The true northerner., 1880-02-20

it had been heated iron that had scared
my fingers.
sat motionless. as my thoughts wan
dered back to the many happy hours
that had intervened between our first
meeting and last parting.
The great mystery was now unrav-
eled. knew why Anna had refused to
come to see me; and, as the great truth
flashed upon me, l hated myself for the
foolish way in which l had acted on
that -beforgotten day.
But few weeks after this, our an
nual fair commenced, and our city was
thronged with visitors.
Among the list of hotel arrivals. l
noticed the names of "Thos. w. Jones
and lady, of i"
/ knew that the lady was Anna, and
a longing desire to see her Immediately
took possession of me.
In the afternoon of the same day, I
called to see her.
She gave me a pleasant greeting, but
with cold reserve quite foreign to her
warm nature.
l found Mr.. Jones far more interest
ing than l bad ever dreamed of his
being, and his general appearance had
gone through decided change for the
better.
Don't understand me to say that he
had grown handsome; for, according to
my style of good looks, he did not pos
sess the slightest resemblance to a
handsome man but the black cloth suit,
which neatly fitted his form, was far
more becoming than the one worn upon
our first meeting; his hair was closely
trimmed; his complexion bad fresh,
healthy appearance; and he sported a
very reasonable. sized mustache. which,
all combined, formed him into what
might be considered tolerably good
looking man. When parted with them,
l insisted that they should visit me but
Anna excused herself, by saying that
they had only visited the city for
the purpose of attending the fair, and
would not have time to make any calls,
but if convenient that she would return
my visit on her next trip to the city, and
gave ME an invitation to call to see her,
if l ever visited their neighborhood
again. Thus we parted-friendly-
but with a lack of that great degree of
warmth that should have glowed in our
hearts for each other. But knew that
the blame rested wholly upon myself.
/ was the one that was in fault. alone
had thrown the sharp-edged dagger,
and with it had laid open deep in
cision, which had widened into chan
nel-that now stood-an. impossible
gulf-between us. And by the foolish
pride, the rude acts, and unkind ex-
pressions of one day, / had lost the
friendship, the confidence, and the
esteem of one OF the noblest, purest
women [ have ever known.
And now, dear girls, in conclusion,
permit me TO ask you question. How
many are there among you to-day who
would not have acted just as / did in
that day, under similar circumstances
You are young and inexperienced, as l
was then. To learn life and it's
checkered ways is at best bitter lesson
and let me warn and implore you never
to let your willful acts and unkind
words cause you to gain the ill-will of
others.
Friendship is precious boon, a
sacred tie, and q firm support through
life. Kind words and sweet smiles are
very cheap, yet the most beautiful,
most lasting, gift that we can bestow
upon our fellow-creatures, and why
supplant them with the rude briers of
scorn and contempt, which will pierce
your hearts sorely in after years with
their countless thorns? A word of
kindness, a look of sympathy, a smile
of encouragement, is never lost, even
when bestowed on one of Gods most
lowly creatures, and the great good they
accomplish may return to you, after
many days, as bread cast upon the
waters" bringing with it manifold
blessings.
CoRISTM Miss.