from Mrs. Walton's school, and was sitting with Mrs. Newton in the
little shady arbor they had made in the garden, and talking over
early days, when they used to sit in another arbor, and Fanny used to
learn her first lessons from flowers, then came Mr. Walton walking up
the path towards them, and with him was a fine-looking man, of about
forty-five years of age.

Mrs. Newton trembled, for when she looked in his face she remembered
the features; and she said to herself, "Now, if he takes my Fanny
from me?--and if he should be a bad man?" But when this man came
nearer, he stepped hastily beyond Mr. Walton, and catching Mrs.
Newton's hands, he was just going to drop on his knees before her,
when he saw Fanny staring at him; and a father's feelings overcame
every other, and with a cry of joy he extended his arms, and
exclaiming "my child!'--my child!" caught her to his breast.

Then there followed so much talk, while no one knew scarcely what
was saying; and it was Mr. Walton, chiefly, that told how Fanny's
father had had so much to struggle against, and so much hardship to
go through, but how he had succeeded at last, and got on very well;
now he had tried then to find out Mrs. Newton and his dear little
Fanny, but could not, because Mrs. Newton had changed her abode; how,
at last, he had met with a good opportunity to sell his land, and had
now come over with the money he had earned, to find his child, and
repay her kind benefactor.

Oh, what a happy evening was that in the widow's cottage! the
widow's heart sang for joy. The widow, and she that had always
thought herself an orphan, were ready to sing together--