FATHER BRIGHTHOPES;
OR, AN OLD CLERGYMAN'S VACATION.
I.
A "UNITED HAPPY FAMILY."
There was an unpleasant scowl on Mr. Royden's face, as he got out of his wagon in the yard, and walked, with a quick pace, towards the rear entrance of his house.
"Samuel!" said he, looking into the wood-shed, "what are you about?"
The sharp tone of voice gave Samuel quite a start. He was filling a small flour-sack with walnuts from a bushel-basket placed upon the work-bench, his left hand holding the mouth of the bag, while his right made industrious use of a tin dipper.
"O, nothing,—nothing much!" he stammered, losing his hold of the sack, and making a hasty attempt to recover it. "There! blast it all!"
The sack had fallen down, and spilled its contents all over his feet.