. His
face was full of kindly emotion, and his eyes beamed with sympathy.

"Yes, I guess so!" cried the old woman. "About fifteen or twenty. The
string of that old looking-glass broke just five years from the day it
was hung up. It was the most wonderfulest thing I ever knowed on! I
telled our folks something dre'ful was going to happen."

She still continued to mumble over some inaudible words between her
gums, but the light of her eyes grew dim, and she settled once more in
her dreams.

Mr. Royden went out; the clergyman followed, leaving the door open, and
a stream of sunshine pouring its flood of liquid gold upon the olden
floor.

XVI.

GOING TO MEETING.

On the following morning the Roydens made early preparations for
attending church. The cows were milked and turned away into the pasture;
the horses were caught, curried and harnessed; and the great open family
carriage was backed out of the barn.

Meanwhile, Hepsy and Sarah washed the boys, combed their hair, and put
on their clean clothes. Willie's bright locks curled naturally, and in
his white collar and cunning little brown linen jacket he looked quite
charming. It was delightful to see him strut and swagger and purse up
his red lips with a consciousness of manly trousers, and tell Hepsy to
do this and do that, with an air of authority, scowling, now and then,
just like his father. Georgie was more careless of his dignity; he
declared that his collar choked him, and "darned it all" spitefully,
calling upon Sarah to take it off, that he might go without it until
meeting-time, at any rate.

Mrs. Royden busied herself about the house, cleaning up, here and there,
with her usual energy of action.

"Come, wife!" exclaimed her husband, who was shaving at the
looking-glass in the kitchen, "you had better leave off now, and get
ready. We shall be late."

"I can't bear to leave things all at loose ends," replied Mrs. Royden.
"I shall have time enough to change my dress. Hepsy! If you let the boys
get into the dirt with their clean clothes, you will deserve a good
scolding."

"Isn't Hepsy going to church?" asked Mr. Royden.

"No; she says she had just as lief stay at home; and somebody must take
care of the baby, you know."

"If Sam wasn't such a mischief-maker, we might leave the baby with him."

"Dear me! I'd as soon think of leaving it with the cows! And, Hepsy, do
you keep an eye on Samuel. Don't let him be cracking but'nuts all day.
Wher