Hardress took the wretched woman in his arms and kissed her forehead.

“I will pray for you at the moment of my death, as you will pray for me,” he said.  Then he surrendered himself to the soldiers, and was taken away.  At the trial the mercy of the executive power was extended to his life, and he was sentenced to perpetual exile.  As the convict ship which was to bear him from home waited in the river, he was brought from his gaol and left for a short time on the quay, where he heard that Eily’s father had died, after praying for and forgiving his enemies.  The boat arrived to convey him to the ship, and whilst descending the steps he was overcome by a seizure, and would have fallen but for the aid of his escort.  The dawn of the following morning beheld him tossed upon the waves of the Atlantic, and looking back to the clifted heads of the Shannon, that stood like a gigantic portal opening far behind.  The land of his nativity faded rapidly on his sight, but before the vessel came in sight of that of his exile, he had rendered up the life which the law forbore to take.

Danny Mann died amid all the agonies of a remorse which made even those whose eyes had looked upon such cases shrink back with fear and wonder.  Mrs. Cregan lived many years after Hardress’s departure, practising the austere and humiliating works of piety which her Church prescribes for the penitent.

Anne Chute, in the course of time, became Kyrle Daly’s wife, and they were as happy as earth could render hearts that looked to higher destinies and a more lasting rest.

* * * * *

JOHN HABBERTON

Helen’s Babies

John Habberton, the author of “Helen’s Babies,” was born in Brooklyn, New York, on February 24, 1842.  He enlisted in the army in 1862, and served through the Civil War, at the close of which he adopted journalism as a profession, becoming, in due course, literary editor of the “Christian Union.”  His first and most popular story, “Helen’s Babies,” after being declined by various publishers, appeared in 1876, and more than a quarter of a million copies have been sold in America alone.  According to Mr. Habberton himself, the story “grew out of an attempt to keep for a single day the record of the doings of a brace of boys of whom the author is half-owner.”  Apart from a number of novels, Mr. Habberton has also written a “Life of George Washington,” and a play, “Deacon Cranket,” performed more than five hundred times.

I.—­The Imps

The first cause of the existence of this book may be found in a letter, written by my sister, and received by me, Harry Burton, salesman of white goods, bachelor, aged twenty-eight, just as I was trying to decide where I should spend a fortnight’s vacation.  She suggested, as I was always complaining of never having time to read, I should stay at her place, while she and her husband went on a fortnight’s visit.  She owned she would feel easier if she knew there was a man in the house.