re is quaint and massive; but it is the rich
mellow light streaming through the room that principally attracts the
eye. Is it the western sun, tinted by the colored glass of the
bay-window, or is it the ruddy hickory fire? What a remarkable
chimney-place! few such can be seen now-a-days; they had gone out of
date a hundred years ago; but it was ancient John Wyndham's fancy, as
far as possible, to possess a fac-simile of the family mansion in
England, in which his childish days had been spent. What elaborate
carving upon the huge mantel-piece!--hunters with their guns and dogs;
shepherds and shepherdesses, with crooks and sheep; scriptural scenes
and rural incidents, afford endless amusement to the groups gathered
before the fire. Before, did I say? around, is the right expression; for
so large is the chimney, that while crackling up-piled logs blaze upon
the hearth, a number might be accommodated on the benches at the side,
as well as in front. It is the most sociable gathering-place in the
world, and the stiffest and most formal person would soon relax there;
while fingers are thawed, hearts are melted by that fire--warm and kind
affections are drawn out--sparkles of wit fly about the room, as if in
emulation of the good hickory: it is a chimney corner most provocative
of ancient legends, of frightful ghost-stories, of tales of
knight-errantry and romantic love, of dangers and of hair-breadth
escapes; in short, of all that can draw both old and young away from
their every-day cares, into the brighter world of fiction and poesy. In
the recess on one side is a small library, comfortable enough to entice
the student from the merry group so near him; on the other, is a room
looked upon with great affection by the juvenile members of the family,
for here does Aunt Lucy manufacture and keep for distribution those
delicious cakes, never to be refused at lunch time; and those pies,
jellies, whips, and creams, which promise to carry down her name to
posterity as the very nonpareil of housekeepers.

Three persons are sitting in the room, whom in common politeness I
should introduce to the reader: very pleasant people are they to know
and to visit. Uncle John and Aunt Lucy Wyndham, the master and mistress
of the house, are remarkable for kindness, and make their nephews and
nieces, and whole troops of friends, feel perfectly at home at once;
they are Uncle John and Aunt Lucy to all their young acquaintances, and
delight in the ti