The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-05-07

get the offense, and forgive the offend
ers :" and as the Professor was quite
well off in this worlds goods, and Karl
his only child, Aunt Elinor thought
maybe it would be best to say no more.
The summer and winter that followed
her niece's departure seemed very long
to Aunt Elinor. She had time to
think now, and to feel that maybe she
had done wrong in urging Nell's mar
riage to the Pro iessOr. He is an ell
derby man." thought she, "and Nell
was young enough to consider him old,
and used to think Karl liked Nell.
After all, maybe Nell made the wisest
choice; only she need not have done it
in such a disgraceful manner-running
away No, cannot forgive her. If
the Professor chooses to philosOphlZ9
over it, let him. / can't overlook the
affair - and Miss Elinor always ended
her soliloquies with warmth of manner
that forbade argument. But as the
winters snow melted away the resent
ment and unforgiving spirit in Aunt
EIinor's heart toward her niece gradu-
ally thawed and grew softer and milder.
It may be the Professors PHILOSOPHY"
helped temper her anger; at any rate,
lust as usual. In spite of the uncom-
Portable recOllections one would suppose
the place held for him he went regularly,
until at last the village people began TO
whisper their "who knows" and "yOu
Sees" and all the rest of the prophetic
words that usually foretell a change in
the spirit of middle-aged dreams. And,
therefore, no one was very much as
- ~ NJ
last, that after Lent the Professor would
take up his abode altogether at Miss
Elinor's, and that Miss Elinor in that
case would sit in the Professors pew in
the church, and preside at her table as
" Mrs. Professor Roder."
Easter Sunday came early in April
that year, and the old robins in the
cherry trees were Just beginning to twit-
ter about building their nests, when late
on Saturday evening, as Miss Ellnor
and the professor sat in her little sit
ting-roOm planning their short wedding
trip, which was to be taken the follow
ing week, timid knock at the door
was heard. Miss Elinor arose and
opened it and beheld before her on the
door step little oval-shaped basket.
"Whas is it?" asked the Professor
coming forward with the lamp. can
April joke, L suppose.
"Oh, no. 'An Easter offering,
read Miss Elinor from the card attached
to the basket. "Some one has sent
flowers for the church, I suppose" " she
continued, kneeling down to open the
basket as she spoke.
The lid came off then, and there lay
the sweetest, cunningest little babe,
who opened his great, brown eyes and
smiled up into Miss ElinOr's face.
"What does this mean ? gasped the
Professor, nearly dropping the lamp in
his astonishment.
cit means, dear father and Aunt
Elinor, that we have brought you our
Easter offering, and beg that for our
child's sake you will forgive and bless
us :" and with these words Karl Roder
and his wife stepped out of the shadows
and stood before the Professor and Miss
Elinor.
Surprise and Joy, laughter and tears,
explanation and forgiveness all followed
these words, and very soon the little
sitting room was very carnival of mer-
riment and happiness, of which baby
was the king!
"And a little child shall lead Them"
quoted the Professor, as he put the
baby in Miss Einor's arms. Miss Eli
nor admitted this PHILOSOPHY" and
heartily kissed her niece and nephew in
token of her forgiveness.
"And to think we are grandfather
and grandmother !" exclaimed Mrs.
Professor ROder, as she tied her bonnet
strings before starting on their tour.
eve are a very suitable match, my
dear" answered the Professor, cold
and old together, young and young to-
gether, both then contented and happy
together y
"And behold here the 'new genera
ton the coming man." cried some
one holding up the baby, who laughed
and crowed loudly.
eyes, replied Nell laughing. "Baby
represents great deal, but in no char
acter that he has appeared has he met
with more decided success than in that
of Aunt Elinor's Easter Offering p
Hearth and Home.