Weekly Trinity journal., 1879-12-27

The flames danced out of the open fire.
The baby crowed and tried to catch them.
Rosie leaned her elbows on her knees,
with her chin in her hands, and watched
the pranks they played. The mothers
hand stole into hor husbands. How fresh
and close and real their love seemed after
so many Chritmases together. Anettee
devoted herself to keeping the baby in
order, by most bewitching methods. As
tor Roger, the dear, old boy, it was easy
to see what he was thinking sbou. as he
looked. with musing, happy eyes, into the
fire; Of nothing else, to be sure, but the
little girl who had given him her promise
true, for life or death, come veal,
come woe, not fortnight ago. 1t
was tantalizing picture all around to
the orphan lad whose heart was in state
o! love, of Jealousy, of longing and of
lonesomeness, by turns.
"While," said Rev. Mr.. Barker, 1--WE
have given public thanks to-day for the
birth of the worlds Saviour, it is we'll for
each of us to dwell upon his special bene-
fits and l think it will encourage our
grateful emotions to tell each other what
God has done for us individually during
the past year."
1t was the speech, without a change Of
word it seemed to Roger and Annette,
that they had heard since their earliest
recollections Of Christmas.
Mr. Barker went on to tell how God
had blessed him in his parish work, en-
a5ling him sometimes to help tne poor,
the sick the broken hearted, the tired and
faltering; and he rendered especial thanks
for the salvation of ene over whom he had
yearned with the love not only of n PASTOR
but of friend.
81 am thankful for the com fort my
children have been to me-" said the
mother ; "and particularly. for the one
that came this year."
The baby gave an approving gurgle.
"And what are you thankful for, my
pet?" said Mr.. Baker, twisting one of
Rosie's curls around his finger.
"Tarts and fngs," she answered
promptly.
Roger unblushingly said, For Kate"
And Frank who longed to say, and had
meant to say, For Annette" was OBJ
liged to answer very indofni itely, my
friends" When it came Annette's turn
what was there in life she was so thank.
fui for as the love that made life worth
having? But she was obliged to answer
indefinitely too, Everything papa"
Whether it were the baby, or Rosie, or
the housekeeping, or visitors-who seem
ed to swarm at this crisis-not single
opportunity came for Frank; and he went
away without compelling one-which a
little manly audacity could easily have
done. But the spring vacation was not
far of, and he was invited down for
week., He reflected seriously Oh his pros
poets. He would graduate in June, do
vote three years to studying his profess
ion; and he thought how the assurance of
Annette's love would cheer the lone-
someness and give zest to all the aims
and tolls of those three years.
He found the time between the holidays
and spring vacation, long time 10 wait;
and when at last his suspense seemed end
ing, fate sent him off with party on
mineral hunt. But Commencement
would bring Annette; and what a com
mencement of life in real earnest for him.
However, he did not trouble himself par
ticularly about the cousin, until he was
on the ocean with his doubts for company.
And this is how it happened: Annette
fell i'll ut Commencement; and he, in
stead OF running down to Liberty Hall
for few days before his summer tour on
the continent, was obliged to make an
ca lier start than be had anticipa ted; and
before he could take breath TO ealiz it all
the ocean was growing wide between
him an Annette.
He continued to dream and expect;
though, like skeleton at feast, the
figure Of Cousin Jack intruded among
his iancies oitner than had been his wont
and though the failure OF so many oppor-
tunities argued perpetual failure to his
detected mind, as the distance increased,
various trivial words and acts which he
recalled grew to the size Of anx ieties, and
became straws 10 show that the wind blew
we'll for Jack and i'll for him. Matters
we're not helped by numerous insinuations
concerning Jack, cunningly interviewer
with the threads of Rogers letters; tor
Roger, not altogether satisfied with lis
friend S course towards his sister, would
have him know that in certain quarters
her worth was duly appreciated.
The father Frank journsyed from An
nette, the more he longed for assurance
that she loved him. But the more Roger
continued TO torture him, the more he al
lowed his mind to dwell on the popular
fallacy that woman is born TO intrigue as
the sparks ny upward; until he encourag-
ed the idea, admitted with blush at
first, tina. Annette was involved in
double Irritation on that very Christmas
day which had hitherto been the whitest
day ia his calendar.
Now, it happened about this time he
and circumstances came into collision;
and that he deemed it the part of man
and philosopher rather to yield than
take up arms. Instead Of making things
as he would have them he resolved to
take things as they came; and so relin.
quisbed his long cherished dreams OF
professional career; accepted position
suddenly made vacant In the London
branch Of his unce's business, and stay
ed behind when his party set .heir faces
homeward.
IL. AL-....LL - .u.;l:... 4. A--.L4.. IL