CHAP. VI. In robes of pureft light Heaven doth with with us, as we with torches do, As if we had them not. Shakespeare. The Domeftic--Religion-the Banditti- IN the midst of this scene, worthy of imitation, an incident occured that at once fcattered their dreams of bliss, and all their fond anticipations withered ere they bloffomed. Martha, a domeftic of tried ufe, was chofen the attendant on the children, and well fhe deferved the truft-for truth and loyalty were centred in poor Martha. One morning, as the fun had shouldered the eaftern hills, fhe had rifen from her couch, and led her infantile charge to breath the fragrance of the orient morn-Early rifing,' faid Martha, is conducive to health, and health is certainly one of the choiceft bleffings dispensed to erring mortals; but ah! how many prostitute the gift, and thoughtless youth, flighting the precious maxims of old age, are often doomed to that cold receptacle, the grave, by drinking deep the facinating bowl, and victims of unwarrantable paffions. Too late the rejected maxims are discovered on the feat of reafon. Religion, when tempered with prudence, and void of the rigid aufterity of former days, produces in the mind fublime ideas, and teaches the dying chriftian to depart in peace,' in the fond hope of endless happiness. Martha had placed a feat at the foot of an aged oak, a fhort way from the precincts of the caftle. According to the ufual custom of antiquity, this feat faced the east, and every morning the pious domestic here folicited bleffings from the bounteous hand of providence on her illuftrious friends. In this spot fhe taught the lovely innocents the power of the immortal difpofer of all fublunary events, and that ingratitude to his mercies was finful and impious. But by obeying his mandates, founded ever upon virtue, it would gain them gilded palaces beyond the fun, and univerfal love on earth. The children, awed by the impreffive manner of their kind inftructrefs, would clasp their little hands-bend their finewy knees to the earth, and beg of him who rides upon the wind, to guide them from all error-to make their way, the way of gratitude and true devotion, and promised all obedience to his will-then circling their tender arms around the neck of the delighted Martha, would almost oft devour her with their kiffes. In one of those peaceful moments, when the pious domeftic was employed in inculcating the moral precepts of religion, a troop of horsemen paffed the oak. The foremost, who appeared the leader, a man of ferocious deportment, called aloud an halt-accuftomed to controul, they inftantly obeyed-a fignal from their chief was given, and fuddenly they formed around the affrighted children. The leader, addreffing himself to Martha, imperiously enquired if her charge refided at the castle, and whether they were not the offspring of Sir Alwyne? On an anfwer in the affirmative, he commanded his followers immediately to feize the infant prattlers, and place them carefully before two of his callous affociates-a ftern fmile, inherent to barbarity, accompanied his order, and notwithstanding the fhrieks and ftruggles of Martha, the heartpiercing cries of the little fufferers, bore them triumphantly away, and the ruffians were foon loft fight of in the impervious recesses of the foreft. On this intelligence reaching the caftle, the afflicted baron armed his faithful retainers, and followed the fugitives-but in vain. Great rewards, and offers of the moft liberal nature, for the discovery of the banditti, were every where circulated-no intelligence could be heard concerning his loft children, and the chieftain returned to fhare the forrow of his difconfolate partner in affliction. (The manufcript defaced for feveral pages.) D reeking with his blood, he raised the moft horrid yells, which led his purfuer to the spot. The dauntless hero, leaping from his steedentered the delapidated building, and drawing forth his trenchant steel, followed hard his prey. After traverfing o'er piles of fallen grandeur, he entered a part leading to what had formerly been the cementery of the abbey. A dismal groan re-echoed through the ruin-fear fmote his heart with terror-his pulfe quickened-a pale light fhot tho' the darkened gloom, and his benumbed hand let fall the glitt'ring fteel. "Whoe'er thou art,' faid he, in a voice scarcely articulate fpeak-I charge thee!' A beauteous lady, the image of his adored Elwina, ftood before him-her spotless robes fmeared in blood, and from a gaping wound in her bofom gufhed a torrent of crimson hue. Hafte, hafte to fave Elwina! cried the spectre fhe vanished-and the trembling chieftain was left fhrouded in darkness. On regaining his scattered fenfes, he fought his way from the ruin-his horfe had feized the moment of liberty, and fled acrofs the moor towards the castle, |