her; for, though she has more power, she has not the skill of Mademoiselle Furreau." The audience heard and were satisfied, and Gerty Biddles felt some one touch her shoulder. She turned round and saw Danie, who sat behind her with her father and mother.

There was a triumphant flash in Danie's eyes as she whispered, "What do you think of Becky now?"

"I can't see at all," said Gerty, whose blue eyes were indeed staring blankly. "I am so glad; but but-how came she to change so?"

"I don't think even your mother could call her a clod-hopper now," exulted Danie, looking proudly at Becky standing amongst the white-robed scholars, crowned with her glossy leaves-noblest of them all.

Then every one rose to go, and the judge, as he gave his arm to his wife, said, "Well, Mrs. Peters, you have made your word good. Becky has burst forth like the sun, and astonished the world."

CHAPTER XIX.

RICHES HAVE WINGS.

ECKY was back again on the farm,

BE

working as energetically as ever. But where last year she had cultivated one acre, she now cultivated five times as many. She had oxen and horses of her own, and drove her market wagon in person. She was a shrewd business woman, every one admitted ; and Farmer Yates, more than ever, looked upon her as a miracle. Her manners and appearance, too, overawed the primitive settlers of the town, for Becky did not lose her polish.

She no longer worked out in the fields dressed in boy's clothes, nor pulled weeds to the detriment of her hands. She wore a broad-brimmed hat, and she was properly careful of her complexion. It was

head-work with her this season. She had twelve strong men to do the actual labor, and she planned and directed them. The boys were detailed to the lighter work, the picking and sorting of fruit and vegetables, the care of the cattle, the cleaning of the harnesses and wagons. The citified ways that Becky brought home with her acted upon them like magic, and they obeyed her as humbly as though they had signed themselves, "Yours, most obediently, David, Jacob, and Solomon."

The neighbors spoke of the Downs as a "risin' family," and more than ever delighted in referring to Becky as "Upside Down." She was not called this to her face, however. She was altogether too elegant a young lady for that now. But it was "Miss Becky the whole town over, and the girl smiled, and was proud that it was so.

I must explain the mystery of the oxen` and horses, lest it should be imagined that Becky's magic power had penetrated even to the western prairies, and led the wild

cattle, of their own accord, to wander away from their herds, and come knocking at her door, begging for the yoke and harness.

It was in no such romantic way that these blessings presented themselves. They had been bought, after the regular fashion, at the cattle market, for hard cash, and driven home by a large boy, who, as he delivered them over to their happy owners, declared, "I've had a hard pull of it, and got stuck in the mud a dozen times, up to my chin."

His bedaubed appearance justified his story. The condition of the cattle corresponded, and Jacob, in despair, advised the use of sal soda.

You have been told one fact by going round Robin Hood's barn; viz., that the cattle were bought with hard cash. And whose hard cash should it be but Judge Peters's? It was a loan out of his money coffers that had enabled Becky to conduct her affairs on such an extensive scale. The loan might have been a gift, only Becky would not have it so. Indeed, she was so

sanguine and hopeful of success, that she commissioned the judge to wait upon her aunt, and inform her she wished to pay rent for the farm, and would like her to set her This was like to the Independence

price. of '76.

So, in accordance with her request, Judge Peters paid a visit to the Biddles mansion. The two families were not on good terms now, Mrs. Jeremiah having seen fit to take offence at Mrs. Peters's refusal of her generous offer to pay Becky's fare home; and the judge thought it safer not to send up his

name.

"Tell Mrs. Biddles," said he to the waiting

servant, that a gentleman would like to see her on business."

The plush-jacketed" Jeames " disappeared, and straightway returned with a message to the effect that "Mrs. Biddles is in the library, sir. Will you please to step there directly?"

Being ushered into the library, the judge found Mrs. Biddles seated at the table, with