For two days Mrs. Gray scarcely left the nursery for a moment. The poor little babe would lie and sleep for hours together, and when he was awake he would scream and throw his head back as if he was going into a fit. The lady would take him from Maria, and hold him on her breast, and carry him about the room trying to soothe him, until at last he would fall asleep again. All this time she had never been able to see that Maria gave him any thing but his food. This was cream and boiling water, made pretty sweet with loaf sugar, and she fed him with a spoon.

One day the lady came in just as she was going to feed him, and asked to taste of it.

Maria held up the cup without speaking. "It is very nice," said the lady. "I can't see why it distresses him so." She then turned to leave the room, but as she did so, she saw a strange kind of smile come over Maria's face; and it brought all the old suspicions to her mind. When she reached the entry, she came suddenly back again, and saw Maria pouring some dark-colored drops from a small vial into the cup. Then she took the spoon and began to feed the baby again, laying the vial close behind her on the chair.

Mrs. Gray sprang forward before Maria knew she was in the room, caught it, and held it up to the light. The word Laudanum was printed on the label.

For one moment, her heart beat so fast that she could not speak; then she snatched the poor baby from Maria's arms, threw a large cradle blanket around him, and ran down stairs to the library, where her brother was writing.

"Here, Edward," she exclaimed,—"here is the food Maria feeds your little son upon;" and she held out the bottle toward him. "I have suspected her all along; but to-day I saw her pouring some into the cup."

"Where is the wretch?" asked the poor father, his cheeks growing very white. "How dared she do this?" When they returned to the nursery, Maria had run away to the chamber in the attic, where she kept her trunk; but she had forgotten to take care of the cup into which she had poured the laudanum.

While they were tasting and examining it, the doctor came in, and said that he wondered, with such feeding, that the baby had not died long before. "We have all been to blame," said the doctor; "and if it had not been for your sister, Mr. Nelson, I think the child could not have lived many days."

Mrs. Gray pressed the poor suffering baby to her heart, and resolved that she would watch over it until a good, faithful nurse could be provided. She then rang the bell for some fresh cream and water, while her brother went to the attic to send Maria from the house. He found her busy packing her trunks, for she had sense enough to know that she would not be allowed to stay longer. He told her she must leave immediately, and that her trunks should be sent after her. He took out his pocket book, and paid her the week's wages that were her due, saying he would not have such a wicked creature in the house another minute.

Maria cried, and begged on her knees to be allowed to take her trunks with her, until her master began to think she had some things in them which did not belong to her.

He stepped back into the entry, and told Nelly, who was in the lower hall, to tell the cook to come up to him. This was a good woman, who had lived with him ever since he was married. When she came, he told her to examine Maria's trunks, and see whether there was any silver in them, or other articles belonging to the house.

Maria cried, and wrung her hands, and said it was cruel to treat her so; but her master stood by the door, his countenance growing every moment more stern, while the cook drew out from the bottom of the trunk three small jars of jelly, four silver teaspoons, one silver fork, a gold thimble, and three richly-worked collars, all of which the gentleman recognized as belonging to his wife.

In spite of the tears and groans of the wicked woman, Mr. Nelson sent for an officer to arrest her, for he felt sure, if she would steal and lie, and more than all, if she would give a child that which she knew would destroy its life, she ought to be punished for her crimes.

Mrs. Gray did not return home for nearly two weeks, and then she left the little baby, who had been named Eddy, in the care of a good woman, who gave him nourishing milk from her own breast. The little fellow now began to thrive and grow, though the doctor said he would be a long time in recovering from Maria's cruel treatment.

Mr. Nelson was so much delighted with the improvement in his little girl, that he consented to her returning with her aunty, though it was a great trial to have her remain from home.

Nelly and Frankie had taken almost the whole care of themselves during the three weeks of their stay, improving the pleasant autumn weather by running all over the garden and grounds.

Back of the house, there was a beautiful grove of chestnut trees, from two of which was suspended a swing. Here the children passed many happy hours. Sometimes they sat under the delightful shade with their books in their hands, reading aloud by turns as they did when at home. Sometimes they would sing their pretty songs, or repeat favorite verses. Then, when they were tired of these quiet amusements, they would skip through the walks with arms interlaced, or jump the rope, or play at hide and seek. At the lower end of the garden, the smooth gravelled walks were lined with high lattices upon which were trained peach trees, in the shape of fans. These afforded fine places to hide, which were eagerly improved by the children. Mrs. Gray often found herself joining the merry shout which echoed through the garden when either Nelly or her cousin was successful in the search. "O, how I wish Ponto were here!" exclaimed Frankie one day, sinking on the grass and panting for breath. "He would have found you out long before I did. That was a real funny place to hide. I kept hearing you call, 'Coop, coop,' but never thought of looking in there."

"Yes, indeed!" cried Nelly, laughing and shaking back her curls. "At first I was afraid I couldn't creep in, the bushes grew so close to the ground. I could peep through the leaves and see you looking every where. When you were near, I kept as still as I could; but when you ran away to look in another place I'd call 'coop' again. O, it's splendid fun!"

"Well, Master Frankie," said Nelly's papa on the morning when they were leaving for home, "I am much obliged to you for taking such good care of my little girl. Your mamma has promised to leave you and Nelly here while she goes a journey in the autumn."

"We have had a real good visit, uncle," replied Frankie, his eye sparkling with joy, "and I shall be very glad to come again."

"Now," said Nelly, as they drove away from the door, "we are ready to begin school again."

BOOKS WRITTEN OR EDITED
By A. R. BAKER,
AND SOLD BY ALL BOOKSELLERS.

QUESTION BOOKS on the Topics of Christ's Sermon on the Mount.

Vol. I. For Children.Vol. II. For Youth.
Vol. III. For Adults.
Lectures on these Topics, in press.

MRS. LESLIE'S SABBATH SCHOOL BOOKS.

• Tim, the Scissors Grinder.
• Sequel to "Tim, the Scissors Grinder."
• Prairie Flower.
• The Bound Boy.
• The Bound Girl.
• Virginia.
• The Two Homes; or, Earning and Spending.
• The Organ-Grinder, in press.

QUESTION BOOKS. The Catechism tested by the Bible.

Vol. I. For Children.Vol. II For Adults.

THE DERMOTT FAMILY; or, Stories Illustrating the Catechism.

• Vol. I. Doctrines respecting God and Mankind.
• " II. Doctrines of Grace.
• " III. Commandments of the First Table.
• " IV. Commandments of the Second Table.
• " V. Conditions of Eternal Life.

MRS. LESLIE'S HOME LIFE.

• Vol. I. Cora and the Doctor.
• " II. Courtesies of Wedded Life.
• " III. The Household Angel.

MRS. LESLIE'S JUVENILE SERIES.

• Vol. I. The Motherless Children.
• " II. Play and Study.
• " III. Howard and his Teacher.
• " IV. Trying to be Useful.
• " V. Jack, the Chimney Sweeper.
• " VI. The Young Housekeeper.
• " VII. Little Agnes.

THE ROBIN REDBREAST SERIES.

• THE ROBINS' NEST.
• LITTLE ROBINS IN THE NEST.
• LITTLE ROBINS LEARNING TO FLY.
• LITTLE ROBINS IN TROUBLE.
• LITTLE ROBINS' FRIENDS.
• LITTLE ROBINS' LOVE ONE TO ANOTHER.

THE LITTLE FRANKIE SERIES.

• LITTLE FRANKIE AND HIS MOTHER.
• LITTLE FRANKIE AT HIS PLAYS.
• LITTLE FRANKIE AND HIS COUSIN.
• LITTLE FRANKIE AND HIS FATHER.
• LITTLE FRANKIE ON A JOURNEY.
• LITTLE FRANKIE AT SCHOOL.