understood, had sanguine expectations of obtaining her hand, and had she never seen James Murray, would probably have been successful. Poets may celebrate the omnipotence of Cupid, but from observation I am inclined to believe that, in at least one half of the matches, propinquity has quite as much influence as the arrows of the blind god. But Mrs. Murray loved her husband truly and undividedly, and excepting occasional starts of passion or petulance when intoxicated, he was, till his mind became inflamed with jealousy, a most affectionate husband. This jealousy, excited by a trifling circumstance, is a sad exemplification of that alienation of reason which is often caused by intemperance. Men seem then possessed with the spirit of demons; rage, envy, hatred, and they delight in inflicting misery. I have said the house, in which this unfortunate family resided, adjoined that of Mr. John Russell. His was a very elegant dwelling, for he had been gaining an estate while James Murray was dissipating his -and Mrs. Murray happened one day to remark on the prosperity of Mr. Russell and his handsome house. Her husband instantly became exasperated, and pouring a torrent of abuse both on her and Mr. Russell, declared he would not reside so near a man whom he doubted not was the favored paramour of his wife. From that hour, his conduct to his family became changed and cruel. I cannot enter into details, your heart would sicken at

the recital, and it makes mine bleed to think of the sufferings of that amiable woman.'

The stranger was evidently much agitated, yet he begged Mr. Colvin to proceed.

'I must be brief,' returned he; and can only say that Mrs. Murray was so persecuted and rendered so wretched, by the jealousy of her husband, that she consented to remove from the house. Her husband provided another. It was a lone building, situated in a wild place, and half a mile from any neighbour. The house was in a ruinous state, the roof pervious to every storm, and there was not a glass window in the building. In short, it was a mere wreck; the very rats instinctively had quit it,'-yet there, this once angelic and still interesting woman, was compelled to reside. The sorrows of the poor are not understood from description; to be known they must be felt. Our charitable people did much for Mrs. Murray and her little ones, yet still I have no doubt they often suffered both from cold and hunger. And then they were subjected to the capricious cruelty of a drunken man. O! would young ladies but once be sensible of that depth of mortification and wretchedness which a woman is doomed to feel who has an intemperate husband, they never would for a moment hesitate to discard a lover who had been guilty of that degrading crime. They never would wed with such an one, though he were before as dear as their own life; they never could marry him— no, never, never, never! You doubtless won

der how such a delicate woman could live, subjected to such distresses. The capacity of the human mind and frame to endure, is, in many cases, indeed astonishing. Mrs. Murray had the consolations of religion for support, and then affection for her children strengthened her to bear up under the load of life." Yet even the exercise of her piety was often fraught with the most exquisite agony, for how lost, when judged by the holy law of God, appeared the character, and how terrible the condition of the husband she still fondly loved! Every day seemed widening the gulf between them, and rendering more fixed and irreconcilable the habits and principles which must finally separate them forever.

He who created us, alone knoweth why some of his children are appointed to win their heavenly crown through so much tribulation. To the trials of Mrs. Murray were now to be added the sickness and death of her two youngest children. Her eldest, a daughter, had never enjoyed good health, and the hardships and wants to which she was often exposed, doubtless, injured her, till finally she became subject to fits of epilepsy, and her case was pronounced incurable. But still, the mother had one precious treasure, a fine boy, just entering on his seventh year, and the most perfectly lovely and engaging child I ever beheld. In him she 'garnered up her heart,' and reposed all her earthly hopes; in him she could love his father's image without self-reproach,

and her affections continually wounded, or trampled on by her husband, twined around her child with those close foldings, whose delighted throb is so nearly allied to agony. This feeling, the fever of love, is never experienced by those who live tranquilly, and have not been necessitated to centre that affection and hope on one object, which should have been divided among a family. Last Monday morning I called at their dwelling. I found Mrs. Murray in better spirits than usual, and there was a cheerfulness in her manner, I had not for a long time witnessed. While we were conversing, a carriage, in which were two gentlemen, passed. A glove fell from the chaise, and little James, who was playing before the house, sprang with the agility of a fawn, picked it up, and presented it with a low bow, to the owner. The exceeding beauty of the child, contrasted, as it was, with his mean habiliments, made him a most interesting object. The gentlemen were undoubtedly struck, as I observed they pointed towards him, while conversing with much animation. At length one of them called the boy and presented him a dollar.

I wish you could have seen the little fellow when he came bounding into the house to exhibit his prize. He was too young to feel any mortification from being thought an object of charity-there was nothing but pure joy in his sensations. His bright eyes fairly lightened with pleasure, and his rosy face laughed and

dimpled all over, while his breath came so short and eager, he could hardly find words to express his feelings, as he exclaimed'Mother, dear mother, I shall buy something for you I shall buy everything you want! Tears and smiles were blended on the faded and sad, but still sweet countenance of his mother. I read her thoughts-she was anticipating the day when her boy would be her friend and protector. At that moment her husband entered. He had, as I afterwards learned, been that morning refused credit for a glass of liquor, and in the contention that ensued his wrath had been treated with contempt, till he finally became so outrageous he was driven from the store; the very one he had formerly owned. I saw there was a terrific frown on his brow, and that his wife shuddered; but his little són, elated and joyous, saw or heeded not the gathering storm. He sprang to his father, and holding up his money again told what he was intending to buy for his mother.

'You shall do no such thing,' thundered the savage parent, snatching the money from the child's grasp. Go, bring me yonder bottleI will see if I cannot have a glass of rum!'

"O give me my dollar, father, give me my dollar,'-cried the child, clinging to his father's knee.

With the fury of a madman flashing from his eyes, that father raised his clenched fist. Mrs. Murray shrieked, and we both sprang