marry without his consent. And thus she remained single with her father and mother, pursuing the quiet tenor of her way among her immediate friends and relatives, while the famous act of her life was gradually mingling with the events of the past. Alas! she did not survive long the fame she had acquired, but sank into an early tomb with her honours thick upon her. After the events narrated, her anxious parents began to observe that she was declining in health, and on calling in medical aid, they were told that Grace was afflicted with consumption. As the bleak site and strong sea air were unfavourable for her recovery from the seeds of that insidious disease, the doctor advised her to remove from the Farne Isles to a more genial locality on the mainland. Accordingly, about the latter part of 1841-three years after her memorable feat-she left that wild scene of her youth for ever, and took up her abode with a married sister at Bamborough. Here she felt no better, and moved to Wooler, where she remained for some time, but without any sensible improvement in her health. At her own desire she proceeded on her way to Newcastle to get the best medical advice, and for that purpose arranged to meet her father at the town of Alnwick. When she arrived there, it became known to the Duchess of Northumberland, who at once sent her own physician to the now weakly heroine, advising her to remain at Alnwick, where an airy, comfortable lodging would be procured for her. To these kind attentions of her noble patroness she acceded, and for many months remained there an invalid, with the best medical attendance. Nevertheless the progress of her disease was not arrested, and she rapidly declined. Her father, seeing that there was no hope, got her removed to her sister's house at Bamborough, where she would be near her relations. Before leaving Alnwick, the kind-hearted Duchess came to bid her farewell, which affected, yet soothed, the ailing young woman in her latter days. While on her death-bed she was anxious to see as many of her relations as possible, in order to distribute amongst them the presents she had received from a generous public. Having done so, she bequeathed the funded proceeds of the subscription to her beloved father. Having thus set her "house in order," she calmly resigned herself to her rapidly approaching end, without a murmur at her early fate. During the whole of her illness she was never heard to utter a complaint, but always acted as a true and sincere Christian. After ten days' intercourse with her sorrowing parents, sisters, and brother, she died in peace on the 20th October, 1842. Her funeral was attended by a large concourse of people of all grades of society, who testified to the worth and virtues of Grace Darling by their presence, as one who had nobly succoured her fellow-creatures in the Days of danger and Distress. African Women, WHO SUCCOURED THE FAMOUS TRAVELLER, THE tenderness of the female heart in succouring distress is proverbial. Indeed it may be said with truth, that if there be one trait in woman's nature more characteristic than another, it is that of pity for creatures in distress, even to the lower animals. No sooner does she see her fellow-beings suffering privation or illness, than it is her first impulse to try and relieve them, irrespective of sex, age, creed, or country. Among European nations this is especially illustrated by women voluntarily taking to the vocation of hospital nurses-not always as merely a suitable kind of employment, but, as in the example of our noble country-woman, Florence Nightingale, because it is a mission for which God has prepared her. So, also, on the Continent the Sisters of Charity and Mercy, frequently belonging to the upper classes of society, attend upon the sick and wounded. This is specially the case in France, where, in addition to hospital nuns, a female vivandiere accompanies each regiment to the battle-field, carrying refreshment to succour the wounded or the fatigued soldier on the march. In like manner the African traveller hails the presence of woman with joy when he sees her afar off beside her cottage door, for there he knows that he may drink and eat of what she has, without money and without price. Perhaps the most beautiful feature in this womanly trait is its universality. It is not confined to civilized nations; for we have the testimony of many travellers in savage countries, that where the "milk of human kindness" has been most freely bestowed upon them in days of distress, it was by the hands of women. Of these instances none are more affecting than the relief accorded to the famous explorer, Mungo Park, who, on several occasions, while discovering the river Niger, was robbed, beaten, and left for dead by men, while poor negro women took pity on him and saved his life. A generation has passed away since the journals of that traveller were first published, giving the most truthful and modest account of explorations and sufferings of any on record. At the time of their publication they created the most lively interest throughout all classes of society, from the palace down to the humble cottage, because on his first journey he was given up for lost; and this, in all probability, he would have been, but for the timely succour of the kind black women, who fed him at the last extremity, when he had given himself up to despair. This was not merely on one occasion, but in several instances; showing that the feeling heart of woman beats the same under a skin black as ebony as it does where it is white as alabaster. Mungo Park's first experience of a negress's sympathy was in that part of Western Africa called the Kajaaga country, ruled by a negro king named Batcheri. Having entered this sable monarch's dominions unwittingly, without conforming to the customs of the place, he was followed by the king's son and ten horsemen to the town of Joag. There he was informed that, having entered the king's town without having first paid the duties, or giving any presents to the king, his people, cattle, and baggage, were forfeited, according to the laws of the country. He remonstrated with them, and as he was entirely at their mercy, was solicitious to conciliate matters. He began by observing that what he had done did. not proceed from any want of respect towards the king, nor from any wish to violate his laws, but wholly from his own inexperience and ignorance, being a stranger, totally unacquainted with the laws and customs of their country. He had indeed entered the king's frontier, without knowing that he was to pay the duties beforehand, but he was ready to pay them now. He then tendered them five drachms of gold, which they readily accepted, and he was in hopes that it would satisfy their cupidity. All the time they kept eyeing his baggage, and at last insisted that it should be examined. It was no ase opposing them, the bundles were opened, and each took whatever articles they fancied. Then they began quarrelling among themselves about the division of the spoil, until they robbed him of half his goods. This was a most serious affair for the prosecution of his journey, as the articles stolen by this black banditti were used by him instead of money to purchase food by the way. When they had gone, it was night, and he had to pass it with little to eat, camping out by the side of a dim fire. These proceedings disquieted him and his attendants, so that next day they were in a perplexity how to procure provisions. He knew that if he produced any beads or amber he had left, the rapacious king would hear of it, and he should probably lose all. He therefore resolved to combat hunger for the day, and wait some favourable opportunity of purchasing or begging food. Towards evening, as he and his servant-boy were sitting chewing straws, for want of better fare, a female negro slave passed by with a basket upon her head. Looking at them, she asked if he had got his dinner. As he thought she was only mocking him, he gave no answer; but his hungry boy told her the king had robbed him of all his money. On hearing this, the good old woman, with a look of unaffected benevolence, immediately took the basket from her head, and showing him that it contained ground nuts, asked if he could eat them. Being answered in the affirmative, she presented him with a few handfuls, and walked away, before he had time to thank her for her seasonable supply. "This trifling circumstance," he says, "gave me peculiar satisfaction. I reflected with pleasure on the conduct of this poor untutored slave, who, without examining into my character, or circumstances, listened implicitly to the dictates of her |