Pym was chief among those who voted for the impeachment of Strafford for high treason; for while he lived he was dangerous to his country's liberties. Pym was the leading spirit in the transactions which brought about such tremendous issues. He commenced his career of aggression as a moderate man; but the King, by his imprudence and unwisdom, was continually urging men on the course they were compelled to take, and thus Pym was rapidly borne along on a course of action which far outstripped his professed theoretical opinions.

He insisted originally on the sanctity of the Constitution, and he laboured to maintain it; while Cromwell, and most of the great members of the Long Parliament, were content to follow his policy. Cromwell's adherence to the most resolute band of Pym's supporters was the direct outcome of his religious faith. Hampden, Cromwell, and Pym all firmly believed that one of the first essentials of liberty was the purification of the Church from relics of Romish superstition; and next-if not of equal importance the establishment of such constitutional government as should ensure public justice, protect the rights of all, and encourage the development of private virtue; and not one of the trio could be convinced that either of these conditions could ever be secured by any promises of the truthless, perfidious King, or, in fact, by any arrangement short of the plan insisted on by the Parliament, -that is, government by responsible advisers acceptable to the people's representatives, and a material guarantee for the continuance of the system, by the King's surrender of personal control over the militia. "But," writes Paxton Hood, with direct reference to Pym, "when circumstances are thrown into vehement agitation and strife, it becomes impossible to regulate action by that calm and quiet settlement of affairs dictated either in the stillness of the study, or when events flow along unperturbed by the excitements and passions of great party strife." Pym, of course, was one, if not the foremost, [among the "Root and Branch" party, as they came afterwards to be designated; yet they demanded very few specific and absolutely guaranteed concessions; the truth being that they did not imagine themselves to be rearing the edifice of true English freedom, but, rather, to be buttressing it!

But Pym was not long to survive Hampden. As we have seen, Cromwell's noble cousin fell during the summer of 1643, and Pym died in December of the same year. Thus Vane became the leader of the party who confined themselves to their Parliamentary duties.

The death of John Pym did not apparently make so much difference to the progress of affairs as might have been expected

from the greatness of the man. But in a multitude of instances those who were left were well content to carry out his wise and resolute policy. Still, there came a time when the Parliament, and Cromwell, too, sadly missed those glorious spirits of the past, -when only Sir Harry Vane and the Rump remained. Then was it felt and fully understood how wise and strong and patriotic had been the counsel and leadership of such men as Pym and Hampden.

NOT ENDED HERE.

BY L. DE BRUCE.

CHAPTER I.

The merry homes of Britain!
Around their hearths by night,

What gladsome looks of household love

Meet in the ruddy light!

There woman's voice flows forth in song,

Or childhood's tale is told,

Or lips move tunefully along
Some glorious page of old.

-Hemans.

AWAY in the northern province of Great Britain, not far from the coast ravines and mighty fretted rock-pillars, against which the North Sea dashes in the beauty of summer's foam and thunders in the storms of winter, in a quiet, but prosperous country town, a family were gathered as usual in their pleasant home. It was that enjoyable scason of the year when the days are still those of summer, yet at the same time there is sufficient evening for all to collect together with the charm of the home circle's special pleasures. And a happy party they were in that cosy room, while the fire, blazing up in the plain, but hospitable-looking old grate, cast a cheerful glow everywhere, and was not at all out of place just then in our British climate.

Beside the table on one side of the fire sat the mother, slight and of middle size, with fine, but pale features, and keen brown eyes and soft brown hair. She was knitting busily for some of the youthful group, on whom she glanced lovingly between the pauses of the father's reading. The latter was seated on the opposite side of the hearth, with a number of a Review laid upon a readingdesk on the table before him. Dr. Huntingdon had long been one

of the leading physicians of B- and he was truly one of those who are "nobles by the right of an earlier creation" than man can confer. His tall and massive figure was crowned by a proportionately well-shaped head from which the blue eyes looked, with, perhaps, some sternness which yet could quickly soften into genuine liveliness. Round the table sat six children. Of these, the eldest, David, though engaged in one of the banks, had much of the studious look and appearance of his father, but there was less firmness about the eyes and mouth. Two younger lads, Willie and Jack, were eagerly watching a game of chess between David and their second sister, Marion, who had the peculiar but beautiful combination of fair hair and brown eyes, with a white, oval brow, and small rose lips which, united with her delicate blonde complexion and dignified yet eminently graceful figure, rendered her a really handsome girl.

Not so tall was the elder sister, Agnes, who was poring over Goethe's "Iphegenia anf Tauris," and occasionally giving aid in his geography lesson to her little brother Donald, who sat close to her. Agnes could not be called pretty, for she had her father's broad but heavy forehead, and his square-set under-face, which gave the somewhat large mouth, expressive as it certainly was, a look of determination, which was a true index to her character. Yet the well-formed nose and large grey eyes, solemn in repose but gleaming brightly when roused, set in a clear, fair face surrounded by thick, dark brown carls on a finely-shaped head, had a charm of their own, about which the owner, however, had hitherto given herself small concern, for though beyond twenty, Agnes still believed, with the enthusiasm of girlhood, that those who could find no inner beauty were not worth attracting by the merely outward charms. She had yet to learn that even outward things have their uses, that peculiarities should be avoided, and disadvantages not added to by carelessness, and that what is attractive should be regarded sensibly, not as matter for vanity, but as given by God to be exercised in influence for good.

"I say, Agnes, have you and your friends made your final arrangements for the pic-nic to-morrow?" asked David, in a pause of his play.

"Oh, yes, of course," replied his sister, without looking up. "And what are they now, may I ask?

"We are to go to the mountains."

Ah, I am very sorry; when I had the holiday, I should have liked to go seaward, to have shown our bold and beautiful coast to a benighted young German Mr. Anderson is bringing with him."

"Who is he?" inquired Agnes, eagerly.

"He says he is only a peasant's son, come over to improve himself in business," replied David.

'He gives a modest account of himself," said Agnes; "it will be very interesting to see a countryman of Luther's; I have never seen one yet."

"You will, perhaps, be able to try how your German would do for practical purposes, too," laughed her brother, "though I believe he speaks tolerably good English."

"Which, I suppose, he wishes to practise so long as he is here," remarked Agnes, "and it would, therefore, be scarcely good manners to inveigle him into giving gratuitous lessons in his own language."

66

You are afraid to trust your German?'

"Not at all; I should only be too glad to have its deficiencies Fointed out, but, I repeat, to impose thus on a stranger would be the reverse of polite; it would be in more good feeling to assist the wishes of such an one in perfectly acquiring our language."

"A peasant's son, my lady Agnes! How will it suit your highflown theories of birth to consort with one of his kind?" queried her brother mischievously.

"Pooh, David," returned Agnes with some heat, "you know very well, though I believe there is much in the training of generations, I yet believe as firmly it is the conduct, and not the pedigree, which makes the true gentleman; probably, also, there are different grades among the German peasants, as there are among our own farmers."

"Ah, Agnes, I knew it; blue blood to the last! Pray have pity, however, on our new acquaintance; do not come down upon him too soon with a demand for his genealogy."

"Nonsense," said Agnes, "I certainly think it is quite as honourable to be descended from the honest tillers of the soil in old time, as from many of the ancient robber-chieftains ;" and she resumed her book.

David and Marion finished their chess, and while the latter gave some music at their father's request, the former began sketching a picture for which the canvass was lying ready on the easel. Willie and Jack sat down beside their mother and read till the hour came for retiring, when, as the patriarchal custom was and still continues in many families, servants and children assembled together for praise and reading God's Word, and knelt in prayer, while the master of the household expressed their thanks to God for His goodness during the day, and implored His care and blessing for the night. And, unquestionably, there would be more happy homes throughout the world, and among ourselves those homes are manifestly most full of enjoyment, where not alone cal

tivation of the mind, but that of the soul, is attended to, where God is reverently worshipped morning and evening, and a blessed influence radiates through life, even upon wanderers, from a home

Where first the child's glad spirit loves
Its country and its God.

Early next day, David, Agnes, and Marion Huntingdon drove off in their phaton to Mr. Anderson's, where the members of the picnic were to meet. To be in good time was essential, for they had a long drive before them, and it took some sorting and wisdom on the part of the elders of the party to arrange the young people in the different vehicles, so as to give most pleasure to each and all. Agnes Huntingdon got a seat in the clergyman's waggonette with a number of her townspeople, while another young lady and gentleman joined her brother and sister. Good old Mr. Anderson, a retired banker, had his own open carriage filled to the utmost; with the exception of the young German and another gentleman, its occupants were chiefly ladies. Some five or six horses finished the cavalcade. Amidst much merriment the party set forth, and soon left behind the quaint old town, which stands in a somewhat hilly spot, though the country around is, for a few miles, an elevated plain, sheltered by the mountains, whose invigorating breezes sweep over it. The road, therefore, was flat for a considerable distance, and on either side lay comfortable farm-houses and handsome and substantial residerces of the wealthy.

Soon the mountains became more distinct, and, as they were approached, the scenery assumed more grandeur, while the woods round the various castles, some ruined and some modern, gave richness to the scene. Our friends paused for a period at a beautiful gorge spanned by an interesting old bridge; in many shapes of bastion, tower, and boulder, the rocks rose from the rashing water into cliffs covered with small spreading trees and shrubs; from one side of the natural buttresses what might be called a waterfall precipitated itself into the river, down which the view was very fine. Every moment gave a new variation to the curiously-fashioned rocks which formed the deep ravine through which the river made its way with its own wild music, and the gradual rise, added to the Alpine character of the tiny flowerets and woodlands, indicated the close vicinity of the Highlands. At length, when some hours had passed, they reached the lovely mountain glen where it had been arranged to dine, and the preparations for the meal gave not a little amusement. A level space on the spur of a hill had been found, and a large rock sufficiently flat to form a table, on which a snow-white cloth was speedily spread, and gave a home-like look, which quickened the appetite