OF

THE BRIDAL WREATH,

EVERY NUMBER EMBELLISHED WITH A STEEL ENGRAVING.

THREE DOLLARS A YEAR.

VOLUME III.]

EDITED BY G. F. MORRIS AND N. P. WILLIS.

NEW YORK, SATURDAY, AUGUST 24, 1844.

THE BRIDAL WREATH.

THERE's an expression of "It's all in your eye, my dear," about our engraving for this week, which, we solemnly

declare, is intended neither as a hit at love nor matri

PAYABLE IN ADVANCE.

[NUMBER 21.

tle rain is carried, drop by drop, plunging into the petals of the thirsty flower; the little messenger leaves his welcome load, then flies back to aid his brethren. Thus the whole course of nature's being is supposed to be conducted by this

mony. As is sometimes the case, the bride, in this pic-invisible agency; apart from the philosophy of the matter, ture, is not so pretty as her friend, and she (the bride) seems to be wondering how she came by the honour of the gentleman's choice. Tastes differ! We, (for one,) hate that kind of high, up-hill forehead-begging pardon of such readers as disagree with us, and committing the picture to their albums with our blessing.

one must acknowledge that those bright creations contain within them the very soul of poetry.

THE following admirable paper reminds us very forcibly of a tale, originally published in the Mirror, (the Fight of Hell-Kettle,) by the lamented Tyrone Power-aman whom the author of this sketch resembles in more qualities than one. It is by Mr. Brougham, the comedian, and told as

nobody but an Irishman can tell a story. We commend it to our readers, with great confidence in their pleasure

at reading it.

THE GOLD-SEEKER.

There are various other individuals of the fairy genusthe Banshee, the Puckaun, the Fetch, or visionary re-appearance of one dearly loved immediately after death, the most touchingly beautiful conception of all. My present intention, is to illustrate the position in Fairy-dom, occupation and general characteristics of the Leprachaun. He is a fellow of no small importance, as, in addition to his regular trade, that of fairy shoemaker, he is the custodian of all hidden treasure, knows the whereabout of every concealed hoard, and is, consequently, as much sought after as the gold itself. The tradition goes, that if you catch a Lepra. chaun, a fact not easily accomplished, as he must be taken when wide awake; for if you touch a sleeping Leprachaun, the penalty is to have your cattle bewitched, and your eldest child an omadhaun, (Anglice, idiot.) There is something

Showing how Tim Duff was ruined entirely by too much good luck. chivalrous in that same respect for a sleeping antagonist.

AN IRISH SKETCH.

"If you coort a dainty maiden,

You may get nothing for your gains,
But if you catch a Leprachaun,*
Goold, it will reward your pains."

To the romantic and visionary, ever yearning for something beyond the dull tangible realities of every-day life, there is exceeding fascination in the brain-revellings of Faery. The components of Irish character render it peculiarly adapted to receive and cherish such impressions; while the thousand-and-one anecdotes of fairy agency, vouchsafed for in every case as being "Gospel truth," and related to the wondering youngsters by some old crone, stamps the traditions upon their minds, until they have become a portion of their very faith.

However, a Leprachaun once in your power, you may keep him close prisoner until he reveals the place where treasure is concealed; but you must have your wits about you, or the cunning little rascal will be sure to cheat you. One thing is in your favour, he is bound to answer truly to every question.

Tim Duff got by finding a Leprachaun.
Now, having introduced my subject, let me tell you what

much more picturesque than elegant. His tournure could When I first saw Tim, his appearance was certainly shoulder the side of a little sheebeen-house, called, with the not be called metropolitan. He was supporting with his usual conflicting combination, “The Duck-and-Griddle ; his hands were listlessly "put away," one in his untenanted breeches pocket, and the other in the breast of what, from The Irish fairies are sufficiently numerous, and all as its situation only, we must conclude to be his vest; his coat, well classified, their positions assigned, and their duties dea huge frieze-in the dog-days, remember-fell negligently fined, by super-naturalists, as though they were actually off from his brawny shoulders, discovering his “Irish”—I amongst the things that be. The first in order as well as in don't think I should be justified in appending, “linen ;” usefulness, are the fairies, par excellence, or, as they are usually denominated, "the good people." Their occupa different from the original stuff, that it must have required corduroy "smails," patched at the knees with material so tions are of the most multifarious description; and here considerable ingenuity to procure it; his thick woollen let me call attention to the extraordinary similarity to be stockings were minus the entire feet, the deficiency being found between the imaginings of those simple, unlettered made up with straw, causing comfort in the wear, and a peasants, and the sublimest theories of philosophy. Grave, sort of sliding-scale in the article of fit, as a straw or two book-learned men have demonstrated the principle of atomic-vitality pervading the universe. The Irish bog-cutter had slipped down from under the piece of twine which garmore or less made all the difference. One of his stockings renders the theory into practice, and gives the imagination tered it, but, with stoical indifference, he let it take its locality; myriads of fairies, he is taught to believe, are incourse, justly imagining that if he pulled it up it would, cessantly engaged carrying on the business of universal namost likely, fall down again; so there it lay, festooned in ture. Troops of them are filching the perfume from the easy carelessness around a huge, muscular, and curiouslymorning air, to feed therewith the opening blossoms; thou hairy calf. Leisurely and with Epicurian gusto he smoked sands of tiny atomies the while gently forcing the bud into a dhudieen, or short pipe, black with service, and in dan. existence; the warm sun-beams are scattered over the chilly earth, borne on fairy pinions; fairy-laden, too, the gen-itself up, to get out of the way; singing between puffs, for gerous proximity to his nose, which seemed to have turned The Leprachaun is a kind of merry little low-comedy his own immediate gratification, a self-laudatory song, the fairy, represented as ranging from an inch to an inch and a half high, invariably dressed in old-fashioned costume. He is burden of which went to prove, beyond all manner of doubt, the fairies' shoemaker. that he was a most extraordinary individual. Here it is.