lorn apartment, where lay the sick mother, while the hungry squalid children were gathered round the ashes upon the hearth. But an object attracted their attention that might be said to afford all the picturesque relief which a painter would require in such a scene. By the side of the bed sat a lady in the prime of life, redolent with health and beauty, and dressed in the extreme of fashion. After gazing w with some surprise at the new-comers, she bent over the sufferer, sweeping her bird-of-paradise feathers in the sick woman's face, and inquired who they were? "In the true the children gathered round Jane, and, with a instinct, began to scent the provision that the basket contained. It was with difficulty she could restrain their eager appetites. The lady looked on with wonder, and inhaled the odour of the vinaigrette attached to her watch-chain."I hope there is nothing infectious?" said she in a low voice to the doctor. He assured her there was not. "She has been," said he, “too weak to work for several months, and is reduced to this state as much by the want of nourishing food as disease." 10121 "How shocking!" said the lady, putting her embroidered pocket-handkerchief to her eyes. "Why did she not go to the almshouse?" The woman's lips moved, but no sound was articulated. "There is a very foolish prejudice against this institution," said Mrs Hart-which was the name of the lady. have known many people that had rather beg than go there." "It is foolish," said the doctor, "if that is the case; but as long as people can earn a living without applying to the town for support, we must commend them for their exertions." 1 I "I am very sorry," replied she, "that Martha did not let me know her situation before. I certainly would have done all I could to relieve her." "Then you know her, madam?" said Jane, for the first time speaking to the lady. "Yes; that is, she has washed in my kitchen for some weeks." દ Months," said Martha with exertion. "She sent to me," continued the lady, "a few days ago; and I ordered my coachman this morning to find out where she lived; and I have ventured here, notwithstanding my weak nerves and delicate health." How good of you, madam!" said Jane, who was evidently impressed by the apparent rank of the lady. "Mrs Barber is very destitute." So I perceive; but I rejoice she has found friends in you, able and willing to assist her." "We are more willing than able," said Jane meekly. That is precisely my case," replied Mrs Hart. Jane glanced at her costly apparel. "We who are called rich have constant claims; but I will assist you in aiding poor Martha ;" and she drew from her reticule a splendid crimson purse, and drawing back the gold rings, placed in the woman's emaciated hand a small sum. Strange as it may seem, the woman discovered no gratitude, but rather made a rejecting motion. "She is too sick, madam," said Jane, springing forward, "to thank you as she would; but, if you will trust me, I will see that your bounty is properly applied to the wants of the family; they are suffering for almost everything." "Certainly," replied the lady; ness if you or Dr Fulton would and I should esteem it a kind me the favour to let me know how Martha goes on; my health does not often permit such exertions as these." Jane, who had been maturing a little plan in her own mind for the benefit of the children, promised her she would call in a few days, and Frank, with a native politeness that quite won Mrs Hart, saw her not only to the bottom of the crooked stairs, but to her carriage, where her footman stood holding the door in waiting for his lady. 66 How happy," said Jane when they returned home, "must Mrs Hart be; so benevolent and so rich!" 66 How do you know, my dear, she is so rich!" said her husband. Why, did not you observe how costly her dress was?" "That is no proof," said Frank; "you know she said, like us, she was more willing than able." "But you know her situation must be very different from ours. Why, her pelisse cost more than all my gowns put together, I will answer for it." "If she spends so much upon her pelisse," said Frank laughing, "I am afraid she has but little left to give away." 66 "That is by no means a candid conclusion," said Jane, assuming her sentimental air; on the contrary, when we see a person richly dressed, it is but just to suppose that they are wealthy." "It would be so if everything was governed by justice and right reason, and we were not continually drawing false inferences from appearances. You know Mrs Hart said she was very glad Martha had found friends 'able and willing to assist her;' perhaps she thought we were very rich." "Oh, I am sure she could not," said Jane with some vexation, "if she looked at my old straw-bonnet and calico-gown." "Well, dear," replied Frank affectionately, I suppose she did not; she only looked at your bright blue eyes, and saw you feeding the hungry." In a few days things wore a more comfortable appearance at Martha's. By assistance of one kind or other, ostentatious in some, and benevolent in others, the poor woman's house resumed its wonted, comfort; the fire blazed in the chimney as formerly, and Martha was able to sit up and employ herself in knitting. How little brings cheerfulness to the hearth of the industrious and deserving poor! In the meantime Dr Fulton pursued his course with persevering industry. Martha's return from what 5 her own class styled death's door, gave him celebrity with them; but a new case more convincing soon occurred. He was called to a man who was dying. He hastened to the place, and found the too-frequent companions of the poor-superstition and ignorance. The sick man was stretched on his bed of straw; his family huddled round him-groaning, sobbing, and crying aloud; the room crowded by people drawn there from curiosity-for, strange as it may seem, there are those who, much as they dread the agonies of death for themselves, are eager to witness them in others. The doctor's first care was to clear and ventilate the room, and then to administer such restoratives as he thought judicious. The consequence was, that the man began to draw a longer breath; and, in the course of a few days, was spoken of as cured by Dr Fulton, after everybody had given him over! Frank had now no want of employment from the poor; but, by degrees, those who could afford to pay began to apply; and at length a carriage, but little inferior in elegance to Mrs Hart's, stopped at his lodgings. Jane's heart fluttered as she heard Mr Harrington's name announced, for she knew that he was one of the wealthiest men of the city. His visit was that of a hypochondriac, who, after trying various physicians and various systems, had heard of the fame of Dr Fulton, of his wonderful success, and came hoping to get aid for himself. Perhaps there never was a fairer chance for quackery; but Dr Fulton, to do him justice, had no tact for such little arts. He frankly told him that his restoration depended much more on himself than on a physician-suggested modes of exercise, of diet, cheerful society, and relaxation from business and care; and when the gentleman insisted on the doctor's success in curing desperate cases, he assured him that his most powerful agents among the poor had been what they could command without his aid-temperance and cleanliness. Mr Harrington was struck with the doctor's honesty and good sense, and felt moved by the apparent poverty of his and his young wife's situation. At parting, he did not confine himself to a regular fee, but said, "As you practise gratis for the poor, it is but just that the rich should pay you double." He requested Frank to visit him daily; and this he continued to do; and as he had leisure to make long calls, and engage him in cheerful conversation, Mr Harrington rapidly improved under the best of all systems for a hypochondriac. Thus far we have followed our young couple in their struggle for a living. Not a debt hitherto had been incurred; and besides time and medicines, they had always found something to give. But as their pecuniary prospect brightens, our walks must enlarge. Dr Fulton was daily working his way into the more enlightened orders of society. His day-book and ledger began to be necessary, and the gentle-hearted Jane was no longer obliged to beg a pittance for the poor. We must now make an excursion to another part of the city. In a splendid apartment, ornamented with mirrors and girandoles, whose diamond-cut drops reflected the colours of the rainbow, hung round with paintings, and curtained with damask, in an elegant morning dress, on a cushioned divan, sat Mrs Hart. Twice she rang the bell, and twice a footman made his appearance. "Have not the shawls come yet?" both times she inquired. 66 No, madam." "Are you sure you made no mistake?” "Yes, madam." "Give me my cologne bottle. Not that the porcelain ;" and she poured the perfume over her handkerchief. " So pro voking!" At that moment a man was ushered into the room with a box under his arm. The footman was ordered out, and the treasures of the box displayed. There were camels'-hair shawls of different prices, from one hundred to three hundred dollars. The first were thrown scornfully aside. One for two hundred was elegant. It was, however, too dear. She could not afford it; but she must have some kind of a shawl. She was suffering for one. The man assured her that she never would repent taking one of them; and she began to think so herself. At length she decided to keep the one for two hundred, if there was no hurry for payment. "Not the least," the man assured her; "but, perhaps, she had better look at another he had." Another was displayed; but the cost of it was three hundred dollars. "It was elegant-it was superb; but it was wholly out of her power to buy it; and yet, really, the one she had selected looked positively ordinary by the side of it;" and she cast a glance of indignation towards the two hundred dollar shawl. The man urged the merits of the three hundred one, and at length threw it over her shoulders. It hung gracefully to the hem of her garment. She surveyed herself before-turned-and, with her head over her shoulder, surveyed herself behind; she wrapped it round, and she flung it open; she disposed it over one arm in folds. This last effect was irresistible-it was truly Grecian drapery-it decided the matter. "Very well," said she; "the shawl is mine. I must have one; and I suppose, in the end, this will be as cheap as any." At that moment Mrs Fulton was announced. The man was hurried out, and the shawl thrown gracefully over the arm of the sofa. My dear Mrs Fulton," said the lady, "I have been expecting you to call and see me; I remembered your promise." Jane was delighted with her reception, and proceeded at once to mention her plan. It was to get up a subscription to supply clothing as well as schooling for a certain number of poor children, including Martha's. "I thought," said Jane, "that you would approve of my plan. I would not set it agoing till I was able to contribute my part by money as well as time. My husband has been successful be |