"Poor Race of Men!"" said the pitying spirit;

"Dearly ye pay for your primal fall;

Some flowerets of Eden ye still inherit,

But the trail of the serpent is over them all.'"

MOORE.

VOL. I.

LONDON:

PUBLISHED BY T. C. NEWBY.

72, MORTIMER STREET, CAVENDISH SQUARE.

1845.

OTHE

CHAPTER I.

"The eldest of our valiant father's hopes,
So sadly orphan'd side by side we stood

Like two young trees, whose boughs in early strength
Screen the weak saplings of the rising grove,

And brave the storm together."

JOANNA BAILLIE,-Tragedy of "De Montfort."

It was a lovely evening, and warm, towards the end of the month of July. How naturally is the imagination of the nature-loving transported at suggestions of such a season, and such an hour, to fair landscapes, 'midst flowers and balmy air and these, who love to associate the country only with this glowing, luxuriant season,

B