-almost motionless-his eyes half closed, lips black and parched, his cheek flushed with the intense heat of fever which was scorching his vitals, while his wife, whose countenance portrayed the keenest anguish, was constantly employed in administering such antidotes as the united judgment of the two novices in the healing art directed, to arrest the alarming symptoms which had taken place within a few hours. The good people with whom they stayed, and indeed the whole neighbourhood (who were of that sect denominated Quakers) manifested the greatest kindness and sympathy for the situation of the family. Daily offers of assistance, in the way of nursing, and sitting up at night with a sick man, were made, and as they viewed the pale cheek, and grief-worn face of Mrs. Stanley, and witnessed her unwearied devotion to her husband, they seemed to vie with each other in offices of kindness. There were also two young ladies, Miss Olivia and Martha R, exiles like herself, staying in the same house, from whom she received almost sisterly attentions. Interesting young creatures they were, but where their lot has since been cast, I know not, should they still live, they will be happy to know that their disinterested kindness to that afflicted family, to those sweet and interesting children, who are now angels in heaven, will ever be remembered by that bereaved lady with heartfelt gratitude.

Poor Mrs. Stanley scarcely left the bedside of her apparently dying husband, night or day, except at the earnest entreaty of her little daughters joined by the young ladies, who implored her for her children's sake, not to destroy her own life by such constant watching. There she sat—his burning hand pressed

within her own, her face and lip as pale as monumental marble, the gaze of her dark hazel eye immovably fixed on those loved features, which to her excited mind were already settling for the grave.

There were, as I have before observed, constant skirmishes between our militia and the advance guards of the British. It was evidently the policy of the besiegers to make a simultaneous attack by land and water: but they were detained by the tardy movements of their fleet. Commodore M'Donough had chosen a favourable position to meet their fire; his fleet being moored just round the point, in Cumberland Bay, which position he resolved no ruse of the enemy should induce him to abandon. General Macomb had been in hourly expectation of an engagement since the first of September. The deliberation with which the besiegers advanced, while it had excited surprise, gave our brave officers time to mature their plans, and strengthen and complete their defences-their block-houses were rendered more secure, their fortifications doubly fortified, new batteries were erected, impediments thrown in the passage of the enemy, and now, when their movements made it evident that they were about to attack the fort, the brave Macomb found himself ready to receive them. It was the determined resolve of the magnanimous little band who threw themselves into that fort to defend it to the last extremity-to conquer, or die! They had prepared matches to blow up the fort in case defeat was inevitable, nobly resolving, not to give the foe the advantage of that important post with all its arms and stores, which had been secured within its walls. The superiority of the British forces was

so great, that it was generally thought they would reduce both the fort and fleet, and penetrate by land and water into the heart of the country. Many brave hearts, which entered these walls, mentally bade adieu to wife and children, parents and friends, and all the tender ties which bound them to life, resolving to sustain the siege, repel the enemy, or perish in the ruins of the fort.

It would be vain for me to attempt a description of the little group, assembled in the chamber of the now apparently dying man, on the morning of the 10th of September. A material change had taken place in his symptoms during the night, and when the student came in the morning, he confirmed the worst fears of Mrs. Stanley. There he lay-nothing could move him now-his thick hurried respiration, difficulty of breathing, sunken features, all, every symptom appeared like approaching dissolution. There sat the mourning wife, the desolate mother; her sweet Anna on her knees on one side, partly reclining on her mother's lap; Louisa knelt on the other, an arm of each encircling her waist; the big tears were chasing each other down the cheeks of the beautiful Anna, while little Louisa buried her head in her mother's lap, almost convulsed with the sobs she was trying to suppress; little Charles was seated on Polly's lap, in silent amazement at a scene so new. Mrs. Stanley, encircled in the arms of her daughters, pale as a snowdrift and almost as cold, sat calm and motionless, her hands clasped, her eyes closed, unconscious of the animating scenes enacting in the street under her window. Her soul was bowed down with its weight of woe;-she was commending the spirit of

Poor

her dying husband to the fountain of life, to the Saviour of sinners. Silence, like the silence of death, reigned in the apartment;-nothing but the low sobs of little Louisa, or the bursts of grief which Anna had in vain endeavoured to control, was heard. The student was unwearied in his attentions to the sick man; his kindness sunk deep into the mourning heart of Mrs. Stanley. Every thing which a friend could do on such an occasion was done by him; his frankness when he was first called, had won her esteem, and his generous kindness throughout the whole of that scene of affliction demands her lasting gratitude.

The loud tramp of the courier's horse now broke upon the ear; all was bustle and confusion, as he proclaimed his intelligence to his anxious auditors. "The enemy had struck their tents, and seemed about to commence their march. An attack upon the fort was hourly expected." How much depended upon the fate of that battle! Notwithstanding her own private griefs, Mrs. Stanley was deeply interested in the result of the war. Proud of the independence of her country, her young heart glowed with enthusiasm as she retraced the deeds of her heroic countrymen, who a few years since had fought and bled to obtain that independence; she could not brook the idea of surrender now. The ensign which Washington had planted in this land of freemen, must never bow to a foreign power; and while the star-spangled banner floated from the mast of M'Donough, and the princely eagle waved his protecting wings over Fort Moreau, she knew her loved country was still free, and her heart was raised in gratitude and thanksgiving, to that

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near, he would take nothing but from her hand, nor receive the assistance of any other person, yet he did not know her! Poor Mrs. Stanley! "what do you think of him, sir?" said she, in a tremulous voice."He is a very sick man," was the brief reply. "What do you advise, Doctor?" "I do not know, madam—I am not competent to advise in so critical a case, for I have but just commenced the study of medicine." "God bless you, my dear sir, for your candour on this occasion. I now feel far more easy about my husband than I should do, were you an arrogant, self-sufficient young man, professing to understand what you know nothing about." "Dr. Stanley is certainly very ill; I wish we had able counsel; we must make the best of it, however, madam; as I said, I will assist you all I can, but I am not willing to take the responsibility." "I will send to Plattsburgh, and get advice if possible; if a physician cannot be had, the responsibility must rest here," said Mrs. Stanley, placing her hand upon her heart. "Oh! God of mercy," she silently ejaculated, “inspire me with wisdom to direct, courage to perform, and strength to sustain me in this perilous business! what heavy responsibilities are mine. Oh, should I through ignorance administer what would injure his constitution, perhaps shorten his life, or should I omit what is necessary to perform, the same results will ensue-what shall I do? what can I do? I will send instantly to Plattsburgh." She stepped to the kitchen, and ordered the man to saddle Dr. Stanley's horse with all speed: while this was doing, she sat down to her desk and penned a note to a friend in camp, briefly stating her situation, and entreating that one of the