THIS stupendous scene lies about a mile north of the village of Callender, in Monteith, Perthshire. Between the massive rocks, a small mountain stream, termed the Keltie, foams and dashes itself from a height of at least 50 feet, and finally settles into a profound receptacle, which, on account of the spots of foam usually observable on its surface, is called Bracklin-the speckled fool. Above the chasm, there is thrown, for the convenience of the neighbourhood, a rustic footbridge, of about 3 feet in breadth, and without ledges, which is scarcely to be crossed by a stranger without awe and apprehension. Bracklin is refered to in the Lady of the Lake, Canto II., in the impassioned reply of Ellen Douglas to the Minstrel who has importuned the Maiden to "wed the man she cannot love"-Sir Roderick Dhu: the passage is Thou shak'st, good friend, thy tresses grey- The Public Journals. THE WAY TO BE HAPPY. CUT your coat according to your cloth, is an old maxim and a wise one; and if people will only square their ideas according to their circumstances, how much happier might we all be! If we only would come down a peg or two in our notions, in accordance with our waning fortunes, happiness would be always within our reach. It is not what we have, or what we have not, which adds or subtracts from our felicity. It is the longing for more than we have, the envying of those who possess that more, and the wish to appear in the world of more consequence than we really are, which destroy our peace of mind, and eventually lead to ruin. I never witnessed a man submitting to circumstances with good humour and good sense, so remarkably as in my friend Alexander Willemott. When I first met him, since our school days, it was at the close of the war: he had been a large contractor with government for army clothing and accoutrements, and was said to have realized an immense fortune, although his accounts were not yet settled. Indeed it was said that they were so vast, that it would employ the time of six clerks, for two years, to examine them, previous to the balance sheet being struck. As I observed, he had been at school with me, and, on my return from the East Indies, I called upon him to renew our old acquaintance, and congratulate him upon his success. My dear Reynolds, I am delighted to see you. You must come down to Belem Castle; Mrs. Willemott will receive you with pleasure, I'm sure. You shall see my two girls." 66 I consented. The chaise stopped at a splendid mansion, and I was ushered in by a crowd of liveried servants. Everything was on the most sumptuous and magnificent scale. Having paid my respects to the lady of the house, I retired to dress, as dinner was nearly ready, it being then half-past seven o'clock. It was eight before we sat down. To an observation that I made, expressing a hope that I had not occasioned the dinner being put off, Willemott replied, "On the contrary, my dear Reynolds, we never sit down until about this hour. How people can dine at four or five o'clock, I cannot conceive. I could not touch a mouthful." The dinner was excellent, and I paid it the enconiums which were its due. "Do not be afraid, my dear fellow-my cook is an artiste extraordinaire-a regular Cordon Bleu. You may eat anything with out fear of indigestion. How people can live upon the English cookery of the present day, I cannot conceive. I seldom dine out, for fear of being poisoned. Depend upon it, a good cook lengthens your days, and no price is too great to insure one." When the ladies retired, being alone, we entered into friendly conversation. I expressed my admiration of his daughters, who certainly were very handsome and elegant girls. "Very true; they are more than passable," replied he. "We have had many offers, but not such as come up to my expectations. Baronets are cheap now-a-days, and Irish lords are nothings; I hope to settle them comfortably. We shall see. Try this claret; you will find it excellent, not a headach in a hogshead of it. How people can drink port, I cannot imagine." The next morning he proposed that I should rattle round the park with him. I acceded, and we set off in a handsome open carriage, with four greys, ridden by postilions at a rapid pace. As we were whirling along, he observed, "In town we must of course drive but a pair, but in the country I never go out without four horses. There is a spring in four horses which is delightful; it makes your spirits elastic, and you feel that the poor animals are not at hard labour. Rather than not drive four, I would prefer to stay at home." Our ride was very pleasant, and, in such amusements passed away one of the most pleasant weeks that I ever remembered. Willemott was not the least altered-he was as friendly, as sincere, as open-hearted, as when a boy at school. I left him, pleased with his prosperity, and acknowledging that he was well deserving of it, although his ideas had assumed such a scale of magnificence. I went to India when my leave expired, and was absent about four years. On my return, I inquired after my friend Willemott, and was told, that his circumstances and expectations had been greatly altered. From many causes, such as a change in the government, a demand for economy, and the wording of his contracts having been differently rendered from what Willemott had supposed their meaning to be, large items had been struck out of his balance sheet, and, instead of being a millionaire, he was now a gentleman with a handsome property. Belem Castle had been sold, and he now lived at Richmond, as hospitable as ever, and was considered a great addition to the neighbourhood. I took the earliest opportunity of going down to see him. "O my dear Reynolds, this is really kind of you to come without invitation. Your room is ready, and bed well aired, for it was slept in three nights ago. Come Mrs. Willemott will be delighted to see you." I found the girls still unmarried, but they were yet young. The whole family appeared as contented, and happy, and as friendly, as before. We sat down to dinner at six o'clock, the footman and the coachman attended. The dinner was good, but not by the artiste extraordinaire. I praised everything. The "Yes," replied he, "she is a very good cook; she unites the solidity of the English with the delicacy of the French fare; and, altogether, I think it a decided improvement. Jane is quite a treasure." After dinner, he observed," Of course you know I have sold Belem Castle, and reduced my establishment. Government have not treated me fairly, but I am at the mercy of commissioners, and a body of men will do that, which, as individuals, they would be ashamed of. fact is, the odium is borne by no one in particular, and it is only the sense of shame which keeps us honest, I'm afraid. However here you see me, with a comfortable fortune, and always happy to see my friends, especially my old school-fellow. Will you take port or claret; the port is very fine, and so is the claret. By-the-by, do you know-I'll let you into a family secret; Louisa is to be married to a Colonel Willer match. It has made us all happy." The next day we drove out, not in an open carriage as before, but in a chariot and with a pair of horses. - an excellent "These are handsome horses," observed I. "Yes," replied he, "I am fond of good horses; and, as I only keep a pair, I have the best. There is a certain degree of pretension in four horses, I do not much like: it appears as if you wished to overtop your neighbours." I spent a few very pleasant days, and then quitted his hospitable roof. A severe cold, caught that winter, induced me to take the advice of the physicians, and proceed to the south of France, where I remained two years. On my return, I was informed that Willemott had speculated, and had been unlucky on the Stock Exchange; that he had left Richmond, and was now living at Clapham. The next day I met him near the Exchange. "Reynolds, I am happy to see you. Thomp son told me that you had come back. If not better engaged, come down to see me; I will drive you down at four o'clock, if that will suit." It suited me very well, and, at four o'clock, I met him according to appointment at a livery stables over the Iron Bridge. His vehicle was ordered out, it was a phaeton drawn by two long-tailed ponies-altogether a very neat concern. We set off at a rapid pace. "They step out well, don't they? We shall be down in plenty of time to put on a pair of shoes by five o'clock, which is our dinner-time. Late dinners don't agree with me--they produce indigestion. Of course, you know that Louisa has a little boy." I did not; but congratulated him. "Yes; and has now gone out to India with her husband. Mary is also engaged to be married-a very good match-a Mr. Rivers, in the law. He has been called to the bar this year, and promises well. They will be a little pinched at first, but we must see what we can do for them." I We stopped at a neat row of houses, forget the name, and, as we drove up, the servant, the only man-servant, came out, and took the ponies round to the stable, while the maid received my luggage, and one or two paper bags,_containing a few extras for the occasion. I was met with the same warmth as usual by Mrs. Willemott. The house was small, but very neat the remnants of former grandeur appeared here and there, in one or two little articles, favourites of the lady. We sat down at five o'clock to a plain dinner, and were attended by the footman, who had rubbed down the ponies and pulled on his livery. "A good plain cook is the best thing, after all," observed Willemott. "Your fine cooks won't condescend to roast and boil. Will you take some of this sirloin, the undercut is excellent. My dear, give Mr. Reynolds some Yorkshire pudding." When we were left alone after dinner, Willemott told me, very unconcernedly, of his losses. "It was my own fault," said he; "I wished to make up a little sum for the girls, and risking what they would have had, I left them almost pennyless. However, we can always command a bottle of port and a beefsteak, and what more in this world can you have? Will you take port or white? I have no claret to offer you." We finished our port, but I could perceive no difference in Willemott. He was just as happy and as cheerful as ever. He drove me to town the next day. During our drive, he' observed, "I like ponies, they are so little trouble; and I prefer them to driving one horse in this vehicle, as I can put my wife and daughters into it. It's selfish to keep a carriage for yourself alone, and one horse in a four-wheeled double chaise appears like an imposition upon the poor animal." I went to Scotland and remained about a year. On my return, I found that my friend Willemott had again shifted his quarters. He was at Brighton; and having nothing better to do, I put myself in the "Times," and arrived at the Bedford Hotel. It was not until after some inquiry, that I could find out his address. At last I obtained it, in a respectable but not fashionable part of this overgrown town. Willemott received me just as before. "I have no spare bed to offer you, but you' must breakfast and dine with us every day. Our house is small, but it's very comfortable, and Brighton is a very convenient place. You know Mary is married. A good place in the courts was for sale, and my wife and I agreed to purchase it for Rivers. It has reduced us a little, but they are very comfortable. I have retired from business altogether; in fact, as my daughters are both married, and we have enough to live upon, what can we wish for more? Brighton is very gay and always healthy; and, as for carriage and horses, they are no use here→→→ there are flies at every corner of the streets." I accepted his invitation to dinner. A parlour-maid waited, but everything, although very plain, was clean and comfortable. "I have still a bottle of wine for a friend, Reynolds," said Willemott, after dinner, "but, for my part, I prefer whiskey-toddy. It agrees with me better. Here's to the health of my two girls, God bless them, and success to them in life!" "My dear Willemott," said I, "I take the liberty of an old friend, but I am so astonished at your philosophy, that I cannot help it. When I call to mind Belem Castle, your large establishment, your luxuries, your French cook, and your stud of cattle, I wonder at your contented state of mind under such a change of circumstances." "I almost wonder myself, my dear fellow," replied he. "I never could have believed, at that time, that I could live happily under such a change of circumstances; but the fact is, that, although I have been a contractor, 1 have a good conscience; then, my wife is an excellent woman, and provided she sees me and her daughters happy, thinks nothing about herself; and, further, I have made it a rule, as I have been going down hill, to find reasons why I should be thank ful, and not discontented. Depend upon it, Reynolds, it is not a loss of fortune which will affect your happiness, as long as you have peace and love at home." I took my leave of Willemott and his wife, with respect as well as regard; convinced that there was no pretended indifference to worldly advantages, that it was not, that the grapes were sour, but that he had learned the whole art of happiness, by being contented with what he had, and by" cutting his coat according to his cloth."-Metropolitan. THE FEMALE CONVICT SHIP. By Thomas Haynes Bayly. The vessel under weigh; Oh! none of those heart-cradled prayers No tearful eyes are strain'd to wateh And there are none to wave the scarf, Yet women throng that vessel's deck- The girl, who from her mother's arms The harden'd hag, whose trade hath been To lead the pure astray! A young and sickly mother kneels And with a song of home she lulls She falters,-for her tears must flow,- Aud naught is heard among the crowd The young, the old, the best, the worst, Aud every mighty billow seems Oh! who that loves the pleasure-barque, When helplessly the vessel drifts, Three times the ship hath struck. Again! She never nore will float. Oh! wait not for the rising tide; Be steady-man the boat. The foaming monster hurries on, And He is come! the rushing flood One moment from the female crowd The next, they're hurl'd into the deep, Their corses strew a foreign shore, And sixty in a ghastly row Lie number'd, side by side! 'Tis morn ;-the anxions eye can trace But gather'd timber on the shore In winter time those brands will blaze New Monthly Magazine. New Books. THE FANCY FAIR. "HONNORD SUR,-Dont no if you Be a Hamshire man, or a man atacht to the fancy, but as Both such myself, have took the libberty to write about what is no joke. Of coarse alude to being Hoaxt up to Lonnon, to sea a fair no fair at all and About as much fancy as you mite fancy on the pint of a pin. "Have follerd the Fancy, ever since cumming of Age, and bean to every Puglistical fite, from the Gaim Chicking down to the fite last weak. Have bated Buls, drawd Baggers, and Kild rats myself meening to say with my hone Dogs. Ought to no wot Fancy his. Self prays is no re-comendation But have been at every Fair Waik or Revvle in England. Ought to no then wot a Fare is. of Cox Jackasreacing jumpin in Sax and a grand Sire Peal of Trouble Bobs puld by the Collge youths by way of givin a Bells Life to the hole. Call that Fancy. Too Wild Best Shoes, fore theaters besides a Horseplay a Dwarft a She Giant a fat child a prize ox five carriboo savidges a lurned Pigg_an Albany with White Hares a real See Murmad a Fir Eater and lots of Punshes and Juddis. Call that a Fare. "Now for Lonnon. No Sanderses-no Richardsens no wumwills menageris no backy boxis to shy for-no lucky Boxis. No poster makin no jugling or Dancing. Prest one yung laidy in ruge cheaks and trowsers verry civelly For a bit of a caper on the tite ropBut miss got on the hi rop, and called for a conestubble. Askt annother in a ridding habbit for the faver of a little horsmunship and got kicked out of her Booth. Goos Grean for my munny! Saw a yung laidy there that swallerd a Sord and wasnt too Partickler to jump through a hoop, Dutchesses look dull after that at a Fare. Verry dignified, but Prefer the Wax Wurk, as a Show. Dont see anny think in Watch Pappers cut out by Countisses that have been born with all their harms and legs—not Miss Biffins. sovran. "Must say one thing for Goos Grean. Never got my pocket pict xcept at Lonnon am sorry to say lost my Reader and Ticker and every Dump I had let alone a single And lost the best part of that besides to a Yung Laidy that nevver gave change. Greenish enuf says you for my Tim of Day but I was gammund by the baggidge to bye five shillin Pin Cushions. Wish Charrity had stayd at Hoam! The ould Mare got a coald by waiting outside And the five Charrity pincushins hadnt Bran enuf in their hole boddys to ake her a Mash. "Am told the Hospittle don't clear anny grate proffits after all is dun and Like enuff. A fare should be a Fare and fokes at Room oght to do as Room does. Have a notion Peerisses that keep Booths wood take moor Munny if they wastn't abuv having the dubble drums and speakin trumpets and gongs. There's nothin like goin the hole Hog! “Shall be happy, sur, to sea You at Goos Green next fare and pint out the Differince. Maybe in Flurtashun, and Matchmaking and getting off Dorters along with the dolls we ar a littel cut out, but for Ginuen Fancy and Fun and Fair Play its a mear Green Goos to Goos Green. "Remain Sur, "Your humbel tu command, "JACOB GILES." "P.S. Think Vallintins day wood be a Good fixter for next Fancy Fare. Shant say why. Sniff sumthing of the kind goin on amung our hone Gals-Polly as just begd a sak of bran and she dont keap rabits. Pin cushins and nothin else. Tother day cum across a large Watchpokit and suspect Mrs. G. is at the Bottom of it. No churnin buttur no packin egs no setten Hens and crammin Turkis-All sniping ribbons folding papper sowin up satten and splitting hole trusses of straw. Am blest if its for litterin down Horsis. Dont no how its all to be got to markit at Lonnon, the nine girls and all 'xcept its by a Pickfurd Van."-Hood's Comic Annual. TRAITS AND TRADITIONS OF PORTUGAL. By Miss Pardoe. [THIS work may be described as the "Sketch Book" of Portugal- its relationship to Portugal being of the same interesting character as that of Washington Irving's Sketch Book to England. Both works teem with graceful writing and graphic beauty, and tell of the tender ties and silken cords of affection in words of touching truth. Throughout Miss Pardoe's volumes there is a picturesque luxu riance of description which is never tedious, but always delightful: its pages of tradi tional lore and glittering details are as highly enriched as an illuminated missal;-the writer's first impressions are vividly sketched; her legends are shadowed with sorrowful interest; her scenes from monastic life are impressive in their minuteness; and her unconstrained style throughout these volumes rivet the reader to their perusal. Among them the lover of romance may revel, and the admirer of splendid, natural scenery enjoy a rich treat. Our extracts will be somewhat copious, but, we hope, not more lengthy than their interest warrants.] Funerals. I had made acquaintance with a monk of the order of Mendicant Friars; he was good humoured and garrulous, and was frequently the human whetstone on which I sharpened ny dull Portuguese. This man, accompanied by three more of the brotherhood, and attended by two boys in white surplices, bearing torches, was in the habit of perambulating the streets at night, tinkling a little handbell, and carrying a basket, into which the pious cast such coins as they could spare to the wants of the community, and for which they received a very civil and concise blessing. I made a point of obtaining one of these cheaply-purchased benisons on every occasion, not from any great faith in its efficacy, but to gratify my friend Frade Antonio. One evening the sharp ring of the bell summoned me to the balcony, but I at once saw that there was something unusual in the procession: the number of persons was greater, and they were travelling at a jog-trot, very inimical to the interests of charity. As they came nearer, I saw by the fierce light flung by the torches, of which there were six or eight, that four of the men |