te was become sadly encumbered, I resolved at
once that I would leave my native land, go over to Australia, live a
life of hard work and self-denial, and not come back again until, by the
accumulated rents and by what I could earn, I could make my property
absolutely and honestly my own, and leave it unencumbered to my dear
child. You have seen enough of me to know that I have some strength of
will in my character; and so, when I had made this resolution, I began
immediately to carry it out. Taking with me our old nurse, whom I bound
to secrecy, I came over to this colony, got employment, and then went to
the diggings. There, by diligence, perseverance, and self-denial, I
managed to accumulate a large sum, which is safely deposited in the
bank. I had some thoughts of going back at once to England; but on
learning what had happened to Horace, and about your noble and loving-
care of him, I resolved to wait a while, and to get employment in your
neighbourhood--at any rate, for a time. And that resolution I have
never repented of; indeed, I have felt _my_ dear Horace's--ay, I will
say _our_ dear Horace's--position in your house such a privileged one,
that I have gladly delayed taking any further steps homeward, wishing to
see him all that we both could desire him to be before I let him know
his real name and position. You can easily understand why I changed my
name to Jackson. I felt that I had brought shame and dishonour on my
own name in my native land and I resolved that in this distant country I
would change it for another, and not take it back again till I could do
so with honour and credit to myself and my child.'

"And then, dear friends, he told me how he blessed God for bringing
himself to the knowledge of his truth, and me for having been the
instrument--an unworthy one indeed I was--of leading him to that
knowledge. Of course, I told him what a privilege I felt it to have
been permitted to guide him to his Saviour; and I added that I would
gladly do anything I could to show my gratitude to him for having
sacrificed himself to save my life.

"`You have done more than enough already,' was his reply; `and yet I
will take you at your word. Horace knows nothing yet of his real name
and prospects; I had made up my mind lately that I would wait till he
came of age to tell him. And now I would ask you, dear friend, to take
Horace with you to England and see him settled in his property when I am
gone, which wi