, 1842-05-14


honor, as the world would consideI
it, bound her lover 10 his troth, she
felt no misgivings as TO his fidelity
She trod the even tenor of her way
difiusing cheerfulness and comfort
around her, thinking for every body
remembering every thing and forget,
ting only herself. None sought hel
sympathy or assistance in vain; in hel
own family--in the chamber of sick
ness or death, among her friends,-
in the hovel of poverty and distress
she was alike useful and kindly
kssery one loved her, and sven those
who tested her powers of endurance
most fully, almost idoIized the unset
fish and affcc,ionate daughter and
sister.
Years passed on, and brought their
usual chances and charges. Caroline
became a mother. and fancied that
her cares were quite too heavy for
her TO bear alone. Edith was there.
fore summoned to assist and soon
found herself occupying a similar sta
ton in her sisters nursery to that
which she had lohg filled at home
The baby was often sick and always
cross; nobody but Edith could man
age him, and therefore Edith took the
entire charge of him, while the moth
er paid visits and the nurse gossiped
in the kitchen. Maria too began to
assert claims upon her. She, poor
thing, was entirely too young for the
duties she had undertaken. Thought
less, fond of dress, and profuse in
household expenditures, she had no
idea Of systematic housekeeping, and
Edith was called in TO place matters
on a better footing. But before
Maria had attained her eighteenth
year, her family was rather literally
increased by the addition of twin
daughters, and again the agency of
the useful sister was required. Her
girlhood had been consumed amid
womanly cares, and now her years
Of blooming womanhood were to be
wasted in supplying the deficiencies
Of those who had incurred RESPONSE
bilities which exceeded their powers.
Yet Edith never though. Of murmur-
ing. She had been 80 long accustom-
ed to live for others that selfsacrifce
had now become habitual, and she
never dreamed too much might be
asked of or granted by sis,erly afec-
ton.
1t is a common remark that the
years seem TO grow shorter as we ad-
vance in life, and they who could
once cxclaim ga whols year" in &C
cents Of unqualified alarm at its
length, at last find themselves refer
ring to the same space in the careless
tone Of indifference rs "onlya year"
Twelve months had seemed almost
an eternity to Edith when her lover
first babe her farewell, and the time
that interviewed between his letters to
her brother seemed almost endless.
But as she became engrossed in new
cares, and her youth began to slip by,
the years seemed to ~revolve with
greater speed, even although Charles
was now in a distant part of the
country and the correspondence be-
tween him and her lover if it was
still continued, never met her eye
She had formed an intimacy with
Edwards mother, and, as,he old lady
very fond of needle-worked pin
cushions, net purses, worsled fire
screens, and all such little nick nacks
obtained without expense, Edith
soon established in her good
graces. She was thus enabled to
sec Edwards letters 10 his parents,
and though they were very business
like commonplace affairs, not at all
resembling a lady's beauideal of a
epistIe, still Edith was satisfi-
ed. II was strange that so strong,
so abiding, so ~pervading a passion
should have taken possession of a
creature SO gentle, so almost cold in
her %demeanor. But the calmest ex-
terror often conceels the strongest
emotions, and, if the flow Of Edith's
feelings was quietit was only because
they worked for themselves a deeper
and less fathomable channel.
Seventeen years,-a long period in
the annals of time, and a longer in
the records of the heart; seventeen
years passed ere Edward Ellis re-
to his native land. He had
left it a romantic warm hearted youth
and he renturned a respectable, in
telligeat, wealthy man. The ambi-
ton which would have led him to
seek literary fame, had been expend-
ed in search of other distinctions in
tho world of commerce.. He had