Onthebrightwintryday，thelastbutoneoftheoldyear，hewaslaidinhisgraveatKensalGreen，theretominglethedusttowhichthemortalpartofhimhadreturned，withthatofathirdchild，lostinherinfancyyearsago。Theheadsofagreatconcourseofhisfellow—workersintheArtswerebowedaroundhistomb。
ADELAIDEANNEPROCTER
INTRODUCTIONTOHER"LEGENDSANDLYRICS"
Inthespringoftheyear1853，Iobserved，asconductoroftheweeklyjournalHouseholdWords，ashortpoemamongtheprofferedcontributions，verydifferent，asIthought，fromtheshoalofversesperpetuallysettingthroughtheofficeofsuchaperiodical，andpossessingmuchmoremerit。Itsauthoresswasquiteunknowntome。ShewasoneMissMaryBerwick，whomIhadneverheardof;andshewastobeaddressedbyletter，ifaddressedatall，atacirculatinglibraryinthewesterndistrictofLondon。Throughthischannel，MissBerwickwasinformedthatherpoemwasaccepted，andwasinvitedtosendanother。Shecomplied，andbecamearegularandfrequentcontributor。ManyletterspassedbetweenthejournalandMissBerwick，butMissBerwickherselfwasneverseen。
Howwecamegraduallytoestablish，attheofficeofHouseholdWords，thatweknewallaboutMissBerwick，Ihaveneverdiscovered。
Butwesettledsomehow，toourcompletesatisfaction，thatshewasgovernessinafamily;thatshewenttoItalyinthatcapacity，andreturned;andthatshehadlongbeeninthesamefamily。Wereallyknewnothingwhateverofher，exceptthatshewasremarkablybusiness—like，punctual，self—reliant，andreliable:soIsupposeweinsensiblyinventedtherest。Formyself，mymotherwasnotamorerealpersonagetome，thanMissBerwickthegovernessbecame。
ThiswentonuntilDecember，1854，whentheChristmasnumber，entitledTheSevenPoorTravellers，wassenttopress。Happeningtobegoingtodinethatdaywithanoldanddearfriend，distinguishedinliteratureasBarryCornwall，Itookwithmeanearlyproofofthatnumber，andremarked，asIlaiditonthedrawing—roomtable，thatitcontainedaveryprettypoem，writtenbyacertainMissBerwick。NextdaybroughtmethedisclosurethatIhadsospokenofthepoemtothemotherofitswriter，initswriter’spresence;thatIhadnosuchcorrespondentinexistenceasMissBerwick;andthatthenamehadbeenassumedbyBarryCornwall’seldestdaughter，MissAdelaideAnneProcter。
TheanecdoteIhaveherenoteddown，besidesservingtoexplainwhytheparentsofthelateMissProcterhavelookedtomeforthesepoorwordsofremembranceoftheirlamentedchild，strikinglyillustratesthehonesty，independence，andquietdignity，ofthelady’scharacter。Ihadknownherwhenshewasveryyoung;Ihadbeenhonouredwithherfather’sfriendshipwhenIwasmyselfayoungaspirant;andshehadsaidathome，"IfIsendhim，inmyownname，versesthathedoesnothonestlylike，eitheritwillbeverypainfultohimtoreturnthem，orhewillprintthemforpapa’ssake，andnotfortheirown。SoIhavemadeupmymindtotakemychancefairlywiththeunknownvolunteers。"
Perhapsitrequiresaneditor’sexperienceoftheprofoundlyunreasonablegroundsonwhichheisoftenurgedtoacceptunsuitablearticles——suchashavingbeentoschoolwiththewriter’shusband’sbrother—in—law，orhavinglentanalpenstockinSwitzerlandtothewriter’swife’snephew，whenthatinterestingstrangerhadbrokenhisown——fullytoappreciatethedelicacyandtheself—respectofthisresolution。
SomeversesbyMissProcterhadbeenpublishedintheBookofBeauty，tenyearsbeforeshebecameMissBerwick。WiththeexceptionoftwopoemsintheCornhillMagazine，twoinGoodWords，andothersinalittlebookcalledAChapletofVerses（issuedin1862forthebenefitofaNightRefuge），herpublishedwritingsfirstappearedinHouseholdWords，orAlltheYearRound。ThepresenteditioncontainsthewholeofherLegendsandLyrics，andoriginatesinthegreatfavourwithwhichtheyhavebeenreceivedbythepublic。
MissProcterwasborninBedfordSquare，London，onthe30thofOctober，1825。Herloveofpoetrywasconspicuousatsoearlyanage，thatIhavebeforemeatinyalbummadeofsmallnote—paper，intowhichherfavouritepassageswerecopiedforherbyhermother’shandbeforesheherselfcouldwrite。Itlooksasifshehadcarrieditabout，asanotherlittlegirlmighthavecarriedadoll。Shesoondisplayedaremarkablememory，andgreatquicknessofapprehension。Whenshewasquiteayoungchild，shelearnedwithfacilityseveraloftheproblemsofEuclid。Asshegrewolder，sheacquiredtheFrench，Italian，andGermanlanguages;becameacleverpianoforteplayer;andshowedatruetasteandsentimentindrawing。
But，assoonasshehadcompletelyvanquishedthedifficultiesofanyonebranchofstudy，itwasherwaytoloseinterestinit，andpasstoanother。Whilehermentalresourceswerebeingtrained，itwasnotatallsuspectedinherfamilythatshehadanygiftofauthorship，oranyambitiontobecomeawriter。Herfatherhadnoideaofherhavingeverattemptedtoturnarhyme，untilherfirstlittlepoemsawthelightinprint。
Whensheattainedtowomanhood，shehadreadanextraordinarynumberofbooks，andthroughoutherlifeshewasalwayslargelyaddingtothenumber。In1853shewenttoTurinanditsneighbourhood，onavisittoheraunt，aRomanCatholiclady。AsMissProcterhadherselfprofessedtheRomanCatholicFaithtwoyearsbefore，sheenteredwiththegreaterardouronthestudyofthePiedmontesedialect，andtheobservationofthehabitsandmannersofthepeasantry。Intheformer，shesoonbecameaproficient。Onthelatterhead，IextractfromherfamiliarletterswrittenhometoEnglandatthetime，twopleasantpiecesofdescription。
ABETROTHAL
"Wehavebeentoaball，ofwhichImustgiveyouadescription。
LastTuesdaywehadjustdonedinnerataboutseven，andsteppedoutintothebalconytolookattheremainsofthesunsetbehindthemountains，whenweheardverydistinctlyabandofmusic，whichratherexcitedmyastonishment，asasolitaryorganistheutmostthattoilsuphere。Iwentoutoftheroomforafewminutes，and，onmyreturning，Emilysaid，’Oh！Thatbandisplayingatthefarmer’snearhere。Thedaughterisfianceeto—day，andtheyhaveaball。’Isaid，’IwishIwasgoing！’’Well，’repliedshe，’thefarmer’swifedidcalltoinviteus。’’ThenIshallcertainlygo，’
Iexclaimed。IappliedtoMadameB。，whosaidshewouldlikeitverymuch，andwehadbettergo，childrenandall。Someoftheservantswerealreadygone。Werushedawaytoputonsomeshawls，andputoffanyshredofblackwemighthaveaboutus（asthepeoplewouldhavebeenquiteannoyedifwehadappearedonsuchanoccasionwithanyblack），andwestarted。Whenwereachedthefarmer’s，whichisastone’sthrowaboveourhouse，wewerereceivedwithgreatenthusiasm;theonlydrawbackbeing，thatnoonespokeFrench，andwedidnotyetspeakPiedmontese。Wewereplacedonabenchagainstthewall，andthepeoplewentondancing。Theroomwasalargewhitewashedkitchen（Isuppose），withseverallargepicturesinblackframes，andverysmoky。IdistinguishedtheMartyrdomofSaintSebastian，andtheothersappearedequallylivelyandappropriatesubjects。WhethertheywereOldMastersornot，andifso，bywhom，Icouldnotascertain。Thebandwereseatedoppositeus。Fivemen，withwindinstruments，partofthebandoftheNationalGuard，towhichthefarmer’ssonsbelong。Theyplayedreallyadmirably，andIbegantobeafraidthatsomeideaofourdignitywouldpreventmegettingapartner;so，byMadameB。’sadvice，Iwentuptothebride，andofferedtodancewithher。Suchahandsomeyoungwoman！LikeoneofUwins’spictures。Verydark，withaquantityofblackhair，andonanimmensescale。Thechildrenwerealreadydancing，aswellasthemaids。Afterwecametoanendofourdance，whichwaswhattheycalledaPolka—Mazourka，Isawthebridetryingtoscrewupthecourageofherfiancetoaskmetodance，whichafteralittlehesitationhedid。Andadmirablyhedanced，asindeedtheyalldid——inexcellenttime，andwithalittlemorespiritthanoneseesinaball—room。Infact，theywereverylikeone’sordinarypartners，exceptthattheyworeearringsandwereintheirshirt—sleeves，andtruthcompelsmetostatethattheydecidedlysmeltofgarlic。Someofthemhadbeensmoking，butthrewawaytheircigarswhenwecamein。Theonlythingthatdidnotlookcheerfulwas，thattheroomwasonlylightedbytwoorthreeoil—lamps，andthatthereseemedtobenopreparationforrefreshments。MadameB。，seeingthis，whisperedtohermaid，whodisengagedherselffromherpartner，andranofftothehouse;sheandthekitchenmaidpresentlyreturningwithalargetraycoveredwithallkindsofcakes（ofwhichwearegreatconsumersandalwayshaveastock），andalargehamperfullofbottlesofwine，withcoffeeandsugar。Thisseemedallveryacceptable。Thefianceewasrequestedtodistributetheeatables，andabucketofwaterbeingproducedtowashtheglassesin，thewinedisappearedveryquickly——
asfastastheycouldopenthebottles。But，elated，Isuppose，bythis，thefloorwassprinkledwithwater，andthemusiciansplayedaMonferrino，whichisaPiedmontesedance。MadameB。dancedwiththefarmer’sson，andEmilywithanotherdistinguishedmemberofthecompany。Itwasveryfatiguing——somethinglikeaScotchreel。Mypartnerwasalittleman，likePerrot，andveryproudofhisdancing。Hecutintheairandtwistedabout，untilIwasoutofbreath，thoughmyattemptstoimitatehimwerefeebleintheextreme。Atlast，aftersevenoreightdances，Iwasobligedtositdown。Westayedtillnine，andIwassodeadbeatwiththeheatthatIcouldhardlycrawlaboutthehouse，andinanagonywiththecramp，itissolongsinceIhavedanced。"
AMARRIAGE
Theweddingofthefarmer’sdaughterhastakenplace。Wehadhopeditwouldhavebeeninthelittlechapelofourhouse，butitseemssomespecialpermissionwasnecessary，andtheyappliedforittoolate。Theyallsaid，"ThisistheConstitution。Therewouldhavebeennodifficultybefore！"thelowerclassesmakingthepoorConstitutionthescapegoatforeverythingtheydon’tlike。Soasitwasimpossibleforustoclimbuptothechurchwheretheweddingwastobe，wecontentedourselveswithseeingtheprocessionpass。
Itwasnotaverylargeone，for，itrequiringsomeactivitytogoup，alltheoldpeopleremainedathome。Itisnotetiquetteforthebride’smothertogo，andnounmarriedwomancangotoawedding——Isupposeforfearofitsmakingherdiscontentedwithherownposition。Theprocessionstoppedatourdoor，forthebridetoreceiveourcongratulations。Shewasdressedinashotsilk，withayellowhandkerchief，androwsofalargegoldchain。Intheafternoontheysenttorequestustogothere。Onourarrivalwefoundthemdancingoutofdoors，andamostmelancholyaffairitwas。Allthebride’ssisterswerenottoberecognised，theyhadcriedso。Themothersatinthehouse，andcouldnotappear。Andthebridewassobbingso，shecouldhardlystand！Themostmelancholyspectacleofalltomymindwas，thatthebridegroomwasdecidedlytipsy。Heseemedratheraffrontedatallthedistress。
WedancedaMonferrino;Iwiththebridegroom;andthebridecryingthewholetime。Thecompanydidtheirutmosttoenlivenherbyfiringpistols，butwithoutsuccess，andatlasttheybeganaseriesofyells，whichremindedmeofasetofsavages。Buteventhisdelicatemethodofconsolationfailed，andthewishinggood—byebegan。ItwasaltogethersomelancholyanaffairthatMadameB。
droppedafewtears，andIwasverynearit，particularlywhenthepoormothercameouttoseethelastofherdaughter，whowasfinallydraggedoffbetweenherbrotheranduncle，withalastexplosionofpistols。Asshelivesquitenear，makesanexcellentmatch，andisoneofninechildren，itreallywasamostdesirablemarriage，inspiteofalltheshowofdistress。Albertwassodiscomfitedbyit，thatheforgottokissthebrideashehadintendedtodo，andthereforewenttocalluponheryesterday，andfoundherverysmilinginhernewhouse，andsuppliedtheomission。
Thecookcamehomefromthewedding，declaringshewascuredofanywishtomarry——butIwouldnotrecommendanymantoactuponthatthreatandmakeheranoffer。Inacoupleofdayswehadsomerollsofthebride’sfirstbaking，whichtheycallMadonnas。Themusicians，itseems，wereinthesamestateasthebridegroom，for，inescortingherhome，theyallfelldowninthemud。Mywrathagainstthebridegroomissomewhatcalmedbyfindingthatitisconsideredbadluckifhedoesnotgettipsyathiswedding。"
ThosereadersofMissProcter’spoemswhoshouldsupposefromtheirtonethathermindwasofagloomyordespondentcast，wouldbecuriouslymistaken。Shewasexceedinglyhumorous，andhadagreatdelightinhumour。Cheerfulnesswashabitualwithher，shewasveryreadyatasallyorareply，andinherlaugh（asIrememberwell）
therewasanunusualvivacity，enjoyment，andsenseofdrollery。
Shewasperfectlyunconstrainedandunaffected:asmodestlysilentaboutherproductions，asshewasgenerouswiththeirpecuniaryresults。Shewasafriendwhoinspiredthestrongestattachments;
shewasafinelysympatheticwoman，withagreataccordantheartandasterlingnoblenature。Noclaimcanbesetupforher，thankGod，tothepossessionofanyoftheconventionalpoeticalqualities。
Sheneverbyanymeansheldtheopinionthatshewasamongthegreatestofhumanbeings;sheneversuspectedtheexistenceofaconspiracyonthepartofmankindagainsther;sheneverrecognisedinherbestfriends，herworstenemies;shenevercultivatedtheluxuryofbeingmisunderstoodandunappreciated;shewouldfarratherhavediedwithoutseeingalineofhercompositioninprint，thanthatIshouldhavemaunderedabouther，here，as"thePoet"，or"thePoetess"。
WiththerecollectionofMissProcterasamerechildandasawoman，freshuponme，itisnaturalthatIshouldlingeronmywaytothecloseofthisbriefrecord，avoidingitsend。But，evenastheclosecameuponher，somustitcomehere。
Alwaysimpelledbyanintenseconvictionthatherlifemustnotbedreamedaway，andthatherindulgenceinherfavouritepursuitsmustbebalancedbyactionintherealworldaroundher，shewasindefatigableinherendeavourstodosomegood。Naturallyenthusiastic，andconscientiouslyimpressedwithadeepsenseofherChristiandutytoherneighbour，shedevotedherselftoavarietyofbenevolentobjects。Now，itwasthevisitationofthesick，thathadpossessionofher;now，itwastheshelteringofthehouseless;
now，itwastheelementaryteachingofthedenselyignorant;now，itwastheraisingupofthosewhohadwanderedandgottroddenunderfoot;now，itwasthewideremploymentofherownsexinthegeneralbusinessoflife;now，itwasallthesethingsatonce。Perfectlyunselfish，swifttosympathiseandeagertorelieve，shewroughtatsuchdesignswithaflushedearnestnessthatdisregardedseason，weather，timeofdayornight，food，rest。Undersuchahurryofthespirits，andsuchincessantoccupation，thestrongestconstitutionwillcommonlygodown。Hers，neitherofthestrongestnortheweakest，yieldedtotheburden，andbegantosink。
Tohavesavedherlife，then，bytakingactiononthewarningthatshoneinhereyesandsoundedinhervoice，wouldhavebeenimpossible，withoutchanginghernature。Aslongasthepowerofmovingaboutintheoldwaywaslefttoher，shemustexerciseit，orbekilledbytherestraint。Andsothetimecamewhenshecouldmoveaboutnolonger，andtooktoherbed。
Alltherestlessnessgonethen，andallthesweetpatienceofhernaturaldispositionpurifiedbytheresignationofhersoul，shelayuponherbedthroughthewholeroundofchangesoftheseasons。Shelayuponherbedthroughfifteenmonths。Inallthattime，heroldcheerfulnessneverquittedher。Inallthattime，notanimpatientoraquerulousminutecanberemembered。
Atlength，atmidnightonthesecondofFebruary，1864，sheturneddownaleafofalittlebookshewasreading，andshutitup。
Theministeringhandthathadcopiedtheversesintothetinyalbumwassoonaroundherneck，andshequietlyasked，astheclockwasonthestrokeofone:
"DoyouthinkIamdying，mamma？"
"Ithinkyouarevery，veryillto—night，mydear！"
"Sendformysister。Myfeetaresocold。Liftmeup？"
Hersisterenteringastheyraisedher，shesaid:"Ithascomeatlast！"Andwithabrightandhappysmile，lookedupward，anddeparted。
Wellhadshewritten:
Whyshouldstthoufearthebeautifulangel，Death，Whowaitstheeattheportalsoftheskies，Readytokissawaythystrugglingbreath，Readywithgentlehandtoclosethineeyes？
Ohwhatwerelife，iflifewereall？ThineeyesAreblindedbytheirtears，orthouwouldstseeThytreasureswaittheeinthefar—offskies，AndDeath，thyfriend，willgivethemalltothee。
CHAUNCEYHARETOWNSHEND
EXPLANATORYINTRODUCTIONTO"RELIGIOUS
OPINIONS"BYTHELATEREVEREND
CHAUNCEYHARETOWNSHEND
Mr。ChaunceyHareTownshenddiedinLondon，onthe25thofFebruary1868。Hiswillcontainedthefollowingpassage:—
"IappointmyfriendCharlesDickens，ofGad’sHillPlace，intheCountyofKent，Esquire，myliteraryexecutor;andbegofhimtopublishwithoutalterationasmuchofmynotesandreflectionsasmaymakeknownmyopinionsonreligiousmatters，theybeingsuchasIverilybelievewouldbeconducivetothehappinessofmankind。"
Inpursuanceoftheforegoinginjunction，theLiteraryExecutorsoappointed（notpreviouslyawarethatthepublicationofanyReligiousOpinionswouldbeenjoineduponhim），appliedhimselftotheexaminationofthenumerouspapersleftbyhisdeceasedfriend。
SomeofthesewereinLausanne，andsomewereinLondon。
Considerabledelayoccurredbeforetheycouldbegottogether，arisingoutofcertainclaimspreferred，andformalitiesinsistedonbytheauthoritiesoftheCantondeVaud。Whenatlengththewholeofhislatefriend’spaperspassedintotheLiteraryExecutor’shands，itwasfoundthatReligiousOpinionswerescatteredupanddownthroughavarietyofmemorandaandnote—books，thegradualaccumulationofyearsandyears。Manyofthefollowingpageswerecarefullytranscribed，numbered，connected，andpreparedforthepress;butmanymoreweredispersedfragments，originallywritteninpencil，afterwardsinkedover，theintendedsequenceofwhichinthewriter’smind，itwasextremelydifficulttofollow。Theseagainwereintermixedwithjournalsoftravel，fragmentsofpoems，criticalessays，voluminouscorrespondence，andoldschool—exercisesandcollegethemes，havingnokindofconnectionwiththem。