The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1881-06-01
depart in peace should she see her fam,

depart in peace should she see her fam
lily comfortably settled for life.
And Fanny's filial affection conquered
all her scrupplcs, and she resolved to
see, to accept Mr.. Somcrby.
eyes" said she to herself MS she again
dwelt upon the tenderness of the prec.
ious letters, "the sacrifice must be made.
! must crafty my dear mother, even
though it be at the expense of my own
happiness. will be Mrs. Somerby."
Fanny looked ont upon the quiet sky,
the moon and stars, and thought, GLOW
fine tale could be made from this--a
daughter sacrificing herself for the sake
of her mother!"
1t was time to write her answer to tho
letter; but how should she begin? Must
it be with "Mr. Somerby, sir?" Oh, no,
that was too formal. With "My dear
sir?" That was too afl'ectionatc. And
when the matter had been settled and
the letter fairly written, the equally i'm
portant question remained how she
should subscribe herself. Was she to be
"Yours, respectfully" or truly" or
"sinccrely," or "ailectionately?' A diff
cult problem
But all things havo an end, and the
letter was sent. Then it was that
Fanny's heart began to quake. What if
Mr.. $. should not fancyhcr handwriting?
Perhaps her note was too cold, maybe
too hot; he might not expect an answer
so soon and would be shocked at her
haste. But all these heart-quallings
Ccro in vain-tho letter was gone.
70 pass away the time, which now
hung heavily upon her hands, Fanny
called to tell Julia the whole story. The
kind friend was in rnptures. Gust the
man for you, my DEAR" she cried. $50
he says he has met you in yonr walks
and Mt church. Well, / can imagine
how he looks; he's the very image OF my
husband, I've no doubt"
Fanny next called upon the second di-
rectress of the Anti-Matrimonial Society,
Young lady of an uncertain age, and
informed her that for private reasons
she must resign her own office, begging
her friend to make this resolution known
to the society Mt their next meeting
Meanwhile the four sisters ran to tell
the news. Each one had her own par
ticular friond who must not be forgotten,
and in the course of two days, it was
known to all Fannys acQuaintances that
the fair damscl had been wooed and
won. The third day passed, and there
had come no letter from the impatient
lover. Fanny resolved not to sleep n
wink that night. "What will become Of
me, thought she; 81 must be in love"
In the midst of her despair she fell
asleep. q
The next morning n little note, sealed
with Forgive and forget" was brought
from the Office. Fanny ran to her own
room to read it at her ease, pressing it to
her lips all the way up stairs. Behold
the note opened:
'DEAR FANNY'-CWhy, how boldl'
thought she)--"Wc have been amusing
ourselves at your expense by writing you
letter signed Thomas Somerby. We
are afraid that we have carried the mat
ter too far, and must now beg you to
think of this imaginary person no longer.
Now don't be angry, Fanny dear, for we
are both quite sorry, and are ready to
hunt up for you real Mr.. S., whC will
write better letters than the pretended
one. Allectionately,
"JULM AND GEORGE "
Fanny sat like one pctrifcd. at last
she slowly rose looked in the glass to
know if sho were pale, tried to faint
away, and called her mamma, Mrs.
Iarper's Indignation knew no bounds.
and so we shall have no wedding,
after all, " said Ann.
"And we shnn't have our new dresses"
sighed Matilda.
"And thereIl be no wedding cake"
screamed Tom.
ut was that horrid George Thomp-
son, suggested Fanny.
"What al impertinent fellow" cried
Kate.
And everybody, vexed and disap-
pointed, turned away to fret, to wander
and to scold. Ann and Lucy ran to burn
up the verses which they had written
about welded bliss; Kate descended to
the kitchen to tell the story there, and
Sam. and Tom, having vented their dis
appointment in bestowing upon Mr..
George Thompson the name of "weak
sister, departed for school.
81 thought it was hoax all the time"
said Fanny, tho next time she met Julia.
"Oh, did you? Well, am glad of it.
We wero afraid that you did not suspect
it,"
'La, as if should ever nlG,ry!" re-
turned Fanny.