from Wildenberg to a distant part of the country, and Rosalind trusted that she had once more regained her peace; but happiness was chased from the abode of the good old shepherd, by a most unforeseen and melancholy occurrence, which threatened to overwhelm her with misery, and leave her an unprotected orphan.

Barnold, her beloved father, who had hitherto enjoyed wonderful health for his time of life, was suddenly attacked with a violent paralytic affection. He had complained for some time of great heaviness and weight in his head: he felt an increase of this in the morning of that day on which he was attacked. Rosalind prevailed on him to remain at home, and Nina went to tend the flock in his stead. He was sitting in his easy-chair by the fireside, and his daughter was reading to him, when, without raising her eyes from her book, she made some remarks on a passage which

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which particularly struck her, and asked his opinion; she repeated her question, thinking that he had not heard her; still she received no answer. She looked at him, and beheld with horror that his eyes were fixed, his left arm dropped. lifeless by his side, and his pallid features were frightfully drawn and distorted; his lips moved, but he could not articulate a syllable.

Rosalind had no suspicion of the real cause of this appalling attack, and imagined that it was a fainting fit, although such a one as she had never before witnesed. She had recourse to the means generally made use of to restore suspended animation. She chafed his temples, and dashed cold water in his face; but still he remained in the same state -pale and speechless. Rosalind was half-distracted. She was alone with her father in the cottage, and there appeared no means of procuring any assistance, as I could not leave him for a moment.

Most

Most providentially, Nina returned in company with Némorin, the young peasant mentioned in one of the preceding chapters. He had assisted her in attending to the flocks, and consequently she returned home earlier than usual.

When the kind-hearted young shepherd understood what had happened to Barnold, he instantly offered to go to Ugchweitz, a small town about five miles distant, for medical aid.

The lamentations of Nina were loud, but Rosalind gazed in speechless agony on the deathlike countenance of her father. The acuteness of her grief, and her great anxiety, prevented her tears from flowing, or her thoughts from wandering to her own feelings. She began to have some suspicion of the real nature of the attack, as she had never seen any person in a similar situation. As Nina and she lifted him into his bed, she perceived that he had lost the use

of his limbs, and that his left side seemed particularly affected. This it was that persuaded her he was suffering under a paralytic stroke.

The surgeon from Ugchweitz, so anxiously expected, at length arrived. He was a plain-spoken elderly man, possessing, perhaps, neither vigour of mind or body sufficient to fit him for his profession, which requires so large a portion of both; but the benevolence of his character made up in part for his want of skill and activity.

Rosalind watched his countenance as he examined her father, and there was an expression of doubt in it, which, with an involuntary shake of the head, as he eyed his patient, planted daggers in her heart.

The surgeon bled Barnold copiously, and as Rosalind supported him in her arms during the operation, her sorrow for the first time found relief in tearsshe wept; yet though the burning drops

drops fell on her father's face, he felt-he saw them not. No false sensibility prevented her from rendering every assistance to her parent. Indeed, her exertions were particularly essential, as Nina durst not enter the room while her master was bleeding, but stood weeping at the door.

The surgeon desired that Barnold should be kept perfectly quiet, and having given his directions to Rosalind, and left some medicines which she was to administer, he thought it unnecessary for him to remain longer, but promised to return the following day." Keep up your spirits, my good young lady," said he; “I trust all may yet be well. There is much to fear, certainly; but I feel that I leave my patient in excellent hands. Your conduct proves your af fection and fortitude, and ought," added he, casting a look of displeasure on Nina," to be an example to others to act like you."

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