might easily have believed it to have been her own child. As it was,
she started up when the little girl appeared, and drawing her to her
side, involuntarily kissed her; then causing her to sit down by her
side, she minutely examined her features, questioning her meantime
concerning her mother and her home in England. Of the latter Ella
could only tell her that they lived in a city, and that her mother had
once taken her to a large, handsome house in the country, which she
said was her old home.

"There were sights of trees, and flowers, and vines, and fountains,
and little deer," said the child, "and when I asked ma why she did not
live there now, she cried, and pa put his arm tight 'round her,--so."

From this Mrs. Campbell inferred that Ella's family must have been
superior to most of the English who emigrate to this country, and
after a few more questions she decided to take her for a time, at
least; so with another kiss she dismissed her, telling her she would
come for her soon. Meantime arrangements were making for Mary and
Alice and on the same day in which Mrs. Campbell was to call for Ella,
Mr. Knight, one of the "Selectmen," whose business it was to look
after the town's poor,[A] also came to the cottage. After learning
that Ella was provided for, he turned to Mary, asking "how old she
was, and what she could do," saying, that his wife was in want of just
such a girl to do "chores," and if she was willing to be separated
from Alice, he would give her a home with him. But Mary only hugged
her sister closer to her bosom as she replied "I'd rather go with
Alice. I promised mother to take care of her."

[Footnote A: In Massachusetts each town has its own poor-house.]