dered fashionable. Directly in
front of us were seated two young ladies, dressed in the extreme of
fashion, who seemed to consider it their privilege to amuse themselves
by observing and passing remarks to each other, in an undertone, upon
the dress and appearance generally of the other passengers. When we took
the vacant seat behind them, we were subject to a prolonged stare from
the two young misses, and we distinctly heard one of them address the
other, saying with a sneer, "I wonder how much that old lady's bonnet
cost, when new, I would ask her only it must have been so long ago, I am
sure she has forgotten by this time." Aunt Lucinda was not one to let
this pass unnoticed. Touching the young lady lightly on the shoulder, to
attract her attention, she said in a voice loud enough to be heard by
several of the other passengers near us, "I believe, miss, you are
anxious to learn the price of my bonnet when new, I have forgotten the
exact sum, but you may be sure of one thing, I paid more for it than
your good sense and good manner are worth both together." These two
ladies had made themselves so disagreeable by their silly and vain
manners that this "cut up" from my aunt was greeted by a burst of
laughter from all near enough to hear it, and the laugh was evidently
not against my aunt. The two girls blushed crimson, but made no reply,
and as soon as possible changed their seat to a distant part of the car,
possibly they might, for the remainder of their journey, be more mindful
of the courtesy and respect due to a fellow traveller.

As the dear old village of Elmwood rose to my view in the distance, I
could hardly contain my joy. I had written to my mother, informing her
of the day she might look for my arrival, but at the time I knew not
that Aunt Lucinda would accompany me, and her visit was certainly a
joyful surprise. Quite a number of my young companions had accompanied
my mother and sister to the depot. Charley Gray, of course, was there,
having returned to Elmwood two days earlier than I. It is needless for
me to say that, to all, the meeting was a happy one. My mother was
almost overjoyed at thus unexpectedly meeting with the sister she had
not seen for so long a time, and the sight of her elder sister recalled
to her mind many almost forgotten incidents of her childhood's days.
"You see Ellen," said Aunt Lucinda, addressing my mother, "I have
brought your boy home to you safe and sound, and I believe half a he