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ened passions. was aware, roo. from many oD-


seryations that had fallen from hln tnat MS coue


of morality was lax and justified TO BIS MIND actS


that were criminal in themselves ana IN Tue


ment of the world. His rel'gle1s views hao pc


come fea arfully dimmed, and ne neeoeo oniy tne


stimulus and the opportunity 70 oecohle .ue sPoiA
and nrev of notions that lead only TO destruction.
a.. tbsse accounts trenbled for him, and be-


orr,dged every moment that had passed away


Sr,,o him. Ill-fortiied he was TO be alone in any
i nlace. Here, where he walked in the midst OF
/ danger and evil solicitation, he needed rand
ever present te guide him, and to warn him OF the
mine that one inconsderate step would set ,hun-
dering beneath his very feet.


At eleven o'clock, the small procession that
constituted the ceremony Of my mothers humble
! funeral was marshaled, ard ready to proceed
| My father and were in the library, and waited
for my brother. heard his footstep Oh the stairs,
and my heart beat painfully and quick. He de-
scended slowly, and did not appear to delay or
| pause. La another moment he entered. looked
at my father and he WINGED under the hard trial.
He looked uneasly about hiul--cast his eyes upon
the ground-toward me-to the atsendants-any
where but there where fear, shame, and acute vex-
alton, all commingled, rendered one object intoe
rable to the sight. Frederick was very pale, but
he looked subdued and placid. Perfectly collect
cd and in distant manner, he bowed to his ia
,her, and the latter retarned his greeting with
silent recognton that betrayed at once the aglta-
tion of his mad. and the small ability that ne pos
sessed to check and hide the gnawng agony that
scared his sinful soul. There warmer sal
utaton. Not a word spoken. The silence
Of death prevailed in the room, far more crushing,
| because inconsonant with the occasion, until my
father reminded that it tine to so ior-
ward. saw them DEPART marked them, when


they followed side by side the remains of the de-
CEASED through the long avenue that led to the
church-y1rd Still not word was exchanged
handkerchief was in the hand of my father-the
nlourner's ensign! Frederick was overcome, and
wept aloud and violently; his sobs and moans
were carried through the air. and conveyed to my
own distressed and heaving heart. | closed the
I easement and escaped them. | was alone. L
| knew not that it was useless prayer that nature
prompted me to offer up for the safety and well
fare of the beloved's soul. Had been told so.
| would not have believed the chilling tale. NO
sooner had lost sight of the mournful Ietinue,
than, overborne by an impulse of leve, fell upon
my knees, and implored God to give comfort and
repose to her whom He had taken to himself. |
did not rise until sweet assurance calned nay
spirit, and gave it boundless confidence and hope
| desire arguments to prove my fabric an un-
substantial and aerial vision. The wise may smile
al my credulity, or pity the ungrounded heresy.-
Reason, stern teacher she is, must never take
from me the hold that Feeling gives me on yon
Invisible world of beatifc spirits, linking me in
deep, ineffablc communion with the loved OF old,
aud sustaining me with intercourse that knows no
bieak-that has no cloud


1t takes but little time separate for ever the
living from the dead, to place the latter in the
cold, cold earth, and to render them, though
they had never been, objects for the memory, sub


l11 ,IaIv -t,,Ipn
mind. The last Office was performed, and father
and brother were once more in the house together.
| know not what had passed between them during
their short absence. Certain it is they had spoken.
The partition that had previously separated them
was broken down, and communication, if not of
the most friendly character, was, at least, unre-
served. In spite of the evident attempts made by
nay father to appear at ease, awkwardness and
anxiety were manifest in every word and move
ment. Once having addressed Frederick, he could
not remain for an instant silent, but turned from
oae subject of discourse to another, regardless OF
connexon relaxation, as if silence were lmpos-
sble to bear, and the least repose brought with 1t
peril and alarm. Frederick, on his part, was
taken by surprise, and by degrees regarded his
parent with kindlier spirit than | ha| ever vcn-
tured to expect from the impasscned boy. he
listened to his fathers questionngs, and he an
swered with respect. ray of JOY stole across
my heart, and, for the moment, fattered myself
with years of unmolested happiness--of harmony
and peace. Not word was said of the sad occa-
sion that brought us again together. That was
avoided studiously. But Frederick's future pros
pscts were spoken of, and the nature of his en-
p!oyment explained to him. He seemed pleased
with the pursuit, ard eager for active, profitable
lie. Notwithstanding, however, the favorable as
pect which matters had assumed; notwithstand-
ing the bright CLEAN that passed through our
home, lighting it up with unaccustomed lustre, l
did not lose my timidity, nor wholly rely upon the
sudden and violent reaction. fingered near ia
| ther aud son, and as though filed with the pre-
sentiment of what was too soon to happen, could
not for any interval lose sight of them without
anxiety and an oppressive dread of danger.


The dinner hour arrived. We had visiters.
/ NV father, Frederick and myself sat down to the
meal, and the previous conversation gave place to
heavincss and ungraceful silence. The solitary
decanter of wine was on the table. My father
drank from it sparingly, but Frederick empted it


with greediness. 1t melancholy to behold


the family sin taking possession of his soul so


early in life; and | would gladly have persuaded


myself that desire to drown present grief, and


no habitual vice. displayed itself in the eagerness


with which he quafed, glass after glass, the fatal
! liquor. Before the close of dinner, the bottle


needed replenishing. My father looked at me in


qniringly but did not heed him, for at the same


time my eye was on my brother, and glance
abed me to ascertain the heated and perious con-
dition toward which he was rapidly Advancing
| toek no notice of the hint The repast was fin
ished, and without a syllable left the table.
! Against my own conviction, forsook my guard


iunship, and only to avoid greater evil. For


two hours l renamed in my own room l would


not have Quilted i, again that evening had the