anticipated. It is true that her father, when appealed to by the
elders, shook his head and said, "It is a cross to us!"--but he had
been known to remain in the room while she sang "Full high in
Kilbride," and the keen light which arose in his eyes was neither
that of sorrow nor anger.

At the end of their first year of residence the farm presented
evidences of much more orderly and intelligent management than at
first, although the adjoining neighbors were of the opinion that
the Donnellys had hardly made their living out of it. Friend
Henry, nevertheless, was ready with the advance rent, and his bills
were promptly paid. He was close at a bargain, which was
considered rather a merit than otherwise,--and almost painfully
exact in observing the strict letter of it, when made.

As time passed by, and the family became a permanent part and
parcel of the remote community, wearing its peaceful color and
breathing its untroubled atmosphere, nothing occurred to disturb
the esteem and respect which its members enjoyed. From time to
time the postmaster at the corner delivered to Henry Donnelly a
letter from New York, always addressed in the same hand. The first
which arrived had an "Esq." added to the name, but this
"compliment" (as the Friends termed it) soon ceased. Perhaps
the official may have vaguely wondered whether there was any
connection between the occasional absence of Friend Henry--not at
Yearly-Meeting time--and these letters. If he had been a visitor
at the farm-house he might have noticed variations in the moods of
its inmates, which must have arisen from some other cause than the
price of stock or the condition of the crops. Outside of the
family circle, however, they were serenely reticent.