Year: 1871

thick carpet had lately been put
down in the dining,room ut the squire's
residence. which was found TO prevent
the door from opening and shutting easi.
ly, SO Wedge the village carpenter. was
he was still at work, carriage wheels
were distinctly heard and the squire's
lady with her children came down into
the hall, ready TO welcome home Mr..
Cary. who had been that day TO town.
Wedge, who was working inside the
dining room, listened with ast0nishment
rs he heard the shout the children gave Il;
their father stepped out oi the carriage
lie saw. also, through the door crack,
that the two eldest had caught hold of his
hands. whilst the younger ones were
clinging like little baTnacles to his coat
tails; all dragging him along, as if, once
having got him into their net. they meant,
spider like TO bind him hand and foot,
anu utN our Hlii, ~ 'iNt i''0Si VSN''E '"'
sect would great bluebOltlc. ut their
leisure.


That the squire's lctuin should cause
such delight was Il puzzler for our worthy
friend; tor had he not, with his own eyes
seen this gentleman go off at half-past
nine in the morning. no one could have
persuaded him otherwise than that no
must have been away a month, TO put it
AT the lowest figure. He saw. moreover,
that the squire WAS holding tightly in his
hand little parcel; which, shaking of
tho children. by number of little dodges
of which loving fathers only know the
secret. he quick y united, for all the world
"a II he were q boy five years old (and
not great man ot fourteen stone
weighO who could not wait moment
for anything. In shorter time than we
take to write 1t he pulled out the contents
and gave them TO his wife, with three dis
tinct kisses. Wedge could swear there
were three. tor he counted them, and
wondered how many there were 10 come


Som the merry patty went up stairs,
the echo OF their voices died away, and
Wedge was lett to finish his work on the
door, whilst his heart and conscience be-
Gan their work on HIM. He. too. had
a home and wife and children he toe. had
been away all day; but the thought
struck him uncomiortably that his well
come home. if indeed he got one at all.
would seem poor and cold after that
which he hid just witnessed. This re.
Election WAS not so sweet rs Ia make his
work 60 smoothly; his SAW seemed rs
bIGnt rs a double-bladcd sixpcnny pen
knife. and the wood of the chair. whose
legs he was cutting down, ~ hard as beg
oak In tact. he was feeling Jealous OF
the squire and discontenlcd with his own
wife and children. Why were not they
eager to rush out and welcome him. after
the fashion of the squire'S family? He
lrownrd as he thought how badly he was
used. ard his saw grated rs though very
dull.


But conscience had II word to say 10
him, and said il loud, for him To hear al
though he was making noise enough -
prevent any one from trying to gain his
attention. 1t told him that the fault was
chiefly in himself tor II his wife and chill
dren were not like the squircs neither
was his likeness to that worthy gentle.
man particularly striking He couldn't
blame his wife for not making enough Of
his presents. for te well knew he never
gave her any; nor did he greet her with
those words which would not have
failed to draw The same from her.


Wedge was good husband without
being kind one, spending his money for
the most part on his family in a hard bust
ness like kind of way, but showing no
affection toward his children, who con.
sequently did not love him


AS Wedge walked home. his tools on
his back, he came across nm old friend,
carrying carefully a dainty bunch OF
snow-drops in his big, rough hand


Here, WILL" he said. walking along
by the carpenters side. "I've just given
n trihe for these flowers. pretty bits OF
things, amt they? For my wife makes
of any little present take her home she
never minds what bring her so long as
give it to her myself. for TO be sure | al
ways tack OH little something, in the
shape OF kind words. which makes the
thing seem more valuable in her eyes.
don't know how l should gel on some
times, if it weren't for having flowers
pi city handy you can get them for little
or nothing at any time. and yet they are
more beautiful than anything we could
make"


Wedges read now laid in different
direction from his friends so they parted
company, Joe Sparks putting couple OF
snowdrops into Wits hand, supposing
he would know what to do with them.


Wedge turned the snowdrops over in
his hand, and looked after Joe. who had
nearly turned the corner; what could the
man mean by giving him the snowdrops
and never saying wordP He couldn't
have known what had just happened at
the hall yet it was strange that he should
come up and say all this about presents