which he wore, and told her they were made by his sisters. The vir tuous Lucretia worked with her maidens at the spinning wheel; and Tanaquil, the wife of Tarquin, wrought woollen robes so well, that long after her death her spinning implements, together with a robe of her manufacture, were hung up in the temple of Fortune, a constant monument of her taste and skill, and for the instruction of Roman maids and matrons, that they, too, should lay their hands to the spindle, and their hands should hold the distaff."

Affie, with a heart as pure as the mountain air she breathed, often danced her distaff, while the silver thread glided through her slender fingers, rolling like magic on the polished spool, which she, with grace unsurpassed, kept in motion with her tiny feet. Affie playfully inter

rupted her father, as he read the following:

"In early times the bride went to her new home amid the throng of rejoicing maidens; and the young attendants carried in their hands the distaff and the spindle, with the gay-colored woollens hanging about them.' This is just the way, dear papa, that I am going to my bridal home."

Amelia seriously replied, "You are not sure that he will have a home to take you to."

"Then, Milly," replied Affie, "be assured I shall not be took!"

Mrs. De Van for some time had been a silent listener, but not an indifferent one, as she was always attentive to the reading of her husband, and the incessant prattle of her children. She now broke silence by playfully asking Affie to conjugate the verb "took." The girls soon set

about their task in high glee, and the parents joined heartily in the laugh of their children.

Mrs. De Van then cast her eye upon the old wooden clock, that stood in a tall but finely polished case in the corner, and saw that it was nearly four o'clock. "It is time, my children, that your sports and your work were laid aside, for we shall have scarce time to make arrangements for the Sabbath before sundown; it is later than I had thought."

"Thank you, Jane, for telling me the time, for I have my chores all to do," said Mr. D., and rose hastily and walked to the door, when he saw that the boys had already got the cows into the yard. "Milly, dear, hand me the milk-pails." Milly had just finished laying her patchwork in perfect order in her basket, and was ready to comply with the request of her father.

Affie in a few moments had her wheel stowed away in the weaving shop; and the floor, which in the morning had been scoured to almost a perfect whiteness, was re-swept, and every chair put in its place. The old kitchen table was drawn to the middle of the floor, and covered with a cloth as white as snow; every dish was set in order, and among them were several pewter plates which were considered by them more valuable than their china set, which was only used on special occasions. The brown loaf was drawn smoking from the oven, where it had been placed in the morning by Mrs. D., and put upon a large pewter platter, which, with the butter plate, had been polished till they were as bright as silver. The new-made honey was there, accompanied by cake and pie, which always grace the New England farmer's table. Saturday might well

be called "food day" with the New Englanders, as a two days' supply is invariably prepared. The family was soon summoned to the well filled table, placing themselves behind the backs of their chairs, while Mr. De Van solemnly invoked a blessing as the children reverentially folded their hands in silence.

During the meal, Mr. D. asked his wife if she knew that Mr. Willard had opened a store in their village. She replied, "I was not aware that there was such a person in town, till I saw him at church last Sabbath. He is quite a young man, I should not think him over thirty."

"He is, indeed, an intelligent looking man," replied Mr. D., " and he certainly ought to be a good man, for ourfriend, Lieutenant Morse, informed me that his father was Deacon of one church fifty years."