Natalie

e tread of

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wash of wave

ll a hum

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prairies o

flowere

pen, each t

the Prai

there alon

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e Rose of

ing at i

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king that we shall be raching good ould Ireland, from

ere to-morrow at this time; there is

they must have rolled off, when the kitchen mirror and gridiron dhraped down," said Biddy, desirous to atone in some way for the disappearance of sund

nd she caught at a small dining-table ju

would really do my eyes good to get sight of a hill, or any thing to break this continual sameness. What can father be thinking of,

n, moving westward, drawn by four stout oxen, wi

ho was riding his own horse by their side; "drive o

e or two; but the crathurs have come so far, they don't know,

, unmolested life, in the bosom of his family. Haying supplied himself with all requisite tools, etc., for tilling the ground, for which occupation he had always a great desire, they had now, after a fatiguing journey of fourteen days, arrived at the little log-house, in the western part of the state of Ohio, which was to be their future home. This was a great change for Mrs. Santon, who had spent the most of her days in the city, and had always servants to call upon for her least wish, never being obliged to lift a finger against her desire. She was one of the best of women, with a kind word for every one, and greatly did the poor, upon whom she had bestowed so many gifts of charity, lament her departure. In the church, the sewing-society, by the bedside of the suffering, and in the home of poverty, had she a place; her worth was known to all. Cheerfully did she resign all to go with her husband, to

at the door of their new home

ing, still smaller than their own; nothing was to be seen on all sides but wid

re? I am sure I shall not like

isting Biddy in setting up some few articles that would make them comfortable t

in at the door of the cabin; "faith, and it's not yesilf, me

g off one corner, here, with blankets, we shall get along very well; and then it will be right hand

scovered another room, and that her mistress would not now be obliged to share the same apartment with herself; for as the remembrance of certain devotional exercises to be gone through, over each bead in her rosary, came to her, she had her doubts if the "blissed St. Pathrick," (who, for reasons best known to herself, was her favorite saint), would condescend to listen to petitions offered from such near

t she went headlong into a pile of milk-pans, her unwieldy arms making certain involuntary revolutions, ca

stepped in at the commencement of the prelude; "

ing their ghosts in pursuit; but lo! instead, there was the full, round face of Pat, who, having been left to take up his night's lodging with the creatures, in the apology for a barn, had espied the light,

if ye'll wait a bit it's mesilf that'll run and fetch some of the nate, saft sthraw, that ye can fill th

? and was ye pint up in

to the creatures in the barn; "and I'll be wishing ye swate dhrames, and a plinty' of thim;" saying w

t seen the smiling Patrick, she laughed outright, in spite of the crevices in the roof overhead, and she laid her down and looked up at the stars which came twinkling in upo

veritable bastes, and the family was awakened from their slumbers by her loud tones, lamenting that "niver a vistage of Pathrick, the c

me, Biddy?" as

ut three hours aft

we cannot surely have been sleeping so

a powerful time travelling over, sure. I'm thinking they must be af

ling the station of a farmer's wife. As they sat down of an evening, to their meal of bacon and Indian cakes, and contrasted their present circumstances with what had been their former situation in life, they could not repress a smile at the change; but they were happy, contented in their humble home, and the bread which had been earned by the sweat of the brow was sweeter, the social enj

lock, leaving their hats and mantles thereon, as was the custom; and it was a pretty sight to see the ladies walking into church, their cheeks glowing with exercise, and the fresh, morning air. As Winnie entered, her long curls composing themselves after a frolic with the breeze, many a sly glance was aimed at her from the neighboring pews, in spite of the consciences of their owners reminding them that it was holy day. It was a source

with joy that his declining years might be profitably employed; that he might earn that reward which is promised to those who make a right use of the talents which God has given them; that he might merit those blessed words, "well done, good and faithful servant." His labors

silver locks flying in the wind. Biddy, learning they were to have a visit from the "Protestant praste," turned first pale, then red, and when the old gentleman dismounted at the door, she let fall the shoulder of ba

at moment, might have been a little, a very little, savoring of heresy. Suffice it to say, when the old gentleman took his departure, there was a peculiar twinkle in Biddy's eye, and she had so far overcome her aversion to the "imposther" as to have had a few private words with him, which had by no means decreased her usual flow of good spirits. It was evident that Biddy "had on her high heels," for the rest of that evening. As Winnie strolled over the farm, enjoying the evening breeze, reflecting upon her good pastor's words, her attenti

it? And indade, it's mesilf that's thinking the blissid St.

r? did he think he could be aft

a word when I was spaking to him about it, but was

e say? Biddy, sure he'll

confissed our sins with a right spirit, we should be afther being forgiven; and now, Pathrick, I'm

r ye," said the assenting Pat, and to

sly contemplating matrimony, which was, indeed the case; and Biddy, having made known her desires to her mistress, who saw no just cause why they

ces to match, stood up with him of her choice, to pronounce those vows which sho

r wedded wife?" spake the reverend

with questions; dear knows it's mesilf that's in it;" and his smiling face wa

is voice again, for the boisterous joy o

wful husband, and leaving all other

doing things by halves!" and in her happiness she caught Pat around the neck, giving him a smack, which might have been attributed to the opening of the bottle of whiskey with which Mr. S

cept that the little Winnie would sometimes break into sighing for the pleasures of her early home. Nothing occurred to disturb the quietude of this home in the West, until early in the ensuing Fall, when Mrs. Santon was taken with a violent attack of Western fever, which th