, 1881-11-25
A DOMESTIC SKETCH.

There was a new birdhouse on the barn
Top; there was new wOodshed bulIt on
20 the kitchen; there was a handsome
carriage drive in place of the old, uneven
road and narrow foot-path which led
from the ample gate around the hos
pital side door, with its pleasant piazza,
0Vered in summer by creeping vines.
and in the winter by the lOveliest snow
siraperv; the vine resting for support
and giving form if not color to the flakes
- they fell L think l never saw any
thing so pretty
Inside the old homestead the changes
we're even more apparent. Dear grand
notherS seat was vacant, bIt L could
seem TO see the venerable form, the
sweet, pale face with its lovely blue eyes
and serene brow, crowned with the soft
ast, prettiest silver hair you ever saw,
still occupying it. | saw her then, Just
As when l parted from her, with smile
on her lips, though tears were IN her
ewes, as she bade me cheerful Good
hv. AMI God bless you, my love.
I Turned and looked back rs | left the
door, she had already taken up the little
writing desk, my parting present, and
commenced writing. l knew afterwards
what she was saving on that white sheet.
darling, for this beautiful gift? 1t will
be one of my chief comforts in your all
sence, for it Will constantly remind me
of your love, and of my duty to you
You have inst left me, and | am soothing
the pain of parting by writing you let
ter! God only knows when and where
we shall meet again.
NV father had grown old, and my
mother moved silent and less bustling
IN her ways; my sisters had changed from
merry school girls into sober, quiet
VOung ladies'; my brothers were away to
college, or engaged in business III a
neighboring city; and the front ch amber
was changed into Il nursery for Ellen $
new baby. 4 sweet little girl of four
wears old would often stand near grand
mas chair. leaning her heal upon the
cushion, and there was n curious resem-
blance between tile old face hanging In
the gilt frame above 1t, and the fair baby
one beneath it, and felt that i'll nature,
as well as III name, we had second
Tirzah. The old clock i'll the corner
ticking the same psalm, and the grand
old elm Just III front of my window
seemed to me the only things quite un-
changed in and about the farm house.
And my school girls, where are
they?' | interrupted, as my sister Lois
vas giving Il detailed account of Mrs.
Gerow's new mansion: the splendor of
her carpets, the size of her mirrors, the
number of her tenants, being the won
der of the village. where are Helen
Morris and Susie Joice? Surely they do
not know of my arrival, or they would
have called ere this.
Mercy on me, Sister Kate" exclaimed
Lois, didn't write you thai Helen was
married six months ago TO Cerowe; and
don't You know she is the very one that
am telling you about? He is Cr9sus,
and as aristocratic as q prince, so Helen
and he are we'll matched you know"
And Susie?"
''She vas married, too, about the same
tir :, and lives in H, the next town
to unrs.
"And is her husband rich, too?" /
asked with some anxiety, for she was my
favoritc pupil, and could not bear the
thought that she should grow out of that
sweet, simple girlhood into a proud lady
of fashion.
"Oh, my, no." answered Lois. Her
husband is well enough, very pleasant
and interesting indeed-I think an archi-
tect; poor / believe, at least, far from
rich; you need not be afraid of her being
spoiled by ease, for she has host of Int
tie ones I hear, and of course she is
dragged to death"
Al was always n great hand to take
quiet walks by myself, and also to drop
into friends house to make call with
out ceremony; SO, when after u long
ramble the next day among my favorite
haunts of olden times, found myself
near the stately mansion of James
CerOwe, Esq, l determined to waive eti-
Iuette, and call first on my former
pupil. She received me very cordially,
a little stiilly, perhaps, considering our
past relations, but quite In keeping with
the elegant appointment of that mag
nificent drawing-room, and her queenly
presence. Helen was an aristocrat by
nature, as Lois had said, and wealth and
art had added their treasures to perfect
her character as such. Susy. on the
contrary, was perfectly simple in all her
tastes and habits. l used to call them
Josephine and Maria Theresa" 1.-The
one" as Napoleon said, ":he perfection
OF nature, the other of art"
Some of these thoughts passed through
my mind as We sat there chatting of what
had transpired since last we parted, and
then asked:
''Hsve you no children, Helen?"
''Yes," said she. warming a little, Il
have one child. jane" she said, in an
swer to her bell, bring Master James to
me directly"
"Then you have only one?" inquired
again, as the young gentleman delayed
his appearance.
''Only one, am most happy to say.
Neither Mr.. Cerowe nor myself are fond
of children, and one is quite enough in
our family"