Her brother and sister seldom left their own home, owing to their care
of their aged mother, and for some years past my mother's circumstances
had not allowed her to visit her early home; and, amid the cares of
life, letters passed less and less frequently between them, till they
came to be like "Angels' visits," few and far between. My mother was
equally pleased and surprised, a few weeks after I returned home, by
receiving a kind letter from her brother Nathan. Like all his letters
it contained but few words, but they were dictated by a kind heart. The
most important words (to me) which the letter contained were these:
"Your boy Walter needs more schooling before he goes out into the world,
send him to me and he shall have it. If his disposition is anything like
his mother's at his age I know we shall get along famously together. I
will board and clothe him for two years; he shall attend the best
schools in the place, I promise nothing further, only then, when the boy
leaves me, he shall have all he deserves, if it should be only a cuff on
the ear. In case you should find any difficulty in defraying his
expenses, I enclose money sufficient for that purpose. I know not the
reason, but I feel a strong desire to see your boy, and find out what he
is made of."

My mother was alone when she received this letter; she read it again and
again, and with each perusal her heart warmed toward the brother whom
she had not seen for so many years. "But," thought she, "whatever my own
wishes may be in the matter, Walter must decide for himself. I should
consult his feelings (as far as possible) upon a matter which concerns
him so deeply." When I came home that evening my mother gave me Uncle
Nathan's letter, and with silent amusement watched my face grow sober
as I read it. She really knew this kind-hearted brother--I did not,
and that made all the difference in the world. I suppose my grave
countenance, as I perused the letter, informed my mother that a second