d that he had not locked the barn, and rose at
once, crossing the kitchen with quicker steps than usual. Maria looked
up at him as he passed.

"Yes, everything went off beautifully," she repeated. "Mis' Chellis is
real good company. I enjoyed hearing her talk about old times. She set
everything by Mis' Haydon, didn't she? You had a good wife,
Mr. Haydon, certain," said Maria, wistfully, as he hesitated a moment
at the door.

Israel Haydon did not answer a word, but went his way and shut the
door behind him. It was a cool evening after the pleasant day; the air
felt a little chilly. He did not go beyond the doorsteps, for
something seemed to draw him back, so he lifted the clinking latch and
stepped bravely into the kitchen again, and stood there a moment in
the bright light.

Maria Haydon turned toward him as she stood at the cupboard with a
little lamp in her hand. "Why Mr. Haydon! what's the matter?" She
looked startled at first, but her face began to shine. "Now don't you
go and be foolish, Isr'el!" she said.

"Maria," said he, "I want to say to you that I feel to be very
thankful. I've got a good wife _now_."

LITTLE FRENCH MARY.

The town of Dulham was not used to seeing foreigners of any sort, or
to hearing their voices in its streets, so that it was in some sense a
matter of public interest when a Canadian family was reported to have
come to the white house by the bridge. This house, small and
low-storied, with a bushy little garden in front, had been standing
empty for several months. Usually when a house was left tenantless in
Dulham it remained so and fell into decay, and, after some years, the
cinnamon rose bushes straggled into the cellar, and the dutiful grass
grew over the mound that covered the chimney bricks. Dulham was a
quiet place, where the population dwindled steadily, though such
citizens as remained had reason to think it as pleasant as any country
town in the world.

Some of the old men who met every day to talk over the town affairs
were much interested in the newcomers. They approved the course of the
strong-looking young Canadian laborer who had been quick to seize upon
his opportunity; one or two of them had already engaged him to make
their gardens, and to do odd jobs, and were pleased with his quickness
and willingness. He had come afoot one day from a neighboring town,
where he and his wife had been made ill by bad drainage and factory
work, and saw the little house, and aske