Now that he was well on in years, he had been advanced to the position of house-servant, but he still had an eye upon the stable and over the whole farm.

The mows were neatly filled with sweet-smelling hay, and the bins were piled full of wheat and oats and barley, all the product of the farm, which extended over the hill-side far away into the valley below.

On the side of the house opposite the barnyards stood the wash-house with its spacious drying-ground, and not far away, but quite concealed by a high hedge from the house and garden, was the tiny cottage which the owner had kindly allowed the school-master's widow to occupy for several years past.
On the evening of which we write, the warm sunlight lay softly on the hillside, revealing the red and white daisies which nestled everywhere in the rich green grass.

A shaggy dog was basking in the open space before the house door, lazily glancing about now and then to see what was stirring.

All was quiet, however, and he peacefully dozed again after each survey.