.

A FLAMING CITY.
Many happy months passed away, and the great city began to forget the terrible calamity through which it had passed.

There was a little fear at first when the summer set in exceptionally hot and dry--very much as it had done the preceding year; but the plague seemed to have wreaked its full vengeance upon the inhabitants, and there was no fresh outbreak, although isolated cases were reported, as was usual, from time to time, and sometimes a slight passing scare would upset the minds of men in a certain locality, to be shortly laid at rest when no further ill followed.
The two houses on the bridge, standing sociably side by side, were pleasant and flourishing places of business.

Benjamin was now apprenticed to his brother Reuben, his old master the carpenter having fallen a victim to the plague.

Dorcas remained with Lady Scrope, who was now reckoned as a kind friend and patroness to the Harmers, father and son.