Connecticut western news., 1874-08-21
HER DIARY,

HER DIARY.
 Vacation and June! I can hardly realize that am fairly outside of that dingy school-room, with its row of stunted desks and it's paneling of black board. It is so delicious to have ones time to one's self !-such luxury just to sit idly and dream over the pictures on Uncle Aristotle's walls, where I'm spending happy holiday! Iwish vaca- tion would last forever.
 Lena reproaches me with my want of energy, but I tell her she has enough for both. She hardly gives herself time to eat or sleep, while I allow my self generous margin for both occupa- tons. I insist that Lena is preparing herself for 8 country parish or mission to the Feejees and she assures me with grim face that every one has Q mission if she chooses to discover it. wonder what mine is (? In the morn ing, when I'm in that pleasant middle state between sleeping and waking, I hear Lena starting off to read the Bible to old Mrs. Haddock, and I feel very wicked for half minute. She never seems to have @ moment to spare for what she calls frivolities. I've been in the house 8 fortnight, and I've never seen her stroll into the garden nor sit on the veranda to pass the time O day with Dame Nature, nor idle in the ham, mock. I've never seen her waste a second before the engraving of Turner in the library or the Ary Scheffer over the mantel, which have set me dreaming away half-hours by the score. Every one of Lena's days has it's appointed task. She reads theology to two blind ladies of decayed fortunes, and the church papers to bedridden old man :; she is president of the Society for Aged Women, and treasurer of the Dakota League to send tracts and blankets to the Indians she belongs to half dozen Bethels and foreign missions and societies for the education of indigent young men for the ministry, and she is always seeking out destitute families and invalids to- whom chicken broth and calf's-foot jelly are providence.
 "She does a world of good P Os- trander says to me, as he sees her going out like my Lady Bountiful; and he says it with sigh.
 CT don't like goody-good people" l reply, just to vex him, and because l must speak my mind for though I like Lena herself-I used to love her when we played dolls together ten years ago--yet I don't fancy the Lena who has wrapped herself away from all home sympathies and innocent pleasures.
 "You will learn to like her," Ostran- der insists. "But I wish she would remember that there are hungry souls without going into the highways and hedges to find them"
 I'm afraid he thought me stupid enough, for I did not understand him at orce. . @t D..
 "You mean that she could do some good at home too? She might read to her mother, who is an invalid herself, or to Uncle Aristotle, whose eyes are failing him? and teach the maids their work :? and entertain you and me ?" questioned, gibly.
 "No," sad he, most charitably. ssThose are things to which she will awaken one day-all in good time. l was speaking of myself. "
 Ii'"Of yourself p'' I repeated. "Do you mean "-and then I couldn't help laughing, if I were to die for it. 'Why, MT. Ostrander, she hasn't half minute to waste on love, if that's what you mean"
 "You've hit my meaning exactly, he answered. "It seems to amuse you. '
 To tell the truth, it does amuse me. Ostrander is so handsome, and in love with Lena, who is so prim, and thinks of nobody but the bedridden and | poverty-stricken i; very good of her, nc doubt, but not half so natural as caring for Ostrander would be.
 aSaI1ad0y.- Ostrander overlook ut coming home from church, and wanted to walk round by the haunted mill, bu l Lena was going to hear the lessons O. her ragged school at Poverty Point Ostrander said he hoped she would teach them to. love one another. Ht and walked on together over the crazy bridge by the deserted mill, where thu river slides by, reaching an arm toward the distant sea, and the trees bend ove tc look at themselves on either banl till their tops interlace. felt almos sinful to be there enjoying myself il the Sunday stiffness, with the perfumet fields stretching away in the sun, ant the river ripping at my feet, and Os trander repeating snatches from tn poets that painted the scene to perfec tion, while Lena was doing good worl at Poverty Point. I believe I confessed to the sensation, for Ostrander said:
 ' suppose every one must do goot in his or her own way"
 shBut it seems to me-" I replied "that Lena's method is to do just tn ; contrary to what she would like to do.
 t".Do-, you think she would prefe walking with us to teaching those rag 1ged urchins ?' he asked, brightening.
 ".I haven't doubt but she woul prefer walking with you," assure him ".only Lena IS perpetually mortl flying the flesh" -e, -.. Uncn my word, I couldn't help wor dering at her when he sighed an looked away "across the river's dir expanse," and forgot me for half a hour. If any one loved me like that,
 should be rashamed to make no return
 but-nobody does.
 Tuesday," suppose" said O.
 trander last nigh, ,"that if I were 2
 invalid, or fellow with a cataract or
 hump, Lena would he devoted to me.
 2" Can't you pretend to some misfo,
 tune ?" I asked.
 ".will if looking well can't moys her,