and stopping now and then to gather berries in the hedge.

"Where are you going, my dears ?" said Edward. "We are going home," they all replied.

"And where is that ?"

Why, to Summerton, that town there trees, just before us. Don't you see it ?”

"I see it well," answered Edward, the tear standing in his eye.

yours-and yours ?" Edward's

"And what is your name and The little innocents told their names. heart leaped at the well-known sounds.

"And what is your name, my dear ?" said he to a pretty girl, somewhat older than the rest, who hung back shyly, and held the hand of a ruddy, whiteheaded boy, just breeched.

"It is Rose Walsingham, and this is my younger brother, Roger."

Walsingham!" Edward clasped the girl round the neck, and surprised her with two or three very close kisses. He then lifted up little Roger, and almost devoured him. Roger seemed as though he wanted to be set down again, but Edward told him he would carry him home.

"And can you show me the house you live at, Rose ?" said Edward.

"Yes; it is just there, beside the pond, with the great barn before it, and the orchard behind."

"And will you take me home with you, Rose ?" "If you please," answered Rose, hesitatingly. They walked on. Edward said but little, for his heart was full, but he frequently kissed little Roger. Coming at length to a stile, from which a path led across a little close. "This is the way to our house,"

said Rose.

The other children parted.

Edward set down

Roger, and got over the stile. He still, however, kept hold of the boy's hand. He trembled, and looked wildly around him.

When they approached the house, an old mastiff

came running to meet the children. He looked up at Edward rather sourly, and gave a little growl, when all at once his countenance changed; he leaped upon him, licked his hand, wagged his tail, murmured in a soft voice, and seemed quite overcome with joy. Edward stooped down, patted his head, and cried, "Poor Captain, what, are you alive yet ?" Rose was surprised that the stranger and their dog should know one another.

They all entered the house together. A goodlooking, middle-aged woman was busied in preparing articles of cookery, assisted by her grown-up daughter. She spoke to the children as they came in, and casting a look of some surprise on Edward, asked him what his business was?

Edward was some time silent; at length, with a faltering voice, he cried, "Have you forgotten me,

mother ?"

"Edward! my son Edward!" exclaimed the good woman. And they were instantly locked in each other's s arms.

My brother Edward!" said Mary; and took her turn for an embrace, as soon as her mother gave her

room.

66 Are you my brother?" said Rose. replied Edward, with another kiss. looked hard at him, but said nothing.

"That I am," Little Roger

News of Edward's arrival soon flew across the yard, and in came from the barn his father, his next brother, Thomas, and the third, William. The father fell on his neck, and sobbed out his welcome and blessing. Edward had not hands enow for them all to shake.

An aged, white-headed labourer came in, and held out his shrivelled hand. Edward gave it a hearty squeeze. "Good bless you," said old Isaac ; 66 this is the best day I have seen this many a year."

"And where have you been this long while ?" cried the father. Eight years and more," added the

mother.

His elder brother took off his knapsack; and Mary drew him a chair. Edward seated himself, and they all gathered around him. The old dog got within the circle, and lay at his feet.

"O, how glad I am to see you all again!" were Edward's first words. "How well you look, mother! but father's grown thinner. As for the rest, I should have known none of you, unless it were Thomas and old Isaac."

"What a sun-burnt face you have got-but look brave and hearty," cried his mother.

you

"Ay, mother, I have been enough in the sun, I assure you. From seventeen to five-and-twenty I have been a wanderer upon the face of the earth, and I have seen more in that time than most men in the course of their lives.

"Our young landlord, you know, took such a liking to me at school, that he would have me go with him on his travels. We went through most of the countries of Europe, and at last to Naples, where my poor master took a fever and died. I never knew what grief was till then; and I believe the thoughts of leaving me in a strange country went as much to his heart as his illness. An intimate acquaintance of his, a rich young West Indian, seeing my distress, engaged me to go with him, in a voyage he was about to take to Jamaica. We were too short a time in England before we sailed for me to come and see you first, but I wrote you a letter from the Downs.”

e never received it," said his father.

"We

"That was a pity," returned Edward; "for you must have concluded I was either dead or had forgotten you. Well we arrived safe in the West Indies, and there I stayed till I buried that master too; for young men die fast in that country. I was very well treated, but I could never like the place; and yet Jamaica is a very fine island, and has many good people in it. But for me, used to see freemen work cheerfully along with their masters-to behold nothing