way, I returned to England--
sent for, to be present at the death of my father.

"I was now sole heir to his property, which was by no means
inconsiderable for a man of his class. I soon reduced it in bulk. I
must needs live in London, where I could enjoy the company of many of my
old school and college companions. I was welcome amongst them while my
purse held out--for many of them were needy men--lawyers without briefs,
and officers with nothing to live upon but their pay. Of course, such
men are fond of play. They have nothing to lose, and all to win; and it
was but a short year or two, until they had won from me the best part of
my patrimonial property. I was on the eve of becoming a bankrupt. But
one thing saved me--_she_ saved me!"

Here our host pointed to his wife, who sat surrounded by her family at
one side of the great fireplace. The lady held down her eyes and
smiled; while the children, who had been listening attentively, all
turned towards her with looks of interest.

"Yes," continued he, "Mary saved me. We had been playmates together in
earlier life; and at this time we again met. We felt an affection for
each other. It ended in our getting married.

"Fortunately, my dissipated life had not destroyed, as it often does
with men, all my virtuous principles. Many of these, that had been
early instilled into my mind by the teachings of a good mother, still
remained fixed and true.

"As soon as we were married, I resolved to change altogether my mode of
life. But this is not so easily done as men imagine. Once you are
surrounded by associates, such as mine were--once you are plunged into
debts and obligations--it requires both courage and virtuous
determination to meet and discharge them. It requires a terrible effort
to free one's self from evil companions, whose interest it is, that you
should still remain as profligate as themselves. But I was resolved;
and, thanks to the counsels of my Mary, I succeeded in carrying out my
resolve.

"To pay my debts, I was compelled to sell the property left me by my
father. This done, and every bill discharged, I found myself worth only
five hundred pounds.

"My little wife, there, had brought me the sum of twenty-five hundred;
and this still left us three thousand pounds with which to begin the
world. Three thousand pounds is not much to live upon in England--that
is, among the class of people with whom I had hitherto associated; and
after spen