he pined, sickened, and died, in peace, to follow her he had loved so well. Not, however, to leave those of his blood, now gathered round his hearth, in poverty, or want, but with the additional freehold, and the pecuniary resources I have named, together with a wellstocked farm, and the faithful promise of a renewed lease-to commence a new era-and float onwards with the world, and its reformation. Mr. Winter, the younger, to do him justice, grieved sadly for the loss of his father, as he had sorrowed still more truly over the deathbed of his mother. But time and tide runs through the roughest day, and he had grown to years of reason if not precisely to discretion, when thus finding himself the comparatively re spected son of a wealthy farmer. He followed his tastes and pursuits with much good will. So the farm business still throve, the oxen still fattened, though not exactly to the extent of the show prize cattle, which is positive cruelty, without the least advantage to the public generally, or to farmers individually, and the crops multiplied abundantly. Ashton farm was still as Ashton farm had been for years, a pride to the county. At the death of their mother, Susan and Angelica were mere toddling infants; and when their father was called to his last account, though some years older, they might be still fairly termed, wild, happy, laughing girls; but now that a few more years had elapsed, they had become young ladies, a term pleasing to them, and of small note, in these precious times of misunderstood equality, they were now recently returned from a country boarding-school, for their brother loving them as brothers should love sisters, though not wisely and perhaps too well, having the means, had given way to all their fancies, and permitted their enrolment among the members of Miss Snelling's establishment for young ladies, as it was wont to be termed. Alas! what desecration to the true reality of a title to which so limited a number, in all its meanings, can justly lay claim-a name not always secured by birth on such sure grounds as by grace of mind, combined with nature's high breeding. CHAPTER V. Oh, knew he but his happiness, of men THE farm of Ashton differed little in most respects from many other farm houses, which may be daily seen in almost every county of this favored land. Oh, how abundantly has God in His great goodness blessed such charming rural spots, formed for peace, and love, and contentment, combining, at least, in the eyes of all who behold them, the many advantages, which should form the simple yet heartfelt expression of Home sweet Home. Look from the honeysuckle-clad rustic portal, on the rich vale below; far and wide are seen luxuriant fields of rich grass land, almost ready for the scythe; acres of corn, already slightly tinged with a golden hue, are waving in the breeze their newly formed ears, which, in a few short weeks, will supply the bread of life. The cattle clustering beneath the wide-speading elmtrees, or chewing the cud, sheltered from the scorching heat of the mid-day sun. The curling smoke of many a rustic cottage-the sheep-bell tinkling on the hill-the distant bark of the watch-dog-or the glittering spire of more than one humble village church towering above the foliage in which they appear in the distance as if embosomed. Such are the scenes of home, of England |