place, Orpington was the scene of the same joyousness and pleasure as pervaded every part of the British empire; not a few of those who had mingled in the din and commotion of the late warfare were natives of this little town, and they were again returned to the quiet which their peaceful homes afforded. At that time the vicinity of Orpington contained many a rural spot, and the soldier, after years of absence, would still return and gaze upon the cottage where he was born and nurtured-the stream which wound round the home of his youth, and the tree under whose shade he had played in childhood;-many a home such as this, rejoiced when the war was ended, and wives embraced once more the husbands that had so long been fighting for the weal of their country and their king; and children again sat on the knee of their veteran father, and listened eagerly to tales of slaughtered hosts and battles won.

Such an abode stood in the outskirts of our town; this was the home of Captain Hutchinson, an officer who had rendered good service under Wellington, and shared the honours awarded to the conquerors of the usurper. The Captain has been dead some years, but his house still stands at the entrance of the

town, and many sigh when they think of the subsequent condition of the once peaceful dwelling of the good old soldier. Then, too, the ancient church was no inconsiderable object of attraction to the visitors of Orpington. It was an old Saxon edifice, and the venerable structure filled the mind of the spectator with awe and reverence; now, however, a new church meets the eye, the fine old sanctuary has been long since levelled with the ground, and on its site stands the more modern but

less admirable building. When first we became acquainted with Orpington, its inhabitants were by no means numerous; but when we saw it at a recent period, the population had increased remarkably, while the town itself had become a corporate borough, and sent a representative to parliament; a townhall stood at the end of the principal street,

Poor-law union house had been lately erected a theatre reared its brazen front at the entrance of the High-street, and several reading-rooms had been established, together with a literary society and a mechanics' institute-in a word, the whole aspect of the place was changed,—the quiet village was now merged in the busy town, the daily routine of the peaceful occupations of simple villagers,

was now exchanged for the turmoil of conflicting parties, and the din of contending opinions, (now too often beheld in a town,) and all that remained to remind us that it was indeed the same spot, was this rude and ancient inscription on the wall of the entrance-street, some of the letters being well nigh obliterated—" Orpington!"

CHAPTER II.

"Life's tumultuous battle o'er,

O how sweetly sleep the brave!"

J. MONTGOMERY.

"True, you are young; but there's a stone
Within the youngest breast!"

ANON.

THE Village of Orpington, for such only it was at the period whence our story dates, contained few houses so well built or so pleasantly situated as that of Captain Hutchinson; the traveller as he passed regarded it with pleasure, and the general respect in which the Captain's character was held, endeared his residence to many of the inhabitants of the hamlet. Not only had he fought many battles for his country, of which conflicts he bore the honourable scars, but he was also a veteran in the cause of truth, -Hutchinson was a Christian, not in name only, but in deed; and it was his daily endeavour to" adorn the doctrine of God his Saviour

in all things." Through many a long and arduous campaign he had borne untarnished his moral rectitude and holy conversation, notwithstanding the varied temptations which surrounded him; and when at length, peace being restored, he found himself once more reposing in his quiet home, he sought the still retirement which it yielded him, and dedicated himself anew to the Lord his God.

The Captain's lady was a companion meet for him, and she was permitted to enjoy many years of undisturbed tranquillity with her honoured husband, who, with one son, made up the household of the worthy soldier. Arthur Hutchinson was the only child of these excellent people; on him they lavished all their affection, and as he grew before them into manhood, they rejoiced to find the germs of talent which had manifested themselves in his early infancy expanding widely, and producing fruits of bright and lasting intellectual promise. They deemed they justly loved him; he had been the mother's sole companion, and only joy, during the absence of his veteran father; and so deeply was he the object of her fondness, that she was insensible to the evil, though latent principles, which were sown in his mind by the great enemy of man, and