Year: 1859




place in this apartment When last saw
it, if You viii excuse the expression, i
was regular old bachelors parlor, Sastly
comfortable, to be sure, bat with some
what stiff, unsociable air. Now all is diff
= ferent. Vases of flowers in the windows
lady's workable in one corner, books
of poetry, half finished drawings, the ole
fashioned furniture disposed with sucl
wonderful taste in short, complete meta.
morphosis, cf which l am exceeding curl
GUS to know the cause. What fair friend
manifests so great an iterest in your do.
mestic concerns? Surely our respectable
housekeeper, Mrs Truoman, has not under
gone such remarkable transformation
during my absence"


'Mrs. Trueman has little to do with the
arrangements of this apartment" replied
Uncle John, with smile, which was min
gled, however, with shade of sadnes,i
A change has taken place in my establish
ment, which for certain reasons l have not
communicated to you by letter, preferring
to wait until we could sit down once more
and have a fne chat. You doubtless re-
collect the history of my early days, and
will be interested to hear that have once
more beheld my beloved Grace. Several
weeks after you left me, received brief
note without signature, begging me to 60
atonce to adesignated place, where should
find sick friend who had much to say to
me. l Immediately obeyed the summons,
and found myself ata neat boarding house,
in an obscure part of the city The num-
Der of the room occupied by my cores
pondent had been mentioned in the note,
and at my request was conducted thither
without hesitation. The attendant who
preceded me, remarked in compassion
ate tone that she feared the poor lady had
not many days to live. Much perplexed
to imagine what female friend could desire
to see me on her death bed, l tapped at the
door, which was instantly opened by a
young girl so exactly the counterfeit of my
Grace in her early days, that forgot the
lapse of years, and almost believed that
she again stood before me.


Recovering my self-possession with
strong effort, I gave my name, and men
toned that | had received a note request
ing my presence. Ere the young lady
could reply, feeble voice was heard from
the bed at the opposite side Of the room:


"Has he come, my child? o bid him
not delay, for shall soon be gone"


"At signal from the daughter, step
ped forward, and in another instant stood
by the side of the dying woman.


'It was difficult to recognize in that
wasted form and countenance marked by
long years of suffering, the once lovely
and blooming Grace; but gazing earnestly
in my face, she feebly extended her hand,
saying in voice of deep emotion"


"Have you indeed forgotten the sister
of your youth? Has the name of Grace
Maynell passed from your memory?'


"Overpowered by this unexpected meet
ing, and by the crowd Of recollections
which rushed to my mind, sunk on my
knees by her bedside, unable to speak,
but still pressing her hand in both my
own.


''I see that am remembered she con-
tinued, 'and now must speak quickly, for
my time is short, Some months ago be-
came a widow. Ny own health was rapid.
ly declining, and felt that my only re-
naming earthly treasure must soon be left
friendless and alone in the wide world
They who had been to me as parents, were
indeed gone, but you were still living, my
more than brother, and would, l doubted
not, protect my orphan child. AS soon as
possible | collected the small remnant
which remained Of the property of my
misguided husband, and with an earnest
prayer that my life might be prolonged tc
the end of my journey, l set forth. AT.
ter repeated delays, occasioned by feeble
health and some other causes, we arrived
here last evening, and lost no time ia
sending you the summons which you have
so promptly obeyed. And now, John
Fairfield, by the love you once bore me
and by the remembrance of our early days
l implore you to become father to my
ouly child


"Quite exhausted by the effort she hat
made, the poor invalid sunk back upon hel
pillow, while I solemnly vowed to fulfil the
trust reposed in me, and to cherish hel
daughter to the latest hour of my life.


at is enough" she exclaimed. Il die il
peace. My work on earth is finished