adopted
by her father's brother; and thus Mr. Temple was left alone with his
eldest daughter, Ella. Occasionally he heard from Jane, but time and
distance gradually weakened the tie of parental affection, which wound
itself more closely around Ella; and now, when she, too, left him, and
worse than all, married a poor music teacher, the old man's wrath knew
no bounds.
"But, we'll see," said he, as with his hands behind him, and his head
bent forward, he strode up and down the room--"we'll see how they'll
get on. I'll use all my influence against the dog, and when Miss
Ella's right cold and hungry, she'll be glad to come back and leave
him."
But he was mistaken, for though right cold and hungry Ella ofttimes
was, she only clung the closer to her husband, happy to share his
fortune, whatever it might be. Two years after her marriage, hearing
that her father was dangerously ill, she went to him, but the
forgiveness she so ardently desired was never gained, for the old
man's reason was gone. Faithfully she watched until the end, and then
when she heard read his will (made in a fit of anger), and knew that
his property was all bequeathed to her sister in America, she crushed
the tears from her long eyelashes and went back to her humble home
prepared to meet the worst.
In course of time three children, Frank, Mary, and Ella were added to
their number, and though their presence brought sunshine and gladness,
it brought also an increase of toil and care. Year after year Mr.
Howard struggled on, while each day rumors reached him of the plenty
to be had in the land beyond the sea; and at last, when hope seemed
dying out, and even his brave-hearted Ella smiled less cheerfully
than was her wont to do he resolved to try his fortune in the
far-famed home of the weary emigrant. This resolution he communicated
to his wife, who gladly consented to accompany him, for England now
held nothing dear to her save the graves of her parents, and in the
western world she knew she had two sisters, Sarah having some years
before gone with her uncle to New York.
Accordingly the necessary preparations for their voyage were made as
soon as possible, and when the Windermere left the harbor of
Liverpool, they stood upon her deck waving a last adieu to the few
kind friends, who on shore were bidding them "God speed."
Among the passengers was George Moreland, whose parents had died some
months before, leaving him and a large fortune to the gua
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