Edward, the subject of our story, was the second child and the only one out of six children who lived to be seven years of age. Fearing, from these repeated afflictions, that the air and confinement of a city were the cause of the death of his loved ones, the father, in Edward's ninth year, purchased a place on the Hudson river, and removed his family there just before the birth of a tiny girl called Gertrude. There amidst the picturesque scenery of that region, the children grew apace until Ned had reached his twelfth and Gerty her third summer; when a terrible affliction came upon them in the death of their father. Mr. Wallingford had been greatly esteemed as a shrewd, successful businessman; the papers in noticing his death, remarked that he was a friend and supporter of all the benevolent enterprises of the day; but only the wife and children of the deceased knew how his large heart had beat in sympathy with every effort to advance the cause of the Redeemer's kingdom. To them it appeared for a time as if the sun had set in a total eclipse. Even after years had passed, and time had in a degree allayed their grief, they mourned his loss as the most tender husband, the most loving father, the most conscientious, humble and earnest Christian, it had been their lot to know. Three years Mrs. Wallingford survived him; and then she too was called to her home in the skies. The summons was not a sudden one; for months she had felt her health to be declining, and to her the thought of being free from her body of sin and death was delightful. The only struggle she felt in exchanging the scenes of time for those of eternity, was when she thought of her children. But her faith in the promises of a covenant-keeping God at length prevailed over every doubt; she said to her faithful pastor: "How can I shrink from leaving my dear ones with my heavenly Father, when I know how he pities his afflicted children? and when I remember how many earnest prayers for them are registered in heaven." Soon after her death Edward was sent to school to prepare for college; and it was only during his vacations that he had returned to Rose Cottage, where Gertrude in the care of their faithful Hannah still resided. CHAPTER II. GOING HOME. THE last day of the last term had come; and gone. Paul Dudley with Edward Wallingford were candidates for the bar. Paul had chosen the new and flourishing city of Chicago as the field in which he was to become famous, while Edward had decided to return to his native place. The thought of the separation which their new lives involved, was painful to both. Six years of the closest intimacy had united their hearts in an uncommon degree. Paul's love to Edward was mingled so largely with respect, that during all their intercourse he had been conscious of a desire to keep his own bad qualities out of sight, lest they should excite contempt.