my friends; for you may perchance find
the morning-glory of Truth blooming at your side; the vine of Hope
overarching your path like a rainbow; yea, and the tree of Life growing
in the midst of the garden.
I hope no one will complain of the gay birds singing and fluttering
among the boughs; for they can do but slight damage to the sober fruit,
and the visitor may owe it to their cheerful strains if he is preserved
from drowsiness amid the odors of the poppy-beds.
CONTENTS.
PREFACE
I. A "United Happy Family."
II. Chester
III. Evening at the Farm-house
IV. The Old Clergyman
V. Chester's Confession
VI. Morning at the Farm
VII. Clouds and Sunshine
VIII. Country Scenes
IX. Mark, the Jockey
X. Company
XI. The Lovely and the Unloved
XII. Domestic Economy
XIII. Talk by the Way
XIV. Deacon Dustan's Policy
XV. The Philosophy of a Wooden Leg
XVI. Going to Meeting
XVII. Father Brighthopes in the Pulpit
XVIII. Mr. Kerchey
XIX. Monday Morning
XX. The Hay-field
XXI. The Swamp-lot
XXII. The Fight and the Victory
XXIII. Saturday Afternoon
XXIV. The Thunder-storm
XXV. A Stream of Peace
XXVI. The Rainy Day
XXVII. "Old Folks and Young Folks"
XXVIII. Mr. Kerchey's Daring Exploit
XXIX. Mrs. Royden's Dinner-party
XXX. The Old Clergyman's Farewell
XXXI. The Departure
XXXII. Reunion
XXXIII. Conclusion
FATHER BRIGHTHOPES;
OR, AN OLD CLERGYMAN'S VACATION.
I.
A "UNITED HAPPY FAMILY."
There was an unpleasant scowl on Mr. Royden's face, as he got out of his
wagon in the yard, and walked, with a quick pace, towards the rear
entrance of his house.
"Samuel!" said he, looking into the wood-shed, "what are you about?"
The sharp tone of voice gave Samuel quite a start. He was filling a
small flour-sack with walnuts from a bushel-basket placed upon the
work-bench, his left hand holding the mouth of the bag, while his right
made industrious use of a tin dipper.
"O, nothing,--nothing much!" he stammered, losing his hold of the sack,
and making a hasty attempt to recover it. "There! blast it all!"
The sack had fallen down, and spilled its contents all over his feet.
"What _are_ you doing with those nuts?" demanded Mr. Royden,
impatiently.
"Why, you see," repl
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