I have no doubt but he will get on; and as to industry, that's in the blood." "And kindness and generosity also, I hope," continued Madame Lorin; "for I have not forgotten, M. Ferron, that my daughter and I owe everything to you; and if it had not been for the credit that you formerly gave me "Don't speak of that, I intreat," abruptly interrupted Jacques, visibly embarrassed; "you must require refreshment. Come, Louise, you must do the honours of your new home, my child; I know nothing about receiving guests." The young girl, who had rejoined Stephen, and who, under pretence of assisting him to unharness his horse, had stuck a flower in his button-hole, immediately left them, and preceded them into the sitting-room. She laid the cloth, and brought all that was required with a rapidity which showed that she was familiar with the house. The repast was soon ready. Stephen, meanwhile, in his eagerness to welcome his betrothed, quickly put the char-à-banc in the coach-house and the horse in the stable, and rejoined his father, who rallied him on his promptitude. The bandboxes were opened to show the new purchases for the bride, while arrangements were made for the present and plans laid for the future. At last, the meal being concluded, the young couple retired to the window, where they spoke in low tones; and while they were apparently engaged in watering a box of mignionette, their parents arranged their future settlements. Besides the customers and the leases to which he was indebted for his comfortable condition in life, the builder gave up to his son all his outstanding debts. Madame Lorin, on her part, gave to Louise her household furniture, wedding-clothes, and twenty thousand francs payable on the wedding day. This was much more than M. Ferron expected, and he said as much. "You may easily suppose," said he, "how happy it makes me to see these young people so comfortably off; to expose a young couple to poverty is like throwing wheat into the sewer. One must not, as they say, let the honeymoon rise over a barrel of rue; neither must we suffer the happiness of the young people to be the misery of the old ones. While bestowing a portion on my son, I have kept enough to furnish me with three meals a day, and I should be very sorry if the fortune you give your daughter compels you to make but two." "Don't be afraid," said Madame Lorin, smiling; "I have kept a proper part for myself. Besides another sum of twenty thousand francs, there is my business, which is worth much more.' "Well done!" exclaimed Jacques, surprised; “I did not reckon upon marrying my son to such a fortune. Do you know, Madame Lorin, that the advantage is all on our side." "Say rather," replied the old lady, "that it comes from your side." Jacques would have interrupted her. "Oh! you must not deny it," she continued eagerly. "Do I not owe all I possess to my business in timber and iron; and do I not owe my success in business to the house that you built for me?" "It is our business, as builders, to erect houses," rejoined Ferron. "But it is also your business to make people pay for them at the proper time," replied the old lady; "and when my husband died without having paid what he owed you, you would have been justified in taking possession of it." "I intended to have done so," said Jacques sullenly. And your kindness prevented you," added Madame Lorin. Ferron, who appeared ill at ease, tried in vain to turn the conversation; for the old lady appeared determined to let him know that she had not forgotten the benefit, and dilated upon the generous conduct of the builder. If he had not consented to postpone a payment which would have compromised her credit, the unhappy widow would have been obliged to give up everything to her creditors, and must have fallen into a state of poverty. It was to his humane consideration that she owed the easy circumstances that she then enjoyed, as well as the happiness of the two young people. Stephen and Louise, whose attention was attracted by the old lady's voice, which she had unconsciously raised, joined with her in expressions of gratitude; but the embarrassment of Ferron appeared to increase, and he desired them to be silent. 66 'Come, don't be vexed, papa," said Louise, placing her hand on his shoulder and coaxing him. "Nobody shall thank you, nobody shall be obliged to you, nobody shall say you have a kind disposition." 66 'And they will be right," cried Jacques. "I am tired of hearing praise which I do not deserve." "What!" "Yes! I repeat it. I did not do the thing intentionally; it was in consequence of an accidental occurrence; and for this reason your praises annoy me. I have stolen a reputation too long; you must now know the truth, especially as it may serve for a lesson to the young ones." The two young people looked at one another with surprise, and sat down on each side of the builder. Madame Lorin, who had suffered some expressions of incredulity to escape her, fixed her eyes upon him interrogatively. At length, after a short pause to collect his thoughts, he began as follows. "Well then, as our neighbour told you, M. Lorin died just at the time we were taking down the scaffolding from his new house, and his affairs were in such disorder that everybody said, after the general winding-up, the widow's whole fortune would consist of her night-cap. As to myself, I was not much alarmed, for the building was suffi cient security for my debt; but it was necessary to adopt legal precautions, and to take possession, for fear of accidents. Madame Lorin did not oppose my claim; she only explained to me by what means she hoped to pay me everything. But, in order to accomplish this, it was necessary that I should leave her in possession of the house, and wait for a return of the profits, I knew not how long, and perhaps at the risk of my own credit, for in busi ness we can only be sure of what we actually hold in our hands. This was running too much risk without any fair prospect of advantage. In vain did the widow show me her baby asleep in its cradle, entreating me with tears in her eyes not to make her a beggar. I left her fully resolved to returned-that cough which the doctor so much take advantage of my legal rights. If by this Having made up my mind then, as I told you, to take possession of the widow's house in satisfaction of my debt, I was just going to set out for Mulhausen with my papers, when the child ran after me and begged me to take him with me. There was not a single cloud in the sky, the birds were singing in the hedges, and the old monk, who served me for a barometer, had let fall his hood; there was every prospect of a fine day. I put the saddle on the donkey, and seated on it the child, who was as pleased as a cuirassier. Everything went well till we reached the town. The lawyer took my papers, promised to make arrangements for putting me in possession, and said the house should be mine before six months were over. I went away overjoyed at this promise, and set out to return home with the little boy and the donkey. "During the time we were with the lawyer, the weather had changed for the worse; the wind began to raise the dust in eddies along the road, and large clouds rose from behind the mountains. I hesitated a moment as to whether I should return on account of the child; but he was beginning to get tired, and asked to go home. I thought we should have time to get there before the storm came on, and walked faster accordingly. Unhappily, the donkey had settled her own pace, and she would not be diverted from it. In vain did I call her by her name and urge her on, she would not hasten her steps. Stephen offered her a cake by way of encouragement, which she ate to the last crumb, but went on nevertheless in the old jogtrot. I was the more provoked at the obstinacy of the animal because the clouds had now overspread the sky, and from them there descended a small cold rain, which the wind, that was still rising higher, blew in our faces. We were too far advanced, however, to return, and as the clouds broke now and then, showing the blue sky, I hoped it would soon clear up. Meanwhile, Stephen, overcome by the cold, began to shiver from head to foot; and the rain having penetrated his summer clothes, his cough "Into the first house where he can receive as "Is he wounded?' "No; but the cold has seized him; he is just recovered from illness, and this weather is enough to kill him.' "Let us see,' quickly rejoined the stranger, 'I am a doctor; bring the child here.' "He opened the door of the carriage, and received the child, streaming with wet, on his knees. On seeing the child's face, and hearing him cough, he could not forbear an exclamation of emotion. Quick, quick,' said he, turning to some ladies who were seated at his side; 'help me to take off these wet clothes; we will cover him with your pelisses. There is danger, and the warmth must be at once recalled to the extremities. Alfred, pass me the phial, which you will find in the pocket of the carriage close by you.' "While he was thus speaking, he undressed Stephen, with the assistance of the ladies, and began to rub his body with the contents of the phial. When the child appeared warm,he wrapped him up in several garments which his companions took off, made a sign to the young man whom he called Alfred to descend quickly, and laid the sick child upon the cushions. He then turned to me, inquired whether we were far from my house, and after receiving my reply, he ordered the coachman to proceed gently. I thanked him, and followed close by the door of the carriage. In my anxiety I had quite forgotten my donkey, but the young man who had left the carriage now brought her to me. We continued thus until we arrived at Thaun. The rain continued to fall in torrents, but I thought no more of it. I could not take my eyes from the interior of the carriage in which the child was lying. The gentleman with white hair, leaning over him, observed him with attention, and watched his slightest movements. After a time he made a sign to me that all was going on well. The respiration of the child became more free, and drops of perspiration appeared on his face. At last we reached home, when the stranger himself carried the little patient to the bed, wich he had caused to be warmed, and in a few minutes he fell asleep. I endeavoured to thank him, but he interrupted me. and had saved his life. "I do not know whether you have ever known a great anxiety followed by great happiness. The one softens you, while the other makes you reflect: you seem pressed down by a sense of deep obligation to God, and long to do something whereby you may testify your gratitude for his great favours. Thus it was with me. I stood there then, by the side of the child's bed, my heart full of agitation, thinking of this kind family, and of the beautiful maxim, that there is no justice where there is no humanity, when all at once I recollected my premeditated treatment of the widow Lorin and her little girl. They also, in their affliction, required assistance, and instead of giving it to them I remained shut up in my rights, as the unknown physician might have remained in his carriage. The comparison touched my heart. It was an instant when emotion renders one impressible by holy thoughts and principles. I remembered the declarations of the great Teacher on this point, and felt a conviction that if I was without pity for the widow, God would not have compassion on my boy, and I should not be allowed to retain him. This idea took such powerful possession of my mind, that although the rain still continued to fall, I ran to the stable, mounted my horse, gallopped to Mulhausen, and reached the house of the lawyer just as he was going to bed. When I told him that I was come to take back the papers, he thought me mad; but this did not deter me from my purpose. As soon as I had them under my arm, I felt pleased and tranquil. I returned to Thaun as fast as my horse could carry me, and found my darling boy still enjoying a calm and blessed slumber. "You know the rest. Instead of being paid all at once, I allowed Madame Lorin ten years to pay me in; and now her business has so increased, and her daughter is so grown, that the old lawsuit is going to be turned into a wedding. Henceforth you will understand why, whenever you remind me of what I have done for you, I blush like a school-girl. Praise that is not deserved weighs heavily on the heart. But now that I have con fessed, I shall no longer be ashamed; for you know that my good action does not belong to me. I owe it primarily to Him who is the author of every good thought and holy purpose, and instrumentally to that excellent man whom I never saw again, but whose disinterested kindness taught me to understand what true justice is, and who was thus my unconscious preceptor." THE EVENING OF LIFE. WHEN the pulse beats high, and we are flushed with youth and health and vigour; when all goes on prosperously and success seems almost to anticipate our wishes then we feel not the want of the consolations of religion but when fortune frowns or friends forsake us; when sorrow, or sickness, or old age comes upon us-then it is that the superiority of the pleasures of religion is established over those of dissipation and vanity, which are ever apt to fly from us when we are most in want of their aid. There is scarcely a more melancholy sight to a considerate mind than that of an old man who is a stranger to these only true sources of satisfaction. How affecting, and at the same time how disgusting, it is to see such a one awkwardly catching at the pleasures of his younger years, which are now beyond his reach; or feebly attempting to retain them, while they mock his endeavours and the evening of life set in. All is sour and cheerless. elude his grasp. To such an one, gloomily indeed does He can neither look backward with complacency nor forward with hope: while the aged Christian, relying on the assured mercy of his Redeemer, can calmly reflect that his dismission is at hand, and that his redemption draweth nigh; while his strength declines and his faculties decay he can quietly repose himself on the fidelity of God; and at the very entrance of the valley of the shadow of death, he can lift up an eye, dim perhaps and feeble, yet occasionally sparkling with hope, and confidently looking forward to the near possession of his heavenly inheritance, even to those joys which ear hath not heard, neither hath it entered into the mind of man to conceive.-Wilberforce. BE KIND TO THE OLD.-Be kind to those who are in the autumn of life, for thou knowest not what suffering they may have endured, or how much it may still be their portion. Are they querulous and unreasonable? Allow not thine anger to kindle against them; rebuke them not, for doubtless many have been the crosses and trials of earlier years, and perhaps their dispositions, while in the spring-time of life, were more flexible than thine own. Do they require aid of thee? Then render it cheerfully, and forget not that the time may come others that thou renderest unto them. Do all that when thou mayest desire the same assistance from is needful for the old, and do it with alacrity, and think it not hard if much is required at thy hand; lest when age has set its seal on thy brow, and filled thy limbs with trembling, others may wait upon thee unwillingly, and feel relieved when the coffin-lid has covered thy face for ever.-American Paper. ין FOR SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES. JUST PUBLISHED, PRICE FIVE SHILLINGS, THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND: FROM THE INVASIONS OF JULIUS CAESAR TO THE YEAR 1852. WITH EARLY NOTICES OF THE BRITISH ARCHIPELAGO; SUMMARIES OF THE STATE OF THE PEOPLE AT DIFFERENT PERIODS; THEIR MARITIME OPERATIONS, COMMERCE, LITERATURE, AND POLITICAL PROGRESS. BY THE REV. THOMAS MILNER, A.M., F.R.G.S. WITH TWO MAPS, Pp. 820. The attention of managers of schools, heads of families, and the public in general, is specially requested to this new work, as one of much importance and interest. It is not a mere outline, but a valuable and full epitome of our national history. There are thousands at home who have not the means of purchasing a costly array of volumes, or not the leisure to peruse them, to whom such a work will doubtless be acceptable. While all the important events which mark our annals are adequately noticed, a considerable space is occupied with information on constitutional and legal topics, commerce and manufactures, art and science, maritime enterprise, literature, language, and the social progress of the people. 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