misshapen hands, the village children, knowing
her history, forbore to sneer at or taunt her. All the village loved the
unfortunate creature, and all the village strove together to do her
kindness.

One man in the town--a cousin of Jason the wanderer--was supposed to
hold communication with him. This man notified Hannah one day that a
safe life annuity had been purchased for her, and thereafter she lived
at the house of Farmer Hopkins, not as a loved dependent, but as a
cherished and faithful friend. Thus freed from the bitter sting of
helpless poverty, Hannah sank resignedly into a quiet and honorable
life.

At length, one warm summer day, when Jason Fletcher should have been
about forty years of age, there strayed into the village a blind
mendicant, with a dog for guide, and a wooden leg rudely fastened to one
stiff stump. This stranger, white-headed and with the care-lines of many
years on his sadly furrowed face, sought out poor Hannah Lee, and told
her that he had, by the grace of God, come back, at last, to die.
Leading him with gentle counsels to that Mercy Seat where none ever seek
in vain, poor Hannah saw him bend with contrite and humble spirit, and
seek the forgiveness needed to atone for many years of sin. Patient and
penitent he passed a few quiet years, and then she followed to the tomb
the earthly remains of him for whom she had sacrificed a life.

And this being done, she removed to a distant town, where Martha
Hopkins, now kind Mrs. Marjoram, dwelt.

And many years afterwards Mrs. Marjoram told her story, as a lesson that
men should never judge a living soul by its outward habiliments.

* * * * *

FREEDOM'S STARS.

From Everglades to Dismal Swamp
Rose on the hot and trembling air
Cloud after cloud, in dark array,
Enfolding from their serpent lair
The starry flag that guards the free:--
One after one its stars grew dun,
Heaven given to shine on Liberty.

But swifter than the lightning's gleam
Flashed out the spears of Northern-light,
And with the north wind's saving wings,
The cloud-host, vanquished, took to flight.
Then in her white-winged radiance there
The angel Freedom conquering came,
Relit once more her brilliant stars,
To burn with an eternal flame.

* * * * *

ON THE PLAINS.

The plains is the current designation of the region stretching westward
from Missouri--or rather