Of course you cannot tell
us much in your letters of your various experiences. I wish we
could have you with us this evening, and hear some of them from
your own lips.

I am anxious to hear that you are succeeding in the object of
your journey, and that you will not find the stories of the rich
gold fields greatly exaggerated. I do not myself believe all I
hear, yet I think there must be gold enough to pay those who
search for it diligently. You must remember, my dear boy, that
hard work is better than luck, and more to be relied upon. Don't
expect to make your fortune all at once by finding a big nugget,
but work steadily, and you will meet with more or less success.

If you succeed moderately, I shall be glad you went away, for
here prospects are not very good. Our little farm seems to be
less productive every year. The soil is not very good, as you
know, and I cannot afford fertilizers. This year the crops were
not as good as usual, and we have felt the decrease sensibly. If
there were not a mortgage on the farm, I could get along very
well, but the interest now amounts to one hundred and thirty-two
dollars annually, and it is hard to get that amount together.
Next month sixty-six dollars come due, and I don't know how I am
to find the money. Squire Hudson could afford to wait; but I am
afraid he won't. The older and richer he gets, the more grasping
he becomes, I sometimes think. However, I don't want to borrow
trouble. If it is absolutely necessary I can sell off one of the
cows to raise the money, and before the year comes round I think
you will be able to help me.

Walter, though only twelve years old,--his thirteenth birthday
comes next month,--helps me about the farm, and is very useful in
doing chores. He likes farm-work, and will be ready to succeed me
in time. As for Sarah, she is a good, sensible girl, and helps
her mother in a good many ways. Though I am a poor man, and
always expect to remain so, I feel that I am blessed in having
good, industrious children, who promise to grow up and do me
credit. I should not be willing to exchange one of my boys for
Squire Hudson's son Sinclair. He is, to my mind, a very
disagreeable boy, who makes himself ridiculous by the airs he
puts on. I have seen him once or twice lately when h