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ave been broken； and changed； and the grey shingles are a little more moss…grown； but its general aspect is precisely what it was when we were last there。 The snow…ball and the sweet…briar are in their old places； each side of the humble porch； the white blossoms have fallen from the scraggy branches of the snow…ball； this first week in June； the fresh pink buds are opening on the fragrant young shoots of the sweet…briar。 There is our friend； Miss Patsey； wearing a sun…bonnet； at work in the garden； and if you look through the open door of the house； you will see beyond the passage into the neat little kitchen； where we catch a glimpse of Mrs。 Hubbard's white cap over the back of her rocking…chair。 It is possible that you may also see the merry； shining； black face of a little handmaiden； whom Miss Patsey has lately taken into the family； and； as the tea…kettle is boiling； and the day's work chiefly over； the little thing is often seen at this hour； playing about the corners of the house； with the old cat。 Ah； there is the little minx！her sharp ears have heard the sound of wheels； and she is already at the open gate； to see what passes。 A wagon stops； whom have we here？ Little Judy is frightened half out of her wits： a young man she does not know； with his face covered with beard； after a fashion she had never yet seen； springs from the wagon。 Miss Patsey turns to look。
〃Charlie！〃she exclaims； and in another moment the youth has received the joyful； tearful； agitated embrace of his mother and sister。 The darling of their hearts is at home again； three years since； he left them； a boy； to meet dangers exaggerated tenfold by their anxious hearts； he returns； a man； who has faced temptations undreamed of by their simple minds。 The wanderer is once more beneath their humble roof； their partial eyes rest again on that young face； changed； yet still the same。
Charlie finds the three last years have passed lightly over his mother and his sister； theirs are the same kindly faces； the same well…known voices； the best loved； the most trusted from childhood。 After the first eager moments of greeting are over； and the first hurried questions have been answered； he looks about him。 Has not the dear old cottage shrunk to a very nut…shell？ He opens the door of the school…room； there are its two benches； and its humble official desk； as of old； he looks into the little parlour； and smiles to think of the respect he felt in his childish days for Miss Patsey's drawing…room： many a gilded gallery； many a brilliant saloon has he since entered as a sight…seer； with a more careless step。 He goes out on the porch； is it possible that is the garden？why it is no larger than a table…cloth！he should have thought the beds he had so often weeded could not be so small： and the door…yard； one can shake hands across it！ And there is Wyllys…Roof； half hid by treeshe used to admire it as a most venerable pile； in reality it is only a plain； respectable country…house： as the home of the Wyllyses； however； it must always be an honoured spot to him。 Colonnade Manor toohe laughs！ There are some buildings that seem； at first sight； to excite to irresistible merriment； they belong to what may he called the 〃ridiculous order〃 of architecture； and consist generally of caricatures on noble Greek models； Mr。 Taylor's elegant mansion had； undeniably； a claim to a conspicuous place among the number。 Charlie looks with a painter's eye at the country； the scenery is of the simplest kind； yet beautiful； as inanimate nature； sinless nature； must ever be under all her varieties： he casts a glance upward at the sky； bright and blue as that of Italy； how often has he studied the heavens from that very spot！ The trees are rich in their summer verdure； the meadows are fragrant with clover； and through Mr。 Wyllys's woods there is a glimpse of the broad river； gilded by the evening sun。 It is a pleasing scene； a happy moment； it is the first landscape he ever painted； and it is home。
Then Charlie returns to his mother； he sits by her side； she takes his hand in her withered fingers； she rests her feeble sight on his bright face； while Miss Patsey is preparing all the dainties in the house for supper。
〃Well； little one； what is your name？〃 said Charlie； as the black child passed him with a load of good things。
〃Judy； sir；〃 said the little girl； with a curtsey； and a half…frightened look at Charlie's face； for the young artist had chosen to return with moustaches； whether he thought it professional or becoming； we cannot say。
〃We shall be good friends I hope； Judy； if you mind my sister better than you ever did anybody else in your life； perhaps I shall find some sugar…plums for you；〃 said Charlie； pleased to see a black face again。
Mrs。 Hubbard remarked that； upon the whole； Judy was a pretty good girl； and the child grinned； until two deep dimples were to be seen in her shining dark cheeks； and the dozen little non…descript braids which projected from her head in different directions； seemed to stand on end with delight。
〃And so Mr。 Wyllys and the ladies are not at home。 I wish I had known of their being in New…York； I might at least have seen them for a moment； yesterday。〃
〃I wonder Mrs。 Hilson did not mention their being in town。〃
〃Julianna never knows what she is talking about。 But I am glad to hear good accounts of them all。〃
〃Yes； Miss Wyllys has come home from the West…Indies； much better。〃
〃Is it really true that Miss Elinor is going to be married shortly？〃
〃Well； I can't say whether the story is true or not。 She seems to have many admirers now she has become an heiress。〃
〃But I don't understand how she comes to be such a fortune。〃
｛〃a fortune〃 = short for a woman of fortune； an heiress｝
〃I don't understand it myself； Mr。 Clapp can tell you all about it。 You know most people are a great deal richer now than they were a few years ago。 I heard some one say the other day； that my old pupil's property in Longbridge； is worth three times as much now； as it was a short time since。〃
〃Is it possible Longbridge has improved so much？〃
〃And then your old play…fellow has had two legacies from relations of her mother's； everybody in the neighbourhood is talking of her good…luck； and saying what a fortune she will turn out。 I only hope she will be happy； and not be thrown away upon some one unworthy of her； like her poor cousin； for it seems young Mr。 Taylor is very dissipated。〃
Charlie probably sympathized with this remark； though he made no reply。
〃Mr。 and Mrs。 Tallman Taylor are in New…York now； I hear； just come from New…Orleans。 The family from Wyllys…Roof have gone over to see them；〃 added Miss Patsey。
〃Yes； so I understand。 They will be here before long； I suppose。〃
〃Not immediately； for they are all going to Saratoga together。 Dr。 Van Horne thought Miss Wyllys had better pass two or three weeks at the Springs。〃
〃That is fortunate for meI shall see them the sooner； for I must be at Lake George before the first of July。 I have an order for three views of the Lake； which I have promised to send to England early in the fall。〃
Here Charlie entered into some details of his affairs； very interesting to his mother and sist