ndholm had more
reason now to distress herself, and distressed herself
accordingly, but it was of no use. Winthrop wrought early and
late, and threw himself into the gap with a desperate ardour
that meant -- his mother knew what.

They all wrought cheerfully and with good heart, for they were
together again; and the missing one was only thought of as a
stimulus to exertion, or its reward. Letters came from Rufus,
which were read and read, and though not much talked about,
secretly served the whole family for dessert at their dinner
and for sweetmeats to their tea. Letters which shewed that the
father's end was gaining, that the son's purpose was
accomplishing; Rufus would be a man! They were not very
frequent, for they avoided the post-office to save expense,
and came by a chance hand now and then; -- "Favoured by Mr.
Upshur," -- or, "By Uncle Absalom." They were written on great
uncouth sheets of letter-paper, yellow and coarse; but the
handwriting grew bold and firm, and the words and the thoughts
were changing faster yet, from the rude and narrow mind of the
boy, to the polish and the spread of knowledge. Perhaps the
letters might be boyish yet, in another contrast; but the home
circle could not see it; and if they could, certainly the
change already made was so swift as shewed a great readiness
for more. Mr. Landholm said little about these letters; read
them sometimes to Mr. Upshur, read them many times to himself;
and for his family, his face at those times was comment
enough.

"Well! --" he said one day, as he folded up one of the uncouth
great sheets and laid it on the table, -- "the man that could
write _that_, was never made to hoe corn -- that's certain."

Winthrop heard it.

At midsummer Rufus came home for a little. He brought news. He
had got into the good graces of an uncle, a brother of his
father's, who lived at Little River, a town in the interior,
forty miles off. This gentleman, himself a farmer extremely
well to do in the world, and with a small family, had invited
Rufus to come to his house and carry on his studies there. The
invitation was pressed, and accepted, as it would be the means
of a great saving of outlay; and Rufus came home in the
interval to see them all, and refit himself for the winter
campaign.

No doubt he was changed and improved, like his letters; and
fond eyes said that fond hopes had not been mistaken. If they
looked on him once with pride, they did now with a sort o