The moon is at full; and it will be easier
to wrap the children up, and keep them warm when they are asleep.
Shall we stop at Old Woodruff's?"
"With all my heart." My teeth were chattering with the cold, and the
children were crying over their aching fingers at the bottom of the
sleigh.
A few minutes' ride brought us to a large farm-house, surrounded
by commodious sheds and barns. A fine orchard opposite, and a
yard well-stocked with fat cattle and sheep, sleek geese, and
plethoric-looking swine, gave promise of a land of abundance and
comfort. My brother ran into the house to see if the owner was at
home, and presently returned, accompanied by the staunch Canadian
yeoman and his daughter, who gave us a truly hearty welcome, and
assisted in removing the children from the sleigh to the cheerful
fire, that made all bright and cozy within.
Our host was a shrewd, humorous-looking Yorkshireman. His red,
weather-beaten face, and tall, athletic figure, bent as it was
with hard labour, gave indications of great personal strength;
and a certain knowing twinkle in his small, clear grey eyes, which
had been acquired by long dealing with the world, with a quiet,
sarcastic smile that lurked round the corners of his large mouth,
gave you the idea of a man who could not easily be deceived by his
fellows; one who, though no rogue himself, was quick in detecting
the roguery of others. His manners were frank and easy, and he was
such a hospitable entertainer that you felt at home with him in a
minute.
"Well, how are you, Mr. S - -?" cried the farmer, shaking my brother
heartily by the hand. "Toiling in the bush still, eh?"
"Just in the same place."
"And the wife and children?"
"Hearty. Some half-dozen have been added to the flock since you were
our way."
"So much the better - so much the better. The more the merrier,
Mr. S - -; children are riches in this country."
"I know not how that may be; I find it hard to clothe and feed
mine."
"Wait till they grow up; they will be brave helps to you then. The
price of labour - the price of labour, Mr. S - -, is the destruction
of the farmer."
"It does not seem to trouble you much, Woodruff," said my brother,
glancing round the well-furnished apartment.
"My son and S - - do it all," cried the old man. "Of course the
girls help in busy times, and take care of the dairy, and we hire
occasionally; but small as the sum is which is expended in wages
during seed-time and harvest, I feel it, I can tell you."
"You are married again, Woodruff?"
"No, sir," said the farmer, with a peculiar smile; "not yet;"
which seemed to imply the probability of such an event. "That tall
gal is my eldest daughter; she manages the house, and an excellent
housekeeper she is. But I cannot keep her for ever." With a knowing
wink, "Gals will think of getting married, and seldom consult the
wishes of their parents upon the subject when once they have taken
the notion into their heads. But 'tis natural, Mr. S - -, it is
natural; we did just the same when we were young."
My brother looked laughingly towards the fine, handsome young woman,
as she placed upon the table hot water, whiskey, and a huge plate of
plum-cake, which did not lack a companion, stored with the finest
apples which the orchard could produce.
The young girl looked down, and blushed.
"Oh, I see how it is, Woodruff! You will soon lose your daughter.
I wonder that you have kept her so long. But who are these young
ladies?" he continued, as three girls very demurely entered the
room.
"The two youngest are my darters, by my last wife, who, I fear, mean
soon to follow the bad example of their sister. The other LADY,"
said the old man, with a reverential air, "is a PARTICULAR friend
of my eldest darter's."
My brother laughed slily, and the old man's cheek took a deeper glow
as he stooped forward to mix the punch.
"You said that these two young ladies, Woodruff, were by your last
wife. Pray how many wives have you had?"
"Only three. It is impossible, they say in my country, to have too
much of a good thing."
"So I suppose you think," said my brother, glancing first at the old
man and then towards Miss Smith. "Three wives! You have been a
fortunate man, Woodruff, to survive them all."
"Ay, have I not, Mr. S - -? But to tell you the truth, I have been
both lucky and unlucky in the wife way," and then he told us the
history of his several ventures in matrimony, with which I shall not
trouble my readers.
When he had concluded, the weather was somewhat milder, the sleigh
was ordered to the door, and we proceeded on our journey, resting
for the night at a small village about twenty miles from B - -,
rejoicing that the long distance which separated us from the husband
and father was diminished to a few miles, and that, with the
blessing of Providence, we should meet on the morrow.
About noon we reached the distant town, and were met at the inn by
him whom one and all so ardently longed to see. He conducted us to a
pretty, neat cottage, which he had prepared for our reception, and
where we found old Jenny already arrived. With great pride the old
woman conducted me over the premises, and showed me the furniture
"the masther" had bought; especially recommending to my notice a
china tea-service, which she considered the most wonderful
acquisition of the whole.
