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rode easily in the calm harbour of home, which was seldom ruffled with galesā€”matrimonial or otherwise.

The success of his Californian estate was so great that, besides setting up in life the most of the comrades who had followed his fortunes, it placed himself beyond the necessity of working for his daily bread. Will did not, however, lead an idle life on that account. He recognised the great truth that he was answerable to his Creator for the management of his time and talents just as much as the man who has to earn his bread in the sweat of his brow, and he made it his chief aim in life to act the part of a faithful steward. That he did not succeed in this to the full extent of his wishes is certain, nevertheless his success must have been considerable if we are to believe the opinion of his friends, who used to say of him, with enthusiasm, that he was a blessing to the community in the midst of which he dwelt, for, in imitation of the Master whom he served, he went about continually doing good.

In process of time, several little boats (if we may be allowed the expression) appeared in the harbour and cast anchor alongside of Will; or, rather, attached themselves to the anchor which held him fast; and Flora was quite able to hold them allā€”though it must be admitted that she had infinitely more trouble with the little boats than she had with the big ship, for they had all wandering wills of their own, and, from the time of their first appearance, evinced a strong tendency to strain with tremendous vigour at their cables. Indeed, on several occasions, one or two of the boats attempted actually to cut their cables and make off, as the old ship had done before them, but Willā€™s wisdom and Floraā€™s winning ways prevailed, and it was found that, having been trained in the way in which they should go from the commencement, they did not depart from that way when they grew old.

In reference to the early existence of this little flotilla, we may, with propriety, quote the opinion of Maryannā€”than whom there could not be a better witness, for she dwelt in Willā€™s house, and nursed them all as she had nursed their father before themā€”superintended, of course, by old Mrs Osten, who dwelt in a cottage of her own hard by, and watched the rise and progress of her descendants for many a year with keen felicity. Maryann, in talking over matters with her faithful bosom friend, was wont to say:ā€”

ā€œYes, Jemimar, I never had two opinions about it, theyā€™re the beautifulest anā€™ sweetest children I ever did ā€™ave had to do withā€”just as Master Will, their papa, was simularly so; but Iā€™m free to confess that they all has a surprisinā€™ sperrit. Thereā€™s Master William, now (I canā€™t abear to call him Will, because that was the name as ā€™is father went by, and I ā€™old that in a sense it is sacred), thereā€™s Master William, though ā€™eā€™s only jist out oā€™ frocks anā€™ frilled trousers, and noo into blue tights anā€™ brass buttons, there ā€™e is, goinā€™ about the country on a pony as isnā€™t much bigger than a Noofoundland dog, but goes over the ā€™edges an ditches in a way as makes my blood to curdle anā€™ my skin to creep, with that dear boy on ā€™is back and ā€™is tail flyin beā€™ind, anā€™ shoutinā€™ with a sort of wild delight that I do think is wickedā€”I do indeed, Jemimar, I give you my word I think it sinful, though, of course, ā€™e dont mean it so, poor child, and ā€™is father cheerinā€™ ā€™im on in a way that must sear ā€™is conscience wuss than a red ā€™ot iron, wā€™ich ā€™is mother echoes too! it is quite past my compreā€™ension. Then ā€™e comes ā€™ome sich a figur, with ā€™oles in ā€™is trousers anā€™ ā€™is ā€™ats squeezed flat anā€™ ā€™is jackets torn. But Master Charles aint a bit better. Though ā€™eā€™s scarcely able to walk ā€™e can ride like a jockey, anā€™ needs more mendinā€™ of ā€™is cloā€™se than any six ordinary boys. Miss Flora, too, would be just as wild if she werenā€™t good and bidable, wā€™ich is ā€™er salvation; anā€™ the babyā€”oh! you wouldnā€™t believe it! didnā€™t I catch that hinfant, only the other day, tryinā€™ to throw a summerset in its bed, in imitation of Master William, anā€™ yesterday morning I caught Master Charles trying to teach it to ā€™ang on to the cloā€™se-rope in the nursery by its toes! Itā€™s an awful traininā€™ the poor things is gettinā€™ā€”anā€™ the only comfort I ā€™ave in ā€™em is, that their dear mother do constantly teach ā€™em the Bibleā€”wā€™ich condemns all sich things,ā€”anā€™ she do manage to make ā€™em fond oā€™ wisitinā€™ anā€™ considerinā€™ of the poor.ā€

To which observations Jemima, holding up her hands and gazing at her bosom friend in sympathy, would reply that her own sentiments was hidentically simular, that things in general was to her most amazinā€™, and that there was no accountinā€™ for nothinā€™ in this life, but that wā€™atever came of it she ā€™oped the family would live long anā€™ ā€™appy in a world, wā€™ich was, she must confess, a most perplexing mixture of good and evil, though of course she wasnā€™t rightly able to understand or explain that, but she was sure of this anyhow, that, although she was by no means able to explain ā€™erself as well as she could wish, she knew that she wished well to every one who stuck to the golden rule like Mr and Mrs Osten.

With which sentiment, good reader, we shall conclude this chronicle of the life and adventures of Wandering Will, and respectfully bid you farewell.

The End.
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