The pretty room that had been fitted up for Louie’s use lacked nothing to make it perfect except its occupant, and if Louie needed anything to reconcile her to a winter’s stay in the quiet farmhouse, this pretty room contained it.

Neither were its treasures revealed in a day, for, weeks after she arrived, grandma would bid her search for some secret drawer which contained something that she would like; and Louie’s curiosity would be stimulated by this admission, so that many a stormy day flew rapidly away while she searched with the ardor of an Arctic explorer for the secret spring or knob which, pressed at last, revealed delights that only a young girl’s heart can fully enjoy.

Occasionally mysterious packages from the city arrived at the farmhouse bearing Louie’s name in full, and the delightful excitement of untying the string and removing the wrappings, was entered into by the grandparents with as much ardor as by Louie herself.

But grandma’s heart seemed to grow young again.  She knew what would please her little favorite, and she spared no expense if pleasure and happiness were procured with the purchases, and thus passed away the pleasant winter, bringing only that which seemed good into the storehouse of Louie’s life and heart.

Louie was destined to see but little of her own family hereafter, for during the following summer the grandmother’s health became feeble, and she would not listen to the suggestions that Louie should return home.  A few months later Dinah had the melancholy satisfaction of hearing the last words of her dying mistress, who passed away in her arms.

Louie was willing to listen to the entreaties of her grief-stricken grandfather, to remain his little companion a while longer.

The charge of the farmhouse now fell into the hands of Mr. Sherwood’s widowed daughter.  She had possessed a fine estate in Georgia, and had lived a life of ease until Sherman’s march to the sea, when her plantation was devastated, and her well-kept slaves had joined in the destruction of her property.  When her husband’s body was brought home for burial, the result of a distressing accident, there seemed nothing else left to do but to return to the home of her childhood, reaching it in time to hear her mother’s last request with respect to Louie’s future.

Aunt Annie promised to consider the child as her own if she could get the parents’ sanction as well as Louie’s free consent.  The latter was freely gained, as Louie was far happier in her present home.

Mrs. Sherwood saw no obstacle in the way when the matter was laid before her, and she gave up her rights with so little manifestation of regret that even those who knew her best were astonished, and from that time Louie ceased to be a member of her father’s family.

The second winter in Halifax was even more pleasant than the first had been, for the Sherwoods had extended their acquaintances, and there seemed always some new pleasure to look forward to.