PASSAGES

OF GEOFFREY MARTEL.

[An extract from an unpublished work.]

THE AUTHOR OF '' THE ADVENTURES OF A BACHELOR."

GEOFFREY was attracted one day by an unusual | been convicted, and justly. I therefore sentence you crowd about the recorder's court. On entering, he perceived a great number of malefactors to be disposed of, and as their appearance presented every possible variety, from the frail inmate of the brothel, to the sweep, he felt disposed to while away an hour looking on the proceedings of the tribunal.

"Get on the stand, Mr. Flankman," remarked his little. honor.

"What, on that place, there?" returned the culprit, the forbearance, and unassuming conduct of the class pointing with his hand to the stand.

"What for? what's the use now? haint the jury tions of less serupulous members of society, and that condemned me?" the law should be most rigidly enforced to secure

"Well, stand up where you are. You, sir, have their rights.

Geoffrey, whilst gazing intently at the quaker, did | forget your articles of faith, to swear in this manner; not mark the names of the parties, read by the clerk, and I perceive you also forget your thees and thous." In or the mystery would have been solved at once. What's the use of a man's acting when he's off the mean time, the object of his curiosity observed the stage? Why, parson when he's not in him likewise; and after returning gaze for gaze a the pulpit, can smack his lips over this ale, and kiss moment, slouched his hat down over his face, pre- that girl as well as any body-but he's an exception. cluding farther scrutiny. Yet, there's the great who makes such splendid moral speeches, swore like a Florida volunteer when Anne Davis played him a trick. All the world's a humbug. There's a time for eating, and a time to let it alone. Some wear this kind of a coat, no doubt, because they conscientiously believe it right, and some for worldly good. I'm one of the latter-I say it boldly to you, and yet I'm no hypocrite. Every one chooses his garb to deceive with―ay, every one is a deceiver. Then what's the difference between this

The prisoner was charged with having stolen a book from the plaintiff's stall. The prosecuting attorney asked the prosecutor what description of book it

was.

"I may inform thee that it cost me a dollar."

But what was the title of the book?"

Why, friend, what matters it, what the work was entitled, so its value is proven, and that John stole it?" equivocated the quaker.

"Why do you wish to conceal the title?" demand-brown shad coat, if it answers my purpose, and the ed his honor.

"Why, in our pursuits for a livelihood, we sometimes for our worldly interest, are compelled to buy and sell those carnal things which we abhor. John abused me for keeping the book for sale, and afterwards stole it, as I have stated to thee."

fawning smiles of the rich man to the great man, and the great roan to the president? Nothing! All men are caterpillars, half worm and half butterfly. If the weather is fine, and beauty and pleasure abound, they are butterflies, and they sail out and suck the honeysuckle; if it is rough weather, and they are likely to

"But you have not yet said what horrible work it be crushed against the wall, they are worms, and was."

"It was Tom Jones, but I never read it."

creep into their snug holes."

You must certainly have caught the wandering soul of him of Pontus, from some wolf, and now only lack a tub, and an Alexander!" After much merriment at Sculk's singular transformation, Geoffrey persuaded him to give an account of himself from their parting to the present time.

The first occurrence," said Tom, “after you left home, was an outrageous beating that Jackson Love

"What in the world has produced all this, Tom? A smile went round, and damages were speedily Ha, ha, ha! why, you are transformed from the black awarded. The devout vender of Fielding and Smol-devil in the shop, into a ranting, snarling philosopher. let's works glided through the crowd to Geoffrey, whose hand he squeezed so unmercifully that the bones cracked. A nearer survey revealed to the astonished student, his old friend, Tom Sculk! Tom winked, and gave signs for his companion to say or do nothing that might betray him. They then pro ceeded down a cross street, where, with the exception of an occasional bay window, exhibiting unrolled stockings, frilled caps, lithograph prints, and prayer-ridge gave me about that same pigeon. But, that's books, mingled conspicuously, but little business was transacted. Passing under an awning, where every variety of toys, pictures and books, were arranged in order, on temporary shelves, Tom paused an instant, and pulled an old, one-legged, fat-faced man by the ear, telling him to be attentive to his business. This queer personage gave him a slow, significant wink, and hobbled up to a young lady, who was examining Gil Blas. Sculk, then taking Geoffrey's arm, they dived into an oyster cellar, and retreating to the most obscure stall, where a sleepy lamp dully dozed up and down for want of trimming, seated themselves. Tom rang a little cracked bell, and told the smiling damsel that appeared, to bring "ale for two, and four dozen stewed."

neither here nor there. My father kept me at workwhipping me almost every day, for every trifling offence-and, as examples are contagious, my mother took to beating him. This family concert was kept up till almost twelve months since. There was a dinner given to the great Tecumseh killer; my father joined in the pageant, playing the fife for them Be coming excited, on hearing the warrior's speech, and proud of having been in a campaign with him, though he agreed not with him in politics, ke determined to testify his joy by firing a salute. He, therefore, hauled out the old four pounder, and charged it to the brim, which, when fired, made the whole country echo the sound. But at the next discharge it burst, and a fragment of metal fractured my father's scull. Geoffrey, I wept bitter tears then! After all my poor parent's follies, (and who has none?) I was grieved inexpressibly at his loss. He had a good heart at bottom, for I You remember the day you left home, Geoffrey, have seen him smile, when cutting my back, suddenly, that I proposed running away then, and that, when at my involuntary antics and grimaces. He never you refused to take me along with you, I remarked fathomed my plans and propensities, and so we clashthat I would be off some day, in spite of every thing?" ed, or rather, he slashed. But peace be with him, Yes, perfectly well," replied Geoffrey. and may that only true God, whose eye is not dimmed Well, you see I'm here, so, d-n me if I didn't by the few films of prejudice, engendered by poor, blind, scurvy man, bless him in heaven! On settling "Why, Tom," said our hero, laughing," you surely the estate, I found a few hundred remaining, after

“Well, Tom, you know I'm all amazement-what in the name of all the ghosts and devils brought you to the city?"

leave there."

paying the debts. My mother is a good woman, but | country, as many Americans are, that seek distinction like all human nature, found it hard to break an old in literature and the arts." habit. So she fain would have transferred her stripes to me-me whom she ever defended, when any one else attempted the like. But it was no go; I was old now,' as Lear says, and so we divided spoils, and I set out to seek my fortune. But before I leave there, I must give you the gossip up to that time."

·

Buonarotti Beman was sitting alone in his room, with his elbow resting on a small table, whereon were scattered in careless confusion, the instruments of his vocation. In his Row almost rayless eye, was the halfformed tear of disappointment and despair; but on his curled pale lip, there yet remained a faint memento of manly resolve. It was that resolve, which only, when imparted to man, enables him to outstrip his compeers in every glorious undertaking, requiring the action of the intellect, combined with an assiduous heart. It was this, and the surreptitious withdrawal from his bacchanal acquaintance, to commune with and explore the interminable labyrinths of the heart, and the unfathomable sea of mind, that the secret prayers of a Shakspeare were heard, and he was enabled to gleam before the astonished multitude as the worshipped star of his country. It was this resolve that prompted a Cromwell to study the tastes and superstitions of the people, and enabled him to hurl the lawful incumbent from his throne, and sit in his place. It was the irrevocable resolve, whether for good or ill, which is the guiding star of all that are eminently successful or great.

"I thank you most sincerely for your preference, and will never deny my country, if I starve for it," replied Beman, in a lively tone, whose spirits had evidently made a transition from sad to gay.

"Mary, my dear, you must sit first; strive to maintain that placid smile; it is even more interesting than usual, to-day. And young man, do you faithfully transfer every bit of it to the canvass." Said who? Mr. Levimbotherdouel M'Goon! Ay, and strange, and impossible as it may seem, he had relapsed into a state of gallantry, and successful gallantry too. True, he was not yet married-no, not actually espoused-but affianced, engaged, betrothed, to the plump lady before you the good, the jolly, the fat— no, not very fat, widow Bliss. Mr. L M'Goon had missed an annual visit to the village of and many feared he was departed the way of all flesh, when a letter to Mrs. Martel, accompanied with shawls, gloves and stockings, put an end to such surmises. He was pleasantly sojourning at the Virginia springs, when he fell in with the widow Bliss. It so chanced that the old bachelor and the widow Bliss were placed in adjoining rooms. Night is the time to examine the mind-it is best done in the dark. So the widow in reflecting on her forlorn condition, occasionally sighed, and tossed about on her crumpled pillow. Levimbotherdouel was about half asleep, when he heard a deep, earnest, disconsolate long breath, then a sharp creak of the bed, and all was silent again. He now rose softly on his elbow to listen and ponder; but it seems that the widow had made her last flounce, and consigned herself to the arms of Morpheus. Not so, Mr. M'Goon. Sleep fled his eyelids that night; and when the slanting rays of the morning sun stole through the blinds, they discovered the wakeful old bachelor still on his elbow. He invariably sat by her at the table afterwards, and in some months their mutual desire was mutually in

would be a match. The widow was not exactly & widow, in every sense of the word. She never heard of the death of her husband, who was at sea, and had been absent nearly seven years.

Beman, since the visit mentioned in a former chapter,* had experienced a run of business equal to his wishes. Yet it was not that his purse might be full that excited the aspirations of the artist, but a desire to do something that should render his name impervious to the crumbling hand of horrid oblivion, and fix upon the escutcheon of his country, humble as he was, the testimony of a gifted son, whose heart, even in poverty, thrilled a genuine throb of patriot-ferred, and the inference with every one was, that it ism. It was with these feelings that he relaxed his labor in the secondary branch of his art, and had commenced an undertaking, the design of which was noble, and would require years to finish. He was now pressed for the last quarter's rent, and was without a dollar in his purse. Relief often comes when least expected. It came this time in the shape of an old gentleman, with long locks, partly gray, but a face as cheerful and benevolent, as that of the good doctor Ph. He was accompanied by a middle-aged "Then pray deliver it," said Beman, bowing. female, for whom he evinced every possible care. Geoffrey is so well pleased with thy execution of After minutely dusting a chair for her with his hand- the work, that he is determined thee shall have as kerchief, and depositing her muff with extreme pre-much for thy labor, as the most celebrated of thy procision in another one, he unfolded his mission. fession charges. He saw thy address in the Morning Gazette, and requested me to give into thy hand this purse."

Young man, I want our portraits taken. I was looking over many advertisements of artists. Some were from France-painters for the king-or Germany, or London, to whom lords and prime ministers bad sat. Finally, I saw your notice, and that you were a native, and not one of those ashamed to own their

* See Page 56, Gentleman's Magazine.

They were now joined by another patronising personage.

Friend," said the new comer, "if thou art the young man who once painted the portrait of Geoffrey Martel, I have a message for thee."

“The what?” asked Mr. M'Goon, rising out of his astonishment, fled after him, leaving his hat behind, chair, and lifting the spectacles over his eyes. and seizing Tom's arm, demanded his name.

Well, my dear sir, but what has the devil to do and now, I think, seen your face somewhere." with us or Mr. Martel ?" "You have seen me before, but under different “Oh-only," said Tom, more confused than ever, circumstances. I am now Thomas Seulk, Esq, book. "I only meant to say-that-damn it!” seller, corner of and This is very fine, upon my word! Perhaps you weather is fine; when foul, my stock can be seen in mean to say the devil is damned?" the basement story of 's literary rooms. And my worthy partner, (the mendicant,) may be found at the Exchange, transacting out door business."