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one； and that to a gentleman and a stranger？ I
never would have served you so； not even to good
Charles Weston； whom I esteem so highly； and who
really wants neither judgment nor good nature；
though he is dreadfully deficient in fancy。 Yet
Charles is a most excellent young man； and I gave
him the compliments you desired； he was so much
flattered by your notice that he could make no
reply； though I doubt not he prized the honour as
he ought。 We are all very happy here； only for the
absence of my Anna； but so long as miles of weary
roads and endless rivers run between us； perfect
happiness can never reign in the breast of your
Julia。 Anna； I conjure you by all the sacred delicacy
that consecrates our friendship； never to show this
letter； unless you would break my heart： you never
will； I am certain； and therefore I will write to my
Anna in the unreserved manner in which we
conversed； when fate； less cruel than at present；
suffered us to live in the sunshine of each other's
smiles。 You speak of a certain person in your letter；
whom； for obvious reasons； I will in future call
ANTONIO。 You describe him with the partiality of a
friend； but how can I doubt his being worthy of all
that you say； and moresensible； brave； rich； and
handsome。 From his name； I suppose； of course； he
is well connected。 What a constellation of
attractions to centre in one man！ But you have not
told me allhis age； his family； his profession；
though I presume he has borne arms in the service
of his country； and that his manly breast is already
covered with the scars of honour。 Ah！ Anna； 〃he
jests at scars who never felt a wound。〃 But； my
dear creature； you say that he talks of me： what
under the sun can you find to say of such a poor girl
as myself？ Though I suppose you have； in the
fondness of affection； described my person to him
already。 I wonder if he likes black eyes and fair
complexion。 You can't conceive what a bloom the
country has given me； I really begin to look more
like a milk…maid than a lady。 Dear； good aunt
Margaret has been quite sick since you left us； and
for two days I was hardly out of her room； this has
put me back a little in colour； or I should be as
ruddy as the morn。 But nothing ought ever to tempt
me to neglect my aunt； and I hope nothing ever
will。 Be assured that I shall beg her to write you to
spend the winter with us； for I feel already that
without you life is a perfect blank。 You indeed must
have something to enliven it with a little in your
new companions； but here is nobody； just now； but
Charles Weston。 Yet he is an excellent companion；
and does every thing he can to make us all happy
and comfortable。 Heigho！ how I do wish I could see
you； my Anna； and spend one sweet half hour in
the dear confidence of mutual sympathy。 But lie
quiet； my throbbing heart； the day approaches
when I shall meet my friend again； and more than
receive a reward for all our griefs。 Ah！ Anna； never
betray your Julia； and write to me FULLY；
CONFIDINGLY； and often。
〃Yours； with all the tenderness of friendship that is
founded on mutual sympathy； congenial souls； and
innate evidence of worth。
JULIA。〃
〃P。S。 I should like to know whether Antonio has any
scars in his face； and what battles he was in。 Only
think； my dear； poor Charles Weston was frightened
by a clap of thunderbut Charles has an excellent
heart。〃
This letter was written and read； sealed and kissed；
when Miss Emmerson tapped gently at the door of
her niece and begged admission。 Julia flew to open
it； and received her aunt with the guileless pleasure
her presence ever gave her。 A few words of
introductory matter were exchanged； when； being
both seated at their needles again； Miss Emmerson
asked
〃To whom have you been writing； my love？〃
〃To my Anna。〃
〃Do you recollect； my child； that in writing to Miss
Miller； you are writing to one out of your own
family； and whose interests are different from
yours？〃
〃I do not understand you； aunt；〃 cried Julia in
surprise。
〃I mean that you should be guarded in your
correspondencetell no secrets out〃
〃Tell no secrets to my Anna！〃 exclaimed the niece in
a species of horror。 〃That would be a death…blow to
our friendship indeed。〃
〃Then let it die；〃 said Miss Emmerson； coolly； 〃the
affection that cannot survive the loss of such an
excitement； had better be suffered to expire as
soon as possible； or it may raise false
expectations。〃
〃Why； dear aunt； in destroying confidence of this
nature； you destroy the great object of friendship。
Who ever beard of a friendship without secrets？〃
〃I never had a secret in my life；〃 said Miss
Emmerson simply； 〃and yet I have had many a
friend。〃
〃Well；〃 said Julia； 〃yours must have been queer
friends； pray； dear aunt； name one or two of them。〃
〃Your mother was my friend；〃 said Miss Emmerson；
with strong emotion； 〃and I hope her daughter also
is one。〃
〃Me； my beloved aunt！〃 cried Julia； throwing herself
into the arms of Miss Emmerson and bursting into
tears； 〃I am more than a friend； I am your child
your daughter。〃
〃Whatever be the name you give it； Julia； you are
very near and dear to me；〃 said the aunt； tenderly
kissing her charge： 〃but tell me； my love； did you
ever feel such emotion in your intercourse with Miss
Miller？〃
It was some time before Julia could reply； when；
having suppressed the burst of her feelings； she
answered with a smile
〃Oh！ that question is not fair。 You have brought me
up； nursed me in sickness； are kind and good to
me； and the idea that you should suppose I did not
love you； was dreadfulBut you know I do。〃
〃I firmly believe so； my child； it is you that I would
have know what it is that you love： I am satisfied
for myself。 I repeat； did Anna Miller ever excite
such emotions？〃
〃Certainly not： my love to you is natural； but my
friendship for Anna rests on sympathy； and a
perfect knowledge of her character。〃
〃I am glad； however； that you know her so well；
since you are so intimate。 What testimony have
you of all this excellence？〃
〃Innate evidence。 I see itI feel itYes； that is the
best testimonyI feel her good qualities。 Yes； my
friendship for Anna forms the spring of my
existence； while any accident or evil to you would
afflict me the same as if done to myselfthis is
pure nature； you know。〃
〃I know it is pleasing to learn it； come from what it
will；〃 said the aunt； smiling； and rising to withdraw。
CHAPTER III。
SEVERAL days passed after this conversation； in the
ordinary quiet of a well regulated family。
Notwithstanding the house of Miss Emmerson stood
in the midst of the numberless villas that adorn
Manhattan Island； the habits of its mistress were
retiring and domestic。 Julia was not of an age to
mingle much in society； and Anna had furnished her
with a theme for her meditations； that rather
rendered her averse from the confusion of company。
Her mind was constantly employed in canvassing
the qualities of the unseen Antonio。 Her friend had
furnished her with a catalogue of his perfections in
gross； which her active thoughts were busily
arranging into form and substance。 But little
practised in the world or its disappoinments ｛sic｝；
the visionary girl had already figured to herself a
person to suit these qualities； and the animal was
no less pleasing； than the moral being of her fancy。
What principally delighted Julia in these
contemplations on the acquaintance of Anna； was
the strong inclination he had expressed to know
herself。 This flattered her tendency to believe in
the strength of mutual sympathy； and the efficacy
of innate evidence of merit。 In the midst of this
pleasing employment of her fancy； she received a
second letter from her friend； in answer to the one
we have already given to our readers； it was
couched in the following words：
〃My own dear Julia； my Friend；
〃I received your letter with the pleasure I shall
always hear from you； and am truly obliged to you
for your kind offer to make interest with year aunt
to have me spend the next winter in town。 To be
with you； is the greatest pleasure I have on earth；
besides； as I know I can write to you as freely as I
think； one can readily tell what a tiresome place
this must be to pass a winter in。 There are；
absolutely； but three young men in the whole
county who can be thought in any manner as proper
matches for us； and one has no chance here of
forming such an association as to give a girl an
opportunity of meeting with her congenial spirit； so
that I hope and trust your desire to see me will
continue as strong as mine will ever be to see my
Julia。 You say that I have forgotten to give you the
description of our journey and of the lakes that I
promised to send you。 No； my Julia； I have not
forgotten the promise； nor you； but the thought of
enjoying such happiness without your dear
company； has been too painful to dwell upon。 Of
this you may judge for yourself。 Our first journey
was made in the steam…boat to Albany； she is a
moving world。 The vessel ploughs through the
billowy waters in onward progress； and the soul is
left in silent harmony to enjoy the change。 The
passage of the Highlands is most delightful。 Figu