een a door,
with a window on each side; but now both door and windows were gone.

The solitary chimney had fallen down, and the stones of which it had
been built lay scattered around. A peach tree grew at the side of the
cottage, and its branches, heavy with the luscious fruit, drooped upon
the low roof. A grapevine grew in front, and its graceful tendrils
twined in and out through the sashless windows and the broken door. A
bird of prey was perched upon the house, and, as we approached, with a
fearful scream it took its flight.

"Be careful, Christine, where you step; your foot is on a grave!"

With a start and a sudden pallor, Christine looked down upon the
fragment of a gravestone. Stooping and putting aside the long grass
and weeds, she read: "The only child of his mother, and she a widow."

"Whose grave could this have been, mother? The upper part of the
stone, which should bear the name, is gone. Oh, how sad this ruined
cot, and this lonely grave! I suppose, mother, here, in the heart of
the forest, in this small cottage, lived the widow and her only child.
The child died, as we may see, and she--oh! was the boon of death
granted to her at the same moment? But, who were they, mother? As your
early life was passed in this part of the country, you surely can tell
us."

Aunt Clive, who had been gazing sadly and silently on the scene since
giving the warning to Christine, said:

"Yes, I can tell you the story. But here comes your father, looking
very tired and hungry; and, as it is a very sad tale, we will defer it
until we have dined."

We spread our repast upon the grass, and, seating ourselves upon the
fragments of the broken chimney, soon became engrossed in the
discussion of cold chicken, ham and bread. As soon as we had
dispatched them and repacked our basket, and while we were waiting for
the horses to feed and rest, Aunt Clive told us the following tale of
real life:

THE IRISH EMIGRANTS.

A short time previous to the breaking out of the Rebellion in Ireland
a family of distinction came from that country to America and
purchased and settled upon a handsome estate near the then flourishing
village of Richmond. Their family name was Delany. With them came a
Dr. Dulan, a clergyman of the established church. Through the
influence of the Delanys, Dr. Dulan was preferred to the rectorship
of the newly established parish of All Saints, and subsequently to the
president's chair of the new collegiate scho