After All, Or Thrice Won.

His parents hacl married young , and it was a marriage of pure love . His father was only a merchant ' s clerk with a hundred and fifty pounds per annum , and it required all their care to make both ends meet on such a small income . But they were frugal in their ways and very happy . They were blessed with two children , a boy and a girl , and CA ery care was lavished on them . They were their joy ancl hope ; ancl Arthur and Lucy Humberton were merry little

companions . The house rang with their chirruping laughter from morning- to night . Lucy was a year younger than her brother , ancl he was very fond of her . He always took care that she should have the nicest playthings , and the choicest little tit-bits , and she gave way to him in eA erything so that they never quarrelled . She used to imitate her "decider brndder , " ancl he would help her ; and when they got a little older they studied their little lessons lovingly

together . Mr . and Mrs . Humberton were indeed happy in their children . Lucy Avas growing up into a beautiful little girl , and Arthur was a bright boy when his father talked of sending him to school . But Lucy cried so much , ancl Arthur seemed so unwilling to go , that they put it off from time to time . Lucy was just turned seven years old when she was attacked Avith the scarlet fever , and Arthur was sent into the country to a relation ' s until she

would be better . He was very unhappy to go and leave his sister , and asked how long she would be before she was better . She too missed him very much , and she was doomed never to see him again . Thus ended their affectionate attachment ; a sad termination to snob a beautiful little episode . But trouble comes to all alike , ancl Mr . and Mrs . Humberton ' s happiness was dealt a heavy blow , for in less than a fortnight their darling was dead . Her mother ' s hope

and pride , she bad grown like a beautiful flower under her tender care ; ancl now all her love and anxiety had been fruitless . After all these years of gentle teaching , and the poetic attachment that had grown between the children , ancl the many ties that endeared her to them , she was to be torn away from them . The hand of Piwiclence seemed very cruel , and they murmured against it . Where was the purpose of her little lifeto be thus snatched aAvay

, in the bud , before it bad had time to blossom ? But time soothed dovra thensorrow , and they saAv after all , that all Avas for the best , and they hacl still their Arthur left , and who knows bow much sorrow ancl trouble their little Lucy had been spared ? Ah , who knows ?

When poor Arthur heard of the death of little Lucy he was inconsolable , and could do nothing but weep . He would eat nothing , aud when he was left alone he slipped out of the house , and set out for London ou foot . Poor little fellow ! He could not believe that his sister was dead ; death was something terrible he did not understand , ancl he Avas determined to find out for himself . For hours he trudged along strange roads in what he supposed was the direction of Londonbut he Avas really going nearly the opposite way . He several times

, sat down on the roadside to cry , but always got up after a few minutes to go along again . He bad no fixed idea of what he was going to do , he only imagined he was getting nearer to his little sister , ancl that was some consolation . He began to feel very tired and Loudon never seemedtobe any nearer after all his walking , and he sat down again on the doorste ]! of a village inn , not knowing what to do . Poor little chap . be was only eiht years oldancl this devotedness

g , on his part at so early an age Avas a very good trait in his character . The landlord happening to be a kind-hearted man , came out and spoke to him , ancl asked him his trouble . Little Arthur soon confided his tale to the sympathetic landlord , who then said he would send him to London in a gig . Arthur thanked him very much , and he was sent back to his aunt ' s from whence be had cometo their great relief . They had missed him ancl had been making

, inquiries in all directions , wondering what could have become of him . Neither hacl Lucy forgotten her loving little brother in her calmer moments of fever . She often mentioned him and wished to see him ; she felt very strange without him . Shortly before her death , Avhen she knew she was going away to another