little girl of three summers on her lap, who was impatiently waiting whilst mamma, with pardonable pride, was looping up the dainty white sleeves with blue ribbon, so as to display the round dimpled arms to the greatest advantage.

A young gentleman of some seven or eight years was sitting on the carpet, puffing and panting and pushing back the brown curls from his heated brow. Harry musn't play at ball this weather; he gets too warm.' Then perceiving a stranger in the room, instead of the servant, whom she supposed had entered, the speaker rose hurriedly and made an apology.

'Marian! dear sister! and before she could speak she was clasped in her brother's arms. Then came a flood of happy, thankful tears.

Oh! Fred, what a weary time we have waited for you!'

And what a weary search I have had for you, dearest; but, thank God! found at last.'

The young lady at the window was looking round in astonishment. In a moment she comprehended it all, and approached. This is Mary?' asked Sharland, as he stooped and tenderly saluted her. God bless you, dear child! I scarcely recognize yougrown almost a woman. Where's my little pet, Jessie?"

A shade flitted across the mother's brow as she said softly, 'She sleeps away in Liverpool, Fred.'

6

Nay, Marian! not dead?'

'Not dead, but sleeping,' returned the mother.

He placed his hand across his eyes, and said with emotion, 'Oh, Marian, I expected to see her sweet face once again. Will you tell me all about it?'

6

'I cannot just now, Fred. Wait awhile.'

There was a solemn, tearful silence.

Time works sad changes.'

Sharland broke it by saying,

returned Mrs. Bates.

And happy ones, too, thank God!' Marian! said her brother, suddenly; how was it I could not find you in Liverpool?'

6

Oh, Fred! I have remembered with much pain that I forgot to tell you we had changed our name. It was so thoughtless, but at the time of writing we were in such great distress.' After a pause she added: Our long estrangement is attributable solely to inadvertence of this kind. I have grieved much and often about it.' 'How strange that it should be so!' said Sharland, musingly. Just then two fine lads came in. Mr. Sharland rose to meet them.

'John and Fred,' said Mrs. Bates. 'Boys, this is your long-lost

uncle.'

6

After greetings and much chat, Mrs. Bates explained. They are home for their holidays just now. Mary arrived only yesterday. How

6

How delightful to have such a happy meeting!' Her eyes were filled with tears.

I hope excess of happiness will not blunt your appetites,' said Mr. Bates, entering the room just then with his youngest boy. Mary, my darling, the table looks quite gay with your charming flowers; and they are well arranged,' he added, playfully stroking his daughter's hair.

Whilst little Harry was getting the large Bible on the table, and placing the chairs, Mr. Bates was standing by the window conversing in low tones with Sharland.

'Don't regret it,' he said in reply to something just uttered by the latter. Doubtless it was ordered for the best. I might perhaps have looked too much to you; as it was I leant only upon God.'

How did this reformation work come about?' asked Sharland, smiling. You are the last man in the world I should have expected to see shining in the teetotal ranks.'

Bates did not reply for a minute-he was looking down thoughtfully on the floor; and as he raised his head, he said slowly, as if musing, And a little child shall lead them.' Then he proceeded to speak briefly of Jessie's death, and the circumstances attending it, not omitting to mention the disinterested kindness of the Liverpool merchant; and in conclusion, said, 'That turning over a new leaf was hard work; but I tell you, Fred, what I went through then the battling against the most terrible of all besetting sins: and all that was nothing in comparison of what I experienced whilst going down. "The way of transgressors is hard"-hard!' he repeated, with emphasis. Never were truer words uttered than

those.'

'Are you an abstainer, Fred?' he asked suddenly, with changed

tone.

Well, no!' replied Sharland; but as you know I am particularly moderate, I cannot think I shall ever overstep the mark.'

Nor do I think you will,' said Mr. Bates; still you are not out of danger. If any one had told me once that I should have done So, I should have scorned the bare mention of such a thing; but--you see. Well, here is a motive for you-"the weak brother." Oh, those weak ones! It harrows one's soul to think of them in the midst of such manifold temptations. Look at the allurements on every hand! Look at the drinking dens that can be counted by hundreds in our streets. It's shameful!'

Mr. Bates always grew warm when touching upon this theme, as every true patriot would be expected to do who had a wealth of love in his heart for his kin and country.

Turning his head at that moment, he observed that the servants were in the room, and that all were waiting for him.

Mr.

Mr. Sharland proceeded to the seat which Master Harry had assigned him close by himself. Then the father-the priest of the household-read in clear, beautifully-modulated tones, the sweet words- It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul, therefore will I hope in Him;'-and so on. Then prayer was uttered-such prayer! rising from hearts. that remembered the wormwood and the gall. Sometimes as it gushed up, it fell from the lips in broken words: but was it less acceptable for that? God knoweth !

Why should we linger around that table when our pen fails us to do justice to the scene? Why need we tarry to hear the explanations that have to be given and received? We know somewhat already; let that suffice us.

In conclusion, we may say, for the satisfaction of the inquisitive. reader, that upon a plain white marble tablet that adorns the quiet grave of a little child, is recorded the very day of the month and year on which Alexander Bates' turned over a new leaf,' and it is written immediately after the words, To the beloved memory of Jessie Bates, who fell asleep in Jesus.'

ART. VII.-SOCIAL STATISTICS.

No. I.-PUBLIC INCOME from EXCISE for the Year ending March 31st, 1861.

ART. VIII.-RECORD OF SOCIAL POLITICS.

Wand bereavement have come

HILST we write a great sorrow

upon our beloved QUEEN and her nation. The ROYAL CONSORT, PRINCE ALBERT, the husband of our monarch and the father of our princes, has been called away, suddenly, in the prime of life and plenitude of public usefulness. This is the second great family bereavement which the Queen has sustained during the year just ended. First her revered mother, the DUCHESS OF KENT, was taken, and now her beloved Consort has been removed from her side. Signs of mourning and voices of lamentation are in all the land; for never was there an event that stirred the heart of a loyal people with more sincere sympathy and condolence. The most illustrious personage of this great realm has, at a moment of great national anxiety and peril, been deprived of her greatest source of earthly comfort, protection, and guidance. The Queen of England is now a widow, and her children are orphans. We trust that the prayers of the people so largely offered on behalf of the Queen and the royal household may be abundantly answered, and that consolation may be afforded to the widow; and that the youthful members of her family may imitate the virtues, the prudence, and the magnanimity of Prince Albert. This is not the place for an eulogium; but that has been pronounced already from pulpit and from chair, and the press of the country has been unanimous in its tribute to the memory of the illustrious Consort of our Queen.

During the past month the allabsorbing question of Peace or War' has been discussed by all our public men and journals. The American civil conflict between North and South, not only drags its slow and ominous length along, but whilst we write the complications are extending to other countries, and Old England is being drawn into the fray, and instead of being a neutral may soon become a belligerent. We need not record the details of the unfortunate affair of the

San Jacinto' and the Trent.' The facts are familiar to all our readers. The rebel,' or 'contraband,' commissioners, Slidell and Mason, were taken by force from beneath the British flag in neutral waters. How far this act has violated international law we do not pretend to decide. Opinion inclines against the act as being illegal in form, if not in substance. Much indignation has been manifested through the newspaper press, and in various ways; but we sincerely hope that the affair, grave and threatening as its aspect is, will be settled by an appeal to reason, law, and mutual interests, rather than by a resort to force of arms. It cannot be that the cabinet of Abraham Lincoln can wish to offer a deliberate insult to, or outrage upon, the flag and honour of England. He is too sober-minded, sagacious, and law-abiding to attempt anything of the kind; and we doubt not the President will act with calmness and moderation in this great exigency. And we have equal confidence that our British Cabinet will endeavour to steer clear of the rock ahead, and carry us safely through the breakers

into the bay of peaceful neutrality. No truly enlightened statesman, who is a friend to either nation, and cares for the progress of humanity, will for a moment desire to plunge Great Britain into a war with America. The cause of freedom, good government, and commercial prosperity cannot be advanced by England and America coming into conflict.

It is sad to be spectators of the awful strife now going on between the Federal Government and the Confederates; and we cannot but suffer, as a people, so long as the war continues. Still we trust that the conflict will not be prolonged, but that peaceful and righteous counsels will soon prevail. The Federal Government has at length begun to develop a policy of 'Emancipation. The unanimous cry for Union' is now giving way to the higher and nobler cry for Freedom.' It begins to be clearly discerned that a return to the old state of things is not possible. The instructions of the Secretary of War, on the recent landing of the Federal navy in South Carolina, involves, in principle, the liberation of all slaves, the acceptance of their services, their arming and enrolment, and compensation to loyal masters. In this policy and issue we must sympathize and pray God speed the Federal cause. This is not the moment, surely, for Old England to allow herself to be drawn into a conflict that would inevitably place her flag, side by side, in friendly alliance with the black flag of slavery.

Turning from these transatlantic and international questions, we must briefly notice some of our domestic matters. The returns recently made to the Poorlaw Board show that the increase of pauperism goes on, though to a much less extent than might have been expected. At the close of September it was 5.56 per cent over the corresponding period of 1860. At the close of October it had reached 5′93 per cent. The chief change in October was in the north-western district-Lancashire and Cheshire, which are remarkable in ordinary times for the small number of their paupers. At the end of September last there were 5.53 per cent. more than at the same date in 1860, but at the end of October they had increased so greatly as to be 10:38 per cent. more than at the end of October, 1860; but still these two counties, with,

as compared, for instance, with the south-eastern district of England, a population of three to every two persons in either of those districts, have much fewer paupers than they.

Some dreadful disclosures have recently been made before the Marlborough-street Police Court in London regarding an immoral traffic in Belgian girls and women. The protection of the law has been sought for a number of young girls brought over from Belgium, some under pretence of being provided with situations, and others without the knowledge and consent of their parents. All were compelled to enter upon a course of prostitution. The principal agent in this scandalous traffic was a Belgian, who kept a house of ill-fame in Marylebone, and who had already been convicted and punished in his own country. The girls whom he contrived to get into his power had no possible means of escape. They were supplied with clothes, jewellery, and board at his expense, and no matter how large the profits of their unhappy life, such accounts were kept with them that they were always shown to be in debt. Besides being confined to the house, they were frequently beaten and otherwise ill-used by the keeper of the house. The Society for the Protection of Women and Children had been at great pains to collect evidence, and they had so far succeeded as to be able to prove that there existed a regular trade in young girls of the ages of thirteen to fifteen, who were imported from Belgium to London, and that the person who conducted the traffic abroad, received a stipulated sum, according to the youth and attractions of the victim. Some of these unfortunate girls were the children of respectable parents; some had even been enticed from boarding schools without the knowledge of their parents. The majority were deluded by false pretences of one kind or other. The difficulty which the society experienced was to get at these girls to ascertain from their lips whether they were detained against their consent, and by what means they had been induced to leave their homes. were, however, too strictly watched for the society to hope to get such positive proof as they required. The proceedings referred to both here and in Belgium had become so notorious, and the traffic was increasing to such an extent,

They

that