The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1859-02-24

Mr. klrk had watched the course
of events with discerning eye, and
as she saw the circle of her admirers
narrowing down, he believed that the
affections of his child must ere long
be fixed. Her natural instinct of soul
might lead her Alright in her choice,
put he preferred to make q choice for
himself, and then, if her love could be
led into the same channel, 1t would be
so much the better.
"Myra," he said to her, as they sat
in the library one summer afternoon,
'Ive been thinking
"Well, father" she replied, looking
up with one Of her sweet smiles, "what
have yon been thinking about"
"lve been thinking that you will be
wanting husband one of these days"
"Then | wouldn't try to think any
more" she said. But she didn't speak
with such simple assurance as usual.
81 am serious, my pet the old man
resumed; sand now let us talk scri-
ously aboutit. am not going to give
you up, for the man that takes you
must take my house, and me with it;
or, I'll take him, just as you please
But you know, as well as | do, that
very soon you may be loving some
body, and then it would be too late to
reason"
Myra didn't dispute him; but she
only hung down her head and thought,
So he continued.
snow, it's all very well to marry
for love, if other things are as they
should be; but love is Il curious thing,
and very often brings bodies together
that can have 10 more harmony in
life than fire and water. know that
many people scout the idea Of cXer-
cising reason in conjunction with love,
but the ideas Of the world are not
always safe guides. wouldn't have
reason take too much Of the ground,
bat would have it 20 ahca and light
the way, so that love may 20 ON with
more safety. Don't that seem prop
er y
"Yes, father
"And now-I'm coming nearer
horne. There's Joseph Naughan.--
Don't you think he would like to pro-
pose for your hand!"
"perhaps So
"Comc, come, Myra--be plain with
me-"
"WeIl-I thinl: he would"
"And Henry WoIsh-wou!dn't he!
"Yes--l think he ould."
And Jacob Lorramer!'
81 hope not" replied the girl with
, Shudder.
"Weu, welI-wc'll throw him out
darling; I'm sure, however, that lI'
would very quickly apply for your
hand if he thought he could get it.
But as | " ouldn't have him, and as
don't think you would, We'll conslde
him disposed Of in advance. Bt'
there's Chauccy Stcwart--how IS
with him! Don't you think he wouI
, like to propose!'
"lm sure | don't know rcturne'
4 Myra, opening her book, and prrten'
ing to find something interesting there
But what should you think!'
II never thought anything about i
IS papa"
Bat her father had thought about
-, and he fancied that when the crot
dart came it would come with I'll
=, heart of those three, whom he ha
=, mentioned, impaled upon its shalt
Thus Ear in life she had been govcrl
~ ed by his advice, and he resolved
- qualify himself to advise in the pre-
y ent case. Later in the afternoon,
- Myra walked in the garden, po
" doring very deeply upon somethln
that had occupied her thoughts ev
v since her interview with her faith
> she was startled by the appearance
an old beggar man in herpath. /
~ looked wan and weary, and his ga
-, was scant and poor.
~ - CHARITY charity" he murmur'
- leaning upon his staff.
~ The maiden had not been at
- frightened-only startled from u
!, own busy thoughts--and she quici
- forgot all else in her sympathy for
~ poor old man before her.
~ "Come with me to the house, S
IL, ~ said "and you shall find what Y
:, need. Come
" But-not there. Give me mon
-, here
"rll give thee rest and food II
ia good father"
,as ala, ha, hal" laughed the old m
throwing off the wig, and the bea