her while in Washington; but it was written at intervals, and with evident effort. The writing testified how weak and tremulous was the hand that guided the pen. It was as follows:

My dear, dear Husband,

The days of your own Helen are numbered, and almost finished. Yesterday I solemnly adjured Dr. Miller to tell me the worst of my case; and he says that a few weeks must finish my earthly course. And must we part?-forever,-and so soon?-The very morning of my life is scarcely past, and yet I am summoned away! How shall I bear to leave my husband and my children.

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For many long months past, my heart has seemed as if congealed in my bosom, and in|| looking back, all seems like a troubled dream. Have I been in a kind of sleep? Thank heaven, I am now awake! and my heart beats with fervent love and gratitude, though so soon to cease beating forever!

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To-day I have been thinking of our parting in November. It came fresh to my memory, My dear husband, you were my idol. I lived as an unheeded sound will return on the ear. only for you and myself. Happy-0, how The remembrance of your look of anguish, happy in your love. I forgot the hand that when about leaving us, wrings my heart with "loaded me with benefits,"-that showered sorrow and regret. How could I be so unblessings in such profusion upon me! I feeling then!-Forgive me- -O, forgive me, needed all the chastisement I have received, dearest hushand! to arouse me from my forgetfulness and ingratitude. But O, what cause for humiliation, and regret, that until my heartstrings were breaking, I should never think of con-lead. secrating myself to Him, who has done so much for me! Dearest hushand, avoid my example as you would avoid the pangs of remorse, and perhaps your final destruction.

Dr. Miller came in, and caught me in the act of writing, and he peremptorily forbid it. But how can I entirely refrain? Perhaps I may never speak to you again, and I think it will be a consolation to you to receive a letter as from the grave of her you have loved so faithfully. At least, it is a comfort to me to write, and tell you again and again of the love and gratitude that swell my heart. think of you, and pray for you and the children all the time.

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"The shadows lengthen as my sun declines."

My heart, at times, sinks in my bosom like

When the paroxysms of fever pass away, a most distressing lassitude follows.O, that you were with me. O, that I might be permitted to breathe my last breath on your kind and affectionate bosom! But if it is otherwise ordered, thy will, O Father, be done!

Dear Husband, we shall meet again! Beyond the grave all looks bright and glorious. Here, the shadow of death rests upon every thing. However good, however beautiful, however precious anything may be, that fearful shade is by, to blast and destroy. But there is life! in unfading vigor, and bloom, and purity! You must, you will give your heart to the gracious Redeemer, that you may be made "meet to partake of the inheritance of the saints in light," and then in what blessedness shall we meet to part no more, forever! Precious, cheering, sustaining thought!

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My fluttering heart, my trembling hand, and the irregular character that I trace, admonish me that what I do, must be done quickly. Once more, dearest husband, perImit me to express to you, the deep, the ardent, the fathomless love I bear you. O, that I could once more gaze on your face, with a long, long look of love and gratitude!

THE GIRDLE OF FIRE.

BY PIERCE H. SELDON.

The lower counties of New Jersey are proverbially barren, being covered with immense forests of pine, interspersed with cedar swamps. During the dry summer months these latter become parched to an extent that|| is incredible, and the accidental contagion of a fire-brand often wraps immense tracts of country in flames. The rapidity with which the conflagration, when once kindled, spreads through these swamps can scarcely be credited, except by those who know how thoroughly the moss and twigs are dried up by the heat of an August sun. Indeed, scarcely a spot can be pointed out in West Jersey, which has not at one time or another been ravaged by conflagration. It was but a few years since, that an immense track of these pine barrens were on fire, and the citizens of Philadelphia can recollect the lurid appearance of the sky at night, seen at the distance of thirty or even forty miles from the scene of conflagration. The legendary history of these wild counties is full of daring deed and hair-breadth escapes which have been witnessed during such times of peril. One of these traditionary stories it is our purpose to relate. The period of our tale dates far back into the early history of the sister state, when the country was even more thinly settled than at present.

grass, among which the thick dew-drops, glittering in the morning sun, were scattered like jewels on a monarch's mantle. The birds sang merrily in the trees, skipping gaily from branch to branch, while the gentle sighing of the wind, and the occasional murmur of a brook crossing the road added to the exhilirating influences of the hour. The travellers were all young and happy, and so they gradually forgot the sadness of the parting hour, and ere they had traversed many miles the green arcades of that lonely forest were ringing with merry laughter. Suddenly, however, the bride paused in her innocent mirth, and while a shade of paleness overspread her cheek, called the attention of her husband to a dark cloud far off on the horizon, and yet gloomier and denser than the darkest thunder cloud.

"The forest is on fire!" was his instant ejaculation, "think you not so, Charnley?" and he turned to the groomsman.

"Yes! but the wind is not toward us, and the fire must be miles from our course. There is no need of alarm, Ellen," said he, turning to the bride, his sister.

"But our road lies altogether through the forest," she rejoined, "and you know there isn't a house or cleared space for many miles."

Yes! but my dear sis, so long as the fire keeps its distance, it matters not whether our road is through the forest or the fields. We will drive on briskly, and before noon you will laugh at your fears. Your parting from home has weakened your nerves.

It was a sunny morning in midsummer, when a gay party was assembled at the door No more was said, and for some time the of a neat house in one of the lower counties carriage proceeded in silence. Meantime the of New Jersey. Foremost in the group stood conflagration was evidently spreading with a tall manly youth, whose frank countenance great rapidity. The dark, dense clouds of attracted the eye. By his side was a bright smoke, which had at first been hanging only young creature, apparently about eighteen in one spot, had now extended in a line along years of age, whose golden tresses were a fit the horizon, gradually edging round so as to type of the sunny beams of her countenance. head off the travellers. But this was done so But now her soft blue eyes were dim with imperceptibly that, for a long time, the traveltears, and she leaned on the shoulder of her|| lers were not aware of it, and they had jourmother, who was apparently equally affected. neyed at least half an hour before they saw The dress of the daughter and attitude of their danger. At length the bride spoke again. leave-taking, told that she was a bride, going Surely, dear Edward," she said, addressforth from the home of her childhood, to entering her husband, "the fire is sweeping around on a new and untried sphere of life. The ahead of us; I have been watching it by yonother members of the group were composed der blasted pine, and can see it slowly creepof her father, her brothers and sisters, and the ing across the trunk." bridemen and bridemaids.

"God bless you, my daughter, and have you in his holy keeping," said the father, as he gave her the last embrace, "and now farewell!"

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Every eye was instantly turned in the direction in which she pointed, and her brother, who was driving, involuntarily checked the horses. A look of dismay was on each countenance as they saw the words of the bride were verified. There could be no doubt that the fire had materially changed its bearing since they last spoke, and now threatened to cut off their escape altogether.

The last kiss was given, the last parting word was said, the last long look had been taken, and now the bridal party was being whirled through the forest on one of the sweetest mornings of the sweet month of July. It was indeed a lovely day. "I wish, Ellen, we had listened to your lay through an old road which was so rarely fears and turned back half an hour ago," said travelled that it had become overgrown with "the brother-" we had better do it at once.",

Their way

"God help ushusband, looking backwards, the fire has cut off our retreat!"

that is impossible," said the||rection of his quivering finger, a shriek burst from the two females, while the unusually collected husband turned ashy pale, not for himself, but for her who was dearer to him than his own life. A fire during the last few minutes, had started to life in the forest to their right, and as the wind was from that quarter, the flames were seen ahead, shooting down towards the road which the bridal party were traversing, roaring, hissing, and thundering as they drew near.

It was as he said. The flames which at first started at a point several miles distant and at right angles to the road the party was travelling, had spread out in every direction; and finding the swamp in the rear of the travellers parched almost to a tinder by the drought, had extended with inconceivable velocity in that quarter, so that a dense cloud of smoke, beneath which a dark lurid veil of fire surged and rolled, completely cut off any retro-gallop!" exclaimed the husband, for he comgrade movement on the part of the travellers.

This volume of flame, moreover, was evidently moving rapidly in pursuit. The cheeks of the male members of the bridal party turned ashy pale at the sight.

"There is nothing to do but to push on," said the brother, "we will yet clear the road before the fire reaches it."

“And if I remember," said the husband, "there is a road branching off to the right, scarce half a mile ahead: we can gain that easily, when we shall be safe. Cheer up, Ellen, there is no danger. This is our wedding morn-let me not see you sad."

"Drive faster, for heaven's sake-on the

prehended the imminency of their danger.

The brother made no answer, for he well knew their fearful situation, but whipped the horses into a run. The chaise flew along the narrow road with a rapidity that neither of the party had ever before witnessed; for even the animals themselves seemed aware of their peril, and strained every sinew to escape the fiery death which threatened them.

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Their situation was indeed terrible, and momentarily became more precarious. The fire when first seen, was nearly a mile off, but nearly equidistant from a point in the road the bridal party was traversing and as the conflagration now swept down towards the road with a velocity equal to that of the travellers, it soon became evident that they would have barely time to pass the fire ere it swept across the road, thus cutting off all escape. Each saw this, but the females were now paralyzed with fear. Only the husband spoke."

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Faster, for God's sake, faster," he hoarsely cried, "see you not that the fire is making for yonder tall pine-we shall not be able to reach the tree first, unless we go faster."

"I will do my best," said the brother, lashing still more furiously the foaming horses. "Oh, God! that I had turned back when Ellen wished me!"

The horses were now urged forward at a brisk pace, and in a few minutes the bridal party reached the cross road. Their progress was now directly from the fire: all peril seemed now at an end; and the spirits of the group rose in proportion to their late depression. Once more the merry laugh was heard, and the song rose up gaily on the morning air. The conflagration still raged behind, but at a distance that placed all fears at defiance, while in front, the fire, although edging down towards them, approached at a|| pace so slow, that they knew it would not reach the road until perhaps hours after they had attained their journey's end. At length the party subsided again into silence, occupying themselves in gazing on the magnifi- "On came the roaring fire, on in one mass cent spectacle presented by the lurid flames,||of flame-on with a velocity only equalled as, rolling their huge volumes of smoke above by the flying hurricane. Now the flames them, they roared down towards the travellers. caught the lower limbs of a tall tree, and in The forest is as dry as powder," said the an instant had hissed to its top-now they husband- I never saw a conflagration travel shot out their forky tongues from one huge so rapidly. The fire cannot have been kin- pine to another, far across the intermediate dled many hours, and it has already spread|| space-and now the whirling fire whistled for miles. Little did you think, Ellen," he along the damp grass and moss of the swamp said, turning fondly to his bride," when we with a rapidity which the eye could scarcely started this morning, that we should so nar- follow. Already the fierce heat of the conrowly escape such a peril." flagration began to be felt by the travellers, while the horses, feeling the increase of the warmth, grew restive and terrified. The peril momentarily increased. fainter. Behind and on either side, the conflagration roared in pursuit, while the advanced flame in front was cutting off their only avenue of escape. They were girdled by fire. Faster and quicker roared the

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"And as I live, the peril is not yet over," suddenly exclaimed the brother, "see-see -a fire has broke out on our right, and is coming down on us like a whirlwind. God have mercy on us!"

He spoke with an energy that would have startled his hearers without the fearful words he uttered. But when they followed the di

Hope grew

And yet, though time hath dimm'd its sheen, A single shining tress of hair