THE YOUTH’S CABINET.

Mother Durand—a difficult task, but one
which was now the only means by which
the poor widow could obtain the little
comforts she stood in need of. |
. The officer was deeply affected by this
act of generous devotion on the part of
these members of his family, and he con-
fided the whole story to the worthy vil-
lage pastor, from whose lips I learned it.
This pastor resolved to turn the charity
of Celine and Louisa to account, in pro-
viding still farther for the wants of the
poor widow ; and it was not long before
an opportunity oceurred to carry his
resolution into effect. o
A festival, which took place in the vil-
lage, brought together a multitude of
people, old and young, to the castle of
Cangé. Mother Durand, already more
than half cured of her paralysis, was
there, by the invitation of her two young
benefactors, who supposed that their
charity was still a profound secret, as
the good old woman had promised never
to reveal it. She was accosted, in the
crowd, by some silk manufacturers, who
expressed to her their wonder that, with
one arm ina sling, she was able to do
the work they confided to her. Poor
woman! she turned red and stammered,
at the same time that she looked toward
Celine, and seemed by her countenance
to say, “Never fear; I shall not betray
you.” But the venerable pastor, who
seized every opportunity of exciting
Christian charity in his flock, pointed out
the two charming sisters, as the minis-
tering spirits of Mother Durand. This
revelation produced the effect which the
old man desired. The young girls of the
village applauded the good deeds of
Celine and her sister, blamed themselves
for not having done their duty to the

171

poor widow, and promised to profit by
the example which had been set them.
They engaged that two of their number
should go daily to the cottage of the
widow, and help her in her household
affairs, for a week; that two more should
then perform the task for another week ;
and that they would take turns in this
way as long as their services were need-
ed. They did as they engaged to do.
Nor was this all. The boys wished to
do something for the good woman whose
husband and sons had perished on the
battle-field; and they engaged, on their

part, to take turns in cultivating the gar-

den and vineyard of Mother Durand.
The result of this engagement was, that
the widow was bountifully supplied with
all the comforts and luxuries of life that
she desired.

Mother Durand is still living, honored,
beloved, and cared for, by all the inhab-
itants of the village. She has not quitted
the humble, but cherished cottage where
she was born. All the strangers who
visit this beautiful place, and who have
heard this story, so worthy the cultiva-
tors of the garden of France, seek with
interest for “the widow’s cottage.”

Ancient Lightning Rods.

tT appears from Herodotus, that the
ancients possessed a knowledge of

the power of attracting lightning
with pointed iron instruments. He
informs us that the Thracians disarmed
heaven of its thunderbolts, by discharg-
ing arrows into the air; and the Hyper-
boreans by darting into the clouds pikes
headed with pieces of sharp-pointed iron.