Fraternal Love.

Nearest of blood should still be next in love;

And when I see these happy children playing,

While William gathers flowers for Ellen’s ringlets,

And Ellen dresses flies for William’s angle,

I scarce can think, that in advancing life,

Coldness, unkindness, interest, or suspicion,

Will e’er divide that unity¹ so sacred,

Which Nature bound at birth.

Anonymous².

When Mowbray had left his dangerous adviser³, in order to steer⁴ the course which his agent had indicated, without offering to recommend it, he went to the little parlour which his sister was wont⁵ to term her own, and in which she spent great part of her time. It was fitted up with a sort of fanciful neatness; and in its perfect arrangement and good order, formed a strong contrast to the other apartments of the old and neglected mansion-house. A number of little articles lay on the work-table, indicating the elegant, and, at the same time, the unsettled turn of the inhabitant’s mind. There were unfinished drawings, blotted⁷ music, needlework of various kinds, and many other little female tasks; all undertaken with zeal⁸, and so far prosecuted⁹ with art and elegance¹⁰, but all flung aside before any one of them was completed.

Clara herself sat upon a little low couch by the window, reading, or at least turning over the leaves of a book, in which she seemed to read. But instantly starting up when she saw her brother, she ran towards him with the most cordial cheerfulness.

“Welcome, welcome, my dear John; this is very kind of you to come to visit your

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