LEAVES FROM A SUBALTERN'S SKETCH-BOOK.

NO. II. THE PORTFOLIO.

MY DEAR MR. EDITOR,-In Succession to the "Conscript," inserted in your May Number, I send you a few more leaves from my Sketch-book, containing a narrative by a worthy host of mine, with whom I resided in the south of France some years ago, when labouring under the double malady of a diminished purse, and an enlarged liver.

He was a jolly old fellow, nearly seventy years of age, but still retaining the erect figure and lively elastic step of youth. Time, as if unwilling to lay his withering hand on one who laughed at his approach, had traced but few furrows on his brow, and the good-humoured hilarity which beamed on his countenance was a perfect antidote to the blue devils, of which I used frequently to experience a visitation. He was one of those happy mortals who seemed to set all care at defiance, and whatever were his mishaps, always consoled himself with the pleasing reflection, that it was well matters were no worse. Ambition disturbed him not. Wealth he sought not. A small farm of about a hundred acres, cultivated by himself, supplied even more than the necessaries of life, and out of his abundance the poor were fed liberally at

his gate.

"Depend upon it," he would sometimes say, when I was in a grumbling humour, "half the misfortunes of which we complain, are of our own making. Contentment I hold to be the best panacea for all evils. But men will be ambitious. They strive for rank, honour, wealth, as if these would confer the only blessing they really require-happiness."

"Come," replied I one day, when he was moralizing in this strain, "it is very easy for you, who pass your life here in village retirement, to act the philosopher, and laugh at the follies which actuate the bustling mass of mankind; but, I fancy, had these temptations been placed in your way, you would have grasped at them just as eagerly as others."

"I would not," he replied." I did not, when they were all within my reach; but I see you wonder how this could ever have been the case with a plain villager like me. Listen, and you shall hear.

"During the winter of 1784, I had occasion to pay a short visit to Paris, for the purpose of arranging some affairs preparatory to my marriage. In spite of my dislike to the bustle of a capital, and the anxiety incident to my situation, the tedious delays of my lawyer forced me to remain there upwards of a fortnight,-a period which, by Love's calendar, seemed little short of a century. It was therefore with a joyful heart that I at length succeeded in bringing my business to a conclusion, and found myself fairly on the way to my hotel, with some fifty folio pages of a marriage-settlement in my pocket, wherein every possible contingency either to myself, my spouse, or expected children, even unto the third and fourth generation, seemed to be amply provided for.

"I had hoped to set out for home that day; but while I was listening to a dull recital of all the manifold conditions, provisions, duties, and obli gations, wherewith my legal friend had thought proper to clog the wheels of matrimony, the diligence for the south had started, and there being

no other conveyance till the following afternoon, I found myself condemned to exercise my patience during another day.

"After bestowing a few hearty maledictions on the authors of this delay, I locked up the marriage-settlement in my portmanteau, and sallied forth to cool my ire by a solitary walk along the banks of the Seine. It was a thick hazy afternoon. The sun's blood-red orb, amplified to double its usual size, was already hanging like a huge ball of fire over the western horizon, making its last effort to dispel the hazy wreaths of hoar frost which were fast thickening into the gloom of premature evening. The inclemency of an unusually severe season had, for some weeks past, wrapped every thing in the pale livery of winter. Icicles hung pendent from every roof. Huge masses of snow encumbered the streets, and even the waters of the Seine, arrested in their course by the stern gripe of winter, were now the scene of holiday sports for crowds of schoolboys, who alone seemed to rejoice in the general torpidity of nature.

"In such weather I felt little inclination to extend my rambles, and contented myself with watching the lively groups pursuing their boyish pastimes on the icy surface of the waters. Most conspicuous among the number was a large party of cadets, just let loose from one of the military schools, whose boisterous mirth added not a little to the animation of the scene. These speedily formed themselves into two parties, and taking advantage of the ample store of materials at hand, commenced an active warfare with snow-balls. After an obstinate contest, one of the parties succeeded in driving the other from the field. The retreat was soon converted into a total route, and, in the excitement of the moment, victors and vanquished alike seemed to forget the dangers to which their heedless imprudence was exposing them.

"Notwithstanding the yielding and cracking of the ice, several of the retreating party took refuge near the edge of it, where, in spite of the remonstrances of many who were alarmed at their perilous situation, they continued to keep their pursuers at bay, till a loud crash, and the immersion of one of their number, announced that the danger of which they had been warned was not imaginary. The instinct of self-preservation induced them immediately to rush from the spot, and the bending of the ice under this simultaneous movement added wings to their flight. "The youth who had become the victim of this rashness, no sooner rose to the surface than he grasped with drowning eagerness at the fragile support around him, and, shouting loudly for help, endeavoured to raise himself upon the ice, which repeatedly gave way, and again plunged him into the stream, more and more exhausted by each successive effort.

"I had anticipated some such disaster, and a short time before had moved forward, as well to add my voice in warning them of their danger, as to render any assistance which might be in my power; but ere I could reach the scene of the accident, one of the cadets, an active little fellow who had been conspicuous as leader of the victorious party, rushed to the rescue of his drowning companion. Light as his weight was, however, I had some fear that the ice was too weak to support it, and I called to him to return till ropes could be procured to assist his efforts; but with generous self-devotion he persisted in his attempt, and it was with a heart treng alike for his safety

and success that I saw him approach his companion, and endeavour to raise him out of the water. But, as might have been expected, the footing which was insecure even for one, immediately gave way under the weight of two, and both were in an instant plunged headlong into the stream. Luckily they swam well, and succeeded in grasping the ice; but the former, exhausted by his repeated efforts, could scarce sustain himself, and it was obvious that, unless speedy assistance could be procured, there was little chance of saving him.

The contrast between the conduct of the two boys at this trying moment was very striking. The one first immersed screamed most piteously, acted the part of a child, and seemed to have lost all selfpossession; exhausting himself by repeated and ill-directed efforts to clamber upon the ice. The other, though considerably his junior, uttered not a word, except occasionally to cheer his companion, and beg of him, in a tone savouring rather of contempt, to cease his crying. He was calm and collected, at once seemed to comprehend the extent of his danger, and that the only hope of saving himself was by clinging firmly to his present support till more effectual assistance could be rendered him. To keep up his spirits I called to him not to be afraid; but the little fellow answered me by a look of resentment, as if, even in such imminent danger, it was a crime to doubt his courage.

"Anxious to rescue the gallant boy, I advanced as far as the strength of the ice would permit; but though I thus succeeded in reaching within a few yards of him, still I was compelled to remain an inactive spectator of his danger, from the difficulty of rescuing him without the aid of ropes. Minutes, however, seemed protracted into hours, while these were anxiously searched for by a party of the cadets; and in the meantime his fellow-sufferer, exhausted by his efforts, and benumbed by the cold, relaxed his hold, and with a loud and piercing shriek, was swept into the stream. Twice with a convulsive effort he sprang almost out of the water, and cast his hands wildly over his head, vainly grappling for that aid which no human power could extend to him; while his last death-cry of Oh! save me! save me!' continued to strike in accents of horror upon my ear, till the bubbling waters of the Seine closed over him for ever.

"As I glanced at the survivor, I could not help feeling astonished at the strength of nerve he displayed during this appalling scene. His countenance showed little emotion, and the fear and trepidation so peculiar to young persons, when thus for the first time brought in contact with death, he seemed quite a stranger to. Good material this for a soldier,' thought I. He who in boyhood can thus retain his calmness and selfpossession is not likely in manhood to be appalled by any danger he may be exposed to. The eye which can rest unmoved on a scene such as this, will not readily quail under the terrors of the battle-field, or shrink from the sight of desolation and slaughter.'

·

"But while thus soliloquizing, my embryo hero suddenly disappeared. The under current had brought the body of his drowning companion in contact with him, and, ere he was aware, he was fast bound in his iron grasp. Unable to support this additional weight, he lost his hold. Still the senseless body clung to him with convulsive tenacity, and locking his arms in the firm grip of death, dragged him under water. Repeatedly his well directed efforts brought him to the surface, and each time

a desperate struggle ensued to free himself. One powerful exertionsuch as youth and a gallant spirit contending for existence alone could make at length succeeded He rose more buoyant to the surface, and the load of mortality which had clung to him, sank to its final rest. The current, however, had now borne him close to the edge of some broken ice, and being too much benumbed to lay hold of it for support, and too much exhausted to bear up against the force of the stream, he was about to be swept under the glassy covering just as the party with ropes were hastening to the spot; when, losing all thought of danger in my anxiety to secure his safety, I sprang into the stream and caught the brave boy in my arms, when his life seemed not worth a moment's purchase. At first his weight dragged me down with him, and for a second we were both under the ice, and to the by-standers seemed lost for ever. But life, at all times sweet, is doubly so when on the eve of a fondly cherished, long desired union. Health, strength, love animated me. A few powerful strokes brought me and my burden from under our crystal pent-house. Ropes were thrown around us, and we were carried in triumph to the shore.

"Though thus saved, the boy had not escaped altogether without injury. When struggling in contact with the ice, he had received a deep cut on one of his temples, which rendered him for some time insensible. His companions bore him into the guard-house of the Tuileries; and while they endeavoured to recover him, I had an opportunity of scanning more narrowly his features and appearance.

His

He was apparently between fourteen and fifteen years of age, of a thin and rather emaciated form, which, combined with his yellow sickly complexion, made me wonder at the nobleness and bravery of spirit that could have animated so feeble a frame to such powerful exertions. countenance, if not positively disagreeable, was at least far from prepossessing. His forehead was indeed broad and expansive, but his eyes, deep sunk in their orbits, gave rather a gloomy expression to his brow, and though the lower features were small and well formed, yet his angular cheek bones and thin lank cheek formed too harsh an outline to be pleasing. His uniform, contrasted with that of his young friends around him, was ill made and threadbare, and indicated him to belong to the humble class of Boursiers then supported in military schools at the public expense. He wore mourning for some relative lately deceased; and on his countenance there sat an expression of moroseness, which seemed to mark him as the child of poverty and discontent. This, however, gradually disappeared as animation returned, and his full eyes beaming with intelligence gave a softer expression to the harshness of his features.

"While the surgeon of the military school was dressing and binding up the wound on his temple he seemed so occupied in his endeavours to thank me for my exertions in his behalf as to be quite insensible to the pain, and I observed his countenance, though immoveable in the hour of danger, now suffused with emotion, and almost melting into tears as he concluded by clasping my hand and saying, 'You have saved the life of one who has nought but thanks to offer you. A poverty-struck orphan, dependent on the bounty of the state, can only express his gratitude by words; but my good sword may yet carve out for me a path

to distinction, and afford me some better means of testifying my obligation.'

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Spoken like a hero,' said the surgeon, smiling; but while your preserver stands here listening to this nonsense, he will be frozen to an icicle. So now that he has seen you fairly disposed of, I would recommend him to hasten home, and change his dress as speedily as possible, lest he add to the number of my patients.'

"It was high time to follow his advice; for the fever of excitement being now over, I began to feel exhausted by my late efforts; so handing my address to my young friend, I hurried to my hotel, and after swallowing a bottle of mulled claret to counteract the bad effects of my cold bath, I went to bed to dream of home and Lucile.

"It was mid-day ere I rose, and a few commissions which I had to execute kept me so much occupied that the diligence was waiting for me when I returned to my hotel. During my absence I found that a present of a small portfolio had been sent me, containing some well-executed plans of our frontier fortresses, and a few military sketches, accompanied by the following note: The youth whom you so gallantly saved yesterday sends you this token of remembrance, which, though trifling in value, may serve to keep alive the pleasing recollection of having been instrumental in saving the life of a fellow-creature. So soon as he recovers, he will wait upon you to express his gratitude in person.'

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'Strange, thought I, that I should have forgotten to ask the name of one in whom I feel so much interested; but I must endeavour not to lose sight of him, else the proud-hearted boy will suppose I am ashamed of his poverty. So I penned a few hasty lines to thank him for his present; regretted that my sudden departure from town prevented my seeing him; but that on my next visit to Paris I would take the opportunity of inquiring for him and renewing our acquaintance. Being ignorant of his name, I could only direct the bearer to call at the Military School and deliver it to the boy to whom the accident had occurred the preceding day.

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Next morning I reached home, and ere a week had elapsed was united to my young bride. It was my intention to have carried her to Paris shortly after our marriage, that during these halcyon days she might enjoy the amusements of the capital; but I soon discovered that she possessed as little taste for the stir and bustle of Paris as I did, and consequently our intended visit was postponed from month to month, and year to year, till ultimately the idea was abandoned altogether. Happy in ourselves; happy in a small circle of kind-hearted friends; blessed with a promising offspring, and possessed of wealth just sufficient for our moderate desires, the cup of our prosperity seemed full. We took no note of time, save when each revolving year brought round the anniversary of our marriage day, or when the congratulations of our friends hailed us on the joyous accession of a new member to our family.

*

"Nineteen years after, how dire was the reverse! I was in Paris a homeless, houseless wanderer; bankrupt in prospects; beggared in fortune; rich only in the affections of a helpless wife and family; possessed of nought save a conscience void of reproach; a name unsullied by dishonour. It would be tedious to enumerate all the causes which led to this sad change, or to detail the progressive steps by which I fell