ecker East India merchantman, going
or returning from her distant voyage, to the little schooner-rigged
fishermen trading up and down the coast. These were the sights. The
songs of birds, the low of cattle, the hum of bees, and the murmur of
the water as it washed the sands--these were the sounds. All the joyous
life of land, water, and sky seemed combined at this spot and visible
from this window.

"This is a pleasant place to live in; thank the Lord for it!" said
Ishmael fervently, as he stood gazing from the window. Not long,
however, did the youth indulge his love of nature; he turned away,
washed and dressed himself quickly and went downstairs to see if he
could be useful.

The windows were open in the sitting room, which was filled with the
refreshing fragrance of the lilacs. The breakfast table was set; and
Phillis, the colored girl, was bringing in the coffee. Almost at the
same moment Hannah entered from the kitchen and Reuben from the garden.

"Good-morning, Ishmael!" said Reuben gayly. "How do you like Woodside?
Woodside is the name of our little home, same as Tanglewood is the name
of the judge's house, a half a mile back in the forest, you know. How do
you like it by daylight?"

"Oh, very much, indeed, uncle. Don't you like it, Aunt Hannah? Isn't it
pleasant?" exclaimed the youth, appealing to Mrs. Gray.

"Very pleasant, indeed, Ishmael!" she said. "Ah, Reuben," she continued,
turning to her husband, "you never let me guess what a delightful home
you were bringing me to! I had no idea but that it was just like the
cottages of other overseers that I have known--a little house of two or
three small rooms."

"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed Gray, "I knew you too well, Hannah! I knew if I
had let you know how well off I was, you would never have taken me; your
pride would have been up in arms and you would have thought besides as
how I was comfortable enough without you, which would have been an idee
as I never could have got out of your head! No, Hannah, I humored your
pride, and let you think as how you were marrying of a poor, miserable,
desolate old man, as would be apt to die of neglect and privations if
you didn't consent to come and take care of him. And then I comforted
myself with thinking what a pleasant surprise I had in store for you
when I should fetch you here. Enjoy yourself, dear woman! for there
isn't a thing as I have done to this house I didn't do for your sake!"

"But, Reuben, how is it that yo