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