st is gained, and He receives it, who said of the
loving woman, "She hath done what she could."

CHAPTER VII.

A WEDDING IN THE FAMILY.

"Deal gently with her; thou art dear
Beyond what vestal lips have told,
And, like a lamb from fountains clear,
She turns confiding to thy fold.
She, round thy sweet domestic bower,
The wreath of changeless love shall twine,
Watch for thy step at vesper hour,
And blend her holiest prayer with thine.

"Deal gently thou, when far away
'Mid stranger scenes her foot shall rove,
Nor let thy tender care decay--
The soul of woman lives in love.
And shouldst thou, wondering, mark a tear
Unconscious from her eyelids break,
Be pitiful, and soothe the fear
That man's strong heart may ne'er partake."--Mrs. Sigourney.

The members of the Darling family began to perceive that they had a
sister of whom they might justly be proud. She had endeared herself to
them all by many tender ministrations of love; and whenever they
thought of home, they thought of Grace also. And when they were away
from home, pursuing their different avocations on the mainland, it
occurred to them that it would give Grace pleasure, and show their
appreciation of her kindness, if they sent her an occasional present.
Nor was there any need to hold a consultation as to what form the gift
should take.

"Nothing will please Grace so much as a book," one and all would have
said, had their opinion been asked.

Grace's fondness for reading was indeed well known, as also her
preference for poetry. But hitherto she had been obliged to content
herself with the ballads of Bamborough and the surrounding
neighbourhood. Now, however, her brothers sent her such books as she
could revel in--namely, the poetic works of Goldsmith, Cowper, Milton,
and Shakespeare. She especially enjoyed her favourite author,
Goldsmith, and passed many a pleasant hour in the lonely
lighthouse-tower, reading the "Traveller" and the "Deserted Village."

But in the midst of her reading-delights, there occurred the first
wedding in the family.

"Grace, will you be my bridesmaid!" was the request which Mary Ann sent
to her sister, and of course it was one that could not be resisted.
Was there ever a girl who did not feel delighted to attend a wedding?
And the bridesmaids sometimes have the best of it; for it is not to
them so solemn an occasion as it is to the bride. They are not
entering up