post-mistress. She accompanied the latter to take the basket she had left at her house.

'Well,' said she, what is there in your basket?'

Catherine raised the cover, and replied: As you have been so kind to my mother, I beg you will accept these cauliflowers, as a token of my gratitude. My mother desired me to sell them, but I am sure she will be much better pleased that I should thus express my thanks to you.' 'I admire your kind-heartedness,' said the post-mistress; but I will pay you very willingly for your vegetables. Your parents want money more than I do. She took the cauliflowers, paid for them, and said to Catherine: 'I do not wish you to take back your basket empty: wait an instant. She went for a bottle of Malaga wine and a white loaf. 'This wine,' said she, is for your mother; the physician wishes her to take a glass of it every day. Divide the loaf between your brothers and sisters, and do not forget yourself in the distribution.' She put the bottle of wine and the bread into the basket, wishing Catherine a safe journey, who did not fail to thank her. She went home, and entering her house joyfully, gave the crown to her mother, saying, that neither the physician nor apothecary would take any remuneration. She then handed her the bottle of wine, and divided the bread among her brothers and sisters. The parents were enchanted as

well as the children. Very early next morning the generous physician knocked at the door. He did not find the invalid very ill; 'But,' said he,' she may have become so if a doctor had not been called in time to see her. The herbs would be useful afterwards, at present more efficacious remedies are requisite. I hope, however, that she will be able to leave her bed in about eight days.'

He wrote his prescription, promised to see her again shortly, and galloped off. Returning in a few days he found Theresa convalescent, and said: All is right: she has no more need of medicine. She only wants rest and nourishment.'

'Alas!' said Hermann, 'where will we get it?'

The doctor drew from his pocket a little sealed parcel, which contained a sum of money, and handed it to Catherine. On opening the parcel she found the following note:-

'MY DEAR CATHERINE-My parents and I were much struck by the disinterestedness you evinced in returning the three crowns. My error in mistaking for artificial the garland of hops which ornamented your pretty hat has been useful to me, by shewing me that honesty may be found in the poorest village and under the most humble thatch. Accept, then, the three crowns in remembrance of the occurrence, and three more as a reward for your honesty. In consequence of your good parent's illness my mother sends her four crowns to contribute to her restoration, which she and I unite in desiring ardently. Adieu! HENRIETTA DUVAL.'

Catherine and her parents were agreeably surprised by the contents of this letter, as well as by the money which accompanied it. They were astonished that the young lady knew already of the mother's illness, as Catherine had not mentioned it. But the generous physician, having heard of Madame Duval's benevolence during her stay in Vienna, had written to her immediately after his visit to Theresa.

The story of the straw-hat and the garland of hops had furnished him with an opportunity of recommending to Madame Duval's kindness the sick mother, as well as her poor and interesting family.

One fine day in spring, some months after Theresa's recovery, as she and Hermann with their nine children, the youngest sitting on her mother's knee, were at dinner, they suddenly heard a knock at the door. All the children cried with eager curiosity: Come in!' and a young person, richly dressed, entered the room.

'Miss Harriet!' cried Catherine, as she ran to meet her. All rose respectfully.

Catherine and her parents began to thank her for the money she sent them, but Harriet stopped them, saying:

'Unless you sit down again, and say no more about it, I will go away immediately?

At this moment they heard another knock, and an elegant-looking lady appeared. She stopped some minutes in silence on the threshold, and looked around her. Harriet said in an under voice to Catherine, who was near her: 'It is my mother.'

Catherine saluted Madame Duval respectfully, who, on perceiving her, exclaimed: Whom do I see? I had a friend in my youth who resembled you as one rose resembles another.' Mrs Duval, looking around, said to Catherine: Is your mother here? Is she alive and

well?'

Catherine had not replied when Theresa entered.

Madame Duval looked at her, and immediately exclaimed, quite overjoyed: "Theresa! yes, it is you! What happiness to meet after such a long separation !'

Theresa regarded the stranger with surprise, and said: 'I do not remember ever to have seen you.'

'What do you not know your Leonora? Have you forgotten all the happy days we spent in our youth at the castle of Lindenbourg?'

'Ah,' replied the wife of the schoolmaster, 'I now recognise an old and valued friend, from whom I have been separated by circumstances. But I could not expect the daughter of my father's master should have kept up an intimacy unsuitable to her station.'

This accidental renewal of an old acquaintanceship led to pleasing consequences. Madame Duval having seated herself, proceeded to make an exceedingly agreeable communication. My husband,' said she, has been intending for some time to remodel our village-school, and hitherto deferred it from unwillingness to hurt the feelings of the poor master who has had the management of it. But this difficulty has been removed, as he has of himself resigned the situation, sensible that his advanced age incapacitates him for the due performance of its duties. Mr Duval only requires a clever and educated master. Catherine's letter first made us think of you.

A note from the doctor who visited Theresa gave us a most favourable idea of your family, and informed us that Catherine herself had written that letter. Mr Duval said that the schoolmaster who gave such instruction to his children, and who possessed such sentiments, must be a man of probity and education. You may therefore have the vacant situation, if quite agreeable to you.' I do not doubt your acceptance of my proposal, for our village is a very agreeable residence. The school-house is large and commodious, and there is an excellent garden adjoining.'

Hermann was as much surprised as delighted with this proposal. Madam,' said he, 'I accept your offer with many thanks: I will try to perform my duties in the most conscientious manner, and to evince my gratitude more by my actions than by my words?'

Mrs Duval said to Hermann, that it would be well for him to quit the village of Pierrefond as quickly as possible: she told him to fix on a day for his departure, when they would send cars for his family and furniture. She then bade them adieu, and returned with her daughter to the carriage.

As Harriet was stepping into the carriage, she said to Catherine: I acted very improperly in taking your hat on such an exceedingly hot day. I must give it back.' So saying she handed it to her.

"Is it possible?' said Catherine. garland of hops, is it not faded yet? as the day I gathered it.'

Harriet clapped her hands, and said you are as much mistaken as I was.

What this pretty Really it is as green

laughing: 'Ha! ha! I took the natural

for an artificial garland, now you think the artificial natural. As soon as I arrived in town, I had your garland carefully imitated by an artist. I give it you. Keep it in remembrance of the one you put on your hat, and of the means used to make us all happy.'

'Miss Harriet is right,' said Hermann; 'keep it carefully, my dear Catherine, that you may remember the truth of the old adage: "Honesty is the best policy."'

EXTRAORDINARY CASE OF JUDICIAL
MURDER.

THE annals of courts of justice do not present a more lamentable case of erroneous decision than the following, every word of which we vouch for as correct.

In the year 1788, an event took place at Dundee, which excited a great sensation all over Scotland. On the night of the 16th of February, the office of the Dundee Banking Company was broken into, and robbed of the sum of L.422, 2s. 6d. It was discovered that the robbery had been effected by means of a hole made in the ceiling, through which the plunderers had effected their entrance and escape. The interests of so wide a circle of persons are involved in the security of a bank, that it was natural for such an occurrence to create much stir and alarm, though the sum stolen was comparatively small. Accordingly, a reward of L.150 was immediately offered for information respecting the offenders, part of the sum to be paid on conviction. For some time no discovery was made, but at length a person named Alexander Macdonald, tailor in Dundee, came forward and gave information, implicating three individuals-James Falconer and Peter Bruce, merchants in Dundee, and James Dick, late shipmaster there, in the affair of the bank robbery.

On Wednesday the 13th of August, the trial of Falconer and Bruce took place in the Edinburgh Justiciary Court, before Lord Hailes and other judges. Dick had left Dundee before the charge was made against him, and appears to have been out of the way during the whole progress of the business. When Macdonald was brought forward for examination, the leading counsel for the panels offered some objections to his testimony. The counsel declared himself able to prove that Macdonald was a person of bad general character; that he had once stolen a bill; that he had personated an exciseman,