with its glorious firmament. I think we
have before us two excellent prototypes of our wives:--while the clear,
peaceful lake represents yours, this happy, joyous, busy little stream
may be likened to my Charlotte, who goes on her way rejoicing, and
diffusing life and animation wherever she bends her course."

"I wish Frances had a little more of her gayety," said Mr. Draper.

"Depend upon it," said Howard, "they will operate favorably on each
other. I perceive already a mingling of character. I will venture to
predict, Charlotte will have a boat with its gay streamers winding the
shore before long, and persuade her sister to become the 'Lady of the
Lake.'"

The matter was soon decided; the sisters visited the place, and were
enchanted with it; and Howard was authorized by his brother to make the
purchase.

The house had been built many years. It was irregular in its form, and
certainly belonged to no particular order of architecture. There was a
large dining-room, and doors that opened upon the green, and plenty of
small rooms; in short, it was just such a house as Frances fancied; it
was picturesque, and looked, she said, "as if it had grown and shot out
here and there like the old oaks around it."

Charlotte begged that on herself might devolve the care of furnishing it.
"I know better than you," said she, "what will save trouble. Banish
brass and mahogany; admit nothing that requires daily labor to make it
fine and showy. I do not despair of setting you up a dairy, and teaching
you to churn your own butter." She truly loved and honored her sister-in-
law, and trembled for her life, which she was persuaded she held by a
frail tenure. She was eager to prevent her returning to the city during
the warm season, and readily undertook to go herself and make all
necessary arrangements. Frances furnished her with a list, and left much
discretionary power to her agent.

In the course of a few days she returned.--"We must be at Clyde Farm to-
morrow," said she, "to receive the goods and chattels of which I am only
the precursor. Your husband enters warmly into the furnishing of your
country residence, and therefore we must let him have a voice in it. His
taste is not so simple as ours, so we must admit some of the finery of
the town house; pier and chimney glasses are to be sent from it. I did
not make much opposition to this, for they will not only reflect our
rustic figures within, but the trees and grass