with rows of lettuce and early peas, and such beets and melons, in prospect, as would have astonished the farmers at Merrill's Corner. Haymaking, from the tall, wild oats, was the farm work for the first few weeks, and Sam was as much help as any of the extra hands. Hadley mowed with the men all day, drinking molasses and water from the same big pitcher, and beating them by half an acre, when he became a little accustomed to the swing of the scythe. He was very much respected all through the valley, his pride taking the form of a sturdy independence, and his liberal, generous disposition finding its proper place in the hospitalities of a new country.

When the day's work was done, Sam was his chosen companion, while he smoked his cigaranother trace of old habits-on a tour of inspection to the stable, the garden, or the chickenhouse, or galloped over to Sonoma for letters, or small stores. He had never passed a week in the country before he came to California, except at a watering-place, and listened to Sam's practical suggestions with a great deal of respect.

"I'll tell you what, Sam," he would say,

knocking the ashes from his cigar on the top rail of the fence-"there's no other life like it. I've seen a good deal of the world, and spent a good deal of money. There was my father slaved himself to death, to leave his children rich. What comfort did he take with all his money, pinned down to a desk all day? Well, I spent as fast as he made, when I came along. I went to Europe before I was twenty-one, and I bought every thing I took a fancy to, and saw every thing that was to be seen. When all that was gone, I came with the rest of the world to California for more, and got to the mines just in the thick of the gold crop. Handling the gold is all well enough, but what's the use of it up there? It don't bring a home, nor a house to put your head in,-you spend about as much as you can make, and have nothing to show for it."

Sam always agreed with him, and thought if he was only earning a little more, for his mother and sisters, or could be near them, he would not change his life on the ranch for any thing he could think of. He worked as many hours as when he was at the mines, but he lived for

something else besides eating and sleeping. His boyhood came back, surrounded by this beautiful country, and enjoying its freedom. He had explored it for miles in every direction, mounted on one of Hadley's excellent horses, which he was as free to use as if they had been his own. Jerry and Buck, the oxen, had a fancy for being neighborly, when their day's work was ended, and straying off to try the oats on the adjoining farms, or see how the barley crops came on. Hunting after them was one of Sam's favorite sports; though they often led him a weary chase, and were captured one at a time.

Then there was Sunday, that blessed day of rest both to man and beast, when the house had a more orderly air than usual, and Sam always 66 went to meeting"-as he called putting on clean clothes and reading his mother's Bible.

The ranch abounded in books and newspapers, in which its owner never stinted himself, being supplied regularly by arrivals from the States; and through these, Sam was getting a good, practical education, mind and body both. developing, through natural, healthy exercise,

CHAPTER XV.

THANKSGIVING DAY.

“GOOD-BY, mother--it's too bad you aint going. I hate to leave you all alone.”

"Hadn't you better come, Miss Gilman? the sleigh can hold just as many as we can pile in, and my wife don't stint her oven Thanksgiving Day," urged the Deacon, standing up in the huge box-sleigh, and tucking the buffalo robe around Mrs. Chase, who was on the front seat with him.

"Now, I know you haven't got nothing to keep you," said the good woman, seconding her husband's invitation.

"Do, mother!"-called out Abby again, from between Ben and Julia Chase, and Hannah's eyes looked "do mother," though Ben had almost smothered her in the blue and white coverlet, which came to their share.

"Two turkies," said Ben," real fine, fat fellows."

"And whole oceans of mince and punkin pies, I helped to make 'em, didn't I, mother?" added Julia, proud of her first great attempt in the kitchen department; "besides, the biggest plum pudding!"

Mrs. Gilman only shook her head, and pulled her black hood close over her face, as she went down the hill from the meeting-house. She was afraid to speak, for fear her voice would tremble with the tears she could hardly keep down. It had been a hard day to her, one of the hardest in her life, for she knew she ought to join in the thanksgiving; and, look whichever way she could, only her troubles came up to her.

The very name of the anniversary, so full of associations to her, the hymns of the morning service, the minister's text-0 give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good, and His mercy endureth for ever! had made her sad instead of rejoicing. When she came out with the congregation, families that she had known all her lifetime, all looking so happy, a feeling nearer to envy of their prospe