CHAPTER LVI. FLIGHT.

ngtheirenjoymentintheimprovementofthosebywhomtheyaresurrounded. ItisastrikingcommentonthesuccessofClayton'senterprise,thattheneighboringwhitesettlers,whoatfirstlookedcoldlyuponhim,fearinghewouldbethemeansofintroducingathriftlesspopulationamongthem,havebeenentirelywonover,andthatthevalueoftheimprovementswhichClaytonandhistenantshavemadehasnearlydoubledthepriceofrealestateinthevicinity. Sohighacharacterhavehisschoolsborne,thatthewhitesettlersinthevicinityhavediscontinuedtheirown,preferringtohavetheirchildrenenjoytheadvantagesofthoseunderhisandhissister'spatronageandcare. Harryisoneoftheheadmenofthesettlement,andisrapidlyacquiringpropertyandconsiderationinthecommunity. Alargefarm,wavingwithsomeacresoffinewheat,withitsfencesandout-housesinexcellentcondition,markstheenergyandthriftofHannibal,who,insteadofslayingmen,isgreatinfellingtreesandclearingforests. Hefindstime,winterevenings,toread,with"nonetomolestormakeafraid."HisoldestsonisconstruingC?sar'sCommentariesatschool,andoftenreadshislessonofaneveningtohisdelightedfather,whowillinglyresignsthepalmofscholarshipintohishands. AstoourmerryfriendJim,heisthelifeofthesettlement.Liberty,itistrue,hasmadehimalittlemoresoberandaveryenergeticandcapablewife,sobererstillbutyetJimhasenoughandtospareofdrollery,whichmakeshimanindispensablerequisiteinallsocialgatherings. Heworksonhisfarmwithenergy,andrepelswithindignationanysuggestionthathewashappierintheoldtimes,whenhehadabundanceofmoney,andverylittletodo. Onesuggestionmorewealmosthesitatetomake,lestitshouldgiverisetounfoundedreportsbutweareobligedtospeakthetruth. AnneClayton,onavisittoafriend'sfamilyinNewHampshire,metwithLivyRay,ofwhomshehadheardNinaspeaksomuch,andverynaturallythetwoladiesfellintoamostintimatefriendshipvisitswereexchangedbetweenthem,andClayton,onfirstintroduction,discoveredtheladyhehadmetintheprisoninAlexandria. Themostintimatefriendshipexistsbetweenthethree,and,ofcourse,insuchcasesreportswillarisebutweassureourreaderswehaveneverheardofanyauthenticfoundationforthemsothat,inthismatter,wecanclearlyleaveeveryonetopredictaresultaccordingtotheirownfancies. Wehavenowtwosketches,withwhichthesceneryofourbookmustclose.