looked very miserable, but said that he felt resigned to his fate, and trusted in the mercy of God. He was weeping when we bade him a final farewell, and clung to our hands, as though we had the power to save him. My interviews with him had a beneficial influence upon me, and I resolved to curb my passions, and keep them in their place.

During this time, I frequently received letters from home, and things went on pretty much as they did before I left it. I will not pain the reader by relating the scenes which there transpired, but will close this chapter with a letter from brother Thomas. If there are expressions in Jane's or Thomas' letters which manifest a bad spirit, let the reader remember the circumstances by which they were surrounded. Circumstances will account for a lack of parental respect, and unchristian thought and

allusions.

"I have a little bit of news for you, Henri, which, I "think, will remind you of old times, and please you into "the bargain. You know that we children formed the "determination not to be drudges to the deacon, and I "made bold to tell him so. Some two months since, he "brought home a little girl, whom he took from the poor"house in a neighboring town. She looked bad enough, "when she came; but the saintly deacon must make her "look worse, if possible. Mrs. Stewart was sadly in his

way; for she would be feeding and clothing her, making

ones, and always keeping

What a kind and chari

"her garments out of her old "her looking tidy and decent. "table woman she is,- always doing good! Mrs. Stew"art's care did not save the poor child from cruel abuse. "If she did anything wrong, or the deacon imagined she "had done wrong (and his imagination in that line. is "remarkably powerful), a brutal whipping was sure to "follow. Mother thought the whippings were too severe, "but he told her they were vitally requisite to the "child's welfare. The fact is, he must have something "to beat and mangle,— it is his nature, as much so as it "is the nature of the wolf to bite. We determined, "however, that this should not last long. The deacon "liked it too well, and we knew what was sport to "him was death to the child. A most brutal exhibition "of his diabolical passion and cruelty decided us to put "our plan into execution at once. Mary Flinn is awk"ward and clumsy. She had the misfortune to fall with

a waiter of crockery, proving herself a decided piece"maker, but one who did not receive a blessing to be "coveted. The deacon was in the house at the time; "and when he saw the broken dishes, he beat her fear"fully. He cut and bruised her most shamefully. Mrs. "Stewart, Jane and Lizzy, begged of him to stop; but it ፡፡ only inflamed the passions of this fiend still more. "Mother interfered, at last, and saved the poor thing

"from further outrage. If I had been there, I know not "what I should have done. It was well for the deacon "that you were not present. Would n't there have been แ an uproar?

"I had corresponded with a friend who was in search "of a little girl, and I wrote him in relation to the "late horrible affair, requesting him to meet me at a "given time and place, and take Mary home with him. "She is now twenty-five miles from here, and has a good "home. What a time we had, when the deacon learned "that she was gone! His rage was beautiful. It would "have done you good to have seen him. He threatened "to turn us all out of doors; but the old interloper can't "do it, and he knows it.

"I am happy to inform you that Hannah Webber is "married. Hezekiah is to be married soon, and is to "live on the old place. It would please me better if he "would remove to his own place.' Jane is engaged to "a gentleman every way worthy of her. Mother's

"health is very poor,- she looks pale and miserable. "She stands in great fear of her charming husband, and "I really believe despises him. Good! good! - don't (( 'you say so? I suppose my letter is sufficiently long; "so, good-by. When the deacon is dead I will give you an invitation to come - home.

"THOMAS EATON."

CHAPTER XII.

WELCOME VISITORS.-MRS. STEWART'S STORY.

Two years passed away, and I had not seen any of the members of our family, excepting my brothers. One summer afternoon, the stage stopped at the door of my uncle's, when out jumped Mrs. Stewart and my sister Jane. O, how glad I was to see them! I rushed into their arms, and kissed them again and again, with passionate delight. The joy seemed mutual. They expressed surprise in seeing me look so healthy, and remarked that I had grown very large and handsome. This flattery, or praise, sounded pleasantly enough in my ears; for, I am not ashamed to confess it, that I ever had a strong desire for true manly beauty. It is fashionable, I know, in the pulpit and out of it, to preach about the vanity of such things; and yet the preachers both pulpit and layare as well pleased with the flattering words, which sometimes greet their ears, as the bright-eyed blooming girl, whom everybody styles the beauty of her native village.

Mrs. Stewart looked more careworn than I had ever seen her before, while sister Jane had grown more interesting; but over her face passed frequently an expression

of sadness, reminding one of a spring day, when the clouds ever and anon pass over the face of the sun, hiding its beaming smiles, which make the world look so glad and golden. But, nevertheless, her appearance was decidedly interesting. You could read in her aspect the dear, good-hearted girl, whose presence would always cause more sunshine than shadow.

Helen was absent when they arrived; she came home soon after, and I was proud to introduce her as the one I had rescued from Deacon Webber's tyranny. Mrs. Stewart started when she took her hand and gazed into her beautiful face, which at that moment brightened with child-like reverence and admiration. I wished myself in their places, when she and Jane pressed her to their hearts, and imprinted warm kisses upon her red lips. A strong friendship immediately sprang up between the parties, which was a source of happiness to us all. I felt proud of my sister, who was a number of years Helen's senior, when I saw how well they loved each other. Many pleasant rambles did we enjoy during their fortnight's visit, and the time passed rapidly and pleasantly away.

They gave us a history of home affairs, which had undergone no improvement since I left. It was interesting, but sad. Little Katy was still the same dear, affectionate creature, though her father had used every means in his power to spoil her. His treatment of her had been