d be stimulated by
this admission, so that many a stormy day flew rapidly away while she
searched with the ardor of an Arctic explorer for the secret spring or knob
which, pressed at last, revealed delights that only a young girl's heart
can fully enjoy.

Occasionally mysterious packages from the city arrived at the farmhouse
bearing Louie's name in full, and the delightful excitement of untying the
string and removing the wrappings, was entered into by the grandparents
with as much ardor as by Louie herself.

But grandma's heart seemed to grow young again. She knew what would please
her little favorite, and she spared no expense if pleasure and happiness
were procured with the purchases, and thus passed away the pleasant winter,
bringing only that which seemed good into the storehouse of Louie's life
and heart.

Louie was destined to see but little of her own family hereafter, for
during the following summer the grandmother's health became feeble, and she
would not listen to the suggestions that Louie should return home. A few
months later Dinah had the melancholy satisfaction of hearing the last
words of her dying mistress, who passed away in her arms.

Louie was willing to listen to the entreaties of her grief-stricken
grandfather, to remain his little companion a while longer.

The charge of the farmhouse now fell into the hands of Mr. Sherwood's
widowed daughter. She had possessed a fine estate in Georgia, and had lived
a life of ease until Sherman's march to the sea, when her plantation was
devastated, and her well-kept slaves had joined in the destruction of her
property. When her husband's body was brought home for burial, the result
of a distressing accident, there seemed nothing else left to do but to
return to the home of her childhood, reaching it in time to hear her
mother's last request with respect to Louie's future.

Aunt Annie promised to consider the child as her own if she could get the
parents' sanction as well as Louie's free consent. The latter was freely
gained, as Louie was far happier in her present home.

Mrs. Sherwood saw no obstacle in the way when the matter was laid before
her, and she gave up her rights with so little manifestation of regret that
even those who knew her best were astonished, and from that time Louie
ceased to be a member of her father's family.

The second winter in Halifax was even more pleasant than the first had
been, for the Sherwoods had extended their acquain