, 1859-12-13

tic same time, place, rranner and form from
years. end to years end There was old Mas
ter Rose, n dog after his own heart, who al
ways walked as If he was learning the multi
plicatlon table. There was an old clock for
ever ticking away in the kitchin corner. There
were the never FILLING supply Of red peppers
and yearly h0lfyhocks aud morning glories
blooming around the windows. There was
the best room with its sanded floor, md ever
green asparagus bushes, its cupboard with q
glass door in one corner, aud tho stand with
tho Bible and almanac On it in tho other
There was Aust Betsey, who never looked
any older, because she always looked IS old as
Sue could; WHO always dried her catnip and
wormwood last Of September, and began to
clean house tho first Of May. IN short this
was the land Of continuance.
Old Time never seemed 10 take it into his
head to practice either addition, subtraction or
multiplication OIL the sum total. This Aunt
Detsey, afore-named, was tho neatest and most
efficient piece Of ;.uman machinery that ever
operated in forty places 1T once She was ul-
ways everywhere, predomiuating oyer and
seeing to everything; and though my uncle
Il ID been twice married, Aunt Betseys rule
and authority had never been broken. She
reigned over lis wires when living, and
rciSned after them when dead and SO seemed
likely to reign to the end Of the chapter. But
ny unclcs last wife left Aunt Betsey much
lcss tractable subject to manage than had ever
iallcn 10 ler lot before. Little Edward was
the child Of my uncle's old age, and brighter,
merricr littlo blossom never grew on the edge
of an avalanche. He had been committed TO
tue nursing Of his grandmamma until he ar
rived at tho age Of indiscrction, and then my
old uncle's heart yoarned towards him. and lie
was sent for at home. Ills introduction into
the family excited a terrible sensation. Never
was there such coutemner Of dignitics, such
violator Of such high places and sancti-
ties, Us this very Muster Edward. 1t was
all in vain to Try to teach him decorum.
lie was the most outrdgcously merry little
ELF that ever shook . head Of curls, and it was
all the same to him whether it was Sabbath
day or any other day. He laughed and fro!ick-
I'd with everybody md everything that came
i'll his way, not even excepting lis solemn old
1ather; aud when you saw hin, with his arms
round tie old mans neck, and his bright blue
eyes and blooming check pressing ott br the
black llce Of Uncle Abel, you almost fanc!ed
that you saw spring caressiag winter. Cacle
Ahels metaphysics were sorcly puzzled how
q bring this sparkling, danc;ng compound Of
~plfil AAA 1AAkAcl 4ulJ 4NAl9QAA1tC
tor be did mischief with an energy and pcrse~
vcrance that were truly astonishing. Once be
secured the floor with Aunt Botscy's Scotch
snuff, and once he spent l!alf an hour in trying
70 make Rose wear her spectacles- In short,
there was no use but the right one to which
he did not put everything that came in his
way. But Uncle Abel was most Of all puzzled
70 know what to do with him on the Sabbath,
1 Hos II
+rt himself particularly To be entertaining.
| ,yonId say and then Edward would walk out
# the room as grave us tho catechism, but the
next moment you might SEQ pussy scamper.
Edward at her heels, to the manifest discom-
fort Of Aunt Betsey and ali others in author
itr.
| At last my uncle came to the conclusion
TINT it wasn't in natur' to teach him better, anG
brook down in the lot. Ny poor uncleI ht
,l,d not know what was the matter with hi:
heart; but certain it was be had lost all fac
uIty Of scolding when little Edward was in til.
ease, though he would stand rubbing lis spec
tacles quarter Of an hour longer than CON
mon, when Aupt Betsey was detailing bis wit
sicisu,s and clever doings. But in progress Q
lime our hero compassed his third year an.
arrived at the dignity Of going to school. II
went illustriously through tile spelling book
attacked TIC csltechism, went from imam
chief end" to tho commandments in
fortnight, nni Mt last came home inord
uarily merry, to tell his father he had got t
"Amen.'' After this he made regular bus
uess Of saying orer the whole every Sunds
evening, standing with his hands folded i
iroat aud his checked apron smoothed dow,
occasionally giving glance over his shoulde
to see Il papa was attending. Being Of a yer
| benevolent turn Of mind, he made several e
forts to teach Rose the catechisn, in which h
succeeded as well rs could be expected ]
| short, without further detail, Master EdwaE
pade fair to become literary wonder. B1
alas for poor little Edward, his merry dant
was soon over. 4 day came when he sickel
ed Autt Betsey tried her whole herbariur
hut in vain; he grew rapidly worse and wors
Ills father sickened in heart, but said nothing
l1o siaii by bis bedside dar aud night, tryit
all means TO sare with affecting persinacit
i : Cant you thiuk Of anything more, doctor
said he to the physician, when ever5thit
had been tried in win Nothing" answers
: the physician, A slight convulsion passt
over my uuc.e's face. Then the Lords will
done u said be. Just ut that moment ray
} the setting sun pierced the checked curtain
aud CLEANED like an angels smile across Il
face Of the little sufferer. lie awoke from
i disturbed sleep. "0h, dear, Oh, am so sick
. be gaspcd fccbiy. His fa:her raised him in
al. arms; be brcalhed easier and looked up vi
: i grateful smile,
Just then lis old playmate the cat, czo.s
the floor. "There goes pussy" said be, &C