The Mask of the Red Death - Graham's Magazine, May 1842 — reading text

‘from their development of character, but what belongs positively and exclusively to the passion, and sentiment. The “ Opening of the Will” scene they profess to represent. When any of the is as fine in this way, as any of Sir Walter Scott’s above qualitiés are required in his pictures, they are novels; and the ‘‘ Rent Day” includes a whole series sure to be found there; not because they are part of of national tales of English pastoral life in the nine- his style, but because they. are part of Nature’s, in teenth century. the circumstances under which he is representing It is a great mistake to consider Wilkie as a comic her. The artist never obtrudes himself to share with painter, in which light he is generally regarded by nature the admiration of the spectator. And this is the public on both sides of the Atlantic. When they a very rare and admirable quality to possess in ‘these til are standing before his pictures, they seem to feel days of pretence and affectation; when subject is fo themselves bound to be moved to laughter by them, usually but a secondary consideration, and is kept in as they would by a comedy or a farce; and without submission to the display of style, manner, and what be this, they do not show their taste; whereas laughter is called effect. he Vi TO AMIE—UNKNOWN. BY L. J. CIST. Tuey tell me, lady! thou art fair Nor for thy sunny golden hair— As pale December’s driven snow 3; Nor for thy lips of roseate hue— That thy rich curls of golden hair Nor for those eyes of Heaven’s own blue— Are bright as summer-sunset’s glow ; Nor swan like neck—nor stately brow— That on the coral of thy lips I love thee :—not to these I bow! Dwells nectar such as Jove ne’er sips} I love thee for the gifts of mind And in thy deep cerulean eye With which they tell me thou’rt endow’d ; A thousand gentle graces lie ; And for thy graceful manners—kind, While lofty thought, all pure as thou, Sits throned upon thy queen-like brow ! And gently frank, and meekly proud ! And for thy warm and gushing heart, Lady ! I love thee! though I ne’er And soul, all void of guileful art, Have seen that form of faultless grace; And lofty intellect, well stored Though never met mine eyes the fair With learning’s rich and varied hoard ; And perfeet beauty of thy face: For gifts like these (gifts all thine own) Yet not for that thy face is fair— I love thee!—sBEAUTIFUL UNKNOWN!  EDITH PEMBERTON. BY MRS. EMMA C, EMBURY. Oh! days of youth and joy long clouded, Why thus forever haunt my view? While in the grave your light lay shrouded, Why did not memory die there too? Moore. ‘“My dear,”? said Mrs. Pemberton, drawing her claimed Mrs. Pemberton ; ‘do you suppose that such needle through a very dilapidated stocking which a giddy creature as Carry could ever be taught the she was darning, ‘‘ my dear, do you know how much patience, industry and thoughtfulness which seem so your old friend Ellis is worth ?” natural to Edith? No, no, I must keep Edith athome Mr. Pemberton looked up from his newspaper as long as possible.” with some surprise, as he replied, ‘I can’t tell ex- ‘So you have come to the conclusion that she is actly, but I should think his property cannot fall too useful to be allowed to seek her own happiness.” short of one hundred thousand dollars.” ** Oh, Mr. Pemberton how can you talk so? Iam * That will be twenty thousand a piece for each of sure if Edith really loved any body I would never his five children,” said Mrs. Pemberton, apparently throw any obstacle in her way. She is quite con- pursuing some hidden train of thought. tented now and I don’t believe marriage is necessary **T am not so sure of that,” returned her husband, to the happiness of every body.” with a smile, “ it is difficult to calculate the fortune ‘* Why then are you so anxious to make matches ofa child during the life of aparent. Mr. Ellis is a for your girls? Why not wait and see whether hale hearty man, and may live long enough to double Carry is not also content to be single.” his fortune or perhaps to Jose it all. But why are ‘** Because Caroline is such a hare-brained, thonght- you so interested in his affairs just now, Sarah ?”’ less girl, that nothing but domestic duties will ever ** To tell you the truth, husband, I have been think- give her steadiness of character, and therefore I am ing that Edward Ellis would be a good match for anxious to see her settled in life.” Caroline.” ‘* Well I don’t think you need waste any femi- ‘Pooh! pooh! Carry is but sixteen, it will be nine manceuvres upon Edward Ellis, for whatever time enough three years hence, to think of a husband fortune his father may possess, he will never support for her.” his sons in idleness. He means that they shall work **But if a good opportunity should offer, it would for themselves as he has done, and though he has be the height of folly to let it slip only on account of given Edward a liberal education, he intends to make her youth. Edward is certainly very constant in his him a thorough merchant.” visits.”’ “‘ Edward wishes to study a profession.” ‘* His intimacy with Charles, sufficiently accounts ‘‘T know old Ellis well enough to believe that he for his frequent visits, and his attentions, ifthey mean sets too high a value on time and money to consent anything, are rather directed to Edith, as far as I can to such a plan. He would never Le willingtomain- judge,” said Mr. Pemberton. tain Edward during the next ten years, as must ‘‘Oh that is only because Edith is the eldest: I necessarily be the case, if he adopted a profession.” could easily manage to keep her out of the way, if “Edward isa remarkably fine young man.” she were to interfere with Caroline’s prospects.” “Yes, he possesses excellent talents and an amia- ‘** But why not secure him for Edith, if you are so ble disposition, but his character is yet to be formed desirous of allying him to the family ?” by time and circumstance.” ** Mercy on me, husband, what should I do without ‘He is two and twenty, husband; and you were Edith? I would not, upon any account, put such a married when you were not that age.” notion into her head; nobody could supply her place “ T know it, Sarah,” said Mr. Pemberton, drily, if she were to marry just now.” ‘‘ and we both married five years too soon. Ibecame ** Rotation in office, my dear, is the true and just burdened with the support of a family at the outset system in family government, whatever it may be in of life, and you were weighed down with domestic politics ; it is time that Caroline shared some of cares, while yet in your girlhood ; the consequence Edith’s manifold duties,” said Mr. Pemberton. to me has been, that I am now obliged to labour as ‘‘ How little men know of domestic affairs,” ex- hard for a living at forty-five as I, did at twenty, 24  278 GRAHAM’S MAGAZINE. and with as little prospect of making a fortune ; while Mafgaret, the other night, to going to Mrs. Moore’s the result to you has been broken health and wearied grand ball?” Spirits.” ** No, I can’t say she did, for she seemed rather “Tam sure I never repented our marriage, my anxious to attend that ball, and had trimmed a dress dear,’’ said Mrs. Pemberton half reproachfully. beautifully for the occasion.” “Nor I, my dear Sarah,’ replied her husband “The child was certainly not so ill as to require kindly, ‘‘ it would be but an ill requital for all your her attendance in addition to yours, and why, there- affection and.goodness ; but should we not be equally fore, was she obliged to remain ?” happy and less care-worn now, if we had deferred ‘* No, the baby was not very sick, but she cried so our union until we had been a little older and wiser ?”’ bitterly when she saw Edith dressed for the party, ‘Ah well,” Sighed Mrs. Pemberton, feeling the that I was afraid she would bring on a fever.” truth of her husband’s remark, but unwilling to con- “Therefore you disappointed Edith merely to fess it, ‘‘there is no use in such retrospection; we gratify the whim of a petted infant.”’ havea large family around us, and there are no finer **Tleft her to do as she pleased; she immediately children than ours in the whole circle of our acquain- changed her dress, to pacify Margaret, and took her tance. Iflam broken down with the care of bringing usual place by the cradle.” hem up, I can forget all my trouble, whenI have so ‘**