CHAPTER XX.
THE CONCLUSION.
It was early in the October following the 'Winter of Paulina's death that Mr. Aikin said, one fine day, to his children, "Come, if mother says yes, we'll all go down and see the new house."
As mother always said "yes" when any reasonable pleasure was offered to the children, hats and shawls were half on before the little monosyllable was fairly uttered. "Come, danfather, I tant half see it if you don't see it," said little Phil; and, "Come, Aunt Lottie, we sha'n't call it seeing it if you don't see it," said the rest of the children; and, "You and Juliet must go, Mr. Barlow," said Aikin, "and tell us how you like your new quarters;" and so, illustrating the truth that governed this family, that the good and happiness of one was the good and happiness of all, they set forth.
"Don't you and Juliet walk so fast," called out little Phil to his eager brother William, "I tant hardly hold danfather up, he stumbles so!"
"Phil is the most thoughtful and careful child you ever had, Susan; I tell you, he takes after me."
Susan, dutiful daughter as she was, could not but smile at the particular virtues her father had selected to fix the resemblance on, as she replied "I wish he may grow up half as good, father."
