Mrs. Morton, whose husband had died more than a year before. She was
obliged to take in plain sewing, and when she could do so, she gave
occasional lessons in French to eke out a livelihood for herself and
child. A very short interview resulted in Mrs. Arnold persuading the
widow to take a permanent situation with her, as her seamstress. And
from that date until her death, which took place five years later, the
fortunate widow and her child lived with the Arnolds as full members
of the family.

With an exquisite and grateful regard for the sensibilities and
possible wishes of her benefactors, the mother of the child
voluntarily changed its name from Mary to Agnes.

"I know you will approve of my doing so," said she, on the occasion of
her daughter's birthday--the Arnolds made quite a time of it, decking
the new Agnes in all the trinkets which had once belonged to the
little Agnes, who was gone--"I know you will approve of my doing so,
and I cannot think of any better way in which to express my gratitude
to you both."

Mr. and Mrs. Arnold were moved to tears by these words; in fact, so
deep and genuine was their emotion that neither one spoke for some
time. They did nothing but fondle and kiss the child they had adopted.

Thenceforward, instead of Mary Morton, the child was Agnes Arnold.

Years went by, and on the day we first introduced her she was
twenty-two years old. Her own mother and Mr. Arnold had passed away
and were laid away to sleep in the dust close by the little Agnes of
old. But like the ivy and the flowers which grew over all their