the latter had been deprived of the use of her limbs by an attack of rheumatism, and so, one by one, all the remaining inhabitants of the country set forward, leaving them alone.  Lucy intreated the man to stay with her; in a week or two her mother would be better, and they would then set out; but they must perish, if they were left thus helpless and forlorn.  The man said, that his wife and children were already among the emigrants, and it was therefore, according to his notion, impossible for him to remain.  Lucy, as a last resource, gave him a letter for Idris, to be delivered to her wherever he should meet us.  This commission at least he fulfilled, and Idris received with emotion the following letter:—­

“Honoured lady,

“I am sure that you will remember and pity me, and I dare hope that you will assist me; what other hope have I?  Pardon my manner of writing, I am so bewildered.  A month ago my dear mother was deprived of the use of her limbs.  She is already better, and in another month would I am sure be able to travel, in the way you were so kind as to say you would arrange for us.  But now everybody is gone—­everybody—­as they went away, each said, that perhaps my mother would be better, before we were quite deserted.  But three days ago I went to Samuel Woods, who, on account of his new-born child, remained to the last; and there being a large family of them, I thought I could persuade them to wait a little longer for us; but I found the house deserted.  I have not seen a soul since, till this good man came.  —­What will become of us?  My mother does not know our state; she is so ill, that I have hidden it from her.

“Will you not send some one to us?  I am sure we must perish miserably as we are.  If I were to try to move my mother now, she would die on the road; and if, when she gets better, I were able, I cannot guess how, to find out the roads, and get on so many many miles to the sea, you would all be in France, and the great ocean would be between us, which is so terrible even to sailors.  What would it be to me, a woman, who never saw it?  We should be imprisoned by it in this country, all, all alone, with no help; better die where we are.  I can hardly write—­I cannot stop my tears—­it is not for myself; I could put my trust in God; and let the worst come, I think I could bear it, if I were alone.  But my mother, my sick, my dear, dear mother, who never, since I was born, spoke a harsh word to me, who has been patient in many sufferings; pity her, dear Lady, she must die a miserable death if you do not pity her.  People speak carelessly of her, because she is old and infirm, as if we must not all, if we are spared, become so; and then, when the young are old themselves, they will think that they ought to be taken care of.  It is very silly of me to write in this way to you; but, when I hear her trying not to groan, and see her look smiling on me to comfort me, when I know she is in pain; and