they had soon an ample supply; but just when their prospects were beginning to brighten Mrs. Harris was visited by a severe illness.  They had been able to lay by a small sum previous to her illness, and it was well they had done so, for during her sickness she required almost the constant attention of her daughter, which deprived them of any means of support; but after several weeks of severe illness she began slowly to recover, and this brings us to the time where our story opens.  The ring which Mrs. Harris held in her hand had been for many, many years an heir-loom in the English family to which she belonged.  To her it was the dying gift of her mother, and the thoughts of parting with it cost her a bitter pang.  But she had no friends to whom she might apply for aid; and to a refined and sensitive nature, almost anything else is preferable to seeking charity from strangers.  The ring was the only article of value which she retained, and sore as was the trial, she saw no other way of meeting their present wants, than by disposing of this her only relic of former affluence and happiness; and she trusted, that by the time the money which the sale of the ring would bring should be expended, they would be again able to resume their employment.  With a heavy heart Ellen Harris set out to dispose of this cherished memento.  She remembered an extensive jewelry shop, which she had often passed, as she carried home parcels of work, and thither she made her way.  The shop-keeper was an elderly man with daughters of his own, and he had so often noticed this pale sad-looking young girl as she passed his window, that he recognized her countenance the moment she entered the shop; and when in a low timid voice she enquired if he would purchase the ring, he was satisfied that he was correct in his former conjecture, that she belonged to a family of former wealth and respectability.  But young as she was there was a certain reserve and dignity in her manner, which forbade any questions on his part.  The man had for many years carried on a lucrative business in his line and he was now wealthy; and knowing that he could afford to wait till the ring should find a purchaser he had no fears of losing money on so valuable an article; and, as is not often the case in such transactions, he paid her a fair price for the ring, although less than its real value.  Ellen returned, much elated by her success; the money she had received for the ring seemed to them in their present circumstances a small fortune.  “Little did once I think,” said the widow, as she carefully counted the bank-notes, “that a few paltry pounds would ever seem of so much value to me; but perhaps it is well that we should sometimes experience the want of money, that we may learn how to make a proper use of it; and be more helpful to those less favored than ourselves.”  The money they obtained more than sufficed for their support, till Mrs. Harris so far recovered, as to allow them again to resume their employment.  They now had no difficulty in obtaining work, and although obliged to toil early and late, they became cheerful and contented; although they could not but feel the change in their circumstances, and often contrast the happy past, with their present lot of labor and toil.