health prevented her from doing as she could wish by the unfortunate little innocent, she determined to comply with the wishes of this gentleman, and give the babe away to him. He told her that she should always be allowed to see the child, whenever she desired; but enjoined secrecy upon her, in respect to its belonging to herself.

Mrs. Dalby believed the child was her own; and as she perceived the sad change in the appearance of its youthful mother, when she saw her from time to time, she could but feel thankful that the poor girl would not be obliged to leave a motherless and worse than fatherless babe behind her at death. Abby knew that she was fast hastening to the tomb, and felt more than satisfied that she could leave her little one under the care of those who had evinced such disinterestedness in befriending a lonely, erring one, like herself.

Colonel Chambers was aware that the young creature who had reposed so much confidence in him, had been abandoned by her selfish relatives, and that she had been indebted to the charity of strangers for a home since the day upon which she received that note from him which had been so fatal to her peace; yet he cared not that she suffered for his sake, if he was only saved from being annoyed by her presence, and he was careful to avoid any place where he was fearful of meeting her.

When he heard that she was sick, and was expected soon tɔ die, he manifested no regret. Aware that the child was provided for, he thought himself fortunate, and basked in the sunshine of prosperity, caressed by those whose duty it was to rebuke him as the destroyer of a young, affectionate, confiding female.

Abby, at the early age of eighteen, closed her eyes upon the world in peaceful hope of the forgiveness of Him, who, when upon earth, said to the erring, Go and sin no more.'

Mrs. Dalby saw with delight the developments of loveliness which time made in the little Sarah Anna, as this child of peculiar fortune was named, and although she remarked, as the little one increased in years, that it did not bear any resemblance to her family, she did not eve suspect it was not her own, or that her own babe had died, for many years after these occurrences.

CHAPTER XVII.

Sarah Anna and Mary at School — Sarah Anna deceived in Respect to her Parentage - Irritability of Mary- Secret divulged- Mrs. Dalby's surprise - Friendship between the two Sisters.

Sarah Anna loved both her foster-parents ardently, yet was peculiarly attached to her mother. There was no being on earth who in the opinion of this lovely girl could compare with her, and she derived more pleasure in being in her society, than was afforded her by mingling in that of her youthful companions.

Time glided away, and she became a young lady. She attended school with the eldest daughter of Colonel Chambers, whose name was Mary. Sarah Anna was acknowledged, by all who knew these young ladies, superior to her haughty sister in every respect. Mary was proud and overbearing, and valued herself upon her parentage, wit, and beauty, and regarded Sarah Anna with feelings of jealousy and envy, being conscious that she was destitute of those qualities which she every day saw admired in this sweet girl.

Mary had heard conversation at home, in regard to the unfortunate mother of Sarah Anna. She had thus learned the fact that her infant daughter, when very young, was adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Dalby; still, she was ignorant

of the humiliating truth, that this adopted child was the daughter of her father, and that she, herself, who was only a few days younger than Sarah Anna, was in every respect, save one, born under circumstances as mortifying as those under which her less seemingly fortunate sister had been ushered into existence.

Mary was not a disowned child; her grandparents had not acted an unnatural part towards her mother, whose faults were as great, if not greater than those of the friendless Abby; this was all the difference between the two.

Sarah Anna, at the age of fifteen, was a stranger to her interesting history. She was happy, supposing herself the daughter of intelligent, pious, and wealthy parents, by whom she was taught to value aright these blessings. She was also instructed to be useful in the sphere in which she was allotted to move. Her disposition was amiable; and she had always been treated with the utmost tenderness, by those whom she regarded as her own dear parents.

One day, when she was at school, Mary Chambers, being very irritable and perverse, was reproved by her teacher for her misconduct towards Sarah Anna, whom she treated with great rudeness. The reproof only made her more angry, and she gave vent to her wicked feelings in saying many unkind things to this innocent girl. Sarah Anna was conciliating in her disposition, and strove to soften the angry feelings of Mary towards her, by addressing her kindly. She approached her with a smile, at the same time saying,-Don't be angry with me

Mary, I am sure I am ready to do anything in my power to serve you, at any time.'

'I wish you would get away from me,' said Mary, petulantly, if I cannot have better company than you are, I will not have any."

'Why,' said one of the school-girls, who was standing near them at the time,' where will you get better company than Sarah Anna Dalby?'

'Sarah Anna Dalby, indeed!' repeated Mary, in a disdainful tone; her name is not Dalby, nor never will be, for she is no other than the child of poor Abby Olmsted, and she never had any father!'

'What do you mean, Mary?' asked the young lady she had been addressing.

'Just what I have told you,' replied she; it is the truth, and it cannot be denied.'

The truth! said Sarah Anna, it is impossible; you have only said this to provoke me.'

'I say it is true,' answered she, for I heard my father say to my mother, one day, that the daughter of Abby Olmsted was one of the fortunate kind, for she was treated like an own child by Mr. Dalby and his companion.'

Sarah Anna went home soon after this conversation, with an overflowing heart. As soon as she saw her mother, she related what Mary had stated about her, and then said, 'Do tell me, mother, if this is true?'

True!' replied Mrs. Dalby, 'I never have heard anything of the kind intimated by any one, and I presume it was only said to irritate you, by this foolish girl. Think no more about it,' continued the mother, it is not worth remembering.'