that could be, but his feet and legs were frozen solid.  His uncle, Dr. Henry, was brought as soon as possible, who decided that nothing could save his life but the amputation of both legs, just below the knee.  This was done; but what a change in the prospects of this promising young man!  Instead of stepping lightly about as he used to do, with a smiling countenance, he at last came forth after a tedious confinement, a cripple for life, hobbling about on his knees, sad and dejected.  And what, think you, was the cause of this terrible calamity?  What prevented the Doctor from an exertion to save his life?  Wine, intoxicating wine, was undoubtedly the occasion of the heedless and reckless conduct of both himself and Capt.  Helm.  And should not this circumstance be a warning to parents and guardians, to young men and children, “to look not upon the wine when it is red,” and remember that at last “it will bite like a serpent and sting like an adder?” Should it not also remind those who have guests to entertain, of the sinfulness of putting the cup to their neighbor’s lips?  Certainly it should.  But I must resume my story.

About this time Major Thornton of Bath, died.  He had long been an intimate friend and acquaintance of Capt.  Helm, and as the reader is already informed of the death of Mrs. Helm, they will not be surprised to know that he began to look earnestly after the widow of his late friend.  It become apparent that his solicitude for the loneliness of Madam Thornton was not so much as a disconsolate widow, as that of making her the future Mrs. Helm; nor was it less observable that the new-made widow accepted the Captain’s attentions with great favor, and more as a lover than a comforter.

The result was, after the Major had been dead six weeks, Capt.  Helm was married to his widow, and brought her and her servants in great triumph to his house, giving her the charge of it.  His own servants were discharged, and hers took their places.

All went on pleasantly for a while; then the slaves began to grow sullen and discontented; and two of them ran away.  Capt.  Helm started a man named Morrison, a Scotchman, in pursuit, who hunted them ten days, and then returned without any tidings of the absconding slaves.  They made good their escape and were never heard from afterwards, by those whose interest suffered by the loss.

I was one afternoon at a neighbor’s house in the village, when I was suddenly taken so violently ill with pain in my head and side, that I had to be carried home.  When we arrived there, I was allowed a pallet of straw to lie on, which was better than nothing.  Day after day, my disease increased in violence, and my master employed a physician to attend me through my illness, which brought me very low indeed.  I was constantly burning with fever, and so thirsty that I knew not what I would have given for a draught of cold water, which was denied me by the physician’s direction.  I daily grew