words, "Shocking-shocking-how is it shocking? How is it bad? What could they mean?"

When Sunday-school was over, and she joined her parents, they noticed her sweet eyes impearled with tears, her flushed cheeks, and agitated manner. The hearts of both were troubled with a vague fear that half divined the truth. The service seemed very, very long, that day. When it ended, and they were in the street again, Tina, in a hurried, excited manner, related all that had passed.

"Ah, my birdie, has the knowledge of the world's prejudice, the world's injustice to us poor slaves of an ungrateful public, come to you so soon?" said the father. "You must e'en learn to bear all their hard sayings, hoping never to deserve them.'

But, father, what did they mean by shocking? What did they mean by calling the theatre a shocking place?"

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I don't know how I can make you understand it clearly, precious birdie; but to theatres there have sometimes belonged bad persons, bad men and women, who were actors and actresses, and their sinfulness was made known to the world. Generally it was exaggerated, and believed to be far greater than it was; and so it came about that some people are prone to think that every one belonging to a theatre is degraded. But it is not so, my child; we have among us as the annals of crime show that other professions (even the highest, the ministry of God itself) have unprincipled and wicked people; but we have true, honest, God-fearing people, also. When you hear any one say otherwise, think of your dear mother," and he pressed Susan's arm

as on that day when he promised to be all to her,"and remember that what the world thinks cannot harm you. It is what the Lord thinks, the Lord, who sees your heart, your actions and intentions, what He thinks alone has true importance."

"But must I go to the Sunday-school again, father, when I know they think ill of me and of my mother, and that I belong to a shocking place?" That word shocking grated so harshly upon Tina's young ears! She could not forget it.

"Yes, my daughter, you must go, and you must bear whatever slights you may meet with. You may have to encounter them in life, and they cannot harm you. When we reach home I will read to you about some great and good men, the benefactors of their country, who have been reviled and misjudged all their lives; but those who were holy-minded performed their duties courageously, all the same, and their spirits were not broken because they were illused and misunderstood."

As the week glided on, Tina, for the first time, dreaded the approach of the Sabbath, though she never thought of shrinking from the trial through which her father wished her to pass. Sunday came,

With

a lovely, calm, bright day; the bells chimed so musically, everything animate and inanimate seemed to know that it was the Sabbath of their Lord. a slow step and drooping head Tina entered the Sunday-school. Her eyes were cast down, as if she dreaded to meet the many curious looks turned upon her; for the news that she belonged to that mysterious place, a theatre, had rapidly spread throughout the school, and the children leaned their heads

together and whispered as she passed them. She joined her own class. Miss Amory accosted her kindly. Without lifting her eyes,' she seated herself meekly apart from the other scholars. No words were spoken except on the subject of the lesson; no allusion was made to the occurrences of the Sunday previous.

From that day her whole demeanor underwent a change. The frolicksome child was no more; all her buoyancy disappeared; her features wore a subdued and chastened expression; her ease of manner was displaced by a fawn-like fearfulness, that shrank from contact with strangers. She had learned her first sad lesson in life! There was a chill about her young heart which could not be warmed away. Her deep, dreamy eyes still smiled constantly, smiled on all they looked upon,- and the smile of the eye says more than that upon the lips,- but the dimpling laughter that was wont to irradiate her face was hushed forevermore.

Many Sabbaths passed in the same manner as this. Tina was wholly separated from her former friends; that is, she withdrew herself from them, dreading that they might shun her. But there were many who longed to speak to the little girl; many who were touched by her sweet submissive ways. Some had lately seen her on the stage, and were curious to approach the public favorite nearer.

One Sunday she reached the school unusually early. The superintendent and teachers were not present. Only a few scholars had assembled. These mustered courage to gather around Tina, and ask her questions. She answered shyly, but politely.

"Won't you walk on your toes for us?" said one saucy little miss.

"Do," said another, "and make us a pirouette, won't you? I do so want to see what they call a pirouette !"

You might act a little for us before the teachers come," said another; "now, don't be ill-tempered, but show off!"

Yes, show off! show off!" cried all the children. Tina was so surrounded that she did not know which way to turn; her juvenile persecutors met her on all sides. None heeded her embarrassment, her prayers to be left to herself; the children only urged her more pertinaciously to "show off." They even seized her, and tried to drag her to the platform where stood the superintendent's desk and chair, children are such cruel tyrants at times! In vain Tina remonstrated and struggled; they were forcing her upon the platform, when the entrance of one of the teachers occasioned her release.

It was not easy to resmooth the ruffled plumage of Robin's poor birdie, and her little heart fluttered like that of any bird when pursued by vultures; but Tina remembered her father's words, and she sank down in her quiet corner without uttering a complaint.

CHAPTER IV.

Genius. Sensations of the Youthful Actress. Tina's Personation of the Young Duke of York. ·Jealousy of Richard's Representative.-Tina's First Call before the Foot-Lights.Sudden Deafness of Mr. Tuttle.- Mr. Higgins' Command and Motives.-The Hunchbacked Prompter's Delight.- Duke of York metamorphosed. Merriment of the Audience. Rumors heard by Mr. Higgins.- Robin bound by a Contract. - Discovery that he has been Over-reached. Tina as Prince Arthur.- Falling from the Wall.-Mr. Upton softened. William Tell.—Tina as Albert. ity.-The Hunchback's Gratitude.

A Tragedian's Generos

TINA had just entered her sixth year when she was intrusted with the rôle of the young Duke of York, in Shakspeare's tragedy of Richard the Third. The pulse of true genius stirring within her soul, always exultant when her high gifts were brought into use, caused her to experience an inexplicable, indescribable fascination for her profession, a fascination that counterbalanced the weariness, the anxieties, the trials, that crowd the actor's smoothest pathway. Even at that early age she was a close student of her art. She had an intense love for the poet's conception and for its lifelike embodiment, rather than any undue fondness for applause. The latter was only valued as a token that she had fitly interpreted her author, that she had done her duty. The power of mental concentration, of total self-forgetfulness, is the first great element of dramatic success; and