“Thanks, auntie, for your compliment,” answered Nettie. “I will always be true to myself and all mankind, then I will be able to reap the great reward that is in store for the just.” “Now, dear, it is time you should be going down to the lake to gather those flowers, as your cousins will be back soon,” and as she spoke these words she kissed her niece, turned, and ran up the steps as sprightly as a young girl. All the afternoon she was meditating how happy she would make her only brother’s lonely child. “My children shall not mar her happiness by one thought or deed, as I will set the example and they will follow, as they are dutiful children.” Meantime Nettie wandered down to the lake, gathered a beautiful bouquet of wild flowers, and then sat down on the brink of the lake to arrange them more tastily. She was thinking how she would be eighteen next Friday, and how anxious her cousins were for her to get acquainted with the young people of the vicinity. She exclaimed aloud, “Oh, if I was as light hearted as they how happy I would be. They seem to be very happy indeed, and why should they not be, with everything so pleasant around them; by this little lake I could live always, where nature is dressed in green in the summer season. Oh, mother, if you knew how lonely your child is this afternoon and how sad it seems to me to come here for pleasure, and leave you at home with only one companion. I know it is very lonely for you, as I never have left you at home since papa died. Oh, mama! why did you urge me to come and leave you alone. You were very anxious for me to come and spend my birthday with my cousins. Oh, mother! no happiness have I found, although my friends are very kind to me. I hope some day I may be able to repay you for all the kindness you have shown to me. Oh, dear! I am so melancholy.” As she uttered those words tears were falling on the flowers in her lap, and in moving some of the most beautiful of them fell into the water. “Oh, dear! what shall I do! I can’t get any more of those lilies tonight; what will auntie say when I return home?” She had brought a stick and was trying to fish some of them up. So busily was she engaged that she did not observe a tall manly form come out of a clump of bushes near by until he said, “Dear lady, may I not get those flowers for you? Please let me have that stick. Perhaps I can reach the greater part of them.”