That kiss told Julia what her father meant. Laying her head upon his shoulder, she said, “I know, papa; she has her own dear mother. But mine—_O papa!_” Julia’s tears choked back the words that might have told you her dear mother was in heaven. Sitting there, Julia and her father felt how very poor she was in losing mother-love and care and kisses, like that which blessed those little strangers. The Germans had no house, no land—had only money enough to take them West, where they must work hard all day, early and late. But they had _each other_. They might tell us that life and love are God’s best blessings. Health and wealth are also his rich gifts, but not so dear—oh no! oh no! [Illustration: Decoration] CHAPTER II. A RIDE. At Catskill Mr. Cary and Julia left the boat; and Ellen, too, with her hands full of baskets, bags, and wraps. They walked aside from the crowd on the dock, towards a man who was holding the reins of two bright bay horses. This was uncle Benjamin. He had left his hay-field, ten miles away, and come down to the river to welcome our travellers. Smiles and black eyes lit up his sunburnt face cheerily. If you had been looking off from the boat to see Julia go ashore, you would have wished you too might have been lifted by his strong arms into his easy carriage. Ellen and the baskets were next put in. Mr. Cary sprang to the front seat, and uncle Benjamin got up beside him. The horses started as if they were in a hurry to get through the bars of their green pasture-lot again. Away they went over the hills. Julia thought there was no other man so good as uncle Benjamin. She thought he owned all that country, that all the calves and colts scampering about the farms they passed belonged to him, and many an eager question she asked about what she saw. “O uncle Benjamin!” she shouted at last, so quickly that he half stopped his horses, as he turned to hear, “have you got any kittens for me?” “Ha! ha!” he laughed; “I thought you had dropped your hat or bag in the road. Got any kittens? Can’t say. Charley or Johnny will know.” A few more hills were crossed, and uncle Benjamin was at home. Aunt Abby stood smiling at the open door; but the boys met the carriage at the gate. They were in haste to see this dear little cousin who came but once a year. Before Mr. Cary had hung up his dusty linen coat, Julia whispered, “Papa, they _have_ got kittens, four of them. Please ask if I may have one for my own self.” Mr. Cary told aunt Abby how lonely Julia was at home without her mother; how for weeks her heart had been so sad she could hardly play at all. She was getting used to the stillness in the house, and the heartache was wearing away. But she wanted some _live_ thing to play with, she said, and hoped to take home a _real_ kitten. “Poor little motherless girl!” sighed aunt Abby. When called to tea, Julia came in smiling, with Charley and Johnny, who had been showing her their out-door pets.