had got into the good graces of an uncle, a brother of his
father's, who lived at Little River, a town in the interior,
forty miles off. This gentleman, himself a farmer extremely
well to do in the world, and with a small family, had invited
Rufus to come to his house and carry on his studies there. The
invitation was pressed, and accepted, as it would be the means
of a great saving of outlay; and Rufus came home in the
interval to see them all, and refit himself for the winter
campaign.

No doubt he was changed and improved, like his letters; and
fond eyes said that fond hopes had not been mistaken. If they
looked on him once with pride, they did now with a sort of
insensible wonder. His whole air was that of a different
nature, not at all from affectation, but by the necessity of
the case; and as noble and graceful as nature intended him to
be, they delightedly confessed that he was. Perhaps by the
same necessity, _his_ view of things was altered a little, as
their view of him; a little unconscious change, it might be;
that nobody quarrelled with except the children; but certain
it is that Winifred did not draw up to him, and Asahel stood
in great doubt.

"Mamma," said he one day, "I wish Rufus would pull off his
fine clothes and help Winthrop."

"Fine clothes, my dear!" said his mother; "I don't think your
brother's clothes are very fine; I wish they were finer. Do
you call patches fine?"