teen good annual customers,-it was agreed, then, and arranged that the morrow should be a public holiday. All Sir John's own tenantry, as well as Squire Ryle's, and some of other neighbouring magnates, were to have a day's wages without work, on the easy conditions of attending the procession in their smartest trim, and of banqueting at Hurstley afterwards. So then, the town band was ordered to be in attendance next morning by eleven at the Swan, a lot of old election colours were shaken from their dust and cobwebs, the bellringers engaged, vasty preparations of ale and beef made at Hurstley Hall,-an ox to be roasted whole upon the terrace, and a plumpudding already in the cauldron of two good yards in circumference, and all that everybody hoped for that night was, a fine May-day to

morrow.

CHAPTER LII.

ROGER AT THE SWAN.

MEANWHILE, eventide came on the crowd of kindly gentlefolks had gone their several ways; and Roger Acton found himself (through Sir John's largess) at free quarters in the parlour of the Swan, with Grace by his side, and many of his mates in toil and station round

him.

"Grace," said her father on a sudden, "Grace, my dear child, come hither." She stood in all her loveliness before him. Then he took her hand, looked up at her affectionately, and leaned back in the old oak chair.

"Hear me, mates and neighbours to my own girl, Grace, under God, I owe my poor soul's welfare. I have nothing, would I had, to give her in return :" and the old man, (he looked ten years older for his six weeks' luck, and care, and trouble,) the old man could not

get on at all with what he had to say,-something stuck in his throat, but he recovered and added cheerily with an abrupt and rustic archness, "I don't know, mates, whether after all I can't give the good girl something: I can give her away! Come hither, Jonathan Floyd; you are a noble fellow, that stood by us in adversity, and are almost worthy of my angel Grace." And he joined their hands.

"Give us thy blessing too, dear father!"

They kneeled at his feet on the sanded floor, in the midst of their kinsfolk and acquaintance, and he, stretching forth his hands like a patriarch, looked piously to heaven, and blest them there.

"Grace," he added, "and Jonathan my son, I need not part with you, I could not. I have heard great tidings. To-morrow you shall know how kind and good Sir John is: God bless him! and send poor England's children of the soil many masters like him.

"And now, mates, one last word from Roger Acton; a short word, and a simple, that you may not forget it. My sin was love of money: my punishment, its possession. Mates, remem

ber Him who set you to be

labourers, and

love the lot He gives you. Be thankful if His

blessing on your industry keeps you in regular work and fair wages: ask no more from God of this world's good. Believe things kindly of the gentlefolks, for many sins are heaped upon their heads, whereof their hearts are innocent. Never listen to the counsels of a servant, who takes away his master's character: for of such are the poor man's worst oppressors. Be satisfied with all your lowliness on earth, and keep your just ambitions for another world. Flee strong liquors, and ill company. Nurse no heated hopes, no will-o'-the-wisp bright wishes rather let your warmest hopes be temperately these, health, work, wages and as for wishing, mates, wish anything you will,— sooner than to find a crock of gold.”

CHAPTER LIII.

ROGER'S TRIUMPH.

THE steeples rang out merrily, full chime; High Street was gay with streamers; the town band busily assembling; a host of happy urchins from emancipated schools were shouting in all manner of keys all manner of gleeful noises everybody seemed astir.

A proud man that day was Roger Acton; not of his deserts, they were worse than none, he knew it; not of the procession,-no silly child was he, to be caught with toy and tinsel; God wot, he was meek enough in self, -and as for other pride, he knew from old electioneerings, what a humbling thing is triumph.

But, when he saw from the windows of the Swan, those crowds of new-made friends trooping up in holiday suits with flags, and wands, and corporation badges,-when the band for a