traveller continued, and explained the phenomena of the lightning-flash and the thunder-clap, and before the storm had subsided, the veteran seemed calm, and wrapt in a course of reasoning with himself upon the subject. In turning over the leaves of the Bible, the traveller saw on the blank leaf between the Old and New Testaments, the name of James Thompson, and his family record. The thought of Lucy Danforth came across his mind, but he was almost afraid to inquire after her. At length, however, he asked, "Who now occupies the place where Danforth, the blacksmith, was living some six or seven years ago?" The reply was, "Danforth himself and his family." "You must be a stranger in these parts," said the Deacon, "if you have never heard of the great change in the life of the blacksmith down there." The traveller having assured the Deacon that he was indeed a stranger, listened to the Deacon's recital with great interest.

The old man commenced with the shoeing of the noble horse-(indeed he was truly so)—and of the gift of the stranger to the child. All was given with minuteness, and the account brought to his recollection many remarks he had made at the time, which had before escaped his memory. The Deacon said, "I received the books, with this pencil note," (which he had preserved,)" for Lucy Danforth." The traveller recognised his own hand, and faintly inquired if Lucy was yet living. "O, yes," was the reply; "she is to be married at my house, in a few days, to Doctor Moore, a very likely man.

She is a fine

child, and has been the making of the whole family. Soon after the stranger, as he signed himself, gave her the books, she visited her father, and read some of the tales to him; he was a man of strong mind, notwithstanding his ignorance; and from the pride he felt that his daughter was able to read, and from his gratitude to the stranger, for he had always said that he had treated his family like a prince, he was induced to hear Lucy read a story or two. He declared that he did, upon his soul and honor, like the books. 'Jim,' and the other boys, sat grinning by her side, as she was reading, and half hinted, that they, too, should like to know how to read. She caught the hint, and began to teach them. The father also said that he should be glad to read, if nobody should know that he was 'schooling of it in his old age.' Silently they all began-and Lucy came once every day to impart to them a portion of her little store of knowledge, without, however, making it known to the neighbors, whose laughs and sneers they feared. She continued in this course until all could read the Bible, with a fair understanding of its contents. She did not stop here; they were taught to write as well as to read. The first development of this fact was on an occasion of the blacksmith's buying a horse and wagon of one of his neighbors. A part of the purchase-money was paid down, and a part was to be paid in blacksmith's work; the due-bill for the work was written by squire K, of whom the purchase was made; and when he was about to call on Danforth to make his mark, as formerly, the old man said, 'Squire,

you need not trouble yourself to write my name;' and, taking up the pen, wrote William Danforth in a bold and fair hand. This was strange, and no one could explain the mystery. The next winter, when the town school was opened, Danforth's boys attended on the first day. The teacher, on the usual examination, found them among the first in his school. This was another miracle. Shortly after this, the keeper of the store stated, that for a whole year he had sold the Danforths but one jug of rum, and that was in haying time; and afterwards, when he stopped to have his horse shod, he asked for something to drink, and the jug was produced, with scarcely the diminution of a gill from its original contents. A meetinghouse was built in the parish, and old Danforth bid high for a large pew; this so delighted and wonder-struck all, that no one bid over him. His whole family came to hear the gospel preached, in neat and cleanly apparel, and were attentive to the preacher. The little child, who had received its dose of rum and sugar, died; and the clergy-` man, who was only a transient preacher, attended the funeral, and made some judicious observations to the parents, and the brothers and sisters. Lucy was still the guardian angel of the family; she came every day, while this feeling of bereavement was upon her kindred, and read some appropriate story from the books she had, or from such as she obtained from the library which had been founded in the parish, to which she had access. The temper of her father had been softened, and every seed now sown was on good ground. From an attendant

on public worship, he became a member of this church, without a particle of fanaticism or bigotry in his composition. His business increased every day; his boys became fine mechanics; his shop was enlarged to meet the claims of his customers; and his wretched mansion was soon removed, and another, of larger dimensions, and greater conveniences, erected in its place. The daughter had done all. If the Roman daughter, who gave her teeming breast to preserve the life of her father, had temples erected to her memory-ought not she, who came silently but perseveringly every day, to cherish the mind and raise the morals of her father and kindred, and to give religious instruction to those whom she saw sunk in vice and ignorance ought not she to have a name and a praise among the benefactors of mankind?”

The traveller listened to the tale with delight and wonder. He exhibited a deep interest in the story, and accepted an invitation from Deacon Thompson to attend the marriage festival of Lucy Danforth the next week, on his return from visiting his friends. As yet he had contrived to conceal the fact that he was the early patron of Miss Lucy-it was the interest which he had manifested in the narrative, that procured him an invitation to the wedding. On his promising to return on the appointed day, he left for Miss Lucy a new publication of Miss Edgeworth's, that he had taken with him, for perusal on his way; and on the title-page he traced a few lines to her. Miss Lucy at once saw, from the hand-writing, that the person who had presented her with the library, and

the one who had promised to attend her wedding, were one and the same; and this she communicated to Deacon Thompson, who thought there was a resemblance in the hand-writing, but seemed to doubt whether the philosopher who had been discussing the lightning and the storm with him, could be the young, sprucely dressed man, that Lucy had described the stranger to have been.

When the wedding day arrived, many of the good people had assembled, and the stranger was anxiously expected; but still there was an hour to elapse before the time would arrive when he had stipulated to be on the spot. At length he appeared, with his horse all in a foam. He had been detained by some accident. As soon as he entered the house, a grave and respectable man arose, and took him by the hand. It was the old blacksmith. The mutual recognition was instantaneous. Jim also knew him, and gave him a hearty shake by the hand. The traveller now announced his name. It had been familiar to them all, through the medium of his connections. Lucy had taught a school in the district where his friends lived, and had often heard his name mentioned. She also came forward to greet him with modesty and feeling. She was indeed a lovely girl, with a fine blue eye, and open countenance, that beamed with intelligence ; and her manners were frank and easy, the offspring of great good sense, and mental dignity. She had read much, and her selections had been excellent. She had been extremely happy in improving her mind, and witnessing the effects that, under Providence, she had