"When is she coming, aunt?"

"To-morrow morning; so you had better bring me what books you have, that I may see what more you will want.'

Blanche soon brought them, there were but

two or three.

66

Why, child, are these all?"

"Yes, aunt, mama didn't teach me much from books, she used to tell me things, she said that was the best way."

"A very odd way, in my opinion. However, you must have some more. You may go with me, if you like, to Silverton to choose some."

Blanche was very glad to go, and ran upstairs to put on her bonnet. She began to like her aunt better than she did at first. Mrs. Cleveland was waiting for her when she came down, and they were soon in the carriage, aud driving away. It was very nearly four miles from Rylsford to Silverton, the nearest town, and Mrs. Cleveland took very little notice of Blanche the whole way, so she had plenty of time to look about her. She had

not been out of her uncle's grounds before, so the face of the country was new to her.

The road along which they were driving was shaded on one side by tall trees, but most of the leaves had fallen, and Blanche caught glimpses through their bare branches of the blue hills which rose beyond. On the other side of the road, which wound along the top of a hill, was a gradual slope, and in the valley below, a little river or rill flowed gently on. It was from this river that Rylsford took its name. The hills rose again from the other side, and their tops seemed to Blanche to touch the deep blue sky.

But

66 "If I were on the top of those hills," she thought, "I could, perhaps, see mama. no I couldn't, either. I must die to do that now. I wonder which is the farthest away from me, mama or papa. I think mama must be-she seems to be, though I know she used to tell me that Jesus is always near me, and He lives in heaven, so, perhaps, she is near me too."

Blanche's thoughts were interrupted by

the carriage stopping before a bookseller's shop. They entered it, and her aunt looked at different books which she thought would be useful, and for a while Blanche was interested in looking at them too; but by and by she wandered away, and when her aunt was ready to leave she was deeply engaged in reading a book she had met with.

"You may have it, Blanche, if you like. What is it?" She put it into her aunt's hand. It was a selection of hymns.

"What in the world made you fix on this, Blanche?"

"I am so fond of hymns, aunt; and there are some such pretty ones here."

“Well, well, take it; though I had rather it had been something else."

They had scarcely left Silverton, when Blanche turned to her aunt and said, "Did you know mama, Aunt Helen ?"

"No, Blanche, I never saw her.'

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"Oh, didn't you? Then may I tell you

about her?"

"Yes, if you like."

And Blanche told her what that mother had been to her; how she had loved her, and sought to teach her the best things. When she had once begun, she went on telling her aunt every little particular she could recollect of her mama. Mrs. Cleveland did not once interrupt her, but when she had finished, she said, "I am very glad you have told me all this, Blanche, for it confirms the suspicions I had of the way in which you have been brought up. I do not think it was wise of your mama, Blanche, to fill your mind with such ideas; you are far too young to think about religion yet: you must put all these thoughts away, they are not fit for such a child as you.'

"But, Aunt Helen," said Blanche, amazed, "how am I to meet mama in heaven, if I forget all that she has taught me?"

"It will be quite time enough to think about that when you are older. Put all those notions out of your mind, and don't make yourself melancholy."

"But, Aunt Helen, I don't think it would be right of me to forget; I am sure it wouldn't."

"Well, Blanche, I suppose I know what is right as well as you do. I desire that you don't trouble yourself any more about these things, and I expect you to obey me. happy, light-hearted child, and then I shall be well pleased."

Be a

Mrs. Cleveland said no more on the subject, and they went the rest of the way in silence. As soon as Blanche reached her own room, she shut the door, and throwing off her bonnet, without waiting for the maid, sat down on the floor, and burst into tears.

"Oh, Aunt Helen! Aunt Helen!" she exclaimed, "how could you tell me to forget all my dear, dear mama has taught me. I am sure that wouldn't be right. Oh! I know it wouldn't, and I can't, I won't forget. I can be a happy, light-hearted child without that, and that is all aunt wants. But how can I be happy and light-hearted when I am so far