“It was some time before I could make myself heard above the noise of drunken revelry which sounded within the hovel; but at length the door was opened by a wretched, frightened-looking woman, and a scene of indescribable misery was presented to my eyes.  Around a table were seated three or four brutish-looking men, with a jug and some glasses before them.  On the table was a pack of greasy-looking cards; but those who surrounded the table were too far gone to play now; they could only drink, and sing, and shout, and drink again; and one of them, in attempting to rise from the table, fell, and lay in a state of utter helplessness on the floor.”

“The man of the house was not so far gone as the rest; and when he came staggering forward, a few words sufficed to explain the reason of my appearance.”

“His answer seemed to seal my fate.”

“’Ho! you’re Rhoda, then!  I wrote to you.  I thought likely enough you’d got some money.  We’re pretty hard up here.’  This was said with a silly laugh and hiccough, which filled me with an indescribable loathing.”

“And was this miserable, bloated wretch my brother—­that brother whom I had so longed and prayed once more to see, of whom I had thought by day, and dreamed by night, for so many long years!  I turned to go without another word, but fell at the door, and lay, I know not how long, without sense or motion.  When I revived, I found the woman (who, I suppose, was my sister-in-law) bathing my face.  I have a dim recollection, too, of seeing some dirty, miserable-looking children, and of being asked for money.  I laid all that I had about me on the table, and, while they were eagerly catching for it, I left the wretched place; and grasping by the fence to steady my feeble footsteps, I made my way back to the inn.  I took the next stage, and then the boat, for the home of my kind old friend at Springdale, and arrived there ill in body and mind.  From there I wrote you, when partially recovered.  As soon as I was able, I began my school, and before long became much interested in my little scholars; and in the hospitable home of my kind old friends, regained tranquillity of mind, and after a time even cheerfulness.  But other trials awaited me.  My head is weary, and I must rest before I relate to you the remainder of my melancholy story.”

“There was a young physician in that place, who had recently come from the East, and settled there.  He was a man of agreeable person and manners, of much general information, and of very winning address; at least, so he seemed to me.  He was entirely different from all whom I had met in that new country, and was the only person, besides my old friend the clergyman and his wife, with whom it was really pleasant to converse; and I felt perfectly at ease in his society, having been assured that he was engaged to a certain Miss G——­, the daughter of a merchant in the village.  Though much surprised at this, she having appeared to me but a mere flippant gossip,