not to take Henry home to
his mother that day. He saw that it would be too cruel to present
the child to her in the condition he was; and, besides, he felt
that, after having procured for him the situation, he could not look
the mother in the face with her abused child in all the deformity of
his condition before them. He, therefore, took Henry to his own
home; had him well washed, and dressed in a suit of comfortable
clothing. The change produced in him was wonderful. The
repulsive-looking object became an interesting boy; though with a
pale, thin face, and a subdued, fearful look. He was very anxious to
see his mother; but Doctor R--, desirous of making as great a change
in the child's appearance and manner as possible, kept him at his
house all night, and until the afternoon of the next day. Then he
took him to his eagerly expectant mother.

Mrs. Gaston had waited and waited with all the patience and
fortitude she could summon, hour after hour, until the afternoon
had advanced far toward evening. So anxious and restless had she
now become, that she could no longer sit at her work. She had been
standing at the window looking out and watching each approaching
vehicle for some time, until she felt sick from constantly awakening
hope subsiding in disappointment, when she turned away, and, seating
herself by the bed, buried her face despondingly in the pillow. She
had been sitting thus only a minute or two, when a slight noise at
the door caused her to lift her head and turn in that direction.
There stood a boy, with his eyes fixed upon her. For an instant she
did not know him. Suffering, and privation, and cruel treatment had
so changed him, even after all the doctor's efforts to eradicate
their sad effects, that the mother did not at first recognize her
own child, until his plaintive voice, uttering her name, fell upon
her ear. A moment more, and he was in her arms, and held tightly to
her bosom. Her feelings we will not attempt to describe, when he
related in his own artless and pathetic manner, all and more than
the reader knows in regard to his treatment at Mr. Sharp's, too
sadly confirmed by the change im the whole expression of his face.

While her mind was yet excited with mingled feelings of joy and
pain, Eugenia came in from her regular visit to her father. Her step
was quicker, her countenance more cheerful and full of hope.

"Oh, Mrs. Gaston!" she said, clasping her hands together, "my father
is so much be