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The sad story was not all told at once, but at various times as the poor invalid could bear and ere it was concluded the last care of the dying mother was laid at rest, by the promise of her kind friends to adopt her children as their own.

Soon after the doctor went to the office of the owners to inquire for tidings of the missing vessel.

"Good-morning, doctor," said Mr. Bradleigh; "what wind has blown you down town so early?"

"Not a fair one, I'm afraid. Have you any news of the ship young Boylston sailed in?"

"No," answered the merchant, gravely. "I fear we shall never hear of her more. She has been out so long that there is scarcely a chance of her safety. Do you know Mrs. Boylston?" "Yes, I have been attending her for some days."

"Then you will be the fittest person to tell her that we have given up expecting the ship. I wondered she had not been here to draw her I am sorry she is ill."

money. I am sorry

"There is no need to inform her of the bad news," said the doctor; "she is so convinced that her husband is lost that she would not draw any more, and has, I fear, suffered in consequence."

"That will never do," exclaimed Mr. Bradleigh; "poor thing! sick, and those two little girls to care for. I will draw the insurance for her to-day."

"Insurance! Did he insure his life? She never told us about that; I don't believe she knew it."

"I guess she did not know it. You see he was very desponding before he sailed, and it seemed harder than usual for him to leave home. When I went to see him off, he talked about his family as if he felt he would never get back. I asked him if he had insured, but found out after a while that though he had wished to, he had not enough ahead to provide for his wife and pay premium too. So I told him I would advance as much as he liked, and get it done for him.

"He seemed somewhat comforted, and asked me to insure for one thousand dollars; but when I went to the office I thought I might as well make it five thousand dollars, and I am very glad of it now."

The doctor did not trust his voice in reply, but he grasped the hand of the kind-hearted merchant with a strong and heartfelt pressure.

It was not the first instance of his benevolence that the doctor had accidentally discover

ed; and although Mr. Bradleigh was not a rich man, his judicious advice, and, when requisite, judicious expenditure and aid, had saved many from poverty, and from that hopelessness that leads to destruction. Among all the sin and misery, the churlishness or recklessness, that we cannot but meet with in a large city like New York, it is consoling to find, as we often do find, that riches are sometimes held by liberal hands, and that if they do at last take to their wings, they have, during their stay, ministered abundantly to the relief of the suffering and desolate.

This provision, so thoughtfully secured, rendered comfortable the last months of Mrs. Boylston's existence, and gave her the satisfaction of knowing that her children would not be absolutely destitute to burden her kind friends.

Winter passed lingeringly away, and, one morning in early spring, Biddy Riley came for Mrs. Sumner. She obeyed the long expected summons, in time to receive the last words of the dying, and to renew the promise of faithfully cherishing the dear little ones left to her

care.

CHAPTER V.

THEORIES OF EDUCATION.

"This child I to myself will take;

She shall be mine, and I will make
A lady of my own."

WORDSWORTH.

WITH true and tender sympathy the orphan girls were received by their new associates. Poor Cornelia had already learned self-control. Her grief had so distressed her mother, that she had accustomed herself to subdue its manifestation; and her affection, ever on the watch to anticipate her mother's wishes, had rendered her character matured and thought ful beyond her years.

There is something profoundly touching in the sight of a child, quiet under a great sor row; and Marion, who was naturally of a similar temperament, though her mother's care

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