The Eve of All-Hallows, v. 1 of 3

am usque ab heroici

Romani et omnium

quandam inter ho

i MANTIKE

nem, et scientiam

de Div

ned also to be the anniversary of the birth-day of our heroine, which was duly to be celebrated upon this m

borne upon his ever fugitive wings, verifying the truly appropriate motto that we have somew

s they were repeated, did not fail to make an impression upon a youthful and romantic mind. This morning, at an early hour, she attended upon her young lady and foster-child, a title she was pre-eminently proud of using upon all occasions. The Irish have been ever proverbial for loving their foster-children even beyond their own, and the ancient crone who made her appearance was a living proof of the truth of the assertion. Mrs. Braingwain having respectfully and af

the breakfast bell, which luckily saved the Lady Adelaide from further prolixity, by at once silencing the garulous old nurse, whom she regarded from her early year

d in the evening by an invitation to crack nuts at the castle, which was sure to include the nucleus of a good supper. All the pr

ree of anxiety, which was caused no doubt by that noble generosity of character which she so eminently possessed,

of the household. The thrifty pastry-cooks of these happy days were most notable for, and assumed very considerable pride, in raising those superstructures called "pastry fortifications." The display chosen for this festival was the model of Tyrconnel Castle, flanked by bastion, battlement, and tower; armorial flags, heraldically emblazoned in sugar, decorated the summit of each tower and parapet; and the fosse was floated fro

ly disappeared; the whole train of "eatable artillery" promptly were destroyed; the jelly and blanc manger towers were scaled, battered down, and swallowed in a thrice; the Armada shattered and dispersed; the entire garrison without any remorse or mercy were devoured, and the "pas

to be borne to the grave!" Upon the entrance of the aged minstrel into the saloon, the Duke ordered that a goblet of mead, foaming and sparkling to the brim, should be given to old Cormac; which was accordingly done; and then the toast of that high festival was to be drank, which he repeated: "The health of the noble young Lady Adelaide," said the sightless bard; and to which he was facetio

s to behold the light of the sun! But now all is dim and dark. Yet I trust that I shall hereafter be permitted t

the same age that our dear and ever honoured young Lady (heaven bless her here

somewhat disposed to trespass too much upon your time and patience; so quaff your flagon and strike your har

ng his harp, struck its accompanying

O

t toast that

he health o

a bumpe

dering o'er

a nymph lik

l a bump

s of a cour

compared wi

ill bumpe

lowers a crow

he brow o

mpers fl

Cormac h

flow'rets

the brow and

ide the

pers foam

lly declined, but with the request that a glass of pure Innishowen (whiskey) might be substituted in place of it; and with this sturdy appendage to his request, "that it might be unadulterated!" These deman

ntions bestowed this day; and felt most grateful to the sightless old bard, w

ames were played, loo, cribbage, gresco, ombre, and lansquenet. The Duke sat down to primero, "which," observed his Grace,

ationed all the preliminary accessoirés proper and duly prepared for the mysteries of the Eve of All-Hallows, in order to commence the various spells, tricks,

ady Lucy, playfully,

us have no more of this outlandish gibberish; but I pray you let the

nk befitting; and here am I ready and willing to be the lady mistress of the ceremonies to be done and performed-ay, without the fee or reward of even plumb-cake or a single poesy! And now, my merry maids all, for the full and complete execution of the important duties attending my most consequential

l that had grown on the Tyraugh mountains, and had been cut and stript of its bark at the expr

good people and true! and thus I do proclaim, amid all our play and revels to-night, but without sound of trumpet or kettle-drum, that there still remains a charm yet to be consummated, and of such confessed potency too, that this night should not be passed over without giving it a fair trial, and at once putting its efficacy to the test! Having thus premised, it would be but foul play that my young friends should burst in ignorance as to the mode and nature of the charm. Eh! bien donc, mes chers enfants! you then must know, the fair young lady who wishes to recogn

, and I accept your challenge;" seizing at the same time upon the charmed ball of untwisted cotton which Lady Lucy then held in her hand, and of whi

year! storm and rain may overtake you, and cause you to lament the rashness of your undertaking! In what I have said I wished to

f the charm; and no remonstrance, not even force, shall compel me to relinquish my purpose; call it fate,

at will the Duke say?-what will the Duchess? And you will bring down the united raillery of all the loo,

poetical, that the fit of inspiration was upon me; and now or never! If

e sober dowagers and solemn wig-pated personages at the loo and ombre tables; they w

before you go you must be told of what positively and fatally happened in our own

aunt, be amusing or horrific, I pray thee tell it to my young friends, and then I shall have i

h had chiefly been instilled, even from the very cradle, by the old talkative crone, her quondam nurse; and although possessing a strong understanding, yet still, as the ever constant dropping of wate

fearless enterprise; enthusiastic in this adventure as in every thing which she thought, said, or did, she now boldly advanced to commence the solemn charm; and with firm and unshaken st

elaide reached this deserted pile, now the lonely asylum of the nocturnal bat and wary field-mouse. The kiln had been constructed at the angle of a green knoll, which served as an ascent to it; and by this mount, or hill, Adelaide with facility ascended to the empty crater of the lime-kiln; when duly turning her face to the south she produced an untwisted ball of cotton thread, and firmly holding the end of the cord, or thread, of the ball, she flung the

as a statue; she had not the power to scream, articulation was totally suspended; and the powers of locomotion too were completely paralized, her imagination became spell-bound, her recollection was fled! At length nature completely overpowered, she fainted; and

d of the little knoll that adjoined that ominous fabric, where so lately

n her return to the castle. The moon had retired behind a cloud, when, with a deep sigh, she exclaimed, "Oh, how much I wish that the deed had re

of me at the castle? How shall my absence be accounted for? Why-why

rition, while with trembling fear and step she slow

ror seemed every whe

-simul ipsa sil

foliage as it swept its plaintive blast along. At times when partially the wind reposed, and all, for the interval, was in silence lulled, still her mind was not at rest; occasionally she would stop, and seemed to meditate to herself; then would she rehearse the ominous incantation at the kiln, she wou

nder-storm arose; the thunder loudly re-echoed through the vaulted heavens, and the vivid lightning-flash precede

empest that now surrounds me! But the deed was all my own doing, and plaints now are of no avail. So

had put on fresh attire, forgetful of all the fears and perils which she had encountered, (such and so great are the cont

her countenance as the Lady Adelaide rejoined the social circle. The juvenile party

gly in flam

ng into em

hind, "like Patience on a monument," kept stationary on her ordeal bar of trial, tranquil and serene, until, in expiring embers she blazed, and was no more! The melting of lead, and various othe

ile sipping the noble beverage of the grape, pressed and brought from every generous clime, the following erudit

ther questioned nor denied. Mariana, the famed historian of Spain, (A. D. 1453,) makes mention, in speaking of the tragical end of Don Alvaro, Earl of Luna, 'that it had been foretold to Alvaro that his death would be at Cadahalso, by which he supposed to

of venerable aspect, and clad in blue habiliments. This person forewarned the king from his proceeding in his expedition against England, fore-telling to him that it would prove his ruin. The queen also remonstrated with him against the pro

Essex, should never survive his thirty-sixth year; observing at the same time that his father had died at that period of life, and that he would himself die at

that he should die in a coach; so that upon the least jolt he would cry out, as if he beheld the grave opened ready to swallow him. And it is as well known that this prediction took pl

ose black presages which, it is but too certain, this unfortunate prince had of

o recount the accompanying circumstances would occupy too much time, and seriously intrude on the pleasantry of the company by entering into the awful and appalling detail; I must beg, therefore, to refer those friends who may be desirous to gratify their curiosity on this subject to consult the pages of the noble historiographer. The presages of our poet Dryden are deserving of notice, he was ex

own. It is recorded in the life of the very erudite and estimable scholar, John H. Hottinger, that when he ascended the pulpit of the academy of Basle to make a farewell oration to that society previous to his departure for the city of Leyden, where he had b

riens, canit ex

n his fun'ral

s family in the river Lemit, in the year 1667. The due application of this celebrated li

I, TANE

ave matter for deep reflection i

ravelling through Normandy. My Lord Roscommon, being then a boy of ten years of age, had preternatural intelligence of his father's death. Gad save my soul, it is the very most extraordinary circumstance to be sure! Your Grace must know that it happened at Caen: one day his Lordship was, as it were, madly extravagant in playing, leaping, getting over the tables, and playing, Gad save my soul! many other wild gambols. He was, sans doubté, wont to be sober, staid, lad enough. Those who saw him exclaimed, 'heaven grant this bode

er lain down to rest than she heartily repented of what she had done. The tempest continued with unabated rage; so much so indeed that the guests departed not from the Castle, but there found a safe retr

d with brilliant flashes of vivid lightning; an

--

acting of a

motion, all

asma, or a h

e was very discreetly thrown upon her having eaten too many nuts-having danced too much; and, moreover, supper having disagreed with her; besides a variety of et cetera explanations. It was a long period before Adelaide resumed her usual serenity and gaiety of temper; and whenever her friends or acq

?, and sortes Virgilian?, which were modes of inquiring into the secrets of futurity, are well known to the classic reader. A remarkable instance of the trial of this latter sortilege occurred to King Charles I. when at the city of Oxford, during the civil wars. Going one day to inspect the Boedlian Library, His Majes

nes of ?neas, and, mutato nomine, it

thoughts of the King from any impression the lines might have occasioned. However, the subject of the passage upon which he unluckily stumbled was fully as unpropitious and as applicable as that upon which his sovereign had alighted.

three portraits of King Charles I. on the same canvass-the one a front face, the other a half side, and the third a profile-the artist obser

cordingly he did; and King Charles, the greatest and best patron of the fine arts that England can boast of, was so much pleased with the performance, that he

hty; it is not for frail man to anticipate the ways of Providence, and discover these events that heaven always in its wisdom, and often in its

y to supers

everenc'd in t

ery saint of