ained
seventeen years! How much longer she would have remained can never be
definitely known now, as she died at the expiration of that period.

Whether or not my grandfather was quite pleased by this unlooked-for
addition to his family is a problem. He was very kind always to Miss
Abigail, and seldom opposed her; though I think she must have tried his
patience sometimes, especially when she interfered with Kitty.

Kitty Collins, or Mrs. Catherine, as she preferred to be called,
was descended in a direct line from an extensive family of kings who
formerly ruled over Ireland. In consequence of various calamities,
among which the failure of the potato-crop may be mentioned, Miss
Kitty Collins, in company with several hundred of her countrymen and
countrywomen--also descended from kings--came over to America in an
emigrant ship, in the year eighteen hundred and something.

I don't know what freak of fortune caused the royal exile to turn up
at Rivermouth; but turn up she did, a few months after arriving in this
country, and was hired by my grandmother to do "general housework" for
the sum of four shillings and six-pence a week.

Kitty had been living about seven years in my grandfather's family when
she unburdened her heart of a secret which had been weighing upon it all
that time. It may be said of people, as it is said of nations, "Happy
are they that have no history." Kitty had a history, and a pathetic one,
I think.

On board the emigrant ship that brought her to America, she became
acquainted with a sailor, who, being touched by Kitty's forlorn
condition, was very good to her. Long before the end of the voyage,
which had been tedious and perilous, she was heartbroken at the thought
of separating from her kindly protector; but they were not to part just
yet, for the sailor returned Kitty's affection, and the two were married
on their arrival at port. Kitty's husband--she would never mention his
name, but kept it locked in her bosom like some precious relic--had a
considerable sum of money when the crew were paid off; and the young
couple--for Kitty was young then--lived very happily in a lodging-house on
South Street, near the docks. This was in New York.

The days flew by like hours, and the stocking in which the little bride
kept the funds shrunk and shrunk, until at last there were only three
or four dollars left in the toe of it. Then Kitty was troubled; for
she knew her sailor would have to go to sea again u