t easy, and far more eligible than
the needle, which was formerly my only tool.

"This arrangement affords my brother opportunities of exercise and
recreation, without diminishing our profits; and my time, though not
less constantly, is more agreeably, as well as more lucratively,
employed than formerly."

"I admire your reasoning. By this means provision is made against
untoward accidents. If sickness should disable him, you are qualified to
pursue the same means of support."

At these words the lady's countenance changed. She put her hand on my
arm, and said, in a fluttering and hurried accent, "Is my brother sick?"

"No. He is in perfect health. My observation was a harmless one. I am
sorry to observe your readiness to draw alarming inferences. If I were
to say that your scheme is useful to supply deficiencies, not only when
your brother is disabled by sickness, but when thrown, by some inhuman
creditor, into jail, no doubt you would perversely and hastily infer
that he is now in prison."

I had scarcely ended the sentence, when the piercing eyes of the lady
were anxiously fixed upon mine. After a moment's pause, she exclaimed,
"The inference, indeed, is too plain. I know his fate. It has long been
foreseen and expected, and I have summoned up my equanimity to meet it.
Would to Heaven he may find the calamity as light as I should find it!
but I fear his too irritable spirit."

When her fears were confirmed, she started out into no vehemence of
exclamation. She quickly suppressed a few tears which would not be
withheld, and listened to my narrative of what had lately occurred, with
tokens of gratitude.

Formal consolation was superfluous. Her mind was indeed more fertile
than my own in those topics which take away its keenest edge from
affliction. She observed that it was far from being the heaviest
calamity which might have happened. The creditor was perhaps vincible by
arguments and supplications. If these should succeed, the disaster would
not only be removed, but that security from future molestation be
gained, to which they had for a long time been strangers.

Should he be obdurate, their state was far from being hopeless.
Carlton's situation allowed him to pursue his profession. His gains
would be equal, and his expenses would not be augmented. By their mutual
industry they might hope to amass sufficient to discharge the debt at no
very remote period.

What she chiefly dreaded was the pernicious influ