moved. Nancy and Peggy married and
went to Texas years ago. And Kitty married and left me last summer. She
and her husband have gone to Californy; where, they do tell me, that
lumps of pure gold lay about the ground as plenty as stones do around
here! Anyways, they've all gone! all the little sisters as I have worked
for, and cared for, and saved for--all gone, and left me alone in my old
age!"

"That was very ungrateful, and selfish, and cruel of them, Reuben! They
should have taken you with them! At least little Kitty and her husband
should have done so," said Hannah, with more feeling than she had yet
betrayed.

"Law, Hannah, why little Kitty and her husband couldn't! Why, child, it
takes mints and mints of money to pay for a passage out yonder to
Californy! and it takes nine months to go the v'y'ge--they have to go
all around Cape--Cape Hoof, no, Horn--Cape Horn! I knowed it wor
somethin' relating to cattle. Yes, Hannah--hundreds of dollars and
months of time do it take to go to that gold region! and so, 'stead o'
them being able to take me out, I had to gather up all my savings to
help 'em to pay their own passage."

"Poor Reuben! poor, poor Reuben!" said Hannah, with the tears springing
to her eyes.

"Thank you, thank you, dear; but I shall not be poor Reuben, if you will
be mine," whispered Gray.

"Reuben, dear, I would--indeed I would--if I were still young and
good-looking; but I am not so, dear Reuben; I am middle-aged and plain."

"Well, Hannah, old sweetheart, while you have been growing older, have I
been going bac'ards and growing younger? One would think so to hear you
talk. No, Hannah! I think there is just about the same difference in our
ages now as there was years ago; and besides, if you were young and
handsome, Hannah, I would never do such a wrong as to ask you to be the
wife of a poor old man like me! It is the fitness of our ages and
circumstances, as well as our long attachment, that gives me the courage
to ask you even at this late day, old friend, to come and cheer my
lonely home. Will you do so, Hannah?"

"Reuben, do you really think that I could make you any happier than you
are, or make your home any more comfortable than it is?" asked Hannah,
in a low, doubting voice.

"Sartain, my dear."

"But, Reuben, I am not good-tempered like I used to be; I am very often
cross; and--"

"That is because you have been all alone, with no one to care for you,
Hannah, my dear. You couldn't b