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self, and shook Mr. S by the hand. "I have lived the life of a brute," said he," but I would wish to die like a man." Mr. S

rode to his own house, which was about seven miles from the place of execution. It was the latter end of summer. About dawning day, (grey morning as he beautifully and poetically termed it) he was awakened by a noise in the room, he drew the curtains, a figure like one of the hanged men, in its shroud and dead cap, stood pale and sad at the window. He rubbed his eyes, he strove to wake himself; he turned himself in the bed; he stretched himself forward, and endeavoured to penetrate the gloom; the figure of sleep did not, as he imagined it would, melt into thin air; it moved its eyes even, it opened and shut its mouth, it seemed preparing itself to speak. Nature was now too strong either for reason or philosophy; a cold damp bedewed his forehead, and he lay speechless and nearly senseless. The phantom approached the bed, and fell on its knees before him. "Master," said it, "remember I have saved your life, now save mine."

It was Dennis, the poor hanged Dennis-his fears had saved him. He had to be supported on the car as it was drawn slowly away, and he swung gently off, his fellow sufferer threw himself off with violence, and was almost instantly dead. Dennis was likewise a tall man the gal

lows was low, and his feet at times touched the ground. After hanging the limited time he was cut down and given to his friends; he was carried to the nearest cabin, and as is almost always done in Ireland, all the vulgar methods in use were practised to recover him; his feet were put into warm water, he was blooded by a countryman with a rusty lancet, and rubbed with spirits, which were likewise applied to his nostrils and lips, and poured down his throat. He opened at length his eyes, and milk was given him from a woman's breast, which in Ireland is supposed to be a medicine of great efficacy.

When night came on, he resolved to go to his master's house, which, across the fields, was not more than four miles off. He was advised to lay aside his dead dress now that he had so unexpectedly returned among the living; but it was too valuable a piece of finery, and had cost Dennis too much oratory the preceding day, to be parted with so readily. He met nobody on the road; but if he had, his dress would have been his protection; for every one would have run from him as from a ghost. He might have gone in any dress, however, in security; few people in any country would be willing to lead to the gallows a man just escaped from it-few people in Ireland would refuse to run some risk to save him from it. He knew well theroom where his masterslept, open

ed the window, and stepped into it, from the garden. Mr. Skept him for some time in his house, and then got him put on board a vessel bound to America, where he arrived in safety. He is at present a porter in Baltimore, is married, and the father of several children. When time has thrown its dark mantle over the origin of their family, the descendants of poor hanged Dennis may rank with the greatest in Ame

rica.

CHAPTER XXII.

Violet-bank.

MR. S has been minister of this congregation upwards of sixty years. He was not a very young man even when first placed. He had received several calls before, and was so often rejected, that at length he despaired of being placed at all.

By a call is meant the summons which a congregation on the death, or removal of its minister, gives the young probationer, who preaches before them, and resides among them a certain number of weeks upon trial. The election is completely

popular, and the intrigues of the conclave are often rivalled by those of a Presbyterian congregation.

Of various modes it is easier to affirm that they are different, than that they are better or worse. Popular election, doubtless, has many advantages. It gives a congregation a man to their mind, and as he is, in a great measure, dependent on their voluntary subscription for support, he is obliged to be humble, attentive, and, if not virtuous, to

seem so.

But, then, popular election has its disadvantages. A congregation, like a flattered lady, sometimes do not know their mind, and often are of a different mind. There are rival candidates, with different pretensions and claims. Parties arise, disputations and wranglings follow, and at length, when all become pretty well exhausted, and the successful candidate is chosen, he is still only forced upon a part of the congregation. In manners, modes of living, and doctrine, he must often follow, fully as much as he can lead-he must often flatter the prejudices of the congregation, in order to influence their actions, and what to a Theologian is, perhaps, the most difficult of all, he must often preach what they like, rather than what he likes himself. Many of the parishioners think themselves as profoundly versed in Bible learning as he is, and will not endure the

slightest heterodoxy. Jeroboam, Jeroboam, your blood will be licked by the dogs, was, a good many years ago, the mild rebuke of an Old-light Presbyterian to a clergyman, of whose doctrine he disapproved.

The Presbyterian church, at the period I am speaking of, (as in a greater or lesser degree it has been ever since) was divided into two great parties, called Old and New-light. The Old-light party were rigid Calvinists, and believed and taught exactly as Calvin and John Knox believed and taught before them. It would be taking up too much room to give a particular account of all the points on which they disagreed with their opponents, nor, indeed, would it be worth either the trouble of reading, or writing-for unintelligible as most human disputes are, theological ones are the most unintelligible of any; and therefore could man be brought to think so, the most useless; as, happily for him, whatever is necessary to his happiness, heaven has left plain. I shall, therefore, briefly mention only the most prominent article of their creed. They believe, that all mankind, by the fall of Adam, lost communion with God, are under his wrath and curse, and made liable to the pains of hell for ever. But God, in his infinite mercy, they teach, did not leave all mankind to perish in this state of sin and misery. Having, out of his mere good will and pleasure,

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