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and I must make the most of them. If the uncertainty of our possessions is to paralyse our exertions, those who have money are nearly as ill off as those who have not. Riches take to themselves wings and fly away; they are at the mercy of fire and water. Uncertainty is written upon all things. I believe my prospects are as stable as most people's.'

‘Let me hear what they are.'

'In the first place, sir, I have health; in the next, activity; and then my profession is a pretty sure one. A physician will always find patients, if he is attentive and skilful; and I mean to be both.. However, I confess that our greatest security for a living will consist: in our moderate desires and simple habits. You know, sir, Jane has no passion for fine dress; and, in short'

"In short, Frank, you are determined to be married; and there is an end of all argument.'

'I only wait for your consent, sir.'

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And she is

'You know very well that mine will follow Jane's. willing to live with you on the bare necessaries of life?' Jane only answered by an assenting smile. Very well, I give up. One thing, however, let me tell you-beyond bread and water, a shelter for one's head, a bag of straw to sleep on, and covering and fuel to guard us from the inclemencies of the weather, there are no positive necessaries; all the rest are comparative. Jane had hitherto sat very quietly at her work, but she now laid it in her lap, and looked up with an air of astonishment. 'You do not agree with me, I perceive,' said Uncle Joshua; 'tell me, then, what you think are the necessaries of life.'

'I confess, sir,' said Jane a little contemptuously, 'when I agreed with Frank that we could live on the necessaries of life, I did not mean like the beasts of the field or the birds of the air; but graduating our ideas to what is around us, I am sure we shall ask for nothing more than the necessaries of life. The luxuries,' added she with a pretty sentimental air, 'we will draw from our own hearts.' 'And I,' said Frank, looking enchanted with her eloquence, ‘shall be the happiest of men.'

'Graduating our ideas to what is around us!' exclaimed Uncle Joshua. 'Ah, there it is; you could live on broth or water-gruel, if everybody else did; but the fact is, that nobody does; and so you, like the rest of the world, will live a little beyond your means.'

'No, sir,' said the young people eagerly; we are determined to make it a rule never to exceed our means.'

'As long as you keep to that rule, you are safe; you do not know what it is to be beset by temptations. But I have done; advice is of little value where we have nothing else to give-and that is pretty much my case; but a bachelor's wants are few.'

'Yes, dear uncle,' said Jane smiling; 'he wants nothing but the necessaries of life-an elbow-chair, a good fire, and a cigar half

a dozen times a day; and long, long,' added she, affectionately embracing him, ' may you enjoy them, and give to us what is of far more value than money-your affection; and on every other subject, your advice.'

In one fortnight from this conversation Frank and Jane were man and wife. Perhaps a more united or a more rational pair had seldom pronounced the marriage vow. They began with the wise purpose of incurring no debts, and took a small house, at a cheap rate, in an obscure but populous part of the city.

Most young physicians begin life with some degree of patronage, but Frank had none. He came to the city a stranger from the wilds of Vermont, fell in love with Jane Churchwood, the niece of Uncle Joshua, a man whom nobody knew, and whose independence consisted in limiting his wants to his means. What little he could do for Jane, he cheerfully did. But after all necessary expenses were paid, the young people had but just enough between them to secure their first quarter's rent, and place a sign on the corner of the house, with 'Dr Fulton' handsomely inscribed upon it. The sign seemed to excite but little attention-as nobody called to see the owner of it, though he was at home every hour in the day.

After a week of patient expectation, which could not be said to pass heavily-for they worked, read, and talked together-Frank thought it best to add to the sign: 'Practises for the poor gratis.' At the end of a few days another clause was added: 'Furnishes medicines to those who cannot pay for them.' In a very short time the passers-by stopped to spell out the words, and Frank soon began to reap the benefit of this addition. Various applications were made; and though they did not, as yet, promise any increase of revenue, he was willing to pay for the first stepping-stone. What had begun, however, from true New-England calculation, was continued from benevolence. He was introduced to scenes of misery that made him forget all but the desire of relieving the wretchedness he witnessed; and when he related to his young and tender-hearted wife the situation in which he found a mother confined to her bed, with two or three helpless children crying around her for bread, Jane would put on her straw bonnet, and follow him with a light step to the dreary abode. The first quarter's board came round; it was paid, and left them nearly penniless. There is something in benevolent purpose, as well as in industry, that cheers and supports the mind. Never was Jane's step lighter, or her smile gayer, than at present. But this could not last: the next quarter's rent must be provided—and how? Still the work of mercy went on, and did not grow slack. One day taking a small supply of provisions with them, they went to visit a poor sick woman. After ascending a crooked flight of stairs, they entered the forlorn apartment, where lay the sick mother, while the hungry squalid children were gathered round the ashes upon the hearth.

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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; 'and I should esteem it a kindness if you or Dr Fulton would do 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.

'How happy,' said Jane when they returned home, 'must Mrs Hart be; so benevolent and so rich!'

'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.'

'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 were 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

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 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 meantime the children gathered round Jane, and, with a true animal 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.'

'How shocking!' said the lady, putting her embroidered pockethandkerchief 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 Hartwhich was the name of the lady. 'I 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.'

'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.'
'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

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