THEIR FAMILY TROUBLES. 37

teen years’ transportation. On hearing his sentence,
Edwards seemed to feel, for the first time, the crush-
ing weight of his unhappy circumstances. A paleness
as of death overspread his countenance ; and, but for
the support of the turnkey, he would have fallen to
the ground. Mr. Osborne visited him the next day
in prison; and, for the first time in his life, felt com-
passion for him. Edwards was in fact a man of real
talent and great power of mind, with some tendencies
to good; but alas! he was one of those who have not
the ability to resist temptation. He was of a sanguine
temperament, and was always confident of success
When, therefore, humiliation and failure did come,
he was only the more cast down. His spirit was
now broken, and the better parts of his character
came forth. These, as it were, took the kind heart
of Mr. Osborne by surprise ; and now, with a reac-
tion of feeling which is very natural to a generous
mind, he felt as if he must compensate for his hitherto
hard judgment; and this he did by more than free
forgiveness,

Phebe during the whole time had been calm and
collected. ‘The worst had come that could come ;
and God and good men had not abandoned her.
That kind brother, who had been as a father to her
in her youth, stood by her in this hour of trial. He
had already adopted her son as his own; and thus
removed, as it were, from the knowledge and con-
tamination of evil, she trusted that his course through
life might be easier and happier than that of his
parents. Phebe's resolve from the first had been to
remove with her youngest child, a little girl of two
years old, to the land where her husband was now a
banished man. Her brother made no objection; and

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