h my little fortune was gone, and ten years had not as you
may suppose improved my beauty. Our mother said, our wedding-day was
the happiest of her life. She did not long survive it. Before my
husband rejoined his regiment she had gone to her rest. From that
time till Richard was taken prisoner by the Americans, we have never
been separated, and he has proved faithful and kind to me, and being,
as he is, all the world to me who have never known other kindred but
my little ones, it cannot seem strange to you, ma'am, that the world
is a lonely place without him; and that I should be willing to take
the help of your blessed children to get on my way to him."

"Oh no indeed, my good friend," said Mrs. Sackville, "I am delighted
that my children have found one so worthy of their assistance; you may
rest assured that we shall not part from you till we arrive at Quebec.
Come now Edward and Julia to your berths--and dream of the 'thousand
isles,' or Mrs. Barton, or what you will." The children obeyed their
mother, and doubtless had such sweet visions as hover about the pillow
of youth, and health, and innocence.

Jemmy Chapman had not been an uninterested listener to this simple tale
of patient virtue; and though Mrs. Barton had spoken so low that he had
lost some parts of her narrative, he heard enough to touch his kind
heart. As she rose from the bench near him, "Stop, stop, good woman,"
said he, and he jerked some tears from off his cheeks; "it is not much
that such as I can pity you, but a drop is something in a gill-glass,
and (turning his pockets inside out, and collecting a half handful of
small change,) I should not be my mother's son if I did not feel for a
woman in distress, and so will you just take this which may help to
raise a little breeze for you when you are becalmed. Nay, don't haul
off, but take it, and remember the poor sailors in a stormy night. It
is good luck to us to have a friend a-shore to speak a good word for
us when we have no time to speak for ourselves."

Jemmy's hearty kindness was irresistible, and Mrs. Barton received his
gift, scarcely able to command her voice to utter her thanks.

* * * * *

The next morning found the steam-boat at the wharf at Ogdensburg. Edward
undertook to settle with the captain for the passage of his protegees;
but the captain would receive nothing, and persisted in declaring that
he was amply compensated by Mrs. Barton's in