stand among our best and noblest citizens. Mr. 
Barwood’s Influence over the once worthy old 
gentleman, had been productive or much evil. It 
has beguiled him to the gaming table, whore, ru¬ 
mor says, he has staked and lost so much money, 
that his ample fortune Is materially Impaired, it 
Is now whispered, also, that Mr. Barwood lost 
much ofhls own rortune In the same maanor, a 
tew years since; and that ho sought an Intimacy 
with Mr. Murray, mainly with a view to replen¬ 
ishing his purse from that gentleman's well-stored 
coffers. He designed, at first, to secure that 
agreeable result through the medium of Mr. .Mur¬ 
ray’s sweet nleco; but Helen, as we have shown, 
eluded Ida pursuit, and became the wire or George 
Beldon. 
Mr. Barwood regretted Helen’s escape; he real¬ 
ty admired her, and would i »ve preferred to grasp 
the uncle’s fortune with the niece’s hand; hut, he 
did not yet despair or attaining his most promi¬ 
nent object. By specious sophistry, he blLnded 
his victim, already bewildered with wine, to the 
tendency ot what he rocommeuded, and then lured 
him to the society of t hose who soon accomplished 
what the wily schemer had plauned, 
Mr. Murray, In his first transport of anger at 
lleleu’s unadvised marriage, had declared a reso¬ 
lution to alter his will, and adopt another heir. 
Accordingly, he sent to a distant village, tor an 
orphan girl whom he had never seen, but, who, he 
rashly hoped, would All the void which Helen had 
left In hts house and heart. 
Laura L-was the daughter of a former friend 
of Mr. Murray. Like Helen, she had been left an 
orphan at, an early age; and. like Helen, she had 
been reared In the house uf an uncle; but, not 
like Helen, had she been treated with more than 
parental kindness and Indulgence. Her physical 
wants had boeu supplied, but affection was not 
even professed toward her by those whom a sense 
ot duty, or perhaps a inero dread ot the world's 
opinion, constrained to give shelter and susten¬ 
ance to the orphan. The arrival ot Mr. Murray’s 
letter wrought a remarkable ehaugo In the de¬ 
meanor of the whole family toward their depend¬ 
ent relative. They took leave of her with many 
expressions of kindly interest, and abundant ad¬ 
vice to “ keep the old gentleman in good humor. 
It might cost her some trouble now, but she would 
be richly paid for it by and by." 
Laura was so happy in being released from a 
condition, almost, or servitude, that she did not, 
for some time, realize any trials In her new posi¬ 
tion. But she gradually discovered that the roses, 
so profusely strewn around her, were not alto¬ 
gether without thorns. A solicitude, perfectly 
natural In her circumstances, to perform what 
her cousins recommended—namely, keep Mr. Mur¬ 
ray in good humor—prompted her to study his 
whims, and endeavor to gratify all his caprices. 
But the task which Helen, with the knowledge 
and experience of a life to assist her, had round 
an Impossible one, could not be accomplished by 
an unpractised stranger. Her very anxiety to 
please Irritated Mr. Murray, whose once generous 
temper had become moody and distrustful. The 
efforts of the really grateful orphau were attrib¬ 
uted, by her benefactor, to interested motives. 
Instead of eliciting commendation, she was fre¬ 
quently repulsed as officious and tiresome. Mat¬ 
ters grew wo use and worse, as the domon of In¬ 
assldultles; he Informed her, la evident dlspleas^ 
ure, that It did not become so young a girl to set 
herself against the Judgment, of those who knew 
better what, was expedient than she possibly 
could. Helen saw that farther remonstrance was 
useless. She was silenced, but by no means con¬ 
vinced that her acceptance of Mr. Barwood would 
secure, either her uncle’s happiness or her own. 
She had, as Mrs. Morluu remarked but few ac¬ 
quaintances and no intimates. A Judicious fe¬ 
male friend, to whom she could have revealed 
her trials and of whom she could have asked that 
and counsel which she so much need- 
- • **->. But she was 
All that she thought, and felt 
Her Intul- 
temperance rose into more complete ascendancy. 
Laura seriously contemplated abandoning her 
thankless experiment, and returning to her former 
uninviting home. Precisely at this Juncture, how¬ 
ever, she encountered a powerful coadjutor, whoso 
sympathy assisted her to hear the burthen that 
she had assumed, and whoso counsel Instructed 
her how to elude CtP endure I 1 ".' thorns that beset 
her dally path. 
Mr. Murray was not so lost, to the respect ot 
persons and things around him, as not to observe 
the happy change In Laura's demeanor. She was 
quite as ready as ever to minister to his comfort 
or pleasure, but she was, evidently, less afraid of 
him than formerly: and the excellence of her 
motives was now morn apparent to her guardian 
than when her most amiable Impulses were hold 
lu check by tear. Tlio pct-ulanco that had been 
wont to call tears to her eyes, was often met with 
a courageous smile, worthy of Helen herself. 
Months—years—rolled by, and Mr. Murray’s 
course was onward and —downward. Loss of time, 
of money, of dignity of character, brought their 
usual results—loss of friends ami of public conn- 
deuce. The proud and sensitive old man felt his 
degradation keenly; but, instead of “redeeming 
his time,” ho sought,, continually, to drown his 
consciousness or abasement lu the poison which 
had wrought It all. But, while runny in whom he 
had trusted deserted him, the orphan Laura “still 
clung, with hope the fonder,” to the fallen, but 
not totally worthless man, Arid her fldellty, at 
last, won from blrn a degree ot confidence and re¬ 
gard that was as halm to her lonely heart,; for 
never before had words of affection—ot affection 
tor herself—fallen ou her conscious oar. 
Mr. Murray and Laura were riding outono after¬ 
noon, when an accident compelled them to leave 
their carriage a mile or two from home, and com¬ 
mence the residue of their way thither on foot. 
They had proceeded but, a short, distance, before 
Mr. Murray, by some Inadvertency ot movement, 
sprained one of his ancles, so severely that he 
tell, faint with pain, to the pavement. 
Fortunately, or rather providentially, they wore 
near a house, with the Inmates ot which Laura 
was acquainted. She Informed them, without 
loss of time, of her guardian s accident. Assist¬ 
ance was promptly rendered; the still insensible 
man was conveyed within, and received every at¬ 
tention that his situation could possibly demand. 
A physician was summoned, who pronounced the 
Injury serious, but not dangerous; administered 
an anodyne, and left the sufferer In a profound 
slumber. 
Mr. Murray slept several hours. On awaking to 
FARM LIFE. 
Saw ye the farmer at his plow. 
As ye were riding' by f 
Or wearied ’Death the noonday toil, 
When summer suns were high ? 
And thought you that his lot was hard, 
Aud did you thank your God 
That you and yours were not condemned 
Thus like a slave to plod ? 
Come, see him at his harvest home. 
When garden, field and tree 
Conspire with flowing store.to fill 
His harn and granary; 
Hie beautiful children gaily sport 
Amid tile new-mown hay. 
Or proudly aid with vigorous arm 
His tasks as best they may. 
The Harvest-Giver is his friend, 
The Maker of the soil, 
And earth, the mother, gives them bread. 
And cheers their patient toll; 
Come Join them around their winter hearth, 
The heartfelt pleasure see— 
And you can better Judge how blest 
The farmer’s life may he. 
(Mr*. Sigourney. 
sympathy 
ed, would have beeu Invaluable, 
alone In the world. J-. 
must he pent within her own bosom, 
five propriety forbade her giving her confidence 
to servants, but that observing class of persons 
are apt to lnfoim themselves pretty thoroughly, 
whether trusted or not. Those of Mr. Murray 
were not backward In rehearsing, la other parts 
of the house, such Items of knowledge as they 
gathered In the dining room and parlor.” 
“George Belden, the young architect to whom 
Mr. Murray had entrusted the ercctlou of his new 
and elegant mansion, was Bttll, frequently, about, 
It, perfecting his work. He had once had the 
fortune to render Miss Murray an Important, ser¬ 
vice; and from that Incident an acquaintance 
had sprung up between them, which had, grad¬ 
ually, assumed a form almost of Intimacy. He Is 
a young man ot sterling worth of character, and 
although a mechanic, is well educated and gen¬ 
tlemanly. The whispering ot the servants con¬ 
firmed by Helen’s Ul-concealed sadness, Informed 
him of the perplexity of her position.—Was It 
strange that shell a girl aa we all believe her to 
be, sbould have Inspired a deeper Interest t han 
ordinary friendship; or that. In her Isolation, 
sighing for help and sympathy—she should learn 
to lean, with her whole heart’s load ot love and 
trust, in the stalwart arm which had once saved 
her from death, and now offered her refuge from 
a persecution that threatened the happiness of 
her future life? But Helen’s affection is not her 
only surety of happiness. Her husband’s Arm 
religious and temperance principles form the 
basis of a hope such as wealth and rank, with her 
past experience against, t hem, could never have 
inspired. She attributes the greatest—Indeed the 
only sorrows of her life—to her uncle’s disregard 
of the scripture Injunction, to 1 Look not upon the 
wine when It Is red.’ My own opinion is, that al¬ 
though she has married, as It, Is expressed, ‘below 
herself,’ In the gradation of society, time will show 
that she has done wisely.” 
BY ALICE CRAIG 
[Concluded from page 413.1 
We have said that she appealed to her uncle 
for relief from Mr. Barwood’s attentions. But 
Mr. Murray was more changed than his nleco had 
allowed herself to believe. To her Inexpressible 
embarrassment, lie replied to her that he “ was 
anxious to see her settled In life, and that she 
would do well to take advantage of the oppor¬ 
tunity now offered her;” and counseled her, seri¬ 
ously, to accept the addresses of Mr. Barwood, 
and regard him as her future husband. 
Helen left her uncle’s presence, lu great per¬ 
plexity and distress. Unconscious In what direc¬ 
tion she bent her steps, she moved, mechanically, 
In that of the conservatory. It happened that 
Mr. Belden had chosen that very day to construct 
frames for several creeping exotics, wlflch he 
had lately observed needed such support; but 
whether or not he bad ascertained that Helen 
devoted a part of almost every day to the nurture 
of plants and flowers, It, Is not our pleasure to in¬ 
form you, reader, and we win only relate that, he 
entered the conservatory soon after that young 
lady—the dejection of her feelings portrayed tn 
her countenance—had begun her customary task 
ot inspecting Its blooming tenants. 
CHAPTER IV. 
“ Or like the kindly wordB of friends 
That cheer us on our way, 
And bid us yield not to despair. 
Tint vraiOv brighter day- 
But a few days have passed, reader, since our 
last leave-taking; yet, wp ask of your courtesy to 
believe that two or tnree years have glided by to 
the dramatis persona of our story. 
Mr. Murray, the respected, though faulty sub¬ 
ject of our narrative, has become completely the 
subject—rather, slave, of that pernicious habit 
which every year destroys the Intellect, and wastes 
the energies of so many who might, otherwise, 
CHAPTER III. 
“ Wealth is net the good thou needest. 
Ease, an evil thou shouldst dread; 
Blest art thou whom God but feedest, 
Day by day, with daily bread.” 
“ nave you heard the strongest rumor of the 
week?” asked the fashionable Miss Howard, as 
she entered the rich parlor of Mrs. Morlan, for a 
morning call. 
“I have heard nothing that surprised me, par¬ 
ticularly," replied Mrs. Morlan. “Pray, what 
rumor do you allude to?” 
“Why, that Miss Murray, the niece, and, as 
every one thought, the heiress of the rich banker, 
has married a carpenter I" 
“Thatlssurprlslng, Indeed. The old gentleman 
has kept her so exclusive, that she has had but 
few acquaintances, and, as I have heard no inti¬ 
mate friends. He has, l suppose, allowed her no 
opportunity of forming attachments more In ac¬ 
cordance with his own rank, and this has come 
of it. He has overreached himself, by Uls excess¬ 
ive pride and caution. 1 am more sorry for the 
girl than for him.” 
“ I am not. She 13 very young; and 1 dare say, 
he would have introduced her into society in a 
year or two. She must have had vulgar tastes, 
and Is, probably, mated exactly to her mind.” 
“ Your last supposition, 1 hope, will prove to be 
a correct one,” remarked Mrs. Holmes, a lady who 
had not spoken before since the subject under 
discussion had been presented. “ la your former 
conclusions I am so fortunate as to be able to as¬ 
sure you that you are entirely mistaken. Miss 
Murray had an opportunity of selecting a husband 
from her uncle’s Immediate associates. The tal¬ 
ented Mr. Barwood offered her his hand, and a 
share of hts large fortune; and Mr. Murray’s 
solicitude to secure so splendid an alliance tor his 
niece has, probably, Impelled the young lady to 
the somewhat premature step she has Just 
taken.” 
“Then she Is even more Inexcusable than I 
thought her,” responded Miss Howard. “ She has 
married a mechanic, to escape the addresses of a 
wealthy and accomplished gentleman, whose suit 
would honor any Lady In the city." 
“ Miss Murray has acted from principle, as well 
as inclination. Before she became acquainted 
with Mr. Barwood, she had often beard her uncle 
speak of him In terms Of unqualtfled disapproba¬ 
tion. When introduced to him, his tine appear¬ 
ance and Imposing address did not lure her to 
forget that she bad heard, that he was * one ot 
those men whom every pure-minded woman 
should be taught to shun.’ She had no reason to 
think Mr. Barwood had changed, since she had 
heard these things said, but she knew that her 
uncle had. She knew that his partiality for the 
former gentleman was the result of a lamentable 
Infatuation tn other particulars. She entreated 
him, In vain, to relieve her from Mr. Barwood’s 
