been a worthless girl, however she might deserve their compassion, as they frequently practise deception; and having restored her by their exertions, Amelrosa in feeble accents expressed her gratitude, and was going away, when the elderly lady prevented her, saying she must not go without a coach, in the precarious situation of her health, as the same accident might happen again before she reached home, and perhaps she would not be equally fortunate in meeting with so much humanity.

In a faultering voice, as to pay for a coach would encroach considerably on her reduced purse, Amelrosa replied, that she had left home without money, and hearing this, the elderly lady put half a crown into her hand, and said at the same time, "Do not refuse it because my appearance is plain. I can well afford it notwithstanding, and if it is not enough, you shall have more." As well as the flutter of her spirits would permit, Amelrosa expressed

her

her acknowledgments, and the servants having procured a coach, she was placed in it and drove to her lodging. When quite recovered from her indisposition and the agitation she had undergone, she felt vexed beyond description, at not having asked the benevolent lady's address, that she might wait on her at some future period, and gratefully thank her for her goodness to a stranger, whom she had feelingly assisted; though she knew not whether she was deserving her pity, as London abounds with impostors difficult to detect ever, she resolved to the latest moment of her existence, to remember this excellent elderly lady with the warmest gratitude. Amelrosa had regularly paid her rent, but the mistress of the house discovering, from many circumstances, she was poor, began to treat her with insolence and neglect, which was an additional mortification.

how

Obscured by a damp, thick, and gloomy fog, a faint light gleamed the next morning through the windows of her confined apart

apartment, casting a sombre shadow over Amelrosa's pale emaciated countenance; and overcome with want and sorrow, she almost wished to join Minette in that tranquil abode, where the worthless can no no longer distrees the good, nor the pang of grief wound the bosom of virtue. Comfortless, desolate, and abandoned by those she loved, the big tears rolled rapidly down her pallid cheeks, as her head reclined on her hand, and she reflected she had no one being who could alleviate her misery, near her. The violence of sorrow in which she indulged, was only interrupted by the hoarse grumbling and shrill notes of the different cries, that at an early hour annoy the inhabitants of the metropolis.

Amelrosa, the child of sorrow, the victim of extreme but honorable poverty, had scarcely seen nineteen summers. Her's was the beauty that attracts the heart, for she was unconscious of her charms; her's were

the

the manners that win the soul; for sweetness, native gaiety, and sensibility beamed in her eyes, and truth and good sense flowed from her lips. "Alas," she suddenly exclaimed," can I thus calmly perish for want of the necessaries of life. No, I will shake off the timid apprehensions of my soul, and encounter, perhaps insult and derision, rather than be thus inactive. I will seek out those who in the days of my prosperity, when protected by Lady Archdale, received me with smiles of gladness, and in the chilling hour of adversity may probably relieve her adopted daughter with the kindness they always met with from her, and with the benevolence of which she ever gave them a shining example. "Oh, Providence !" she continued, folding her snowy hands, and raising her streaming eyes toheaven, "grant that my afflicted heart may meet. with some relief, and impart consolation to this wretched bosom !" Scarcely had she concluded this ejaculation, when the maid of the house, who was

unlike her mistress,

extremely civi!, brought up the newspaper, which she had not seen for many days, and glancing over it, an advertisement for a governess immediately caught her eye. Dressing herself directly, she went out and made application at the house to which she was directed, and was desired to call the next morning.

With a heart palpitating with hope, Amelrosa punctually attended at the appointed time, and would have been engaged, as the lady approved her in every respect, had she not been too young. In vain Amelrosa assured her, she had suffered misfortunes that rendered her as steady as if she were forty years of age; for she would not listen to her, and disconsolate she retired, reflecting as she walked slowly, from weakness, and pensively along, that it was not surprising that well educated young people acted improperly when reduced to distress, since if they were

young