“I feel quite happy and contented,” she replied, “and have no wish to leave my present home, till you marry and possess a home of your own, when I should be very glad to make my home with you.”

I replied that I had no intention of marrying at present but that if that event should take place during her lifetime, I should be most happy to receive her into my home.

The village of Woodville was not large; but its location was romantic and pleasant, being bounded on one side by a range of high hills, and on the other by a beautiful river.  I was highly pleased with the place, and with the kind family with whom Aunt Patience resided.  When I had spent about ten days at Woodville, I received a letter from my uncle, requesting my return home without delay.  In a postscript he informed me that I need not be alarmed, as both he and my aunt were in good health; but that he did not wish to assign a reason for requesting my return.  I could not imagine what had caused my uncle to summon me home, as he was aware that I had intended spending several weeks with my aunt; and I made all possible haste to set out on my homeward journey, and left Woodville the next morning after receiving my uncle’s letter.  When my uncle and aunt met me on my return, I knew by their manner that something unusual had taken place in my absence; but I judged from the countenance of both that, whatever the event might be, it was one of joy rather than sorrow.  My uncle soon said,—­

“Can you bear good news, Clara?”

I replied that I thought I could.

“Then,” continued my uncle, “I have the happiness of informing you that the hopes you had so long cherished of seeing your uncle Charles will be realized, for he has arrived.”

’Ere I could frame a reply, the door of the adjoining room opened, and my new-found uncle came hastily forward.  He evinced much emotion as he tenderly embraced me, saying,—­

“Your face strongly reminds me of the twin brother from whom I parted so many years ago.  You know not how happy I am in finding the daughter of my dear brother.”

I could trace in the features of my uncle Charles a resemblance to my dear father; but, as my father had died while quite a young man, the resemblance, at my uncle’s time of life, was less striking than otherwise it might have been.

My uncle Charles was now sixty-five years old; but travel and exposure caused him to look much older than he really was.  He informed me that he had first visited Philadelphia with the hope of finding my father; and, when he learned that my father and mother were both dead, he next enquired if they left any children?  He learned that they left one daughter, who had resided for some time in the family of the Leightons, as governess; but had left Philadelphia three years since.  He next sought out the Leightons, hoping to learn my residence; but they of course could give him no information upon the subject.  They