thrifty; and as his means were small, was generally embarrassed, or
rather somewhat pinched in circumstances. Notwithstanding this, however,
he was as happy as a king; and according to his unlettered neighbors'
artless praise, "there wasn't a readier hand, nor an opener heart in the
wide world--that's iv he had id--but he hadn't an' more was the pity."
His entire possessions consisted of the ground we have mentioned, most
part of which was so rocky as to be entirely useless--a cow, a couple
of pigs, and the "the uld cabin," which consisted of four mud walls,
covered with thatch, in which was an opening, "to let in the day-light,
an' to let out the smoke." In the interior there was no division, or
separate apartment, as the one room contained the cooking materials, and
all other necessaries, beside their bed, which was placed close to the
fire, and, of course, nearly under the opening in the roof. If any one
spqke to Owen about the chances of rain coming down to where they slept,
his universal answer was, "Shure we're naither shugar nor salt, anyhow;
an' a dhrop ov or a thrifle ov wind, was niver known to do any body
harm--barrin' it brought the typhus; but God's good, an' ordhers all for
the best." Owen had been brought up in this way, and so he could live by
his labor, he never thought of needless luxuries; and Ellen, seeing him
contented, was so herself.

For some months previous to the time of which we write, Owen's affairs
had been gradually getting worse and worse; and it was with no pleasing
anticipations that he looked forward to his approaching rent day. His
uneasiness he studiously kept a secret from his wife, and worked away
seemingly with as much cheerfulness as ever, hoping for better days, and
_trusting in Providence!_ However, when within a week of the time that
he expected a call from the agent, he found that with all his industry
he had been only able to muster five and twenty shillings, and his rent
was above five pounds. So, after a good deal of painful deliberation, he