Forgotten Stories.

Society , as some relief to the monotony of their studies . We do not wish to accuse them of any wilful misconduct or want of principle ; but , in strict morality , they might deserve some censure , from the freedom with which they attacked the characters of their absent friendsand

, from the satire in which they occasionally indulged with equal severity , though not with equal veracity , against the deserving and the undeserving . Edward Overton was , as might be expected , a valuable acquisition to their

body . His originality , his satire , his pungent wit and the real quaintness of his remarks , highly delighted his auditors , and contributed greatly to the joviality of their meetings . He knew , and alas ! knew too well , the influence his talents had obtained over them ; and was led on by the fatal desire of applause , and the solicitations of his companions—nor should we

omit his own self-admiration—to those habits which afterwards so deeply involved him in misery . His studies were now entirely neglected , that his days might be passed in sauntering about and picking up any casual reports which might meet his earwhatever might

, be his authority , that he might relate them to the Club at night ; , and , by sundry of his own improvements , render them a subject for the diversion of his companions . Then was , indeed , his hour of gratification , then his reign of glory and triumph .

But how dearly did he purchase that fame ! How often , even at the risk of his honour and character , did he intrude himself into the company of those with whom he could claim no acquaintance ; and gain possession of secrets and observationsin a manner

, from which honour would recoil in disdain . Nay , so totally did he forget all virtuous and upright sentiments , that he was more than once detected in listening

to the private conference of persons , and committing it to paper;—an indelible stigma upon him through life , had not the injured jiarties most kindly forgiven him , on account of his father ' s respectability , and his own youth ; and concealed their discovery from the world .

Now was the time that his parents began to lament their foolish indulgence . Many were their admonitions , and frequent his renewals of penitence , But . this fatal habit

had so completely overpowered him , that all his exertions were in vain ; nor could they rescue him from that strange infatuation , to which must be attributed all his future shame and ruin .

His first exploit of mischief was to embroil two of his own companions in a duel who , whatever were their actual differences might lay the consummation of their quarrel principally to his charge . Their mutual dislike proceeded from a love affair ,

in which the affections of both rested upon the same object . But Edward hei ghtened that dislike , by relating to each , iu the other ' s absence , some insult which was offered , or intended to be offered to him , by his rival . The consequences need not

be related . A duel was agreed upon in the heat of their passion . Fortunatel y , however , the blood of neither was shed and , upon the interposition of the seconds , after their first onset , the affair was amicably adjusted . But the author of it

, on a close examination of all the circumstances , was detected , and expelled from their society , of which he could no longer be deemed a worthy and honourable member .

Why did he not at this warning desist ? Why should not the dishonour , which he incurred from this evil propensity , entirely check its farther progress ? Alas ! he onl y departed from the scene of his disgrace , and his enraged associates , to stir up dissensions in his own family !—his affectionate

family—which , notwithstanding his pernicious qualities , received him in its bosom . During six short mouths , which he passed beneath his father ' s roof , he caused differences between all his relations ; disturbed even the love and harmony of his

worthy parents ; and weaned the affections of his eldest sister from her lover ;—all by his false representations , and the subtlety of his plots . Let us for a moment view the scene of domestic misery , which his idle and deceitful tongue created . A feud ,

which embittered the ties of consanguinity —a coldness of manner , so diametrically opposite to the warmth of affection formerly manifested in a most deli g htful manner towards each other by his parents —the separation of two worthy and innocent hearts , which caused the death of his intended brother , and clouded the happiest days of his sister ' s life with the