spring in the heart, and there is no counter-current of prudence to sweep it away. The wish can be accomplished without a sense of privation, and if the adopted turn out well, it becomes all pure gain -gain in the exercise of the affections, in the pleasure which always arises from doing a kind thing, and in a fresh hand growing up to aid in their industry. This latter reason, however, is only of weight among the sons of labour, who are quite as ready to adopt a child as the wealthy. In Britain, probably, the second impediment is our remnant of feudalism-the right of primogeniture, or the law of inheritance. The "heir at law," be he son, nephew, or cousin ten times removed, feels that the owner holds his property only in trust for himself, and looks with a jealous eye on the emotion of pity that might introduce an interloper to be provided for from the family funds. It is marvellous to observe how many are fettered by the law, and how very many more adopt the fetter of custom produced by the law, and fancy they act in the line of duty, when they pass by an opportunity of kindness which they might have gladly embraced, but that the expectant kindred may be displeased.

Even when children are adopted in England, instances are to be seen of reserve among common acquaintances to admit them, and receive them as they would the children of the family-a piece of injustice, and want of sympathy with a benevolent deed, which seems without motive or excuse.

The first examples I saw of this practice of adoption made my heart as full of glad surprise as might be that of the mother in the tribe of Levi, when the princess of Egypt gathered her babe from the bulrushes, and ordered him to be nursed. To look on a nice curly-headed little thing, whose parents had died of fever, or in crossing the ocean from a far country, tended and cared for, and nestling under a kind arm, unconscious that it was not a mother's, is very charming.-To hear of a childless pair agreeing to go among the orphans, and select one from the asylum, and begin their charge by having it baptized; and to learn that their brother and his wife, who live near, are so taken with this little one's winning ways, that they are resolved to have their childless home also enlivened, and have taken that orphan's own brother, and are now each and all enjoying their prize, is quite delightful.

The novelty of the plan led me to inquire very carefully as to its results, and the statement was, that if one in a hundred tired or failed to do by the adopted, as they would have done by their own, it was but one in the hundred.

In the city of Boston we found two excellent sisters, who, not being able to gratify their benevolence by assuming the charge of little ones, had ingeniously discovered a mode of help still more extended. Carlyle found it an unsolvable problem how to bring the quantity of ready-made shirts and

the shirtless together, but these dear ladies have found out a way by which they introduce the friendless to the friendly, and the fatherless to the childless.

Their monthly publication, called The Orphan's Advocate, is interesting, simple, and truth like. They publish the age and sex of the children in one column, and the places where children are wanted in another. For example:

"In Curtisville, a boy will be adopted ten years old.

"In Leominster, a girl will be adopted eight years old.

"In Great Barrington, a girl will be adopted about twelve years old."

The list extends to twenty-six; then comes

66 CHILDREN NEEDING HOMES.

"A girl five years old.

"A boy eleven years old.

"A girl two years old.

"A boy two years old.

"An infant girl four months old; also an infant girl eight months old."

The list extends to twenty-eight.

A paragraph, unique in its simplicity and peculiarity, we quote as a perfect curiosity in Great Britain; it and the above lists are found in The

Orphan's Advocate, published in Boston, March 1851.

66 WHO WILL FIND THE CHILD.

"Among the many good places for children, we know a superior one for an infant boy, twenty months old, to fill the vacancy left by the death of an infant of that age, in a family of prosperous people. If we mistake not, the child should have light eyes and hair; an orphan would be preferred."

The solitary number of the Orphan's Advocate within reach contains various touching passages. Here is a sample :—

66 INFLUENCE OF CHILDREN.

Many a ray of sunshine has a child shed into a dark heart. Childhood softens the selfishness of age, and bids the frozen sympathies gush out. Who has never felt that he had reason to bless children for what they have done for him?

"Many orphans owe their happy homes to the influence of other children. We have known instances when a child has persuaded its parents to adopt a little orphan-they have persuaded others to do the same. They read of the little ones who need homes, and they seek homes for them."

"CHILDREN'S SYMPATHY FOR ORPHANS.

"Children frequently sympathise deeply with orphan children. There are no objects for whom

their hearts are so easily or deeply enlisted. We have been frequently told of children who read over regularly the list of children needing homes in the Orphan's Advocate, and manifest great interest for them."

These excellent Misses Fellowes enlist the services of the benevolent to "search out the children.” Besides having ten travelling agents, part male and part female, they urge them not to overlook the poorhouses. "Shall we not," say they, "have our poorhouses emptied of their young inmates? Shall Massachusetts, shall any State in the Union, bear upon its brow the curse of young humanity neglected? The older poor can speak for themselves, the younger cannot; but their cry goes up to God, who hears and knows, and who will recompense good or evil to those who search out, or refuse or neglect to search out the little ones, and see that their wants are supplied." "Applications, especially for young children to be taken by adoption, are becoming daily more numerous." "Our friends will need to be diligent in looking up the destitute little ones, so that there may be a constant supply for those whom this increasing interest shall lead to seek to become foster-parents."

I have been assured that the success of this plan is unfailing, and that its benevolent inventors are greatly encouraged to proceed.

One instance of adoption touched me deeply on many accounts. In the graveyard of the first Pres