ety should be a school of mutual instruction, and in this school much is effected by the silent and gentle force of example. I hope to do something in this way towards elevating the pursuits of my Greenbrook friends. We may perhaps teach them that more than they have thought of may be done in a well regulated home."

"Yes, sir, and they might imitate you, if there were more Mr. and Mrs. Barclays in the world.”

"Ah, Harry, it is not the superior capacity that accomplishes most, but setting out with a firm purpose to attain a certain object. Your mother, Alice, began life with a determination to make a happy home. As she is not present, I may say of her what she would not permit me to say, if she were here."

"O let me speak of her, sir," interrupted Harry Norton.

"Let me speak of her," said the modest Emily. "O, I guess we all love to speak of mother, if speaking means praising," cried little Effie.

Grandmamma's tremulous voice hushed all others. "Her children arise up and call her blessed, ""she said; "her husband also, and he praiseth her.'"

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Yes, ma'am," said Harry; "that and every other verse in Scripture that describe a virtuous woman, might be applied to her; and those who have not the natural rights of children might rise up too and call her blessed, those on whom she has bestowed a mother's, care and tenderness. And what, that woman should do, has she left undone? How faithfully she has performed all the

duties of her lot; how generously undertaken those that were not imposed on her. What sense she has manifested, what beautiful order and neatness in her domestic economy; and in a higher, moral economy, how she excels all others. How she sees and foresees, provides against all wants, avoids irritations and jealousies, economizes happiness, saving those little odds and ends that others waste. How she employs the faculties of all, brings the virtue of each into operation, and if she cannot cure, shelters faults. She shows each in the best light, and is herself the light that shines on all, the sun of her home.' "Do not flatter, Harry," said Mr. Barclay, in a voice, however, which proved that he felt this was no flattery.

"O, Mr. Barclay," said Emily, "we must sometimes speak out our hearts, or they would burst!"

'It is testimony, not flattery," added Harry.

CHAPTER XII.

CROSS-PURPOSES.

"The worst fault you have, is to be in love."

A LETTER was one morning brought to Mrs Barclay, while she was sitting amidst her family. She read it twice over, and then without speaking

laid it on the table. "No bad news, I hope, mother?" said Alice inquiringly.

"It ought to be good news, Alice, and yet I am afraid we shall all feel as if it were very bad." Mrs. Barclay took up the letter, and read it aloud. It proved to be an application from a Carolinian lady, to whom Emily had been recommended as a governness. There were three young children to be instructed, and very generous terms were offered. Mrs. Barclay made no comments.

"I am sure I ought to be very glad and thankful," said Emily, in a voice that indicated how far I ought was from I am.

"Glad and thankful," echoed Alice, "for an opportunity to leave us, just as we have all come to be so happy here! No indeed, Emily, you shall not leave us now.

"Now nor ever," thought Wallace, "if I can prevent it." He looked eagerly towards his mother, in the hope she would put in a discouraging word; but she did not speak, and he ventured to say, "It is very little in the lady's favor, that she asks Emily to go to the South at this season.

"That is quite conclusive against the project, mother," said Charles,

"Neither you nor Charles, Wallace," replied their mother, seems to have noticed that the lady states her residence to be a very healthy one, on a plantation.

The young men had received but one impression from the letter. The word plantation struck on Effie's ear; "What, mother," she exclaimed, "let Emily go and live where there are slaves! O

no, that we will all vote against; won't you Alice? and you? and you?" she continued, ad dressing each person in the room.

The vote was unanimous till she came to her mother, who said, "I am afraid we should always find some good reason against Emily's leaving us.

"And why need she ever leave us, mother? Why not stay and teach us?'

"I have already taught you, dear Effie, all I know."

"Ah, but now we are at Greenbrook, you can have a new scholar.'

Who, Effie?" asked Emily, little aware of the toils into which she was falling.

"Charles."

"And what in the world can I teach Charles? "What you have taught all the rest of us, what you teach best, and without seeming to try, too."

"And what can that be, Effie?"

The little girl threw her arms round Emily's neck, and, looking fondly in her face, replied, "To love you."

Wallace was standing by the window, apparently absorbed in playing with a pet squirrel which Charles had tamed for Emily. His eye involuntarily turned towards her, and encountered hers. A blush suffused her cheek. Wallace flung the squirrel from him. "Did Bob bite you?" asked Effie, observing the sudden change of her brother's countenance.

"Yes,

no, no," he replied, and hurried out

of the room in no very tranquil frame of mind. He went he knew not where, and did he knew not what, till Alice ran down the steps of the piazza, exclaiming, "Wallace! Wallace! don't break off those carnations; don't you see how nicely Emily has shaded them from the sun to preserve them as long as possible? O what a pity you have broken this off! Charles has taken such pains to have it as fine as possible for Emily." "For Emily?"

There was a world of meaning in this concise inquiry, but Alice did not comprehend it.

"Yes, for Emily. What is there strange in that? Emily is very fond of carnations.'

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The impetuosity which had appeared in outbreakings of temper in Wallace's childhood, was now manifest in decision, energy, and ardent affections. Natural qualities may be modified by moral education, not extirpated; -the stream will flow, its course may be directed. "Come with me down this walk, Alice,” said her brother; "I have something to ask you, and you must answer me frankly." His voice became tremulous, but he proceeded; "Alice, you girls have a way of finding out one another's feelings; I do not ask you to betray confidence, but you may have observed something, there may have been some accidental betrayal, - tell me at once, Alice.' 'Tell you what, Wallace?

"You certainly understand me.' "Indeed I do not.

"Then in plain English, do you think Emily" he stammered, but in plain English it