help-meet, as may never throw a stumblingblock in the way of our best interests? And here is one to whose modest virtues I must bear testimony; one who will, I am sure, do him good, and not evil; who, tried in the fire of adversity, hath been contented to pursue her modest way, unnoticed and unknown. Unknown to fellow mortals, indeed, but well-known to Him, whose favour is life. Oh, my faithful little girl, may the days of thy prosperity find thee still trusting in Him, who hath led thee hitherto. Then may we safely say, 'That the Lord, the Lord of Hosts, will be with you, and the God of Jacob will be your refuge." And now, rising reverently, and spreading his hands, he said, "No good will he withhold from you, if you walk uprightly; for the Lord of Hosts will bless those that trust in Him. Now, may the God of your Father help you; may the Almighty bless you with the blessing of Heaven above, and of the earth beneath.' Esther had blushed and trembled, and the tears had flowed plentifully; and, “Let us pray," was a cheerful relief to this season of excitement. The prayer was brief, for the expounding had been long; and the usual blessing was then pronounced, "the Lord lift up the light of his life-giving countenance upon you, and give you peace." They offered him a little of their raspberry wine, which he took smiling: and, as the bride brought it herself, he took that opportunity to say, "She must do Mrs. Lascelles the favour to call upon her." Esther looked up in astonishment at the word favour; and the good man said, "do you not know that you are the queen of the day, and must remain so till another bride comes." And he looked archly smiling at Jemima, and said, "I think I have seen you here before; but, I must not steal sheep from my brother Cooper's flock. This quiet girl stood the laugh very comfortably; but it is remarkable that Joe, who could understand no other subject, was quite awake to this, and stood rubbing his long hands, and laughing, when every one else had done. Now the Lascelles's withdrew, and dinner was announced, clean and plentiful; and the kind-hearted, motherly Mrs. Finch, and Mrs. Kemp, took Esther between them, and thus saved her the fatigue and the blushing, which taking her own seat might have caused. "Come, come," said Mr. Brownrigg. "I intend to be master to day: so he made Michael sit down promiscuously with his guests, and there was no want of footmen; for Ste phen and Jem were as brisk and as happy, though they had both had the modesty to apologize to Mrs Finch, for sitting in her presence. "Good and respectable young men," she replied, "I desire these distinctions may be forgotten between us.' Michael avoided looking up, lest he should meet Jem's eye. James was awake to it; he remembered the folly of his boyish days; he also kept his eye very busy on objects more remote from his mind. When the meal was passed, Betty Smith and William were invited in, to drink health to the newly-married. It was drank on the part of Betty, with tears and with trembling; for she loved both her master and her new mistress. To Margaret and to Mary she owed her comfortable dwelling: and, for many years, the kind hand of Esther had done every little job in the way of dress to which Betty was incompetent. She was Betty Smith's milliner and mantua-maker, and was only paid in thanks and in blessing; for Esther was so handy with her needle and her scissors, that she *"gai'd auld claes look amaist like new." How will the willing mind, and the active finger, dispense their benefits, while ignorance gapes and wonders, and closes with, * Vide Cotter's Saturday Night. N* 66 Well, for my part, I never did like work." But, be it remembered, that this feminine employment is indispensable in certain ranks of life; pleasant and useful in all. Poets have immortalized the needle, and the painter's pencil hath often given us the quiet form of woman, while the fingers are busily engaged, seeming rapt in calm speculation, or the aspirations of devotion. 'Tis woman's purest employment; it courts no praise; it is the handmaid of charity, and executes that which the mind prompts; and many a useful work of the finger may be accomplished, even when sight begins to weaken, and taste for more elaborate performance fades. Pardon this long digression, amiable young country-women; but to me few sights are more endearing, than the family group, seated at their little works, while the father or the brother of that family reads some judicious author. The harmony of taste, and agreement of sentiment, draw the band closer, and shut out many an unprofitable censure, and many an idle word. my the 20 "And now," said Brownrigg, **good people, it's three o'clock and past, and some folks intend to travel twenty miles, and some folks are going out to tea." "That's me," thought Joseph. Yes, yes, I must go; I promised Miss Louisa. No one heard him but Brownrigg, next to whom he was sitting; and he was astonished, when the latter said to him, "I should like to go with you, Mr. Joseph." He could only wonder in himself, and could scarcely repress the expression of that wonder. Why, sure," thought he, "Mr. Brownrigg won't go;" and indeed he hoped he would not. 66 But never did Brownrigg give up a project, especially if it amused him; and this greatly amused him. He had planned what he should say; how he should introduce himself, and had no doubt of being greatly entertained. And perhaps nothing could have happened better to divert poor Mary Humphries from the separation that was about to take place, than what she thought of this foolish business of her brother's visit to Sizors. What he could be thinking of; what was the intention of his making such an acquaintance, they could neither of them conceive. He was neither going to explain, nor excuse: and, after poor Joseph's weak head had laboured some time with the enquiry, "what could Mr. Brownrigg mean?" he at last brought cut, "Do you really mean to go, Sir?" and Brownrigg bowed very gravely. Yes, Sir, I do. I hope you have no 66 |