to meet the bridegroom, now when he seemed to be so near at hand. Her internal fever had perceptibly augmented: her cough was more violent, and her breathing increased in difficulty-all but too unfailing symptoms, that the hour of her departure was rapidly drawing nigh.

The trembling heart and penetrating eye of Althun were not, however, to be deceived by the hopes of recovery which his sister, in tenderness to his feelings, had so 'kindly expressed; and completely overcome by his melancholy forebodings, unable longer to contain his emotion, he fell upon her neck, and wept in the bitterness of his soul. "Ah, my poor Florine, my dear, and ever-beloved sister! What will become of me, if left without Florine, who has been to me father, and mother, and brother, and sister,-all in one. O Florine, Florine! Forgive my sorrow and anxiety; but indeed, indeed, I cannot restrain my tears."

Immediately recollecting himself, how

ever, and conscious of the necessity and duty of acting with a greater degree of fortitude, he inwardly prayed that he might be strengthened, no more to give way to unbecoming and unavailing grief; and his petitions went up as a memorial before God. He then seated himself upon the bed, and taking the Bible, which lay open beside him, he read from John that beautiful passage, in which our Lord, in so tender and affecting a manner, endeavours to prepare his mourning disciples for his separation from them, and seems as it were to pour forth the fulness of his feelings, yea though his own soul was exceed. ing sorrowful, even unto death, while he would comfort them-comfort them with the prospect of their future re-union with him in mansions which he himself was going to make ready for their reception, and where he assured them that they should dwell with him, never to be parted from him more, in the uninterrupted fruition of his joy. Althun knew it was a favourite

passage of his sister's, and he marked her languid eye brighten as he proceeded: 'Let not your heart be troubled: ye be lieve in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.'

Althun felt his sorrows lighten as he read. The weight which had overwhelmed him, and almost annihilated his fortitude, was in a degree removed; and feeling sensibly the alleviation of the burthen which had oppressed him, well nigh too heavy to be borne, he was enabled to raise to heaven, with gratitude and resignation, those eyes, which were yet dim with the tears of the deepest sorrow. He felt that, while he

was

'born to trouble,' there were ever consolations for those who turn to God in sincerity and truth; and who, desirous of glorifying him during their sojourn on

earth, take up their cross, with the determination to follow their Redeemer through trials and temptations, through honour and dishonour, through evil report and good report.'

The first thing that occupied the mind of Althun, when he could collect his scattered thoughts, was the removal of his sister; for the winter had already set in upon the Uplands, and it was absolutely requisite that she should descend to the milder air of the valley. The snow, however, was in the mean time falling fast, and as no covered conveyance of any kind could be procured, some delay would necessarily ensue. "Dear Florine," said Althun, addressing his sister in a tone in which fraternal affection was blended with the tenderest sympathy, “I am afraid we shall not be able to leave the mountain to-day."

"It may, perhaps, clear up," replied Florine," towards mid-day, as it frequently does among our hills; and I should be glad, with submission to the

Divine will, to get to our winter's residence as early as possible, as the season threatens to be unusually severe. Nothing remains to be done, I believe, which need protract our stay longer in our present abode."

"Nothing," answered her brother. "My only anxiety, Florine, is on your account; and if the weather should become more favourable in the course of the day, I should think it desirable to make the attempt. You had better, however, continue in bed a little longer. I shall attend to every thing which can falicitate your removal; and François will be here with the mule in a few hours."

With his usual punctuality, at the time appointed François arrived. Almost from his infancy had the faithful François been a domestic in the family of Althun; and when the wickedness of those, who should have protected his master from wrong, had deprived him of his inheritance, and nearly reduced him to poverty, François was still resolute to share in his fallen fortunes.

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