parting with Emily, her cordial reception by
Mrs. Sullivan, and her commencement of school duties, we will record the
events of a day in November, about two months after she left Mr.
Graham's.

Rising with the sun, she made her neat toilet in a room so cold that her
hands were half benumbed; nor did she omit, ere she began the labours of
the day, to supplicate Heaven's blessing upon them. Then, noiselessly
entering the adjoining apartment, where Mrs. Sullivan was still
sleeping, she lit a fire, and performed a similar service at the
cooking-stove, which stood in a comfortable room, where, now that the
weather was cold, the family took their meals. The table was set for
breakfast when Mrs. Sullivan entered, pale, thin, and feeble in her
appearance, and wrapped in a large shawl.

"Gertrude," said she, "why did you let me sleep so late, while you are
up and at work?"

"For the very best reason in the world, auntie; because I sleep all the
early part of the night, and am wide awake at day-break, and with you it
is quite the reverse. Besides, I like to get the breakfast; I make such
beautiful coffee. Look!" said she, pouring some into a cup, and then
lifting the lid of the coffee-pot, and pouring it back again; "see how
clear it is! Don't you long for some of it?"

Mrs. Sullivan smiled, for, Uncle True having always preferred tea,
Gertrude did not at first know how to make coffee.

"Now," said Gertrude, "I want you to sit down here and watch the
tea-kettle boil, while I run and see if Mr. Cooper is ready to let me
tie up his cue."

She went, leaving Mrs. Sullivan to think what a good girl she was; and
presently returning with the old man, she placed a chair for him, and
having waited while he seated himself, and then pinned a napkin about
his throat, she proceeded to place the breakfast on the table.

While Mrs. Sullivan poured out the coffee, Gertrude removed the skin
from a baked potato, and the shell from a boiled egg, and placing both
on the plate destined for Mr. Cooper, handed him his breakfast in a
state of preparation which obviated the difficulty the old man
experienced in performing these tasks for himself. Poor Mrs. Sullivan
had no appetite, and it was with difficulty Gertrude persuaded her to
eat anything; but a few fried oysters, unexpectedly placed before her,
proved such a temptation that she was induced to eat several, with a
degree of relish she rarely felt for any article of food. As Gertrude
gaze