AN "APPLICATION." 139 



from an old head. Go to your friend Mr. Mac 

 Scuffler ask him to take you for two or three 

 years: it's soon gone. Work away for dear life 

 at Ms farm, and make him tell you all he knows. 

 Fancy that it is your money instead of his that 

 buys every ton of manure he expends. Put off 

 your wedding a little bit : she '11 be constant if 

 you are : and come to me three years hence ; I 

 was as young as you once ; and when you 're 

 as old as I am you won't repent my advice. I '11 

 look out something by that time that will suit 

 you better than this." 



There was a shaking of hands. A promise on 

 both sides : The door closed : and the momentary 

 flush of warmth fell away from a pair of old cheeks, 

 like a red oak-leaf from the bare tough in Novem- 

 ber, as the letters " marked 1 to 14 " were slowly 

 taken up one by one, and glanced at with the 

 leaden eye of habitude. 



