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had been swept away, and that each disease had its remedy; for He would not permit us all to perish, were it even to take us to himself."

I was not afraid, Marion was not afraid, to die; but if it must be so, we hoped that it might be together. So we kissed on this pledge, and parted.

But in the still dark night, a mother wept her child, her Marion !

"O mother, weep not so for me, I shall soon, soon be well!"

I ran, grief and despair gnawing at my heart, to seek the minister of health. Even as I implored, he turned his jaded beast, and with a speed that ill agreed with my impatience, we arrived at last. Marion breathed

no more.

Feeble, faint, expiring, no aid could stay the

current of disease, or arrest the chill cold hand

of death.

"Michael, brother, is it you-I longed to see you once again; for you see, dear, I am going to die."

I could not speak, there was a choking at my heart; I staggered, and, faint with running, fell.

"Do not sorrow so for me, darling; I shall keep my promise by you, and your soul shall not fly so fast heaven-ward, that I shall not be there to welcome it. You will not forget the little birds that sang to us by the green, the wild flowers; they were all I had, Michael, and they were for you. Mother, kiss me, for I was your childfather, bid your Marion farewell, she will climb your knee no more! You are growing old, father, and I not by. Who will help you when your daughter for you called me your daughter-is gone? Farewell, dear Michael, brother dear, farewell; you will bear me over the river no more. Do you remember the words of the old

blind man you taught me coming from the school?

As leaves are begotten, so indeed are men ;
Some the wind bears along the ground,

While the budding-wood, as in spring, produces more;
Such is the lot of man, one is born, another dies!'

66 And now, the Holy Mother says- Come ;' and the baby at her breast says-'Come;' and my little sister says 'Come;' and God himself calls me I come, oh! I come." And thus the precious child sank into unconsciousness.

She

never spoke word more; but passed with such smile as the malady permitted, from a world so rich and yet so full of care, into that spiritual world for which so many bright gifts prepared her.

Nor silk nor satin shrouded her limbsno cap thralled her yellow hair! What matter, that body had shrined a loving heart-an angel soul.

We laid her beneath the turf, beside a grassy

knoll. The wild flowers she so greatly loved, came thick upon her tomb; and a clustering woodbine made semblance to clasp a mossgrown stone, on which was rudely graven the name of

MARION.

Here, when summer winds blew soft and warm, and the song of birds came wafted on the breeze, have I sat far on in the night, and heard, or fancied I heard, a voice — one, alas, for ever stilled call "Brother." Then, through tears, have I gazed upon the stars, and knew that she was there. Wise and gentle Marion, fare thee well! Didst bloom and fade unseen; but there are those who shall recal thee, while eyes can see, or hearts cherish fond remembrance.

THE PROPRIETOR.

NOT far from our habitation was the abode of an extensive landed proprietor. I knew him not, for he never darkened our door; but I had seen him roll past in his chariot, or ride on the highway. We could not well have less communion had we been inhabitants of different spheres. Indeed, beyond his own family, the protestant rector, his agent, and sometimes officers from the garrison, his associates were few.

The rector, a hired servant of Christ, had slight scope for his ministry. It was but seemly he should sometimes meet the parish priest, a worker, like himself, in the great field of human regeneration; but it was far otherwise. I am not aware that they ever exchanged words. One would not descend, the other did not care

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