The Moorland Cottage

to the left, after yo

ill come to the wooden b

h mounts higher and highe

ezy upland field, almost

re on the short, fine, el

autiful church-spire. Af

chly colored with the go

r-time send out their w

of the upland make a nea

n one place by a small gr

adowed even at mid-day,

n sunlight. The lark qui

o dazzling a region for

as if loth to leave the

ts in the ether. Now she

the ling, unseen except

sects that run hither a

thing like the sudden dr

descent; and in a basin

welling, which is neith

o in size. Nor yet is it

or rather it was, at th

wne, the widow of the la

faithful old servant an

ecluded in their green h

Once a week they emerge

he first sounds of the s

wne walked first, holdin

t they were all one part

ne, as beseemed the day.

broken; for, excepting

to Combehurst. Most peop

eamy place; but to thos

y had crossed the bridge

they held, and looked sh

oken to by any of their

ked by some one to stay

declined, rather to the

ys they sometimes spoke

d be to them if mamma w

tle girl in white and t

or anywhere else, on Sun

y over her husband's gra

s loss, for a kinder husb

simplicity of her sorrow

the mode of its manifes

toward his grave; and s

into the habit I have

lt awed and uncomfortab

ey were pointed out, a

rvat

ain on Sundays," said Edw

en con

" ask

out of church, and get h

and we have not to g

," said Magg

re he answered, to see i

then

time about papa, but one

haps grown-u

Maggie. "Sometimes I am

th you, or when I am wa

r waken and fancy you h

I am very sorry to thin

g us a

h me, you know. He used

when he was displeased w

in his own kind voice,

th him, or to show u

ying with something on

having convinced himsel

d, he wh

n't think I'm sorry tha

ld have been so angry wit

times, you know, I'm r

an to say so, I know. Don

e're such little childre

s filled with tears; and

one, about her dead fathe

busy. The cottage and sm

eir own; and on the produ

, the pig, and the poultr

ggie had to do a great d

de, and the rooms swe

eady, then, if there was

prided himself consider

ng, in his father's a

s he chose to call it. S

uest that he would help

irs, or do some other l

casionally complied, but

that at last she told

is was said, he yet fel

excuse

ust be educated to be a g

e, that's all that is wa

han yours. Mamma says I'

I must get on

ence; and almost felt i

orning or two afterward

the well, carrying the

nner. "Here," said he, "l

Oh, Maggie! look what yo

enough when I told you. N

I'll have nothin

ou in time," said she,

fended dignity to the hou

l, and fill it again. Th

ell. It was so cool afte

the gray limestone rock,

ater. She felt sad, she

ross," thought she. "I

aps I am clumsy. Mamma

and papa never said so.

ays all women are so. I

be a man. Oh dear! I m

and my arms do so ache!

e went she heard

no water for dinner, an

here is t

before she came down fr

ds. She was hur

n't I have some butter t

at? They a

aggie, go and fetch a

ir

er untouched dinne

said Nancy, turning her

fetch the butter. You've

-d

k without it, but she s

n she put up her mouth

old se

said Nancy to herself

back to her dinner with

ar

she helped her mother to

ch were treated with te

se of decent frugality;

k apron, the little maid

edlework, in doing whic

stitches. Thus every hou

t duties fulfilled are a

thought those early chi

y as filled with ca

time they ha

ie sat out of doors at h

land, almost as gay as t

d its clustering noisett

tall white lilies, the

its straggling honeysuc

and there a gray rock cr

stone-crop and scarlet-

was Maggie's seat. I beli

ingly; although its real

had never seen the moo

ck, in

y which I have begun to

g to herself as she worke

home sounds, with their

rd was amusing himself;

which she as

heir boats steady; I hav

ed over every tim

resome! Would if do to p

ep it

ou to call a ship 'her;'

g--it

of his sister, Master

edging her suggestion to

n search of the requisi

table, he came back to hi

and tried to insert some

st, and he was ob

od thing to weight her

hought a

ot do?" a

ery thing; but whe

left of papa's. It is in

the bureau, wrapped

remember your 'seconds

orked on at his pebbl

good-natured, Maggie,

ong seam to do. Mamma sai

ay a little if I had don

it was a real pain to

t take you f

The time would only be

t signify; while Edward

bered up the steep grass

e

he paper of shot, she

hed hurried loudness, as

other--"Edward, Edward,

g the Fell-Lane;--he's

come, Edwa

wn his ship and come. At

rove to make this as lit

lope, with his hands i

style. Maggie had no t

ed too, and down

mother, in a nervous hu

te. I do believe here's

your hair, and put on y

ound. I'll only run up a

nd tell me, Nancy; a

lived in families afore n

e. Be sure you bring in

ayed to decan

about, in and out of th

reparations for Mr. Bux

y presence of that gentle

or open, as is the wont i

g at the empty parlor, a

nd sounds proclaimed tha

ing a little under the l

g large, and red, and wa

ed expressi

a start you gave me!" sa

ll go and tell my missus

me

ggie alone with the grea

rame in the door-way, but

wine-glass mo

," came out a fine stro

and show me the parlor

ng walk, and

e parlor, which was alw

cented by a great beau-po

as open to the fragrant

small, that when he was

ld carry the room on his

us

le little woman, are you

ry unnecessary proceedi

near the door, uncertain

u were making that glass

l it? Mind, it must be t

I shall kno

scape out of the room; a

time to change her gown a

ittle girl to return wi

lossy hair; it was all t

Maggie was conscientio

t I am afraid Nancy was

e six, exactly similar,

she had found on the dr

mistress of Mr.

ater, with a shy pride

sitting on the edge of

, and with a higher pit

y glory, was standing by

n Maggie came in, Mr.

lf, and, while she went

re as on a pinnacle of h

air would have been th

ave a right of presenta

. Browne wiped her eyes)

e a little form of exami

arrying every prize bef

tle of your sparkling

gingerbread I had when I

receipt, and make

ld, who is kind to your b

erbread,

d Maggie, hangi

Suppose you come to my

you know, we could alwa

it. That would be best,

behurst, and let us all

ittle girl at home, who

pony for you to ride on,

what all. Come, madam, l

eeks. Let us fix

a," said

r visiting," Mrs. Brown

itation in her manner o

only Mr. Buxton would per

e very reason why you ar

borly faces, would do y

n's sake you should not

ould see a litt

liged to Mr. Buxton for

r inclination, which, i

e invitation. So, "for

e sighed, as if m

aid Mr. Buxton. "

hould go on that day wee

chool at which Edward wa

s notability, and an inq

time he wanted a housem

av

vent; and they made no

their usual employments.

uss all the proposed pla

ke the prospect of schoo

remark, on first he

l learn his place there,

are apt to fo

and arrangements respect

spending a day at Mr. B

ning, having a sort of a

thought of mingling with

uite right," and "just as

e chil

account I did it, Na

en has Mr. Buxto

k, they call him. But yo

sur

l, then," asked Maggie

ur

ss Harvey, his niece,

forgave her mother til

ked N

Nancy!" replied Mrs. Br

was before Mr. Buxton's

im guardian to her child

rm

folks say. And, for sure

earth; and every one kno

ndly and pleasantl

but what he is a very go

keeps hold on 'em when h

, and I'm ta

d to her kitchen, Mrs.

clothes would be needed

he black satin gown, wh

s married, and which sh

azine on the day of th

al born lady," said she;

ed, to do

as a Mrs. Buxton," said

ur

and weakly, and never l

e she never lef

and branch, formed the p

Browne and her children

most wished to stay at h

he visit. Edward felt b

ad been ordered for the

remembered having heard

ke as when she wore bla

ervation; but when she s

depressed, and unequal t

sake, she w

k was ended, Nancy sat u

the preparations, none we

nfluence over her mist

ly depended upon her) t

n to pieces, and washed

ttle old-fashioned to be

ompleted and put on, tha

taking great care of su

sidered the gown from w

t and d