would rouse ambition.

A loftier and purer am

bition would be to rise above mere human appro

bation, however high."

"It is hard, ma'am, for woman to do that," said Jane.

"And hence her sorrows," observed Aunt Patty.

CHAPTER XII.

A GOOD START IN LIFE- AN OLD MAN'S STORY.

WHILE cheerfulness and even hilarity had not been wanting in the family circle since the improvement in their prospects, the thought of Edward's probable emigration, as no situation offered for him, evidently pressed more heavily than ever on the minds of all, particularly Mrs. Vernon; it was the one check to a full enjoyment of the pleasant prospect that had opened for the rest of her family. Edward felt that this was the case, and therefore strove to be more than usually gay indeed, it was so great a relief to him that his young sisters were still to be in that dear home, that his heart was greatly lightened. If he had other sources of anxiety and sorrow, he vigorously controlled or concealed them. He seemed desirous to impress them with the fact of his hopefulness. And, on the family assembling on the evening he had appointed for reading them 66 he said, paper, I am about to read you a narrative that I know to be true in all its details, and

a

that was communicated in the manner described; all I have done is to throw it into shape, slightly to curtail it, and to alter the names of persons and places.

"The rain was descending heavily, when two travellers from Selby alighted at the Normanton station, and found they had more than an hour to wait for the train that was to convey them to Wakefield.

"In every respect these two persons were a contrast to each other. One was a youth about oneand-twenty, his comely open countenance shaded with more anxiety, not to say melancholy, than was natural to his age; while his fellow-passenger, a hale man of fifty-five, had a gay contented look of cheerful activity about him, that seemed to set at nought all travelling annoyances of wet weather and tedious delays; and though care, as well as time, had stamped indelible traces on his intelligent, yet benevolent-looking brow, there was decision in his very tread, as he led the way into the waiting-room, followed by the languid step of his youthful companion. Stirring the fire, he drew chairs for each; and with a quick glance scrutinizing a lady, their only co-occupant of the apartment, who was beguiling the time with a book that appeared to absorb her attention, he resumed. a conversation that seemed to have been interrupted by the arrival of the train. Looking at a newspaper he held in his hand, and which had apparently supplied him with a theme, he said, putting his finger on a name, and holding it towards the young

man, I remember all about that man; his rise has been wonderful,-all owing to his diligence and enterprise: and what is far better, he makes a good use of the means he has acquired, and never forgets the interests of the class from which he sprung.'

"Oh! as to his success being wonderful, I scarcely agree with you,' replied the young man in a dejected tone,' he had a good start in life; his wife brought him money, and so his marrying instead of being an imprudence was in all respects wise. He began life a happy and prosperous man; and it was natural he should make his way. Very few people have a good start in life; and it all depends on that.'

"The elder man removed a broad-brimmed hat, rubbed his handkerchief over his bald head, and drawing his chair closer, said in a confidential voice, and with a look of sympathy, Pardon the frankness of an old man; we are fellow-townsmen, and though I don't know much of thee personally, yet, thanks to the chit-chat of Selby, I know pretty well how thou art situated: nay, be not either hurt or angry at my saying so I'll prove it. Thou art an orphan; hast served an apprenticeship to a master who has been neither kind to thee nor careful in his business. Thou wast hoping by diligence to obtain, when out of thy time, a share in the concern; but it has gone fast to ruin. May I say another word ?—his daughter—'

"That is mere conjecture!' hastily interposed the youth on hearing the last word.

"A rational conjecture, and true,' replied the

elder, stretching out his hand to deprecate interruption, and thou hast been disappointed in all these hopes. The father has wasted his time and lost his business; the daughter visiting a relative in the south, has forgotten her earlier attachments, and settled there; and, therefore, thou art looking gloomily on life, and supposing that this stumble on the threshold is never to be retrieved. Keep a good heart, man! and as to a start in life, take an old man's word, friend, that neither connexions nor money are to be compared with principles. I call setting out with good principles a good start in life; and I'm no mere theorist, but a practical man that can testify from experience. Thou thinkest thy present troubles insurmountable; and if that thought deepens into a conviction, it will make them so. Before thou decidest that thy case is peculiarly hard, just hear my history.'

"Willingly,' said the young man, with the listless air of one who, seeing no alternative, yielded to circumstances; and his companion commenced.

"My father was an only son, left to the charge of a widowed mother. He was heir to a good estate; and from all I ever heard, was a man of superior attainments. Biography demonstrates, that widows have generally been very successful in training their sons. One might cite multitudes. of eminent men whose early education was extensively maternal; but my father was an exception to the rule. Inordinate indulgence prevented any development of the principle of self-control; and whatever may be a man's position in life he has

need in all circumstances of its restraining influence. The consequence was, that he yielded to every impulse with unreflecting ardour, and fondly imagined that a generous gaiety of disposition atoned for every graver error. Ample as his means were, they suffered by his youthful imprudence; and then his mother began to hope for his marriage, in the common but surely mistaken belief, that habits confirmed by self-indulgence would yield to the gentle influence of one who came, promising, not guidance, but obedience.

"That the affections are more frequently interested by contrast than conformity, is an opinion every year of my life has confirmed. I suppose it was this law of contrast that predominated in my father's selection of a wife. He was thrown accidentally into the company of a young lady, a member of the Society of Friends; one whose training, principles, and manners, were the reverse of his own. Yet, notwithstanding this dissimilarity, the attachment was strong and mutual; and I have no doubt that the pecuniary difficulties which for a time impeded their union, were a stimulus to my father's passion; while the circumstance of her giving up the religious connexions and peculiarities of her youth in order to become his wife, was to her a painful sacrifice that enhanced the value of his love. "Every Quakeress is a lily," says Charles Lamb; and though I have heard this lily was received with joy and hope by her husband's mother, and with rapture by her husband, yet, when transplanted from her native soil, she