This lady long grieved in view of the unfortunate want of self-control manifested in the conduct of her sister, and imputed much of the sufferings she had endured to this defect in her character. As she was now much in her society, she noticed, with pain, that Mrs. Nelson was habitually irritable in her family. Mrs. Coleman affectionately admonished her upon this subject, and was pleased to perceive that her efforts, in this respect, were not in

vain.

Mrs. Nelson was most tenderly attached to this sister, and was willing to own to her, faults that she had never before confessed to any one. She seemed to revisit again, in imagination, the loved scenes through which she had passed

'When all was new, and life was in its spring;'

and as she found, by taking a retrospective view of all that had occurred since with Mrs. Coleman she had danced in childish mirth along a lovely walk, shaded by a majestic oak, which during the warm season of the year had been the spot chosen by the children of Mr. Weldron as a rural resort, that her feelings had lost far too much of their freshness.

She saw that her sister seemed to enter into the plans of her own children with much of that warmth of feeling which children and youth love to see manifested by their superiors, when in the society of the young, and thought perhaps she had done her own dear children an injury, in failing to cultivate and exercise a similar disposition to

wards them.

As she had feared, her youngest son, whose name was

Walter, was not contented to remain at home, and left his sorrow-stricken mother, notwithstanding she entreated him to stay and allow her to feel that one support was left her. He promised to return soon, but unforeseen causes prevvented him, for some time, from doing so.

She often told Mrs. Coleman that her cup of suffering could not hold another drop-it had overflowed. But not until she had experienced these many reverses, was she led to cast her burdens upon the arm of omnipotent strength; then she felt that her sorrows all were hushed, and with calmness she could review her past afflictions with a desire to improve by a remembrance of them herself, and also to use much in her experience as an argument to dissuade others from following the unpleasant path she had so long travelled.

Mrs. Coleman rejoiced in the change that was strikingly visible in her sister, and enjoyed much in her society. They lived much in the past, and profitably too, for they loved to review scenes and events in which the unceasing watchfulness of their Heavenly Father could be discerned.

One evening, as these sisters sat by the cheerful fire-side of Mrs. Nelson, in company with several of their children, their thoughts reverted, as was often the case, to by-gone days, and they related many little incidents that greatly interested the young persons present. Mrs. Coleman's experience had been very different from that of her sister. She had known less of change than the former; but had been a very observant person, and had been favored in visiting many places and becoming acquainted with a variety of interesting occurrences.

She was often called upon to entertain friends by the

relation of one circumstance, which took place during the short period known as Shays' insurrection.

At that time Mrs. Coleman was a girl about eleven years of age. She had an uncle who resided in one of the small towns of Massachusetts, and was the proprietor of a large public house, which was, at the time in allusion, generally crowded with guests.

It will be remembered by many that this disgraceful rebellion was caused by a few who were dissatisfied with the measures adopted to discharge the debt incurred by the government during the war. These rallied around their leader, one Daniel Shays, a captain in the revolutionary and had the hardihood and folly to suppose the army, brave men who had struggled years to free themselves from the yoke of oppression, would suffer a few unprincipled persons to impose upon them the unjust restraints at which their noble spirits revolted.

Mrs. Coleman was at this time residing in her uncle's family. It was after the death of her lamented father, and she was placed, at the urgent solicitation of her uncle and aunt, under their care during the first year or two after that painful event. But for the occurrence we are about to relate, she would probably have always remained near her childhood's home.

Great excitement prevailed, wherever tidings of this unhappy affair were carried; and many, very many rash deeds were perpetrated by those who in the main were good citizens in the community where they lived. Indig nant at the baseness of those who were aiming to injure or overturn our newly-renovated State laws, they overlooked

the fact that they might be guilty of wrong, even while endeavoring to suppress wrong in others.

One night, during that season of excitement, suspicion was entertained that some of the followers of Shays, who were attempting to escape from the justice they so much feared, had taken lodgings at the hotel of Mr. Hamlin. A number of rash individuals, when conversing together upon the subject, resolved to raise a company of fifty or more armed men and enter the house to drag, as they affirmed, the coward rebels to the punishment their violence merited.

It did not take long, at a time when every one was deeply interested in each passing event of every day, to rouse the mob spirit in the bosoms of ardent young men, who longed to do something to manifest their love for their country. Before midnight, a company of fifty men on horseback, halted before the house of Mr. Hamlin. The inmates of the dwelling were all quietly sleeping at the moment, but were instantly aroused from their slumbers by a discharge of musketry into the building.

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'O,' said Mrs. Coleman, that night was a dreadful one to all in the house! I slept with a young lady, a relative of my aunt. We heard the report of the muskets, and started from our bed in alarm. We attempted to reach the room where uncle slept, but to our consternation found it to be impossible, as the invaders had entered the house by the front door and windows, and were going from room to room in search of insurgents, of whom they very confidently expected to find some.

'The lady who lodged with me, as well as myself, was greatly terrified, and we were afraid to remain in our

chamber. We soon heard the footsteps of some of the men approaching the room, and, still more alarmed, we took as much of our clothing as we could get hold of in the darkness of the night, and ran hastily down the back stairway into the cellar. My companion led me trembling to a large old-fashioned arched closet, used for stores. We closed the door after entering this hiding-place, and my companion assured me that we were safe enough, “for,” said she, 66 no one will ever think of looking for us here."

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'In this, however, she was disappointed. We stood awhile, listening anxiously to the invaders as they rambled through the spacious rooms just over our heads. We trembled,' said Mrs. Coleman, with fear as we stood waiting the result of these strange doings, and shivered with cold, for it was mid-winter, and our naked feet pressed the damp earth upon the bottom of the cellar.

'It was not long ere we began to fear that we should be molested, yet had not time to anticipate the trouble long, ere we realized it. The strange guests, having finished their search above stairs, felt the need of refreshment; and not finding a sufficient quantity of wine in the bar-room, they determined to seek it in the cellar. In pursuance of this determination, several of the men came down, and very soon found the closet in which we poor girls were secreted, as we thought.

The door was opened, and a tall, red-faced, and ferocious-looking man peeped into our hiding-place. The young lady, as well as myself, was alarmed. I was too much frightened to speak. My companion, who was affected differently, as soon as she saw the intruder, exclaimed, in a resolute tone, "If you lay your hands upon us, it will be at the risk of your life!"