way to her heart. Mrs. Grosvenor's circumstances were
indeed more embarrassed than she had expressed to Natalie, yet she had
sufficient left, wherewith they might by retrenching a little, live very
comfortably. Accordingly, that Natalie might not feel this change, she
had dismissed her only servant (if we may do honor to old Vingo, by
dubbing him with a more elevated appellation), making some other
restrictions in her domestic affairs, for the sake of the child, whom
she knew was not her own by kindred, doing away with what she persuaded
herself were but unnecessary indulgences. Faithful mother! thou wilt
have thy reward.

Natalie arose the next morning, refreshed by the sweet repose which
innocence only knows, and although the day was ushered in with clouds,
and an occasional rain-drop, she proceeded to put into execution the
plans of yesterday; she had made no one a confidant of her designs, not
even Winnie; and when that little lady met her in the hall, all armed
and equipped as the weather directed, she exclaimed,--"where now? Miss
Snow-wreath! are you going to temper your indissolvable charms to an
April shower? or is it to hunt up some poor little refugee; who is so
unfortunate as to be minus an umbrella, that you are so bereft of your
senses, as to venture out, afoot and alone, this disagreeable morning?"

"Neither the one, nor yet the other, my fair sister," joyously replied
the Sea-flower, and she tripped down the steps, smiling upon the little
frightened rain-drops, which fell lightly upon her, from the skies, not
offering to treat them with such indecorum, as the spreading of her
umbrella, and, when Winnie called to her to come back, or if she would
venture forth, to take the carriage, she was far out of hearing. Arrived
at her point of _destination_, Natalie was so lost in admiration of the
noble illustrations of the infinite mind of man, that she had lost sight
of her object, in visiting the unknown artist, until she was awakened
from her revery, by a voice near her, and looking 'round, she discovered
a poor, dejected looking old negro woman, kneeling with her hands
clasped together, and her eyes fixed upon--Natalie followed in the
direction--it must be the beautiful Madonna! of which she had heard.
Involuntarily she assumed the position of the negress! What visions
filled her soul! flitting to and fro. The past, the present, and the
future rushed in mingled indistinctness through her mind! and over the
ch