we had taken a cup of tea, 'you must put
on your hat and go with us.'
"Where ?' I asked.

"Where!' said she; 'why, home with Miss H, to be sure.'

"But,' said I, 'the shop is full of customers.'

"Never mind the customers to-day,' she answered; 'leave them to the shopman and apprentice for once; for go with us you must.'

"So there was no help for it; and I put on my hat, and walked out with them, one on each arm. We had to walk quite through the town, and everybody stared at us mightily; but not a word was said, good or bad; and we got the poor girl home, and came back in time for supper.

"There!" said my wife, when we got in, let them say what they like now. Dear creature! but she was tired out, though, with her day's work.'

"And what was the result?' we asked.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE LATE
SIR HENRY HAVELOCK.

AS MAN AND SOLDIER.

FORCED by circumstances to embrace the profession of arms, an honourable ambition led him to aspire to the highest distinction in it. By dint of severe application he obtained a complete mastery of the art of war. Nature had pre-eminently endowed him, among other military gifts, with a talent for strategy. In youth he delighted to marshal his mimic battalions, and fight the battles of Napoleon over again. This gift was improved by study. So familiar was he with the evolutions of great commanders, that whatever combination was required during the events of the day, he could at once call to mind, for his own guidance, the course they had pursued under similar circumstances. Hence he was never staggered by any difficulty, however unexpected, and was prepared for every emergency. He pos"Oh, said our friend, we never heard sessed what was considered by Napoleon any more of the matter-that is, anywhose maxims were his favourite mamore that was hurtful. For one thing, our young friend regained her good name; and as for myself, the very next morning all the chalk was rubbed clean off from the walls; and my neighbours all came in and shook hands with me, and gave me joy for having such a kind, trusting wife. The next market-day my shop was thronged with customers, and so it was the next to that, and the next; and I was obliged to get another shopman, because my business kept increasing. So you see, Sir, how it comes to pass, in one way or another, that A gracious woman retaineth honour her own and her husband's too; and that Every wise woman buildeth her house, while the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.'

THE BODY AVENGED.-By too much sitting still the body becomes unhealthy, and soon the mind. This is Nature's law. She will never see her children wronged. If the mind which rules the body ever forgets itself so far as to trample upon its slave, the slave is never generous enough to forgive the injury, but will rise and smite its

oppressor. Thus has many a monarch mind been dethroned.-Longfellow.

nual-the first qualification of a general, "a clear head." His perception was quick, and he possessed the peculiar quality of judging soundly while he thought rapidly. Amidst the din and confusion of battle, he was, if possible, more cool, collected, and imperturbable than in ordinary circumstances, and though often taciturn in society, was remarked to be chatty and cheerful under fire. The most prominent feature in his military character was his self-reliance. He courteously accepted the advice and suggestions of others, though his inferiors, but he never doubted for a moment the soundness of his own decision, and he was thus enabled always to act with vigour and promptitude.

He was, in Carlyle's phrase, an "earnest man," and he possessed, in a singular degree, the power of communicating his own earnestness to others. His enthusiasm infected all those under him, and there was no danger his men would not encounter when animated by the clear tones of his voice or a glance of his eagle eye. Every man felt that he was acting under the eye of a master spirit, whose appro

Havelock was a man of thought as well as action. He was well read in English literature, and more particularly in history. His English style was pure and classical, and his dispatches were models of military composition. To his knowledge of the ancient classics, which he continued to cultivate through life, he added a fair acquaintance with French and Italian, acquired by study, and improved during his continental tour. He possessed a most Regarding the higher and more im-retentive memory, great powers of reasonportant quality of moral courage, however, ing, a ready wit, and a natural aptitude

for criticism, His taste in youth was for poetry and the drama; as he advanced in years his partiality for literature was in a great measure confined to military history, which had the same charm for him in the last days of his life as it had in his boyhood. All his habits were regular and active. From the period of entering the army he was habitually an early riser, and he acquired to a remarkable degree the power of waking at a predetermined moment, and of taking sleep at any time by snatches. He was not only temperate, but abstemious, perhaps, beyond the bounds of prudence. His figure was slender, but well knit, erect, and graceful. His height five feet six inches. His countenance was an index of his mind. His features were regular, the forehead high and broad, the nose aquiline, the chin well developed, and the eyes of piercing intensity. His voice was clear and powerful, and audible to a great distance, no small qualification in a general. He was a devoted husband, an affectionate father, and a constant friend.

HIS RELIGION.

HOW THE GREEN BRANCH
WITHERED..

ROBIN MAY, when I first knew him, was as industrious a fellow as you would wish to see, working at his trade of shoemaking with that sort of spirit which seems to grow brighter and brisker the more it is occupied. He had gone creditably through his apprenticeship on the whole, seldom giving cause for a complaint, except now and then, when his master said a little angrily that Robin was too apt at times to forget how many minutes went to the dinner-hour. However, the apprenticeship came to an end, and Robin became a journeyman, and being a quick pains-taking hand, he had a run of the best work, and he took a pride in turning it off the last in the first style of finish, and as a consequence he got first-rate wages. Some of his shopmates would grumble occasionally at this, fancying themselves unfairly treated by their master; but it is as natural for the best work to get into the best hands, as it is for the sun to shine brightest where there are fewest clouds, whatever the grumblers may do or say to the contrary. If at this time Robin had a fault, it was self-conceit; he thought more highly of himself than a man ought to think, from which we may guess that he wanted balance. Judgment is to a man's mind what the " governor" is to a steam. engine! and Robin, with all his cleverness, would have been the better for a little more of the "governor" in his constitution. Besides, he could, as is said,

Havelock's religion underlay his whole character, of which it formed the stamina. For thirty-five years of his life religion was the ruling principle which pervaded his mind and regulated all his conduct. It was this which enabled him to overcome the innate defects of his character, and to become distinguished for qualities which nature had denied him. In all circumstances he was the bold and unflinching champion of Christian truth, though he never obtruded his religious views on others. The strength of his Christian character, aided by his high mental endowments and his great consistency of conduct, insured him the respect and esteem of those who slighted his religious feelings. His invariable Still, with all this, Robin worked hard, dependence on Divine aid enabled him and saved money, and after a few years of to exhibit the greatest serenity and vigour journey-work, he took advantage of a in the midst of difficulties. It was his con- favourable opportunity of going into busistant aim to adorn his religious profession, ness on his own account; and such was his and to demonstrate that spiritual-minded-reputation for neatness of fit and excelness was not incompatible with the en- lence of workmanship, that he soon gained ergetic pursuit of a secular calling-that a connexion, gave satisfaction to his cus"a saint could be a soldier." tomers, and became a thriving tradesman.

sing a good song," and was very fond of hearing himself praised for his vocal efforts, so that had it not been that he now and then got a snubbing from his fellow-workmen, Robin's conceit would altogether have run away with him.

This success, as may be supposed, gladdened Robin's heart, and visions of distinction began to float across his imagination, he felt sure he should rise in the world. Some day, perhaps, he might be churchwarden, or common-councilman, or mayor-who could tell! These offices are legitimate objects of ambition, and why should not Robin rise into them as well as another, especially as he attended to the main chance, and was seldom away from his cutting-board at the counter. The hare escapes while the sportsman winks; and a business runs away if the master's eye is not pretty constantly upon it.

Robin's master had been a teetotaler, from which cause it happened that although Robin liked a glass of ale now and then, he was in the main a waterdrinker, which was all in his favour, for his business grew like a green branch, and while it was watered with water only, it continued to flourish and put forth green leaves in abundance. But as time went on, and Robin's savings increased, and his account at the bank grew larger and larger, the clever shoemaker began to think that he need not stick to work quite so closely.

A man, however, must do something; it is only disgracefully lazy people who can bear to live in perfect inaction, and as Robin had lived long enough in the town to form acquaintances, he would go Occasionally and call on a neighbour; and sometimes his wife went with him, and sometimes the neighbour came to their house, and a very snug and sociable party they were. Robin had not forgotten how to sing, and so much pleasure did he give by his music, that his neighbour said more than once, "How I should like to hear you sing that song at our club."

Robin's love of praise had not diminished as he grew older, and he had not much difficulty in persuading himself that he had a right to indulge himself a little, now that pounds were more plentiful with him than pence used to be formerly. So he went to the club, which was called the "Convivial Club," and met every Wednesday evening. His

neighbour introduced him, and all the company seemed so cordial, and made so much of him after he had sung a song, and were so loud in their applause, that Robin felt himself quite at ease, and thought it was something to be looked up to at a club.

Having gone once to the club, it was not difficult to go again. "Business is good," said Robin to himself, "and I can afford it."

For a little while the green branch seemed to flourish more than ever under the stimulus of the strong fluid with which Robin now watered it. But, as gardeners know well, it is no use trying to go against nature; and if plants and vegetables cannot have proper nourishment, they die. They must have the right thing, or none at all.

However, after the first burst, the green branch began to show symptoms of being out of order; something was not right; either a blight had fallen on it, or a worm had got to its heart. Some of the leaves turned yellow, a few became black, and those that remained green had a sort of doubtful look, as though their turn would soon come. After watering it for a time with gin, Robin tried rum and brandy, for from singing at the club he got to sing at election meetings, and instead of some thirty or forty there were four or five hundred to clap their hands, and cry, "a capital song!" Still the branch did not recover its greenness. but withered visibly in the sight of all beholders.

Some things, it is said, die very hard; and so it was with Robin May's green branch; even after all the leaves fell off, the bare wood struggled to push forth new ones, and although a few sickly buds made their appearance, they never came to anything, and at last the branch died outright, and seemed to have been scorched by a thunderbolt.

Many years afterwards, when Robin was a lone, tottering, trembling pauper in the workhouse, he might at times be heard murmuring to himself, "It wanted only water, and I killed it with strong liquor!"