required; and having exchanged references, she secured the rooms for a week; resolving to make no more permanent engagement without sufficient deliberation.

Alas! the poor widow little knew how total a sacrifice of her independence she had already made.

It was now getting late; the street-lamps were lighted, and before they set out on their return the factories had poured forth their thousands of labourers, from the puny infant of six or seven years to the grey-headed man whose broken-down aspect proclaimed him as unfit for toil as they. It was a spectacle of interest and wonder to the young Greens, to behold such a rush of children coming from or hastening towards every point of the compass. Some shouting as they bounded along, in mischief or in sport pushing their quieter companions from the path, but the greater number evidently feeble from exhaustion, jaded and ill-tempered, and frequently resenting, in expressions of fearful impiety, the annoyances of their more lively comrades. The widow shuddered as this occurred within her hearing, but still more were her feelings harrowed, when an involuntary pressure of her arm, which rested in Helen's, induced her to follow the direction of the girl's agitated look, and she beheld several mere children emerging from the doors of a gin-shop, flushed with the liquid flame which they had been swallowing. She hurried her young party onwards; secretly resolving that unattended they should never stir through those polluting scenes; and clung to the arm of her sympathizing supporter, with sensations of mingled thankfulness, pity, and self-reproach; for Helen, to whom alone she now looked for solace

and for aid, was of years so tender, of mind so innocent, and disposition so retiring, that she needed for herself the guardianship that others must seek at her hands.

Bewildered and heart-sickened, she reached her daughter's abode; and, on entering, heard a faint, querulous voice, exclaiming, Haven't I suffered enough, without being turned out of your company for my misfortunes?'

'Let her stay, mother,' added Charles: they're nailed now fast enough; and what signifies their seeing her?'

Thus prepared, the strangers exhibited no surprise at the addition made to the party within. The girl who occupied a low chair near the chimney-corner, appeared to be naturally much taller than Phoebe, but was so twisted and crooked that she scarcely reached her height. Every feature betokened consumption far advanced; and her large, glassy grey eyes seemed to rove about in quest of some object to interest them; while an expression of melancholy discontent shewed how vain was the search. A large shawl pinned close round the throat fell over her shoulders and body; and she was evidently helpless as an infant.

The widow, merely asking, 'Is this my granddaughter Sarah?' imprinted an affectionate kiss on the pale cheek that was raised to receive it; and the girl's faint smile went more to her heart than any thing she had yet met under that roof.

'Grandmother,' she said, 'I am quite glad to see you are those my cousins?' They all surrounded her immediately, and each had something kind to say. Helen approached last, and gently telling her

that though not a cousin she hoped she might be owned as a friend, saluted the poor girl, who, fixing her full eyes on her face, abruptly said, 'I like you very much, Helen Fleetwood.'

Mrs. Wright seemed rather puzzled by this scene: she understood not the feeling awakened in the generous minds of her guests by a spectacle that she expected would have excited their disgust; for it was already apparent to all, that poor Sarah had only one arm, and that one so contracted as to be nearly useless; while her feet were bent in, until she rested on the ankle bones. You see,' said her

The arm was lost

mother, what an object she is. by an accident, and all the rest came from convulsions and fits.'

'Don't be frightened,' said Charles, who saw the children shrink back at the last words. 'She has no fits now, poor thing!' and he looked at her with an expression of tenderness which his countenance had hardly seemed capable of assuming.

When Wright came in, he answered all enquiries respecting the Sunday school nearly to the widow's satisfaction. He said the teachers were chiefly taken from among the adult working people; and that there was plenty of the Bible. Respecting the day schools, he told her that the children must produce every Monday a voucher from some master or mistress of having attended their school for two hours each day on any six days out of the week: but he added, that there were ways of managing that without being over punctual. His wife interrupted him: 'Oh, you need not talk of that: mother's conscience is too particular. Here are these two boys going to be gentlemen at large, because one is weakly for

his age, and the other wants a few weeks of being nine!'

'You won't be able to afford that, mother,' said Wright, shaking his head: you must get the little fellow into a silk mill, where the age is no objection, and the hours are shorter.'

Both the boys brightened at this, and eagerly looked at their grandmother, who observed, 'We shall see about all those things next week: to-morrow is a day of rest both for body and mind. Where is your place of worship?'

'Our parish church is three streets off.'

When they retired for the night, Helen remarked that poor Susan had interested her greatly; but that she seemed to have no idea of religion, which she thought very strange; for surely if the clergyman was at all like Mr. Barlow, he would visit and instruct one so afflicted, and with a short time to live. 'Alas, my child,' said the widow, this place is so thickly peopled, that I fear the clergy cannot visit half their people unless they be sent for: and from what I have seen and heard in this house, such visitors would scarcely be over welcome.'

The boys say they will lie in bed till noon tomorrow, and then go play in some fields near the town.'

Then, Helen, we must all endeavour to shew them how Christians ought to spend the Sabbath-day. May we have grace to be faithful! It is not easy to flesh and blood, when placed among scorners, to persevere, even outwardly, in a right path; but we shall receive all needful help from him who giveth liberally and upbraideth not.'

They did beseech that help, and laid down to rest;

but many were the thoughts that kept them waking that night, Helen had obtained a view of their probable trials, that would greatly have oppressed her spirit, had not the powerful interest awakened in her mind for the poor dying Sarah well nigh banished everything else. Taught of God to value the privileges that his mercy had bestowed on her from infancy, they were now doubly enhanced by the sad spectacle of a family, nearly connected with those to whom she belonged, evidently destitute of even the desire to know the Lord. She longed to awaken in their dark, cold minds such a desire; but far more than any other did the mutilated girl's sad ignorance affect her; and many a plan she revolved for Sarah's spiritual good, ere sleep closed her eyelids.

The widow was not less agitated by the same theme; but her anxieties took a much wider range. In all that most distressed her as appertaining to her daughter's children she read a fearful tale of peril for those of her departed son. The evident jealousy of the former forbade her to expect help, or even common sympathy, under any difficulty that she might encounter in a strange place; and as yet she had seen nothing that wore the aspect of benevolence -nothing but what contrasted strongly with the deference and respect to which she had been accustomed at home. Home! she dwelt upon the term till tears bedewed her pillow, as all the fond recollections connected with that magic word crowded upon her. Yet,' thought she, it is far better thus to feel myself a pilgrim and sojourner. It was the curse of Moab to be settled on his lees and not emptied from vessel, and therefore he became proud and presumptuous. It matters little where or how the rem