and during the night had sent an earnest of their coming, which was anything but agreeable. All along his path hung the dripping trailers, and beneath his feet were the roots of vegetables, half-bared, and half-imbedded in mud; while the dark clouds, with the rain almost incessantly pouring from them, and the crazy clusters of bamboo huts, which appeared here and there in the gloomy waste, and were honoured by the name of village, made up a scene of desolation absolutely indescribable. A heavy shower coming up as he approached a zayat by the way-side, and far from even one of those primitive villages, he hastily took refuge beneath the roof. Here, in no very good humour with the world, especially Asiatic jungles and tropic rains, he sulkily "whistled for want of thought," and employed his eyes in watching the preparations for his breakfast.

"Uh! what wretched corners the world has, hidden beyond its oceans and behind its trees!"

Just as he had made this sage mental reflection, he was startled by the vision of a fair, smiling face in front of the zayat, the property of a dripping figure, which seemed to his surprised imagination to have stepped that mo

ment from the clouds. But the party of wild Karen followers, which gathered round her, had a very human air; and the slight burdens they bore, spoke of human wants and human cares. The lady seemed as much surprised as himself; but she curtsied with ready grace, as she made some pleasant remark in English; and then turned to retire. Here was a dilemma. He could not suffer the lady to go out into the rain, but-his miserable accommodations, and still more miserable breakfast! He hesitated and stammered; but her quick apprehension had taken in all at a glance, and she at once relieved him from his embarrassment. Mentioning her name and errand, she added, smiling, that the emergencies of the wilderness were not new to her; and now she begged leave to put her own breakfast with his, and make up a pleasant morning party. Then beckoning to her Karens, she spoke a few unintelligible words, and disappeared under a low shed-a mouldering appendage of the zayat. She soon returned with the same sunny face, and in dry clothing; and very pleasant indeed was the interview between the pious officer and the lady-missionary. They were friends. afterward; and the circumstances of their

first meeting proved a very charming reminis

cence.

Mrs. Boardman had always been peculiarly domestic in her character and habits; esteeming herself blessed above measure, when in the bosom of her family, administering to her husband's happiness, or unfolding the budding intellects of her children, and fitting their little spirits for their future destiny. But now she sat in the zayat, which had been erected for her husband, at the foot of the mountain, and in others, wherever a little company of worshippers could be collected, and performed even weightier offices, than those of Miriam and Anna; not like the wild-eyed priestess of Apollo, breathing burning words from the sacred tripod, and mad with imagined inspiration; but meek, and sometimes tearful, speaking in low, gentle accents, and with a manner sweetly persuasive. In several instances she thus conducted the worship of two or three hundred Karens, through the medium of her Burmese interpreter; and such was her modest manner of accomplishing the unusual task, that even the most fastidious were pleased; and a high officer of the English Church, which is well-known to take strict cognizance of irregularities, saw fit to bestow upon her

unqualified praise. These acts, however, were not in accordance with her feminine taste or her sense of propriety. The duty, which called her to them, was fashioned by peculiar circumstances; and, as soon as opportunity offered, she gladly relinquished the task, in favour of a person better suited to its performance.

CHAPTER XII.

A NEW HOME.

"The love-lit eye, too, ere she spoke,
Forestalled the office of her tongue;
And hearts on which its radiance broke,
Thrilled with new life and heavenward spring.
And prayer and praise, where'er she trod,
Bore witness that she walked with God."

Renne.

T the commencement of the fourth year of her widowhood, Mrs. Boardman, by accepting the name of one, whom, long after, she declares to be, a complete assemblage of all that a woman's heart could wish to love and honour," found herself in a new station, with new duties clustering thickly around her. She parted from her "beloved Karens" with the less regret, that they were left in charge of judicious and devoted "teachers." But she never forgot them; and, for many years, she required a list