and industry, and I found after a time that my labor was not entirely thrown away, for as they grew older they carried the habits which I tried to teach them into their own home, and to say the least of it, they live much more like other people than they used to; and I begin to think that even an old maid can do a little good in the world, now and then, as well as any one else.  Of course you remember the boys, and what an awful trial it used to be to have Ephraim about the place; well, he settled down after a while, he always said the whipping his father gave him for cutting up my clothes-lines and then lying about it was what made a man of him.  He attended school for three years, and then not wishing to work on the farm, he struck out into the world for himself; he obtained a situation in a mercantile house in Toronto, and I hear bids fair to make a successful business man.  George Washington has not entirely ceased to grumble and look sulky; but there has been a wonderful change in one respect, for there is now no harder working youth in the neighborhood; he likes farming, and early and late may be found at his work.  I don’t know but Nathan may have given him a hint that the old Taylor place may one day be his own.  I don’t know how it is, the neighbors say it was your Uncle Nathan and I who ever made any thing of those children.  Nathan said:  ’Silas would never do much any way, and we had better try and make something of the children,’ and I certainly have done my best; but it was uphill work for a long time; and I am glad that they have profited by our efforts for their good.”

CHAPTER XXIX.

Dr. Oswald was still the teacher of Fulton Academy, and many happy hours were passed in the interchange of visits during our stay at Uncle Nathan’s; and I suppose I must inform my readers of a sentimental scene which took place in Mr. Oswald’s garden on a delightful evening in midsummer, when, at my earnest entreaty, lovely Rose Oswald renewed the promise made to me on that very spot just eight years ago; for my boyish fancy had ripened into the strong man’s love, and I felt that Rose Oswald, as my wife, was all that was wanting to render me as happy as one can reasonably expect to be in this world of change and vicissitude.  “If you are willing to resign yourself to my keeping,” said I, “there is no need of a long engagement, and when I leave Fulton I must take you with me as my wife.”  “So soon, Walter.”  “Yes, Rose, just so soon.  I have long looked forward to this day, and now I almost count the minutes till I can claim you as all my own,” and so the matter was settled.  When Aunt Lucinda was informed of this arrangement she opened her eyes wide in astonishment, and when she learned that the marriage was to take place within a few days, she was highly delighted, “for”, said she, “the sun never shone on one like Rose Oswald before; in fact, she was far too good for any one but you Walter, so if you had not chanced to fall in love with her, she must have died an old maid.”