ent. It shall be explained in due time; but I pray you, do not seek to penetrate the mystery now."

6.6

Well, Emilie, it is not for one like me to dictate terms. My confidence in you is so complete, that I believe you are right, however strange it may seem, that, on this lone island, you are in the habit of meeting a man, and a stranger, upon the solitary sea-shore, and with marks of affection that seem only due to a brother!" Emilie started at these words, but she made no reply. Brusque went on. "I submit to your law of silence; but, my dear Emilie, as you have appointed me your protector, and given me a right to consider myself as such, let me tell you that events are approaching which will demand all our courage, as well as our wisdom; and I cannot but feel the most anxious fears as to the result."

"You allude to the state of the island." "I do. The anarchy is now at its height. Rogere has rallied round him the rough and the ignorant, and taught them that license is liberty. While he cajoles them with dreams of freedom, he is seeking his own object, which is to become sole master and despot of this island; and I fear these deluded men will be his dupes and instruments. It is always the case that the ignorant and degraded portion of the community are disposed to run after those who flatter, only to cheat them.

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The condition of the island is in every respect becoming alarming. The fruits, that were lately so abundant, are fast diminishing, because they belong to no one in particular; and no one has any power or interest to preserve them. We have no fields tilled, for the lands are common to all. If a man were to cultivate a field, he has no right to it, and if he had, there is no government which can secure to him the product of his toil. Everything is therefore going

to waste and ruin. We shall soon be in danger of starving if this state of things continues. Nor is this the worst. Rogere will soon bring matters to a crisis, and try the law of force."

"And what is your plan?"

"I intend to procure, if possible, a meeting of all the men of the island tomorrow, and after showing them the actual state of things, and the absolute necessity of established laws to save us from famine and from cutting each other's throats, I shall appeal to them once more in behalf of settled government. I have hopes as to the result-but still, my fears outweigh them. It is impossible to yield to the demands of Rogere. Nothing but giving up all to him and his brutal followers, will satisfy him. If we cannot obtain the consent of a majority to the formation of some settled laws, we must come to the question of necessity and determine it by blows. If it comes, it will be a struggle of life and death."

"I know it, dear Philip; I have long foreseen it."

"I am glad that you take it so calmly. I should be flattered if your quiet were the result of confidence in me."

"Well, well, but you are fishing for a compliment, and I will not tell you that I depend on you alone! I may have hopes from another source." Will you

tell me from whom?" Nay-I shall keep my secret; but be assured that in the hour of danger, should it come, Heaven will send us succor. Good night."

"Good night, dear Emilie-good night." And so the lovers parted.

Brusque sought his home, but with mingled feelings of pleasure and pain. The restoration of former relations between him and Emilie, was a source of the deepest satisfaction; but many circumstances combined to cloud his brow, and agitate his heart with anxiety.

Saturday Night.

"OH! it is Saturday night!" exclaimed Ellen; I had forgotten that. A Bible story, then. I am sure I think the story about Joseph, or that about Isaac, or the prodigal son, or Lazarus and his sisters, as interesting as a fairy story."

"They are a hundred times more interesting," said Charles.

It was the custom of Ellen's mother to tell her children a short story every night after they were in bed. She was very glad to find that the true and instructive histories from the good book, interested her children as much as those stories that were contrived to delight them.

"My dear children," she said, "I shall not tell you a story from the Bible to-night, but I am going to relate an anecdote-which, you know, means a short story-of some little children of our acquaintance.

"There are two children who have a great and kind Friend, who is always taking care of them, whether they are awake or asleep."

I suppose you mean their mother," said little Charley, who was always impatient to get at the story.

No, my love; this Friend gave them their father and mother."

beautiful picture of all the objects toward which they are turned. If it be a landscape, like that which you see every morning from your chamber window, there appear on the gems those beautiful mountains that rise one above another; the mist that curls up their sides; the bright lake that glistens in the depth of the valley, and which you call the mountain mirror, Ellen; the large orchards, with their trees gracefully bending with their ruddy and golden fruit; the neat house opposite to us, with its pretty curtain of vines hanging over the door, and rose-bushes clustering about the windows."

"What, mother!" exclaimed Charles; "all these things painted on a little gem?"

"Yes, Charles, all; the high mountains, and the rose-bushes, every leaf and bud of them. And then, if the gems are turned towards the inside of the house, the landscape disappears, and all the furniture is painted on them, and the perfect pictures of their friends; not such pictures as you see done by painters, looking grave and motionless, but smiling, speaking, and moving."

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Oh, mother, mother," exclaimed Ellen, "this is a fairy story, after all." Are there, in reality, any such gems?" asked Charles, who did not like that the story should turn out a fairy story.

"There are, my dear Charles; and the same Friend who gave the children these gems has given to them many other gifts as wonderful. He has given to them an instrument by which they can hear the music of the birds, the voices of their friends, and 'all other sounds; and another by which they can enjoy the delicious perfume of the flowers; the fragrance you so often spoke of, Ellen, when the fruit trees were in blossom, and the locust trees in flower, and the clover in bloom."

Why, I can tell that by my fingers," exclaimed Charles.

"Yes, my dear," said his mother; "and cannot you taste by putting food into your mouth? and is there not an instrument set in your head by which you can hear?"

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My ear, mother?" asked Charles. 66 Yes, my dear, "said his mother. "And do you mean the eyes by those wonderful gems?" asked Ellen. "Yes."

"But I am sure there is no painting in the eyes."

"Yes, Ellen; every object you behold is painted upon a part of the eye called the retina; but that you cannot understand now, and you must let me go on with my anecdote of the two children. When they arose in the morning, they found that their Friend had taken such good care of them when they slept that they felt no pain; that their limbs were all active, and they could every moment receive pleasure from the precious gems and instruments I have mentioned. They both looked out of the window, and exclaimed, What a beautiful morning!' The little girl turned her gems toward the multiflora, now full of roses and glistening with dew-drops, and she clapped her hands, and asked her brother if he ever saw anything so beautiful; and he turned his gems to a pair of humming-birds, that were fluttering

over the honey-suckle, and thrusting their tiny pumps into the necks of the flowers; and as their bright images shone on his gems, he shouted, Did you ever see anything so handsome?'"

"You mean, mother," said Charles, "that he looked at the humming-birds, when you say he turned his gems?"

Yes, my dear; and when he heard the pleasant humming they make with their wings, it was by the instrument set in the head which you call the ear. There was not a moment of the day that the children did not enjoy some good thing their Friend had given to them. They learnt their lessons by using the memories he had given them, because he had given them minds by which they understood them. They loved their parents, and relations, and companions, because their Friend had given them affections."

"It seems to me," interrupted Charley, "that Friend gave them everything. It must be God, mother, for I know he gives us everything we have."

"Yes, my dear Charley; and I am sorry to say these two children neglected their Friend. They had often been told by their mother never to get into bed without first kneeling and thanking him for all his gifts; but they did not think of him. They used and enjoyed his gifts, but they sometimes forgot the Giver."

Ellen laid her head on her mother's bosom,

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Mother," she said, "you mean us." "My dear Ellen," replied her mother, your conscience is like the ring in the fairy tale. Yes, I did mean you and Charles. I was sorry, when I came into the room to-night, to see you getting into bed without saying your prayers. God has given you a voice to speak, my children. Your dog, Dash, Charles, cannot speak to thank God for anything he receives; but you can."

THIS individual was one of the most wonderful men that ever lived. He was born at Huntingdon, in England, April 28, 1599. It is related of him, that, when an infant, a large ape seized him, and ran with him up to the top of a barn; there the creature held him, and refused, for a long time, to give him up, frightening the people with the idea that he should let him fall. It is said that, while he was still young, a gigantic female figure appeared at his bedside, and foretold his future greatness.

Cromwell was well educated; but,

after quitting the university, he became very dissipated. At twenty-one, he married Elizabeth Bouchire, from which time he became regular in his life.

In 1625 he was chosen to parliament; and thus began, at twenty-six years of age, that public career which ended in his becoming the sole ruler of England, and one of the most energetic and powerful sovereigns of Europe. He was soon distinguished as a speaker in parliament, always taking part against the court and the established church. In 1642, when civil war was about to com