autumn. She wished, however, that I should remain with them till Birdie
and Lewis should be old enough to send from home. I had been very,
_very_ kindly treated in the home of Mrs. Leighton, and had become
strongly attached to my pupils, especially the two younger of them; and
I was glad of the opportunity of remaining near to my mother.

As the time drew near when they looked for the return of Willie, all the
family were busy with their preparations for giving him a joyous
welcome.

When I observed the eagerness with which they looked forward to his
return, I could not at times help feeling a pang of regret that I had
neither brother nor sister of my own. Had it not been for my surviving
parent, I should have felt entirely alone in the world. Not that I
envied the Leightons--far from it--but I could not help sometimes
contrasting my position in life with theirs. They being blessed with the
love of fond parents, brothers and sisters, along with the possession of
abundant wealth, and every comfort which tends to form a happy home;
while I was a poor, fatherless girl, obliged to labor for my own support
and that of my mother. I could not help thinking how different all might
have been had the life of my father been spared. I do not think that I
was usually of an unhappy disposition; on the contrary, I was inclined
to be hopeful and cheerful; but I believe with the best of us, the
happiness of others more favoured than ourselves will give rise to a
feeling of sadness.

The time soon arrived when, according to the letter they had received
from Willie, they might daily expect his arrival. None of the family
were able to settle their minds upon any employment, and it was with the
greatest difficulty that I could obtain the attention of my pupils