range as it will seem, Joel could
not forget his wife, though she was dead. A sweet and solemn link bound
him to her since the night he stood over her to catch her last words,
and it would appear his affections were not to be diverted from her
memory. He did not send Sarah away to school. He could not reconcile
himself to her absence, but he supplied her abundantly with teachers,
and personally took great pains with her education.

Two years after the death of Mrs. Burns, Joel and his daughter stood up
together before the assembled church and congregation, and made a public
profession of religion. It was a touching sight. And when after the
services father and child took their way homeward, every eye followed
them with looks of deepest interest and with feelings of almost
universal kindness and regard. Joel had delayed presenting himself from
a desire to test his feelings, having great fear of bringing reproach on
the church by entering it unworthily. And now he had an increased joy
that he could bring his darling into the fold with him.

It was very natural, as she was situated, that Sarah should acquire an
accurate knowledge of her father's affairs. She enjoyed listening to the
story of his early life, the rise and progress of Burnsville, with
explanations of his many undertakings. As she grew older, this interest
took a more practical turn. She would copy letters and arrange
confidential papers, and perform various services of a like nature.

Two or three years more passed. Things went on as usual, at Burnsville.
It is true that Joel Burns did not display that sharp faculty of
acquisition which he formerly did, though he was never more active or
energetic; but it was noticeable that those in his employ got on better
than before, while the general prosperity of the village exceeded that
of any former period.

Sarah was almost a young lady. She was growing up a beautiful girl. She
had her father's brilliant complexion and her mother's fine form and
regular features. Of course, with so much youth and beauty, and such
'brilliant prospects,' (by which, I suppose, was meant her father's
death and a large fortune to the child,) Sarah already became an object
of much attention. I will not say that her peculiar position did not
produce something of an independent manner which some called hauteur,
and others exclusiveness. Part of this was owing to her education, part
to the necessity of repelling sometimes the advances of