of the world, as only fit to be ranked with dogs and other dumb animals:  yet they have souls, hearts which had been given to Christ, and the meek and lowly Jesus, were he now upon the earth, would not be ashamed to take this down-trodden race by the hand and lift them up.  God looks down from his throne above with pitying eye; he pities his children; we grow strong in the assurance of his tender mercies; but let us remember,—­he will avenge with a powerful arm, the wrongs inflicted upon his feebler ones; for he hath said,—­“My children, love ye one another, even as your heavenly Father loveth you.”

This meeting of old Vingo and Phillis, was enough to have softened the heart of the vilest “Legree;” but probably, had one of those gentlemen, whose highly respectable occupation it is to deal in the traffic of buying and selling—­man, been present, they might have been led to remark, “The silly creatures seem to imagine they have some feeling.”

The evening shades descended.  The night was wild, and the voices of the breakers rose loud, as if responding to the angry aspect of nature; yet peace sat beneath the roof of Mrs. Grosvenor’s dwelling.  The evening lamps were lit, and as Mrs. Grosvenor produced a small casket and laid it on the centre-table, she thought within herself,—­it was much such a storm only a few days after our dear one came to us.  Mr. Alboni sat with bowed head, as the mother proceeded to bring forth evidences which should identify her darling child as being of the descent and lineage of another line of ancestors than hers; while the Sea-flower, her hand clasped within that of him who had found favor in the mother’s eyes, prepared herself to receive any information in regard to her destiny, which it should be the will of a just God to decree.  The tiny lace dress, which the infant had worn, when she was first placed in her foster-mother’s arms, was held up to view.  It was of a costly fabric, embroidered heavily with needle-work, evidently the production of the industry of some lone sister of convent life.  The casket, the contents of which had been so long treasured as things sacred was opened and the bands of gold placed in Mr. Alboni’s hands.  He examined them closely; there were no initials, not the least mark whereby he might learn of that which was of such vast interest to him, when lo! he pressed the spring which had before yielded to Mrs. Grosvenor’s touch, and behold!—­the same features which he had looked upon day by day, for twenty years, were revealed to him,—­the features of his Madonna—­his child!

“My God!” exclaimed he, “I thank thee that thou hast brought me from darkness to light, not only that I may acknowledge thy supremacy, but to bless thee during the brief remainder of my days; if I may atone for my deep sin in living so long without thee, even doubting thy existence!  This is truly a convincing proof that thou art all in all.  I here vow, that should the gracious Lord see fit to chasten his servant, by taking away this, my last support, it shall only serve to increase my faith in the love of my most precious Redeemer!” and with tearful eyes the old gentleman held his grand-daughter to his heart.