Page:The New Monthly Magazine - Volume 011.djvu/85
may perhaps interfere with its effect. But when it can be read over without pausing to puzzle out the meaning of the words, he who can so read it, and not be touched by it, even to the very verge of tears, may be assured that he is either not made of "penetrable stuff," or that his heart and affections are not in a healthful state. We should shrewdly suspect such a person of being secretly addicted to melo-drams!
"Friday Morning.
My Dear Aingel,—I reaseaved your Leater, and I am a stonisht that you did not start off the moment the theatre closed, after what I have rote to you and leting you know what a situation I am in. I am a stonisht that you did not pay more a tencion—was you in a straing country I wold not serve you so—you are braking hart by eanchis—I have ben bad a nuf before I reseved this Leter—but this has cut me to the senter of my hart. I am walking the streets from morning to night and till morning again—if you are not started before you reaseve this Leter, I shal expect you will start of on the recept of this Leater, wich you will reaseve on Monday, 12 of November, wich I shall expect you will come of by the male at night; and if you are not over in Dublin on the thursday folowing, I shal start on the fryday folowing, if I am abel to start—for it is no youse for you to come over heare then—for you lose your engadgment—for Mr. Joneston says he must engadg sum one Elce in your situation—so you know my sentiments.
Dam the election and the theatre—if you wish to make me hapy you will mind what I have rote to you, So no more from:
your ever loving and obedient husband.
If it ruines me I will start on fryday if you are not over on thursday. If you start on monday night you will be in Dublin on thursday.
God bless your eyes.
The theatre is shut up, and I have just money a nofe left to bring me to holey head—and if you are not over on thursday the 15, or friday the 16, by God I will come of if I walk all the way from the head to London—thearfor do not come if you do not come of in time.
O fany—I did not think you wold treat me so—to leave me in a straing country—could not treat poor Lobskey so—much more your loving husband."
If the critics do not pronounce this to be the perfection of the natural, in point of style as well as matter, we would beg them to explain what is.
LINES ON ACCIDENTALLY POSSESSING AND RETURNING
MISS B———'s MINIATURE.
I know not, Lady, which commandment
In painting this the artist's hand meant
To make us chiefly break;
But sure the owner's bliss I covet,
And half would, for possession of it,
Turn thief and risk my neck.
Yet, as Prometheus rued the fetching
Of fire from Heaven to light his kitchen;
So, if I stole this treasure
To warm my fancy at the light
Of those young eyes, perhaps I might
Repent it at my leisure.
An old man for a young maid dying,
Grave forty-five for nineteen sighing,
Would merit Wisdom's stricture.
And so, to save myself from kindling,
As well as being sued for swindling,
I send you back the picture. C.