ee days ago. But my strength continues to
fail and my funds to waste. I have no power to work, even if I
could procure anything to do. And I have not money enough to
support me a month longer.

"I do not like to go into an alms-house. Yet what am I to do?

"But why do I write to you? you may naturally inquire.

"Why? Because, although a perfect stranger, you are, after all,
my niece, my only sister's only child, my own only blood
relation. And 'blood is thicker than water.'

"'I can not work; to beg I am ashamed.'

"I do not, therefore, beg, even of you. I do not so much as make
any suggestion to you. I tell you the facts of the case, and I
leave you to act upon them, or to ignore them entirely, at your
pleasure.

"I do not even know whether I may venture to sign myself your
aunt, KATHERINE FANNING."

Emma Cavendish read this letter through to the end; then she glanced at
her companions, who were still all absorbed in the perusal of their
journals.

Even Mrs. Grey was now lost in a magazine; but it was _Les Modes de
Paris_, and contained plates and descriptions of all the new spring
fashions.

So Miss Cavendish, seeing her friends all agreeably occupied and
amused, returned to her singular letter and recommenced and read it
carefully through to the end once more.

At the conclusion of the second reading she looked up and spoke to the
Rev. Dr. Jones, saying:

"Are you reading anything very interesting in that _Quarterly Review_,
my dear uncle?"

"Well, yes, my child--an article entitled 'Have Animals Reason?'"

"Reason for _what_?" naively inquired Mary Grey, looking up from her
magazine of fashion.

Every one smiled except Dr. Jones, who condescended to explain that the
subject under discussion was whether animals were gifted with reasoning
faculties.

"Oh!" said Mrs. Grey, and returned to her _Modes_.

"You needn't read any more on that subject, grandpa; I can answer that
question for you, or any other inquirer. All intelligent animals,
whether they go upon two feet or four, or upon wings or fins, have
reason just in proportion to their intelligence. And all idiotic
animals, whether they go upon two feet or four, or wings or fins, lack
reason just in proportion to their idiocy. Lor'! why I have seen human
creatures at the Idiot Asylum with less intellect than cats. And I have
seen some horses with more intelligence than some legislators. You