The Path of Duty | Page 9

them that the estate of his
deceased relative could not be finally arranged in less time than a year,
perhaps longer; and he thought that instead of returning to Philadelphia
he would enter a College in England, and devote the intervening time
to study. His parents could not object, knowing it to be for his interest,
as he had not, when a boy taken very kindly to study. A year passed
away, and Willie did not return, but they received frequent letters from
him. Near the close of the second year he wrote, informing them that he
intended leaving England on the tenth of the month following, as the
matters pertaining to the property left him were now satisfactorily
arranged.
About this time Laura returned home from school, having finished her
term of study. Mrs. Leighton intended sending Georgania to the same
institution where Laura studied, but she was not to go till the coming
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
during the time appointed for their daily lessons, and, being aware of
the cause, I could hardly blame them. Their suspense was at length
ended by the arrival of Willie. Never shall I forget the joy which was
depicted upon the countenance of little Lewis when suddenly he burst
into my room, exclaiming,
"Oh! Miss Roscom, our dear, dear brother Willie has come at last!
Don't you wish you had a brother Willie too?"
Had he known the pang which his childish remark occasioned me he

certainly would never have made it. With much difficulty I kept back
my tears and tried to appear as much pleased as the child evidently
wished me to be. I had been accustomed, since my residence in the
family, to spend my evening mostly with them in the parlor; but on that
evening I remained in my own room, feeling that I should be an
intruder upon that family reunion. I took up a book and endeavored to
interest myself in its pages. I could distinctly hear the joyous murmur
of voices from below, varied by bursts of laughter, not loud, but
strikingly mirthful. I soon heard light footsteps ascending the stairs; the
next moment Birdie rushed in, exclaiming,
"Mamma says she has been so much occupied that she had almost
forgotten you; but she says you must come down at once; you mustn't
sit here alone when we are all so happy."
I begged to be excused from going down, saying that they would
probably prefer being left to themselves on this evening of Willie's
return.
"Oh!" said she, "Papa and mamma both expect you to go down."
Fearful of giving offence, and after making some slight alterations in
my dress, I accompanied Birdie down stairs and entered the parlor.
I believe most persons feel a kind of embarrassment when meeting for
the first time one of whom they have long heard much. I was sensible
of