harles, who is still more lonely than we. We
must not be selfish; and I think we should feel willing to give you up."

I was much relieved to know that my uncle and aunt Wayland were willing
that I should go, although I well knew their willingness was caused by
what they considered my duty to my aged relative.

Till I prepared to leave my uncle and aunt, I knew not how tenderly I
had learned to love them. I resigned my school at Mill Town, with much
sorrow, for I had become strongly attached to my pupils. As my uncle and
aunt tenderly embraced me at parting, my uncle said, while the tears
coursed down his furrowed cheeks,--

"Remember, dear Clara, there will ever be for you a daughter's welcome,
both in our hearts and home."

CHAPTER XX.

LIGHTS AND SHADOWS.

I was agitated by many contending emotions as I alighted from the train
which had borne me to Philadelphia; but, along with many sad thoughts,
came the consoling one, that I had not returned to my native city the
friendless being I had left it.

We stayed for a short time with my old friends, the Burnsides, while my
uncle attended to the business of buying and furnishing a suitable
residence. Before removing to our home, my uncle engaged Mrs. Burnside
to find a person suitable to occupy the position of housekeeper in his
dwelling. It immediately occurred to Mrs. Burnside that my old friend,
Mrs. O'Flaherty, would be well qualified for that position. She had
remained in the service of Mrs. Wallingford since the time when I first
introduced her to the reader; but, fortunately for us, Mr. Wallingford
was about removing his family to a distant State, and they would no
longer require her services. Mrs. O'Flaherty was overjoyed when she
learned that she was to reside with me. When I, in company with Mrs.
Burnside, called to make the necessary arrangements for her removal to
her new home, I could hardly believe that the tidy, well dressed matron
I saw could be the same poor woman to whom I had given food when hungry
and destitute.

"Indade," exclaimed Mrs. O'Flaherty, "an' I niver expected to see the
happy day whin I would live wid you in a home av yer own."

The matter was soon arranged, and an early day appointed for her to
commence her duties as housekeeper in the dwelling of my uncle.

It was quite a change for me to find myself so suddenly removed from my
position as teacher in a small school and installed as mistress in my
uncle's elegant home in