Part 6 (2/2)

Tis, even of grief and sorrow Well, I saw my father and mother and Flora happy in their new hoan to take heart But to work I o What should I do? What should I be? The questions were answered in a way I had little drea along a street in the nen, I noticed well-dressedinto a hall, where, it was announced, a lecture was to be delivered--

'A NEW HOME IN THE WEST'

Such was the heading of the printed bills Curiosity led me to enter with others

I listened entranced The lecture was a revelation to entine Republic, and the speaker was bried eloquence that goes straight to the heart

There ealth untold in the silver republic for those ere healthy, young, and willing to work--riches enough to be had for the digging to buy all Scotland up--riches of grain, of fruit, of spices, of skins and wool and meat--wealth all over the surface of the new hoh it--wealth and riches everywhere

And beauty everywhere too--beauty of scenery, beauty of woods and wild flowers; of forest stream and sunlit skies Why stay in Scotland ealth like this was to be had for the gathering? England was a glorious country, but its very over-population rendered it a poor one, and poorer it was growing every day

'Hark! old Ocean's tongue of thunder, Hoarsely calling, bids you speed To the shores he held asunder Only for these ties Ever, ever roaring ”Coes To a new, a richer ho alleys, Noiso valleys Wait to yield the wealth of earth

All she seeks is huives is--every neighbour Wealthy, hale, and happy There!'

Language like this was toI talked all next day about what I had heard, and when evening came I once more visited the lecture-hall, this time in company withhoald the younger; 'and that is the land to go to'

'You are so young--sixteen and fifteen--I fear I cannot take you with me,'

I put in

Donald stopped short in the street and looked straight in o, then? And you think you can go without Dugald and row out of that? We are not town-bred brats Feel ot hearts--the M'Crio without Dugald and ald, deter,' I said; 'I want a walk It is only half-past nine'

But it ell-nigh eleven before we three brothers had finished castle-building

Re up We had health, strength, and deterood share of honest aather wealth The very thoughts of doing so filled me with a joy that was inexpressible Not that I valued ain it, would enable me to in some measure restore the fortunes of our fallen house

We first consulted father It was not difficult to secure his acquiescence to our scheme, and he even told mother that it was unnatural to expect birds to remain always in the parent nest

I have no space to detail all the outs and ins of our arguments; suffice it to say they were successful, and preparations for our eration were soon coive in to--nao with us Aunt was very wise, though very roe mixture of poetry and coreat faith in her Moreover, she had already travelled all by herself half-way over the world She had therefore the benefit of former experiences But in every ere fain to admit that aunt was eminently calculated to be our friend and mentor

She was and is clever She could talk philosophy to us, even while darning our stockings or seeing after our linen; she could talk half a dozen languages, but she could talk common-sense to the cook as well; she was fitted to mix in the very best society, but she could alsowell, recited Ossian's poeue, had a beautiful face, and the heart of a lion, which well became the sister of a chief

It is only fair to add that it was aunt who found the sinews of war--our ith fortune She, however,to consider any and all moneys spent upon us as sirew rich, if not--and this was only an honest stipulation--worked off beforehand

But poor dear aunt, her love of travel and adventure was quite wonderful, and she had a most childlike faith in the existence and reality of the El Dorado ere going in search of

The parting with father, mother, and Flora was a terrible trial I can hardly think of it yet without a feeling akin to s and tears A hundred tied us to write every week, and to et ready a place for her and mother and father and all in our new home in the West, for she would count the days until the summons came to follow