The dwarfish rickety child was intrusted to an Irish woman, foster sister to Lady L. and who had had the benefit of all the instructions we have recommended. She had been nursery-maid to Lord L's eldest sons, and was now married to a gardener, who lived fifty miles from L.-Castle, and had the confidential management of a large plantation for supplying his lordship's property with forest trees. RoGER's rickety body grew every year more mishapen; but his disposition and understanding tenderly cultivated by his countrywoman, and her pious, sagacious, intelligent husband, compensated amply for his exterior defects: and he contrived to draw from his misfortune the most impressive lessons for himself and others. ROGER was a philosopher at an age when boys in general are scarcely rational in their pursuits. By dint of practice, and spirited exertion, he was able to handle a spade or hoe to as good purpose as the stoutest apprentice in his foster-father's grounds :-but as he would not join in their robust pastimes, he amused. himself with a book, and became the most scientific gardener and florist in the country. Lady L. hearing suchgreat accounts of his information, wit, and humour, sent notice to him to remain a month when he paid his usual Christmas visit to his sister and brothers; and as the weather was fine, she accompanied Lord L. to the shrubbery, where ROGER was directing some improvements. They daily had some conversation with the diminitive humpbacked gardener, and were so fully satisfied of his rare talents, that they wished him to become one of their household.

"My lady," replied ROGER, "I can truly say, that since I knew any thing, the honour you have condescended to offer has been my highest ambition; and that to sec and converse with LEWIS, TERENCE, and LIZZY every day, is my brightest idea of happiness but for some months WILLIAM

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WILLIAM STEVENSON has been so ill as to be little fit to look after his affairs, and if he should not recover thoroughly before the men come in for spring-work, I am bound by his care of my helpless infancy to look after their progress, and to keep the accounts."

'You are very ungallant" said Lord L. " to put a negative on a lady's proposal, so unanswerably."

"My lord," rejoined ROGER, "if my poor gratitude had been worth mentioning, no words could express my sense of all I owe to Lady L.'s bounty: but your lordship's garden will thrive though I should never see it. My foster-father's comfort and bread for his large family perhaps depend on my fidelity.".

"Thou hast a noble spirit in thy little frame," said Lord "Go home to WILLIAM STEVENSON, and when he can do without you, come back here, and welcome.”

The eldest boy's situation has been reserved for the last, as that detail may throw considerable light on the specific remedies for mental disorder: By his own account he was nine years old, and well grown up of that age. Lady L. fearing he might have bad habits, boarded him with an aged pair who had their family grown up, and no children within several miles. LEWIS would have been a dangerous associate for youth. He had no perception of good or evil, but as it implied gratification or disappointment. He would sacrifice every tie to obtain whisky, and swore the most tremendous oaths. Indeed, he was so depraved as to say that he had no fun without swearing; and seldom found amusement without mischief. He was little scrupulous in taking liberties with the property of others, and had always a ready fund of pretexts and falsehoods to gloss over his transgressions. He spoke of card-playing and fortunetelling as an adept. His father occasionally gained money as a sharper among novices in the village ale-houses; and his

mother's

mother's pretences to prescience were too readily believed and too liberally rewarded by credulous girls, at whose folly she laughed and jeered as soon as they left her, LEWIS murmured that he had no cards for passing the winter evenings, and he seldom would take his spelling-book to employ those hours; though ANDREW was willing to give him lessons. However the old man would not let him out of doors, for he had orders to keep sight of him without intermission. With all the vigilance that ANDREW and ELSPAT could employ, Lewis contrived to indulge his wicked propensities; for it is most true, that no restraint except heartfelt principles can effectually regulate the conduct in childhood, or in maturer age. The old folks had never heard of, nor seen, such early depravity, and upon finding that LEWIS got up in the night to rob her little garden, ELSPAT was so shocked and terrified that with all the speed she could exert, she trudged three miles to ask her cousin, the grey-headed steward at L.Castle, if it was possible that the accursed spirit of darkness might have come to them in human shape. The steward could hardly command his gravity enough to sooth the good old woman's panic, and was glad to get away from her under pretence of going to consult his lady. Lady L. sent a messenger on horseback for ANDREW and LEWIS. She gave him a rebuke, which he received with a vacant stare; but when he heard her ladyship give orders, that he should sit all day in a corner as in disgrace, and have his meals with his back turned to the table a whole week, he burst out in an agony of tears.

"I don't value flogging a pin's point," said he, "I was so custom'd til't—but to be made a mock and a gazing post -let me die first!?

The sentence was irrevocable. He was sent back to undergo it. Some days thereafter Lord and Lady L. stop

red

ped their phaeton at the cottage. LEWIS was in the corHe covered his face with his hands; and sobbed as if his lungs were convulsed.

ner.

Why do you cry so immoderately, LEWIS?" said Lady L.

I am so deadly shamed," said LEWIS, "that great grand gentry see me this way."

"Far greater than we know all your offences," said Lady L. "My lord and I are but the unworthy servants of the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, who PRESENT EVERYWHERE, sees and observes all that is done in darkness as clearly as in the light of day. Do you understand me?"

"Ne'ers the crumb," said Lewis. "I knows nought of all you say."

"Ah! my lady," said ANDREW, "he kens nae mair— nor will he learn mair o' our Fether in Heeven, than an outlandish Pagan."

you

"As you were not taught to love and to fear God in your infancy, LEWIS," said Lady L. " we do not expect you to become a good boy all at once,- -but I hope you desire to be good;-and the only way to get the better of your bad cus toms, is to attend to all that ANDREW and ELSPAT tell of God; who made you and all the world; who sends summer and winter, makes the fruits to grow-and to wither in due season ;—who gives life, or orders death to take his creatures from the face of the earth. You remember your father and mother are gone before you to the grave. They repented of all their bad deeds, and I hope are happy in heaven. You too must die-but you will not be happy in this world nor in the next, if you continue wicked.”

"Do you know what wicked means?" said Lord L. "It maans being cross," said LEWIS, in a voice scarcely audible.

"Poor

"Poor boy!" said Lady L. "he has not the slightest idea of moral obligation; and yet an undiscerning ruler would have supposed no torture too severe for him. He would have treated him as guilty and responsible-and the delinquent would have become more obdurate, and set punishment at defiance."

"Pair laddie," said ELSPAT, "the best o' him is his gude beart. He ne'er gies a pelt to our bastes-and gif he had but a wee bit bread, he gies part to Colly." LEWIS again wrung his hands and sobbed violently. The old woman's encomium on his only good quality seemed to melt his soul.

"Will you tell me, LEWIS," said Lady L. "why you are now so much affected? Can you explain what touches you so sorely?

"Och! Och! its shame and a quantity more than shame," said LEWIS. "I can't tell how it be-I`see myself badder and badder, and worser and worser and never know to help it!"

"Do you really wish to help it, LEWIS?" said Lady L.

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Always, but when I forgets," replied LEWIS.. Every body is angry with me, and worst of all-I hate myself." He threw himself on the ground. "Och an I had gone with fadder and modder under the cold sod!". was repeated many times..

Say not so, LEWIS, and do not suffer yourself to think of death as a refuge," said Lady L. when he was a little composed. The worst you can suffer here, is but as a scratch to the breaking of all your limbs, when compared to the just pain which all bad people endure after this life. Be thankful, very thankful, to the gracious God who hath spared you to become better prepared for death; and you may be happy in this present state, if you try to amend.” "What can I do," said LEWIS, "nobody wont believe me, and yet indeed, and indeed I can't help doing what breaks