Year: 1875

wind WhlStled drearlly round the corner o.
the house, and the rain pattered against the
window-panes, through which little Alice
Lynn was gazing out at the notwithstanding
street.


1t was two days since her mother had been
consigned to the grave, and no tidings hao
come to her yet Of the relative to whom Mrs
Shaw had written concerning her. A lonely
desolate feeling weighed down her childish
heart-a sort of dull misery that crushed out
all violent sorrow, and could find no vent in
tears Indeed, so silent and undemonstrative
had she been, both on the occasion OF hel
mothers death and ever since, that Mrs. Shaw
had privately impaired to her husband hel
opinion that "the child had no feeling at all. .
But she was mistaken. Alices feelings were
peculiarly sensitive and strong; but she was
so overwhelmed by the suddenness of her loss
that she could not yet realize it to its full ex'
tent; and, moreover, the exceeding reserve OF
her disposition would have prevented her, in
any case, from betraying her emotion in the
presence Of strangers. The uncertainty OF
her prospects, too, naturally occupied her
mind, filling her with a vague, restless ankle
ty. She longed to escape from her present
abode where all her surroundings were un.
congenial and coarse, and where her landlord
and his wife, though not unkind to her, testi'
fed little too plainly the uneasiness they
felt concerning their charge of her, and were
more occupied with the consideration of their
own interests than with feelings Of sympathy
for her sorrow. Alice had known privation
and hardships, and had experienced but few
of the ioys Of childhood but she had never
before felt the want of affection, or known
what it was to yearn in vain for a loving
glance or word


She was standing at present in the room
which had been allotted to her mother and
herself bare-looking apartment, destitute
of carpet or curtains, for the Shaws' boarding
house boasted but few comfortably furnished
chambers, and those were placed only at the
disposal of boarders or dodgers whose purses
were sufficiently we'll filled to pay suitable
sum for the privilege of occupying them. A
common pine bedstead, wash-stand and table,
and single chair, comprised the furniture.
Against the wall stood the trunk containing
her own and her mothers wardrobe and the
few other possessions that remained to her,
and on the trunk lay Mrs. Lynn's shawl and
|
laid aside from her weary frame when she
came here to die. Alice's little hat, with its
shabby blue ribbon, lay beside them. How nat
ural and familiar the mpanionship seemed
how strange to think thatthey should journey
no more in company together Poor little
hat 1t did not, as yet, even have the emblem
of mourning; for Mrs. Shaw had not troubled
herself to hunt up any black ribbon, because
as she said, cit was not worth while to fix any
thing of that sort, while the child's trocks
were all colored; and she reckoned her own
folks would see to all that when she went to
them.


Presently, Alice saw the postman coming
up the street, and she watched, with anxiety
to see whether he would stop at Mr.. Shaw's
door, or not. Surely, if her uncle had writ
ten, his letter must have come by this time
Yes, the man stopped, and took out "a package
of letters-one, two, three, Alice counted, and
some newspapers-but, after all, they might
be nothing concerning her. Perhaps, only
letters for some of the boarders. He rang
the bell, thrust them into the hand Of the
slovenly maid, who answered his summons
and hurried off, pulling his waterproof cloak
up about his ears, and bending his head to
shield his face from the driving rain. Alice
turned from the window, and listened expec
family; but no one approached her door, and
after few moments the anxious, waiting look
on her face faded away into the old settled
dependency and listlesness Of expression, as
with sigh she resumed her melancholy sur
vey of the prospect without.


A quarter of an hour might have elapsed
when she heard some one coming along the
passage and directly Mrs. Shaw, without GER
emonY, opened the door and walked in. She
held an open letter in her hand, which she
placed before Alice.


"You may read that, child," she said, "and
see what your uncle says. I'm glad he's al
ranged to come for you; and if you take my
advice you'll see about getting your things
ready at once, for he'll be here in the morn
ing, and most likely you'll leave by the after
noon train.


He was coming for her, them Alice ex
percnced sensation Of relief as her eye ran
over the neatly written lines:


"MRs NJ. A. SHAW, Columbia, S. C.-Dca1
Mtlum :-"Your favor is duly received, and
write to thank YOU for the information you arc
kind enough to mpart, though am most trulN



leave here tomorrow night the 10TH and be will
YOU next morning, when 1 shall take charge o
the little GIRL my niece, anh relieve you OF al
farther responsibility Of her. l snail fetch he
home to live with me, and regard her in future
as one ofmy own children. Please say 80 to he1
with my love. With thanks to your husband
and self for Kindness to the child and also to hc
poor mother, remain, Madam,


every respectfully your obdlent servant,
"SIMON FIELDING"
T The last clause of this document, had Alice
been in an analytical mood, might have causeC
, slight feeling of wonder in her mind ; but i
, gave Mrs. Shaw much satisfaction, and quite
confirmed the complacency she felt regarding
her conduct toward the little orphan, which
she had placed, in her letter to Mr.. Fielding
. (Mr Shaw, not being expert at his pen, hat
deputed her to write it) in as favorable ligh
as possible 1t created, indeed, such kindly
feeling toward Alice herself that she wa
: prompted to show her an unusual mark o
f sympathy, viz : a pat on the head, followed
by a kiss upon her forehead, a demonstration
quite unlocked for, and scarcely more wei
come than expected.


Poor little dear" said the landlady; "Pn
f sure I'm real thankful, for your sake, tina
I've such good news Your uncle vii
, take you to live with him, and he and you
aunt will be just like your own pa and ma,
have no doubt"


As if any one could ever be like her owl
mother! A feeling Of resentment at the sug
gestion rose up in Alce's mind, but according
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