n vividly recalled by our visit to that lonely
room.

The view which my uncle's residence afforded of the surrounding country
was very pleasing to the beholder. Whatever way the eye turned, it
rested upon well-cultivated farms, on which were erected comfortable
and, in many instances, handsome and commodious dwellings.

In the distance, the summits of the White Mountains were distinctly
visible, they being about twenty miles distant from my uncle's
residence.

Mr. and Mrs. Egmont, according to promise, paid us a visit before
leaving Littleton. My uncle and aunt were much pleased by their friendly
and social manner; and, when they took their leave, we parted from them
with sincere regret. They left Littleton soon after, on their homeward
journey.

Three weeks had now passed since my arrival at my uncle's home, and I
found myself daily becoming more and more attached to my kind uncle and
aunt. Obadiah appeared to feel much more at his ease in my presence than
at the first. When I learned that he was an orphan-boy and had no home,
I felt a deep sympathy for him; but still, when I encountered one of
those glances, I often found it very difficult to avoid laughter. I
learned from my aunt that he, being left an orphan, had been put to work
at a very early age; and, consequently, had had but few advantages for
study and improvement. He could read tolerably, and write a little. My
aunt was of the opinion that notwithstanding his peculiarities, he was
possessed of good common sense, and would make good progress in study if
he had any one to render him the necessary assistance. I at once offered
to assist him in his studies, and proposed to him that he should spend a
portion of the long evenings in study. He seemed at the first to be
somewhat startled by my proposition; but, seeing that I was in earnest,
gladly consented, and forthwith commenced his studies. My aunt cautioned
me about laughing, if he should chance to make comical blunders; and it
was well that she did so, for some of his blunders were laughable in the
extreme; but "forewarned is forearmed." After a time I learned that he
really possessed an intellect of no mean order. He soon made rapid
progress in study. He seemed fully to appreciate the pains I took in
teaching him, and endeavored, by many little acts of kindness, to show
his gratitude to me.

Soon after my arrival, my aunt, one day, said to me,--

"I hope you will feel happy with us; for I wish you to c