The Project Gutenberg EBook of Thankful Rest, by Annie S. Swan

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Title: Thankful Rest

Author: Annie S. Swan

Release Date: July 23, 2004 [EBook #12998]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THANKFUL REST ***

Produced by Roy Brown

THANKFUL REST.

A Tale.

By ANNIE S. SWAN.

Author of "Aldersyde," "Carlowrie" "Shadowed" &c. &c.

There is no road, though rough and steep,
Without an end at last,
And every rock upon the way
By patience can be passed.

There are few human hearts too hard
For gentleness to win;
Somewhere a hidden chink appears
Where love may enter in.

1889

CONTENTS

I. UNWELCOME NEWS.
II. THE PARSONAGE.
III. THE ARRIVAL.
IV. THE NEW HOME.
V. SUNDAY.
VI. LOSING HOLD OF THE BRIDLE.
VII. THE RED HOUSE.
VIII. UP THE PEAK.
IX. A DAY TO BE REMEMBERED.
X. ON THE LAKE.
XI. HOPES FULFILLED.
XII. WEARY DAYS.
XIII. LUCY FINDS THE KEY.
XIV. A GREAT CHANGE.
XV. THE WEDDING.
XVI. FIVE YEARS AFTER.

THANKFUL REST.

I.

UNWELCOME NEWS.

It was the prettiest homestead in all the township, everybody said,
and it had the prettiest name. It stood a mile or so beyond
Pendlepoint on the farther side of the river, from which it was
separated by a broad meadow, where in the summer time the sleek kine
stood udder-deep in cowslips and clover.

It was a long, low, comfortable-looking house, hidden by lovely
creeping plants, and sheltered at the back by the old elm trees in
the paddock, and at the front by the apple trees in the orchard.
Perhaps it was because it had such a snug, cosy, restful look about
it that it had been queerly christened Thankful Rest. The land
adjoining the homestead was rich and fertile, and brought in every
year a crop worth a goodly competence to its possessors. The family
at Thankful Rest consisted of two people--Joshua Strong and his
sister Hepzibah. You are to make their acquaintance immediately, but
a remark made once by old Reuben Waters, their next neighbour, may
perhaps give you an