Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1870-12-08

great struggle true soul always finds
something very like prayerin his heart,
The feeling of love may exist with
out attracting the attention of its pos
SCISSOR. 1t hud never occurred to John
that he could love or marry lIuldah.
Thus the passion had grown all the
more powerful for not being observed,
and now lie unseen fire had at flash
appeared as an all-consuming one
Turning back, he stood without the
window, in the shadow, and looked
through the glass at the trim young girl
at work with her pies. In the modest,
restul face he read the story of a heart
that had carried great burdensTpatient.
ly and nobly, What glorious picu'ure,
she was of warmth and light, framed in
darkness. TO his heart, at that mo-.
ment, all the light and warmth Of the
world conferred in IIndah. All the
world besides was loneliness and dark
ness and drizzlc and slush. His fear
of his sister and his friends semcd base
and cowardly. And the more he look
ed at this vision of the night, this revel
alton of peace and love aud light, the
more he was determined to possess it.
You will call him precipitatc. But when
all a mans nobility is on one side and
all his meanncss on the other, why hest,
tate )? Besides, Johu Harlow had done
more thinking in that hall-hour than
most men do IN month.
The vision had vanished from the
window and he went in and sat down.
She had, by this time, put in the last
pie, aud was sitting with.hcr head on
her hand. The candle fickered and
went out, and there was only the wierd
ruddy freight l cannot tell you what
words passed between John and the sur
prised IIu dab. who had thought him al
ready betrothed to Miss Dun!on, !
cannot tell what was said in the light Of
that fire | don't suppose Harlow could
tell that story himself.
IIuldsh asked that he should not say
anything about until his sister was gone
OF course John saw that she asked it
tor his sake. But lis own cowardice
was glad Of the shelter.
Next day brother Of Johns (whom
forgot to mention belore) came home
from college. Mrs. lIome, husband
arrived unexpectedly. Aunt Judith,
with her family, came over at dinner
time, so that there was large and
merry party, Two hearts, at least
joined in the deacon's thanksgiving be-
fore dinner with much feTvor.
At the table the dinaer was much ad
mired
"Huldah," said Janet Dau,on, 81
Ike your pies. wish | could hire yon
TO 90 to Boston. Our cook never dues
so well.
John saw the we'll aimed shaft hid
den under this compliment, and all his
manhood rallied. AS soon as he could
DO sure Of himself he said -
lou cannot have IIuldah she is al
already engaged.
Flows that?" said aunt Judith.
"Ol |, sccurrd her services" said
john.
"What - said Mrs. Holmes, Ten
gagged your-your-yom help before
you engaged a wife, -
"Not at all, said John ;."engace |
my help and wife in one. lhopo that
lluldah Manners will be lluldah Harlow
by Christmas"
Tbe Deacon dropped his knife and
fork and dropped his lower jaw, and
stared. What How What did you
say, John: ?"
81 say, father, that this GOOD girl
Iluldah is to be my wis.
John J. gasped the old man, getting
to his feet and reaching his hand across
The table, "you'vc got plenty of good
Sense if you do wear moustgche God
bless you, my boy; there aiu't no better
woman here nor in New York nor any
where than lluldah. God bless you
both. l was afraid you'd take differ
ent road though"
"Hnrrah for our Huldah and our
john" said George Harlow, the college
boy, and his brothers joined him. Even
the little Holmes children hurrahed.
Here the Judge stopped.
well, SAID Irene, Il don't think it
'caS very nice 10 him to marry the help,
do you father
Indeed | do, sail the Judge, with
emphasis.
Ibid she ever come to understand
Emcrson?' asked Anna, who detested
the Concord philosopher because she
could not understand him.
"Indeed | don't know" said the
Judge; "you can ask IIuldah herself. "
"Who? what? You don't meau
that mother is Huldah I"
it was Cry in concert,
''Mother" was little red 10 the face
behind the copy Of Whittier she was af
tsotng to.read,
Bss" Under our new Election System