A LARGE-EYED, tender-hearted Fairy has visited the earth to-day for an express purpose. Her slight form wound in and out among the waving green reeds, and to each broad and slender bladed leaf, as they swayed to and fro in the summer breeze, she whispered words which sounded like these: A life, a precious human life, will be given you to-day; guard it well, and let no ill come to it.' And as the whisper spread, the green reeds, rustling softly, promised obedience to the command. The Fairy disappeared, and for a time the reeds were quiet. But presently soft, weary steps approached them; they were gently pushed aside, and a woman, carrying something in her arms, made her way among them. This must be the exact spot,' she murmured; and the wind, sighing softly through the reeds, seemed to give her the needed answer. Now I must be brave; farewell, my precious child, and may you never live to feel the anguish of heart your mother is now enduring.' Scarcely trusting herself to look at the sleeping child, the poor woman laid her with tender hands in the thickest part of the reeds, and then slowly turned away, and wended her steps back from whence she came. Her home was in the middle of a large forest, far away from any other habitation. Most people would have thought it a dreary place to live in, but for the last six months the sunshine of happiness had, as it were, entered into every nook and crevice, irradiating the whole place. But now? Ah! now it looked dismal enough; for a fearful change had come over it, and the sunshine was for the time com pletely quenched. 'Well,' said a voice, hoarse with suppressed grief, as the woman entered the cottage; 'well -is she safe?' 'Yes,' was the answer, wearily given. 'I left her where the great Fairy directed. We must be brave, Tristram, and not lose faith and hope; but it is hard, oh, it is hard!' If I could only see her once a month, as you will,' sighed the man, I would be content-almost happy; but to have my sweet baby taken from me for years, and to know that all that time my love for her and the wish to see her will grow stronger day by day-oh! it is too hard; and,' he added bitterly, letting his head fall on his outstretched arms, 'to know that I have only myself to thank for all this misery, makes it more maddening still.' Alise-so his wife was called-came up to him, and put her hand tenderly on his arm. 'Dear husband, we must try and comfort each |