A SURPRISE. 915

“So Bessie says. Here comes my father.
He can tell us more about it.”

Mixon came in. Overjoyed was he to see
Tom; and the son equally glad to see his
father. Howard was surprised at the change
in Honest Mixon’s appearance. It was quite
equal to the change in the exterior of the
brown cottage. Mixon was no longer a mere
laborer. He had been promoted at the mills
to the place of superintendent of the dyeing
department, and received large wages.

To the question, “ Where are the Cramers ?”
he replied :

“Gone to the old country to eddicaée their
children; but what they want to eddicate them
in that furren place for, when they are to live
in this country, I can’t tell. It seems to mea
very foolish notion. Mr. Cramer has sold -the
mills, and Rose Lawn, too, out and out. And
Tom, I have a deed, signed and sealed, by
which you become the owner of Bessie’s Is-
land.” 7

“The owner! Really, father, is it so.”

“ Sure it is,” said Mixon, unlocking an old