is going to send some cattle to the f-a-i-r," (it seemed as if poor John would choke in getting out the unpalatable word,) "and as Ned cannot manage them alone, he wishes me to help drive them down the river. I had much rather be excused, ma'am. I do not want to see the fair; but, of course, it must be as you say."

"I think you had better go, John," answered the lady; "it would be unkind to refuse the request of a neighbor. I suppose you can return to-night."

"I shall certainly get back tonight, ma'am," answered John, with a meaning look. I have no business of my own at the fair, and I am sure I do not want to stay upon any account."

The succeeding day the floral

exhibition was to take place. Poor John!

Augusta went in her pony chaise to call upon her friend, Emma Mansfield; and John, slowly and sadly, plodded his dusty way behind the cattle.

CHAPTER III.

THE FLOWER-BASKET.

"And call the vales, and bid them thither cast Their bells and flow'rets of a thousand hues."

He did so precisely examine the tinctures and seasons of his flowers, that in their settings, the inwardest of which that were to come up at the same time should always be a little darker than the outmost, and so serve them for a kind of gentle shadow. -SIR WILLIAM TEMPLE.

AUGUSTA'S mother entered the room in which Miss Arnott sat reading, with her bonnet on her head, and garden-gloves and scissors in her hand.

"Come, Gertrude," she said, "and assist me in my design. I have gathered quantities of moss, and I wish to make a basket for my flowers."

The book was laid aside, and Miss

Arnott accompanied her friend into the flower-garden. Basket after basket of splendidly-tinted flowers was gathered and borne into the house. What richness of bloom, what gorgeousness of coloring, did that heaped-up table present! Wire, cotton, silk, and thread were soon in requisition. The skeleton of a basket was soon formed by the nimble, well-practiced fingers of the two ladies. The moss, saturated with water, and fresh, green, and cool, was placed upon the frame. That was mounted upon a pedestal also of moss. The effect, they saw, would be lovely. They seemed to be inspired by the Genius of Beauty, so quickly did the flowery mass before them become a perfect whole. A glow of satisfaction sat upon the countenance of Miss Arnott, and a smile of pleas

ure was upon the lips of the lady of the mansion, as they twined flower after flower around the frame, shading, harmonizing, and contrasting the colors of each. The conversation of the two friends was suggested by the employment they pursued. It was natural to talk of the garden which solaced Cowper's gentle spirit, and of which he says,

"Each odoriferous leaf,

Each opening blossom, freely breathed abroad Its gratitude, and thank'd him with its sweets."

And they quoted Spenser's graphic descriptions; for they both loved this picturesque poet, and they asked each other if these lines of his did not sound like music from a silver flute :

:

"The joyous birds, shrouded in cheerful shade,
Their notes unto the voice attemper'd sweet;

The angelical, soft trembling voices made
To instruments divine respondence meet;