University of Virginia Library

THE LIBRARY.

Yesterday the fair Julia made her first appearance
down stairs since her accident; and the
sight of her spread a universal cheerfulness
through the household. She was extremely
pale, however, and could not walk without pain
and difficulty. She was assisted therefore to a
sopha in the library, which is pleasant and retired,
looking out among trees; and so quiet that the
liitle birds came hopping upon the windows and
peering curiously into the apartment.

Here several of the family gathered round, and
devised ways to amuse her, and make the day pass
pleasantly. Lady Lillycraft lamented the want
of some new novel to while away the time, and
was almost in a pet, because the “Author of
Waverley” had not produced a work for the last
three months.

There was a motion made to call on the parson

for some of his old legends or ghost stories; but
to this Lady Lillycraft objected, as they were apt
to give her the vapours. General Harbottle
gave a minute account, for the sixth time, of
the disaster of a friend in India, who had his leg
bitten off by a tiger, which he was hunting;
and was proceeding to menace the company with
a chapter or too about Tippoo Saib.

At length the captain bethought himself, and
said he believed he had a manuscript tale lying
in one corner of his campaigning trunk, which if
he could find, and the company were desirous,
he would read to them. The offer was eagerly
accepted. He retired, and soon returned with a
roll of blotted manuscript, in a very gentleman-like,
but nearly illegible hand; and a great part
written on cartridge paper.

“It is one of the scribblings,” said he, “of
my poor friend, Charles Lightly, of the dragoons.
He was a curious, romantic, studious,
fanciful fellow. The favourite, and often the
unconscious butt of his fellow officers, who entertained
themselves with his eccentricities. He

was in some of the hardest service on the peninsula,
and distinguished himself by his gallantry.
When the intervals of duty permitted he
was fond of roving about the country, visiting
noted places, and was extremely curious about
Moorish ruins. When at his quarters he was a
great scribbler, and passed much of his leisure
with his pen in his hand.

“As I was a much younger officer, and a
very young man, he took me in a manner
under his care, and we became close friends. He
used often to read his writings to me; having a
great confidence in my taste, for I always
praised them. Poor fellow! he was shot
down close by me at Waterloo. We lay wounded
together for some time, during a hard contest
that took place near at hand. As I was least
hurt, I tried to relieve him, and to stanch the
blood which flowed from a wound in his breast.
He lay with his head in my lap and looked up
thankfully in my face, but shook his head faintly,
and made a sign that it was all over with
him; and indeed he died a few minutes afterwards,

just as our men had repulsed the enemy,
and came to our relief. I have his favourite
dog and his pistols to this day, and several of
his manuscripts, which he gave to me at different
times. The one I am now going to read,
is a tale which he told me he wrote in Spain,
during the time that he lay ill of a wound received
at Salamanca.”

We now arranged ourselves to hear the story.
The captain seated himself on the sofa, beside
the fair Julia, who I had noticed to be somewhat
affected by the picture he had carelessly
drawn of wounds and dangers in a field of battle.
She now leaned her arm fondly on his
shoulder, and her eye glistened as it rested on
the manuscript of the poor literary dragoon.
Lady Lillycraft had a deep well-cushioned elbow
chair wheeled up for her accommodation.
Her dogs were nestled on soft mats at her feet;
and the gallant general took his station in an
arm chair at her side, and toyed with her ladyship's
elegantly ornamented work bag. The

rest of the circle being all equally well accommodated,
the captain began his story; a
copy of which I have been permitted to take
for the benefit of the reader.