5. Possessed of considerable property in the shape of money this company were not like the generality of emigrants,' poor and friendless, but happy, and full of hope of the future. The first thing done after the landing, was the taking out of the old family heir-loom, the Bible, and returning thanks and praise to Him who had guided the vessel to a safe haven.

6. The farmer's object in coming to this country was to purchase a farm and follow his occupation :' he therefore spent but little time in the city at which he arrived ; and as his fellowpassengers had previously determined on their destination," he bid them farewell, and, with a light heart, turned his face toward the setting sun. Indiăn'a, at this time, was fast becoming settled, and, having heard of its cheap and fertile lands, he determined on settling within its borders.

7. He fixed on a farm on the banks of the Wabash, and having paid cash for one half, gave a mortgage for the balance, payable in one year. Having stocked his farm, and put seed in the ground, he rested from his labor, and patiently ăwaited the time when he might go forth to reap the harvest; but, alas! no ears of grain gladdened his heart, or rewarded his toil. The fever of the country attacked him, and at the time when the fields are white with the fullness of the laborer's skill, death called him home, and left his disconsolate wife a widow, and his only child an orphan.

8. We leave this first sõrrow, and pass on to witness the struggles of the afflicted widow a year afterward. The time having arrived when the mortgage was to be paid, she borrowed the money of a neighbor, who had been very attentive to her husband and herself. Hard and patiently did she toil to repay the sum at the promised time; but all would not do ; fortune frowned, and she gave way to her accumulated troubles. Disheartened and distracted, she relinquished her farm and stock

THE OLD FAMILY BIBLE

183

for less than she owed her neighbor, who, not satisfied with that, put an execution' on her furniture.

9. On the Sabbath previous to the sale, she took coŭrage, and strengthening herself with the knowledge of having wronged no one, went to the temple of her heavenly Father, and with a heart filled with humanity and love, poured out her soul to Him “ who turnèth not ăwāy;" and having communed' side by side with her neighbor, returned to her desolate home. Here her fortitude had like to have forsaken her, but seeing the old

family Bible,” she reverently put it to her lips, and sought for consolation in its pages. Slowly she perused its holy and inspiring verses, and găthered hope from its never-failing promises.

10. The day of sale having arrived, her few goods and chattels' were, in due course, knocked off to the highest bidder. Unmoved she saw pass from her possession article after article, without ă murmur, till the constable • held up the old family Bible. This was too much. Tears flowed, and gave silent utterance to a breaking heart. She begged the constable to spare her this memento of her revered and departed par'ents; and the humane' man of the law would willingly have given it to her, but her iněx'orable creditor declared every thing should be sold, as he was determined to have all that was due to him.

11. The book was, therefore, put up, and about being disposed of for a few shillings, when she suddenly snatched it, and declaring she would have some relic of those she loved, cut the slender thread that held the brown linen cover, with the intention of retaining that. The cover fell into her hands, and with it two flat pieces of thin, dirty paper.

12. Surprised at the circumstance, she examined them, and

· Ex'e cũ' tion, the warrant by • Me měn' to, memorial ; some which an officer carries into effect thing which causes remembrance. the judgment of a court.

? Hu māne', having dispositions ? Com mūned', partaken of the and feelings proper to man, and a sacrament, or Lord's Supper. desire to treat other human beings

* Perused, (pe rozd'), read with or animals with kindness ; kind ; attention.

benevolent. • Chattels, (chåt' tlz), all things 8 In ěx' o ra ble, that can not be which a person owns, excepting moved by prayers or entreaties. lands and buildings.

• Rěl'ic, that which remains, or Constable, (kůn' sta bl), an offi. is left after a loss; something kept cer of the peace.

what was her joy and delight to find each to be a bank-note, good for five hundred pounds, on the bank of England! On the back of one, in her mother's handwriting, were the following words : “When sỏrrow overtakes you,

seek
your

Bible.” And on the other, in her father's hand, “Your Father's ears are never děaf.”

13. The sale was immediately stopped, and the family Bible given to its faithful owner. The furniture sold was readily offered to her by those who had purchased it, and she gladly took it back. Having paid off her relentless' creditor to the uttermost farthing, and rented a small house, she placed the balance of her money in such a way as to receive interest enough to keep her comfortable, and is now able to enjoy the precepts of the old family Bible without fear or molestätion.'

II.

65. MY MOTHER'S BIBLE.

THIS

HIS book is all that's left me now!

Tears will unbidden start-
With faltering lip and throbbing brow,

I press it to my heart.
For many generations past,

Here is our family tree ;
My mother's hands this Bible clasped;

She, dying, gave it me.
2. Ah! well do I remember those

Whose names these récords bear,
Who round the hearth-stone used to close

After the evening prayer,
And speak of what these pages said,

In tones my heart would thrill!
Though they are with the silent dead,

Here are they living still!
3. My father read this holy book

To brothers, sisters dear ;
How calm was my poor mother's look,

Who leaned God's word to hear ! 1 Re lěnt' less, having no pity. lesting or disturbing, or the state of Měl es tā' tion, the act of mo being molested ; annoyance.

THE OLD ARM-CHAIR

185

Her angel face-I see it yet!

What thrõnging memories come!
Again that little group is met

Within the halls of home!
4. Thou truèst friend man ever knew,

Thy constancy I've tried ;
Where all were false I found thee true,

My counselor and guide.
The mines of earth no treasures give

That could this volume buy :
In teaching me the way to live,

It taught me how to die. GEORGE P. MORRIS.

I

LOVE it, I love it, and who shall dare

To chide me for loving that old arm-chair ?
I've treasured it long as ă sainted prize,
I've bedewed it with tears, and embalmed it with sighs ;
'Tis bound by a thousand bands to my heart;
Not a tie will break, not a link will start.
Would ye learn the spell?' a mother sat there,

And a sācrèd thing is that old arm-chair.
2. In childhood's hour I lingered near

The hallowed? seat with listening ear;
And gentle words that mother would give,
To fit me to die and teach me to live.
She told me shame would never betide,
With truth for my creed and God for my guide ;
She taught me to lisp my earliest prayer,

As I knelt beside that old arm-chair.
3. I sat and watched her many ă day,

When her eye grew dim, and her locks were gray ; * Spell, a phrase. or verse repeated for holy or religious use; treated as for its magical power; hence, any sacred. charm.

3

And I almost worshiped her when she smiled
And turned from her Bible to bless her child.
Years rolled on, but the last one sped-
My idol was shattered, my earth-star fled:
I learnt how much the heart can bear,
When I saw her die in that old arm-chair.

4. 'Tis past! 'tis past! but I gaze on it now

With quivering breath and throbbing brow:
'Twas there she nursed me, 'twas there she died ;
And memory flows with lāva tide.
Say it is folly, and deem me weak,
While the scalding drops start down my cheek ;
But I love it, I love it, and can not tear
My soul from a mother's old arm-chair. ELIZA COOK

W

IV.
67. WOODMAN, SPARE THAT TREE.
FOODMAN, spare

that tree!
Touch not a single bough!
In youth it sheltered me,

And I'll protect it now. 'Twas

my

forefather's hand That placed it near his cot: There, woodman, let it stand,

Thy ax shall harm it not!
2. That old familiar tree,

Whose glory and renown
Are spread o'er land and sea,

And wouldst thou hack it down!
Woodman, forbear thy stroke!

Cut not its earth-bound ties;
O, spare that agèd oak,

Now towering to the skies!
8. When but an idle boy,

I sought its grateful shade;
In all their gushing joy,

Here, too, my sisters played.