teaching dirty orphans to spell, and washing teacups, and darning your Cousin Clodpole's stockings. Oh, poor Anna, how I pity you! But it is over now, and we shall be as merry as we used to be, and you shall have as many drives as you please, in my curricle, to comfort you, and make you forget your six months' misery."

"And come now with me," said Louisa, "and I shall show you the dresses Mamma has bought for you, though you are so grown, I fear they will be rather short; but, at any rate, they will be very pretty, and you are to go out of mourning when you come back to us. And some ladies and young people are to dine here to-day, and you know, after tea, there is to be your declaration of your choice, and then, when your solemn Uncle Murray goes away, we are to finish the day by a little ball; and Mr. Hodges has been so busy preparing, for he has no children of his own, though Mamma says he is dying to have some, and he is so fond of us—but come away-" and off Louisa flew, dragging Anna along with her to her Mamma's room, where many dresses were displayed, and Mrs. Ross's maid ready to dress the children. Aunt Ross herself soon appeared, and then there was such fitting, and cutting of hair, and curling, and dressing, for about two hours, and then Mrs. Ross pronounced Anna to be "really wonderfully improved in looks, and astonishingly little awkward, considering all

things." During this business of dressing, Louisa had been constantly running to the window to look at the carriages which arrived with company to dinner, and at some she laughed and others she admired.

At last Mrs. Ross and her two girls descended to the drawing-room, where a large party were assembled, consisting of ladies and gentlemen, and young people; and they and Aunt Ross, and the girls, were introduced to each other, and then they all sat very formally, and began to try to speak to each other. Some of the young people did not look formal, and seemed happy to meet; but Anna remembered that her Aunt Ross used to warn Louisa and her against becoming intimate with any young person till she had discovered who they were, and given them leave; and Anna, though she had, on the contrary, been taught by her Uncle Murray to love every one, and to be always ready to meet any human being kindly, yet now felt, somehow, as if she must obey her Aunt Ross in the present company.

After dinner the young people were allowed to go out on the lawn, and to see George's beautiful curricle: and then George and Louisa told their young companions of the choice Anna was to make in the evening, and laughed when they spoke of her Uncle Murray, and said it was ridiculous of him to stay, for it would be impossi

ble for any one to help laughing if he looked disappointed.

Some of the boys said they would not laugh, they would be sorry for Mr, Murray.

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"Sorry!" repeated George, sorry that Anna is not to spend all her life in singing Psalms and darning stockings!" and then most of the young people laughed, and Anna thought in her heart, she would rather be with her Uncle Murray, and her Aunt, and Kenneth, where every one loved each other, and felt kindly for each other, than stay in ever so fine a house, where people could amuse themselves by laughing at her dearest friends; and when she looked at George, as he stood holding the reins of his pretty ponies, and speaking in this way, she thought she would rather sing hymns with Kenneth on the hill, or even darn his stockings alone in her Aunt's little parlour, and think how grateful he would feel to her for doing so, than drive in George's curricle all the day long.

At last tea was over, and Mr. Murray said he must prepare for réturning home. Uncle Ross had been very civil to Mr. Murray, because he thought he would have to part with Anna in the evening, and was sorry for him; and now he placed a chair for him near himself, and said, "Let us two uncles speak a few words each to Anna, and then let her say in whose house she will choose to remain as her future home. Anna

sat opposite her uncles. Her Aunt Ross sat by her, and whispered to her, "Now, my love, say nothing rude or unkind to your Uncle Murray."

All the other ladies and gentlemen and young people sat, or stood around, and waited in silent expectation for the end of this scene.

Uncle Ross then said, "My dear Anna, your parents left directions in their will that you should be allowed to choose your own home. They directed that you should first reside six months with me, then six months with your uncle, Mr. Murray, and at the end of these twelve months choose with whom you would remain. You are now ten years old, Anna, and have a great deal of good sense; so I am sure you must be aware of how superior the advantages you will enjoy in my house must be to those which your good uncle Mr. Murray has to offer you. I will now say, before all these ladies and gentlemen, that if you come to me, I will make your fortune the same as Louisa's; and you know, Anna, I love you with the affection of a father." Mr. Ross said no more; but turned to Mr. Murray, who immediately said, "In choosing to remain with me, Anna, I plainly tell you that you will give up many worldly advantages. I can offer you none whatever; but, Anna, what will it profit you, if you gain the whole world and lose your own soul?' You know in whose house your soul's concerns

will be most attended to. Think, my child, what counsel your parents would give you were they at this moment present. I shall say no more, Anna. You know that your aunt and I, and all of us, love you dearly, and will rejoice to have you; so, my love, think in your heart, and then choose."

"I have chosen," exclaimed Anna, rising and throwing herself on her Uncle Murray's breast. "I will never leave you, Uncle Murray. You shall teach me. You have taught me how I shall again meet my own dear Mamma-how I shall go to heaven. Uncle Murray, I choose to remain with you."

“Anna, Anna, what do you mean? Think before you speak!" exclaimed Uncle Ross, seizing her arm to draw her away.

"No, no,” said Uncle Murray, clasping her close into his breast. "I will not give up my own dear child."

"Sir, how can you be so madly selfish!" exclaimed Uncle Ross, in a voice of such passion that it made Anna cling closer to her Uncle Murray. "You know that you have not a sixpence to give the child. You know that if you were to die to-morrow, your own would be beggars, and that Anna would be obliged to come to me. Give up the child."

"I will not give up my precious child," replied Uncle Murray quite mildly. "Your life, Sir,