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drawn, without the slightest hint of their fatal purpose having transpired, the challenger asked the other if he was ready to attend? "No, sir," replied he, "not until we are upon a par; that amiable woman, and those six innocent children, who just now breakfasted with us, depend solely upon my life for their subsistence; and until you can stake something equal, in my estimation, to the welfare of seven persons, dearer to me than my right hand, or my right eye, I cannot think we are equally matched." "We are not indeed!" replied the other, giving him his hand; and they became, from this time, firmer friends than before.

LOVE'S EXERTIONS.

M. Premierslane, a young Swiss of good family and fortune, was sent by his father to finish his education by a year's residence in Paris. Here he fell in love with a young lady, the daughter of a great planter in the Mauritius. He asked his father's consent to marry her, stating that her fortune would be considerable; but the old Swiss, proud of his ancient family, considered such an union as beneath him, and refused his consent. The son, however, married, and set off with his bride to the Mauritius; when the ship arrived there, he found his wife's father dead, a son in possession of the plantation, and his wife utterly destitute of the slightest provision. In this dreadful dilemma, he had nothing to do but either to settle in the island, or immediately to return to France, and brook the anger of a father, whose rage would be redoubled on finding that he had not only disobeyed him, but had obtained no fortune to excuse it. He determined, therefore, to settle on this island: he got a patent of a piece of waste land from the governor, and obtaining a little assistance from persons who had become acquainted with his case, established a small plantation. By great care, industry, and attention, it flourished, and M. le Premierslane lived so happily with his wife, that he envied not those who were richer. In a few years he visited France, and found that his father had totally disinherited him. Disgusted with the news, and wishing for nothing but to terminate his days with his dear wife, and her young family, he re-embarked immediately, and arrived safe at the Mauritius, where his wrongs gave a spur to his zeal, and in a few years he became the richest planter in the island

BRITISH SAILORS.

At the conclusion of the war in 1814, three hundred British sailors, who had been prisoners, were assembled on the coast of Britanny, to emthe inhabitants for some days before they were bark for England. Being severally billeted on embarked, one of them requested permission to see the superintendant, Monsieur Kearnie; which being granted, the British tar, in the fulness of a feeling heart, thus addressed him :-" And please your honor, I don't come to trouble you with any bother about ourselves; we are all as well treated as Christians can be; but there is one thing that makes my food sit heavy on my stomach, and that of my two messmates.""What is it, my brave fellow?" replied the superintendant, "the persons on whom you are quartered, don't grudge it you?"-"No, your honor; if they did, that would not vex us.""What then would you complain of?"-" Only, your honor, it is, that the poor folk cheerfully lay their scanty allowance before us, for our mess; and we have just found out that they have hardly touched a mouthful themselves, or their six babes, for the last two days; and this we take to be a greater hardship than any we found in prison!" -M. Kearnie told them, that from this hardship they should all be relieved he instantly ordered the billets to be withdrawn, and rewarded all parties for their humanity, so compassionately exercised, and interchanged.

THE FORGIVING FATHER.

Some years ago, a Kentish heiress eloped with a young marine, and accompanied by a confidential friend to London, the parties were married. The next day, the happy pair were surprised at perceiving the carriage of the lady's father drive up to the house. The old gentleman soon entered their apartment, "My children," said he, "I come not to upbraid you. I opposed your union for no selfish motives. My daughter's happiness was all that I had in view; and as I once thought (erroneously I hope) that I could no better promote it than by refusing my consent to your marriage; so I am now convinced, that I could not more effectually destroy it than by continuing my resentment." How many foul blots in the page of domestic life would have been avoided, if all parents had acted with the same kindness and prudence as the Kentish squire.

THE END

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