hree months after the death of Dr. Dulan. The mother
of William, by her hearth, still plied her needle, now the only means
of their support. Her son sat by her side, as of old. He had been
engaged some hours in reading to her. At length, throwing down the
book, he exclaimed:

"Dearest, dearest mother, lay by that work. It shames my manhood, it
breaks my heart, to see you thus coining your very health and life
into pence for our support; while I! oh, mother, I feel like a human
vampire, preying upon your slender strength!"

The widow looked into the face of her son, saw the distress, the
almost agony of his countenance, and, quickly folding up her work,
said gently:

"I am not sewing so much from necessity, now, dear William, as because
I was not sleepy, being so much interested in your book."

The morning succeeding this little scene, William, as was his wont,
arose early, and going into the parlor, made up the fire, hung the
kettle on, and was engaged in setting the room in order, when his
mother entered, who, observing his occupation, said:

"Ever since your return from school, William, you have anticipated me
in this morning labor. You must now give it up, my son--I do not like
to see you perform these menial offices."

"No service performed for my mother can be menial," said Willie,
giving her a fond smile.

"My darling son!"

After breakfast William took up his hat and went out. It was three
hours before he returned. His face was beaming with happiness, as he
held an open letter in his hand.

"See, mother, dear, kind Providence has opened a way for us at last."

"What is it, my son?" said the widow, anxiously.

"Mr. Keene, you know, who left this neighborhood about three years
ago, went to ---- County and established a school, which has succeeded
admirably. He is in want of an assistant, and has written to me,
offering four hundred dollars a year for my services in his
institution."

"And you will have to leave me, William!"

These words escaped the widow, with a deep sigh, and without
reflection. She added in an instant, with assumed cheerfulness:

"Yes, of course--so I would have you do."

A month from this conversation William Dulan was established in his
new home, in the family of Mr. Keene, the principal of Bay Grove
Academy, near Richmond.

The first meeting of William Dulan and Alice Raymond took place under
the following circumstances. On the arrival of Richard Delany at home,
his fath