hands of the humble and aged dwellers of the hamlets round; the old people who had seen him carried into church for baptism, and his father before him! and now another member, the last of the loved family, was going forth to follow the profession of his fathers: what would be his fate? Many a "Poor lad!" was uttered, many a prayer for a happier fate than his father's, was said. The "goodbye" of the boys and girls Hugh had so often played with of a summer's eve in the hay and cricket fields, in village feast, or "harvest home," was more cheerful and cheering; his uniform openly admired, with cordial wishes for his venture over the sea! Still Hugh felt sad as he left them to rejoin his mother, and looked often back, waving his hat, as he saw his old friends watching him from the old churchyard.

CHAPTER VII.

THE JOURNEY TO PORTSMOUTH.

HE parting from all the well-known in

THE

habitants of the neighbourhood, rich and poor, was over, and Hugh, though too young to understand and explain his own feelings, experienced a dull sense of pain, the first severing of the link connecting childhood and youth, never to be riveted afresh !

The last evening was now come, and Hugh begged his mother to stroll over to the homestead, that he might take leave of the Ffrenchs. Anne willingly agreed, and they walked quietly through the gardens and "dear old orchard," as Hugh called it. Wherever the boy wished

his mother went with him. He seemed to long to carry away a last impression of all he loved so well, and where his childhood had been so happy.

What a blessed privilege is a happy childhood, the joyous recollections of childish fun and games, the varied pleasures of the seasons, as they rolled over, enjoyed to the full; the merry Christmas, with its holly and roast beef and plum pudding! the short Easter holiday, the happy summer vacation, the romps in hay fields, and revels in fruit gardens and orchards, all memories hallowed and interwoven with a remembrance of a sweet and tender mother. None can be too grateful for a collection of such pictures, treasured up in the storehouse of the brain. Hugh's memory was excellent and well exercised, full of such precious recollections: would they not help to keep him from the evil in the world? The farewell to the Ffrench family was cordial and affectionate. The good

old dame kissed Hugh tenderly, and bade him, in homely terms, be worthy his angel-mother,

and bring home a lot of prizes, like his father.

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"I'll be sure to do that, dame," said Hugh,

and you shall have a good share!"

They returned home by the loved old pond, glowing in the deep red sunset; there lay the little boat, exchanged now for nobler craft, safely moored.

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Topaze may keep it now," said Hugh half sadly, “I shall never care for it again! I am going to a real ship, and toy-work is over."

When they re-entered the house they found the supper ready, and Margot urged retiring early to rest, as at five o'clock the next morning they were to start for Chipping Norton to catch the mail for Portsmouth.

"Nor dim, nor red, like an angel's head, the glorious sun uprist," on the last day of September, 1758, when the little party, Anne, in travelling costume, Hugh, and Margot, partook

of their morning meal of beef and ale, at four o'clock, preparatory to their journey.

It was soon over, and they all mounted the car to convey them away to Chipping Norton. The small knot of servants were standing in the old porch to see the "young master" off, and many a tear was shed; Topaze fairly howled, as only negro boys can; and they finally drove down the avenue, Hugh waving his cap.

It was a long dreary journey to Anne, who had her place inside the coach; but Margot and Hugh upon the top, next the coachman, soon recovered their spirits, enjoying the fast driving, the novelty and bustle of stopping and alighting for food and hour's rest at the curious road-side inns; the sunset, the moonlight brilliancy, all enjoyed, for they travelled day and night, were alike full of pleasure for Margot and Hugh; while the loquacious coachman and the cheery fellow-passengers did their best to wile away the hours to them both.