none to share our sorrow, and we were old enough to comprehend our loss.

"On hearing of the death of my mother, an uncle, whom I had never seen, offered to take one of her children to bring up as his own. I was the one selected; and my sister, from whom I had never been separated, was sent to another relative at a distance from me. I cannot think, even now, of that bitter hour when I parted from her, without a feeling of sadness.

"Just such a trusting, loving child as this little creature nestled here, only not quite so young, was I when I first went to my uncle's. He was a tall, solemn, stately man, who seldom smiled, and when he did, it made his features more repulsive. My aunt was a pale, sad-looking woman, who, young as she was, had outlived all traces of youth, and all memory of the joy that belongs to it. What she might once have been I know not, for the brightest flowers will droop and wither, if deprived of the blessed sunshine, and the warmest affections be blighted in the ungenial atmosphere of a loveless home. Happily for me, I remained there but a short time. No eye looked kindly on me-no voice spoke tenderly. There were no children in the house-everything was prim, formal, and precise. My aunt was so nervous she could not bear the least noise. If I sat in the room with her, I was not allowed to speak, and scarcely to move. My uncle seemed hardly conscious of my existence. I have sat for hours, during the long winter evenings, watching and hoping that he would speak to me, and yet, if he turned towards me, I was so fearful that he would speak and say something harsh and grating, that my eyes involuntarily turned away, and my heart veiled itself closely, lest he should be able to read my thoughts.

"Oh, what a new revelation of life it was to me--a home without happiness, a heart without love-and how I yearned for some one to love, and to be kind to.

"At length, in my solitary rambles, I chanced to pass an Irish shanty, around which some little children, ragged and dirty, were sunning themselves; and on a stone near the house sat a rosy faced woman, nursing a little child. O! what a thrill of joy ran through me! I felt the stream of

affection gush forth from my heart, and tears fell from my eyes that were sweeter than smiles. O, that I could live here, and love these dear children,' I exclaimed; I would rather be one of these-to feel a mother's arm around me-to hear her kind voice calling me-to look up into her face, and see it turned kindly towards me-than to live in a palace of gold, with frozen hearts and icy looks around me.'

"I need not tell you that I became happier, now that I had found objects to love. As my affections expanded, my desire to make others happy increased. All that my mother had taught me came back to my memory, and her beautiful example cheered and animated me. I had lived so long without love, that I had learned to prize it. I saw that there was no luxury like that of doing good to others. These little children were entirely uninstructed. I taught them to read; I read to them; I felt the desire to be useful.

"This is all I have to tell you of myself, dear children—a mere fragment in my life's history, but you see it has a moral. This little girl has neither father nor mother, brothers nor sisters-we must supply their places to her. She comes to us with a heart that has never been chilled with a word or look of unkindness. She expects from us all the love and sympathy she has need of. Shall she ever look in vain to any of us ?"

"Oh, no mother !-never-never! She shall be as one of us! See! she is sleeping on your bosom, mother! How pretty she is!"

"What a delight it will be to take care of her,” said one. "And to play with her," said another.

"And to teach her," said the third.

I saw that the right feeling was awakened, and I thanked God, who has given so holy a thing as love and kindness to dwell with us below.

MRS. S. W. JEWETT.

GENEROSITY REWARDED.

ALI-IBN-ABBOS, favourite of the Caliph Mamoun, relates a story that happened to himself:

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"I was," says he, one evening with the Caliph, when a man bound hand and foot was brought in; Mamoun ordered me to keep a watchful eye over the prisoner, and to bring him the next day; the Caliph seemed greatly irritated, and the fear of exposing myself to his resentment, induced me to confine the prisoner in my harem. I asked him what country he was of? He said Damascus, and that his habitation was in the quarter of the Great Mosque.

"May heaven,' cried I, 'shower blessings on the city of Damascus, and particularly on your quarter-I owe my life to a man that lived there.'

"These words excited his curiosity, and I thus proceeded: It is many years since the Viceroy of Damascus was deposed. I accompanied his successor, and when we were about to take possession, the deposed governor assaulted us with superior force. I escaped out of a window, and observing a palace open, I supplicated the master to save my life. He conducted me into the apartment of his women, where I continued a month in perfect security. One day I was informed by my host, that a caravan was setting out for Bagdad, and that I could not wish a more favourable opportunity for returning home. I had no money, and I was ashamed to own it. He perceived my distress, but in appearance took no notice. How great was my surprise, when, on the day of my departure, a fine horse was brought me, a mule loaded with provisions, and a black slave to attend me!! My generous host presented me, at the same time, a purse of gold, and conducted me himself to the caravan, recommending me to several of the travellers, who were his friends. These kindnesses I received in your city, which rendered it dear to me. All my concern is, that I have not been able to discover my generous benefactor. I should die content could I find an opportunity to testify my gratitude.'

"Your wishes are accomplished,' cried my prisoner in transport; I am he who received you in my palace.'

"I embraced him with tears, took off his chains, and inquired by what fatality he had incurred the Caliph's displeasure.

"Some contemptible enemies,' he replied, 'have found means to asperse me unjustly to Mamoun; I was hurried from Damascus, and cruelly denied the consolation of embracing my wife and children. As I have reason to apprehend the worst, I request you to acquaint them with my misfortunes.'

"No, no,' said I, 'you shall not die, be at liberty from this moment, depart immediately (presenting him with a thousand sequins in a purse,) hasten to rejoin the precious objects of your affections; let the Caliph's indignation fall on me, I dread it not, if I preserve your life!'

"What proposal do you make,' answered my prisoner. Can you think me capable of accepting it-shall I sacrifice that life which I formerly saved? Endeavour to convince the Caliph of my innocence, the only proof-I will admit of your gratitude. If you cannot undeceive him, I will go myself, and offer my head; let him dispose of my life, provided your's be safe!'

"I presented myself next morning before Mamoun. He was dressed in a crimson coloured mantle. a symbol of his anger. He inquired where my prisoner was, and ordered the executioner to attend.

"'My Lord,' said I, throwing myself at his feet, 'something very extraordinary has happened with regard to him, will your Majesty permit me to explain it ?'

"These words threw him into a passion. I swear.' said he, by the soul of my ancestors, that thy head shall pay for it, if thou hast suffered the prisoner to escape.'

"Both my life and his are at your Majesty's disposal; but vouchsafe to hear me.'

"Speak!' said he.

"I then related in what manner the prisoner had saved my life at Damascus, that in gratitude I had offered him his liberty, but that he had refused it, from the fear of ex

posing me to death. 'My Lord,' added I, ' he is not guilty. A man of such generous sentiments is incapable of committing an odious crime. Some base detractors have calumniated him, and he has become the unfortunate victim of their envy.'

"The Caliph was moved, and his great soul led him to admire the heroism of my friend.

"I pardon him,' said Mamoun, on thy account; go, carry the good news, and bring him to me.'

"The monarch ordered him to be clothed with a robe of honour, presented him with ten horses, ten mules, and ten camels, out of his own stables. He added a purse of sequins for the expense of his journey, and gave him a letter of recommendation to the governor of Damascus."

THE FATAL DANCE.

THE subject of the following narrative was the idolized daughter of a gay and worldly father, who in spite of the tears and expostulations of a pious mother, to whom such an act seemed little short of sacrilege, led her to the altar of worldly folly-the village dancing-school. She soon excelled all competitors, and was considered the unrivalled belle. At this crisis her father died, and she lent a willing car to the explanations of Divine truth from her mother, which satisfied her understanding and filled her heart with pure and holy emotions. She was on the point of making a public profession of her faith in Christ, when the village in which she lived was agitated with preparations for a splendid ball. The poor widow shuddered as she witnessed the progress of this much-dreaded evil: to complete her uneasiness, a brother of her husband, a man of the world, visiting in the family, declared that he would be at the expense of equipping her daughter as his own child, and that she should eclipse all the woman of rank and fashion in the ball-room.

The poor girl was at first unwilling to lend an ear to