"The sunshine and the merriment,
"The unsought, evergreen content,
"Of that never cold time,

"The joy, that, like a clear breeze, went

"Through and through the old time!"

And even in later times, where the shadow of life had begun to fall, the picture seemed hardly less fair. For about both, the child and the half-grown girl, had been wrapped the same atmosphere of love and guidance,through which sweet medium all the breaths of sorrow and pain came softened. Even when they came from bitter causes her father's death; her brother's gradual estrangement from home-his voluntary withdrawing from the hand in hand intercourse in which they had grown up,-even then there was sunshine at her mother's side-sunshine for her, she had never failed to find it. But it reached not to the dark foreground,-where scorched flowers and blackened stumps shewed that Time had claimed the land, and had cleared it.

But little more than one year ago, Rosalie was nerving herself for the bitter future. It had come, and she had met it,—had lived through those first few months of grief not to be told nor thought of. But though her heart was quieter now, there were times which seemed to surpass all she had ever known for intensity of sorrow,-when her very life seemed to die within her; and desire to live and power to do could not be found. When her mind dwelt with intense longing on the words, "I shall go to her but she shall not return to me." Yet even then God had not forgotten his child, and in the breaking light her mind rested submissively upon this other text—“ All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come." And as the last storm-clouds roll away, and are gilt with the western light; so upon all her sorrow fell this assurance, "Blessed

are the dead that die in the Lord-they rest from their labours and their works do follow them."

"I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of the covenant between me and the earth!"

Rosalie had dwelt long upon the words, till all thought for herself was lost in joy for her mother's safety and assured blessedness, far from the weariness that pressed upon her own heart; and though the remembrance brought back one or two tears, they were quickly wiped away, and her whole soul was poured out in the prayer that she might one day go to her,'-and not only she, but the two dear ones yet left to her on earth. The desire could not be spoken-it was the very uplifting of the heart,-for them, for herself; and that she might faithfully perform the work that was put into her hands.

With a look where sorrow and submission and earnest purpose and endeavour, were like the pencilling upon a flower of most delicate growth and substance; Rosalie raised her head, and saw Thornton before her. Leaning against the bedpost, with his arms folded, and eyeing her gravely and considerately.

'What are you thinking of me for, Rosalie ?' he said. 'Cannot you do enough of that work in the daytime, that you must spend half the night upon it?'

'Are you sure that I have?'

'If I had not been sure of it I should have claimed your attention when I first came in.'

'And it would have been gladly given.'

"Yes, I dare say,' said Thornton, but one may as well take the benefit of all that good angels are

one.

I am almost sorry I did not, though.

got there? stockings to darn?'

amind to do for

What have you

'Only Hulda's stocking to fill with presents-you know

it is Newyear's eve.'

THE GUARDIAN ANGEL.

33

'Give me credit for remembering something once in the course of my life. I did recollect that there was a stocking to fill, and have brought home my quota.'

'I am so very glad!' said his sister, with a look of great pleasure. Hulda would have been disappointed if you had forgotten her.'

'She don't owe me many thanks,' said Thornton, as he watched the fingers that were busy disposing of the presents, and the face that bent over them. I believe she might have escaped my memory if her sweet guardian could have gone with her. But Hulda's presents were to pass through your hands-No-don't kiss me,-I tell you I don't deserve it. When you looked up a little while I felt as if you ago, were up in the sky, and I—I don't quite know where,— so I'll wait till we both get back to terra-firma again.'

'Do you call me her guardian?' said Rosalie with one look at him.

'Yes, and mine too. Why didn't you have tea to-night? Well-you look-Want to know how I found it out?— because the table was untouched. Why didn't you?'

'O—I thought I would wait for you,' said she brightly. 'But why did you, after all? Don't you know I'm not

worth the trouble?'

'O Thornton!' she said.

'What?'

'I was not going to say anything.'

"Your saying nothing usually tells all one wants to know, and a little more. Come, finish your work,—I shall play guardian to-night, and make you go down and eat as many oysters as an angel can reasonably be supposed to want. So make haste, for it is time such particular little bodies as you were in bed.'

He had named her rightangel.

she was indeed his guardian

D

In the midst of all his reckless absence and waste of time, in his gayest hours of pleasure, among his so-called best friends, there was still in his inmost heart the pure image of one Christian, whose profession he knew was not a name,-whose walk he knew was consistent; whose life he knew was gladly submitted to a higher will than her own. And often did that image come up before him, rebuking the light irreverent talk of his companions, making false their assertions, and reproving him for even listening and looking on. His mother had indeed won his respect no less; but she was older-it seemed more natural, to his notion, that Christianity and years should come together. But his sister-young like himself—younger than he,— beautiful, admired, complimented; and yet maintaining that pure elevation of heart and mind—that uncorrupted, untainted simplicity of aim, which not all his most unbelieving desires could find in those who were living without God in the world:-it vexed him sometimes, and sometimes it roused his pride and sometimes his discontent,—yet on the whole it pleased him. There was a strange kind of fascination in seeing one who ought naturally to look up to him for counsel and strength, assume, almost unconsciously, so high a stand above him; and array herself not more gently than firmly against so much that he liked and followed. And though he often laughed at her, sometimes stopped her mouth with a kiss, and sometimes got excessively provoked,if he could have thought her one whit more tolerant of the things which he tolerated, one jot more indulgent towards the company and the pursuits in which he wasted his lifeThornton would have felt that the best thing he had in the world was gone from him. He watched her- she little thought with what jealous eyes; and at every instance of her unwavering truth-not only in word, but in that up

NEW-YEAR'S MORNING.

335

rightness of heart which pierces through error and fallacy like a sunbeam-he smiled to himself; or rather to the best part of his nature against the worst. And yet upon those very points he would argue and dispute with her till he was tired. But this consciousness of her secret influence made him the more shy of submitting to it openly. He was content to go on after the old fashion; thinking Rosalie a piece of perfection, and not much concerning himself whether she were a happy piece of perfection or no.

CHAPTER VI.

Here she was wont to go! and here! and here!
BEN JONSON.

LITTLE Hulda had slept away all the early part of the Newyear's morning; and it was not till after the rest of the family had long ago breakfasted, that she sat up in bed and looked about for her stocking. For the doctor gave leave that she should go down stairs in the afternoon, only upon the easy condition of her keeping perfectly quiet all the morning; and now, bundled up in dressing-gown and shawls, she sat leaning on Rosalie and supported by her arms, to examine into the mysteries that had hung all night at the head of her bed. She was weak and pale still, and the touch of helplessness which illness had given her voice and manner went to her sister's heart. When Hulda was well and playing about, recollections came less readily; but now the season of itself brought enough—the filling of that stocking had been bitter work,-and when from time to time Hulda's gentle and still weary-looking eyes were raised