prises. This threw a cheerful air over our house, and made Alice especially happy because she believed it a sign of renewed prosperity. In return, many were the charming dinners I was invited to at several fashionable hotels of the city.

I well remember one given at the Gloria Hotel by the Georgia gentleman, who was proposing to develop the capabilities of the port of Brunswick. It was a very delightful set-down-ten covers. The bill of fare was printed on satin, commencing with "Saddle-Rock oysters on the halfshell," and followed by all the delicacies New York could afford. The wines and liquors were superb. At that dinner was the agent of a British capitalist, who had come at Harley's suggestion to examine and report generally about the property, and also the facilities for cutting and transporting the pine timber on it; also the depth of water at the port of Brunswick. This person was an engineer by profession, not in the permanent employ of the capitalist, but selected for the occasion. Of course it was for the interest of the Georgia gentleman to produce from first to last a good impression. He therefore opened the campaign with the dinner at the Gloria Hotel. This was followed by other agreeable attentions, until both took their departure for the famous harbor. For our friend was too sagacious to allow the agent to proceed by himself, not that there were any untruthful representations made respecting the enter prise; but the fear was, that other parties, jealous of his good fortune, might get the ear of the Englishman and underbid their neighbor in the price of pine timber lands, of which this particular person certainly had not the monopoly in that district.

In just one month I received a letter from Harley. He had arrived safely with his wife. Had already had a most encouraging interview with his solicitors. Every thing looked prosperous. Would write fully next steamer.

From that time forward Harley proved a most regular correspondent. He was a voluminous letter-writer. The least measure of success, and every shadow of adverse prospects, were vividly daguerreotyped. But there was very little shadow to a man of Harley's temperament, so his epistles were generally inspiriting. He was remarkably clear and methodical; to each particular scheme was devoted a certain space, and headed accordingly. Under each head were his remarks, requests, or instructions. Sometimes fresh documents were required for this; more information to be forwarded about that; a new set of papers for a third, and so on.

It was not long before something definite appeared to be gradually working out of the innumerable matters in hand. To be sure John Bull was not to be hurried. Yet Harley understood his character so well, that he lost no time. At length a company was formed under the auspices of his enterprising solicitors, for working the Tennessee Copper Mine, "provisionally," it was true, based on the report of a scientific man, to be sent immediately forward. So far so good. Again, a wealthy broker of Austen Friars had consented to send an agent to Lake Superior, to investigate the value of the property which Harley had offered for exploitation. The California mines promised still better; for all London, Harley wrote, was crazy after them.

Those were bright days, indeed, when each successive

steamer brought some favorable tidings. Harley had been successful in procuring a delightful house, in which he was installed, and his plans were all working to a charm. At the end of two months I drew on him for one hundred pounds, to cover, according to agreement, my personal expenses, and also certain disbursements made in the course of business. The bill was duly honored, and it is impossible to describe my transports on experiencing this first evidence of success. There was something tangible. To be sure only amounting to what I had disbursed, but it included a livelihood.

Harley, meanwhile, was careful to explain that it must necessarily be some time before profits could be realized. He managed, he said, in his various operations, to arrange for a small sum to be raised on the provisional shares, or on the various conventions he entered into. These provided for the cost of examining property, and other incidental matters, which Harley took good care should cover his expenses and my own. In this way the brougham and tiger were sustained, and a very nice time generally inaugurated for Mrs. Harley, while my own drafts, which gradually increased in amount, were promptly met.

It was not long before Mr. and Mrs. Harley were presented at court, and soon found their way into society which, had they been born in England, they could never have entered. But, as wealthy Americans, residing abroad, whose position was assured by their ambassador, and who stood well financially with their bankers, the entrée to fashionable circles was easy and felicitous. There, for the present, we may leave them.

CHAPTER XXIII.

THE CHOLERA.

IN the summer of 1849 the cholera visited New York. It did not interfere much with rich people. There were certain startling exceptions, sudden and sharp, which made the luxurious sensitive as to their hold on life, and induced a general hegira from the town to the mountains or sea-shore. It was the poor, however, who were forced to take the principal burden of the epidemic, as they have to carry other burdens grievous to be borne, but which Providence has decreed they must endure so long as they live.

By the middle of July, the deaths by cholera alone reached one hundred daily. This account soon ran up to two hundred. I felt no great apprehension for myself, but children have an instinctive terror of pestilence, and I began to fear for them. So, early in July, I took pleasant lodgings at a small town in the interior of Connecticut, and remained there until the middle of September. I was happy to be able to aid Mrs. Hitchcock and her daughter to accompany us. In this quiet but delightful retreat I spent two months very pleasantly. I devoted myself to the young people, and glimpses of happier days shone in on me. Matilda appeared more natural than I ever saw her; only she had a nervous fear of the contagion, which was at times melancholy to witness. I received my letters from Harley regularly, and

although my absence from New York necessarily delayed some matters, I became each day more and more sanguine of satisfactory results.

When we all came back in September, the city had resumed its wonted aspect. Congratulations passed among friends and acquaintances, as they met and found on inquiry each others' families with unbroken numbers. Sometimes condolences were tendered instead. But the pestilence had now left us, that was certain, and the inhabitants returned to their business or their pleasures with undiminished zest ; indeed, rather with a heightened ardor, caused by a natural reaction.

As I gathered my little family safe around me the first evening of our arrival, I felt grateful to God for permitting us all to live. I called to mind how two years before we had come in from Newport, so suddenly to encounter that calamitous reverse. I could not prevent some severe pangs as I thought over the occurrences of that year; recalled the scenes in my house in Broadway, scenes in which my wife was always in the foreground. I thought of the stormy night, when I came home drenched with rain, to find her waiting for me, a ready, active, sympathizing spirit. How vividly I saw her, with her hand resting on my shoulder, looking anxiously into my face, asking what troubled me. Then the scene changed to the last, sad parting; the melancholy termination of our united life. Oh! the rich, unbounded resources of her woman's heart!

now?

Where was she

And I! What had I still to do here?

I looked up, and my glance fell on Alice. I was impressed