with a smile:

"Uncle Reuben, when you advised me not to study for a whole month you
did not mean to counsel me to rust in idleness for four long weeks? I
must work, and I wish you would put me to that which will be the most
useful to you."

"And most benefital to your own health, my boy! What would you say to
fishing? Would that meet your wishes?"

"Oh, I should like that very much, if I could really be of use in that
way, Uncle Reuben," said the youth.

"Why, of course you could; now I'll tell you what you can do; you can go
this afternoon with Sam in the sailboat as far down the river as Silver
Sands, where he hopes to hook some fine rock fish. Would that meet your
views?"

"Exactly," laughed Ishmael, as his eyes danced with the eagerness of
youth for the sport.

They went into the house, where Phillis had prepared a nice dinner, of
bacon and sprouts and apple dumplings, which the whole party relished.

Afterwards Ishmael started on his first fishing voyage with Sam. And
though it was a short one, it had for him all the charms of novelty
added to the excitement of sport, and he enjoyed the excursion
excessively. The fishing was very successful, and they filled their
little boat and got back home by sunset. At supper Ishmael gave a full
account of the expedition and received the hearty congratulations of
Reuben. And thus ended the holiday of their first day at home.

The next morning Reuben Gray went into the fields to resume his
oversight of his employer's estate.

Hannah turned in to housework, and had all the furniture she had brought
from the hill hut moved into the cottage and arranged in one of the
empty rooms upstairs.

Ishmael, forbidden to study, employed himself in useful manual labor in
the garden and in the fields.

And thus in cheerful industry passed the early days of spring.

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

ISHMAEL'S STRUGGLES

Yet must my brow be paler! I have vowed
To clip it with the crown that shall not fade
When it is faded. Not in vain ye cry,
Oh, glorious voices, that survive the tongue
From whence was drawn your separate sovereignty,
For I would stand beside you!

--_E.B. Browning_.

Ishmael continued his work, yet resumed his studies. He managed to do
both in this way--all the forenoon he delved in the garden; all the
afternoon he went over the chaotic account-books of Reuben Gray, to
bring them into order; and all the evening he studied in his own room.
He ke