How Mr. Brownlow went on from day to day, filling the mind of his adopted child with stores of knowledge, and becoming attached to him more and more as his nature developed itself, and showed the thriving seeds of all he could wish him to become—how he traced in him new traits of his early friend, that awakened in his own bosom old remembrances, melancholy and yet sweet and soothing—how the two orphans tried by adversity remembered its lessons in mercy to others, and mutual love, and fervent thanks to Him who had protected and preserved them—these are all matters which need not to be told; for I have said that they were truly happy, and without strong affection, and humanity of heart, and gratitude to that Being whose code is mercy, and whose great attribute is benevolence to all things that breathe, true happiness can never be attained.
Within the altar of the old village church there stands a white marble tablet, which bears as yet but one word,—“Agnes!” There is no coffin in that tomb; and may it be many, many years before another name is placed above it. But if the spirits of the Dead ever come back to earth to visit spots hallowed by the love—the love beyond the grave—of those whom they knew in life, I do believe that the shade of that poor girl often hovers about that solemn nook—ay, though it is a church, and she was weak and erring.
THE END.
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LONDON:
PRINTED BY SAMUEL BENTLEY,
Dorset Street, Fleet Street.
Transcriber’s Notes:
Punctuation errors repaired. Text across three volumes sometimes spells “visitor” as “visiter.” This was retained.
Page 105, “perspiratian” changed to “perspiration” (perspiration streamed down)
Page 124, paragraph break introduced before the line: (“Ay, that he shall,” replied the Jew)
Page 128, “artful” changed to “Artful” (recognise the Artful Dodger)