Page:Peterson's Magazine 1842, Volume I.pdf/398

. glance cowered beneath hers, and the blush of guilt burnt deeply over his face.

" Do not you mock me, sir !' at length she replied with all the stern energy of her nature.

" I do not. It is true what I have rashly betrayed !'

" Then who, sir, is she whom you call your wife ?'

" She knows not the title !'

Forgive him Heaven !' was the scarce audible prayer she murmured, while she raised her eyes with an imploring expression of astonishment toward the sky.

"For a few minutes neither spoke, and both seemed waiting with painful anxiety, for the other to proceed. Charlotte broke the silence. " Listen to me, Perry, for a few moments, and these will be the last words I shall ever say to you upon the subject. You have long known how dearly I loved, and you have fully understood also the reason why we could not be united ; and now do you come to me with deceit and infamy added to your error, with the hope to -win me ? Insulting, degenerate mán ! have you no respect for one whom you profess so passionately to love ? Does this evince the purity of your affection ? Is this the change that has been effected within your heart ? Degraded man ! crouch down, and crave humbly for pardon and mercy from Him you have so wickedly defied ; for it is not me alone you have striven to deceive ; and may He, in his infinite goodness, forgive you. Go, sir, leave me ; and know that from henceforth I banish every thought of you from my breast forever !' "He turned away from before her just anger, awed and unable to reply ; yet ere he reached the door, she called to him in a voice husky with intense emotion, to come back and pray with her for divine mercy. But he heeded her not, for his heart was too deeply oppressed with shame at her reproaches, and he left her to struggle with the deep and painful grief of her soul, which was so powerful as to overcome, for a time, the weakness of her physical nature. But she shortly recovered, and is now doubtless much happier than she would have been, had she married with Edward Perry, or with one whom she did not love." "And what become of Perry ? Is he an old bachelor?" "He was struck with remorse by Charlotte's last words to him, and ultimately became a better man. He married her whom he had estranged from the paths of virtue, as an atonement in part for the sins he had committed ; and strives now to act a wiser part than that which degraded him heretofore. The deceit which he attempted to practice upon her whom he loved, overreached itself, for in endeavoring to incite regret in her breast at his supposed marriage with another, he found himself incapable of sustaining the fictitious part he had thought proper to enact." SHUN THE BOWL.

THE DYING INEBRIATE TO HIS SON.

BY EDWARD WEBSTER. SHUN the bowl, oh! touch it never, As thou livest heed me, boy ; There a demon lurks, will sever All thy hopes of peace and joy. On the pledge thy name enrol, Shun, oh! shun the poisoned bowl. Boy, thou hadst an angel mother, But of broken-heart she died ; Boy, thou hadst a loving brother, He is sleeping by her side. Soon the bell for me will toll, Shun, oh! shun the poisoned bowl. In life's journey, if it lures thee, Fly it as thou wouldst be blest ; If of safety it assures thee, With the lie upon its crest. Haste beyond its dark control, Shun, oh! shun the poisoned bowl. Shun it, or disease and sorrow Will obscure thy brightening sun ; And being night that knows no morrow, E'en life's sands may half be run. As thou hast a living soul, Shun, oh ! shun the poisoned bowl.

STANZAS. As fades the twilight in the sky, Or softly as zephyr floating by, Thy happy soul has fled ! We thought not one so full of grace, So soon should end its earthly race, So early join the dead. Daily we watched thy sad decline, As lingering on the brink of time, Thy spirit paused a while And often would'st thou lift thine eye And say " I do not fear to die," With that seraphic smile !

Loved one ! my only hope on earth, All owned thy purity and worth, Nor mortal deemed thee thenBut now I feel thy spirit near, Sweetly it whispers in mine ear, That we shall meet again. This weary life full soon shall close, And though I mourn, ' t is not as those To whom no hope is given. That when our earthly cares are past, In glory we shall meet at last, And ever love in heaven.

W.