ons.
"Oh, if you could create such harmony between us, I would bless you, not
for our sakes alone, but for our children's. We are spoiling them; I see
it every day. I am not severe with them; but one hour I am fretful, and
the next too indulgent. My wife thinks it necessary to counteract my too
easy discipline by one too strict. She punishes them sometimes when she
is angry, and that is sure to make them worse."

If Mr. Royden had said she never punished the children except when she
was angry, he would not have gone far from the truth.

XIV.

DEACON DUSTAN'S POLICY.

Our friends met a ruddy farmer on horseback. He reined up on the
road-side, and stopped. Mr. Royden also stopped, and said,

"Good-morning, Deacon Dustan."

"Good-morning, good-morning, neighbor," cried Deacon Dustan, heartily,
his sharp gray eyes twinkling as he fixed them on the old clergyman's
face. "Good-morning to you, Father. Mr. Rensford, I believe? I heard of
your arrival, sir, and intended to call and make your acquaintance."

The old man acknowledged the compliment in his usual simple and
beautiful manner.

"We thought of getting around to your place yesterday, deacon," said Mr.
Royden. "But we found we had not time."

"Try again, and better luck!" replied Deacon Dustan. "By the way," he
added, in an off-hand, careless manner, "I suppose you will put your
name on our paper for the new meeting-house?"

"Is the thing decided upon?"

"Oh, yes. The old shell has held together long enough. The other society
has got the start of us, at the village; and we must try to be a little
in the fashion, or many of our people will go there to meeting."

"I don't know; but I suppose I must do something, if a new house is
built," said Mr. Royden. "The old one seems to me, though, to be a very
respectable place of worship, if we are only a mind to think so."

"It would do very well five years ago," said Deacon Dustan. "But our
society has come up wonderfully. We have got just the right kind of
minister now. Mr. Corlis is doing a great thing for us. I don't think we
could have got a more popular preacher. He is very desirous to see the
movement go on."

Mr. Royden said he would consider the matter; a few more remarks were
passed, touching the business of farmers, the favorable state of the
weather to commence haying, and so forth; and the deacon, switching his
little black pony, pursued his way.

"I am not much in favor of building a new me