errots,
Coopers, Cookes, Walters, and Hancocks), who made up--in addition to the
outer-circle of country neighbours--the world in which the Austens
moved.

A few letters addressed to Mr. and Mrs. Walter (extracts from which we
shall venture to quote) will give the best idea of the happy, peaceful
life passed at Steventon Rectory during these early years. On July 8,
1770, George writes from Steventon of his wife's journey to London to be
present at the birth of her sister's child, and adds:--

[17] . . . My James . . . and his brother are both
well, and what will surprise you, bear their
mother's absence with great philosophy, as I doubt
not they would mine, and turn all their little
affections towards those who were about them and
good to them; this may not be a pleasing
reflection to a fond parent, but is certainly
wisely designed by Providence for the happiness of
the child.

A month or so later Cassandra is back again, and writing:--

I was not so happy as to see my nephew
Weaver[18]--suppose he was hurried in time, as I
think everyone is in town; 'tis a sad place, I
would not live in it on any account, one has not
time to do one's duty either to God or man. . . .
What luck we shall have with those sort of cows I
can't say. My little Alderney one turns out
tolerably well, and makes more butter than we use,
and I have just bought another of the same sort,
but as her calf is but just gone, cannot say what
she will be good for yet.

_December 9, 1770._--My poor little George is come
to see me to-day, he seems pretty well, tho' he
had a fit lately; it was near a twelve-month since
he had one before, so was in hopes they had left
him, but must not flatter myself so now.

In June 1771, the Austens' fourth child, Henry, was born, and Mrs.
Austen writes on November 8, 1772:--

My little boy is come home from nurse, and a fine,
stout little fellow he is, and can run anywhere,
so now I have all four at home, and some time in
January I expect a fifth, so you see it will not
be in my power to take any journeys for one
while. . . . I believe my sister Hancock will be so
good as to come and nurse me agai