The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-01-07

her prudish for broaching economy.
/ There had also been two or three quib-
bles about her dress; he liked trifie
more of style, and tried TO think the rea
son of his fault finding was pride in her
appearance. The next Sunday she wore
new tie-his favorite shade, and a
dainty pair of gloves to match; he recol-
lected holding her hand and wishing
aloud she could always have kids. That
was long ago, and since then the neatest
of Alexandres had gratifed his taste.
Did he know that midnight stitches had
bought those same kids9 Do you ex-
claim that it would have been wiser for
Alice to have told him all Even 80,
but withhold your blame from either; !
am telling my story, and so long as wo-
man hghtens this world with her pres
ence, so long will she make sacrifices for
those she loves, counting it sweetest
service so to do and give.
Ernest's error was rather thoughtless-
ness than selfshness, though, while
Alice lay in her sick room, he berated
his conduct till he was well-nigh wild,
and sent her grapes and flowers which
she declared were the cause of her re-
coverv.
Thus the months had passed, he learn
ing slowly but surely more of her worth,
till, returning from visit to his home.
he brought word that his mother and
sister would spend the holidays in the
city. OF course, she desired to see Alice,
and as she knewthe Sherwoods, and with
whom they they were going to stay, it
would be so pleasant. Somehow she
was very quiet over this news aside
from a natural shrinking from strangers,
she dreaded these people who would GER
tainly criticise her, and it took all
Emest's persuasion to assure her that'he
could scarcely wait for the day to arrive,
so ANXIOUS was he to take her to his
mother.
1t had been a nard winter, and Alice
had done more than her usual share to-
ward Aunt James expenses. But for the
company on Christmas Eve she would
not have dreamt of an extra dress the
black merino of year before was good
as new, and becoming, Ernest had often
told her. 1t required n deal of argument
to believe she was justified in approprlat-
ing so much from her salary-twenty-
/ five dollars The cashmere she wanted,
and lace to go with it, would cost all
that she had decided, even to the color
"a shade of dove, serviceable for spring
use afterward.
1t was about this, then, that she was
ga very child )" it was 60 for Ernest's
sake !"
The report was completed, and, add
ing her signature, she was reminded of
the late afternoon by a peculiar medley
in the adjoining room, though not unfa-
miliar to her-a clatter of dustpan, brush.
and broom yet above it all could be
heard a clear, full voice chanting from
the "Gloria in Excelsis :" Thou that
takest away the sins of the world, have
mercy upon as ;" Clear and wondrous-
ly sweet, but with anintonation of agony
that made her shudder as again the re-
frain was repeated. Rising to get her
hat and shawl, the singing ceased and
the door was opened by boy of perhaps
ten years. Such queer, old face for
the little body whose head did not reach
the top of the broom handle that rested
over his shoulder.
"Why, joey, I've kept you from your
work again. I'm sorry. Where are
your shoes 2" as she spied the blue feet.
"Oh, / take them off when / sweep
to save them" and the voice trembled
so that Alice said: "Joey, something
troubles you. l saw it in school to-day;
you cannot hide it from me, my boy"
She read him we'll one of her bright
est scholars, keen, sensitive nature,
which she had 80 often befriended. His
mother janitress of the school, he did
most of the cleaning, while she went out
washing.
His long, bony fingers crept slowly
through his hair-she knew that meant
trouble with Joe-a quiver of the thin
lips, and then a quick turning from her
as if the tenderness were more than he
could bear. Sitting down on one of the
benches her sympathetic "Come, joey !;
tell me all, +" brought him to her SHE,
but his heart was too full a great sob,
and leaning his head on Alice's arm he
wept more with the grief of man than
child.
She wisely waited in silence, sure his
story would be told, for there was
strong love between the two. All
through the school he was named "Miss
Clayton's Joe"
You see, Miss Clayton, ever since
you got me into the choir I've been so
happy. Prof. Weimer says I'm his best
treble and he can't lose me. I've learned
all the chants for Christmas-oh, the
dear chants and for an instant the
boys face grew radiant with unutterable
Joy. "He would pay me next year, and
then I'd help mother but, oh, / irish
I Were dedd!"
"Why, joey, with such hope before
you, what do you mean 2"
"In never go into the choir again.
You know Prof, Weimer is going to give
sacred concert Christmas Eve. We
are-no, they are practicing for it now,
and / can't, L can't go. l don't mind
their fun in the choir so long as the cur
tains hide me, because when L sing l
forget all about" he only looked down
at the patches and rags-"b but you see,
at the concert wish / could die this
minute /"
She wondered she had not thought of
il before. The week previous the Pro-
fessor had told her that her protege pos
sessed a remarkable voice and was his
main dependence in solo parts. The
child's whole nature WAS music !; his
mother said he spent hours during the