Year: 1871




down in the dining room at the squire
residence, which was found to prevent the
door from opening and shutting easily, so
Wedge, the village carpenter, was sent
for to ease it. At six o'clock, while he
was still at work, carriage wheels were
distinctly heard, and the squire's lady,
with all 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 astonishment as he heard
the shout the children gave when their
father stepped out of the carriage. He
saw, also, through the door crack, that
the two eldest had caught hold of his
hands, whilst the younger ones were
clinging like little barnacles 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,
and devour him, as that interesting in
sect would great blue-bottle, at their
leisure.


That the squire's return should cause
such delight, was puzzler for our worthy
friend for had he not with his own eyes
seen this man go off at half past nine in
the morning, no one could haYe persuad
ed him otherwise than that he must have
been away a month, to put it at the low
est figure. He saw moreover, that the
squire was holding tightly in his hand
little parcel, which, by shaking off the
children by number of little lodges of
which loving fathers only know the Sc
cret, he quickly united, for all the world
as if he were boy of five years old (and
not great man of fourteen stone weight
who could not wait moment for any
thing. In shorter time than we take
to write it he pulled out the contents
and gave them to his wife, with three
distinct kisses. Wedge couldswea there
were three, for he counted them, and Won
dered how many more ere to come


Soon the merry party went up stairs
the echo of their voices died away, and
Wedge was left to finish his job on the
door, whilst his heart and conscience be-
gan their work on him. He, too, had a
home and wife and children he too, had
been away; but the thought struck him
uncomfortablY that his welcome home,
that is if he got one at all, would seem
poor and cold after that which he had
Just witnessed. This reflection was not
so sweet as to make his work 90 smooth
ly; his saw seemed as blunt as double
bladed sixpenny penknife, and the wood
of the chair, whose legs he was cutting
down, as hard as bog oak. In fact, he
was feeling jealous of the squire and dis
contented with his own wife and children.
Why were not they eager 10 rush out
and welcome him after the fashion Of the
squire's family ? He frowned as he
thought how badly he was used, and his
saw grated away as though very dull


But conscience had word to say to
him, and said it loud enough too for him
to hear, although he was making noise
enough to prevent any one from trying
to gain his attention. 1t told him the
fault was chiefly in himself for if his
vile and children were not like the
squires, neither was his likeness to that
worthy gentleman particularly striking.
He couldn't blame his wife for not max
ing enough of his present, for he well
knew he never gave her any nor did he
greet her with those kind words which
would not have failed to draw the same
from her.


| Wedge was good husband without
being a kind one, spending his money for
the most part on his family in a hard bus
iness-like kind of way, but showing no
affection towards his children, who conse-
quently did not love him.


! As Wedge walked home, his tools on
his back, he came across an old friend
carrying carefully dainty bunch Of
snow-drops in his big, round hand.


"Here, WILL" he said, walking along
by the carpenters side, "Pve just given a
trife for these fowers-pretty bits Of
things, amt they ?-for my wife makes
so much Of any little present l take her
home she never minds what l bring her,
so long as ] bring it to her myself, for to
be sure | always tack on little some
thing, in the shape of few kind words,
which makes the thing seem va liable in
her eyes. don't know how | should get
on sometimes, if it weren't for having
flowers pretty handy; you can get them
for little or nothing at any time, and
yet they are more beautiful than any
thing we could make"


Wedges road now lay in different
direction from his friends, so they parted
company, Joe Sparks putting couple of
snowdrops into Wills hand, supposing