German bookseller, (though better known in the world as the author of that little favourite of the public, "The Death of Abel,") in order that he might have the more leisure to devote to his favourite propensity, the pursuits of literature— (all of whose praises, however, deserve well to be taken on record.) I will content myself in recording those of MY OWN DEAR, FAITHFUL, AND AFFECTIONATE PARTNER, than whom, a more valuable help-mate-a more patient, uncomplaining, and indefatigable assistant in business, and otherwise,—was never, in mercy, given by a kind Providence to mortal man.*

But her praises, it must have been observed, have proceeded from other pens than mine. So far back as the year 1816, it may be recollected what a gentleman said in his letter, on being made acquainted with our first great, and what I may now call, the beginning of our other misfortunes. In the letter of my friend of the 26th January, and quoted so largely in my last chapter, the services of Mrs M. it will be ob served, are not overlooked. The friend with whom the affecting conversation took place on the Sacramental Sunday, designates her, in a letter written to me, some little time before that conversation, (so much to her honour took place) as SHE whose care, had been so assiduous to my son, in his illness.

While the following extract from the letter of a worthy neighbouring clergyman, who had more than once visited us in our affliction, and who had been long and intimate

Indeed, without such an invaluable assistant as I have had, and nobody could know her value more in this respect than I did, it is most likely, that, with all the aid I have from time to time received from se many sources, few of my lucubrations would have seen the light; for there must have been time for copying out during the day, what was composed during the night watches:and that time, and that leisure, it is well known in the circle of our more immediate neighbourhood, I could never have commanded, without such an excellent and unflinching substitute in my place. Even now, while I am engaged in writing these pages (although removed to a small distance to be within call, if wanted,) my useful coadjutor is at her post at the back of the counter, little thinking, I dare say, what is the subject of this day's theme,-and which most likely, she will not be aware of, till she sees it in print! for she makes no enquiries, either as to the particulars of my subject, or its exact progress: It is sufficient for her that she knows I have undertaken a task, which, although arduous, she is well aware had become necessary for the purposes intended :her utmost curiosity, therefore, is, to know that it is progressing, and her greatest anxiety, to relieve me from other concerns, as much as possible,-until that task is accomplished.

ly acquainted with the different members of the family, although a little out of place in point of time, may also, be brought well in here, as a testimony to her worth, so far as it respected that dear departed youth, to whose memory, that good gentleman had paid a most honourable tribute, in a sermon which he preached in our parish church, in the absence of our own minister, who had exchanged with him on the first Sunday after the funeral,-as I shall afterwards have occasion to notice. The short extract is as follows:-" You have all consolation in having done every duty to your son,—and Mrs Miller in particular;-she has the rewards of her goodness in her own heart-IN HAVING DISCHARGED THE DUTIES OF A MOTHER, and, I am sure, a mother's blessing will ever attend her."

I might enlarge this precious chaplet further, by the addition of another flower, recently plucked, and in consequence, of a very fresh and fragrant perfume; but which, as I shall not now be long in overtaking it in course of my narrative, I will pass over for the present.

As for myself,—the amiable and engaging qualities of THIS DEAR FEMALE, are so numerous, and have operated during the many years we have lived together, in such a variety of forms for my comfort, that I know not which have had the greatest share, in so strongly rivetting those affections, that nothing can sever on this side the grave;-and there is little doubt, that I had just such a one, as my own excellent and invaluable help-mate, in my eye, when, in the note at the passage formerly alluded to in my Popular Philosophy, I described woman as the best boon that heaven in its mercy has bestowed on man, to sweeten the toils-lessen the cares— smooth the anxieties-and ease and soften by their many tender offices in sickness and on a death-bed-the pains-and agonizing sufferings of life:—and for these beneficial and other good purposes, may God long preserve her!-to which, I again say, Amen!*

* The whole of this note, which will be found at page 218, of the first volume of the publication above alluded to, I recommend to the cowardly assassins of female character, and heartless libellers of the sex. From what 1 have said in the

But before we conclude, I shall produce at least one evidence, that however strong and enduring the conjugal attachment has manifested itself on the female side, it has not been altogether unresponded to on the other, and the instance, that I shall select, a very recent one, is the following,-from the Morning Herald, of Monday, the 5th March, 1832; and taken, by it, from the Huntingdon Gazette:

"Died on the 15th January last, HANNAH, the wife of WILLIAM HALL, of Hemingford, Hunts, at a very advanced age. After the interment of the deceased, her poor, sorrowing, aged husband, grieving at the loss of his long faithful partner, expressed a desire that he might die before the next Sunday passed, and be buried in the same grave with his late wife.-Alas! (but why say alas!) his frail thread of life snapped asunder, and he was a corpse on the Wednesday following. This must have been one of those happy marriages alluded to by Thomson, when he says,—

"But happy they! the happiest of their kind!
Whom gentler stars unite,-and in one fate,

Their hearts, their fortunes,-and their beings blend." And were a union of hearts, and a similarity of dispositions, more attended to, with a due deference to my formerly quoted maxim, better to have "a fortune in a wife, than with a wife;" (although the good things of this life are certainly not to be despised, if they can also be had united in the same person) there would be, as I also observed before,—“Fewer jarring,—and more happy,—marriages in the world."

note (†) page 62d, of the presert volume, it will be seen, that I speak after the experience, of having twice drawn a prize, in what is foolishly called the lottery of Matrimony, and on that account, I trust, my words will be the better attend. ed to.

CHAPTER XL.-1828 (CONTINUED.)

Again embark on the voyage-or set out on the journey-of life.-Again exposed to the pelting of the storm.-But, again obliged to veil certain occurrences under the envelope of mystical obscurity.—A new species of trial awaits me.— .-Affecting extract from a friendly letter, of a kind friend.—My son's death, although daily looked for, comes suddenly at the last.-Affecting tributes to his memory.-Sorrowful reminiscences formerly alluded to.-My troubles not yet at an end.-More of the christian's legacy still in reserve for me.Another flower." Death's" shafts,➡again begin to fly thick.-Melancholy walk on a pleasant autumnal afternoon. Fortunate and timeous diversion of my thoughts to other matters —An unexpected meeting with friends from a distance. The affairs of business must not be neglected.-Publish my new advertisement, with additional testimonies to Popular Philosophy.- How characterized by the Edinburgh Observer, &c. as being fitted for a New Year's, or Christmas Gift.—Another advertisement published in reference to the other departments of my business. Another testimonial, being that of a great traveller.-Again labour under indisposition.-Not yet arrived, (at the close of 1828) at that "comfortable and successful period," so confidently predicted by my friend,-a twelve month before.

It was fortunate for me, that, I had this short respite for a breathing time, at this particular stage of my journey-that, I had this pleasant employment to divert my attention, even for a few days, from the inhospitable and dreary gloom, which was again beginning, or had already begun to overcast my horizon.

I said for a few days, and the days had been very few indeed, for, on the 14th, or within the space of three days from the 11th, I find I had been again exposed to the pelting of the storm, or, in other words, that those torrents had begun to descend upon me, which from more sources than one, with increasing, increased, unmitigated and relentless fury, poured down and beat upon my poor already battered tenementfor many days and months to come,-or, as I may perhaps say, to the end of the year.

These indeed, as belonging to the veiled class, must necessarily be passed over,—and I would not, even here have mentioned them, had it not been, that I wish to impress it

deeply on the mind of the reader, that my " Latter Struggles" have been of a no ordinary description indeed.

A new species of trial was, however, now awaiting me, that, whether as it related to the principal actor in the melancholy scene, or the mournful witnesses, needs no concealmentThe death of friends is no doubt, a solemn, a serious, and oft times a very afflictive and mournful event,—and I had been once told there were some things worse than death,—the truth of which, I had already more than once experienced.— Yet there was something peculiarly affecting in my Son's death, and I could not but be, seriously affected by it.

* * * * *

A dear friend writing to me some little time before it happened,―observed, "I had heard that he was not in a good way, but was not aware that the disease had made such progress Poor fellow! how sadly is his noonday overcast !-I trust that He who graciously veils the approaching crisis, will enable him to look beyond the hopes of this earthly scene, to those glorious realities where never ending spring abides, and never withering flowers, and where the inhabitants are no more sick."

He, indeed, had come forth as a flower,-and just as he had arrived at youthful maturity, was cut down ;—yet "HE who graciously veils the approaching crisis" in mercy, veiled it to him, for his death, though daily looked for, for some time, came suddenly at the last.*

In course of the fore part of the day, on which he died, viz. the 12th of August, I see that I had occasion to go up stairs, most likely, indeed it was for that express purpose.— I looked into Robert's chamber, and although he was making no complaint, nor appeared any way restless,—indeed he appeared to be lying rather much composed and a good

On the forenoon of Tuesday, the 12th of August, I had been employed in what I think, I may denominate a work of mercy, viz. in making some suggestions to an old, but broken down acquaintance, (Mr James Watson, late Woolen Draper in this place,) which I thought might be of use to him, in the contemplated prospect of his publishing, an ingenious plan of our church-yard, which he had spent a considerable time in making up, and in which, the various allotments for its different tenants, were very accurately and distinctly pointed out :-no way thinking, at that particular moment, that before the end of the week, that interesting Golgotha, should become still more interesting to me, by having in addition to its other tenants, in that short period, new one, and that, from among the members of my own family.