WHILST the Steele family was descending deeper and deeper into sin and degradation, the family of Mr. Brown was advancing in virtue, honor and holiness. Henry and Eliza were faithful members of Christ’s visible Church—they had been taught to love the Saviour in the Sunday-school; they were now teachers in the same, and by their love and practical instructions, their humble piety and fervent prayers, they led more than one to the Fountain of Life.

Henry, like his father, was a noble-looking man, of very prepossessing appearance. His taste for the beautiful and true increased with[141] his years, and his knowledge of many subjects became extensive and thorough—thus was he fitted for almost any position of honor and trust.

Eliza’s naturally amiable disposition was developed to advantage under Christian influence, and she married a man whose high moral and religious excellence made him eminently worthy of her. Living in anticipation of joys to come, she could not help being happy.

Passing over a few more years, we will look, for a time, at the little Mary of other days. In a forlorn old hut, far away from any other house, we find her crouched upon the floor, shivering with the cold, and in almost a starving condition; her father had left her some weeks previous, under the pretence that he was going in search of work; her brother had long since gone from the place, with little or no purpose in view; she knew nothing of his whereabouts, and it[142] seemed to her that she was now utterly forsaken, for she had received no word from her father during his absence. She wished that she might die—not thinking or caring what the consequence would be. As she sat thus, musing over her sad lot, Providence seemed to direct the steps of Mr. Brown, whose business called him to that part of the country, to the old hut; his heart was touched at the sight of her sufferings, and it was not long before he made arrangements for her removal to his own house; and he and his wife exerte............