the

before him, and soon brought one end within the reach of his cousin. But James had already been so long in the cold, icy water, and was so completely chilled, that it was not until after many fruitless trials, and many fears upon part of Henry and the other boys, that he finally succeeded in getting upon the board, and, crawling along, was drawn by his rejoicing associates away from the scene of danger.

James had exerted himself so severely, and was so chilled with the cold, that when he got to a place of safety he was completely helpless, and the boys had to carry him to the house of his uncle.

Mr. Stanton and his brother-in-law were just in the midst of an animated discussion of some political question, and the two sisters were seated, side by side, upon the sofa, talking over, in a low tone, the events of the past, calling up old reminiscences, and dwelling upon many a

sunny day, which seemed all the brighter in the distance of the past, when, suddenly, the door was thrown open, and Henry entered, with a face pale almost as death, and eyes flashing with a wild excitement, quickly followed by half a dozen others, bearing the apparently lifeless form of James.

With a wild shriek the mother sprang to the side of her boy, while the father, instantly turning very pale, would have fallen to the floor but for the assistance of Mr. Stanton. They supposed that James was really dead; but the voice of his mother, and the warmth of the room, together with his altered position, as they laid him upon the sofa, aroused him from his partial insensibility, and opening his eyes, he smiled, and bid his mother not to be frightened, for he was not injured.

But the shock to his system was greater than was at first supposed; and, although every pre

caution which parental love and solicitude could suggest was resorted to, during the night he was restless, and slept but little; and the morning found him raving in the delirium of a brain fever.

For days the physician looked sad, and shook his head when asked about his patient; for days-sad, lonely, weary days they wereHenry went drooping about the house, often weeping alone, and frequently going up into his little chamber to pray to his Father in heaven, that James might not die. No one chided him for his disobedience; for his father and mother saw that no words of theirs could tell so effectually upon his heart as its own upbraidings; and they had no wish to add to the keenness of a sorrow that he had brought upon himself.

Two weeks had passed, and then the doctor smiled as he came out of the sick-chamber, for he had left his little charge locked in the soft