Fanny Middleton Arrives in New York

Three weeks after Mr. Middleton's departure for New Orleans, Mr. Miller's
school closed. Uncle Joshua was present at the examination, and
congratulated himself much because he did not feel at all "stuck up" at
seeing both Julia and Fanny acquit themselves so creditably. After the
exercises were concluded, he returned with Mr. Miller to Mrs. Crane's.
Just before he started for home he drew from his sheepskin pocketbook five
hundred dollars, which he divided equally between his daughters, saying,
"Here, gals, I reckon this will be enough to pay for all the furbelows
you've bought or will want to buy. I'll leave you here the rest of the
week to see to fixin' up your rig, but Saturday I shall send for you."

Fanny was surprised at her father's unlooked-for generosity, and thanked
him again and again. Julia was silent, but her face told how vexed and
disappointed she was. As soon as her father was gone, her rage burst
forth. "Stingy old thing," said she, "and yet he thinks he's done
something wonderful. Why, my bill at C----'s already amounts to two hundred,
and I want as much more. What I am to do, I don't know."

She would have said more, but Fanny quieted her by saying, "Don't talk so
about father, Julia. It was very liberal, and really I do not know what to
do with all mine."