his young wife, a delicate and interesting orphan girl, to whom he had
been long attached. His zealous spirit saw much to rectify, and many
labors to perform, in his new sphere: he entered with ardor into the
discharge of his duties, but soon he found that his frail body had been
overtasked by its imperious master the soul, and was no longer able to
do his bidding. He faded away from earth, as do so many of the best and
noblest of the race, when just ready to apply to the loftiest purposes
the faculties so carefully trained. To us, such occurrences appear to be
very mysterious dispensations of Providence: but the individual himself
has attained the true object of his being, the full development of all
his powers, and is prepared for a more elevated existence. And we may
believe, since not even a sparrow falls to the ground unheeded by our
Father, and since no waste is allowed in nature, so that even the dead
leaf ministers to new combinations of being, that the noble gifts of the
mind will not be unused after death. In other spheres, amid other
society, they will doubtless be employed for the benefit of immortal
beings. Mutual beneficence must form a large part of the business and
pleasure of heaven.

After Malcom's death, his widow and infant child came to live with old
Mr. Roscoe at Linlithgow. Happily for the young mourner, the household
cares of the manse now devolved upon her, in addition to the charge of
Margaret; and these occupations, no doubt, aided greatly in restoring
the serenity of her spirit. She had little time to brood over her
sorrows--those small solicitudes and minute attentions to the feelings
and comfort of others, which fill up so large a portion of a true
woman's time, were with her a double blessing, cheering both the giver
and receiver. She realized that it is woman's honor and happiness to be,
in an especial manner, a ministering spirit; and thus she learned to
resemble the bright hosts above, whom she hoped one day to join, and
grow in the likeness of Him who declared, "The Son of man came not into
the world to be ministered unto, but to minister." No wonder is it that
the gentle young widow, whose face ever beamed with kindness, whose hand
was ever outstretched to aid the unfortunate, was looked up to with a
love and veneration only inferior to that with which Mr. Roscoe himself
was regarded.

In such an atmosphere of affection, and under the best influences of
unaffected piety and refineme