N the vestry of Rotherhithe church,

an illustration of which appears on the preceding page, is carefully preserved a portrait of Charles I. in his robes, kneeling at the table, and holding a crown of thorns. Circum

stances leading us to this church a short time since, the sight of this picture, recalling vividly to remembrance the history of his tragic death, brought to mind the following curious story which is told as to who was his

executioner.

It is universally known that, at the execution of King Charles I., a man in a vizor performed the office of executioner. This circumstance has given rise to a variety of conjectures and accounts. In the Gentleman's Magazine for November, 1767, and January, 1768, are accounts of one, William Walker, who is said to be the executioner. In the same magazine for June, 1784, it is supposed to be a Richard Brandon, of whom a long account is copied from an Exeter newspaper. But William Lilly, in his "History of his Life and Times," has the following remarkable passage :

"Many have curiously inquired who it was that cut off his (the king's) head. I have no permission to speak of such things; only this much I say, he that did it is as valiant and resolute a man as lives, and one of a competent fortune."

To clear up this passage, we shall present our readers with Lilly's examination (as related by himself) before the first parliament of King Charles II., in June, 1660.

"At my first appearance, many of the young members affronted me highly, and demanded several scurri

lous questions.

Mr. Weston held a paper before his mouth; bade me answer nobody but Mr. Prinn. I obeyed his command, and saved myself much trouble thereby; and when Mr. Prinn put any difficult or doubtful query unto me, Mr. Weston prompted me with a fit question. At last, after almost one hour's tugging, I desired to be fully heard what I could say as to the person that cut Charles I.'s head off. Liberty being given me to speak, I related as follows, viz. :

"That the next Sunday but one after Charles I. was beheaded Robert Spavin, Secretary to LieutenantGeneral Cromwell at that time, invited himself to dine with me, and brought Anthony Pearson, and several others, along with him to dinner. That their principal discourse all dinner-time was only who it was that beheaded the king; one said it was the common hangman; another, Hugh Peters; others were also nominated; but none concluded. Robert Spavin, so soon as dinner was done, took me by the hand, and carried me to the south window. Saith he, 'These are all mistaken; they have not named the man that did the fact; it was Lieutenant-Colonel Joice. I was in the room when he fitted himself for the work, stood behind him when he did it; when done, went in with him again. There is no man knows this but my master-viz., Cromwell-Commissary Ireton, and myself.' 'Doth Mr. Rushworth know it?' saith I. 'No, he doth not know it,' saith Spavin. The same thing Spavin since has often related to me when we were alone."

GOD can make the grief a grace, the burden a blessing, and light up the disappointment so that it becomes the torch of hope. The rod itself shall bud and blossom and bring forth almonds, so that the very thing that chastens us shall present beauty and fruit.

JUSTIFICATION is the act of God as a Judge; adoption, His act as a Father. By the former we are discharged from condemnation, and accepted as righteous; by the latter we are made the children and heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ for

ever.

HIS

CHAPTER XIV.-Continued.

IS mother's passionate outburst affected Tom deeply. What could it all mean-the stranger in the house-his mother weeping as if her heart would break?

"Mother, mother, tell me, what is the matter? Tell me all quickly. Has it come to the worst ?" he cried. Yes, yes t -the worst. The doctor holds out no hopes of your father's recovery at all."

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"While there's life there's hope, mother dear," Tom replied. "Can I go up to see father?"

"Yes-but don't wake him. He is asleep now, and wants rest.”

Tom crept quietly upstairs, and entered his father's room. What a changed there was in him since the boy last went to London. Then he was hale and healthy-looking; now his face was pale, his cheeks were sunken, and a look of deep weariness overspread his countenance.

But as Tom looked at him, he felt more comfortable about his father's condition than he had done at any time since he received his mother's letter. Something told him that there was still very reasonable hopes of his father's recovery.

The course of a few days tended to confirm Tom's hopes. Mr. Forbes, though by no means out of danger, certainly rallied, and the doctor began to speak more confidently of his condition. His only fear was that his patient might have a relapse.

But all went well. The blacksmith's naturally strong constitution, built up by a steady, regular life, and never impaired by vicious habits, carried him over all danger; and in a fortnight's time from the day when Tom arrived home the doctor made the pleasing announcement that in couple of days Mr. Forbes would be able to leave his bed.

CHAPTER XV.-HOPE.

a

As soon as his father's life was out of

all danger, Tom began to vigorously prosecute his business, which had fallen off since the blacksmith had become too unwell to attend to it. And now the young man's London experiences began to stand him in good stead. Left to his own resources, although nervous at first as to whether his knowledge of the business was sufficiently extensive to enable him to carry through all the various kinds of work which he would be called upon to undertake, the young man, working with vigour, and calling upon all his native shrewdness to assist him at this critical time, proved himself quite equal to the occasion.

Relieved by Tom's exertions from all anxiety as to his business, the blacksmith improved rapidly; so that in a few weeks more he was able to get about a little in the open air.

But there was one sad piece of news communicated to Tom and his mother by the doctor; and this was, that Mr. Forbes would never again be able to take an active share in his business again.

"But that is, after all, not such a very serious matter," the doctor continued ; "for he has worked hard all his life, and deserves rest now. Besides, Tom has shown himself such a competent workman, and so well able to manage the business, that Mr. Forbes cannot do better than take him into partnership with him, and at once make up his mind to retire from active work. I am going to see him now, and shall, as I am his medical adviser, and this is a matter which directly concerns his health, propose it to him."

The result was that in a few days a new board appeared over the blacksmith's workshop, on which appeared the words, " Forbes and Son, Coach Builders and Smiths," and it became known in the village that Tom Forbes had again settled down in his native town to conduct the business in his own and his father's name.

The young man rapidly made

friends throughout the country round about, and none were more sincere in their congratulations to him on his marked success than his old friends Rose and Ralph Strangeway. On no one's good esteem, either, did Tom set a higher value than on theirs, especially on that of one who will be readily guessed by the reader. Their good wishes acted as a stimulant to further exertions on his part; and in a very few months his work-shops had to be enlarged, and he began to be looked up to by even the old inhabitants as one of Slowberry's most successful men.

CHAPTER XVI.-CONCLUSION.

THE summer had come round again; the flowers were all in bloom, and scattered a sweet perfume throughout the country lanes; the trees were heavy with rich foliage; the fields were filled with corn ripe for the harvest; when on a lovely evening Tom made his way to Ralph's home.

The

young man's heart was light, and as he walked along a quiet, happy smile lit up his face. He was bent upon an important errand; but he felt that his mission would have a successful and happy termination.

Rose was sitting in the porch of the cottage when Tom reached the gate.

"Good evening, Rose," he said, as he took her hand. "I have come specially to see you, and I hope you are alone, for I have something deeply important to speak to you about."

"Yes, I am alone, Tom," she replied, as she led the way into the cosy little parlour, and placed a chair for him.

"Can you guess my errand, Rose?" he said, as he took her hand in his, and sat down beside her.

There was no reply-only a downcasting of her eyes, and a slight blush on her cheeks.

"I feel that you know what I am going to ask you," the young man went on. 66 Rose, you cannot but know that I have loved you many a day. I have now come to tell you that with you only can I share my life, and to ask you if you care for me enough to take me. Do you love me, Rose?"

Still no answer. Only a few tears rolled down the maiden's cheek.

"Oh, Rose," Tom cried, "can it be that I have forfeited your love for ever? Your tears make me fearful that once you loved me, but that I have lost that love. Speak to me, and tell me. If you cannot take me now, at least let me go away again feeling that there is still hope. Tell me, Rose dear-do you-can you ever love me?"

"Tom, I have little to say. I love you, and have always loved you, and my tears are only tears of joy now that I know you love me in return. I am proud to feel that I have gained your affections," she said, as she dried her eyes, "and I will always try to make you happy."

Dear reader, there is no need for us to watch this happy meeting to the end. Let us be content to know that before Tom left, Rose and he had. arranged to be married at the end of the year.

And on Christmas day, whilst the bells rang out their merry peal in remembrance of the great Christian festival, Tom and Rose were joined together in a bond no man can put asunder. What congratulations there were from the Slowberry folk—what an abundance of substantial expressions of good-will from the villagers. And who do you think was amongst the party and made merry in the blacksmith's house that evening? None other than our old friend Ransford. Tom knew now that he had been unjust to him, and gave him a hearty welcome; and no one was happier at the bright union of two young people than the temperance advocate whom Tom had at one time regarded with a jealous eye.

cares of business, and enjoy the peaceful comforts of domestic life.

Ralph Strangeway, ever with an inelination to roam, has left Slowberry, and settled down in London.

Mr. Ransford, at the pressing invitation of his friends, has abandoned business, and now devotes his life entirely to the temperance cause; and there is nowhere in the country a better organized or more successful society than that of which he is the organizing secretary.

To old Mr. and Mrs. Forbes we bid

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our last adieu. They are on the downward path of life, but out of tender respect and love for those whose career is before them they still gather round them month by month all who care to come-and the young are especially welcome-and out of his experience the old blacksmith, by his historic sketches of their village, reads to his hearers lessons worth remembering as guides for their whole future. We wish them a long lease of the lives they are employing for the benefit of their fellow-creatures.

HERE is a fable among the

Hindoos that a thief, having been detected and condemned to die, sent for his jailor and told him he had a secret of great importance to impart to the king, and when that had been done he would be prepared to die. Upon receiving this intelligence the king ordered the culprit to be conducted to his presence. The thief explained that he knew the secret of causing trees to grow which would bear fruit of pure gold. The experiment might be easily tried, and his majesty would not lose the opportunity; so, accompanied by his Prime Minister, his courtiers, and his chief priest, he went with the thief to a spot selected near the city wall, where the latter performed a series of solemn incantations. This done, the condemned man produced a piece of gold, and declared that if it should be planted it would produce a tree every branch of which would bear gold. "But," he added, "this must be put into the ground by a hand that has never been stained by a dishonest act. My hand is not clean, therefore I pass it to your Majesty."

The king took the piece of gold, but hesitated. Finally he said, "I re

member in my younger days that I have filched money from my father's treasury which was not mine. I have repented of the sin, but yet I can hardly say my hand is clean. I pass it, therefore, to my Prime Minister."

The latter, after a brief consultation, answered, "It were a pity to break the charm through a possible blunder. I receive taxes from the people, and, as I am exposed to many temptations, how can I be sure that I have been perfectly honest? I must give it to the governor of our citadel." No, no," cried the governor, drawing back. "Remember that I have the serving out of pay and provisions to the soldiers. Let the High Priest plant it."

And the High Priest said, "You forget that I have the collecting of the tithes and the disbursements of sacrifice."

As length the thief exclaimed, "Your Majesty, I think it would be better for society that all five of us should be hanged, since it appears that not an honest man can be found among us." In spite of the lamentable exposure, the king laughed, and was so pleased with the thief's cunning expedient that he pardoned him.