tages of a liberal education
when they were within my reach."

"That is an unwise as well as a useless regret. If you had gone to college,
you would, as a matter of course, have chosen one of the learned
professions. Your talents and industry would, doubtless, have secured to
you a good measure of success; but you would often have sighed for the
peace and rest of the old farmhouse. Remember, too, that it and these lands
would have passed into the hands of strangers."

"Perhaps you are right. Still, as I am now situated, I should be very glad
to have the advantages and influence which a liberal education would
bestow."

"I think you overrate those advantages. You are substantially a well
educated man; and you can now command leisure to add to your information.
If you should be in want of any books which it may not be convenient for
you to purchase, it will give me great pleasure to procure them for you. I
can do so without the slightest inconvenience."

"I am greatly obliged to you; and, if it should be necessary, I will,
without hesitation, avail myself of your kind offer. I feel the deficiency
of my education most sensibly in respect to my daughter. I find myself
incompetent to take the direction of her opening mind."

"That is the very point I wish to speak upon. You must, my good brother
allow me to take charge of her education. I owe it to you for keeping the
old homestead in the family. It will give me great pleasure to afford her
the very best advantages. Let me take her to the city with me on my
return."

"We may, perhaps, differ in our estimate of advantages. I can conceive of
none at present sufficiently great to compensate for the loss of her
mother's society and example."

"No doubt these are very valuable; but girls must go away from home to
complete their education, especially if they live in the country. Even in
the city, a great many parents place their daughters in boarding-schools,
and that, too, when the school is not half a mile distant from their
residence."

"A great many parents, both in the city and country, do many things which I
would not do."

"You are willing to do what is for the best interests of your child."

"Certainly."

"If you will allow Susan to go with me to New York, I will place her at the
first school in the city. She shall have a home at my house; and my wife
will, for the time being, supply the place of her mother."

"I fully appreciate your kind intentions; but I