Come home soon, Yours &c., "K.

S.DE YOUNGE, ESQ." Charlie could not but smile through his tears, as he read this curious epistle, which was not more remarkable for its graceful composition than its wonderful chirography.

Some of the lines were written in blue ink, some in red, and others in that pale muddy black which is the peculiar colour of ink after passing through the various experiments of school-boys, who generally entertain the belief that all foreign substances, from molasses-candy to bread-crumbs, necessarily improve the colour and quality of that important liquid.
"Why every other word almost is commenced with a capital; and I declare he's even made some in German text," cried Charlie, running his finger mirthfully along the lines, until he came to "Your father is very bad." Here the tears came welling up again--the shower had returned almost before the sun had departed; and, hiding his face in his hands, he leant sobbing on the table.
"Cheer up, Charlie!--cheer up, my little man! all may go well yet." "Mrs.Bird," he sobbed, "you've been very kind to me; yet I want to go home.

I must see mother and father.

You see what Esther writes,--they want me to come home; do let me go." "Of course you shall go, if you wish.