with a
zest that mothers alone know.

"Not at present. But the little pet will in time grow into a tall girl;
and other little pets may be treading upon her footsteps; and they must
all be clothed, and fed, and educated."

Flora, in her overflowing happiness, had dismissed all such cruel
realities from her mind.

"Emigration is a terrible word, John. I wish that it could be expunged
from our _English_ dictionary."

"I am afraid, my dear girl, that you are destined to learn a practical
illustration of its meaning. Nay, don't look so despondingly. If you
intended to remain in England, you should not have married a _poor_
man."

"Don't say that, John, or you will make me miserable. Our marriage made
me rich in treasures, which gold could never buy. But seriously, I do
not see this urgent necessity for taking such a hazardous step. I know
that we are not rich--that our expectations on that score for the
future are very limited. We are both the younger children of large
families, whose wealth and consequence is now a thing of the past. We
have nothing to hope or anticipate from rich relations; but we have
enough to be comfortable, and are surrounded with many blessings. Our
little girl, whose presence seems to have conjured before you the gaunt
image of poverty, has added greatly to our domestic happiness. Yes,
little Miss Innocence! you are awake, are you? Come, crow to papa, and
drive these ugly thoughts out of his head."

The good father kissed fondly the young thing seducingly held up to him.
But he did not yield to the temptation, or swerve from his purpose,
though Flora kissed _him_, with eyes brimful of tears.

"We are indeed happy, love. Too happy, I might say. But will it last?"

"Why not?"

"Our income is _very_ small?" with a deep sigh.

"It is enough for our present wants. And we have no debts."

"Thanks to your prudent management. Yes, we have no debts. But it has
been a hard battle, only gained by great self-denial, and much pinching.
We have kind friends, too. But Flora, I am too proud to be indebted to
friends for the common necessaries of life; and without doing something
to improve our scanty means, it might come to that. The narrow income
which has barely supplied our wants this year, without the incumbrance
of a family, will not do so next. There remains no alternative but to
_emigrate_!"

Flora felt that this was pressing her hard. All her affectionate
ingenuity could not furnish an argu