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ing plains had laid aside their rich verdure, while the neighboring groves were clothed in purple and gold. They were no longer made vocal by nature's songsters, and silence held its reign. The gentle breezes of summer had ceased to kiss the slumbering flowers, while autumn's rude blast tossed them to and fro till they fell from their tiny stems. Affie often repeated, when in company with Mr. Radford:

"See the autumn's tempest rising,
Makes the lofty forest nod-
Scenes in nature, how surprising,

Read in nature, nature's God."

Mr. Radford had at this time left Mr. Willard's, and set up business for himself. Mr. Willard still continued in the mercantile business, and was highly esteemed by his patrons, not only for his honor in trade, but as an intelligent man; he was a strong poli

tician, and was a constant contributor to political papers published in a neighboring town; liberal, even to a fault, in his principles; his bottle always stood upon his counter; he was never indebted to his neighbors for a treat; he always gave his friends a hearty shake of the hand, and "I am glad to see you, sir," accompanied by a well timed joke, that seemed to spring spontaneously from his nature. His store was the general resort of the villagers, for they knew they would meet with a warm reception, or if they wanted a dram and had not the ready "change," or were too penurious to pay the "three cents, or sixpence," by getting the start of Mr. Willard in wit, the full bumpers would be liberally dealt out to them. When the farmer came to market his produce, if he had ridden a few miles in the cold, or the day was excessively warm, our friend had

always conveniencies in his store to make a hot toddy, so that he might go home saying "he was the best man that Roselle afforded."

Mr. Morse, after a man had fallen from his wagon, and broken both of his legs, in consequence of drinking too much of Mr. W.'s toddy, remonstrated with his friend, and told him the misfortune of this man was the consequence of his misguided liberality. Mr. W. expressed many regrets, saying, as was his custom on such occasions, "I had no malice at heart, I will go immediately and see him." He took with him such things as he thought the poor man would need, and did not forget to put in the jug of brandy. As he set it into his carriage he soliloquized, "No one will object to this, it is just what the poor fellow needs."

Mr. Willard was not only liberal

with his brandy and wines, but was always ready to take from his well filled purse, and give to the poor. He was not a miser-he hoarded not his gold for the sake of counting his rusty coffers.

CHAPTER III.

THE BATTLE FIELD.

"Hoof-torn, and sabre-scarred, they rest,
Fathers, and sons, and brothers."

AFTER several years of successful trade, Mr. Willard closed his business, and moved to Champlain. James Radford bought the store of his former employer, and purchased in New York a large assortment of goods, which he in a few months, by his peculiar tact in trade, was enabled to

dispose of at a large profit to his numerous customers. At this time James Radford had been married to Affie De Van about fifteen years. Mrs. Radford had four interesting sons, whom she was endeavoring to teach, as she had been taught, to "remember their Creator in the days of their youth." The training of her sons devolved principally upon herself. Her husband was kind, but was indeed a man of the world; his mind was fully set upon becoming the richest man in town, and he was fast attaining his object. He was adding farm to farm, each in a state of high cultivation; so that his numerous flocks and abundant harvests, together with the property of his store, one less avaricious than himself might have been satisfied with. He had reached further-he had now in full blast the largest distillery in the state. There were a few

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