ne-wrought minds, would overpower his tongue, and leave him, in his
own estimation, a pauper of the poorest class." "Then I'll adopt another
mode," said my aunt; "and though I hate the affectation of secret
charities, because I think the donor of a generous action is well
entitled to his reward, both here and hereafter,--I'll hand out some way,
anonymously or otherwise, to indulge my humour of serving him." "You
are an angel!" said Horatio, with his eyes fixed on the ground--(the
spirit of the angel of benevolence,--quoth Reason, whispering in his
ear, would have been
~19~~
a better metaphor,--certainly inhabits the aged bosom of your father's
sister). Horatio's upraised eye rested on the wrinkled front of his
antique relative, just as the corrective thought gleamed in visionary
brightness o'er his brain; the poetic inspiration of the moment fled
like the passing meteor, but the feeling which excited it remained
engrafted on his memory for ever. "How shall we find him out, my dear
Horatio?" said my aunt, her whole countenance animated with delight
at the last flattering ejaculation of her nephew-"where shall we
seek him?--I'll order the carriage directly." The glow of pleasure
and anticipatory gratification, which at this moment beamed in the
countenance of the old lady, brought back the circling current of health
to the cheeks of age, and, with the blush of honest feeling, dispelled
the stains of time; the furrowed streaks of care vanished from her
front, and left her whole frame proportionably invigorated.

If the mere contemplation of a generous action can thus inspire the
young, and give new life to age, what a load of misery and deformity
might not the sons and daughters of nature divest themselves of, by
following the inherent dictates of benevolence! Reflection, whenever he
deigned to penetrate the pericranium of my cousin Horatio, took entire
possession of the citadel, and left him not even the smallest loophole
for the observation of any passing event. He was just fixed in one
of these abstracted reveries of the mind, traversing over the halcyon
scenes of his collegiate days, and re-associating himself with his early
friend, the author of the eccentric volume then in his hand, when the
above monition sprung from his heart, like the crystal stream that
sparkles in the air, when first it bursts through the mineral bondage of
the womb of nature.

"You are right," said my aunt. Horatio started with surprise, almo