al result. The heart
that does not move to woman's kindness, must indeed be hard. But there
were other things which strengthened Tom's affections for Maria. The
poverty of her aged father; the insults offered her by Keepum and
Snivel; the manner in which they sought her ruin while harassing her
father; the artlessness and lone condition of the pure-minded girl; and
the almost holy affection evinced for the old man on whom she doted--all
tended to bring him nearer and nearer to her, until he irresistibly
found himself at her feet, pledging that faith lovers call eternal.
Maria is not of that species of being the world calls beautiful; but
there is about her something pure, thoughtful, even noble; and this her
lone condition heightens. Love does not always bow before beauty. The
singularities of human nature are most strikingly blended in woman. She
can overcome physical defects; she can cultivate attractions most
appreciated by those who study her worth deepest. Have you not seen
those whose charms at first-sight found no place in your thoughts, but
as you were drawn nearer and nearer to them, so also did your esteem
quicken, and that esteem, almost unconsciously, you found ripening into
affection, until in turn you were seized with an ardent passion? You
have. And you have found yourself enamored of the very one against whom
you had endeavored most to restrain your generous impulses. Like the
fine lines upon a picture with a repulsive design, you trace them, and
recur to them until your admiration is carried away captive. So it is
with woman's charms. Tom Swiggs, then, the restored man, bows before the
simple goodness of the daughter of the old Antiquary.

Mr. Trueman, the shipowner, gave Tom employment, and has proved a friend
to him. Tom, in turn, has so far gained his confidence and respect that
Mr. Trueman contemplates sending him to London, on board one of his
ships. Nor has Tom forgotten to repay the old Antiquary, who gave him a
shelter when he was homeless; this home is still under the roof of the
old man, toward whose comfort he contributes weekly a portion of his
earnings. If you could but look into that little back-parlor, you would
see a picture of humble cheerfulness presented in the old man, his
daughter, and Tom Swiggs, seated round the tea-table. Let us, however,
turn and look into one of our gaudy saloons, that we may see how
different a picture is presented there.

It is the night previous to an elect