ding-feast. When Mary was gone to take off her bonnet and put on her apron, in order to prepare it, Robert said, 'Well, father and mother, this is a good day for me, and I hope it will not prove a bad one for you!' 'We have no need to fear that,' said Cuthbert, we have no need to fear that! If Mary has been a good girl, you have been a son to us both. I give her to you with all my heart.' But as he said these words the tears rolled down the old man's cheeks, and Nelly wiped her's away with the corner of her apron. It was very true that they did give her to Robert with all their heart; but she had now been living with them for nearly three months, and they began to think now they should miss her. Robert saw what they felt, and therefore he soon found something else to talk about. But mother,' he said, 'how smart you are! I never saw that cloak before; where did it come from?'

Nelly looked pleased, but she did not say a word; she only lifted up her stick, and pointed to her husband, who had taken his seat by the window, and was resting his hands upon his oaken staff. And father, too,' exclaimed Robert, what a coat! I guess that is Mary's present, for her presents are always good things that have wear in them.' So they are, so they are,' replied Cuthbert, she had a mind to make us fine to-day, but it could not have cost her a little.' 'She will never be the poorer for that, father, you may be sure,' answered Robert. No,' said Nelly, I pray she

never may.' As she finished speaking, she wrapped her cloak over her in front, looking down its bright sides, and then she added, 'As Mary says, though it is the summer that is coming, yet the wind blows cool for the most part in the summer now, and with our rheumatism we shall be glad of them on Sundays.' So you will, mother,' Ro

bert replied, 'the wind will never get through them.'

The room was full at the wedding-feast. The feast was neither rich nor great; but

a dinner of herbs where love is, is better than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.” Prov. xv. 17. There was pork of Cuthbert's own feeding, as well as vegetables from his garden, and home-brewed beer. There was a plum-pudding in a large dish in the centre of the table, with elder-wine of Nelly's making. After dinner, a plumcake was put upon the table; it was made at the rectory for Mary's wedding; and her little presents were laid on the table with it. There was a family Bible from the minister, in which he had written both Robert and Mary's name, from him, with his blessing. Each of the young ladies at the hall had sent some little present, to express their kindness. But her master and mistress, the squire and his lady, had

sent a present which could not be laid upon the table, it would not have stood in Nelly's low cottage-it was already in Mary's house. It was an eight-day clock that struck the hours; and her mistress had written with her own hand that it was a present to their faithful servants Robert and Mary.

CHAPTER VII.

SUSAN BELL.

"The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked, but He blesseth the habitation of the just.”— PROV. iii. 33.

THE white cottage which Robert had taken stood at the foot of a hill. There was a small piece of garden-ground before and behind. Mary planted the little garden in front with gilly-flowers and carnations from her mother's borders, and the minister's daughter sent a red China rose-tree by their gardener, which he set in the bed of peppermint close to the cottage-door. Mary loved this rose-tree for her friend's sake. Should