nged the tragical death of his father.

THE BABES IN THE WOOD.

A great many years ago, there lived in the county of Norfolk a gentleman
and his lady. The gentleman was brave, generous, and honourable; and the
lady gentle, beautiful, and virtuous; they were beloved by all who knew
them, and were blessed with two children, a boy and a girl. The boy was
only about three years old, and the girl not quite two, when the
gentleman was seized with a dangerous malady, and the lady, in attending
her beloved husband, caught the contagion. Notwithstanding every medical
assistance, their disorder daily increased; and, as they expected to be
soon snatched away from their little babes, they sent for the
gentleman's brother, and gave the darlings into his care.

"Ah! brother," said the dying man, "you see I have but a short time to
live; yet neither death nor pain can pierce my heart with half so much
anguish as what I feel at the thought of what these dear babes will do
without a parent's care. Brother, they will have none but you to be kind
to them, to see them clothed and fed, and to teach them to be good."

"Dear, dear brother," said the dying lady, "you must be father, mother,
and uncle too, to these dear innocent lambs. First, let William be
taught to read; and then he should be told how good his father was. And
little Jane--Oh! brother, it wrings my heart to talk of her; think of
the gentle usage she will need, and take her fondly on your knee,
brother, and she and William too will pay your care with love."

"How it does grieve my heart to see you, my dear relatives, in this
mournful condition," replied the uncle. "But be comforted, there may
yet be hopes of your well-doing; but should we have the misfortune to
lose you, I will do all you can desire for your darling children. In me
they shall find father, mother, and uncle; but, dear brother, you have
said nothing of your wealth."

"H-e-r-e, h-e-r-e, brother," replied he, "is my will, in which I have
provided for my dear babes."

The gentleman and his lady then kissed their children, and a short time
after they both died.

The uncle, after shedding a few tears, opened the will, in which he
found that to William was bequeathed three hundred pounds a year when he
became of age, and to little Jane five hundred pounds in gold on her
marriage day. But if the children should chance to die before coming of
age, then all their wealth was to be enjoyed by their uncle. Th