Year: 1860

The bottles, which Benson threw from
the window, struck Lily directly upon
the crown of her head, while she was play
ing in the garden, and almost instantly kill
ed her. She fingered but few minutes
and then followed Nellie to the 'happy
land,' where sick people go to get WELL


1t was a blessed release for the innocent
child; and He who knoweth the end Of
everything even from the beginning, mani
tested his tender mercy and love, in saving
her from. the evils to come.


Benson was finally aroused but strong
men bore him away from his desolate home,
away from the pale, silent corpses in the
parlor-a raving maniac. Contrary to the
expectations of his friends contrary to the
conclusions which my readers have formed
in their minds as to his ultimate fate, and
contrary to the false idea that novelists gen
orally put forth-that virtue is rewarded
and vice punished, invariably, in this world
-Benson's mind was finally restored.


Nellie and Lily were followed to then
graves the next day after their sad death by
a large concourse of friends, all of whom
were true mourners. Charles accompanied
his father and mother to Cedarviile, where
the aged couple lived for many years after,
until Lucille and Charles were both mar.
ried; when the weary-footed pilgrims join,
ed the great Caravan that is moving ever
to the far-away unknown.


Benson became, in the course of years, a
truly good man; illustrating his life by pi.
Gus aud benevolent deeds. The memory
of the past, however, hung like shadow
over his heart, and he was ever known and
named the silent man.,


A few words to the reader, and my story
will have been ended: During the compo.
sition of this simple tale several persons
have entertained the hope and expressed
the wish that the author would, in some
way or other, save Nellie from an untimely
end, upon the grounds that her character
and disposition was so eminently pure, gen.
tie and good. This is false argument;
and any close observer of human nature
must come to the conclusion, that, .


'In this vain world, the fondest and the best


Are the most tried, most troubled and distrest.


Both the teachings of Scripture and the
evidences of common observation influences
US to conclude that the really viscious are
often happier, and blessed above the pure
in heart the lowly and the good, in this
world. Why this is SO, am not able to
state but, that it is really the case, norea-
sonable man will for moment deny.


The moral, inculcated by the tale, is so
evident, that 1 will not insult the reader by
attempting to point it out. Every line Of
the story bears upon its very face the lesson
which the author intended to teach.


There is one truth, however, which may
be overlooked by the reader, and that is,
there are some men so constituted by ma
ture that they cannot drink moderately, and
that moral sausion is utterly ineficacious to
lead them to the abandonment of the damn
ing bowl. That all men, who drink, are bad
men, is absolutely absurd in the highest
degree nor does the author wish to launch
out such an idea among sensible people; but
as it is possible for any man to become, by
constant habit, addicted to the pernicious
practice, so, it is also possible that the hab-
it may result in disastrous consequences.


With these reflections, l close my first
temperance story. The subject is hack
ueyed and thread-bare one, and leaves but
little originality to the author; but such as
it is, you are welcome to it. am done.


THE END.


MACAULAY AND HIS BALLADs.-lt IS
stated that Macaulay, passing one day
through the Seven Dials, bought handful
of ballads from some street folk who were
bawling out their contents to a gaping audi
ence. Proceeding on his way home, he was
astonished, on suddenly stopping, to find
himself surrounded by half-a-score of ur-
chins, their faces beaming with expecta-
ton. 'Now, then, said the historian, 'what