rst
expressed his feelings with his brothers. His thoughts were elsewhere.
A bright airy castle he had lately raised, had just been hurled rudely
to the ground, and he was stunned by the crash.

Mr Ashton retired to rest that night with a mind greatly relieved. He
had not doubted the affection of his children, and he was assured that
it would enable them to bear their reverse of fortune with cheerfulness.
When he rose in the morning he prayed earnestly for strength to go
through the work required of him, and that is never denied to those who
seek it from Him who can alone afford it. In all the work he received
able assistance from his son. Philip had not left a single debt unpaid
at the University, by which, under his altered circumstances, he might
ever afterwards have been hampered. Mr Ashton, having never allowed
household bills to run on, was comparatively free from debt.

All his affairs arranged, he found himself with an income--arising from
a settlement on his wife--of two hundred pounds a-year, and about
fifteen hundred pounds in ready money. Once more his family being
assembled, he pointed out to them that though their plans were very
good, if they were to remain a united family they must look to the
future, and seek in another country the opportunity of developing their
energies.

"What do you think of Canada?" he asked.

"A capital country!" cried Charley, who, as the youngest, spoke first.
"I know all about the sleighing, and the skating, and the ice-boats, and
the coasting down snow-hills, and the shooting huge deer, and the
snow-shoeing, and the sailing on the lakes, and the fishing, and the
sporting of all sorts,--not a country like it, I should say."

"It's a country for hard work, I know," said Harry. "Nothing I should
fancy so much as cutting down trees, building log-huts, fencing in
fields, and ploughing and reaping. Ever since I read `Laurie Todd' I
have wished to go there." Philip and his sisters expressed themselves
equally ready to emigrate.

No time was lost in making the necessary preparations, after it was
resolved that they should go to Canada. It was highly gratifying to
them to find that several of their servants wished to accompany them.
Two only, however, could be taken. Of these Mrs Summers had been the
nurse of all the younger children, and had lately acted as housekeeper.
"It would break my heart, marm, if you were to go out to a strange
country, and I, who am still st