Brotherly Love.

It is rarely that emulation exists without producing envy , and a lew endeavoured to detract from Simon's achievements , but the majority still admitted Ms claims , and awarded him their praise . If they knew how little at first he was actuated by the love of country , devotion to the military meteor who surveyed their destinies , or by the other feelings which hacl drawn them into strife , they would have viewed Mm with aversion .

But they could not penetrate the springs of Ms actions , it was sufficient that they recognised and applauded them . Once more he found himself in a position of superiority , but , oh , how different from that in which he had first sought distinction ! The contrast suggested itself to Simon ' s mind , but he wisely banished it together with the soft image of Ida , ndiich also intruded . Notwithstanding Ms

idiosyncracies , he was human in heart , ancl as such , could not altogether be unaffected by the praises bestowed on his bravery , and the community of enterprise and association to which he ivas admitted , without reference to Ms exterior . Despite of the misanthrophy ivhich he strove to cherish , a bloom was creeping over his existence . It was true that the alteration was producednot by means consonant to the sentiments of a Christian ,

, or in harmony with the feelings of a philanthropist . The accident that made Mm a homicide was also rendering Mm more human . A fiend that had been slumbering in his bosom mig ht have been awakened , but it was no sooner roused to action , than it showed that he had faculties that enabled him to surmount his personal defects , and even win Mm an honourable position amongst his felloiv men .

Ancl who ever felt himself on an equality with Ms fellow men ivithout some sympathy springing from that consciousness ? The man who has been trodden clown by adversity , felt the iron heel of poverty or disease pressing daily on Ms spirit , may well groiv cynical . But it is only the surface that is frozen , for let a few gleams of prosperity shine forth , and the crust will dissolve , and the living spring of human love and feeling

will bubble forth in all its natural warmth ancl play . What wonder , then , if there should be a change wrought even in Simon , by an intercourse with Ms fellow men , sharing the same perils , enduring the same hardships , gazing upon the same scenes , and breathing daily the same atmosphere ? But we must not anticipate , for at the period ivhen he has just re-appeared there was much of the Simon in his breast , for he ivas still brooding in

bitterness of spirit over the past incidents of his life . On the night after the battle of Lutzen , Simon ivas roused from a short repose to take Ms place on watch . It was a bright moonlight night , and the battle field in all its gory attributes was fully revealed . The soft bght fell upon many an upturned face ivith cold leaden eye , ancl with features on which was traced , in convulsion , all the agony of a violent death ; or ,

perhaps , it irradiated the countenance soft and calm of one whose spirit had passed away without a pang . There was the young stripling with scarce the down on his youthful and rounded cheek , stretched beside the veteran with his grizzled locks , and seamed and scarred features , —the young and old victims at a common alter . And struggling through the torn vest might be seen glittering , some locket sparkling in that grey light ,