ell you of it."

"Yes; but here," putting his hand on his heart, "everything is plain
here. I heard about a month since, some little words, which had begun to
make my head turn round; when, last Sunday, your landlady called me to
her, and showed me more kindness than usual, promising me that she would
take care of me, and that she would never abandon me. When I came home,
I said to Juliana, 'Wife, Mr. Desgranges is going to quit the village;
but that lady has consoled me.'"

In a few moments the blind man had returned to his home.

DEPENDENCE.

"WELL, Mary," said Aunt Frances, "how do you propose to spend the
summer? It is so long since the failure and death of your guardian, that
I suppose you are now familiar with your position, and prepared to mark
out some course for the future."

"True, aunt; I have had many painful thoughts with regard to the loss
of my fortune, and I was for a time in great uncertainty about my future
course, but a kind offer, which I received, yesterday, has removed that
burden. I now know where to find a respectable and pleasant home."

"Is the offer you speak of one of marriage?" asked Aunt Frances,
smiling.

"Oh! dear, no; I am too young for that yet. But Cousin Kate is happily
married, and lives a few miles out of the city, in just the cosiest
little spot, only a little too retired; and she has persuaded me that I
shall do her a great kindness to accept a home with her."

"Let me see. Kate's husband is not wealthy, I believe?"

"No: Charles Howard is not wealthy, but his business is very good, and
improving every year; and both he and Kate are too whole-souled and
generous to regret giving an asylum to an unfortunate girl like me. They
feel that 'it is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

"A very noble feeling, Mary; but one in which I am sorry to perceive
that you are a little wanting."

"Oh! no, Aunt Frances, I do feel it deeply; but it is the curse of
poverty that one must give up, in some measure, the power of benefiting
others. And, then, I mean to beguile Kate of so many lonely hours, and
perform so many friendly offices for her husband, that they will think
me not a burden but a treasure."

"And you really think you can give them as much comfort as the expense
of your maintenance could procure them in any other way?"

"Yes, aunt; it may sound conceited, perhaps, but I do really think I
can. I am sure, if I thought otherwise, I would never consent to become