Year: 1860

clouds that had SO long skirted the dis
burst over our heads.


The bank in which my money was vest.
ed suddenly failed; the steward who had
managed my husbands affairs proved un-
faithful, and absconded with all he could
convert into money; creditors pressed
round and were clamorous;we we're ruined.


Nothing remained but for us to leave
Turton; if possible to let it, and to 90
and live on the Continent. There was
to be sale after we left, and the hand
bills were already out had spent long
days in packing and arranging. and. un-
able longer to meet the children's doleful
faces and sad regrets at parting with their
old pets. hurried to my little morning
room the room that had witnessed many
a drcary hour of watching Uncle Davy.


/ was crying in spite of my efforts at
self-command. In the hall had seen
little Edmond, with his arms round the
old rocking horse, sobs bursting from the
rosy lips that he pressed against his fa-
vorite. Lucy was taking the toys from
the dolls house as | passed the school
room. Oh! my heart bled sadly: for ev-
cry grief Of theirs was douby mine.


The maid had been packing, and the
oak cabinet was unlocked, the door swing
ing too and fro on its hinge. The draw
er below held my chief treasures, which
had reserved to pnt up at the last: fancy
ing this favorable opportunity l now
opened it at and began sort the things.


A packet Of copy books-large, round
blotted, text-hand; on the outside Of each
cover one of the children's names and
date. tied them together and put them
up. A little carved ivory box, which had
long ago ben present from sailor
brother, with nine neatly folded little
white parcels inside, and curl Of soft
hair in each-the last causing few bitter
tears to fall down on my black dress, as
kneeling down unfolded it and touched
the smooth tress. Poor little baby, that
had pined when sorrow came to me, that
had died in my arm. and now lay with its
little coffin resting beside Uncle Davy's!
l moved the packet of baby's clothes that
l had put away the day after the funeral
the little gowns and caps and things
and gulped down very sad sob. Poor
little baby, God has provided for IT.
There was yet few more things, and
then the drawer was empty. save for I'm
Gle Davy's staff l left it lying there
while l packed up the other things, and
it was still there when went down to tea.


AS came up again I heard loud tones.


"Master Edmond, I shall tell your ma
ma of you. Have done immediately
What a naughty boy you are! Don't you
see you have knocked ali the paint off the
bannisters?"


Nurse was standing on the first landing
looking down into the hall. with very
red face: while the child in her arms had a
very inquiring look in his brown eyes, and
was mouthing and tugging at an India
rubber ring held by two fat slippery hands.


The delinquent was Master Edmund,
aged six. who was conSoling himself for
the parting with the old rocking horse, by
racing mp and down the first flight ofsteps
Uncle Davy's staff in hand, rafting the
round handle all the way against the BAN
niStcrs.


"There!" screamed nurse, What have
you done now?" as the child missed his
footing and lay screaming on the floor.
She hurried down, till the lusty roars re-
assured her, when she commenced q nur-
sery mode of consolation: "There! have
done will you? "lt's all your own fault,
you naughty boy. just see how you've
dirtied your clean pinafore; and now You
are making baby cry. Get up


Edmond scrambled up, by the aid of
her great red hand; but only to reveal a
slit in his frock, and Uncle Davy's staff to
the floor broken in two. Nurse shook him.


ado you know What yon have done?-
Where did you get that stick from? It's
only master Edmund, always in mis-
chief, ma am" she added, in explanation
as Joined them.


l wiped the child's eyes, and pitied him
for bad bump on his forehead, sup
posing him to have been sufficiently pun
ished. He picked up the two pieces ol
the staff. and l took them from him and
carried them up stairs to my loom.


Something dropped with slight rattle
on the floor, and | stopped to look what
it was, my hand stealing to my throat to
assure itself of the safety of the brooch in
my collar. Something that looked like a
pearl bead was on the carpet, and pick
ed it up. A similar rattle, and as again
found the same thing, l looked to see
where they came from.


The staff was in my hand, and turn
ed it over. The broken end showed a
perforated hole, from which, as l shook
it, came another pearl. l gave little
exclamation, and ran down to my hrs'
band in the library; a light was dawning
on me. We examined the staff, and
found it was even as we expected. The
old man had been more successful in his
Indian enterprises than he had given us
to understand; but finding poverty good
veil for penuliousnesS, had pretended to
extreme misfortune, diligently converting
all he was able so accumulate into pearls,
which he concealed in this favorite staff
never allowing it to leave his side, and
guarding it with jealous and miserly care
lie had evidently intended to acqnaint me
with the secret when on his deathbed. as
l remembered by his references to the chill
dren. bnt had died in the attempt.


But, even now the discovery was no
too late. Ronald at once took the pearls
to London. and was perfectly astonished
by the large offers that were made TO