The Sun.
London, England, 1827-05-01 00:00:00

LITERARY MAGNET.

A pleasant entertaining number, but super-
ficial to a degree unusual in this age. " The
Mill, a Moravian Tale," by Lord Francis Leve-
son Gower, is the best thing in it, but unfortu-
nately its length prevents us from doing justice
to it. We prefer giving an extract from a pretty
little tale, entitled " Kitty Kirby :"

KITTY KIRBY.

A TALE OF REAL LIFE.

It has been remarked of young women whose dispositions
are distinguished for cheerfulness, that they do not love
readily; but that when they love, they love earnestly. In
truth, " if love will not make them serious, nothing will."
Poor Kate Kirby ! She was between sixteen and seven-
teen, when a young man, who had just turned his one-and-
twentieth year, had occasion to call upon her mother, upon
business. His deceased father had been trustee for Mrs.
Kirby's dowry, and he had found some writings Longing
to her amongst his papers. These writings were im-
portant, as being the title-deeds of bet little property ; but
as her possession of them would add nothing to her income,
she had hitherto considered them perfectly safe in the
hands of her trustee. The act, however, sheaved attention
to her interests, and young Mr. Elmwood was cordially re-
ceived. What his actual motives in this transaction were,

I will not venture to insinuate. He had seen Kate Kirby
once or twice at his father's house ; for old Elmwood oc-
casionally noticed Mrs. Kirby and her daughter, and in-
vited them to a sort of triennial dinner, during which,
with much apparent feeling, he condoled with her on the
folly and extravagance of her late husband ; and lamented,
with probably as much sincerity as delicacy, that her hand-
some dowry was reduced to such narrow limits. Mrs.
Kirby always returned home in tears, and she never ac-
cepted the invitation bat with repugnance.
Kate Kirby was then, as I have said, in her seven-
teenth year. I would describe her if I could; but it was
not: the colour of her hair or of her eyes--it was not
her face nor her figure, that constituted the truly fasci-
nating loveliness which all acknowledged who approached
her. She was fair, but I have seen fairer: her hair was
auburn, but I have seen locks of a more glossy hue : her
form was light and elegant, yet have I seen forms of more
accurate symmetry. Her hazel eves had light in them
that I never saw outshone ; and her lips had a ruddiness,
and, in their smile, an expression, that I never saw
equalled : while their laugh—for Kate, as I have before
noticed, would repeatedly laugh outright—realised to my
imagination the laugh of a Hebe in her innocence, before
she served at the banquets of the gods.
Charles Elmwood could not but perceive the attachment
of his victim ; but neither the sincerity nor the simplicity
that characterised that attachment awakened in him the
least commiseration. He admired the undisguisedness of
heart with which a lovely being, in whose bosom had
hitherto resided joy, and whose every whisper had breathed
of happiness, immolated to him her future existence: but
lee hesitated not to accept the-sacrifice, nor deceitfully to
►ull the apprehensions of such an innocent one, at the in-
stant when the confidence of love verges upon crime, and
the ecstasy of mutual bliss trembles on the brink of irre-
mediable evil. Then, even then, did he mingle with his
blandishments assurances of reciprocal tenderness, and
pledges of honourable engagement. Under such pledges,
in the security of everlasting faith, and while sensibility
overpowered both presentiment and reflection, the sacrifice
was made; and poor Kitty Kirby, in full reliance on the
integrity of her lover, forgot the preservation of that
purity, without which the integrity of the female heart,
however perfect, is lost to the intercourse of society.

LONDON AND DUBLIN MAGAZINE.
This is a very promising Periodical—full of
humour, good sense, and vigour. The poetry
is far superior to that of the Thousand and One
Lyrists of the present day ; and the vivacity pos-
sesses an air of true Irish originality. It is,
however, scattered promiscuously throughout
the Number, not confined to one particular part,
SJ that we must give in preference an extract
from the Memoirs of Theohald Wolfe Tone.