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listened to the boy's narrative; "and why, pray, did you leave the pretty lake, and the trees, and swans?" she asked, with a curious look.

The boy burst into tears, but did not speak.

"Have I hurt you?" cried Nan, running up to him, and laying a little chubby hand on his shoulder.

The smith had all this while been watching and listening to the pair, being more intent on what was passing before him, than attentive to his breakfast, which was rapidly growing cold. The boy's passionate burst of tears, however, aroused him, and he cried, in a gruff tone, "Be done, Nan, and come to thy seat again, lass; can't you let the poor little fellow alone, you hussey?"

A cloud darkened the little round face for a moment, but it was over almost before it could have had time to settle on it, and Nan presently busied herself with her breakfast, her father following her example in silence, and neither troubling Herbert with any more questions. In a few minutes, he, too, dried his tears, and began to eat again with more composure, a heavy sob, from time to time, escaping his weary heart.

By the time the meal was concluded, both the smith and Nan had recovered their tongues, but the latter still regarded Herbert with some reserve, which she evidently made no effort to conquer, as she several times rejected his offers of assistance in stowing away the remains of the repast, and tidying up the hut, her father sitting by, and watching her movements in silence.

Now, I'm quite ready," she cried, standing with her sturdy little arms stuck akimbo, like a buxom old woman, as soon as she had finished; "shall I run on, father, and get everything nice at home, before you come?" tying a tatterdemallion old bonnet on, as she spoke.

"No, thou can go with us, lass," rejoined the smith, goodhumouredly, patting her on the head; "unless the youngster here, should be ashamed to walk with thee."

"Oh no," cried Herbert, extending his hand.

"Oh, I can easily walk by myself!" retorted Nan, pushing it back, with a scornful frown.

"Take his hand, Nan," cried the smith, gruffly. "But, father

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"Silence," growled the man, as a sudden change of the expression of his countenance made the strong, dark features absolutely terrific for a moment; "be a good lass, now, and take the younker's hand," he added more gently, as Herbert stood, trembling, before him.

Nan pouted and frowned, but did not venture to disobey, and

the smith, closing the shutter, locked the door and followed the boy and girl, with his usual enormous strides, which quickly brought him up to them. Nan then looked back, and reassured by the playful gleam she detected in her father's eyes, dropped Herbert's hand, and took his instead.

"Here! my little fellow," said the smith, extending a brawny fist; "if my little lass won't have thee, I will," and clasping Herbert's delicate hand in his, with a rough tenderness, that many a gentler being might have imitated, the trio went on at a rapid pace, Nan jumping and singing, and laughing merrily at every step, whilst poor Herbert, who had become weary and dis-spirited once more, trudged on in silence by his side.

"There's our house!" cried Nan, in an exulting tone, as a turn of the road brought one of the most beautiful scenes in the world before their eyes! "look, father, there's the ducks in the mill-race, and the clucking hen, with all her chickens about her," and with a loud scream of joy, she sprang forward to salute her favourites.

The smith paused for a moment, still holding Herbert by the hand, as his quick eye took in at a glance every familiar point of the landscape, with which he had been familiar from boyhood-the rippling stream, gleaming in the morning sun, the black old mill-wheel, and the mill itself, garlanded with ivy and roses-the meadows stretching far and wide, on every side, with the haymakers at work amongst them, the sharp, blue outlines of the distant hill, the short, round figure of Nan, as she stood amongst her feathered pets; and then with a contented sigh, he squeezed Herbert's hand, unconsciously, in his own, and in another moment was sitting in his own easy chair, with a woman's arms, the very counterpart of Nan, except that she was some thirty years older, round his neck.

FOR MUSIC.

THE SOLDIER'S BURIAL.

BY MRS. CRAWFORD.

HARK! to the sadly solemn beat
Of the muffled drum!
Slowly along the crowded street
They come, they come :

Peace to the gallant soldier's shade!
No more he'll wield,

In freedom's cause, the battle-blade;
His eyes are seal'd!

Hark! how the thrilling dead-march speaks To hearts not cold,

While tears bedew the furrowed cheeks

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Slowly and sad the death-bell tolls;
His comrades brave,

With arms revers'd, and sadden'd souls,
Surround his grave:

Deep, deep, within that sabbath ground,
They see descend,

In winding-sheet, and coffin bound,
The warrior friend.

Nor tomb, nor epitaph he'll need
To tell his name;

"Tis writ in many a glorious deed,
For England's fame:

And fonder lips his name shall breathe,
Than fame supplies;

And dearer hands love's garland wreathe,
That never dies,

LITERATURE.

NOTICES OF BOOKS.

Defects in the Practice of Life Assurance, and Suggestions for their Remedy; with Observations on the Uses and Advantages of Life Assurance, and the Constitution of Offices. London: Orr and Co.

THE advantages of Life Assurance are so great to individuals and society at large, that we hail with pleasure the appearance of any work in which the subject is clearly discussed, and the defects or merits of the practice of existing companies expounded for the benefit of the uninitiated.

The pamphlet now before us we strongly recommend to our readers it merits a careful perusal; the subject is all important.

"The purpose to which Life Assurance is most frequently and beneficially applied is, to make provisions for a wife, children, or other relatives; an obligation felt by all well regulated minds, and the fulfilment of which is attended with grateful satisfaction. "A person possessed of a life estate, or of a professional income, which will cease with his own existence, feels anxious that those for whose present comforts and welfare he can now provide, should not be wholly dependent for the continuation of those comforts, upon the precarious tenure of his life; that his death should not reduce them to dependence and penury; and he will, therefore, endeavour to raise a fund to meet that event.

"A person, aged forty, desirous of leaving £1,000 to his family, can attain that object, if he lives twenty-eight years; by investing an annual sum of £24., and regularly accumulating the progressive amounts, with compound interest.

"But the difficulties which encompass the resolution to make annual savings and interest accumulations, and the temptations to encroach upon funds set apart for what is too often looked upon as a distant event, are so great, that little reliance can be placed upon the benevolent design. In the second place, owing to the uncertainty of life, the anxiety of the Father or Husband is continued during the whole process of accumulation; for the object for which his soul yearns, the welfare and future comfort of his family, cannot be attained by individual accumulations, until the lapse of many years: and, in the third place, all such individual projects are mere speculations upon the continuance of an individual life, than which nothing can be more uncertain. How different is the position of the person who joins a Life Assurance Society! His annual saving becomes a portion of a general fund, sufficient at all times to realize the intentions of every contributor. At the moment he makes his first contribution, his object is attained. His payment of £30. thus represents £1,000.; and, should he die immediately after payment of the first premium his widow and children will receive that sum.

"By the application of a portion of annual income, jointures for widows, sums of money, or annuities, for children, or dependents, and marriage portions, may be secured. The young may make provisions for themselves, in declining years; endowments may be created for children, payable at any stipulated age, to be applied to the purposes of education, as an apprentice fee, or as an outfit for any occupation or profession; and the possessor of an entailed, or any life estate, may make provisions for younger children.

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