How do you know that I am as kind as you seem to suppose ?" asked Mrs.Bird, with a smile.
"I know you are," answered Charlie, confidently; "you speak so pleasantly to me.

And do you know, Mrs.Bird," continued he, "that I liked you from the first day, when you praised me so kindly when I recited my lessons before you.

Did you ever have any little boys of your own ?" A change immediately came over the countenance of Mrs.Bird, as she replied: "Oh, yes, Charlie; a sweet, good boy about your own age:" and the tears stood in her eyes as she continued.

"He accompanied his father to England years ago--the ship in which they sailed was never heard of--his name was Charlie too." "I didn't know that, or I should not have asked," said Charlie, with some embarrassment of manner caused by the pain he saw he had inflicted.

"I am very sorry," he continued.
Mrs.Bird motioned him to finish his breakfast, and left the table without drinking the tea she had poured out for herself.
There were but one or two families of coloured people living in the small town of Warmouth, and they of a very humble description; their faces were familiar to all the inhabitants, and their appearance was in accordance with their humble condition.