“I don’t know what makes them call you Aunt Patience, for you scold all the time.”

She informed my mother of it upon her return, and she gave me a reproof for allowing myself to speak disrespectfully to my relative; although, while listening to the relation of the difficulty by Aunt Patience, she found it extremely difficult to repress a smile.  However, my mother both loved and respected her, and thought she could live very comfortably with her during my absence; indeed my mother thought her quite a desirable companion, for, setting aside her irritability at petty annoyances, she was a woman of good sense, and was well informed upon most subjects, so I gladly joined in the invitation which my mother sent her, to come and make our house her home for an indefinite period.  As she lived only a day’s journey by railway from Philadelphia, she arrived a week before I left home.  She did not like the idea of my mother spending so much money in sending me to school.  To all of her remarks upon the subject my mother replied pleasantly, for she was her own aunt, and she would not treat her with disrespect.  During the few days I remained at home after her arrival, I formed a much more favorable opinion of Aunt Patience than I had done during her visit in the days of my childhood; and when I observed how kind she was to my mother I found it easy to love her.

I felt very sad the morning I bade adieu to my mother and Aunt Patience, to go into the world alone.  My mother had before given me many kind counsels regarding my future conduct, now she only said, as she embraced me at parting, “My dear daughter, I trust you will improve your time and talents, and conduct yourself in a manner that will not disappoint your mother.”  As Aunt Patience bade me good-bye, she said, with a countenance of much solemnity, “You must remember, Clara, all the advice I have given you.”  Sad as I felt, I could not repress a smile, for during the past week her advices regarding my future conduct had been so numerous, that it would have required a memory more retentive than mine to have remembered them all; but I knew they were intended for my good, and I readily promised to try and observe them.  I wish not to weary the reader by giving a detailed account of my journey.  I arrived safely at my destination, and met with a very cordial welcome at the house of Mrs. Armitage, my mother’s friend; two days later I became a member of the celebrated school for young ladies, taught at that time by Mrs. Wentworth, aided by competent assistance.

Mrs. Wentworth was a widow lady, of superior education and noble mind.  I spent four happy years in this institution, having visited my mother but once during the time.  It was very pleasant for me to find myself once more at home, with the opportunity for rest and relaxation, after four years, application to books.  During my absence, my mother and Aunt Patience had lived very quietly, they saw but little company, and were much occupied with their needles