V.

Josephine.

"A truer, nobler, trustier heart, More loving or more loyal, never beat Within a human breast."-BYRON.

THE island of Martinique claims the distinction of being the birth-place of Josephine, who was born the 24th day of June, 1763. Her father, M. de Tascher, was a man of influence and moderate wealth, possessing a large plantation and an ample retinue of slaves. He was a man of ambition and unyielding sternness, and to this, in a great measure, was owing the misfortunes which embittered Josephine's early life, and threw her into the whirl of events that bore her on to greatness and suffering.

Her childhood was spent in lively sports and amusements, attended by young negresses who were permitted to indulge her every whim, and accustomed to obey instantly the most childish requirements, till, by unlimited indulgence, her naturally sweet disposition was in danger of being spoiled.

Fortunately, Madam de Tascher was wise enough to see this, and brought Josephine more within her own

maternal influence, allowing her a larger share of the affection which had been almost exclusively bestowed upon the elder, more beautiful, and only sister-Maria. The latter, like her mother, was of sedentary habits and a mild, unimpassioned temperament; thus they had more sympathies in common, while Josephine was all vivacity and enthusiasm. She was a favorite with her father, and from him came all the instruction she received, till, on reaching her twelfth year, she was placed under the superintendence of Maria's teacher, who gave her lessons in the form of amusements.

Her sociability and excessive fondness for dancing, led Madam de Tascher often to give fêtes, at which the young creoles of the island were assembled; but the sombre Maria rarely participated in these festivities, much preferring to pursue her studies, or to ramble alone. She was busily occupied in cultivating such talents as she possessed, and acquiring those accomplishments deemed necessary to a woman of the world, in anticipation of a future home in France, where an aunt, in influential circumstances, had offered to provide her with an establishment, and designed her hand for the son of the Marquis de Beauharnois.

Josephine, on the contrary, looked upon the island of Martinique as her continued home. When she gazed over the ocean that separated her from the rest of the world, it created no longings to mingle in the dissipation and reckless folly that her mother described to her as pervading la belle France, but the sight inspired in her a strong love of grandeur and sublimity, and increased her already lively imagination.

But there was a spell that bound her heart to Martinique, which gave her contentment in its quiet retreats, or otherwise her active, restless spirit must have sought a wider world.

Through all her childhood, Josephine had shared her amusements with William de K..., the son of English parents who had sought refuge in Martinique after the fall of the House of Stuart, whose cause they espoused, and therefore suffered proscription. The two children had grown up together in happy companionship, and formed an attachment that was never effaced. When Josephine reached her twelfth year, she had made so little progress in her studies, though an apt scholar, that Madam de Tascher decided to send her to France and place her in a convent, till the completion of her education. But this was a terrible stroke to the young lovers, to whom separation would have been the greatest grief. By the most earnest assurances from Josephine of her future application, she was permitted to remain on trial. During the following six months, she made such rapid progress as persuaded her mother to recall her threat of sending her from Martinique; and she not only allowed her to continue her studies with William de K. . ., under the same master, but, through the interposition of his mother, Josephine's hand was promised him conditionally. Thus they happily and lovingly remained together, studying, or rambling for shells along the sea-shore, carving their united names upon the trees, or gathering the beautiful blossoms of the amaryllis gigantea, a plant which she so admired for its associations as well as its beauty, that she after

wards caused it to be transplanted to the garden of Malmaison, where it still grows luxuriantly.

Not long after M. de K... was called to England and was accompanied by his son, with the avowed purpose of pursuing his studies at Oxford; but, unknown to himself or Josephine, the real object of the voyage was to assert heirship to an estate which M. de K... was to inherit on condition his son should marry the niece of the testator. The months of silence that ensued, were so full of anxiety on Josephine's part, that her health was evidently suffering from it. No letter nor message came from the young creole, who had seemingly forgotten her in the new interests of the great world, yet she would not believe the representations of her friends that he had ceased to love her.

To console and divert her, Madam de Tascher gath ered young companions in their pleasant home, and endeavored to occupy her mind by an interest in the study of languages and accomplishing herself upon the harp. She possessed a sweet, plaintive voice, and that kind of talent which readily acquires anything placed within its reach, with little application. She chiefly enjoyed quiet walks with Mademoiselle de K..., when they would lounge under the shade of romantic cedars, talking for hours of William, or throw stones at treemarks, to ascertain by the stroke if her lover was faithless. But this friendship was of short duration, for Mademoiselle de K... deceived her; Josephine's true, transparent nature had affinity only with candor and simplicity, and she could no longer endure her artful friend.