Year: 1861

her at my side, to share my danger-nay, to
die, if died; to live for me, or failing that,
for no other.


need not give the details Of the sickness
that followed-the weeks of terrible suffering
when my soul and body could scarcely cling
together. / look back upon it, strong man as
I am, with shiveriHg dread. 1t was owing un-
der God, to her that death, who stood waiting
day after day at my pillow, at last passed by
me. What q nurse she was Niglant, sleep
less, untiring. Perhaps it was owing to her
calm courage that she did not take the disease.
She seemed to be always near me, and yet
she found time to make herself look as neat
and even tasteful as usual Everything in my
room after was able to notice anything, was
in scrupulous order Delicate flowers, as fresh
and sweet as herself, bloomed on my table; a
pleasant, dreamy half-light filed the apart
ment. What a change from boarding-houSe
days


was thinking of all this glorious care and
tenderness as | sat up for the first time at the
window, Mary had learned to call her so
during my ilness-was out of the room, but
the tokens of her presence were all around me
| Presently she came in and sat down at my
side.


Mary" I said, almost involuntarily,
have been thinking | ought to thank you foI
saving my life And yet | do not know as
am grateful Life will not be of much value
unless you will share it. With you for my wife
could be happy; but if you cannot love me,
you might as well have let me go by the
board"


had spoken as / felt, seriously and sadly
| but a merry twinkle danced in her eyes.
So YOU think now you could stand not Only
the children but my having loved some one
else ~


Then you heard that foolish speech, after
ALL 1t wasn't meant for your ear-forgiTe it.
You are too good for me, anyway; ask moth
ing better of you, if you can love me, than to
take y0u just as you are"
Children and all Z"


Children and all ; I'll try to be fathe,
to them. Heaven help me"


shall be satisfied, sir, if you will be q
brother to then, since they are my mothers
children and not mine"


Aud Mr. Smith is-?'


My father He failed in business last year
though | am happy to say he is living and
well. l wanted to help him, but the only thing
| knew how to do was to keep house. 1t seem
eu u proper cuOuSu u Occupation LON an Old uA'Iu
like me- You see | am not very young, sir.
When found that you thought was widow
with children, l determined to favor the ode
mistake. am not Mrs. Smith, though, but
Mary Smith, spnster, at your service in youl
family, il you like that way OF stating it bet
ter"


"And you will change your title and retain
your situation ?"


Her answer is no ones business but my own.


Six weeks afterward my sster-in-law was
invited to my wedding She looked surprised
but she torbore any comment save the remain
der of her prediction that Mrs. Smith would
conquer my preiudces against widows with in
cumbrances The laugh was against her when
told her that Mrs. Sandie Bishop was to &c
to the hymenial alter for the FIRST time.
| have been married five years. My preju
dices have Welded to the destinations of q
bold little Sandie, and winsome little Mary
and sitting by my own peaceful fresde | blcs.
the day and Providence that first made me
known to my house keeper.