All-Hallow Eve; or, The Test of Futurity.

ve evidence of the comfort and plenty belonging not only to the old man himself, but to everything living and dead about the place; and as we shall be obliged to pass through this farm-ya

, heifers, and calves strayed about it without interruption. A grand flock of geese, as white as snow and as large nearly as swans, marched in from the fields, headed by their gander, every evening about the same hour, to spend their night gaggling and watching and sleeping by turns under the stacks of corn, which were raised upon stone pillars with mushroom metal-caps, to keep out the rats and mice. A big black cock, with a hanging red comb and white jowls, and innumerable hens belonging to him, something on the Brigham Young system, marched triumphantly about, calling his favorites every now and then with a quick melancholy little chuckle as often as he found a tit-bit amongst the straw. Ducks, half as large as the geese

the parish of Rathcash, or Jamesy Doyle was very much mistaken. It also was his handiwork. In fact, there was nothing Jamesy could not turn his hands to, and his heart was as ready as his hands, so that he was always successful, but here he had outstripped all his former ingenuity. The bower was now of four years' standing, and every summer James

the lane. Passing through this gate, Murdock branched off to the left with the produce of his farm. It is a long lane, they say, that has no turning, and although the portion of this one with which we are concerned was only sixty yards long, I have not, perhaps, brought the reader to the spot so quickly as I might. I certainly could have brought him through the yard without putting even the word "farm" before it, or without saying a word

er where it could be avoided. Of course incidental difficulties would sometimes arise; but in general she managed

ext, she got through whatever household jobs would bear performance in advance, and instructed Jamesy as to some little matters which she used to oversee herself, but which on this occasion she would entrust solely to his own intelligence and judgment for the day after the party. She could not have com

she called Jamesy, and examined him as to what he had done or left undone. Finding that, notwithstanding he had been up as late as she had been herself the night

ke up out of the tub

I took up two tenpenn

all that money, Jamesy? it

her has it afore

y, Jamesy, but you

but I didn't think that wa

ing, Jamesy, and t

, you'll never he

, James. Is t

ringing out an armful of l

thing, under the circumstances, if, like some heroines of a higher stamp, "she fell into a reverie." "How long she remained thus," to use the patent phrase in such a case, must be a mere matter of surmise; but a step at the gate outside the hedge, and her own name distinctly pronounced, caused her to start. Eaves-dropping has been universally condemned, and "listeners," they say, "never hear good of themselves." But

wouldn't refuse you. She'll have six hundred pounds as round as the crown of your hat; an' that fine farm w

ould secure the ready money of her fortune at any rate; as to herself, if it

last night, Tom? Oh then, w

no chat with her, except what the whole room could hear; she was determi

hink you haven't the pluck in you; she's a sperited girl herself, and depend upon it she expects you to spake, an' its what she's vexed at,

r; he had her out before I

ice, Tom avic, an put the question plump to her at wanst fore Shraftide. Tell her I'll lay down a pound for you for every pound her father gives her, and I'll make over this place to yo

errupted Tom; "won't h

cash, an Rathcashmore joined, the devil's in it and she can't live like a lady; at all events

omething of the way girls get on; and if that one is not set on young Lennon, my name is not Tom Murdock; and I'll tell you what's more, that if it wasn't for her fortune

the stronger, if you be houldin' back the way you do. They like pluck, Tom; they like pluck, I

t the bottom of it, let them both look out, that's all. For his part, I h

ther and son immediately branched off in the direction of their own

ating with indignation the whole time, had nearly betray

ance of success through her father's influence, and her love for him, it was now entirely at an end for ever. Should her fathe

ormed in some instances rather hastily, and she often knew not why. In Tom Murdock's c

but trouble and vexation before me on his account. I'm sorry Jamesy Doyle came out so soon. I'd like to have heard what he was going to sa

ver fellow in most matters. It was owing to this shrewdness that he resolved to watch for some favorable op