that hideous disguise until the last moment. I much prefer your natural identity." "Thank you, sir," said the boy, blushing a little as he sat down to his task before the neat writing-desk of the general. With a careful and close scrutiny, evidently frequently referring to some key which he carried in his mind, the young savan anxiously went over the important document word by word, until, by his brightened look, the general knew that he had mastered it. It needed but a minute more, and the boy, in a bold and handsome hand, had committed his rendering to paper and placed it in the hands of the general. It ran as follows: "GENERAL, general, a generous glow illumining his whole aspect; and catching the expression of the boy's face, he added, " And you will have aided me in the grand work. You are a strange and wonderful boy! Scarcely beyond your childhood, where got you all the keen wisdom that has so many times served me and the good cause?" Tears sprung to the eyes of the boy at these words. "I was taught it by my love to my country and the unfortunate circumstances which forbid my serving it in any other way. If I could only stand out loyal in the eyes of the world, as I am at heart! I sometimes scorn myself that I go about in these strange and unseemly disguises, and many a heartache have I had at the thought of the estimation in which I must be held by those I most honor." "Never feel thus, my boy," said the general, kindly. "Whatever the world, should it know your deeds, might say, I, at least, know you to be worthy of all honor and gratitude, and I trust the day may come when you will be known to all for what you are, a most loyal and ine heart!" "I hope it may! I trust it may!" said the boy. "It is this hope of being able, by and by, to declare my love for my country and my loyalty to the old flag that sustains me under my seeming treason." "But why have you hesitated, Jean, to place yourself on the side to which you belong? What motive could have been strong enough to lead one with so keen a sense of duty and honor, I beg your pardon for my plainness of speech,—but what could have led you to do such wrong to yourself and the government to which you owe allegiance as to seem to be in a league against it?" The tears which had been swimming in the eyes of the boy now rolled down his cheeks as he looked up and into the face of the general. "It was a vow to the dead," said he, in a smothered voice; "but," he added, in firmer accents, "a vow to my own soul has placed me in the doubtful position of a spy; and I am prepared to endure all the obloquy which must attach to my at his mission, with his men and the pedname, should it be known, because itler rode forward into the darkness and is the only, only capacity in which the storm. I am now permitted to serve my coun try." "You are a riddle to me, Jean. I do not, for a moment, doubt that you conscientiously believe this, and honor your motives without knowing them. Yet, certainly, were you my son, I could not wish you to occupy the position you do, while my love to the cause for which I am in arms leads me to accept your services, as they are rendered, with all singleness of heart." Jean's lip quivered. "I shall stand better in your eyes some day, if I live," said he, with a smile that was half a tear. "But now will you provide me with a safe escort as near to the Confederate lines as may be without discovery, and let me take your hand at parting?" "But why not remain in camp until daylight? It is dark and stormy." "I could not, I would not. I must enter the lines within the next two hours, or my means of getting in to-night will be lost." “Well, then, a safe guide shall be provided for you, Jean, and here is my hand as a witness how near you are to me. I know not how it is, but I should grieve to know that any ill had happened to you. Be cautious, and take care of your self." "I thank you, sir. The knowledge that you are interested in my welfare will make me cautious, to say nothing of the cause for which I risk my safety." The slender hand of the boy was for a moment clasped in that of the general, when the latter lifted the curtain of his tent and gave a whispered order to the sentinel who stood before it. Jean again donned his disguise, and in a few minutes a mounted escort, commanded by Captain Carleton, with a led horse for the pedler, stood ready to conduct him from the lines. After giving Carleton some directions, the general retired into his tent to meditate on his plans for the coming days, while Carleton, who felt a slight disgust (To be continued.) CHARACTER. By Rev. L. Holmes. of THAT is what we are forming or losing, confirming or impairing. That is the vital matter, the central concern, the focus of life's rays. As it rises or is depressed, all human affairs go up or sink. Character! That is what men are ever estimating and comparing, and something over which conversation never tires. On this topic, wit is most brilliant, wisdom most wise, and concerning it the sage and prudent have expressed the deepest and bestconsidered maxims. It is ever before us for perpetual investigation and improvement. Upon it rests society. It is the only cement of national unity. Herein, we find the grade of any community, the sources of natural prediction as to what shall there be. Herein is the the husband, the reliance of the wife, the repose pride of the parent, and the respect of the child. Character keeps tally of progress, and is set up at the end of all human ways. It is the expression that flashes from the standard of army and navy, and floats out on every flag. Verily, it is the solicitude of love, the aim of culture, the inspiration of poesy, the pledge of friendship, the pearl of great price, the seeking of the gospel, the seal of the Holy Ghost. All other possessions are bounded by the grave; but this entity, infused through and around consciousness, ignores all the dissolving powers of death itself, and proceeds out into the spaces of an unending existence. THE HENRIAD. [From the French.] By Rev. C. F. LeFevre. CANTO II. Argument. Henry the Great relates to Queen Elizabeth the history of the troubles of France from their commencement, and gives the particulars of the Massacre of St. Bartholomew. "THE evils, great queen, which in France now take place, More frightful appear when their sources we trace. The cause of religion, or rather false zeal, Arms the hands of the French with the murderous steel. 'Twixt Rome and Geneva to judge I decline,1 Whose cause is the true, or whose faith is divine. On both sides I've witnessed their craft and their terror; And if perfidy is the sure issue of error, I revenge for religion submitted to Heaven. I have never, exceeding my power, profaned, With rash hands, the altar by both rights sustained. May all policy perish that dares to control As with water, the altar with heretic blood, By the death of his creatures, a merciful God! And, torches in hand, fought with fire and sword For tenets and doctrines, not knowing a word. The people you know, and you know what they dare When taught to believe Heaven's interests their care; When religion the bandage has placed on the eyes, Submission is ended, and discipline dies. This, madam, you know, and with prudent foresight, This evil you strangled when it first came to light; The storm that was brewing, as its muttering foretold, Your wisdom had seen, and your virtues controlled. You reign; London's free; the laws are obeyed;" Few there are who have sounded the depths of that heart; Twenty years with her sons in her court I had part; Twenty years with her plots I was destined to dwell, And have learned, to my sorrow, to know her too well. "Her husband cut off in youth's early day Allowed her ambition to have its full sway; And her children, as if under tutelage still, She treated as foes when opposing her will.4 Thus wielding the sceptre, not by right, but by force, France.5 Divisions and jealousies followed, of course; And availing herself of this fortunate chance, "Would to God that my sentiments, here as ex- Against Conde set Guise, and France against plained, In the court of Valois could admittance have Ever ready to go where her interest tended, gained! Her friends, or her foes, or her rivals befriended. In such scruples of conscience the Guise ne'er A slave to her pleasures, but still more ambibelieved; 2 tious, And these ambitious chieftains the people de- Faithless to sect, and withal superstitious;7 ceived, And making their interests appear those of Heaven, To their passions a furious people have given. My faith, for this war was the shallow appeal; Brother rushed against brother with fanatic zeal, seemed; Her failings by none of its virtues redeemed. This thought has escaped me, pray be not of fended; In this view of the sex you are not comprehended; In Elizabeth only the virtues have shown; "Francis the Second, by an unforeseen doom, So Medicis governed and cruelly reigned. In hostile array were the rival sects placed, Here, blood for religion ensanguined the plain; Near the tombs of the kings, Montmorenci was slain; And the veteran whose years had a century filled, By the hand of the soldier was ruthlessly killed. I to Conde, as son of his brother, was known; 12 In the shade of his laurels to hardship was trained; And like him, despising the pleasures of courts, I found in his battles my earliest sports. "O ye plains of Jarnac! O too cruel blow! Thou savage Montesquieu, more assassin than foe, The expiring Conde you hastened to death! "After ten years of battles, now lost and now gained, And Medicis saw not her purpose attained; When the party still grew she had hoped to uproot; When victory even had yielded no fruit, And yielded a peace unattained by its arms. Must Heaven, that visits the crime with its wrath, Its commission secure by smoothing the path? "Coligni loved France; to his prince he was true, And though forced to take arms, no resentment he knew; And he welcomed the prospect of union and peace, When concord should reign, and division should cease. I witnessed the stroke that deprived him of breath, While, alas! this weak arm, in the hour of The mind of the soldier mistrust seldom knows, need, So confiding he went in the midst of his foes. Could neither prevent nor avenge the foul deed. At the door of the palace with me he appears; “Heaven, whose purpose is wisdom and truth, To heroes confided the care of my youth; Medicis met me with eyes filled with tears, By his counsels in future she hoped to be led ; And her favors on him she abundantly shed; And my kindred, by flattery, were made to believe And a thousand rough voices his senses awoke. He rises, looks round him; he sees, from all sides, Assassins rush forth with precipitate strides. The marks of royal favor from her son should Red torches flash up, men everywhere armed, receive. 66 These expressions of kindness we trusted sincere; His palace on fire, all the city alarmed, His servants all bloody, and scorched with the flame, Murderers in crowds, and carnage their aim. But some in these presents a snare seemed to They shout, "Not a soul must escape from your fear; "His horrible project the better to cover, Charles gave me his sister; he called me his brother. 15 Ah, title deceptive! bond fatal and vain! O Hymen! what horrors were linked in that chain! 16 Thy torch, which a vengeance divine seemed to smother, Cast a lurid glare on the grave of my mother. My dear mother died; let these tears now attest "The signal is given; all is quiet and still, And the shades of the night help the purpose fulfil. It seemed in this month that the regent of night, 18 From the scene of these woes, veiled her face in affright. In calmness, Coligni reposed in his bed, And Sleep, on his pillow, her poppies had shed. All at once, the still calm of his slumber is broke, hand, It is God, it is Medicis and the king who command." He hears them cry out the name of Coligni ; hands; He Coligni invokes, and his vengeance demands. 66 "The hero, unarmed, sees that he, too, must perish; All hope of revenge it is futile to cherish; But he wishes his death, like his life, without stain, And his glory and virtue untarnished remain. His assassins already in numbers had come, And with violence threaten to enter his room. The door he unlocks, stands revealed in their sight, His forehead majestic, his eye calm and bright, Such as in the day of the battle 'twas seen,Whether urging or stopping the carnage,-se rene. "That air so august, so majestic that gait, The chances of battle, now drip with my blood. His arms now abandoned, in remorse one appears; One embraces his feet, which he bathes with his tears. This great man, whose pardon th' assassins implored, A mighty king seemed, by his subjects adored |