money into same time, to was to ask for.

him as a purse, and putting some Robert's hand, he gave him, at the understand what sort of seeds he

This business settled, Robert said, "Good morning," and was again hurrying on.

But there was

something in his look and manner that caused old neighbour Dixon to stop him once more with another question.

"What's going on to-day, Robert? Anything particular, that makes you in such a hurry?"

66

"Yes, Master Dixon," replied Robert, in some confusion; that is, no-nothing very particular. 'Tis fair-day, you know, and I am going to the fair, that's all."

66

Oh," said James Dixon, with a serious shake of his head; "it's to the fair you are going, is it?" And it may be that the thought crossed his mind, “If I had known that before, I should not have trusted my money with you;" but he did not say this. "The fair, eh?" he repeated. "Well now, Robert, will you answer me a question or two? I won't keep you standing many minutes."

Oh, there's no hurry," said the young man; but he looked as though he wished “the tiresome old fellow" further off with his questions. James Dixon took no notice of this.

"Have you got anything to sell at the fair, Robert? if it is a proper question to ask; anything in the way of sheep, or cows, or horses? for 'tis a cattle fair, I take it, that is, in the morning part.”

"No, Master Dixon," answered Robert, rather gruffly; "you know well enough that I have nothing of that sort to do."

"Nay but, lad, you might have some business of that sort to do for your master, for anything I know, if not for yourself. May be, then, you are going to

buy some stock?"

"Wrong again," said the young man, laughing; for James Dixon had such a good-tempered, kind way of speaking, that few could be angry with him, even when he said what was not very agreeable. At any rate, one who could have the heart to quarrel with the good old man must have been very quarrelsome indeed. Ah, old Dixon had found out the secret of "speaking the truth in love," as the Bible has it; and that was what made his words so weighty at times. Love has weight, young reader; it sinks deep, very deep into the heart when nothing else can.

"Wrong again," said Robert, in reply to the last question.

66

Well, then, I suppose I am wrong, as you say so; but still you have some business of your master's to do at the fair. He is going himself, mayhap, and has appointed you to meet him there, and to drive home his bargains?"

But, no; that was not it either.

"Then I must give in," continued Dixon, “unless, Robert, you have a mind to tell me of your own free-will what is your business at the fair to-day."

“Oh, no business at all,” said Robert. "I have got a holiday, and am going to the fair for pleasure."

66

66

Ay, ay; I understand it now," replied the old man. Well, I think you never said a truer word than when you say that you have no business at all at the fair. If I might advise you, Robert, I should say, don't go, but just step back, put off your best clothes, put on your every-day ones, and go and do a good day's work; you won't be half so tired when night comes, I'll warrant you.”

66

No, no," the young man said; "that won't do either. It is not every day I can get leave for a holiday, and I mean to enjoy myself for once."

"But, Robert, my lad," said the old man, earnestly, "I am afraid that what you call enjoyments, the Bible calls sins; and you know that it is said, 'The end of these things is death,' eh, Robert ?"

Robert did not answer. The fact is, he did not wish his day's pleasure to be clouded with thinking about these matters; and this is why he would willingly have avoided being seen by his old neighbour that morning; for, at other times, he was rather glad of a little chat with Dixon, though the old man had, as was said, “some odd notions about religion." So after a short silence on the young man's part, which James Dixon did not offer to break, Robert once more said, "Good morning;" adding, "I won't forget your seeds," and, walking on briskly, was soon out of sight and hearing.

"Ah!" sighed the old man, as he began to chop away with his hoe, "it was so with me once; but by the grace of God I am what I am.”

James Dixon did not see his young acquaintance again that day; and he waited patiently through the next, expecting that he should by and by hear something about his garden seeds. But night came on, and as no Robert appeared, the old man put on his hat to go in search of him; "for," said he to himself, "if I don't get my seeds to-night I shall not be able to put them in to-mor1ow morning, and 'tis full late for sowing them as it is.”

But just as he had reached his garden gate, Robert Staples came towards him. Slovenly and sheepish, compared with his usual manner, and especially compared with his manner on the morning before, did Robert look this evening. It seemed, too, as though he did not at all care to face his kind old neighbour and friend. But James took no notice of this, and with a hearty—

"That's right, my lad, come in, come in," he led the way back into his cottage, Robert following, but not willingly.

66

Well, you have brought my seeds? Was the money all right?" Dixon inquired.

Robert looked very red, and very much confused. "The truth is," he said, at length, "I forgot your errand, and I was just coming in to tell you about it."

66 "I am sorry too," said old James; "for I wanted the seeds badly. Well, well, never mind; I must get them some other way. I might have guessed," he added, with a smile, "that the pleasures of the fair would jostle my little business out of your head. So, since it has thus happened, I must just put my shilling back again into my purse for a while:" and he put his hand into his pocket for the old canvas bag.

"I-I," exclaimed Robert, more confused than before-"I want you just to trust me till next week, Master Dixon."

"To trust you lad!" said James, very gravely. "I lost your shilling," replied the young man, after a little hesitation.

"Lost my shilling !" said the old man, in the same serious, almost sad, tone. "Lost ! Do you say lost, Robert? Well, well, you are right in one sense, too, to say lost; and I reckon you lost some of your own shillings along with it-eh, Robert?"

Robert was obliged to confess that he had; that he had come back from the fair ten or twelve shillings poorer than he went to it. And though ten or twelve shillings may not seem much to some, the amount was a large one to Robert, for it was his all.

Moreover, Robert knew, what he did not venture at once to confess to old Dixon, that with his money had also disappeared, on the previous day,

the bright silk kerchief from his neck, and the oldfashioned but useful watch from his pocket. In fact, as was plainly to be seen by James, even without the spectacles which he commonly wore when he had to read small print, I say it was plain enough that Robert, the day before the fair, was a very different being, in more respects than one, from Robert, the day after the fair. There was truly that in the young man's looks which called up all his old neighbour's kindness; and this kindness he expressed by word and look, when he said

"There, never mind the shilling now, Robert. You should not have done it; but you will pay it back some day. But, Robert, sit down a bit," he added, "and let me hear something about the fair, and the pleasures you found there. By the way, you don't look quite well this evening, lad; and, dear, dear! you seem to have a sad swelling hereabout," and James Dixon pointed to his young friend's cheek. Is it a cold you have caught, Robert, or is it a bruise ?"

"Yes, it was a cold-no, it wasn't exactly a cold —well then, it was a bit of a bruise. Oh, yes! he was very well-no, his head did ache a trifle; nothing to signify. He thought he was tired, that was all. He should go home and get to bed pretty

soon."

"Ay, ay! I see how it is," said the old man, after he had listened to all these explanations, and contradictions, and confessions; "You are none the better for your day's holiday, I doubt. Come now,” he continued, in a cheerful tone, "tell me a little about the fair. A good deal of company there, I suppose, in the first place?"

Lots," exclaimed Robert, glad to change the subject, and to talk of anything rather than the missing money.