May Brooke

he red glow which the fire-light diffused throughout the room, and together they formed a phantasmagoria, which seemed to ebb and flow like a noiseless tide. And with the shadows,

dear Helen?" asked May, while

me to my mind of a dark-eyed, soft-voiced woman, holding kneeling child against her bosom, to whom she taught a whispered prayer

o you know, I think with so much pleasure of going to mine! Even when I was a little child, it was

rememb

fant. Four months afterwards, my father, who was an

e been here

hich came of my father's death, left him no alternative; so my old maummy remained to nurse me, and keep house for him. I can never express how much I owe her. She was ignorant in worldly knowledge, and only a poor slave;

er instructor?"

eries of our holy faith. He has been my director ever since

a convent school in Louisiana when I was ten years of age, but was suddenly removed, to accompany my father to Boston, to which place he was ordered. There I was surrounded by persons of fashion and position, who made eyes at me when I told them I was a Catholic, and declared I would lose caste if I went to a church which was attended only by the 'low Irish, and servant girls.' Then I heard Catholics derided as superstitious and ignorant, until, I must confess it, I grew ashamed of being one. My father was too busy to think of me,-he always saw me well-dressed and in g

my uncle die?" said May, i

ious from the moment he was take

ess pride and criminal indifference, had been summoned by an inexorable decree to the tribunal of judgment! where it appeared alone-alone-alone, to be weighed in the balance of justice. "But, perhaps, swee

No doubt I have shocked y

very sure, that a life of prevarication and indifference does not a

do right-but what, in the name of mercy,

e candles. By this time Mr. Stillinghast had thrown off his wrappings, hung up his hat, and come

Sir, is it not?" said May, f

es

t your tea

es

very nice and hot; eve

ng the chairs. They too

Stillinghast said abru

el

u make

ied Helen, in t

, d'ye

s,

ke a shirt-wash-i

she said,

d for, then?" he

I can play on the ha

ly wax doll-good for nothing, and cumb

g, but tears roll

me. You shall learn to be useful

l try,

ng about with old Copeland down town?" he said, turni

n old gentleman who was passing the address of a person I had business with. Then he offered to

a part of the city so little freque

r, I would prefer not tell

owing," he excl

you that it was quite a little affair

bowing with a sneer; "but depend on't I sha

uncle, to have offen

escape, May stepped the hall to open the door, and ushered in a tall, fine-looking man, who said he had business with M

d I have come to bring you rents due for th

s it?" inquired Mr. S

he bills, which I hope you will find satisfactory," replied the young ma

tle our matters better at my counting-room," said the old man, folding the notes away; after which he wrote a receipt,

tensibly one of business, he was not at all inattentive to the presence of the cousins. His eye lingered on the faultless face of Helen, until she lifted her large brown eyes, and caug

has interrupted some domestic arrange

sir," replied

, Mr. Stillinghast. I shall beg your permission, sir, to-morrow to

o the door. "A rising young man! Come, come, make haste,

ittle," whispered May. "Here is the evening paper, sir,

When every thing was finished, they bade h

ay?" inquired Helen, as s

than that I do not think proper to disclose. But let us prepare for bed. Dear Helen;

elen, solemnly; "that horrid old man will certainly tear me to pieces, or bite

ife; it will drive you for comfort where only comfort can be found, and you

esume!" said Helen,

? I did not mean it, for I am very often angered and impa

o you expect to inher

rials give me so many opportunities of learning the rudiments of Christian

hall never attain

fect; too full of infirmities and faults!" said May, earnestly. "But

begin until I get on my cloak-it is fre

piety that Helen was touched in spite of herself, and responded with heartfelt earn

ay," said Helen, when M

e who comes to the lowly and repentant, and dispenses healin

deeply, but m