, 1859-01-20

rule over them how patiently he waittd on
them iu their lrubyhood ; and how thought
fully self denying be was, to provide for their
future and the education to which he had al
ways aspired. Mr. James would never listen
to lt-that Was one thing ; and, assured Of
this, his wife began her wonderful story,
when he came in ut night, by this time allow
ing herself to dwell, with not q little pride
on the destiny that was offered to her child,
glerying harmlsssly, as she supposed in the
position and ard heirship that were laid trl~
butte at his feet, only to be rejected.
'sUe's going to sell uighwood, and 90
abroad. Yes; hs told me 50 this morning.
/ always thought he was restless disposition
though more liberal man never knew /: he
sows money wherever he goes. Well, it may
be the best VIC could do" And the farmer
folded his arms, mocdily.
Mrs. James could not believe that she un-
dcrstood him. 'About Joe, not the farm, l
mean," she said.
Gay, for the little man ard ourselves too,
a thousand dollars isn't to he found lying At
the door every day, aud there's one chance
in ten, that the next landlord may take Il fan
cy to keep US here. 'Twon't be SO easy to he
set adrift in the world, and therc'd be ono
lass mouth to fed"
Mrs. James felt her heart swell with an an
gar and resentment that, for the moment was
almost madEess-a wild terror, too Tor, she
kaen her husbands 6rmness Of purpose too
we'll to think Of opposing her will TO hiE. But
she would in this cas.. No man should rob
her Of her child. What was father? What
and nourishcd through WEAKNESS, aud fear,
and suffering? She would brave him to lis
face if he dared to think OF it. She would
leave him, and follow her child to the ends
of the earth. "One mouth less to fced!'
1Icarilesa, selG=h calculation! She would
work her fingers to the bone before that
should part them.
Gacat drops OF pcrspiration stood on her
forehead, as she tried TO keep outward self.
coutrol, and heard, for the first time III all
her life tauutins words, only her own fret
ful rcpining, cast back at her from one Hho
had heretofore borne with her indrmity tor pa
tient1y. Even after her husband was asleep, Tor
the first time in all their lives without good.
night kis. for she was too angry and miserable
to claim t,and he too sulen to offer the token
Of affectionate good will-ehc lay awake and
wretched, clasping her child as closely IS il
some great peril threatened him, and wettinE
his hair and soft baby face with her salt tears.
All the blessings OF her life seemed to stand
before her upbraldinsly and she felt ;1s if
they we're vanishing from her sight.
Leave uighwood! the quiet home that lad
seemed as much theirs as ii they owned every
toot OF the soil-the yiucs aud wild flowers
sue had planted and trained the shadow Of
the trees! even the daily Eight of those great
granite rocks that she could fancy in tue
moonlight, rising in their sharp but familiar
outlines her home where MI ber chill
drcn had been born Though what vas
that to the threatened loEs Of her bus-
bands lore and the child, if q separation
worse than death was to come between
them? She pictured it to herself. Il be died
now in bis babyhood, her eyes would have
the last look Of luye, the waxen fingers clasp
her own before they we're reached out to the
him for the grave, and lay nim in bis little
coffin ; but to live, and never see him, never
know Of his welfare or, if they met, to be
looked upon with tue cold indifference Of one
who sees stranger, and perhaps with con-
tempt for her humble lot in life! So she tor
tured herself, until the moon went down, and
left only hopeless darkness to her straining
eyes.
1t was very hare to rouse from the unre-
freshng sleep that came ut length, and 80
about her morning duties with that weary
heartachc and no word OF comfort from tlc
lip. that bad never denied it to her before
but her husband kept the same gloomy 81
lcnce, only saying, when be went out: "Sead
for me when she comes again"
Mrs. James had heard OF people who pray
ed, aud for life, in great extremltics, and she
tried to pray now f., as she welt about her
work, never losing sight Of her child, and
now and then leaving all to take him in her
arms, and make him repeat again and again
the promise sue put into words for him, that
lc would never leave her, words that had no
meaning to him, but comfortcd ler, never
theless~
Oh, how slowly the morning wore onl She
began looking across the lawn long before
| the dressing-bell for breakfast sounded at
| 1Iighwood, and tyemblcd with every step,
| while Mrs. Livingston still slept under her
duted muslin canopy. She too had "pre-
vented tue nightwatchcs," but with an
| older and heavier grief than her
nelghbor had ever dreamed of-a new
revelation Of her husbands selfish heart
lessness, from which the child she covet-
| ed promised her relief It Was wonderful that
ward devotion which be h3d paid her at times,
it vas fancy Of bis exacting, capricious ma
ture.
Not that Mrs. James Intended to send for
her husband as he had desired her to do :; far
from it! Mrs. Livingston should at least h:ar
mothers denial OF any temptation wealth or
position could offer; aud though she prepared
| his midday meal Tiththe cxactness and pune
tuallty of habit, ste would not sit down before
it, and dissemblc the pain and sorrow he ha.l
c:Ased her, but, taking the Guild, went into
her room, shut The door, and lay down upon
the bed, burying her face in the pillow in
dreary wrclchedness. She did not hear thu
door open softly, OF Fee the loving, piliful ey-
l oF hat Had v,-;+k.
they had known but few in q long lifetime
ut seeing her lying prone and exhausted With
the conflict she hud passed through-passed
through, for ste no longer felt anger OF re-
sentiment, or opposed her will to !" the Giyc1
Of life OF DEATH" who had appointed her lot
90 that, when she became aware that her lus
band was knceling beside her, she did not re.
sist the arms that drew her closely to grsat
manly heart, but lay there, sobbing heavily
while the dsordered hair that tell around
her face WAS pushed back, md emoothed by
hard but kindly hands.
''And so you thought would take hin
away from you, that bribes or wanl
could make me part With one Of them
It was hard lesson, Mary and per
haps it was too cruel bnt I only mean
right wanted you to sec that it wa
easier to say than to do, to spare any Of them
Here's last nights kiss, and here's to-day y
and there's one to ease you up little. Dom
take On 60 now! don't! don't, when you sct
did not mean to say yes, any more than yor
did!" And 50 Mrs. James came slowly t
understand how her husbands flrmness ant
good sense had taken advantage Of the ofIe.
to teach herself knowledge, and bring back
if possible, some ef the old cheerfulness thai
had once made his home 50 happy.
When tho apple-blossoms whitened th'
door-yard the next spriag.tide, Mrs. Jame
sat under the shade, and sang at her work a
in years before. It was harder still thai
. when Mrs. Livingston first came aud sat ther
, beside her, bringing, unwittingly, envy ani
; discontent to lodge under the slopip
roof. There was another to do for
| baby girl, whose cradle was brough
7 to the doorstep that she might b
: under her mothers watchful, loving eyes
, Little Joe tcrambled over the rocks with th
! twins now; and many sad rent was the COL
sequence; but his mother repaired them vii
: I'M gly, with plying thoughts Of the poor lad
!, WHO had seemed 90 cruelty disappointed whe
, bis father refused to let him 60, remainin
, | prQof aeaiuat tears and eatreaties when b1ib<