require it, am bound, in honour, to fulfil my engagement; but I will ask you, ought I to do so, feeling I no longer love you as I ought?  Is it not more really honourable to lay myself open and leave the matter to your decision?  If we are united, three individuals are miserable for life; but it shall rest with you, oh, my excellent Helen; forgive and pity

  “Your still affectionate,

  “EDWARD.”

What a blow was this to her warm and sanguine heart!  What a return to love, so trustingly bestowed!  She uttered not one reproach in her reply, but merely released him from every promise, and wished him every happiness.

She had, from the tenor of all his late letters, had a presentiment of coming evil; but she could hardly, till that cruel one, just given to the reader, realize its full extent; but the young do, and must feel keenly in these matters,—­females in particular,—­and, if right-minded, their all is embarked, and, if founded on esteem, the affections are not given by halves; and I firmly believe the author, who says, “Man is the creature of ambition and interest; his nature leads him forth into the struggle and bustle of the world.  Love is but the embellishment of his early life, or a song, piped between the intervals, But a woman’s whole life is a history of her affections; the heart is her world; it is there, her ambition strives for empire; it is there, her avarice seeks for treasures.  She sends forth her sympathies on adventures, and embarks her all in the traffic of affection, and, if shipwrecked, unless she be strongly supported by religious principles, it is a complete bankruptcy of her happiness.”

But let the young remember, there is often in these disappointments, so hard to meet, the most wholesome and salutary chastenings.  How very many happy wives can look back with thankfulness and gratitude, to the all directing hand of providence, that, by a blasting of their seemingly fair prospects, they are directed to happier fate, than their own inexperience would lead them.  How often does their Heavenly Father manifest his care, by leading them from the shoals and rocks of misery, which are oft times hidden, not only from themselves, but even from the anxious eye of parental vigilance.

When Helen had paid the funeral expenses and some trifling debts, she found she had but a small sum left.  It was now her all for the present support of three individuals; and for the future? poor girl! did she think of that? it did indeed cross her mind; but she suppressed the murmuring sigh that arose; and her beloved mother’s precepts were remembered, and her injunctions, that in every trial, she would cling to her God for help.  And truly, and wonderfully was this lone girl supported; and almost superhuman were the efforts she was enabled to make.  Fortunately, much manual labour was saved by the faithful servant, Nancy, whom no entreaties could force to quit.  She insisted on accompanying the children of her beloved