Year: 1859

That was in love was fact that did
lot admit of doubt. deported my
;elf like person in love; l talked like
person in love; l looked and felt like
person in love. The affection that had
taken place of my youthful heart was no
every day one; l was sure Of that
There was not words in the English Ian
guage to describe the height, depth,
length and breadth of its granduer. Il
was destined to be a grand accompani- .
ment of the ages yet to be; a principle .
throughout eternity a plant OF surprising
beauty in the broad heavens of home af-
fections. My love was returned--the
strong yearning of my nineteen-year old
heart went out into the direction of the
most beautiful of all shire, in return
sent the yeaTning of her heart to meet,
mine. Twice a week, as often as the
week come round, | went up to the old
brown home of DIR. Stoddard, to tell his
daughter my love, and as regularly list
ened to recital of its return from the red
lips of my charming Janet. The good
doctor made merry at our expense, and
his jolly wife took a wicked pleasure in
constantly reminding US of our youth
Janet was tortured by sly references to
our playhous in the shed, her long pima
fores and pantaletts of six months before !;
while | was offered an old coat of the doc
tors for my mother to make into a dress
ing gown for me.


| We were nevertheless determined to
be married. We would steal slyly away
from the house while our cruel friends
reposed in the arms of Morpheus; bic US
on 'the wings of love- to the nearest
city Janet would become in a moment
time Mrs. Jason Brown.


At once we set about making prepar+
ations for this important journey. Every
thing, of course must be conducted witt
the greatest secrecy. AT twelve O'Clock
l was to leave my home stealthily, ge
my fathers grey nag noiselessly out o
the barn and harness her, and then tt
proceed to Janet. Janet was to be wait
ing for me at her window. / was +
place ladder at the same window; sh
was to descend that ladder; we were t


fly down the road by the old lane, to TIA
spot where our horse was fastened, an,


then the wind should not overtake US.
There was but one difficulty in tn


way. Janets room was shared by he
sister Fanny, mischievous, wicke


creature of eleven years, who, to us


Janet's words 'was awake at all hours {


the night There was but one way


Fanny was aroused she must be bribe
in silence. For that purpose placed i


Janet's hand round shining dollar.


But Janet needed assistance, so 81


concluded to make Fanny her confidei


the very afternoon, before we starte


and in that case prevent all possibility


raising the house with sudden outcry
a Well. the long looked-for, hoped-fo
e and yet dreaded night arrived at last.


How slowly its leaden feet carrie


away the hours and what strange hear


full of emotions bore up, as | sat by n


chamber window looking out, as thong
= for the last time, upon the home Of n


father.


n The moon was out in all her splendo


she was kind to me, lighting up with b


silver touches all the spots my ey


might wish to rest upon before | we
" out into the world a wanderer. L
10 broad fields lay out smooth and shini


before my gaze; the fields in which


had worked when a boy--ahl a de


kind father he had been to me! At Il
- juncture my throat began to swell
Vi turned from the window.


IF could see mother once more !!
,o exclaimed, rubbing my eyes with |


coat sleeve. No one ever had bet
- mother than / have


lo sat down in a chair and sobbed 0
TX right, | looked around for something
ID, take with me that my mothers hand
er, blessed with her touch. There was
Z spinning wheel in the room where sic
Id at the spindle hung a woolen roll. w
We my knife half cut and half tore it


pressed it feryently to my lips and ii


placed it tenderly in nay vest pocket
Oh had no time to do more; the old clOel
'ur the kitchen warned me solemnly that
ZEN appointed time had arrived; and will
to slow, sad, yet noiseless step, left
Is childhood's home.


Once ont in the open air, my wor
r lightness Of spirits returned. cons'


myself with the thought that in a