take his hoe and spade, and set off, singing merrily.

"What has happened to him?" asked the father. "One would scarcely
believe it was he! Wife, what did you say to him yesterday, to make
him so good-humored this morning?"

"I never even spoke to him," said his wife, dryly. "You know how
whimsical he is."

"I wish he may remain in his present mind!" said the vinedresser;
and thereupon he went off to the ale-house, to talk with his
neighbors of the best shots of the preceding day.

Josephine related the history of the little tract to the good
pastor's wife, who advised her to meet Mark on his return from the
field, and to speak to him again of what he had read.

"Is it _you_, sister?" said Mark, in a happy tone of voice, as
soon as he saw her. "It is very good of you to meet me."

Josephine, who never received such a welcome from him before, was
quite delighted, and going up to him, she said, affectionately, "I
want very much to talk with you again about Andrew and Julia."

_Mark_.--(Seriously.)--"And so do I. I should like very much to
resemble them."

_Josephine_.--(Quickly.)--"Do you mean what you say, Mark? Have
you thought of it again since yesterday?"