Year: 1861

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 occurrencc-all her
eight little children were looking as nice
and clean rs if they were each the only
object of her care. But before she had
quite put the finishing touch to her own
toilet, the subdued murmur of childish
voices informed her that the expected and
almost dreaded parsonage had arrived;
and fastening out she was clasped to the
breast of her only brother, for the first
time for years.


Mrs. Tabots story is one that has been
so often told, and so much more often
acted to real life that it has become quite
stale. A very pretty, gay girl, she mar
red against her family's consent a man
much beneath her in every respect. She
was cast off by her father, and for many
years dragged on n miserable life in power
ty and distress. When her father died,
Reginald, her only brother, settled upon
her an annuity-just enough to keep her
from want-for he did not wish Mr.. Tai.
bot should derive any benefit from his con-
nec,ion with him.


The gratitude Mrs. Talbot felt for Regi-
maids kindness was out of all proportion
to the gift; for it saved her from so much
anxiety and distress, that she felt rs 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 rs she dress
ed them herself, and wondered nnxiously
on which of her darlings his choice would
fail. She hoped it would be one of the
boys-Sam, tho 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 n 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
Qetce, hcr I"J iu'ucSS, ""u Hc' i"CNsS""'
chattering. She declared as soon as she
was asked her readiness to 90 with him,
and to be his own little girl always. Mrs.
Talbot hinted in vain that one of the boys
or older children would suit him better
probably but he did not like little boys he
said, and Edith was just the right age; u
child Of four was no longer troublesome
like an infant, but yet she was young
enough to learn soon to look upon her I'M
cle's house as her only home. Mr.. Chur
chill was very positive in his choice, and
as Mrs. Talbot had resolved to consent to
his request, she had nothing to do but to
get her little Edith ready to go as soon rs
possible, rs 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 ono
but her uncle to amuso her after being ac-
customed to the companionship OF so many
children; but she did get used to it aud
became exceedingly fond Of Mr.. Churchill