self, and, as he was well
able to do so, Mr Elliott saw no reason for refusing the offer. The
money, therefore, that he had set apart for his son's use, returned to
his hands, and he did a wiser thing than to invest it either in mountain
or valley.

It came, about this time, to the worst, with Mrs Jones and her daughter
Celestia. The mortgage on the farm could not be paid, even the interest
had fallen far behind, and Squire Skinflint had foreclosed. Nothing
remained for the widow, but to save what she could from the wreck of a
property that had once been large, and go away to seek a new home for
herself and her children. On the homestead she was about to leave, the
heart and eyes of Mr Snow had long been fixed. As a relation of the
widow, he had done what could be done, both by advice and assistance, to
avert the evil day; but the widow was no farmer, and her boys were
children, and the longer she kept the place, the more she must involve
herself; and now that the land must pass from her hands, Sampson would
fain have it pass into his. But the only condition of sale was for
ready money, and this without great sacrifice he could not obtain.
Meanwhile, others were considering the matter of the purchase, and the
time was short; for there had been some failure in Squire Skinflint's
Western land speculation, and money must be had. If the widow could
have held it still, Mr Snow would never have desired to have the land;
but what with the many thoughts he had given to it, and the fear of
getting bad neighbours, he had about come to the conclusion that it was
not worth while to farm at all, unless he could have the two farms put
into one.

Just at this juncture, the minister surprised him greatly by asking his
advice about the investment of the money which his brother-in-law's
generosity had placed at his disposal. A very few words settled the
matter. The minister lent the money to Mr Snow, and for the annual
interest of the same, he was to have the use of the farm-house and the
ten acres of meadow and pasture land, that lay between it and the pond.
The arrangement was in all respects advantageous to both parties, and
before May was out, the little brown house behind the elms was left in
silence, to await the coming of the next chance tenants; and the
pleasurable excitement of settling down in their new home, filled the
minds of Janet and the bairns.

And a very pleasant home it promised to be. Even in that beautif