, 1842-07-23
III.

NJ tic CiOSc vi d plcuSdiit HpIli
day, Mr.. Atkins sat at his kitchen fire.
side with Charley upon his knees
"Wife," said he to Mrs. Atkins, who
was busily preparing the evening
meal, Sis 1t not a year since Abby
left hamer
"Why, husband; let me think; ] al
ways clean up the house thoroughly
just before fast day, and had done
it when Abby went away. remem-
Der speaking to her about it, and tell
ing her it was wrong to leave me at
such a busy time, and she said,
Smother / will be athome to do it all
next year. Yes, it is a year, and |
should not be surprised if she should
come this week"
"Perhaps she vii! not come at ALL"
said Mr.. Atkins with a gloomy look,
'she has written US but few letters,
and they have been very shor. and
unsatisfactory. | suppose she has
sense enough TO know that no news
is better than bad news, and having
nothing pleasant to tell about herself,
she thinks she will tell US nothing at
all. But if | ever get her home a.
gain, will keep her here. | assure
you, her first year in Lowell shall al
so be her last.
"Husband, told you my fears, and
if you had sci up your authority,
Abby would have been obliged to
stay at home, but perhaps she is doing
pretty well. You know she is not
accustomed to writing, and that may
account for the few and short letters
we have received, but they have all
even the shortest, contained the as
surance that she would be home at
the close Of the year."
spa the stage has stopped here"
said little Charley, and he bounded
from his fathers knee. The next
moment the room rang with the shout
Abby has come! Abby has GOMEZ"
In a few moments more, she was in
the midst Of the joyful throng. Her
father pressed her hand in silence,
ewes: aars gushed frgsp. IhsE .m9ther's
ciamorous with delight, all but little
Charley, to whom Abby was a stran-
ger, and who repealed with terror all
her o~vertures for n better acquain-
lance. Her parents gazed upon her
with speeches. pleasure, for they felt
that a change for the better had Ia
ken place in their nee hayward girl.
Yes, there stood before them, 4 little
taller and a little thinner, and when
the flush of emotion had faded away.
perhaps a little paler; but her eyes
were bright in their joyous radiance.
and then the smile Of health and in
noclnce was playing around her rosy
lips. She carefully laid aside her
new straw bonnet, with its plain
trimming oflight blue ribbon, and her
dark merino dress showed to the best
advantage her neat and symmetrical
form. There was more delicacy OF
personal appearance than when she
left them. and also more soitneSs OF
manner, for constant collision with
so many females had worn off the lit.
tie asperities which had marked her
conduct while at home.
"Well. Abby. how many silk gowns
have you got?' said her father. as she
opened a large new trunk. "Not one,
father" said she; and she fixed heI
dark ewes upon him with an express
sion which told all. "But here are
some little books for the children
and a new calico dress for mother
and here is a nice black silk handker
chief for you to YEA around you
neck on Sunday; accept ii, dear faith
|. er. for it is your daughters first gift
; "You had better have brought mt
a pair of spectacles, for ! nm sure
cannot see any thing" There were
| tears in the rough farmers eyes, bu
$ he feigned to laugh and joke that they
might not be perceived. "Bnt wha
S did you with all your money
81 thought you had better leave !
E there" said Abby, and she placed he
;. bank book in her fathers hand. Mr.
e Atkins looked a moment, and tn
S forced smile faded away. The sur
= prise had been too great, and tear
fell fast from the fathers eyes.
sit is but a little" said Abby. aBu
it was all you could save" replid he
father, sand | am proud Of you, AT
bv, yes, proud that am the father c
e such a girl. Its not this paltry sur
e which pleases me SO much, but tn
prudence, self command, and real a
=; lection for us, which you have d.
played. But was it not sometime
n hard 10 resist temptation"
II "Yes, father, you can never kno'
d how hard; but it was the thought
d This night which sustained me throue