nd laugh till they died. It was
not this mirth of despair; nor yet that of carelessness; nor yet that of
defiance. Nor were theirs the spirits of the patriot in the hour of
struggle, nor of the hero in the crisis of danger. In a peril like
theirs, there is nothing imposing to the imagination, or flattering to
the pride, or immediately appealing to the energies of the soul. There
were no resources for them in emotions of valour or patriotism. Theirs
was the gaiety of simple faith and innocence. They had acted from pure
inclination, from affection, unconscious of pride, of difficulty, of
merit; and they were satisfied, and gay as the innocent ought to be,
enjoying what there was to enjoy, and questioning and fearing nothing
beyond.

From a distant point of time or place, such a state of spirits in the
midst of a pestilence may appear unnatural and wrong; but experience
proves that it is neither. Whatever observers may think, it is natural
and it is right that minds strong enough to be settled, either in a good
or evil frame, should preserve their usual character amidst any changes
of circumstance. To those involved in new events, they appear less
strange than in prospect or in review. Habitual thoughts are present,
familiarising wonderful incidents; and the fears of the selfish, the
repose of the religious, the speculations of the thoughtful, and the
gaiety of the innocent, pervade the life of each, let what will be
happening.

Yet to the prevailing mood the circumstances of the time will interpose
an occasional check. This very evening, when Margaret was absent at the
cottage in the lane, and Hope, wearied with his toils among the sick all
the night, and all this day, was apparently sleeping for an hour on the
sofa, Hester's heart grew heavy, as she lulled her infant to rest by the
fire. As she thought on what was passing in the houses of her
neighbours, death seemed to close around the little being she held in
her arms. As she gazed in his face, watching the slumber stealing on,
she murmured over him--

"Oh, my child, my child! if I should lose you, what _should_ I do?"

"Hester! my love!" said her husband, in a tone of tender remonstrance,
"what _do_ you mean?"

"I did not think you would hear me, love; but I thank you. What did I
mean? Not exactly what I said; for God knows, I would strive to part
willingly with whatever he might see fit to take away. But, oh, Edward!
what a struggle it would be!