itudes,
in times past and in time present, have learned,--the lesson of
endurance when happiness is denied, and of patience and silence when joy
has been withheld. Go thou thy way, sorrowful and suffering soul, alone;
and if thy own heart bleeds, strive thou to soothe its pangs, by
medicining the wounds and healing the hurts of another.

A few days thereafter, when Miss Ercildoune went over to Philadelphia,
Sallie and Frank bore her company. She had become as thoroughly
interested in them as though she had known and cared for them for a long
while; and as she was one who was incapable of doing in an imperfect or
partial way aught she attempted, and whose friendship never stopped
short with pleasant sounding words, this interest had already bloomed
beautifully, and was fast ripening into solid fruit.

She had written in advance to desire that certain preparations should be
made for her _proteges_,--preparations which had been faithfully
attended to; and thus, reaching a strange city, they felt themselves not
strangers, since they had a home ready to receive them, and this
excellent friend by their side.

The home consisted of two rooms, neat, cheerful, high up,--"the airier
and healthier for that," as Sallie decided when she saw them.

"I believe everything is in order," said the good-natured-looking old
lady, the mistress of the establishment. "My lodgers are all gentlemen
who take their meals out, and I shall be glad of some company. Any one
whom Friend Comstock recommends will be all right, I know."

As Mrs. Healey's style of designation indicated, Friend Comstock was a
Quakeress, well known, greatly esteemed, an old friend of Miss
Ercildoune, and of Miss Ercildoune's father. She it was to whom
Francesca had written, and who had found this domicile for the
wanderers, and who at the outset furnished Sallie with an abundance of
fine and dainty sewing. Indeed, without giving the matter special
thought, she was surprised to discover that, with one or two exceptions,
the people Miss Ercildoune sent her were of the peaceful and quiet
sect. This bird of brilliant plumage seemed ill assorted with the
sober-hued flock.

She found in this same bird a helper in more ways than one. It was not
alone that she gave her employment and paid her well, nor that she sent
her others able and willing to do the same. She found Frankie a good
school, and saw him properly installed. She never came to them
empty-handed; through the long