And did her parents, soon after she was buried, die of broken hearts, or pine away disconsolately to their graves?--Think not that they, who were Christians indeed, could be guilty of such ingratitude. "The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away--blessed be the name of the Lord!" were the first words they had spoken by that bedside; during many, many long years of weal or woe, duly every morning and night, these same blessed words did they utter when on their knees together in prayer--and many a thousand times besides, when they were apart, she in her silent hut, and he on the hill--neither of them unhappy in their solitude, though never again, perhaps, was his countenance so cheerful as of yore--and though often suddenly amidst mirth or sunshine, her eyes were seen to overflow! Happy had they been--as we mortal beings ever can be happy--during many pleasant years of wedded life before she had been born. And happy were they--on to the verge of old age--after she had here ceased to be! Their Bible had indeed been an idle book--the Bible that belonged to "the Holy Child,"--and idle all their kirk-goings with "the Holy Child," through the Sabbath-calm--had those intermediate seven years not left a power of bliss behind them triumphant over death and the grave! _Blackwood's Magazine._ * * * * * NOTES OF A READER. * * * * * FAMILIAR LAW. We cordially add our note of commendation to those already bestowed on a little Manual, entitled "Plain Advice to Landlords and Tenants, Lodging-house Keepers, and Lodgers; with a comprehensive Summary of the Law of Distress," &c. It is likewise pleasant to see "third edition" in its title-page. Accompanying we have "A Familiar Summary of the Laws respecting Masters and Servants," &c. On looking into these little books we find much of the _plain sense_ of law. There is no mystification by technicalities, but all the information is practical, all ready to hand, we mean mouth; so that, as Mrs. Fixture says in the farce of _A Roland for an Oliver_--"If there be such a thing as la' in the land," you may "ha' it." Joking apart, they are sensible books, and of good authority. Suppose we throw ourselves back in our chair, and for a minute or two think of the good which the spread of common sense by such means as the above must produce among men: how much bile and bickering they may keep down, which in nine law-suits out of ten arise from want of "a proper understanding." The reader may say that in recommending those fire-and-water folks, landlords and tenants, and masters and servants, and those half-agreeable persons, lodging-house keepers and lodgers--to purchase such books, we advise every man to act with an attorney at his elbow. We can but reply with Swift:-- "The only fault is with mankind." * * * * * CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.