stroked my body over and over again. When she finished, he put
his head down to me, and murmured, "Good dog," and I saw that
his eyes were red and shining.

"That's a capital story, we must have it at the Band of Mercy," said
Mr. Maxwell. Mrs. Wood had gone to help prepare the tea, so the
two young men were alone with Miss Laura. When they had done
talking about me, she asked Mr. Harry a number of questions
about his college life, and his trip to New York, for he had not
been studying all the time that he was away.

"What are you going to do with yourself, Gray, when your college
course is ended?" asked Mr. Maxwell.

"I am going to settle right down here," said Mr. Harry.

"What, be a farmer?" asked his friend.

"Yes; why not?"

"Nothing, only I imagined that you would take a profession."

"The professions are overstocked, and we have not farmers enough
for the good of the country. There is nothing like farming, to my
mind. In no other employment have you a surer living. I do not like
the cities. The heat and dust, and crowds of people, and buildings
overtopping one another, and the rush of living, take my breath
away. Suppose I did go to a city. I would sell out my share of the
farm, and have a few thousand dollars. You know I am not an
intellectual giant. I would never distinguish myself in any