increasingly to these kind friends, asked counsel relative to the course it would be best to pursue, in regard to the future.

Said she; I am so deeply indebted to your generosity, that I feel really burdened, and long to be enabled to make you some return. As to paying you,' proceeded the grateful girl, 'that would be impossible; there could not be an equivalent found below the skies for such kindness as I have received at your hands.'

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'We do not want pay, Abby,' said Mr. Dalby, for any service we have rendered you; it will be reward enough for us to know, as I trust we shall, that you henceforth walk carefully along that safe and pleasant path that leads to life.

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'I am determined,' responded Abby, while tears ran down her cheeks, ever to strive earnestly to do right; still, I am aware that I must depend upon Infinite strength to help me. I have learned, from sad experience, that I am a most dependent being.'

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We all ought to feel this truth constantly,' replied Mrs. Dalby, as our only security from the power of any temptation, is in looking constantly above this world for assistance, in our struggles with sin. The poet says,

"Lean not on earth, 't will pierce thee to the heart;"

and all have felt this true, that have leaned at all upon themselves.'

Mrs. Dalby acquainted Abby with the intentions of her husband concerning her. On receiving the intelligence, she was almost overjoyed.

'Now,' said the poor girl, 'I shall no longer feel myself

an outcast―0, I can never be half thankful enough to you for your great kindness to me!

'Receive it as a blessing from your Father in Heaven,' said her benefactress; we are only his stewards.'

6

Not long after this conversation took place, Abby left the hospitable friends who had comforted her in the season of her greatest extremity. She quitted their dwelling with a full heart, accompanied by the lady with whom she was to reside, in an adjacent village.

Mrs. Crosby, who was to be the future protector of Abby, had been informed of the situation and prospects of the lonely orphan, and felt herself called upon to befriend her; consequently, she had, as early as possible, after hearing of this interesting stranger, repaired to the home of her relatives, in order to convey the grateful girl to her own house.'

The writer has promised to give the reader more of the history of poor Abby, and will endeavor to fulfil that promise in the next chapter.

Forsaken Orphan

CHAPTER XVI.

Col. Chambers - Cruel Desertion Abby For

Mrs. Dalby deceived in regard

saken by relatives - ·Mrs. Dalby
to the death of her child-Death of Abby.

THE parents of Abby were in humble circumstances; but they were respectable, and endeavored to educate their children as well as they were able. Indeed, they made great efforts to give them the advantages which many people in straitened circumstances, would have thought it impossible to give them.

These parents placed a proper value upon mental culture, and therefore felt that they would be unjust to their offspring to withhold from them any means of improvement that were possibly attainable by them.

It is not certainly known to the writer whether Abby was the eldest daughter, but it is believed that she was; and she was the almost constant companion of her mother, as long as that parent lived. But it was the misfortune of the poor girl to lose her mother at a tender age, just as she had begun to realize her worth; and also to part with her father, ere she arrived at the age of fourteen.

After the death of their parents, these children were indeed left alone in this unfeeling world; for, though they had relatives, they were persons who regarded the orphans

with a sort of vulgar jealousy, from the fact that the taste of their parents had led them to adopt a different course with their children from what these persons approved. They could not really find fault with the manner in which these helpless ones had been taught, because they had learned to be frugal and industrious, and strove to conduct in such a manner as to gain the good will of the virtuous.

They had also been instructed by their father, just before he died, to strive to keep together, if possible, in one family; but if they could not do this, to be often in each other's society, and cultivate that strong affection for each other, which brothers and sisters ought to feel. They obeyed this injunction of their departed parent, and were much together, until some of them were unavoidably scattered abroad, and others removed by the hand of death. Abby was left quite alone, and she accepted of an invitation to reside in the family of her uncle. She was not happy in this new situation, being very unlike the family of this relative; but she endeavored to make the best of her condition, and the buoyancy of youth enabled her to cast aside care, for the most part; yet there were sober moments when a sense of loneliness pervaded her young heart, while she reflected that there was not one in the house with her, to whom she could unbosom her feelings without restraint.

It was about this time that she was introduced to Col. Chambers, an officer in the United States Army. He was a gentleman every way calculated to gain the good will of a young, confiding girl. He whispered pleasant things to her, and she believed that all he affirmed was true. It never occurred to her ingenuous mind that he could prove perfidious.

The family of her uncle encouraged the Colonel in visiting Abby. They were anxious to get rid of her, as they often said, and hoped the Colonel would conclude to take her away with him.

These relatives appeared quite indifferent as to the character of the person whom they allowed to be much alone with the interesting orphan. Poor child! never had there been a time, since the death of her beloved mother, that she had so much needed the admonitions and restraint of this invaluable parent.

Her naturally affectionate disposition exposed her to temptations, by leading her to overlook the many faults visible to an unprejudiced observer, in the character of Colonel Chambers. She was blind to all his faults; and as expressions of kindness, in her present situation, were new to her, she was captivated with his society, and imagined herself perfectly happy as the object of his peculiar regard. Mistaken girl! it was not long ere she could from experience, adopt the sentiment of the poet, who has said,

'Bliss! sublunary bliss! proud words, and vain!
Implicit treason to divine decree!

A bold invasion of the rights of Heaven!
I clasped the phantoms, and I found them air ;
O, had I weighed it ere my fond embrace,
What darts of agony had missed my heart!'

Things passed on pleasantly, for some time, with the infatuated girl; and she dreamed not that a sad change was to pass over her earthly prospects that her brightest hopes were soon to be blighted, and her confiding heart made to bleed at the remembrance of the hours which

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