Mexico weekly ledger., 1876-11-30

IL WClOA dtbCIS WhlSh IN INV SSA
Germ Miss Hoyt in the least. She be-
and their tints, and found her compa-
MON better acquainted with their pre-
paration and arrangement than herself.
"It may seem trivial; but l feel as
though the identifying of home for my
father was not a waste OF my time"
she said.
"Your father is always an invalid,
my son tells me-"
"He has been confined to his room
for nine years. His suffering has been
a blessing to me, however. Ii L had
been obliged, like many young girls, to
search out objects of care and kindness,
I am sure 1 should " have done it.
He put one in my own home, and SO de-
veloped in me precisely the qualities
wherein I was lacking"
Mrs. Sears preached another subject,
and another; always to be brought up
against the dead wall of Miss Hoyt's
nature, or faults, or emotions. Mean
while the girl felt a trepidation, which
she did not betray. She loved George
Sears sincerely. She was anxious to
please his mother. She was ashamed
of both feelings, as they seemed to him
der her everlasting task of self-develop-
ment. excepting under my body,"she
said to herself now. Again and again
she felt her breath coming quicker l n
her talk with these two people, who
counted more than all the world to her.
In short, there were two Elizabeth
Hoyts-one that talked and acted; and
the other who sat back, judging
every word and act, applauding or de-
ploring them.
Now came one, two, three O'Clock.
Mrs. Sears was chilled and half-starved.
Yet they sat still on the old log. Miss
Hoyt did not ask them into the house
or make any mention of dinner. She
brought out a basket of grapes and dry
rolls, saying that they must share her
meal with her. "The truth is, | meant
to join in Natures festival to-day" she
said, "and share her Thanksgiving"
She looked as if she had done it. Her
cheek, in spite of her self-control, was
flushed, her eye brimmed with light,
her radiant, tender face turned with
shy chances alternately to the woods,
to the sky, with its golden mist, to her
lover at her side. She knew, as never
before, that he loved her, and half for
got to- question the effect which that
love would have on her character or re-
ligious life.
At i've Mrs. Sears and her son re-
turned to the Mountain House.
81 am so glad l met you here" said
Elizabeth, with a certain exaltation
such as a child might show in face and
manner. "It has been so different
from a talk indoors. I shall never for
get this day."
George did not dare to question his
mother until she was warmed and
cheered by the dinner of turkey and
cranberries and plum-pudding which
before them.
"Mother," he said, "I wish you to
tell me your candid opinion of Miss
Hoyt."
"My dear boy, l have seen dozens of
girls belonging to precisely the same
type in country places-girls whose
piety and culture raise them a little out
of the society around them. Miss Hoyt
is prettier and younger than the ma
jority, I confess"
"She is beautiful! and not vain,
either"
"No," said Mrs. Sears, promptly,
" she is not vain. She is thoroughly
sincere, too. Her religious experience
is real. l believe her, too, to be a hum
BILE woman, apt to underrate herself
"She does not fail in any duty, [ am
sure. She is the most patient, tender
daughter, the most unselfsh -
"Unselfish, perhaps; but self-con.
coirrlS in oUnru n,nvpmpnt 0f brain and
body. Oh! I've known many like her,
George. Their idea of religion is not
love to God and help to others; but the
saving o their own souls. S~elf-growth
self-development! Why, the girl actu.
L ally was so intent upon considering hel
own rare enjoyment of Nature and youl
!, presence that she quite forgot hat ]
was frozen and starving!" putting hel
plump feet up to the glowing CRATE.
"Then you think ''-his face angry
and set.
81 think, George, that if you leave
me to my nap and go over to ask Miss
Hoyt to be your wife you will do a very
wise thing"
"But her fault?"
"Nature," said the old lady, spread
ing her handkerchief over her face,
"nas certain cures for faults which you
do not understand"
Mrs. Sears spends every Thanksgiv-
ing with George and his wife. She has
been with them for a week or more.
George lost heavily during the first of
the panic, and they live in a smaller
house, where the seven children swarm
and jostle and shout and, half of them
being boys, squabble occasionally.
They raised the turkey and ducks for
the Thanksgiving dinner, and are proud
enough OF it; and SO is their mother.
Mrs. Sears sat watching her sons
wife last night, as she nursed the baby
on n knee, while little Madge climbed
up her back. And she helped Jessy
trim her hat, on one side, o. Joe with
his sum-, ON the other. There was a
pile of stockings to darn, as soon as ba-
by was in bed.
"Bessy," said her husband, "did
YOU answer Johns letterpn