laughter, making the roof ring. There are
a few days in our lives which stand out from
all others we have ever known; days on
which it seems to us as if the flood of
sunlight round is gilded with so bright
a glory, that even the commonest things on
which it falls glow with a beauty we never
felt before; days on which the fresh breeze
passing over us, and sweeping through the
green leaves overhead, whispers ever to us
to cast all sorrow from our hearts, for that
in the great world around us there is infinite
joy, and happiness, and love. Such a day
was this; and bright and beautiful, with the
blue, clear sky, with the golden sunbeams,
with the light, laughing wind, it rises in my
memory now – a day never to be forgotten.

I was not very strong, and in the afternoon
I had my couch moved into one of the quiet
rooms, and lay there resting, with only the
distant sound of gay voices reaching me now
and then, and everything else quite still. I
had not seen much of my child during the
morning, but I knew that she was happy, so
I was quite content. And indeed I too,
myself, was very happy, for the sunlight
seemed to have pierced into my heart, and I
felt so grateful, and so willing that all should
be as it was.

I had lain there alone about half an hour,
when I heard steps upon the garden walk
without. The head of my couch was turned
from the window, so I could not easily see
who it was, but in a few moments they came
near, and Fortune and Nevill entered the
room by the low, open window.

"I was longing to see my child," I said
softly, and with a few loving words she bent
her head down over me, kissing me quickly
many times.

Nevill stood by her side, and smiling,
asked: –

"Will you not give me a welcome too ?"

I said warmly, for I am sure I felt it,

"You know that you are always welcome."

He pressed my hand; and after a moment's
pause, half seriously and half gaily, he went
on –

"Aunt Dinah, I have come to ask a boon –
the greatest boon I ever asked of any one.
Will you grant it, do you think?"

I looked at him earnestly, wondering,
hoping, doubting; but I could not speak, nor
did he wait long for an answer; but bending
his head low,

"Will you give me," he said – and the
exquisite tenderness of his rich voice is
with me still – "will you give me your
Fortune to be evermore my Fortune, and my
wife?"

I glanced from him to her. I saw his
beaming smile as he stood by her, and her
glowing cheek and downcast eyes, and then I
knew that it was true, and tried to speak.
But they were broken, weeping, most
imperfect words, saying – I well know so faintly
and so ill – the deep joy that was in my heart;
and yet they understood me, and, whispering
"God bless you!" Nevill stooped and
kissed my brow, and my darling pressed me
in her arms, and gazing in my face with her
bright tearful eyes, I saw in their blue depths
a whole new world of happiness.

A few more words will tell you all the rest.
My child was very young, and Nevill had
little beside his fellowship to depend upon,
and that of course his marriage would
deprive him of. So it was settled that they
should wait a year or two before they married;
and at the close of the autumn they parted,
Nevill – who had been sometime ordained
– to go to a curacy near London, and
Fortune, with her mother, to relations further
north.

It was to me a very sad winter, for I was
lonely without my child, but I looked
forward hopefully, and every one was very kind.
And in the spring an unexpected happiness
befell us, for a living near us in Mr. Beresford's
gift became vacant suddenly, and before it
was quite summer again, Nevill was established
as the new rector there. And then my
darling and he were married.

There is a little child with dark-blue eyes
and golden hair, who often makes a sunshine
in my room; whose merry laughter thrills
my heart, whose low, sweet songs I love to
hear, as nestled by my side she sings to me.
They call her Dinah, and I know she is my
darling's little girl; but, when I look upon her
face I can forget that twenty years have
passed away, and still believe she is my little
Fortune, come back to be a child again.

THE DEEDS OF WELLINGTON.

  AY, many a year I followed him
    Whose course of glory's run;
  Draw round me, friends, – I'll tell you where
    I fought with Wellington.
  For I was one who served with him
    Through all his fields in Spain;
  Ah, friends! his like we ne'er have seen,
    Nor yet shall see again!
      And well may England honour him !
        Till earth's old days are done,
      The world shall hear the deeds he did –
        The deeds of Wellington.

  From India first we heard his fame;
    I was not with him there,
  But how he beat them at Assaye,
    Old soldiers can declare.
  Of his wild dash on Doondiah's horse
    I've often heard them tell;
  Where there was fighting to he done,
    Be sure he did it well.
      Oh! well may England honour him!
        Till earth's old days are done,
      The world shall hear the deeds he did –
        The deeds of Wellington.

  'Tis nearly fifty years since then –
    Yet well I mind the day
  When our first march we made with him
    To where the Frenchmen lay;