THE BACHELORS LOVE STORY
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 THE BACHELORS LOVE STORY.

 's It was in my younger days,o said bach elor to his friend, !" that these hoary locks, were dark and glossy ringlets, waving grace fully in the wind, as if conscious of their beauty; ah '' continued he, "my checks were overspread with the rich and soft hues of youth, bespeaking the budding of long wished-for manhood; conentment sat on the brow, that is now wrinkled with care; yes, contentment smiled its pure spirit on every thing around; no speck to darken the horl- zon of hope, could be seen, and no cloud traversng 1t ill stormy swiftness. My eye wandered abroad, and dwet with rapture on the animate and inanlmate world the sweet est visions were mine-the dreams of future happiness were never disturbed by the actual misery of life, which have lived to learn {; : my heart was as buoyant as the wave, as light as love, and as guileless as nature; my thoughts were romantic, and l also had a keen perception of the beautiful, which l trust have not yet lost.

 "Look, look, sir,o suddenly exclaimed the bachelor, sswhat angelic creature IS that trip ping across the green By heavens, what n foot and ankle what sylph-like form alas r' said he, checking himself, < l shall be fool to the end of my life; wish there was not woman in the world, and yet, we should all be sad fellows without them. My day is over with women, but 1t k my delight to think of them; since a man may dream of the glories of paradise, without being able to number himself one of the recipients. But, to return to my story-''l say,o continued the bachelor, :. was happy at tine period oi which speak, and that, sir, was forty years ago. Alas how rapidly time passes away ; indeed, almost before we can count it II IS gone.

 Before matter of fact people gave every thing matter of fact character, became one of the worshipers at the shrine of love, and none outstripped me in the fervency of devo- ton. was twenty-three, and with all the enthusiasm and impetuosity that belongs to youth, reasoned with my eyes, whenever a woman was the subject. It is not strange that adored beauty as extravagantly as the ancient Greeks, without thinking that every beauty is not an angel, as many have found 10 their cost

 To small village, which had little to re-

 

 of its inhabitants, and the additional charm. that it was my birthplace, l had retired from the hustle of the metropolis, to breathe pure air, and while away the pleasantest O all months of the year, the coming month O May, the most suspicious of all the rest fol r the empire of love and truly may ii be sait I that nature and art put on their most gorgeous habiiments, to make that empire sovereign and universal. Every grove was dressed il green foiage-thousands of feathered song sters welcomed the return of spring, in thei sweetest strains. The rose-bush bent with tho emblems of innocence, and imparted 10 tho air delightful fragrance the gentle breeze from the hills, tempered the noon-day sun- , sparkling waters murmured along througl green clad valleys; in a word every thing was smiling and beautiful.

 Who has not found that his feelings receive : q tint from outward objects, and that wher the leaves of the forest are withered, and , : sheet of snow covers the surface of the earth e he IS not that gladsome being he is wheI nature Is green, and fresh, and lively. Wht I has not felt that in the month of May, hi heart expands with the gayest hopes, ant swells with benevolence and affection for tn, Il whole human race If he can ever know th' D purity and consiancy of love, it is then an' to have no such feeling, under influences SC |. holy, is to be worse than savage

 ' It had always been goodly custom in th

 village, for the girls to celebrate (. May day ; e and as it was the place of my nativity, Il could not but anticipate much pleasure il r witnessing the sports of those who knew no f thing but innocence who had not learnt tn

 bitter lesson that life is made up of discord

 ant things and withered hopes that 1t is = great ocean, only occasionally lighted by

 brilliant sun; an ocean on which may be seer

 floating together, rewarded virtue and tri Il umphant vice.

 s My visit was not altogether disinteresteC s l must own, since had made up my mint k after considerable reflection, that althoug 1t young, speedy marriage would be of ad

 vantage, and insure my happiness for the fu ,r ture and was also satisfied that as gene IS ral rule, wise man will go to the countr d for a companion, in preference to the cit, l. was therefore, Tn every sense of the word, e, candidate for matrmony, and one, too, n' n hard to please, and as did not want wealtl k was no fortune hunter

 10 With these feelings repaired to the plao Is of celebration, and found that I was almost Tt stranger in my very birthplace. In te e. years, what change Familiar faces Il el longer welcomed me, and huag my head Il, disappointment. could not but feel litt ic melancholy when contemplated how harsI or ly time deals with Us all, and carries Us aol h. to tho decline of life, almost before ws ct l realize that VIC have commenced it.