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HELEN was deeply touched as the poor girl poured out her apologies, and described the sufferings they had endured. "Is it possible," said she, "that my father knows of your situation? Surely you have not acquainted him with your distress, or he would not have allowed you to be reduced to such a state as this?"

Mary glanced hurriedly and anxiously at Helen's face as she put this question, but feeling re-assured by its expression of earnest heartfelt sympathy, she answered :

"Your father, Miss Helen, employs a great many needlewomen, but he never sees us himself. He gets the work done as cheap as he can, and if we complain of the price, the foreman says, there's hundreds as would be glad to take it. They say it's the scale price, and it's no use to go against that, or we should lose the work altogether."

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Aye, Miss," added Mary's father, feebly, "It's hard to see wages go down, down, till the poor, who are willing to work, have every bit of hope and heart ground out of 'em. Time was I could make both ends meet, tidy like, by my loom; but we're all pretty much the same now, competition seems likely to make us all paupers without paupers' relief."

Helen soon ascertained the real situation of the weaver and his family. His wife had died comparatively young, leaving him with four children to support. The eldest, Tom, of whom Helen had heard so unsatisfactory an account from the poor Irish woman, had been brought up to assist his father in the weaving. "He was a spirited, wild boy," his father said, "and had got mixed up with a baddish lot, who took him to the public-house and made him unsteady, and then they held meetings, and talked about doing away with the Government and getting up a row, till at last the police came down upon 'em, and then they showed fight, and Tom and several more were caught, and now he was in prison waiting for his trial." Mary was the eldest girl; and "oh! Miss," said Millicent, "without her I should have been in my grave long ago; she's been a good daughter to me, a real good one; she's not much above eighteen now, and yet she has the thought of a woman. It's wonderful how she has kept us all alive. She seems to be working there at the needle from morning to night, and yet she manages to do everything that's wanted in the house, and nobody ever hears her complain for herself, though I know she'll work herself into the grave." The two younger children, boys, were seven and ten years of age; the elder of whom was employed to run errands by a neighbouring tradesman; and

the youngest, little Lawrie, had been admitted into an infant school which had been opened in an adjoining street. The weaver's bed occupied one corner of the room, whilst a little mattress screened off on the opposite side and lying on the floor, served for Mary and the two boys.

After learning these particulars, Helen quitted, leaving with Mary some money for their immediate relief, and promising that she would soon visit them again, when she hoped to be able to propose some plan by which their condition might be permanently improved.

"We must try, Mary, to fulfil the doctor's directions, and when we have got your father round, I dare say we shall soon see him at his loom again, and while he is away we will try if we can't find a room or two where he will get better air, and light for his work." And thus having infused a ray of joy and hope, such as had seldom gladdened the weaver's attic, Helen took her leave of the Millicents, followed by a “good bye, lady,” from little Lawrie, who pushed his curly head through the banisters, and kissed the hand with which she patted his pale cheek.

Helen turned towards the city, and was threading her way through the labyrinth of dismal streets leading towards the main thoroughfare, her mind intently occupied with the scene she had just witnessed, when a boy, rushing out of an adjoining court, stumbled violently against her; at the same moment she felt a sudden jerk at her arm, and before she could recover from her alarm, her reticule and its contents were gone. This had been snatched by an accomplice at the moment his companion stumbled against Helen, and both were now speeding away up the street with their prize.

Their course led them past Helen's first acquaintance, the old match-seller, who had watched the whole transaction, and as they ran past her she dexterously slipt out her foot and tript up the young thief. Darting upon him, and pinning him fast to the ground, she shouted lustily for the police.

"Take the swag, and let me go, you old beldame," cried the lad, taking the reticule from his breast and thrusting it into her hand. The woman eagerly seized the treasure, and her prisoner twisting himself out of her loosened grasp, darted down a neighbouring street, and was ought of sight in a

moment.

"Ha, ha! they little thought my old eyes was a watchin 'em," said the poor woman, as she hurried up to Helen to restore her bag. "I see 'em a dodgin and sneakin in and out o' the court after they'd a catcht sight o' your bonnie satin cloak, such chances don't happen to 'em once and awhile down this way, and I could see they was up to mischief, but lor poor creeturs, its little they've ever learned, except stealin and shammin for nobody's cared for 'em poor things, since they was turned babbies on the streets. But I'm glad, sure enough, that I managed to lay hold of your purty bag, ma'am, and here comes somebody as will see you safe out of this rookery-you may trust him, Miss, he's a good, well-behaved lad, and may-be-whispered the old woman-he can tell you something more about the young woman you was asking for, for I often sees him coming home with Mary Millicent, and carrying her great bundles for her."

Beckoning as she spoke to a tall decently dressed youth, whose fustian jacket, and apron twisted round his waist, indicated that he was a mechanic's apprentice, and who was approaching them on the other side of the street. She hastily explained to him what had occurred, and desired him to see the lady safely as far as she might wish.

Helen, who had been much alarmed at the violence to which she had been subject, and her unprotected situation in such a neighbourhood, thanked the poor woman warmly not only for the restoration of her property, but her kind thought in procuring her an escort; and ascertaining her name and address, she slipt some money into her hand, and told her she should call again

-then turning to her young guide, she asked him, if he could spare time to conduct her to the nearest cab-stand, where she would get a conveyance to the city. The youth seemed not only pleased but proud of his task as he proceeded to conduct Helen in the direction she wished. She was much struck with the frank open expression of his countenance, and the respectful and intelligent manner in which he replied to her questions soon gained her confidence, and raised her curiosity to learn some particulars connected with his history, for she soon ascertained that though his parents were poor, and he had had many difficulties and hardships himself to struggle with, yet that he had secured the advantages of a good ordinary education, and that he was still pursuing with avidity all such opportunities as his scanty leisure afforded for the cultivation and improvement of his mental powers,

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BAKUNIN is in London! Bakunin, buried in dungeons, lost in Eastern Siberia, re-appears in the midst of us full of life and energy. Redivivus et ultor, we might say, with Pougatscheff, were not Bakunin and ourselves, too much occupied to waste time in thoughts of vengeance. Bakunin returns more hopeful than ever, with redoubled love for the Russian people. He is invigorated by the sharp, but healthy, air of Siberia.

Is it that spring approaches? Old friends return to us from beyond the Pacific Ocean. How many images, how many shadows, rise from the dead with Bakunin. We observe, with closer attention, what passes in the East of Europe, on the shores of the Danube. We seem once more to hear the crack of a mosaic empire that is falling, we hear the murmur of the waves of the Slavonic world, and see dismembered Poland re-unite around Warsaw, and extend-forgetting the past-a fraternal hand to the Russian people, free, also, from the yoke of absolutism.

The dreams of 1848! Yes, dreams, but give only two or three such years, and the dreams of 1848 will be realised from the Straits of Messina to the Vistula, the Volga, and the Oural. The year 1848 is not dead, it has only changed its place.

The activity of Bakunin-previous to the fortress of Koenigsteinwas philosophical and abstract in Moscow, revolutionary in general and socialist in Europe, henceforth we hope it will be Slavo-Russian. We will speak of this at length, on a future occasion; at present, we touch briefly the details of his past career.

Bakunin left Russia in 1841. In 1845 he was involved in the trial of the Swiss socialists. Blunchl pointed him out to the Russian government, and he was ordered to return immediately. He did not return; the Senate deprived him of his rank as an officer, and his rights of nobiliiy; he then went to Paris.

It was there Bakunin pronounced his celebrated speech to the Poles, on the 29th November, 1847-the anniversary of the insurrection at Warsaw. For the first time, a Russian was seen to offer a hand of brotherhood to the Poles, and renounce publicly the government of

Guizot expelled

Petersburg. The speech had an immense effect. Bakunin from Paris; but he had scarcely reached Brussels, when Paris expelled Guizot and Louis Philippe from France. Bakunin returned to Paris, and passionately threw himself into the new political life which then began. The Lamartine and Marast government beheld, with evil eye, the men who accepted the republic in earnest, and was glad to be rid of them in any manner, provided they did not remain in France. It was a relief when Bakunin prepared to depart. But a new era had commenced,-a Slavo-Polish Congress had assembled at Breslau. There Bakunin was active; and even more so afterwards at the Congress of Prague, where, indeed, he was not the only Russian. He wrote his social Slavonic programme, which the Tcheks have not yet forgotten; he acted with the Slavonians until Windischgrætz dispersed the Congress with Austrian cannon. Quitting Prague, Bakunin made an attempt, in opposition to Palack, to unite the Slavonian democrats with the Hungarians, who sought their independence, and with the German revolutionists. Into this union many Poles entered, and the Hungarians sent Count Teleki. Bakunin, wishing to confirm this union by example, took the command at the defence of Dresden, and acquired a glory which even his enemies have not denied. He retired, after the taking of Dresden by the Prussians. At Themnites he was seized by treachery, with two of his companions, and from that time commences his long martyrdom.

Bakunin was condemned to death by the Saxon tribunals—a sentence commuted by the King to that of perpetual imprisonment. In May, 1850, he was sent, chained, to Prague. The Austrian government desired to extort from him the secrets of the Slavonian movement; he refused to answer. He was left for a year at Gratz, and the question was not renewed. In May, 1851, terrified by the report of a design to liberate Bakunin, the government transferred him to Olmutz, where he passed six months chained to the wall. Afterwards, Austria delivered him to Russia. It was said, that on the frontier the fetters should be removed from his hands and feet. Nicholas was not so delicate; the Austrian chains were taken off, as imperial property; but they were replaced by native irons, of twice the weight. Bakunin passed three long years in the fortress of Alexis, and he left in 1854 for Schlusselbourg. Nicholas feared that Sir Charles Napier might set him free.

Alexander II. ascended the throne; he published several unsatisfactory, half amnesties-of Bakunin, not a word. His Majesty deigned even to efface his name from the list. Bakunin's mother petitioned the Emperor, who replied with affability, "As long as your son lives, Madame, he will never be free." In 1857, Bakunin was sent to Eastern Siberia.

In 1860, a fresh attempt was made to obtain for Bakunin permission to return to Russia. His Majesty again refused, assigning as the motive for his severity, a letter written by Bakunin, in 1851, and adding, "I see in him no sign of remorse." However, the Emperor granted him the right of entering the service as an employé in the Chancery, of the 4th order-a particular class of copyists,-Bakunin could not profit by this imperial grace of the 4th order. After eight years' imprisonment, and four years' exile, he had to look forward still to a long series of dreary years in Siberia.

A new flame was kindled throughout Russia; Austria vanquished and in retreat, the Italian flag unfurled at Milan, Bakunin tells us with what eagerness he followed, at Irkutsk, the movements of Garibaldi, as the peninsula grew brighter and brighter in the light of liberty, to remain, at 47 years of age, and with his pulse in full vigour, a tame and distant spectator of events, was impossible; he had expiated long enough his faith in the possibility of a union with the German democrats. He determined to escape from Siberia. Under pretext of a commercial affair he reached the Amour, and an American clipper conveyed him to Japan, undoubtedly the first political refugee who had ever there sought shelter. Thence he arrived at San Francisco, crossed the Isthmus of Panama, and came to New York. On December 26th he landed at Liverpool, and on the 27th was with us in London.

For the present, let us conclude with the strong hope that the Emperor's prediction that the peasants shall have "no other liberty than that which they possess," may be put to the proof as speedily as the prediction concerning the liberty of Bakunin.-FROM A RUSSIAN CORRESPONDENT.

CO-OPERATIVE NEWS.

GLASGOW CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY.-A large and influential meeting of members and others wns held by this society, in the large hall of the Bell Hotel, on Tuesday evening, the 28th of January, for the purpose of considering the propriety of purchasing ground, and erecting premises, for the more effectual development of the society's business. The chairman explained that a capital of £1,200 would be required to carry out the plan which had been already suggested, and which, by the members taking up new shares, might be paid up by the month of May next. Already £750 of such shares had been subscribed, many of them had been paid up, and a considerable number more expected. The purchase of the property would cost about £315, and the building, the bakery, the flour store, shops, &c., might be erected when trade grew more brisk, and money more easy. After considerable discussion as to the most eligible district, the northern or the eastern, it was finally resolved to select a piece of land in the eastern district, and proceed with the building as suggested. The meeting, which was a most enthusiastic one, then separated.

AYR CO-OPERATIVE HOUSE-BUILDING SOCIETY.-The Operative Masons' Hall was occupied, on the 23rd of January, by the members of this society, to receive the auditors' half-yearly report. It appears that the members' weekly instalments amounted to £198 17s., and from rent of houses bought and built by the society, with interest, the amount was £35 17s. 1d. The chairman, in forcible terms, advocated the claims of the society as set forth in their programmes, and instanced several working men with large families who had possessed themselves of comfortable houses, thus saving the payment of rent, which enabled them to become somewhat independent in their old age, and making after provision for their children. The report was adopted. The society is doing good, and working well.

KILNHURST CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY.-On Monday, the 27th of January, the first anniversary of this society was held in the National School, Kilnhurst. There was an excellent tea provided, at which upwards of one hundred members, with their wives and friends, sat down. After tea, the Rev. Mr. Sheppard was voted to the chair. He, in an elaborate speech, commended the prudential course of co-operation to be rigidly followed out by those who sought

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