“ Her poor

thought to herself, “ If Christians must

• humble themselves, I am sure I am not one, for 'tis the last thing I should ever think of doing.” But she began to hope that all her mistress said was not gospel. Now, though I have said that Nanny was not subdued, yet there was a feeling of respect in her mind for which she could not account: her master and mistress did more for their servants than many squires and their ladies; Nanny knew, by experience, that few farmers thought of nursing their servants when they were ill. brother would come home with a dreadful cold and cough by sleeping in his wet clothes; it is true, his master paid his wages up till the time he was taken ill, and said, “There, lad, there's a shilling for you; you have been an honest boy. But here, when William was ill, there was master up at his bed-side with messes ; and if Mrs. Smith's finger did but ache, there was possets, and no one knows what, and Mrs. up and down after her as if she was a lady of the land. Certain they are uncommon kind people;" and she settled it in her mind that it was a very good place for a servant to fall sick in. But what but could Nanny make? Why, she said, it was the dullest harvest home she had ever

“Why, they darn't sing a song, except that old ditty,

6

yon hill,

· Were I a shepherd's maid, to keep

On yonder bills a flock of sheep;' or, - Ere around the huge oak that o'rshadows

The fond ivy had learn'd to entwine ;' or some such moral nonsense; then Mrs. must have a hymn at the end, as if that were proper when people were making merry. No; for her part she thought it was a dull house after all, she should try it a year; she didn't think it was well to be changing so often, and she thought mother would not like it;' so she condescended to determine to bear with their religion and themselves a few months longer, upon the broad principle of her own convenience, not at all uncommon with selfish servants. But be it known to such, if any such should read “ Michael, the Married Man,” these children of the earth reap

of the fruit of their own way; and however a master or a mistress : may do them good upon principle, they cannot feel the attachment that a generous Christian servant inspires.

There was another habit of this house, which did not quite suit Nanny's taste : they all dined together; Betty Smith took the bottom of the table, Esther took the top, and Michael sat on one side by her. They were very attentive and kind, fed

them very well, but still the restraint upon their mirth at meals was not at all agreeable to them. Michael would sometimes good-humouredly relate some innocent anecdotes that he had heard ; and Brownrigg, who sometimes joined them at table, and who read the newspapers daily, had always something new to communicate. He was indeed a general favourite, and though he sometimes gave Nanny a quiet lesson when she came of an errand from the Brow, she could forgive it, because there was a drollery mixed with all he said and did. As, for instance: one day when she sat chattering in the kitchen to Peggy, after he had given her a message, he went in, and putting on her pattens, placed his hands comically before him, asking her if she had any more commands, for that he could not stop longer, as his mistress would wonder what he was about. Now though this reproof for her gossipping was felt, and well understood, the droll figure of this tall thin man in pattens so amused her, that no resentment was felt. If Peggy staid anywhere where Brownrigg sent her, he would go to the place, and tyeing his handkerchief round her wrist without uttering a single word, lead her quietly home. This happened once after she came into the country, and the nearness into which the handkerchief brought Peggy to her master, caused a report that he was going to marry that young girl, as they appeared to be walking arm in arm; and the Miss Jennings were not displeased to have this little tale to amuse them, for indeed they were not always confined to such clear probabilities. But Peggy loved her master with very different feelings--the feeling of a child to a parent; and however disagreeable the situation in which he placed her, if she happened to do any thing he did not like, the anger was momentary, and the feeling of love and respect unshaken.

Peggy was an orphan, and was about to be sent to the workhouse, when one Monday evening she was brought up to the committee, before she was introduced ; Brownrigg was one of the gentlemen who sat at the table, and the little creature, attracted by we know not what, but certainly it was providentially ordered, for Peggy laid her soft hand upon Brownrigg's

, as she hung by a poor neighbour's apron. The appeal thrilled through his veins till it reached the heart; and the light brown curls which shaded her open brow, and the fine dark tint of her infant eye, we must own had something to do with it; for Brownrigg was an admirer of beauty, and the pale hue that was stealing over her

features from poverty and neglect, all determined him. So he said,

So he said, “ No, gentlemen, we will not enter her;" and, taking the pen, he wrote a direction to Mrs. Tucker, and desired the woman to leave the child there. Now, though this neighbour was poor, she had a feeling for the infant; she had stood by the death-bed of its father and of its mother, and she said, " She hoped she might be allowed to come and see her sometimes; for,” says she, “ Sir, , if I had had a bit of bread to give it, I would not have brought it here; but I have got three hungry babies of my own, and no hands but these to work for them. Brownrigg assured her, call when she might, she should always see her. So Margaret Fergerson was placed in the care of Mrs. Tucker till she was old enough for household work, and then her kind protector received her; and we can say, that no father ever watched over a darling child with more jealous care than Brownrigg over Peggy. And she well repaid him, for never did she resist his will in any way, but always bore in mind what Mrs. Tucker had impressed upon her, that he had rescued her from mixing with all the common persons who are admitted to a parish workhouse, that he supplied every needful want, and never said, “ Peggy, you are