Night and morning all were called together--family and house servants--and
Mr. Travilla read aloud a portion of Scripture, and led them in prayer and
praise. Nor was a meal ever eaten without God's blessing having first been
asked upon it.
There was but one drawback to Elsie's felicity--that she no longer dwelt
under the same roof with her father; yet that was not so great, as a day
seldom passed in which they did not meet once or oftener. It must be very
urgent business, or a severe storm, that kept him from riding or driving
over to Ion, unless his darling first appeared at the Oaks.
Aunt Wealthy and Lottie came to Ion within a fortnight after the return
from Viamede; and while the former divided the rest of her stay at the
South between Ion and the Oaks, Lottie spent nearly the whole of hers with
Elsie.
In May, Harry Duncan came for his aunt, and Miss King returned with them
to her paternal home. Our friends at Ion and the Oaks decided to spend
their summer at home this year.
"We have traveled so much of late years," said Rose, "that I am really
tired of it."
"And home is so dear and sweet," added Elsie. "I mean both Ion and the
Oaks, Edward and papa; for somehow they seem to me to be both included in
that one dear word.
Pages:
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208