One morning, about a week after she had become too ill to keep up, she found herself so far recovered as to be able to go down stairs to breakfast.  Every thing upon the table she found arranged in the neatest style.  The food was well cooked, especially some tender rice cakes, of which she was very fond.

“Really, these are delicious!” said she, as the finely flavoured cakes almost melted in her mouth.  “And this coffee is just the thing!  How fortunate we have been to obtain so good a cook!  I was afraid we should never be able to replace Rachael.  But even she is equalled, if not surpassed.”

“Still she does not surpass Rachael,” said Mr. Smith, a little gravely.  “Rachael was a treasure.”

“Indeed she was.  And I have been sorry enough I ever let her go,” returned Mrs. Smith.

At that moment the new cook entered with a plate of warm cakes.

“Rachael!” ejaculated Mrs. Smith, letting her knife and fork fall.  “How do you do?  I am glad to see you!  Welcome home again!”

As she spoke quickly and earnestly, she held out her hand, and grasped that of her old domestic warmly.  Rachael could not speak, but as she left the room she put her apron to her eyes.  Hers were not the only one’s dim with rising moisture.

For at least a year to come both Mrs. Smith and her excellent cook will have no cause to complain of each other.  How they will get along during the last week of next August we cannot say, but hope the lesson they have both received will teach them to bear and forbear.

SISTERS.

[We make the following extract from one of our books—­“Advice to Young Men on their Duties and Conduct in Life.”]

If you have younger sisters, who are just entering society, all your interest should be awakened for them.  You cannot but have seen some little below the surface, and already made the discovery that too few of the young men who move about in the various social circles to which you have admission, are fit associates for a pure-minded woman.  Their exterior, it is true, is very fair; they sing well, they dance well, their persons are elegant, and their manners attractive; but you have met them when they felt none of the restraints of female society, and seen them unmask their real characters.  You can remember the ribald jest, the obscene allusion, the sneer at virtue, the unblushing acknowledgment of licentiousness.  You have heard them speak of this sweet girl, and that pure-minded woman, in terms that would have roused your deepest indignation, had your own sister been the subject of allusion.