You

Judge Fleming seemed to me, so constantly contrasted with to be about a hundred--though in Wirt's glorious beauty; there was reality, perhaps not more than too the same difference in their seventy: he danced and flirted conversation and manners. with the young ladies like a boy, would think Wickham very and was of course laughed at by agreeable, if Wirt did not step up all, thoug the gentlemen said and make himself so much more he was a good Judge, and out so. Wickham seemed condescendof the drawing-room a sensible ing to entertain you-Wirt made you think you were entertaining

man.

I boarded in the house with him. Wickham was performing a Judge Brooks, and of course, saw duty,-Wirt enjoying a pleasure. him daily; he was a delightful So in their houses and entertaincompanion, full of vivacity and ments Wickham's were splendidwit, and without compromising comme il faut-cold and ceremohis dignity, gathered the young nious; Wirt's simply elegant, and ladies around him and amused you were happy, you did not them to their heart's content.

know why.

Judge Norborne Nicolas did I once remember being at a not, perhaps, stand so high in the dancing party at Wirt's, his parJudiciary as those I have men- ties were generally conversational tioned, but he was a high-bred and musical, though it was cusVirginia gentleman; of course, tomary to have dancing at almost simple and genial in his manners, all the other houses in the circle full of courtesy and kindness. - in which I visited. I do not reHis wife was a splendid specimen member whether Mr. Wirt was of the lady; everything she said then a member of the Church. I and did, was graceful and appro- know he was some years subse

priate. I am speaking of his first wife, a Miss Smith, of Baltimore;-his second marriage was after the days of my fashionable life.

quently, a member of the Presbyterian Church, and I am happy to say, a consistent Christian.

Hay was a large, fine looking man, a gentleman, but too vain and sarcastic to be pleasant.

Such was the Bench. I come now to the Bar-which was then Mr. Leigh was a handsome at the zenith of its glory. Wick- man, and at that time rising in ham, Wirt, Call, Hay, Watkins reputation, being still young; he Leigh, of Richmond, Tazewell talked well, but was a little too and Taylor, of Norfolk, were a proud of Mr. Watkins Leigh. bright constellation, there were Gen. Robert Taylor, of Norfolk, other stars of considerable, but was the model of an elegant gen-. less, brilliancy from other parts of tleman; person, manners, converthe State. Wickham was not sation; head and heart what they handsome, but had too fine a face should be. He was then comto be called homely. I think he mander of our forces at Norfolk, would have been considered rather and was said to have shown as good looking if he had not been much military skill as legal

VOL. III.- NO. II.

10

knowledge. As an orator he was ing of the group I am sketching, very little, if at all, surpassed by though not such a favorite of the Wickham and Wirt, or his great young ladies as many others, rival, Tazewell. owing to a little formality and I have spoken of those who hardness of expression, which I were then known to fame. I must think had increased on him when now turn to those nearer my own I met him some years after, not age-who were yet but carpet long before his death. He was knights but who have since won a then spending the winter in Norplace in the annals of the country folk for the benefit of the climate, -who were then just entering or looking very emaciated, and no preparing to enter the struggle of doubt feeling wretchedly. life.

Wm. C. Rives was very hand

Wm. S. Archer was the oldest some, very elegant, if that is conof the group I shall sketch. He sistent with a somewhat stiff was then in the Virginia House formality. With ladies he talked of Delegates, afterwards in the well and laughed without changSenate of the United States. He ing countenance, and left them was then what Webster said of with the air "that duty is done." him many years after-" the most Wm. C. Preston was exactly absurd aggregation of preposter- the reverse, all gaiety, dash and ous peremptoriousnesses," he ever good natured sarcasm. His saw. He couldn't help using his countenance was constantly big words; not all the ridicule of changing and expressing his feelhis friends could cure him; he was ings before he had time to utter a perfectly good tempered man them. He was not handsome, and stood the raillery of his friends but the constant play of his with a self-satisfied smile that was features made them interesting;really admirable; he was a sincere much, no doubt, was conceded to friend, though perhaps he never his youth, for, notwithstanding admired or loved any one else as much as himself. He never married.

his sarcastic remarks, he was a general favorite and flattered enough to turn the head of any youth of eighteen. He left Virginia and settled in South Carolina and is now spoke of as one of the orators of that State.

I will not speak of Judge Robertson who is still living, and enjoying in his old age, the honors won by his talents and long life of usefulness to his native state.

Abel Upshur, Frank Gilmer, Wm. C. Preston, Wm. C. Rives, John Preston were studying law, and giving promise of their future eminence. Their after life belongs to history. I only speak of them as they then were, the beaux of the season. Frank Gilmer unfortunately died early, but not before he won a name in his State. At the time I speak of, he was an inmate of Mr. Wirt's family, and a student of law. He was then they entered the arena of public looked upon as the most promis- life;-but some being men

There were many other young men who would, perhaps, have become equally conspicuous, had

of

wealth, retired to their planta- in life. I can scarcely forbear to tions, and lived useful, but com- pay a tribute to their memories, paratively obscure lives-others but 'tis useless, "their merits to died young. Even now, though disclose, or draw their frailties long years have passed over, I from their dread abode." Their feel a sorrow, almost to tears, for very names are forgotten, perhaps, the blighted hopes of their fami- in their own family circle. lies, who looked forward with so much hope to their future success

(TO BE CONTINUED.)

CHAPTER 1.

MARY ASHBURTON.

A TALE OF MARYLAND LIFE.

flowers, not forming squares or

An old fashioned farm-house in triangles in stiff, prim lines, but the eastern part of Maryland, springing up everywhere, conochre washed into a delicate straw trasting their colors in the richest, color, a tall yellow chimney peer- gayest confusion, evidently not ing above the trees, a little attic suffering for want of attention; window peeping out from the for the ground about them is great gable-end, and where rose carefully worked and all weeds vines are clambering and tum- and briers most promptly re

bling over, except where caught by strips of morocco mellowed by time and the rust of the nails almost into the hue of the walls,

moved. No prim walks glistening with sand and gravel, but a rich green sod on which the fruitblossoms lay their sweet little

here and there, deep seated dor- white cheeks, or the lovely pink mer windows front and back flowers of the peach embroidered where the bees are swarming in it in charming patterns. In front, at the dishes of dried fruit there- spread a long enclosure lined with in displayed;-old gnarled apple fruit trees and interspersed with trees lovingly kissing each other them so as to form an almost unover the high shelving roof and interrupted shade about the house, almost covering it with their though the sunlight fell in golden sweet white blossoms; pear and patches on the grass and penetracherry trees mingling their odor- ted through the leaves and branchiferous flowers on the deep, grassy es, glinting and sparkling amid carpeting of the enclosure ; a the vegetation till lost in its deepwilderness of jessamine and honey- ening labyrinths. A well sweep suckle growing on the walls; a suspending an "iron-bound bucklong, large garden behind, luxuri- et" arose from a well on whose ating in the dear old-fashioned oaken sides the green moss of days of exhausting labor, the precariousness of the crops, the fre

ments provoke, are forgotten in the enjoyments of the fruits of all this industry and pains-taking.

ages seemed collected, and glancing over into its clear depths, the water looked so pure and cool that quent ill temper that disappointit tempted you to drink whether thirsty or not. Then the apple blossoms fell about it and seemed to make it the sweeter for their The interior of the house does breath. An old love of a pic- not belie the comfortable promise turesque well it was, suggestive of of the exterior. Vast presses pretty maids tripping there with filled with lavender scented linen, their pitchers on their shoulders, great high posted bedsteads coverwhile the traveler quenched his ed with brilliant patch-work, the thirst by their kind assistance. fruit of the house-wife's early

Again, beyond traveled a green skill in needle-work, yawning lane, running wild at the borders chimney places ornamented with with flowering weeds, and fulfill the brightest of brazen fenders, ing the promise of yet more fruit andirons, shovels and tongs, in the long lines of peaches and gaudy in summer with red flowerpear trees that rambled at un- pots, from which radiated im

mense bouquets of the tender asparagus and willow sprays. A long, low parlor, room of state and seldom used, as damp and chilly as such rooms in old country-houses generally are;-enter

equal distances, bowing lightly as the breeze passed over them, tossing their pink and white blossoms in the faces of the solemn looking cattle as they lowed up from the pasturage in the evening, at which the grave procession shook ed but upon grand state occasions their heads and tossed them off in which the tall brass candleagain. Tinkle, tinkle sound the sticks upon the end of the manbells upon the air, while the cow tles gleamed resplendently with boy scolds vociferously as he an illumination of candles; fresh drives the herd over the smooth asparagus and marigolds placed grass and a loiterer strays aside to in the scarlet pot if the weather crop the luxuriant herbage.- happened to be warm; if not a Fields of wheat and corn wave to crackling fire spurted up among the breeze, green meadows slope the sticks of pine and hickory.beyond and form pictures on their Heavy mahogany tables placed grassy sides with the sheep and stiffly on opposite sides of the the white lambs sporting about room, a long ebony-framed glass and mingling their ma-aas with over the mantel, above which the sounds of evening life. solemnly waved a bunch of pea

Such a picture of comfort and cock feathers, drab carpeting on rural life;-so sweet and tranquil the floor, well waxed oaken chairs that it seems impossible for the of the high stiff-backed pattern, strife and misery of human life bleak white walls unsullied in the there to penetrate. The restless purity of the semi-annual whiteindustry, the untiring zeal, the washings.

nights of sleepless anxiety, and

A step across the passage and

could come from, when but a moment before it was but a third of its present size.

the honey-suckled doorway, and wonder as to where all the beautiyou enter the family sitting-room, ful white that turned itself out much more inviting in its appearance, where the home comforts are luxuriously displayed; the chintzcovered sofa and curtains, the long table spread with good country fare at meal time; the side- romance she is deeply buried inboard with its goodly display of shuddering, as she reads, perhaps, glass and china; the prints in over some "Mysteries of Udolwhich the execution fell far short pho" or like entertaining work of the design that hung upon the highly conducive to strength of wall, the roaring fire in the open nerves and a charming prepara

fire-place; the cleanly and brilliantly painted hearth rejoicing in its brazen ornaments; these had a freer and easier air than the room we have just left, as if people lived there and enjoyed the privilege of disordering it occasionally; reposing on the plethoric sofa, moving the chairs at will, etc. Then the brilliantly striped home made carpet, running up and down the floor with all the colors of the rainbow, added much to its cheerfulness. When evening came and the well spread table was surrounded, the long chintz curtains, gorgeous in flowers of immense proportion, per

Then the dreadful going to bed, when the oldest must leave the

tion for the dreaded passage up stairs, where ghosts and hobgoblins may start from every niche in the old wall.

Then prettier still; the delights of summer life, when the soft breath of the flowers floated in at the open windows now radiant in white muslin, when a variety of beautiful fruits garnished the table, when the bees hummed outside at the hive, and the golden butterflies fluttered about the room, or dabbled their pretty wings in the honey on the table.

Such was the home where I, Mary Ashburton, was born and brought up, coming with the sun

mitted to sweep the floor, while shine and flowers of May, ever the firelight played upon the glass reveling with intoxicating deand seemed to have a counterpart light in the beauties of my mothout-of-doors in the dancing reflec-er month, as I termed it. I think tion, the fire crackled upon the I must have caught the beams I hearth, the brazen andirons re- clutched at with my infant fingers,

their warm, mellow radiance seemed so to have penetrated my soul and kept up the childish love for the bright and beautiful.

But if child of the sunshine and flowers, I had earthly parents of

flecting the gaudy blue and red carpeting upon their well polished surfaces,, it was as pretty a picture of home comfort as one would wish to see. Later in the evening, nuts and apples figured conspicuously among the little folks, or a sufficiently real and tangible napop corn fizzed merrily in the fa- ture to convince me of my own ces of all around the hearth, caus- practical existence. My father ing many a little head to pause in was a plain, honest farmer of lim