QUAKER HOUSEHOLD.

'Require?' said the doctor wheeling round

""Rest and a guide, and food and fire."

-no sort of

'The wind's as keen as nineteen honed razors,Where are the men?'

a wind to kiss pretty faces.

'James Hoxton as thou knowest is yet ill,' replied the damsel, and Caleb Williams hath gone in search of letters,

— and moreover tendeth not the door at any time.'

'The wiser man he,' replied the doctor. 'But James Hoxton's as well as a fish out of water-wriggling his way back at full speed. What's the news up in these Northern regions? - how long since the mercury shook hands with zero ?'

'Here is fire,' said the damsel, opening a side door into a small specimen of wax work, and here thou mayest leave thy clogs. When thou art warm I will conduct thee upstairs.' Clogs?'-said the doctor. Well-"every Quakeress is a lily," but even lilies come out of what may be called mud's raw material. How thee must love John Frost, friend Rachel. Now then "Lead on!-I'll follow thee!"

Along the wide hall and up the broad easy steps of the old staircase, went Rachel in her sad-coloured gown and white cap, fit genius to preside over so spotless a domain; and after her the doctor, who with some difficulty made her tripping steps the measure of his own. Trip, trip—a soft stuff-rustle and a slight key-jingle their proper accompaniment; while the doctor's heavy tread came like some strange instrument, played out of time.

Rachel crossed the upper hall, and opening the door into a room that stretched along that end of the house, she stepped back and left the doctor to enter. The room looked like the head-quarters of the Fairy Order. Like snowwreaths hung the curtains-like patches of snow lay napkin and toilet cover and bedquilt. The furniture was made of self-adjusting materials, the table-cloth probably shook itself. More polished than our best society' were the and

irons, and at the same time more reflecting; while the ashes, too well instructed to fly about the room or fall on the hearth, followed the soot up chimney. Too dry to sing, the wood burned noiselessly; only the dancing flames shewed some vagaries, and declared themselves beyond the sphere of Quakerdom.

In a quiet tête-à-tête with the fire Dr. Buffem found his patient; or rather he found her first in one of the reflecting andirons, which shewed the face and figure that her high-backed chair concealed.

Her cap, her grey dress, the smooth kerchief that lay folded across a breast as unruffled, proclaimed her to be of Rachel's order; but the pure sweetness of her face, the gravity without a touch of moroseness, spoke a yet more honourable distinction; a heart unspotted from the world; a faith that having laid hold on eternal life, took all in the life that now is with meek tranquillity. If there was one ruling expression in her face, it was of charity- "which suffereth long, and is kind; thinketh no evil; is not easily provoked; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things." And as at the advancing step she half arose, and turned to greet her visiter, Dr. Buffem thought he had rarely seen a finer face.

Friend Raynor, how art thou?' he said, flourishing out both hands. "“Do you think me a swallow, an arrow, or a bullet? Have I, in my poor and cold motion, the expedition of thought? I speeded hither with the very extremest inch of possibility"-unless indeed I had run over Rachel.'

Friend Buffem, thou art welcome,' said the quakeress with a smile. 'I trust thy haste hath not put thee to inconvenience. I scarce expected thee to-day, — perhaps, said I, he will be better pleased to come to-morrow.'

'No indeed,' said the doctor, — though to-morrow had been June, while this is without doubt December.' 'The cold hath not then abated?'

LETTING OFF STEAM.

23

'Not the first fraction of a degree,' said the doctor. is the most confoundedly sharp day we've had this winter.'

It

'Thee must indeed feel it severely if thee indulges in such expressions,' said the quakeress gravely. 'I have always found, friend Buffem, that inward chafing doeth far less good than that which is without.'

'Ay, so you say,' replied the doctor, as he toasted his hands impartially over the fire, but I like a little of both. Men's hair won't stay brushed, do what you will, and it won't be the real thing if you try to make it. No, no-get your temper up to boiling point and then fizz round a little, -my word for it you'll get warm.'

'Warm after the manner which savoureth of cold heartedness.'

'Not a bit of it!' said the doctor, who was putting himself through all his paces; 'cold is flat, and never savoured of anything. You let the water run in upon the fire and it'll put it out—therefore heat up your fire and blow up the water. Nothing like letting off steam once in a while. Whizz!-Puff!-there you are, reduced to cold water again; and nobody killed, either.'

Nor hurt?' said the quakeress smiling. And thee would get up steam for the very purpose of letting it off, to no end?'

'Well,' said the doctor, I should hope it would have an end, certainly. As to the rest, most people keep it on hand -blow it off too,-saves an immense number of boilers.'

'It maketh a most uncomfortable noise the while,' said the quakeress, and hath not much sympathy with the command, "Study to be quiet."'

'But reflect upon the terrors of an explosion!' said the doctor. 'You don't suppose the same lesson is set for everybody. It's not in all human nature to be as patient as you are, my dear lady.'

Nay, it lieth not in nature at all,' she answered

6

earnestly, and yet it may be attained. "Great peace have they that love thy law, and nothing shall offend them." But who requireth thy care at Thornton Clyde's? I hear thou hast been much there of late.'

'Ah?" said the doctor- who told you so? "Now when I ope my lips let no dog bark."

'Rachel must needs go into town yesterday,' answered the quakeress,' and not only did the purse find work, but the tongue. Thee knows young girls will be gossipping. But what aileth them there? and who? not Rosalie ?'

'No,' said the doctor, Hulda. Only scarlet fever.'

'Poor child! poor dear child!' said the quakeress anxiously. And is she very ill? does thee think, speaking after the manner of men, that there is much danger?' 'Not much' said the doctor, speaking, as you say, after the manner of men. Speaking after the manner of women, she has been wonderfully sick. But she's better now.' 'It rejoiceth my heart to hear thee say that. child!—and her dear sister! Sorely tried she hath already been, and hath borne the trial like a true child of God.'

Poor

'Sterling stuff,' said the doctor. But the child is better, so you may put all thoughts of a visit out of your head. I see what you're meditating. You can't be let out of the house yet. I want to set you up before our travellers get home.'

A moment's smile was followed by a look of deep grief and anxiety.

'Alas this war!-when will they get home?' she said clasping her hands.

'See here,' said the doctor,- don't you get up any steam; it wouldn't suit your constitution. What's the war to do?-I never heard in my life that a declaration of war kept old Boreas in order. Let them set their sails, he'll give chase. What's the date of their last letter?'

Far, far back; and doubtless Henry hath written since, but the letter hath failed to come. He pineth to be at home now.'

'I'll warrant him!' said the doctor,-' and for a brush with the English, too.'

'Nay, he saith only that all should be in their own country at such a time,' answered the quakeress deprecatingly.

'Ay-that's it. Why didn't he come last summer, when the war broke out?-travelling is shockingly inconvenient now-a-days.'

'He would have come then, doubtless, only Penn-that silly boy-being ill, it was but brotherly kindness not to leave him.'

'Got himself stabbed in some brawl with those German students, didn't he?' said the doctor. 'I recollect. But he ought to be cured by this time, if there's a respectable surgeon on the Continent.'

'Henry wrote that he was better,' said the quakeress ; ' and if nought hindered they were to take passage in the War Hawk on the first day of this month.'

6

'Well she's not in yet,' said Dr. Buffem, but the United States is. I suppose you've read the papers this morning?' 'Nay,' she answered.

'Glorious victory!' said the doctor rubbing his hands. Decatur has taken the Macedonian, forty nine guns, and but twelve men killed and wounded.'

'And in the other vessel?' said Mrs. Raynor.

'A hundred or so—and two hundred prisoners. Glorious, isn't it?'

The satisfaction on his face was so far from being reflected, that Doctor Buffem held up both hands, exclaiming, 'A traitor, as I am alive!'

6

Truly friend,' replied the quakeress calmly, I trust thy life is much surer than thy assertion. But who can