for the East Indies for the last
time, and made a very speedy and prosperous voyage. I continued my
inquiries for Henry Thayer, but was unable to obtain any tidings of him.
On my return, I called to see Annie, and found her occupying her old
position as music teacher in Brooklyn. She said that Mrs. Pattmore had
urged her so strongly to visit them that she had accepted the invitation
twice during my absence.

"I had hardly reached New York, before I was hurried away again; my ship
was hastily loaded with a cargo for Rio Janeiro, and I again sailed in
command. The trip was a speculative venture, which resulted very
profitably, and, on my return, I asked to be relieved from further
service. I was then fifty-three years of age, and I needed rest. The
company treated me very handsomely, and I sold my shares at a high
valuation. Having settled my affairs with the company, I hurried off to
see Annie; but I was surprised to find that she had moved to Greenville,
where she was teaching music to Mr. Pattmore's younger children.

"I had bought a farm near Springfield, Massachusetts, sometime previous,
and, learning that there was some slight inaccuracy in the deed, I went
to New Haven to consult a lawyer--your friend, Mr. Chapman--relative to
the title. While there, I wrote to Annie, asking her to come and live on
the farm with me. She immediately replied that she was under an
engagement as teacher for six months, and that she could not leave
Greenville until the end of that time. She said that Lucy had asked her
to pay a visit to Morristown, but that she had been obliged to decline
the invitation for the same reason. In conclusion, Annie begged me to
visit her in Greenville.

"As soon, therefore, as I had settled my business affairs, I went to
Greenville to stay a few days. Annie seemed very glad to see me, and
appeared to be in excellent health. I repeated my proposal, that she
should come to keep house for me on my farm, and she seemed favorably
disposed toward the arrangement, though she asked time to think about
it. I told her that at my death, I should leave her all my property, and
that, meantime, she should have everything she wished. I also tried to
talk to her about Henry, but she refused to say much, and seemed
desirous to believe that he was dead.

"I found that she had very little to do as a teacher, the children being
too young to study; but she was much attached to Greenville, as, to use
her own words, 'there we