“I have not met with or heard of Mr. Perkins for some years.  He remained in Troy about six months after you went away, and, during that period, I saw him very frequently.  Your loss seemed, for a time, as if it would destroy his reason.  I never saw any one suffer such keen mental distress as he did.  The fearful uncertainty that hung around your fate racked his mind with the intensest anguish.  At the end of the time I have mentioned, he went to New York, and, I was told, left that city a year afterward; but, whether it is so or not, I never learned.  Indeed, I am entirely ignorant as to whether he is now alive or dead.  For years I have neither heard of him nor seen him.”

Eugenia wept bitterly when Mrs. Gaston ceased speaking.  She did not reply, but sat for a long time with her hand partly concealing her face, her whole body trembling nervously, and the tears falling fast from her eyes.  From this excitement and agitation, consequent upon a reference to the past, she gradually recovered, and then Mrs. Gaston related, in turn, her trials and afflictions since their separation so many years before.  These we will not now record for the reader, but hurry on to the conclusion of our narrative.

By a union of their efforts, Mrs. Gaston and Eugenia were enabled, though to do so required them to toil with unremitting diligence, to secure more comforts—­to say nothing of the mutual strength and consolation they received from each other—­than either could have possibly obtained alone.  The rent of a room, and the expense of an extra light, were saved, and this was important where every cent had to be laid out with the most thoughtful economy.  Eugenia no longer went out, except to visit her father.  Mrs. Gaston brought home as much work from the shop as both of them could do, and received the money for it when it was done, which all went into a common fund.  Thus the time wore on, Eugenia feeling happier than she had felt for many weary years.  Mrs. Gaston had been a mother to her while she lived in Troy, and Eugenia entertained for her a deep affection.  Their changed lot, hard and painful though it was, drew them closer together, and united them in a bond of mutual tenderness.

New Year’s day at last came, and the mother, who had looked forward so anxiously for its arrival, that she might see her boy once more, felt happier in the prospect of meeting him than she had been for a long time.  Since his departure, she had not heard a single word from him, which caused her to feel painfully anxious.  But this day was to put an end to her mind’s prolonged and painful suspense, in regard to him.  From about nine o’clock in the morning, she began to look momently for his arrival.  But the time slowly wore on, and yet he did not come.  Ten, eleven twelve, one o’clock came and went, and the boy was still absent from his mother, whose heart yearned to see his fair face, and to hear his voice, so pleasant to her ear, with unutterable longings.  But still the hours went