, 1881-11-25
eonstraint and watchfulness, as i'll fear of

his balls
He looked at me with astonishnent in
his dark eyes, and said:
Mamma don't allow me to play with
those noisy things; l build houses with
blocks, and have wax dolls to play with;
only rude boys have balls and bats and
marbles, mamma says.
His mother returned IN time to hear
his remark, and added:
Il desire to make my love gentleman
even now; there is no need of so much
noise and dirt as most boys make. There
is nv old friend, Susy JoIce, you re-
member her, she has perfect flock of
little ones about her-such a noise and
clatter as they make! She has just had
another added, l believe, making four;
poor thing, how pity her?"
Mr.. Cerowe came in Just then, and l
was of course presented TO him with the
remark, MY former excellent teacher,
my dear; Miss II =, and received 4
bow from the gentleman so magnliicently
stately that ielt myself turning to ice,
and believe l returned it with equal
solemnity and dignity quite surprising
to myself.
After our elegant, but to me most dis
tasteful lunch was dispatched, l took my
departure, with IA feeling of intense re-
lief, and Il sense of thankfulness that this
splendid mansion had no power to hold
me within It's walls; although ! would
gladly have fingered under the noble
row of elms beneath whose shade L walk
ed to the marble gateway, and pitied
from NV very heart the child debarred
from childhOod's own pleasures, and l
felt sure that he wonld some time burst
his barriers, and perhaps luxuriate i'll
Trl
sorrow and shame into those hearts
where he, if any one, must have
place.
''But Susy,"I thought, 'poor child
| must 60 at once and see her; full of
care as [ know she is, overburdencd ]
fear, still am sure of IA welcome, hearty
and full, from her; perhaps | may be of
some help and comfort if she is ca t
down-she used to lean on me SO much.
took an early train the next morning
for H, and reached there while II was
very questionable for call.
'Only half-paSt seven-very likely
their breakfast hour; well, no matter" L
thought, "Susy Will excuse the eager
| ness of her old teacher, and l can return
on the one o'clock train if choose"
A brisk walk of five minutes brought
me to the pretty cottage, which passer-
by had told me WAS ''Mr. Lorrimer's for
sure he built every stick of it himself,
ma am, " and softly opening the gate l
stepped to the front door. and there
! paused.
such noiser' as Mrs. Cerowe had
truly said. The windows were open,
but the blinds were closed, and merry
voices rang out clear and sweet and full
of innocent mirth that bright summer
morning.
"Ob. Harry, Harry, you will surely
kill poor papa; pity, pity, you young
rogue, l say" and amid the shouts and
tumbles hardly dared touch the door
bell ever so lightly. In an instant there
was perfect silence however, and pleas
ant, merry-eyed Bridget ushered me into
the parlor, so different from Mr.. Cerowe's
but so like Susy-simple and neat, yet
elegant.
| Only moment had to observe it
all. for my Susy's loving arms were
about me, and her tears of Joy wetting
my cheek.
Here. Harry, Harry, come in quick
and see her; you know quite we'll, L am
sure, who she is.
II must be very stupid if / do not, +"
said Mir. Lorrimer, advancing and grasp
ing my hand most cordially, latter hear
ing her name mentioned and her many
perfections described every day for the
past Six years.
"And 1 may hope that it has not
proved that familiarity breeds contempt"
/ retorted.
Contempt, my dear madam! rather
love, reverence, thankfulness, for iuy
| wife constantly assures me that all she Is
she owes to you."
And your children. Susy," l said,
''how many have you, and are they all
well?"
-Four, dear, and such darlings! Here,
| Harry, come in and sec mamma's old
friend; and will you bring in Walter and
! Frank, Bridget, as soon as you can
make them decent"
Harry came no to me at once, with
such a sweet, frank face and earnest
manner.
"Are you my Aunt Esther?" he
asked.
Eyes, darling" ! answered, delighted
| to find my name q household word.
| Presently the little ones came in, fat
and happy, just from baking SPLENDID
dirt pies and mud houses in the back
yard.
"I cannot keep them quite clean all
tine time" said Susy. with her old depre'
catory manner when excusing herself for
any lack of what her stately friend Helen
deemed indispensable to etiquette.
"They must play, you know, and won't
punish them for soiling their aprons,
only for being naughty and wilful. And
my baby-you haven't seen her yet"
as if she had treated me with injustice to
| deprive me of the pleasure so long;