going to California, said that in his absence
somebody must look after the farm, and he knew of no one whom he would
as soon trust as William.

"Oh, that'll be nice," said Jenny, whose love for the country was as
strong as ever. "And then, Willie, when pa comes back we'll go to
Boston again and practise law, you and I!"

William pressed the little fat hand which had slid into his, and
replied, that much as he would like to oblige Mr. Lincoln, he could
not willingly abandon his profession, in which he was succeeding even
beyond his most sanguine hopes. "But," said he, "I think I can find a
good substitute in Mr. Parker, who is anxious to leave the poor-house.
He is an honest, thorough-going man, and his wife, who is an excellent
housekeeper, will relieve Mrs. Lincoln entirely from care."

"Mercy!" exclaimed the last-mentioned lady, "I can never endure that
vulgar creature round me. First, I'd know she'd want to be eating at
the same table, and I couldn't survive that!"

Mr. Lincoln looked sad. Jenny smiled, and William replied, that he
presumed Mrs. Parker herself would greatly prefer taking her meals
quietly with her husband in the kitchen.

"We can at least try it," said Mr. Lincoln, in a manner so decided
that his wife ventured no farther remonstrance, though she cried and
fretted all the time, seemingly lamenting their fallen fortune, more
than the vacancy which death had so recently made in their midst.

Mr. Parker, who was weary of the poor-house, gladly consented to take
charge of Mr. Lincoln's farm, and in the course of a week or two Jenny
and her mother went out to their old home, where every thing seemed
just as they had left it the autumn before. The furniture was
untouched, and in the front parlor stood Rose's piano and Jenny's
guitar, which had been forwarded from Boston. Mr. Lincoln urged his
mother-in-law to accompany them, but she shook her head, saying, "the
old bees never left their hives," and she preferred remaining in
Glenwood.

Contrary to Mrs. Lincoln's fears, Sally Ann made no advances whatever
towards an intimate acquaintance, and frequently days and even weeks
would elapse without her ever seeing her mistress, who spent nearly
all her time in her chamber, musing upon her past greatness, and
scolding Jenny, because she was not more exclusive. While the family
were making arrangements to move from Glenwood to Chicopee. Henry for
the first time in his life began to see of how little use he