The Adventures Of Don Pasquale.

did not see why he should not be gay too ; and he threw himself , as others have clone , into the usual rounds of festive—and must I not say , doubtful—dissipation 1 He did not say , as the poet has said , —

" I am weary of the bewilderinsr masquerade of life , " but he rather echoed these more cheerful words of the same able writer , — " Enjoy the merry shrove-tide of thy youth ,

Take each fair mask for what it gives itself , Nor strive to look beneath it . " I do not think that we need any of us act the part of a too rigid " censor niorum , " for the truth is , that while the world lasts , say what we will , and preach as we may ,

youth will have its quips and frolics , its warm fancies , and its laughing hours ; and I , for one , am not prepared to assert that there is anything of actual wrong in such things , which appear to be , in their season , alike allowable and reasonable ! It is a great mistake , in my opinion , drawing the string too tightly , or laying down the law too austerely ; human nature

revolts against the one , and positively kicks over the other . It did so happen that Paesiello made the acquaintance of a distinguished Venetian—Don Petronimo—who most kindly introduced him to his fair and charming wifeDonna Isabella .

, Don Petronimo belonged to one of the most distinguished of the Venetian families , which had furnished doges , and generals , and admirals , and members of the Council of Ten in great profusion , and he was a staid and sober-minded

individual , much looked up to—a person of great means , and few words . He had married , late in life , Donna Isabella , the only daughter of a deceased patrician , and if her dowry had not been large , she was , indeed , a fortune irr herself , as her aunt , the abbess , used to

observe . Yes , Donna Isabella was a very " fascinating person , " to use the very words of an ancient friend and admirer , "Don Pedrillo , " and whether you had regard to the grace of her figure , or the power of her intellect , she was no ordinary woman ! When , then , Paesiello , had been introduced to this distinguished couple and

their select en'ele , Venice seemed , with all its natural charms , to gain new attractions for him . It is very remarkable , as we look back on life , perhaps through a long vista of years , to notice to-day how much of

our hajrpiness lias depended , humanl y speaking , on the friends we formed , on the company we kept . Those of us who have longest lived in the world , must feel how much we owe of the contentment and pleasantness of our own little life to

friends jirobably long since passed away , to that agreeable gathering of gracious women and kindly men who made for us —yes , our very selves—existence a happiness , and society a blessing ! Even at this hour the dreams of " pleasant

presence , " the voices of gentle melodj ' , are lingering with us , souvenirs—tender souvenirs , perhaps—of associations which are undying , of a companionship which wo can never forget . And then it is still more noteworthy

how much a sympathetic and cultivated woman can do to add " agreemens " to the domestic and social circle , what charms , so to say , woman ' s refining and elevating

influence can always fling alike over the day-dreams of us all , over the hopes and fears , the longings and tastes , the " amour propre , " and the ambition of men ! He is a very foolish or a very ill-regulated person , be he who he may , who ever seeks to disparage or antagonize the needful and

proper influence of women . Without them what an arid desert the world and society would become 1 with them , how are life ennobled and pleasure enhanced ; how are all the very weaknesses and inconsistences of menturned to better

, purposes , or permeated by an enduring energy , which gives vitality to effort and success to resolution ! Donna Isabella , charming as she was , had a still more charming daughter , and it struck this excellent and benign individual ,

who took a most motherly interest in Paesiello , ( an interest which many another would most gladly have liked to be concerned in ) , that it would be a very good thing to bring Paesiello and her graceful daughter Petronella together . Now this young lady , like some other ' young ladies you and I wot of , had both » will and a young man of her own , and she