"I like the river," replied I, gravely; "I was born on it, and hope to get my bread on it."

"And I like this sitting-room," rejoined Stapleton; "how mighty comfortable it will be to sit at the open window, and smoke in the summer time, with one's jacket off!"

"At all events, you'll have no excuse for dirtying the room, father; and as for the lad, I suppose his smoking days have not come yet." “No,” replied I; "but my days for taking off my jacket are, I suspect."

"O yes," replied she, “never fear that; father will let you do all the work you please, and look on-won't you, father ?"

"Don't let your tongue run quite so fast, Mary; you're not over fond of work yourself."

"No; there's only one thing I dislike more,” replied she," and that's holding my tongue."

"Well, I shall leave you and Jacob to make

it out together; I am going back to the Feathers." And old Stapleton walked down stairs, and went back to the inn, saying, as he went out, that he should be back to his dinner.

Mary continued her employment, of wiping

"Well,"

the furniture of the room with a duster for some minutes, during which I did not speak, but watched the floating ice on the river. said Mary, "do you always talk as you do now? if so, you'll be a very nice companion. Mr. Turnbull, who came to my father, told me that you was a sharp fellow, could read, write, and do every thing, and that I should like you very much; but if you mean to keep it all to yourself, you might as well not have had it.” “I am ready to talk when I have any thing to talk about," replied I.

"That's not enough.

I'm ready to tal

about nothing, and you must do the same.”

How old am I! O then you consider me nothing. I'll try hard but you shall alter your opinion, my fine fellow. However, to answer your question, I believe I'm about fifteen."

"Not more! well, there's an old proverb, which I will not repeat."

"I know it, so you may save yourself the trouble, you saucy boy; but now, for your age ?"

"Mine! let me see; well, I believe that I am nearly seventeen."

"Are you really so old! well, now, I should have thought you no more than fourteen."

This answer at first surprised me, as I was very stout and tall for my age; but a moment's reflection told me, that it was given to annoy

me.

A lad is as much vexed at being supposed

younger than he really is, as a man of a certain age is annoyed at being taken for so much older. "Pooh !" replied I; "that shows how little you know about men."

"I wasn't talking about men, that I know of; but still, I do know something about them. I've had two sweethearts already.”

"Indeed! and what have you done with them ?"

"Done with them! I jilted the first for the second, because the second was better looking; and when Mr. Turnbull told me so much about you, I jilted the second to make room for you; but now, I mean to try if I can't get him back again.”

"With all my heart," replied I, laughing. "I shall prove but a sorry sweetheart, for I never made love in my life."

"Have you ever had any body to make love to ?"

"No."

، That's the reason, Mr. Jacob, depend upon it. All you have to do, is to swear that I'm

the prettiest girl in the world, that you like me better than any body else in the world; do any thing in the world that I wish you to do spend

all the money you have in the world in buying

me ribbons and fairings, and then-"

"And then what?"

Why, then I shall hear all you have to say, take all you have to give, and laugh at you in the bargain."

"But I shouldn't stand that long."

"O yes you would. I'd put you out of humour, and coax you in again ; the fact is, Jacob Faithful, I made my mind up before I saw you, that you should be my sweetheart, and when I will have a thing, I will, so you may as well submit to it at once; if you don't, as I keep the key of the cupboard, I'll half starve you; that's