The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1872-08-29
don't know how | should fare"

Flora wanted just then to ask a
question or two; but, as though per-
suadcd that she must hear good
many new and strange things be-
fore she went away, she left the
questions unaskcd, and not only 80,
but before the evening was half
spent found herself cnlarging clo-
qucntly ON the difficulties of the
work which she had undertaken,
and looking to her hostess for conn-
ell in such Il way that seemed to i'm
ply that she had gone to Bushiicld
for the very purpose. 1t is worth
while, we are told, to look under
the very stones in our path, for there
may lie waiting us the hcl per we
need, Certain it is that toward no
point OF the compass could Miss
Flora have turned her steps that
night to such excellent purpose as
toward the west, where Miss llar-
lem and counsel awaited her.
The next morning before she left
the snug chamber, which had been
the famiIy-room Of three genera
tons, as Flora was told, and could
well believe, she heard her hostess
moving about. 1t was near sunrise,
and she was evidently up for all
day, and 3 p. IN. seemed now so near
to Flora, that she felt she had no
time to lose.
She found Miss Harlem in her
library, with the doors OF her book
case open, evidently inspecting her
treasures. And, it was good to
look at her by daylight, to see a
woman SO active and strong, aud SO
evidently happy in her activity.
She seemed pleased to see Flora
so early.
81 had Il pleasant feeling when
| woke up" she said at first |
lancicd it was because | was at
home, but found, on reflection, it
was because YOU were here; though
| have you against your wllI.'
Since | came on Fortunes in
vitation," said Flora, " | have rca-
son 20 be glad if | never was in
luck till yesterday, the tide has
turned, and Pm happy"
And you will be with your
friends by sunset" D."
But | shall havclclt my friends
behind me-" said Flora, with a
good deal Of genuine emotion.
81 owe you something tDr what
YOU told me last night" said Miss
Harlem. {" am an out-cast too
Il regular business woman. | dare
say you were never in Il place like
this before"
True" said Miss Flora, n"y-
cr in one so dclightiuI.'
My dear, | bcIicvcyou. These
creatures are my fossil remains, as
| told you. If you know anything
about this art Of mine, you will be
able to tell where / began, and how
| have gone ON, and point out the
place at which | broke down, and
came near ending Il tailurc.'
DO tell me about it, for | know
nothing" said Flora.
"It vii, bear repeating, and |
rather like the story" said Miss
Harlem. L" | began this business
ten years ago-whcn, say fifteen
My grandfather owned this place
and he lived and died here; but
was born in New York, and at six
teen knew as little Of the country
as it is possible for a girl to know
This little house was always too iuI
to accommodate us city children tol
longer than a night or two at
time. made up my mind, when
was quite young, that | must carr
my own living land we had in our
library, at home, books of bird.
and animals which ! loved above
everything, and, when | found thai
must go to work, ! consulted
them about it. Father had a cast
of stuffed birds, which he had pre-
pared and set up himself, and | de
icrmined to make what had bcel
his past time, my means of support
What did | know about competition
and all that? / went to work il
my brave, happy ignorance.
bought snipe, and quail, prairie
chickens, and squirrcls--you shal
have your breakfast within liitccl
minutes, sit down." SO SAYING
Miss Harlem disappeared. Within
half an hour the two ladies wcr,
again seated at the table.
81 operated on my treasures an'
found u sale for the poo" things
among my acquaintanccs, and thi:
encouraged nc 50 much that pre-
pared fine lot, as | believed, ant
sent them, my dear, to the fair a
the American institute. Who 81
proud as |? But when | had gone
so far | happened to sec another
case Cf birds which made mine seen
49, If .yrrv home i'm thrir bodirS haC