WEALTH WITHOUT WINGS. 13

 

left the store, and took his way homeward. From
that hour Edward Claire was to be the subject of a
fierce temptation. He had admitted an evil sugges-
tion, and had warmed it in the earth of his mind,
even to germination. Already a delicate root had
penetrated the soil, and was extracting food there-
from. Oh! why did he not instantly pluck it out,
when the hand of an infant would have sufficed in
strength for the task? Why did he let it remain,
shielding it from the cold winds of rational truth
and the hot sun of good affections, until it could
live, sustained by its own organs of appropriation
and nutrition? Why did he let it remain until its
lusty growth gave sad promise of an evil tree, in
which birds of night find shelter and build nests
for their young ?

Let us introduce another scene and another per-
sonage, who will claim, to some extent, the reader’s .
attention.

There were two small but neatly, though plainly,
furnished rooms, in the second story of a house lo-
cated in a retired street. In one of these rooms tea
was prepared, and near the tea-table sat a young
woman, with a sleeping babe nestled to*her bosom.
She was fair-faced and sunny-haired; and in her
blue eyes lay, in calm beauty, sweet tokens of a
pure and loving heart. How tenderly she looked
down, now-and then, upon the slumbering. cherub
whose winning ways and murmurs of affection had
blessed her through the day! Happy young wife!
these are thy halcyon days. Care has not thrown
ufon thee a single shadow from hig. gléomy wing,

: ; : oe ae

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