in sleep, bringing with it all the charms of beauty and melody, and casting around his spirit a spell of strange and enthralling power.

But, fancying that he had now a clue to the mystery which had seemed to involve his existence, Vivian determined to unravel it in a practical manner. He was persuaded that if he were to meet the being of his dream, he should instantly recognize it, and thus discover the secret of his happiness. He resolved therefore to travel, and scrutinize every thing that came within his observation.

We cannot follow him through all his wanderings. He visited foreign cities, and mingled in the gay world of fashion. He examined the various institutions of the countries through which he passed, saw remarkable edifices and localities, scanned paintings and statues, sought out the picturesque, ascended Mont Blanc for the sublime, and ranged the hills of Scotland for the romantic. In short, he made the great tour, and saw whatever a traveller should see.

In two years he came back to his native country, improved in knowledge and refined in manners; but a melancholy shade upon his countenance declared that he had not found the object of his pursuit. Often, indeed, had he appeared for a moment, about to discover the image which came in his dream, but suddenly the subtile thread by which he held it, was broken, and the resemblance flew away like a startled bird. Yet every thing seemed to remind him of what he sought. In the look of some dark-haired girl of Savoy in the glance of a blue-eyed shepherdess of the Rhine-in the soft

language of a French maiden, or the ringing laugh of an English one-in the low, unearthly notes of an Eolian harp-in the touching melody of musical glasses in the voice of Madame Pasta, and in that of Mademoiselle Sontag — in the Sibyl of Dominichinoin the Venus de Medici-in mountains and rivers — in the blue air—the tinted cloud- the prismatic bow - in lakes and lawns - in nature and art- in whatever gave him pleasure, there was something to restore his dream; something invisibly and mysteriously associated with the subject of it. Yet while every thing around him was thus stamped with its fresh footprints, its wing rustling in every breeze, its image dwelling in all that was beautiful, and its voice mingling in all that was melodious, still, still the evanescent being eluded his grasp, and cheated his pursuit.

He had been at home but a single day, when, as if by accident, he found himself approaching the cottage we have described. It was evening, and the moon shone as before upon the jessamine, when he last visited it. Again he heard the voice of Ellen-again he paused and listened. It was again the song of the redbreast that she was singing. A rush of recollections came to his mind. "This," said he, "is surely the music of my dream." He hastened to the cottage. Ellen met him at the door- and Vivian instantly recognized in her the heroine of his vision!

Let not the reader say that our story is improbable. Vivian is not the only one who has been the subject of a dominion that reigns for a time over every pulse, lives in every avenue to the heart, and by the legerdemain of

youthful fancy, renders one object the seeming fountain from which all pleasures flow. In short, there are others, as well as he, who have seen analogies in things as unlike as a rainbow and a pretty girl!

We need not tell the rest. The lovers were married, and Vivian and Ellen consider their union as a happy fulfilment of a remarkable dream. And so long as dreams are prompted by the wishes and purposes of lovers, it is probable that events may render them prophetic.

THE CAVE OF DIAMONDS.

THERE was once a Prince of Persia, who became the subject of an intense desire of wealth. His thoughts were perpetually running upon silver and gold and precious stones. Instead of cultivating his mind or qualifying himself to discharge the duties of his high destiny, he was always considering in what way he could become rich. At length having heard of the mines of Siberia, he determined to travel thither, in the hope of satisfying his desires. Accordingly he proceeded to the Kolyvan mountains, but finding that already there. were many persons there, engaged in searching for gold and precious stones, he went farther east, till he came to a tall mountain called the Schlangenberg, which is the loftiest of the Altai range, and much celebrated for its mineral treasures.

When he had reached the very top of the mountain, being weary, he laid himself down to obtain some repose, and here he fell asleep. While in this state, a man, in the dress of a Tartar, seemed to stand before him, and, making a low bow in the Eastern fashion, he said, "What would'st thou, son of a royal house?" To this the young Persian replied-"Wealth-give me wealth, such as may become a prince. Give me gold, silver and precious stones, and in such abundance

that I may excite the envy of all the princes of the East!"

"And why do you desire riches?" said the mysterious stranger.

"It will give me happiness," said the prince.

"Thou mayest be mistaken," was the reply; "wealth cannot confer happiness, unless the mind be prepared for its use. The mind may be likened to the soil, and

riches to the sun : the former must be tilled and cultivated and the seed sown, or the latter will only scorch and wither it like a desert."

"Nay-nay," said the prince, "give me riches-give me gold-give me diamonds! I ask for nothing more." When the young man said this, the image smiled on one side of his face, and frowned on the other; but he answered fairly, "Your wish shall be granted: follow me!" Upon this the prince arose and followed the stranger. They descended to the foot of the mountain, and entered a cave which was formed by nature in the rocks. It seemed at first a dark and gloomy room, with grizzly images around, and a fearful roar as of mighty waterfalls, tumbling amid the gashes and ravines of the cavern. But as they advanced farther, the scene gradually changed. The darkness disappeared, and at last they came to a vast chamber, which seemed glittering with thousands of lamps. The room appeared indeed like a forest turned to crystal, the branches above uniting and forming a lofty roof, in the gothic form. Nothing could exceed the splendor of the scene. The floor was strewn with precious stones of every hue, and diamonds of immense size and beauty shone around.