e requested the servant to inform Mr. Leighton
that I was engaged. It was no easy matter for me to send this message to
_him_; but my pride sustained me.

Two or three weeks passed quietly away. During this time, Birdie and
Lewis twice came to see me, but whether by permission or by stealth I
could not determine, and I would not enquire. Willie called repeatedly,
but I never granted him an interview, as I deemed it best for both that
we should not meet.

I shall never cease to remember with gratitude the kindness I received
from Mr. and Mrs. Burnside, and, as I wished not to abuse their
hospitality, I thought it advisable, when some two months had passed
away, to devise some means of earning my own support. They would have
assisted me in obtaining a situation in Philadelphia; but I wished to
leave my native city, and see if new scenes and new friends would not
have a beneficial effect upon my mind. I had now no remaining tie to
bind me to Philadelphia. I grieved, it is true, at the thought of
leaving the place which contained the graves of my parents.
Nevertheless, I felt myself to be in the path of duty, while preparing
to leave my native city.

CHAPTER XII.

A NEW ENGLAND HOME.

I knew I had an uncle living in the State of New Hampshire, whom I had
not seen since I was twelve years of age--he having visited us at that
time. He was my mother's only brother, and to him I decided to go. I
once thought of going to aunt Patience, but finally gave up the idea. I
retained a very distinct recollection of my uncle. I remembered that he
and my mother had strongly resembled each other, although he was ten
years her senior. When quite young he had married a very worthy woman,
and their union was blessed by two children, a son and daughter; but
they had laid them both in the grave at an early age; therefore they
were now childless. I had never seen my aunt, but my heart turned toward
them, and my resolution was soon taken to visit them. They resided about
three miles from the village of Littleton, in New Hampshire.

The only obstacle in the way of my wishes was the long journey from
Philadelphia to New Hampshire. I felt reluctant to undertake so long a
journey alone. This obstacle was unexpectedly removed by the arrival of
a Mr. and Mrs. Egmont, from the State of Ohio; they were relatives of
Mrs. Burnside, and were journeying to the Eastern States, to visit some
friends who resided there. Mr. Burnside mentioned to t