Year: 1860

MY mother, an Italian lady of birth
and connection, conceived the idea of COM
ing to this country 1t was wild scheme,
and violently opposed by all who possessed
any influence over her. But her will was
as stubborn as it was impatient; and bear.
ing down all obstacles, she made arrange
ments for leaving the home Of her fathers,
in the company of an only sister. Just
on the eve of her departure, the friend
who was to protect her, an American by
birth, and who had endeared himself by
the suavity of his manners and the gentle
ness of his demeauor, died, leaving my
mother almost frantic at the disappointment
and the loss. To amuse her, as well as to
relieve the mononania that possessed her,
she was taken to England, and circum-
stances being favorable, and my mothers
health much improved, it has ever since
been my home


sAnd you left her there-your mother ;
does she live?' asked Mr.. Willoughby, in
tremuous sympathy for the young man, so
far removed from mothers care; stran-
ger in strange land.


II left my mothers grave in England,
SIR said Graham, his voice sinking to a
deeper tone.


sAud your father, boy?' questioned Mr..
Willoughby, bending forward in violent
excitement


Il never saw fathers face, sir; he died
before I was born


A groan from Willoughby testified his
interest in one thus doubly bereft


sHe was an -


sEnglishman, SIR said Graham, in reply
to Mr.. Willoughby's hesitating enquiry.
You will think it strange, sir; but I not
only never saw my fathers face, but l nev-
er heard his name from my mothers lips.
She was so passionately attached to my
father, that the least allusion to her loss, at
once brought it so vividly before her strong
imagination, as to overwhelm her in re-
nswed agony. Consequently, the name
was forbidden to be ever mentioned, and
she never spoke Of him to me. know
that he was Howard, and noble; but how
connected with that illustrious family, l
cannot say. But you can imagine the pas
sion of her love, and of her grief, and the
frmness of her indominitable will, when |
tell you she branded his initials on my arm
when lay an infant in her arms; and
that burning memory is all | know of a
father


sAnd was Graham not your fathers
name p said Ellen.


No; but it is the name of my more
than father. My mother was not only
wealthy, but very lovely, and Edward
Graham, at that time a young officer,
wooed her for his wife, But nothing
could change her allegiance to the one
memory. She would not bury her grief in
new ties His love spent itself on her
child. l became to him as his own; and,
if l am worth anything in the world, it is
his love and care that blessed me with it.
And yet, am alone in the world-father,
mother, brother, sister, I have none


Say not so, young man. said Mr.. Will
loughby; 'let US be to you what you have
lost--learn to call Ellen, sister, and fud
in me all. Ellen, 1 am weak again
give me water Aud the excitement of
strong feeling started the drops on his
brow.


Dear uncle, you are suffering yet; you
should have kept your room to-day And
she bathed the throbbing head.


Il am better again. said Mr. Willough-
by, family. 1T was imprudent in me to
rise--my nerves are yet weak. Call Jerry,
and I will retire


Jerry was quite easily found, consider
ing the want Of success of the last call,
and bore his master to his chamber.


Your uncle is extremely feeble to-day
said Graham, as Mr.. Willoughby left the
room.


sYes; he has never been quite we'll since
poor Andrew Craig's death, replied El-
len.


I'VE seldom see such tenderness in our
rougher SEX said Graham. | noticed,
while l was speaking of my early life, his
sympathy could scarcely be controlled.


yes, remarked it Many years ago
he was subject to nervous excitement
which some strange freak connected with
England We were at one time alarmed
for his reason. l do not think he ever
quite recovered from the effects of that.
There is, at times, a trepidation in his
manner, which, to stranger, would be
alarming, but we can generally trace it to
some excitement preceding.'


well, l will not forget he told me to
call YOU sister-sister how sweet the
word. 1t will be any easy task; and you
have no brother; might 1 hope you will
give me the kindly name"


IF you should merit it, perhaps so,' she
replied, lightly, vexed with herself for
crimsoning under bis words But the tone
spoke, more than the simple words, and
the few hours of their unreserved inter
course, had made them more familiar than
days of ordinary companionship would have
done The memory, too, of that guarded
miniature, made Ellen feel more at ease
than she otherwise would Who could it
be, but some loved English maiden, and
she felt sure that the generous heart
she was daily reading, could never prove
untrue to either affection or honor. Yet,
day after day, Graham gave himself up to