The Mountain Girl by Emma Payne Erskine Chapter 12 Page 11

under her influence, her gentle dreamer of a husband, who cared more for his fiddle, his books, and his sermons, gradually redeemed the soil from weeds and the buildings from dilapidation, until at last, with the proceeds of her weaving and his own hard labor, they saved enough to buy out the brothers’ interests.

By that time the younger son had fallen a victim to his wild life, and the other moved down into the low country among his wife’s people. Thus were the Merlins left alone on their primitive estate. Here they lived contentedly with Cassandra, their only child, and her father’s constant companion, until the tragedy which she had so simply related to David.

Her father’s learning had been peculiar. Only a little classic lore, treasured where schools were none