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Portland
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: BY GOULD & ELWELL,
« . Office 80 Middle, near Corner of Exchange St,
Cranscrip t.
One Dollar tr Eight Months, in advanca
: $150 PER YEAR.
VOLUME XV.
‘SEPTEMBER 6, 1851:
> AN INDEPENDENT FAMILY JOURNAL OF LITBRATURE, NRWS, SG. oy
PORTLAND, SATURDAY,”
NUMBER 21. «
POETRY.
: i SMILES.
Smiles melt the hate of foemen into love,
ish anguish from the sorrow -emitten ;
Amongst the millions of the blest abov:
Perennial smiles on every brow are written,
In this our world, where care and grief are rife,
How sweetly beams the smile of tender kindness;
Without its light how darksome oft were life,
‘Through which to grope our weary way in blindness !
Yet some there are who seldom wear a si
‘Whose hearts are charged with bitterness end malice;
Who, in the thirst of selfishness and guile,
Drain the foul dregs of envy’s poisoned chalice.
Others but smile on those they would cajole,
To cheat the simple with a show of feeling ;
As fishermen attract a flnny sh
By torchlight o'er the ing ocean stealing.
Brighter by far than brightest gems of earth,
Smiles shed soft radiance on the brow of Beauty ;
Decking our loved ones with a wreath of mirth,
That cheers the heart amid the toils of dat
“Words.
SELECT TALE.
* [From Chamber's Journal.} .
“OTTERTON COTLAGE.
In a picturesque Devonshire village, situated on
the banks, of the river Otter—which, after playing
all sorts of vagaries hereabouts, quietly debauches
into the sea at a few miles’ distance—resided, some
score of years ago, an elderly gentleman’ named
Borradaile, with his wife and daughter. Otterton
Cottage, Mr. Borradaile’s abode, was the mansion
of the neighborhood. Highly’ ornamented’ both
within and without, it arrested the gaze of the pas-
acr-by, who. according to taste, viewed it with an
air of approbation or otherwise. The simple coun-
try-folks pronouueed it. ‘rare fine place,’ and
Madam Borradaile a ‘rare fine lady;’.and. they
spoke the truth, for both the domain and its mis-
tress were as fine and full of pretension, lackiug
real merit, as unskilful hands and foolish heads
could make them., Sweet Lucy Borradaile was
yery fond of her home, ;though she by: no means
admired it; and being a pretty girl of twenty, and
moreover, an only child, it may be supposed that
she was much indalged and petted. She was, in-
deed, her worthy father’s darling and delight; and
well did, Lucy repay his aflection by her dutiful
conduct and forbearance : for Mrs. Borradaile was
her step-mother, and not more than fifteen years
Lucy’s senior. _ It was to this lady's love of show
and decoration that Otterton Cottage owed it flaunt-
ing appendages: she having a weakness for every-
thing that seemed to her. to savor of gentility, and
an unwearied .desire to approach. patrician usages:
and pratrician socicty in general.
She’ had been married to Mr. Borradaile for ten
years, and was still a really attractive woman, and
would have been yet more so, had not a mincing
gait and studied manner, meant to be particularly
easy, detracted from her charms. -Her little fortune
of five hundred: pounds had been safely lodged at
the local bank by Mr. Borradaile, when be made
the winsome Nelly Peel his second. wife; but to
hear Nelly talk of ‘her fortane’—it was under her
own especial control and at her absolute disposal—
one would have imagined that twice five thousand
at least was. in the bank. However, Mrs. Borra-
daile romanced about ‘my own money'—and a mar
yellous long way it must have gone, certainly,’ to
Procure so many substantial luxuries and comforts
of all descriptions ; and if Mr. Borradaile ever re-
fused to gratify any whim or caprice—which, kind
soul! was rare indeed—then Mrs. Borradaile whim-
peringly declared < ‘it was hard, with her fortune,
that she could not do as she liked, .
Your fortune, Nelly,. my dear! would herhus
band Goeod-humoredly exclaim: ‘why sure it has a
wondrous power of stretching itself out, or it would
have disappeared long ago’ But, the. point was
gained, and the five hundred pounds continued
safely deposited in. its accustomed place; for all
Mrs. Borradaile’s wants were supplied w with a ibe
oral hand. leg ie .
Mr. Borradaile had made hie money in ‘ete
circumstance which his wife could endure no allu-
ge & a deceased father had been a lieutenant
rehing regiment, and she once had danced
in the same room with a an Lenrl’s daughter! No wo won-
der Mrs, Borradaile boasted her aristocratic remin-
iscenees! ‘Lucy was a patient listener, and if she
smiled, it was in a kindly way at her stepmother’s
foible ; for Lucy had learned by heart the blessed
lesson of true. Christian charity, and was always
anxious to hide the bad qualities of others under
the shadow of their good qualit Nevertheless,
Lucey Borradaile was sorely tried; for she had a
cortain dear Cousin Charles, who. was in a mercan-
tile house in London, and sometimes ran down to
Devon to visit his relatives, and to him, and to his
cousinly attentions to Lucy, Mrs. Borradaile had a
decided antipathy. :‘ He was of low origin, the
aspering lady said, ‘besides being poor’
: ‘But, ‘my dear,’ replied. her. spouse, ‘Charles is
my nephew, and a good, honest, industrious fellow.’
‘But not a fit. husband for your: daughter, Mr.
Borradaile, I. presume,’ responded. Nelly, tossing
her head, ‘She might look higher, I should think.’
‘Well, well,: Nelly, perhaps so,” dabiously an-
an absent manner ; ‘perhaps’ so—but Charlie is a
fine, good lad, nevertheless.’
Mr. Borradaile strongly Teanied towards his neph-
ew ; nor was he blind to the mutual attachment of
the young folks; but there was time enough; and
Lucy was a decided ‘belle; and she herself might
change her mind, and look higher too.’ He reason-
ed thus, because his wife badgered him about
Charles ; for he was an easy man, and desired peace
and qnictness above’ all things. When Charles
came to Otterton Cottage, Mrs. Borradaile assum-
ed all the: airs and graces of a theatrical queen on
the barn-flocr—talked at him, patronized him, or
else was ‘absolutely rude. ‘But Charles bore it all
with smiling good ‘humor, which only | tended to
wilder flights." ~
‘I really wish, my dear Mr. Borradaile, said ‘his
wife one evening when they were alone, Lucy hay-
ing gone to drink tea at the vicarage—I really do
wish, for Lucy's sake, that you would exert your-
self, as Iam so often asking you to do, and write
to this niece of yours, the Honorable Mrs. Ivor, and
ask her to come and see you during the summer
months. Then, in all probability, she would ask us
back again to Ivor Lodge, orto B——~ Square;
and consider the immense advantages such an invi-
tation would combine—such an introduction into
high society !
Oh dear me! I declare it puts me
allin a flutter to think of it, Now, do, my dear,
write to the Honorable Mrs. Ivor at once.’ She is
your neice, and a deal more worth paying attention
to than that stupid, vulgar Charles Worthington.’
‘Charles is neither vulgar nor stupid, Mrs. Borra-
daile, I beg leave to say,’ replied Mr. Borradaile
angrily ; ‘and I won't allow him to be called so by
anybody. . And as to my niece, whom I have never
secn—this Honorable Mrs, Ivor—if report speaks
true, she is an extravagant, flippant creature, not
worthy to be named in a breath with: Charlie—the
honest, fine lad. Besides, -you know as well as I
do, that if I were fool enough to write, she would’t
take any notice; for depend upon it she has been
taught to be ashamed of having an uncle in trade ;
for her father’s family were as as silly as they were
proud.”
: ‘Bat you are not in trade now, Mr. B,, replied
his wife; ‘and I'm sure if the Honorable Mrs. Ivor
came here and saw’ ——— ‘me’ she was going to say,
but ‘Otterton Cottage’ was substituted—and saw
Otterton Cottage, she would be delighted with its
elegance, and not ashamed to claim relationship
with the owncrs.’
\‘My dear Nelly, you talk like a foolish woman,’
said Mr. Borradaile peevishly, for he was tired of
the incessant. boring about this ‘Honorable’ neice,
‘Rest assured that Mrs: Ivor is far too immersed in
her own concerns, in gaiety and fashion, to bestow
a second thought on her Devonshire relatives or
their clegances. ,; Why, it was only. the other day
that you read an account in the papers of a mag-
nificent feto she gave at Ivor Lodge; and how can
you be such @ goose as to suppose she would care
about this poor place %
‘Ay, ay, it’s all very well, Mr. BY A persevered the
lady ; ‘but didn’t I read socn afterwards that report
said she was in debt and involved ? for we didn’t
doubt that “I,” and the stars after it,, signified
“Ivor,” and she a widow too.’
‘Well, poor thing, I hope not,’ replied Mr. Bor-
swered Mr. Borradaile, scratching his bald pate in’
deed, I fear she is a careless one.’ But I have been
told she has a kind heart, althongh nurtured in a
bad school. Don’t let us talk about her any more?
But this command, often repeated after such con-
versations as the foregoing, was never attended to;
and Mrs. Borradaile ‘continued to talk of the Hon-
orable Mrs. Ivor, and to. worry her husband on all
occasions, until at length he began to give way, and
promised that if she would behave well to Charlie
he would ‘think about penning a letter to his un-
known niece.’ | He kept his promise ; thought about
it for many weeks ; fidgeted himself almost into a
fever, but accomplished the heavy task imposed,
and despatched a clearly-written missive to the
honorable lady, introducing himself to her notice,
mentioning his wife and child—the latter with fond
affection and pride—and: concluding with the ‘as-
surance of ahospitable and cordial welcome to Ot-
terton Cottage whenever she liked to come and
make acquaintance with her mother’s brother.‘ It
was a manly, good letter, and no one: could have
read it without. being: convinced of the : single-
hearted benevolence of the honest wi
Mrs. Ivor was the child of Mr. Borradaile’s only
sister, who had eloped from a boarding-school with
the penniless cadet of noble family : the young wife
did not survive the birth of their child, which was
taken charge of by its father’s offended parents in
consideration of the poor baby’s desolate state; and
their son being compelled to join his regiment
abroad, fell a victim soon after to the climate.
His mother’s brother, her only maternal relative,
was not permitted to hold any intercourse with Julia
de Vere—such intercourse would have been con-
tamination to the De Veres of Vere Hall! At an
extremely tender age Julia was. espoused to the
| Honorable Mr. Ivor—a weathy scion of a wealthy
race—and found herself a rich, young, and well-
looking widow ere she had completed her twenty
fourth year. Rumor had made free with her 1 name;
and thongh no disgrace attached to it, yct that she
was a most flighty and extravagant woman of fash-
ion there could be no doubt. . Bat then she was an
honorable, and'a woman of fashion! _Talismanic
words to Mrs. Borradaile ! To be able to speak of|
‘ou niece the Honorable Mrs. Ivor’ was the delight
of her life; to be able to speak to her would be the
summit of human felicity ! With’a beating heart
she accompanied Mr. Borradaile to the post-office,
and witnessed the imrortant letter dropped in its
appainted receptacle, :
will an answer arrive, and what will it be?
ae entally ejaculated. “ ‘If she’ does agree to
come, we must have a new French bedstead in the
spare room. * And,’ Ict me sce,’ pink silk’ drapery,
relieved by soft white muslin, will be the thing ; and
'm toilet-table to match”. And, deep in cogitation
concerning such like weighty matters, Mrs. Borra-
daile returned home in unusual silence,
But many weeks passed over, and the golden
grain waved and the mellow fruits wero ripe, and
still no lettor came in reply; but Nelly declared
‘she did not despair’: Mrs.- Ivor” was doubtless so
much engaged that she had not a moment to
answer her ancle’s epistle. ‘It had been a prolonged
‘season’ they knew from the public prints ; but Mrs.
Ivor would migrate like the rest of her class, and
why might she not turn her steps towards Devon?
So Mrs. Borradaile lived on hope; and hope in this
case, though long deferred, proved more “substan
tial than usual.
A letter was delivered to Mr. Borradaile one fine
morning when he was at breakfast, scaled with the
Ivor erest, written in a cramped hand, but couched
in pleasan: terms, bearing the signature, of. Julia
Iyor.. Mrs. Borradaile was in raptures, for the hon-
orable lady declared that she had . long been solici-
tous of inaking their acquaintance ; and concluded
by telling her ‘dear uncle,” that ia-a week’s time
from that day she would be with them at Otterton
Cottage, and sojourn’ for such a period as her nu-
merous engagements permitted.’ No possibility
now, alas! of preparing the new, French couch,
with its pink silk and white mustin . draperies;
What a bustle and confusion prevailed in the Cot-
tage for the next few days !—what a state of rest-
less excitement Mrs. Borradale was in! .* Tow
would Mrs. Ivor come t | Of course in a travelling
chariot-and-four!. Where were they to. accommo-
date her retinue? How were they to amusy the
gay lady ?
qr radaile ; for ‘she has 'a noble jointure, though in. in-
The mo momentous time 5 arrived, and to the aston-,
ishment of everybody the great lady not only was”
punctual, but made her appearance in an humble’
hired chariot and pair, without even a female atten-
dant. - Yet to make amends for this apparent want
of state, her personal equipments were extremely
dazzling—bright colors, jewels, dooping feathers,’
and satin sheen, not being quite in keeping with
the faded vehicle from which she alighted! She
was a tall, slight woman, with dclicate features,’
and a pair of emall prying black eyes, which, with:
inquisitive avidity, wandered ‘here, there, and eve-!
where,’ unceasingly. She was evidently desirous:
of making a favorable impression; and there was:
a flatter of feathers and flounces, and a curtesying!
and a specchifying, which betrayed the requisite
emotion; but when, with what Mrs.- Borradaile’
termed ‘high-bred nonchalance, she threw herself’
on a sofa, applying a scent-bottle to ner nose, it
was with anair of display and affectation which ill
assorted wid the ‘affectionate obsequiousness of!
her manne:
‘Really,’ * whined the honorable guest, ‘that terri-
le conveyance has jolted me to death, so unac- +
customed am I to that style of travelling? )
‘Then why did you travel so, my dear?” bluntly !
demanded Mr. Borradaile, who was regarding his
niece with a puzzled look, which she did not
appear quite to relish. “
Why, you see, my dear sir replied the lady i in,
‘ce patronizing tones, ‘I thought it might inconve-
nience you had I brought my carrige or servants.
So I determined to come in a homely, quiet way.
and not to disturb your routine of charming cot- °
tage-life? .»;
{ ‘Lam sure it is ‘very kind of you to come at all.’
said Mrs. Borradaile, with eagar attention unshawl-
ing her guest, and frowning at her husband to be ,
silent, But Peter Borradaile was not nlways to be —
silenced even by Nelly, so he sturdily answ ered his .
fine lady niece in, his own fashion. .
| As to your inebayeniencing us, that is out of the _
question, my dear, for there is carriage room and
stabling for more than you would have brough had
you studied yout own comfort ever so much. But
youll know, better another time. And now, tell
me who you are considered to resemble, for your
poor mother, my sistet Bess, had blue eyes, and—
and—I'm afvard you will think your old ancle the *
tradesman a vulgar fellow, and fit only for going’
“back to his shop, when he says you are a lertle bit
older looking than he expected to see you!”
The Honorable Mrs. Ivor ‘appeared mach shock-
ed by this rude speech, and her face was suffused
with scarlet, as she answered quickly: ‘The lifo I
hare Ied, uncle, acconnts for it: one of the fashion-
able world must not be judged beside fresh bloom-
ing rustic damsels” Here she looked admiringly
at Mrs. Borradaile and Lucy, adding: your natural
rouge would be coveted by my beantiful though
pallid friends the Duchess of C—.
This was the climax: here was the friend of the:
Duches of ‘C——, being bored by Peter Borra- °
@aile, and perhaps disgusted at the first onset! (. -
* “*You do make such odd speeches, Mr. Borradaile,
said Nelly deprecatingly. “‘Pray excuse him, mad-
am’—this 10 Mrs. Ivor—he: often says quite as
homely things to me. .
1 \‘Do call me Julia” minced the’ reclining lady.
‘My beloved friend,’ Lady Annabel, always does 5
and you know, besides, I am your niece?‘ And +*
from that time forward the most amicable footing si
of intimacy existed between the two ladies,’ in-2°
creasing daily as they knew more of each other.’
Mrs. Borradaile was ‘aunt,’ and the Ilonorable Mrs...
Ivor was ‘Julia? but Julia did not take to Lucy, .
and she whispered in confidence to ‘dear aunt, that -
Cousin Lucy was ‘decidedly plebiean?: Now: Julia's «
little prying black eyes never seemed to like meeté-
ing the open truthful Baze of swect Lucy Borra--
daile : Lucy was so quict,” unobtrasive, and at the~,+
same time so self-possessed, that it. was impossible «
for affectation or impertinence to make way: with
her. |, And the impertinence and affectation of ‘the -
‘Tlonorable Mrs, Ivor, became more conspicuous»
each day and hour she passed at Otterton; and ere- _
she had been their guest a week, hysterical affec~~ |
tions much disturbed the eqnanimity of Mr. Borra ~,
daile, particnlarly as Julia began to hint about any
‘anxious and harrowed mind?
"Poor, dear love? whimpered Mrs. orradail to
her good man, ‘she has been so extravagant; but.
