day is ended, I will look at my sleeping boy, and make myself happy over my children." CHAPTER X. THE END OF THE DAY. EVENING came, and with it lights and guests. A strong, self-sacrificing amiability governed Elise's manner this evening. She was almost cordial towards Emelie; cared for the comfort of every one, played the piano for the children's dance, and appeared to exist only in order to serve others. The beautiful Emelie, on the contrary, thought of herself; was livelier and more brilliant than ever, and, as usual, assembled all the gentlemen around her; she turned her conversation from politics to literature, and then spoke of theatricals, characterizing, in the most animated and sarcastic manner, the dramatic manufactory of the Scribe-Mellesville school. "For the rest," added she, "the stage acts very prudently and sensibly in letting the curtain fall the moment the hero and heroine approach the altar; novels do the same, and that, also, with good reason, otherwise nobody would be able to read them." "How so?" asked the Judge with great ear nestness. My sour child.' Yet, after all, this is nothing in fact, but what is perfectly natural; and, in this respect, marriage only follows the eternal law of nature in all earthly existence. Every form of life carries in itself decay and dissolution-a poisonous snake-king* has forced itself to the root of the world." Several of the listeners, and among them the Candidate, had laughed loudly at Emelie's descriptions; but the Judge had not once moved his lips, and replied, when she had done, with an earnestness that confounded even her satire. "If all this were true, Emelie," said he, "then were life, even in its best point of view, good for nothing; and with justice might it indeed be called an illusion. But it is not so; and you have only described marriage in its lowest, and not either in its best or its truest sense. I do not deny the difficulties which exist in this, as in every other circumstance of life; but I am confident that they may and must be overcome; and this will be done if the married pair bring only right intentions into the house. Then may want and care, disturbing, nay even bitter hours may come, but they will also go; and the bonds of love and truth will be consolation, nay, even will give strength. You have spoken, Emelie, of death and separation as the end of the drama of life; you have forgotten the awaking again, and the second youth, of which the ancient Walat sings. Married life, like all life, has such a second youth; yes, indeed, a progressive one, because it has its foundation in the life which is eternal; and every contest won, every danger passed through, every pain endured, change themselves into blessing on home and on the married pair, who have thus obtained better knowledge, and who are thus more closely united." He spoke with unusual warmth, and not without emotion, and his expressive glance sought and dwelt upon his wife, who had approached, unobserved, and who had listened to Emelie's bitter satire with stinging pain, because she knew that there was a degree of truth in it. "Because," answered Emelie," the illusion of life is extinguished on the other side of this golden moment, and reality steps forward then in all its heaviness and nakedness. Look at a young couple in the glowing morning of their union, how warm love is then; how it penetrates and beautifies every thing; how it glows and speaks in glance and word, and agreeable action; how its glory changes the whole of life into poetry! Thou, thou!' is the one thought of the young people then. But observe the same couple a few years later-I, I!' and 'that which will give ME pleasure,' is the one thought then. The adoring, all-resigning lover is then become the authoritative husband, according to whose law everybody But as her husband spoke, she felt that he permust regulate themselves, and to whom every-ceived the whole and full truth, and her heart body must attend. And the loving, all-sacrifi- beat freer and stronger, and all at once a clearcing bride, she is become the unwieldy and care-ness was in her soul. With her head bent forburdened housewife, who talks of nothing but trouble, bad sausages, and negligent maid-servants. And what are tête-à-tête communications between these two? 'How, my dear! is the butter really used up already? Why, I gave you money only the other day for butter? You really must look better after things, and see what the cook does with the butter; I will not allow such extravagance in the house even if you will!' or 'Indeed, my love, I and the children must have new over-dresses. Little Peter's coat is worn out, and little Paul has grown out of his; and my old cloak cannot last to eternity!' People," continued the sarcastic Emelie, "may thank their stars, too, if out of such interesting communications as these no hateful quarrels arise; and if, in the happy repose of their homes, harmless yawnings have only taken place of the kisses which have left it. Contracted circumstances, the miserableness and difficulties of housekeeping, destroy the happiness of marriage, even as the worm destroys the flower, bringing bitterness and sourness into the temper; and though the married pair may continue to the very day of their death to address each other as "My dear child,' yet, very often, in petto, it is ward, she gazed on him with a glance of tenderness and confidence, forgetting herself, and listening with fervour to every word which he uttered. In this very moment their eyes met, and there was much, inexpressibly much, in their glance; a clear crimson of delight flushed her cheek, and made her beautiful. The gentle happiness which now animated her being, together with her lovely figure, her graceful movements, and the purity of her brow, made her far more fascinating than her lovely rival. Her husband followed her with his eyes, as, kindly and attentively she busied herself among her guests, or with the little Gabriele in her arms, mingled in the children's dance, for which Evelina's foster daughters were playing a four-handed piece. He had suddenly cooled towards his "old flame," nor was he at all warmed again by the sharp tone with which the little caressing Petrea was reproved for being too obtrusive. "Our Louise in time will dance very well," remarked the Judge to his wife, as he noticed *According to the Northern mythology, Nödhögg, the snake-king, lives in Niflheim, the nether world. A kind of Northern sibyl or prophetess. with great pleasure the little glissades and chas- | something bitter, a something keenly sarcastic sées of his daughter, whom Miss Gabriel Stern- in his words, which still, on account of the hök twirled round, and with whom he conversed general gaiety, remained unobserved by most. with great gravity, and a certain knightly politeness. In the meantime Mrs. Gunilla was instructing Emelie on the manners and character of the French; and Emelie, whose countenance since the discussion of the marriage question had worn a bitter expression, endeavoured with a tolerably sharp tone to make her superior information felt, and in return was mown down, as it were, at one stroke by Mrs. Gunilla, who-had never been in France. The Candidate followed Elise everywhere with glances of devotion, and appeared this evening perfectly enchanted by her amiability. "Fie, for shame!-to take all the confections to yourself!" moralized the little Louise to a young guest, a fat, quiet boy, who took the confections and the reproof with the same stoical indifference. Louise cast a look of high indignation upon him, and then gave her share of sweetmeats to a little girl, who complained she had none. Supper same, and Emelie, whose eyes flashed unusual fire, seemed to wish fervently to win back that regard which she, perhaps, feared to have lost already, and with her playful and witty conversation electrified the whole company. Jacobi, who was excited in no ordinary manner, drank one glass of wine after another, talked and laughed very loud, and looked between whiles upon Elise with glances which expressed his sentiments in no doubtful manner. These glances were not the first of the kind which the quick eyes of Elise's rival observed. "That young man," said she, in a low but significant whisper to the Judge, and with a glance on Jacobi, "seems to be very charming; he has really remarkably attractive talents-he is nearly related to Elise, of course." "No," returned he, looking at her rather surprised; "but he has been for nearly three months a member of our family." "Indeed!" said she, in purposely emphatic and grave manner; "I should have thought-but as for that," added she, in an evidently careless tone-"if Elise be really so kind and so amiable to everybody who is with her daily as she is to him, it must be very difficult not to love her." The Judge felt the sting of the viper, and with a glance which flashed a noble indignation, he replied to his beautiful neighbour, "You are right, Emelie; I know no woman who deserves more love or esteem than she!" Emelie bit her lip and grew pale; and she would assuredly have grown yet paler, could she only have understood the sentiment which she had awakened in the breast of her former admirer. Ernst Frank had a keen sense of moral meanness, and in his estimation no intellectual power could compensate for it. He clearly understood her intentions and despised her for them. In his eyes, at this moment, she was hateful. In the mean time his composure was destroyed. He looked on Jacobi, and observed his glances and his feelings towards his wife; he looked on her, and saw that she was uneasy and avoided Never before was Assessor Munter so cheerful, so comically cross with all mankind. Mrs. Gunilla and he seemed quite desperate against each other. The company rose from the supper-table in full strife, and adjourned to the dancing-room. "Music, in heaven's name! music!" exclaimed the Assessor, with a gesture of despair, and Elise and the Colonel's lady hastened to the piano. It was a pleasant thought, after the screaming of that rough voice had been heard, to play one of Blangini's beautiful night-pieces, which seem to have been inspired by the Italian heaven, and which awaken in the soul of the hearer a vision of those summer nights, with their flowery meadows, of their love, of their music, and of all their unspeakable delights. "Un' eterna constanza in amor," were the words which, repeated several times with the most bewitching modulations, concluded the song. "Un' eterna constanza in amor!" repeated the Candidate, softly and passionately pressing his hand to his heart, as he followed Elise to a window, whither she had gone to gather a rose for her rival. As Elise's hand touched the rose, the lips of Jacobi touched her hand. Emelie sang another song, which delighted the company extremely; but Ernst Frank stood silent and gloomy the while. Words had been spoken this evening which aroused his slumbering perception; and after what he had just seen between Jacobi and his wife, he felt as if the earth were trembling under his feet, as if he literally gasped for breath. A tempest was aroused in his breast; and at the same moment turning his eyes, he encountered those of another person, which were riveted upon him with a questioning, penetrating expression. They were those of the Assessor. Such a glance as that from any other person had been poison to the temper of Frank, but from Jeremias Munter it operated quite otherwise; and as shortly afterwards he saw his friend writing something on a strip of paper, he went to him, and looking over his shoulder, read these words: "Why regardest thou the mote in thy brother's eye, yet seest not the beam in thine own eye?" "Is this meant for me?" asked he in a low but excited voice. "Yes," was the direct reply. The Judge took the paper, and concealed it in his breast. He was pale and silent, and began to examine himself. The company broke up; he had promised Emelie to accompany her home; but now, while she, full of animation, jested with several gentlemen, and while the servant drew on her fur-shoes, he stood silent and cold beside her as a pillar of ice. Mrs. Gunilla and the Assessor quarreled till the last moment. Whilst all this was going on, Elise went quietly to Jacobi, who stood somewhat apart, and said to him in a low voice, "I wish to speak with you when they are all gone; I will wait for you in the parlour." Jacobi bowed; a burning crimson flashed to his cheek; the Judge threw a penetrating glance upon them, and passed his hand over his pale countenance. "It gives me great pleasure," cried Mrs. Gunilla, speaking shrilly and staccato; "it gives me. "Heart's-dearest, me great pleasure to see my fellow-creatures, "Dizzy!" repeated she. and it gives me great pleasure if they will see we should take care on that very account; one If they are not always agreeable, why, I should take care of one's head as well as one's am not always agreeable myself! Heart's-heart, or every thing will fare worse than it has dearest in this world one must have patience now fared with us! He, he, he! But listen to one with another, and not be everlastingly re- me, my friend," said Mrs. Gunilla, suddenly bequiring and demanding from others. For my coming very grave: "I will tell you one thing, part, I am satisfied with the world, and with my and that is own fellow-creatures, as God has made them. "Your Honour, pardon me," interrupted he, I cannot endure that people should be perpetual-"but I think-I feel rather unwell-I-there, ly blaming and criticising, and making sour fa- now we are at your door! Pardon me!" and ces, and cutting their jokes on every thing, and the Candidate tumbled upstairs again. saying, 'I will not have this!' and 'I will not have that!' and 'I will not have it so! It is folly; it is unbearable; it is wearisome; it is stupid!' precisely as if they themselves only were endurable, agreeable, and clever! No, I have learned better manners than that. It is true that I have no genius, nor learning, nor talents, as so many people in our day lay claim to, but I have learned to govern myself." During this moral lecture, and endeavouring all the time to overpower it, the Assessor exclaimed, “And can you derive the least pleasure from your horrible social life? No, that you cannot! What is social life, but a strift to get into the world in order to discover that the world is unbearable? but a scheming and labouring to get invited, to be offended and put out of sorts if not invited; and if invited, to complain of weariness and vexation? Thus people bring a mass of folks together, and wish them—at Jericho! and all this strift only to get poorer, more out of humour, more out of health; in one word, to get the exact position, vis-à-vis, of happiness! See there! Adieu, Adieu! When the ladies take leave, they never have done." "There is not one single word of truth in all that you have said," was the last but laughing salutation of Mrs. Gunilla to the Assessor, as, accompanied by the Candidate, she left the door. The Judge, too, was gone; and Elise, left alone, betook herself to the parlour. Suddenly quick steps were heard behind her -she thought " Jacobi"-turned round and saw her husband; but never before had she seen him looking as then; there was an excitement, an agitation, in his countenance that terrified her. He threw his arm violently round her waist, riveted his eyes upon her with a glance that seemed as if it would penetrate into her inmost soul. "Ernst, be calm!" whispered she, deeply moved by his state of mind, the cause of which she imagined. He seized her hand and pressed it to his forehead-it was damp and cold; the next moment he was gone. In the hall of the Franks' dwelling, he drew breath. The thought of the mysterious meeting with Elise filled him at the same time with joy and uneasiness. He could not collect his bewildered thoughts, and with a wildly-beating heart went into the room where Elise awaited him. As soon as he saw her waite lovely figure standing in the magical lamplight, his soul became intoxicated, and he was just about to throw himself at her feet, when Elise, hastily and with dignity, drew back a few paces. "Listen to me, Jacobi," said she, with trembling but earnest voice. "Listen to you!" said he, passionately-"Oh, that I might listen to you for ever!-Oh, that "Silence!" interrupted Elise, with a severity very unusual to her; "not one word more of this kind, or our conversation is at an end, and we are separated for ever!" "Good heavens !" exclaimed Jacobi, "what` have" "I beseech you, listen to me!" continued Elise; "tell me, Jacobi, have I given you occasion to think thus lightly of me ?" Jacobi started. "What a question!" said he, stammering and pale. "Nevertheless," continued Elise, with emotion, "I must have done so; your behaviour to me this evening has proved it. Could you think, Jacobi, that I, a wife, the mother of many children, could permit the sentiment which you have been so thoughtless as to avow this evening? could you imagine that it would not occasion me great uneasiness and pain? Indeed, it is so, Jacobi; I fear that you have gone sadly wrong; and if I myself, through any want of circumspection in my conduct, have assisted thereto, may God forgive me! You have punished me for it, Jacobi-have punished me for the regard I have felt and shown to you; and if I now must break a connexion, which I hoped would gladden my life, it is your own fault. Only one more such glance-one more such declaration, as you have made this evening, and you must remove from this house." The crimson of shame and indignation burned on Jacobi's cheek. "In truth," said he, “I have not deserved such severity." We will now return to the Candidate. Wine and love, and excited expectation, had so inflamed the imagination of the young man, that he hardly knew what he did whether he walked, or whether he flew; and more than once, in descending the stairs, had he nearly "Ah! examine yourself, Jacobi," said she, precipitated Mrs, Gunilla, who exclaimed with" and you will judge yourself more severely than kindness, but some little astonishment, "God I have done. You say you love me, Jacobi, and preserve me! I cannot imagine, heart's-dear-you do not dread to destroy the peace and hapest, how either you or I walk to-night! See, now again, all's going mad! No, I thank you, I'll take care of myself. I think I can go safe by myself. I can hold by-" "A thousand times pardon," interrupted the Candidate, whilst he pressed Mrs. Gunilla's arm tightly; "it is all my fault. But now we will go safely and magnificently; I was a little dizzy!" piness of my life. Already, perhaps, are poisonous tongues in activity against me. I have seen this evening glances directed upon me and upon you, which were not mild; and thoughts and feelings are awakened in my husband's soul, which never ought to have been awakened there. You have disturbed the peace of a house, into which you were received with friendship and confidence. But I know" continued she, mildly, at you have not intended anything criminal; no bad intentions have guided your behaviour; folly only has led you to treat so lightly that relationship which is the holiest on earth. You have not reflected seriously enough on your life, or your duty and your situation, in this family.' Jacobi covered his face with his hands, and a strong emotion agitated him. Jacobi bowed, withdrew a few steps, and ther returned: "Judge Frank," said he, in a voice which showed the excitement of his feelings, "give me your hand; I will deserve your friend ship.' The outstretched hand was grasped firmly and powerfully, and Jacobi left the room in haste. "Come here, Elise," said the Judge with warmth, leading his wife to the sofa, and enclosing her in his arms. "Speak to me! Tell me, has anything in my behaviour of late turned your heart from me?" "And Ernst," again began Elise, with warmth and yet greater feeling, "what an excellent husband he is-scarcely has he his equal-Jacobi,the saviour of my child-my young friend! I would not have spoken thus to you if I had not had great Elise's head sunk upon the breast of her husfaith on your better-your nobler self; if I had band, and she was silent. Ah, Ernst!" said not hoped to have won a friend in you-a friend she at length, with a painful sigh, "I also am disfor my whole life, for myself and Ernst. Oh, satisfied with myself. But," added she, more Jacobi, listen to my prayer! you are throw cheerfully, "when I lean myself on you thus, , among people who are willing from their very when I hear your heart beating, and know what hearts to be your friends! Act so that we may is within that heart, then, Ernst, I feel how I love love and highly esteem you; and do not change-how I believe on you! Then I reproach myinto grief that hearty good will which we both self with being so weak, so unthankful, so ready feel for you! Combat against, nay, banish from to take offence! Oh, Ernst! love me, look on me your heart, every foolish sentiment which you, always as now, then life will be bright to me; for a moment, have cherished for me. Consider then shall I have strength to overcome all-even me as a sister-as a mother!-Yes," continued my own weakness; then I shall feel that only a she, pausing over this word, and half propheti- cloud, only a shadow of mist, and no reality can cally, "perhaps you may even yet call me moth- come between us. But now all is vanished; er; and if you will show me love and faith, Ja- now I can lay open to you all the innermost loopcobi, as you have said, I will accept it-from my holes of my heart-can tell you all my weakson! O, Jacobi ! if you would deserve my bless-nesses-" ing, and my eternal gratitude, be a faithful friend, "Be still, be still now," said the Judge, with a good instructor of my boy, my Henrik! Your a bright and affectionate look, and laying his hand talents as a teacher are of no common kind. on her mouth. "I have more failings than you; Your heart is good-your understanding is ca- but I am awake now. Weep not, Elise; let me pable of the noblest cultivation-your path is kiss away your tears! Do you not feel, as I do open before you to all that makes man most es- now, that all is right? Do we not believe in the timable and most amiable. Oh! turn not away Eternal Good, and do we not believe in each othfrom it, Jacobi-tread this path with Ernst-” er? Let us forgive and forget, and have peace together. Some time, when the error of this time has in some measure passed from our remembrance, we will talk it over, and wonder how it ever came between us. Now, all is so bright be tween us, and we both of us see our way clearly. Our errors will serve us for warnings. Wherefore do we live in the world, unless to become better? Look at me, Elise. Are you friendly towards me? Can you have confidence in me?" " Say not another word!" exclaimed Jacobi. Oh, I see all! forgive me, angelic Elise! I will do all, everything, in order to deserve your esteem and friendship. You have penetrated my heart-you have changed it. I shall become a better man. But tell me that you forgive methat you can be my friend, and that you will!" Jacobi, in the height of his excitement, had thrown himself on his knee before her; Elise also was deeply affected; tears streamed from her eyes, while she extended her hand to him, and bending over him said, from the very depths of her heart, "Your friend for ever!" Calmly, and with cheerful countenances, both raised themselves; but an involuntary shudder passed through her as she saw her husband standing in the room, with a pale and stern countenance. Jacobi went towards him: "Judge Frank," said he, with a firm but humble voice, "you behold here a-" "Silence, Jacobi!" interrupted Elise, quickly; "you need not blush on account of your bended knee, nor is any explanation needful. It is not, is it, Ernst?" continued she, with the undaunted freshness of innocence: "you desire no explanation; you believe me when I say, that Jacobi now, more than ever, deserves your friendship. A bond is formed between us three, which, as I hope, nothing will disturb, and no poisonous tongue censure. You believe me, Ernst ?" "Yes," said he, giving her his hand; "if I could not, then-" he did not finish the sentence, but fixed his eyes with a stern expression immoveably on her. "I will speak with you," said he, after a moment, and in a calmer voice. "Good night, Mr. Jacobi." "I can! I have!" said she; "there is not a grain of dust any longer between us." "Then we are one!" said he, with a joyful voice. "Let us, then, in God's name, go thus together through life. What he has united, let no man, no accident, nothing in this world, separate !" Night came; but light had arisen in the breast both of husband and wife. The fruit of disunion is commonly thorns and thistles, but it may likewise bear seed for the granary of heaven. CHAPTER XI. JACOBI. WHEN Jacobi entered his room, he found a letter lying on the table near his bed. He rec ognised the handwriting as that of Judge Frank and quickly opened it. A bank-note, of consid erable value, fell out; and the letter contained the following words: "You are indebted to several persons in the city, Jacobi, with whom I wish, for your own sake, that you should have as little to do as possible. Within, you will find the means of standing which existed between them, the whissatisfying their demands. Receive it as from a pered blame, which had already begun to get paternal friend, who sincerely wishes you to re-abroad at their expense, died of itself, like a gard him as such, and who embraces with pleas- flame wanting nourishment. ure an opportunity of making an acknowledgment to the friend and instructor of his children. To the preserver of my child I shall always remain indebted; but should you desire anything, or need anything, do not apply to any other than "Your friend, "E. FRANK." Of Judge Frank's "old flame," which Elise had feared so much, we must relate how that she found herself so wounded, and so cooled likewise, by the ice-cold behaviour of her former adorer, that she quickly left the city, having abandoned all thoughts of settling there. "Life there, would be too uniform for me, would possess too little interest," said she, yawning, to the Judge, who was warmly coun "He! and he, too!" exclaimed Jacobi, deep-selling her return either to France or Italy. ly agitated. "O, the kind, noble, excellent man! And I—I shall, I will become worthy of him! From this day forward I am another person!" He pressed the letter to his breast, and looked up to the star-lighted heaven with silent but fervent vows. CHAPTER XII. TIME GOES. LIFE has its moments of strength and bloom; its bright moments of inspiration, in which the human artist, the painter of earthly life, seizes on, and utters what is purest, most beautiful and divine. If, in our human life, we acted only then; if then all sacrifices were made, all victories won, there would be but little difficulty in life. But the difficult part is to preserve, through a long course of years, the flame which has been kindled by inspiration only; to preserve it while the storms come and go, while the everlasting dust-rain of the moment falls and falls; to preserve it still and uniform, amid the unvarying changing of unvaried days and nights. To do this, strength from above is required; repeated draughts from the fountain of inspiration, both for the great and the small-for all labourers on earth. "In our good North we must find that which can give interest and enjoyment to life in ourselves and our own means,--from our families, from our own breasts." "She is extremely beautiful and interesting," said Elise, with a kindly feeling towards her when she was gone. The Judge made no reply, nor was he ever heard to speak again of this his former beloved one. Days went by. The Judge had much to do. Elise occupied herself with her little girls, and the Candidate with Henrik and his own studies. The children grew like asparagus in June, and their father rejoiced over them. "Little Louise will grow over all our heads," prophesied he many a time; and when he heard Eva's playing "Malbrook s'en va-t-en guerre," on the piano, his musical sense awoke, and he would observe to his wife, Has not Eva already a great deal of feeling in music?" The evenings, on which all the members of the family assembled, assumed constantly a livelier and more comfortable character for every one; often they played and danced with the children. The children! What a world of pleasure and pain do they not bring with them into a house' of a truth all is not of as rosy a hue as their cheeks. Elise discovered that in her children which was not always exactly good. "Do to others what thou wouldst that they should do It was the good fortune of Ernst and Elise to thee." "Patience is a good root." "You that they knew this; and knew, also, how to do not see that your father and mother do so make it available to them. On this account and so." The standing, customary speeches they succeeded more and more in conquering which have gone through the world from the their natural failings; on this account they came time when " Adam delved and Eve span," down nearer to each other by every little step, which to the present day, and which to the very end in itself is so unobservable, but which yet, at of time will be ever in use,-together with asthe same time, twines so firmly and lovingly to-surances to the children, whenever they were gether the human heart and life, and which may be contained in the rubric-regard for mutual inclinations, regard for mutual interests. Through this new-born intimacy of heart, this strengthening and pure affection, Elise assumed a secure and noble standing with regard to Jacobi. Her heart was vanquished by no weakness, even when she saw suffering expressed in his youthful countenance; nay, she remained firm, even when she saw that his health was giving way, and only besought her husband to naine an earlier day for his and Henrik's departure, in which her husband's wish accorded with her own. She found him now by her side like a good angel, gentle, yet strong. No wonder was it, therefore, that, to try him, Elise went forward successfully; no wonder was it, therefore, that from the firm conduct of her husband, and from the contemplation of the good under punished, that all this was done for their benefit, and that the time would come when they would be thankful for it-which the children very seldom, if ever, believe—this citizen-of-theworld patriarchal household-fare, which was dealt out in the family of the Franks, as in every other worthy family,-did not always produce its proper effect. Perhaps Elise troubled herself too mucts sometimes about the perpetual recurrence of the same fault, perhaps she calculated too little on the invisible but sun-like and powerful influence of paternal love on her little human plants. True it is that she had great anxiety on their account, and that the development and future prospects of her daughters awoke much disquiet and trouble in her mind. One day when such thoughts had troubled her more than usual, she felt the necessity of a pru |