"Why did you do that, when her board was paid?" "O, sir, I pray your mercy! It was not my fault; indeed, it was not!

"Whose was it, then?"

"My husband's."

"Where is he?"

"In his grave. He spent the money for drink, and he died seven years ago."

"What did you call the name of the child?"

"Helen Means."

"Did the deacon know that she was not your child?" "No."

"Mr. Means threatened to kill me, if I told any one. After he got so much money, he abused me most shamefully; he was drunk half of his time, both day and night. I stood in fear of my life."

"I trust you are telling the truth!"

"It is the truth, sir, the solemn truth!—and I hope you will believe me."

"You appear honest, and I doubt not you are. Have you heard from the little girl since she went to live with Deacon Webber ?"

"Only once, and then he sent us word that she ran away. I have had many unhappy hours thinking of that poor child!"

"Have you anything now that belonged to the child when she was first brought to your house?"

"Yes, a little locket that she wore around her neck, containing some hair."

"Thank God!" exclaimed Mrs. Stewart; "it was all I had!"

"Why did you take it from her neck?" I asked.
"For fear my husband should sell it for rum.”
"We would see the locket."

She went into another room, and soon returned, placing a gold locket in my hand.

"Is this the one?" I asked, holding it up.

"Yes, yes!" said Mrs. Stewart, taking it, and kissing it again and again.

Mrs. Means and her daughters looked on in surprise. Here I arose, and, taking Lelia by the hand, said,

"Mrs. Means, this is my wife; and her name was once Helen Means!

"What! the little girl who lived with us?"

"The very same. And this," said I, pointing to Mrs. Stewart, "is her mother."

Each member of the family regarded Lelia as though greatly astonished. She went and kissed them all, and seemed well pleased to see them again. Mrs. Means informed us that they left Boston about the time they learned that Helen had run away, and that her husband

died soon after. They had lived ever since in the cottage, she and her girls binding shoes, and the boys working for the neighboring farmers. She had six children ; two boys, and four girls. Having asked and answered all the questions that were desirable on both sides, and visited the little creek, and other places of interest, we turned our faces homeward.

86*

CHAPTER XXX.

CONCLUSION.

THAT evening, as we sat at the fireside in our happy home, talking in relation to the result of our visit, which we all regarded as somewhat remarkable, we suddenly relapsed into silence. I was the first to speak.

"I think of buying the cottage," I said, "and making a present of it to Mrs. Means."

"I was thinking of that," said Mrs. Stewart.

"So was I," said Lelia. "I hope you will, Henri! Mrs. Means was always kind to me."

"How would a few acres of land go with it?

"My own dear husband, it is just like you! How happy it will make them!"

"She has had a hard time, all her life, I should think. But there is much of the woman about her yet. How tidy the house looked!"

"I noticed that," said Mrs. Stewart. "Let the cottage be purchased immediately, and that will save them rent through the cold winter, which is near at hand."

"And the land," said Lelia, "will make labor for the

boys next summer, and what they raise enable the family to get a living, without such severe toil."

"I like the plan," I replied; "and, as we can spare a few hundred dollars just as well as not, the thing shall be done forthwith."

Not long after this, I bought the cottage and ten acres of good land, and made a present of them to Mrs. Means. It relieved her heart of a world of care and anxiety, and she felt no longer obliged to toil fifteen hours per day. The gratitude of the family can be better imagined than described. It is pleasant to do good; and, could this truth be realized, good works and charities would smile upon us everywhere, as sweetly as the sunlight of God.

A number of years have passed away since these scenes occurred, and happy years have they been to us. Filial, conjugal and parental love, this holy trinity in unity, have ever filled our hearts with purest joy, and, with their clear, shining light, made glad and beautiful our home, brightening, like a ray from heaven, all the pathway of life. Our number has increased, for we have two children, a girl and boy; and we think they are the sweetest children in the world. When our little girl was born, I claimed the right to give her a name; and so I called her Helen Means. Lelia named the boy, who is two years younger than Helen, and his name is Henri.

Mrs. Stewart, our good mother, is attaining unto a blessed old age, and she is one of the best and happiest