come to preach for such a possessed set of beings as these Bubbleton gentry.. They will harrow the life out of you, even if you are nine times endowed as my grimalkin, there, is said to be. They will make you a candidate for the mad-house, in three months."

Such unwelcome statements and dismal prophecies, however, I was not doomed to hear everywhere. Indeed, promises and plaudits enough were sounded in my ears to counteract much of their doleful effect.

One acquaintance which I formed, during this first week, is deserving of a particular notice, on account of the sad, but profitable, intimacy to which it led, and the noble lesson it furnished me.

He

The case to which I allude, was that of a young man, hopelessly disabled by a spinal disease. was just married to an interesting young woman, when this great affliction seized him. Neither had any pecuniary resources but the avails of their daily labor; and, after the husband became confined to his bed, the burden devolved upon the wife. A few benevolent people in the parish came to her assistance, with timely gifts and cordial sympathy; but her lot, with all these alleviations, was still sad enough, as the least sensible reader will acknowledge.

On my first visit to the Herricks, I saw only the husband, the wife having gone out in pursuit of work. I was struck by the evidence of acute suffering, and hopeless prostration, which the young man's appearance presented. His hair had become gray; deep, lines seamed his colorless forehead; his cheeks

were wasted almost to the bone; and his eyes had that intense, pleading expression, which is imparted only by protracted pain. His disease, moreover, involved a muscular contraction of the limbs, which, at times, was so great as to produce an agony almost beyond human endurance, and which rendered him an object of most painful commiseration.

Still, there was a look of cheerfulness in the sick man's face, and an utterance of submissive trust in his voice, that seemed to divert one's attention from his bodily affliction. The power of Christian faith transfigured his distorted and emaciated frame. He evidently possessed that strength of which the strong man cannot boast, and that peace which the fortunate never know.

When, in the course of our conversation, I congratulated him on the serene fortitude with which he bore his sufferings, a change passed over his features, like the shadow of some momentous memory. He appeared to struggle with himself, for an instant; after which his spirit rallied, and he replied, cheerfully:

66

Ah, Brother Chester, it has taken me a long time to secure this state of mind.

"In the beginning of my affliction, for months, I was very wretched. I could not submit to the loss of my manly activity and independence, and the hopes I had cherished so fondly on my wedding day, without first murmuring a great deal.

"I could find no goodness in the dark providence

that suddenly deprived me of all that one is apt to prize most in this world, and that doomed me to a life of dependence, suffering, and obscurity. O, those were miserable days, indeed! My ignorance and superficial experience did not enable me to perceive the lofty uses which such trials may have, under inscrutable but beneficent wisdom.

"Brother Stringent came and talked with me. He imparted to me new views, and placed my mind in an attitude of submission. I shall never forget the persuasiveness of his words, nestness of his counsel, prayers. God bless him! I hear that the parish did not treat him well; but he is a man whom the injustice of the world can never really harm.

the calm, Christian earthe uplifting fervor of his

“From that time, I have been troubled by no doubts. I have ceased to complain. If I do not see the exact necessity of the affliction, I believe, nevertheless, that it will be revealed finally. As one looking through a glass darkly, I partially discern God's purpose in these trials, even now; ultimately, I do not doubt, the whole mystery will become transparent, and I shall know, even as I am known.

“When I was a careless, active boy, I remember to have seen, occasionally, a very decrepit and helpless old woman. She lived near by my mother's cottage, and, besides being unable to work, was very poor. I used to be sent, now and then, to carry her some luxury; and I remember thinking to myself how extremely wretched and forlorn she must be.

And yet she always seemed happy, and her singular resignation and contentment were frequently spoken of by the neighbors.

"It was all a mystery to me, then; but I have since learned that our heavenly Father never leaves human beings without resources according to the demands of their circumstances. Some refuge is always available, if we but have the humility and patience to seek it."

Thus, with unaffected piety and trust, the sick man conversed.

Sometimes, as I found, he was able to read, and occasionally his wife took time to read aloud to him. He had thus been enabled to amass a treasury of knowledge, which helped to employ his mind, and to divert his thoughts from desponding objects.

His mind was a kingdom, and the sovereignty he exercised was blessed.

Every minister will bear evidence to the salutary influence of such scenes in promoting his own trust-fulness, fortitude, and piety.

Often, during my residence in Bubbleton, when worn down by exhausting cares, irritated by petty persecutions, and tormented by cruel anxieties, and almost ready to fly from the field, have I entered the sick room of Brother Herrick, and found that strength and courage which were elsewhere denied.

5

were performing for her own amusement, in the depths of utter solitude.

One morning, on descending to the parlor, I found her gazing abstractedly from a window. Her usual unconsciousness possessed her; and it was not until I had overthrown a chair that I received the compliment of "good-morning." Determined to make one decisive effort to engage her in conversation, I introduced some seasonable topic; but all the response I obtained was two monosyllables, and a look that quite froze the organ of language.

Even in church, my success was scarcely better; for her ladyship never looked toward the pulpit, whether she heard a word of the sermon or not.

At length, however, a change began to be visible. She condescended to observe me, even to study my face, somewhat narrowly. Sometimes, she appeared to listen to my observations.

It happened, one day, that she came into the room where I sat alone, reading, and took a seat near me, with some ornamental work in her hand.

Knowing her predisposition for reveries, I did not offer to lay aside my book until she had startled me with the abrupt observation —

"I wish you had never come to Bubbleton, Mr.

Chester!"

"You are very frank, Miss Arlington," said I; "thank you

יי !

I think I must have been a little provoked.

"Please to understand me; I mean no discourtesy;