hn sends old Jake over every
morning to help me."

"Ah! How are Cousins John and Elizabeth?"

"Oh, very hearty. We shall see them this morning at church."

"I did not come in the stage yesterday, mother," said William, as they
took their seats at the breakfast table, "because I had purchased this
light wagon and horse for you to ride to church in, and I came down in
it. I reached the river last night, but could not cross. The old
ferryman had gone to bed, and would not rise. Well, after breakfast,
dear mother, I shall have the pleasure of driving you to church in
your own carriage!" added William, smiling.

"Ah! William, what a blessing you are to me, my dear son; but it must
have taken the whole of your quarter's salary to buy this for me?" And
she glanced, with pain, at his rusty and threadbare suit of black, and
at his napless hat.

"Ah, mother, I was selfish after all, and deserve no credit, for I
laid the money out in the way which would give myself the most
pleasure. But, see, here is old Jake to tell us the carriage is ready.
Come, mother, I will hand you in, and as we go along I will unfold to
you some excellent news, which I am dying to deliver." So saying, he
placed his mother carefully in the little carriage, and seating
himself beside her drove off, leaving old Jake in charge of the house.

"There is plenty of time, dear mother; so we will drive slowly, that
we may talk with more comfort."

William then proceeded to relate, at large, all that had taken place
during his residence at Bay Grove--not omitting his love for Alice, of
whom he gave a glowing description; nor the bright prospects which the
kindness of Dr. Keene opened before him. Then he described the
beautiful dwelling which would become vacant on the removal of Dr.
Keene's family, which was expected to take place some time during the
coming autumn. To this dwelling, he intended to remove his mother, and
hoped to bear his bride.

To all this the mother listened with grateful joy. At the church,
William Dulan met again his cousins, John and Elizabeth, who expressed
their delight at the meeting and insisted that William and his mother
should return with them to dinner. This, however, both mother and son
declined, as they wished to spend the day at home together.

William Dulan spent a month with his mother, and when the moment
arrived that was to terminate his visit, he said to her:

"Now, dear mother, cheer up! This parting is so much bet