rant, whose mental eye is intensely fixed on the dawnings of wisdom, the oppressed, who is learning to stand erect, the wavering, whose best purposes are acquiring stability, may one day recognise a benefactor in the solitary prisoner whose sole communication with them was through the world of spirits.

After many months, when the long winter was past, and the western breeze had once more come to fan the prisoner's cheek and revive his spirit, a living creature fixed its dwelling near him. Helmer had observed the remains of a swallow's nest in a "coigne of vantage" which projected from the battlement. He hoped, and not in vain, that the pair would return and build in their old haunt. They came, and he watched with the deepest interest the progress of the work. It was nearly finished, when a violent hail-storm came on, in the evening, when Helmer had left the battlement for the greater warmth of his cell. The whistling of the wind, and its rushing sound along the parapet, reminded him of the swallows, and in the fear that the newly-cemented nest might be destroyed, he went out to see if by means of hat and handkerchief a sufficient shelter might be afforded to the birds. While he was thus employed, the jailer entered, and, for once, began a conversation by wondering that the gentleman should choose to be abroad in such a storm, and run the risk of having his light extinguished. When Helmer explained his reason, the man laughed, and said it was well for the birds that they built so near a person who liked to take care of them. Helmer thought of "the young ravens which cry," but he only said, "It gives me pleasure to help any living thing, but particularly of my It would make me happy to help you, if you could but show me the way." The man stared. Helmer went on with an eagerness and an incoherence, of which he was afterwards ashamed, to entreat that if the man was

own race.

ever ill, or unhappy, if he wanted any assistance, any advice, any knowledge for himself or for any belonging to him, he would only come and ask. The jailer stood listening, even when there was a pause, and Helmer, thus encouraged, touched upon his reasons. The refined philosopher discoursed morality, and stooped to entreaty to the cynical jailer! The man left the apartment in silence.

Helmer started up and paced his cell. He thought over what he had said; and the stare of wonder, the unbroken silence which appeared the only result. In spite of vigorous, manly effort, tears -the first his calamity had wrung from him fell like rain.

The jailer had been so far touched as to remember that his sympathies for his prisoner had not been so kindly : and, in consequence, Helmer was, the next day, honored by a visit from the governor. Nothing could be learned respecting the probability of release, or of being brought to trial. These were matters which did not come within the province of the military commander; and the little hope which his appearance had roused returned with a sickening recoil upon the captive's heart. One happy consequence, however, resulted from the interview. Helmer recovered his Bible. The jailer brought the precious volume with the next morning's meal; and when he returned two hours after noon, he found his charge seated where he had left him, and totally unconscious of the lapse of time. He was even unaware of the entrance of any one, till startled by the tones of a childish voice. He looked up and saw a boy standing in the door-way, while the jailer spread the table.

"That boy is my son," said the man. "I thought you might like a companion this afternoon, so I persuaded him to come; and if he is happy with you, this shall not be the last time. I did not think of bringing him till last night,

and there is not another man within these walls that I would trust him with; but I am sure, Sir, you will teach him nothing wrong."

Helmer looked wistfully from his little companion to the volume which he was unwilling to close, but remembering how many hours of solitude remained, he held out his hand to the child. The boy was somewhat afraid of him at first, but soon grew familiar. Helmer questioned the child on every conceivable subject of mutual interest, (and on many of which it was impossible that his little guest could know any thing,) till symptoms of weariness were very visible. Fearing that the boy might not be inclined to repeat the visit, unless better entertained, Helmer took him to the battlement, showed him the swallows' nest, and learned a great deal about the surrounding country, and the habitations concerning whose inmates he had longed to know something.

"This will be a memorable day to me as long as I live," thought he, as his little guest left him. "I have long ago settled in my mind what are the best purposes of life. This day has been appointed for the first attempt towards the accomplishment of one of them. This day may prove the beginning of a new life."

He paced his cell long that night, forming plans which might be executed, and cherishing hopes which might prove not altogether visionary: - a bliss now rare, a luxury long untasted. At length he sunk down almost exhausted, thinking, "I wish I were asleep, for I am weary and bewildered." But he was too full of busy thoughts and stirring affections to find repose. No contests for college honors, no national rejoicings, no events of domestic interest had ever excited his mind like the conversation of this child.

It was an excitement and pleasure daily renewed; but it was made subservient to higher purposes than selfish gratifi

cation. Helmer watched over the child with such a love as might be expected from its concentration on one object. He taught him his own language, and by much patience succeeded in making him read from his Bible. He corrected his errors, developed his faculties, enlarged his views, and did all that a matured can do for a young mind, and all that a powerful intellect can effect for the improvement of a weak one. He smiled when he reflected how he should, but a few months ago, have despised his present favorite object; how irksome would have been the necessary exercise of patience and condescension. But he had himself undergone a somewhat analogous, though more exalted discipline, and while he became submissive to learn, he became also patient to teach.

Every hour when he was not teaching, he was learning. His Bible was his continual study, and he read it differently as his views changed. The leading point now seemed to be the benevolence which afforded a clue to every intricacy, stamped a celestial character on every dispensation, and beamed with a glowing radiance through the lives of prophets and apostles, up to the self-denying benignity of Christ, and, above all, to the unclouded, all-pervading love of the Universal Father.

When, after nine years of captivity, Helmer's release was obtained, he reëntered the world changed in all respects, but especially in the spirit with which he regarded the constitution and destination of society. His sister mourned over his altered appearance, and his bosom friend watched the gradual tranquillization of his spirits; but they knew nothing of the renovation within, till the truth was gradually revealed by facts.

"I suppose," said his friend to him one day, "that you have a horror of solitude, as you well may after so long an experience of it. I never find you alone and absorbed in

study, as in old times. Does the ugly vision of your jailer haunt you?"

"Not to any terrifying degree; nor am I afraid of solitude, nor do I abstain from it as you suppose. If you came to me early and late you would find me gowned and slippered, and in as deep a reverie, perhaps, as in former days."

"Yet you are as active a man in society as myself, though not, like me, compelled to activity by a profession.”

"By no secular profession, certainly. But there are reasons to which you, my friend, are no stranger, which have at length obtained some power over my actions, and changed my views of duty. My former life was one of utter selfishness."

"Yet it was one which men regarded with respect."

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'Perhaps so; but thus far men are wrong, unless they believe that the labors of the studious have a higher object than the gratification of taste, or even self-improvement. I speak, of course, of an entire devotion to books.”

"What think you then of a German theologian who had not crossed his threshold for half a century?"

"I judge him not; as, for aught I know, his biblical studies might produce more beneficial effects than active exertions, and might be prosecuted with that view. But such a life would not now be my choice. I should fear to banish the influences of nature, and to reject the purest elements of knowledge and enjoyment which can be afforded."

"I do not wonder at your prizing the influences to which you owe so much. Clouds and sunshine, woods and streams, were your best companions for nine long years."

"They were more; they were messengers from heaven to me. But there were other messengers which spoke clearer truths, and in a loftier language. In my prison I