dwelling of her maternal aunt, where she was trained up in all the lovely ways of a Christian family. Her uncle, in consequence of the delicate state of his health, had been ordered by his medical advisers, to remove to a warmer climate; and during their absence from England, Annie was consigned to the care of Mr. and Mrs. Egerton. She was a generous, warm-hearted girl; very affectionate in her disposition; and now that she was suddenly placed among comparative strangers, her heart seemed to cling more fondly than ever, to those whom she loved. Her young cousins were kind and agreeable, but she had not long known them; and then they always seemed so amused with her "old-fashioned" and "romantic" ideas of love and attachment, that Annie felt repulsed in her endeavors to win their affection. Louisa was jealous, and easily offended: always fancying that she was slighted and neglected; while Harriet was changeable in her tastes, and disposed to like new friends better than old friends; and both these dispositions are unfavorable to true friendship.

Soon after the preceding conversation, Annie and her cousins unexpectedly met Miss Graham during a morning call; Louisa looked very distant and reserved, for she was determined to show that she was displeased; and Miss Graham, chilled by the ceremoniousness of her friend, became equally constrained. Annie felt sorry, for she was pleased with Miss Graham's appearance, and she was almost certain that Louisa must be mistaken in the opinion which she had formed respecting her. She was therefore glad when she heard Harriet in her usual frank, straight-forward manner, allude to the late occurrence, and ask for an explanation. Mary Graham seemed quite as hurt and surprised at the accusation, as even Annie could have desired, and her assurances that she had not seen Miss Egerton, were perfectly satisfactory. Louisa felt convinced that the cause of complaint had existed only in her own imagination; and she felt half-sorry that she had attributed such unworthy motives to her friend; but instead of blaming herself for her want of faith and confidence, she was gratified with the idea that the mistake had originated through the exquisite sensitiveness of her own feelings.

Annie made no allusion to Miss Graham, when she was alone with her cousins. Some young ladies would gladly have embraced the opportunity of making such remarks as-" You see I

was right. I was sure you would find my opinion correct, although you were so positive about your own;" but Annie was of too generous a disposition to exult over her cousin's mistake or perhaps we ought rather to say, that her lovely and forbearing conduct was the result of christian principle.

A few weeks rolled away, and Louisa and Harriet met with a new acquaintance, who appeared likely to eclipse Miss Graham, and every one else. Her name was Bennett; she was the eldest daughter of a wealthy family, and was considered a very elegant and accomplished girl. She honored the Miss Egertons with special attention at the small party where they were first introduced to each other; and as they were equally disposed to be agreeable, their acquaintance soon ripened into intimacy, and their intimacy into friendship. Miss Bennett was rich and fashionable, and these acquaintances are often more attractive to young persons, than moral and intellectual endowments. It is doubtful whether the praises which Harriet and Louisa lavished upon Miss Bennett, would have been hers, if she had moved in an humbler sphere of society,

One morning, as Miss Bennett was comfortably seated in the drawing-room of her new friends, and consulting them about the choice of a gay and expensive dress, a servant came to tell them that Miss Graham had called to inquire if the young ladies would like to accompany her for a country walk. The request could not have been made at a more inappropriate moment, for although Miss Bennett was not likely to stay much longer, they had some hopes that she would invite them when she left, to take a drive with her in the carriage. It was impossible that they could go with Miss Graham, and almost as impossible that she could be asked up stairs, for her style of dress was so old-fashioned, and her manners so unpolished, that they should feel quite ashamed of her by the side of Miss Bennett. Thoughts like these passed rapidly through the minds of the sisters, and the servant was commissioned to inform Miss Graham that they were particularly engaged. Louisa, who was really a kindhearted girl, if she had not been so dazzled by the glitter of rank and fashion, felt inclined to convey the message herself to Mary Graham, but while she was hesitating, Harriet, with her accustomed promptitude, had issued the message.

Annie followed the servant down stairs with the intention of putting the most favorable construction on her cousin's refusal, and also to offer herself as their substitute in the contemplated excursion. Her proposal was gratefully accepted by Mary Graham, who fully appreciated the kind thoughtfulness which suggested it. Their walk was a very pleasant one, for it lay in the midst of the most delightful scenery, and as both the young ladies were enthusiastic admirers of the beauties of nature, they quickly found a subject for conversation, and their frank interchange of sentiment was agreeable and profitable.

Annie's cousins were not pleased at her intercourse with Miss Graham, and they looked rather cross when she returned. "I dare say they were talking about us all the time," said Louisa to her sister, when they were alone, "and Mary Graham would be sure to unfold her long list of grievances to Annie, and try to prejudice her against us." Poor Louisa! She was always making herself vexed and uncomfortable by her unfair suspicions.

"I wonder Katherine does not write to me," exclaimed Annie, the next morning, as she turned away rather sadly from the servant who brought in the letters, her eager inquiry being met with the chilling reply, "There is none for you, Miss." "Oh, Annie," said Harriet, looking up hastily, "I found yesterday that Miss Bennett knows your friend Katherine, and if what she says about her is true, you need not be surprised at her long silence.

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"Why not," replied Annie, with heightened color. seems to have half-forgotten you already," answered her cousin, carelessly, "for Miss Bennett was in company with her one evening lately, and the young lady who sat next to Katherine was talking to her about you, and she asked Katherine if she were acquainted with you, and Katherine replied, “Yes, a little, but we are not intimate."

"It is not true," said Annie, calmly, "I am certain that Katherine never said that. Miss Bennett must have mistaken another name for mine."

"But Katherine has never answered your last letter," replied Harriet, "which is a proof that her friendship is not quite so ardent as it used to be."

"Oh no," said Annie, earnestly, "I cannot believe that. It

is strange, I allow, that she does not write to me; especially as I have lately sent a few lines, inquiring the reason of her silence; but then I feel satisfied that she will be able to explain the difficulty, and, till then, I can place the most entire confidence in her."

Well," replied Louisa smiling, "I must confess that you are far more patient and forgiving than I should be. But Miss Bennett also told us that Katherine was on very intimate terms with a noble family who had recently come to reside at the Hall, and that its junior members, consisting of a gay daughter and a dashing son, were her almost inseparable companions. If this be the case, you cannot be surprised at her forgetfulness of you." 'Forget !" exclaimed Annie, indignantly, " I did not say that she had forgotten me; and I will not believe these reports until I have heard what she has to say respecting them."

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It must be confessed that Annie waited rather impatiently the next day for the postman; and that, when she found there was no letter from Katherine, she looked unusually disappointed. Still her confidence remained unwavering; although it was subsequently sadly put to the test, by a friend of the Egertons who, in passing through the village where Annie's former home was situated, casually heard that Katherine was gone to a fashionable watering-place with Lady Churchill's daughter. This was the extent of the information, which Annie was able to elicit, and she resolved to write again to Katherine, and ascertain the truth.

"I should be too much offended to make any further enquiry," said Louisa, when she heard of her cousin's intention, " your three last letters yet remain unanswered."

"Katherine is my friend," replied Annie, simply, " and I cannot help trusting her. Should I not expect the same confidence in return?"

The long-expected epistle from Katherine arrived soon after the receipt of Annie's last communication, and its welcome contents speedily dispelled every anxiety.

The family at the Hall proved to be very distant relatives of Katherine's parents, who were travelling from place to place with the vain hope of restoring the health of an only daughter. Miss Churchill was in a rapid decline, and it was at her urgent request that Katherine was so frequently with her; for she found, in the hour of sickness, the importance of that piety which was so beau

tifully exemplified in the conduct of her young friend. It was Katherine's blessed employment to impart the sweet words of truth and consolation to the wearied mind of the sufferer, and her time was thus so fully engaged that she had been unable to devote more than a few hurried moments to the claims of her correspondents. She had written once to Annie, but it appeared that the letter having been left for her father to address, there had been some mistake made in the direction, and, consequently,it had never arrived at its destination. Katherine had accompanied her young friend to the sea-side for change of air, but her absence from home was not likely to be protracted, as the invalid was fast sinking into an early grave. How cheering was the recollection that there was a mansion preparing for her in her Father's house above!

The remark which Miss Bennett had heard respecting Annie referred to another young lady who bore the same christian name, and as Annie was then quite a stranger to her, the mistake was very natural.

"You are satisfied now that I acted rightly?" said Annie, with a beaming countenance, as she looked up to her cousins, after she had finished reading Katherine's letter to them.

Louisa and Harriet were satisfied, and they expressed their cordial sympathy with the pleasant feelings that Annie experienced.

"Well, I suppose, there are some true friends in the world," said Louisa, affectionately, although I have often felt half-inclined to doubt it. But I must take a lesson out of your book, Annie, and try to cherish a spirit of hope and faith towards those around me."

Will our young friends also take a lesson out of Annie's book? I do not mean that you shall rashly place implicit confidence in every one who may cross your path; but that when you have thoughtfully chosen your friends, you shall treat them with that generous confidence, which is the invariable accompaniment of true affection.

"Let this be your comfortable and hopeful watchword, never to distrust any one until you have tried him, and found him fail. Nay, after he has failed, trust him again, so, peradventure, may your good thoughts of him win him to act up to them. C. C.