly, a clergyman at Cambridge 
 in the seventeenth century, is described as " an old- 
 
FAMILY INTERCOURSE. 59 
 
 fashioned good man." The old gentleman made the 
 following rhymes on a " sudden, as he was going to 
 preach in his parish church, in answer to one of his 
 parishioners, who asked, How long, sir, have you and 
 Mrs. Shelly been married ?" The excellent lesson 
 inculcated must be our apology for laying them be- 
 fore the reader. 
 
 " Fifty years and three, 
 Together in love, liv'd we : 
 Angry both at once none ever did us see. 
 This was the fashion, 
 
 God taught us, and not fear, 
 When one was in a passion, 
 The other could forbear." 
 
 A WISE COUPLE. 
 
 A man and his wife were, on a certain occasion, 
 enlisted in a dispute, which of them had committed 
 the fault in some trifling occurrence ; at length the 
 husband, perceiving that it might amount to some- 
 thing unpleasant, kindly and sweetly remarked, 
 " Well, my dear, I had as lief it would be I as you 
 that committed the fault, for we have but one inte- 
 rest, and but one character." " Yes, my dear," re- 
 plied the wife, " and I would as lief it would be my- 
 self as you." Of course the quarrel was healed in a 
 moment. 
 
 MR. AND MRS. S. 
 
 The following anecdote is given in an American 
 publication, to illustrate the evil of an unyielding 
 temper in domestic life. We would hope the evil 
 complained of is seldom found to so great an extent, 
 but its very existence should be carefully guarded 
 against. 
 
60 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 A man and his wife, whom we will call Mr. and 
 Mrs. S., sat dining very affectionately together upon 
 baked meat and beans. Mr. S., without thinking any 
 evil, said, " My dear, your beans are quite too salt 
 to-day." Mrs. S., who had been herself the cook, and 
 who always had an exalted opinion of whatever she 
 did, took this in ill-humour, and tartly replied, " They 
 are not too salt." The manner of the reply a little 
 moved Mr. S., and he repeated again, " They are too 
 salt." She, with a raised tone of voice, said, as be- 
 fore, " They are not too salt." The contradiction 
 passed backward and forward, till Mrs. S., who always 
 would have the last word, said, " They are not a bit 
 too salt," arose hastily, and left the table and the 
 house. Ten long years intervened. Then, provi- 
 dentially, Mr. S. and his wife fell into company. He 
 very pleasantly asked, "Are you not going home ? " 
 She as pleasantly replied, " I believe I shall," and 
 accordingly went. For some time things went on in 
 perfect harmony ; but at length, as they were one 
 day dining, Mr. S. very imprudently said, " Those 
 beans were too salt ;" Mrs. S. as imprudently re- 
 joined, " They were not too salt." Mr. S. said, " I 
 insist upon it they were too salt." — Mrs. S. said, " I 
 know they were not too salt," instantly left the house, 
 and never returned. 
 
 We cannot but be reminded of the lines of the 
 poet Cowper, in connexion with this subject : — 
 
 The kindest and the happiest pair 
 Will find occasion to forbear ; 
 And something every day they live 
 To pity, and perhaps— forgive. 
 
 A DRUNKARD AND HIS WIFE. 
 
 A drunkard, who had been robbed by a compa- 
 nion in a public-house, was asked why he did not 
 
FAMILY INTERCOURSE. 61 
 
 leave his money at home with his wife ? " Because, 
 if I did," he replied, " I should never have seen it 
 again ? " 
 
 Is it not probable that this was a good wife, who 
 would have saved her husband and family from ruin, 
 had the opportunity been afforded to her ? Happy 
 indeed would it be for thousands could such men be 
 kept without money. 
 
 LAVALETTE AND HIS WIFE. 
 
 The device adopted by the Countess of Nithsdale 
 to rescue her husband from an ignominious death, 
 was imitated with equal success by Madame Lava- 
 lette, in 1815. 
 
 M. Lavalette had been condemned, for his adhe- 
 rence to the cause of Bonaparte, to suffer death. 
 The eve of the day of execution, the 24th of De- 
 cember, had already arrived ; and all hope of saving 
 him had been abandoned, except by one heroic 
 woman alone. 
 
 Madame Lavalette's health had been very seriously 
 impaired by her previous sufferings ; and for several 
 weeks preceding, in order to avoid the movement of 
 her carriage, she had used a sedan chair. About 
 half-past three, on the afternoon of the 23rd, she 
 arrived at the Conciergerie, seated as usual in this 
 chair, and clothed in a furred riding coat of red me- 
 rino, with a large black hat and feathers on her head. 
 She was accompanied by her daughter, a young lady 
 of about twelve years of age, and an elderly woman, 
 attached to M. Lavalette's service, of the name of 
 Dutoit. The chair was ordered to wait for her at 
 the gate of the Conciergerie. 
 
 At five o'clock Jaques Eberle, one of the wicket- 
 
62 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 keepers of the Conciergerie, who had been specially 
 appointed by the keeper of the prison to the guard 
 and service of Lavalette, took his dinner to him, of 
 which Madame and Mademoiselle Lavalette, and the 
 widow Dutoit, partook. 
 
 After dinner, which lasted an hour, Eberle served 
 up coffee, and left Lavalette's apartment, with orders 
 not to return till he was rung for. 
 
 Towards seven o'clock the bell rung. Roquette, 
 the gaoler, was at that moment near the fire-place of 
 the hall, with Eberle, to whom he immediately gave 
 orders to go into Lavalette's chamber. Roquette 
 heard Eberle open the door which led to that chamber, 
 and immediately after he saw three persons, dressed 
 in female attire, advance, who were followed by 
 Eberle. The person whom he took to be Madame 
 Lavalette was attired in a dress exactly the same as 
 she was, in every particular ; and to all outward ap- 
 pearance, no one could have imagined but that they 
 saw that lady herself passing before them. A white 
 handkerchief covered the face of this person, who 
 seemed to be sobbing heavily, while Mademoiselle 
 Lavalette, who walked by the side, uttered the most 
 lamentable cries. Every thing presented the spec- 
 tacle of a family given up to the feelings of a final 
 adieu. The keeper, melted and deceived by the dis- 
 guise and scanty light of two lamps, had not the 
 power, as he afterwards said, to take away the hand- 
 kerchief which concealed the features of the prin- 
 cipal individual in the groupe ; and instead of per- 
 forming his duty, presented his hand to the person, 
 (as he had been used to do to Madame Lavalette,) 
 whom he conducted, along with the other two per- 
 sons, to the last wicket. Eberle then stepped for- 
 ward, and ran to call Madame Lavalette's chair. It 
 
FAMILY INTERCOURSE. 63 
 
 came instantly ; the feigned Madame Lavalette step- 
 ped into it, and was slowly carried forward, followed 
 by Mademoiselle Lavalette and the widow Dutoit. 
 When they had reached the Quay des Orfevres they 
 stopped ; Lavalette came out of the chair, and in an 
 instant disappeared. 
 
 Soon after the keeper, Roquette, entered the cham- 
 ber of Lavalette, where he saw no one, but heard 
 some one stirring behind the screen, which formed part 
 of the furniture of the apartment. He concluded it 
 was Lavalette, and withdrew without speaking. After 
 a few minutes, he returned a second time and called ; 
 no one answered. He began to fear some mischief ; 
 advanced beyond the screen, and there saw Madame 
 Lavalette. "II est parti! " she tremulously ejaculated, 
 " Ah ! madame," exclaimed Roquette, " you have 
 deceived me." He wished to run out to give the 
 alarm, but Madame L. caught hold of him by the 
 coat sleeve. " Stay, Monsieur Roquette, stay." " No, 
 madame, this is not to be borne." A struggle ensued, 
 in which the coat was torn ; but Roquette at last 
 forced himself away, and gave the alarm. 
 
 Lavalette, after having escaped from the Con- 
 ciergerie, was still far from being out of danger. He 
 had to get out of Paris ; out of France ; and a more 
 difficult achievement it is difficult to conceive ; for 
 the moment his escape was discovered, nothing could 
 exceed the activity with which he was sought after 
 by the agents of government. Bills describing his 
 person with the greatest exactness were quickly dis- 
 tributed all over France ; and there was not a post- 
 master, postilion, or gens-d'arme, on any of the 
 roads, who had not one of them in his pocket. La- 
 valette sought the means of escape, not among those 
 of his countrymen whom he knew to be attached to 
 
64 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 the cause for which he was prosecuted : nor even to 
 those whom affection or gratitude bound to his 
 family ; but among those strangers whose presence as 
 conquerors, on his native soil, he had so much cause 
 to lament. He had heard, that to a truly British 
 heart the pleadings of humanity were never made in 
 vain, and he was now to make the experiment in 
 his own person, of the truth of the eulogium. On 
 the 2nd or 3rd of January, he sent a person with an 
 unsigned letter to Mr. Michael Bruce, an English 
 gentleman resident at Paris ; in which, after extolling 
 the goodness of his heart, the writer said, he was in- 
 duced, by the confidence which he inspired, to dis- 
 close to him a great secret — that Lavalette was still 
 in Paris ; adding, that he (Bruce) alone could save 
 him, and requesting him to send a letter to a certain 
 place, stating whether he would embark in the gene- 
 rous design. Mr. Bruce was touched with commi- 
 seration ; he spoke on the subject to two other 
 countrymen, Sir Robert Wilson and Captain Hutchin- 
 son ; and the result was, that the whole three joined 
 in a determination to afford the unfortunate fugitive 
 every assistance in their power to complete his escape. 
 The scheme they devised was crowned with perfect 
 success. Lavalette was conveyed in safety into a 
 neutral territory, where he lived in quiet obsqurity 
 until the fury of the party persecution which exiled 
 him having exhausted itself, he was restored, by 
 a free pardon, to his country, his family, and his 
 friends. 
 
 It was a gratifying thing to observe, that the tri- 
 bute due to the conjugal heroism of Madame Lava- 
 lette was universally paid, both in France and 
 throughout Europe ; even party animosity, which 
 was daily calling for the execution of the husband, 
 
FAMILY INTERCOURSE. 65 
 
 did justice to the wife. When the heads of the dif- 
 ferent departments were each vindicating themselves 
 to the king from any share in the blame of his 
 escape, his majesty coolly replied, " I do not see 
 that any body has done their duty except Madame 
 Lavalette." 
 
 A JEWISH WIFE. 
 
 "He that hath found a virtuous wife, hath a greater treasure than 
 costly pearls." 
 
 Such a treasure had the celebrated teacher Rabbi 
 Meir found. He sat during the whole of one Sab- 
 bath day in the public school, and instructed the 
 people. During his absence from his house, his two 
 sons, both of them of uncommon beauty, and en- 
 lightened in the law, died. His wife bore them to 
 her bed-chamber, laid them upon the marriage-bed, 
 and spread a white covering over their bodies. 
 Towards evening Rabbi Meir came home. " Where 
 are my beloved sons," he asked, " that I may give 
 them my blessing ?" " They are gone to the school," 
 was the answer. c I repeatedly looked round the 
 school," he replied, " and I did not see them there." 
 She reached him a goblet ; he praised the Lord at 
 the going out of the Sabbath, drank, and again asked, 
 " Where are my sons, that they may drink of the 
 cup of blessing ? " " They will not be far off," she 
 said, and placed food before him, that he might eat. 
 He was in a gladsome and genial mood, and when 
 he had said grace after the meal, she thus addressed 
 him : — " Rabbi, with thy permission, I would fain 
 propose to thee one question." " Ask it, then, my 
 love!" he replied. " A few days ago, a person en- 
 trusted some jewels to my custody, and now he 
 demands them again : should I give them back 
 
66 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 again ? " " This is a question," said Rabbi Meir, 
 " which my wife should not have thought it neces- 
 sary to ask. What ! wouldest thou hesitate or be re- 
 luctant to restore to every one his own ? " " No," she 
 replied, " but yet I thought it best not to restore them 
 without acquainting thee therewith." She then led 
 him to their chamber, and, stepping to the bed, took 
 the white covering from their bodies. " Ah, my sons ! 
 my sons ! " thus loudly lamented the father : " My 
 sons ! the light of mine eyes, and the light of my 
 understanding ; I was your father, but ye were my 
 teachers in the law ! " The mother turned away, 
 and wept bitterly. At length she took her husband 
 by the hand, and said, " Rabbi, didst thou not teach 
 me that we must not be reluctant to restore that 
 which was intrusted to our keeping ? See, ' the 
 Lord gave, the Lord has taken away, and blessed be 
 the name of the Lord ! ' " " Blessed be the name of 
 the Lord ! " echoed Rabbi Meir, " and blessed be his 
 name for thy sake too ! for well is it written, ' He 
 that has found a virtuous woman has a greater trea- 
 sure than costly pearls. She openeth her mouth 
 with wisdom, and on her tongue is the instruction of 
 kindness.' " 
 
 A DEPRESSED PAIR. 
 
 A gentleman and his wife were reduced from a 
 life of splendour and luxury, by unavoidable misfor- 
 tunes, to a more moderate way of living. He had 
 been, since their misfortunes, extremely morose and 
 gloomy, and it was a lively reply of his affectionate 
 wife that caused a change. " Wife," said he one 
 morning, " my affairs are embarrassed, and it is ne- 
 cessary I should curtail my expenses. I should like 
 
FAMILY INTERCOURSE. 67 
 
 to have your opinion as to the reduction." He said 
 this in a more gentle tone than usual. " My dear 
 husband," said she, " I shall be perfectly happy if 
 you will get rid of the sulky, and let us retain the 
 sociable" 
 
 JOSEPH AND MARGERY CARON. 
 
 Mr. Lysons, in his very curious work, entitled 
 " The Environs of London," gives, under the head of 
 Chelsea, the following whimsical articles of agree- 
 ment between a man and his wife : — 
 
 " October 9, 1629. 
 
 " It was agreed between Joseph Caron and Mar- 
 gery his wife, in manner and forme following : 
 
 " I, Joseph Caron, doe willingly promise to my 
 wife Margery, that upon condition that she will not 
 hereafter make further inquiry into any thing that 
 hath in time past occasioned jealousy on her part, I 
 from this time forward will forbeare the private com- 
 pany of any woman whom she may suspect to be 
 dishonestly inclined ; and in particular, because of 
 her former suspicions, how unjust soever, I doe pro- 
 mise to estrange myselfe from Mrs. Large and Mrs. 
 Colmer, and whomsoever else she hath formerly sus- 
 pected : and that I will forbeare striking her, and 
 provoking speeches, and be as often with her at 
 meales as I can conveniently, and in all things carry 
 myself as a loving husband ought to doe to his wife. 
 In witness whereof, I have subscribed my name, the 
 day and year above mentioned. 
 
 " Joseph Caron." 
 
 " I, Margery Caron, doe willingly promise to my 
 foresaid husband, Joseph Caron, that, upon condition 
 f 2 
 
68 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 that he performe faithfully what he hath promised, I 
 will, from this day forward, forbeare to enquire into 
 any thing that hath in time past occasioned jealousy 
 in me towards my husband ; and in particular doe 
 acquit Mrs. Colmer by these presents, from any guilt 
 of dishonesty with my husband, being now persuaded 
 of her innocency therein, whatsoever I have formerly 
 said to the contrary ; and doe promise for the time 
 to come, the premises being duly performed on my 
 husband's part, to carry myself towards him in all 
 things as becometh a loving and a faythful wife. In 
 witness whereof, I doe subscribe my name, the day 
 and year above written. 
 
 " Margery Caron." 
 
 LADY PRICE. 
 
 A widow, of the name of Rugg, having taken Sir 
 Charles Price for her second husband, and being 
 asked by a friend how she liked the change, replied, 
 " Oh, I have sold my old Rugg for a good Price." 
 
 AN AMERICAN COUPLE. 
 
 A curious circumstance occurred some time ago 
 in Philadelphia. Guests were invited to attend a 
 wedding, the clergyman was present, and all things 
 in train ; just, however, as the ceremony was about 
 to be performed, a paper was put into the minister's 
 hands : it was the certificate of marriage four years 
 old ; a hearty laugh and much jollity was of course 
 the result. The young gentleman had been courting 
 regularly, for four or five years, a married woman ; 
 and had, in the mean time, studied a profession, and 
 been licensed as a lawyer. 
 
Family intercourse. 69 
 
 THE GERMAN WIVES. 
 
 When the duke of Bavaria was besieged in one 
 of the cities of Germany, by the emperor Conrad 
 the Third, and when the place was reduced to ex- 
 tremity, the women petitioned that they might be 
 permitted to leave the town, taking with them 
 nothing but what they could carry on their backs : 
 their request was granted, when, instead of removing 
 their gold and silver, as was expected, every wife 
 was seen carrying her husband. The emperor was 
 affected to tears, he spared the lives of the men, 
 and gave the women the praise they deserved. 
 
 AN EGYPTIAN MONK. 
 
 Amnion, one of the fathers of the Egyptian 
 monks, by the entreaties of his friends, consented to 
 marry a young lady. On the evening of their 
 nuptials, he conducted her into the wedding cham- 
 ber, when he took up St. Paul's first Epistle to the 
 Corinthians, expounded to her the apostle's admoni- 
 tions, and so effectually exhibited to her all the 
 pains and inconveniences to which married women 
 are peculiarly exposed, that she consented to elope 
 with him to the deserts, and lead there a monastic 
 life. 
 
 LADY COMPTON. 
 
 The following is copied from the original, pre- 
 served as a curiosity in the Harleian MSS., British 
 Museum. The writer was Lady Compton, who 
 lived in the reign of James I. 
 
 " My sweet life, — Now I have declared to you 
 
70 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 my mind for the settling of your state, I supposed 
 that it were best for me to bethink and consider 
 within myself, what allowance were meetest for me ; 
 for considering what care I ever had of your estate, 
 and how respectfully I dealt with those which both 
 by the laws of God, of nature, and civil policy, wit, 
 religion, government, and honesty, you, my dear, is 
 bound to, I pray and beseech you to grant me, your 
 most kind and loving wife, the sum of £26,000 
 quarterly to be paid. Also, I would, besides that 
 allowance, have £600 quarterly to be paid, for the 
 performance of charitable works ; and those things 
 I would not, neither will be, accountable for. Also, 
 I will have three horses for my own saddle, that 
 none shall dare to lend or borrow : none lend but I, 
 none borrow but you. Also, I would have two 
 gentlewomen, lest one should be sick, or have some 
 other let. Also, believe it, it is an indecent thing 
 for a gentlewoman to stand mumping alone, when 
 God hath blessed their lord and lady with a great 
 estate. Also, when I ride a-hunting, or a-hawking, 
 or travel from one house to another, I will have them 
 attending me : so, for either of these said women, 
 I must, and will have for either of them a horse. 
 Also, I will have six or eight gentlemen ; and I will 
 have my two coaches, one lined with velvet to my- 
 self, with four very fair horses ; and a coach for my 
 women, lined with cloth, and laced with gold ; the 
 other with scarlet, and laced with silver, with four 
 good horses. Also, I will have two coachmen, one 
 for my own coach, the other for my women. Also, 
 at any time when I travel, I will be allowed, not 
 only carrouches and spare horses, for me and my 
 women, but I will have such carriages as shall be 
 fitting for all, orderly, not pestering my things with 
 
FAMILY INTERC0UK3E. 71 
 
 my women's, nor theirs with either chamber-maids' \ 
 nor theirs with wash-maids'. Also, with laundresses, 
 when I travel, I will have them sent away before 
 with the carriages, to see all safe. And the cham- 
 ber-maids I will have go before, that the chamber 
 may be ready, sweet, and clean. Also, for that it is 
 undecent to crowd up myself with my gentleman- 
 usher in my coach, I will have him to have a conve- 
 nient horse to attend me, either in city or country. 
 I must have two footmen ; and my desire is, that 
 you defray all the charges for me. And for myself, 
 besides my yearly allowance, I would have twenty- 
 gowns of apparel, six of them excellent good ones, 
 eight of them for the country, and six other of them 
 very excellent good ones. Also, I would have to 
 put in my purse £2,000 and £200, and so you to 
 pay my debts. Also, I w r ould have £6,000 to buy 
 me a pearl chain. Now, seeing I have been, and 
 am, so reasonable unto you, I pray you do find my 
 children apparel, and their schooling, and all my 
 servants, men and women, their wages. Also, I 
 will have all my houses furnished ; and my lodging- 
 chambers to be suited with all such furniture as is 
 fit ; as beds, stools, chairs, suitable cushions, carpets, 
 silver warming-pans, cupboards of plate, fair havings, 
 and such like. So for my drawing-chamber in all 
 houses, I will have them delicately furnished, both with 
 hangings,couch, canopy, glass, carpets, chairs, cushions, 
 and all things thereunto belonging. Also, my desire 
 is, that you would pay your debts, build up Ashby 
 House, and purchase lands, and lend no money, as 
 you love God, to the Lord Chamberland, who would 
 have all, perhaps you life, from you. So, now that 
 I have declared to you what I would have, and what 
 it is that I would not have, I pray, when you be an 
 
72 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 earl, to allow me .£2,000 more than I now desire, 
 and double attendance. 
 
 " Your loving wife, " Eliza Compton." 
 
 DR. DALE. 
 
 When Queen Elizabeth proposed to Dr. Dale the 
 employment of being her ambassador in Flanders, 
 among other encouragements, she told him that he 
 should have twenty shillings a day for his expenses. 
 " Then, Madam," said he, " I will spend nineteen 
 shillings a day." " And what will you do with the 
 odd shilling ? " asked the Queen. " I will reserve 
 that for my Kate, and for Tom and Dick ; " mean- 
 ing his wife and children. This induced the Queen 
 to enlarge his allowance. During the doctor's stay 
 abroad, he once sent, in a packet to the secretaries 
 of state, two letters, one to the Queen and the other 
 to his wife ; but that which was intended for the 
 Queen, was superscribed to his dear wife ; and 
 the other for her most excellent majesty : so that 
 when the Queen opened her letter, she found it 
 beginning with " Sweet heart," and afterwards met 
 with the expressions, " My dear," and " dear love," 
 and others of a like kind, acquainting her with the 
 embarrassed state of his circumstances. This mis- 
 take occasioned much mirth, but it procured the 
 doctor a supply of money. 
 
 AN IRISH OFFICER AND HIS WIFE. 
 
 The following anecdote is taken from " A Visit 
 to Flanders," and will give some idea of the kind of 
 scenes that were passing during the memorable 
 battle of Waterloo. 
 
FAMILY INTERCOURSE. 73 
 
 I had the good fortune, says the intelligent writer, 
 to travel from Brussels to Paris with a young Irish 
 officer and his wife, an Antwerp lady of only sixteen, 
 of great beauty and innocence. The husband was 
 at the battle of Quatre-Bras as well as in that of 
 Waterloo. The unexpected advance of the French 
 called him off at a moment's notice to Quatre-Bras ; 
 but he left with his wife, his servant, one horse, and 
 the family baggage, which was packed upon an ass. 
 Retreat at the time was not anticipated, but being 
 suddenly ordered, he contrived to get a message to 
 his wife, to make the best of her way, attended by' 
 the servant and baggage, to Brussels. The servant, 
 a foreigner, had availed himself of the opportunity 
 to take leave of both master and mistress, and make 
 off with the horse, leaving the helpless young lady 
 alone with the baggage-ass. 
 
 With a firmness becoming the wife of a British 
 officer, she boldly commenced, on foot, her retreat 
 of twenty-five miles, leading the ass by the bridle, 
 and carefully preserving the baggage. No violence 
 was dared by any one to so innocent a pilgrim, but 
 no one could venture to assist her. She was soon 
 in the midst of the retreating British army, and 
 much retarded and endangered by the artillery ; her 
 fatigue was great ; it rained in torrents, and the 
 thunder and lightning were dreadful in the extreme. 
 She continued to advance, and got upon the great 
 road from Charleroi to Brussels, at Waterloo, in the 
 evening, when the army were taking up their line 
 for the awful conflict. In so extensive a field, 
 among 80,000 men, it was vain to seek her husband ; 
 she knew that the sight of her there would embarrass 
 and distress him : she kept slowly advancing to 
 Brussels all night, the road choked with all sorts of 
 
74 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 conveyances, waggons, and horses ; multitudes of 
 fugitives on the road, and many of the wounded 
 walking their painful way, dropping at every step, 
 and breathing their last ; here and there lay a corpse 
 or a limb, particularly, as she said, several hands. 
 Many persons were actually killed by others, if they 
 by chance stood in the way of their endeavours to 
 help themselves ; and to add to the horrors, the rain 
 continued unabated, and the thunder and lightning 
 still raged as if the heavens were torn to pieces. 
 
 Full twelve miles further, during the night, this 
 young woman inarched, up to her knees in mud, 
 her boots worn entirely off, so that she was bare- 
 footed : but still, unhurt, she led her ass ; and, 
 although thousands lost the baggage, and many 
 their lives, she calmly entered Brussels in the morn- 
 ing in safety, self, ass, bag, and baggage, without the 
 loss of an article. In a few hours after her arrival 
 commenced the cannons' roar of the tremendous 
 battle of Waterloo, exposed to which, for ten hours, 
 she knew her husband would be ; she was rewarded, 
 amply rewarded, by finding herself in her husband's 
 arms, he unhurt, and she nothing the worse, on the 
 following day. The officer told the tale himself 
 with tears in his eyes. With a slight Irish accent, 
 he called her his dear little woman, and said she be- 
 came more valuable to him every day of his life. 
 
 MR. AND MRS. GOODCHILD. 
 
 The parish register at Bermondsey church con- 
 tains the following extraordinary entry, made in the 
 year 1604 :— " August. The forme of a solemne 
 vowe made betwixt a man and his wife ; the man 
 
FAMILY INTERCOURSE. 75 
 
 havinge bene longe absent, through which occasion 
 the woman beinge married to another man, tooke 
 her again as followeth : — The man's speech — 
 Elizabeth, my beloved wife, I am right sorie that I 
 have so long absented mysealfe from thee, whereby 
 thou shouldst be occasioned to take another man to 
 thy husband. Therefore I do nowe vowe and 
 promise, in the sight of God and the companie, to 
 take thee againe as mine owne ; and will not onlie 
 forgive thee, but also dwell with thee, and do all 
 other duties unto thee as I promised at our mar- 
 riage. The woman's speech — Raphe, my beloved 
 husband, I am right sorie that I have in thy ab- 
 sence taken another man to be my husband ; but 
 here, before God and this companie, I do renounce 
 and forsake him, and do promise to keep mysealfe 
 only unto thee during life, and to performe all duties 
 which I first promised unto thee in our marriage." 
 The entry concludes thus : — " The first day of 
 August, 1604, Raphe Goodchild, of the parish of 
 Barkinge, in Thames-street, and Elizabeth, his wife, 
 weare agreed to live together, and thereupon gave 
 their hands one to another, makinge either of them 
 a solemn vowe so to doe, in the presence of William 
 Stew, parson, Edward Croker, and Richard Eire, 
 clerk." 
 
 A DUTCH COUPLE. 
 
 An old rich burgher, who was offered for his 
 house and farm of 100 acres, an enormous sum of 
 money, found considerable difficulty in reconciling 
 his honest " vrow " to the sale. Having passed all 
 her life under the shade of its venerable roof and 
 sycamores, surrounded with its good old Dutch 
 
76 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 kitchen, garden, and parterre of tulips, said she ; 
 " My tear, I vill not conshent to de sale ; what shall 
 ve do for our garden? where shall ve plant our 
 cabbages and bodadoes ? " " But we will puy 
 anoder farm, mine vrow," said the husband. — " Dat 
 will never do, mine good husband ; vhere den shall 
 ve plant our cabbages and bodadoes ? " The old 
 lady could not conceive another locality which pos- 
 sessed fertility. 
 
 HON. MRS. ERSKINE. 
 
 Some women are never happy unless when they 
 are scrubbing, brushing, sweeping, or otherwise 
 toiling in household affairs, although they have ser- 
 vants to do all that they require. The Honourable 
 Henry Erskine's first wife was one of this class, and 
 her extreme nervous irritability and eccentric ways, 
 it may be supposed, did not contribute greatly to 
 Harry's domestic happiness. One of her peculiari- 
 ties consisted in not retiring to rest at the usual 
 hours. She would frequently employ half the night 
 in examining the wardrobe of the family, to see that 
 nothing was missing, and that every thing was in its 
 proper place. The following is told as a proof of 
 her oddities : — One morning, about two or three 
 o'clock, having been unsuccessful in a search, she 
 awoke Mr. Erskine from a sound sleep, by putting 
 to him this important interrogatory : " Harry, lovie, 
 where's your white waistcoat?" 
 
 DUKE OF SOMERSET. 
 
 Perhaps no man ever carried his self-consequence 
 higher than Edward Seymour, proverbially known by 
 the name of the proud Duke of Somerset. His 
 
FAMILY INTERCOURSE. 77 
 
 second wife, one day, in a pleasant humour, coming 
 into the room, suddenly seated herself upon his 
 knee, threw her arms round his neck, and kissed 
 him. Instead of receiving this conjugal salute with 
 gallantry, the haughty grandee thus addressed her : 
 " Madam, my first wife was a Percy, and she would 
 not have taken such a liberty." 
 
 A MARRIED GENTLEMAN. 
 
 An elderly gentleman travelling in a stage-coach, 
 was amused by the constant fire of words kept up 
 between two ladies. One of them at last kindly 
 inquired if their conversation did not make his head 
 ache ; when he answered with a great deal of naivette, 
 — " No, ma'am, I have been married twenty-eight 
 years" 
 
 A FEARFUL HUSBAND. 
 
 " If I'm not home from the party to-night at ten 
 o'clock," said a husband to his better and bigger 
 half, " don't wait for me." " That I won't," said the 
 lady, significantly, " I won't wait, but I'll come for 
 you." He returned at ten precisely. 
 
 MILTON AND HIS WIFE. 
 
 It is well known that the distinguished Milton 
 was for some time very unhappy with his first wife ; 
 they lived apart, and he wrote largely to prove the 
 lawfulness of divorce. He had nearly acted on the 
 doctrine he had advocated ; for he was about to 
 marry a Miss Davis, which was prevented by a very 
 unexpected occurrence. Being at the house of a 
 relation in St. Martin's-le-grand, whom he often 
 
78 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 visited, he was extremely surprised to meet his wife 
 there, whom he had never expected to see again. 
 She threw herself at his feet, confessed her fault, 
 and with tears entreated his forgiveness. At first he 
 appeared to be unmoved and inexorable ; but at 
 length, the generosity of his temper, and the inter- 
 cession of some mutual friends, conquered his 
 anger, and a perfect reconciliation took place, with 
 a promise of oblivion of every thing that had hap- 
 pened. They lived happily together for some years, 
 and had several children. From this scene the poet 
 is supposed to have drawn the character of Eve, in 
 " Paradise Lost." 
 
 GROTIUS AND HIS WIFE. 
 
 After the learned Grotius had been confined about 
 a year in the castle of Louvenstein, to which impri- 
 sonment he was sentenced for life, his wife conceived 
 and executed the means of his deliverance. Per- 
 ceiving that the guards were not so strict as they 
 had been in examining the chest which was made 
 use of to carry books and linen to and from the pri- 
 son, she persuaded her husband to get into it, and 
 remain there as long as it would require to go from 
 Louvenstein to Gorcum. Finding that he could en- 
 dure the confinement, when holes were made in the 
 chest to breathe through, Madame Grotius deter- 
 mined to seize the first opportunity of effecting her 
 design. Accordingly, when the governor went to 
 Heusden to raise recruits, she waited upon his lady, 
 and told her that she was anxious to send away her 
 husband's books ; too great an application to which, 
 she said, greatly injured his health. Having thus 
 
FAMILY INTERCOURSE. i 9 
 
 prepared the commandant's wife, and at the same 
 time spread abroad a general report that her husband 
 was ill, on March 21, 1621, she, with the help of 
 her servant-maid, shut him up in the chest. Two 
 soldiers carried it ; and one of them finding it hea- 
 vier than usual, observed, " There must be an Ar- 
 minian in it." To which Madame Grotius coolly 
 replied, " Indeed, there are some Arminian books in 
 it." The chest was then brought down on a ladder 
 with great difficulty, and the extraordinary care 
 which was taken in conveying it made one of the 
 soldiers suspicious : he demanded the key ; and upon 
 its being refused, he went to the commandant's lady, 
 who reprimanded him, saying, there were only books 
 in the chest, and that they might carry it to the boat. 
 While they were carrying it along, a soldier's wife 
 said there was more than one instance of prisoners 
 making their escape in boxes. However, the chest 
 was placed in the boat, and taken to Gorcum, to the 
 house of M. Dazelaer, a friend of Grotius ; and when 
 every body was gone, the servant unlocked the chest, 
 and let her master out, who had suffered but little 
 inconvenience, though the length was but three feet 
 and a half. Being thus free, he dressed himself like 
 a mason, with a trowel and rule in his hand, and 
 going out at Dazelaer's back door, went to Valvic in 
 Brabant, and from thence to Antwerp. In the 
 meanwhile, it was believed at Louvenstein that he 
 was ill ; and to give him time to get clear off, his 
 wife reported that his disorder was dangerous ; but 
 as soon as she learnt from her maid that he was safe, 
 she acknowledged the fact. The commandant, in a 
 great rage, put her under a rigid confinement ; but, 
 on presenting a petition to the States-general, they 
 were ashamed of acting severely to a woman who 
 
80 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 had conducted herself with so much magnanimity, 
 and ordered her to be set at liberty. 
 
 LORD AND LADY OGILVIE. 
 
 In the year 1646, several noble persons were 
 tried at St. Andrew's, in Scotland, for bearing arms 
 in the royal army. Among others was Lord Ogil- 
 vie, eldest son of the Earl of Airly. After sentence 
 of death was pronounced, Lord Ogilvie pretending to 
 be sick, got so much favour as to have his wife, his 
 mother, and sisters, allowed to visit him for the last 
 time in prison. These ladies having entered his 
 chamber, the guards showed him some respect, and 
 went out of the room ; and the young lord taking 
 advantage of the opportunity, without loss of time 
 put on the gown of one of his sisters, who was very 
 like him, while, in the mean time, she threw herself 
 into his bed, and put his nightcap upon her head. 
 They acted their parts exceedingly well ; for, after 
 having several times embraced one another in ap- 
 pearance, they bid farewell for ever to one another, 
 with abundance of tears. The guards having come 
 in again with lights, to reconduct them, Ogilvie went 
 out with the rest, without being discovered. He was 
 no sooner got out than he mounted a good horse, 
 and, with two friends, reached a place of safety be- 
 fore break of day. As soon as the news of his 
 escape was carried to the Convention of Estates, rage 
 so transported them that some of them had a mind to 
 be revenged upon the ladies ; but the Earls of La- 
 nark and Lindsay maintained, that it was an action 
 of natural affection worthy to be transmitted to pos- 
 terity. 
 
FAMILY INTERCOURSE. 81 
 
 AN AMERICAN COUPLE. 
 
 Not long since, a clergyman in New Hampshire, 
 being apprehensive that the accumulated weight of 
 snow upon the roof of his barn might do some da- 
 mage, resolved to shovel it off. Ke therefore 
 ascended it ; but having first, for fear the snow might 
 all slide off at once, himself with it, fastened to his 
 waist one end of a rope, and giving the other to his 
 wife, he went to work ; but fearing still for his safety. 
 u My dear," said he, " tie the rope round your waist." 
 No sooner had she done this, than off went the snow, 
 minister and all, and up went his wife ! Thus on 
 one side of the bam the astounded and confounded 
 clergyman hung, and on the other side hung his 
 wife, high and dry, in majesty sublime, dingling and 
 dangling at the end of the rope. At that moment, 
 however, a gentleman luckily passing by, delivered 
 them from their perilous situation. 
 
 A TYRANNICAL HUSBAND. 
 
 " Wife/' said a tyrannical husband to his abused 
 consort, " I wish you to make me a pair of false 
 bosoms." ;i I should think," replied she, "that one 
 bosom as false as yours is would be sufficient." 
 
 WARD AND HIS WIFE. 
 
 Some time ago, a grave-digger, named Ward, re- 
 siding in Globe-lane, Mile-end-road, quarrelled with 
 his wife, and struck her a blow which sent her reel- 
 ing against the mantel-piece, when out fell two gui- 
 neas, which rolled on the floor. A cessation of hos- 
 
8 4 J THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 tilities immediately took place, and an inquiry as to 
 the source from whence the gold came, when the 
 mantel-piece was examined and removed, and 170 
 guineas were found. 
 
 A LONDON LADY. 
 
 A young lady marrying a man she loved, and 
 leaving many friends in town to retire with him into 
 the country, Mrs. D. said prettily, " She has turned 
 one and twenty shillings into a guinea." 
 
 AN HEIRESS. 
 
 A sprightly, rosy-cheeked, flaxen-haired little girl, 
 used to sit, in the pleasant evenings of June, on the 
 marble steps opposite my lodgings, says an Ameri- 
 can, when I lived in Philadelphia, and sing over a 
 hundred little sonnets, and tell over as many tales, 
 in a sweet voice, and with an air of simplicity that 
 charmed me many a time. She was then an orphan 
 child, and commonly reported to be rich. Often 
 and often I sat, after a day of toil and vexation, and 
 listened to her innocent voice, breathing forth the 
 notes of peace and happiness, which flowed cheer- 
 fully from a light heart, and felt a portion of that 
 tranquillity steal over my own bosom. Such was 
 Eliza Hadley when I first knew her. 
 
 Several years had elapsed, during which time I 
 had been absent from the city, when, walking along 
 one of the most fashionable squares, I saw an ele- 
 gant female step into a carriage, followed by a gen- 
 tleman and two pretty children. I did not imme- 
 diately recognize her face, but my friend, who was 
 by my side, pulled my elbow : " Do you not remem- 
 
FAMILY INTERCOURSE. 83 
 
 ber little Eliza, who used to sing for us when we 
 lived together in this great city ? " I did remember — 
 it was herself. / 
 
 She used to be fond, said he, of treating her little 
 circle of friends with romance ; and at last she acted 
 out a neat romance herself. She came out into the 
 circles of life under the auspices of her guardians : it 
 was said by some that she was rich — very rich, but 
 the amount of her wealth was not a matter of publi- 
 city ; however, the current, and, as was generally 
 believed, well-founded report, was sufficient to draw 
 around her many admirers, and, among the number, 
 not a few serious courtiers. 
 
 She did not wait long before a young gentleman, 
 on whom she had looked with a somewhat partial 
 eye, because he was the gayest and handsomest of 
 her lovers, emboldened by her partiality, made her 
 an offer. Probably she blushed, and her heart flut- 
 tered a little ; but they were sitting in a moon-light 
 parlour, and as her embarrassment was more than 
 half concealed, she soon recovered ; and as a wag- 
 gish humour happened to have the ascendant, she 
 put on a serious face, told him she was honoured by 
 his preference ; but that there was one matter which 
 she wished well understood before, by giving a reply, 
 she bound him to his promise. Perhaps you may 
 have thought me wealthy : I would not, for the 
 world, have you labour under a mistake on that 
 point ; — I am worth eighteen hundred dollars. 
 
 She was proceeding, but the gentleman started, as 
 if electrified : Eighteen hundred dollars ! he repeated, 
 in a manner that betrayed the utmost surprise ; yes, 
 ma'am, says he, awkwardly, I did understand you 
 was worth a great deal more ; but — 
 
 No, sir, she replied ; no excuses or apologies ; 
 g 2 
 
84 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 think about what I have told you ; you are embar- 
 rassed now, answer me another time ; and rising, she 
 bid him good night. 
 
 She just escaped a trap : he went next day to her 
 guardians to inquire more particularly into her affairs, 
 and receiving the same answer, he dropped his suit 
 at once. 
 
 The next serious proposal followed soon after ; 
 and this, too, came from one who had succeeded to 
 a large portion of her esteem ; but, applying the 
 same crucible to the love he offered her, she found 
 a like result. He, too, left her, and she rejoiced in 
 another fortunate escape. 
 
 She some time after became acquainted with a 
 young gentleman of slender fortune, in whose ap- 
 proaches she thought she discovered more of the 
 timorous diffidence of love than she had witnessed 
 before. She did not check him in his hopes ; and 
 in process of time, he too made her an offer. But 
 when she spoke of her fortune, he begged her to be 
 silent : It is to virtue, worth, and beauty, said he, 
 that I pay my court, not to fortune. In you I shall 
 obtain what is of more worth than gold. She was 
 agreeably disappointed. They were married ; and 
 after the union was solemnized, she made him mas- 
 ter of her fortune with herself. I am indeed worth 
 eighteen hundred dollars, said she to him, but I 
 have never said how much more ; and I never hope 
 to enjoy more pleasure than I feel this moment, when 
 I tell you my fortune is one hundred and eighty 
 thousand. 
 
 It was actually so ; but still her husband often 
 tells her that in her he possesses a far more noble 
 fortune. 
 
FAMILY INTERCOURSE. 85 
 
 MR. AND MRS. BRIGSTOCK. 
 
 Some time ago was married, William Owen Brig- 
 stock, Esq. to Miss Webley Parry. 
 
 How happy the lot of the fair, 
 
 The amorous stock to entwine ; 
 His caresses to parry with care, 
 
 And say, dearest William, I'm thine. 
 
 Through life may he pleasantly swim, 
 
 And the ocean of happiness gain, 
 With his vessel in excellent trim, 
 
 And a convoy of Brigs in his train. 
 
 AN IRISH GENTLEMAN. 
 
 The wife of an Irish gentleman being suddenly 
 taken ill, the husband ordered a servant to get a 
 horse ready to go to the next town for the doctor. By 
 the time, however, that the horse was ready, and his 
 letter to the doctor written, the lady recovered, on 
 which he added the following postscript, and sent off 
 the messenger : — " My wife being recovered, you 
 need not come." 
 
 WIFE OF PHOCION. 
 
 The wife of Phocion, a celebrated Athenian 
 general, receiving a visit from a lady who was ele- 
 gantly adorned with gold and jewels, and her hair 
 with pearls, took occasion to call the attention of 
 her guest to the elegance and costliness of her 
 dress, remarking at the same time, " My ornament is 
 my husband, now for the twentieth year general of 
 the Athenians." 
 
86 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 CRAASBECK AND HIS WIFE. 
 
 Craasbeck, a Flemish painter, entertaining some 
 doubts as to the affection of his wife, who was a 
 modest and agreeable woman ; and being anxious to 
 ascertain if she really loved him, one day stripped 
 his breast naked, and painted the appearance of a 
 mortal wound on his skin ; his lips and cheeks he 
 painted of a livid colour, and on his palette 
 near him, he placed his knife, painted on the blade 
 with a blood-like colour. When every thing was 
 prepared, he shrieked out, as if he had been that 
 instant killed, and lay still. His wife ran in, saw 
 him in that terrifying condition, and showed so many 
 tokens of unaffected natural passion, and real grief, 
 that he rose up convinced of her affection, dissuaded 
 her from grieving, and freely told her his motive for 
 the whole contrivance, which he would not have 
 violated truth by describing as a very despicable 
 trick. 
 
 ZECHAMAH HODGSON AND HIS WIFE. 
 
 Zechariah Hodgson was not naturally an ill- 
 natured man. It was want of reflection, more than 
 a corrupt and ungenerous heart, that led him to con- 
 sider his wife in the light of an inferior being, and 
 to treat her more like a slave than an equal. If he 
 met with any thing abroad to ruffle his temper, his 
 wife was sure to suffer when he came home. His 
 meals were always ill-cooked ; and whatever the 
 poor woman did to please him was sure to have a 
 contrary effect. She bore his ill-humour in silence 
 for a long time ; but finding it to increase, she 
 adopted a method of reproving him for his unreason- 
 able conduct which had the happiest effect. 
 
FAMILY INTERCOURSE. 87 
 
 One day, as Zechariah was going to his daily avo- 
 cation after breakfast, he purchased a large codfish, 
 and sent it home, with directions to his wife to have 
 it cooked for dinner. As no particular mode of 
 cooking was prescribed, the good woman well knew 
 that whether she boiled it, or fried it, or made it 
 into stew, her husband would scold her when he 
 came home. But she resolved to please him for 
 once, if possible, and therefore cooked portions of 
 it in several different ways. She also, with some 
 little difficulty, procured an amphibious animal from 
 a brook at the back of the house, and put into the 
 pot. In due time her husband came home — some 
 covered dishes were placed on the table, and with a 
 frowning, fault-finding look, the moody man com- 
 menced the conversation. 
 
 " Well, wife, did you get the fish I bought ?" 
 
 " Yes, my dear." 
 
 " I should like to know how you have cooked it 
 — I will bet any thing that you have spoiled it for 
 my eating. (Taking off the cover.) I thought so. 
 Why in the world did you fry it ? I would as lief 
 eat a boiled frog." 
 
 " Why my dear, I thought you loved it best 
 fried." 
 
 " You did not think any such thing. You knew 
 better. I never loved fried fish — why didn't you 
 boil it?" 
 
 " My dear, the last lime we had fresh fish, you 
 know I boiled it, and you said you liked it better 
 fried. I did it merely to please you ; but I have 
 boiled some also." So saying, she lifted a cover, 
 and lo ! the shoulders of the cod, nicely boiled, were 
 neatly deposited on a dish ; a sight which would 
 
88 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 have made an epicure rejoice, but which only now 
 added to the ill-nature of her husband. 
 
 " A pretty dish, this ! " exclaimed he. " Boiled 
 fish ! Chips and porridge. If you had not been 
 one of the most stupid of woman-kind, you would 
 have made it into a stew." 
 
 His patient wife, with a smile, immediately placed 
 a tureen before him, containing an excellent stew. 
 
 " My dear," said she, " I was resolved to please 
 you. There is your favourite dish." 
 
 " Favourite dish, indeed," grumbled the discon- 
 tented husband ; " I dare say it is an unpalatable 
 wishy-washy mess. I would rather have had a boiled 
 frog than the whole of it" 
 
 This was a common expression of his, and had 
 been anticipated by his wife, who, as soon as the 
 preference was expressed, uncovered a large dish at 
 her husband's right arm, and there was a bull-frog 
 of portentous dimensions, and pugnacious aspect, 
 stretched out at full length ! Zechariah sprung 
 from his chair, not a little frightened at the unex- 
 pected apparition. 
 
 " My dear," said his wife, in a kind entreating 
 manner, " I hope you will at length be able to make 
 a dinner." 
 
 Zechariah could not stand this. His surly mood 
 was overcome, and he burst into a hearty laugh. 
 He acknowledged his wife was right, declared she 
 should not again have reason to complain of him, 
 and kept to his word. 
 
 DOUGLAS AND HIS WIFE. 
 
 A newspaper of the year 1777 gives the following 
 as an extract of a letter from Lanark : — " Old Wil- 
 
FAMILY INTERCOURSE. 89 
 
 liam Douglas and his wife are lately dead ; you 
 know that he and his wife were born on the same 
 day, within the same hour, by the same widwife ; 
 christened at the same time, and at the same church ; 
 that they were constant companions, till nature 
 inspired them with love and friendship ; and at the 
 age of nineteen were married, by the consent of 
 their parents, at the church where they were chris- 
 tened. These are not the whole of the circum- 
 stances attending this extraordinary pair. They 
 never knew a day's sickness until the day before 
 their deaths ; and the day on which they died were 
 exactly one hundred years old. They died in one 
 bed, and were buried in one grave, close to the font 
 where they were christened. Providence did not 
 bless them with any children." 
 
 QUEEN CHARLOTTE. 
 
 The queen, on her arrival in England, possessed 
 a very inadequate knowledge of the English lan- 
 guage ; but, in the course of a few years, her ma- 
 jesty, under the tuition of the learned Mr. Majendie, 
 was enabled not only to pronounce, but to write, 
 English with a considerable degree of elegance and 
 precision. As a proof of this, we lay before our 
 readers the following copy of verses, which was 
 handed about in 1765, as the production of her 
 majesty. 
 
 Genteel is my Damon, engaging his air, 
 His face, like the morn, is both ruddy and fair ; 
 Soft love sits enthron'd in the beam of his eyes, 
 He's manly yet tender, he's fond and yet wise. 
 
 He's ever good humour' d, he's gen'rous and gay, 
 His presence can always drive sorrow away; 
 No vanity sways him, no folly is seen, 
 But open his temper, and noble his mien. 
 
90 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 By virtue illumin'd his actions appear, 
 His passions are calm, and his reason is clear ; 
 An affable sweetness attends on his speech, 
 He's willing to learn, though he's able to teach. 
 
 He has promis'd to love me — his word I'll believe, 
 For his heart is too honest to let him deceive ; 
 Then blame me, ye fair ones, if justly ye can, 
 Since the picture I've drawn is exactly the man. 
 
 GENERAL PIKE AND HIS WIFE. 
 
 The following is a correct copy of the last letter 
 of General Pike. It was handed to Major Frazer on 
 the evening previous to his fall, with this injunction, 
 " Should I fall and you survive, hand this yourself 
 to Mrs. Pike." As it breathes a spirit of patriotism 
 and affection worthy of the departed hero, we have 
 thought it worthy of preservation : — 
 
 " My dear Clara, — We are now standing on and 
 off the harbour of York, which we shall attack at 
 daylight in the morning : I shall dedicate these last 
 moments to you, my love, and to-morrow throw all 
 other ideas but my country to the winds. As yet I 
 know not if General Dearborn lands : he has acted 
 honourably so far, and I feel great gratitude to the 
 old gentleman ; my sword and my pen shall both be 
 exercised to do him honour. I have no new in- 
 junction, no new charge to give you, nor one new 
 idea to communicate ; yet we love to commune 
 with those we love, more especially when w T e con- 
 ceive it may be the last time in this world. Should 
 I fall, defend my memory ; and only believe, had I 
 lived, I would have aspired to deeds worthy of your 
 husband. Remember me, with a father's love — a fa- 
 ther's care, to our dear daughter ; and believe me to 
 
FAMILY INTERCOURSE. 91 
 
 be, with the warmest sentiments of love and friend- 
 ship, your 
 
 " Montgomery."* 
 
 A TACITURN PAIR. 
 
 An individual, not abundantly gifted with that 
 amenity which is as necessary for self-comfort as it 
 is pleasing to others in the perpetual intercourse of 
 social life, fancied that he had justifiable cause for 
 long-continued unbroken taciturnity. His wife, after 
 sitting for some time in the same room with him in 
 annoying and gloomy silence, suddenly started up, 
 and taking a lighted candle, commenced a busy and 
 seemingly anxious search after some missing object 
 of deep and overpowering interest ; looked over the 
 mantel-piece and removed all its ornaments, opened 
 every drawer and closet in the room, searched un- 
 der all the chairs, lifted up the rug, turned up the 
 edge of the carpet, raked in the ashes, ransacked the 
 tea-tackle, rummaged the cellaret, and repeatedly 
 scrutinized the same places over and over again. 
 
 At length, fidgetted beyond endurance, his nerves 
 wound up to such a pitch of curiosity as to be on the 
 point of cracking, his impatience absolutely boiled 
 over ; and at last, after many severe struggles to 
 maintain his dignified taciturnity, and positively un- 
 able to hold out any longer, he relieved himself by 
 giving vent to the exclamation, " My dear, what are 
 you searching after ? what have you lost ?" 
 
 " My dear, I was seeking for your tongue, which 
 has been missing this fortnight ; and, if you had not 
 
 * It appears that this was the signature the General used when 
 addressing his wife ; it will be recollected that his name was " Ze- 
 bulon Montgomery Pike." 
 
92 
 
 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 found it for me now, I should have supposed it to 
 be irretrievably mislaid." 
 
 LADY FANSHAWE. 
 
 The following anecdote of the conjugal affection 
 of this excellent woman to her husband, Sir Richard, 
 clerk of the council to Charles I. and II., and trans- 
 lator of the Pastor Fido, is extracted from some 
 manuscript memoirs of her, addressed to her son. 
 The transaction took place in a voyage that Lady 
 Fanshawe made from Galway to Malaga, in the 
 spring of the year 1649 : — 
 
 We pursued our voyage with prosperous winds, 
 but a most tempestuous master, a Dutchman; truly, 
 I think, the greatest beast I ever saw of his kind. 
 When we had just passed the Straits, we saw coming 
 towards us, with full sails, a Turkish galley, well 
 manned, and we believed we should be carried away 
 slaves ; for this man had so laden his ship with 
 goods for Spain, that his guns were useless, though 
 the ship carried sixty guns. He called for brandy ; 
 and after he had well drunken, and all his men, 
 which were near 200, he called for arms, and cleared 
 the deck as well as he could, resolving to light rather 
 than lose his ship, which was worth 30,000/. This was 
 sad for us passengers ; but my husband bid us to be 
 sure to keep in the cabin, and not appear, which 
 would make the Turks think we were a man of war ; 
 but if they saw women, they would take us for mer- 
 chants, and board us. He went upon deck, and took 
 a gun, a bandelier, and sword, expecting the arrival of 
 the Turkish man of war. This captain had locked me 
 up in the cabin : I knocked and called to no pur- 
 pose, until the cabin-boy came and opened the door, 
 
FAMILY INTERCOURSE. 93 
 
 I, all in tears, desired him to be so good as to give 
 me his thrum-cap and his tarred coat, which he did, 
 and I gave him half-a-crown ; and putting them on, 
 and flinging away my night-clothes, I crept up softly, 
 and stood upon the deck by my husband's side, as 
 free from sickness and fear as of discretion ; but it 
 was the effect of that passion which I could never 
 master. By this time the two vessels were engaged 
 in parley, and so well satisfied with speech and sight 
 of each other's force, that the Turk's man of war 
 tacked about, and we continued our course. But, 
 when your father saw it convenient to retreat, look- 
 ing upon me, he blessed himself, and snatched me up 
 in his arms, saying, " Oh, that love should make this 
 change ! " and though he seemingly chid me, he 
 would laugh at it as often as he remembered that 
 voyage. 
 
 A NEW-MARRIED COUPLE. 
 
 " You don't love me, I know you do'nt," said a 
 young married lady to her husband. * I give you 
 credit, my dear, for keen penetration," was the con- 
 soling reply. 
 
 MADAME GODIN. 
 
 That hazardous undertaking, as Dr. Robertson has 
 justly termed a voyage down the river Maragnon, 
 to which ambition prompted Orrellana, and to which 
 the love of science led M. Condamine, was under- 
 taken in the year 1769, by Madame Godin des Odo- 
 nais, from conjugal affection. The narrative of the 
 hardships which she suffered, and of the dangers to 
 which she was exposed, is a singular and affecting 
 
94 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 story, exhibiting in her conduct a striking picture of 
 the fortitude which distinguishes one sex, mingled 
 with the sensibility and tenderness of the other. 
 
 On the 1st of October, 1769, Madame Godin de- 
 parted from Riobamba, the place of her residence, 
 for Laguna, on her way tc France to join her hus- 
 band, accompanied by her brothers ; Sieur R., a phy- 
 sician, and his servant, his faithful negro, and three 
 female Indian domestics ; together with an escort of 
 thirty-one Indians, to carry herself and her baggage, 
 the road being impassable even for mules. Scarcely 
 had Madame Godin reached Canclos, when the In- 
 dians deserted her ; but she still determined to brave 
 every danger. There remained only two Indians in 
 the village who had escaped the small-pox, which 
 lately raged there. They had no canoe, but they 
 offered to construct one, and to conduct her to the 
 mission of Andoas, about twelve days journey lower 
 on the river Bobanaza, a distance of about one hun- 
 dred and fifty leagues. Madame G. paid them in 
 advance ; and the canoe being finished, the party 
 quitted Canclos. Having sailed two days, they stop- 
 ped to pass the night on shore. Next morning the 
 two Indians disappeared. They were now not only 
 obliged to proceed without a pilot, but the canoe be- 
 gan to leak, which obliged them to land, and erect a 
 temporary hut, within five or six days journey from 
 Andoas, to which place Sieur R. proceeded with his 
 servant, assuring Madame Godin and her brothers, 
 that in less than fifteen days they should have a 
 canoe and Indians. After waiting twenty-five days 
 in the utmost anxiety, and losing all hope of relief 
 from that quarter, they made a raft, upon which they 
 placed all their provisions and effects, and proceeded 
 slowly down the river ; but the raft striking against 
 
FAMILY INTERCOURSE. 95 
 
 a tree, the whole party were plunged into the river ; 
 happily, however, no one perished. They now re- 
 solved to pursue the banks of the river on foot. 
 What an enterprise ! The borders of this river are 
 covered with a wood, rendered impervious to the rays 
 of the sun by the herbs, brambles, and shrubs, that 
 creep up the trunks, and blended with the branches 
 of the trees. Taking all their provisions, they com- 
 menced their melancholy journey ; but observing 
 that following the course of the river considerably 
 lengthened their route, they entered into the wood, 
 and in a few days lost their way. Though now 
 destitute of provisions, oppressed with thirst, and 
 their feet sorely wounded with briars and thorns, they 
 continued to push forward through immeasurable 
 wilds and gloomy forests, drawing refreshment from the 
 berries and wild fruits they w r ere able to collect. At 
 length, exhausted by hunger and fatigue, their 
 strength failed them, and they sunk, helpless and 
 forlorn. Here they waited impatiently for death to 
 relieve them from their misery. In four days they 
 all successively expired, except Madame Godin, who 
 continued stretched beside her tw T o brothers, and the 
 corses of her companions, for forty-eight hours, de- 
 prived of the use of all her faculties. At last Pro- 
 vidence gave her strength and courage to quit the 
 melancholy scene, and attempt to pursue her jour- 
 ney. She was now without stockings, bare-footed, 
 and almost naked : two cloaks, which had been torn 
 to rags by the briars, afforded her but a scanty co- 
 vering. Having cut off the soles of her brother's 
 shoes, she fastened them to her feet, and took her 
 lonely way. The second day of her journey she 
 found water ; and the day following, some wild fruit 
 and green eggs ; but so much was her throat con- 
 
96 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 tracted by the privation of nutriment, that she could 
 hardly swallow such a sufficiency of the sustenance 
 which chance presented to her, as would support her 
 emaciated frame. On the ninth day she reached the 
 borders of Bobanaza, where she fortunately met two 
 Indians, who conveyed her in a canoe to Andoas ; 
 thence she proceeded to Laguna, and there pro- 
 cured a passage for France ; where she at last arrived 
 in safety, and found, in the approving smiles of that 
 husband for whom she had undertaken so dangerous 
 an enterprise, an ample consolation for all the toils 
 and hardships she had undergone. 
 
 FREDERICK OF PRUSSIA. 
 
 As an instance of conjugal love, and of popular 
 loyalty, we may record the following from " Bright's 
 Travels in Hungary," where, in speaking of the 
 Prussian Monarch, he says, " Frederick married 
 when very young, and a long course of years had 
 cemented their affection, when her unexpected death 
 threatened to break the bond. The king's sorrow 
 was attended by the sympathy of his people. It 
 was not the edict of the court, but individual and 
 sincere feeling, which filled Berlin with mourners. 
 The King and the whole family followed her on foot 
 to the grave. A mausoleum of his own design was 
 erected at his favourite garden of Charlottenburg, 
 whither his wife's remains were conveyed. Here, 
 on certain days, the public are allowed to enter ; 
 and though, when I saw it, three years had elapsed 
 since the Queen's death, many still continued to 
 visit the spot with reverence and affection. Early 
 on each anniversary, the King, and his eleven 
 children, attended by a single priest, repair to this 
 
FAMILY INTERCOURSE. 97 
 
 sanctuary ; and descending into the tomb, each 
 places a garland on the coffin ; when having ad- 
 dressed the Almighty in prayer, the king retires to 
 the island of Paon, near Potsdam, and passes the 
 remainder of the day in perfect solitude." 
 
 M. PORTALI. 
 
 Rose, the confidential secretary of Louis XIV., 
 had married his daughter to M. Portali, president of 
 the parliament. The husband was constantly com- 
 plaining to him of the temper and disposition of his 
 daughter : " You are right," said Rose, " she is an 
 impertinent jade ; and if I hear more complaints of 
 her, I will disinherit her." The husband felt no 
 desire to make any more complaints of his wife. 
 
 JOHN THATCHER. 
 
 Tradition has preserved a singular anecdote of 
 John Thatcher, a son of one of the first settlers in 
 Massachusetts. He was married in 1661 to Re- 
 becca Winslow, and being on his way to Yarmouth, 
 with his bride, they stopped for the night at the 
 house of one Col. Gorham, at Barnstaple. In the 
 merry conversation with the newly married couple, 
 an infant was introduced, about three weeks old, 
 and the night of her birth was mentioned to Mr. 
 Thatcher : he observed, it was on the very night 
 when he was married ; and, taking the child in his 
 arms, presented it to his bride, saying, " Here, my 
 dear, is a little lady, born on the same night we 
 were married ; I wish you would kiss her, for I 
 intend to have her for my second wife." " I will, 
 
 H 
 
98 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 my dear," she replied, " to please you, but I hope it 
 will be long before your intention is fulfilled." Then, 
 taking the babe, she kissed it heartily, and gave it 
 into the nurse's hands. This jesting prediction was 
 eventually verified. Mr. Thatcher's wife died, and 
 the child, arriving at mature age, actually became 
 his second wife, in 1684. 
 
 LORD AND LADY RUSSELL. 
 
 If we were to select an example of the most 
 perfect fortitude and constancy under oppression 
 and suffering, it would be from the " Life of Lord 
 Russell," published by his noble descendant, Lord 
 John. The length of the article, however, only 
 admits of a few brief extracts. It appears that 
 Lord Cavendish having sent him a proposition, by Sir 
 James Forbes, to change clothes with him, and to 
 remain in prison whilst he should make his escape, 
 Lord Russell, in a smiling way, sent his thanks to 
 him, but said he would make no escape : prompted, 
 as Lord John supposes, by the reflection that flight 
 would look like a confession of guilt, might prejudice 
 his associates, and also injure the great cause to 
 which his whole life had been devoted. He after- 
 wards said, he was very glad that he had not fled ; 
 because he could not have lived from his children, 
 from his wife, and friends, to live with whom had 
 been all the happiness he ever saw in life. Indeed, 
 his love for Lady Russell was such, that when he 
 spoke of her the tears would come into his eyes, and 
 he would suddenly change the discourse. Her lady- 
 ship was, at the moment, very active in her endea- 
 vours to save him : but he said that he wished she 
 would give over beating every bush for his preserva- 
 
FAMILY INTERCOURSE. 99 
 
 tion ; nor did he acquiesce in those attempts, except 
 upon the principle, that in permitting them, it would 
 be some mitigation of her future sorrow to reflect 
 that she had left nothing undone for him. Bat he 
 expressed great joy in the magnanimity of spirit that 
 he saw in her ; and observed, that the parting with 
 her was the greatest thing that he had to do, for he 
 was afraid she would hardly be able to bear it. His 
 cheerfulness almost amounted to mirth, between the 
 sentence and execution. When Rich, one of the 
 sheriffs, and a man who had then recently changed 
 sides to the Catholic party, but had actually voted 
 for the Exclusion Bill, came to acquaint him with the 
 warrant for his fate, he received him without even a 
 hint at the change : he afterwards observed, how- 
 ever, to Bishop Burnet, that if it had not been inde- 
 cent to be merry in such circumstances, he would 
 have told Rich that they two should never sit toge- 
 ther again to vote for that bill. 
 
 On the day previous to his execution he had bled 
 at the nose, on which he said, " I shall not now let 
 blood to divert this ; that will be done to-morrow ; w 
 and when it rained hard that night, he observed, 
 " Such a rain to-morrow will spoil a great show, which 
 is a dull thing on a rainy day ! " 
 
 Before his wife left him, he took her by the hand, 
 and said, " This flesh you now feel in a few hours 
 must be cold." At ten o'clock she left him. He 
 kissed her four or five times ; and she so governed her 
 sorrow as not to add, by the sight of her distress, to 
 the pain of separation. Thus they parted, not with 
 sobs and tears, but with a composed silence ; the wife 
 wishing to spare the feelings of the husband, and the 
 husband those of his wife, they both restrained the 
 expression of a grief too great to be relieved by ut- 
 h 2 
 
100 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 terance. When she was gone, he said, " Now the 
 bitterness of death is past." 
 
 A SWEDISH COUPLE. 
 
 Acerbi, in his " Travels through Sweden, Finland, 
 and Lapland, to the North Cape," relates the follow- 
 ing singular anecdote : — 
 
 A gentleman of Uleaborg, a town of Bothnia, in 
 Sweden, went from thence by sea to Stockholm : on 
 his return, the ship's steward, in cleaning the plate 
 after dinner, let fall into the sea a silver spoon, 
 which, as it afterwards appeared, was swallowed by 
 a salmon. The day after, this very salmon made his 
 way up the river, near Uleaborg, and was caught by 
 a fisherman. 
 
 The fisherman sold the spoon to a silversmith, 
 who, on recognising the cypher, immediately con- 
 veyed it to the gentleman's wife. The lady, who 
 had not received any intelligence from her husband 
 since his departure from Uleaborg, was struck with 
 the belief that he had been shipwrecked ; and this 
 seemed the, more probable, as his return had been 
 delayed by contrary winds. 
 
 The gentleman at last consoled his afflicted wife 
 by his re-appearance, and amused her with a recital 
 of the mode in which the silver spoon had been 
 lost. 
 
 LORD SHAFTESBURY. 
 
 The celebrated Lord Shaftesbury, after his mar- 
 riage, having received the usual compliments, very 
 seriously declared to one of his friends that, he 
 verily believed he was fully as happy as before. 
 
FAMILY INTERCOURSE. 101 
 
 This was thought but cold language in a man so 
 newly married ; but his lordship intimated, that in 
 his opinion it was a very unreasonable thing in his 
 friends to expect warmer declarations from him on 
 the occasion : he had ventured upon marriage, and 
 he had not been rendered unhappy by it ; and he 
 thought that to affirm this was saying much in favour 
 both of his wife and of matrimony. 
 
 A SCOTTISH WIFE. 
 
 During a very heavy fall of snow in the winter of 
 1784, two gentlemen rode on horseback from Ber- 
 wick to Kelso, regardless of the remonstrances of 
 many, who insisted that the roads were impassable : 
 and, in truth, it was an act of hardihood and folly, 
 as the congealed flakes were drifted by the blast, 
 and beat violently against their eyes and teeth. At 
 every step the jaded animals were more than knee- 
 deep, and may be rather said to have plunged on- 
 ward than otherwise. When they arrived, with 
 much difficulty, at a lonely alehouse, near Tweezle, 
 on the river Till, they found an inhabitant of Kelso, 
 who had been detained in this thatched hovel two 
 days by the inclement season : he sat, in a con- 
 tracted state, inclining over the embers on the 
 hearth, like the personification of the ague. When 
 he recognised them, his features assumed their 
 wonted firmness, and, gathering intrepidity from ex- 
 ample, he resolved to accompany them, although 
 the roads and ditches were so filled up that the 
 vast face of the country seemed an unbroken white 
 expanse. On their arrival in the middle of a heath, 
 which they did not accomplish until the insidious 
 approaches of night, they faintly discovered a female 
 
102 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 form wading and floundering irregularly towards 
 them, in the trackless snow : her attire was so loose, 
 and involved so much of the simplicity of a villager, 
 that she appeared as if habited merely to pass from 
 one neighbour's house to another. Viewing her 
 through the misty atmosphere, they hesitated to 
 pronounce her as human ; the contour of her body 
 was so softened by the intermediate vapours, that 
 she seemed aerial. On their coming nearer, they 
 ascertained her, with extreme astonishment, to be 
 the wife of their companion : she had been wander- 
 ing, in a spirit of desperation, thirteen miles from her 
 home and her infants, in that bleak day, to find the 
 remains of her beloved Willy ; believing him, from 
 his unusual and alarming absence, to have perished 
 in the hard weather. Upon the instantaneous as- 
 surance that she beheld her husband once more, she 
 issued a loud and piercing shriek, and sank motion- 
 less in the snow. When they had chafed her 
 temples, and imperfectly recovered her, she clasped 
 her hands, in all the fervour of piety, and raising her 
 eyes to heaven, blessed her God for her deliverance 
 from trouble ; and a more genuine thanksgiving 
 never ascended the empyrean! At the conclusion 
 of her prayer, they placed the shivering amiable 
 woman on the ablest horse, and conveyed her to 
 Coldstream, overpowered by the sensations of an 
 excessive joy, succeeding the conflicts of severe 
 duty and agonizing woe ! What an inspiring in- 
 stance of conjugal tenderness ! — Could Cornelia or 
 Portia have done more ? 
 
 DR. WEBSTER. 
 
 The history of Dr. Webster's marriage is romantic. 
 When a young and unknown man, he was employed 
 
FAMILY INTERCOURSE, 103 
 
 by a friend to act as a go-between, or, as it is termed 
 in Scotland, black-fit, or black-foot, in a correspond- 
 ence which he was carrying on with a young lady of 
 great beauty and accomplishment. Webster had 
 not acted long in that character, before the young 
 lady, who had never entertained any affection for 
 his constituent, fell deeply in love with himself. 
 Her birth and expectations were better than his ; and, 
 however much he might have been disposed to ad- 
 dress her on his own behalf, he never could have 
 thought of such a thing, so long as there was such 
 a difference between their circumstances. The lady 
 saw his difficulty, and resolved to overcome it, 
 although at the expense of her own delicacy. At 
 one of their interviews, when he was exerting all his 
 eloquence in favour of his friend, she plainly told 
 him that he would probably meet far better speed if 
 he were to speak for himself. He took the hint, 
 and was soon after married to her. He wrote upon 
 the occasion an amorous lyric, which exhibits in 
 warm colours the gratitude of a humble lover for 
 the favour of a mistress of superior station ; and 
 which is perhaps as excellent altogether, in its way, 
 as the finest compositions of the kind produced in 
 either ancient or modern times. 
 
 As may be easily supposed, Mrs. Webster was not 
 by any means disposed, like the rest of the world, 
 to regard her husband's convivial propensities with 
 indulgence. On the contrary, she endeavoured, by 
 all possible means, to prevent him from remaining 
 abroad too late at night; never permitting him to 
 get home on any of these occasions without ques- 
 tioning him very closely as to the where, the where- 
 withal, and the wherefore, he had been thus be- 
 sotting himself. It is well known, that if wives will 
 
104 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 ask impertinent questions of that kind, husbands 
 will endeavour to avoid the wrath which they know 
 must fall upon them in case of their divulging the 
 truth. It was a frequent custom with the Doctor to 
 answer that he had "just been down calling on Dr. 
 Erskine, (a brother clergyman,) and the Doctor had 
 insisted upon his staying to supper." Dr. Erskine, 
 who was a clergyman of great worth, but withal not 
 averse to a joke, happened eventually to learn that 
 his friend Webster was in the habit of making him 
 his stalking-horse in this manner ; and he resolved 
 to expose the defaulter in a good-humoured way to 
 his much-deceived wife. One night, therefore, when 
 Dr. Webster was actually in his house, in an acci- 
 dental way he made an excuse to retire, and leaving 
 Webster to sup with Mrs. Erskine, went up to the 
 Castle-hill to call on Mrs. Webster. Dropping in, 
 as if nothing unusual was in the wind, he consented 
 to remain with Mrs. Webster to supper ; and thus 
 the two clergymen mutually supped with each 
 other's wife, and in each other's house, neither of 
 the said wives being aware of the fact, and Webster 
 equally ignorant of the plot laid against his cha- 
 racter for veracity. Long before Webster's usual hour 
 for retiring, Dr. Erskine took leave of Mrs. Webster, 
 and returned to his own house, where he found the 
 reverend object of the hoax as yet only as it were 
 pushing off from the shore of sobriety. When his 
 time was come, Webster went home, and being in- 
 terrogated, as usual, " Why," answered he, now at 
 least speaking the truth, " I've just been down at 
 Dr. Erskine's." Let the reader conceive the torrent 
 of indignant reproof, which, after having been 
 restrained on a thousand occasions when it was 
 deserved, at length burst forth upon the head 
 
FAMILY INTERCOURSE. 105 
 
 of the unfortunate, and for once innocent, Doc- 
 tor. The violence and copiousness of the torrent 
 was such, that for some time the intellects of its 
 devoted object were fairly swept away and buried 
 beneath the inundation. When it had at length 
 subsided, and left some points of dry land above the 
 flood, the Doctor discovered the hoax which had 
 been played ofT upon him ; and the whole affair 
 was explained satisfactorily to both parties next day 
 by Dr. Erskine's confession. But Mrs. Webster 
 declared, that, from that time forth, for the security 
 of both parties from such deceptions, she conceived 
 it would be well, when Dr. Webster happened to be 
 supping with Dr. Erskine, that he should bring 
 home with him a written affidavit, under the hand 
 of the said Dr. Erskine, testifying the fact. 
 
 Can the wife, asks Mrs. Stickney, ever request 
 counsel again from the husband of her choice, after 
 she has detected him in the first falsehood ? Can 
 the husband ever look again with perfect satisfaction 
 upon the countenance of his wife, after the first 
 falsehood has polluted her lips ? Alas ! no ! a 
 barrier has been broken down, and the waves of sin 
 and sorrow roll in upon their paradise of domestic 
 enjoyment. 
 
106 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 Section II. — Parents and Children. 
 
 SINGULAR FAMILIES. 
 
 In the reign of William the Third, there lived at 
 Ipswich, in Suffolk, a family which, from the 
 number of peculiarities belonging to it, was dis- 
 tinguished by the name of the Odd Family. Every 
 event, remarkably good or bad, happened to this 
 family on an odd day of the month, and every one 
 of them had something odd in his or her person, 
 manner, and behaviour ; the very letters in their 
 Christian names always happened to be an odd 
 number. The husband's name was Peter, and the 
 wife's Rabah ; they had children, all boys, viz., 
 Solomon, Roger, James, Matthew, Jonas, David, and 
 Ezekiel. The husband had but one leg, his wife 
 but one arm. Solomon was born blind of the left 
 eye, and Roger lost his right eye by accident ; 
 James had his left ear pulled off by a boy in a 
 quarrel, and Matthew was born with only three 
 fingers on his right hand ; Jonas had a stump foot, 
 and David was hump-backed : all these, except 
 David, were remarkably short, while Ezekiel was 
 six feet two inches high at the age of nineteen ; 
 the stump-footed Jonas and the hump-backed David 
 got wives of fortune, but no girl would listen to the 
 addresses^of the rest. The husband's hair was as 
 black as jet, and the wife's remarkably white, yet 
 every one of the children's was red. The husband 
 had the peculiar misfortune of falling into a deep saw- 
 pit, where he was starved to death in the year 1701, 
 and his wife, refusing all kinds of sustenance, died 
 in five days after him. In the year 1703, Ezekiel 
 
FAMILY INTERCOURSE. 107 
 
 enlisted as a grenadier, and although he was after- 
 wards wounded in twenty-three places, he recovered. 
 Roger, James, Matthew, Jonas, and David, died at 
 different places on the same day in 1713, and 
 Solomon and Ezekiel were drowned together in 
 crossing the Thames, in the year 1723. 
 
 There was a lady of a noble family, who saw of 
 her own race even to the sixth degree : whereof 
 the Germans made a distich, thus translated by 
 Hakwell : — 
 
 The aged mother to her daughter spake, 
 
 " Daughter," said she, " arise ; 
 Thy daughter to her daughter take, 
 
 Whose daughter's daughter cries." 
 
 GEORGE III. AND LOUIS. 
 
 It is not beneath a king to take a peep into the 
 nursery to see how the little ones thrive, and to 
 suggest hints for their cultivation. It was said of 
 George III. that he made a practice, the first thing 
 in the morning, of going into the nursery to see his 
 children, to receive their smiles, to give his blessing, 
 to investigate their health and comfort, and to sug- 
 gest improvement. It was said, also, of one of the 
 Louis's of France, that a foreigner of distinction was 
 suddenly introduced to him when he was romping 
 with his children ; he was on all fours, with one of his 
 children upon his back, going round the room. He 
 turned round to the gentleman, and said, " Are you 
 a father ? " " Yes," said the stranger : " Then here 
 goes ; gee up ! " and finished his game of horse and 
 rider. Who can see any thing in these instances 
 
108 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 derogatory to royalty ? The conduct was amiable, 
 parental, noble ; though not, perhaps, agreeable to 
 the high notions of some, who think it a much no- 
 bler and more suitable employment for noblemen 
 and gentlemen to superintend a stud of horses, or a 
 kennel of hounds. 
 
 A FRENCH KING. 
 
 A French princess, Jean of Albert, who lived in 
 the sixteenth century, having requested to accom- 
 pany her husband in the wars in Picardy, the 
 French king, her father, laid his commands upon her 
 to come home, should she require to be delivered of 
 an infant, with the view that it might be nursed in a 
 more hardy manner than was usually the case with 
 the children of royal parents. At length the contin- 
 gency arrived ; and the princess, with difficulty, after 
 great fatigue in the journey, appeared at her father's 
 residence. It was part of the character of Jean of 
 Albert to have a vast deal of curiosity, and she now 
 was exceedingly desirous to see her father's will, 
 which was kept in a large gold box, along with a 
 gold chain of such length "as to go twenty-five or 
 thirty times about a woman's neck. She therefore 
 asked for a sight of these things ; but the King stre- 
 nuously refused, declaring, however, that both should 
 be exhibited and given to her, should she safely bring 
 into the world a prince. On the night of the 13th 
 of December, 1553, the princess was delivered of a 
 son, greatly to the delight of the King, who now put 
 the gold chain about her neck, and gave her the gold 
 box, in which was his will ; saying to her when he 
 did so, " There, girl, that is thine, but this belongs 
 to me ;" and so he took up the babe in his gown. 
 
FAMILY INTERCOURSE. 109 
 
 without staying till it was dressed, and carried it 
 away to his apartment. The little prince was fed 
 and brought up so as to be inured to fatigue and 
 hardship, frequently eating nothing but the coarsest 
 common bread, the King, his grandfather, having 
 given such orders. He used, according to the cus- 
 tom of the country, to run about, bareheaded and 
 barefooted, with the village boys, both in summer 
 and winter. Who was this prince ? Henri Quatre, 
 the famous Henry IV. 
 
 RACINE. 
 
 A messenger arrived one day, and informed Ra- 
 cine that he must that day dine with his prince ; to 
 which the affectionate father replied, " I cannot have 
 that honour. It is seven days since I have seen my 
 children ; they are rejoiced at my return ; I must 
 dine with them ; they will break their hearts to lose 
 me the moment I am returned. Pray be so kind as 
 to mention my excuse to his highness." 
 
 COUNT DE GRAMMONT. 
 
 The Count de Grammont had two daughters ; one 
 fat, and the other lean. The countess, his wife, 
 begged him to write to them, and pressed him so 
 much, that, yielding to her importunity, he took the 
 pen, and wrote to the first, " My daughter, get lean ;" 
 and to the other daughter, " My daughter, get fat ;" 
 and no more. The countess, seeing him seal his 
 letters, was surprised that he had so soon done ; but 
 the count said, " They have only to follow the ad- 
 vice I now send them to do well." 
 
110 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 A FATHER AT LYONS. 
 
 A French writer relates the following remarkable 
 instance of the punishment of ingratitude in chil- 
 dren : — 
 
 An eminent trader at Lyons, who had acquired 
 an easy fortune, had two handsome daughters, be- 
 tween whom, on their marriage, he divided all his 
 property, on condition that he should pass the sum- 
 mer with the one, and the winter with the other. 
 Before the end of the first year, he found sufficient 
 ground to conclude that he was not a very accepta- 
 ble guest to either ; of which, however, he took no 
 notice, but hired a handsome lodging, in which he 
 resided a few weeks. He then applied to a friend, 
 and told him the truth of the matter, desiring the 
 gift of two hundred livres, and the loan of fifty thou- 
 sand in ready money, for a few hours. His friend 
 very readily complied with this request ; and the 
 next day the old gentleman made a splendid enter- 
 tainment, to which his daughters and their husbands 
 were invited. Just as dinner was over, his friend 
 came in a great hurry, told him of an unexpected 
 demand upon him, and desired to know whether he 
 could lend him fifty thousand livres. The old man 
 told him, without any emotion, that twice as much 
 was at his service, if he had wanted it ; and going 
 into the next room, brought him the money. 
 
 After this he was not suffered to stay any longer 
 in lodgings ; his daughters were jealous if he re- 
 mained a day more in one house than the other ; and 
 after three or four years spent with them, he died ; 
 when, upon examining his cabinet, instead of riches 
 there was found a note containing these words : " He 
 who has suffered by his virtue has a right to avail 
 
FAMILY INTERCOURSE. ] 1 [ 
 
 himself of the vices of those by whom he has been 
 injured ; and a father ought never to be so fond of 
 his children as to forget what is due to himself." 
 
 STRONGBOW AND HIS SON. 
 
 When Strongbow was marching to Wexford, 
 through the barony of Idrone, to relieve Fitzstephen, 
 he was briskly assaulted by O'Rian and his followers ; 
 but O'Rian being slain by an arrow, shot at him by 
 Nichol the monk, the rest were easily scattered, and 
 many of them slain. It was here that Strongbow's only 
 son, a youth about seventeen years old, frightened 
 at the numbers and ululations of the Irish, ran 
 away from the battle, and made towards Dublin ; 
 but being informed of his father's victory, he joyfully 
 came back to congratulate him : the severe general, 
 however, having first reproached him with cowardice, 
 caused him to be immediately executed, by cutting 
 him off in the middle with a sword. So great an 
 abhorrence had they of dastardliness in those days, 
 that, in imitation of the old Romans, they punished it 
 with a severity which, was awfully unnatural in a 
 father. 
 
 AN INDIAN EMPEROR. 
 
 A young man laid before Shah Jehan, an emperor 
 of India, in the seventeenth century, a complaint, 
 that his mother, a Banian, was possessed of immense 
 wealth, amounting to two hundred thousand rupees ; 
 who yet, on account of alleged ill conduct, withheld 
 from him any share. The emperor, tempted by 
 hearing of so large a fortune, sent for the lady, and 
 commanded her, in the presence of a large assem- 
 
112 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 bly, to give to her son fifty thousand rupees, and to 
 pay to himself a hundred thousand ; at the same 
 time desiring her to withdraw. The woman, how- 
 ever, by loud clamour, again procured admittance ; 
 and coolly said, " May it please your majesty, my 
 son has certainly some claim to the goods of his 
 father ; but I would gladly know what relation your 
 majesty bears to the merchant, my deceased hus- 
 band, that you make yourself his heir? " This idea 
 appeared to Shah Jehan so droll, that he desired her 
 to depart, and assured her that no exaction should 
 be made. 
 
 DON JUAN, OF PORTUGAL. 
 
 Alphonso, King of Portugal, made a journey to 
 France, in order to solicit succour for the support of 
 his niece Johannas claims to Castile. From the 
 cold treatment he met with at the court of Louis 
 XL, he could entertain no hopes of success ; and 
 was even apprehensive of being delivered up to Fer- 
 dinand, the reigning king of Castile. To divert the 
 prosecution of any bad design against him, he 
 gave out, that he intended to renounce the world, 
 and spend the remainder of his days in the ex- 
 ercise of penitential devotion : he also wrote an 
 eternal adieu to Don Juan, his son, ordering 
 him to cause himself to be proclaimed King with- 
 out the loss of a moment. After having despatched 
 his letter of resignation, he privately withdrew, and 
 it was reported that he had crossed the seas on a 
 pilgrimage to Jerusalem; but, in consequence of a 
 strict search after him, he was discovered in a village 
 near Harfleur. As the interest of Louis now required 
 him to protect Alphonso, to play him off against 
 
FAMILY INTERCOURSE. 1 1 3 
 
 Ferdinand and Isabella, (then negotiating with Maxi- 
 milian, who, having married the heiress of Burgundy, 
 was become master of the Netherlands,) he advised 
 him to return to his own dominions, and commanded 
 the Prince of Normandy to furnish requisites for the 
 voyage. Don Juan, in the mean time, pursuant to 
 his father's orders, had convened the States of Por- 
 tugal to settle his coronation, and the ceremony 
 was scarcely over, when he received advice that the 
 King his father was landed. 
 
 Every consideration immediately gave way to 
 filial duty ; the prince abdicated the throne, laid 
 aside the insignia of royalty, and rushed into his 
 father's arms. Alphonso insisted on his resuming 
 the crown, but he, for the first time, ventured to 
 disobey him, and could not be prevailed on to accept 
 of any other title than that of the most faithful of 
 his subjects. 
 
 AN IRISHMAN. 
 
 In 1822, when the western part of Ireland was 
 afflicted with grievous famine, and when England 
 nobly stepped forward and poured forth her thou- 
 sands to save those who were perishing for want, a 
 depot of provisions was established on the sea-coast, 
 for the relief of the suffering inhabitants of this 
 remote district. A solitary family, who had been 
 driven from their lowland home by the severity of a 
 relentless middleman, had settled themselves in this 
 wild valley, and erected the clay walls of a ruined 
 hut. The man was shepherd to a farmer who kept 
 cattle on these mountains. Here, in this savage 
 retreat, he lived removed from the world, for the 
 nearest cabin to this spot is more than four miles 
 i 
 
114 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 distant. It may be supposed that the general dis- 
 tress afflicted this insulated family. The welcome 
 news of the arrival of succours at Bally croy at length 
 reached them, and the herdsman set out to procure 
 some of the committee-meal, to relieve the hunger 
 of this half-starved family. On arriving at the 
 depot, the stock of meal was nearly expended ; 
 however, he obtained a temporary supply, and was 
 comforted with the assurance that a large quantity* 
 was hourly expected. Anxious to bring the means 
 of sustenance to his suffering little ones, the herds- 
 man crossed the mountains with his precious burden, 
 and reached a hillock where the stones were loosely 
 piled. But, during his absence at Ballycroy, the 
 - rain had fallen heavily on the hills ; the river was 
 no longer fordable — a furious torrent of discoloured 
 water rushed from the heights and choked up the 
 narrow channel. There stood the returning parent, 
 within twenty paces of his wretched, but dearly- 
 loved hovel. The children with a cry of delight 
 rushed from the hut to the opposite bank to 
 welcome him ; but, terrified by the fearful appear- 
 ance of the flood, his wife entreated him not to at- 
 tempt its passage for the present. But, would he, 
 a powerful and experienced swimmer, be deterred ? 
 The eager and hungry looks of his expecting family 
 maddened the unhappy father. He threw aside his 
 clothes, bound them with the meal upon his back, 
 crossed himself devoutly, and " in the name of God" 
 committed himself to the swollen river. For a moment 
 he breasted the torrent gallantly — two strokes more 
 would bring him to the bank — when the treacherous 
 load turned, caught him round the neck, swept him 
 down the stream, sank, and drowned him. He 
 struggled hard for life. His wife and children fol- 
 
FAMILY INTERCOURSE. 115 
 
 lowed the unhappy man as he was borne away — 
 and their agonizing shrieks told the poor man that 
 assistance from them was hopeless. At last the 
 body disappeared, and was taken up the following 
 morning, four miles from the fatal place. One 
 curious circumstance attended this calamity : a 
 herd of cattle galloped madly down the river-side 
 at the time their unfortunate keeper was perishing ; 
 their bellowings were heard for miles, and they were 
 discovered next morning grouped around the body 
 of the dead shepherd, in the corner of a sandy cove, 
 where the abated flood had left it. 
 
 AN AMERICAN MOTHER. 
 
 A lady took a child to a physician in Utica, to 
 consult him about its precious health. Among 
 other things, she inquired if he did not think the 
 springs would be useful. 
 
 " Certainly, madam," replied the doctor, as he 
 looked at the child, and then took a pinch of snuff. 
 " I have not the least hesitation in recommending 
 the springs — and the sooner you apply the remedy, 
 the better." 
 
 " You really think it would be good for the dear 
 little thing, don't you?" 
 
 " Upon my word, it is the best remedy I know 
 of." 
 
 " What springs would you recommend, doctor?" 
 
 " Any will do, madam, where you can get plenty 
 of soap and water." 
 
 CHILDREN OF LOUIS XVI. 
 
 When the Royal Family of France were arrested 
 in their attempted flight, and were on their return 
 i 2 
 
116 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 from Varennes to Paris, the Dauphin having re- 
 marked on the buttons of M. Barnave, one of the 
 deputies appointed by the National Assembly to 
 attend the royal prisoners, the device, " To live free, 
 or die," turned to his mother, and said, " Mamma, 
 what does that mean, to live free?" "My child," 
 replied the Queen, " it is to go where you please." 
 "Ah, mamma!" rejoined the infant quickly, " then 
 we are not free ! " 
 
 A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW. 
 
 In the reign of Queen Elizabeth, an English 
 nobleman and his son were with the Queen's army 
 in Ireland, and were engaged in an action with the 
 rebels of that country, in which both lost their lives. 
 Their wives were within sight of the battle, and the 
 remark their death drew from the son's wife to her 
 mother-in-law, was, " Observe, madam, that your 
 husband fell first ; therefore, I am entitled to my 
 dowry." 
 
 A YOUNG FRENCHMAN. 
 
 A shopkeeper, who resided two or three days' 
 journey from Paris, preserved his good conduct and 
 integrity for many years. At last, by some persons 
 taking undue credit, and keeping him too long out 
 of his money, he was obliged to take a journey to 
 Paris, to desire two things of his creditors : the one 
 was a lengthening out their forbearance ; and the 
 other was, to be furnished with a fresh assortment of 
 goods, that he might keep open his shop with credit. 
 They were so pleased with the honesty and frank- 
 ness of the man, that they all agreed to grant his 
 
FAMILY INTERCOURSE. 117 
 
 request, except one ; this was his chief creditor, a 
 proud and haughty merchant, who had never felt 
 any adversity, and knew not how T to sympathize with 
 the afflicted. " So," said he, " I find, by your asking 
 for a prolongation of credit, and a further indulgence 
 of goods, that you are going down hill ; and, there- 
 fore, I am resolved to have my money." Accord- 
 ingly, he sent immediately for an officer, who 
 arrested the poor man, and carried him to jail. In 
 this distressing situation he wrote home to his wife, 
 who communicated the news to her six children : 
 they w r ere all overwhelmed in sorrow. What could 
 be done ? To sit still in despair, w r as the ready 
 way to ruin. After a deliberate conversation with 
 her eldest son, a young man of fine sense, and 
 excellent virtue, about nineteen years of age, he re- 
 solved to fly to Paris, with a view to soften this 
 cruel creditor. After a short interview with his 
 father, he went to the house of the merchant, sent 
 in his name, and desired an audience. The cruel 
 and haughty man, thinking he was come to pay him, 
 admitted him into his presence ; but he soon found 
 that his first request w T as, that he w T ould release his 
 father from jail, to go home and comfort his mother, 
 and keep up the credit of the shop. The merchant, 
 being disappointed in his expectation, flew into a 
 violent passion, and declared he would have the 
 money or the bones of his father. The young man, 
 finding him inexorable, fell down on his knees, and 
 with uplifted hands, and tears rolling dow r n his 
 cheeks, he addressed himself to the merchant in 
 this manner : " Sir," said he, " if I go home without 
 my father, I shall see my mother die with a broken 
 heart, the credit of the shop will be entirely ruined, 
 and we, the poor children, must be turned as vaga- 
 
118 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 bonds and beggars into the open street. I have, 
 therefore, this one, this last request to make — let me 
 be sent to jail, in the room of my father, and keep 
 me there, until all demands are satisfied." The 
 merchant walked backwards and forwards in the 
 room with great emotion. The young man con- 
 tinued his cries and entreaties on his knees. At 
 last the merchant flew to him with great tenderness, 
 and took hold of his hand ; " Rise, young man," said 
 he, " I have but one daughter in the world, for 
 whose happiness I am concerned ; I'll give thee my 
 daughter — she must be happy with a fellow of thy 
 virtue ; I'll settle upon you all my fortune ; I'll re- 
 lease your father out of prison, and make you all 
 happy together." And he was as good as his 
 word. 
 
 TWO BROTHERS IN ROME. 
 
 Wraxall states in his memoirs, that Lady Hamil- 
 ton related to him the following events : — In the 
 year 1743, a gentleman, a native of Ireland, who 
 practised physic in Rome, was waited on by two 
 gentlemen, by whom he was desired to accompany 
 them immediately, as the case which brought them 
 admitted of no delay, and not to omit taking with 
 him his lancets. He complied, and got into the 
 coach ; but no sooner had they quitted the street 
 in which he resided, than they informed him that 
 he must submit to have his eyes bandaged ; the 
 person to whom they were about to conduct him 
 being a lady of rank, whose name and place of 
 abode it was indispensable to conceal. To this re- 
 quisition he likewise submitted ; and after driving 
 through a number of streets, apparently with a view 
 
FAMILY INTERCOURSE. 119 
 
 to prevent his forming any accurate idea of the part 
 of the city to which he was conducted, the carriage 
 at length stopped. The two gentlemen then alight- 
 ed, and each taking him by the arm, conducted him 
 into a house ; ascending a narrow stair-case, they 
 entered an apartment, where he was released from 
 the bandage tied over his eyes. One of them then 
 told him, that it being necessary to put out of life 
 a lady who had dishonoured her family, they had 
 chosen him to perform the office, knowing his pro- 
 fessional skill ; that he would find her in the ad- 
 joining chamber, prepared to submit to her fate ; 
 and that he must open her veins with as much ex- 
 pedition as possible ; a service, for the execution of 
 which he should receive a liberal recompense. 
 
 Ogilvie at first peremptorily refused to commit 
 an act so highly repugnant to his feelings. But the 
 two strangers assured him, with solemn denunciations 
 of vengeance, that his refusal could only prove fatal 
 to himself, without affording the slightest assistance 
 to the object of his compassion ; that her doom was 
 irrevocable ; and that unless he chose to participate 
 a similar fate, he must submit to execute the office 
 imposed on him. Thus situated, and finding all 
 entreaty or remonstrance vain, he entered the room, 
 where he found a lady of a most interesting figure 
 and appearance, apparently in the bloom of youth. 
 She was habited in a loose undress ; and imme- 
 diately afterwards a female attendant placed before 
 her a tub filled with warm water, in which she im- 
 mersed her legs. Far from opposing any impedi- 
 ment, the lady assured him of her perfect resig- 
 nation, entreating him to put the sentence into 
 execution with as little delay as possible. She 
 added, that she was well aware that no pardon 
 
120 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 could be hoped for from those who had devoted her 
 to death, which alone could expiate her trespass ; 
 felicitating herself that his humanity would abbre- 
 viate her sufferings. 
 
 After a short conflict with his own mind, per- 
 ceiving no means of extrication or of escape, either 
 for the lady or for himself, being, moreover, urged to' 
 expedite his work by the two persons without, who, 
 impatient at his reluctance, threatened to exercise 
 violence on him if he procrastinated, Ogilvie took 
 out his lancet, opened her veins, and bled her to, 
 death in a short time. The gentlemen having care- 
 fully examined the body, in order to ascertain that 
 she was no more, after expressing their satisfaction,, 
 offered him a purse of zechins as a remuneration ; 
 but he declined all recompense, only requesting to 
 be conveyed from a scene on which he could not 
 reflect without horror. With this entreaty they 
 complied, and having again applied a bandage to 
 his eyes, they led him down the same staircase to the 
 carriage. But it being narrow, in descending the steps, 
 he contrived to leave on one or both of the walls, 
 unperceived by his conductors, the marks of his 
 Angers, which were stained with blood. After ob- 
 serving precautions similar to those used in bringing 
 him thither from his own house, he was conducted 
 home ; and at parting, the two masks charged him, 
 as he valued his life, never to divulge, and, if pos- 
 sible, never to think on the past transaction. They 
 added, that if he should set on foot an inquiry into 
 it, he should be infallibly immolated to their re- 
 venge. Having finally dismissed him at his own 
 door, they drove off, leaving him to his reflections. 
 
 On the subsequent morning, after great irresolu- 
 tion, he determined* at whatever risk to his personal 
 
FAMILY INTERCOURSE. 121 
 
 safety, not to participate, by concealing so enormous 
 a crime. It formed, nevertheless, a delicate and 
 difficult undertaking to substantiate the charge, as 
 he remained altogether ignorant of the place to 
 which he had been carried, or of the name and 
 quality of the lady whom he had deprived of life. 
 Without suffering himself, however, to be deterred 
 by these considerations, he waited on the Secretary 
 of the Apostolic Chamber, and acquainted him with 
 every particular ; adding, that if the government 
 would extend to him protection, he did not despair 
 of finding the house, and of bringing to light the 
 perpetrators of the deed. Benedict the Fourteenth, 
 (Lambertini,) who then occupied the papal chair, 
 had no sooner received the information, than he 
 immediately commenced the most active measures 
 for discovering the offenders. A guard of the 
 Sbirri, or Officers of Justice, was appointed by his 
 order to accompany Ogilvie ; who, judging from 
 various circumstances that he had been conveyed 
 out of the city of Rome, began by visiting the villas 
 scattered without the walls of that metropolis. His 
 search proved ultimately successful. In the villa 
 Papa Julio, constructed by Pope Julius the Third, 
 he found the bloody marks left on the w^all by his 
 fingers, at the same time that he recognised the 
 apartment in which he had put to death the lady. 
 The palace belonged to the Duke de Bracciano, the 
 chief of which illustrious family, and his brother, 
 had committed the murder, in the person of their 
 own sister ! They no sooner found that it was dis- 
 covered than they fled, and easily eluded the pur- 
 suit of justice. After remaining for some time, they 
 obtained a pardon, by the exertions of their power- 
 ful friends, on payment of a considerable fine to the 
 
122 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 Apostolic Chamber, and under the further condition 
 of affixing over the chimney-piece of the room where 
 the crime had been perpetrated, a plate of copper, 
 commemorating the tranaction, and their penitence. 
 The plate, together with the inscription, continued 
 to exist there till within these few years. 
 
 A PRUSSIAN DAUGHTER. 
 
 The following beautiful trait of filial affection is 
 detailed by Dr. Bright, in his " Travels through 
 Hungary," as having taken place at the Prussian 
 capital. He says : — " When I was at Berlin during 
 the preceding year, I followed the celebrated Iffland 
 to the grave. Mingled with some pomp, you might 
 trace much real feeling. In the midst of the cere- 
 mony my attention was attracted by a young woman, 
 who stood near a mound of earth, nearly covered 
 with turf, which she anxiously protected from the 
 feet of the pressing crowd. It was the tomb of her 
 parent : and the figure of this affectionate daughter 
 presented a monument more striking than the most 
 costly works of art." He adds : " There were in 
 this burial-ground many tributes, paid by those who 
 loved rather to court, than to shun the objects of 
 their affection." 
 
 TWO DAUGHTERS IN FRANCE. 
 
 During the reign of terror in France, a family at 
 Marseilles became involved in the revolutionary 
 troubles. The eldest son fell under proscription ; 
 but his family were fortunate enough to avoid the 
 vigilance of the police, and conceal him for seven 
 months, at the end of which time he escaped in a 
 
FAMILY INTERCOURSE. 123 
 
 vessel to Leghorn. The youngest son saved himself 
 by escaping to Paris, where he remained unknown, 
 until the death of Robespierre enabled him to return 
 home. 
 
 Very soon after the departure of the eldest son, 
 the father was menaced with imprisonment, as having 
 two sons in emigration ; on which the youngest 
 daughter presented herself before the municipality, 
 entreating that her father might be suffered to re- 
 main at liberty, and offering herself as a hostage, that 
 he would not commit any act contrary to the in- 
 terests of the republic. Her offer of becoming a pri- 
 soner was accepted, and she was conveyed to the con- 
 vent of Ignorantius, which was set apart for confining 
 the women who were arrested, and where eight hun- 
 dred were then immured. But though she was 
 detained, her father was not left at large ; he was 
 arrested a few days after, and sent with a number of 
 the proscribed to confinement in another convent. 
 The prison of the father was at a different end of 
 the town. During eight months that elapsed from 
 this period to the conclusion of the reign of terror, 
 the eldest daughters daily occupation was to visit 
 her father and sister in their respective prisons, which 
 she was permitted to do, being always searched at her 
 entrance, lest she should convey any thing to them 
 which might assist their escape. The anxiety for 
 her sister's life was not very great, as few women 
 were led to the scaffold ; but she daily entered the 
 prison of her father, uncertain whether she still 
 might find him, or whether he might not have been 
 among the number who were daily immolated. 
 While at home, her sole occupation was to endea- 
 vour to soothe and console her mother. How mi- 
 serable, how painful, was such a state of existence ! 
 
124 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 and yet, painful as it was, this family was ultimately 
 among the number of the fortunate, since no mem- 
 ber of it fell a victim to revolutionary vengeance. 
 
 A YOUNG NOBLEMAN. 
 
 At an assembly, a gentleman entered into con- 
 versation with a young nobleman who was near him. 
 Being a stranger, he made several inquiries respect- 
 ing the company, which were answered with great 
 politeness. At length he said, " Who is that fat 
 sow at the other end of the room ? * " That, Sir," 
 replied the young nobleman, " that fat sow is the 
 
 Countess of D , and I have the honour to be one 
 
 of her little pigs." 
 
 A DEAF, DUMB, AND BLIND AMERICAN 
 GIRL. 
 
 The following interesting account appeared in an 
 American paper of the year 1817 : — 
 
 I heard a benevolent lady mention the name of 
 Julia Brace, a girl about eleven years old, living in 
 the vicinity of Hartford, who is afflicted with the 
 triple calamity of blindness, deafness, and dumbness, 
 having lost the senses of sight and hearing by the 
 violence of a typhus fever, at the age of four years. 
 On visiting her, I learned the following facts and 
 little anecdotes, which I relate for your amuse- 
 ment. 
 
 Her form and features are regular and well-pro- 
 portioned : her temper is mild and affectionate. She 
 is much attached to her infant sister ; often passes 
 her hand over the mouth and eyes of the child, in 
 order to ascertain whether it is crying, and soothes 
 its little distresses with all the assiduity and success 
 
 
FAMILY INTERCOURSE. 125 
 
 of a talkative or musical nurse. All objects which 
 she can readily handle she applies to her lips, and 
 rarely fails in determining their character. If any 
 thing is too large for examination in this way, she 
 makes her fingers the interpreters of the texture and 
 properties, and is seldom mistaken. She will beat 
 apples or other fruit off the tree, and select the best 
 with as much judgment as if she possessed the fa- 
 culty of sight. She often wanders in the field and 
 gathers flowers, to which she is directed by the plea- 
 santness of their odour. Her sense of smelling is 
 remarkably exquisite, and appears to be an assistant 
 guide with her fingers and lips. 
 
 A gentleman one day gave her a small fan : she 
 inquired of her lips what it was ; and on being in- 
 formed, returned it to the gentleman's pocket. The 
 mother observed that Julia already possessed one 
 fan ; she probably thought that another would be 
 superfluous. This gentleman gave the same fan to 
 a neighbouring girl, whom Julia was in the habit of 
 visiting. She went a few days after to visit her 
 companion, whose toys she passed under the review 
 of her fingers and lips, and among other things the 
 fan, the identity of which she instantly discovered, 
 and again restored to the pocket of the gentleman, 
 who happened to be present. 
 
 She feels and admires mantel-piece ornaments, 
 and never breaks nor injures the most brittle furni- 
 ture, even in a strange room. 
 
 A gentleman once made several experiments, with 
 a view of satisfying himself whether she really had 
 the discernment which she was reported to possess. 
 Among other arts for effecting his object, he pre- 
 tended to carry away her infant sister. She imme- 
 diately detected the cheat, by ascertaining that his 
 
120 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 umbrella remained on the table. She then went out 
 of the door, and picked the head of a large thistle, 
 in full bloom, brought it in, smelling it as she came, 
 and offered it to the gentleman, apparently as a nose- 
 gay. He reached out his hand ; but, instead of 
 giving it, she archly pricked his hand, by way of re- 
 tort for his freedom in testing her sagacity. 
 
 SONS OF EARL ELGIN. 
 
 Lord Kaimes relates a pleasing anecdote of two 
 boys, the sons of the Earl of Elgin, who were per- 
 mitted by their father to associate with the poor boys 
 in the neighbourhood. One day, the earl's sons being 
 called to dinner, a lad who was playing with them 
 said that he would wait till they returned. " There 
 is no dinner for me at home," said the poor boy. 
 " Come with us, then," said the earl's sons. The 
 boy refused ; and when they asked him if he had 
 any money to buy a dinner, he answered, " No!" 
 When the young gentlemen got home, the eldest of 
 them said to his father, " Papa, what was the price 
 of the silver buckles you gave me?" " Five shil- 
 lings," was the reply. " Let me have the money, 
 and I'll give you the buckles again." It was done 
 accordingly ; and the earl, inquiring privately, found 
 that the money was given to the lad who had no 
 dinner. 
 
 ROBERT BRUCE. 
 
 This great man, the saviour of Scottish indepen- 
 dence at a most dangerous crisis, was the son of 
 Bruce, Lord of Annandale, by a lady who was 
 Countess of Carrick in her own right. It appears 
 
FAMILY INTERCOURSE. 127 
 
 that the first acquaintance of his parents, and their 
 subsequent marriage, took place through fortuitous 
 circumstances ; so that his existence, and conse- 
 quently the independence of his country, may be 
 said to have depended upon mere accident. The 
 particulars are thus related by Mr. P. F. Tytler, in 
 his work entitled " Scottish Worthies," published as 
 part of Murray's Family Library : — 
 
 " It appears, that a short time after his return 
 from the crusade, Bruce was riding through the 
 beautiful domains of Turnberry Castle, the property 
 of the widowed Countess of Carrick, who, in conse- 
 quence of the death of her husband, had become a 
 ward of the crown. The noble baron, however, if 
 we may believe an ancient historian, cannot be ac- 
 cused of having visited Turnberry with any view of 
 throwing himself in the way of the Countess of Car- 
 rick ; and, indeed, any such idea, in those days of 
 jealous wardship, would have been highly dangerous. 
 It happened, however, that the lady herself, whose 
 ardent and impetuous temper was not much in love 
 with the seclusion of a feudal castle, had come out 
 to take the diversion of the chase, accompanied by 
 her women, huntsmen, and falconers ; and this gay 
 cavalcade came suddenly upon Bruce, as he pursued 
 his way through the forest alone and unarmed. The 
 knight would have spurred his horse forward, and 
 avoided the encounter, but he found himself sur- 
 rounded by the attendants ; and the countess herself 
 riding up, and, with gentle violence, taking hold of 
 the horse's reins, reproached him in so sweet a tone 
 for his want of gallantry in flying from a lady's cas- 
 tle, that Bruce, enamoured of her beauty, forgot the 
 risk which he run, and suffered himself to be led 
 away in a kind of triumph to Turnberry. He here 
 
128 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 remained for fifteen days ; and the adventure con- 
 cluded, as might have been anticipated, by his pri- 
 vately marrying the youthful countess, without hav- 
 ing obtained the concurrence of the King or any of 
 her relations. Alexander III., however, although at 
 first indignant at this bold interference with the 
 rights of the crown, was a benevolent prince ; and, 
 on the payment of a large feudal fine, extended his 
 forgiveness to Bruce. The eldest son of this marriage 
 of sudden and romantic love was Robert Bruce the 
 younger, Earl of Carrick, and afterwards King of 
 Scotland. The second was Edward Bruce, Lord of 
 Galloway, who was crowned King of Ireland in 1 3 1 6 ; 
 and, besides this regal issue, the Countess of Car- 
 rick, who appears to have proved a faithful and af- 
 fectionate wife, bore her husband three more sons 
 and seven daughters." 
 
 A YOUNG POMERANIAN. 
 
 Frederick the Great, of Prussia, during his last 
 illness, endured many restless nights, which he en- 
 deavoured to soothe by conversing with the servant 
 who sat up with him. On one of these occasions, 
 he inquired of an honest young Pomeranian, from 
 whence he came : " From a little village in Pome- 
 rania." " Are your parents living ? " " An aged 
 mother." " How does she maintain herself ? " " By 
 spinning." " How much does she gain daily by it?" 
 " Sixpence." " But she cannot live well on that ? " 
 " In Pomerania it is cheap living." " Did you never 
 send her any thing ? " " O yes, I have sent her, at dif- 
 ferent times, a few dollars." " That was bravely done ; 
 you are a good boy. You have a deal of trouble 
 with me. Have patience : I shall endeavour to lay 
 something by for you, if you behave well." The 
 
FAMILY INTERCOURSE. 129 
 
 monarch kept his word : for, a few nights after, the 
 Pomeranian being again in attendance, received se- 
 veral pieces of gold ; and heard, to his great joy and 
 surprise, that one hundred rix dollars had been set- 
 tled on his mother during her life. 
 
 MISS KELSO. 
 
 It is recorded that a battle was fought near New- 
 town Hamilton, in the barony of Fews, county of 
 Armagh, between O'Neil of Ulster, denominated 
 Black Beard, (Fesog Dhu,) and one of the princes 
 of Louth, in which many were slain on both sides, 
 and where O'Neil also fell. The quarrel is said to 
 have originated at a feast given on the spot, by the 
 Prince of Louth setting fire to O' Neil's beard, who 
 did not relish so warm a reception. In later days 
 the neighbourhood of the Fews had been infested 
 by robbers, and three miles from Newtown Hamilton 
 a barrack was built to keep the freebooters in check. 
 Two of their scattered party entered the country 
 house of Mr. Kelso in that place one evening, know- 
 ing that he and his lady had gone to dine at a 
 friend's, and that the men-servants were absent. The 
 robbers easily secured , the two female domestics, 
 and proceeded to the parlour, where Miss Kelso was 
 alone, a girl about eleven years old : they ordered 
 her, on pain of death, to show them where the plate 
 and money were kept, and she led them to a closet 
 which contained all the valuables. While they were 
 ransacking the presses, she silently left the room and 
 shut the door, which had a spring-lock ; and as there 
 was but one small window, secured by iron bars, she 
 felt certain that the robbers could not possibly 
 escape : meanwhile Miss Kelso went to the kitchen, 
 
 K 
 
130 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 and released the servant-women, who were tied hand 
 and foot ; and, with their assistance, collected straw, 
 dry sticks, and whatever combustibles were about the 
 place, and, making a heap of these, lighted them on 
 an eminence which would be seen from the house 
 where her parents were. The plan succeeded ; the 
 blaze soon attracted observation ; and Mr. Kelso re- 
 turned as soon as possible, with all the assistance he 
 could assemble, to extinguish the supposed fire in 
 his house. On his arrival he was agreeably surprised 
 to learn how matters stood, and seized the robbers 
 without difficulty. 
 
 PUPIL OF ZENO. 
 
 A youth, named Eretius, was, for a considerable 
 time, a follower of Zeno. On his return home, his 
 father asked him what he had learned ? The boy 
 replied, that would appear hereafter. On this the 
 father, being enraged, beat his son ; who, bearing it 
 patiently and without complaining, said, " This have 
 I learned, to endure a parent's anger." 
 
 A DEVOTED DAUGHTER. 
 
 Valerius Maximus relates, that a woman of dis- 
 tinction having been condemned to be strangled, was 
 delivered to the triumvir, who caused her to be car- 
 ried to prison in order to be put to death. The 
 gaoler who was ordered to execute her was struck 
 with compunction, and could not resolve to kill her. 
 He chose, however, to let her die with hunger ; but 
 meanwhile suffered her daughter to visit her in pri- 
 son, taking care that she brought her nothing to eat. 
 Many days passed over in this manner, when the 
 
FAMILY INTERCOURSE. 131 
 
 gaoler, at length, surprised that the prisoner lived so 
 long without food, and suspecting the daughter, took 
 means of secretly observing their interviews. He 
 then discovered that the affectionate daughter had 
 all the while been nourishing her mother with her 
 own milk. Amazed at so tender, and at the same 
 time so ingenious an artifice, he related it to the 
 triumvir, and the triumvir to the praetor, who thought 
 the fact merited stating in the assembly of the peo- 
 ple. This produced the happiest effects ; the cri- 
 minal was pardoned, and a decree passed that the 
 mother and the daughter should be maintained, for 
 the remainder of their lives, at the expense of the 
 public ; and that a temple, sacred to filial piety, 
 should be erected near the prison. 
 
 TWO CHINESE YOUTHS. 
 
 The Chinese are remarkable for the extraordinary 
 respect which they pay to their parents. If it even 
 be true, as some writers assert, that with these peo- 
 ple filial reverence is not so much a moral feeling 
 as a precept which, in the course of time, has ac- 
 quired all the force of a positive law r , and that filial 
 piety exists rather in the maxims of the government 
 than in the hearts of the subjects, still it wears an 
 appearance of a virtue that demands admiration. The 
 Chinese writers have carefully recorded a great num- 
 ber of remarkable instances of filial piety. 
 
 A boy, eight years of age, gave a very affecting 
 proof of affection for his parents. They were so 
 poor that they could not afford to procure a kind of 
 curtain, which is commonly used in the hot coun- 
 tries of the east to defend persons in bed from trou- 
 blesome insects, called mosquitoes, and which is 
 k 2 
 
13*2 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 thence named a mosquito- curtain. The poor boy 
 strove, in various ways, to protect his parents from 
 the painful bites of these insects, but in vain. At 
 length he hit upon a contrivance, which shows that 
 no sacrifice is too great for real affection. When 
 his parents had retired to rest, he seated himself by 
 their bed, stripped off his clothes to the waist, and 
 suffered the mosquitoes to settle upon him without 
 driving them away. " When they have filled them- 
 selves with my blood," said he, " they will not dis- 
 turb my parents." 
 
 But the duties of children towards their parents 
 are not limited to the duration of the lives of the 
 latter. During the period of mourning for them, 
 which is twenty-seven months, public officers are 
 not allowed to perform any kind of business. It is 
 not uncommon for a family to expend the whole of 
 the property left behind by a parent on his funeral ; 
 and when children are not in circumstances to bury 
 a father in a respectable manner, they will keep his 
 coffin for several years. These observations will 
 serve to illustrate the following narrative. 
 
 A man, having been apprehended on a charge of 
 having committed an offence against the state, 
 escaped from the custody of his guards, and sought 
 refuge with his friend Loo-nan-kin. His retreat was 
 discovered. Loo-nan-kin was imprisoned ; and pre- 
 parations were making for his trial, when the younger 
 brother came forward. " It is I who harboured the 
 fugitive," said he, " of course I ought to die, and not 
 my brother." Loo-nan-kin, on the other hand, de- 
 clared that he alone was guilty, and that his brother 
 had falsely accused himself. The judge cross-ques- 
 tioned the young man with such skill as to involve 
 him in contradictions, and he was at last obliged to 
 
FAMILY INTERCOURSE. 133 
 
 confess the imposture. " Alas ! " said he, " I had 
 strong reasons for acting thus : it is a long time 
 since our mother died, and we have not yet been 
 able to pay her the duties of sepulture : we have, 
 moreover, a sister unmarried. My elder brother 
 alone has it in his power to provide for these exi- 
 gencies, so that it were better for me to die in his 
 stead ; I conjure you, therefore, to receive my evi- 
 dence." The judge was deeply affected : he reported 
 this instance of filial piety and brotherly love to the 
 supreme tribunal, and the emperor pardoned the 
 culprit. 
 
 A YOUNG MOOR. 
 
 A Portuguese surgeon was accosted one day by a 
 young Moor from the country, who, addressing him 
 by the usual appellation of foreign doctors in that 
 place, requested him to give him some drogues to kill 
 his father ; and, as an inducement, promised to pay 
 him well. The surgeon was not a little surprised at 
 first, as might be expected, and was unable to answer 
 immediately ; but quickly recovering himself, for he 
 knew the habits of the people well, replied, with sang 
 froid equal to the Moor's, " Then you don't live com- 
 fortably with your father, I suppose ? " " Oh, nothing 
 can be better," returned the Moor; "he has made 
 much money, has married me well, and endowed me 
 with all his possessions; but he cannot work any 
 longer, he is so old, and he seems unwilling to die." 
 The doctor, of course, appreciated the amiable phi- 
 losophy of the Moor's reasoning, and promised to 
 give him what he desired : he accordingly prepared 
 a cordial potion, more calculated to restore energy 
 to the old man than to take it away. The Moor paid 
 
134 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 him well, and departed. About eight days after he 
 came again, to say that his father was not dead. . " Not 
 dead ! " exclaimed the apothecary, in well-feigned 
 surprise ; " he will die." He composed, accordingly, 
 another draught, for which he received an equal re- 
 muneration, and assured the Moor that it would not 
 fail in its effects. In fifteen days, however, the 
 Moor came again, complaining that his father thrived 
 better than ever. " Don't be discouraged," said the 
 doctor, who doubtless found these periodical visits by 
 no means unprofitable, " give him another potion, and 
 I will exert all my skill in its preparation." The 
 Moor took it, but returned no more. One day the 
 surgeon met his young acquaintance in the street, and 
 inquired the success of the remedy. " It was of no 
 avail," said he, mournfully ; " my father is in excel- 
 lent health. God has preserved him from all our 
 efforts; there is no doubt that he is a Marabout" 
 (a saint.) 
 
 The youth of China receive the earliest impres- 
 sions of the duty of filial obedience. Several pre- 
 cepts prevent their incurring the penalties prescribed 
 in the code of laws of that empire against such 
 " degenerate vipers" as shall dare to violate any of 
 those sacred ties which God has framed to attach 
 them to the authors of their existence. The son 
 or grandson of a Chinese, who is deficient in his 
 duty towards his father or mother, grandfather or 
 grandmother, is condemned by the laws to receive 
 one hundred blows of a bamboo ; if he gives them 
 abusive language, he is strangled ; if he lifts his 
 hand against them, he is beheaded ; and if he wounds 
 or maims them, his flesh is torn from his bones with 
 
. FAxMILY INTERCOURSE. 135 
 
 red-hot pincers, and he is cut into a thousand 
 pieces. 
 
 A preacher, several centuries ago, when deliver- 
 ing his sentiments on the evils of the age, used the 
 following beautiful figure, descriptive of those who 
 live neglectful of their aged parents, who had che- 
 rished them into prosperity : " See the trees flourish 
 and recover their leaves ; it is their root that has 
 produced all ; but when the branches are loaded 
 with flowers and with fruit, they yield nothing to the 
 root. This is an image of those children who pre- 
 fer their own amusements, and to game away their 
 fortunes, than to give to their old parents the cares 
 which they want." 
 
 Section III. — Relations and Friends. 
 
 COUSINS. 
 
 A country gentleman, lately arrived at Boston, 
 immediately repaired to the house of a relative, a 
 lady who had married a merchant of that city. The 
 parties were glad to see him, and invited him to 
 make their house his home, as he declared his in- 
 tention of remaining in the city but a day or two. 
 The husband of the lady, anxious to show attention 
 to a relative and friend of his wife, took the gentle- 
 man's horse to a livery stable, and had it put up 
 there. Finally the visit became a visitation, and the 
 merchant, after the lapse of eleven days, found that, 
 besides lodging and boarding the gentleman, a 
 pretty considerable bill had been run up at the 
 
136 THE FAMILY CIRCLE, 
 
 livery stable. Accordingly, he went to the man who 
 kept the stable, and told him, when the gentleman 
 took his horse he would pay the bill. " Very- 
 good," said the stable-keeper, " I understand you." 
 Accordingly, in a short time, the country gentleman 
 went to the stable and ordered his horse to be got 
 ready. The bill, of course, was presented. " Oh/' 
 said the gentleman, " Mr. so-and-so, my relation, will 
 pay this." " Very good, Sir," said the stable-keeper, 
 
 " please to get an order from Mr. , it will be the 
 
 same as the money." The horse was put up again, 
 and down went the country gentleman to Long Wharf, 
 where the merchant was. " Well," said he, " I am 
 going now." " Are you ? " said the merchant, 
 " well, good bye, Sir." " Well, about my horse ; 
 the man says the bill must be paid for his keeping." 
 (t Well, I suppose that's all right, Sir." " Yes — well 
 — but you know I am your wife's cousin." " Yes," 
 said the merchant, " I know you are, but your horse 
 is not!" 
 
 COLUMBUS. 
 
 About half a league from Palos, on a solitary 
 height, overlooking the sea-coast, and surrounded by 
 a forest of pine-trees, there stood an ancient convent 
 of Franciscan friars, dedicated to Santa Maria de 
 Rabida. A stranger travelling on foot, accompanied 
 by a young boy, stopped one day at the gate of the 
 convent, and asked of the porter a little bread and 
 water for his child. While receiving this humble 
 refreshment, the guardian of the convent, Friar Juan 
 Perez de Marchena, happening to pass by, was struck 
 with the appearance of the stranger, and, observing 
 from his air and accent that he was a foreigner, en- 
 
FAMILY INTLRCOUESE. 137 
 
 tered [into conversation with him. That stranger 
 was Columbus, accompanied by his young son 
 Diego. He was on his way to the neighbouring 
 town of Huelva, to seek a brother-in-law, who mar- 
 ried a sister of his deceased wife. 
 
 SIR HORACE VERE. 
 
 Sir Horace Vere, on being asked by the Marquis 
 Spinola, a celebrated general, the cause of his bro- 
 ther's death, is said to have replied, " He died, Sir, of 
 having nothing to do." " Alas ! " said the marquis, 
 " that is cause enough to kill any general of us all." 
 
 LADY MEYNELL. 
 
 Incidents seemingly beneath notice, says Hutton, 
 in his " History of Derby," not only characterize per- 
 sons, but exhibit the different style of life between 
 the last century and the present. While the Mey- 
 nell family were spending their sober evening by the 
 glow of their own fire, a coach-and-six was heard 
 rolling up to the door. " Bring candles," said the 
 lady of the mansion, with some caution, while she 
 stepped forward to receive the guests ; but instantly 
 returning, she said, " Light up a rush, it is only my 
 cousin Curzon." 
 
 DR. FRANKLIN. 
 
 A nephew of the celebrated Dr. Benjamin Frank- 
 lin, who had yet to learn prudence, was rather taken 
 unawares in a net he had unwittingly spread for 
 himself. Being out on a party of pleasure at a dis- 
 tance from New England, he called on his uncle, 
 
138 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 but not before he had pecuniary reasons for so 
 doing. After a friendly reception, he solicited the 
 loan of a small sum of money, preluding his request 
 
 with stating, that he had loaded a vessel for B , 
 
 and that, as he did not deal on credit, he had pur- 
 chased rather beyond his current cash, and could 
 not easily procure a draft from home. The doctor 
 inquiring how much he wanted, he, with some he- 
 sitation, replied, fifty dollars. The benevolent old 
 gentleman went to his scrutoire, and counted him 
 one hundred. He received them with many pro- 
 mises of punctual payment, and was immediately 
 proceeding to draught a note under his hand for 
 cash. The doctor, who saw into the nature of the 
 borrower's embarrassments better than he was aware, 
 and felt the improbability of ever recovering his 
 cash, stepped across the room, and, laying his hand 
 gently upon his nephew's arm, said, " Stop, cousin ; 
 we will save the paper : a quarter of a sheet is not 
 of great value, but it is worth saving :" conveying 
 at once a liberal gift, and a no less gentle reproof to 
 the young spendthrift. 
 
 A WELSH CARD OF INVITATION. 
 
 Llandiller Castle. 
 
 Mr. Walter Norton, and Mrs. Walter Norton, and 
 Miss Sandys' compliments to Mr. Charles Morgan, 
 Mrs. Charles Morgan, Miss Charles Morgan, and the 
 Governess, (whose name Mr. Walter Norton, Mrs. 
 Walter Norton, and Miss Sandys, do not recollect,) 
 and Mr. Walter Norton, Mrs. Walter Norton, and 
 Miss Sandys, request the favour of the company of 
 Mr. Charles Morgan, Mrs. Charles Morgan, and Miss 
 Charles Morgan, and the Governess, (whose name 
 
FAMILY INTERCOURSE. 139 
 
 Mr. Walter Norton, Mrs. Walter Norton, and 
 Miss Sandys, do not recollect,) to dinner on Monday 
 next week. Mr. Walter Norton, Mrs. Walter Nor- 
 ton, and Miss Sandys, beg to inform Mr. Charles 
 Morgan, Mrs. Charles Morgan, and Miss Charles 
 Morgan, and the Governess, (whose name Mr. 
 Walter Norton, Mrs. Walter Norton, and Miss 
 Sandys, do not recollect,) that Mr. Walter Norton, 
 Mrs. Walter Norton, and Miss Sandys, can accom- 
 modate Mr. Charles Morgan, Mrs. Charles Morgan, 
 Miss Charles Morgan, and the Governess, (whose 
 name Mr. Walter Norton, Mrs. Walter Norton, and 
 Miss Sandys, do not recollect,) with beds, if remain- 
 ing the night is agreeable to Mr. Charles Morgan, 
 Mrs. Charles Morgan, Miss Charles Morgan, and 
 the Governess, (whose name Mr. Walter Norton, 
 Mrs. Walter Norton, and Miss Sandys, do not re- 
 collect). 
 
 A SCOTTISH SOLDIER. 
 
 A simple story of the love of home is told by a 
 soldier, after the battle of Waterloo. He says : — 
 " When we were in camp before the Thuilleries the 
 first day, two girls were looking very eagerly up and 
 down the regiment, when we were on parade. ' Do 
 you wish a careless husband, my dear?' said one 
 of the lads. ' May be; will you be 't?' said a 
 Glasgow voice. ' Where do you come from ?' said 
 the rough fellow. ' We're Paisley lasses : this is 
 our regiment ; we want to see if there's any body 
 here we ken.' The soldier, who was a Glasgow 
 lad, could not speak. There is a music in our 
 native tongue, in a foreign land, when it is not to be 
 looked for, that often melts the heart, when we hear 
 
140 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 it unexpectedly. The two girls had found their 
 way from Paisley to Paris, and were working at 
 tambouring, and did very well." 
 
 STERNE AND GARRICK. 
 
 Sterne, who used his wife very ill, was one day 
 talking to Garrick in a fine sentimental manner in 
 praise of conjugal love and fidelity. " The husband," 
 said Sterne, " who behaves unkindly to his wife, de- 
 serves to have his house burnt over his head." " If 
 you think so," said Garrick, " I hope your house is 
 insured." 
 
 A DEAF AND DUMB YOUTH. 
 
 The Countess Lichtenau relates the following in- 
 teresting account of a young man, educated at the 
 Establishment for Deaf and Dumb Children at Ber- 
 lin :— 
 
 A Protestant minister at Anspach, named Hoff- 
 man, had nine children, six of whom were deaf and 
 dumb. But one, whom nature had not treated with 
 so much injustice, was employed at Berlin in the 
 department of the mines. He waited upon me one 
 day, accompanied by one of his deaf and dumb bro- 
 thers ; described to me the distressing situation of his 
 family ; showed me several pictures which his bro- 
 ther had painted ; and besought me to take him 
 under my protection. I observed, in the works of 
 this unfortunate young man, the germ of real talent, 
 and immediately gave him a commission to make 
 me some copies ; of which he acquitted himself ad- 
 mirably, and for which 1 paid him. His accuracy, 
 zeal, and good conduct, having augmented the inte- 
 
FAMILY INTERCOURSE. 141 
 
 rest with which he had first inspired me, I settled 
 upon him a fixed salary ; and I had, shortly after, 
 the satisfaction of learning that he had appropriated 
 the greatest portion towards assisting his poor pa- 
 rents. I then determined on sending him to Dres- 
 den, that he might there copy the most rare pictures 
 in that celebrated collection ; where he spent nine 
 months in fulfilling, with the greatest intelligence, 
 the commission intrusted to him. He returned to 
 Berlin, and lived honourably on the fruits of his 
 talents and industry. I set off for Italy, and on my 
 arrival wrote to his majesty, Frederic William III., 
 requesting that he would permit Hoffman to join me ; 
 which favour was granted. Hoffman repaired to 
 Rome, and there I left him on my departure for 
 Germany. But no sooner did he learn my misfor- 
 tunes than he quitted Italy, and came directly to 
 my house at Charlottenberg ; and when he became 
 convinced that he had not been imposed upon, but 
 that I was really absent, and in captivity, he was 
 seized with frenzy, and went and threw himself into 
 the Spire. He was saved ; but, alas! his reason 
 never returned ; and this victim of gratitude after- 
 wards put a period to his existence during a paroxysm 
 of insanity. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 DUTIES AND EMPLOYMENTS OF FAMILIES. 
 
 Section I. — Employers and Servants. 
 
 EARL OF PEMBROKE. 
 
 Henry, late Earl of Pembroke, had many good qua- 
 lities, but always persisted inflexibly in his own opi- 
 nion, which, as well as his conduct, was often very 
 singular. His lordship thought of an ingenious ex- 
 pedient to prevent the remonstrances and expostula- 
 tions of those about him ; and this was to feign him- 
 self deaf ; and thus, under pretence of hearing very 
 imperfectly, he would always form his answers, not 
 by what was said to him, but by what he desired to 
 have said. 
 
 Among other servants, was one who had lived 
 with him from a child, and served him with great 
 fidelity in several capacities, till at length he became 
 coachman. This man, by degrees, got a habit of 
 drinking, for which his lady often desired he might be 
 dismissed. My lord always answered, " Yes, indeed, 
 John is an excellent servant." " I say," replied the 
 lady, " that he is continually drunk, and therefore 
 desire he may be turned off." " Ay," said his lord- 
 ship, " he has lived with me from a child, and, as you 
 say, a trifle of wages should not part us." 
 
DUTIES AND EMPLOYMENTS OF FAMILIES. 148 
 
 John, however, one evening, as he was driving from 
 Kensington, overturned his lady in Hyde-park : 
 though not much hurt, yet, when she came home, she 
 began to teaze the earl. " Here," said she, "is that beast 
 John, so drunk that he can scarcely stand ; he has 
 overturned the coach, and if he is not discharged he 
 will one day break our necks." "Ay," said my lord," is 
 poor John sick? Alas, I am sorry for him." " I am com- 
 plaining," said my lady, " that he is drunk, and has 
 overturned me." " Ay," replied my lord, " to be sure he 
 has behaved very well, and shall have proper advice." 
 My lady, finding it useless to remonstrate, went away 
 in a passion ; and the earl having ordered John into 
 his presence, addressed him very coolly in these 
 terms : " John, you know that I have a regard for 
 you ; and, as long as you behave well, you shall 
 always be taken care of in my family. My lady tells 
 me that you are taken ill ; and indeed I see that you 
 can hardly stand : go to bed, and I will take care 
 that you have proper advice." John being thus dis- 
 missed, was carried to bed, where, by his lordship's 
 order, a large blister was put upon his head, another 
 between his shoulders, and sixteen ounces of blood 
 taken from his arm. John found himself next morn- 
 ing in a woful condition, and was soon acquainted 
 with the whole process, and the reasons on which it 
 was made. He had no remedy but to submit, for he 
 would rather have endured ten blisters than lose his 
 place. His lordship sent very formally, twice a day, 
 to know how he did, and frequently congratulated 
 his lady upon John's recovery ; whom he directed to 
 be fed only with water-gruel, and to have no com- 
 pany but an old woman, who acted as his nurse. In 
 about a week, John having constantly sent word that 
 he was well, his lordship thought fit to understand 
 
144 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 the messenger, and said, he was extremely glad to 
 hear the fever had quite left him, and desired to see 
 him. When John came in, " Well, John," said his 
 lordship, " I hope this bout is over." " Ah, my lord," 
 said John, " I humbly ask your lordship's pardon, 
 and I promise never to commit the same fault again." 
 " Ay, ay," replied my lord, " you say right ; nobody 
 can prevent sickness ; and if you should be ill again, 
 John, I shall see it, though perhaps you would not 
 complain ; and I promise you that you shall have 
 always the same advice aud attendance that you have 
 had now." " God bless your lordship," said John, 
 " I hope there will be no need." " So do I," said 
 the earl ; " but, as long as you perform your duty to 
 me, John, I will do mine to you, never fear." John 
 then withdrew, and so dreaded the discipline he had 
 undergone, that he never was known to be drunk 
 afterwards. 
 
 MR. G. AND JERVAS. 
 
 Mr. G. — Ha! Jervas, how are you, my old boy ? 
 how do things go on at home ? 
 
 Steward. — Bad enough, your honour ; the magpie's 
 dead. 
 
 Mr. G. — Poor Mag ! so he is gone. How came 
 he to die ? 
 
 Steward. — Over-ate himself, Sir. 
 
 Mr. G. — Did he ? a greedy dog ! Why, what did 
 he get that he liked so well ? 
 
 Steward. — Horse-flesh, Sir ; he died of eating 
 horse-flesh. 
 
 Mr. G. — How came he to get so much horse- 
 flesh? 
 
 Steward. — All your father's horses, Sir. 
 
DUTIES AND EMPLOYMENTS OF FAMILIES. 145 
 
 Mr. G. — What! are they dead too ? 
 
 Steward. — Ay, Sir, they died of over- work. 
 
 Mr. G. — And why were they over-worked, pray ? 
 
 Steward. — To carry water, Sir. 
 
 Mr. G. — To carry water ! And what were they 
 carrying water for ? 
 
 Steward. — Sure, Sir, to put out the fire. 
 
 Mr. G.— Fire ! what fire ? 
 
 Steward. — Oh, Sir, your father's house is burnt 
 down to the ground. 
 
 Mr. G. — My father's house burnt down ! and how 
 came it set on fire ? 
 
 Steward. — I think, Sir, it must have been the 
 torches. 
 
 Mr. G. — Torches ! what torches ? 
 
 Steward. — At your mother's funeral. 
 
 Mr. G. — My mother dead! 
 
 Steward. — Ah, poor lady! she never looked up 
 after it. 
 
 Mr. G.— -After what ? 
 
 Steward. — The loss of your father. 
 
 Mr. G.— My father gone too ! 
 
 Steward. — Yes, poor gentleman ! he took to his 
 bed as soon as he heard of it. 
 
 Mr. G.— Heard of what ? 
 
 Steward. — The bad news, Sir, an' please your 
 honour. 
 
 Mr. G. — What ! more miseries ? more bad news ? 
 
 Steward. — Yes, Sir, your bank has failed, and your 
 credit is lost, and you are not worth a shilling in the 
 world. I made bold, Sir, to come to wait on you to 
 tell you about it, for I thought you would like to 
 hear the news. 
 
146 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 MR, HARRIOT. 
 
 Mr. Harriot, late magistrate of the Thames Police, 
 was, in his youth, midshipman on board a ship of 
 war lying at New York. A poor girl, whose mother 
 kept a tavern at St. John's, Newfoundland, had been 
 enticed away by an officer, who brought her to Eng- 
 land, and then deserted her. She passed over to 
 Ireland, where she had some relations ; but deter- 
 mined to return to America, and went in a brig filled 
 with Redemptioners, that is, persons who redeem the 
 price of their passage by the sale of their services 
 for a certain term of years. This poor girl came to 
 market for sale when Mr. Harriot was there ; and 
 relating her unhappy tale, he purchased her from the 
 captain, and sent her in a schooner to Newfound- 
 land ; where he afterwards went himself, and was 
 welcomed with tears of gratitude by the mother and 
 the daughter. 
 
 AN ENGLISH MASTER AND AN IRISH 
 SERVANT. 
 
 The first question in a w 7 himsical dialogue between 
 an English gentleman, on his arrival in Ireland, and 
 Terence, his servant, a native of that country, rela- 
 ted to rain. 
 
 Master. — Does it rain ? 
 
 Terry. — No, Sir. 
 
 M. — I see the sun shines — Post nebulas Phoebus, 
 
 T. — The post has not come in yet. 
 
 M. — How long did you live with Mr. T. ? 
 
 T. — In throth, Sir, I can't tell. I passd my time 
 so pleasantly in his service that I never kept any 
 account of it. I might have lived with him all the 
 
DUTIES AND EMPLOYMENTS OF FAMILIES. 147 
 
 days of my life, and a great deal longer, if I 
 pleased. 
 
 M. — What made you leave him ? 
 
 T. — My young mistress took it into her head to 
 break my heart ; for I was obliged to attend her to 
 church, to the play, and wherever she visited. 
 
 M. — Was not your master a proud man ? 
 
 T. — The proudest man in the kingdom ; he would 
 not do a dirty action for the universe. 
 
 M. — WTiat age are you now ? 
 
 T. — I am just the same age as Paddy Leahy : he 
 and I were born in a week of each other. 
 
 M.— -How old is he ? 
 
 T. — I can't tell ; and I don't think he can tell 
 himself. 
 
 M. — Were you born in Dublin ? 
 
 T. — No, Sir ; I might if I had a mind ; but I pre- 
 ferred the country ; and, please God, if I live and do 
 well, I'll be buried in the same parish I was born in. 
 
 M. — You can write, I suppose ? 
 
 T. — Yes, Sir ; as fast as a dog can trot. 
 
 M. — Which is the usual mode of travelling in this 
 country ? 
 
 T. — Why, Sir, if you travel by water, you must 
 take a boat ; and if you travel by land, either in a 
 chaise or on horseback ; those who can't afford one 
 or t'other, are obliged to trudge it on foot. 
 
 M. — Which is the pleasantest season for travelling? 
 
 T. — Why, Sir, I think that season in which a man 
 has most money in his purse. 
 
 M. — I believe your roads are passably good ? 
 
 T. — They are passable, Sir, if you pay the turn- 
 pike. 
 
 M. — I am told that you have an immensity of black 
 cattle in this country. 
 
 l 2 
 
148 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 T. — Why, we have, Sir, plenty of every colour. 
 
 M. — But I think it rains too much in Ireland. 
 
 T. — So every one says ; but Sir Boyle says he will 
 bring an act of Parliament for fair weather ; and I am 
 sure the poor hay-makers and turf-cutters will bless 
 him for it. Bless him ! it was he that first proposed 
 that every quart bottle should hold a quart. 
 
 M. — As you have many fine rivers, I suppose you 
 have abundance of fish ? 
 
 T. — The best water ever wet — the first fish in the 
 world except themselves. Why, master, I don't tell 
 you a lie ; if you were at the Boyne you could get 
 salmon and trout for nothing ; and if you were at Bal- 
 ly shanny you could get them for less. 
 
 M. — Were you ever in England ? 
 
 T. — No, Sir ; but Pd like very much to see that 
 fine country. 
 
 M. — Your passage to Liverpool, or the Head, would 
 not cost more than half-a-guinea. 
 
 T. — Throth, master, Pd rather walk it than pay 
 half the money. 
 
 RICHARD LAWRENCE. 
 
 The following is an extract from a Memoir of Mrs. 
 C. Bernard, of Southampton : — 
 
 Of her conduct as a mistress I cannot give a better 
 proof, than that those servants who were worth keep- 
 ing, stayed till they were removed by death or mar- 
 riage. One of her female servants lived with her, or 
 waited round her person, forty years ; and the almost 
 unparalleled instance which follows, perhaps reflects 
 as much honour on the man-servant as it does on the 
 mistress, or master, one of her sons. It is briefly 
 
DUTIES AND EMPLOYMENTS OP FAMILIES. 149 
 
 expressed in the inscription over his grave, which is 
 as follows : — 
 
 In Memory of 
 
 Mr. Richard Lawrence, 
 
 Who, after living sixty years in 
 
 The family of the Bernards above Barr, 
 
 Departed this life, 12th Feb., 1795, 
 
 Aged 74 years. 
 
 His humble demeanour, 
 
 His affectionate faithfulness, 
 
 And persevering diligence in his station, 
 
 Are best attested by the fact 
 
 Related above. 
 
 His surviving master, , 
 
 Mr. William Bernard, 
 
 Raises this stone as a memorial 
 
 Of so uncommon an instance of 
 
 Private Excellence. 
 
 TWO CHINESE SERVANTS. 
 
 A mandarin in China had two servants ; one came 
 from the north, the other from the south part of 
 China. The mandarin one day ordered the south 
 countryman to carry out his son to take the air : the 
 servant let the child fall into a horse-pond ; and, in- 
 stead of quickly endeavouring to extricate the child, 
 he returned to inform his master ; but fearing to dis- 
 turb him, as he was writing some official documents, 
 he stood quietly by for the space of two hours. At 
 length, his master seeing him standing at a distance, 
 asked him what he wanted ? " Sir," said he, " the 
 boy is fallen into the pond, and I come to beg you 
 to send somebody to take him out." " What ! you 
 scoundrel," said the mandarin, " have you stood here 
 
150 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 silent without telling?" " I durst not disturb you, 
 Sir," said he. The mandarin ran to the pond, but 
 found the child had been dead for some time. He 
 was then so vexed as to declare, that never would he 
 have any thing more to do with south-country ser- 
 vants. 
 
 On a certain day, the master was called out with- 
 out delay from home, and was obliged to go on foot. 
 Coming to the side of a small river, he found there 
 was no boat. He had his servant with him from the 
 north : " Never fear, Sir," said he, " I will manage 
 it ;" and, pulling off some of his clothes, said, " If 
 you will get upon my back, Sir, I will carry you 
 through in a moment." The mandarin, when they 
 had got about half-way over, said, " My good fellow, 
 this is just what I like ; the promptitude of you 
 north-country lads is very valuable. As a reward, I 
 mean to give you one of my maid-servants in mar- 
 riage. The servant, on hearing this, was so over- 
 powered with joy, that, having no patience to wait 
 till he had got to the shore, he fell on his knees to 
 thank him for the favour ; and thus, very unceremo- 
 niously, let his master sink into the river. 
 
 ANCIENT SERVANTS. 
 
 The following curious paper contains regulations 
 for the household servants of an English baronet, 
 about the year 1566. 
 
 I. That no seruant bee absent from praier, at 
 morning or euening, without a lawfull excuse, to be 
 alledged within one day after, vpon paine to forfeit 
 for euery time 2d. 
 
 II. That none swear anie othe vppon paine for 
 euery one Id. 
 
DUTIES AND EMPLOYMENTS OF FAMILIES. 151 
 
 III. That no man leaue any doore open that he 
 findeth shut, without there bee cause, vpon paine 
 for euery tyme Id. 
 
 IV. That none of the men be in bed, from our 
 Lady-day to Michaelmas, after 6 of the clock in 
 the morning ; nor out of his bed after 1 of the 
 clock at night ; nor from Michaelmas till our 
 Lady-day, in bed after 7 in the morning, nor out 
 after nine at night, without reasonable cause, on 
 pain of 2d. 
 
 V. That no man's bed be vnmade, nor fire or 
 candle-box vncleane after 8 of the clock in the 
 morning, on pain of Id. 
 
 VII. That no man teach any of the children any 
 unhonest speech, or othe, on paine of 4d. 
 
 VI I L That no man waite at table without a 
 trencher in his hand, except it be upon some good 
 cause, on paine of Id. 
 
 IX. That no man appointed to waite at my table 
 be absent that meale, without reasonable cause, on 
 paine of Id. 
 
 X. If anie man break a glasse hee shall answer 
 the price thereof out of his wages ; and if it bee not 
 known who breake it, the butler shall pay for it, on 
 paine of 12d. 
 
 XL The table must be couered haife an houer 
 before 1 1 at dinner, and 6 at supper, or before, on 
 paine of 2d. 
 
 XII. That meate be readie at 11, or before, at 
 dinner, and 6, or before, at supper, on paine 
 of 6d. 
 
 XIII. That none be absent, without leave or 
 good cause, the whole day, or anie part of it, on 
 paine of 4d. 
 
\5'1 THE FAMILY CLftCLE. 
 
 XIV. That no man strike his fellow, on paine of 
 loss of seruice ; nor reuile or threaten, or provoke 
 r>ne another to strike, on paine of 12d. 
 
 XV. That no man come to the kitchen without 
 reasonable cause, on paine of Id., and the cook 
 likewise to forfeit Id. 
 
 XVI. That none toy with the maids, on paine 
 of 4d. 
 
 XVII. That no man weare foule shirt on Sun- 
 day, nor broken hose, or shooes, or doublett without 
 buttons, on paine of Id. 
 
 XVIII. That when any stranger goeth hence, 
 the chamber be drest vp againe within 4 howers 
 after, on paine of Id. 
 
 XIX. That the hall bee made cleane euery day, 
 by eight in the winter, and seuen in the summer, on 
 paine of him that shall do it 1 d. 
 
 XX. That the court-gate bee shut each meale, 
 and not opened during dinner and supper, without 
 just cause, on paine the porter to forfiet for every 
 time Id. 
 
 XXI. That all stayrs in the house, and other 
 rooms that need shall require, bee made clean on 
 Fryday after dinner on paine of forfeyture of euery 
 one whom it shall belong vnto 3d. 
 
 All which sommes shall be duly paide each quar- 
 ter-day out of their wages, and bestowed on the 
 poore, or other godly use. 
 
 DEAN SWIFT. 
 
 Swift had some whimsical contrivances to punish 
 his servants for disobedience of orders. The hiring 
 of his maid-servants he left to the house-keeper, and 
 
DUTIES AND EMPLOYMENTS OF FAMILIES. 153 
 
 that ceremony over, acquainted them, that he had 
 but two commands to give them — one, to shut the door 
 whenever they came into a room ; the other, to 
 shut the door after them, whenever they went out 
 of a room. One of these maid-servants came to him 
 one day, and requested permission to go to her 
 sister's wedding, which was to be that day, at a 
 place distant about ten miles from Dublin. Swift 
 not only consented, but said he would lend her one 
 of his own horses, with a servant to ride before her, 
 and gave his directions accordingly. The maid, in 
 her joy for this favour, forgot to shut the door when 
 she left the room : in about a quarter of an hour 
 after she was gone, the dean ordered a servant to 
 saddle another horse, and make all the speed he 
 could to overtake them, and oblige them to return 
 back immediately. They had not got more than 
 half the way, when he overtook them, and delivered 
 them the dean's positive commands, with which, 
 however reluctantly, the poor girl was obliged to 
 comply : she came into his presence, with a most 
 mortified countenance, and begged to know his 
 honour's commands. — " Only to shut the door after 
 you," was the reply. But not to carry the punish- 
 ment too far, he then permitted her to resume her 
 journey. 
 
 A FEMALE SERVANT. 
 
 About twenty or thirty years since, a gentleman 
 named Webster, who lived in the Woodlands, a wild, 
 uncultivated, barren range of hills in Derbyshire, 
 bordering upon the confines of Yorkshire, had occa- 
 sion to go from home. The family, besides himself, 
 consisted of the servant-man, a young girl, and the 
 
154 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 housekeeper. At his departure he gave his man a 
 strict charge to remain in the house, along with the 
 females ; and not on any account to absent himself 
 at night, until his return. This the man promised to 
 do ; and Mr. Webster proceeded on his journey. At 
 night, however, the man went out, notwithstanding 
 all the earnest entreaties and remonstrances of the 
 housekeeper to the contrary ; and not coming in, she 
 and the servant-girl at the usual time went to bed. 
 Sometime in the night they were awakened by a loud 
 knocking at the door. The housekeeper got up, 
 went down stairs, and inquired who was there, 
 and what was their business ? She was informed 
 that a friend of Mr. Webster being benighted, and 
 the night wet and stormy, requested a night's 
 lodging. She forthwith gave him admittance, 
 roused up the fire, led his horse into the stable, and 
 then returned to provide something to eat for her 
 guest, of which he partook, and was then shown to 
 his chamber. On returning to the kitchen, she took 
 up his great-coat in order to dry it, when, perceiving 
 it to be, as she thought, very heavy, curiosity 
 prompted her to examine the pockets, in which she 
 found a pair of loaded pistols and their own large 
 carving-knife. Thunderstruck by the discovery, she 
 immediately perceived what sort of a guest she had 
 to deal with, and his intentions. However, summon- 
 ing up all her courage and resolution, she proceeded 
 softly up stairs, and, with a rope, fastened, as well as 
 she could, the door of the room in which the villain 
 was ; then went down, and in great perturbation of 
 mind awaited the event. Shortly after a man came 
 to the window, and, in a low but distinct tone of 
 voice, said, " Are you ready ? " She grasped one of 
 the pistols, with a desperate resolution, presented it 
 
DUTIES AND EMPLOYMENTS OF FAMILIES. ] 55 
 
 to his face, and fired. The report of the pistol 
 alarmed the villain above, who attempted to get out 
 of the room ; but was stopped in his purpose by her 
 saying, " Villain, if you open the door, you are a 
 dead man." She then sent the servant-girl for assist- 
 ance, while she remained, with the other pistol in her 
 hand, guarding the chamber-door. When help ar- 
 rived, the villain was taken into custody ; and, on 
 searching without, they found the servant-man shot 
 dead. Another, who was taken shortly after, met 
 with his deserts ; and the housekeeper, who had 
 acted with such fidelity and such unparalleled intre- 
 pidity, was soon after married to her master. 
 
 AN IRISH SERVANT. 
 
 The following is reported as an actual conversation 
 between an Irish lady and an Irish servant out of 
 place : — 
 
 " Ah ! then, I'm proud to see your ladyship ; and 
 God reward ye and be good to ye, for the favour ye've 
 shown a poor lone ould craythur like myself! Sure, 
 what would I do but die only for ye ? " " Why don't 
 you try to get a place ? " "A place is it ? Och, it's 
 my feet that's wore off looking after them for places ; 
 and the worst o' them wont take up wid me, 'cause 
 I'm ould and Irish, which is a shame ; and you, 
 ma'am, and many like ye, from the sod, God bless 
 ye ! " " Well, you must only keep up your spirits." 
 " Troth, ma'am, it's all I have to keep. And now 
 there's two o' my front teeth gone ; though to be 
 sure they took the best time to be off, when I'd 
 nothing for 'em to do." 
 
156 THE FAMILY CIRCLE* 
 
 AN ITALIAN NOBLEMAN AND HIS 
 SERVANT. 
 
 A nobleman residing at a castle in Italy was about 
 to celebrate his marriage-feast. All the elements 
 were propitious except the ocean, which had been so 
 boisterous as to deny the very necessary appendage 
 of fish. On the very morning of the feast, however, 
 a poor fisherman made his appearance, with a turbot 
 so large that it seemed to have been created for the 
 occasion. Joy pervaded the castle ; and the fisher- 
 man was ushered with his prize into the saloon, where 
 the nobleman, in the presence of his visitors, re- 
 quested him to put what price he thought proper on 
 the fish, and it should be instantly paid him. " One hun- 
 dred lashes," said the fisherman, " on my bare back, 
 is the price of the fish ; and I will not bate one 
 strand of whipcord on the bargain." The nobleman 
 and his guests were not a little astonished ; but our 
 tradesman was resolute, and remonstrance was in 
 vain. At length the nobleman exclaimed, " Well, 
 well, the fellow is a humorist, and the fish we must 
 have ; but lay on lightly, and let the price be 
 paid in our presence." After fifty lashes had been 
 administered, " Hold, hold," exclaimed the fisherman, 
 " I have a partner in this business, and it is fitting that 
 he should receive his share." " What, are there two 
 such madcaps in the world ? " exclaimed the noble- 
 man ; " name him, and he shall be sent for instantly." 
 " You need not go far for him," said the fisherman ; 
 " you will find him at your gate, in the shape of your 
 own porter ; who would not let me in, until I promised 
 that he should have the half of whatever I received for 
 my turbot." " Oh, oh," said the nobleman, " bring him 
 up instantly ; he shall receive his stipulated moiety 
 
DUTIES AND EMPLOYMENTS OF FAMILIES. 157 
 
 with the strictest justice." This ceremony being 
 finished, he discharged the porter, and amply re- 
 warded the fisherman. 
 
 A MINISTER'S MAN. 
 
 In Scotland, the male servant of a country clergy- 
 man, known by the name of " the Minister's Man," 
 used to be a person of some importance. One of 
 these having rather an economical mistress, who 
 grudged particularly the expense of candle-light, John 
 contrived at least to make his master sensible of the 
 inconvenience of darkness. It happened, one night, 
 that the minister, being sent for in a hurry by one of 
 his parishioners, who was taken ill, John thought 
 proper to saddle the cow instead of the horse. After 
 proceeding a little way, the minister turned back, and 
 called out rather angrily, that the horse had got 
 horns. " If there has been a mistake made," an- 
 swered John, " the mistress must be responsible, as 
 she chooses to send me to the stable always in the 
 dark." 
 
 MR. BLUSTER'S SERVANT. 
 
 " Is Mr. Bluster within?" " No, he is out of 
 town," remarked the servant. " When can I see 
 him ? " "I don't know : have you any special busi- 
 ness with Mr. Bluster ? " " Yes, there is a small bill 
 which I wish to settle." " Well," said the servant, 
 " I don't know whether he will return this week or 
 not." " But I wish to pay the bill, as I am to leave 
 town immediately." " Oh! you wish to pay him 
 some money ? he is up stairs, I'm thinking : I will 
 
158 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 call him. Please to walk into the drawing-room ; 
 take a chair, Sir ; your hat, if you please ; Mr, Blus- 
 ter will be with you in a moment ! " 
 
 When shall we learn the propriety of teaching our 
 servants always to speak the truth ? If they tell 
 falsehoods for us, will they not soon tell them for 
 themselves ? 
 
 EARL FITZWILLIAM. 
 
 The founder of the present noble family of Fitzwil- 
 liam was Alderman of Bread-street in the year 1506. 
 Before his death he forgave all his debtors ; and 
 wrote upon the account of each, " Amore Dei re- 
 mitto ! " — cancelled for the love of God. 
 
 Cardinal Wolsey was the chief means of this 
 worthy citizen acquiring his large fortune. After the 
 disgrace of the cardinal, Fitzwilliam very hospitably 
 entertained him at Milton, Northamptonshire, one of 
 the fine seats of the present earl. Henry VIII. was 
 so enraged at this, that he sent for Fitzwilliam to 
 court, and said, " How, ha ! how comes it, ha ! that 
 you dare entertain a traitor?" Fitzwilliam modestly re- 
 plied, " Please your highness, I did it not from disloy- 
 alty, but gratitude." The angry monarch here inter- 
 rupted him by, " How, ha ! " the usual exclamation 
 of his rage. Fitzwilliam, with the tear of gratitude 
 in his eye, and the burst of loyalty in his bosom, con- 
 tinued, " From gratitude, as he was my old master, 
 and the means of my greatest fortunes." 
 
 Impetuous Harry was so much pleased with the 
 answer, that he shook him heartily by the hand, and 
 said, " Such gratitude, ha ! shall never want a mas- 
 
DUTIES AND EMPLOYMENTS OF FAMILIES. 159 
 
 ter. Come into my service, worthy man, and teach 
 my other servants gratitude, for few of them have 
 any." He then knighted him on the spot ; and he 
 was immediately sworn in as a privy councillor. 
 
 Section II. — Domestic Employments. 
 
 A SYRIAN FAMILY. 
 
 In the Travels of John Carne, Esq., in the East, 
 the following example of Syrian hospitality occurs ; 
 and was accepted, as well it might, by the author 
 and his friends, with emotions of lively gratitude : — 
 
 We entered the populous town ; and, instead of 
 making our way, as usual, to the caravanserai, we 
 resolved to trust to the hospitality of the natives. 
 After winding through several narrow, dirty, and pre- 
 cipitous streets, we at last had the pleasure of alight- 
 ing at the door of a dwelling, to which a flight of 
 steps conducted us. The household was a large one ; 
 several young and good-looking women formed part 
 of it, who received us kindly, and set about in earnest 
 to prepare the supper. The only objection to the 
 luxury of this warm divan was, that all the mysteries 
 of the cooking were obliged to be performed within 
 the settle at the cheerful fire ; over which, in intense 
 earnestness, bent the forms of our Syrian hostesses ; 
 their dark eyes fixed, not on conquest or mischief, 
 but on an excellent omelet, and one or two other 
 preparations. The tresses of their dark hair dropped 
 at times so near the blaze as to threaten the destruc- 
 tion of that richest ornament of woman. It needed 
 not the strong fatigue of that day's journey, the driz- 
 zling rain, and the desolate town without, to enter 
 
160 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 with strong relish into the scene and its tempting 
 accompaniments. The repast was at last ready ; we 
 would fain have shared it with the fair preparers, who 
 had so well received the hostless strangers; but they 
 declined, and stood calmly and silently gazing at the 
 good-will with which their viands were devoured. 
 Their figures were slight and very well made, the 
 complexion pale, but the features lively and expres- 
 sive ; with those inseparable features, the raven hair 
 and the dark eye. 
 
 A POOR SCHOLAR. 
 
 A young gentleman of no fortune, a student at 
 Oxford, fell in love with an innkeeper's daughter of 
 that town, whose circumstances were very narrow; 
 He had philosophy enough to despise superfluous 
 wealth, and judgment to foresee the necessity of 
 a competency ; but love was headstrong, and too 
 hard for reason ; so that, after a year or two's in- 
 effectual delay, they had courage enough to marry ! 
 The scholar gained a wife, and lost a fellowship, the 
 only small subsistence he before depended on. 
 
 The innkeeper often upbraided the bridegroom 
 with the barren effects of his learning, and thought 
 it very strange that while every body told him his 
 son-in-law was a great scholar, his whole stock of 
 knowledge could not help him to one penny of his 
 own getting. 
 
 Six or seven months after this marriage, the 
 father-in-law died, miserably poor, and the credit 
 which his industry maintained in his life-time dying 
 with him, the goods he left behind were seized on 
 by his creditors, and the student and his young wife 
 
DUTIES AND EMPLOYMENTS OF FAMILIES. 161 
 
 turned out of doors, to eat the bread of fortune 
 where they could find it. 
 
 The wife had a relation in town, unable to con- 
 tribute any great assistance ; she took them, how- 
 ever, into a garret of her house, where the man 
 could only waste his hours between books and sighs, 
 while the partner of his sorrows made hard shift to 
 pick up a support by knitting stockings, at a certain 
 small price for every pair. 
 
 At last, their cares at once became more weighty, 
 and their patience less fortified. The only subject 
 of their conversation now, was their melancholy 
 dread of what would .become of the poor infant, who 
 was to be born a beggar. 
 
 But, sitting constantly together from morning to 
 night, the scholar often fixed his eyes, with steadfast 
 observation, on the motion of his wife's fingers, in 
 the dexterous management of her needles : he took 
 it into his imagination, that it was not impossible to 
 contrive a little loom, which might do the work with 
 much more expedition. 
 
 This thought he communicated to his wife, and 
 joining his head to her hands, the endeavour suc- 
 ceeded to their wish. Thus the ingenious stock- 
 ing-loom, which is so common, was first invented, 
 by which he not only made himself and his family 
 happy, but left his nation indebted to him for a 
 benefit which enables us to export silk stockings in 
 great quantities, and to a vast advantage, to those 
 very countries from whence before we used to bring 
 them at considerable loss in the balance of traffic. 
 
162 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 DEAN SWIFT. 
 
 Dean Swift, on one occasion, invited to dinner 
 several of the first noblemen and gentlemen in 
 Dublin, who, knowing his punctuality, assembled at 
 the appointed time to a minute. A servant an- 
 nounced the dinner, and the dean led the way 
 to the dining-room. To each chair was a servant, 
 a bottle of wine, a roll, and an inverted plate. On 
 taking his seat, the dean desired his guests to ar- 
 range themselves according to their own ideas of 
 precedence, and fall to. The company were aston- 
 ished to find the table without a dish, or any pro- 
 visions. The Lord Chancellor, who was present, 
 said, " Mr. Dean, we do not see the joke. " Then 
 I will show it you," answered the dean, turning up 
 his plate, under which was half-a-crown, and a bill 
 of fare from a neighbouring tavern. " Here, Sir," 
 said he to his servant, " bring me a plate of goose." 
 The company caught the idea, and each man sent 
 his plate and half-a-crown. 
 
 Covers with every thing that the appetites of the 
 moment dictated, soon appeared. The novelty, the 
 peculiarity of the manner, and the unexpected circum- 
 stances, altogether excited the plaudits of the noble 
 guests, who declared themselves remarkably gratified 
 by the dean's entertainment. " Well," said the 
 dean, " gentlemen, if you have dined, I will order 
 the dessert." A large roll of paper, presenting the 
 particulars of a splendid dinner, was produced, with 
 an estimate of the expense. The dean requested 
 the accountant-general to deduct the half-crowns 
 from the amount, observing, " that as his noble 
 guests were pleased to express their satisfaction with 
 the dinner, he begged their advice and assistance in 
 
DUTIES AND EMPLOYMENTS OF FAMILIES. 163 
 
 disposing of the fragments and crumbs," as he termed 
 the balance mentioned by the accountant-general, 
 namely, two hundred and fifty pounds. The company 
 said that no person was capable of instructing the 
 dean in things of that nature. After the circulation 
 of the finest wines, the most judicious remarks on 
 charity, and its abuse, were introduced ; and it was 
 agreed, that the most proper objects of liberal re- 
 lief, were well-educated families, who from affluence, 
 or the expectation of it, were reduced through mis- 
 fortune to silent despair. The dean then divided 
 the sum according to the number of his guests, and 
 requested them to distribute it among the poor 
 families in their respective connexions. 
 
 THE ICELANDERS. 
 
 The love of literature has prevailed from very 
 early times among the inhabitants of Iceland. 
 There, the w r ay in which the evenings of their long 
 winter are spent, furnishes a most agreeable contrast 
 to the miserable pot-house debauchery which fills 
 up the leisure of too many uncultivated Englishmen, 
 and proves the value of a well-regulated knowledge, 
 as an auxiliary to virtue. A distinguished traveller, 
 who spent a winter in Iceland, has described a 
 winter evening in an Icelandic family, as rendered 
 instructive and pleasing, in the highest degree, by 
 the prevailing love of useful knowledge among all 
 ranks. As soon as the evening shuts in, the family 
 assemble, master and mistress, children and servants. 
 The} r all take their work in their hands, except one, 
 who acts as reader. Though they have very few 
 printed books, numbers write excellently, and copy 
 m 2 
 
164 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 out the numerous histories of their own island. 
 The reader is frequently interrupted by the head of 
 the family, or some of the more intelligent members, 
 who make remarks, and propose questions to exer- 
 cise the ingenuity of the children or the servants. 
 In this way the minds of all are improved in such a 
 degree, " that," says this writer, " I have frequently 
 been astonished at the familiarity with which many 
 of these self-taught peasants have discoursed on 
 subjects, which, in other countries, we should expect 
 to hear discussed by those only who have devoted 
 their lives to the study of science." Let me not 
 omit to add, that the evening thus rationally and 
 virtuously begun, is, by these well-instructed people, 
 closed with an act of family devotion. 
 
 A PERSIAN FAMILY. 
 
 A Persian writer, of piety and learning, mentions that 
 a citizen who was the guest of one of the Eeliantee, 
 in Persia, when he began one morning, according to 
 his custom, to read aloud a chapter of the Koran, 
 was assailed with a stick by his host's wife, who 
 asked him, in a rage, if he imagined any of the family 
 to be dead, that he thought it necessary to read that 
 book ? The husband, while reproving the violence 
 of his wife, blamed also his friend, saying, that he 
 should have known better than to anticipate mis- 
 fortune, by going through a ceremony only used at 
 funerals. 
 
 JOSEPH AUSTIN. 
 
 A bricklayer, in the neighbourhood oi Cambridge, 
 of the name of Joseph Austin, had often looked with 
 
DUTIES AND EMPLOYMENTS OF FAMILIES. 165 
 
 a longing eye upon a bit of ground by the road-side, 
 part of what is called, by a term which reflects 
 little credit upon manorial rights or parochial ma- 
 nagement, the lord's waste. Whenever he looked 
 at this spot, he used to think what a nice place it 
 would be for a house ; and being a builder by trade, 
 and something of a castle-builder by nature, he used, 
 as soon as he fell asleep at night, to dream that he 
 was at work with his brickbats and trowel. At 
 length he applied to the manor-court, and got a ver- 
 bal leave to build on the spot. Two of his neigh- 
 bours, moved by envy, as he says, threatened that if 
 he began his house they would pull it down. Upon 
 this, he applied a second time to the court, and ob- 
 tained a legal permission, with the consent of all the 
 copyholders, paying for the entry of his name on 
 the court-rolls, and sixpence a year quit rent. 
 Austin was at this time about forty-two years of age ; 
 he had a wife and four children, and his whole stock 
 of worldly riches amounted to fourteen shillings \ but 
 men who really deserve friends are seldom long 
 without them ; and a master with whom he usually 
 worked at harvest, sold him an old cottage for nine 
 guineas, which he was to work out. 
 
 Austin had for some time, in his leisure hours, 
 been preparing bats, a sort of bricks made of clay 
 and straw, well beaten together, eighteen inches 
 long, twelve wide, and four thick, not burnt, but 
 dried in the sun. With these, and the materials of 
 the old cottage, he went to work. As he had to 
 live and support his family by his daily labour, this 
 building could only be carried on when his regular 
 day's work was done : he often continued it by 
 moonlight, and heard the clock strike twelve before 
 he withdrew from an occupation in which his heart 
 
 
166 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 was engaged ; this, too, when he had to rise at four 
 the next morning, walk to Cambridge, nearly four 
 miles distant, to his work, and return in the evening. 
 If his constitution had not been unusually strong, it 
 must have sunk under these extraordinary exertions ; 
 but he seems to have possessed a strong frame of 
 body, as well as an invincible spirit. When the 
 building was one story high, and the beams were to 
 be laid on, the carpenter discovered that the timber 
 from the old cottage would not serve for so large a 
 place. This was a severe disappointment ; nothing, 
 however, discouraged him ; he covered it over with 
 a few loads of haum, and immediately began a small 
 place in the same manner at the end, working at this 
 with such perseverance, that he got his family in 
 within four months after the foundations were laid. 
 This great object being accomplished, he went on 
 leisurely with the rest, as he could save money for 
 what was wanting ; after five years he raised the 
 second story, and in ten it was tiled and coated. 
 There was house-room in it for himself and his 
 family, and another apartment was let for a guinea 
 a year. 
 
 In this manner did Joseph Austin, with singular 
 industry and economy, build himself a house, which 
 he began with only fourteen shillings in his pocket. 
 During that time his wife had four children, and 
 buried as many more. The money which it cost 
 him was about fifty pounds, the whole of which 
 was saved from the earnings of daily labour. The 
 house and garden occupied about twenty poles of 
 ground ; and the garden was as creditable as the 
 house to the industry and good sense of the owner. 
 One of the fences was made of sweetbriar and roses 
 mixed with woodbine, and the other of dwarf plum 
 
DUTIES AND EMPLOYMENTS OF FAMILIES. 167 
 
 trees ; and against the back of the house he had 
 planted a vine, a nectarine, and a peach-tree. 
 
 A FRENCHMAN. 
 
 A sanguine Frenchman had so high an opinion of 
 the pleasures to be enjoyed in the study of heraldry, 
 that he used to lament, as we are informed by 
 Menage, the hard case of our forefather Adam, who 
 could not possibly amuse himself by investigating 
 that science, nor that of genealogy. 
 
 DR. BURNEY. 
 
 Among the peculiarities of Dr. Burney, were two 
 of a very innocent kind ; the first was, the possession 
 of wine of the best vintage ; the next, the dread 
 of a current of air. " Shut the door," was the first 
 salutation uttered by him to any one who entered 
 his apartment ; and but few of his associates ever 
 neglected the rule. This custom did not abandon 
 him on the most trying occasions ; for having been 
 robbed while returning home one evening in his car- 
 riage along the Greenwich road, by a couple of foot- 
 pads, who were more eager in obtaining his money 
 than contributing to his comfort, he called them 
 back in a peremptory tone ; and while they were 
 wondering at what he wanted with them, he ex- 
 claimed in his usual manner, and with his own 
 peculiar emphasis, " Shut the door!" A voice ac- 
 customed to demand produced the desired effect, 
 and he was instantly obeyed. 
 
168 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 A DUTCH PEASANT. 
 
 Napoleon, when travelling in Holland, after he 
 had subdued it, visited the house of a peasant. 
 The emperor was accompanied by two aides-de- 
 camp, when the following dialogue took place. 
 
 Aide-de-camp. — Here comes ~ the emperor (ad- 
 dressing himself to the Dutchman.) 
 
 Peasant. — What's that to me ? 
 
 Napoleon (entering the house.) — Good morning, 
 my good man. 
 
 Peasant (taking his hat off, but retaining his seat.) 
 — Good morning. 
 
 Emperor. — I am the emperor. 
 
 Peasant. — You ? 
 
 Emperor. — Yes, I. 
 
 Peasant. — I am glad of it. 
 
 Emperor. — I will make your fortune. 
 
 Peasant. — I do not want for any thing. 
 
 Emperor. — Have you any daughters ? 
 
 Peasant. — Yes, two. 
 
 Emperor. — I will provide husbands for them. 
 
 Peasant. — No, I will do that myself. 
 
 The conqueror of Morengo was so chagrined at 
 this uncourteous reception, that he turned quickly on 
 his heel, and left the house. 
 
 Section III. — Friends and Neighbours. 
 
 A CLERGYMAN. 
 
 Two young ladies, of a respectable family in the 
 west of England, were so much reduced, as to be 
 compelled to take in needle-work for their subsist- 
 
DUTIES AND EMPLOYMENTS OF FAMILIES. 169 
 
 ence. The circumstance reaching the ear of a 
 wealthy clergyman in the neighbourhood, who had 
 received some favour from the family, he instantly 
 repaired to the house, and, fearful of wounding their 
 delicacy, said, " I am informed, ladies, that you have 
 in your apartment a most valuable picture. I see 
 it is by the hand of a great master ; and if it is not 
 too great a favour, I entreat you to let me have it, 
 for which I will settle an annuity of fifty pounds 
 upon you, and it shall commence this moment." It 
 is unnecessary to add, that the offer was accepted. 
 
 A FRENCH BOY. 
 
 This youth resided at his father's castle, in the 
 country, with his brother, a lad of eight years of age. 
 One morning, as they were attending their lessons to 
 their tutor, who was a French clergyman, a poor day- 
 labourer came to the door. He inquired for my lord : 
 he was not at home. He asked who was at home : 
 he was informed there were the two young gentlemen 
 and their tutor. He begged to speak with him : he 
 was admitted, and told his mournful tale as follows : 
 — " Sir, I have a brother just dead, and likewise his 
 wife. She has left four children, and the youngest 
 is but eight months old. Myself and two brothers 
 have agreed to take each of us a child, but we do 
 not know what to do with the poor infant." " Why, 
 then, he must go upon the parish," said the unfeel- 
 ing priest. The young nobleman of thirteen years 
 of age took fire : " What, Sir, is my father able to 
 maintain this great castle, and not able to maintain 
 this poor infant ? Besides, he allows me eight 
 Louis-d'ors a year for my pocket-money, and the poor 
 boy shall have all that. Sir, will you give me leave 
 
170 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 to go along with this poor man ? " " Yes, Sir." 
 Away they went about two miles. When they 
 came to the cottage, they found the poor infant 
 in the cradle. He stretched out his little hands, 
 and smiled in the young nobleman's face. " Take 
 him up," said he to the labourer. When they had 
 nearly reached his father's castle, he called at an 
 honest countryman's house : " Here," said he, " good 
 woman, take this child, and bring it up for me : I 
 will pay you punctually for your trouble." 
 
 CURRAN AND BOYCE. 
 
 When a boy, says the late Mr. Curran, I was 
 one morning playing at marbles in the village, with 
 a light heart and a lighter pocket. The jest went 
 gaily round, when suddenly there appeared among 
 us a stranger of a very remarkable and cheerful 
 aspect. He imposed not the least restraint upon 
 our merry little party ; on the contrary, he seemed 
 pleased, and even delighted. I think I see his fine 
 form at a distance of half a century just as he then 
 stood before me in the days of my childhood. His 
 name was Boyce, he was the rector of Newmarket ; 
 to me he took a particular fancy ; I was winning, 
 and full of fun, thinking every thing that was odd, 
 and by no means a miser of my oddities ; every 
 one was welcome to share of them, I had plenty to 
 spare. Some sweetmeats easily bribed me home 
 with him ; I learned from poor Boyce my alphabet, 
 my grammar, and the rudiments of the classics. He 
 taught me all he could, and then sent me to the 
 school at Middle ton. In short, he was the founder 
 of my education, and of my after success in life. I 
 recollect it was about thirty-five years afterwards, 
 
DUTIES AND EMPLOYMENTS OF FAMILIES. 171 
 
 when I had risen to some eminence at the bar, and 
 when I had also a seat in Parliament, on my return 
 one day from Court, I found an old gentleman in 
 my drawing-room, with his feet familiarly placed on 
 each side of my Italian chimney-piece, and his whole 
 air bespoke the consciousness of one who was quite 
 at home. He turned round : it was my early friend 
 and benefactor. I rushed into his arms, and burst 
 into tears. Words cannot describe the scene that 
 followed. " You are right, Sir, you are right ; the 
 chimney-piece is yours ; the pictures are yours ; 
 the house is yours ; all is yours : you gave me all, 
 my friend, my father, my benefactor." He dined 
 with me, and in the evening I observed the tear 
 glistening in his fine blue eye, when he saw poor 
 little Jack, the creature of his bounty, rising in the 
 House of Commons to reply to a Right Honourable 
 Member. Poor Boyce ! he is now gone : no one had 
 a larger share of practical benevolence. 
 
 AN INDIAN. 
 
 At the battle of Freehold, during the first Ame- 
 rican war, a young English officer, closely pressed 
 by two Abenakis Indians, with upraised hatchets, no 
 longer hoped for life, and only resolved to sell it 
 dearly. At the moment when he expected to sink 
 beneath them, an old Indian, armed with a bow, 
 approached him, and prepared to aim an arrow ; but 
 having adjusted it, in an instant he dropped his bow, 
 and ran to throw himself between the young officer 
 and his assailants, who immediately retired with 
 respect. 
 
 The old man took his prisoner by the hand, en- 
 couraged him by caresses, and conducted him to 
 
172 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 his cabin. It was winter, and the Indians were retir- 
 ing home. Here he kept him for some time, treating 
 hirn with undiminished softness, and making him less 
 his slave than his companion. At length he taught 
 him the Abenakis language, and the rude arts in use 
 among that people. They became perfectly satis- 
 fied with each other, and the young officer was com- 
 paratively happy ; except at times, when his heart 
 was wrung to see the old man intently fix his eyes 
 on him and shed tears. 
 
 At the return of spring, the Indians returned to 
 arms, and prepared for the campaign. The old 
 man, yet sufficiently strong to support the fatigues 
 of war, set out with them, accompanied by his pri- 
 soner. The Abenakis made a march of more than 
 two hundred leagues across the desert, till at length 
 they arrived within sight of an English camp ; the 
 old Indian pointed out to the young officer, at the 
 same time contemplating him wistfully, " Behold 
 thy brothers !" said he to him ; " behold where they 
 wait to give us battle ! Hear me, I have saved thy 
 life ; I have taught thee to make a canoe, bows, and 
 arrows ; to obtain the means to make them from the 
 forest ; to manage the hatchet, and to take off the 
 scalp of an enemy. What wert thou when I took 
 thee to my cabin ? Thy hands were those of a 
 child ; they neither served to nourish or defend 
 thee ; thy soul was in night ; thou knewest nothing ; 
 thou owest me all. Wilt thou, then, be ungrateful 
 enough to join thy brothers, and raise the hatchet 
 against us ?" 
 
 The young Englishman vowed he would rather 
 lose a thousand lives than spill the blood of one 
 Abenakis. The Indian looked on his prisoner with 
 earnestness, and, in a mingled tone of tenderness 
 
DUTIES AND EMPLOYMENTS OF FAMILIES. 173 
 
 and sorrow, inquired, " Hast thou a father?" " He 
 was alive," replied the young man, " when I left my 
 country." " Oh, how miserable he must be !" cried 
 the Indian ; and after a moment of silence, he added, 
 " Knowest thou that I have been a father ? I am 
 so no more ! I saw my child fall in the battle ; he 
 was at my side. I saw him die like a warrior : he 
 was covered with wounds, my child, when he fell ! 
 But I have avenged him ! Yes, I have avenged 
 him." The Indian at pronouncing these words was 
 much agitated ; then, turning to the East, where the 
 sun was just rising, he said to the young English- 
 man, " Seest thou that beauteous sun, resplendent of 
 brightness ? Hast thou pleasure in seeing it ?" 
 " Yes," answered he, " I have pleasure in seeing that 
 beautiful sky." " Ah, well ! I have it no more," 
 said the Indian, shedding a torrent of tears. A 
 moment after he showed the young officer a flower- 
 ing shrub. "Seest thou that fine tree?" said he 
 to him, " and hast thou pleasure in looking upon it ? " 
 " Yes, I have," he answered. " I have it no more," 
 returned the Indian, with precipitation ; but as for 
 thee, go, return to thy country, that thy father may 
 again with pleasure mark the rising sun, and behold 
 the springing flower." 
 
 M. DE SENETAIRE. 
 
 The following anecdote is taken from a little 
 volume, entitled, " Great Events from Little Causes," 
 by M. Richer, who says he copied the story from 
 some memoirs which casually fell into his hands. 
 
 Madeline de Senetaire, widow of Guy de St. Exu- 
 peri, retired, after the death of her husband, to the 
 castle of Miraumont, where she determined to pass 
 
174 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 the rest of her days in widowhood. She was not 
 one of those women who, by an affected external 
 decorum, endeavoured to conceal the irregularities 
 of their private life ; but, ignorant of the artifices of 
 vice, she only used that circumspection which virtue 
 dictates ; and received the respectful homage of 
 many of the young nobility, whom her beauty at- 
 tracted to her. 
 
 There were several of them one day with her at 
 the castle of Miraumont, when she saw Mental, the 
 king's lieutenant of Limosin, who, at the head of 
 some cavalry, was conducting several persons to 
 prison, only because they were suspected to be Hu- 
 gonots. Women are generally compassionate : Ma- 
 deline de Senetaire could not see, without tender 
 concern, these unfortunate people dragged to prison ; 
 the more she viewed them, the more her compassion 
 increased, insomuch that she conceived an ardent 
 desire to relieve them ; and ruminating some time 
 on the means to effect their release, she turned to 
 the young noblemen who were with her, and said, 
 " You complain that I never give you an opportu- 
 nity of proving the sincerity of your desire to serve 
 me ; I will now afford you the wished-for satisfac- 
 tion. You must go with me to the deliverance of 
 those poor creatures whom Mental hath loaded with 
 chains, and is conducting to prison : they are men ; 
 therefore let us consider what they suffer, not what 
 they believe." 
 
 The nobles were ready in a moment, and, thus 
 called upon, never thought of deliberating. The 
 widow, dressed like an amazon, put herself at their 
 head, led them against Mental, and, dispersing his 
 troops, put them to flight and set the prisoners free. 
 The king's lieutenant, enraged that a woman should 
 
DUTIES AND EMPLOYMENTS OF FAMILIES. 175 
 
 oblige him to abandon his prey, assembled above 
 one thousand men, with which he besieged the 
 castle of Miraumont. The spirited widow, however, 
 sallied out with her forces, whom love rendered 
 invincible ; and, failing upon Mental, he was again 
 defeated, notwithstanding the superiority of his num- 
 bers. He now sought for shelter in a neighbouring 
 castle, but before he could reach the place he re- 
 ceived a shot which brought him from his horse, and 
 he expired a few hours after. Henry III. being 
 informed of the affair, gave orders to several officers 
 to march with their troops and raze the castle of 
 Miraumont to the ground. This news spreading 
 throughout the province where Madame de Senetaire 
 was greatly respected on account of her birth and 
 virtues, all the gentlemen considered it their duty to 
 assist her, and accordingly made her a tender of 
 their services. In consequence of this, the officers 
 who had orders to besiege the castle were afraid 
 even to enter the province, and the lady remained 
 in peace. 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 FAMILY CUSTOMS. 
 
 Section I. — Courtship and Marriage. 
 
 A LOVER'S GIFT. 
 
 In the reign of Elizabeth, it was " the custome for 
 maydes and gentlewomen to give their favourites, 
 as tokens of their love, little handkerchiefs of about 
 three or four inches square, wrought round about, 
 and with a button or a tassel at each corner, and a 
 little one in the middle with silke and thread ; the 
 best edged with a small gold lace, or twist, which 
 being folded up in foure crosse foldes, so as the 
 middle might be seene, gentlemen and others did 
 usually wear them in their hats, as favours of their 
 loves and mistresses ; some cost sixpence a-piece, 
 some twelve-pence, and the richest sixteen-pence." 
 Of the gentleman's present, a lady in Cupid's Re- 
 venge, of Beaumont and Fletcher, says, — ; 
 
 " Given ear-rings we will wear, 
 Bracelets of our lover's hair, 
 Which they on our arms shall twist, 
 , (With their names carved) on our wrists." 
 
 RINGS. 
 
 The ring used in the marriage contract is sup- 
 posed to have originated with the Jews, and the 
 
FAMILY CUSTOMS. A / U 
 
 custom to have been adopted by the first Christians. 
 The wearing the ring on the fourth finger was com- 
 mon to the Greeks, because, as Aul. Gellius informs 
 us, they had discovered from anatomy that this finger 
 had a little nerve that went -straight to the heart, 
 and therefore they esteemed it the most honourable, 
 from its being connected with that noble part. 
 
 VALENTINE'S DAY, 
 
 Mr. Douce, a high authority in matters of this 
 kind, states that the observance of this day on the 
 1 4th of February, is nothing more than a monkish 
 corruption of a Roman custom on the feast of the 
 Lupercal, in which the names of young women were 
 put into a box, and drawn out by the men. The 
 ministers of religion substituted the names of saints 
 for those of females ; and he conjectures that St. 
 Valentine's day was chosen for the new feast. 
 
 COMMONWEALTH MARRIAGES. 
 
 During the time of our Commonwealth, when the 
 Established Church lost its authority and sanctity, 
 it was customary for the bans of marriage to be pro- 
 claimed on three market-days in Newgate Market, 
 and afterwards the parties were married at the 
 church, or, as the register states, the place of 
 meeting called the church. So saith the Register of 
 St. Andrew, Holborn. 
 
 MARRIAGE CUSTOMS. 
 
 It was a prudent provision which our ancestors 
 made in the indentures of tradesmen's apprentices. 
 
178 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 that they should not contract matrimony during their 
 apprenticeship. Doubtless, our forefathers were 
 better acquainted with the advantages of frugality 
 than we are. Hence we find them very careful to 
 prescribe to their youth such rules and methods of 
 frugality and good husbandry, as they thought 
 would best conduce to their prosperity. Among 
 these rules, this was one of the chief: — " That they 
 should not wed, before they had sped." When a 
 young tradesman in Holland or Germany goes a 
 courting, the first question the young woman asks 
 of him is, " Are you able to pay the charges ? " 
 That is to say, in English, are you able to keep a 
 wife when you have got her ? What a world of 
 misery it would prevent, if the young women in all 
 countries would stick to the wisdom of that question ! 
 " Marriage is not made of mushrooms, but of good 
 round cakes," is another of the pithy sayings by 
 which our ancestors conveyed the same great rule 
 of prudence. 
 
 Cake is used at weddings because of its origin in 
 confarreation, or as a token of the most firm conjunc- 
 tion between man and wife, with a cake of wheat or 
 barley, ixomfar, (Latin,) bread or corn. Dr. Moffat 
 tells us, that " the English, when the bride comes 
 from church, are wont to cast wheat upon her head." 
 Herrick says, speaking to the bride : 
 
 ' ' While some repeat 
 Your praise and bless you, sprinkling you with wheat." 
 
 In Yorkshire, the bridecake is cut in little square 
 pieces, thrown over the bride and bridegroom's 
 head, and then put through the ring nine times, and 
 afterwards the cake is laid under pillows, at night, 
 
FAMILY CUSTOMS. 179 
 
 to cause young persons to dream of their lovers. 
 Mr. Douce says this custom is not peculiar to the 
 North of England, but prevails generally. 
 
 The common people formerly broke a piece of 
 gold or silver in token of a verbal contract of mar- 
 riage, and promises of love, because one half might 
 be kept with the woman, while the other part re- 
 mained with the man. Gay, in his " What d'ye call 
 it ? " alludes to this practice : — 
 
 " Yet, Justices, permit us, ere we part, 
 To break this Ninepence, as you've broke our heart. 
 Filbert {breaking the ninepence) — As this divides, thus we are torn 
 
 in twain. 
 Kitty {joining the pieces) — And, as this meets, thus may we meet 
 
 again." 
 
 FLEET WEDDINGS. 
 
 The most serious evil formerly attending the Fleet 
 Prison was the facility with which illicit marriages 
 might be performed. Complaints having reached 
 Parliament, a committee of inquiry was appointed, 
 who, on investigating the subject, ascertained, on 
 evidence, that from the 19th October, 1704, to 12th 
 February, 1705, — 2,954 marriages were celebrated 
 in this way in the Fleet, without either license or 
 certificate of bans, besides others that were known 
 to be omitted. Twenty or thirty couple were some- 
 times joined in one day, and their names concealed 
 by private marks, if they chose to pay an extra fee. 
 The warden of the Fleet, Anthony Grindall, and his 
 registrar of marriages, Robert Saunders, were proved 
 before the committee to have forged and kept false 
 books. But notwithstanding this inquiry and detec- 
 tion, the profit which the wardens made by the ille- 
 n 2 
 
180 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 gal marriages was too great to induce them to re- 
 linquish so prolific a branch of revenue easily. A 
 female correspondent, in the Gentleman's Maga- 
 zine, in the year 1745, deplores the many ruinous 
 marriages that were then every day performed in 
 the Fleet, " by a set of drunken, swearing parsons, 
 with their myrmidons, that wear black coats, and 
 pretend to be clerks and registers to the Fleet, ply- 
 ing about Ludgate-hill, pulling and forcing people to 
 some peddling alehouse or brandy-shop, to be mar- 
 ried, and even on Sundays stopping them as they go 
 to church." Pennant, also, at a later period, con- 
 firms this account of the daring with which the ne- 
 farious traffic was carried on. He says, in walking 
 by the prison in his youth, he has been often ac- 
 costed with, " Sir, will you please to walk in and be 
 married?" and he states, that painted signs, con- 
 taining a male and female hand conjoined, with the 
 inscription, " Marriages performed within," were 
 common along the building. A dirty fellow, out- 
 side, generally conducted you to the parson, a Bar- 
 dolph-looking fellow, in a tattered night-gown, who, 
 if he could not obtain more, would marry a couple 
 for a glass of gin or a roll of tobacco, though he 
 has sometimes been known to marry twenty or 
 thirty couple at from ten shillings to one pound 
 each. This glaring abuse, which continued so 
 many years, to the ruin of children, and destruction 
 of their parents, was only put an end to by the mar- 
 riage act in 1753. 
 
 A CUMBERLAND WEDDING. 
 
 In Cumberland, and some other parts of the north 
 of England, they have a custom called a bridewain, 
 
FAMILY CUSTOMS. 181 
 
 or the public celebration of a wedding. A short 
 time after a match is entered into, the parties give 
 notice of it; in consequence of which the whole 
 neighbourhood, for several miles round, assemble at 
 the bridegroom's house, and join in all the various 
 pastimes of the country. This meeting resembles 
 the wakes or revels celebrated in other places ; and 
 a plate or bowl is fixed in a convenient place, where 
 each of the company contributes according to his 
 inclination, or the degree of respect the parties are 
 held in ; by which laudable custom a worthy couple 
 have frequently been benefited with a supply of 
 money, of from fifty to a hundred pounds. The fol- 
 lowing advertisement for such a meeting is copied 
 from the Cumberland Packet. 
 
 " Suspend for one day your cares and your labours, 
 And come to this wedding, kind friends and good neighbours." 
 
 " Notice is hereby given, that the marriage of 
 Isaac Pearson with Frances Atkinson will be so- 
 lemnized in due form in the parish church of Lam- 
 plugh, in Cumberland, on Tuesday next, the 30th 
 May, inst. (1786); immediately after which, the 
 bride and bridegroom, with their attendants, will 
 proceed to Lonefoot, in the said parish, where the 
 nuptials will be celebrated by a variety of rural 
 entertainments. 
 
 " Then come one and all, 
 At Hymen's soft call, 
 From Whitehaven, Workington, Harrington, Dean, 
 Hail, Ponsonby, Blaing, and all places between ; 
 From Egremont, Cockermouth, Barton, St. Bee's, 
 Cint, Kinnyside, Calder, and parts such as these ; 
 And the country at large may flock in if they please. 
 Such sports there will be as have seldom been seen, 
 Such wrestling and fencing and dancing between, 
 
182 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 And races for prizes, for frolic and fun, 
 By horses, and asses, and dogs will be run, 
 That you'll go home happy — as sure as a gun. 
 In a word, such a wedding can ne'er fail to please ; 
 For the sports of Olympus were trifles to these. 
 
 Nota Bene. — You'll please to observe that the day 
 Of this grand bridal pomp is the thirtieth of May, 
 When 'tis hoped that the sun, to enliven the sight, 
 Like the flambeau of Hymen, will deign to burn bright. 
 
 " BRIDEWAItf. 
 
 " There let Hymen oft appear 
 In saffron robe and taper clear, 
 And pomp and feast and revelry, 
 With mask and antic pageantry ; 
 Such sights as youthful poets dream, 
 On summer eves by haunted stream. 
 
 " George Hayto, who married Anne, the daugh- 
 ter of Joseph and Dinah Colin, of Crosby Mill, pur- 
 poses having a bridewain at his house at Crosby, 
 near Maryport, on Thursday, the 7 th day of May 
 next, (1789,) where he will be happy to see his 
 friends and well-wishers, for whose amusement there 
 will be a variety of races, wrestling-matches, &c. &c, 
 The prizes will be — a saddle, two bridles, a pair of 
 gands d? amour gloves, which, whoever wins, is sure 
 to be married within the twelve months ; and many 
 other articles, sports and pastimes, too numerous 
 to mention, but which can never prove tedious in the 
 exhibition. 
 
 " From fashion's laws and customs free, 
 We follow sweet variety ; 
 By turns we laugh, and dance, and sing, 
 Time's for ever on the wing ; 
 - And nymphs and swains on Cumbria's plain 
 Present the golden age again." 
 
FAMILY CUSTOMS. 183 
 
 SCOTTISH CEREMONIES. 
 
 The following customs, observes Sir Walter Scott, 
 in his work on Demonology and Witchcraft, still lin- 
 ger in the south of Scotland : — 
 
 The bride, when she enters the house of her hus- 
 band, is lifted over the threshold ; and to step on it, 
 or over it, voluntarily, is reckoned a bad omen. This 
 custom was universal In Rome, where it was observed 
 as keeping in memory the rape of the Sabines, and 
 that it was by a show of violence towards the females 
 that the object of peopling the city was attained. 
 On the same occasion, a sweet cake, baked for the 
 purpose, is broken above the head of the bride ; which 
 is also a rite of classic antiquity. 
 
 In like manner, the Scottish, even of the better 
 rank, avoid contracting marriage in the month of 
 May ; which genial season of flowers and breezes 
 might, in other respects, appear so peculiarly favour- 
 able for that purpose. It was specially objected to 
 the marriage of Mary with the profligate Earl of 
 Bothwell, that the union was formed within this in- 
 terdicted month. This prejudice was so rooted 
 among the Scots, that, in 1684, a set of enthusiasts, 
 called Gibbites, proposed to renounce it, among a 
 long list of stated festivals, fast-days, popish relics ; 
 not forgetting the profane names of the days of the 
 week, names of the months, and all sorts of idle and 
 silly practices which their consciences took an ex- 
 ception to. This objection to solemnize marriage in 
 the merry month of May, however fit a season for 
 courtship, is also borrowed from the Roman pagans ; 
 which, had these persons been aware of it, would 
 have been an additional reason for their anathema 
 against the practice. 
 
184 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 GRETNA GREEN. 
 
 This celebrated scene of matrimonial mockery is 
 situated, as our readers are aware, in Dumfriesshire, 
 near the mouth of the river Esk, nine miles north- 
 west of Carlisle. 
 
 Mr. Pennant, in his "Journey to Scotland," speaks 
 in the following terms of Gretna, or, as he calls it, 
 Gratna Green. By some persons it is written Grait- 
 ney Green, according to the pronunciation of the 
 person from whom they hear it. 
 
 At a little distance from the bridge stop at the 
 little village of Gratna, the resort of all amorous 
 couples whose union the prudence of parents or 
 guardians prohibits. Here the young pair may be 
 instantly united by a fisherman, a joiner, or a black- 
 smith, who marry from two guineas a job to a dram 
 of whiskey : but the price is generally adjusted by 
 the information of the postilions from Carlisle, who 
 are in pay of one or other of the above worthies : but 
 even the drivers, in case of necessity, have been 
 known to undertake the sacerdotal office. 
 
 This place is distinguished from afar by a small 
 plantation of firs, the Cyprian grove of the place, a 
 sort of land-mark for fugitive lovers. As I had a 
 great desire to see the high priest, by stratagem I 
 succeeded : he appeared in the form of a fisherman, 
 a stout fellow in a blue coat, rolling round his mouth 
 a quid of tobacco of no common size. One of our 
 party was supposed to come to explore the coast : we 
 questioned him about the price ; which, after eyeing 
 us attentively, he left to our honour. The church 
 of Scotland does what it can to prevent these clan- 
 destine matches, but in vain ; for these famous cou- 
 
Family customs. 185 
 
 piers despise the fulmination of the kirk, and excom- 
 munication is the only penalty it can inflict. 
 
 The " Statistical Account of Scotland " gives the 
 following particulars : — 
 
 The persons who follow this illicit practice are 
 mere impostors — priests of their own creation, who 
 have no right whatever either to marry or to exercise 
 any part of the clerical function. There are, at pre- 
 sent, more than one of this description in this place ; 
 but the greatest part of the trade is monopolized by 
 a man who was originally a tobacconist, and not a 
 blacksmith, as is generally believed. He is a fellow 
 without literature, without principles, without mo- 
 rals, and without manners : his life is a continued 
 scene of drunkenness. His irregular conduct has ren- 
 dered him an object of detestation to all the sober 
 and virtuous part of the neighbourhood. Such is 
 the man, and the description is not exaggerated, 
 who has had the honour to join, in the sacred bands 
 of wedlock, many people of great rank and fortune, 
 from all parts of England. At the lowest computa- 
 tion, about sixty are supposed to be solemnized an- 
 nually in this place. 
 
 By the canons and statutes of the church of Scot- 
 land, all marriages performed under the circumstances 
 usually attending them at Gretna Green are clearly 
 illegal ; for, although it be in that country a civil 
 contract, and although it may be performed by a lay- 
 man, or a minister out of orders ; yet, as in England, 
 bans or license are necessary ; and those who marry 
 parties clandestinely are subject to heavy fine and 
 severe imprisonment. Therefore, though Gretna 
 Green be just out of the limits of the English mar- 
 riage act, that is not sufficient, unless the forms of 
 the Scottish church are complied with. 
 
186 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 The following narratives, connected with this fa- 
 mous place, have been furnished by a recent writer 
 in Chambers's Edinburgh Journal : — 
 
 Not long ago, a gentleman who had settled some- 
 where in Scotland arrived at Springfield, and spent 
 an hour or two in one of the inns, chiefly, I believe, 
 from motives of curiosity. He was accompanied by 
 his daughter, a very beautiful and interesting crea- 
 ture, though not more than seventeen or eighteen 
 years of age. Neither father nor daughter had ever 
 crossed the Sark before, and they were both more 
 than ordinarily curious to know every thing about 
 Scotland and Scotch marriages. In particular, they 
 expressed a wish to see the blacksmith, not doubting 
 that a true son of Vulcan, with a begrimed face and 
 leathern apron, would pop in upon them, and demand 
 their pleasure. But here they were speedily unde- 
 ceived ; and when Mr. Elliott arrived, the gentleman 
 endeavoured to be as witty as possible, stating, among 
 other things, that he wished to introduce a young lady, 
 that she might know both her man and the way back 
 again. To this Mr. E. answered drily, that he had 
 known as unlikely things come to pass ; and in less 
 than four months the same young lady actually came 
 before him, and was married to one of her father's 
 ploughmen. In point of looks, the bridegroom and 
 bride seemed formed for one another ; and the jocular 
 priest, who from the first recognised his old acquaint- 
 ance, ventured to hint, after dinner, that surely 
 Mr. would not be angry with his fair daugh- 
 ter for proving herself so apt a scholar, and profiting 
 by the lesson he had himself taught. But, alas ! the 
 blow fell so heavily on the poor Cumbrian, that it at 
 first threatened to break his heart, or unsettle his 
 understanding. The lovely and light-hearted Bea- 
 
FAMILY CUSTOMS. ] 87 
 
 trice was the apple of his eye, the stay and pride of 
 his maturer years ; and so far from wishing to match 
 her with a common clown, there were few even of 
 the better class of yeomen that he deemed worthy of 
 aspiring to such an honour. In the course of time, 
 however, the old man's wrath gradually gave way to 
 better feelings ; a farm was taken for his son-in-law, 
 and stocked and plenished nobody knew how ; and, 
 if report may be credited, the praiseworthy conduct 
 of both the young people is likely to lead to a com- 
 plete and permanent reconciliation. 
 
 On another occasion, a middle-aged gentleman 
 arrived from the south of England, and was united to 
 a lady considerably his junior in years and appear- 
 ance, and who, very unfortunately, happened to be 
 the sister of his former wife. The veteran bride- 
 groom was in high spirits, scattered his money very 
 freely, and seemed so well satisfied with the accom- 
 modations of the place that he w T as in no haste to 
 retire from the scene of his second nuptials. At 
 length, however, the carriage was ordered to the door ; 
 and just as the sun was sinking in the west, and, by 
 the agency of the clouds that congregated around the 
 falling monarch, intersecting the broad expanse of 
 the Solway with many a beautiful zone of light, the 
 happy pair bade adieu to Springfield, and, with a de- 
 gree of haste not at all requisite in their situation, 
 made the best of their way to merry England. Nor 
 had they left the inn above an hour or so, when a 
 second chaise-and-four drove up, and discharged a 
 fresh cargo of lovers, younger, and fairer, and better 
 matched, but neither so wealthy nor so prodigal as 
 the first. And who, reader, might the second pair 
 
188 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 be ? who but a handsome, well-favoured youth and 
 the only daughter of the former bridegroom, who, in 
 revenge for her father's frailty and folly, had yielded 
 to the entreaties of an honest yeoman, who had 
 wooed her long and loved her dearly. The spirited 
 young lady had no objection whatever to a stepmo- 
 ther, but a stepmother and an aunt in the same per- 
 son formed a species of relationship utterly irrecon- 
 cilable with her notions of propriety ; and as she 
 was determined to change her residence at any rate, 
 she thought it just as prudent to change her condi- 
 tion at the same time. 
 
 On arriving at Carlisle, the father found a letter 
 awaiting him at the inn, marked " In haste," and 
 revealing to him the secret of his daughter's elope- 
 ment ; and not doubting that the parties had gone on 
 the same errand as himself, he immediately ordered 
 fresh horses, and hurried back to Gretna Green. The 
 carriages, in fact, must have met on the road ; but 
 the night being dark, neither party was aware of the 
 presence of the other ; and though the Yorkshire pro- 
 prietor reached Springfield before his daughter and 
 her lover had departed, he was unfortunately a stage 
 too late. Much and loudly he bragged and bullied, 
 and fain would he have carried his daughter along 
 with him, but the yeoman refused to part with his 
 bride ; and when the other threatened to disinherit 
 his child and proscribe her husband, he very coolly 
 replied, that, as matters stood, the connexion was 
 none of the most respectable ; that he knew the va- 
 lue of a good wife, though without a guinea, or a 
 friend to take her part ; that, in a moderate way, he 
 could do his own turn as well as the purse-proud gen- 
 tleman he was addressing ; and that, as to the rest, 
 he would trust to Providence and his own industry. 
 
 
FAMILY CUSTOMS. 189 
 
 " Nobly spoken," roared the exhilarated priest ; " and 
 faith, let me tell you, Jonathan Oldbuck, if I had 
 known you were after marrying your wife's sister, I 
 would rather have thrust my fingers in the fire than 
 welded metals of such an opposite nature. The lines 
 are now your own property ; but if you'll restore the 
 bit of plain paper, I'll hand you over every note, and 
 wash my hands of the whole business." But to this 
 condition the Yorkshireman demurred ; and, perceiv- 
 ing that matters could not be mended, he left the 
 apartment and the village too, " growling all the while 
 like a Russian bear." 
 
 MATRIMONIAL EXACTIONS IN THE DIO- 
 CESES OF ST. ASAPH AND BANGOR. 
 
 It was formerly the custom " in the said dyosses, 
 that every man and woman, when they shall be mar- 
 ryed, shall yeld unto the curate the xth part of all 
 ther goods, as wel the woman as the man, or else to 
 fyne therefore ; and this as often as a man or a wo- 
 man shall happen to marrye. As, yf a man chaunce 
 to bury his wife, or the woman her husband, aboute 
 Mydsomer, and then payeth all his tythes belonginge 
 to harveste, as of haye and come, and then inconty- 
 nente after harveste happen to marye, both the man 
 and the woman shall paye the 10th agayne, notwith- 
 standinge their late tythinge at harveste. And, be- 
 sides all this, they shall pay a certain some for their 
 bodyes the day of their maryage ; but whoso lyste to 
 lyve in adultery, then his fyne is but two shillings by 
 the yeare to the ordenary, the which causeth matry- 
 monye to be little set by, and much refused in these 
 partes. It is said lyke customs to be used in some 
 places in the dyosses of St. David and LandafT." 
 
190 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 FRANCE. 
 
 In 1559, the people of France were married at the 
 door of the church. When Elizabeth of France, 
 daughter of Henry II., was married to Philip II. of 
 Spain, Eustache de Bellay, Bishop of Paris, performed 
 the ceremony at the church-door of Notre Dame. It 
 was then thought indecent for them to grant permis- 
 sion, in the church itself, for a man and woman to lie 
 together. 
 
 ITALY. 
 
 In some of the Italian states, marriages were not 
 permitted between persons professing different reli- 
 gions. A woman of forty years of age was not al- 
 lowed to be united to a man under thirty ; if she 
 exceeded forty, her husband must be at least thirty- 
 five : a man above sixty was not to marry a woman 
 whose age was less than thirty. A widow was not 
 allowed to alter her condition in less than six months 
 after her widowhood. 
 
 LACEDiEMON. 
 
 The Lacedemonians were very remarkable for 
 their severity against those that deferred marrying, 
 as well as those who wholly abstained therefrom. No 
 man among them could live single beyond the time 
 limited by their lawgiver without incurring several 
 penalties : one of these was, the magistrates com- 
 manded such, once every winter, to run round the 
 public forum quite naked ; and, to increase their 
 shame, they sang a song, the words of which aggra- 
 vated their crime, and exposed them to ridicule. 
 
FAMILY CUSTOMS. 191 
 
 RHODES. 
 
 The Rhodians had a peculiar custom of sending 
 for the bride by the public crier. When they arrived 
 at the bridegroom's house, they found a sumptuous 
 entertainment prepared for them, the intent of which 
 was to make the marriage public, and to show respect 
 to the gods. During the time of their entertainment 
 a boy, covered with thorn-boughs and acorns, brought 
 a basket full of bread, and sang, " I have left the 
 worse and found the better," signifying how much the 
 married state was preferable to the single, 
 
 GERMANY. 
 
 The ancient Germans carried their respect for the 
 fair sex so far, that the price for baring the arms of a 
 free woman, against her wish, was fifteen shillings. 
 If a man had the temerity to touch her bosom, he 
 was fined forty shillings ; and a kiss snatched from a 
 female was punished with exile. 
 
 POLAND. 
 
 The Poles, in their marriage contract, did not in- 
 quire what a girl's portion was, but how many rela- 
 tions she had, it being the custom of all the relations 
 to give the bride something at her wedding ; nor was 
 it looked upon discreditable among them for the 
 female to propose a match, which was always done 
 through the medium of relations. 
 
 DALMATIA. 
 
 In Dalmatia, the principal motive of alliance was 
 the ambition of being related to a numerous and 
 
19*2 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 powerful family, famous for having produced valiant 
 men : and a story is told of one Janco Vojrod, of 
 Sebigne, who was betrothed to Jagna, of Temeswar, 
 whose brothers not being his friends, when he came 
 to conclude the marriage, engaged him in the punc- 
 tilio of performing certain feats, upon the condition 
 that if he succeeded he was to have the bride ; if not, 
 he was to lose his life. He was to pierce an apple 
 stuck on the point of a spear with his dart ; to spring 
 over nine horses, placed one beside the other, at one 
 leap ; and to discover his future spouse among nine 
 young women, all veiled. Janco's expedient to dis- 
 cover his wife was singular : he spread his mantle on 
 the ground, then a handful of gold rings on it, and 
 addressed the ladies as follows : " Lovely maid, who 
 art destined to be Janco's wife, do thou pick up these 
 golden rings and wear them; but any other who dares 
 to take them, I will cut off her arm at a blow." The 
 nine young women were afraid, and did not advance ; 
 so Janco's bride collected the rings, and thus the 
 nuptial games were finished. 
 
 CHINA. 
 
 On the appointed day for the celebration of the 
 nuptials in China, the bride is put in a sedan, which 
 is magnificently adorned with festoons of artificial 
 flowers ; and her baggage of clothes, ornaments, and 
 trinkets, are carried after her in chests, by her ser- 
 vants, with lighted flambeaux, though it be noonday. 
 The sedan is preceded by music, and followed by the 
 relations and friends of the bride : the nearest rela- 
 tive carries in his hand the key of the sedan, for the 
 windows of it are grated 'up and locked, and gives it 
 to the bridegroom as soon as the procession reaches 
 
FAMILY CUSTOMS. 193 
 
 his house, who waits at his door in order to receive 
 her. As this is the first interview between them, 
 it is easy to conceive with what eager curiosity he 
 opens the door of the sedan. It sometimes happens 
 that he is dissatisfied with his lot, when he immedi- 
 ately shuts the door again, and sends her back to her 
 friends, choosing rather to lose his money than be 
 united to a person he does not like : this, however, 
 is seldom the case. 
 
 In Europe we generally unite families by the mar- 
 riage of the living, yet that harmony is sometimes 
 disturbed by the quarrels of the parties. In China 
 they do things in another way, by which the married 
 parties themselves can never disagree ; for in one of 
 the interior provinces, Shausi, if two friends happen 
 to lose, the one a son, and the other a daughter, un- 
 buried at the same period of time, which is not un- 
 frequent, since they frequently keep the bodies at 
 home for a year or two, then the parents agree to 
 marry them. They send the usual presents, with 
 much ceremony and music ; after which the two cof- 
 fins are placed together, and the wedding dances 
 celebrated before them. These ceremonies per- 
 formed, they are then laid in the same tomb ; and the 
 families are thenceforward considered as related. 
 
 ALGIERS. 
 
 Among the Algerines, fond lovers and their mis- 
 tresses explain their several impulses by the manner 
 in which they dispose of a parterre, a nosegay, made 
 in a certain form, containing as many tender and pas- 
 sionate ideas as a letter of several pages. The flower, 
 gentle, placed by a violet, hopes to meet with a return 
 of love ; the orange-flower denotes hope ; the mari- 
 
194 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 gold, despair; the amaranth, constancy; the tulip 
 reproaches with being unfaithful ; the rose is but an 
 encomium of beauty, &c. ; by which means a tolerable 
 language is formed. 
 
 MORAVIANS. 
 
 Miss Hamilton, says Hannah More, told us a plea- 
 sant anecdote of Hulton, the Moravian, who had the 
 honour of being occasionally admitted to the royal 
 breakfast table. " Hulton," said the King to him one 
 morning, " is it true, that you Moravians marry with- 
 out any previous knowledge of each other ? " " Yes, 
 may it please your majesty," returned Hulton, " our 
 marriages are quite royal." 
 
 CIRCASSIA. 
 
 Klaproth, speaking of the Circassians, says that 
 when a young man designs to marry, he does not 
 communicate his intention to his parents, lest they 
 should disapprove his choice and prevent the match. 
 In general, however, the parents themselves seek out 
 for him a wife suitable to his rank and fortune. In 
 this case, the ceremony of betrothing soon takes 
 place ; but the marriage is deferred, so that the par- 
 ties have frequently to wait from four to six months, 
 nay, sometimes even a whole year. Till the con- 
 summation of the nuptials, the bridegroom is not 
 suffered upon any account to see or speak to the 
 bride, neither is she allowed to see him. It is also 
 considered indecorous for the bridegroom to be 
 seated in the presence of the bride's parents ; even 
 if he has been sitting before their entrance, he rises ; 
 neither must he enter into conversation with them 
 until he is actually married to their daughter. 
 
FAMILY CUSTOMS. 195 
 
 GREECE. 
 
 Webster, in his " Travels through the Crimea, 
 Turkey, and Egypt," thus describes the solemnization 
 of a marriage according to the Greek rite, which he 
 witnessed : — 
 
 A temporary altar was raised, on the right of 
 which were the men, and on the left were the wo- 
 men. The bride and bridegroom both wore crowns. 
 The bride was dressed as a girl — her head without 
 cap or kerchief, her hair hanging down behind in a 
 long plaited tail, and flowers over her forehead. 
 Both bride and bridegroom held a candle. The 
 priest presented a tumbler of wine to the lady, which 
 she, crossing herself, tasted, and handed to her future 
 lord. This was repeated thrice, and the last time 
 the bridegroom emptied the glass. The priest then 
 tied the left hand of the man to the right hand of 
 the woman, and led them thrice round the altar, 
 stopping each time, and the people chanting. He 
 then took off the crowns, which they kissed ; and, 
 the husband having thrice embraced his wife, the 
 ceremony was finished. 
 
 The bride now, accompanied by all the females, 
 retired into a corner, where she put on the dress of 
 a married woman ; her hair was bound up — a hand- 
 kerchief, worn only by the married, tied over it, and 
 the whole habiliment changed. 
 
 In the mean time, the bridegroom stood smiling 
 and looking up as if he knew not how to look. He 
 then received a carved and gilded picture of the 
 nativity : holding which before him, and attended 
 by his wife, he set out, the spectators following in 
 his train. 
 
 o 2 
 
196 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 The following account of a Greek marriage is 
 given by a modern traveller, and was written at 
 Cephalonia : — 
 
 The bride, a pretty girl of two or three and twenty, 
 dressed in all her finery, was waiting for the bride- 
 groom ; and the villagers, in their holiday clothes, 
 (you cannot imagine a more picturesque costume 
 than that of a Greek peasant,) were dancing to the 
 pipe and drum. The bridegroom was to arrive from 
 a village at some distance, and scouts were on the 
 look-out to give due notice of his approach. First 
 came a courier to the bride with a letter, though 
 neither could read or write : she rewarded him with 
 a cake in the form of a ring, which he threw over 
 his musket, for they are all armed. As soon as the 
 bridegroom was discovered, a running fire was kept 
 up by those on the watch, till he arrived at the 
 destined place, when he saluted his bride, and they 
 danced till the hour that the church was prepared 
 for the ceremony. The priest, with his robes beau- 
 tifully embroidered, his beard nearly reaching to his 
 knees, conducted them to the altar, which stood in 
 the centre of the church, and gave them lighted 
 tapers to hold, which they retained during the whole 
 of the ceremony. After repeating the prayer pre- 
 scribed by the Greek church, and administering the 
 sacrament, he blessed two rings, and put them on 
 the fingers of the new-married couple ; this done, he 
 admonished them on the new state of life they had 
 entered into ; during which time the brideman and 
 bridemaid kept continually changing the rings on 
 the fingers of the new-linked pair : next, crowns of 
 plaited riband were placed on their heads, which 
 were interchanged in the same manner as the rings. 
 
FAMILY CUSTOMS. 197 
 
 A white veil, denoting purity, was then spread over 
 the heads of both, and thus they marched three 
 times round the altar, and behind them followed a 
 young boy holding each by the skirt, to mark their 
 wishes for male progeny ; the priest then scattered 
 the incense, and sprinkled the assembled multitude. 
 The bride mounted her mule, took leave of her 
 relations, and departed with the bridegroom, pre- 
 ceded by a pipe and tabor, and followed by mus- 
 ketry ; symbolic, I imagine, of the marriage state ; 
 preceded by harmony, and followed by noise and 
 dissention. 
 
 As the following account furnishes us with addi- 
 tional particulars, it may gratify the reader to insert 
 it :— • 
 
 At Boudja, a village near Smyrna, I attended a 
 Greek marriage with considerable interest. The 
 ceremony in the church seemed interminably long, 
 and the mumbled prayers and nasal singing (for all 
 the Greeks in this part, whether in or out of church, 
 when they sing, will sing through the nose) were not 
 very amusing. Both bride and bridegroom wore a 
 wreath of flowers round their heads, which was 
 pretty and classical : these wreaths of flowers were 
 exchanged and re-exchanged many times in the 
 course of the ceremony. They had also two nuptial 
 rings, one on the hand of the bridegroom, and one 
 on the bride's, which were slipped from the one to 
 the other very frequently, the bride now wearing her 
 own, now her husband's, and so on. 
 
 The procession returned from the church to the 
 bridegroom's house, preceded by music, instrumental 
 and vocal, and followed by all the Greeks of the 
 
198 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 village. This procession closely resembled those we 
 see represented in sculpture and on ancient vases, 
 and which refer to the customs of the Greeks two or 
 three thousand years back. Immediately on her arri- 
 val at the house, the young bride took her place on 
 a sofa in the corner of the room, and there sat with 
 downcast eyes as immoveable as a statue, taking 
 no part whatever in the amusements that were going 
 on, and never even uttering a word, except in a whis- 
 per, to some female relative, or dear female friend. 
 She retained the bridal wreath of flowers, over which 
 was hung, very gracefully, a veil of rose-coloured 
 gauze, which fell on either side her head, leaving 
 her face exposed, and reaching her girdle. Besides 
 the coloured veil and the wreath, she was further 
 distinguished as a bride by a long bunch of gold 
 tinsel cut into slips, which was attached to her hair, 
 and dropped down as a gaudy ringlet on either side 
 her neck. 
 
 The merry company immediately began to dance, 
 and continued from noon till midnight. The room 
 was soon very crowded. Every one, as he went in, 
 advanced to the bride, whose lap was duly hollowed 
 for the reception, and gave her a piece of money, 
 more or less, according to the visitor's circumstances 
 or generosity. The bride deposited the money in a 
 small silver box, but neither opened her lips nor 
 raised her eyes. Meanwhile the dance never 
 ceased, or paused but for a minute, new performers 
 supplying the places of such as were fatigued, and 
 keeping up the strange Romaika, the favourite dance 
 of all the Greeks, waving, winding, and interwaving 
 their handkerchiefs. When the musicians gave 
 symptoms of flagging, or talked of being tired, some 
 spirited Palikari would step out of the circle of the 
 
FAMILY CUSTOMS. 199 
 
 dance, take a bright rubich, a small thin Turkish 
 coin, from his pocket, wet it between his lips, and 
 then, with a smart exclamation, stick it on the fore- 
 head of the head performer. This recipe, generally 
 washed down by a draught of wine, never seemed to 
 fail ; and on they sawed and bawled with increased 
 vigour. The instrumental music was always accom- 
 panied by one voice, of whose beauty not much 
 could be said. 
 
 What most struck me was the automaton-like 
 passiveness of the bride, who was young, handsome, 
 and naturally lively. But there she sat in the midst 
 of all this dancing, music, merriment, and gossip, 
 close in the corner, like a statue in its niche, without 
 motion, or giving a sign that the busy noisy scene 
 before her reached either of her senses. And 
 during three days, for so long is the marriage fes- 
 tival kept up, was she to persist in this unnatural, 
 forced position of stupid decorum, amidst the joy- 
 fulness of those who were called together only to 
 celebrate her own happiness ! This forced delicacy 
 and decorum, and submissiveness on the part of the 
 young bride, must have been mainly borrowed by 
 the Asiatic Greeks from their masters the Turks. 
 
 In the evening, about an hour after the candles 
 had been lighted, the wedding repast was served up. 
 This, in truth, was frugal enough ; it consisted of a 
 large dish of keskake, a Turkish dish, made of un- 
 ground wheat, mixed with a little maize, butter, &c, 
 which, among the oriental Greeks, as well as the 
 Turks, is always eaten at weddings ; and of a large 
 bowl of pilaff, or boiled rice, in which was some 
 mutton hashed. All the females present partook of 
 the hymeneal banquet, except the bride, who tasted 
 nothing, in the upper room, the scene of the dancing, 
 
200 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 on the floor of which, a carpet being spread, they 
 sat down in the oriental style. They drank no 
 wine. The men retired to a room below, with the 
 bridegroom, who helped them to the same condi- 
 ments as had been served up stairs ; and their re- 
 past was finished by the circulation of the wine-cup, 
 in which the health and happiness of the new- 
 married couple were drunk, with the usual wish or 
 prayer, never omitted by the Greeks, that no evil 
 eye or other bad influence might interfere with the 
 happy consummation of the nuptials. 
 
 As soon as the repast was finished — and it occu- 
 pied scarcely a quarter of an hour — the carpets were 
 withdrawn, and the dances re-commenced. During 
 a pause in the dancing, two young men and two 
 young women amused the company with singing. 
 
 In the course of the evening the old Agha of the 
 village came in with two of the Turks of his guard. 
 He quietly seated himself on a low chair in a corner 
 of the room, had his pipe lighted, and commenced a 
 process of silent smoking, which he hardly inter- 
 rupted by a word, except " Atesh," fire ! when his 
 pipe went out, during the two hours he honoured 
 the Greeks with his company. His guards, two 
 young Yebecks, or mountaineers, from the interior of 
 Asia Minor, stood near the door, with dilated eyes 
 and open mouths, wondering, no doubt, at the liberty 
 of the Greek women, but evidently delighted with 
 the joyous scene. 
 
 I was informed by a young lady, an European, 
 present, that the Agha had furnished the materials 
 for the wedding feast. This looked paternal and 
 pretty, but not so the context — he was to re- 
 ceive a large portion of the money presented to the 
 bride by her friends and visitors ! As, besides nearly 
 
FAMILY CUSTOMS. 201 
 
 all the peasants of the village, many respectable 
 young Greeks from Smyrna were present, and all 
 the Franks who had country houses there, went, or 
 sent a few piastres, the old Turk must have been a 
 considerable gainer by the transaction. 
 
 This marriage was celebrated, as they nearly all 
 are, on a Sunday. On the Monday and Tuesday 
 following, the same amusements were kept up ; the 
 bridegroom and his friends, male and female, making 
 processions through the village, with music and 
 dancing. The bride was not allowed to go out of 
 the house until the Sunday following. 
 
 AMERICA, 
 
 There have been many elaborate works published 
 on the marriage ceremonies of various nations, both 
 savage and civilized. I do not, however, says a 
 writer in the Monthly Magazine, remember to have 
 read of any so brief and unceremonious as the follow- 
 ing, which I had the opportunity of witnessing when 
 on a visit to a gentleman in Carolina. A fine-look- 
 ing negro, and the handsomest mulatto, or yellow 
 girl, I had ever seen, were the parties who desired 
 to be made one for life. The matter was thus ar- 
 ranged: — In the course of our evening walk, my 
 friend, the planter, was sheepishly addressed by the 
 slave in these words : " Please, Massa, me want to 
 marry Riddiky ;" this is the " niger " for Eurydice. 
 "Does Riddiky wish to marry you?" "Yes, Massa." 
 " If you marry her, I won't allow you to run after 
 the other girls on the plantation ; you shall live, like 
 a decent fellow, with your wife." " Massa, me lub her, 
 so that me don't care for de oder gals." " Marry her, 
 then." " Yes, Massa." Washington then gave Rid- 
 
202 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 diky a kiss, and from that day they became man and 
 wife ; no other form than that of permissiom from 
 their owner, thus graciously accorded, being consi- 
 dered necessary to legalize their union. 
 
 AMERICAN INDIANS. 
 
 An American Indian courtship must have afforded 
 a strange contrast to the European mode : the savage 
 who is not married, goes to a girl who is not married 
 either, and says to her, without preface or circumlo- 
 cution, " Will you come with me and be my wife ?" 
 She makes no immediate answer, but meditates some 
 time, holding her head between her hands. While 
 she is considering what to say, the man holds his- 
 head between his hands also, and remains in pro- 
 found silence. After the girl has thought a while, 
 she says, " Netho," or " Niaoua," which signifies, " I 
 agree/' The man thereupon rises, and says, " One," 
 that is, " Well, it is done." At night the woman 
 takes a hatchet, cuts a burden of wood, and carries it 
 to the hut of the savage. 
 
 Marriage ceremonies, observes an intelligent 
 writer, vary in different countries, and at different 
 times. Where the practice is to purchase a wife, 
 whether among savages or pampered people in hot 
 climates, payment of the price completes the mar- 
 riage, without any further ceremony ; and the highest 
 bidder is always sure of the preference. We read 
 that, in ancient Rome, the bride was attended to the 
 bridegroom's house with a female slave, carrying a 
 distaff and spindle, importing that she ought to spin 
 for the family. Among the savages of Canada, and 
 
FAMILY CUSTOMS. 203 
 
 of the neighbouring districts, a strap, a kettle, and a 
 faggot, are put in the bride's cabin, as symbols of 
 her duty ; namely, to carry burdens, to dress vic- 
 tuals, and to provide wood. On the other hand, the 
 bride, in token of her obedience, takes her axe, cuts 
 wood, bundles it up, and lays it before the door of 
 the bridegroom's hut : all the salutation she receives 
 is, " It is time to go to rest." 
 
 THE EAST. 
 
 Among the ancients, especially in the East, every 
 one that came to a marriage-feast was expected to 
 appear in a handsome and elegant dress, which was 
 called the wedding-garment. This was frequently a 
 white robe ; and when the guest was a stranger, or 
 was not able to provide such a robe, it was usual for 
 the master of the feast to furnish him with one : and 
 if he who gave the entertainment was of high rank 
 and great opulence, he sometimes provided marriage- 
 robes for the whole assembly. To this custom we 
 have allusions in Homer and other classic writers : 
 and there are some traces of it in the entertainments 
 of the Turkish court at this very day ; for, at the en- 
 tertainment given by the Grand Vizier to Lord Elgin 
 and his suite, in the Palace of the Seraglio, pelisses 
 were given to all the guests. It must be remarked, 
 also, that it was in a very high degree indecorous and 
 offensive to good manners, to intrude into the festi- 
 vity without this garment. 
 
 PERSIA. 
 
 Marriages in Persia are occasions of great, and 
 almost ruinous, display. The period of feasting oc- 
 
204 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 cupies from three to forty days, according to the 
 condition of the parties. Three are necessary for 
 observing the established forms* On the first, com- 
 pany are assembled ; on the second, the bride's hands 
 are stained with henna ; on the third, the rite takes 
 place. Perhaps an account of a marriage in middle 
 life, as it actually occurred, may explain the nature 
 of the ceremonies better than any detail. 
 
 As the men have (the bridegroom in this instance 
 was a widower of advanced age) seldom an opportu- 
 nity of choosing a wife by sight, they are forced to 
 employ some female friend to select a suitable part- 
 ner ; and to her they must trust for all that apper- 
 tains to mental or personal charms. The choice 
 being made, and the gentleman satisfied, he sends a 
 formal proposal, together with a present of sweet- 
 meats, to the lady ; both of which, it is previously 
 understood, will be accepted. This point being 
 gained, he next forwards an assortment of fine clothes, 
 shawls, and handkerchiefs, bed-clothes and bedding, 
 looking-glasses, glass and china-ware, bathing and 
 cooking apparatus, henna for her hands, sugar and 
 comfits ; in short, a complete domestic outfit ; all of 
 which it is understood the bride's family will dou- 
 ble, and return to the future husband. A day is 
 fixed for fetching home the bride ; when a crowd of 
 people collect at both houses, the gentlemen at the 
 bridegroom's, the ladies at that of the bride. The 
 latter next proceed to complete the duties of their 
 office, by conducting the young lady to the bath ; 
 where, after a thorough ablution, she is decked in 
 her finest attire. As soon as it is dark, the bride- 
 groom's party proceed to bring her to her new habi- 
 tation ; and much discussion sometimes arises at this 
 stage of the business, as to the number of lanterns, 
 
FAMILY CUSTOMS. 205 
 
 of fiddlers, and guests, that are to marshal the pro- 
 cession. 
 
 On reaching the bride's house, it is usual, before 
 she mounts, to wrap her in a shawl provided by the 
 husband. This, again, is often a point of dispute. 
 On the present occasion, the lady's friends objected 
 to the indifferent quality of the shawl ; those of the 
 gentlemen's party, on the other hand, declared that 
 it was excellent. Neither would give in : the guests 
 were all waiting, and the affair assumed a. serious 
 aspect ; when one of the visitors stepped forward, and 
 volunteered his own. It was accepted, and the caval- 
 cade proceeded ; the bride being accompanied by a 
 great number of persons, and attended by a boy 
 bearing a looking-glass. At intervals on the road, 
 bridges are made in the following manner for her to 
 step over : gentlemen of the husband's party are 
 called upon by name, and must place themselves on 
 their hands and knees on the ground, before her 
 horse ; and the choice generally falling on corpulent, 
 awkward individuals, much mirth is excited. In this 
 way the party proceeds, with fiddling, drums beat- 
 ing, tamborine playing, and lanterns flourishing, till 
 they meet the bridegroom, who comes to a certain 
 distance in advance ; and this distance is the subject 
 of another very serious discussion. As soon as he 
 sees the lady, he throws an orange or some other 
 fruit at her with all his force ; and then off he goes 
 towards his house. This is the signal of a general 
 scamper after him ; and whosoever can catch him is 
 entitled to his horse and clothes, or a ransom in lieu 
 of them. 
 
 When the bride arrives at the door, a man of 
 either party jumps up behind her, and, seizing her 
 by the waist, carries her within. Should this be done 
 
206 
 
 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 by one of the bridegroom's attendants, it is an omen 
 of his maintaining in future a due authority over his 
 wife ; but, on the contrary, should one of her friends 
 succeed in performing the duty — and it is always the 
 subject of a sharp contest — it augurs that she will in 
 future keep " her own side of the house." Another 
 effort at insuring the continuance of his own supre- 
 macy is often made by the gentleman ; who, on 
 reaching his own domicile after throwing the orange, 
 takes a station over the portal, that the lady, on en- 
 tering, may pass under his feet ; but if discovered in 
 this ungallant attempt, he is instantly peked from 
 his post. 
 
 When, at length, she has prepared for her recep- 
 tion, the husband makes his appearance ; and a look- 
 ing-glass is immediately held up in such a position 
 as to reflect the face of his bride, whom he now, for 
 the first time, sees unveiled. It is a critical and 
 anxious moment, for it is that in which the fidelity 
 of his agents is to be proved, and the charms of his 
 beloved to be compared with those pictured by him 
 in his ardent imagination ; while the young ladies in 
 attendance, as well as the gossiping old ones, are eager 
 to catch the first glimpse, and communicate to all the 
 world their opinion of her claims to beauty. After 
 this, the bridegroom takes a bit of sugar-candy, and, 
 biting it in halves, eats one himself, and presents the 
 other to his bride. On the present occasion he had 
 no teeth to bite with, and so he broke the sugar with 
 his fingers, which offended the young woman so 
 much that she cast her portion away. He then 
 takes her stockings, throws one over her left shoulder, 
 places the other under his right foot, and orders all 
 the spectators to withdraw. They retire accordingly, 
 and the happy couple are left alone. 
 
FAMILY CUSTOMS. 207 
 
 Such are the honours of a Persian wedding in 
 middle life ; and they are varied, no doubt, by the 
 circumstances or disposition of the parties ; but the 
 expense is always great, and, as we have said, some- 
 times ruinous. 
 
 It will be seen, by the following extract from the 
 Gentleman's Magazine, that the ladies of the East 
 have secured to themselves a privilege analogous to 
 that said to be possessed by our own countrywomen 
 in leap-year : — 
 
 In Persia a feast was held in February, dedicated 
 to the angel Isfendarmuz, who was esteemed the 
 ostensible guardian of the fair sex ; and on this oc- 
 casion they enjoyed some very singular privileges. 
 The Persian ladies, on this day, were invested with 
 almost absolute power. The husbands complied, to 
 the utmost of their ability, with all the commands of 
 their wives ; and the virgins, without offence to de- 
 licacy, might pay their addresses to whom they 
 pleased ; and they seldom sued in vain. Number- 
 less marriages were, in consequence, solemnized, and 
 many engagements made ; the angel being supposed 
 to shed remarkable favour not only on the nuptials 
 then celebrated, but on all the contracts entered into 
 during this gay festival. 
 
 ARMENIA. 
 
 The ceremonies attending an Armenian marriage 
 are very curious. They are much too long and 
 tedious to be given in detail, but I will endeavour 
 to point out some of their most amusing peculiari- 
 ties. The Armenians, who are an industrious, 
 
208 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 thrifty, and quiet people, are very numerous in 
 Turkey : they are Christians, but divided into two 
 classes ; the most numerous adhering to the doc- 
 trine of the old Armenian church, or what is termed 
 the heresy of Eutyches ; and the minor class pro- 
 fessing the religion of the church of Rome. The 
 account of a marriage which I propose to give of 
 course applies only to the former class. 
 
 These Armenians keep their wives and daughters 
 as much apart from all male society as the Turks 
 do theirs. When abroad, their women are veiled 
 and muffled up, so as to be distinguished from the 
 Turkish fair only by the different colours of their 
 slippers and robes. Indeed, the whole of their do- 
 mestic economy, excepting in not admitting of a 
 plurality of wives, and their manner of living, differ 
 in scarcely any thing from those of the Turks. 
 Courtship and attachment before marriage are, there- 
 fore, things unknown among them. 
 
 When a young man is to be married, his mother 
 selects the bride ; and matters being arranged be- 
 tween the two families, an interchange of presents 
 ratifies the treaty and forms the betrothal. The 
 nature of these presents is strictly regulated by an- 
 cient law and usage ; and each present, as it passes, 
 is blessed by a priest. 
 
 After two days of feasting and ceremony, on the 
 morning of the third day the bridegroom, accompa- 
 nied by all his relatives and friends, goes to fetch 
 his bride from her father's house to his own. On 
 their meeting, the father-in-law presents him with a 
 bright new watch, and his mother-in-law and her 
 nearest relations hang pieces of gold tinsel to his 
 calpack, or great hat. He is then introduced to 
 his bride, who sits immoveable on a low sofa in a 
 
 
FAMILY CUSTOMS. 209 
 
 corner of the room, and so completely covered with 
 dresses, that not so much as the point of a finger or 
 of her slipper is visible. A thick white linen veil, 
 only used on this solemn occasion, and called a 
 perkem, is thrown over her head ; and over this again 
 is thrown another veil, composed of tinsel and thin 
 lamina of gold, or sheets of gilt paper. The only 
 part of the bride left uncovered is her hair: this 
 flows down, and, joined to a mass of false hair, rests 
 upon the sofa. 
 
 The officiating priest raises the bride from the 
 sofa, leads her, blindfolded as she is, to the centre 
 of the room, and there, pronouncing a blessing 
 over them, places her hand in that of the bride- 
 groom. All present then form in order of proces- 
 sion. A piiest goes after, carrying a lighted torch, 
 then follows the bridegroom, and the march is 
 closed by the bride, who, unable to see her way, is 
 led by two female relatives. On arriving at the 
 bridegroom's house, the bride is smoked with in- 
 cense, burning in a silver dish, and then sprinkled 
 with rose-water. After this, she is led into an inner 
 room, and left alone with the females. 
 
 The bridegroom proceeds to another apartment, 
 where a barber is ready to shave him. As the Ar 
 menians shave all their head, like the Turks, this h 
 rather a long process. When it is finished, the priest 
 produces his wedding-suit of clothes, and blesses 
 each article as he presents it. As soon as the 
 happy man is attired, he is re-conducted to his bride, 
 who then rises from the sofa ; and after being en- 
 veloped by the matrons in an immense shawl called 
 a duvac, or coverall, advances to meet him in the 
 middle of the room. 
 
 There the priest again joins their hands, and knocks 
 p 
 
210 THE FAMILY CIKCLE. 
 
 their foreheads gently together. Two assistant 
 priests then place in the centre of the apartment a 
 table, on which are two wax lights, like the torches 
 of Hymen in the ceremonial of the ancient Greeks 
 and Romans. The priests then chant some passages 
 from the gospel in Armenian. While this chanting 
 proceeds, one of the family holds a large crucifix 
 over the bridegroom and bride, who again touch 
 foreheads, and so continue to lean against each other. 
 When the priest has done singing, he produces two 
 silken strings precisely alike, each being made of a 
 thread of white silk, interwoven with a thread of 
 rose-coloured silk. The first of these he ties round 
 the brow of the bridegroom, immediately over whom 
 the crucifix is then held, and puts these singular 
 questions, making a solemn pause between each. 
 " If she is blind, thou acceptest her?" 
 " If she is lame, thou acceptest her ? " 
 " If she is hump-backed, thou acceptest her?" 
 The bridegroom's brief response is, " I accept." 
 The priest then ties the second silken string 
 round the head of the bride, who at the moment 
 stands under the crucifix, and says, 
 " Thou acceptest'?" 
 Her answer is, " I accept." 
 
 On this all present shower small pieces of mo- 
 ney on the couple, the cross is waved triumphantly 
 over their heads, the priests again chant, the wax 
 torches are extinguished, and the pair are man and 
 wife. 
 
 The husband and all the men then quit the apart- 
 ment. During their absence the matrons remove 
 the duvac, and some of the robes, under which the 
 bride is almost suffocated. At a given signal the 
 husband is re-admitted, the matrons withdraw the 
 
FAMILY CUSTOMS. 211 
 
 linen veil, and then for the first time he sees the 
 features of his wife. He is, however, only favoured 
 with a glance. All the company are admitted ; and 
 though the linen veil is not again drawn, her head 
 is covered with the tinsel and gold sheets. All the 
 females invited to the festival then approach the 
 sofa where the bride is seated, kiss her, and put some 
 present into her hand. After this, all her male rela- 
 tions, to the remotest degree, are permitted to raise 
 the tinsel, and gaze for a moment at the bride's 
 face, and to kiss her hand, into which every one of 
 them puts a present. A feast then commences, and, 
 with a series of eastern amusements, in which there 
 is little variety, continues for three days with scarcely 
 any interruption. All this time the bride remains 
 mute and motionless on the sofa. It would be the 
 height of indecorum for her to speak a word, even a 
 whisper, to any other person than an old matron, 
 sometimes her nurse, who has accompanied her from 
 her paternal roof. The Armenians, who are gene- 
 rally a frugal, abstemious people, eat and drink im- 
 moderately on these occasions. Many of the dishes 
 are regulated by old laws. 
 
 Towards the conclusion of the third day, the 
 principal officiating priest repairs to the bride, and 
 having summoned the bridegroom to his presence, 
 he with great solemnity removes the silken string 
 which he had tied round the head of each, and car- 
 ries away the tinsel veil which had hitherto con- 
 cealed the lady's features. 
 
 After this, the wife is left, for the first time, with 
 her husband, and permitted to speak ; but, according 
 to the old laws, she is not to open her lips for a 
 whole twelvemonth in the presence of her mother-in- 
 law or her married sister-in-law. The ancient Arme- 
 p 2 
 
212 
 
 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 man rescript is positive on this head ; and though 
 the harsh rule is now, at least at Constantinople, 
 relaxed in practice, the young wife must maintain a 
 show of profound respect and absolute submission 
 to her husband's relatives. 
 
 Perhaps no people in the world are more attached 
 to their old national laws and usages than the Arme- 
 nians. A custom, if it is ancient, has with them 
 the force of a religious dogma, and is as much 
 venerated. Even the marriages of the poor are not 
 relieved from these ceremonials ; but as the poor 
 cannot afford the means, the Armenian church and 
 the rich of its communion come to their aid, and 
 lend the robes, dresses, &c, and furnish materials 
 for the long feast, rather than suffer their old cus- 
 toms to be infringed. Every Armenian church has 
 a depot of pots and pans, plates and dishes, to lend 
 to the poor on these occasions. 
 
 ARABIA. 
 
 The marriage ceremony among the Arabs is in 
 general very simple. Negotiations commence with 
 the father of the maiden, who usually consults the 
 wishes of his daughter, and if her consent is gained 
 the match takes place. The marriage day being 
 appointed, perhaps five or six days after, the bride- 
 groom comes with a lamb in his arms to the tent 
 of his betrothed, and there cuts the animal's throat 
 before witnesses ; and as soon as the blood falls 
 upon the ground, the ceremony is regarded as com- 
 pleted. It is accompanied with feasting and sing- 
 ing ; all the guests present must eat bread and 
 meat ; for this is a circumstance absolutely neces- 
 sary on such occasions. The form of betrothing 
 
family customs. 
 
 2i;3 
 
 d iiFers in different tribes ; sometimes the friend of 
 the lover, holding the girl's father by the hand, 
 merely says before witnesses, " You declare that 
 
 you give your daughter as wife to ." Among 
 
 the Bedouins of Sinai, the father of the bride gives 
 to the suitor a twig of a tree or shrub, or something 
 green, which he sticks in his turban and wears for 
 three days, to show that he has taken a virgin in 
 matrimony. The betrothed is seldom made ac- 
 quainted with the change that is to take place in 
 her condition. On returning home in the evening 
 with the cattle, she is met at a short distance from 
 the camp by her future spouse and a couple of his 
 young friends, who carry her by force to her father's 
 tent. If she entertains any suspicion of their de- 
 signs, she defends herself with stones, and often 
 inflicts wounds on the assailants, though she has no 
 dislike to the lover ; for the more she struggles, 
 bites, kicks, cries, and strikes, the more she is ap- 
 plauded ever after by her own companions. Some- 
 times she escapes to the neighbouring mountains, 
 and several days elapse before the bridegroom can 
 find her ; her female friends, meantime, being ap- 
 prized of her hiding-place, furnish her with provi- 
 sions. When brought to her father's tent, she is 
 placed in the women's apartment, where one of the 
 young men immediately throws over her an abba in 
 the name of her future husband ; and this is often 
 the first time she learns who the person is to whom 
 she is betrothed. She is then dressed by her mo- 
 ther and female relations in her wedding suit, which 
 is provided by the bridegroom ; and being mounted 
 on a camel ornamented with tassels, shreds of cloth, 
 she is conducted, still screaming and struggling in 
 the most unruly manner, three times round the 
 
214 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 tent, while her companions utter loud exclamations. 
 If the husband belong to a distant camp the women 
 accompany her, and during the procession decency 
 obliges her to cry and sob most bitterly. These 
 lamentations and struggles continue after marriage ; 
 and sometimes she repeats her flight to the moun- 
 tains, refusing to return until she is found out. 
 
 Marriages are generally solemnized on the Friday 
 evenings, and the contracts are drawn up by the 
 cadi : if the bride be a widow, or a divorced widow, 
 it is attended with little ceremony and rejoicing. 
 This sort of connexion is always reckoned ill-omen- 
 ed ; no resistance is made, no feast takes place, no 
 guest will eat of the nuptial bread ; for forty days 
 the husband will not taste provisions belonging to 
 his wife ; and visitors, when they come to drink coffee, 
 bring their own cups, because to touch any vessel 
 belonging to the newly-married widow would be 
 considered the sure road to perdition. Sheiks and 
 rich citizens display more splendour in their dresses 
 and entertainments. The bride is decked out in the 
 finest attire, perfumed with essences, and every part 
 of her body painted with figures of flowers, trees, 
 houses, antelopes, and other animals. Instead of 
 receiving a marriage portion, the husband pays for 
 his wife : the sum varies according to rank and cir- 
 cumstances. Among the Arabs of Sinai it is from 
 five to ten dollars ; but sometimes thirty, if the girl 
 is handsome and well connected. At Mecca, the 
 price paid for respectable maidens is from forty to 
 three hundred dollars ; (81. 15s. to 651. 12s. 6d. ;) 
 and on the borders of Syria, young men obtain their 
 masters' daughters by serving a number of years. 
 Part of the money only is laid down, the rest stand- 
 ing over as a kind of debt, or as a security in case 
 
FAMILY CUSTOMS. 215 
 
 of divorce. The price of a widow is never more 
 than half, generally but a third, of what is paid for 
 a virgin. 
 
 RUSSIA. 
 
 The following account of the actual marriage cere- 
 mony, between a couple in good circumstances, is 
 principally derived from a detailed account given in 
 Dr. Granville's " St. Petersburgh." 
 
 At the appointed time, a large number of Mends 
 of the parties having previously assembled in the 
 church, the priest, attired in rich vestments, and 
 attended by a deacon, proceeded down the church 
 from the altar to the door, where he received the 
 candidates for matrimony. After he had delivered 
 to each a lighted taper, and made the sign of the 
 cross three times on their foreheads, he conducted 
 them to the upper part of the nave. The bride 
 was attended by young ladies in splendid dresses, 
 and incense was scattered before them as they ad- 
 vanced. The priest, as he went, recited a litany, 
 in which the choristers assisted, and, at its conclu- 
 sion, halted before a table, on which the rings were 
 deposited : then, turning towards the altar, with the 
 bride and bridegroom behind him, he repeated a 
 short and very impressive prayer, or invocation. 
 After this, he turned round to the couple and blessed 
 them ; and then, taking the rings from the table, 
 gave one to each, proclaiming, in a loud voice, that 
 they stood married to each other, " now and for ever, 
 even unto ages of ages." This declaration he repeat- 
 ed three times, the bride and bridegroom exchang- 
 ing rings at each declaration. The rings were then 
 
216 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 again surrendered to the priest, who, after having 
 crossed the foreheads of the young couple with them, 
 placed them on the . fore-finger of the right hand of 
 each. He then again turned towards the altar, and 
 read another impressive part of the service, in which 
 allusion is made to all the passages of the Bible in 
 which a ring is mentioned as the symbol of union, 
 honour, and power. 
 
 After this, the priest took both parties by the hand, 
 and led them towards a silken carpet, which lay 
 spread upon the ground. This is, to the mass of the 
 spectators, a moment of the greatest interest ; for it 
 is firmly believed that the party which first steps 
 upon the carpet will have the mastery over the other 
 throughout life. " In the present instance," says 
 Dr. Granville, " the bride secured possession of this 
 prospective advantage with modest forwardness." 
 
 Two silver imperial crowns were then produced by 
 a layman, and received by the priest, who, after 
 blessing the bridegroom, placed one of these orna- 
 ments upon his head ; the other was merely held 
 over the bride's head, in order that the superstruc- 
 ture raised by a fashionable hair-dresser of St. Peters- 
 burgh might not be deranged. 
 
 After the crowning, a cup was brought to the 
 priest, who, after drinking from it himself, gave it to 
 the bridegroom, who took three sips, and then deli- 
 vered it to the bride, by whom the same ceremony 
 was repeated. After a short pause, other prayers 
 were recited ; and these being concluded, the priest 
 took the pair by the hand, and walked with them 
 three times round the desk, reciting some sentences. 
 Then, taking off the bridegroom's crown, he said, 
 " Be thou magnified, O bridegroom, as Abraham ! 
 
FAMILY CUSTOMS 217 
 
 Be thou blessed as Isaac, and multiplied as Jacob ; 
 walking in peace, and performing the commandments 
 of God in righteousness." 
 
 In removing the bride's crown, he said, " And be 
 thou magnified, O bride, as Sarah ! Be thou joyful 
 as Rebecca, and multiplied as Rachel ; delighting 
 in thine own husband, and observing the bounds of 
 the law, according to the good pleasure of God." 
 
 After this, the tapers were extinguished, and taken 
 from the bride and bridegroom, who were then dis- 
 missed by the priest with his blessing, and received 
 the congratulations of the company, and saluted each 
 other. Dancing and feasting continues for three days 
 after the wedding ; and on the eighth day the par- 
 ties again repair to the church, when the priest per- 
 forms the ceremony of " dissolving the crowns," with 
 appropriate prayers, in allusion to the rites of matri- 
 mony. 
 
 Calmuck women ride better than the men. A 
 male Calmuck on horseback looks as if he were in- 
 toxicated, and likely to fall off every instant, though 
 he never loses his seat ; but the women sit with more 
 ease, and ride with extraordinary skill. The cere- 
 mony of marriage among the Calmucks is performed 
 on horseback. A girl is first mounted, who rides off 
 at full speed. Her lover pursues ; and if he over- 
 takes her, she becomes his wife, returning with him 
 to his tent. But it sometimes happens that the 
 woman does not wish to marry the person by whom 
 she is pursued, in which case she will not suffer him 
 to overtake her ; and we are assured, says Dr. 
 Clarke, that no instance occurs of a Calmuck girl 
 
218 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 being thus caught, unless she has a partiality for her 
 pursuer. 
 
 Purchase, in his " Pilgrims," tells us, that if, in 
 Muscovy, the women are not beaten once a week, 
 they will not be good, and therefore they look for it 
 weekly ; and the women say, that if their husbands 
 did not beat them they should not love them. 
 
 EGYPT. 
 
 The Moslem marriages in Egypt are always regu- 
 lated by the elder females, the bridegroom seldom 
 seeing the bride till the day of their union. It is 
 merely a civil contract between their mutual friends, 
 and signed by the young man and his father. There 
 is a procession, consisting of many persons, male and 
 female, who accompany the young lady to the house 
 of her future husband, where she is received by her 
 companions. As soon as the ceremony is performed, 
 the women raise a shout of congratulation, which is 
 repeated at intervals during the entertainment that 
 follows. After this burst of joy they make another 
 procession through the streets, the females all veiled ; 
 and a person, mounted on a horse richly caparisoned, 
 carries a red handkerchief, fixed to the end of a pole, 
 after the fashion of a military banner. They then 
 return to the house, where they pass the remainder 
 of the day and part of the night in feasting, looking 
 at dancing-girls, and listening to singing-men. 
 
 Mr. Browne, who witnessed the marriage of the 
 daughter of Ibrahim Bey, describes it in the follow- 
 ing terms :— 
 
FAMILY CUSTOMS. 219 
 
 A splendid equipage was prepared, in the Euro- 
 pean form, being a coach drawn by two horses, and 
 ornamented with wreaths of artificial flowers, in which 
 a beautiful slave from the harem, personating the 
 bride, (whose features were very plain,) was carried 
 through the principal streets of Cairo. The blinds 
 of the coach were drawn up, and the fair deputy sat 
 concealed. The procession was attended by some 
 boys, several officers and Mamlouks, and ended at 
 the house of the bridegroom, who received her from 
 the carriage in his arms. In general, at Cairo, the 
 bride, who is completely veiled, walks under a ca- 
 nopy, supported by two women, to the house of the 
 bridegroom. The females marry at fourteen or fif- 
 teen, and at twenty are past their prime. 
 
 LAPLAND. 
 
 The Lapland marriage customs are very remark- 
 able and ludicrous. When a young man has made 
 choice of a female, he employs some friends as 
 mediators with the girl's parents. The negotiators 
 being supplied with several bottles of brandy, proceed 
 therewith to the hut of the girl's father, accompanied 
 by the suitor; but he is not allowed to enter until 
 the liquor is drunk, over which they discuss the pro- 
 posal. The lover is then called in, and entertained 
 with such fare as the hut affords, but without seeing 
 his mistress, who on this occasion is obliged to retire. 
 When he has obtained permission to pay his ad- 
 dresses to the girl in person, he goes home, dresses 
 himself in his best attire, and returns to the hut. 
 When his mistress makes her appearance, he salutes 
 her, and presents her with the tongue of a rein-deer, 
 a piece of beaver's flesh, or some kind of provision. 
 
220 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 The girl at first declines the offer, it being in the 
 presence of her relations. 
 
 When the lovers have agreed, he is allowed to 
 visit his mistress as often as he pleases, but each 
 time he must bring a bottle of brandy, a perquisite 
 so agreeable to the girl's father, that, for the sake of 
 it, he will often postpone the celebration of the nup- 
 tials for a year or two. At length the ceremony is 
 performed at the nearest church ; but even after this 
 the bridegroom must serve his father-in-law a whole 
 year ; at the expiration of which he retires to his own 
 habitation with his wife, and receives presents from 
 his friends and relatives. From this time he seques- 
 ters his wife from the company of all strangers, espe- 
 cially of the male sex, and watches over her conduct 
 with the most jealous vigilance. 
 
 CAFFRELAND. 
 
 The mode of courtship and marriage among the 
 CafFres differs little from that of other savages : the 
 bride is bought by a number of cattle : the negotia- 
 tion is more or less obstinate, according to circum- 
 stances. After all is adjusted, the betrothed pair are 
 brought to receive the nuptial exhortation from the 
 chief of the troop, who reminds the bride that he is 
 happy to see her so respectably united ; and that 
 " from this time it will be her duty to manage the 
 domestic concerns of her spouse with zeal and acti- 
 vity. He exhorts her particularly to labour in culti- 
 vating the earth ; and in general to conduct herself as 
 becomes an excellent wife, that she may give no occa- 
 sion of complaint." In return for this exhortation, the 
 bride makes her humble thanks to the chief for his 
 
FAMILY CUSTOMS. 221 
 
 sage advice, and returns to her company, by whom 
 she is attended. 
 
 The bridegroom, in his turn, steps forward before 
 the great man, to receive his admonition : " Since at 
 this time thou quittest the cabin of thy father to esta- 
 blish thyself at the head of thine own, govern it as a 
 man should do ; comport thyself in such a manner, 
 that not only thy wife and thy children may never feel 
 any deficiency of meat and of milk for their support, 
 but that thou mayest be able also to receive thy chief 
 in a suitable manner whenever he may visit thee, 
 and that thou mayest be able to pay him the tax 
 which belongs to him." 
 
 These addresses are delivered in public assembly ; 
 the enclosure in which the cattle are secured by 
 night serving for the praetorium and tribunal of this 
 supreme magistrate. The marriage is complete, if 
 the bride drinks a portion of milk, presented to her 
 on this occasion ; the whole group of witnesses ex- 
 claiming, " She drinks the milk I" 
 
 MOROCCO. 
 
 Marriage, amongst the Moors, is brought about by 
 the intervention of friends ; no interview whatever 
 can take place previously to the nuptials. The good 
 or bad qualities of the lady are explained to the 
 lover, and also her abilities and personal charms. 
 Love, that rare ingredient in Moorish marriages, 
 may sometimes be found subsequent, but cannot be 
 known previously to matrimony. 
 
 On the evening of the wedding the lady is placed 
 on horseback, in an enclosure which resembles a 
 large paper lantern; in this way she is paraded 
 through the streets to the house of the bridegroom, 
 
222 
 
 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 by the male friends of both parties. Rude music, 
 the shouts of the rabble, and the firing of powder, 
 assail the ears of the bride, whose union and intro- 
 duction to her husband are coeval. 
 
 The validity of the marriage contract depends on 
 the same proofs as those required by the Levitical 
 law ; but the lady may be returned for less material 
 defects than their absence, or the husband is at liberty 
 to take another wife if he please. It is to meet the 
 difficulties arising from a total want of prior acquaint- 
 ance between the parties, that the law of Mahomet 
 allows a plurality of wives to those who can prove 
 they are able to maintain them. Barrenness is a 
 ground of divorce, as likewise a repugnant breath ; 
 for both of which causes women in Barbary are often 
 repudiated. 
 
 VARIOUS COUNTRIES. 
 
 In the island of Java, the bride, in token of sub- 
 jection, washes the bridegroom's feet; and this is a 
 general ceremony. Formerly, in Russia, the bride 
 presented to her future master a bundle of rods, to 
 be used against her when she deserved to be chas- 
 tised. The late Empress, however, discontinued 
 that practice among people of fashion. A curious 
 custom prevailed in Sierra Leone and its neighbour- 
 ing districts, anterior to the formation of our existing 
 settlement there. In every town there was an esta- 
 blishment, where all the fair — we mean the young — 
 ladies, as they became marriageable, were educated 
 for a year under the care of a venerable old gentle- 
 man, who carried them, when their education was 
 completed, in their best attire, to a public assembly. 
 This might be termed a kind of matrimonial market ; 
 
FAMILY CUSTOMS. 2*23 
 
 because there the young men also assembled in order 
 to make their choice. Those who suited themselves 
 to their fancy not only paid the dowry to the parents, 
 but also rewarded the old superintendent for his 
 extraordinary care in the young lady's education, 
 and likewise for his assistance in making the bar- 
 gain. 
 
 Section II. — Social Customs. 
 
 SIR B. DRAKE. 
 
 The following curious anecdote shows how tena- 
 cious men were formerly of the heraldic distinctions 
 of their own families, even in our own country. 
 The family of the Drakes, of Ashe, in Devonshire, 
 was very ancient and honourable, and first seated at 
 Exmouth, in the same county, where there had been 
 no less than ten successions, all of the name of John. 
 Sir Bernard Drake, in the reign of Elizabeth, was a 
 great courtier, and a brave naval commander. He 
 was a person of so high a spirit, that he gave the 
 famous Sir Francis Drake, who was not related to 
 him, a box on the ear for assuming his arms, which 
 were a wivern displayed, gules. This being re- 
 ported to the Queen, she was so provoked as to give 
 a new coat to Sir Francis, and for his crest, a ship 
 on a globe held by a cable with a hand out of the 
 clouds, and in the rigging, hung up by the heels, a 
 wivern with wings displayed, gules • of which, when 
 she asked Sir Bernard his opinion, he boldly an- 
 swered, " Madam, though you could give him a 
 finer, yet you could not give him an ancienter coat 
 than mine." 
 
2*24 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 THE NORMANS. 
 
 The use of coats of arms, says Dr. Henry, distin- 
 guished one great family from another, and descend- 
 ing from father to son, appears to have been intro- 
 duced into Britain about the same time with family 
 surnames, and by the same noble Normans. The 
 Anglo-Saxon warriors adorned their shields and 
 banners with the figures of certain animals, or with 
 other devices ; but, in doing this, every particular 
 person followed his own fancy, without any regard 
 to the figures or devices that had been borne by his 
 ancestors. But, about the time of the first croisades, 
 greater attention began to be paid to these devices, 
 when it was discovered that they might be useful, as 
 well as ornamental. " About this time (says the 
 learned Camden) the estimation of arms began in 
 the expeditions to the Holy Land ; and afterwards, 
 by little and little, became hereditary ; when it was 
 accounted most honourable to carry those arms 
 which had been displayed in the Holy Land, in that 
 holy service, against the professed enemies of Chris- 
 tianity." Justs and tournaments, the favourite di- 
 versions of the great and brave in this period, con- 
 tributed not a little to render arms hereditary. For 
 a noble son, proud of the honours that had been 
 gained by an illustrious father in those fields of 
 fame, delighted to appear with the same devices on 
 his shield at the like solemnities. It was only, 
 however, by slow degrees, and in the course of 
 almost two centuries, that this custom became con- 
 stant and universal, even in noble families. 
 
 The earliest seals bearing shields of arms, known 
 in England, are those of John Earl of Morton, 
 afterwards King John, and Gervase de Pagenal, 
 A. D. 1187. 
 
FAMILY CUSTOMS. 225 
 
 M'QUILLAN. 
 
 We suspect that the following statement in an 
 Irish periodical, must be intended partly to show the 
 strange tales of that country, and partly to ridicule 
 the antiquity of families : — 
 
 Rory Oge M'Quillan, of Dunluce Castle, could 
 trace his family from their departure from Babylon, 
 three thousand years ago, whence they came to 
 Scotland, and being called Chaldeans, gave origin 
 to the corruption of the word Caledonians : the 
 McQuillans afterwards removed to Ireland. 
 
 MR. ROGER. 
 
 An anecdote is told of Mr. Roger, of Werndee, in 
 Monmouthshire, which exhibits the pride of ancestry 
 in a striking point of view. His house was in such 
 a state of dilapidation, that the proprietor was in 
 danger of perishing under the ruins of the ancient 
 mansion, which he venerated even in decay. A 
 stranger, whom he accidentally met at the foot of 
 the Skyrrid, made various inquiries respecting the 
 country, the prospects, and the neighbouring houses, 
 and, among others, asked, " Whose is this antique 
 mansion before us?" "That, Sir, is Werndee, a 
 very ancient house ; for out of it came the Earls 
 of Pembroke of the first line, and the Earls of 
 Pembroke of the second line ; the Lords Herbert of 
 Cherbury, the Herberts of Coldbrook, Ramsey, Car- 
 diff, and York ; the Morgans of Acton ; the Earl of 
 Hunsdon ; the houses of Ircowm and Lanarth, and 
 all the Powells. Out of this house, also, by the 
 female line, came the Duke of Beaufort." " And 
 pray, Sir, who lives there now ? " "I do, Sir," 
 Q 
 
226 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 " Then pardon me, and accept a piece of advice ; 
 come out of it yourself, or you'll soon be buried in 
 the ruins of it." 
 
 JAMES I. 
 
 A young girl was presented to James I. as an 
 English prodigy, because she was deeply learned. 
 The person who introduced her, boasted of her pro- 
 ficiency in ancient languages. " I can assure your 
 Majesty," said he, " that she can both speak and write 
 Latin, Greek, and Hebrew." " These are rare at- 
 tainments for a damsel," said James ; " but pray, 
 tell me, can she spin ? " 
 
 LORD ABERCORN. 
 
 The Marquis Abercorn determining, at least in his 
 own arrangements, to obtain punctuality from his 
 visitors, invited a large party to dinner. The card 
 mentioned five o'clock precisely. 
 
 His Lordship found himself attended at that hour 
 by a single gentleman : he, however, sat down to 
 dinner, and partook of the first course. About six, 
 his visitors began to drop in ; his Lordship was at 
 dinner. No apology was made ; they seated them- 
 selves in awkward confusion, looked at their watches, 
 and took dinner. The still more polite part of the 
 assembly arrived about seven, and instead of dinner, 
 were complimented with coffee. 
 
 A FARMER'S SERVANT. 
 
 A farmer observing his servant a long time at 
 breakfast, said, " John, you make a long breakfast." 
 
FAMILY CUSTOMS. 227 
 
 " Master," answered John, " a cheese of this size is 
 not so soon eaten as you would think of." 
 
 A SCOTCH LADY. 
 
 A prudent, and somewhat parsimonious old lady, 
 who lived in one of the most romantic western is- 
 lands of Scotland, being at certain seasons strongly 
 beset with calls from strangers, adopted the following 
 expedient with her morning visitors, which she found 
 to be an infallible recipe for preventing their longer 
 stay. Having placed before her guests the mate- 
 rials of an ample Highland breakfast, she would 
 remark towards the conclusion of the meal — " Pray 
 tfiake a good breakfast, for there is no saying where 
 you may get your dinner." 
 
 ANTHONY AND CLEOPATRA. 
 
 A young Greek, who had heard of the feasts 
 made by Anthony and Cleopatra, and who was 
 staying at Alexandria to study physic, had the curi- 
 osity to assure himself with his own eyes about 
 them. Having been admitted into Anthony's kitchen, 
 he saw, amongst other things, eight wild boars 
 roasting whole at the same time ; upon which he 
 expressed surprise at the great number of guests 
 that he supposed were to be at the sapper. One of 
 the officers could not forbear laughing, and told him, 
 that they w T ere not so many as he imagined, and 
 that there would not be above a dozen in all ; but 
 that it was necessary every thing should be served 
 in a degree of perfection, which every moment 
 ceases and spoils. " For," added he, " it often hap- 
 pens that Anthony will order his supper, and a 
 Q2 
 
228 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 moment after forbid it to be served, having entered 
 into some conversation that diverts him. For that 
 reason, not one, but many suppers are provided, 
 because it is hard to know at what time he will 
 think fit to have it set on table." 
 
 MODES OF SALUTATION. 
 
 Greenlanders have none, and laugh at the idea of 
 one person being inferior to another. 
 
 Islanders near the Philippines take a person's hand 
 or foot, and rub it over their face. 
 
 Laplanders apply their nose strongly against the 
 person they salute. 
 
 In New Guinea, they place leaves upon the head 
 of those they salute. 
 
 In the Straits of the Sound they raise the left 
 foot to the person they salute, passing it gently over 
 the right leg, and thence over the face. 
 
 The inhabitants of the Philippines bend very 
 low, placing their hands on their cheeks, and raise 
 one foot in the air, with the knee bent. 
 
 An Ethiopian takes the robe of another, and ties 
 it about him, so as to leave his friend almost naked. 
 
 The Japanese take off a slipper, and the people of 
 America their sandals in the street, and their stock- 
 ings in the house, when they salute. 
 
 Two Negro kings on the coast of Africa salute by 
 snapping their middle ringer three times. 
 
 The inhabitants of Carmene, when they would 
 show a particular attachment, open a vein, and pre- 
 sent their blood to their friend as a beverage ! 
 
 If the Chinese meet after a long separation, they 
 Ml on th^ir knees, bend their face to the earth two 
 or three times, and use many other affected modes. 
 
FAMILY CUSTOMS. - 229 
 
 They have also a kind of ritual or academy of 
 compliments, by which they regulate the number of 
 bows, genuflections, and words to be spoken upon 
 any occasions. Ambassadors are said to practise 
 these ceremonies forty days before they appear at 
 court. 
 
 The common salutation in the southern provinces 
 of China, amongst the lower orders, is, " Ya Fan f " 
 " Have you eaten your rice ?" 
 
 In Otaheite they rub their noses together in salu- 
 tation. 
 
 Section III. — Death and Burial. 
 
 A BRAZILIAN WOMAN. 
 
 A Jesuit one day, says Southey, in his " History 
 of Brazil," found a Brazilian woman, in extreme 
 old age, almost at the point of death. Having 
 catechised and instructed her, as he conceived, in 
 the nature of Christianity, he began to inquire 
 whether there was any food which she could take ; 
 " Grandam," said he, " if I were to get you a little 
 sugar now, or a mouthful of some of our nice things 
 which we get from beyond sea, do you think you 
 could eat it?" " Ah, my grandson," said the old 
 woman, " my stomach goes against every thing. 
 There is but one thing which I think I could touch. 
 If I had the little head of a little tender Tapaya 
 boy, I think I could pick the bones ; but woe is 
 me." 
 
 This story alludes to the early settlement of the 
 Jesuit Missionaries in South America, when they 
 found the Indians with an almost incurable attach- 
 ment to cannibalism. 
 
230 - THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 MR. BALDWIN. 
 
 In the church register at Lymington, we find the 
 following entry: — "In the year 1736, Samuel 
 Baldwin was interred without ceremony." It ap- 
 pears that the deceased had left express orders to be 
 buried incognito, to thwart his wife, who had de- 
 clared she would dance over his grave. 
 
 j. G E, ESQ. 
 
 In the will of John G e, Esq., who died at 
 
 Lambeth a short time since, is the following very 
 remarkable clause : — " Whereas, it was my mis- 
 fortune to be made very uneasy by Elizabeth 
 
 G e, my wife, for many years from our marriage, 
 
 by her turbulent behaviour ; for she was not con- 
 tent with despising my admonitions, but she contrived 
 every method to make me unhappy ; she was so 
 perverse in her nature, that she would not be re- 
 claimed, but seemed only to be born to be a 
 plague to me. The strength of Sampson, the know- 
 ledge of Homer, the prudence of Augustus, the 
 cunning of Pyrrhus, the patience of Job, the sub- 
 tlety of Hannibal, the watchfulness of Hermagenes, 
 could not have been sufficient to subdue her ; for 
 no skill or force in the world could make her good ; 
 and as we have lived separate and apart from each 
 other eight years, and she having perverted her son 
 to leave and totally abandon me, therefore I give her 
 one shilling only." 
 
 ISAAC GREENTREE. 
 
 On a tomb-board in the church-yard of Harrow- 
 on-the-Hill, to the memory of Isaac Green tree, the 
 
FAMILY CUSTOMS. 231 
 
 visitors are shown the following lines, written by the 
 late Lord Byron, when a pupil in the school of that 
 place : — 
 
 " Under these green trees, rising to the skies, 
 The planter of them, Isaac Greentree, lies; 
 The time will come when these green trees shall fall, 
 And Isaac Greentree rise above them all." 
 
 MR. JACKETT. 
 
 Mr. Jackett, one of the principal clerks belonging 
 to Messrs. Fuller and Co., died suddenly at the 
 Royal Exchange, in the year 1789, and left the 
 following will, which was proved in Doctors' Com- 
 mons : — 
 
 1 ' I give and bequeath, 
 
 (When I'm laid underneath,) 
 To my two loving sisters most dear, 
 
 The whole of my store, 
 
 (Were it twice as much more,) 
 Which God's goodness has granted me here. 
 
 And that none may prevent 
 
 This, my will and intent, 
 Or occasion the least of law racket, 
 
 With a solemn appeal, 
 
 I confirm, sign, and seal, 
 This, the true act and deed of 
 
 Will Jackett." 
 
 MARQUIS OF CONYNGHAM. 
 
 The marquis of Conyngham succeeded in 1796 
 to the large estates of his uncle, who was supposed 
 to have died intestate. The following extraordinary 
 particulars of the after-discovery of the will are men- 
 tioned in " Nichols's Anecdotes :" — The remarkable 
 
232 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 manner in which it came to light was found related 
 in the following memorandum of General Valancey, 
 made in his " Green Book," which contained an histo- 
 rical account of manuscript and printed documents 
 relative to Ireland, and was sold at the sale of the 
 general's library : — " Mr. Burton Conyngham had 
 free access to my library in my absence, leaving a 
 receipt for such books as he took out. I was absent 
 six years on duty in Cork harbour, leaving the care 
 of my house in Dublin to a servant-maid ; this 
 book was taken by Mr. C, and a receipt on a slip 
 of paper given, which the servant put into a book on 
 the shelf. She was some time after discharged, and 
 another hired. On my return, at the expiration of 
 six years, I missed this book. In about two years, 
 taking down the octavo in which Mr. B.'s note had 
 been carefully deposited, the receipt fell out. Mr. 
 Conyngham was dead, and died as was supposed, 
 intestate ; and his great estate devolved upon Lord 
 Conyngham, his nephew. I produced the receipt, 
 and demanded the book, or the payment of 200/. 
 The book was not to be found ; with others it had 
 been packed in boxes, and sent to an auction ; not 
 sold, but brought back. At length Mr. A. Cooper, 
 of the Treasury, who had the care of Mr. C.'s 
 affairs, by long search, discovered the book, when, 
 on opening it, Mr. C.'s will fell out, by which it 
 appeared that the estate was divided between Lord 
 C. and his mother." 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 FAMILY BREACHES. 
 
 Section I. — Dissentions. 
 
 A SCOTCHMAN AND HIS LADY. 
 
 In 1731, The Gentleman's Magazine stated the, fol- 
 lowing very curious facts : — 
 
 William Crawford, janitor of the High School at 
 Edinburgh, somewhat in years, having been thrice 
 proclaimed in the kirk, went thither with his friends, 
 and stood, some hours expecting his bride. At last 
 he received a ticket from her in these terms : " Wil- 
 liam, you must know I am pre-engaged. I never yet 
 could like a burnt cuttle [a burnt-out tobacco-pipe]. 
 I have now by the hand my sonsy menseful strap- 
 per, with whom I intend to pass my days. You 
 know old age and youth cannot agree together. I 
 must then be excused, if I tell you I am not your 
 humble servant." The honest man, not taking it 
 much to heart, only said, " Come, let us at least keep 
 the feast on the feast-day ; dinner will be ready, let 
 us go drink, and drive away care : may never a 
 greater misfortune attend an honest man." Back to 
 dinner they went, and from the company convened, 
 the bridegroom got one hundred marks, and all 
 charges defrayed ; with which he was as well satisfied 
 as he who got Madam, 
 
234 
 
 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 GOLDSMITH. 
 
 While Goldsmith was completing the closing 
 pages of " The Vicar of Wakefield " in his garret, he 
 was roused from his occupation by the unexpected 
 appearance of his landlady, to whom he was consi- 
 derably in arrears, with a long bill for the last few 
 weeks' lodgings. The poet was thunderstruck with 
 surprise and consternation : he was unable to answer 
 her demands, either then or in future. At length 
 the landlady relieved him of his embarrassment, by 
 offering to remit the liquidation of the debt, pro- 
 vided he would accept her as his true and lawful 
 spouse. His friend, Dr. Johnson, happened to come 
 in at the time, and by advancing him a sufficient 
 sum to defray the expenses of his establishment, 
 consisting of only himself and dirty shirt, relieved 
 him from his matrimonial shackles. 
 
 AN ENGLISHMAN AND A LADY. 
 
 Most of our readers will recollect the anecdote of 
 the eccentric Mr. Harvest, who forgot the day on 
 which he was to be married. It appears he was not 
 singular in this respect ; for Holman, in his " Travels 
 through Russia," relates the following fact : — 
 
 At the English church at St. Petersburgh, a few 
 years since, a wedding party had assembled, and 
 were waiting for the clergyman, when the bridegroom, 
 whispering to the bride that he wished to step out 
 for an instant, quitted the chapel. The clergyman 
 soon after made his appearance, but the bridegroom 
 was not to be found ; and, after waiting about two 
 hours, the party were about to return to their homes 
 without the ceremony being performed. It proved 
 
FAMILY BREACHES. 235 
 
 that the gentleman had gone out with the view of 
 asking an old and particular friend to be father to the 
 bride ; but, being a broker, had, unfortunately, instead 
 of entering at once on the subject of his visit, com- 
 menced with a point of business, which so absorbed 
 him as entirely to put the more immediate concern 
 out of his head, so that he literally forgot his bride, 
 and all the promised happiness he had been so near 
 realizing. The ceremony was, however, performed 
 on the following day, to the surprise of many of the 
 ladies ; who declared that, after such neglect, they 
 would have rejected such a husband in toto. 
 
 A NEGRO COUPLE. 
 
 We have seldom seen a wife advertised in a more 
 affectionate manner than the following. It is from 
 an American paper : — 
 
 Notice :— Fourteen years ago I took to wife Pa- 
 tience, of the tribe of Dan. As we both were of 
 African origin, and a deep jetty black, it never entered 
 my head that my wife would have patience to listen to 
 the persuasions of a swarthy Indian. Not long ago, 
 however, the peace of my family began to be dis- 
 turbed by one Jim, of that race ; and at length Pa- 
 tience followed him, carrying with them the main 
 part of my estate, viz., bed and bedding, great and 
 little wheel, bed-cord, steel-yards, and spider. I have 
 since been active in endeavouring to regain her affec- 
 tions, together with my property : I have bought a 
 shawl of beautiful colours to tempt her : I have piped 
 to her, but she would not dance ; I have mourned 
 with her, but she would not weep : and, finally, I am 
 persuaded that she will never be restored to me ; and, 
 therefore, to save the wreck of my estate, I hereby 
 
236 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 forbid all persons harbouring or trusting the said 
 Patience on my account, as I will pay no debts of 
 her contracting after this date. 
 
 MR. AND MRS. GRIFFIN. 
 
 In 1734, the following circumstance took place in 
 Lincolnshire : — 
 
 It was the wedding-day of Mr. and Mrs. Griffin — 
 the actual, not the anniversary, wedding-day ; and 
 the jocund bridegroom, bride, and their guests, were 
 assembled about noon in the drawing-room, when a 
 servant entered, and said, a gentleman had called, 
 and anxiously wished to speak to Mr. Griffin ; that he 
 was waiting below stairs, and would not come up, 
 because he came on particular business. Mr. G. 
 begged his company to excuse him for a few minutes, 
 and quitted the room. One hour elapsed — no bride- 
 groom ; two hours — he did not appear ; three, four — 
 there were no indications of his return. The bride's 
 mind misgave her, and the hymeneal guests became 
 much alarmed. The servants, one and all, declared 
 they had seen their master and the gentleman who 
 had so unexpectedly arrived walk into the garden, 
 whence they had not returned. Now, a high brick 
 wall, in which there was no outlet, and over which 
 no person could climb except by a ladder, enclosed 
 the garden, which, when searched, was found empty ; 
 whilst at the same time it was clear that Mr. Griffin, 
 and his friend, " the gentleman," could not have 
 walked back, and passed through the hall-door, with- 
 out being, from its situation, seen and heard by the 
 servants in the kitchen. Time, however, fled ; year 
 after year passed over, and Mr. Griffin did not re-ap- 
 pear : no ! and although his lady lived to be nearly 
 
FAMILY BREACHES. 237 
 
 ninety years of age, she never gained any tidings of 
 the spouse thus so mysteriously spirited away. 
 
 MR. STACKPOOLE AND HIS HOUSE- 
 KEEPER. 
 
 A few years since there resided in Grosvenor-place 
 a Mr. Stackpoole, a man of fortune, and a middle- 
 aged bachelor. He had a housekeeper, a woman of 
 such excellent conduct and amiable manners, that, 
 after living with him some years, he determined to 
 make her his wife. Preparations were accordingly 
 made for the wedding, and it was fixed to take place 
 on the Monday following : but, on the previous Sa- 
 turday, the lady left the house in her usual manner, 
 to go to market for the family, and never after re- 
 turned ; nor, though Mr. S. lived thirty years after- 
 wards, could he, by advertisements, or by any other 
 means, ascertain what had befallen her. 
 
 A CANADIAN COUPLE. 
 
 Some time since, in a town in Canada, a happy 
 pair were joined in wedlock by a facetious township 
 squire, whose fees totally exhausted the funds of the 
 bridegroom. Not many days, it appears, had elapsed, 
 before the parties, who had been joined " till death 
 should them part," became mutually dissatisfied with 
 their lot, and returned to the squire, with their many 
 tales of woe, beseeching him, with all their elo- 
 quence, to unmarry them ; which he agreed to do, 
 provided he was previously paid three dollars, double 
 the fee of the first ceremony. This sum the bride- 
 groom had earned by a week's labour on the esquire's 
 farm. Then came the ceremony of parting. The 
 
238 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 esquire placed a block on the floor, on which was put 
 a live cat : one pulled the head, and the other the 
 tail, while the esquire, with an axe, severed the cat 
 in twain, at the same time exclaiming, " Death hath 
 parted you." The couple departed, with a firm be- 
 lief that the performance was strictly legal, and did 
 not live together afterwards. 
 
 AN UNHAPPY COUPLE. 
 
 Wife, (reading a newspaper.) — My dear, I very often 
 read in the papers of imported, exported, transported, 
 &c. ; now, what do they mean ? 
 
 Husband. — My love, imported means what is 
 brought into this country ; exported means what is 
 sent out of this country ; transported means, in one 
 sense, the same as exported, &c, otherwise of joy, 
 pleasure, &c. Now, my chick, an example : if you 
 were exported, I should be transported ! 
 
 A GLASGOW COUPLE. 
 
 Some little time ago, a pair of turtles, seemingly 
 anxious to become united in the silken bands of wed- . 
 lock, made their appearance before one of the city 
 clergymen of Glasgow ; who, finding the requisite 
 certificates all right, proceeded with the ceremony 
 till he came to that part of it where the question is 
 put to the bridegroom, if he " is willing to take this 
 woman to be his wife?" To this necessary ques- 
 tion, the man, after a considerable hesitation, an- 
 swered, " No." " No ! " said the minister, with a 
 look of surprise, "for what reason?" "Just," said 
 the poor embarrassed simpleton, looking round for 
 the door, " because I've ta'en a scunner [disgust] at 
 
FAMILY ERE ACHES. 239 
 
 her." On this the ceremony, to the evident mortifi- 
 cation of the fair one, was broken off, and the parties 
 retired. A few days after, however, they again pre- 
 sented themselves before his reverence ; and the fas- 
 tidious bridegroom having declared that he had got 
 over his objection, the ceremony was again com- 
 menced, and proceeded without interruption, till a 
 question similar to the above was put to the bride, 
 when she, in her turn, replied by a negative. " What 
 is the meaning of all this?" said the clergyman, evi- 
 dently displeased at the foolish trifling of the parties. 
 " Oh, naething ava," said the blushing damsel, tossing 
 her head with an air of resentment, " only I've just 
 ta'en a scunner at him ! " They again retired to their 
 lonely pillows ; and lonely it would seem they had 
 found them, for the reverend gentleman, on coming 
 out of his house the following morning, met the fool- 
 ish couple once more, on their way to solicit his 
 services. " It's a' made up, noo," said the smiling 
 fair one. " Oh yes," said her intended, " it's a' set- 
 tled noo, and we want you to marry us as soon as 
 possible." " I will do no such thing," was the grave 
 and startling reply to the impatient request. " What 
 for?" cried the fickle pair, speaking together, in a 
 tone of mingled surprise and disappointment, " Oh, 
 naething ava," said his reverence, passing on his way, 
 " but just I've ta'en a scunner at ye baith ! " 
 
 A FATHER AND HIS SON. 
 
 A mulatto youth one day called on a respectable 
 gentleman of Baltimore, and, with tears in his eyes, 
 begged for assistance. " My father and mother," 
 says he, " are about to sell me to Georgia." " Your 
 father and mother!" replied the gentleman, with 
 
240 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 surprise ; what right have they to sell you ? " " My 
 
 father," answered the boy, " is a white man, Mr. , 
 
 a merchant in this place. My mother is a yellow 
 woman. She has had several children by him, all 
 of whom have been sold to Georgia, but myself. 
 He is this moment bargaining with a slave-trader 
 for me." The gentleman promised his assistance, 
 but too late ; the bargain was already made. The 
 unfortunate youth was immediately borne off, in 
 spite of tears, execrations, and entreaties, handcuffed, 
 and chained, and driven like a brute to a distant 
 market. 
 
 COUNTESS OF CUMBERLAND. 
 
 In " Hays's Female Biography," published in 
 1803, we are told, that by the side of the road be- 
 tween Penrith and Appleby, appears an affecting 
 monument of the filial gratitude of Ann Clifford, 
 countess of Pembroke, Dorset, and Montgomery ; 
 on this spot she had last parted with a beloved 
 mother, a separation she was accustomed to recall to 
 her mind with tender sorrow, and in commemoration 
 of which, she erected a pillar, its base a stone table, 
 known by the name of " Countess Pillar," on which 
 were engraved her arms, a sun-dial, and the follow- 
 ing inscription : — 
 
 "This pillar was erected in the year 1656, by 
 Ann, Countess Dowager of Pembroke, for a memo- 
 rial of her last parting in this place with her good 
 and pious mother, Margaret, Countess Dowager of 
 Cumberland, on the 2nd of April, 1615. In me- 
 mory whereof she hath left an annuity of four pounds, 
 to be distributed to the poor of the parish of 
 Brougham, every 2nd day of April for ever, upon 
 the stone table placed hard by. Lavs Deo!" 
 
FAMILY BREACHES. 241 
 
 Section III. — Death. 
 
 A COUPLE IN SWEDEN. 
 
 Fahlun, in Sweden, a few years since, witnessed 
 an incident which partakes of the romantic. In 
 opening a communication between two mines, the 
 body of a young miner was found in a state of com- 
 plete preservation, being impregnated with the vitri- 
 olic water of the mine ; when exposed to the open 
 air it became stiff. 
 
 The features were not recognised by any person 
 present : but tradition had preserved the recollection 
 of the accident by which he had been buried in the 
 bowels of the earth more than half a century ago. 
 
 All further inquiry was dropped : when, suddenly, 
 a decrepid old woman, leaning on her crutches, ad- 
 vanced, and discovered that the party was a young 
 man to whom she had been engaged by promise of 
 marriage, fifty years before ! 
 
 She threw herself on the body of her former 
 lover, and bedewed it with many tears ; fainting with 
 joy to have again beheld the object of her affec- 
 tion before she descended to the tomb. 
 
 The contrast between these parties, one of them 
 buried during fifty years, yet preserving all the fea- 
 tures of youth ; the other, bending beneath the 
 load of years, and living, if she could be said to 
 live, during an equal space of time, above ground, 
 may be conceived, but cannot be described. 
 
 SIR JOHN PRYSE. 
 
 Mr. Pennant relates, in his " Tour in Wale?," 
 that the late Sir John Pryse, Bart., of Newtown- 
 
 R 
 
242 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 Hall, in Montgomeryshire, was a gentleman of worth, 
 but of strange singularities. He married three 
 wives ; and kept the two first, who died in his room, 
 one on each side of his bed ; his third declined the 
 honour of his hand, till her defunct rivals were 
 committed to their proper place. 
 
 A WOMAN IN WALES. 
 
 Some years ago a woman lived in a village in 
 Glamorganshire, whose husband, with the little 
 fortune he got with her, bought a small farm ; he 
 had hardly closed the purchase when death closed 
 his eyes ; however, not intimidated by this, the widow 
 married a second husband, who sowed it ; he likewise 
 died ; and she tried a third, who reaped it, but death 
 soon snatched him away. She then married a 
 fourth, who threshed it, but he also followed the 
 fate of his predecessors ; and she then married a 
 fifth husband, with whom she enjoyed the produce 
 of it. All this happened within less than eighteen 
 months ! 
 
 MARTHA BLEWITT. 
 
 At Birdbroke was buried, in May, 1681, Martha 
 Blewitt, who was the wife of nine husbands succes- 
 sively. The text for her funeral sermon was — " Last 
 of all, the woman died also." The ninth survived 
 her. 
 
 MRS. VAN BUCHELL. 
 
 In 1775 died the wife of that eccentric empiric, 
 Dr. Martin Van Buchell, and the singular mode 
 
FAMILY BREACHES. 243 
 
 employed for the preservation of her body merits 
 notice. On her death taking place, he applied to 
 Dr. Hunter to exert his skill in preventing, if pos- 
 sible, the changes of form usual after the cessation 
 of life. Accordingly, the doctor, assisted by Mr. 
 Cruikshank, injected the blood-vessels with a co- 
 loured fluid, so that the minute red vessels of the 
 cheeks and lips were filled, and exhibited their 
 native hue ; and the body, in general, having all the 
 cavities filled with antiseptic substances, remained 
 perfectly free from corruption, or any unpleasant 
 smell, as if it was merely in a state of sleep. But 
 to resemble the appearance of life, glass eyes were 
 also inserted. The corpse was then deposited in a 
 bed of thin paste or plaster of Paris, in a box of 
 sufficient dimensions, which subsequently crystallized, 
 and produced a pleasing effect. A curtain covered 
 the glass lid of the box, which could be withdrawn 
 at pleasure, and which box being kept in the com- 
 mon parlour, Mr. Van Buchell had the satisfaction 
 of preserving his wife for many years, frequently 
 displaying the beautiful corpse to his friends and 
 visitors. A second marriage, some years afterwards, 
 having occasioned family differences, it was found 
 expedient to remove the preserved body. 
 
 MRS. DAY. 
 
 Mrs. Day, relict of Mr. Day, author of " Sandford 
 and Merton," it is said, after her husband's death, 
 never saw the light of the sun. She confined herself 
 to her bed all day, with the curtains drawn so close 
 that no light could be admitted ; and rose at night, 
 wandering alone in her garden, amid the gloom that 
 was congenial to her sorrows. 
 
244 THE FAMILY CIRCLE. 
 
 P. D. VALLE. 
 
 Pietro della Valle, an enterprising Italian traveller, 
 who lived in the seventeenth century, and wrote an 
 interesting account of many regions of the East, 
 rarely visited by Europeans, married, when in Assy- 
 ria, a beautiful girl, of Christian parentage, and a 
 native of Mesopotamia. Though very young and 
 delicate, the fair Giserida accompanied the wander- 
 ing Italian wherever he went, and was with him even 
 in battle, when he fought as an officer of the Persian 
 King. A premature death separated her from the 
 husband of her choice, as he was preparing to carry 
 her to India — her body he did cany : he had it se- 
 cured in a coffin, and placed on board of ship, in the 
 cabin where he slept. For four years it was the 
 inseparable companion of his long and perilous jour- 
 neys, by sea and by land ; and at the end of that period, 
 he deposited it, with great pomp, in the tomb of his 
 noble ancestors at Rome, pronouncing himself a fu- 
 neral oration of considerable beauty, which contained 
 an account of her extraordinary life. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Page 
 
 226 
 
 26 
 16 
 2 
 108 
 128 
 198 
 17 
 33 
 126 
 113 
 69 
 227 
 212 
 1S1 
 33 
 164 
 
 A. 
 
 Abercorn, lord 
 Abernethy, J., Esq. 
 Abrantes, duchess of 
 Addison, Mr. . 
 Albert, Jean of 
 Alexander III., king 
 Algerines, the . . 
 American, an . . 
 Ancients, the . . 
 Annandale, lord of 
 Alphonso . . . 
 Amnion .... 
 Anthony .... 
 Arabs, the . . . 
 Atkinson, Frances 
 Augustus . . . 
 Austin, Joseph 
 
 B. 
 
 Baldini 4 
 
 Baldwin, Mr 230 
 
 Bandon 30 
 
 Barnave, M 116 
 
 Bastile, hero of the . . . 22 
 Bavaria, duke of .... 69 
 
 Beaumont 176 
 
 Beggar, a 45 
 
 Bellay, bishop 190 
 
 Bellitz, Louise .... 16 
 
 Bernard, Mrs. C 148 
 
 Blewitt, Martha . . . .242 
 
 Bluster, Mr 157 
 
 Bothwell, earl of . . . .183 
 
 Boy, a French 169 
 
 Boyce, Mr 170 
 
 Bracciano, duke de . . . 121 
 
 Brace, Julia 124 
 
 Bretschneider 6 
 
 Brett, colonel 29 
 
 Bright, Dr 122 
 
 Brigstock, Dr 85 
 
 Browne, Mr 218 
 
 Bruce, Mr. M 64 
 
 Robert 126 
 
 Buchell, Mrs. V 242 
 
 Burd, dean 40 
 
 Page 
 
 Burney. Dr 167 
 
 Burns, Mrs 22 
 
 C. 
 
 Carne, J., Esq. .... 159 
 
 Caron, J. and M 67 
 
 Carpentier, M 40 
 
 Carrick, countess of . . .126 
 Catherine II., empress . .11 
 
 Cecil, Mr 55 
 
 Cesar 33 
 
 Chalmers, Sir G 35 
 
 Charlemagne 23 
 
 Charles I., king .... 34 
 Charlotte, queen .... 89 
 Clarendon, lady .... 34 
 
 Clarke, Dr 217 
 
 Cleopatra 229 
 
 Clergyman, a 168 
 
 Clovis, king 39 
 
 Cobbett, Mr 8 
 
 Colin, Dinah 182 
 
 Columbus 136 
 
 Compton, lady 69 
 
 Conyngham, marquis of . 231 
 Conrad III., emperor . . 69 
 
 Cooper, Mr. A 232 
 
 Cordey, Charlotte ... 14 
 Couple, a blind .... 40 
 
 a Canadian . . .237 
 
 a Dutch .... 75 
 
 a Glasgow . . .238 
 
 a jocose .... 10 
 
 an American . 61, 81 
 
 a negro .... 234 
 
 a new-married . . 93 
 
 an unhappy . . . 238 
 
 a Prussian ... 49 
 
 a Swedish . 100, 241 
 
 a wise 59 
 
 Cowper, W., Esq 60 
 
 Craasbeck, Mr 86 
 
 Crawford, W 233 
 
 Croker, Mr. E 75 
 
 Cruikshank, Mr 243 
 
 Cumberland, countess of . 240 
 Curran, Mr 170 
 
INDEX. 
 
 D. 
 
 D , countess of . . .124 
 
 Dale, Dr 72 
 
 Daughter, a devoted . .130 
 
 a Persian . . 122 
 
 Davis, Miss 77 
 
 Day, Mrs 243 
 
 Dazelaer, M 79 
 
 Douce, Mr 177, 179 
 
 Douglas, Mr 88 
 
 Downshire, marquis . . 40 
 
 Drake, Sir B 223 
 
 Drogheda, lady .... 31 
 
 Drunkard, a 60 
 
 Dutoit, Madame .... 62 
 
 E. 
 
 Eberle, J 61 
 
 Egirvard 23 
 
 Eire, Richard 75 
 
 Eleanor, queen . . . . 58 
 Elgin, earl .... 126, 203 
 Elizabeth, queen . 72, 116, 176 
 
 Elliott, Mr 186 
 
 Emperor, an Indian . . .111 
 
 Eretius 130 
 
 Erskine, hon. Mrs. . . . 76 
 
 Eurydice 207 
 
 Exeter, marquis of . . . 55 
 
 F. 
 
 Families, singular . . .106 
 Family, a Persian . . .164 
 
 a Tyrian . . .159 
 
 Fanshawe, lady .... 92 
 
 Farquhar, Sir W 32 
 
 Ferdinand III., king . . 58 
 Fitzwilliam, earl . . . .158 
 
 Fletcher .176 
 
 France, queen of .... 34 
 
 Franklin, Dr 3, 137 
 
 Frederick the Great . . . .128 
 Frederick William III., 
 
 emperor 141 
 
 Frenchman, a 167 
 
 a young .14,116 
 
 Fuller, Messrs 231 
 
 — T 58 
 
 G. 
 
 G , J., Esq 230 
 
 Mr 144 
 
 Garrick, D., Esq 140 
 
 Gay, Mr. . . . . . .179 
 
 Gellius, A 170 
 
 Gentleman, a 19 
 
 a married . .77 
 
 an Irish . . 85 
 
 George I., king .... 13 
 
 III., king .... 107 
 
 Girl, an Irish ..... 19 
 
 a Scotch 16 
 
 Godin, Madame .... 93 
 
 Goldsmith, Dr 234 
 
 Goodchild, Mr. and Mrs. . 74 
 Gowrie, hon. Miss ... 31 
 Grammont, duke de . . 28, 109 
 
 Granville, Dr 53, 215 
 
 Greentree, Isaac .... 230 
 Griffin, Mr. and Mrs. . . 236 
 Grindall, Anthony . . .179 
 
 Grotius 78 
 
 Gurnall, Rev. W 15 
 
 H. 
 
 Hamilton, lady 
 
 Miss 
 
 Harriot, Mr. . 
 Harvest, Mr. . 
 Hastings, "Warren 
 Hayto, George . 
 Heiress, an . . 
 Henry, Dr. . . 
 — II., king 
 VIII., kin 
 
 Herbert, the lords 
 Hewitt, SirW. . 
 Hide, Mrs. . . . 
 Hodgson, Zechariah 
 Hoffman, Rev. Mr. 
 Hoggins, Mrs. . . 
 Holman, Mr. . .. 
 Hulton, Mr. . . 
 Hunsdon, earl . . 
 Hunter, Dr. . . 
 Husband, a fearful 
 
 a tyrannical 
 
 Hutchinson, captain 
 Hutton, W., Esq. 
 Hyde, Mr. . . , 
 
 118 
 
 194 
 
 146 
 
 234 
 
 46 
 
 182 
 
 82 
 
 224 
 
 190 
 
 ,158 
 
 225 
 
 29 
 
 47 
 
 86 
 
 140 
 
 56 
 
 234 
 
 194 
 
 225 
 
 243 
 
 65 
 
 81 
 
 64 
 
 137 
 
 34 
 
 Icelanders, the . . . .163 
 
 Indian, an 171 
 
 Irishman, an . . . 35, 113 
 
J. 
 
 Page 
 
 Jackett, Mr 231 
 
 Jagua 192 
 
 James I., king . . 34, 47, 226 
 
 Jervas 144 
 
 John, king . . . •. . .224 
 Johnson, Dr. ..... 15 
 
 Juan, Don 112 
 
 Julius III., pope .... 121 
 
 K. 
 
 Kaimes, lord . . . . 1, 126 
 
 Kelso, Miss 129 
 
 Klaproth, Mr 194 
 
 L. 
 
 Lacedemonians, the . . . 190 
 Ladv, a London .... 82 
 
 — a Scotch . . . .229 
 
 a young . . . 18,19 
 
 Lambertini, pope .... 121 
 Lancashire, a man in . . 27 
 Laurence, Richard . . . 148 
 
 Lavalette, M 61 
 
 Lawyer, a 11 
 
 Lichtenau, countess . . . 140 
 
 Loo-nan-kin 132 
 
 Lovers, African .... 19 
 
 Louis 107 
 
 XII., king. ... 34 
 
 XVI., king . . .115 
 
 Lycurgus 33 
 
 Lyons, a father at 
 Lysons, Mr. . . 
 
 . 110 
 
 . 67 
 
 M. 
 
 M . Miss 19 
 
 Marat 14 
 
 Marchena, Juan P. . . .136 
 Marlborough, duke of . . 57 
 
 Massena 16 
 
 Master, an English . . .146 
 
 Maximilian 113 
 
 Maximus V 130 
 
 Meir, Rabbi 65 
 
 Menage 167 
 
 Mental, M 174 
 
 Merchant, a 36 
 
 Mesins. Quintin .... 7 
 
 Meynel. lady 137 
 
 Milton, John 77 
 
 Miravin, M. de . . . . 48 
 Moffat, Dr 178 
 
 Page 
 Monk, an Egyptian ... 69 
 Montgomery," Mr. ... 46 
 
 Moor, a young 133 
 
 More, Hannah 194 
 
 Morgan, Mr. and Mrs. . .138 
 Morton, earl of ... . 224 
 Mother, an American . .115 
 
 M'Quillan, R 225 
 
 Munchausen, author of 
 
 Baron 24 
 
 N. 
 
 Nicholson, Miss . . 
 Nithsdale, countess . 
 Nobleman, an English 
 
 an Italian 
 
 a young . 
 
 Normans, the . . . 
 Norton, Mr. and Mrs. 
 Noyes, Miss . . . 
 
 . 44 
 . 61 
 . 116 
 . 156 
 
 13. 124 
 . 224 
 . 13S 
 . 26 
 
 O. 
 
 Officer, an Irish 
 Ogilvie, lord . . 
 Mr. 
 
 Oldbuck, Jonathan 
 O'Neil, Mr. . . . 
 Osborne, Edward 
 
 72 
 80 
 119 
 189 
 129 
 29 
 
 Pair, a depressed . 
 
 a taciturn . 
 
 Pearson, Isaac 
 
 Peasant, a Dutch 
 Pembroke, earl of 
 
 — countess of . . 
 
 Pennant, Mr. . .180, 184, 
 
 Persian, 
 
 Phocion, vrife of . . 
 Physician, a . . . 
 Pike. General . . . 
 Pitt, hon. W. . . . 
 Pomeranian, a young 
 Portali, M. . ." . . 
 Porter, Mrs. . . . 
 Postletlrwayte, Mr. . 
 Preacher, a . . . . 
 Price, lady .... 
 Pryse, Sir J. . . . 
 Prussia, king of . . 
 
 Frederick of . . 96 
 
 Purchase, Mr 218 
 
 66 
 
 91 
 
 181 
 
 168 
 
 142 
 
 240 
 
 210 
 
 11 
 
 85 
 
 115 
 
 90 
 
 ), 32 
 
 128 
 
 97 
 
 15 
 
 13 
 
 135 
 
 68 
 
 241 
 
INDEX. 
 
 R. 
 
 Page 
 
 Racine 109 
 
 Rayburn 12 
 
 Rhodians, the 191 
 
 Richer, M 173 
 
 Riddell, major 43 
 
 Rivers, countess .... 29 
 
 Robespierre 123 
 
 Roger, Mr 225 
 
 Rome, brothers in . . .118 
 
 Roquette, M 62 
 
 Rugg, Mrs 68 
 
 Rujean, Dr 18 
 
 Russell, lord 98 
 
 Rutonsky, count .... 5 
 
 , Mr. and Mrs. 
 
 S 
 
 Sadi 
 
 Sandy, Miss . . 
 Saunders, Robert 
 Savoyard, a . . 
 Scholar, a poor 
 Scott, SirW. . . 
 Senataire, M. . . 
 Senzano . , . . 
 Servant, a farmer's 
 
 a female 
 
 an Irish . 
 
 Servants, ancient . 
 
 two Chinese 
 
 Seymour, Edward 
 Shaftesbury, lord . 
 Shelly, Rev. Mr. . 
 Sheridan, Dr. . . 
 Simonides . 
 Soldier, a Scottish 
 Somerset, duke of 
 Southey, Dr. . . 
 Spain, king of . . 
 Stackpoole, Mr. . 
 Sterne .... 
 
 50 
 
 57 
 138 
 179 
 5 
 160 
 183 
 173 
 
 25 
 226 
 153 
 155 
 150 
 149 
 
 76 
 100 
 
 58 
 
 45 
 
 2 
 
 139 
 
 76 
 229 
 
 28 
 237 
 140 
 
 Page 
 
 Stew, Rev.W 75 
 
 Stickney, Mrs 105 
 
 Strongbow, Mr ill 
 
 Suffolk, duke of .... 34 
 Swift, dean . . . 45,152,162 
 
 T. 
 
 Temple, Sir W IS 
 
 Tennent, Rev. W. ... 7 
 
 Terence 146 
 
 Thatcher, John .... 97 
 Thorne, Miss .... 52 
 
 Tytler, Mr. P. F 127 
 
 Valle, P. de 
 Vere, Sir H. 
 Vojrod, Janca 
 
 W. 
 
 Wales, a woman in 
 Ward,' Mr. . . . 
 Webster, Dr. . . 
 Mr. . . 
 
 Wife, a Jewish . . 
 
 a Scottish . . 
 
 Wilson, Sir R. . . . 
 Wives, the German . 
 Wolsey, cardinal . . 
 Woman, a Brazilian 
 Wood, Sandy . . . 
 Wraxall, the historian 
 Wycherley .... 
 
 242 
 101 
 195 
 153 
 
 101 
 64 
 69 
 
 15S 
 229 
 ~35 
 118 
 
 31 
 
 Y. 
 
 Young, Dr. . . 
 Youths, two Chinese 
 
 
 W. Tyler, Printer, Bolt Court, Fleet Street. 
 
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