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of offending the ſquire, who had made in one condition of his ſetting the men to work, that all who were near enough, ſhould go home to their families at noon. As he drew nearer the houſe his heart failed him, and he flung himſelf down on a bench which was before his door ; but was soon roused by his eldeſt child, who ran out and cried, Daddy! Daddy! come to dinner, it is ſmoking hot on the table. Aſtoniſhed at theſe words the father ſtarted up, and haſtily entered his houſe, where he beheld a ſight that filled his heart with joy. A table, ſpread with neatneſs and plenty, to which he had long been a ſtranger, and his wife with a happy countenance inviting him to partake of the welcome repaſt.
He eagerly aſked, by what means ſhe had procured it? which she related, and they then ſat down to enjoy it, which he had but little time to do, as part of his dinner hour had been waſted on the bench, and he ſoon heard the bell ring to ſummon the workmen to their ſeveral employments.
Inſtead of dreading the return of evening Philips now impatiently longed for it, nor were his pleaſing expectations diſappointed -he found his dear Bet cheerful and happy, his little ones playful and quiet, and paſſed a moſt comfortable evening, his wife repeated what the good lady had ſaid to her, and her huſband agreed to join with her in the courſe of life which Mrs. Andrews had recommended.
