French settlement at Port Royal, and the English settlement in Virginia; the nearest of these was two hundred miles from them, and utterly incapable of affording them any relief in a time of famine or danger.

Wherever they turned their eyes, distress was before them, and, to add to it, a general and very mortal sickness prevailed among them, which swept off forty-six of their number before the opening of the next spring. At times, there were not five persons well enough to nurse the sick. But they bore their hardships with unexampled patience, and persevered in their pilgrimage with such resignation and calmness as gave proof of great piety and unconquerable virtue.

LESSON LII.

Social Character of Martin Luther.-MRS. CHILDS.

THE spirit of light and liberty diffused by Luther, found its way even into the dark recesses of the cloister. In 1523, nine nuns escaped from the convent of Nimptschen, near Grimma. This event, of course, produced a great excitement; even the princes who were favorable to the reformed religion did not dare to protect the fugitives openly.

But Luther, as usual, scorned to proceed with caution. He wrote and spoke boldly in defence of the nuns, and praised those who had assisted them to escape. He even went so far as to throw off the monastic habit, which he had continued to wear until that time.

Among the nuns was Catherine de Bora, a beautiful woman, of highly respectable family, who became the object of a very strong and enduring attachment on the part of Luther.. He was united to her in 1525; the bridegroom was forty-two years old, and the bride twenty-six. The advocates of the Romish church took this occasion to pour forth a fresh torrent of abuse. Some affirmed that he was insane; others, that he was possessed by an evil spirit. But a man conscious of thoroughly upright motives cannot long be put out of countenance by the injustice of public opinion.

He was apt to linger long in the company of his wife

and children, and never denied himself this gratification, except when he was engaged in finishing some great work. Once he locked himself up in his study, and remained three days and three nights, without any other nourishment than bread and water.

For some time, his wife refrained from disturbing him ; but, finding her repeated calls at the door unanswered, she became very much alarmed, and at last persuaded some persons to break into the room. Luther was at his writing-desk, entirely absorbed in meditation, when they entered. At first, he was displeased at the intrusion, and said to her, "Do you not know that I must work while it is day, for the night cometh wherein no one can work?" But his heart was soon touched, when she told him how much anxiety he had caused her.

Like most courageous and enthusiastic men, Luther had a heart as docile and affectionate as a little child. He could never see his wife or children suffer without shedding tears; and once, when he was spectator of a chase, he tried to save the life of a poor little trembling hare by wrapping it in his cloak; the dogs, however, discovered it, and killed it..

His disposition was frank and social, and his conversation was alike distinguished for learning and playfulness. He was no friend to large parties. He once said, "I waste a great deal of time by going to entertainments. I do not know what evil spirit has given rise to this custom. I cannot well refuse to go to them, but, at the same time, it is a great disadvantage to me."

He had, nevertheless, a keen relish for social intercourse, and his friends delighted to see him in his own domestic circle. His affectionate deportment as a husband and father mingled beautifully with his religious exercises, and threw something of sunshine about his home.

He was exceedingly fond of music, and insisted that it had great power in producing pious and elevated thoughts; in his hours of dejection, nothing soothed him so effectually. In the evening, he always sang a hymn before he parted from his family and friends.*

*It is generally supposed that Luther composed the popular tune called Old Hundred.

says,

Gardening was likewise a favorite amusement with him. Writing to a friend to procure some seeds, he "While Satan rages, I will laugh at him, and enjoy my Creator in the garden."

66

He and his student, Wolfgang, once busied themselves in learning the turner's trade. My reasons," said he, "are, that, if it should so happen that the world would not support us for the sake of the word of God, we might be able to earn our bread by the labor of our hands."

Luther deemed it a duty to be with his children a good deal. He used to say, "We must often prattle with children, and thus come to their assistance in whatever is good." He was a fond, but very strict father. Once, when his son had committed a fault, he would neither see nor hear of him for three days; yet this was his favorite child, whom he always called his "Johnny." "I," said Luther, "would fain see one that can make these two agree together,--to be joyful, and to be afraid.

“I cannot behave myself in that manner toward God ; but my little son John can show himself so toward me; for when I sit in my study, and write, or do something else, then my boy sings me a song, and when he will be too loud, then I check him a little; yet, nevertheless, he singeth on, but with a more mild and softer tone, and somewhat with fear and reverence. Even so will God likewise have us to do; that we should always rejoice in him, yet with fear and reverence."

LESSON LIII.

Thoughts.

As the sick body is not profited by food, so the vain mind is not benefited by admonition.

Though every moment cannot be laid out on the formal and regular improvement of our knowledge, or in the stated practice of moral and religious duty, yet none should be so spent as to exclude wisdom or virtue, or pass without possibility of qualifying us more or less for the better employment of those which are to come.

You complain that you cannot pray. At least, then, you have one petition that you are bound to offer.

Listen, if you would learn; be silent, if you would be safe.

Blessed is he who spends his life, not in the pursuit of such knowledge as flesh and blood can bestow, but in the study and love of Jesus Christ.

How camest thou by thy honor? with money. How camest thou by thy money? with extortion. Compare thy pennyworth with thy price, and tell me truly how honorable thou art. It is an ill purchase that is accompanied with a curse; and that honor will be ruinous that is built on ruin.

Pride deceives with the subtlety of a serpent, and seems to walk erect, though it crawls upon the earth. How it will twist and twine itself about to get from under the cross, which it is the glory of the Christian calling to be able to bear with patience and good-will!

It is better to have been born with a mind to see things on the best side, than to a fortune of ten thousand a year,

LESSON LIV.

The Wife of Count Lavalette.-MRS. CHILD.

[Lavalette, who was an officer of Buonaparte, had been thrown into prison and condemned to death, on the restoration of the Bourbons.]

the king, and duchWhen driven from another; and when stone steps in the

FOR several weeks, her petitions to ess D'Angouleme, were incessant. one door of the palace, she flew to again repulsed, she sat down on the court-yard, pale and weary, watching for some means to gain admission. Those who passed by knew her, and pitied her, but they did not dare to show their commiseration.

At last, it became too evident that there was no hope of royal mercy; only forty-eight hours remained between the prisoner and death. His wife came to make her accustomed daily visit. When they were alone, she said, "I have formed a plan of escape, and provided a place

of refuge for you. At eight o'clock, to-morrow evening, you must go out in my dress; I will remain. You shall step into my sedan-chair. At the corner of the Rue de St. Peres, you will find M. Baudus with a cabriolet; he will guide you to a retreat, where you will be safe till you leave France."

Lavalette thought the scheme wild and hazardous; but she silenced all objections by saying, You must not reject my plan. If you die, I die. I know it will succeed. I feel that God supports me."

"Our

The next day, she was again at the prison. project must be executed to-night," said she; "for tomorrow, alas! it will be too late. Ever since I left you, I have been making arrangements to prevent any disaster. Keep up your spirits, for you will need them. As for me, I feel that I have courage for four-and-twenty hours, and not a moment longer; for I am exhausted with fatigue."

The eventful hour came. Madame Lavalette, with her young daughter, Josephine, paid what was supposed to be a farewell visit to the prisoner. The disguise was assumed. Madame Lavalette was half an inch taller than her husband; but, in female attire, he appeared about her height. She charged him to hold his handkerchief to his eyes, to walk slowly and wearily, as she had been accustomed to do, to stoop at the door, to avoid breaking the plumes of his bonnet, which might lead to delay and detection, &c. &c.

The trying moment came for them to God's will be done, my dear," she said. calm. Let me feel your pulse. Very well. Does it indicate the slightest emotion?”

part. "Now "Keep very Feel of mine.

Poor woman! it throbbed high with fever; but she was unconscious of it.

"We must not give way to our feelings," she added; "for that will ruin all." Lavalette put his marriage-ring on her finger, under the pretence that it might lead to detection, but, in reality, because he feared he should

never see her more.

The turnkey was heard, and they exchanged looks without daring to embrace. Madame Lavalette retired behind a screen, and her husband went out. He was obliged to pass through a passage, two rooms and a court, under the eyes of seven turnkeys and twenty soldiers.