'You cannot tell,' replied the widow, 'how much I feel the kindness of your offer; and were only the interest of myself and Hettie to be consulted, I should not long hesitate. But, oh! Mrs. Rutherford, you cannot yet tell how a mother feels towards a wayward son. William is not just what I could wish he was, but he still clings to me. I know he will not be willing to leave these parts, unpromising as they are: for me to separate from him, and allow him to go without restraint in the midst of so many temptations, would be like giving him up to ruin; and I cannot but hope he will one day be different from what he now is; the Lord, you know, has many ways to bring back the wanderer.' Her friends could urge no further the whole of their request, but ventured to say-- 'Will you not, Mrs. Brown, let us have Hettie? We will do for her as well as we can.' This proposal was one that she felt it her duty to accept, however trying to be separated from one she loved so dearly. After a short consultation with her daughter it was decided that she should accompany them. Wishing to give them an opportunity to make some little preparation, Mr. Rutherford concluded to drive into the open country, which lay a little to the south of the widow's cottage--the scene where our story commenced. It was with an united exclamation that they first met the view which opened to them, as they emerged from the pines. 'Ah, how beautiful!' It was, indeed, a striking contrast to the region through which they had been travelling. The country was little varied by hill and dale, and in no wise improved by the hand of man: for the houses which could be seen were but unsightly buildings, and all the enclosures of the rudest kind; yet common-place as was the face of the land, in connection with the extensive water view, there was much to justify the exclamation--it was a panorama delightful to those who had been so long riding amid the dark monotony of a pine-forest. On either side of the strip of country which lay immediately before them, and around the whole view in front, was water: first a clear river stealing down on the right, and then another on the left, each hastening to mingle their waters in the beautiful bay, ere they rolled to the ocean; in the distance, a long line of land stretching towards the east, as far as the eye could reach, encircling an immense bay, and losing itself where sky, and earth, and water are mingled in one; while beautifully breaking the wild expanse of water, a strip of land ran out into the bay, over whose crest could be seen, in the distance, the white sail winging its way to the broad ocean. Even old Caesar felt the animating influence of the scenery; and urging on his horses by a cheering word, the carriage rolled along as fast as was becoming such a stately concern. 'Whoa-a, whoa-up--whoa there.' 'Oh, Caesar! what's the matter?' There was, at the same time, a fearful leaning to one side. 'Nuttin', missus; only de wheel cum off.'