Year: 1860

"Come, Uncle, do tell story of some
kind or other, if you will do nothing else to
amuse me. Tell me how you came to be
bachelor; that will be interesting, I dare
say. [ am positive of one thing, dear
Uncle, and that is, you are anything but
gallant, this evening. Here have you been
for two mortal hours with your feet upon
the fender, and gazing into the CRATE, as if
your very soul was engaged in the contem-
plation Of coal fire." Such was the
mingled entreaty and reproach of very
lovely girl, of some sixteen summers, who
was seated upon a footstool beside the arm
chair of the person addressed. said she
was lovely, and had another beheld her as
she looked up into her Uncle's face with
her mild blue eyes, her dark chestnut curls
thrown carelessly back upon neck of
snowy whiteness, her lips slightly parted
displaying pearly, brilliant teeth, her coun-
tenance all life aud animation, he too must
have conceded with the writer's opinion,
and pronounced her beautiful. ~ do de-
clare,'' she continued, ssyou are an abom-
ination upon such an evening as this. Do
you hear how the wind blows, and the rain
pours? Heigho, what a puff adown the
chimney! The elements have combined,
Uncle mine," to make this dreary, dis
NAL night; Charley willn come, and you
are of to dreamland. with a coal of fire
for your panorama Well, since you acil
not talk, | must e'en be the entertaining
person, and SO if you will reach me my
guitar you shall have songs from minstrelsy,
operas, or whatever you choose, provided
always it is within the limits of my simple
capacity. What still gazing into that
abominable CRATE! Oh, well, l must wait
upon myself, see;" and suiting the action
to the word, she procured the instrument,
reseated herself beside the fre-gazer, and
in I low sweet voice began one of Moore s
beautiful ballads. Her voice was not pow
erful, though for sweetness and melody few
could compare their vocal abilities with
this simple yet accomplished girl; as she
proceeded with the song her voice became
fuller, her ceunteuance animated and ex-
pressi1e, as she gave the sentiment of the
ballad. Her long. slim fingers wandered
amid the strings of the instrument with
such swiftness and elasticity. producing
such melody of sounds, so much harmony,
that one would think the intricacies of SO
many chords and sweet vibrations were
with her a gift from nature, and not acquir-
ed her voice blended with the instrument
in sweetness until the room was filed with
sounds 81 such as the Angels made when
they sang to the Morning STAR still
the dreamer sat as if unconscious of all
around The songstress looked upon him
with surprise. then striking hurried pre-
lude she sang an old but well-remembered
song. The dreamer rose from his easy
chair and paced the room; something SEEM
ed to rest upon his mind with which the
spirit of the song apparently harmonized.


SO you have sung my favorite, once
more for me, my darling" he said, ceasing
his melancholy stride.


"Yes, Uncle, / thought it was the only
one which would recall you to a state of
consciousness; yet why it should be ia
vorite song with you, cannot see, particu-
larly the command. Love not. And would
it not be better in many instances, to heed
the warning vainly said. -


"Come darling, It's fearful night. and
we shall be left for this one evening to our
own dear selves, SO draw yourself near the
fire beside me and viii tell you why like
the song. and mayhap long story, before
am done"