Year: 1859

-Sh5 oo SHS SoLaO iAOih tHC pdutE13 N6u
laden with edibles.


Nothing, mother, only letter from
William" The flush that bathed her
face and bosom with crimson beIied her
quiet reply. But Mrs. Warren was too
busy to notice that, and Ann too much
accustomed to conceal emotions to con-
tinue her efforts at emuIating the roses.


Perhaps you would like to hear what
he says, mother" she said, turning her
eyes from the closing adieus to look for
some prosaic lines better fitted for her
mothers hearing.


Anything particular? l guess I shall
have time to sit down mint. The men
folks amt in sight yet, )" replied Mrs. W,
after satisfying herself upon that point by
a protracted gaze down the quiet country
road before she dropped upon chair to
listen.


Yes, William writes that he is doing
well, mother Hear what he says :" and
Ann read as carefully as if it had been a
legal document. She was rewarded
by


"A very sensible letter, Ann, very
How William improves. He always
was good scholar. l feel proud of Will
liam. He means to make something in
the world"


Ann smiled brightly, and the rose tint
again diffused itself over her fair face
till it glowed like summer sky at sun
set


High ho father and the boys are
coming" cried Mrs. Warren,a ,as she began
to hustle about. She could not lose a
moment, for it was her pride and pleas
ure to complete all her preparations for
supper at the exact instant the men ap-
peared, with clean and shining faces, in
the kitchen, after having tax en- their turns
at the pump, and the round towel in the
back-room.


Ann glided like spirit through the
haIEclosed door, up the stairway, and in
to her own little room, the precious, pro-
sale letter clasped close to her bounding
heart, her whole face aglow with hope,
love and enthusiasm. Then she unfold
ed the letter once more to re-read it in Sc
curity.


We dc not wonder that it satisfied the
loving heart of its reader. Words of af-
fection, of hope and enthusiasm, bright
pictures Of the home now SO near to them,
through his own unaided efforts, ambi-
tious plans, inklings of what he could do
for her sake, indited in bold, free hand
which of itself, bespoke a manly strength
and energy. All this in letter! Yes,
Ann saw it all there, and it made her so
happy that we will not quarrel with her
painting her lover thus, halo of sanity
grace encirchng his human head.


" Ann Ann Warren, why didn't you
know supper was ready long ago p


"rm coming in moment, mother" an
swered Ann to the shrill summons which
broke in so harshly upon her day-dreams,
as hiding her treasure hurriedly, she
paused to make slight addition to her
toilet by smoothing her hair.


While she is absent let US employ our
selves in turning over leaf or two in
her past history.


Ann Warren is the only daughter of a
New Hampshire farmer, who had slowly
accumulated handsome fortune despite
the drawbacks of early poverty, and a
rocky soil, for by no poetical license can
we speak of fertile meadows, SO called
by courtesy, upon hillside. If he had
earned his hardly, he knew how to keep
them. 1t cannot therefore be supposed
that either he or his thrifty spouse would
propose a match for their only daughter
with William Bradley, who had neither
money nor expectations, while DR.. Green
leafs son had professed an entire willing
ness to marry her at once if he could but
obtain her consent. There were pretty
girls in the village, who wondered at Ann
Warren's taste. The dashing. rattle
Drained, black-eyed Greenleaf charmed
those who could see nothing remarkable
in the modest dignity of William Brad
Iey's demeanor. After the usual method
had been pursued by Williams falling SO
unexpectedly and desperately in love with
Ann, that he must needs consult her up
on the subject, they bethought themselves
of acquainting her father and mother Of
the fact.


As a matter Of course, this opened the
eyes of the worthy couple at precisely
the worst time Of interference. But in
their zeal to make everything right, they
did not understand this any more than