THE BEAUTIFUL LADDER. 297 
whose great liberality gave them their new and 
comfortable home. I was told to send these 
benedictions to the vicinity of Boston, where it 
was supposed these true friends resided; but 
perhaps I shall not violate the spirit of my 
commission if I shall stop short of that local¬ 
ity, and give the blessings to certain other 
persons I wot of Suffice to say, my young 
friends, that two more grateful hearts never 
beat, nor did human lips ever implore richer 
blessings to rest on a benefactor than were in¬ 
voked in your behalf, though unknown by name 
to the grateful suppliants. I am sure that if 
you could have heard the outpourings from 
the hearts and lips of those happy women, you 
would have been more than repaid for your 
outlay, liberal as it was. I have neither the 
language nor manner to express to you the 
fervency of their gratitude.” 
Thank you, doctor,” said Davidson, “but 
perhaps we were most unwilling listeners to 
something like it when we visited the family the 
other day, and are very well satisfied to let that 
suffice for the past; but, while this subject is 
up, I may as well arrange another little matter 
which I have been considering. Hoping that 
