of which is associated in my mind, only with the ideas of low company and beastly intoxication. You tell me you eat indigestible suppers, and swill toddy to force sleep-I see that you chew tobacco. Now, sir, what human stomach can stand this? Go home, sir, and leave off your present course of riotous living-take some dry toast and tea for your breakfast – some plain meat and soup for dinner, without adding to it anything to spur on your flagging appetite; you may take a cup of tea in the evening, but never let me hear of haddocks and toasted cheese, and oysters, with their accompaniments of ale and toddy at night; give up chewing that vile, narcotic, nauseous abomination, and there are some hopes that your stomach may recover its tone, and you be in good health like your neighbors. Pa. I'm sure, Doctor, I'm very much obliged to you — (taking out a bunch of bank notes) — I shall endeavor to Dr. Sir, you are not obliged to me-put up your money, sir. Do you think I'll take a fee from you for telling you what you know as well as myself? Though you're no physician, sir, you are not altogether a fool. You must know that drunkenness and gluttony are both sinful and dangerous; and whatever you may think, you have this day confessed to me that you are a notorious glutton and drunkard. Go home, sir, and reform, or take my word for it, your life is not worth half a year's purchase. (Exit Patient in confusion.) - Sober and temperate! Dr. Watt tried to live in Glasgow, and made his patients live moderately, and purged and bled them when they were sick, but it would not do. Let the Glasgow doctors prescribe beef-steaks and rum punch, and their fortune is made. ANONYMOUS. FASHION AND FEELING. Mrs. Glenroy. To whom am I indebted for these kind wishes? Reuben. Madam, I am the elder brother of that miserable and degraded man, your husband. Mrs. G. Miserable! degraded! (Indignantly.) Reu. Ay lady.-Must he not be miserable, who risks at play what might preserve his family from ruin? Is he not degraded, who, by dissipation contracts debts, and withholds from honest industry its hard earned pittance? Mrs. G. Vulgar and contemptible! You the brother of Augustus? (Turning aside.) Reu. I have confessed it. Mrs. G. I am sorry for it. Reu. So am I.-but I prefer humiliation to falsehood. Mrs. G. (Curtesying.) I would wish, sir, to be mistress of my own time, as soon as it may suit your convenience. (Going.) Reu. Madam, my business here is to serve, rather than to please; to speak the severe language of truth, not the soft blandishments of flattery. Yet believe me, my nature, though perhaps blunt, is averse to insult, and should I succeed in snatching a beloved brother from ruin, the joy of my heart will be damped, indeed, if, in saving him, I forfeit your kind estimation. Mrs. G. (Presenting her hand.) All is forgottenhusband's brother. -you are my Reu. And your devoted friend. How does your sweet infant? Where is my little nephew? Mrs. G. Quite well, and with his nurse. Reu. Surely I am with his nurse? Mrs. G. O, no, sir -'tis not the fashion for ladies Reu. The fashion! Now, is it possible a woman should be so lost to her own felicity as to lavish on a hireling the cherub smile of instinctive gratitude. O! my young matrons, in thus estranging your little offspring, you foresee not the perdition you cause — not the earthly paradise you abandon. Mrs. G. Sir-you are eloquent. -you know Reu. 'Tis the subject that is so; Nature wants no orator to plead her cause. Ha! a tear! O! hide it not ! Believe me, my dear sister, no gem that sparkles in your dress is half so ornamental as that glistening drop, which your overflowing heart now shoots into your eye, endearing evidence of maternal sympathy. Mrs. G. I feel my error. admonish, thus Oh! why did not your brother thus Reu. I am your friend, but he is your lover; and he who loves truly, will suffer much ere he can teach his eye the scowl of discontent. Long, long will his heart throb with agony, before one groan shall disturb your slumbers, one breath of reproof ruffle your peaceful bosom. I have learned where your husband will pass his evening. I'll bring him to you. Mrs. G. Oh, he will not leave his party. Reu. He shall! he will not need compulsion to come to the wife His fortunes are most desperate his character, his he loves. honor perhaps his life - implicated. Mrs. G. Oh Heavens! in mercy do not say so. Reu. A treasure worth the empire of the world — a virtuous woman's heart. Fear nothing - All shall be well. Mrs. G. I promised my dear Augustus to meet him this evening at a party. I shall be late. Reu. Pray, do not go? Mrs. G. Not go? Reu. Come, 'tis the first favor I ever asked of you. Mrs. G. The whole world will be there. Reu. And cannot the whole world go on without you for one night? Hush! I heard some one in distress. Mrs. G. 'Tis the cry of my dear little infant. Reu. Ay, it wants its mother. Come-I long to hold it in my arms. Mrs. G. But my dress is unfit Reu. The best in the world; these gewgaws will delight the child; they're fit for nothing else. MORTON. PIZARRO AND GOMEZ. Pizarro. How now, Gomez, what bringest thou? Gomez. On yonder hill, among the palm trees, we have surprised an old Peruvian. Escape by flight he could not, and we seized him unresisting Piz. Drag him before us. (Gomez leads in Orozembo.) What art thou, stranger? Orozembo. First tell me who is the captain of this band of robbers? Piz. Ha! Gom. Madman! Tear out his tongue, or else Oro. Thou wilt hear some truth. Gom. Shall I not plunge this into his heart? (Shewing his dagger.) Oro. (To Pizarro.) Does your army boast many such heroes as this? Piz. Audacious! This insolence has sealed thy doom. Die thou shalt, grey headed ruffian. But first confess what thou knowest. Oro. I know that which thou hast just assured me of, that I shall die. Piz. Less audacity might have preserved thy life. Oro. My life is as a withered tree, not worth preserving. Piz. Hear me, old man. Even now we march against the Peruvian army. We know there is a secret path that leads to your stronghold among the rocks. Guide us to that, and name thy reward. If wealth be thy wish Oro. Ha, ha, ha! Piz. Dost thou despise my offer? Oro. Yes, thee and thy offer! Wealth! I have the wealth of two gallant sons. I have stored in heaven the riches which repay good actions here; and still my chiefest treasure do I wear about me. Piz. What is that? Inform me. Oro. I will, for thou canst never tear it from me. An unsullied conscience. Piz. I believe there is no other Peruvian who dares speak as thou dost. Oro. Would I could believe there is no other Spaniard who dares act as thou dost. Gom. Obdurate pagan! how numerous is your army? Oro. Count the leaves of the forest. Gom. Which is the weakest part of your camp? Oro. It is fortified on all sides by justice. Gom. Where have you concealed yonr wives and children? Oro. In the hearts of their husbands and fathers. Piz. Knowest thou Alonzo ? Oro. Know him! Alonzo! Our nation's benefactor, the guardian angel of Peru! Piz. By what has he merited that title? Oro. By not resembling thee. Piz. Who is this Rolla, joined with Alonzo in command? Oro. I will answer that, for I love to speak the hero's name. Rolla, the kinsman of the king, is the idol of our army. In war a tiger, in peace a lamb. Cora was once betrothed to him, but finding she preferred Alonzo, he resigned his claim for Cora's happiness. Piz. Romantic savage! shall meet this Rolla soon. Oro. Thou hadst better not; the terrors of his noble eye would strike thee dead. Gom. Silence, or tremble! Oro. Beardless robber! I never yet have learned to tremble before man - Why before thee, thou less than man? Gom. Another word, audacious heathen, and I strike! Oro. Strike, Christian! then boast among thy fellows, "I, too, have murdered a Peruvian.” SHERIDAN. P |