Friarswood Post-Office

brother's room, as soon as he had put away

ul!' exclaimed Ellen;

think he would b

put the hurdle to stop the gap-never thinking they could get down the bank; so the farmer found them in the barley, and if

d turned

t-and yet he didn't like to be off-he'd taken a fancy to the place, you see, and there's me, and there's old C?sar-and so he said he would

Harold; don'

Paul, his feet on the top step of the ladder, and C?sar, the yard-dog, lying by his side, his white paws hanging down over the edge, his sharp white muzzle and grey

t the dog up the la

'I declare he looks like

ure of the like of that!' exclaimed Ellen, pausing

d the housekeeper at Castlefort used to say that the old lord-t

poor and feeble are man's attempts to imitate the daily forms and colourings fresh from the Divine Hand, that a likeness of the very commonest sight,

erfulness, beautifying, as it hid, so many common things: the thatched roof of the barn, the crested hayrick close beside it; the waggons, all red and blue, that had brought it home, and were led to rest, the horses drooping their meek heads as they cooled their feet among the weed in the dark pond;-the ducks moving, with low contented quacks and quickly-wagging tails, in one long single file to their eveni

ome to such a rough life, when he seems to have got such

r,' cried Harold, 'who will ha

ss me whether he could have run away from schoo

othing but a foundling. They picked him up under a blackthorn bush when

w who he belonged

n old woman, that they called Granny Moll, took to him. She had but one eye, he says; but, Mother, I do believe he never had another friend lik

him about Cayenn

ys there, and having nothing else to do, you see, got on ever so far, and can work sums in his head downright wonderful. There came an inspector once who praised him up, and said he'd recommend him to a place where he'd b

'wait till you have to pay the rates be

you mean,

nd their means comes out of the rates, out of my pocket, and the like of me, as well as my Lady's and all the rich. Well, whatever they might like to do, it would not be serving us fairly

s a guardian herself!' sai

ways glad to see her sick boy able to enjoy himself; but she sighed, saying, 'Ay, and ill can I spa

what are you thinking of?'

humbling might not be so very far off; but she was too cheerful and full of trust to dwell on the thought, so she smiled

e parish and its keep; so he said he'd go on the tramp till he got work; and they let him out of the Union with just the clothes to his back, and a shilling in his pocket. 'Twas the first time he had ever been let out of bounds since he

ied Alfred, raising himself and pa

een at school all his life. Once he took up with a man that sold salt, to draw his cart for him, but the man swore at him so awfully he could not bear it, and beat him too, so he left him, and he had lived terrible hard for about a

e lad is a good lad I'd not cast up his misfortune against him; but I must say, I should think bette

do it up in the hay-loft, Mother? and he ha'n't got eno

'Do you remember when we used to bathe t

the Union, that he's got to hate the very name of washing-scrub

bly forsaken,' said Mr

much as seen how folks live at home, and wanted to know i

what a mother was like, and the tears came into her eyes, as she said, 'Well, I'm glad he's not a bad boy. I hope he thinks of the Father and the Home that he has above. I

ered what Ellen would say; and almost at the same moment Harold shot down-stairs, and was presently seen standing upon Paul's ladder talking to him; then Paul rose up as though to come down, and there was much fun going on, as to how C?sar was to be got down; for, as every one knows, a dog can mou

le. What a difference from the pure whiteness of everything around Alfred! the soft pink of the flush of surprise on his delicate cheek, and the wavy shine on his light hair. A few months ago, Alfred would have been as ready as his brother to take that sturdy hand, marbled as it was with dirt, and would have heeded all drawbacks quite as little; but sickness had changed him much, and Paul was hardly beside his couch before the colour fleeted away fro

ut, almost crying, 'Mother! Mo

owfully; 'but you know everybody has their fe

s mother were turning against him. 'Harold had bette

did not think of such thi

nsideration; but his mother thought he would only grow crosser by dwelling on the unlucky subject, so she ad

e had been wishing to hear more of the poor crippled boy. He watched eagerly, and was pleased to see Mr. Cope tur

musements and occupations, till Alfred became quite at home with him, and at ease, and ventured to ask, 'If you please, Sir

m once when I was staying with my cousin; bu

anted to know if he

ou wish to know? Was it becau

s,

Cope. 'I should think his accident had been a great blessing to him,

ble to get any farther; but Mr. Cope felt tha

f there had been no sin, there would have been no pain; and whatever we

owly; 'but why have some more to bear

to be kept strictly, and pu

ly, 'But if it is good to be p

be better trained by joy, and some by grief; some may be more likely to come right by being

se to take this in, and h

s are qu

that you have done nothing to deserve God's displeasure. There are other more comforting ways of bringing joy out of pain; but of this I am sure, that none will come home to us ti

imself, no peace nor joy could come to him, and he thought it best to leave the words to work

d, 'We shall have a Confirmation in the spring, Mrs

near to seventeen, and a very good girl to me. And Ha

as young; and he might be started i

k him too idle and thoughtless. He's a good-hearted boy, Si

ng; but I think you mu

but my ability is not much, and he is a lively lad,

at's the great thing, Mrs. King; if he has sound pri

poor lost lad who never had a home, but Harold says h

to speak to him. You said nothing of Alfre

e, 'my mind misgives me that it is not for

not thought of this. 'Indeed! does the doctor think so

nt of him,' and her voice grew lower and lower; 'I've

oked up with the meek look of resignation, as Mr. Cope said in

e sorrow that lay in wait for her; 'but I'm thankful you are come to help my poor boy now-he frets over

r. Cope; and he shook her hand warmly, and went away, feeling