She put the little arbor in order, and repaired next to her conservatory, filled with rich and rare exotics, took a hasty glance, moving the choice plants into the position that best suited her good taste, and wiping the dust from its polished shelves.  Her father’s chair occupied its place by his favorite window that looked out upon the Juniata that was indistinctly seen, peeping its little spots of blue through the thick leaves of the plants that almost hid it from view.  She took a last look, passing on to the aviary, where a choice collection of birds filled the ear with their melody.  Old nurse had attended to this department, and she caressed her pets, and smoothed their feathers, and breathing a sad adieu, turned to take a last look at her favorite Sullensifadda, as she had named her noble steed.  She patted his neck, told him coaxingly he would never again climb the mountain pass with her upon his back; took a last look of her father’s splendid saddle horse of dapple grey, and his jet black span of carriage horses, and passed round through the richly cultivated grounds, and gardens where every thing that wealth could procure lay spread out before the eye.  She took a hasty look, a hasty leave of all and felt that sense of desolation known to almost every human heart, when called upon to part from dear familiar objects.  She looked at her elegant gold watch, and finding her time had expired, returned to the house.  Already there had many arrived who wished to attend the auction.  Henriette entered a small apartment, seated herself upon a low stool, and wept as she heard the unfeeling remarks and low jests, as the vulgar crowd pulled about the furniture, turning it from side to side, declaring they had no idea Esq.  Clinton’s mansion was so meanly furnished.  But we will not dwell upon this painful scene.

Mr. Charles Norcross purchased the house with all its appurtenances.  The furniture was distributed about here and there among the wealthy citizens, who wished to add some article of luxury to their establishment.  And all was gone.  Sold for less than half its value, and poor Henriette had the mortification of hearing that the debts were not cancelled.  So she disposed of her gold watch and pencil, her father’s watch, a box of rich jewelry, and every available article in her possession to contribute her mite to keep dishonor from resting upon her father’s name.  She then went forth penniless upon the world.  But there was a light in her eye and firmness in her step that told of a “will to do, a soul to dare.”  She had been educated in the customs of the village, and had been an aristocrat.  Now she had another lesson to learn, a sad lesson speaking of the depravity of the human heart, and now she must learn all the cold heartlessness of that world that had heretofore shone so brightly upon her pathway.  She did not once think in her grief that her change in fortune would make any change in friendship’s tone, but alas! the society in which she had moved was very, very exclusive, and to labor with the hands was to bar the door of that society forever against one.