ey never would have any.
Squire Broom was not so rich as Squire Blake, and, though a very worthy
man, was not of such pleasing manners, so that many people did not like
him, though in times of distress he was one of the kindest friends in
the world. Squire Broom had a very large family, which he brought up in
an orderly, pious manner; but some of the neighbours did not fail to
find fault with him for being too strict with his children.

"When little Marten was about three years of age his father was killed
as he was going to Tenterden market by a fall from his horse. This was
so great a grief to his mother, who loved her husband very dearly, that
she fell immediately into a bad state of health; and though she lived
as much as two years after her husband, yet she was all that time a
dying woman. There was nothing in the thoughts of death which made this
poor woman unhappy at any time, excepting when she considered that she
must leave her little Marten to strangers; and this grieved her the
more because little Marten was a very tender child, and had always been
so from his birth.

"It happened a few weeks before her death, as little Marten's mother
was lying on her couch, that one Mrs. Short, who lived in Tenterden,
and spent her time in gossiping from house to house, came bustling into
the room where Marten's mother lay.

"'I am come to tell you,' said she, 'that Squire Blake's lady will be
here just now.'

"'It is some time since I have seen Mrs. Blake,' said Marten's mother;
'but it is kind of her to visit me in my trouble.'

"Whilst she was speaking Mr. Blake's carriage came up to the door, and
Mrs. Blake stepped out. She came into the parlour in a very free and
friendly manner, and, taking Marten's mother by the hand, she said she
was very sorry to see her looking so ill.

"'Indeed,' said the sick woman, 'I am very ill, dear madam, and I think
that I cannot live longer than a few weeks; but God's will be done! I
have no trouble in leaving this world but on account of little Marten;
yet I know that God will take care of him, and that I ought not to be
troubled on his account.'

"Mrs. Blake then answered:

"'As you have begun to speak upon the subject, I will tell you what
particularly brought me here to-day.'

"She then told her that, as she and Mr. Blake had a large fortune and
no family, they were willing to take little Marten at her death and
provide for him as their own. This was a very great and kind o