Charley's big brother, John, was rather a quietus to
the boys' chatter when he dined at home. He was big,
and "such a swell," as Charley admiringly termed him.
Somehow the room always seemed smaller and more
crowded when brother John came in. His gorgeous
waistcoats and neckcloths, and the shining brass
buttons on his coat rather overwhelrned the boys and
oppressed them with a sense of his magnificence. John
represented the elegance of the family.
Mary was soft-eyed and very sweet-looking, but the
plain mob-caps and folded lawn neckerchiefs gave her
a very demure air for a young woman of nineteen years.
She was very silent, save when she and Charley were
together, when she was gay and genial, and chatted
as fast as her pet brother.
Esteecee hovered admiringly around her, and his
tongue became eloquent over some late country ramble
or a new book. His holidays spent with his friend were
the happiest days of his boyhood.
CHAPTER II.
UPS AND DOWNS.
Verse, a breeze 'mid blossoms straying,
Where Hope clung feeding, like a Bee,
Both were mine ! Life went a maying
With Nature, Hope, and Poesy

When I was young I
When I was young ? — Ah, woful when 1
Ah ! for the change ' twixt now and then I
This breathing house not built with hands
O'er aery cliffs and glittering sands.
How lightly then it flashed along
Like those trim skiffs, unknown of yore.
On winding lakes and rivers wide,
That ask no aid of saU or oar.
That fear no spite of wind or tide I
Naught cared this body for wind or weather,
When Youth and I lived in't together.
Coleridge.
