The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1857-09-19

Grandfather Ellis put on his large silver
glasses. and looked at the address. "lts
+. ON California, my child" he said. at
must be from your Uncle Ch,rlcs."
At that momcnt the work slipped from
Miss MAINS fingers to the floor. She bent
hastily and raised tap; but If Marj,ry had
not been too much engaged to observe her at
that moment, she would have seen she had
grown pale!
Well Marory opened the letter. with Il
pleased ilulrring at he her heart. and read it
slowly; very slowly Cor she was not accu>ton,-
cd to the odd scrawling hand Of Uncle
Charles.
IL was very kind, loving letter. which
a,iory's uncle had written to his dear
little orphan niece" as he called her, and it
brought the tears to her eyes when he spoke
of her mothcr--!iS blue eyed sister Anne,
who had reached tilSt the green shores Of the
beautiful land, whittier lie hoped they were
al! following her.
The gentleman also told his ncicc that he
hoped to sec her before another June had
rpened the Strawberries on the hills OF Stan.
ton ;'and he intended to bring her something
very nice made ont of : real California gold. y
oh, what a good uncle have got, said
Marjory, after she had twice read the letter
to her interested auditors. II wonder ii he
will know me- You know it is SO long
since saw him last"
"Irs, he's been in California nearly five
years" said Grandfather Ellis; hes got IN.
to some government Office, and they do say
he's made quite a fortune there. Charlie
always wasa clever fellow. Let's ste, you
| know him well Miss Mann?
"lcs--l knew him very well when he was
a young man" was lhe lady's rather laconic
rejoindcr, and she EeLt very steadily over
her sewing.
His wife was little beauty. but she was
a d lIcate sort ola creature that look cd as if a
smart wind would blow her away. always
| thought that it WAS her death that sent him
| off: foryou know he set great store by her, "
continued the loquaciouS old farmer.
"les. responded the soft voice Of Miss
| Mann, Charles was very iond of her, and
she deserved all his allcctlon,"
"1ou know her, then Z"
"Oh yes. met her at Annie's. before
and after she was married."
just then somebody called to see the far
mcr, and this discontinued the conversation;
| but Mariory s tongue ran faster than ever.
as she contidc nty told Miss Mann all she
should write about III her reply to Uncle
| Charlie And shall tell HIM all about
your visit here and how much l like you
and - wish you would stay always,
said the litIle girl
And Miss Mann drew her t. her and kissed
her forehead silently; but Marjory did not
Sce that tie l"dy's eyes were full Of tears.
That night Marjory took some straw
berries and cream to one Of Ecr ntighbnr S
little boys WHO was SICK. and ON returning
she searched all over the galdcn for Miss
Mann. but in vain.
At last she went up stairs, and very softly
to the lady S room. The door war al jar, and
>h" sat by the window, for 1t was growing
INTO night, and the stars were throbbirg
slowly into the sumu"r sky. Marjory saw
size held letter in her hand-ycs il was GER
tainly her uncle's letter, and suddenly tn,
lady leaned down. and kissed i. Very fondly,
murIuuring, "Oh. Charles Charles - and
then the little gill heard distinctly two OF
tree sobs.
she stole noiSclcssly away. II wonder,
musrd Marjory, ''if Uncle Charlie ever did
anything to make dear Miss Mann unhappy
Well, he II be here next summer, and | II tell
him all about it them"
Mlrjory said nothing to any one else in
tins subject land few days afterwards Mis-
Mann left. The house seemed very lonely
without her. even to grandpa and Deborah,
but Marjory felt her departure far more keen,
ly than any one else. But she.wus partially
tanned fore she left, that Marjory should
visit her next summer.
To be Couiinucd.)