LOVE AND LETTERS.

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education, instead of which young Smith was not taught its merest rudiments. Will, owing in great part to his capacity and inclination for study, combined, doubtless, with the combative impulse often accompanying it, resolved, nevertheless to become a scholar. Happily, to aid his good intention, he found an instructress, whose amiability and skill rendered the task of learning rather a pleasure than a toil. This was Mattie Saunders, the farmer's daughter. Often Will's eyes would unconsciously wander from the page to her earnest blue eyes, and then would come such sweet gentle tones of remon. strance, that he really could scarcely be sorry for the offence. Still he made rapid progress, and before long the pupil became the teacher.

In this studious companionship, as time went on, more than letters were learnt, though little did either Mattie or Will imagine how important an influence would be exercised on their destinies, by the hours which glided so swiftly and carelessly by. They loved unconsciously, and the sweet secret of their breast was first made known to them by the father of Mattie, who perceived the condition of affairs, and revealed to them their mutual misery.

From the time of its discovery, the direst tyranny, not to say atrocity was practised by Saunders towards the poor boy. Deprived of

the very necessities of existence, he was driven in the midst of winter to sleep with but a single threadbare covering, on some hay in'a barn! Such was the endurance to which he bravely submitted for his dear companion's sake. His sole consolation was the sympathy expressed by Mattie, during his stolen interviews with her. She, no longer permitted to see poor Will, had her gentle heart lacerated, by the knowledge of the persecution he suffered, without the ability of alleviating the misery, of which she knew herself to be the innocent cause. Meek-spirited and tender, she was but little fitted to oppose the unremitting severity of her father, who, having amassed for her a considerable fortune, imagined he did sufficient for her happiness by zealously guarding it. His daughter, even on the approach to womanhood was rigorously watched, for the idea of a moneyless suitor was distracting to him. His malignity, awakened by the affection subsisting between Mattie and Will, was mercilessly visited on the forlorn orphan boy. The patient heroism of love alone could have induced Will, naturally of a bold and defiant temper, to yield to the degrading servitude he owned. But to break from it was to part from Mattie--that thought was more grievous than all. So he endured and hoped for long, till the increasing severity of the bondage be

A CHARITABLE ACT.

21

came unbearable. Incited by a burning indignation he resolved to escape, and stealing to Mattie's room one night, told his intention. The child lovers had little time to indulge their grief-one burst of tears—one clasped embrace, and they parted. Mattie's only consolation, the last words of her lover, that “when he was a great man, he would come back and make her his little wife.”

With a few crusts and some scraps of clothing, Will set forth on his journey to the American capital. Curious vicissitudes awaited him. His scanty store was soon exhausted, and he was compelled to beg his bread, and seek some wretched shed for shelter at night.

On one of these occasions it was that he was discovered by the excellent Judge Campbell, who, an early riser for the charitable purpose of looking to the welfare of his cattle, as well as of his household, on visiting his stables, was amazed to find there a pale, miserable looking boy, emaciated with deprivation and hunger. The good old man could not refrain his tears, as he exclaimed, “Never while I have a crust must this be.” Removed to the Judge's dwelling, for days the poor orphan vacillated between life and death, unable to explain his unhapy situation, or express his gratitude to his deliverers. From the time that Will Smith was received into the

Judge's family, he was treated as one of its members.

Through a strange coincidence, the very first case met with by the Judge, on setting out for the Circuit was that of the “Commonwealth versus Samuel Saunders, for unlawfully making away with the indentured child, known as Will Smith.” Campbell, delighted with the idea of retribution on the persecutors of his protegé, whom he loved as a son, gave it his immediate attention, and compelled minute investigation of every particular of the affair.

The trial was a singular and terrible scene. Campbell, severe and implacable, sat like another Brutus, resolved for the sentence.

Mattie, too, the timid Mattie was present, pale, heartsick, and agonized by conflicting feelings. The novelty of her situation, and its publicity, were sufficient alone to overwhelm her gentle nature, in addition to which she had the misery to witness her parent's disgrace, and was distracted by the conviction, that Willie, her sole hope and only friend, was lost to her for ever. Saunders, trembling and conscious, awaited the verdict, which came as a death knell on his ears, as in a solemn tone of denunciation "guilty" sounded through the unbroken hush of the court. At that instant the sound of carriage wheels told an arrival, and sent a murmuring

LIGHT ON THE HORIZON.

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agitation through the crowd. The excitement was told by the eager curiosity of the people's gaze, to learn the cause. Even Mattie was roused from the stupor of despair into which she had sunk. A strange vague hope awoke in her breast, and scarcely could she conceive the marvellous reality, as she beheld enter one whom she could not mistake, but so pale, attenuated, as to seem indeed rather a spectre than a living being. But it was the lost one, her well-remembered companion, whose sudden appearance created a sensation impossible to describe. His persecutor, horrified at the sight of what he conceived to be an apparition, swooned, and was taken from court.

The result was, that the conditions of the boy's indentures were declared by the jury to be forfeited, and the sorest sting of all to the miserhe was compelled to aid in the support and education of the boy, until he attained his majority.

A new light thus broke on the horizon, hitherto so dark and troubled for Will Smith. Diligent in improving the advantages afforded him, before long he enjoyed the honourable position of a successful young barrister, and the old Judge on his retirement, had the satisfaction of seeing his own career renewed in that of his adopted son, as he listened often in an ecstasy of admiration to his brilliant vigourous oratory.