Year: 1861

1


That was an anxious day for Mrs. Tai


bot on which she was expecting her broth
er Reginald. Everything about The cot
tage was arranged as nearly as possible
and-a very unusual occurrence be
eight little children were looking as mic
and clean as if they were each the only
object of her care. But before she hat
quite put the finishing touch to her owl
toilet, the subdued murmur of childish
voices informed her that the expected ant
almost dreaded parsonage had arrived
and Fastening out, she was clasped to tb,
breast of her only brother, for the frs


time for years.


Mrs. Talbot's story is one that has beer
SO often told, and SO much more otter
acted to real life, that it has become quit
stale. A very pretty, gay girl, she mar
ried against her family's consent maj
much beneath her in every respect. Sht
was cast off by her father, and for many
years dragged on miserable life in power
ty and distress. When her father died
Reginald, her only brother, settled upol
her an annuity-just enough to keep he'
from want-for be did not wish Mr.. Tai
bot should derive any benefit from his con
nection with him.


The gratitude Mrs. Talbot felt for Regi.
maids kindness was out of all proportion
to the gift; for il saved her from So much
anxiety and distress, that she felt as though
nothing could ever repay the debt. And
when Mr.. Churchill wrote to her to ask
her permission to adopt one of her chill.
dren, she felt that she could not refuse the
request, much as it distressed her to grant
it. Her heart beat painfully as she dress,
ed them herself, and wondered anxiously
on which Of her darlings his choice would
fall. She hoped it would be one of the
boys-Sam, the eldest, or Reginald, his
namesake-or even little Charley or Mary
ANY one but her wild, reckless Edith, or
the babe. Every one knows how moth
er's heart clings to her babe; but middle
aged gentlemen seldom have the same
fondncss for them, and so Mr.. Churchill
hardly gave the chubby, staring little fel-
low a second look; but it was precisely
the forward little Edith that won his whole
heart in the first ten minutes, by her conf
dence, her playfulness, and her incessant
chattering. She declared as soon as she
was asked her readiness to go with him,
and to be his own little girl always. Mrs.
Talbot limited in vain that one of the boys
or older children would suit him better
probably; but he did not like little boys b.
said, and Edith was just the right age; a
child Of four was no longer troublesome
like an infant, but yet she was young
enough to learn soon 10 look upon her un-
cle's house as her only home. Mr.. Cbur-
chill was very positive in his choice, and
as Mrs. Talbot had resolved to consent to
bis request, she had nothing to do but to
get her little Edith ready to 60 as soon as
possible. as Mr. Churchill was anxious to
leave after dinner to avoid meeting Mr..
Talbot, who was away for the day under
pretense of business engagement.


1t was long time before Edith could
get used to her new home-a stately man
sion at some little distance from New York.
1t seemed to her SO lonely to have no one
but her uncle to amuse her after being ac-
customed to the companionship Of SO many
children; but she did get used to it and
became exceedingly fond of Mr.. Churchill,
following him everywhere like his shadow.
Mr.. Churchill's wife was selfish, disagree
able woman, who piqued herself not only
on controlling her house but her husband
too. ,...


AS Edith grew up, though lovely,
blooming and high-spirited, she saw that
these quarrels seriously annoyed her uncle,
and SO she tried TO avoid her aunt as much
as possible, and when she could not, TO
bear her rebukes without reply.


Thus matters went on till Edith had
reached her 21st year. She had been en-
gagged, since she was eighteen, TO Charles
Devereux, young man of good, though
reduced family, and of fine talents-aper-
son every way agreeable to her uncle, and
to whom she was very much attached.-
They would have been married before. but
her uncle would not bear to part with her,
aud bad exacted a promise from her not to
leave him before she was twenty.one-
This she had readily given; but Devereux
himself complained bitterly of the de-
lay. Time, however, effects marvellous
changes, and one of the most wonderful
that he produces is the disappearance Of
affection that we fatter ourselves is m
changeable. .a..Es4 3


Just three months before Edith's we'd
ding-day, Mr.. Churchill died suddenly in
fit of apoplexy. Edith's grief was so vio-
lent and distressing that they feared for
her reason; and her eldest brother was
sent for by Mrs. Churchill, who informed
him coldly that it was her desire that
Edith should be taken home by him as soon
after the funeral as possible, as her pres
ence had been to her SO very undesirable.
Samuel could not imagine why Mrs.
Churchill should take such toue, as be
had always understood that his uncle had
intended to make Edith his heiress; but
his astonishment turned to indignation
when he found there was no will but one
made many years before, in which Mrs.
Churchill was left all the property. He
applied to Edith for an explanation, and as
soon as she comprehepded him, she said
that her uncle had told her but short
time before his death that he had left her
all bis fortune, excepting that during her
life Mrs. Churchill was to have the house,
with an income sufficient to support her in
Al. .xulo - .,b;obf ha hod hoo,, .ocr.t..,