know not, had not the party been startled by the sound of approaching quick steps. They all looked eagerly in the direction whither the sound seemed to come and, the next moment, two noble-looking youths appeared, glowing with joy and health. They were the sons of the lady of the manor, and were just arrived from the Continent; having hurried from the sea-port before their tutor and their servant, to embrace their mother a few hours sooner.

Those who delight in doing good to the children of others will assuredly be blessed in their own; (that is, if they have not neglected the nearer for the more remote duty,) and the lady of the manor was supremely blessed in her sons-these young men being all that the most affectionate and enlightened parent could desire. The young ladies would all have withdrawn on the occasion; but it was not permitted. "You shall all partake in my joy, my beloved ones," said the lady of the manor; "for you were my comfort and delight in my bereaved state. Come with us, therefore, to the house; and, when my dear sons are refreshed, we will all join in one chorus of thanksgiving and praise."

Several years are passed since the events above related took place; but, from late accounts, I find that the lady of the manor is still living, and is now surrounded by her children's children-her two sons having been married some years since; the elder, who lives with her at the mansion house, to Miss Emmeline; and the younger, who chose a military life, in imitation of his father, to Miss Sophia, the youngest, though not the least beloved, of the pupils of the lady of the manor.

The remainder of the young party who used to attend the instructions of the lady of the manor are dispersed in various directions; many being married, and some dead; but all, as I have been assured, having given evidence that the labours of their respected instructress have been by no means thrown away upon them.

THE END.

OPINIONS OF THE FAMILY LIBRARY.

"The publishers have hitherto fully deserved their daily increasing reputation by the good taste and judgment which have influenced the selections of works for the Family Library."-- Albany Daily Advertiser.

"The Family Library-A title which, from the valuable and entertain ing matter the collection contains, as well as from the careful style of its execution, it well deserves. No family, indeed, in which there are children to be brought up, ought to be without this Library, as it furnishes the readiest resources for that education which ought to accompany or succeed that of the boarding-school or the academy, and is infinitely more conducive than either to the cultivation of the intellect."--Monthly Review. "It is the duty of every person having a family to put this excellent Library into the hands of his children."-N. Y. Mercantile Advertiser.

"It is one of the recommendations of the Family Library, that it embraces a large circle of interesting matter, of important information and agreeable entertainment, in a concise manner and a cheap form. It is eminently calculated for a popular series--published at a price so low, that persons of the most moderate income may purchase it--combining a matter and a style that the most ordinary mind may comprehend it, at the same time that it is calculated to raise the moral and intellectual character of the people."-Constellation.

"We have repeatedly borne testimony to the utility of this work. It is one of the best that has ever been issued from the American press, and should be in the library of every family desirous of treasuring up useful knowledge."-Boston Statesman.

"We venture the assertion that there is no publication in the country more suitably adapted to the taste and requirements of the great mass of community, or better calculated to raise the intellectual character of the middling classes of society, than the Family Library."-Boston Masonic Mirror.

"We have so often recommended this enterprising and useful publication (the Family Library), that we can here only add, that each successive number appears to confirm its merited popularity."- N. Y. American "The little volumes of this series truly comport with their title, and are in themselves a Family Library."-N. Y. Commercial Advertiser.

"We recommend the whole set of the Family Library as one of the cheapest means of affording pleasing instruction, and imparting a proper pride in books, with which we are acquainted."-U. S. Guzette.

"It will prove instructing and amusing to all classes. We are pleased to learn that the works comprising this Library have become, as they ought to be, quite popular among the heads of families."-N. Y. Gazette.

"The Family Library is, what its name implies, a collection of various original works of the best kind, containing reading useful and interesting to the family circle. It is neatly printed, and should be in every family that can afford it-the price being moderate."-New-England Palladium. "We are pleased to see that the publishers have obtained sufficient encouragement to continue their valuable Family Library."-Baltimore Republican.

"The Family Library presents, in a compendious and convenient form, well-written histories of popular men, kingdoms, sciences, &c. arranged and edited by able writers, and drawn entirely from the most correct and accredited authorities. It is, as it professes to be, a Family Library, from which, at little expense, a household may prepare themselves for a consideration of those elementary subjects of education and society, without a due acquaintance with which neither man nor woman has claim to be well bred, or to take their proper place among those with whom they abide."--Charleston Gazette

FICTITIOUS Composition is now admitted to form an extensive and im portant portion of literature. Well-wrought novels take their rank by the side of real narratives, and are appealed to as evidence in all questions concerning man. In them the customs of countries, the transitions and shades of character, and even the very peculiarities of costume and diaJect, are curiously preserved; and the imperishable spirit that surrounds and keeps them for the use of successive generations renders the rarities for ever fresh and green. In them human life is laid down as on a map. The strong and vivid exhibitions of passion and of character which they furnish, acquire and maintain the strongest hold upon the curiosity, and, it may be added, the affections of every class of readers; for not only is entertainment in all the various moods of tragedy and comedy provided in their pages, but he who reads them attentively may often obtain, without the bitterness and danger of experience, that knowledge of his fellowcreatures which but for such aid could, in the majority of cases, be only acquired at a period of life too late to turn it to account.

This "Library of Select Novels" will embrace none but such as have received the impress of general approbation, or have been written by authors of established character; and the publishers hope to receive such encouragenient from the public patronage as will enable them in the course of time to produce a series of works of uniform appearance, and including most of the really valuable novels and romances that have been or shall be issued from the modern English and American press.

There is scarcely any question connected with the interests of literature which has been more thoroughly discussed and investigated than that of the utility or evil of novel reading. In its favour much may be and has been said, and it must be admitted that the reasonings of those who be lieve novels to be injurious, or at least useless, are not without force and plausibility. Yet, if the arguments against novels are closely examined, it will be found that they are more applicable in general to excessive indulgence in the pleasures afforded by the perusal of fictitious adventures than to the works themselves; and that the evils which can be justly ascribed to them arise almost exclusively, not from any peculiar noxious qualities that can be fairly attributed to novels as a species, but from those individual works which in their class must be pronounced to be indif ferent.

But even were it otherwise-were novels of every kind, the good as well as the bad, the striking and animated not less than the puerile, in." deed liable to the charge of enfeebling or perverting the mind; and were there no qualities in any which might render them instructive as well as amusing the universal acceptation which they have ever received, and still continue to receive, from all ages and classes of men, would prove an irresistible incentive to their production. The remonstrances of moral ists and the reasonings of philosophy have ever been, and will still be found, unavailing against the desire to partake of an enjoyment so attrac tive. Men will read novels; and therefore the utmost that wisdom and philanthropy can do is to cater prudently for the public appetite, and, as it is hopeless to attempt the exclusion of fictitious writings from the shelves of the library, to see that they are encumbered with the least possible number of such as have no other merit than that of novelty.

Sixteen works, by eminent authors, have already been pub lished in the "Library of Select Novels," which are sold separately or in complete sets. For the titles see the Publishers' catalogue.

Theological Library.

I v. 3. Life of Luther

2. Consistency of Revelation. 1 v. 4. Reformed Religion in France 1v.

Boy's and Girl's Library.

1. Lives of the Apostles, &c. 1 v. 1 9, 10, 11. American History..
2.3. Swiss Family Robinson.. 2v. 12. Young Crusoe...
4. Sunday Evenings 1st vol. . 1 v.
5. Son of a Genius....
1 v.
6. Uncle Philip's Conversations 1 v.
7,8 Indian Traits....
2 v.