sy.

XII.

DOMESTIC ECONOMY.

As Father Brighthopes entered the sitting-room on the following morning,
he found Mr. and Mrs. Royden engaged in a warm and not very good-natured
discussion.

"Come, wife, let us leave it to our wise old friend," said the former,
the frown passing from his brow. "I agree to do as he says."

"He cannot possibly appreciate my feelings on the subject," replied Mrs.
Royden, firmly. "But you can tell him what we were talking about, if you
like."

The old man's genial smile was sufficient encouragement for Mr. Royden
to proceed; but his wife added, quickly,

"I don't know, though, why you should weary him with details of our
troubles. It is our business to make him comfortable, and not to call on
him to help us out of our difficulties."

"My dear sister," said Father Brighthopes, warmly, "the joyful business
of my life is _to help_. I did not come to see you merely to be made
comfortable. I shall think I have lived long enough when I cease to be
of service to my great family. These hands are not worth much now," he
continued, cheerfully, "but my head is old enough to be worth something;
and when I am grown quite childish, if I live to see the time, I trust
God will give me still a use, if it is nothing more than to show the
world how hopeful, how sunny, how peaceful, old age can be."

"I cannot think of a nobler use," said Mr. Royden, "since to see you so
must lead the young to consider those virtues to which you owe your
happiness. Selfish lives never ripen into such beautiful old age. But to
our affair. To-day is Saturday; next week commences a busy time. We go
into the hay-field Monday morning. I shall have two stout mowers, who
will board with us, and, as they will probably want some more solid food
than apples and nuts," said Mr. Royden, with quiet humor, "the
consequence will be an increase of labor in the kitchen."

"I should think so!" cried the old man. "What delightfully keen
appetites your strong laborers have!"

"And Mr. Royden insists on it," added the wife, "that I should have a
girl to help me!"

"Certainly, I do; isn't the idea rational, Father Brighthopes?"

"There are a good many objections to it," said Mrs. Royden. "In the
first place, the children recommence going to school Monday morning, and
I shall not have them in the way. If ever I was glad of anything, it is
that Miss Selden is well enough to take charge of the children again;
she has been off a