“That he constantly blamed himself for saying anything to bring you here. He said you had never prospered from the hour you came, and now——” And now Woodruffe could not speak, as the past came fresh upon him. In a few moments, however, he rallied, saying, “But we must consider Allan. He must not think that his success makes us sad.” Allan declared that it was not about gaining the prizes that he was chiefly glad. It was because it was now proved what a fair field he had before him. There was nothing that might not be done with such a soil as they had to deal with now. Harry was quite of this opinion. There were more and more people set to work upon the soil all about them; and the more it was worked the more it yielded. He never saw a place of so much promise. And if it had a bad name in regard to healthiness, he was sure that was unfair,—or no longer fair. He and his were full of health and happiness, as they hoped to see everybody else in time; and, for his part, if he had all England before him, or the whole world, to choose a place to live in, he would choose the very place he was in, and the very cottage; and the very ground to work on that had produced such a gooseberry and such strawberries as he had seen that day. THE SINGER. Unto the loud acclaim that rose To greet her as she came, She bent with lowly grace that seemed Such tribute to disclaim; With arms meek folded on her breast And drooping head, she stood; Then raised a glance that seemed to plead For youth and womanhood; A soft, beseeching smile, a look, As if all silently The kindness to her heart she took, And put the homage by.