sung it, the weary have blessed it, and those who have a hard lot yet welcome the day of rest, and feel that they may go with the prosperous to the house of GOD. The Redford family were prepared to attend divine service, when an elderly woman rode into the yard on horseback and round to the back-door.

'There comes Aunt Patty,' said Edward, and rushed out to meet her.

A rather loud voice exclaimed: Hallo, Ned, where did you come from? I had not thought of seeing you.'

'I came from New-York, Aunty, and should have been much disappointed not to see you, for I know you go to meeting as sure as the bell rings.'

The lady jumped from her horse, secured it, and made rather long steps through the kitchen, but when she arrived at the parlor-door was surprised to see a stranger, shortened her foot-steps, and drew up a little. Lucy presented Mr. Errington to Miss Redford. She dropped a little courtesy, and said in a softened tone: 'I hope I see you pretty well, Sir.'

After the usual greetings, her brother asked: Sister Patty, how came you to ride on horseback this morning? I thought Burr always drove you to meeting in the wagon.'

'He does a'most always, brother, but we have had a hard week's work up at the great hill this week. We got the last of the hay in last night; Jonathan, Davy, and another man that was hired, were all as tired as dogs; it was night when they drove the last load on to the barn-floor, and I told them not to pitch off till Monday morning. Grand hay-times, not a lock wet; and I am thinking them hay-cocks I have seen out as I came along to meetin' may get a duckin' before to-morrow mornin', for there's pillary clouds in the south-west a'ready.'

'I am glad, Patty, you have had such luck with your hay.'

'Partly luck and partly care. I was up every mornin' last week by day-dawn; called 'em all; got all the chores dun, and a lot of grass mowed while the dew was on. Made Hannah and Davy do the milkin', and got the coffee ready myself; I don't always give 'em coffee, but I think they ought to have it when they're mowin'.

'You're right, Patty, to consider your people.'

"Yes, I mind them, and then they mind me; and that's what I like. Now, I told Jonathan this morning that he need not tackle the hoss, nor come to meetin', I'd ride down, and Hannah should read to him in the Bible an' hymn-book, and that are printed sarmon you lent me last Sunday. He liked the plan right well, but Davy would not miss the Sunday-school. He had on his Sunday clothes, and run down an hour ago.'

Aunt Patty having explained her own condition, made sundry inquiries of them all, and when the bell rang was ready to go with them to public worship. She had a pew of her own, and some of her neighbors cast looks of inquiry to know why Jonathan Burr and wife were not there as usual, but she did not mind that. She attended to her own business, and thought others should do the same.

Lucy and Ellen were of the choir, and sat in the gallery; Edward and his friend with the father and mother. The preacher was of the old time. A prayer, commencing with many long words, and closing with faith and hope. The sermon was divided into many sections, and was on the whole somewhat tedious. But Parson Fisher was a good man, beloved of his people, and they called him a sarching preacher, and loved to have him at weddings and by their sick-beds, because he sympathized with them.

The intermission was short. A slight refreshment occupied the time, and the afternoon service was like that of the morning. After the exercises of the day were closed, they had a good dinner, with the addition of tea, and the young men proposed a walk when it was over, and invited the ladies to accompany them. Lucy decidedly declined, saying: 'That father always read to them at that hour, and would feel hurt if they went out.'

Ellen chafed a little under this privation, but submitted. The gentlemen went without them.

One day all four of them made a pleasant excursion to a distant mountain on horseback. A noble panorama was spread out before them, embracing the whole circle of the horizon. A part of the ride was through the native forest, with tall trees and much perishing vegetation beneath. Sometimes a carpet of mosses, sometimes ferns; and here and there an old tree had fallen, and left its length to decay in solemn stillness. Here the rabbits peered out fearless on the pas senger, and the wild birds rang their notes unmolested.

Some of these scenes were passed silently, the majesty of nature lifting the heart in worship to the CREATOR. Once the sun-light fell on a dancing brook as it fled through rocks and by the roots of trees: here they stopped, and Edward added his fun and the others their laughter to the rushing water. At the top of the mountain they lingered until the lengthening shadows reminded them of night-fall, and they reluctantly mounted to return.

The next Sunday Aunt Patty was driven to meeting, and left a particular invitation that all should take tea with her on Wednesday. The great hill was about two miles north of the village, the place occupied by Aunt Patty being on its southern slope. The farm had been large, and a portion of it sold for other heirs. Patty occupied the old house, kept it in repair, and shared with Jonathan Burr, his

wife, and son David, the dwelling which had once accommodated a large family. Jonathan was not a smart man, but industrious and obedient, doing without fail whatever Miss Patty told him to do. Hannah likewise obeyed her, and taught her child to do the same. In the neighborhood Miss Patty was undisputed queen, and had sundry subjects of the lower order, who shared her pride and her affections.

To this abode the Redford family and their guests repaired early on a bright summer afternoon. The house was duly decorated to receive them. The best parlor was aired, the chimney-corner filled with asparagus gone to seed, and along with its red berries were pinned a number of holly-hocks of different colors. The table was ornamented with marigolds and china-asters. The chairs, whose seats had been wrought by her grand-mother in tent-stitch, were uncovered, and the sampler she had marked in her childhood was framed and hung over the chimney; its date disclosed Aunt Patty's age to be sixty-two. The windows of the room looked over the home fields and the wide valley; and although not near other dwellings, the smoke was seen rising from too many farm-houses to make it seem solitary even in winter. When summer smiled, it had a look of plenty and happiness. Here Aunt Patty welcomed her guests with true hospitality.

After the greetings were over, she remarked: "That these were the first chany-oysters that had blossomed in her garden this summer.' Edward said that he had often eaten the vegetable-oyster, but did not know that there were flower-oysters.

'You did,' said Aunt Patty, 'you 've seen the chany-oysters in my garden ever since you wore petticoats, and you need not pretend you have forgot 'em.'

Edward smiled, and said he did forget many things, but knew he ought to remember the great hill and all that grew there, from the maple trees to the chick-weed.

Lucy asked to see the dairy, and Aunt Patty led the way to a very clean room, with shelves in it, on which were cheeses. You see, Lucy, I have thirty cheeses. I began to make cheese five weeks ago, and have made every day except Sunday. Sunday's milk I save for table-butter. I laid down six tubs of butter before I began to make cheese. The cheeses are smaller than we had in former days; but they are big enough for me to lift. In going to the dairy they passed a room that had a loom in it, where Hannah was weaving.

'I did not know,' said Edward, 'that any body wove at home in these manufacturing days.'

I always do,' replied Patty, and mean to as long as I live. Burr raises some flax every year, Hannah and I spin linen in the long spring days, and she weaves summer afternoons when she is not too tired.

Our sheets and towels wear four times as long as those made of the flax that is torn to rags by machinery before it 's made into cloth. And I spin wool too sometimes. It's healthy throwing out your arms and walking back and forth to the wheel.'

Edward said he should like to see the old sugar-orchard where he had drunk so much sap when a boy. They walked among the noble old trees which still gave ample shade, although they had so often been robbed of their sweets in the spring-time. From the sugarorchard they looked over a fence into a rocky pasture, which had a pond in it; on this pond swam a white flock. 'What handsome geese you have, Miss Redford,' said Mr. Errington.

'Not a goose among them,' said Aunt Patty, 'every one ganders.' 'Then you will have no goslings to eat.'

'I do n't want any; never liked them. I keep them for feathers, and ganders give most feathers.'

And pray how do you get the feathers if you do not kill them?" 'Jonathan picks the feathers three times every summer. Just puts their heads into a stocking, sets on a block on the barn-floor, and picks their breasts into a basket.'

'I should think it would hurt them very much,' said Errington. 'I don't think it does,' said Patty, 'they don't squeak much; and I have a fine bag of feathers every fall to sell.'

On their return, they overtook Davy driving home the cows. Aunt Patty gave the history of Dolly, her favorite animal, and said:" 'She was the best of the bunch, gave her pail of milk every night all summer. They were then shown the home-lot, where two nice calves were feeding, that she told them she was raisin'; and, last of all, the orchard and garden, where were many nice vegetables, beside the famous flowers already mentioned. The bees likewise had a row of hives near the garden-gate. Miss Patty warned them not to go too near; as the bees did not like strangers, though they were fond of her, and never touched her. They stood some time at a little distance, to see the bees come slowly home with laden wings.

They had their tea, cakes, dried-beef, honey in the comb, and maplesugar, in time to go home at sun-down, because Aunt Patty kept early hours, and they would not intrude upon her habits. Before they went, she bade Hannah see that Davy's face and hands were clean, and make him come in to see the ladies and gentlemen. The visit was made, and when he retired, Miss Patty said: 'He was a capital scholar: she had no doubt he 'd be a school-master before he died, or may be a representative.' 'Or it may be,' said Edward aside to Lucy, 'he will be President of the United States.'

David was Aunt Patty's hero: he was born in her house: the only

child of Jonathan and Hannah; and although she thought his parents would 'sartainly spile him,' she did her own share of the petting.

The visit had evidently given great satisfaction, as Patty really loved her brother and his family better than any thing in the world, except the great hill, and what belonged there. After their return, they seated themselves for conversation, and Edward said: 'Mother, Aunt Patty is certainly quite a smart woman: what could have been the reason she did not marry when she was young?'

When Patty was young,' the mother replied,' she was not handsome: she was tall and gaunt. Perhaps she did not look as well for her age as she does now; but that was not all. Patty was your grand-father's youngest child, and she had great liberty; and as she was naturally wilful, she grew up to do and say exactly what she pleased. I think her determined manner, and her decided no, was a greater objection to her in the eyes of men, than her want of good looks. I never heard that she had an offer, until after your grandfather's death. Her neighbor, Simon Cooley, bought half of the farm, and offered to Patty. She suspected he wanted the remaining acres; and had determined to have her own way the rest of her life, and knew she could not govern Simon.'

'But I thought, mother, that women did govern the household sometimes.'

'Perhaps they do, but not when they announce the intention beforehand. Aunt Patty was too independent to make herself attractive.' The little circle had many pleasant walks and rides, many lively talks, and much music. At last Henry said to Edward one evening: 'I will not hurry you, but I must go to-morrow.'

'I shall go likewise,' said Edward; and in a few minutes they retired to prepare. The farewell was uttered, and after an early breakfast, they took their departure.

What a blank in that quiet home! Ellen said she would go upstairs, and finish a sketch she had made by the hill-side a few days previous. She sat alone in the little room she used for such purposes, several hours, not indeed drawing, but with the materials before her, and her head leaning on the table. In a few hours Lucy came to her. She was grieved to find her much dejected. She proposed a long walk, for the afternoon, to a distant place, where they had been long desiring to call; but did not wish to take visitors. Ellen consented, and made a mechanical effort for self-conquest.

They went early to their room at night. Lucy seated herself at the window, to watch the moon shedding its silvery light and darker shadows over the neighboring fields and trees. She called Ellen's attention to the scene. Ellen looked abroad for a moment, and then seated herself on a stool at Lucy's feet, exclaiming: "This, Lucy, has