"Day before yesterday. Mary keeps up bravely, and they are beginning to do very well. The children are going to school again. How well Mr. Smith and Mary have both behaved?"

"How so? are they not engaged?"

"No. She refused him last fall; but soon after he heard of their reverses, he offered himself again. She was, of course, very much gratified, but is far too high-minded to marry where she could not love, just to escape from labor. Smith is rather empty-headed, but his heart is in the right place, and he has procured boarders for them, become security for Mrs. Lester, and has been as kind as possible, in such a way, too, that they can feel no painful sense of obligation."

"I had no idea there was so much in him. How could we have guessed it during those weeks at Rockaway?"

A few days passed, during which Mr. Lyndsay made arrangements for breaking up his establishments; and Dr. Sumner fulfilled his

promise to Julia, of trying to persuade her mother to enter into her views.

But in vain he pleaded and persuaded. He represented the opportunities Julia could have of pursuing her own studies while devoting a few hours daily to the instruction of others. He offered her a home in his own family, if his sister thought it best to leave the city. It was all to no purpose. The absurd spirit of family pride, or that phase thereof which considers all avowed labor humiliating, had taken possession of her, and she would not hear rea

son.

"I really wonder you could think of such a thing for a moment, John; such degradation !"

"My dear Matilda, I never could see any degradation in honest labor. You cannot imagine that I would propose anything for your children that I would not urge upon my own under the same circumstances."

"I cannot bear it," said she, passionately; "to see the Lyndsays hired laborers!"

"What are you to do? In the present depression Lyndsay can obtain no employment, even were he accustomed to the routine of business; and you know that, however gladly I would receive you all, it would be only for a time, oror"

"I know, I know, your kindness is unfailing; but I could not think of that.”

"But, my dear sister, my acquaintance is large, and if you consent to Julia's wishes I could be of service. You have educated your girls well; why not suffer them to use their advantages in aiding you and making themselves independent?"

Mrs. Lyndsay's impatience burst all bounds, and she interrupted her brother with a torrent of bitter words and lamentations that required all his self-control to bear in silence.

When she ceased, he asked quietly, "What are you going to do?"

"We are going to Montiluna. The old house is in pretty good repair, the lease has just expired, and the remnant of our property

will enable us to make a very good appearance in an out-of-the-way village. We shall reserve some of our furniture, the piano, and a few of our handsomest books, for the parlors. For the rest, it is no one's business, and country people do not know how to criticise style. Then we have prospects of future wealth in those unsettled claims. We can do well enough."

Dr. Sumner felt it was no use to say more. He had urged in vain every argument to induce his sister to employ her own energy, and the talents of her children, in some sphere where they could benefit themselves and others. So when she thus ended where she began, he got up with a sigh, bid her goodmorning, and walked out of the house.

He proceeded on his round of calls, sorely troubled in spirit. He knew how very small a pittance remained to them, how unfitted they all were for the labor of country life, how many were their artificial wants, how severe and incessant must be the struggle to keep up

appearances, as his sister was determined to do; and he could only console himself with the hope that time would bring wisdom.

But as he pursued his daily labors, he saw other and deeper trials-sickness and suffering; helpless and hopeless poverty; strivings, not for show and false pride, but for daily bread. He witnessed the brave endurance of the Christian, supporting the sufferer through paroxysms of fierce pain; the calm faith of the dying saint, gazing from afar at the dawning glories of the life to come; or the harder victory of resignation in those who were left. behind—until the things of this life resumed their comparative unimportance in his eyes, and his disturbed mind its habitual serenity.

The next event was the departure of Mr. Lyndsay for Montiluna, whither he was followed by his family as soon as the house could be prepared for their reception.