looked kindly, but sadly into my face, whispered "Goodnight," and hastened to her room.

for

After passing a sleepless night, I arose and prepared

my departure, half hoping that Helen might relent. My uncle and aunt were surprised at my sudden resolu- * tion to leave them; but, as I told them it was necessary for me to go, they said no more about it. Helen still looked sad, but showed no signs of relenting; and I was obliged to bid her good-by with no hope of ever having the right to call her my own. When I was about to start, she offered me her hand, which I grasped with fervor, scarcely able to restrain myself from again folding her to my heart.

CHAPTER XXIV.

NEW LEBANON. THE SHAKERS.

I FOUND everything going on harmoniously at home, for peace and happiness had returned to a long-deserted roof. Mrs. Stewart was the good angel who watched over the interests of all. She had found the children in a worse state than she left them. They were more fretful and ungovernable; but the vicious influences, which had so long surrounded them, were removed; and, for her, it was not a very hard thing to eradicate much of the evil, which had been growing and taking deeper root for so many years. They would frequently let their passions, for some trivial cause, run away with their judgments; but she was ever ready, with her word of peace and look of love and forbearance, to soothe and calm the troubled sea of passion.

There is a power in goodness which the most abandoned may be made to feel. It can tame the most fierce, and cause the madman to become as gentle as a little child. The raging passions are calmed and stilled in its presence, even as Jesus calmed the stormy sea, when he said, "Peace, peace, be still." The reason why evil

gains so many victories is, because there is so much professed and so little real every-day-life goodness in the world.

The influence of Mrs. Stewart was just what was wanted to counteract the evils which had so long mingled with the very air which my brothers and sisters inhaled. There is nothing more fatal to a family of children than to live with those who are abusive, overbearing, wicked, self-righteous, fault-finding and quarrelsome. It makes them like those with whom they reside. Many children are passionate, overbearing and quarrelsome, because their parents are so. They inherit bad dispositions from them, and example and practice make them worse. And yet such parents wonder why their children should be so hasty and passionate!

While on my visit at uncle's, I had scarcely lifted my hand to do any kind of work; but now I thought the best thing that I could do was to aid my brothers in their work on the farm. I was suffering from low spirits and ill health, caused by my recent disappointment. I thought labor in the open air would be most conducive to health, and exert a greater healing power than medicines. A farm is the best place for invalids, especially those of cities and large villages; for they need the pure country air, and that kind of labor which will call all the powers of the physical system into action. Most of the drugs prescribed for the sick poison and corrupt the blood, while labor

upon a farm, regular hours, good air and wholesome food, remove disease and restore health.

It took us, with our hired help, till the twentieth of August to finish haying. The exercise was beneficial to me; but it is vain to expect bodily health when the mind is diseased.

I have not spoken, for some time, of Deacon Webber. The week previous to my arrival home he met with a sad mishap. He was detected in purloining a part of the money collected at the last communion season. This led to an investigation, which made it very evident that he had done so for years. A church-meeting was immediately called, when all the facts were laid before it, and he was unanimously expelled. It was not long before everybody found out that he was always a bad man. The members of the church said they never had any confidence in him. The crime of stealing money collected for church purposes was looked upon by his brethren as almost equal to the unpardonable sin; and some were certain that it was the very sin itself, especially when the deed was done by a deacon.

When Helen Means lived with him, pale, ragged and dirty, the number was not very large in the church who thought the deacon was guilty of sin in thus treating her like a brute. But there were some who regarded the matter as Christians should; but they were powerless in numbers and influence. Many others would have con

demned him, if they had known all the facts. Those who were now loudest in their condemnation then vented their maledictions upon my head, because I had aided the poor girl to escape from one who shamefully abused her. When will people learn that the beings upon whom God has stamped his image, without regard to nation, clime or color, are holier and more sacred than rites, ceremonies, holy days and sacred places? Better steal from an hundred churches than wrong one little, helpless child.

On the first of September, my sister Jane was married to Herbert Mansfield, a young farmer, who lived in a neighboring town. At her wedding I again saw Helen Means. She was cordial as a sister,- nothing more. If it had not been for Jane's feelings, and Mrs. Stewart's, I should not have been present. I treated her with more of coldness than I ever manifested towards any being before in whom I had the least interest. My conduct was noticed, and Mrs. Stewart seemed hurt. Helen returned with my uncle and aunt, the next day after Jane's marriage. In spite of my coldness, she urged me to come and pay them another visit soon. I bade her remember what I said the evening of our last interview.

66

Then," said she, "I shall come and see you."

Possibly you may," I replied.

I was not present when she left for home, and this I did not regret; for it might have been a hard task to have preserved my stoical coolness, and manifested no emotion.