THE SILVER LAKE STORIES. 31

freed from her presence. My grief was
very great when the news was first
broken to me, that my dear little Alice
was no more; and for a long time I
was very sad; but the kind and sooth-
ing attentions of my mother calmed
my feelings, and, indeed, from that
time, she was mother, and sister, and
all to me.

“ How well I remember the beautiful
walks we used to take with her in the
summer time. When Jane had taken
us out to walk, she had hurried us
along, as if it was a business thiat must
be got through with; but when our |
kind mother took Fred and myself out