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OR THE

COTTAGE ON THE SHORE.

BY THE AUTHOR OF

THE LITTLE MANUFACTURER.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR FRANCIS WESTLEY,

10, STATION ERS' COURT, AND AVE MARIA LANE

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have a heavy sea in the channel, and get all

swampt."

"You are always afeard, man," replied a

great bony sailor, who seemed to be captain of

the

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gang, "unless the water's as smooth as a mill-pond. Why, I tell thee, such nights as these are the fittest of all others for our work; and I'd sooner face any weather thanHere the voice became indistinct, the people having passed on, and the wind howling through the high trees which bordered the lane. One of the party, however, lagged behind, and came up to the railings opposite Barnabas.

"Ah! Barney," said he, "why I heard you was the cow-boy with farmer Thomson, but I have not seen you for this many a day; give me your hand my boy." After their mutual and short salutations were over, the unexpected visitor, whose name was Thomas Wheeler, and who had been an early playfellow of Hill's, began to enquire how his

friend Barney liked his employment of driving the teams at plough, from 4 o'clock till after mid-day; then helping to milk the cows, feed the pigs, fodder the cattle, &c. All these things he spoke of very contemptuously, and' compared the ease with which he got plenty of every thing by his mode of life, with the hardship and drudgery which Barnabas was obliged to put up with, in order to obtain his scanty pittance. Then, after the exchange of a few friendly enquiries between these old friends, Tom bade Barnabas good night, and hurried after his comrades.

What Tom Wheeler had said soon began to make the impression which he intended. It was not long before Barnabas felt dissatisfied with a situation and employment which a few months before he solicited, to prevent his being a burden upon his widowed mother, Susan Hill, who by the hardest labour, was scarcely able to keep herself and children from

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