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    mental eye is intensely fixed on the dawnings of wisdom , the oppressed , who is learning to stand erect , the wavering whose best purposes , are acquiring stability , may one day recognize a benefactor in the solitary prisoner whose sole communication with them was through the world of spirits . After many months , when the long winter was past , and the western breeze had once more come to fan the prisoner ' s cheek and revive his spirit ,

    a living creature fixed its dwelling near him . Helmer had observed the remains of a swallow ' s nest in a " coigne of vaqtage" which projected from the battlemenT . He hoped , and not in vain , that the pair would return and build in theiT old haunt . They came , and he watched with the deepest interest the progress of the work . It was nearly finished , when a violent hail-storm came on , in the evening , when Helmer had left the battlement for

    the greater warmth of his cell . The whistling of the wind , and its rushing sound along the parapet , reminded him of the swallows , and in the fear that the newly-cemented nest might be destroyed , he went out to see if by means of hat and handkerchief a sufficient shelter might be afforded to the birds . While he was thus employed , the jailer entered , and , for once , began a conversation by wondering that the gentleman should choose to be abroad in such a storm , and run the risk of having his light extinguished . When

    Helmer explained his reason , the man laughed , and said it was well for the birds that they built so near a person who liked to take care of them . Helmer thought of " the young ravens which cry , " but he only said , " It gives me pleasure to help any living thing , but particularly of my own race . It would make me happy to nelp you , if you could but shew me the way . " The man stared . Helmer went on with an eagerness and an incoherence of

    which he was afterwards ashamed to entreat that if the man was ever ill , or unhappy , if be wanted any assistance , any advice , any knowledge for himself or for any belonging to him , he would only come and ask . The jailer stood listening , even when there was a pause , and Helmer , thus encouraged , touched upon bis reasons . The refined philosopher discoursed morality , and stooped to entreaty to the cynical jailer ! The man left the apartment in silence .

    Helmer started up and paced his cell . He thought over what he had said ; and the stare of wonder , the unbroken silence which appeared the only result . In spite of vigorous , manly effort , tears ^ - the first his calamity had wrung from bim- * -fell like rain . The jailer had been so far touched as to remember that his sympathies for his prisoner had not been so kindly : and , in consequence , Helmer was ,

    the next day , honoured by a visit from the governor . Nothing could be learned respecting the probability of release , or of being brought to trial . These were matters which did not come within the province of the military commander ; and the little hope which his appearance had roused , returned with a sickening recoil upon the captive ' s heart . One happy consequence , however , resulted from the interview . Helmer recovered his Bible . The

    jailer brought the precious volume with the next morning ' s meal ; and when he returned two hours after noon , he found his charge seated where he had left him , and totally unconscious of the lapse of time . He was even unaware of the entrance of any one , till startled by the tones of a childish voice . He looked up and saw a boy standing in the door-way , while the jailer spread the table .. ~

    ' * That boy m my son , " said the man * " I thought you might like a companion this afternoon , so I persuaded him to come ; and if ho is happy with you , this shall not be the \ mt tiope , I did not think of bringing him

    Untitled Article

    446 Solitude and Society : a Tale .

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), July 2, 1830, page 446, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2586/page/14/