There was quite a talk in B--- when it was known that Mr. Hardy was
going to emigrate with his wife and family. He, and his father
before him, had been so long established in the town that there
were few people who did not know him, more or less.

Emigration in the year 1851 was far less common than it is now, and
the interest was proportionately greater. Charley and Hubert became
quite popular characters among their late schoolfellows, who,
whenever they met them, would always stop to have a talk about the
distant country to which they were going. The boys, however, had
now but little time for talking; for upon the week after their
father had first told them of his intention, they had set-to
regularly at the work he had laid down for them. They rose every
morning at five, had a slice of bread and a cup of milk, and were
off to the gardener's, where they worked hard until half-past
eight. Mr. Hardy had requested that they should be specially
instructed in the raising of vegetables, and in the planting and
pruning of fruit-trees. The culture of flowers could be of no
utility. The digging made the boys' backs ache at first, and
blistered their hands, but they stuck to it manfully, and soon
became accustomed to the work, returning to breakfast with glowing
cheeks and tremendous appetites.

In the afternoon they might be seen in the carpenter's shop with
their coats and waistcoats off, working away with saw or plane.

Although both made good progress in both pursuits, yet their tastes
differed; Charley preferring the carpentering, while Hubert was the
gardener's most promising pupil. The former was therefore