soul, but the love of self; and he happened to exhibit his passion under these restrained and deceptive forms, simply because he had been born and educated in a state of society where they composed an integral part of existence.  Covetousness was the deacon’s besetting sin; and, as it is a vice that may be pretty well concealed, with a little attention to appearances, it was the less likely to expose him to comments than almost any other sin.  It is true, that the neighbourhood sometimes fancied him ‘close,’ or, as they expressed it, “cluss,” and men got to look sharply to their own interests in their dealings with him; but, on the whole, there was perhaps more reason to apprehend, in such a community, that the example of so good a man should be accepted as authority, than that his acts should impeach his character, or endanger his standing.

Very different were the situation, feelings, and motives of the niece.  She devoutly loved God, and, as a consequence, all of those whom he had created, and placed around her.  Her meek and gentle spirit led her to worship in sincerity and truth; and all that she thought, said, and did, was under the correction of the principles such motives could best produce.  Her woman’s love for Roswell Gardiner, alone troubled her otherwise happy and peaceful existence.  That, indeed, had caused her more than once to falter in her way; but she struggled with the weakness, and had strong hopes of being able to overcome it.  To accept of any other man as a husband, was, in her eyes, impossible; with the feelings she was fully conscious of entertaining towards him, it would have been both in-delicate and unjust:  but, to accept him, while he regarded the Redeemer as only man, however pure and exalted, she felt would be putting herself willingly, or wilfully, into the hands of the great enemy of her salvation.  Often and often had she prayed for her lover, even more devoutly, and with hotter tears, than she had ever prayed for herself; but, so far as she could discover, without any visible fruits.  His opinions remained unchanged, and his frank nature forbade him from concealing their state from Mary.  In this way, then, was unhappiness stealing on the early and innocent hours of one who might, otherwise, have been so contented and blessed.  It formed a somewhat peculiar feature in her case, that her uncle favoured the views of her suitor.  This rendered the trials of the niece so much the more severe, as she had no other judgment to sustain her than her own, fortified as that was, however, by the consciousness of right, and the support of that great power which never deserts the faithful.