The Harvest home : A domestic romance

Preface

. The Author of "Harvest Home" presents his compliments to his numerous patrons—the readers of his work— and thanks them for the unexpected and unbounded support which they hare rendered him in becoming subscribers, and assures them the object of bis writing it was to further good and worthy ends; and how far he has succeeded, the support he has received shows, for tbe sale of the present has far outstripped that of the previous edition. In delineating the character of Caleb Kestrel, be has endeavoured to show hov far revenge would lead a bad disposition — what obstacles, what serious impediments it overcomes ; and how slight tbe reward when tbe evil-disposed are per mitted for a time to triumph over the honest, upright, and industrious. On the other haud he has attempted to illustrate, in the person of Amy, the suffering, enduring, patient soul, ever looking forward to better and happier times ; believing that, let the sky be ever so dark, the sun will shine more briskly for its temporary obscuity.

London, 1853, lil lillilll il 111 III llllllll Olllffl 111 1 Engraving, togethei with the Fellow Print, arc Paiuhtio Gratis, with No. 1 of HARVEST HOME, a Romance ui Great Interest, with which is also I'u.u.tt Cliutis, Ko, j, of thc Btuue wuik, ether with tbe Fellow I'riiit, are I'm *.i...ti..u Gratis, with No. I ol HARVEST 11 Gratis, No. 2 of the sume work. Romance of l I HOM E A DOMESTIC TALE. " Crowned with thc sickle and the wheaten sheaf "While Autumn, nodding o'er the yellow plain Comas jovial on." Tik;ipson_

Chapter I. The Farmer And The Steward

— THE LORD OF THE MANO.*:. — A CO KXElf SPOETS- MAN FALLS INTO A DILEMMA. Rowland Brough was one of the hest practical farmers in the North Riding of Yorkshire, where tillage is perhaps carried to as high a state of perfection as in any English county that can he mentioned. He had been successful too, for though not what may be called a wealthy man, he had realized a handsome sum, which was Ho. Ione day or other to come to his niece, Mary Everett, who had been brought up hy him ever since the death of her parents. Each year had added something to the store he was laying by, and the harvest to which we now more particularly allude was one of the most abundant that had occurred within his memory. The getting of it in, too, was favoured with the finest weather, and a happy, grateful man was farmer Brough, as he watched the last waggon load of corn drawn towards the homestead, and escorted thither by the men and women who laboured to bring about this much desired result.

He was still occupied in his own pleasing reflec tions when a friendly voice struck upon his ear, and looking abound he saw ap proaching*, Mr. Reves, the venerable steward of Derwent Hall, which might be seen at the distance of a few fields oft. " So, neighbour Brough," exclaimed the old man, "I have again to congratu late you on having gsthered in the best crops of any other farmer on the estates of my young master." " Ay, ay," answered the other, re turning the shake of the hand with warmth, " I have indeed much to be thankful for, not only as far as my prosperity in life goes, but for everything else that I most place my dependance on." " You have an excellent farm, and your rent is certainly very low," observed the steward. compassion on those who have to labour hard to pay him his rent.

At any rate his cousin, the late Mr. Clement Derwent,, though he unfortunately spent the greater part of his time in travelling abroad, was a kind hearted and indulgent landlord. But he had his reasons for leaving England, I believe, for they say he wronged some poor, over-confiding girl, who died of a broken heart, when she found that he re fused to marry her." " Ah !" sighed Reves, " the girl died, and Clement Derwent went abroad to seek oblivion for a crime that, when too late, he deeply deplored. At length chance threw in his way a young female child, whom he resolved to adopt, and if report speaks truly, he loved her as if she had been his own daughter." " She disappeared mysteriously, did she not?" " It is supposed she was stolen," replied the steward, "but upon that point, all is darkness and uncertainty.

However, be that as it may, Clement Derwent after wards died, and on his will being opened, it was discovered that he had left the whole of hia property to the child we are. speaking of." "Then how is it that his cousin, Mr. Cecil Derwent, is the possessor of all these estates ?" " By the will," answered Reves, " it was ordered that the child should have all the property if she was found within a certain number of years. In the event of nothing being he-id of her, Mr. Cecil Der went was to become the owner of the pro perty, but on condition that if the girl should ever be found, he is to give to her one half of that which he now holds." " Why, I can't complain of the rent," answered Brough; "and what is still better, 1 am not likely to pay a higher one, for the lease is long enough to last my time, and Mary's after me.

The wench, I suppose, will soon mate with young Frank Marldaie, of the Willow Farm, which adj ins mine, and then I shall give up business, so that the two estates may be made into one." " But are you aware that his landlord, Cecil Derwent, wants the Willow Farm for himself, and will not give another lease when the present one is expired?" " Squire Defwent would not be so un just to turn out a tenant who hos made the farm one of the best on his estate. ' "Well," observed the farmer, "at any rate it don't seem very likely that she will be found now." " I think not," replied Reves, " for 'arge rewards have been offered for any informa tion that might lead to her discovery, and, strange to say, no one has yet come for ward to claim it." " Perhaps, whoever stole the child murdered her for some re.son or other."

"I don't know that," replied the steward; " for there has long existed a great coolness between my master and Frank Marldale, and it may be that the young man will by and by find cut that he has done wrong in treating with contempt a person who may do him a serious injury." " Well," exclaimed the farmer, " I don't know much of this Cecil Derwent, for he has not been long with us, but as he was not always the rich man that he now is, I should tiiink he will have some little " Well," exclaimed the old man, " it must be confessed, my own though I sometimes turned in that direction, but on further consideration it seems to me that no one can have had a motive for such an aet." " Not to get possession of her money, think you ?" asked Brough. "Nay, my good friend," exclaimed the steward, "my master, Mr. Cecil Derwent, is the only person interested in the matter, and he, somewhat wild in his habits, is one of the last persons in the world who would commit such a crime as you allude to."

" Then it's my opinion the girl will one of these days be found." "Then the 'squire is an honest ir?n, though people hereabouts do say that he pays rather too much attention to their wives and daughters." " At any rate," answered Reves, " I can undertake lo say that my master will be well pleased if your prediction should hap pen to be fulfilled. It is true he would lose one half of the estates if such an event should take place ; but the projierty is a very large one, and sufficient still remains to support him in gentlemanly indepen dence. For my own part, however, 1 have no expectation that the girl will ever be heard of, for if still living, it is most likely she has been taken to some far distant country, where she will be kept in ignorance of the fortune to which she has so just a claim."

"A little harmless gallantry, ray dear fellow, believe me," said the steward, smiling. " Remember, he is young, hand some, and has not long emerged from com parative poverty to almost unlimited wealth. Let those, then, who are jealous, be watchful, and by and by their anxiety will cease, when they see him married." " Is there any chance of there being a mistress at the hall?" " Upon my word I am unable to satisfy you on that point," answered Reves, " for the truth is the squire is not over com municative, and it is not for a dependent like me to pry into affairs that belong not to the situ-lion 1 hold." "Still," replied Farmer Brough, "who ever it was that stole her away, must have done so for the sake of becoming possessed of the property that has been left her." " That's a sly rub at me, Master Reves," exclaimed the farmer, " but for all that I have perhaps as little curiosity as most folks.

I merely asked the question with out having any particular object in it, and you, like a prudent man, as you always are, don't choose to know anything of your master's affairs." " It is impossible to say what the motive was," returned the steward, " but I have sometimes thought there may have been a feeling of revenge in it, for the friends of the girl were entire strangers to Mr. Clement Derwent, and some of them may have attributed improper motives to his kindness. If I am right in that motive there is at once an explanation of that which has for so long a time been in veloped in mystery." " I don't think you have guessed it though, friend R.eves." Mr. Reves smiled in reply to this, shook hands with the farmer, and then continued his way onwards to the hall. Farmer Brough then took the path which led across the fields, and had not proceeded very far when he was encountered by his young landlord, 'Squire Derwent.

" So I see you have made good use of the fine weather we have been favoured with, and got in your crops whilst most others have scarcely got half through their harvest," said Cecil Derwent, as he came up to the sturdy yeoman. " Why not?" " Becau-e if the girl was alive she would have been produced before now for the sake of the reward." " So she would, under ordinary circumstances perhaps," answered the steward; " but, remember, she was stolen, and those who were guilty of the act know well the punishment that would fall on those who were concerned ir, the transaction. How ever, just at present everything is so wrapped up in impenetrable mystery, that we must wait with patience till chance affords us some clue by which we may effect a discovery." " Ay, squire," he replied, "thank Hea ven the corn is safely housed, and as to morrow will be the first of September, the fields are all ready for you to shoot over, if you have a mind to try the flavour of your own partridges."

" 1 shall pay an early visit here in the morning, depend on it," replied Mr. Der went, " for the sport is one that I am pas sionately fond of, and my steward tells me that game is particularly abundant this year on my estate." "Surely you don't mean to say that 'Squire Derwent is anxious for her to be found?" "1 never saw it more so," returned Brough, " for within the last ten minutes I have seen four covey? of birds that rose almost from under my feet." "Are you among those who raise an outcry against the game laws ?" demanded the young landowner. " Why, like a many other laws, there are faults to be found with it," answered Brough, " but I am not one of those that " Indeed, my friend, but I believe he is though," answered Reves, " for anything is preferable to suspense, and as I before observed, the property is so large that he can part with half of it, without any inconvenience.

Besides, he is now spending only his share of it in the expectation that some day or other the lawful claimant will nuke her appearance." say a gentleman ought not to lay claim to the birds that are found on his estate. Those who have property have a right to keep off intruders who would shoot over their lands without either with your leave or by your leave. But 1 don't like the system of preserving game, for it's the tenant-farmer that is obliged tc keep it, at an enormous sacrifice of his crops, and yet, if he ventures to kill so much as a single bird, he is liable to be treated as a common felon." to partake, and hanged be the man, won-.r.n or child that don't kick care to the devil on so happy sr. occasion." " And suppose an unbidden visitor should appear there ?" " He'll be welcome to the best I Can put before him."

"Say you so?" exclaimed Cecil Der went, "then I will be there to put your hospitality to the test." " Will you though, squire ?" " In good truth, I will," he replied, " though I was not honoured with a formal invitation." " Well, farmer," excliimed Derwent, " neither you nor any of my other tenants shall ever have reason to complain of me in that respect. On application to my steward, leave will nlways be given to sport over my lands; and as for hares, which are the greatest of all destroyers J. give my free permission to shoot them wherever and whenever they may be found." " Why, you see," exclaimed Rowland Brough, " I had a great mind to take tbe liberty to ask you, but I thought it might give offence to invite a gentleman so far above me." " There can be no offence in a well meant compliment," answered Derwent, " and as I wish to live upon the best terms with all my tenants, I will become one ot" those that are to partake of your hospi tality this evening " "That's kind of you, squire, at any rate," said Rowland Brough, " and it's just the sort of conduct that all landlords ought to pursue towards their tenant?.

You'll have many friends about here for it, depend on it, sir, and especially if you fix your residence at the hall, instead of going abroad to spend your money as our late landlord did." " I'm glad to hear you say so," exclaimed Brough, " but I hope you'U excuse my throwing out a little hint.'' " To be sure I will ; what is it?" "To remember that my niece, Mary Everett, is engaged to marry Frank Marl dale, one of your tenants." " I intend to do so," answered Cecil Derwent; " but my cousin had some ex cuse for leaving tbe neighbourhood, since it brought reflections to his mind that were unendurable." " Ay, ay," laughed Cecil Derwent, "I'll not abuse your confidence, depend on it. But what induced you to imagine that I should pny particular attention to the young lady ?" " You have heard then about the poor girl who died of a broken heart, when she found that he had deceived her with a false promise of marriage?"

" Why the truth of it is," he replied " rumour says you are rather fond of the female sex." '* I have read it all," rep'ied the squire, " but though my cousin had some faults, they were counterbalanced by many very excellent qualities, as you no doubt know. But to change this melancholy subject, farmer, — it is usual, 1 believe, when the last load of coin is carried to the barn, to give what is called the Harvest-home supper." " Then for once rumour has tolcl the truth," exclaimed Derwent. " I love all the dear creatures who are not very old or ugly, but am not so dijhonourable as to injure the reputation of any woman. Be sides, her lover will of course be pi and he would be a sufficient check even were I inclined to piay the gallant with your pretty niece." " That's just what it is that makes me feel rather uneasy," answered the farmer.

" Frank Marldale hasn't a very high opinion of you, and I w*as afraid of a quar rei taking place if he suspected you had any designs upon his intended." " Oh, yes, sir, that i3 ahvays done in these parts." " And you, who appear to be such a genuine sample of the old English farmer, do not of course mean to break through so commendable a custom?" " While he lives," exclaimed the other, "you will never find Rowland Brough give up any of the good old habits of his anc-i s tors. 1 could almost as soon forswear my religion, which Heaven forbid 1 as omit the hospitality that our ancestors took so honourable a pr.de in. Ay, sir, wi have real, substantial fare at the farm house to-night; all my peop'e are invited " The foolish fellow might say what he liked," answered Derwent, "but I should have sufficient command over myself not to resent it.

In good truth, far know not of any reason for his uKi.kc of me." " Well, then, I can tell you how it began," replied Brough. " The Willow V Farm, which he holds, has been tenanted by his family for something more than a hundred years, and he thinks it a hard thing, after all this time, that you should talk of turning him out of it on the day that his present lease expires." " The truth is," answered Cecil Derwent, " I want to add that farm to my park, which is too small in proportion with the hall. That is my only motive, and if Marl dale thinks himself aggrieved he ought to have spoken to me upon the subject, in stead of showing his resentment by sulki ness." rather better than you do yourself," replied the yeoman ; " for after being on this spot for nearly three score years, there are few persons or places that I don't know for miles round the neighbourhood.

In a word, Squire Derwent, there is only one farm on your estate that will be vacant within the next dozen years, and that happens to be the land held by Frank Marl dale." " At any rate I have no wish to be un just towards him," said Derwent, " and will think this matter well over before I decide upon what is to be done. To night, farmer, I mean to avail myself of your hospitality, but, remember, not a word must be said to your young friend as to the conversation that has passed between us." " It would have been better to have done that certainly," exclaimed Brough; "but perhaps he didn't think of it, and as we are all of the same opinion, I hope his con duct in this case will not make you think any the worse of him." " As for thinking ill of the young man for being loath to leave the farm, it is im possible that I can do so," answered the squire.

"It is only natural that he should wish to continue in the house of his an cestors, and if any other plan can be thought of for the enlargement of my park, I will give Frank Marldale another lease, for any reasonable term that he asks for." They then parted, and Cecil Derwent di rected his steps homewards, but scarcely had he proceeded a couple of hundred yards than he was startled by hearing a couple of loud reports, as if from a double barrelled gun. The sound came from the adjoining preserves, and the squire was angrily making his way towards it, when a singu larly looking being was seen hastily leaving the place, in pursuit of his servant, who appeared to have been wounded ; as they approached, Cecil Derwent drew himself aside in order to escape observation, and from the conversation that followed he discovered that one of the strangers was a cockney sportsman from London, and the fther his groom or tiger, who had received few spent shots in his head, which for tunately was too thick to ha»e sustained any very serious injury.

Having ascertained these facts, Mr. Derwent stepped forward and demanded the names of the persons who had intruded on the estate. "What do you want to know our names for?" inquired the one who seemed to be the master. "Oh!" exclaimed farmer Brough, " when I tell him this how differently he will think of you." " It must, not be mentioned to him yet." " May I ask why not ?" " Oh, there are reasons for it," replied* Cecil Dem * nt ; " in the first place, I woul J not pu his honourable opinion by doing wh _r all, may only be an act of justice, and, secondly, I may find it neces sary to take his farm for the purpose I have mentioned. However, be that as it may, 1 will take care that he has another in every respect as good." " That won't do, sir," returned the farmer, shaking his head. " To take the necessary means to con vince you that private property is not to bein'ruded on with impunity."

"Why not?" " Firstly, because he'll never feel himself "Intruded on! Do you call our being here an intrusion?'' at home in any other house than the one he was born in." "Well?" " I do indeed," answered Cecil Derwent, " and I rather think the magistrate will be of the same opinion when he hears the case." "And, secondly, squire, you must turn out some other tenant to make room for him, and Frank Marldale will never accept your offer, if that's to be the case." "Magistrate!" exclaimed the cockney; " what has any magistrate to do with a gentleman that has got his shooting cer tificate in his pocket?" "The certificate," answered Derwent, " But I will inquire of Mr. Reves if I have not a farm that is vacant." " I can save you the trouble, squire, by telling you that there is not one," ex claimed Rowland Brough.

" Humph ! you seem to be acquainted with my affairs." " I know them as well, and perhaps " does not authorise you to trespass upon private property, nor to kill game earlier than the time prescribed bylaw." "Stuff!" exclaimed the other, "don't the almanac tell us that partridge shooting begins on the first of September?" " True, but this happens to be only the thirty-first of August." " What of that ?" demanded the cockney "How so?" "Because my father was a pawnbroker, and we who are in that profession often meet with gentlemen who have favoured them with a call on business matters." quickly. "A day can make no difference surely; — and even if it did, I've shot no thing except my own servant, which 1 suppose I have a right to do as 1 like." " 1 have asked you for your name, sir, and it seems you want to shuffle out of giving me a direct answer."

" Believe me, sir, it cannot have been so in the present instance." "Very possibly, sir, very possibly," answered Popjoy, "sol beg you will not be offended at a little passing joke of mine. Besides, sir, you are not talking to one of your every-day common sort of people, for though ray father was a pawnbroker, his son scorned the vulgar trade, and when the old man popped himself off to another world, 1, his only son and heir, cut the concern, and set up for a gentleman." " Why should I answer a mere game keeper ?" demanded the other with lu dicrous pomposity. " I am a gentleman, sir, and shall tell my name to no one byt your master." " Indeed ! then it so happens that you are now standing in the presence of Cecil "Which," observed Cecil Derwent, "is a part that I dare say you find it more difficult to sustain than the former one."

Derwent, the owner of the property on ■which you hive thought proper to intrude." " Oh ! that's quite another thing," exclaimed the cockney, drawing himself up. " You should have told me before who you were, and then all this disagreeable misunderstanding would have been avoided. Here is my card, sir : — Brassy Popjoy, Esq. That's my name, sir, and the object that brought me here is to kill a few birds by way of bringing my band in against I come to the place I have taken in the Highlands of Scotland, for the shooting season." "It seems then, Mr. Popjoy,'' replied the squire, " that we are not to be honoured with along visit." " Oh, dear no," he replied, " I've paid a hundred pounds for the tight of shooting upon some moors in the north, and I only just stopped here for a day or two, because I he..rd there was very good sport to be had on the Derwent estate."

" No," he replied, " I find it easy enough, for the old man died worth plenty of tin, and that's ahvays a passport, you know, with good society." "If by tin you mean money," said Mr. Derwent, " it will only admit its possessors into a certain species of society, that your well born and highly educated gentlemen avoid. Not that I doubt the respectability of the class of persons you speak of, Mr. Popjoy." "I should think not," exclaimed the cockney, " or my old dad must have worked to very little purpose, when he was scraping and scraping to leave all he could to his son and heir, which, as I said before, sir, is no other than myself." " I am glad to hear, sir, that your circumstances are so good." " Well, eight hundred a year ain't to be sneezed at, you know, Mr. Derwent," answered the other pompously, "and as I flatter myself my face and figure are somewhat more than passable, I expect by and by to make it about three times as much."

"By a wealthy marriage, I presume ?" " You presume very correctly," answered Popjoy. "There's three or four rich gals ogling at me already ; but, poor things, I pity them, for they are all doomed to disappointment, and pei haps broken hearts." "Your sport," laughed Derwent, "appears to have been 'rather in earnest, if one may judge by the woeful looks of your groom." " What, poor Trubbs?" exclaimed Pop joy. " Oh, it was all his own fault, the foolish fellow. 1 told him to go and beat some bushes, and at the moment that some birds fiew out he must needs pop up his head, which received some few stray shots from my gun; luckily for him, however, there was no making any impression, and ali he has to complain of is the loss of a little of his mad blood. But upon my life, Mr. Derwent, this is a very pleasant meeting, and you have no idea of the pleasure it would afford me to have your permission to pay you a visit at the hall."

"Because you cannot return their af fections ?" " Exactly so," replied the cockney con ceitedly, "if there is onething that 1 detest more than another, it is vulgarity. You understand what I mean, Mr. Derwent; a man should never marry into a low family." "You forget, sir, that we are perfect .strangers to each other." " The young ladies you speak of then cannot boast of their birth or pedigree?" "I know nothing about pedigrees,'' " And yet we have been often in com. pany together." answered the other, " but the son of a rich old pawnbroker ain't going to throw him self away upon common riffraff. Now " WThy he wanted to gammon me into marrying his daughter." " And that, itappears.youhadbeen very willing to do." " Right, but I was a deluded young man," replied the cockney; "I rjfceved he had plenty of money, till one morning while looking through the gazette of that day, I saw among the list of bankrupts, the name of Samuel Swankey, licensed victualler, as large as life.

From that moment I cut the connexion, and am now at liberty to offer my hand, heart, and fortune to the first young lady of wealth and respectability who may be desirous of taking to herself a husband." there's Susan Dawks, rather a good looking girl, that will have about a thousand a year when the old chap drops off the hooks. Sut then Dawks was a tallow chandler, and 1 could never bear people of that trade after passing the melting-house in St. Paul's-churchyard; the very thought of a tallow chandler's daughter made me sick." " But she may be a very amiable girl." r " She's a girl of sound judgment or she would never have set her cap at me," coni tinued Popjoy. " And for that matter, so ■ was Selina Higgins, whose father had grown I wealthy on the profits of a green grocery I business. She was fond of me, as I thought, and the match was almost as good as made up, when one day I met her in Newgatestreet, leaning upon the arm of a dandylooking counter jumper."