The Path of Duty, and Other StoriesCaswell, Harriet S. (Harriet Sophia)
General
The Path of Duty, and Other Stories
Caswell, Harriet S. (Harriet Sophia)
Country life -- Fiction; Family -- Fiction; Friendship -- Fiction; Pastoral fiction; Short stories
lingered, and was then laid to rest beside her departed husband.
Twenty years have passed away since we introduced Robert Ainsley
with his family to the reader. Let us pay a parting visit to Hazel-Brook
farm, and note the changes which these twenty years have effected. The
forest has melted away before the hand of steady industry, and we pass
by cultivated fields on our way to the farm of Mr. Ainslie. The
clearings have extended till very few trees obstruct our view as we gaze
over the farms of the numerous settlers, which are now separated by
fences instead of forest trees. But the loveliest spot of all is
Hazel-Brook farm. The farm-house of Robert Ainslie, enlarged and
remodelled according to his increased means, is painted a pure white,
and very pleasant it looks to the eye, through the branches of the
shade-trees which nearly surround it. The clear waters of Hazel-Brook
are as bright and sparkling as ever. The banks near the dwelling are
still fringed with trees and various kinds of shrubs; but farther up the
stream all obstructions have been cleared away, and the sound of a
saw-mill falls upon the ear. Let us enter the dwelling. Mr. and Mrs.
Ainslie, although now no longer young, evince by their cheerful
countenance that they yet retain both mental and bodily vigour. As yet
their children all remain at home, as the boys find ample employment
upon the farm, and at the mill; While Jennette assists her mother in the
labours of the household. For many years the setting sun has rested upon
the gleaming spire of the neat and substantial church erected by the
settlers; and now upon the Sabbath day, instead of listening to a sermon
read by a neighbour, they listen to the regular preaching of the gospel,
and each one according to his means contributes to the support of their
minister. It was Mr. Ainslie who first incited the settlers to exert
themselves in the erection of a suitable place for worship. Some of his
neighbours at the first were not inclined to favour the idea, thinking
the neighbourhood too poor for the undertaking. But he did not suffer
himself to become discouraged, and after considerable delay the frame of
the building was erected. When the building was once begun, they all
seemed to work with a will, and to the utmost of their ability. Those
who were unable to give money brought contributions of lumber, boards,
shingles, &c., besides giving their own labour freely to the work; and
in a short time the work had so far advanced that they were able to
occupy the building as a place of worship, although in an unfinished
state. But the contributions were continued year after year, till at
length they were privileged to worship in a church which they could call
their own. Mr. Ainslie was a man of talents and education, superior to
most of the early settlers in that section, and it was his counsel,
administered in a spirit of friendship and brotherly kindness, which
worked many improvements and effected many changes for the better as the
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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