class="x-ebookmaker-pageno" title="p. 51" id="pgepubid00054"/>Clyde, where they might have the comforts of home, would do more for them,” she said, “than all this fruitless search for a favorable climate.”  When Mr. Draper had completed his bargains, he was equally desirous to return to the city, and at the end of a tedious journey, over bad roads in some parts of it, rail-roads in others, and a tremendous blow round Point Judith, the travellers arrived at Boston on one of those raw, piercing, misty days, that seemed to have been accumulating fogs for their reception.  The physician hastened their departure to Clyde, as it was inland and sheltered from the sea.  This removal was made, and then they had nothing to do but to get well.  Howard and Charlotte were rejoiced at the reunion, and the feeble little invalid tried to resume her former sports with her cousins.  But all would not answer, and when June came on, with its season of roses, she slept at the foot of the mount.  It was a retired spot that the mother selected for the remains, and only a temporary one, for they were to be removed to Mount Auburn at the close of autumn.

It were well if we could receive the events of Providence in the sublime simplicity with which they come, but the sensitive and tender-hearted often add to their poignancy by useless self-reproach.  Frances thought the journey had, perhaps, been the cause of the child’s untimely death, and lamented that she had not opposed a measure which she had undertaken solely for its benefit.  The death of friends is a calamity that few have not strength enough to bear, if they do not exaggerate their sufferings, by imagining that something was done, or left undone, for which they were responsible.  To this nervous state of feeling Frances was peculiarly liable, from her ill health; and it was many weeks before her excellent powers of mind obtained full exercise.  Yet they finally triumphed, and she became first resigned, then cheerful.  The sorrow of the father was of a different character, and exhausted itself in proportion to its violence.  It was followed by new projects and new anticipations; the manufactory had succeeded beyond his most sanguine expectations.  A discovery had been made that enabled

them to afford their cloth a cent per yard cheaper than any other manufacturing establishment.  Bales of cotton poured in upon him from the south, and ships arrived from various parts of the world.  How could he find time for grief!

CHAPTER IV.

The first visit Frances made to the lake after her return, discovered to her, that it was sadly changed.  It was no longer full to overflowing, but swampy and low; the water was constantly drained off to supply the manufactory and mills which were erected at a distance.  Mr. Draper had found out that the little stream could much more than earn its own living, and it was made to work hard.  One thing, however, was wanting to complete his Clyde speculations, and that was a rail-road.  This had now become necessary.  Every thing afforded the greatest facility for it.  Laborers could be procured from the village and farms in the vicinity.  Yet how could he reconcile his wife to it?  The road must pass through the hill, and near the house.  He was aware that it would destroy the rural beauty of the place; but what an increase of wealth it would be! what a princely revenue! what a spirit of business

and speculation it would spread through the country!  Every man would be able not only to make the most of his capital, but to get credit to ten times its real amount.  He considered it a public benefit, and he was imperiously called to accomplish it; and so he stated the matter to his wife with as much tenderness towards her feelings as the case would admit.

“I hoped,” said she, “that the sum of your public benefits was completed by our sacrifice in the city.”

“That is not spoken with your usual generous feeling, Frances,” replied he.  “When are patriotic exertions to cease?  Are we not called upon to be constantly making them?”

“Howard would say it is injuring the cause of the country to turn agriculturists into speculators,” said Frances.

“Howard is an excellent man,” replied Mr. Draper; “he is born to be a farmer, and nothing else.  I have no wish to change his vocation; he dignifies it by uniting intelligence with manual labor; but there are many who are toiling merely for money, and they can get much more by my method than his.”

“Will their happiness be increased?” said Mrs. Draper.

“Certainly, inasmuch as wealth procures the means of happiness.”

“Have you found it so?” again asked Frances.

“Not precisely.  I am still toiling; my season for rest and enjoyment has not arrived.”

“And yet,” said Frances, “Howard is rich enough for enjoyment.  You have already a great estate; let me ask, what advantage you derive from it beyond your daily meals?  You take care of this immense property; you are continually increasing it, and all the compensation you get is a bare living.  Would any of the clerks you employ in your counting-room labor for such low wages?”

“My dear Frances,” said Mr. Draper, affectionately, “I am always contented to admire your ingenuity without combating your arguments.  Perhaps it might be better, if you had cultivated a little more of the rationale of life.”

“Well,” replied she, languidly smiling, “I am going to prove to you, that I have profited

by your example, and am becoming a business wife.  You call this farm mine, and tell me you bought it for me?”

“Certainly; all I have is yours.”

“I claim no title to any thing but this; but this I consider your gift, and as such accept it.”

Mr. Draper certainly did not look delighted at this unexpected statement, and began to tremble for his rail-road; but he remained silent.

“You have undoubtedly greatly increased the actual value of Clyde Farm, by mills and manufactories?”

“Certainly I have; but all is in a manner useless without the rail-road as a means of transportation: that will put every thing into complete operation, and make the revenue princely.”

“Then,” said Frances, “I can have no hesitation in making my offer.  I will sell this place to you for what you gave for it.  Secure the sum to me outright, and I renounce my title to Clyde Farm.  Make it, if you please,

wholly a manufacturing place; do not consult me whether there shall be rail-roads or mills.”

“Upon my word,” said Mr. Draper, “with an estate like mine, I should be mortified to make such a paltry purchase of my wife.  It is for you and our only child that I am accumulating a fortune.  Have you ever found me sordid or tenacious of money, that you wish a certain sum secured to you?”

“Never,” said she with emotion; “all that money can purchase, you have been most liberal in procuring me.  Would that you were as generous to yourself!”

“We all have our own ideas of happiness,” said Mr. Draper; “but since it is your wish, Frances, I will close with your proposal, and secure to you twenty thousand dollars, which is a little more than I paid for Clyde Farm.  Legal instruments shall be immediately drawn up; and to convince you that I wish