to know what it is you wish to have my advice about."

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Why-father-I wish so much to become a nun myself," answered Madeleine. "I have thought of little else since that day; in all my prayers I beg of God to grant this my desire. Oh!" continued the enthusiastic girl," how happy I should be did I think there would be any hope for me, at any time, however distant it might be. But tell me, monsieur, do tell me, ought I to cherish this wish; is it proper for me to think of being a religious?"

"Make an offering of your heart to God, Madeleine," responded the abbé, "and it may be that your desire may be granted. And now farewell, and hasten home quickly, for it is late for one so young to be absent from her home."

With a lighter heart, now that she had met with no refusal on the part of the abbé, who she knew had it in his power to grant her request, but who at the same time was very particular as to who he recommended to the religious state, Madeleine, after having obtained his blessing, hastened on her way home.

It was growing dark when she entered the cottage inhabited by herself, her mother, and

her elder sister Pauline, and when Madame le Clair asked what had delayed her return so long, she answered,

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Our good abbé, my dear mama, gives me room to hope that at some future time I may become a Sister of Charity; I waited to speak to him this evening. You, I know well, will not place an obstacle to that which would make the happiness of your child," she added, as she observed a gloom pass over the countenance of her mother.

No, my Madeleine," answered the widow; "should the Almighty call you to serve Him in a religious state, it shall not be my voice which shall deter you from becoming more entirely His in time, whom you hope to possess in eternity, whatever I may for awhile suffer in parting with a dutiful and affectionate daughter; but think well over this matter, dearest," she added, "and now to rest, for the tears are already gathering," and as the fond parent spoke she wiped away the drops which already hung on Madeleine's long lashes.

But let us now speak more fully of the parent of our heroine. As to circumstances, Madame le Clair was indeed very poor, and was at

present but a grade raised above the humble villagers by whom she was surrounded. Her late husband, Pierre le Clair, had been an extravagant man, who lived up to every farthing he earned, and when cut off suddenly in the prime of life, his widow and daughters were left penniless, but Providence watched over and protected them, and a good and wealthy lady, residing in the town of E, contributed to the support of Madame le Clair and her amiable and pious daughter. Pauline had money sufficient for her own maintenance, which had been bequeathed by her godmother, and was not a little conceited on this account. There was no promise of future good, however, in the vain coquettish Pauline, who could not be persuaded to pass her time in any thing good or useful, but was perpetually to be found idling and gossiping with the giddiest girls in the village. With Madeleine it was far otherwise; at the early age of fifteen, two years before the commencement of our tale, she had been held up as a model by mothers, whose example they would wish their children to follow, and this pre-eminence, held by the young girl amongst her companions, failed to awaken any jealousy

H

in their minds, because she was generally beloved by them all for her sweet and amiable temper, and the unaffected and artless simplicity of her manner. There was a charitable institution in the town of E, in common with many places on the continent, for the purpose of selecting annually or every three years one or more young women, according as the funds of the institute permitted, whose age should not be less than eighteen years, and who should be esteemed the most worthy young person in the town or village in which this custom is practised, and giving them a sum of money either to furnish a dower for marriage, or, should they choose to embrace the religious state and consecrate themselves to God, a pension to enable them to become nuns. This benevolent object was in the little town of E― exercised once every year, and then but one young person received any benefit from it, on account of the smallness of the funds. Madeleine wanted little better than nine months to complete her eighteenth year, and already was it said in the village that she would wear on the next Lady-day the much coveted crown of roses which the abbé placed on the head of

the happy maiden distinguished, not for beauty or talents but for a good and virtuous life. More than one well doing farmer had sought to obtain Madeleine's hand, and from her refusal to marry it was fully expected by the young people in the village that at the expiration of the year they should lose their general favourite. Meanwhile things continued to go on as usual in the widow's cottage, Madeleine happy in the hope that the approval of her pastor and the voice of the public would select her for the dowry on the following year. Many were the exhortations of the good abbé, pointing out to her the difficulties as well as the advantages she would have to meet in the religious state. Remember, Madeleine," he would say, "the bitters of the conventual state must be encountered ere its sweets may be tasted; reflect much on the step you design taking, for in this state you must at least aspire to perfection, and denying yourself must take up the cross and follow in the steps of your crucified Saviour. Do not forget that your place will henceforth be by the side of the sick and dying, and that you must overcome the repugnance you may feel in these offices of charity."

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