Year: 1860

ministering angel she is-until he has gone with
her through the fiery trials of this world -


There was something in the earnestness of
my manner, and the fgurative style of my
language that caught the excited Imagination
OF Leslie: knew the auditor had to deal
with, and following up the impression I had
made, finished by persuading him to 90 home
and unburden his sad heart to his wife


must confess, notwithstanding all had
said L felt some little solicitude for the result
Who can calculate on the fortitude of one
whose life has been a round of pleasure? Her
gay spirit might revolt at the dark onward
path of low humility suddenly pointed out be-
fore, and might cling to the sunny regions in
which they had hitherto reviled. Besides, ruin
in fashionable life is accompanied by so many
CALLING notifications to which in other ranks
i is stranger. In short, / could not meet
Leslie the next morning without anticipation.
He made the disclosure


And how did she bear it 20


Like an angel. 1t seemed ratbor to be
Iolief TO her mind, for sh0 threw her arms
around my neck and asked If this was all that
had lately made me unhappy. But poor girl ("
added he, she cannot realize the change
we must undergo She had no idea of poverty
but In the abstract. She has only read of
1t in poetry, where it is allied to love- She
feels as yet no privation; she suffers no loss
OF accustomed conyeniences or elegancies
When we come practically to experience its





| iations-then will be the real trial.
But, L said NOW that you have got over
the seyeTest feat that of breaking it to her,
| the sooner you let the world into the secret the
better. The disclosure may be notifying: but
then 1t is Single misery, and soon over; where
as you otherwise suffer it in anticipation every
hour in the day.


1t Is not poverty so much as pretense, that
harasses ruined men-the struggle between q
proud mind and an empty purse, the keeping
up hollow show that must soon come to an
end Have the courage to appear poor and
you disarm poverty of its sharpest sting" On
this point found Leslie quite prepared He
had no false pride himself, and as to his wife
she was only anxious to conform to their altered
circumstances


Some days afterwards he called upon me in
the evening. He had disposed of his dwelling
house and taken small cottage in the country,
few miles. He had been busted all day IN
SendinS out furniture. The new establishment
required few articles, and those of the simplest
kind. All the furniture of his residence had
been sold except his wifes harp That, he
said, was too closely associated with the idea of
herself; it belonged to the little story of their
loves for some of the sweetest moments of
their courtship were those when he had leaned
over that instrument, and listened to the melt
ing tones of her voice. I could but smile at
this instance of romantic gallantry in doting
husband.
He was now going out to the cottage, where
his wife had been ell day experimenting its
arrangements. My feelings had become strong
ly interested in the progress of this family
story, and as 1t was a fine evening 1 offered to
accompany him.


He was weary with the fatigue of the day.
and as he walked out, fell into fit of gloomy
musiug.


Poor Mary" at length broke with heavy
sigh, from his lips.


''And what of her?'' asked I; sshss anv-
thing happened TO her !'


What, said he, ,darting an impatient glance
lis 1t nothing to be reduced to this paltry sit.
uatlon-to be Gagged in a miserable cottage-to
be Obliged to toll almost IN the menial concerns
Of her wrethed habitation''


Has she repined over it?"


"Replned she has been nothing but sweet
ness and good humor. 1 have never known
her more so. She has been all love, and ten
derness and comfort


Admirable girl ?" exclaimed /. "You call
yourself poor, my friend; you never were so
rlch-yOu never knew the boundIess treasure
OF excellence you possess in that woman "
80. but, my friend, if the first meeting at
the cottage was over, think | could then be
comfortable. But this is her first day of real
experience; she had been introduced into an
humble dwelling-she had been EMPLOYED all
day arranging its miserable equipments-she
has, for the first time, known the fatigues of





time, looked around her on a home destitute
OF everything elegant-almost of everything
convenient; and may now be sitting down, ex.
hausted and spiritless brOOdinc over a pros
pect Of future poverty"


There was a degree of probability in this
picture that could not gainsay, 90 we walked
on in silence.


After turning from the main road up a mar
row lane, 80 thickly shaded with forest trees as
to give it complete air of seclusion. we came
IN sight OF the cottage. 1t was humble enough
In Its appearance for the most pastoral poet;
and yet 1t had pleasing rural look. A wild
vine had oVerrun one end with a profusion of
tollage; few trees threw their branches grace
fully over it; and also observed several pots
OF flowers tastefllly disposed about the door
and On the grass plot in front A small wicket
gate opened upon foot path that wound
through some shrubbery to the door. Just as
We approached, we heard the sound of music
Leslie grasped my arm; we paused and lis
tened. Ii was Mary's voice singing, in style
of the most touching simplicity a little air of
which her husband was peculiarly fond.


felt Lesie's hand tremble on my arm He
stepped forward to hear more distinctly His
step made noise on the gravel walk.
bright, beautiful face glanced out of the win
dow and vanished-a light footstep was heard
and Mary came tripping forth to meet US;
sne was ID pretty rural dress Of white few
"cEc TWISTED IN ler lalr, fresh
bloom was on her cheek; her whole counten-
ance beamed with Smiles-I had never seen
her look so lovely.


my dear George" she cried, II am 30 glad
you have come l have been waiting and
watching for you; and running down the lane,
and looking for you. I've set out table
under beautiful tree behind the cottage; and
have been gathering some of the most deli
clous straw wberries, for knew you are fond of
them-and We have such excellent cream
and everything Is SO sweet and still-O." said
she, putting her arm within his, and looking
up brightly in his face, 80, we shall be 50
happy


Poor Leslie was overcome. He caught her
he kissed Der again and again-he could not
speak, but the tears gushed into his eyes; and
he has often assured me, that though the
world has since gone prosperously with him,
and his life has indeed been happy one, vet
never has he experienced a moment of more
exquisite felicity.


- ha