home was lost.

But

with the little family. He offered to fore- | week, to tide him over the hard time, go the claim of rent altogether, if the de- barely enough to keep bodies and souls ceased's heir gave up the back letter, paid of them together. No doubt the allowhim 1 5s. by way of interest, and evacu- ance would have been continued. ated the cottage at the following Whit-poor Ned sickened at the hearth where was Sunday. Poor helpless things, they ac- no fire, while mother, and wife, and bairn cepted his terms for they clung to the poor sought now and again the warmth of a sticks of furniture eagerly now that their neighbour's ingle. I dare say he was hungry too, as well as down-hearted in his idleness, as down-hearted he must be at sight of the pale faces of his wife and child. Perhaps he despaired of ever seeing those pale faces rosy and joyous through his labour. Who knows the spirit of a man, what he can bear, what do? But ere the second week was ended, Ned went forth and returned not. It was cowardly thus to flee.

Ned laboured on for a month, steadily sticking to his trade, but that time was enough to show him that his toil would not suffice to feed those who now depended on him solely. What were his six shillings a week? Indeed, one shilling each week was paid towards the debt entailed by his father's funeral, and with the tiny balance there were three mouths to fill, besides the halfpence for baby's milk. Well-nigh in despair, he stated his case to his master, the blacksmith, setting forth the urgency for his betaking himself to ordinary labour, so that his weekly wage might be enlarged. The man saw the case was urgent, and let him go; and almost joyously Ned found himself in the field digging drains, joyous for that he earned eighteenpence a day. The wage would expand, you know, with the lengthening Her mother was sitting with her grandchild on her knee. "Weel," she answered,

day.

When his disappearance was noted and published about, so also was the unhappy fact that the cottage was the merchant's past redemption. It was even said that Ned had got a sum by way of reversion on surrendering the back letter, and fled therewith.

Then the daughter once more stood in the cottage. "Ned haes gane frae ye," she said.

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Ye maun come wi' me. I hae store! Ye're ma mither, an' hae nane but me."

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Ay, dochter; there's this puir wean an' its mither. I winna quit them, though I stairy' wi' them."

'Cum' wi' me, mither! I hae routh for twa. I dinna ken them at a'. Cum' wi' me!"

To the lone, silent woman in the back"it mak's nae muckle differ tae us i' the street the father's death was a cruel foord o' pourtith. We were a' stairvin' wound. She had so wrought out her when he gaed oot." scheme for aiding that father when his extremity should draw near, had so pictured the joy of the redemption of the cottage, and forecast so largely her own restoration to it, a prodigal truly, but stealing back to the old father to show him that even in her farthest wanderings he and home were not forgotten. Oh, it was cruel that all this pleasure, that all this hope was van- While she spoke, the little child had ished, buried with him who was the centre slipped from the old woman's knee, and of her visions! It quite crushed her. She came toddling to the tattered skirt of its went for days withont lighting her fire or aunt, and the instinct of the woman within cooking food. It was probably the routine her, long congealed and frozen, suddenly of labour that forced her out at early thawed away at the touch and voice morning, and detained her late of even- of the child. She took it up, and peered ings; that occupied her muscles, and into its face; and a great sickness and stayed the strain upon brain and nerves; yearning came over her desolated heart, this routine it probably was that saved her tottering reason. Souls only who have panted for forgiveness, staked all the joy of life upon the hope of being forgiven, can gauge the woe of her whose hope was dead.

like, I dare say, to the tingling pain that comes to limbs benumbed on the return of warmth. She was thinking of another baby face. In her sickness she sat down on a stool at the fireside, where was no fire; on the little stool that, in other days, had been “ 'her own stool," and still she held the child.

In early February the silent snow came down over the fields, and labour was stopped. Of course there was no work And now she would have them all to her and no pay for the luckless Ned. Yet for little cabin. Ye beit tae leave this whatthe first fortnight of this weather his em- ever, and I hae meal and milk; leastwise, ployer gave him three stones of meal a' a little portion; an' wages forbye. I can

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keep ye a' through spring. Perhaps the wean's mither can help a bit."

She was a strange protectress this for a helpless household. Her dress, bemired and tattered, scarce hung about her body. Her hair was unkempt, and her face unclean, and the hands that proffered aid were horny and coarse. Their alternative was the harder, coarser charity of the poor's roll; and the child and its grandmother would go to sup with her when at night she came home from her labour.

They found her in her room, unswept and uncheered, save by the blazing peat fire, at which she was making porridge for them. She gave them few words of welcome, for speech had mostly gone from her. But her face and eyes spoke out the welcome that the voice gave not; told of pleasure restored to her whose life had been all coarse pain only, and blunted regret, so long that the face could not fashion itself to smiles. It was clear that she had eaten to live and no more; for her allowances of meal had accumulated into quite a store, in sacks and old barrels, and in an old wash-tub. Musty and damp in its ill-keeping it must be, yet was it well to see it thus laid up. She showed her money to mother also- full sixteen pounds; and the meal and the money were all for the mother, if only she would come to her.

owed wife gave birth to a baby boy and died. People said she was "brokenhearted;" but for that, I think, so were they all. The survivors took up the infant tenderly, and nursed it with milk from the worker's pitcher, and it grew up a winsome child. But just when it had learned to name its "grannie," in the February, which was two years and three months after the pensioner went to his rest, his widow also died. It was matter of wonder how constantly and long poor Jean bewailed her, but I think I know why her grief was so persistent. When in her evil days, in her lonely sorrow, she had sorrowed most, even then she felt not utterly alone, for " up by" dwelt father, and mother, and brother. What although they had cast her from them? Still they were there, filling some gap in her poor heart, giving her some holdfast and hope in life. Then when her mother came to her the blankness in which she so long had labored was changed into a true sense of living, with some little pleasure in it, I am sure, although it was only the pleasure of stinting herself for the mother's sake. Now father and mother were with the dead. The brother was not; and she, poor woman, stood alone on the earth, feeling her isolation bitterly.

long years. They are the well-spring of life's gladness to her, she a loving mother, and more than mother, to them, specially watchful and tender of the young girl on her knee, who now is saying her evening prayer. Thus she sits in her cottage door

It was well that the two little children They all came from the old home where stood between her and a life blank and famine pined, to the warm and full bothy objectless. Rough woman as she was, she of the daughter, and they brought all the was very tender of them. At first it was old furniture with them. They swept up perplexing how to deal with them, as she her floor, and brightened her poor home must go forth to her labour daily. But when they came; and slowly the dead feel- right ready are the poor to help such as ings of life awoke within "Queer Jean "they; and the widow next door cared for again in the companionship which sore "the bairns" while Jean was absent. And calamity had won for her thus, albeit her now she has toiled and fed them for seven companions were still green in sorrow and full of tears. And Jean would clothe her mother with a black wincey gown and a widow's cap, which poor symbols of grief had hitherto been beyond her reach. The mother would not have them unless Jean got a gown for herself. There was some in the evening sun, with the children debate about it, but at length they were both attired as was fitting. And after that they were found together again in the old church pew; and I am sure that joy was mingled greatly with sadness, perhaps I should say that their sadness was sprinkled with joy, for sad was the fact that they two poor women alone remained of the old pensioner's family group.

twain, feeling, dimly and indistinctly no doubt, still feeling somewhat of the pleasantness that God sheds into the humblest hearts that serve Him. Somehow I feel assured that Ned, father of these little ones, will come back, quieted of disposition and prosperous, and that Jean's toil and struggles shall have an ample reward.

Is there "poetry" in this poor story, I do not know that poor Jean could for think you? Nay, believe me, it tells of long have borne the burden thus adopted, every-day sins, of every-day sorrows, and but the same friend, that had aforetime of every-day goodness only. A thousand succoured her, again came unlooked-for to hearts in our land are bleeding and breaklessen her load. In early May Ned's wid-'ing now for evil thoughtlessly enacted.

Ten thousand poor hearts are beating | Roumania, seemed to promise the complete with humble, but most lovable devotion, confirmation of these views. nerving rough hands for unwearying toil, that little ones like these may not lack food. Sin, sorrow, and self-sacrifice go largely to make up the sum of lowly humble life. At least, let it have your sympathy, and safely you may give sympathy here. Not one of our villagers doubts it that to " Queer Jean" the King will hereafter give to eat of the hidden manna of his great love; will give her, also, the white stone of his perfect grace, and in the stone a new name written which no man knoweth.

From The Examiner.

THE ROUMANIAN DIFFICULTY.

But the allied Powers committed two oversights. They calculated on the national feeling of Roumania being intense enough to bar even the mighty advance of Russia, and forgot that a national feeling so intense could hardly rest satisfied with the artificial arrangements by which more than a million of Roumanians continued to be dissevered from their independent countrymen as the subjects of Austro-Hungary. The whole of Roumania might have been within Austro-Hungary, or Turkey, as the case might be. Or the whole of Roumania might have been outside either of these States. But a compact national unity naturally objected to being neither the one thing nor the other. A perpetual effervescence was the bequest of the Treaty of Paris, as the consequence of maintaining the partition of Roumania. The other WHEN, fifteen years ago, at the Peace error of the allies consisted in a similar of Paris, the victorious allies made it a half-measure. They were pleased to allow condition that the Principalities of Wal- the Roumanians to elect their ruler, forlachia and Moldavia, forming the present sooth. It was with the qualification, howRoumania, should be relieved from the ever, that they should elect a ruler. That onerous protectorate of St. Petersburg, they should simply rule themselves, that they felt that they were carrying out a they should simply dispense with kingling policy eminently calculated to further the or princelet, if they found such a course objects contemplated by the war. The convenient, was an unorthodox supposition rapprochement between the vast Sclave anathematized by the monarchisms, constiEmpire and the Sclave populations of tutional and unconstitutional, of the Paris Turkey had been a cause of the liveliest Conference. How should the Roumanians apprehensions to the politicians of the be without a Hospodar, a Domnu, when West. It was natural that they should so many unoccupied young gentlemen of look with pleasure to the creation of a State, not insignificant in its proportions, with nothing of the Sclave in its composition, and which, stretching southwards from the Carpathian ranges along the shores of the Danube, would be a firmly inserted wedge between the kindred races whose formidable fusion was so devoutly to be deprecated. The Roumanians were the descendants of the Italian legionaries of Trajan. Their fathers had been planted on that soil to guard the frontiers of civilization against the ancient Sarmatæ. They still spoke a corrupted dialect of the old Italian as their mother tongue. They still prided themselves on their Roman lineage. Could they but succeed in consolidating themselves into a political community behind which the Bosnian, the Servian, and the Bulgarian might have time to develop independent instincts and interests, one When, in the February of 1866, the pressing danger of Pansclavism would run popular indignation drove the ex-Colonel a fair chance of being altogether averted. Couza, the Prince Alexander John I., as The Sultan's firman of November 12, 1861, he had been styled, from the Roumanian definitely legalizing the union of the Prin-throne, the natural solution of the difficulty cipalities under the national appellation of lay on the surface. Not even a candidate

the best European families were to be found loafing about every palace-corner of the Old World? There is this beatitude about the monarchical theory. It is only necessary to select some confirmed idler, to feed him well, to give him fine clothes to wear, to see that he has money whoever goes without, to burn gunpowder in his honour, to bow down before him as Israel bowed down before the golden calves their hands had made, and behold! we have a state of things which not the severe majesty of the commonwealth, not the ordered prosperity of equal citizens marshalling their own affairs, can ever hope, however distantly, to emulate. Thanks to the great Powers, Roumania has had her golden calves, and the result has been everything that might have been anticipated.

for the vacant royalty existed in the coun- cy, were alike on the side of prudence and try. John Ghika himself felt that neither compromise. And when Lascar Catargiu, he nor any other scion of Roumanian aris- Nicolas Golesco, and Colonel Haralambi tocracy had a chance. The Roumanian handed over the principality to the hopepeople only required to be left to mind ful ex-lieutenant of Prussian dragoons, the their own business and fulfil their own transaction excited less dissatisfaction than wishes. Unless some foreigner, some at one period seemed likely. Maximilian of Mexico, was to be imposed upon them by external influence, there was no fear of any pretender arising to resuscitate a form of government which had been tried and found wanting. Of course the external influence came into play. Even when the great Powers are so good as to recognize a revolution, they feel aggrieved unless some sort of hereditary person is tacked on to it.

For a time Prince Karl was able to keep up appearances. He might any day be asked to keep Austria busy on her southeastern frontier. And advanced Roumanians were delighted at the importation of Prussian military men, Prussian weapons, and Prussian organization, all which were to be employed, it was known, in conquering for Roumania her natural position. Suddenly the long-prepared war In the February of 1866 there was a of 1866 broke out. The disorganized and good deal of Macchiavellianism Mac- undermined Austrian Empire collapsed in chiavellianism of which we have since seen a week. There was no further need of the outcome - at work in Europe. Herr Roumania, except as an outpost or outvon Bismarck was engaged in persuading work which Prussia might again find usethe Emperor Napoleon what an excellent ful upon occasion, and which, pending the speculation it would be for France to let occasion, had better be kept in Prussian Prussia conquer Austria. The Roumanian hands. vacancy turned up in the very nick of time. The resentment of the Roumanians on account of the million or so of their brethren whom Austria retained, and meant to keep, was quite capable of utilization. And though Herr von Bismarck had secured the Italians, and tampered with the Magyars, he still felt that he could not be too safe. Prussia was playing for a big stake. And when the final blow should be struck, outwitted, out-manoeuvred Austria was to find a latent enemy ready to burst upon her, at every quarter where an open enemy was not already arrayed. Roumania was another opportunity. What could be nicer or better than that the Roumanian forces should be directed by a creature of France, or, what was just the same, by a creature of Prussia, since, as the Emperor Napoleon had learned from his dear Von Bis-sary to state that Prince Karl found himmarck, the interests of Prussia and France were identical? We have not often, in these latter days, seen such diplomacy as Herr von Bismarck's.

The Roumanian leaders had nothing for it but to register the choice of France and Prussia, particularly as the other great Powers also were brought to look without disfavour on the candidature of Prince Karl von Hohenzollern. The adroit hint that the national aspirations of all good Roumanians would not be found to suffer from deserving the friendship of Prussia, was not without a mollifying effect. John Ghika, the representative of the traditions of lineage, and John Bratiano, the able and powerful chief of the Roumanian democra

It is not easy to describe the feelings with which Roumanian Liberals came to understand how completely they had been made cat's-paws of. They found themselves also plunged in pecuniary embarrassments. Under the influence of the hopes with which they had been deluded, they had consented to an expendture colossal in proportion to the development of the country, had incurred heavy railway debts, not so much for commercial as for strategic purposes, and were credited with responsibilities still greater than they had knowingly incurred. They had, in fact, been fooled into very nearly ruining themselves in the interests of the country of their prince; and, now that they were no longer wanted, they had their labour for their pains. It is unneces

self the reverse of popular. Accomplices and principals are not easily dissociated. More than this. When Prussia again went to war, this time against France, and when Roumania might again have been useful in preparing a little diversion for Aus: ria, the tide of feeling in Roumania pronounced itself unreservedly on the side of France. Under these circumstances, an extraord'nary tentative on the part of Prince Karl opened up the gravest consequences. By the existing Constitution of Roumania, established by a Constituent Assembly, elected by universal suffrage in the summer succeeding Prince Karl's acceptance of the throne, the legislative power is vested in a Senate and Chamber of Depu

Ghika, Jonesco, have published an address urging upon their followers th absolute necessity of the firmest union in face of the danger which threatens to engulf the liberties of Roumania.

ties, chosen by all Roumanian citizens, aged twenty-five years, who can read and write. To the Prince a suspensive veto is allowed. It was clear that, with such a Constitution, the adventurous Hohenzollern could not make Prussians of his sub- What is to be the end? Will Roumania jects against their will. At the same be remodelled to suit the policy of the time, it might be taken for granted that, Hohenzollerns? Will, as one report has now at least, they would hardly be Prus- it, the more liberal Wallachia be separated sianized by peaceable means. What alter- again from the Moldavian territory? native was left to an obedient disciple of Russia has just obtained the disappearance the policy of Berlin than to plan the sub- of one clause of the Treaty of Paris. Her version of the disagreeably liberal Rou- astute diplomatists will see with pleasure manian Constitution? In a letter to a the splintering of that alien nationality German friend, published in the Allgemeine which was to have been a wall of adamant Zeitung, the ingenuous Prince Karl poured against the torrent of Pansclavism. Will forth his solicitude for an unhappy people, Turkey step in to restore peace by the cursed with a form of government so dem- summary process of terminating Roumaocratic as to allow them to control the nian independence? The powerful party actions of the Executive, and, tenderly re- who cherish the traditions of the late Fuad calling the memories of that Fatherland Pasha would counsel intervention of this where the Junker and the Drill Sergeant kind. It might make little difference to reign supreme, announced his conviction Roumania whether her freedom was prosthat in "a revision of the Constitution" trate beneath the heel of a Turk or a rested the only hope of Roumania.

The Prince had shown his hand. The Liberal party, were at once in arms. Bratiano, Rosetti, Blaremberg marshalled the democratic ranks. The storm rose so high that the intriguing Prince was compelled for the time to bow before it. An apologetic explanation, tendered by the head of the Ministry, John Ghika, assured the incensed deputies that the letter was a mere passing fully and meant nothing more

serious.

How

Junker. But, if we are to judge by the tone of the press of Belgrade, the sword of Servia will leave the scabbard long ere the banner of the Crescent shall have won the towers of Bucharest; and it is proba ble that for many reasons the attitude of the decrepit empire of the Moslem will continue to be Would Like, but Dare Not. In any case, the situation is full of danger to the peace of Europe. The East is a powder magazine where a spark is sufficient to cause a universal explosion. The letter was no passing folly. On the much might have been avoided if, instead 22nd of last month, the German residents of this mania for establishing dynasties, at Bucharest took occasion to display their the broad principle of the Republic were ostentatious satisfaction at the conclusion generally admitted! It will be lamentaof the most inhuman peace our century ble if, as the intrusion of one Hohenzollern has known. As at Zurich, the populace provoked the terrible war which has just was provoked to riotous proceedings. Prince Karl took advantage of the incident to dismiss his Ministers, suspected of little love for the Hohenzollern designs; to summon to his aid the chosen troops, the National Guards being rendered harmless by the seizure of their ammunition; to nominate a reactionary Cabinet; to dissolve the Chambers whose Liberal majority could not but be fatal to his coup d'état, and to announce a revision of the Constitution. To make that revision more feasible, the thirty-one prefectures of the principality have been filled with trusty men, boyars and others, to whom, as to the prefects of M. Rouher, the manipulation of elections may be trusted with confidence. On the other hand, the leaders of the national opposition of all parties and shades, Cogalnitscheano, Bratiano,

been suspended, so the intrusion of another is destined to produce consequences still more disastrous, more lasting, and more extensive.

From The Spectator.

FEDERALISM AND FRANCE.

ONE of the few points which become clearer and clearer, as this otherwise confused and confusing Revolution in Paris drags its slow length along, is that Proudhon's idea of federation as the secret of the only practicable mode of popular government in France has struck deep root into the minds of the Republicans, and will have to be very gravely considered indeed by French statesmen, whether they