Year: 1874

anger, indeed, but In GOODNESS, considering that
John was an only child, and had lived on
terms OF perfect affection with his parents up
to that date. Nor could it be said that he left
them capriciously, without good reasons; for
having sent specimen of carving to famous
trm, who were engaged in restoring cathe.
dral, he received an offer of employment, the
terms OF which might well dazzle young
country artlhcer. This happened three years
before, and they had not seen him since At
first, his letters had been very regular, but
gradually they grow less so, and now they had
not heard FROM him for nearly three months.
did not learn all this at one interview,
for the couple interrupted one another, and
confused the account, in addition TO which,
they persisted in assuming that | had certain
amount of previous knowledge, which | did
not possess However, when the ice was once
broken, they often reverted to the subject of
their self.wied son, and by degrees l got a
connectedharratve.


| had originally intended to limit my stay at
Whortle to week but the quiet homeliness
OF the place suited me so exactly, that a fort
night slipped by almost before was aware |
was not fishing all the time, there were two
days of east wind, and three of unceasing rain,
which, with a couple of Sundays, reduced my
actual period of sport one half. Still | was
not dull, for, as a rule, no man is so happy in
|
the unfavOrable weather which had intervensd
an excuse for allowing myself one week more,
at the expiration OF which determined that
must leave, lest | should be keeping Nibbs out
of his favOrite haunt


On the last evening but one hooked the
largest fish | had yet raised. AS Nibbs had
told me, the Toft was difficult river to fish
in consequence of the bushes which fringed the
banks on each side. These concealed you
indeed so that you could only throw very
short line and when you hooked trout the
method of securing him Was to wind up till he
was only about four feet from the top of tho
rod, and then lift him out clear of the bOughs
But on the present occasion | could not do thi.
the fish being of weight which would have
smashed either rod or line to a certainty and
Peter was not there to assist me. So played
the trout, following him gently down the
stream, and looking out for a clear spot to lauC
him at. Fortunately Il mean for me) he wa
very firmly hooked.


You have got a good one, sir" said ,
voice-nOt Peters at nv elbow.


Gay" replied If l only knew how t.
get him out of the water.


:" think can help you, said he.


Z" have no landing net


Never mind | can get down to the water
edge through that bush play him up to me
and | will slip my cap under him"


This was effected and in less than min
ute the speckled beauty was leaping before u
IN the grass.


There are not many of his size in thi
stream" said my friend in need. II doub
whether my father ever took heavier ou
of it.


81 looked at him he was handsome younI
man, with broad forehead, bright gray eyes
and n rather massive jaw


"Is your name Williams2" | asked, rathe
abruptly


"Yes," said he, looking up, surprised.


l am lodging at your fathers house,"
explained.


"All well?" he asked.
"Qaite."


"And am anxious to see them, so wi
, say good. for the present, sir, and h
strobe off with an elastic STEP


delayed my return beyond my usual Dime
time, and stole into the house somewhat shep
ishly; great joy is almost as sacred as grea
sorrow. When Mrs Williams brought me M
food, | made sort of half apology for takin
: her away from her son, and hoped his visi
would be long one.


"Life-long, | hope sir" she replied, fairl
laughing with delight. l." He has been gettin
three pounds week great part of the time
and had saved enough money to buy the saw
mill. That was why he left us, because h
knew LHal MS idtneF WOulu never De napp
} unless he had his fancy But he would nc
tell US what he was up to at first, because h
t was not sure of succeeding, and feared disap


pointing u.s. And later, when it was all right
! he could not deny himself the pleasure of
surprise"


, have had week on the Toft quite lately
Drunken Tommy has cedcd the mill to Wi


liams and Son, who have improved the bus
I ness considerably already had several chat
} with both, and found that each retained hi
original opinion.


t John is q very good lad," said Peter
t "frstrate there is no better in England Blu
t he cannot see that those three years have bee
t so much time lost. We could have repaid tn
4 hundred pounds, principal and interest, at tn
, end Of the first year"


"I'll never start on borrowed money while
Y can earn crust, though the chance be eve
t so tempting" said John. 1.-The interest eat
s up your profit, and that breaks your hear
{ And then, if you go i'll, or have turn of ba


luck, where are you? We've got the saw-rnil
: aud the comfort Of knowing that we have neve
e been in debt, or owed it to the favor OF an


one"