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of his Majesty's counsel, learned in the law, trembling as if in the ague, and scarce able to utter a syllable, through the combination of cold and terror. Three or four paces in his front lay Diver, from Newfoundland, stretching out his immense shaggy carcass, his long pawsextended their full length, and his great head lying on them with his nose pointed toward the ghost, as true as the needle to the pole. His hind legs were gathered up like those of a wild beast ready to spring upon his prey. He took an angry notice of the first of us that came near him, growled, and seemed disposed to resent our intrusion:-but the moment his master appeared, his temper changed, he jumped up, wagged his tail, licked the parson's hand, cast a scowling look at Curran, and then a wistful one at his master,-as much as to say I have done my duty, now do you yours: he looked, indeed, as if he only waited for the word of command, to seize the counsellor by the throttle. A blanket was now considerately thrown over Curran by one of the company, and he was put to bed with half a dozen more blankets heaped upon him; a tumbler of hot potsheen punch was administered, and a second worked miracles: the natural heat began to circulate, and he was in a little time enabled to rise and tell us a story which no hermit even telling his last beads could avoid laughing at. Related by any one, it would have been good; but as told by Curran, with his powers of description and characteristic humor, was super-excellent;-and we had to thank Diver, the water-dog, for the highest zest of the whole evening.

The fact was, that a little while previous to dinner-time, Curran who had omitted his customary ablution in the morning, went to our allotted bed-chamber to perform that ceremony; and having stripped, had just began to apply the sponge, when Diver strolling about his master's premises to see if all was right, placed by chance his paw against the door, which not being fastened, it flew open, he entered unceremoniously, and observing what he conceived to be an extraordinary and suspicious figure, concluded it was somebody with no very honest intention, and stopped to reconnoitre. Curran, unaccustomed to so strange a valet, retreated, while Diver advanced, and very significantly showed an intention to seize him by the naked throat; which operation, if performed by Diver, whose tusks were a full inch in length, would no doubt have admitted an inconvenient quantity of atmospheric air into his œsophagus. He therefore crept as close into the corner as he could, and had the equivocal satisfaction of seeing his adversary advance and turn the meditated assault into a complete blockade-stretching himself out, and 'maintaining his position' with scarcely the slightest motion, till the counsellor was rescued, and the siege raised.

'Curran had been in hopes that when Diver had satisfied his curiosity he would retire; and with this impression, spoke kindly to him, but was answered only by a growl. If Curran repeated his blandishments, Diver showed his long white tusks;-if he moved his foot, the dog's hind legs were in motion. Once or twice Curran raised his hand: but Diver considering that as a sort of challenge, rose instantly, and with a low growl looked significantly at Curran's windpipe. Cur. ran, therefore, stood like a model, if not much like a marble divinity.'

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THE REFUGEE IN AMERICA.*

THE extraordinary avidity with which Mrs. Trollope's work on America was devoured by all parties, naturally enough makes the public eager for a sight of this forthcoming novel, the scene of which is laid in this country-we have therefore, great pleasure in offering our readers, thus early, a glimpse into its pages. With the story of the novel we need not concern ourselves-it will be enough to say, in explanation of the scenes we mean to extract, that an English gentleman of large fortune, accompanied by his daughter, a young nobleman, and two servants, are travelling in America, on the road from New York to Rochester, when the stage breaks down-all was confusion, of course, with the English party.

Why don't you take the horses off!" said Robert.

"Ay," said the coachman," that is a down-right Englishmen's question, and I'll just answer him like a Yankee. We never calculates to take no more trouble than what's needful. If I takes the horses off, I guess I shall have to put 'em on again; and that's what I don't reckon to do, unless I can't help it."

'It soon became apparent that the stage was not in a condition to proceed. In raising its ponderous body, the wheel whose sudden descent had caused the overturn, being firmly fixed in the hole it had entered, was shattered to pieces in the effort to extricate it.

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'When this was done, the driver declared that there was not a shanty snug enough to shelter "a possum," within five miles, " and how English folks," he added," what wants their bread buttered on three sides, is to win through the night, is considerable beyond my comprehension to settle. What say you, Mr. Hicks!"

""If they won't be after giving themselves no monarchical airs, I calculate as they may carry their truck, along with their live cargo, to Silas Burns' clearing. 'Tis not much over two miles, I expect, off this road; and if they is tolerable cute, they may find the way right straight, if they will turn in round that big hickory tree yonder, and just mind the notches what Silas made with his axe when he first went into the bush."

""And where do these notches begin, my friend?" said Mr. Gordon," we have little light left for seeing them. Do you know the road?”

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Mayhap I may," replied Mr. Hicks.

""Can you not lead us to the settlement you mention?"

"I calculate, Mister, that would not take me far on my road; 'cause Silas Burns' clearing happens to lie south-east, and my business just north-west of this here spot."

"You must be aware, Mr. Hicks, that our situation is such as would render the services of a guide very valuable, and we will gladly pay for them."

"That's speaking reason, Mister, that's speaking reason; let me just not have waste of time upon my conscience, and I don't care if I do show you the way to Silas Burns' clearing myself."

"Name your price, sir, I shall make no difficulty."

""Well, then, I expect five dollars won't do more than pay me my time 'twixt here and there, and back again."

"They shall be yours, sir, and with many thanks. Caroline, what shall the men carry for us? I suppose, Driver, that you will undertake the charge of the heavy luggage till you get to the next post-house?

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For that," said the coachman, " I guess you must take your chance. I don't expect that the wolves have any great liking for trunks; howsomever, I can't afford to say as they mayn't commence with yours;-but if they don't steal the things, I calculate I sha'n't."

"Where then am I likely to hear of you, my friend?"

"Most generally one knows where to look for one's friends, I expect,” answered the man, giving a knowing wink to his companion; but whether he was quiz

* By Mrs. Frances Trollope. London: Whittaker & Co.

zing the simple confidence of the Englishman, or only his language, it was not easy to decide. A night's shelter, however, appeared at this moment much more important than the fate of their luggage; and Mr. Gordon only added, while he assisted his daughter to arrange her dress, "I shall hope to find our trunks at Rochester."

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But Mr. Hicks having made his bargain, was not at all disposed to hurry himself.

'During these dilatory manœuvres, Lord Darcy gave the first symptom he had shown of being mentally present to the scene. His eyes kindled, he bit his lip and stepping forward, said in a voice of command, " On, fellow." But before the word was well pronounced, the feeling, or at least the expression of it, was past; and he stepped back quietly to his former position.

Mr. Hicks followed him with his eye, and having looked at him steadily for about a minute, said," Was you thinking of speaking to I, young Mister?"

'Lord Darcy shook his head in silence. "Ay, that's all right. I comprehend as you calculate you had better not."

Having made this speech, he too stood like the rest of the party, as if waiting for a signal to move.

"Which way are we to go, sir?" said Mr. Gordon.

"Why as to that, sir, I am not yet quite capable to say."

"Good God! did you not consent to be our guide?"

"I never says nothing as I don't calculate to keep to, Mister."

"Then why do you tell me that you do not know the way?"

"I expect, Mister, that you would find it considerable difficult to prove that. I ever said any such thing."

"Then what did you say? and what are we to do?"

"For that, sir, you will do just what pleases yourself. Every body in this country enjoys that privilege.'"

"Do you mean to lead us to shelter, or not?" said Mr. Gordon, losing patience. "Why, sir," said Mr. Hicks, "I comprehend that the case stands thus :- You and I have made a bargain; and as the proposal commenced with you, I reckon, as you ought to perform your part of the paction first."

"Good heaven!" are we waiting for that?" said Mr. Gordon, drawing out his pocket-book; "I believe, sir, this note is for five dollars; but there is hardly light to see."

"I never travel without the power of lighting my segar," said Mr. Hicks; and then with a deliberate composure, which made Caroline laugh, nowithstanding her deplorable condition, he obtained a light, which, communicated to a match, enabled him to read the important words, 'United States-five dollars.' Then extinguishing the light, he deposited the note in his pocket-book, adding, with more complacency than he had yet spoken," All right; and now, sir, I am ready to do my part." He then turned from the road, and taken his way round the big hickory tree," entered the forest, and strode forward at a pace which soon obliged those who followed to cry for mercy.

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'Mr. Hicks here stopped, saying, "Now we be come to Big Mud Creek; so you must just be wary like as to where you step. There's no great matter of water, I expect, but the depth of mud is considerable."

'Lord Darcy, who had darted forward a few steps in advance, now returned, exclaiming eagerly, "You must wait, Mr. Gordon, you must wait till we can kindle a fire; here are pines that will blaze quickly and give us a light."

"It is well thought of, Edward;" and placing Caroline under shelter of the trees, Mr. Gordon, assisted by Lord Darcy and the servants, soon collected boughs sufficient for the purpose.

Mr. Hicks stood perfectly still while this was going forward; and when they had completed the pile, he addressed Mr. Gordon in his usual measured tone :"It is no bad thought, that, of the youngster, as far as having a light goes. There is no denying as we shall see how to cross the Big Mud Creek all the better for a blaze; and the young woman would be in an ugly fix if she happened to fall on one side or the other. The bridge is pretty considerable narrow. But it is but right to tell you, before commencing, that stopping to pull down branches,

and lighting fire, and the like, don't in no way make part and parcel of our bargain. I said, Mister, as I guess you can't have forgot, seeing it is not much over an hour, according to my calculation, since the words was spoke, that five dollars would just pay my time 'twixt the road and Silas Burns' clearing and back again; but that did not no way include stopping to make a fire on the way."

"Will five dollars more content you, sir? And will you lend us the use of the phosphorus? It may be difficult to find mine.'

"In regard to the contenting of me," said Mr. Hicks, "I don't expect that you'll find no one more reasonable to content in this country than me. We are a free people, Mister, and all sets a value on ourselves. In respect of the five dollars additional, I won't say but it might be suitable enough, if the pine boughs were sure to burn kindly; but you won't deny, I expect, that if they don't, it ought to make a difference. And a good deal will rest with the young woman, as to whether she is particular as to waiting for a great blaze, or whether she will content herself with a little one."

"Charge what you will," said Mr. Gordon, inexpressibly provoked, "only for Heaven's sake make haste with your match."

"We don't much calculate in this country that haste in business is approvable we counts that it seldom answers; and as we are all free, and speak what we conclude to be the truth, I must remark that I in no ways understood you to include the use of the matches when you commenced your new proposal."

"I have told you that you might name your own price," repeated Mr. Gordon; "ask what you will, only do not keep us here."

"I have no particular desire to stay here myself," observed the impenetrable Mr. Hicks, "for the evening is no ways agreeable; but the first duty of man is business. Now the opening matches, when the trees is drip, drip, drip, as you hears, and, I calculate, feels too, sir, cannot be done without a considerable risk to the whole batch. I would on no account take advantage of a gentleman's hurry to drive a hard bargain-our country, sir, is free and fair, fair and freebut in conscience, and in justice to my family, I expect I cannot take less than a dollar, thirty seven and a half cents, for the matches, phosphorus, and trouble of fetching 'em out of my long coat pocket."

"Agreed, agreed! now let us have them, and we shall see a blaze in a moment.'

"You knows my way of doing business, sir."

'Again Mr. Gordon pulled out his pocket-book and again the match was kindled for the examination of the note. Lord Darcy, unable longer to control his impatience, seized the lighted match, and the wood they had collected was already in a blaze, before Mr. Hicks had at all recovered his astonishment at the suddenness of the proceeding. Having finished the important business of securing the note in his pocket-book, he said, with much solemnity, to Mr. Gordon, If that young varment expects to make his fortune in the United States, you must learn him different ways of getting the better in a bargain, than what that is, or may be he'll get gouged before he finds his pockets full. He's got the better of me for the one dollar, thirty seven and a half, that's a fact; but he may not fare never the better for it, in the end."

Mr. Gordon then produced a handful of silver, and begged he would pay himself, which he did, slowly examining every coin, and concluded the operation with the remark that the youngster thought to have come over him.

"Would it not be possible to camp here for the night?" said Mr. Gordon, "Are there any bears, or noxious snakes likely to annoy us?'

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"For the matter of bears, they have been pretty considerably driven back by the improvements; them's a cretur what hates improvement; but for the pents, 'specially the copper-heads, and the rattlers they don't so much stand upon it; for one sees them as rife round a stump as round a tree. "''

Notwithstanding the imperturbable indifference of Mr. Hicks, and the frightful chasms at Big Mud Creek, the party contrive, at last, to reach Silas Burns' clearing.

'Mr. Hicks entered first, and announced the party.

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Squire, here be a parcel of English folks what wants a night's lodging, I expect.'

The family party thus broken in upon, consisted of two men, one woman, and five boys and girls. The elder of the men stepped forward to receive them, with an air of quiet civility, saying, "English be they? Well, no matter for that; sit down, sit down."

Mr. Gordon apologized politely for having disturbed the family so unceremoniously, stated briefly the accident which had befallen them, and added, that Mr. Hicks, who was their fellow-passenger by the coach, had led them to hope they might be accommodated with a night's lodging under their roof.

"That follows, sir: no one is ever turned out in the forest."

"Put on the kettle, Benjamin Franklin; fetch down the maple sugar from the shelf, Sally; bring over all the mugs, Monroe, my man. Pray make yourselves at home, gentlemen."

"Sit here, sir," said the 'squire to Mr. Gordon; and "sit there, sir," said his brother to Mr. Hicks.

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"Set the spider here, Ophelia, and give me a spoonful of grease; Euphrosyne, hand me over that oven, my daughter. Don't be afeard, young woman, she won't hurt your head. Just run and fetch the venison, Monroe, 'tis hung in the elder bush. Here's capital coals on the hearth, and 'twill be done in no time. Stir the hominy, my daughter, and give the Johnny cakes a turn; mind the gurdle, Euphrosyne, and I'll set the table."

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Though most of these orders were unintelligible to the English travellers, they seemed to give very agreeable promise of refreshment; and Caroline, whose spirits were completely restored, enjoyed exceedingly the novelty of the

scene.

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When the smoking venison cutlets, hominy, eggs and fried ham, were placed on the board, the whole party assembled round it. The two servants took their places behind Mr. Gordon and his daughter; and though the whole of the Burns' family looked on this arrangement with as much surprise as if it had been some mystical pagan rite, they did not interfere with it. The supper was excellent, and the entertainers soberly kind. The 'squire's lady could hardly be said to place herself at table, so constantly was she occupied in seeking and bringing whatever the party required. Whisky was in great abundance, being poured from a huge bottle, cased in wicker work, which was brought from the comprehensive cupboard, when the master of the mansion called for the "Demi John." The forest family and Mr. Hicks all ate with such amazing rapidity that their substantial meal was finished before" the English folks" had well begun. However, as the 'squire showed more inclination to converse, than before he had refreshed himself, they continued to sit at table without scruple.

"How long may you be from the old country?" he began.

"But a short time, sir."

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"Well, Mr. Gordon, you are right, sir, that's a fact. The English are counted great travellers, and for certain they could go nowheres, where there is more nor better things to see, than in the Union."

"You must doubtless have many things to interest strangers."

"You may say that, Mr Gordon."

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"You do then allow, Mr. Gordon, that we heat the old country?"

"We have really been so short a time in America, that it would be quite presumptuous to form a judgment."

"Not at all, not at all; speak freely, sir; did you ever see anything so magnificent as this here state of New York? Say.”

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Indeed, sir, the country appears most beautiful."

"And the factories, Mr. Gordon, sir? and the institutions? and the buildings? don't they altogether work upon your mind in the manner of a surprise." 'Mr. Gordon bowed, and smiled.

'But 'Squire Barns was not to be so answered; he chuckled complacently, and, laying his hand on that of Mr. Gordon, said, "Ah, Mister, I guess I read your mind. You can't in your conscience deny us our superiority, and you are too much of an Englishman to like to confess it. Hey, Mr. Gordon? I have hit the right nail on the head, I expect?

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