The new era., 1860-08-09

she sat, till her grief rising higher an,
stronger, she threw herself on the foo
at her sisters fleet, and cried aloud
Then, as if suddenly, aroused, she
sprang up, shook the trembling tear
drops from her fingers that had covered
her face, and with mighty effort said:
| go, sister, do not despise me, that
have shown before you this weakness
Ihad resolved that God and not man
night and not day, should witness nv
grief for my blighted love- o forget
that thus / sorrow-that you have ever
learned that life is to me a burden, and
that long for the quiet Of the grave
But we will never mention his name
again, My daily prayeris forthe abso-
luton of the sin of breathing it too often
for | would fulfill ali my duties, as be-
comes woman and Christian
And aunt Margaret, resuming her
silk patchwork, stitched away quietly,
her countenance assuming its accustom-
ed serenity. Long afterward, | talked
with my mother about it, and from her
learned what | proceed to narrate.
When aunt Margaret was in her nine
tcenth year, she attended her last
term ofschool, and as it happened, John
Tracy, who was several years her senior
was her teacher. She had previously
lad no acquaintance with him, their
homes being in opposite portions of the
township. To use the words Of an old
sPlnster, more charitable than most of
her class, ''they seemed made for
each other" "And they would have
made an excellent match, . said my good
mother. aeiaos b'so'{--
The winter passed, and to the sur
prise oftattlers and soothsayers, there
was no prospect OF wedding in future.
But it sometimes happens that, despite
busy-bodies, quiet, orderly. silent peo-
pie do things that are. not noiseG about,
and have thoughts that prying gossips
never dream of. And so it was with
John and Margaret. 1t was never sur
missed, that on the few occasions when
he escorted her home from prayer-meet-
ing or from school, how he pressed her
little hand gently and lovingly land whis-
pered low words of love in her ear-
Even more than on her had he waited
on others, with whom it was known he
laughed more loudly, and talked, appar-
emily, with more familiarity That he
more often assisted Margaret in working
out sums in her arithmetic was not no.
iced or remarked upon, for she openly
lvowed herldislke to the study, and it
vas natural she should require assis-
ance. The love lit glance was met only
~ the one intended, for John was sensi-
Die and prudent, and that the tire milling
land touched lightly the pale one of the
student, might be attributable to acci-
lent. The winter passed-the school
lrew to a close-and though John, Ira
~ had whispered to Margaret words Of
owe, she had never breathed to him her
owe. 1t was unasked, and, therefore,
burned the deeper and deeper in her
ieart. - 'a' =
1t was the last day Of school. Amid
he greatest noise and confusion, the
scholars were, one by one. departing,
when Margaret walked to the teachers
lesk to return dictionary which she
lad been using He said to her
Take it home with you, and keep it
i'll | call for it, AS she was quitting
ler position, he said, ''stay; shall vis-
you, one, week from Sabbath even +
ng?" .si9dsud s1f yuai blsiy .iiu
: Margaret. blushing. said. "Yes. SIR"
cry low and tremblingly. = s,5asga
The day, Of the appointed Sabbath
vas gloomy and rainy. Butlong before
he shades of evening gathered. Mar
aretth brisk fire l''burning in the
before which she sat dream
ng sweet dreams, till darkness covered
he sarth. iWAnd still she sat, dreaming |
n and on her chin resting on the palm
fher hand, which she remembered he
pretty SO soften,6b The1
ain pattered against the windows, the
ind moaned family and the fire, glow
d and sparkled. but no sound of, ap-
reaching footsteps broke the monotony
Iargaret began to feel lonely and
heerless. She had word of love pent
p in her heart for him, ifhe would only Is
nnoat Pn< che n, II - hnrsa1c ID