Rich Enough | Page 9

are on a large scale, because they are magnified to our narrow
minds, and we can comprehend them without any trouble.--But I must
not display all my wisdom to you at once--how, like Solomon of old, I
can speak of trees, from 'the cedar-tree that is in Lebanon even unto the

hyssop that springeth out of the wall.'--And now, fair sister,
'Up, up, and quit your books,'
and come with me to one of my studios--namely, my poultry-yard. I
hear the bipeds clamorous for their supper."
"This is the woman," thought Frances, "that I have sometimes
wondered Howard, with his reflecting mind, could select as his partner
for life! Because I saw her, like the Deity she worships, attending to the
most minute affairs, I foolishly imagined she comprehended no others."
From this time the two sisters resembled in union Shakspeare's twin
cherries growing on one stem.
CHAPTER III.
The furniture arrived, and the country residence was very soon in order.
Howard took the direction of the farming part. But it was no object to
Frances to have much ploughing or planting. She loved the "green
pastures and still waters," and often repeated those beautiful lines of the
hymn--
"To dewy vales and flowery meads, My weary, fainting steps he leads,
Where peaceful rivers, soft and slow, Amid the verdant landscape
flow."
Clyde Farm was a singularly retired spot, notwithstanding its vicinity to
a country village, which, on a straight line, was about two miles from it.
But there was a high hill between, that belonged to the farm, and was
crowned with oak and chestnut trees; while here and there was an
opening which gave a perfect view of the village, with its church,
academy, and square four-story tavern, with windows enough to give it
the appearance of a huge lantern. The high road was a mile from the
house, and no dwelling was nearer. The hill overlooked one of those
New England landscapes that could not be wrought into a
well-composed picture; objects were too abundant; it was dotted with
farms and sheets of water; and beyond, the beautiful Merrimac wound

its way. On this spot, Frances had a little open pavilion erected, and it
was her resort at sunset. As her health improved, her mind opened to
the impressions of happiness, and she grew almost gay. "There is but
one thing more," said she to her brother and sister, "that I now desire in
this world."
"Always one thing wanting for us poor mortals!" said Charlotte; "but
let us hear what it is."
"That my husband, who is the liberal donor of my enjoyment, should
partake of it."
"Pray be contented," replied she, "and let him enjoy himself in his own
way."
"I have a letter for you," said Howard, "that came enclosed in one to
me;" and, with an air of hesitation, he gave it to her.
Frances hastily took it; her color came and went as she read. It
informed her, that the offers her husband had received for his estate in
town had not only opened his eyes to its value, but had convinced him
that, as a patriotic citizen, he had no right to retain it for his private use;
he had therefore come to the conclusion to reap the benefit himself
which other speculators had proposed to do. He should take down the
house, make a street through the land, divide it into small lots, and erect
a number of houses upon it, one of which he meant to reserve for
himself. "I should regret what I conceive to be the necessity of this
thing," he added, "if you were not so perfectly satisfied with your
Clyde residence. As you will always repair to it early in the spring, it
matters little if you return to walls of brick and mortar in the autumn."
We pass over the involuntary tears that followed this communication,
as speculators would pronounce them unreasonable. It now became
necessary for Frances to visit the city to make arrangements, and take a
last leave of her pleasant mansion. In justice, it must be said, she
thought less of her own deprivation than of the new accession of care
and toil that her husband was bringing upon himself.--When she
returned to Clyde, she had lost by fatigue nearly all the health she had

previously gained.
Most people have witnessed the rapidity with which the work of
destruction goes on in modern days. In a very short time the splendid
mansion was a pile of ruins, a street laid open, and buildings erecting
on the spot.
Mr. Draper's visits to Clyde had been hitherto confined to the Sabbath,
and generally terminated with it: but he now wrote to his wife that he
intended to "pass a month with her. It was a comparative