as his talent leaned that way, was formed on a novel and ingenious model, furnished by himself. In this little vessel he often visited the adjacent coasts; and as he gradually acquired much skill in the management of it, he now and then extended his voyages to Vevay, Lausanne, and Geneva. On his return from his aquatic excursions, he generally moored the TELL, as he named his bark, after the deliverer of his country, in the harbour; though in the winter season, or when the weather threatened to be particularly tempestuous, he had it hauled-up on the beach.

On this occasion, although seldom much later than the lark of day-spring that carolled over his path, Amadeus had set out somewhat sooner than was his custom, de siring one of the servants whom he met at the door, to let his mother know that he would be back to dinner. But the dinnerhour came, and Amadeus was absent: it passed, and his seat was still unoccupied. Evening was now advancing, and though still expected, he arrived not: night closed

in, but it bore no tidings of Amadeus. Messengers were then dispatched in haste to the various places of his resort, but it was only to reiterate the intelligence, that he was no-where to be found.

Their apprehensions, however, were not greatly awakened. The sun had shone

without a cloud during almost the whole of the day; and, as the wind had been favorable, they conjectured that he had taken advantage of it to visit an acquaintance on the opposite shore, in which case he usually returned on the following morning. Thus, their fears were in some degree alleviated for the present. But before dawn all were astir. Some unacknowledged forebodings, though they still struggled to stifle their uneasiness, and invented a thousand excuses to account for his delay, had brought them instinctively together. But no expla nation was necessary-each read in the other's countenance a motive none of them would avow.

His father, with one of the servants, now hurried down to the beach. From the ex

tremity of the ravine they could perceive that the little harbour was vacant; nor was any boat discernible upon the water, though they were aware that Amadeus often embarked from Savoy, ere the sun had tinged the highest of the distant summits. Meanwhile, his mother and sisters ran with trembling eagerness, and searched every spot where they had formerly seen him busied in naval preparations-but in vain. Here and there fragments were strewed, indicating that these had once been the scenes of his boyish toils; but now all was silent. No foot moved-no hand plied skilfully the tool. They then took the direction of the lake, stopping at every turn as they winded down the declivity, in hopes to catch the blithe song that used to announce the approach of the little navigator. Now, they called him by name, and checked their steps in breathless suspense.-They heard a note:-it was the far shepherd-boy as he cheered his flock. Now, they hastened forward, and again paused for a moment. -A sound died on the ear:-it was the

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echo responsive from the neighbouring hill, Anon, they cast an anxious look along the water, if possibly they might descry the well-known sail; but nothing was visible save the long undulations of the lake, still darkened by the morning breeze. Their distress now became extreme. 'Amadeus, Amadeus,' resounded from every rock-but the voice of Amadeus was to reply no more!

By this time his father, who had reached the shore, and was flying from place to place in a state of agitation bordering on distraction (for Amadeus was his favourite child), throwing his eye along the line where the little vessel generally appeared when returning from Savoy, thought he observed the resemblance of a human figure floating on the water. His heart sunk within him at the sight. Hope, however, that last friend of the wretched, still suggested it might be something brought down by the current of the river and fain would he have believed it. But he was to be too soon undeceived. As it drifted towards him, he recognized the little sailor's hat; and a moment after,

his pale defeatured face, as the body rose upon the wave.

The melancholy event was supposed to have occurred during one of those hurricanes, which so much endanger the navigation of waters environed by high grounds; and which sometimes sweep the lake of Geneva with irresistible impetuosity, particularly the upper parts of it, from their proximity to the mountains, whose continuity is there broken by the valley which forms the bed of the Upper Rhone. It was moreover stated by the fishermen, who were quickly collected by the cries of the unhappy father, that, on the preceding evening, the heavens had suddenly overcast with clouds that presaged a storm, though none but an experienced eye could have been aware of the impending danger. A little sail, they added, had been remarked about that time near the anchorage of the river, and a woman, washing on the bank, had been startled by a shriek just as the first blast came down. When the skies cleared, nothing was to be seen; and it was con