It was delightful to hear the rustling of the long green blades, and see the bright golden tassels waving in the breeze.

The heart of the farmer was glad as his eye glanced over his promising crop of "mealies." But there was another promising crop that still more gladdened his heart--his fine children.
There they are--all around him.
Hans--the oldest--steady, sober Hans, at work in the well-stocked garden; while the diminutive but sprightly imp Jan, the youngest, is looking on, and occasionally helping his brother.

Hendrik--the dashing Hendrik, with bright face and light curling hair--is busy among the horses, in the "horse-kraal;" and Truey--the beautiful, cherry-cheeked, flaxen-haired Truey--is engaged with her pet--a fawn of the springbok gazelle--whose bright eyes rival her own in their expression of innocence and loveliness.
Yes, the heart of the field-cornet is glad as he glances from one to the other of these his children--and with reason.

They are all fair to look upon,--all give promise of goodness.

If their father feels an occasional pang, it is, as we have already said, when his eye rests upon the cherry-cheeked, flaxen-haired Gertrude.
But time has long since subdued that grief to a gentle melancholy.