For the mother of the family had in perfection almost the best genius a woman can have--the genius of tidiness.
We were not in the least ashamed of our simple dinner-table, where no difference was ever made for anybody.

We had little plate, but plenty of snow-white napery and pretty china; and what with the scents of the flower-garden on one side, and the green waving of the elm-tree on the other, it was as good as dining out-of-doors.
The boys were still gathered round Lady Caroline, in the little closet off the dining-room where lessons were learnt; Muriel sat as usual on the door-sill, petting one of her doves that used to come and perch on her head and her shoulder, of their own accord, when I heard the child say to herself: "Father's coming." "Where, darling ?" "Up the farm-yard way.

There--he is on the gravel-walk.

He has stopped; I dare say it is to pull some of the jessamine that grows over the well.

Now, fly away, dove! Father's here." And the next minute a general shout echoed, "Father's here!" He stood in the doorway, lifting one after the other up in his arms; having a kiss and a merry word for all--this good father! O solemn name, which Deity Himself claims and owns! Happy these children, who in its fullest sense could understand the word "father!" to whom, from the dawn of their little lives, their father was what all fathers should be--the truest representative here on earth of that Father in heaven, who is at once justice, wisdom, and perfect love.
Happy, too--most blessed among women--the woman who gave her children such a father! Ursula came--for his eye was wandering in search of her--and received the embrace, without which he never left her, or returned.
"All rightly settled, John ?" "Quite settled." "I am so glad." With a second kiss, not often bestowed in public, as congratulation.