that sloped gradually down to the river, commandin' a view of several of its windings, but sheltered from the Atlantic storms by a projectin' wooded promontory, that shut in the harbour, and gave it an air of seclusion and repose. Seein' a man at some little distance, haulin' seaweed in an ox-cart, I ascertained from him all the particulars concernin' the family, and the whereabouts of all its members. I always do this when I visit a house arter a long absence, to avoid puttin' ontimely questions. It isn't pleasant, in a gineral way, to inquire after the old lady, and find her place supplied by another; or after a son that's dead and buried, or a gal that's taken it into her head to get married without leave. Them mistakes make a feller look blank, and don't make you more welcome, that's a fact. "Don't care," won't bear friendship for fruit, and "don't know, I'm sure," won't ripen it. Life has a chart as well as a coast, and a little care will keep you clear of rocks, reefs and sandbars.

After I had heard all I wanted, sais I, "Friend, one good turn deserves another, now your off-ox aint as smart, or as strong, as your near one." Well, that's a fact," sais he, "he ain't." "Give him more of the yoke-beam," sais I,

"that will give him more purchase, and make him even with tother."

"Well, I never thought of that," said he.

"Mornin'," sais I. Come, steward, you and

I must be a movin'.

"Never thought of that,'" said I, "Sorrow," addressin' of the nigger sarvant, "well, I don't believe that goney will ever 'think of that again,' for advice that ain't paid for ain't no good. But here we are at the house; now put down the things and cut for the vessel, you may be wanted."

I paused a moment before knockin' at the door, to take a look at the scene before me. How familiar it looked! and yet how many things had happened to me since I was here! A member of the embassy to London-an Attachévisitin' palaces, castles, country-seats and townhouses. How will country galls in Nova-Scotia look after well-dressed fashionable ladies to England, that art has helped natur' to make handsome, and wealth held out the puss to, wide open, and said, "Don't spare, for there's plenty more?" The Town Hall to Slickville, that seemed so large afore I left, looked like nothin' when I came back, the Museum warn't as good as an old curiosity shop, and the houses looked as if the two upper storeys had been cut off.

Will these gals of Collingwood's seem coarse, or vulgar? or consaited, or ignorant, or what? If I thought they would I wouldn't go in. I like 'em too well to draw comparisons agin 'em. I shouldn't wonder if they looked the best of the two, arter all! First, I know they'll be more bloomin', for they keep better hours; next, they are nateral, and tho' first chop ladies to London are so too, yet art is only polished natur', and the height of it is to look nateral. It's like the rael thing, but it wants life.

One's an artigenuine rose.

ficial flower the other's a rael One has no scent: the other's parfume itself. I guess, at last, high bred beauty looks best to highborn folks, and simple country trainin' to folks that's used to it themselves. Circumstances, education, and custom makes circles in England and the States, in monarchies and republics, and everywhere else, and always will; and I reckon everybody had better keep to his own, or at any rate to one that aint very far above or below it. A man must keep his own circle, like his own side of the road, unless he wants to be elbowed ́and jostled for everlastin'.

I wonder whether Sophy would do for me, or whether she would bear transplantin' to Slickville? Let's see, here goes; and just as I lifted

up my hand to rap on the door, swing it went open, and it nearly hit her in the face. As she started and coloured with surprise, I thought I never see so handsome a gall in my life. "Well done natur'!" sais I to myself, "you've carried the day, and I kinder guessed you would."

"Don't be skeered, Miss," said I, "my hand was lifted agin the door, and not agin you, to enquire if my old friend, the Captin, was to home."

She said he was absent, but would be back in time for dinner; and, as her little brother made his appearance with his satchel over his shoulder, he and I lifted into the hall my travellin' traps. It was plain she didn't recollect me, and I don't know as I should have know'd her if I hadn't seen her to home-she had filled out, and developed into so fine a woman!

Arter a while, sais she, "You have the advantage of me, Sir?" (meanin', 'Pray what may your name be?' it's a common phrase this side of the Atlantic); but I evaded it.

"No," sais I, "Miss Sophy, you have the advantage of me; for you have youth, bloom and beauty on your side: and I am so ' vedder beaden,' as poor old Rodenheiser over the river there used that you don't recollect me. But where

to say,

is Mary? tell her that her old friend, Mr. Slick, has come to see her."

me.

"Mr. Slick!" said she, "well, what a surprise this is! I knew your face and your voice, but I couldn't just call your name, not expectin' to see you, and being taken by surprise, it confused Why, how do you do?-how glad I am to see you! Jemmy, call Mary; but don't tell her who it is, see if her memory is better than mine. How delighted my father will be! He often talks of you, and only yesterday wondered where you were."

Mary, like her sister, had greatly improved in appearance; but, unlike her, knew me at once, and I was at home once more among friends. The country is the place for warm hearts. The field is larger, and fewer in it, than in cities; and they aint fenced in, and penned up, and don't beat by rule. Feelins rise sudden, like freshets, and gush right over; and then when they subside like, run deep, and clear, and transparent.

A country welcome, like a country wood-fire, is the most bright and charmin' thing in the world warms all, and cheers all, and lights up everythin'. Oh! give me the country, and them that live in it. Poor dear old Minister used to "The voice that whispers in the trees, and

say,