The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-06-08
BLOCK, LIBERTY STREET



winding the yarn, under her inspection" {
How pretty she looked. standing there, in
her neatly fitting blue muslin dress, 4 new
one, which harmoniIed with her complexion,
winding tho skein Of blue woolcn yarn
which she had slipped over tho backs Of a
couple Of chairs. Her aunt sat in ono cor
ner-a dropping, inild.faced little woman,
but thin and faded by care and illnesa So
I sat down In the chintz-cushioned arm
chair, and chntted with both the women,
and watched the ball as Il grew In size and
comeliness under those slender fingers, and
the wind stirred the ounce tree at the win
dow, and the sunshine laughed along tho
corners Of the low ceiling, just as Il had
laughed century before, and the yarn ran
In swim blue current over Janet's fingers.
At last said to her, .Sce here, my child,
you will grow fatigued standing there, be-
fore you get through with the skein. Sit
down, and let me hold il for you.n
had never addressed her so fsmiliarly
before, but, somehow, she looked co fair,
and pure, and childlike with her delicate
profile half turned towards me, and her face
settling, every few moments, into puzzled
seriousness over her ball, that the words
camo unconsciously 10 my lips. She did
not answer me, only her eyes flashed up a
moment in my face, and then filed with
tears. She sat down quietly, aud finished
winding her skcin, while her aunt told some
story Of an old-fashioned knitting strife In
her girlhood.
"What is 1t, Janet?"
I asked her this questian as We stood to-
gether in the front door, afer she had fin-
ished her task.
ut was the name my father used to call
me. never have heard Il since no went
away. o, say it again, Mr.. Gnyson."
She was Just like child now, with that
pleading face, which stirred my soul TO take
her up and fold her TO my heart.
"Janet, will say the words again, IL you
will call me once by my name-thc name
have not heard from the lips Of a woman
since my mother died. She bowed her
head, and knew why she did not speak to
me. laid my hand on her hair, shining
like brown meshes In the sunbeams. "My
child, my little Janet, may the Lord bless
you, and cause the light Of His countcnance
10 shine upon you!"
There was little silence.
"Nalhaniel !"
1t nutered timidly out Of her lips, and
dropped into my heart. and the sound Is
there still.
"rhc sunshine Is warm, but there Is a
breeze in the trec-tops, and II Is cool oH
there among the meadows, under the apple
trees. It is q shady walk, five 60 round by
tho creek. Will you get your bonnet
Janet?"
And Janet went.
We sat down in the long grass under tho
apple trees. a part of the field had been
moved the day before, and the air was foil
Of the sweet scents Of tho crushed flowers.
"lsn't il dclicious?" asked Janet, taking
of her bonnet.
ayes. Death oNen yields moro sweetness
than life. said this to-day, in order to
comfort myself when remembered that on.
ly two days more Of this blessed summer re-
mained to me-"
"Only two more !"
a quick start, tone Of deep regret en-
phasizcd the words.
"That is all, and had letter from my
friend, the principal Of the seminary to
which you are engaged, stating that ho
should like ycu TO bo there by the eighth.
cannot bear the thought that must give
up my little teacher SO soon."
"l shall have no more such easy teaching"
She said il sadly, and tremulously, too, as
though she dared not trust her voice.
"l owe you more than | do all my other
teachers, Janet. You have done INC the
most good"
VI, Mr.. Grayson?"
ayes, for you have shown me what true.
roble, self-sus,aincd woman may be in oil
because you have redeemed
and consecrated life to me once morc-be-
cause you hare restored my lost faith ~
lromdn !"
Her soul rose into her face. III cannot
tell how have done this, Mr.. Grayson,"
she faltered.
"No matter; but now my heart Is sad
with the thought Of losing my little teacher,
want to be her pupil always, to learn daily
new lessons Of woman's grace, and truth,
and loycliness, such as all men need, from
her lips, and her life."
Her head dropped till her breath futtered
the dandclion blossoms she had gathered
and strewn in her lap. | took her small,
slender hands in mine. "Will you take me,
Janet, to be your pupil, not for days, or
months, or terms, but for life"
And God aud I heard Janet Williams
make a whispered answer.
.NathanieI! F! Nathaniel !" she said, little
while after, with her sweet tones winding
their caresses In and out OF the syllables.
at Is q soft, sweet. gliding name; how your
mother must have loved IL !"
And then told her how had seen her
for the first time from my chamber window.
that summer morning. three months ago,
when sat there under the burden Of nv
newly found wealth, with no heart to be
gathered into mine; no other life added to
NV own, to enrich, and complete. and satisfy
Il; lonely, unloved, and rieA; and i told her
ali nv vague fancies and conjecturcs, as 1
watched her bending over her work.
.And you found your ideal over . wash.
,ubI What q terribly unromantic heroine J"
And a laugh ran In merry gurgles out OF her
lin,. But she grew serious In q few moments.
..ft cost me a struggle. short, but . sharp
one, though. to 90 up to the hotel and apply
for that atwashing."
.Afy brave, noble girl, know II must. But
II you had not dono IL, wc might have gone
mart ali the days Of our lives"
"And you will take me, Nathaniel you. so
cultivated, fss,idious. and almost million,
aife, me without dollar In the world anu
whom you found over wash.tubf
"And finding there my own N.Y. vas =
richer man than oil the gold In m! uncle :
Golfer. made me-" I said this with her head
wing on my shoulder. and her little hands
crushed up In mine. while the day was going.
with its golden feet. over the lar oil hills
going to meet the night.
At last we rose up and went homo. Our
hearts have been At home with each other
evcr since. :.
Little Janet is my wife now, and oil she
has been to me Of strength. and rest, and
healing, Of grace. and refinement, and beauty.
of truth, Of faith. and oi love, u it not all
written In the book Of His remsmbrsncs p
Godey's Lady's Dook for April.
MY HoUSEKEEPER.