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the horses were putting to my carriage, at the third ftage of my journey, a chaise drove up to the Inn. From it alighted a gentleman-but, O ye Gods of my fathers! what was my furprize, on beholding, in this gentlemen, my former gueft Mr. Denbeigh, the friend of Piercy! He, who had at Chunar, loaded me with fo many marks of kindnefs and affection! Soon as the flutter of fpirits which always accompanies an unexpected meeting, was a little fubfided, he took from his port-folio a packet, on which I foon recognized the hand-writing of Maandaara. How did my heart beat at the fight! I tear open the feals.-I read. I hear of the welfare

of my friend, of the health of my child. Ah! my fon! my fon! What tender emotions does the mention of thy name raife in my bofom! When fhall the foft cheek of my child, be patted by his father's hand? When fhall my ears be tified by the delicious mufic of my darling's gentle voice? Detefted fpirit of curiofity! too long have I facrificed to thee the trucft, fweetest joys, that gem the period of existence !

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My heart is too full to proceed. May He, who is Lord of the Keepers of the eight corners of the World, preferve thee! May the adored wife of Veefhou be the friend of my child!!

Denbeigh, at the time I met him, was on his way to the place of his nativity. He requested me to accompany him to his father's houfe; and found in me no difpofition to reject a proposal so agreeable to my inclination. We proceeded together in the fame carriage. Converfed of

India-of our friends at Calcutta :-talked of all the little incidents that had occurred during my refidence in that city; the moft trivial of which, appeared interefting to the memory, on account of the pleafing ideas with which it was affociated. Swiftly flew the wheels of our chariot, but more swiftly flew the rolling hours, which were occupied by this fort of converfation.

About noon, on the fecond day of our journey, we, by the direction of Denbeigh, ftruck into a narrow bye-road, which following the courfe of a clear ftream, winded through the midst of a narrow valley. As we entered upon this road, the agitation of my companion became apparent. Every object that we paffed, caufed his heart to heave with tender emotion. In every fhrub he recognized an old acquaintance, and in every tree he seemed to discover a longloft friend. "Let us ftop here," faid he, at a turn of the road:" the bridge for carriages is half a mile off, but I can VOL. II. I 24

take you a nearer way." So faying, he leaped out of the carriage, and I followed his example. My friend furveyed the fcene around, and the foft tear of delight gliftened in his eyes. "There," faid he,

"ftands the old thorn, which, at the close of evening, I used to pass with fuch hafty fteps, not daring to look behind, from terior of the fairies, who were faid to hold their nightly revels beneath its boughs. Ah! there is the wood, whose filberts were fo tempting. There the pool, where I firft ventured to beat the wave with my feeble arm. On the outftretched branch of yonder beech, was fufpended the fwing, in which I have fo often toffed my little fifters, ho, half pleased and half afraid, fqualled and laughed by turns, as they were made to fly through the yielding air."

We had now reached a little ruftic gate leading into an orchard, in one of the broad walks of which, we beheld an aged pair, enjoying the fmiles of the meridian Sun. A little boy and girl fported hefide them, joyously picking up the apples, that lay hidden in the grass.

Our approach was at length perceived. The old gentleman paufed, and leaning on his staff, endeavoured to recognize The emotion of Denbeigh encreaf

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ed. He bounded forward-and taking a hand of each-while the burfting fenfations of his heart choaked his utterance-gazed for a moment on the revered faces of his parents, and in the next, was in their arms. His poor mother could not, for a few minutes, reconcile herfelf to the darkness of his complexion, which fourteen years spent beneath the luftre of an Indian fky had changed from the fair red and white, fuch as now adorns the face of his little nephew, to the deep brown fhade, that marks the European Afiatic. The good Lady gently pushed him from her, to examine more minutely the features whofe more delicate lines were engraven on her memory. fmiled. In that fmile, fhe recognized the peculiar expreffion of her darling's face, and fondly preffed him to her maternal bofom.

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During this fcene, I ftood a filent and unobserved spectator; nor was it till after a confiderable length of time, that Denbeigh fufficiently recollected himself to introduce me to his parents. To be called the friend of their fon, enfured my welcome; but, that I might not be any reftraint on their converfation, I attached myself to the little folks, to whom Uncle Henry was no more than any other ftranger.

A we approached the houfe, I obferv ed, at an open window which fronts the orchard, a lovely girl, who feemed to view the party with a greater degree of intereft, than curiofity alone could poffibly infpire. Twice fhe came to the door, and twice returned irrefolute. At length, fhe was observed by one of my little companions, who running towards her, called out, Uncle Henry is come! Uncle Henry is come! the words gave wings to her willing feet, the flew down the walk, and in a minute her beauteous face was hid in the bofom of her brother.

The fhrill voice of my little friend, had reached farther than the parlour. By the time we entered the Hall, the fervants were affembled.-The old nurse was the first who preffed forward to falute the ftranger-by whom she was received with the kindnefs due to her affection and fidelity. Two other domeftic companions of his youth still remained in the family tears spoke the fincerity of the many welcomes they beftowed on the traveller; while the hearty good-will with which he received their falutations, gave a convincing proof, that neither time nor diftance had changed the difpofitions of his heart.

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