My friend Josiah Wilson wrote to me last autumn, inviting me to spend my Christmas week with him at his curacy in a remote village in Cumberland.

|housekeeper, a very nice, chatty old lady, and a son, spending the interval between his voyages with her, were the sole occupants of the house.

However, what with dinner and sleep, I managed to pass the time away with tolerable comfort until his return.

The next morning I went with my host to the church, a small, ancient building in the rough stone style, if there be such a style recognised among ecclesiologists, with a little square tower, a little tinkling bell, and a little doorway and porch— in fact, a little church altogether.

Inside there were evidences of more care, in a few rudelycarved figures of beast of most hideous countenance and impossible tail, which decorated the capitals of the pillars; and an altar screen of oak, now black with age.

The congregation was but small, and I was not sorry when it was time to leave, for the place on that cold day was dreary in the extreme.

I was struck, however, during the service, by the sight of two perfectly similar tablets, one on each side of the church, bearing, beside the names, a common motto, "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us."

There was evidently some connection between the two, though on the one was the name of "Guthrie," and on the other that of " Crampton." I have to confess that I did not, whilst looking at these monuments, bestow much attention on my friend's sermon.

When we had reached home, and had dispatched our dinner, I thought to ask him their history. He told me he knew the main points, but if I liked to have up his housekeeper, she could tell me the whole story. I was glad enough to wile away the long dull evening, and my friend at once requested the old lady to come up, with her son, and give the story in full.

I wrote it down afterwards as nearly as possible in her own words.

THE HOUSEKEEPER'S STORY.

"I'm sure I hardly know how to begin-I'm not used to it; I never was much of a talker; still, as you wish it, I'll try and tell you what I know of them.

"Almost the first time I heard of Mr. Crampton was when my father and mother were talking to the doctor, after my baby brother died. The doctor was trying to persuade my mother to go and be nurse to Mrs. Crampton's baby. Now mother had been Mrs. Crampton's maid before she was married to father, and she was at last persuaded to go there, and nurse the child.

"I must tell you now what mother told me when I was older, or I can't make you understand my story.

"Mrs. Crampton was a Miss Edith Newton, and was engaged to a Mr. Guthrie, a Scotch gentleman. One vacation, Mr. Guthrie introduced his college friend Mr. Crampton to the Newtons as a near neighbor, and in a little while Miss Edith was quite taken with this handsome English man, and no wonder; for though Mr. Guthrie was as handsome as the other, he was sly-looking, while Mr. Crampton's face was quite open and sunshiny.

"Mr. Guthrie soon found out this, and mother says that, one day, he left the house in a great passion with Miss Edith, and struck Mr. Crampton.

"At last Mr. Crampton and Miss Edith were married at this very church. I remember, now, I was one of the little girls who were all dressed in white, and strewed flowers on the pathway all the way down to the stile, and very proud I was of my basket and blue sash; the basket's at home now, with my worsted in.

"As they came out of the church door Mr. Guthrie stood With his characteristic frankness he at once stated that his there. I saw him push up to Mr. Crampton, and call him someobject in this was not to show me the beauties of the neighbor-thing-mother said it was coward and rascal!'-and then hood, &c., but simply to secure one civilised companion for his I saw him strike Mr. Crampton with his fist. He made Mrs. fireside during that week, intimating as clearly as possible that Crampton let go his arm, and then struck Mr. Guthrie right in it was for his benefit, not mine, I was to come. the face, and he fell down bleeding.

"I recollect as well as possible that there was a mark on the

I am naturally disposed to aid my fellows when in distress; and this fact, combined with another, namely, that I had no-sleeve of Mrs. Crampton's white dress where she touched his where else to go, took me down on Christmas eve amongst the wilds of Cumberland.

Of course, as I had come a journey of about three hundred miles, he was out, and not likely to be in till midnight. His VOL. X., No. 3-15

hand directly after. Mr. Guthrie got up, and mother says he swore a dreadful oath that he would be revenged, and would some day rob Mr. Crampton of his happiness, and disgrace him before everybody, as Mr. Crampton had done to him then; and

then he went away.
This wasn't a very happy day to any-
body, you may think, after all this. I really think we little
girls enjoyed it more than anybody, for we soon got over our
fright, and went to Mr. Newton's in a carriage, and had some
cake and wine, and dancing afterwards.

"I think I told you that mother said she would go and nurse Mrs. Crampton's baby. She went, and stayed there; and father used to go to see her there, and one day took me with him.

"I saw Mr. Crampton, and he asked me how old I was. "Ten years last birth day,' I said.

"Then he asked me if I should like to stay with mother there. I said 'Yes,' and stayed, and used to hold the baby sometimes, and carry it up and down the garden. One day mother went out for a walk with it, and took me with her. We met Mr. Guthrie.

"Well, Mrs. Wills, what have you got there? Let's see it." "She lifted off the handkerchief, and showed him baby. He touched it with his glove under the chin, patted it, and then lifted its cloak and looked at its little hands.

"Hideous little wretch !'

"Not half as ugly as some people I know,' said mother, for she was a high-spirited woman, and quite loved the baby, poor thing.

"All this time a great dog--such a great beast it was-was sniffing at me and mother. It was a foreign dog; I think it was called Wolfgang, with great white teeth and a pointed snout, something like a great rough deer-hound, only bigger, and I was very glad when it went away with him. I little thought, then, what dreadful misery it was to cause me.

"The next day, it was in the summer, I was sitting outside in the meadow close by the garden gate, when Mr. Guthrie and his great dog passed. I drew the baby close to me, for mother had set me to watch it as it lay on a rug on the grass, and the dog's eyes looked so fierce through the railings that I felt frightened. They went by, and I laid the baby down and played with it, precious little thing, for some time. Mother came out, and saw that it was all right and amused, and went in again. In about half an hour I heard a sort of scamper on the road, and in a moment this great beast of a dog jumped over the railings, smelt about for a little while, then took the baby in his mouth, and ran away. I couldn't speak or scream, or do anything. I sat quite still for nearly five minutes, and then I began to scream. Mother came out.

"What's the matter? Where's my baby?'

"I could only scream:

"Oh, the dog! The dog!'

"What dog?' they all asked.

"The big dog!'

"Mr. Crampton came out.

666 What's the matter, Martha?'

"Oh, sir! Mr. Guthrie's big dog has run away with the baby.'

"They all went into the yard through the house, and there was the great beast in his kennel, licking his jaws and looking at them, the groom said, as if he was going to spring at them.

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'Take care, Mr. Crampton! I won't answer for your life if you go too near him. Leave him to me. Mind, I say! Take care! I've seen him pull down a man of twice your strength, and nearly killing him.'

"Get the beast out quickly,' said Mr. Crampton. 'I wish I'd brought my pistols with me.'

"Mr. Guthrie called the big brute, but he wouldn't come out for some time. At last he came out, and was locked up in the stable. Directly the dog was out, they pulled out the straw and all the things in the kennel, and there, sure enough, were the baby's clothes, blood-stained, and torn all to pieces.

"My God! what a fate for my poor child! Did you know, sir, that this dog was likely to do such things?' "He never did it before,' said Mr. Guthrie. 'I sincerely regret

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You will shoot that dog instantly, Mr. Guthrie?' "Shoot Wolfgang! Not I! What, for killing your brat? Not I, indeed!'

"Are you aware you are liable to prosecution for manslaughter, sir, as owner of that beast?'

"Perhaps I am; still, I don't shoot Wolfgang for that. My man must have forgotten to feed him this morning. You should take more care of your brats.'

"If ever I see that dog again I'll shoot him, if I carry arms for twelve months.

"He'd best not come across the muzzle of my gun; I'll put a charge in for him the first chance I get-I will,' says old Williams. He was gamekeeper to Sir Walter Thomson, and had married my mother's sister.

They left Mr. Guthrie's house, and when they came back and told Mrs. Crampton, she was taken very ill, and not expected to live. I was sent out of the house, and went home. Mr. Crampton saw the dog out with Mr. Guthrie's servant some time afterwards, and went up and shot it directly, and a little while afterwards Mr. Guthrie was reprimanded, and fined for having kept such an animal. You may fancy they were not better friends after such things as these had happened-and they were not. They never spoke, and hated each other dreadfully. Mr. Guthrie went abroad for six months or so after this.

"I soon, child-like, got over my share in the trouble: but, to this day, I don't like dogs of any kind. I like cats, but I almost tremble now when I see a dog.

"Mrs. Crampton had two children after this-the first a boy ---Master William-about a year after her first, and the next a girl, Miss Alice; there were nearly three years between brother and sister.

"I was at home after the baby's death, helping mother, till I was about twenty-five, and then I was married to Mr. Fuller.

"He got his horse, and just then one of the people of the vil- He was a sailor, like 'little Charles' here, as we sometimes call lage came up.

"Have you seen anything of Mr. Guthrie's dog?' said Mr. Crampton..

"Yes, sir; I saw him not ten minutes ago, across Farmer Shipton's field, with something white in his mouth, running home like mad.'

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"That was my child! Follow me, we may save it yet.' "Mr. Crampton rode away with the groom, and the man followed. They went down to Mr. Guthrie's.

"They knocked at the door-so I heard the groom tell mother--and Mr. Guthrie came out with a book in his hand and his slippers on.

him, and used to go away on long voyages even then, poor fellow. We were very happy while, he was at home, and when he went away I didn't know what to do for a week or two, it seemed so strange not to have him by me; but I got used to it, and was happy, in a way, in longing for him to come back again.

"One day, about a year after Charles had gone to sea, I saw Mr. Guthrie coming down to our house, for I lived with mother then. He came in, and sat down.

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'When's your husband coming back, Martha?' "In about a year, sir. I expect him next July.' "I've a young lady coming to stay with me. I want some Where's his kennel, Mr. decent person to take care of her. Will you come? Sort of housekeeper; thirty pounds a-year, with your food and wash

"Your dog has taken my child! Guthrie ?' "Nonsense, sir! I saw the child in your own meadow noting; will it suit you?' an hour ago.'

"Where's the kennel, sir? The girl saw the dog take it.' "A man came running up; it was old Williams, that lives near the mill; but, of course, he was a young man then, and said he'd found something upon one of the gates, and sure enough it was part of the child's white frock.

"The kennel, sir! the kennel, for God's sake!' said Mr. Crampton.

"I didn't know what to say, so I told him I'd let him know to-morrow.

"Mother and father both said I ought to go. So I went, with the understanding that Charles was to come there when he came home from his voyages.

"He let me in.

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Now, look here, Mrs. Fuller. These rooms are going to be fitted up for the young lady; see that they're done properly,

"Now, Martha, tell me something about my uncle. Who is he? What is he? Where are his relations?'

"I really can't answer you, miss; I'm only the housekeeper here.'

"That's the way with you good English people; you are stiff and cold as ice at first; hut I'll melt you yet, Martha, I do so dislike anything like formality. My name is Madeleine; you must call me " Madeleine," and not "Miss." mother. I want one. I like your face-it's honest. be my mother.'

I have no

You shall

"I was surprised to hear her talk like this, you may think; so I helped her to dress for dinner. The bell rang, and we went down. I saw the table laid out for three people, and wondered who was the third as I went to my room. Presently my bell rang, and I went up.

"Mrs. Fuller, when there is no one here but ourselves, that is your plate and place,' and he pointed to the end of the table. "I sat down and tried to eat something, but I could only play with it. I never sat down in the company of gentlefolks before.

"I noticed her, as she sat there, at the side of the table. Her face was very pretty large dark eyes, and long lashes; and a beautiful complexion, but bronzed-brown--like an Italian woman's. She didn't talk much; seemed rather afraid of her uncle, and he seemed to dislike her; didn't look at her at all kindly."

"Have some good.'

more wine, Madeleine? It will do you

"What is it now, Martha?'

"If you please, sir.' I said, 'I really don't think it's right for you to allow Miss Madeleine to do as she does. Last night she came home from Morelands with young Mr. Temple, and ît was past one o'clock before they got in. The night but one before that it was two o'clock. Not, sir, that I think she'll come to any harm; for a better girl never lived; but she, as a foreigner, can't know our ways, and might lose her character. It's wrong, sir, to allow it; it's not just to a mere child like her.

"Martha, what did I tell you about the wine?'
"To mind my own business, sir.'

"Then I need not repeat it. Don't let me find you interfering again, and don't let me catch you watching her. Give her liberty-full liberty, to do just as she likes.'

"I thought I heard him say 'Damn her!' as I shut the door; it's just as likely as not. I tried all I could to make her see how wrong it was, but she couldn't see it, brought up as she was. She said I was 'stiff,' and she seemed so innocent-and was so too that I couldn't speak out all I thought. Mr. Guthrie seemed to try all he could to get her into mischief-was always filiing her glass, if it was empty, and left her to run about wild.

"She talked about the young men to me, and laughed at them all, but one; that was young Mr. William Crampton.

"I've had two glasses now, uncle; I don't want any She said he was very handsome.

more.'

"I didn't ask you whether you wanted any more. I told you to have some,' and he poured out some port wine. "She drank it, and I saw it made her almost giddy.

"You can go now, Mrs. Fuller.'

"And I, too, uncle?'

"Yes. Send me some tea at half-past eight.'

"I must go to bed, Martha; I am quite stupid.'

"You should not have drunk the wine, Miss Madeleine.' "Do say Madeleine.'

"Well, Madeleine, then; go to bed, there's a dear.'. "And you'll watch me? Can't you sleep here? I do so dislike being alone. Do.'

"I can't, without orders, Miss Madeleine.'

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Beg of him to let you sleep here; I should like it so much.'

"I got his tea, watched her, and slept in the room with her. The wine had taken effect on her, and she slept very soundly. When she awoke in the morning she had a bad headache. "There, that's drinking too much wine.'

"I told her that she died soon after Miss Alice was born. "Poor thing! How dreadful to have such a thing happen. It would have killed me!'

"We used to go to church together, she and I; and one Sunday Mr. Crampton called me to him, and told me he wanted to see me next day, if I would come. So I went in the afternoon. I'd never been in the house since the accident.

"Who is that young lady, Martha?' said he.
"She's a relation of Mr. Guthrie's orother's wife, and has

"I didn't want it. Why did my uncle make me take it, I been brought up in one of the West India islands, Jamaica, J wonder?' think, by his brother.'

"I wondered, too, but couldn't at all see why, it was such a strange thing for him to do. Next day he had some liqueurs, and seemed to try all he could to get her to drink things. I told him, at last, it wasn't right to press her so about it. She didn't like it; and I was glad of it.

"One night she was lying awake, and said to me:

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"You're sure she's a relation of his?'

"'Quite sure,' she says so herself, and calls him "uncle." * "Now, Martha, I know you won't break any confidence I may repose in you; and I therefore tell you what I don't care to hear again. You know my son?'

"Master William, sir?'

"Yes. Well, I find that he is very warmly attached to this young lady, and I fear, poor boy, he is making himself ill with the thought of her. Now, I want to ask you if she's the sort of young lady that you think would make him happy if he mar

'Martha, you tell me I'm childish sometimes: tell me how ried her.' I don't say that those were Mr. Crampton's words, old you think I am.'

"I told him that she was a good girl in every sense of the Twenty-four!' she almost screamed. Well, that is good word, as good a girl as I ever knew. --I'm only just twenty! There now!'