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in their service: and it will indeed be most gratifying to my feelings should this little book be deemed worthy of the approbation of my friends and the public, whose kind encouragement of my earlier attempts I shall ever gratefully remember.

C. M.

RHODA,

OR

THE EXCELLENCE OF CHARITY.

CHAPTER I.

THE MANOR HOUSE.

RHODA was the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Bloomfield, who resided close to a pretty village, near the coast, in a very ancient mansion called the Manor-house.

Its external appearance was more remarkable for an air of comfort, than for architectural beauty; and reminded one of the hospitable dwellings we read of in the legends of bygone times. The

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interior perfectly corresponded with this idea. There was a spacious entrancehall, around which were suspended fulllength portraits of ladies and gentlemen, in antique costumes, looking so grand, and so stately, as though they would say, "Take care how you behave, for we are watching you narrowly:" and truly their eyes did seem to follow, whichever way you turned.

There were also, in this hall, suits of armour, fowling-pieces, hunters' bugles, stags' heads, with their branching antlers; stuffed birds, and, here and there, the brush of a fox.

Then you proceeded to a vast diningroom, the wainscot being of oak, and the high chimney-piece of the same material, very skilfully carved, repre

senting sportsmen in ardent pursuit of It was a noble room, and

their game.

from the wide bow-window was seen a smooth lawn bounded by an avenue of lofty fir-trees, so large, that five persons joining hands could scarcely span the trunks of some of them.

There were, also, the painted drawingroom, the library, and the snug breakfast-room.

The stairs, of polished oak, conducted you to large chambers, hung with curiously wrought tapestry. In these rooms were old-fashioned bedsteads, with gilt canopies, and silken drapery. The fireplaces were deep, high, and wide enough to contain a tea-party very comfortably; there were odd-looking chairs and stools, the backs and seats of which had been

embroidered, in days of yore, by some dame, whose portrait was in the entrance-hall. The other furniture consisted of convenient wardrobes of very ancient form, and large oak chests, wherein a person might lie down quite at his ease, provided the lids were not closed, for then, I presume, it would not be so pleasant.

My young readers may now, perhaps, form some idea of the old Manor-house. It certainly was an interesting place. Rhoda loved it, for it was her home, and she thought there could be no other home like that. She possessed a very affectionate and intelligent friend in her cousin Lucy, who was many years older than Rhoda, and assisted Mrs. Bloomfield in educating the little girl.

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