and awoke her too painfully to present your reasons. And I wish," she added difficulties, to be hailed without strong with sudden vivacity, "I wish that old fox Stratton, who was about here, has not been setting some trap for you-p'rhaps the factories!"

emotion. He took her hand with a look that prepared her for the worst, and said, Among all earthly changes, how increasingly precious is the word that assures the believer he has a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.'"

"It is, it is," replied the widow, wringing her hands; "but oh, sir, the four walls of this poor cottage have been a home on earth to me that I feel it hard to leave."

"I know it: the hardest lesson we have to learn is that which convinces us we are strangers and sojourners-pilgrims seeking a better country. Gladly indeed should I have been the bearer of a message that would leave you yet awhile in this quiet retreat: but"-he hesitated.

"We must leave it, sir?"

"I urged the case strongly; I even ventured to promise an increase of rent on your part, but in vain: another applicant had secured the reversion. Let us now consider in what way we can promote your interests, and those of the dear children."

The widow's countenance changed a little, and Helen coloured just because she hoped she should not colour at that mo

ment.

"Oh, I see how it is," cried the lodger triumphantly: "I was right; but surely, dame Green, you arn't such a simpleton as to be gulled by them who are only afraid you should be a burden to them, coming, with this large family, on the parish."

"The parish!" exclaimed Richard in the most angry tone that he had ever been known to utter.

"Ay, boy, the parish: don't you see, if any thing ailed your grandmother or the little ones, though you and Helen might be lucky enough to get a service, you couldn't maintain them; and what must it all come to but that? Oh, I haven't been a beadle's wife and his widow too, for nothing: I know something of the ways of the parish."

"Not yet, sir, if you please." "Mrs. Barker, ma'am," said Richard, In vain did the good clergyman remon-rising and standing as tall as he could, strate, telling her he must leave home for "there is nobody, next to my grandmother, some days, and that every hour was pre- I respect so much as yourself, ma'am: cious she repeated that she would talk it but as long as this roof is over our heads, over with him when she saw him again. ay, and as long as these two hands have Reluctantly he quitted the subject; and strength to dig, I do hope, ma'am, you after much good counsel and scriptural will never hurt our feelings again, by consolation under approaching trials, with speaking as if any of my family could go fervent prayer, he rose to depart; but on the parish." And out he walked with turning to the door, said, "Take a cau- a swelling heart. tion, Mrs. Green, from a sincere friend: I "As fine a boy as ever trod on shoeknow you may be exposed to some induce-leather," observed Mrs Barker: "but he ments to venture on a hasty step before my return: Do not suffer yourself to be tempted by any show of advantage, into the manufacturing districts. Remember my words, and be wary."

The widow longed to call him back, and to tell all; but her promise must be kept, and the opportunity was gone. In the evening, Mrs. Barker eagerly began on the same subject, and was not a little mortified at meeting a similar repulse. After many attempts at eliciting some information, she drew herself up, saying. "I might take offence at your being so close with an old friend; but no doubt you have

is not up to these things. And as for his two hands, and his digging — well, I'll say no more; only don't let yourself be fooled, Molly Green, by them that care less for you than for the saving of a farthing's worth of musty meal."

This discussion produced its effect on the widow; but not such as was desired by her two disinterested advisers. The idea of becoming a parish pauper had scarcely occurred to her; but now the thing was presented in a nearer point of view than she could well bear to contemplate. It appeared likely enough that Mr. Stratton was actuated by the motives at

The young children had indulged in many delightful anticipations of the won

tributed to him; but his friend was un- trusted of bosom friends, is comparatively connected with the place; and then the a stranger: there are depths of feeling, pamphlet! That would not have been and mazes of thought not to be explored written and printed to deceive her. The by human eye: throbs of secret anguish contrast was strong: on the one hand beyond the alleviation of human sympapauperism, or, at the very best, a complete thy. Alone man enters the world; alone separation of the family on the other, a he must launch forth upon eternity; and home, lucrative employment, independ- between the two periods there is many a ence, respectability, all the advantages moment when, despite himself, man is that schools for the children, and abundant compelled to feel what it is to be utterly spiritual privileges for them and herself alone. could impart. Besides, her daughter had long been a resident in that very town; and would now, no doubt, be glad to renewders that they were to behold in a great the intercourse with a mother whom she had first disobeyed, then slighted, and reproached with undue partiality for William's family. It was too delightful a prospect to be relinquished: her resolution was formed; and on the very next day she announced it to her friend Mr. Stratton, who promised to see an agreement entered into with one of the first mill-owners in the town, and to make all requisite arrangements for their removal.

town; but these they had only whispered among themselves, since the little sale of household stuff commenced; for even Willy could enter somewhat into the struggle that was evidently trying the elder portion of the family. They had all felt the parting with Mrs. Barker; and some of her commiserating expressions, as she stroked their heads and patted their cheeks, had excited a misgiving that partially clouded their gay dreams with a When Mr. Barlow returned, he found vague foreboding of some unknown evil. things too far gone for his interference.- James grew languid from fatigue; Mary He therefore contented himself with rescu- had an uneasy apprehension of rivalship ing Richard from the fate of the others, by in the affection of her friends among new providing him with a situation where he claimants, and all were deeply grieved at would enjoy means of improvement with the prospect of leaving Richard. His the prospect of a good business, if he proved were feelings of no common poignancy; diligent and pains-taking; and with a for, in pursuading him to remain, seeking heavy heart he bestowed his parting bene-independence for himself in that rural disdiction on the assembled household the trict, Mr. Barlow had dropped some hints evening preceding their outset. The with respect to the injurious effect of facscene was so changed that a stranger tory employment on the health and charwould not have recognized Green's cot- acters of the rest, which, while they contage, in the comfortless, bare walls of the firmed him in his path of duty, gave rise all but deserted mansion. A sale had to more distressing apprehensions than taken place that morning, comprising the the good minister would willingly have whole of its simple furniture, save a few excited. He did not know how far the cherished articles of small intrinsic value, boy's mind had outgrown his years. Helcommitted to the care of a kind neighbour; en's indeed appeared an easier choice; and two flock-beds, with their accompani- for the only road that seemed open to ments of blankets and bedding, which the her was one which kept her beside her widow had agreed with the boatman to benefactress, holding out a fair prospect. convey as luggage, for their passage was of repaying to the family some part of her to be by canal. These lay closely packed, obligation; but her young heart had so furnishing seats for the party, who were entwined itself round the objects familiar never, never more to assemble in that from infancy, that the breaking up of the humble but beloved abode; and who might little establishment, the removal of each now be said to mourn each apart, over article as it passed into the hands of a come secret sorrow with which a stranger purchaser, and the consciousness that in could not intermeddle. There are seasons a few hours she must forever quit that when the nearest, the dearest, the most peaceful home, would have been a heavy

grief, even had she not imbibed a secret dread of the untried experiment, and shrunk from what her own fancy, far as it fell below the reality, would picture of the noise, the confusion, and other painful contrasts of a large town.

swer.

"Our poor honeysuckle! I do hope whoever gets the place will take care of the honeysuckle."

"Ah," sighed Richard, "many a pleasant hour I have passed, training and trimming that old plant. Some hand will cut it down before long."

"Never mind," said James, "I'll have one just like it growing over our window at M. It will make us more happy."

Tears sprang into Helen's eye at the

with the past. The widow felt it also, and remarked, "We are not going to a place of ease and enjoyment, my dear; but to labour for a living in a very different situation. The only thing we can promise ourselves there, of all that has made us so happy here, is the presence of God." Then clasping her hands, and looking up with a burst of tears, she ex

"The answer to that prayer, granny," said Richard, "is very gracious: 'My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.' Honeysuckles on the window there may not be; but the sweet moonlight will come through, and remind you of what Mr. Barlow said last Sunday, when he preached on the light shining in a dark place. One thing, I am sure, you will carry away with you, that has helped more than anything else to make us happy here, and that is the old bible, granny." The boy turned away to hide his tears, overpowered by the thought that he must no more listen to the sacred book in the midst of those he loved so well.

But none suffered like the widow: she had her portion of what each around her felt, and with it a depressing apprehension that she had acted wrong in preferring the counsel of worldly advisers before that of her long-tried, pious friend. It is no un-contrast thus forced upon her of the future common case to seek direction in prayer, and then to act from the impulse of our own choice, without waiting for an anOf selfishness in any shape she stood acquitted, even in her own eyes; but not so of precipitation. She was, in fact, one among many victims to a most nefarious device: the waste of human life in the factories, like that in the plantations of the west, occasions so depressing a de-claimed, "If thy presence go not with us, mand for a supply of new labourers, that carry us not up hence!" it gives rise to a traffic not very dissimilar from the slave trade. A brisk market is always open; and those who consider it a meritorious work to decrease the burdens of their respective parishes at any cost, are equally ready to recruit it with their paupers, as the natives of Madagascar of old were to sell their prisoners. Even where no such desire exists among parochial authorities, emissaries are employed, who, by means of such false representations as those contained in the pamphlet shown to the widow, written and published for that express purpose, allure the industrious countryman from his healthful sphere, to perish, with his little ones, amid the noxious exhalations of those unnatural dens. It is no fiction that such books are circulated in districts remote from the scenes described in them; or that they often prevail when other means would not succeed. But the die was cast, the cottage was dismantled, and the little party who sat grouped on the large bundle were to know their place within its walls no more. Evening was closing; a bright moon had surmounted the tops of the old elms that separated two adjoining fields, and looked in, as if for a farewell greeting, through the interstices of a woodbine, that had been carefully trained over the casement, and formed a grateful lattice. Mary broke the long silence.

The moonbeam, now broad and strong, fell upon them as they sat, and bathed them in its silvery light, passing through the pure clear atmosphere peculiar to a healthful sea-coast. They looked upon each other, and again to the fair orb, while the natural thought so beautifully expressed by the poet, seemed spontaneously to arise in their comparatively uncultivated minds, that it would be a sort of rallying point for their fond gaze, when widely severed in place and circumstance. After a silence of some minutes, the widow. called on Helen to repeat the twentythird psalm; and never had the preciousness of its soothing assurance so commended itself to their hearts, as while in

fore to the best advantage in point of sav-| Helen as being altogether the most unlike ing, or reclaiming some square foot of waste ground for a plantation of herbs. Helen, in truth, had no mystery about her: she was rather reserved; but Mary was an indefatigable hunter after the marvellous, and not always to be convinced by the evidence of her own senses, that she was capable of a mistake.