rewards for political prostitution, parcelled out to meet the sordid spirit of family alliances and ungodly bargains; or, in other words, to turn her into a mass of bribes—­a base appendage to the authority of the British minister, who used her as the successful medium of at once enslaving and demoralizing the country, instead of elevating and civilizing it.  It is for this great neglect of national duty, and for permitting ourselves to be imbued with the carnal and secular spirit, which has led us so far from practical truth and piety, that the church is now suffering.  We have betrayed our trust, and been treacherous both to God and man.  For my own part, my children, I am glad that I and mine have been counted worthy to suffer in this cause.  We are now passing through the furnace, but we shall come out purified.  Our grossness shall be purged away, and the proud spirit of mammon burned out of us.  But you know that God, my dear ones, can accomplish a double purpose by the same means.  Our church shalt be exalted and purified, and her ministers prepared for a higher and holier mission than that in which they have hitherto been engaged.  She shall awaken to a sense of her great responsibility; a new spirit shall be created within her; a living energy shall characterize those who have slumbered under the unholy shadows which she has cast around her, and those who think that they are smiting her unto death shall find that they have been made only the instruments in God’s hands for the purification of her body and the regeneration of her spirit.  Charles,” he added, turning to the boy, who still wept, although as furtively as he could, “bear up, my child:  Ned, you may rest assured, will make as little delay as possible, and I hope he will bring us relief.”

“Mamma,” said the invalid, looking up tenderly into her face, “will you—­oh! no, not you, mamma—­Emily will—­a mouthful of drink, Emily dear, and let it be pure water, Emily; I think it agrees with me best.”

“Alas, my darling!” exclaimed her mother, wiping away a few quiet tears, “I have nothing else to give you.”

“Well, mamma, but you know I like it very much.”

“Precious child,” replied her mother, again tenderly pressing her to her bosom; “we all know your goodness, and the reluctance with which you ask anything that you fear might occasion us trouble.  Dearest life, it will be the memory of these glimpses of angelic goodness that will wring our hearts when you are——­” She paused, for the words had been uttered unconsciously.

“Yes,” said her father, “they will console us, my child, and make your memory smell sweet, and blossom from the very dust.  You have probably heard of the beautiful sentiment so exquisitely delineated by the great painter—­’I too have been in Arcadia,’—­and will it not be something to us to be able to say,—­’We too have an angel in paradise!’”

Her sister brought her a cup of cold water, with which, after thanking her with a sweet smile, she merely wet her lips.  “Alas!  I am very troublesome to you all, but I shall not long—­”