e great Franklin in
favour of his father, by which his family were restored to ease and to
independence. Ah! had this but have happened in time to save a life far
dearer than his own! The reflection was too painful. The idea, however,
of giving joy to his aged parents, hastened his departure. Furnished
with proper documents and credentials from Franklin, his benefactor, he
took leave of him, with the warmest expressions of gratitude, as also of
Mr. Grafton, and sailed for Savannah, where he arrived in about eight
weeks.

Intent on his purpose, he immediately purchased a carriage and proceeded
on for Philadelphia. As he approached Charleston, his bosom swelled with
mournful recollections. He arrived in that city in the afternoon, and at
evening he walked out, and entered a little ale house, which stood near
the large burial ground. An elderly woman and two small children were
the only persons in the house, except himself. After calling for a pint
of ale, he enquired of the old lady, if Col. D----, (Melissa's uncle)
did not live near the city. She informed him that he resided about a
mile from the town, where he had an elegant seat, and that he was very
rich.

"Was there not a young lady, asked Alonzo, who died there about eighteen
months ago?"

"La me! said she, did you know her? Yes: and a sweeter or more handsome
lady the sun never shined on. And then she was so good, so patient in
her sickness.--Poor, dear distressed girl, she pined away to skin and
bones before she died. She was not Col. D----'s daughter, only somehow
related: she came here in hopes that a change of air might do her good.
She came from--la me! I cannot think of the name of the place;--it is a
crabbed name though."

"Connecticut, was it not?" said Alonzo.

"O yes, that was it, replied she. Dear me! then you knew her, did you,
sir?--Well, we have not her like left in Charleston; that we han't;--and
then there was such ado at her funeral; five hundred people, I dare say,
with eight young ladies for pall-bearers, all dressed in white, with
black ribbons, and all the bells tolling."

"Where was she buried?" enquired Alonzo.

"In the church-yard right before our door, she answered. My husband is
the sexton; he put up her large white marble tomb-stones;----they are
the largest and whitest in the whole burying-ground; and so, indeed,
they ought to be, for never was there a person who deserved them more."

Tired with the old woman's garrulity, and w