WILD & CUL.FLOWERS, continued WONDERFUL THINGS, continued. WONDERFUL THINGS, continued. Men and Reason Peace The Sea and Cemeteries 265 of Execution 47 To-day and To-morrow 305 25 Rules of Living 117, 177 Ways to Happiness 305 Mosque of Omar 95 A Happy Family 233 North American Indian WORK TABLE. WONDERFUL THINGS. Post-haste One Hundred An Old Gander 233 Pre-Adamite Stone Cavern 49 Children's Trowsers, Trim ming for the Sides of, or for the Fronts of Morning Jacket Sleeves 78 Common Travelling Desolation of Eyam 265 Pulpit of John Knox at St. Andrew's Dress Caps for Evening Extraordinary Cataract 141 Rheumatism, Strange Cure 232 for Gilded Wicker Mat 349 266 268 98 Roman Vases in Black Ware 325 Ringing the Changes 264 325 232 233 Science and Perseverance 264 97 South Stack Lighthouse 233 Sofa Pillow, Design in Mus Veil Border, a 161 Magician's Mirror and ous. 99 The Queen's Sharks. 266 GOOD AS GOLD; OR, THE OLD TOLL-HOUSE. BY MARY BENNETT. CHAPTER I. "A BLUSTEROUS night this, and sharp," said the gray-haired keeper of the Sandown toll-gate, to his opposite neighbour, the old landlord of the lonely wayside inn, as they both came out at dusk, to fasten their shutters, look up and down the country road, and have a parting gossip. Very sharp; and the clouds look heavy for rain." "I hope there'll be no more travellers this way to-night," said the old tollkeeper. "I say, Fielding," (who was hobbling across the road on gouty feet), "the family at the Grange have come back, and the Baronet is dead and buried." "Aye, sure! I thought something would happen soon; the owls have been screeching so badly. I saw the widow in the carriage as you opened the gate. And I says to my George, Do you see that ?' And, says he, in a dream like, looking at Miss Randal, 'O, father, shouldn't I like to have seen all that young lady has seen in the forrin parts they have been travelling over.' 'Stuff!' says I; that's what reading so much has done for you; made you discontented with your lot in life, and with the country you were born in.' 'No,' says he, 'Father,' I am not discontented; but The toll-keeper laughed and shook his vhite head, with a vev knowing air. "But-ah! neighbour Fielding, but is a very little word; and often covers a great deal of meaning." "True enough, Adams. And I know the lad likes your Nelly. If they could but come to an agreement, I would be no obstacle, nor you either, John, I'll be bound. But young people now-a-days, have grown so fanciful; they don't know what they'd have. Here comes the rain. Good night t'ye." "Good night, neighbour, God be with us all." Shutters and doors were barred, and then the inn and the toll-house were silent as the grave. The solitary lamp on the gate could be seen for miles away. The narrow road lay white and spectral under the moonlight, stretching between meadow land and woods and fields for a long, long distance. The great trees that over-shadowed both dwellings, groaned and creaked in the wind, which roared awfully, whilst the rain beat against the windows all through the night. The dog that was chained in the inn-yard barked uneasily, and the screech-owls, that made their nests in the ruined tower behind the toll-house flew over the trees to the turrets of the Grange, uplifting their dismal voices as they went. Fielding and Adams had been friends and neighbours fifty years. They had been taught, I cannot say educated, in one charity school, had ploughed and B planted in the same fields, had married on the same day two farmers' daughters, with a few acres of land each, and a few pounds to stock them; had got their present tenements when at a ripe age, and there had seen numerous sons and daughters, one after another, grow to maturity, and, most of them, launch out upon the world. There now remained at home in the toll-house, in the charge of a fond weak mother, Nelly Adams, called by the rural folk 66 'The Sandown Beauty," a fair girl of nineteen, full of mirth and affection; a most bewitching little creature, very gay, and very graceful. A sad flirt was little Nelly Adams, and could hardly be otherwise, considering how much she was courted and admired, and how little her parents restrained her. Her father had never been in the habit of offering any contradiction to her wishes; he was gentle-rather timid in his temper, and she was very "off-hand with him." Fielding said, she "had a good spirit of her own, and wouldn't let anybody rule her while she stopped outside the marriage service." But everything was to be excused in pretty Nelly. very good sum, and it is out at interest, as you know, and the proceeds of what acres we have left are quite enough to dress you as you ought to be dressed, such a beauty as you are.” Here Miss Nelly flushes with pleasure, but affects to disdain the mother's silly adulation. "There's no denying the truth, Nelly. There is not a prettier girl in all the county. You ought to be a lady, and I hope I shall live to see you one." Such were the frequent conversations between kind, amiable, silly Mrs. Adams and her daughter. But the toll-keeper had higher principle. He now and then meekly ventured to hint a reproof. He often quoted the proverb, Handsome is that handsome does," and when he saw the fires of ambition kindling, he would warningly suggest, "Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox, and hatred therewith." He delighted to talk in praise of George Fielding, the innkeeper's youngest son, and it was easy to be seen that a match between George and Nelly would very much gratify the old man. But the theme was unwelcome Mrs. Adams for some years had ac- to Mrs. Adams, who would turn peevish customed herself to do Nelly's bidding over it, stroke her apron with a characin all things, and it was her incessant care teristic angry movement, and say that to please this beautiful spoiled child." George was a good lad, and wellShe had no very easy task, for Nelly was exacting. 66 Mother, have you starched and ironed my muslin frock-Mother, have you trimmed my bonnet-Mother, it is so tiresome, you are so long in bringing me the new muslin scarf you promised. Mother, I won't be seen in church any more in that dingy dress. I declare I'm quite a fright! And I am going to the dance at the Farm, and have nothing at all to wear." "You shouldn't blame me, child,” the mother in all simplicity would reply; "it is your father you should scold, for he grows so stingy.' "And what for I should like to know, he has got money enough." "Well, for the matter of that, he has nothing to complain of. He sold the land-my land, you know, Nelly, for a looking, but Nelly was born to be a lady." Thereupon the toll-keeper would groan, and smoke, and hang his head, and look straight down on the floor, or up the chimney, for a long time. The morning after we first made his acquaintance, the dawn broke in splendour; the dawn of Sunday the first of May. This month so praised by the poets, so rich in delightful associations, came in with a sudden outburst of beauty and joy. The ancient wood resounded with the exulting notes of a multitude of birds, rejoicing in the blessed change from cold and rain and wind, to warmth and brightness and calm fragrant air; while the fresh green leaves of the trees, newly clad in spring verdure, shone and glittered in the splendid sunlight, all their raindrops changed to living diamonds. |