The Dead Letter

John A rgyll, Esq., in his company, to take tea and spend the evening in his family. I was a law-student in the office, and was favored with more than ordinary kindness by him, on account of a friendship that had existed between him and my deceased father. When young men, they had started out in life together, in equal circumstances ;one had died early, just as fortune began to smile ;the other lived to continue in well-earned prosperity. Mr. Argyll had never ceased to take.an interest in the orphan son of his friend. He had aided my mother in giving me a collegiate education, and had taken me into his office to complete my law studies.