"For mercy's sake, Henri, do not speak in that way! Your father cherished a fatal error, and there is little hope for him, for he held on to it unto the last. You were too young then to understand the fearful nature of such things; but you are old enough now. Deacon Webber has often alluded to your father, and warned others, lest they too should turn their eyes from the light, and imbibe an error so false and pernicious. Have you never heard him ?"

"No, mother, and it is well I have not; for I would have told him to his face that he was a base slanderer; for I know that my father is one of the brightest spirits that ever was crowned with life eternal."

"You shall not talk in that way, Henri, for I cannot hear it; 't is too awful."

"Don't be afraid of the truth, for it will not harm you, mother. And as to Deacon Webber, I despise him, the wretch! A pretty man he is to warn others, he had better begin at home! Look at Helen Means, his little servant, treated in the most shameful manner, clothed in rags and filth, half fed, sleeping in the attic alone on a pile of dirty rags; whipped and knocked about every day; never allowed to read, study or go to school!" "Who told you this?"

"She told me, herself. As I was coming from school, I heard a cry of distress. I hastened to learn the cause. It proved to be Helen Means; and a great boy was

abusing her, and he seemed to think that he had a perfect right to, as she was clothed with what he called Deacon Webber's righteousness."

"What did he mean by talking in that way ?"

"The miserable rags which he gives her to wear, instead of decent clothes. I suppose you understand that?" "What depravity!"

"Never mind the depravity, but hear the rest of my story. The boy would not let the girl alone, and I fought with him. He would have killed me, I fear, if it had not been for her; for she hit his head with a stone, and knocked him senseless. We walked home together, and she told me how the deacon and the whole family abused her."

"A nice business to be engaged in, truly! — two boys and a girl fighting! Your cousins have been here to see you, and have gone home. Deacon Webber came to me to have a talk about that child; and after he had told me how wicked she was, I advised the present course of treatment, that she might be saved as by fire."

"You did, mother?" I said, springing out of my chair. "You advised such treatment as she receives? Whoever advises or justifies such treatment as that is an unfeeling monster! "

After I had uttered these words, I thought they were very severe, spoken to a parent, and hardly justifiable; but I was not sorry, for I felt that any being who would counsel such wicked abuse of a little child was a wretch,

and though the guilty one held the endearing relation of mother, it did not alter the fact. Shame upon those who neglect and trample upon poor and orphan children! If those who have the care of them abuse and neglect them, others, will ask no better license.

My mother was very much startled and surprised at my language and manner. She gave me a violent push with her hand, which sent me to the floor, and striking my head, the blood streamed forth anew. I was weak from the loss of it, or I should not have fallen.

"I will teach you," she said, "to talk in that way to your mother! What do you think of yourself, you wicked boy?" She now stopped and regarded me with a strange, unearthly look, as I stood before her, the blood running down my face.

After a few minutes I replied, in great bitterness, "You call me wicked; and it would be strange if I were not, when my own mother counsels the most savage abuse of a little child."

Keep your insolent tongue still, or I will chastise you severely!"

"I care not if you do, but I will speak! I will write to Helen Means' parents, and tell them how Deacon Webber abuses her; and I will tell everybody else that you advised it."

I had never talked in this manner before, and I could not then, if I had not been in the highest state of excite

ment. For more than one reason, I had but little filial affection for mother; and when she spoke so complimentary of the deacon, and so unkindly of my father, and then confessed her participation in the wrongs of that poor child, my whole nature was aroused with indignation. I was faint when I entered the house, and it was only the intense excitement which kept me up. At the close of my last speech I fainted, and knew no more until I found myself lying in my own bed.

4*

WHEN I opened my eyes, my sister Jane sat near me. "How do you feel now, Henri?" she said.

"My head is painful, and everything seems strange. How came I here?"

"You fainted, and Thomas and I brought you here." "Did I? O, yes, I remember that I was faint, and I feel weak and faint now."

"You will soon be better, I hope; so keep very quiet."

It was soon night, and I tried in vain to compose myself to sleep. Strange feelings, and sensations of a frightful character, came crowding upon me, until my poor brain was half crazed. By and by, whole troops of the strangest and most ghastly looking creatures that ever mortal beheld stood all around my bed and hovered over me, and placed their sunken faces close to mine, and looked at me with their hollow eyes. At first I saw them when I became drowsy and shut my eyes; and when I resolved that I would keep my eyes open, they soon marshalled their forces as before, and then they came in such numbers that I wondered how so many could get