an only daughter, that Miss Stokes took to bring up, when the father of the child married again, which he did in less than two months after his wife's death. The other sister's lot is not known: but many suppose it even more unhappy. She left her situation just when her father made his drunken marriage, and on that account felt that she had no home to come to, so remained a stranger in London, trying for a situation. Poor thing! two of our townspeople who went to London some time after this, said they were sure they saw her in a carriage, very gaily dressed, at a review in Hyde Park, looking very splendid, but not very respectable. Five years ago this winter, one of our neighbors went to a London hospital to have an operation performed, that our surgeons had declined, and she said, that one day going into the accident ward of the same hospital, she saw a poor forlorn creature, an outcast, whose face reminded her of Miss Emma Stokes, and this girl, who called herself Mary Smith, died there. Sure enough, about this time, Miss Stokes put on mourning, and looked more pale and dejected than ever. Well, in the midst of trials like these, ten years passed, and old Stokes became the jest and butt of this room. How many practical jokes

"I watched his face, and depend on it, he was made to feel and to see all his own life pass before him. I understand he went home and fell upon his knees before his daughter, and wept like a child."-See p. 57.

have been played upon him, and how low he has fallen in the estimation of us all-for I've noticed, friends, we never respect the man we know to be a drunkard, even if he drinks with us, and we call him friend."

"Well, I declare!" said Husk the parish clerk, "that makes out the sermon I heard last Sunday, 'There is no friendship with the wicked.' "

"But Job, you've not said why Stokes stays away from the club?" said Lather.

"When Bland's case was talked of," replied the schoolmaster, "I saw he began to look serious and I watched his face, and depend on it, he was made to feel and to see all his own life pass before him. I understand he went home and fell on his knees before his daughter, and wept like a child, promising never to come here, and never to drink again."

66

Astonishing! Never drink again!" exclaimed several, "why it'll kill him, such a change.”

"Not it, friends, any more than it kills drunken criminals when they're sent to prison, and made water-drinkers of. In one prison where I know the head turnkey, he told me that out of twelve hundred in one year who came in, most of them drunk when they came, not one died, but most of

them were benefited by water-drinking.

Miss Stokes sent me a little note yesterday, I have it in my pocket, and will read it to you."

“Aye do,” said Lather, rubbing his hands.

666

‘Accept the heartfelt thanks of one who cannot fully express her gratitude, for your kindness in relating the affecting incidents respecting poor Mr. Bland. The narrative has had the effect of rousing the better feelings of one, long wept over as hopeless. The blessings of a heart that has long been a stranger to happiness, are yours for this kind action.

AMELIA STOKES.'

Scarcely had he finished reading Miss Stokes's words, when the master of the Union said: "I've a something to relate that has harrowed up my mind very much since we last met here. You heard the case of that poor child, Ned Wilson, that our guardians, more shame for them, let go to that drunkard, the sweep at Nutteṛdell.

"Ah! I never could make out what that fellow wanted a boy for; didn't he say he wasn't much . of a sweep, but a bit of a market gardener?" said Rough.

"Oh! he told some lies, no doubt, but it seems there's many awkward houses with very narrow