Year: 1867

The youngest son stood with his falr BRIDE upon
the threshold of the farmhouse. He was the last
of four brave boys who had gone forth from that
humble roof to work their way up manfuIy to o
haps there was little dimness in the old mans
eye, and may be little tremor III his voice, as he
spoke the farewell words. But he took from the
old side cupboard his parting gift o bright, new
hoe-and as he placed it in the hand Of the youth,
the accompanying admonition sounded cheerily on
his ear, "Hoe out your row.


1t was the fourth timea similar presentation had
been made in the old homestead.


Everybody will find his row to hoein this world,
George and sometimes it's mighty tough one
but it is only towards that shirk it. Whatsoever
thy hand fndeth to do, do it with thy might, and
never forget to look up"


The old man wrung the hand of his son, and
stopped down to kiss the cheek of his fair, new
daughter while mother busted herself with the
dozen last things" which every one but mother
forgets The lingering farewells were all said at
last, and the old coach rolled away with the two
hopeful sunny hearts just entering Me's bright
and beautiSul summer.


The old homestead seemed deserted and drear as
last years nest. The aged pair sat down by
their own hearthstone alone as when they begun
| life together How these old walls had wrung to
the sound of childhood's mirth and childhood 8
step, and in later years had echoed with the tread
of many feet. Now they must live more in the
buried past.


But to George and Ellen life seemed all one
bright future, with the rainbow of hope arching
all their plans and projects


Their Western home was an humble one, and
plenty of work for willing hands within it. The
young farmers chief capital was his strong arm
and stout heart, and the sound working day prin-
ciples he had been taught from childhood Some
times he grew discouraged at the prospect Of pay
ing for the place he worked-but he was sure to
meet with hearty encouragement and words OF
cheer from Ellen; glance, too at the parting gift
of his father as it stood on the mantle in the fam
lily room, was as good as sermon any day. There
it stood ever ready to give encouragement or ad,
monition, as the case might be. Strangers might
think it curious ornament for q chimney piece,
but it was soon regarded as one of the household
treasures. Dust nor rust were never suffered to
mar its brightness.


'sEIen, it is no use trying" said George, one
evening, quite despondingly, as he turned away
from some figures he had been making on some
scraps of paper, II can't make out the payment
this week, and I may as well give it up"


Ellen looked up cheerfully from her work and
nodded towards the mantle.


II have hoed and hoed, but this row is too much
for me. The wool will pay the next installmentt
anu CIOpS Iuc uCACJ uuo WnOiC Caio eoA
lars is to come from, that 1 need in addition to
what can make out, is more than | can can see.


"Sell the COW, George" advised Ellen ''you
were offered sixty dollars for her, you know"


''But what can we do for butter, and cream in
our coffee, and all that.


"Do without it for time, dear. A homeis q
great deal more important to US now than any table
luxury. Besides you shall not suffer. These lit
tie selfdenials, you know, are almost unavoidable,
if we would fairly hoe out our row"


George, like a sensible man, took his wife's ad-
vice and the satisfaction he felt as he paid down
the money promptly and took his receipt exceeded
that which any table enjoyment could afford him.


Ellen ransacked her memory for economical sau-
ces and gravies, to take the place Of old Debby' 8
golden butter and yellow cream; and she never
forgot to stir welbeaten egg into the pot Of ccf-
fee, 50 improving its richness that George scarcely
missed the favorite luxury.
Steadily onward he hoed his row until the place
was all his own. The old home had put on q new
face outdoors and in. There were shrubs and
rosebushes in abundance in the once tangled and
briar-grown door-yard, and young orchard was
hlossoming on the sunny slope towards the South.