The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1858-12-22

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and this, for this poor measure of what
he called love, she WAS ready to offer, an
infinite sacrifice.
AS subtle flash of lightning will
show in moment whole landscape,
tower, town, winding stream, and distant
sea, so that one subtitle ray Of feeling
seemed in Inoment to reveal to james
the whole of bis past life; and it seemed
to him 50 poor, 50 meagre, SO shallow, by
the side of that childlike woman, to whom
the noblest of feelings were unconscious
matters of course, that q sort of awe
awoke in him; like the apostles of old,
he feared as he entered into the cloud"
it seemed as if the deepest string of some
eternal sorrow had vbrated between them.
After moments pause, he spoke in
low and altered voice.
"Mary. | am sinner. No psalm or
sermon ever taught it to me, but | see it
now. Your mother is quito right, Mary
you are too good for me; | am no mate
for you. Oh, what would you think of
me, if you knew me wholly9 l have
lived d mean, miserable, shallow, unwor-
thy life. You are worthy, you are q
saint, and walk in white! Oh, what
upon earth could ever make you care so
much for me?"
=" Well, then, James, you will be good
Won't you talk with Dir. H.?"
"Hang DR., Ii. p said James. "Now,
Mary, l beg your pardon, but I can't
make head or tail of n word DR.. H. says.
l don't get hold of it, or know what he
would be at. You girls and women don't
know your power. Why, Mary, you are
living gospel. You have always bad a
strange power over Us boys. You never
talked religion much, but have seen high
fellows come away from being with You
as still and quiet as one feels when one
goes into church. l can't understand
all the hang of prodestination, and moral
ability, and natural ability, and Gods
efficiency, and mans agency, which DR..
H. is so engaged about; but can under
stand yo,t-you can do me good!'
ooh, James, can 2"
"Mary, Pm going to confess my sins.
| saw, that somehow or other, the wind
was against me in Aunt katy's quarter,
and you know we fellows who take up
the world in both fists don't like to be
beat If there's opposition. it sets us on.
Now | confess | never did care much
bout religion, but | thought, without
being really hypocrte, I'd just let yoa
try to save my soul for the sake of getting
you; for there's nothing surer to hook o
woman than trying to save q fellows soul.
It's dead shot, generally, that. Now
our ship sails tonight, and | thought Id
just come across this path in tho orchard
to speak to you, You know l used al
way S to bring you peaches and juneatings
across this way, and once | brought you
ribbon"
eyes, I've got it yet, James"
"Well, now, Mary, all this seems mean
to me,-mean, to try and trick and snare
you, who are so much too good for me.
/ felt very proud this morning that | was
to 90 out first mate this time, and that |
should command a ship next voyage. I
meant to have asked you for a promise,
but [ don't. Only, Mary, just give mo
your little Bible, and III promise to read
it all through soberly, end see what it all
comes to. And pray for me; and if,
while I'm gone, good man comes who
loves you, and is worthy of you, why,
take him, Mary, that's my advice"
g James, am not thinking Of any such
things; don't ever mean to be married.
And I'm glad you don't ask me for any
promise, because il would be wrong to
give it; mother don't even like me to be
much with you. But I'm sure all | have
said to you to-day is right; shall tell
her exactly all have said.'
"lf Aunt Katy knew what things we
fellows are pitched into, who take the
world headforcmost, she wouldn't be so
selfish. Mary, yoa girls and women
don't know the world you live IN; you
ought to be pure and good; you are not
as we are. You don't know what men,
what women, --no, they're moi women =
what creatures, boset us in every foreign
port, and boarding houses that are gates
of hell; and then, if afellow comes back
from all this and don't walk exactly
straight, you just draw up the hens OF
your garments and stand close to the
wall, for fear he should touch you when
he passes. don't mean you, Mary, for
YOU are different from most; but if you
would do what you could, you might save
us.-But it's no use talking, Mary. uive
nc the Bible; and please be kind to my
dove,-for | had hard time getting HIM
across the water, and | don't want him
to die"
If Mary had spoken all that welled up
in her little heart at that moment, she
MIGHT have said too much; but duty had
its babitual seal upon her lips. She took
the little Bible from her table and gave It
With trembling hand, and James turned ''r Z,
to 90. In moment he turned back, and
stood irresolute.
Mary" he said, eve we are cousins i:
NAV never come back; you might kiss
me this once" ,
The kiss was given and received II
silence. and James disappeared among
the thick trees.
. Come, child" said Aunt Katy, look
inc in. there is Deacon Twitchel's chais'
in sight, are you readys"