ither become a rich man, nor have any experience of life on a
large and exciting scale; our business is limited, and the day may come
when you will find this irksome. All that tends to your future
independence, wealth, connections, and so forth, you will more readily
secure in America than with me."

"My good father often used to say to me, 'Dwell in the land; and verily
thou shalt be fed.' I will live according to his wish," said Anton, in a
voice low with emotion.

"He is, and always will be, a mere cit," cried Fink, in a sort of
despair.

"I believe that this love of country is a very sound foundation for a
man's fortune to rise upon," said the merchant, and there was an end of
the matter.

Fink said nothing more about the proposal, and Anton tried, by countless
small attentions, to show his friend how dear he was to him, and how
much he regretted his departure.

That evening Fink said to Anton, "Hearken, my lad; I have a fancy to
take a wife across with me."

Anton looked at his friend in utter amazement, and, like one who has
received a great shock and wishes to conceal it often does, he inquired,
in forced merriment, "What! you will actually ask Fraeulein von
Baldereck--"

"That's not the quarter. What should I do with a woman whose only
thought would be how she could best amuse herself with her husband's
money?"

"But who else can you be thinking of? Not of the ancient cousin of the
house?"

"No, my fine fellow, but of the young lady of the house."

"For Heaven's sake, no!" cried Anton, springing up; "that would, indeed,
be a pretty business."

"Why so?" was the cool reply. "Either she takes me, and I am a lucky
man, or she takes me not, and I start without a wife."

"But have you ever thought of it before?" inquired Anton, uneasily.

"Sometimes--indeed often during the last year. She is the best
housewife, and the noblest, most unselfish creature in the world."

Anton looked at his friend in growing astonishment. Not once had Fink
given him the remotest hint of such a thing.

"But you never told me of it."

"Have you ever told me of your feelings for another young lady?" replied
Fink, laughing.

Anton blushed and was silent.

"I think," continued Fink, "that she does not dislike me; but whether
she will go with me or not I can not tell; however, we shall soon know,
for I am going at once to ask her."

Anton barred the way. "Once more I implore you to reflect upon what you
are going to