domestics entered the room, and informed me
that a poor woman was in the kitchen seeking charity.

"I thought," said the girl, "as the other ladies are all away, you might
give her a trifle, for she seems very needy."

Hastily drying my tears, I went down to the kitchen, where I found a
young woman, who would have been very pretty but for the look of want
and suffering depicted upon her countenance. It was evident, from her
appearance, that she was not an habitual beggar. As I approached her,
she seemed much embarrassed, as she said,--

"Sure an' its mesilf that never expected to come to this at all, at
all."

"My poor woman," said I, "you appear to have been unfortunate."

"An' its mesilf that has been misfortunate," she replied, as the tears
gathered in her fine, dark eyes. She continued,--

"There was never a happier couple than Dinnis O'Flaherty an' I the day
the praste made us one. But, after a while, the wages got low, and the
times were hard wid us. 'Polly,' says Dinnis to me one day, 'will you be
afther goin' to Ameriky wid me?' 'Dinnis,' says I, 'wherever it plases
you to go its I, Polly McBrine, that's ready and willin' to follow.' We
sailed in the _St. Pathrick_, and tin days afther I saw my darlin'
Dinnis buried in the salt say. He fell sick wid a faver, and all me
prayers for his life could not save him; an' here I am, a lone widdy, in
a shtrange land, without a penny in me pocket, nor a place to lay me
head."

Here the poor woman's grief choked her utterance, and, covering her
face with her hands, she wept aloud. I requested the domestic to bring
her some food, which she ate like one famishing. I placed in her hand
money sufficient to secure her from want for two or three days at least.
I did not in the least doubt her story, for her countenance bore the
impress of sincerity. When she left, I requested her to call again in
two or three days, as I felt certain that Mrs. Leighton would assist her
in obtaining some employment. She left me with many thanks, and blessing
me after the manner of her country.

CHAPTER X.

A SURPRISE.

After tea I felt that I must walk out in the air, as I was suffering
from a severe headache. I made my way to the church-yard, and sought the
graves of my parents; and, seating myself at the headstone of my
mother's grave, I remained for a long time wrapped in profound
meditation.

I know not how long I remained thus, for I took no note of time; but
when I rai