ALEXANDER, AND CHARLES SCOTT GATTY.

J.H.E.




WE AND THE WORLD.




CHAPTER I.

"All these common features of English landscape evince a calm and
settled security, and hereditary transmission of home-bred virtues
and local attachments, that speak deeply and touchingly for the
moral character of the nation."--WASHINGTON IRVING'S _Sketch Book_.


It was a great saying of my poor mother's, especially if my father had
been out of spirits about the crops, or the rise in wages, or our
prospects, and had thought better of it again, and showed her the bright
side of things, "Well, my dear, I'm sure we've much to be thankful for."

Which they had, and especially, I often think, for the fact that I was
not the eldest son. I gave them more trouble than I can think of with a
comfortable conscience as it was; but they had Jem to tread in my
father's shoes, and he was a good son to them--GOD bless him for it!