Chap. Page 1. Brooke and its Politicians 3001 2. George Gray’s Way of Living 3016 3. George Gray in the Way to Prosper 3028 4. A Conversation under the Limes 3040 5. Past, Present, and to Come 3056 6. Sergeant Rayne’s Story 3072 7. Great Changes at Brooke 3083 8. Small Farming 3092 9. Great Joy at Brooke 3106 10. What Joe Harper saw Abroad 3114 11. What must come at last 3127 12. Prosperity to Brooke! 3132 BROOKE AND BROOKE FARM. --------------------- CHAPTER I. BROOKE AND ITS POLITICIANS. There is not a village in England that I love so well as Brooke: but I was born and have always lived there, and this is probably the reason why I see beauty in it; for strangers do not appear struck with it. There is one long, straggling street where the blacksmith, the publican, the grocer, and the haberdasher live; their houses being separated, some by gardens, others by cowsheds or pigsties. My father’s house stands a little way out of the village, just a quarter of a mile from the “Withers’ Arms,” the only public-house in the place. Our dwelling stands so far back from the road, and is just so much planted with trees and shrubs, as to be free from noise and dust; while it is not so retired as to appear ashamed of keeping company with the houses in the neighbourhood. The children playing in the road may see the ladies at work in the bow-window by peeping through the bars of the white gate; and if any little boy should venture in to pick up his ball or recover his kite, he may chance to meet the master looking after his fruit-trees, or to catch a glimpse of the mistress cutting her roses.