ting family of
sons and daughters, whom he is endeavoring to train for spheres of
usefulness in this life, as well as for happiness in the "life to come."
His graceful and dignified wife still gladdens his heart and home. Time
has dealt very gently with her; she is quite as good and almost as
beautiful as when we last saw her twenty years ago. The two eldest of
their family are boys, and this is their last year in College. Mrs.
Winthrop has thus far attended herself to the education of her two
daughters. Along with many other useful lessons, she often seeks to
impress upon their minds the sin and folly of treating with contempt and
scorn those who may be less favored than themselves in a worldly point
of view; and to impress the lesson more strongly upon their young minds,
she has more than once spoken to them of her own early history, and of
the trials to which she was subject in her youthful days. But what of
Mrs. Ashton? She still lives; although her once active form is beginning
to bow beneath the weight of years, and her hair has grown silvery
white. This year Dr. Winthrop has completed his preparations for leaving
the city after more than twenty years close application to his
profession. He resolved to remove with his family to some quiet country
village, which would afford sufficient practice to prevent time from
hanging heavily upon his hands; but he now felt quite willing to resign
his fatiguing and extensive practice in the city. When he first formed
the idea of seeking a country home, he enquired of his wife, if she had
any choice regarding a location. "If it meets your wishes," replied she,
"no other place would please me so well as the village of W, the home of
my childhood and youth, and where my dear father is buried." He soon
after made a journey to W, and was so much pleased with the thriving
appearance of the village, and the industry and sobriety of the
inhabitants, that he decided to seek there a home. Before he left his
home, his wife requested him, should he decide upon removing to W, if
possible to re-purchase their old home, knowing how much this would
please her now aged mother. The purchase was soon completed, and ere he
left the village the old house was in the hands of workmen, with his
instructions as to improvements and repairs. Mrs. Ashton was very happy
when she learned that they were to return to W. "I have been happy
here," said she, "but I shall be still happier there." In a short time