Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1833, by

J. & J. HARPER,

in the Clerk's Office of the Southern District of New-York.

PREFACE.

"Is it true ?" This is one of the first and most obvious inquiries made by the youthful mind, when listening to or perusing any interesting narrative. After the attention has been engaged, and the feelings excited by some maccount of remarkable incidents, it is painful to find that our sympathies have been awakened by fiction-that the occurrences to which we have attended have existed in the imagi nation of the narrator only, and that our sensibilities have been excited in behalf of persons or facts which were but the creatures of a sportive fancy.

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At once, then, to satisfy his readers, the author of the following tale informs them that

it is founded upon facts; that with most of

the characters whose history is here recorded he was personally acquainted; and therefore can vouch that it is substantially a narrative of real events.

If to any the tale seem romantic, let them only examine into the history of mankind, and they will find that the events of real life far exceed in strangeness the most wonderful details of fiction, which are presented to the mind in novels and romances.

If it benefit and improve the mind of any individual, and strengthen the conviction of a special superintending Providence, the author will not have written in vain.

New-York, May 5, 1833.

THE

CLERGYMAN'S ORPHAN.

CHAPTER I.

"Has the physician called here this morning?" said Mr. Slade, who had just come in from his counting-house, and was awaiting the announcement of his dinner.

"He has," answered Mrs. Slade, "and his opinion of little Jane is, I fear, extremely unfavourable."

"What says he then ?" inquired Mr. Slade. "He informed me," answered his lady, "that Jane is labouring under a complication of diseases; that he considers the disorder of the spine to be incurable; and that he expects all that medicine can do will be only to mitigate her sufferings. Poor child, I expect she will gradually sink under it."

"I am sorry for it," said Mr. Slade; "however, we must try to make her as comfortable

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as possible. I hope you will soon find a suitable servant to wait upon her, and nurse her."

"Upon that very point," answered Mrs. Slade, "I was just about to speak to you. I think I have succeeded in obtaining one. A young person called here this morning to offer her services. She is highly recommended by Mrs. Banks, and has also given me several respectable references. I like her much. She has never yet lived out at service; her manners are pleasing, and her countenance is amiable. She appears something above the common rank of servants, and I have engaged her for a month upon trial. She will come here this evening."

"I am glad of it," said Mr. Slade. "I think you may rely on Mrs. Banks's recommendation; but I hope this girl may not be one of your evangelicals. I would not have one of that sort about my house. She would be preaching to Jane about religion till she had made the poor thing quite superstitious and melancholy."

"I do not think she is," replied Mrs. Slade. "She seems quite cheerful and good-tem pered."

Dinner was now announced, and an end