nd surely my request, that the subjoined
notice of my decease may be inserted in the papers of Metz and
Strasbourg, will not be disregarded by those whose kindness
taught me the value of existence when I had no alternative but
to resign it.
"That those earthly blessings, which were denied to me and
mine, may be abundantly vouchsafed to you, is the fervent
prayer of the unhappy
"JULIUS.
"Died of fever, at ----, in Germany, Julius Florian Laroche, a
native of Champagne, aged 22."
"Alas!" exclaimed the deeply affected Professor, "the mystery is solved,
and my suspicions were too well founded. Sad indeed was thy destiny, my
Julius, and sacred shall be thy last wishes."
Kissing the cold brow of the deceased, he hung over his remains in
silent sorrow, and breathed a fervent prayer for mercy to the suicide;
then giving brief directions for the funeral, the Professor and his
friend paced slowly homeward, in silence and in tears.
THE WEARYFUL WOMAN.
BY JOHN GALT.
[_MAGA._ MAY 1821.]
"It happened," said Mr M'Waft, "that there were in the smack
many passengers, and among others a talkative gentlewoman of no
great capacity, sadly troubled with a weakness of parts about her
intellectuals. She was indeed a real weak woman; I think I never met
with her like for weakness, just as weak as water. Oh but she was a weak
creature as ever the hand of the Lord put the breath of life in, and
from morning to night, even between the bockings of the sea-sickness,
she was aye speaking; na, for that matter, it's a God's truth, that at
the dead hour of midnight, when I happened to be wakened by a noise on
the decks, I heard her speaking to herself for want of other companions;
and yet for all that, she was vastly entertaining, and in her day had
seen many a thing that was curious, so that it was no wonder she spoke
a great deal, having seen so much; but she had no command of her
judgment, so that her mind was always going round and round and
pointing to nothing, like a weathercock in a squally day.
"'Mrs M'Adam,' quoth I to her one day, 'I am greatly surprised at your
ability in the way of speaking.' But I was well afflicted for the
hypocritical compliment, for she then fastened upon me, and whether it
was at meal-time or on the deck, she would come and sit beside me, and
talk as if she was trying how many words her tongue could utter without
a sing
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