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enough, however, to show her that she was a widow. The letter, from some unknown person, informed her, that her husband had arrived at Valparaiso, in a low state of health, from a violent fever which he had had, and, after lingering some weeks, he had died in a hospital. It is unnecessary to describe the grief of this excellent young woman—the attempt would be fruitless. Her very heart seemed breaking, and all she could do was to lift her streaming eyes to God, and pray for his blessing. If Ann had been like many who suffer the like afflictions, she would have had no resource whatever. But, as I have said, she had been taught from her earliest infancy to see the hand of God in every thing, and to go to him in every trial. She had found the comfort of this in smaller troubles, and now she felt a treasure of relief in submitting herself to God, with entire acquiescence in his adorable will. Ann had not read the whole of the letters which brought her these evil tidings. When she had finished reading them, she received a ray of joy even in the midst of her grief; for she found that her poor husband had died professing faith in Christ, and that the friendly stranger, who had attended on his dying-bed, felt satisfied that his conversion was real. This was joy indeed! Ann threw herself upon her knees, and was overwhelmed

with her sorrows. Though stricken to the heart, she could not but give thanks that God had been pleased, as she hoped, to take him to heaven. The same letter had brought the news of his death and of his salvation. How often she had prayed for this in the long, wearisome nights! How little had she expected this kind of answer to her prayers!

Ann Forbes was so sensible, and so cheerful a woman, that all the neighbours were delighted with her conversation; and when she used to go out of her door to the old town-pump-it was but a step she was generally the life of the little company assembled there. Not that she gave way to any unseemly mirth, or took part in idle gossip. On the contrary, while, in her prosperous days, she was as happy as the lark, she never forgot what was expected of her as a Christian. She never lost any fair opportunity of speaking a useful word to the young people around her, and her sweet reproofs were often as effectual as those of the minister.

It was with a heavy heart that she went about her work after her bereavement; and the mirth of the youngsters, who gathered near the door, was painful to her. Some of those who came there were ignorant of what had happened, and wondered

at her sadness. While there was much chattering and noise, Ann was heavy-hearted; and, while her hands were employed in preparing some vegetables for her simple meal, her thoughts were far away, over the sea. As she was thus employed, the children got into a romping humour, rather more boisterous than common. Tom and Christopher Perry, the blacksmith's sons, had found a poor boy

sleeping in their back shed, and, as they could not very well understand the story that he told, they resolved to have some fun out of him, and so they dragged him to the pump, and were actively engaged in pumping water upon him. In this they were helped by Kate Merril, a frolicsome, thoughtless girl, who happened to be filling her pitcher at the time, and who was always ready for a game at romps. The task was not very easy, for the strange boy was quite a sturdy fellow for his age, and made vigorous resistance. But then he was hungry and barefoot; and, what is more than all, he was in a strange place. So they succeeded in drenching him thoroughly.

Ann Forbes had scarcely noticed what they were doing until they had nearly accomplished their purpose.

"Kate," said she, "I am really surprised you should join in such proceedings. It is shameful—

it is cruel-to treat a poor stranger so. See! he has neither hat nor shoes, and looks as if he had not a friend in the world."

"You may well say that," said the poor fellow, turning round at a voice of kindness, which he was unused to hear; "it is too true-I haven't a friend in the country." There was something in the boy's tones which went to the heart of Ann Forbes, for she recognised at once the dear Scottish accent, which she had, of late years, heard from few except her husband, and she burst into tears.

"What is your name, my lad?" she asked, at length.

"Donald Maclane," said he.

"And where are you from?"

"From Kilsyth."

"I thought as much; and how long have you been in America?"

"Three weeks since Tuesday," he replied;"there were eighty of us in the steerage of a vessel, and the small-pox broke out among us, and took off my father and my sister, and I've nobody in the wide world to look to."

"You may look to me, my little fellow," said Ann, "till you find a better friend. Come with me here to my little dwelling, for I dare say you are almost starved."

Ann immediately took the poor boy to her little dwelling, and prepared something for his breakfast. He ate like one who had been near starvation, and, when he had satisfied his hunger, Ann proceeded to ask him many questions about his native country and his parents. She soon found that Donald, though from Scotland, was very ignorant. He had been greatly neglected. He could read, it is true, but not in such a way as to do him much good. In all that concerned religion he was almost a heathen. He knew little about going to church; he had never been to a Sunday-school; and, what is far worse, he seemed to know nothing about prayer to God. Alas! how many boys and girls are in just this condition in every street of every city in America !

As Ann looked at this homeless creature, her heart was touched with pity. Providence has sent the little fellow to me, thought she, in the time of my affliction, when my heart is softened, in order that I might be a mother to him. Besides, it will

be something to occupy my mind. She thought she perceived in his countenance some tokens of intelligence and good nature, and she secretly resolved to befriend him.

"Donald," said she, "how should you like to live here with me, and help me to work?"

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