CHAPTER III. THE CRADLE-SONG; A FREE TRANSLATION FROM KOeRNER, 35 THE BROTHERS; OR, IN THE FASHION, AND ABOVE THE FASHION, 37 CHAPTER IV. LOSS AND GAIN; OR, HEARTS VERSUS DIAMONDS, 48 CHAPTER V. THE BIRD'S RELEASE. BY MRS. HEMANS, 70 THE YOUNG MISANTHROPE, 72 CHAPTER VI. LIFE IN AMERICA, 91 CHAPTER VII. SUNDAY, 126 EVENING HYMN, 128 CHAPTER VIII. THE WOLF CHASE, 133 CHAPTER IX. THE HISTORY OF AN OLD MAID, 140 CHAPTER X. THE FAMILY MEETING, 166 CHAPTER XI. THE DYING HEBREW, 169 "ONLY A MECHANIC," 172 CHAPTER XII. LOVE AND PRIDE, 196 CHAPTER XIII. THE TEST OF LOVE. A STORY OF THE LAST WAR, 227 CHAPTER XIV. THE FLOWER ANGELS, 266 THE CHRISTMAS GUEST; OR, EVENINGS AT DONALDSON MANOR. CHAPTER I. The largest and the most picturesque country-house of all I know in America, is the mansion house of my friends, the Donaldsons. I would gladly inform the reader of its locality, but this Colonel Donaldson has positively prohibited, for a reason too flattering to my self-love to be resisted. "You know, my dear Madam,"--I give his own words, by which I hope the courteous reader will understand that I am really too modest even to seem to adopt the flattering sentiment they convey--"You know, my dear madam, that your description will be read by every body who is any body, and that through it my simple home will become classic ground. If I permit you to direct the tourist tribe to it, I shall be pestered out of my life when summer comes, by travelling artists, would-be poets, and romantic young ladies."