tter class who had not to consider the ordinary
chances of making money. Several of the houses were shut up in the
winter, while their occupants went to the city for the season. Those who
remained at home entertained themselves with various amateur diversions.
There was a fine musical club that gave two or three concerts through
the winter; another that had a course of lectures, and the churches gave
fairs and sociables. The four denominations were represented, but the
Presbyterians were the largest, oldest and most influential.

The small river was spanned by a number of pretty rustic bridges, and
emptied into the greater one that divided it from the neighboring State,
whose wooded heights and rocky bluffs were most picturesque. There were
only occasional houses, though down at the brick-yard a small settlement
was begun. And already the sun was throwing long shadows from the
densest woods, where firs, cedars, and hemlock were almost black against
the beeches and hickories, even now turning yellow at the point of the
long leaves; chestnuts with the brown fringes of bloom that bore no
fruit still hanging to them. Here and there a pile of rocks, gray and
brown and dotted with glistening gems, it would seem, there were points
that sparkled so. There a hollow that might be a dryad's cave, bunches
of sumac in autumnal gorgeousness, tangles of wild growth, blackberry
with its deep red leaves, cat-briar still green and glossy, and the
confusion of wild woodland growth.

"Oh, how beautiful it is!" Helen exclaimed involuntarily.

"Where are you viewing the universe?"

"Over beyond the river. Do you ever go there?"

"Oh, yes, we row across. The school owns a boat. It is supposed to be
good exercise, but it does blister your hands. There is a bridge farther
up there, now you can see it."

The church spire had hidden it from view, but it was just a plain,
partly-covered structure.

"We went over for our picnic. There are swamps of rhododendrons, and
mountain laurel. That is beautiful even in the winter if you are fond of
such things. Never mind them to-day. There will be some rambles over
there presently. Let us look nearer home. What are you, religiously?"

Helen flushed. Was she really religious at all?

"I mean what denomination claims your family? We generally follow in
their footsteps."

"Presbyterian," with a hesitating sound in her voice.

"Then this will be your church. Mrs. Aldred is a member here, and Miss
G