for his wife. How he had planted the garden himself
with all her favourite flowers, and twined honeysuckle over his porch.
Then he took her hand within his own, and in a lower and softer voice
asked her if she were happy.

"'Very happy,' she replied, looking on the ground, while her cheek grew
like a cloud at sunrise; 'only I cannot help feeling sorry,' --her voice
trembled a little as she spoke,-- 'sorry to leave father, and home, and
the dear children in the ragged school whom I have taught so long!'
I fancy," continued my brother, "that something like a dewdrop
glistened on her lashes.

"'Well, Mary,' said the farmer heartily, 'father will come and see us;
and as for your old home, why, you get a new one in exchange, and fair
exchange is no robbery, you know. Then for your ragged children, why,
I'm wanting an active, steady boy on my farm, and though I've no great
fancy for your pale-faced Londoners, yet if you know any really good
one, we'll take him down with us into Kent.'

"You should have seen how much pleased the young teacher looked! She
knew one, she said, a poor motherless boy,-- she would be so glad to
give him a helping hand. He was one of the best boys in the school,--
she would trust him in a room full of gold!

"So it was agreed between them that she should speak to the lad, and
tell him to call in the evening.

"In the evening he accordingly came. I had again taken my place under
the farmer's chair, and was just falling into a doze, when I was
roused by a gentle knock at the door. Mary's cheerful 'Come in!' was
followed by the entrance of,-- whom do you think?"

"Bob and Billy!" I exclaimed at a venture.

"Yes, Bob and Billy!" repeated Oddity, with a look of great glee; "I had
never thought to have seen them again! And they were so changed,
I should scarcely have known them. Bob, in particular, looked so much
taller, and stronger, and oh! so much happier than he had done last
year! He was no more the wretched, joyless, hopeless creature, cowering
in rags, one that even rats might look on with pity; he had a bright,
fearless eye, and hopeful smile; and if ever a face expressed gratitude
and affection, it was his when he looked on his gentle young teacher!

"'I beg pardon for bringing Billy,' said he, modestly but frankly,
'I was afraid to let him go home quite alone.'

"The farmer spoke in his kindly manner to the boy. He offered him a
place on his farm, and Bob's eyes sparkled, and his cheek