The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-01-02

hold economy and housewifery accom-
plishment, andgav her the little brother
she loved so dearly. She was one of
those restless, strong, energetic women,
who do more than any one human being
can do and live, and suddenly she broke
down and died and, last of all, her
husband died also. SO Bessie and Jim
lived on the little money Bessies mother
had left her, and found it enough for
her simple wants.
Let us return from our little digres-
sion to Bessie, standing on tip-toe, look
ing at herself in the mirror hung over
the high mantel- piece. The mirror was
decorated with greens, for it was the
day after Christmas. Two holidays to-
pether! Two whole days in which
Bessie had neither darned stockings nor
mended Jim's trousers, and so had had
time to dream.
1t was dear little face she saw in the
mirror, with calm, brown eyes, and soft
brown hair, and long brown lashes a
little face, with dimpled, pink cheeks,
very young, very sweet, but very wo-
manly.
twenty-five twenty-five Twenty
two - said Bessie.
WHAT said Jim.
81 said | was twenty-five, dear" she
answered, returning to the stove
"What little grandmother More
than twice as old as /, !" said the boy,
making her sit down and jumping on
her knee. He had n way of returning
to babyhood sometimes when they were
quite alone. She pressed him Ill her
arms and kissed his forehead. He threw
his arms round her neck, and tried to
kiss her lips; but she turned her cheek
to him, laughing.
"Bessie, why will you never let me
kiss your lips ?"
"rhey're not mine to give you.
dear" with bright blush mantling up
TO the roots of her hair.
"What do you mean %
NO matter, jim. Do you know
your lesson for tomorrow"
"Guess not; ;" and he resumed his
seat by her side and his book, and she
her contemplation of the red Goals and
her sweet far-away smile.
Presently she got up and put more
coal on the fire took up stick of wood
as if she would add that to the flame,
and then laid it down again by the side
of the stove.
"Bessie, do you know the wood is al
most out? %
Eyes, Jim," with happy sound in
her voice, as if, in some mysterious
manner the fact was pleasant one.
oven have to buy some more, and
hire somebody to cut and put it in. "
perhaps so. Do you know your les
son now ?"
eyes. VIII you hear me 2"
She took the book, and asked the
questions printed there in a mechanical
way, as if she was not thinking of them,
and the sound of the boys voice in an
swering seemed not his, but the out
speaking of her thoughts. So that to
her the lesson was something III this
fashion,
Question. GLOW many States are
there in the United States ?"
Answer. 81 have cut and piled wood
enough to last you until l come back
again, dear Heart. "
q. Into how many sections are they
divided?"
A "And you'll know when I'm COM
ing, dear, by the woods being out.
q. What States form the Eastern or
New England section ?"
A. 80, dear John Two whole years
How can / let you go? L shall be
twenty-five years old when you come
back p
You'll be my little wife, dear, when
l come back.
THAT'S our secret, John. You
haven't told anybody p
No, not even my mother.
Here Bessie saw n tall figure in the
doorway OF the d-house, against n
gray winter sky and bare branches of
the elm trees. His arm held her close
ly, and he looked into her eyes.
Z" 1t will be pleasant thought to me,
Bessie, that my work is helping you
here while am working for our future
so far away"
Bessie was dragged back into the
present out of her dream by Jim's
voice
"Why, Bessie, I've answered long
ago. Why don't you ask me another?"
And Bessie blushed, and gave herself
a little shake, and began with much APP
parent interest:
q. (Which are the Northern or Mid
die States p
4. New York, New Jersey, Della
ware and Pennsylvania.
q. "What States comprise the South
ern section of the Union p
Il. "Maryland-"
And here Bessie drifted back into her
dream. She and the tall
man were walking away from the wood
house, up the little garden walk into
the back door, into the little parlor
there they sat building air-castles, and
planning the life two whole
years off, until they had almost forgot
ten the pain of parting and absence that
lay between.
Presently boy shouting in the vii
lage street made them start made Bes
sic say Now, you must go, dar-
ling !" And with hurried embrace,
and God bless you, little girl !" the
tall man walked away, and Bessie went
into her kitchen, where the shouting
boy soon found her cooking his dinner,
but not too busy to kiss his rosy cheeks
and bring him to the fire to warm his
fingers and ask him interested questions
about his school,
A sudden consciousness of pause in
Jim's voice made Bessie again become
school mistress, and. earnestly hoping