Brotherly Love.

in the worst light , that she might induce the young clergyman to regard Ida ' s attachment in the manner in which she viewed it , an infatuation , and as a sequitw , that he might be indued to hope that he might overcome it , and supplant in its place a rational and laudable affection . She related many incidents to shew that Simon ' s revelations of character were most unamiable , and stated from her own personal knowledge that he was a monster .

In this strong designation the good lady was borne away by her feelings , arising from what had occurred at her last interview with Simon . The young clergyman , who was accustomed to speak of his fellow-beings in Christian and gentlemanly terms , was rather startled , but he made no observation , and she proceeded to state that Simon had grossly insulted Ida , and that he had some months back attempted the murder of an inoffensive

and weak witted townsman , without receiving the slightest provocation . Her volubilit y being now in full operation she exceeded the limits she originally assigned to herself , and related incidents that clearly revealed to the young clergyman that her aversion to Simon Le Trouye arose ftora her conviction that he had won her daughter ' s affections . How bitter is the knoAvledge that we have a rival to contend with in

the object of our affections and that he is the favoured one ! We leave our youthful readers of both sexes to imagine what poor Jeunegrace suffered at this discovery . It is sufficient to state that he retired to bed very soon and that his sleep was troubled with very disagreeable dreams . The next day he took an opportunity which the good lady judiciously afforded of speaking to Ida alone . He told her that he loved her before

she had left the Chateau Madekine but that not being in a pecuniary position to enable him to support a wife in respectability , that he had abstained from declaring his passion . Now , however , he was placed in a state of comparative affluence and the first use he made of the knowledge of his altered circumstances , was to determine to offer her his hand and heart . He stated that he considered there was a congeniality of sentiments between them , that they were both more religious than worldly , and that there were rational grounds for presuming their union would be one of happiness .

Some of our readers may suppose that Ida returned a very peculiar reply to this offer , considering that she was what the world would designate a puritan , though free from all moroseness . But she did nothing of the sort . Her answer was the same that any other young lady woidd have given under her circumstances . It was to the effect that she felt grateful for his offer , but that she could never regard him in any other isrht than a friend .

luto what a gulf of temporary misery has this traditional and stereotyped reply precipitated many a poor fellow of almost every age and grade in society . It has laid many a young heart low , and strewn its brightest hopes to the winds . But let not our young readers , shoidd it be then lot to suffer in this way , abandon themselves to despair . We think we lavish all the treasures of our affections at the shrine where we first kneel , but love has many an altar were its votaries may renew their worship . The young clergyman clearly perceived that the affections of Ida were