nd deemed its snow-white plumage grew
More beauteous, day by day.

The rose of June was in its flush,
And 'neath the fragrant shade
Of her own fullest, fairest bush
The favorite's house was staid,

While roving, bird-like, here and there,
Amid her flow'rets dear,
She culled a nosegay, rich and rare,
A mother's heart to cheer.

A shriek! A flutter! Swift as thought
Her startled footstep flew,
But full of horror was the sight
That met her eager view--

Her treasure in a murderer's jaws!
One of that feline race
Whose wily looks and velvet paws
Conceal their purpose base.

And scarce the victim's gushing breast
Heaved with one feeble breath,
Though raised to hers, its glance exprest
Affection even in death.

Oh, stricken child! though future years
May frown with heavier shade,
When woman's lot of love and tears
Is on thy spirit laid--

Yet never can a wilder cry
Thy heart-wrung anguish prove
Than when before thy swimming eye
Expired that wounded dove.

[Illustration: THE LOST PET
Engraved Expressly for Graham's Magazine
Figure from I. M. Wright. Drawn with original scenery & engraved by Ellis.]

FIEL A LA MUERTE, OR TRUE LOVE'S DEVOTION.

A TALE OF THE TIMES OF LOUIS QUINZE.

BY HENRY WILLIAM HERBERT, AUTHOR OF "THE ROMAN TRAITOR,"
"MARMADUKE WYVIL," "CROMWELL," ETC.

(_Concluded from page_ 91.)

PART III.

For there were seen in that dark wall,
Two niches, narrow, dark and tall.
Who enters by such grisly door,
Shall ne'er, I ween, find exit more.--WALTER SCOTT.

It would be wonderful, were it not of daily occurrence, and to be
observed by all who give attention to the characteristics of the human
mind, how quickly confidence, even when shaken to its very
foundations, and almost obliterated, springs up again, and recovers
all its strength in the bosoms of the young of either sex.

Let but a few more years pass over the heart, and when once broken, if
it be only by a slight suspicion, or a half unreal cause, it will
scarce revive again in a life-time; nor then, unless proofs the
strongest and most unquestionable can be adduced to overpower the
doubts which have well-nigh annihilated it.

In early youth, however, before long contact with the world has
blunted the susceptibilities, and hardened the sympathies of the soul,
b