Inasmuch as she succeeded to the satisfaction of her fellow-beings, let them be grateful; inasmuch as she failed, let those who perceive it deny her not the meed of praise for her endeavor to open the path she believed would lead mankind to practical virtue and happiness, and strive to carry out the pure philanthropic principles by which she was actuated, and which she so earnestly endeavored to diffuse. _October, 1849._ CONTENTS. PART I. THE SISTERS. I.--A Launch--A Promise--A new Relation II.--Glimpses into a Child's Heart--A Death-bed III.--Retrospection--The Lowly sought--The Haughty foiled IV.--Retrospective--Effects of Coquetry--Obedience and Disobedience V.--A Heart and Home in England--A Heart and Home in India VI.--Domestic Discord, and its End PART II. TRAITS OF CHARACTER. I.--Youthful Colloquy--Introducing Character II.--Three English Homes, and their Inmates III.--Home Scene--Visitors--Childish Meditations IV.--Varieties V.--A Young Gentleman in a Passion--A Walk--A Scene of Distress VI.--Cecil Grahame's Philosophy--An Error, and its Consequences--A Mystery and a Confidence VII.--Mr. Morton's Story--A Confession--A young Pleader--Generosity not always Justice VIII.--An unpleasant Proposal--The Mystery Solved--A Father's Grief from a Mother's Weakness--A Father's Joy from a Mother's Influence IX.--Temptation and Disobedience--Fear--Falsehood and Punishment X.--Pain and Penitence--Truth Impressed, and Reconciliation--The Family-tree XI.--The Children's Ball XII.--Effects of Pleasure--The young Midshipman--Ill-temper, Origin and Consequences XIII.--Suspicion--A Parting, a double Grief--Innocence proved--Wrong done and Evil confirmed by Doubt PART III. SIN AND SUFFERING. I.--Advance and Retrospect II.--A Letter, and its Consequences III.--A Summons and a Loss IV.--The broken Desk V.--The Culprit and the Judge VI.--The Sentence, and its Execution VII.--The Light glimmers VIII.--The Struggle IX.--Illness and Remorse X.--Mistaken Impressions eradicated XI.--The Loss of the Siren XII.--Forebodings XIII.--Forgiveness XIV.--The Rich and the Poor XV.--A Home Scene, and a Parting XVI.--The Birthday Gift HOME INFLUENCE. PART I. THE SISTERS. CHAPTER I. A LAUNCH.--A PROMISE.--A NEW RELATION. In a very beautiful part of Wales, between the northern boundaries of Glamorgan and the southeastern of Carmarthenshire, there stood, some twenty or thirty years ago, a small straggling village. Its locality was so completely concealed that the appearance of a gentleman's carriage, or, in fact, any vehicle superior to a light spring-cart, was of such extremely rare occurence as to be dated, in the annals of Llangwillan, as a remarkable event, providing the simple villagers with amusing wonderment for weeks.