Year: 1861

'"S HV'lo iauSu US nc sprang lor-
ward to take pleasant little revenge on
his tormentress, she slipped away and ran
up the path to the house, where he saw her
wave her hand as she disappeared within
the kitchen porch and then he turned
from the gate and hurried homeward.


The tea things had been carried out the
table set back against the wall, the crumbs
brushed from the clean home made carpet
and Hetty's work stand drawn up in front
OF the blazing fire. a beautifully piled
plate of great red apples, and a plate of
cracked walnuts were on it, in close prox.
Unity to lIotty's work basket.


On one side of the fire sat Mrs. Thomas.
fat and fair, and at peace with all the
world; rocking and knitting, and refresh
ing herself at sundry intervals with bite
from half eaten apple that lay on the
corner of the table, and touching every
now and then, in earcssing manner with
her foot, sleek, lazy cat, that purred and
wl"ked on the rug before her. Hctty sat
on the other side, sewing and busy think.
ing how she could tell her mother 5 he ex-
pected a visitor.


She would have given the world to be
able to say, i'll an of-hand manner, that
she expected Mr.. Hawley to drop in about
eight, But she recollected with twinge
OF conscience, how she had tried to get the
old lady to accompany her husband to
aunt Ruth's, spite Of her warnings of neu-
ralga how she had always plead head
ache as an oXcass for not going her self
And she new her mother was Just sharp
enough to draw her own inference from
these facts, and from her being dressed
with unusual care to spend an evening at
home.


81 shall not dare TO tell now. She Il
be sure to think l wished to get her cut of
the way SO | might have JOSIAH all to my
self and should never hear the last of it.
And like Il title wise pd,s ,hc wa, silent


III venture my word on it, you would
mt have wondered at our young farmer
enthra!mcnt If you could have seen llctty
Thomas, as she sat by the fire sido in the
cold November night.


Under protcXt OF being ready to 20 to her
unclc's( Il thing she had no idea of doing
she had, just before tea ,indulgcd in an in.
discriminate fixing up" A neat fitting
calico, with the store look still on it, 4
fresh linen collar and tasteful black silk
apron-those were the chief items of IIet
tvs toilet; but she looked sweet and dain.
ty in her plaid dress as if an hour had
been spent in donning lace aud jewels
ncr rich hair, of the darkest tingc, fell in
shining folds close to her warm red cheeks
and was caught up in u cunning knot
behind.


Eight clock was past Mrs. Thomas
was doing in her chair-her shadow on
the opposite wall bobbing round in gro.
tesque mimcry as she nodded to and fro
how crushing the yolumiuous white sat.
in bows on her spruce cap against the back
of the chair-now almost falling forward
and her fat hands lay listless in her lap,
and her ball of yarn had rolled out upon
the hearth, and puss was busy converting
If into (,Ordion Enots


And just then came double rap at the
door-so loud, sudden and selfassurcd,
that Hetty started up with little shriek,
and set her foot on pusses tail who in turn
gave her voice to the amusement and dis.
pleasure


The combined noise aroused Mrs. Thom-
as, and starting into an erect position, she
rubbed her eyes settled her cap border, and
exclaimed


"Blcss my soul, Hetty, what was that p
Somebody at the door? Who can be
coming at this time of might.


"lts not late, mothcr-only little past
eight Ill go and see what it is, - said Het,
ty demurclv taking the candle from the
large table,


"No. You wind up my ball and sweep
the hearth, while | 60 to the door, said
the old lady, whose feet were struggling
in the meshes of the unrayelled yarn
"Drat that cat!"


All this time Josiah was standing on
one foot on the cold porch, with his hands
in his overcoat pockets, wondering if Het.
ty had fallen asleep, aud every now and
then giving the door smart rap by way
OF variety,


In her hurry Mrs. Thomas FORGOT to