Puslapio vaizdai
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Of early pleasures. Bid them trip along
Gay as the fanguine hope which youth in
fpires.

Renew my Geraldine's enchanting fong:
That fong which warbles now 'mid angel

choirs.

O be her peerless excellence difplay'd,
True to the likeness in my bofom worn!
O'er weeping error caft that lenient fhade,
Which fareens repentance from opprobrious
fcorn.

Gild with thy lamp the cold fepulchral gloom, And twine thy rofes round the mouldring tomb.

But it was not to the expreffions of vain regret or elegant fufceptibility that this amiable woman appealed for the atteftation of her inviolable affection. Her exemplary difcharge of the awful truft which she had undertaken, unquestionably confirmed the fincerity of her regard. The opening graces of the lovely children promife to reward

her

her pious care, but who that recollects their mother's fate will dare to predict the event?

Though the neighbourhood round Powerfcourt-houfe will long retain an affectionate veneration for the memory of their late benefactor, yet they confefs with gratitude, that the prefent reprefentative of that illuftrious house is the true heir of the good fir William's virtues. The exertions of an intelligent cultivated mind fupply the deficiencies of a lefs ample fortune; and the defires of Henry Powerfcourt to confer happiness are only limited by his power of bestowing it.

Though happy in his union with a woman, whose tafte and character is moft happily adapted to his own, he has not entirely forgotten the attachment of his early years; and he views the adopted children of his once adored Geral

Geraldine with all the fondness of paternal affection. He traces with tender anxiety their resemblance to their mother; and he sympathizes with poignant fenfibility in all his Lucy's regrets and cares. Often as he wanders through the fhades, which derive a greater beauty from the interesting remembrance of youthful pleasures, he contemplates the perplexed maze of past events, and raises his eyes in grateful veneration of that Being who kept him ftedfaft in the path of duty, and ultimately led him to tranquillity and content.

Mr. Evans continues to enjoy a serene old age, dignified by the exalted virtues which are comprised in the general term of chriftian philanthropy. He occafionally vifits at the manorhouse, and is gratified by the company of his children and their young

charge.

charge. But his time is generally spent at the rectory, meditating on the perplexities of the world he is about to leave, and the perpetuity of that to which he is journeying. His refpectful gratitude to his late patron is exemplified by the care he takes to preserve among his parishioners the remembrance of thofe mild virtues confpicuous in fir William's character, which were ennobled by the fong of angels, and are happily adapted to univerfal practice," Peace on earth and good<< will toward men."

Lord Monteith continues to drag a miferable exiftence. His intemperate habits have entirely obliterated all the graces of his person and the amiable qualities of his mind. He is now the affociate of boon companions, and the dupe of fharpers; fought only by fervile fycophants and ufurers, and avoid

ed

ed by all who preferve any decent respect for character. His health rapidly declines. Prevented by legal reftrictions from ultimately injuring his, children's property, he has been driven by his thoughtless extravagance to the defperate resource of life-annuities, which have been multiplied till they fo nearly reach the value of his rent-roll, that it is now become a favourite fpeculation whether his life or his fortune will hold out the longest.

Repeated matrimonial difappointments have given lady Arabella Macdonald fomething of a cynical caft of mind. Not that it appears in her conduct, for the still glitters in the first circles, and is always the best dreffed and noifieft woman of fashion in the room. But he has been heard to express several mifanthropic fentiments; and her diflike to the male part of the species has arisen to fuch a degree

of

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