BRAMPTON-AMONG-THE-ROSES.
it to a safe distance when she saw the danger he was
crawling into, for Christabel loved all God's creatures,
and would not, if she could avoid it, harm any living
thing that He had made, for she thought they suffered
enough by fulfilling the purpose for which they were
sent, that destined one race to feed upon another.
 She liked to watch the pretty beetles that come
out of the ground, and few would believe what a
variety there are in our gardens-gold and green, and
bronze, and all the richest metallic hues that can be
imagined, while others are black and bright as polished
ebony. Then they are always so clean-looking as if
they were fresh varnished, and that not a particle of
dust had since settled upon their glossy cases, though
they live in dark underground apartments. And she
thought that poor people who occupy lowly habitations
might be clean like the beetles if they would take the
pains to cleanse themselves and their houses; and that
if they could be convinced how much more healthy and
comfortable they would feel through it, they would not
neglect themselves and their dwellings as they too
often do. And she respected all those good old merci-
ful superstitions which country children are taught to
believe, such as that trampling upon a pretty beetle in
the sunshine will bring on rain, and that giving pain
to a worm will cause you the same pain; for they have
saved many a generation of robins and wrens from
persecution, since that gentle and pitiful sermon was
first preached by some tender-hearted poet on the death
and burial of the Babes in the Wood.
 Christabel Brampton was, for her age, very intelli.
gent, had a clear intellect, and was really a talented
young lady, and one or two little sketches which the
good curate--who was her trusted friend-put into my
hands, suggested the thought if she were some day to