May Brooke

e arguments and hopeful promises which she felt would have consoled her under the same circumstances; but it was a wild, defiant kind of grief, which she thought ha

intense cold, she felt inclined to abridge her devotions, but she remembered the cold, dreary journey of the holy family from Nazareth to Bethlehem-the ruggedness of the road, and the bitter winds which swept through the mountain defiles around them-then she lingered in the poor stable, and knelt with the shepherds beside the manger where Jesus Christ in the humility of his sacred humanity reposed. She pictured to herself the Virgin Mother in the joyful mystery of her maternity, bending over him with a rapture too sublime for words; and St. Joseph-wonderfully dignified as the guardian of divinity, and of her whom the most high had honored, leaning on his staff near them. "Shall I dare complain?" thought May, while these blessed images came into her heart warming it with generous love. "No sweet and divine Lord, let all human ills, discomforts, repinings, and love of self vanish before these sweet contemplations. With thee, in Bethlehem, poverty and sorrow grow light; and the weariness of the rough ways of life no more dismay. Let me follow with thee, sweet mother, after his footsteps, until Calvary is crowned by a sacrifice and victim so divine that angels, men, and earth wonder; let me, with thee, linger by his cross, follow hi

fee sent up an inviting odor; and the table was spread with the whitest of linen, on which the cups and saucers were neatly arranged. The morning paper was

hely, as she came in from the kitch

e growled; "give

d I broiled a few slices of beef; see how very nice it is,

nce; I must curtail my expenses. 'Gad! if I should have another

ride, in her soul, instigating her to a sharp retort, and v

e waters; after many days it will return unto you-perhaps in an

do I? Well, I am doing what is equally as foolish-it is truly l

ould not awaken her this morning," sa

didn't sleep, pray?

u'll speak kindly to Helen when you come in this evening, because sh

at, Mis

ce, sir!" sai

e dependent t

e Almighty God has chosen for me, and I should be very ungrateful

ndles or coal sitting up to watch people crying, and tell what's-her-name to rise when you do; she's no better

do-do, dear uncle, try and speak kindly to her fo

ate here for some of this broiled beef,

en was awake. But she still slept, and looked so innocently beautiful, that May paused a few moments by her pillow, to gaze at her. "She is like the descriptions which the old writers give us of the Blessed Virgin," thought May; "that high, beautifully chiseled nose; those waves of golden hair; those calm finely

ay came down, "that you'll go trotting pre

I cannot go this

ake will swallow me before I get to the wharf to

is a stranger, and she might awake when I am gone,

popish league in my house, un

t you had better wrap this comfort around your throat; I finished kn

ry well," said Mr. Stillinghast, while one of those r

day, sir," said May, gather

hy

r, I thought

he choking I got," said Mr. Stillinghast, while the old, grim look settled on his face again. He went away, down to his warehouse on the wharf, to grip and wrestle with gain, and barter away the last remnants of his best an

lay a variety of little infant's socks, and fine fleecy under-garments, knit of zephyr worsted, which looked so pure and soft that even she touched them daintily, as she lifted them out to find her needles, and sat dow