Vernon very dear to her. Yet she could not refrain from asking if his
father were willing he should marry one poor and humble as herself.

"Think not, dear Mary," he replied, "that I would tempt you to
disobedience by setting you the example. I am almost sure my father has
spoken to Mr. Mannering this morning on the same subject, and here our
parents come to complete our happiness by giving their sanction."

And so it was. Dr. Vernon kissed her affectionately as he said, "My son
has chosen wisely and well. A dutiful daughter will make a good wife;
and though now he is rich, he knows how mutable is all earthly fortune.
And so he has chosen a wife whose wealth cannot be taken from her, for it
consists in good principles and a well-stored mind; and an humble,
loving, and gentle nature, that will add to all the joys of prosperity as
it would comfort him in the sorrows of adversity, prompting her, in
either case, to 'do her duty in that state of life unto which it shall
please God to call her.'"

And after awhile Harriet came forward with streaming eyes, but her tears
did not now spring from envy or selfish regrets. "Father!" she
exclaimed, "in this happy hour, forgive me my haughty selfish conduct.
Mary! teach, oh, teach me some of your virtues!"

"I forgive all, Harriet," replied Mr. Mannering, with much emotion, "for
the acknowledgment of your error is half-way to repentance and atonement.
And this is a day of triple happiness, for I have just heard that, now my
sight is restored, I have a fair chance of again entering into mercantile
pursuits, and arriving at independence. But oh! my children, neither in
prosperity nor adversity let us forget to pray for true humility of
heart--the Christian spirit!"

VICTORINE DUROCHER;
OR,
THE BLESSINGS OF PEACE.

BY
MRS. SHERWOOD,
AND
HER DAUGHTER, MRS. STREETEN.

VICTORINE DUROCHER.

It was towards the end of the pleasant month of May, that Dorsain D'Elsac
reached Salency, in Picardy, and stopped at the door of his sister's
cottage, a Madame Durocher, who dwelt in that village. Dorsain D'Elsac
was one of three children. The elder, Pauline, however, was no more; she
had married, but was never a mother, so that the children of Margoton
Durocher, his remaining sister, were the nearest relatives he had left in
the world. It is true D'Elsac had a wife, one, I must say, of the best
tempered women in all Dauphiny,--she was a native of Grenoble, in that