The Black-Sealed Letter / Or, The Misfortunes of a Canadian Cockney.

n to nothing more than the opinion held by too many persons throughout Great Britain respecting this country. Indeed, there are hundreds in England alone, who are not aware of the exist

e city or town in which they had lived. Such men, in order to make the country and themselves popular, drew highly colored pictures of the New Dominion, extolling its inexhaustible physical resources, its mercantile and manufacturing advantages, its railway and river facilities, its millions of acres of new land in the shape of farms to be given away gratis

ve struck a bee-line to the cities, to procure easy and genteel employment at excellent wages. But in so doing the hopes of many were suddenly frustrated. Shops and counting-houses were literally crammed with employees; in fact, every genteel situation had its quota. Silk-lace and carpet weaving had scarcely a nominal existence. Every town, village, and city had more professional men than could get a comfortable livelihood. The characteristics of the country and its people appeared to them extremely coarse and terribly 'orrifying'. Wages, they said, were no better than those in England. Many who could have got employment preferred travelling the cou

known his design she felt awfully chagrined at the idea of his intended "foolish adventure," as she termed it, and also sadly di

ed. "Do you intend leaving me unmarried and unprovided for, with m

months to take you and the ch

riveted my affection to your heart. It still continues unbroken and as tenacious as ever. You flattered me with honied words. You excited me with false hopes. My confidence, yea, my very self I rendered submissively to your honor. But, alas! the very prospects you reared for my delight you are now trampling benea

and condemnatory in your remarks. Is this the sort of complimentary welcome

ously, and you will not think me unreas

your reason; curb down the irritable nerves of your temper; turn the dark side

d me the assistance in reality instead of broken promises, I

d to hard labor here, and then die at last in the harness. Were I to marry you now I have no home but my father's to which I could remove you; better then to remain where you are, unmarried, than otherwise, for, I feel certain that Colli

Fred, that if you go to Canada you will never make your circums

; and springing up from his seat, made his exit abruptly, leaving Clara to si

ered when too late that she had mistaken his character. She, however, continued to make the best of a bad bargain. He was a carver by trade, and commanded good wages; but every Saturday night, he got drunk. His Sabbaths were generally devoted to the worship of Bacchus. Sometimes he would continu

Collins expostulated with him, but to no purpose. He became, at length, exasperated, and threatened to turn them all out upon the street, and burn the house down. Clara attempted to pacify him, which only made him the more outrageous

a good husband, keep quiet, and don't abuse Clara and me so much as you do," said Mrs.

he child of that blackguard of a fellow, who, as I have been informed, has absconded to Canada. I hate him, and I detest his child-the dirty, yelping thing that it is. If it is not instantly removed from her

e child. They felt suspicious of the threats made by Collins, who, it appears, for several weeks past, had used some

ions really were, as he had given them no decided answer at home. Mrs. Collins and Clara were delighted to see them, but more especially on that occasion, as it afforded a sort of relief to their dejected hearts, and perhaps be the means of suggesting the best expedient for the adjustment of their condition under the present circumstances. Tea was b

s time it was weaned-so it will serve both purposes to send it up to our house. I assure you I will be

t is delightful,"

h us," said Amelia, embracing the infant more lovingly

too much trouble and inconv

lston will be perfectly delighted wi

m in remembrance of old t

gh to fancy himself twenty years younger

will be infinitely ha

Fred," added Ameli

ea being over, he was dressed in his best clothes. A couple of carpet bags were filled with other necessary articles. A

rs of his family were at tea, Mrs. C. entered car

e got, as a present for my good behavior

u seem as much excited as if y

, silvery-mouthed hazle-eyed, r

What a sweet little fellow he is. Just come, pa, and see the little darling." "O,

a parent's affection bestowed a dozen of fond kisses upon its ruby lips, feeling at the same time as if he could have similarly complimented Clara, as an expression of his affection, and a recompense for the abrupt manner in which he had trea

dozen of fond kisses on the dear little fellow, and with a lingering loo

e door, and in a sort of undertone interrogated, "May I

ter of their conversation on the way that night may be guessed from the fact, that

associate of his old companion and fellow-workman, Charles Holstrom. Clara also found immediate employment. The Charlstons were once

s in his own household that he gave expression to his joyous f

ngs were reciprocated. Ideas of future prospects towered higher than the moon. A happy home, brightened by the golden beams of the honeymoon was seen peeping through the sylvan avenues of imagination. A few m

The scenes are of the grandest descriptions: the coloring, of the richest hues, admirably shaded and intermingled. Even the darkest spots are glistening by the surrounding be

es, that their summits, like the top of Babel become mystified by the clouds; and when the first storm of adversity, or the breath of insidious cir

Time alone can unfold the mysterious realities of life. I will, therefore, pursue the windings of their course, and note dow