at the post-office of a small settlement, and the
driver told Oscar he was going to leave him there. His seat had grown
tiresome, during the last few hours, and he was by no means sorry to
leave it.

"Well, Jerry, here I am again," said Mr. Preston, addressing a boy who
stood by. "How are all the folks at home?"

"They are well," replied the boy addressed.

"This way Oscar," said Mr. Preston, pointing to a horse and wagon on
the opposite side of the street. "Oscar, this is your cousin Jerry,"
he continued, and the boys shook hands with each other, in
acknowledgment of the introduction.

Oscar now learned that they were yet five miles from Brookdale, and
that as the stage did not pass any nearer to his uncle's, Jerry had
come over with a horse to take his father home. There being but one
seat to the wagon, Mr. Preston and Oscar took possession of it, while
Jerry seated himself on the floor behind them. While on the way to
Brookdale, Oscar addressed several remarks to his cousin; but the
latter seemed shy, and they did not get acquainted with each other very
fast. They passed but very few houses, and Oscar looked in vain for
any signs of a village. At length, when he thought they could not be
far from their journey's end, he inquired:

"Where is the village, uncle John? Shan't we see any of it, going to
your house?"

"This is the village," replied Mr. Preston.

"This a village!" exclaimed Oscar; "why, I don't see any houses."

"This is all the village there is," replied his uncle; "there are
hardly any two houses in sight of each other in the town."

They were now approaching an old, two-story farmhouse, in the doorway
of which a woman and several children were standing, looking towards
them. This proved to be the end of their journey. Having driven the
wagon into the large barn which stood nearly opposite the house, Mr.
Preston left Jerry to put up the horse, and proceeded at once to the
house with his nephew. Mrs. Preston had seen Oscar in Boston, and came
out to meet him. She welcomed him very cordially, and inquired after
all the other members of the family. She then introduced him to his
three other cousins, Emily, Harriet, and Mary, all of whom were younger
than Jerry, and quite as shy and silent as he, at the presence of a
stranger.

Supper was now ready, and all the family, including James, the hired
man, seated themselves at the table. Mr. Preston, during the meal,
talked freely of wh